Premier League season preview: Arsenal to Fulham - Football Weekly podcast

13:12Max Rushden:my thoughts immediately turn for some reason to Roberto Martinez not you

13:18Philippe Auclair:he makes his name in a team that wins everything at home which is Red Bull Salzburg right okay fine it does well does a couple of decent things in Europe he really makes his name at Borussia Mönchengladbach I remember at the time German friends telling me he's the next big coach that we're having. Okay, he does that. Then he moves to Dortmund. It doesn't finish very well at Gladbach, by the way. Goes to Dortmund, which honestly doesn't go well at all. And he goes to RB Leipzig. And he is, I mean, always said Dortmund were kicked out of the Europa League by Rangers. I think that says everything.

13:53Philippe Auclair:And then he goes to Leipzig and he's sacked. And then he takes a sabbatical. and then he arrives to replace one of the very best managers in the Premier League. I'm sorry. I think it would be a very difficult season for them.

14:08Jonathan Wilson:Right. I mean, they've kept most of their squadron. Alex Scott, Kruppi, they were both rumours that they might go up so far. So far, yeah.

14:15Barry Glendenning:I mean, Kruppi's injured, isn't he, for at least three months. I wouldn't surprise me if Alex Scott goes before the wind. I think Chelsea are really keen on him. Yeah, but I mean, they lost so many players last season. Yeah, I know that they got over that last season, but they got over that without Europe. And that's the huge thing. How do they adapt to playing European football? I mean, I think it's a huge issue for Ayola at Liverpool as well. He's never had it in his career. So, yeah, I think you look at the depth of the squad and you have concerns. And I got exactly the same concerns about Roos as Philippe Halser.

14:46Barry Glendenning:And also, I just, I feel there's this sort of category of German coaches who, the Bundesliga is so focused on a particular style of pressing that they all just do the same thing. That's slightly unfair, but a lot of them do a similar type of thing and then they come up in Europe against teams who don't do what they're expecting like Rangers and oh oh I don't know how to deal with that and I've I think we've seen it with Nagelsmann he's been a bit exposed uh both with Germany and and with Bayern I feel we may see it with with Rosa so yeah I I think it'll be a tough season

15:18Jonathan Wilson:for Bournemouth I'm I put them 10th but if I'd listened to you two before I'd done it I may have gone lower. Barry, where have you got them?

15:25Max Rushden:I have them 11th. One thing to note about Bournemouth is I think of all the teams in the Premier League, their opening set of fixtures is really tough. Man City away, Everton away, Newcastle away, Brentford home, Liverpool, Chelsea, Sunderland, Man U. That's pretty tough. But I have them 11th. I will add the caveat. My entire knowledge of Marco Rosa is based on what I've just heard from the lads and I now think he's a complete fraud.

15:59Jonathan Wilson:So where do you Japs have him? I've got him 15th.

16:02Philippe Auclair:I've got him 18th first. Wow, relegated. All right, bad luck. Another thing as well is that they've spent quite a bit of money on those players. We're all very young players who will take time to adapt. They will have to sell. And I think Kruppi has been absolutely phenomenal for them. But if they lose him, should they lose him? I mean, it doesn't, you know, we have to remember that how Irola has, and before him, I do how, have basically overperformed all the time. And I don't think that Marco Rosso is. He's not an overperformer. No. He doesn't host the overperforming podcast. No.

16:41Barry Glendenning:Well, there's also, because they're in Europe, they've got a different financial fair play model, a stricter financial fair play model to adhere to. and I think given, I know they're filling in the corners, it's a vitality to take it up by 800 seats to 11 ,000, just over 11 ,000. Yeah, yeah. It's really hard for Bournemouth to generate revenue, so I think they're under pressure from that direction as well. Not filling in the corners like John Beck used to be in the sand,

17:05Jonathan Wilson:which is the way football should be played. All right, that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll begin with Brentford.

17:16Jonathan Wilson:Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. Brentford then. Keith Andrews, the manager, who did really well last year. They brought in Mamadou Sangare, who's a central midfielder from Lens, who Philippe is doing for people not watching the gym, he's doing a French. Ah, he is an excellent sign. Yannick Schuster, a centre-back from Salzburg. Jadon Anthony's coming from Burnley. And Callum Wilson, a free transfer from West Ham. Jordan Henderson's gone to Chelsea. Frank Onyeka has left as well. They begin at home to Tottenham, go to Leeds, home to Sunderland, away to Bournemouth, home to Chelsea.

17:45Jonathan Wilson:Barry, your Brentford thoughts

17:47Max Rushden:well they've had a far less eventful summer than 12 months ago when they lost their manager and several key players and every this time last year an awful lot of people were predicting that they'd be relegated under novice manager Keith Andrews they only missed out on European football by goal difference as it happened and Keith Andrews did a brilliant job and he seems like a good guy so So they haven't lost too many, well, they haven't lost any key players. Does Jordan Henderson count as a key player from last season? I don't know. And I think while their fans would probably love a European adventure, it might be easier for them and for Andrews to consolidate not having to worry about that this season.

18:36Max Rushden:I think they'll be fine. Much will depend on whether Igor Tiago picks up where he left off last season. he was second in the race for the Golden Boot behind Haaland. Dan Gautara and Kevin Shade, will they provide service for him? There seems to be a lot of teams in the Premier League who have good wingers, but wingers who are very blow hot and cold. And I think Brentford are one of many teams in the Premier League with wingers who aren't consistent enough.

19:07Jonathan Wilson:Tell us with sound about Sangare.

19:10Philippe Auclair:I was very impressed last year. by him. I have to say, I didn't know much about him before he started, you know, showing up for Lens and he was one of the reasons, the other being Pierre Sage, the manager. Why Lens had such a fantastic season, winning the cup, pushing PSG almost to the line for the title. He was the heart, soul, lungs of that team. He was in the Ligue 1 team of the year, absolutely. He was the African player of the year in Ligue 1, which is, you know, not exactly, when you know the number and quality of African players in Ligue 1, that tells you something about what he can do.

19:50Philippe Auclair:Complete player, complete midfielder. And when I see some of the sums which are bandied about with teams recruiting, defensive midfielders or six slash eight kind of players and they paid 41 million, I thought that's a fantastic business. He is absolutely phenomenal. I would be very, very, very excited if I were a Brentford fan about to see that player.

20:14Jonathan Wilson:I've got them ninth, Wilson. I've got them eighth. Okay. Any other strong thoughts?

20:20Barry Glendenning:No, I mean, I think if you're looking at where they could improve on last season, you would say Jordan Anderson started the season well, faded a bit. And Sangara is clearly a younger, much better player in that position. So the fact that they haven't lost any of their stars, why would it not carry on as it did last season, but maybe slightly better? So I think they'll be on the fringes of European qualification again. I don't see any reason. The only thing you'd say, one doubt, I think they proportionally, in the top five leagues in Europe, they were third in terms of what proportion of their goals came from set plays.

20:55Barry Glendenning:If there is a crackdown on grappling, holding, wrestling, maybe that affects them. But that's the only doubt. I don't think it's a massive doubt. Okay.

21:04Jonathan Wilson:Barry?

21:05Barry Glendenning:Tenth.

21:05Jonathan Wilson:Philippe? Seventh. Seventh. All right. Brighton then, Fabian Herzler, the manager, they brought in Luka Voscovic a centre-back from Spurs for£46 million a right winger from AIK called Zadok Johanna Pascal Strijke has come in from Leeds Costinha is a right back from Olympiacos Michael Svoboda a centre-back from Venezia and Rodrigo Rager a right winger from Benfica B Jean-Paul Van Hecker has gone to Spurs Carl Rushworth Diego Coppola and Danny Welbeck have left Welbeck going to Chelsea they start home to Villa then go to Chelsea home to Leeds away to Coventry home to Arsenal They came eighth last year.

21:40Jonathan Wilson:So they go into Europe. James Milner's retired. Welbeck's gone as well. You had them in the Champions League last year, Barry. Same high hopes? Not quite as high.

21:52Max Rushden:I think the fact that they're in Europe will hinder them in the league. I think them being in the Conference League, they should go all out to win it. There's no excuse, no reason why they shouldn't win that tournament. So that may take their mind off league matters. I still expect them to do well. I think Pascal Streik is great. Love him. Loved watching him for Leeds last season. He'll do well, I'm sure. Luka Voskovic is a weird one. I don't think he ever played for Tottenham.

22:22Jonathan Wilson:No, but when Tottenham and Brighton do a deal where one player goes one way and one goes another, I think most people go, I'm sure Brighton have got the best.

22:31Max Rushden:Yeah, and I think that might be the case here. I have heard a lot of Tottenham fans complaining about the fact that Spurs sold him Fabian Herzler he's almost one of the Premier League's elder statesmen now in terms of head coaches isn't he I'm a fan of his but I find Brighton somewhat infuriating they can beat anyone on their day and they can also get hiding off anyone on their day if memory serves seem to draw a lot of matches they shouldn't and throw away points from winning positions. But will Kostoulos get more game time this season? You'd presume so now that Danny Welbeck is gone. But yeah, I think Brighton should.

23:17Max Rushden:I expect them to do well. I think they may well qualify for Europe again, but I think they should put most of their eggs in the Conference League basket.

23:26Jonathan Wilson:Philippe, you wanted to talk about that centre-back deal.

23:28Philippe Auclair:Yeah, I mean, there's nothing illegal about it, but you have to look at the amount of money that was spent, little bunny ears there, on both players, 52 million for Van Hecke, 46 million for Voscovic. That's insane. And that is clearly, right, lawyers, lawyers.

23:49Max Rushden:Jiggery-pokery.

23:50Philippe Auclair:Yes, there is jiggery-pokery at work here, which is basically all about the long-term book value of the players. and there are dispositions about whether deals are done with representing fair market value, FMV, and I would look at this one as being an absolute textbook example of why there has to be FMV in football because...

24:13Jonathan Wilson:So who's being overvalued?

24:15Philippe Auclair:It's not the question. Basically, there's a six million differential here, but the swap is absolutely fine. The valuation is not.

24:23Max Rushden:just Evan Ferguson is still a Brighton player and it looks like he's going to be loaned out again I think Genoa is the latest team

24:30Jonathan Wilson:that's a nice nice place to go

24:32Max Rushden:lovely place to go but I just I don't know what's going on with Evan Ferguson like what two years ago he was being touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread a potential hundred million pound signing and Brighton seem to want to hold on to him but they don't want to pick him and play him in their team so I don't know what to make of it really.

24:54Jonathan Wilson:I've got Brighton 7th, Wilson. 11th. Barry? 6th. Philippe? 11th. Chelsea then. Jabby Alonso, the manager, they've brought in. Deep breath. Morgan Rodgers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra from Atalanta, Georgia Quenda, a right winger from Sporting, Valentin Barco from Strasbourg, Emmanuel Emega from Strasbourg as well. Pep Chavira from Rayo Vallecano, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson have come in. Andre Santos, Kukureya, Chalabert, Tariq George, Ganaccio and Philippe Jorgensen have gone. They start away to Fulham, home to Brighton, away to Arsenal, home to Hull, away to Brentford, came 10th last year.

25:31Jonathan Wilson:Does anyone have any idea if this is going to be good or not? Wilson?

25:35Barry Glendenning:I think it will be good. And I think one of the reasons it'll be good is they don't have Europe.

25:39Jonathan Wilson:I agree with this.

25:39Barry Glendenning:And that gives them a huge amount of time. I think Xavi Lonsus football, you need time. I think you saw that in pre-season, that they started pretty ropally and got, you know, the improvement through pre-season was quite significant. I think those first five fixtures, the furthest they have to leave is Brighton. So we're not even having to do much travelling.

25:58Jonathan Wilson:A lot of their players know how to get there too. Yeah.

26:01Barry Glendenning:So, I mean, in terms of maximising time on the training pitch, it's a great start for a new manager. I think the signings make sense. I'm still not convinced by the keeper, but I sort of like the shape that's emerging. I think Pallestra is a useful signing for them because he can play either side. I think he's had a good pre-season. I think Lacroix, they were really missing. You may remember I tipped them to win the title last season. Yes.

26:32Jonathan Wilson:Only because producer Joel wrote it just there a second ago.

26:35Barry Glendenning:Well, I assumed that they'd upgrade the keeper and bring in another centre-back. And Colwell wasn't injured when I made the prediction. So there were two centre-backs down. Well, they have brought in one of those centre-backs. Colwell is now fit. They haven't upgraded the keeper. I wonder if they need a... I mean, this is ridiculous about Chelsea needing players. You're saying Alex Scott they're interested in. Alex Scott they're interested in. I'm not convinced they're not half considering another centre-forward. Loggia Pedro, again, has had a good pre-season and I think he's looked a lot more of a goal threat since Maresca left.

27:13Barry Glendenning:So I don't know if there's... I don't know. If your way he's being asked to play is different.

27:17Jonathan Wilson:And you think if they can get Rodgers and Palmer, playing well together philippe yes and which is why i've got them quite high in my table

27:25Philippe Auclair:in my table i've i i had them at third then i moved them to fourth right but certainly up there and i think the the problems for chelsea are going to be off the field not on the field um they're in a really bad really really bad situation uh when it comes to the ownership there's now a lot of talk about well we know Mark Walter who has got nearly 13 % of the shares is now trying to salvage what's left of his big empire by selling his share in Chelsea after selling the Lakers and Todd Bully as well is thinking of doing the same they have debts which are well in excess of 1 billion with punishing interest rates because everything is payment in kind.

28:17Jonathan Wilson:And everyone listening will be like, can't they just, I don't know, sell Jamie Gittins back to themselves?

28:22Philippe Auclair:Well, they've run out of things to sell to themselves and they might have to... I do think the financial problems are of such magnitude that they will have an impact on the club during the season. Even if the Premier League has decided to let them go away with an absolutely ridiculous fine. for all their misdemeanors. They're really in a real, real bad state. And can I do a little plug here? Because we out-scooped the Financial Times yesterday at Yozima. Paul Brown wrote an absolutely fantastic piece on the financial crisis at Chelsea and Walter's situation at Tobuley's.

29:04Jonathan Wilson:Can I just ask, I mean, if Chelsea fans are listening, is it the future of the club? Yes.

29:07Philippe Auclair:Yes, absolutely. Absolutely, because this level of debt is simply not... I mean, you cannot survive. And also, it depends on the kind of debt you have, I suppose. But theirs is a debt, again, which is payment in kind, which means it's constantly pushed back, pushed back, pushed back with interest rates which are well in excess of 10%, sometimes up to 13.5%, 14%. You can imagine, this is absolutely colossal. And so just the debt repayments are... And the club keeps losing money.

29:44Barry Glendenning:Just for people who don't understand what payment is, what it means is rather than paying interest, the interest just accrues on the debt. So the debt's just getting bigger all the time. And the assumption is at some point in the near future, you will be generating profits, means you can pay it off. They're not in Europe. Yeah. But even if they were in Europe, it would be very, very difficult.

30:02Jonathan Wilson:So if they sell Fernandes, that would help, of course.

30:05Barry Glendenning:I mean, that's probably going to bring in 120 million. I think that will happen. I think he will go to City now. I mean, they had that. It's a 5 p.m. deadline on Friday. Chelsea so you know they said look if you want to sign them on this deal which is 120 million structured in a certain way 5pm Friday now from Chelsea's point of view they will make that deal harder for people coming after the deadline I suspect the valuation will be quite similar but probably the way it's structured

30:29Max Rushden:will be more up front I would never do business with anyone who sets a deadline of 5pm on a Friday that's no way to operate

30:38Barry Glendenning:when's yours like 3pm when are you knocking off on a Friday 3

30:42Max Rushden:You don't do things at five o 'clock. You know, send an important email at five o 'clock on a Friday.

30:47Barry Glendenning:That's why it's a deadline. You're saying, don't go after that.

30:50Jonathan Wilson:Where do you have Chelsea? I have them second. Second. Fourth. Second as well. Coventry then under Frank Lampard, avoiding Carl Rushworth, keeper from Brighton. Lam Chowna, right winger from Burnley. He scored one brilliant goal last year. Tawo, one, he's coming from Forest. Orel Amenda, a centre-back from Frankfurt. Gus Harmer from Sheffield United. uh frank onyeka from brentford and kalab jarenki uh a sentiment from nordjaland and uh callum perry has gone on loan to cambridge thank you and norman bassett has gone to uh westerlow wherever that may be uh they go to arsenal to begin with then home to hull away to city home to brighton away to forest they won the championship last year barry thoughts well my thoughts are after bournemouth

31:33Max Rushden:they probably have the second most difficult set of opening games you're already looking at that home game against Hull and going six-pointer because after the Forest game you mentioned there's Newcastle Spurs I have no idea whether either of them will be any good or not they might be good they might be rubbish who knows we still don't know if Frank Lampard's a decent well Premier League manager when he got the Coventry job I was quite sniffy and dismissive and said I couldn't understand why anyone would give him a job and he's really made me look a mug there He's done really well to bring them up.

32:06Max Rushden:Looking at their signings, they've got bodies in all right. Now, Carroll Rushworth was with them all last season, so I think he played every minute of every game in the Championship. He's a good goalkeeper, has been good for them. But there seems to be lower-end Premier League, top-end Championship players. which I'm, it's, it's, they've got a lot of players in, but say unlike Sunderland last season, who they bought a load of players that I'd never really heard of. And they all turned out, more or less all turned out to be really good. Now I still don't know whether that was blind luck or incredibly shrewd recruitment or a mixture, probably a mixture of both.

32:50But I don't, someone like, you know,

32:53Max Rushden:Lou Chouma from Burnley kind of go meh. And I give him a chance of staying up. I don't really give either of the other promoter teams a chance of staying up. But look, this is a club who's been absolutely through the ringer in the past. They've been to League Two. They've had awful owners. They were homeless on two separate occasions. This is a free hit to back in the Premier League after whatever it is, 25 years. Just enjoy it. And I'd be very excited if I was a Coventry fan.

33:22Jonathan Wilson:I'm the bottom, actually. but I'm quite possibly completely wrong.

33:27Barry Glendenning:I'd agree with Barry. I think of the three from outside, they've probably got the best chance. I think the Lampard factor is significant. I mean, I think for a newly promoted side, having a difficult start is not necessarily the worst thing. I mean, that whole game is massive because if anything they get at Arsenal or at City, which are their first two away games, that's a massive bonus. Of course. But even if they get beat 5-0, it's fine.

33:50Jonathan Wilson:So there's that difference of you have the ball so much and you have to just change so much when you but i think it's almost a mentally easier adjustment

33:56Barry Glendenning:to make when you're looking at yeah christ these people are really famous yeah yeah yeah and so also you i mean getting city early in the season that might on the evidence of sunday that's not not the worst thing but that's then predicated on them beating all at home because if you if you waste that opportunity you suddenly really are under pressure so i mean i've got them uh fourth

34:16Philippe Auclair:bottom uh what's that hang on 17 17th i have them 17th as well and there you go right and should they be relegated it wouldn't be a disaster it feels a bit like the way they've i mean they've brought in 12 players in total which is an awful lot but it seems it can be one of those they can do a kind of burnley which is like we go up get some players we make a lot of dough we go down but we've got the dough so we'll go up again and every time we go up again we're a bit a bit It's like listening to Eddie Van Halen.

34:48Jonathan Wilson:I'm thinking that. Or just a sort of, this is the way Philippe runs a boulangerie. Eventually, you have so much done. It's fine. I just put the bottom because I didn't want to put hull bottom because I presume everyone's putting hull bottom. Correct. I just want it to be a bit different.

35:01Max Rushden:If Ellis Simpson, had you right, can score goals, that obviously is going to be huge. I think Jack Rudoni in their midfield, I think he has the potential to be a brilliant Premier League player, whether he be a brilliant Premier League player with Coventry or someone else is an entirely different matter.

35:19Barry Glendenning:Let's Sims, I think, is actually, I think he's a genuinely good player. And I saw quite a bit of him at Sunderland. And then, did I see him score for Everton at Samford Bridge? Is that a thing that happened?

35:28Max Rushden:I think it could be. I think he was at Everton for a while.

35:31Barry Glendenning:He never played for Chelsea, did he? So he must have been Everton at Samford Bridge.

35:34Max Rushden:He can't have ever once played for Chelsea.

35:35Barry Glendenning:So I remember him scoring a key goal at Samford Bridge and thinking, yeah, I thought he was good when I saw him at Sunderland. So, I mean, the question about Lampard, I guess, is he's good when things are going well we saw at Everton at Chelsea he got quite quickly quite quickly when things turned against him Coventry are going to lose games this season yeah how does he respond to that that that's the question all right that'll do for part two part three I'll begin with Crystal Palace welcome to part three the Guardian Football Weekly Palace then their

36:10Jonathan Wilson:their new manager, Pierre Sarge. They've brought in Anan Kalali, a right back from Union Saint-Gilroës. They've brought in Evan Gassin from Villa. Dwight McNeil is part of that Brennan Johnson swap deal. Tommy Asi is coming from Arsenal and Oscar Minguesa, a midfielder. They have lost Lacroix and Johnson and Kamada's gone as well, along with Daniel Imre and Ricardo Cardinez. They begin at Everton, then home to City, away to Fulham, home to Ipswich, away to Leeds. Won the Conference League, came 15th last year. Tell us a bit about PS Arge.

36:42Philippe Auclair:Terrific manager whom nobody, absolutely nobody knew just a few years back. And when he went to Lyon at the time when Lyon was in the real pickle and did extremely well there and did even better with Lens. I think I would be quite excited if I were a Palace fan because if he tries to replicate the style of play that Lens had, which is unbelievably quick on the break. and I mean unbelievably quick on the break. They were by far the fastest on the break in Ligue 1. He has also, his system on the paper will not be unfamiliar to the players. It's still, it's a 3-4-3, 5-3-2 usually. So yeah, we feel Palace is absolutely natural.

37:30Philippe Auclair:The big question mark I have is about the Europa League which is going to be a bit of a problem to say the least. And also, I'm very interested to see what Anand Halayli is going to do. Very strange transfer that because he was on his way to Inter, wasn't he? And he failed his medical. And it's only after he failed his medical, for reasons which haven't been made public, that palace moved in and actually got him at a lower price that Inter would have. And it's an interesting, because he's an Arab-Israeli. and I mean who can play on the wing who can play as a wing back is a very very fine player indeed so I'm in two minds about them because on one hand I think they should do well but there's a Europa League but there's Piazzaj but there's this but but but but which is why I think they'll struggle a bit they won't be in danger but a lot will depend on what they do in the Europa League

38:27Jonathan Wilson:medically it means you couldn't live in Milan but you could live near Croydon is what I'm thinking they're all much of a much Milan, Croydon I've got him 14th. Baz, how do you feel about Palace?

38:38Max Rushden:I don't have much really to add. They still have Jean-Philippe Mateta. They still have Adam Wharton. They still have Jay Canvo. Will they still have them when the transfer window closes? Some or all of them don't know. The Brendan Johnson, Dwight McNeil swap deal struck me as slightly odd.

38:59Jonathan Wilson:But I have them 12th. Interestingly, Mateta also failed a medical. He was at AC Milan, wasn't it? So there is something that means you can play for Crystal Palace. Wilson?

39:11Barry Glendenning:I've got them 18th. 18th? I just don't think the squad's big enough. And I think there was, although they obviously won the Conference League and that gave them a huge high at the end of last season, there was that sort of underlying frustration the last two or three months of the season. A lot of which was to do with Glaston and his situation. But I think the lack of investment has started to frustrate people. And I can see them getting pretty quickly into a negative spiral. Whether Sarge is good enough to overcome that, maybe he is.

39:39Jonathan Wilson:Having a manager called Sarge is good, if you're sort of Windsor Davis. Yes, Sarge, no Sarge. Hopefully in his first post-match, he's dressed in full army fatigue with a big moustache like that. Riding crop. Exactly, yes. Milk chocolate. Everton then, David Moyes, they brought in Merlin Roll, who played a bit for them last year, from Freiburg. Hayden Hackney, who anyone who's watched the championship absolutely loves. Your mate Christian Norgard has come in. And as has Brennan Johnson, Dwight McNeil's gone. No shame as Coleman for the first time in about 200 years. Idrissa Garni Gay's gone as well.

40:13Jonathan Wilson:They begin at home to Palace, go to Bournemouth, then home to Manchester United, away to Tottenham, home to Ipswich, came 13th last year. You relegated them last year, Barry. I did, yeah.

40:22Max Rushden:And I got a lot of abuse for it. And I was expecting lots of I told you so's at the end of the season online. I didn't get it. And I think that's because their season, while decent for a while last season, really fizzled out into nothing. And I think they only got three points from the last seven games. I think Everton fans were getting very sick and tired of Dave Moyes' style of football. And they could have relegated Tottenham and they didn't. Yeah, and they could have relegated Tottenham and they didn't and they should have. And boo, you know, do something worthwhile, Everton. will there be in a relegation scrap this season probably not the signings seem to be pretty astute Norgard's a good player presumably he'll get more game time than he did at Arsenal I know everyone raved about Hayden Hackney I don't think I've ever seen Hayden Hackney play a match because I can't remember the last time I saw Middlesbrough play a game I think Everton will be fine but I also think David Moyes won't be in charge at the end of the season Wow Philippe I've got them in Evans I've got them

41:28Philippe Auclair:in the top 10 Okay. Where? Eighth. Okay. There's absolutely no reason behind my reasoning. I will say your notes for the camera. No, I've got...

41:38Jonathan Wilson:It just says David Moyes.

41:39Philippe Auclair:Well, I have copious notes. Show the camera. I have copious notes on everybody else, but except on Everton. No, the thing is that I don't think that their transfer window is finished at all. And I think that they will bring other players in.

41:57Max Rushden:Well, they need a couple of fullbacks.

41:59Philippe Auclair:yes but I expect them to actually do something on the transfer market and to be maybe a stronger proposition on paper than they are right now but also says that's it's like Paul Ince having shoot

42:11Jonathan Wilson:on his notepad in the match which I don't recall but it's good advice isn't it Wilson? I've got them 13th right and 16th. Fulham then Alvaro Arbeloa is the manager coming in for Marco Silva. They brought in Gonzalo Garcias and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid B. Somehow they've got a connection there. Shea Charles has come in from Southampton, fairly highly rated. And Jonah Cusi-Asare from Bayern Munich, who's the centre forward. They've lost Sasalucic and Issa Diop to Ipswich and Harry Wilson has been released. Where's he tipped up? Leeds. Leeds, that's right. Raul Jimenez. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course, which is a big blow, I think.

42:50Jonathan Wilson:They begin at home to Chelsea, go to Sunderland, home to Palace, away to Liverpool home to Manchester United is our below a good who knows Wilson

42:57Barry Glendenning:well that's the question is he any good I mean I think there was significant reasons for doubts at Real Madrid last season but Real Madrid is a very different it is a different different barrel of apples to Fulham I think I was thinking because there's the bad apples spoiling the barrel but maybe the barrel's bad I think that's where my brain was going

43:18Jonathan Wilson:that's fine they are a different barrel of apples it's just not a phrase I think we'll catch on during this season but if there's any way you want a phrase to catch on it's say it to me

43:26Barry Glendenning:and I'll try and run with it so is he a good I know I don't know okay is he a good cider maker is he a good orchardier orchardier right

43:34Jonathan Wilson:I mean Fulham probably does have an orchard in that bit if you pay three and a half grand for a season that now seems like a really good deal

43:40Barry Glendenning:after the World Cup

43:41Jonathan Wilson:there's an orchard in Fulham Palace yes there is

43:44Barry Glendenning:which is well worth a visit if anybody's going to Caden College

43:47Jonathan Wilson:Fulham fans absolutely delighted this is the road we've gone back isn't it

43:51Barry Glendenning:Well, I also think, I walked past it the other day, the stand looks incredible. From the other side of the river, it just fits in. It's kind of, it could have been a monstrosity and it's not. It has been really well done. It's a very nice place to pop in for a coffee or a bit of lunch as well, if anybody's in the area. On the pitch. On the pitch. If you would. I mean, Garcia, I think, is interesting. I mean, he was the golden boot at the Club World Cup in 2025. So, he's obviously not useless. But he's inexperienced and to ask him to step in for Val Jimenez straight away, I think ideally you probably would like to see you'd have a two-minute club at the same time to take a bit of pressure off but if he if he ignites in the way that he possibly could then that's pretty exciting for them

44:32Max Rushden:Harry Wilson and Raoul Imanos will need some replacing I think they played a part in more than half of Fulham's goals last season I think Ryan Sessignon is there I think it's time for him to shit or get off the pot he's been unconvincing for a very long time Josh King obviously was really good for them last season you'd hope he'd kick on as well Oscar Bob I mean Fulham they'll be fine won't they I was going to say I wasn't convinced by Arbeloa as a manager but if I'm giving Jaby Alonso a free pass for his time at Real I think Arbeloa probably deserves one as well so I've got them 13th.

45:17Barry Glendenning:I've got them 12th Monday the first game Arbeloa against Xabi Alonso they are two former World Cup winners playing against the Premier League there's only ever been six Premier League managers who've ever won the World Cup as either a player or a manager before can you name the other four as I now desperately think can I do it ok won the World Cup so there's only there's been six managers six Premier League managers who have won the World Cup either as a player or as a manager Batek Vieira Batek Vieira is one So one of them is a manager Two of them are players

45:48Philippe Auclair:As a manager We've been a bit Scolari Scolari

45:51Barry Glendenning:Yeah So there's two Two players who won The World Cup Who went on to manage In the Premier League I think it was probably Branded as the Premier Ship When they both did it Right Okay We're talking mid-90s Early to mid-90s I haven't Do you want me to give you The nationalities There's an Englishman And an Argentinian

46:07Jonathan Wilson:Alan Ball Alan Ball

46:08Barry Glendenning:Alan Ball Yes And then a really famous Argentinian Who's very Anglified Maradona Less famous than Maradona But not much

46:16Jonathan Wilson:Oh Aussie

46:16Philippe Auclair:Was he?

46:17Jonathan Wilson:Okay.

46:17Philippe Auclair:No, good quiz.

46:18Jonathan Wilson:Enjoyed it.

46:18Philippe Auclair:I've got one thing to add for Fuller. Please. I'm really interested in Gonzalo Garcia because he's got, he's a distant but is genuine relative of one of Hollywood's greatest stars of yesteryear. Is this another quiz?

46:34Barry Glendenning:Oh, is it Rita Hayworth?

46:35Philippe Auclair:It is Rita Hayworth. Wow, okay. Gilda, the lady from Shanghai, the sublime Rita Hayworth, is a grand-nephew of Rita Hayworth.

46:43Barry Glendenning:Lovely.

46:43Jonathan Wilson:Yep. Because you're not doing the second half, Can we have your top four or your top five, please, Philippe?

46:49Philippe Auclair:So Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, City. Okay. And who have you relegated? Bournemouth, Ipswich, Hull.

46:58Barry Glendenning:My top five, Arsenal, Chelsea, Villa, City, Liverpool. And the bottom three, Palace, Ipswich, Hull.

47:05Jonathan Wilson:Barry, keep your powder dry. Okay. Because you were appearing on the next episode. And you weren't impressed with City. You wrote a piece about that.

47:10Barry Glendenning:You look at the squad and the squad looks weirdly... If he'd written a piece saying he was impressed.

47:16Max Rushden:i'd be slightly concerned i mean i mean welfare check for wilson

47:24Barry Glendenning:i mean yeah so far off it i know i know you can never quite judge on community shield but the point is if you're thinking of them as potential title challenges they're so far off it even if they do click in three or four weeks they're going to be six seven points behind arsenal by then so already for them probably the race is run and you know i now sort of wonder whether uh yeah my assumption over the last two seasons was uh guardiola was just slightly getting beyond the peak maybe he was actually kind of dragging them to the level they got to because that's the squad looks really weirdly imbalanced now i think losing rodry's a huge blow i think they've lost a lot of the the personality of that side with bernardo silva john stones i mean okay john stones only started 11 games of 11 league games over the last two years but is somebody who kind of holds the squad together, who represents the sort of values of the club.

48:15Barry Glendenning:I think losing him is a problem. We've only got two defenders over the age of 25. So, yeah, I think significant issues. And the way that first goal was scored, I know it's a lovely bit of skill from Lewis Scully, but Chelsea can see a lot of goals where they're just simple balls or passes behind the back line, not enough pressure on the ball as the defence pushes up. So maybe that is a Muresco issue.

48:38Jonathan Wilson:All right. Well, that'll do for part one of our previews. Thank you, Philippe. Thank you very much. Thanks, Wilson. Cheers, thank you. Thanks, Baz. Thank you. It's the start of the season, and these are our biggest podcasts of the year. Why do we bother with the rest of them? So this is an earnest call-out for reviews on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us, please, on Instagram, TikTok, Blue Sky, YouTube. We'll be doing lots of, it says here, fun stuff on there throughout the season. Football Weekly is produced by Jesse Howard and Matt Bentley-Viney. Our executive producer is Joel Grove, back with the second half of The Alphabet tomorrow.

49:12Max Rushden:This is The Guardian.

49:22Philippe Auclair:Hey, it's your ceiling vent, so I'm dripping. Could be the rain, could be the upstairs bathroom. Yikes. You could hire the guy your neighbor recommended, but I'm pretty sure that's just his cousin. Do we know if he's licensed, or does he just stone a ladder? Listen to your home. Go with Thumbtack. Upload a photo or voice note and we'll diagnose your project and match you with the right pro for the job. Thumbtack. We know homes. Hire the right pro today.