647: Kings of Anglia: Our BIG 2026/27 season preview

16:27Ross Halls:Come on.

16:28Mark Heath:You've gone with it. It's the vibes section. You've gone with it. Let's stick with it. I'm going to say, I know we're all going to say, the rest of us are all going to say Emerson because I think all three of us are in agreement that hopefully the guy who's going to be the leading scorer isn't actually in the building yet. We're still hoping there's going to be a proven, experienced striker come in before the end of the window. As it stands, Emerson is going to be the starting striker on opening day. He'll be the man having to score the goals, at least in the early going. So I'll say him as it stands with a big asterisk next to it.

16:59Mark Heath:And I went for a very, very modest eight. I think if you can get eight this season, that's quite a good return for a project striker, albeit very expensive, but someone who can kind of grow into the league and bring other things other than goals, given that physicality that we've seen. So I'm saying Emerson with eight. Stu, I know you're saying Emerson as well. What did you say in terms of numbers?

17:24Stuart Watson:Apologies. I think it was, I think I put seven on it, didn't I? Went slightly lower than you, which sounds really low. And I know people say that's pessimistic, but you only have to look at the sort of top goal scorer list in the Premier League last season. There's not many that get into double digits. Strip away Haaland who does Haaland things A lot of the top goal scorers were in Even middle of the table clubs were in high single figures Low double digits Emerson, I like the early signs of him But he's raw, he's young He's got very little European football behind him As we've all said, the hope is that the main man is not in the building yet at the moment.

18:11But, yeah, seven for Emerson

18:15Stuart Watson:and maybe spread them around a little bit.

18:17Mark Heath:AJ, you also said Emerson, but by way of just kind of diversifying your answer, the man that is going to lead the leading scorer is highly unlikely to be Gabriel Jesus, isn't it? I mean, you never know, do you? I mean, we had this chat yesterday and you were really big on it and I did a little Google search and his reported wages are£265 ,000 a week for context. I think the average that Ipswich paid two years ago is around 40. That'll be higher this time around. I don't think that Town are going to be able to match that, so it might take something a little bit different, let's put it that way.

18:55Yeah, I've gone with Emerson, and then I agree on the other points. I don't think it's going to be loads. I had him on eight, so between you two. And I also agree with Stu. I think they're going to be quite nicely spread out the goals. I think you'll see kind of solid goal returns, not only from the striker, Aniston and whoever he's competing with, but also those playing behind and CISO, Filagene, who hopefully will stay, Jack Clark with a few off the bench, Fatou, etc. So yeah, nicely spread out.

19:22Stuart Watson:What did Dilat get last time? 12? 12 for Dilat, was it in the prep? I think it was 11 off the top of my head. Yeah, I mean, he did hit into double digits and it felt as well like he was scoring every week, didn't it? So that just shows how hard it is to kind of get to that point of doing that. Yeah, I'm just looking at last season. Welbeck, 13 for Brighton. Mateta, 12 for Palace. 12 he scored for Ipswich. 12 goals, 2 assists for the Latimer in Ipswich.

19:55Mark Heath:I mean, if Nciso does score 12 goals for us, that would be tremendous. That's kind of indicative of a very good season if he's getting 12. Right then, next up. what's this one oh it's very hot take heavy the hat of destiny wants our hot takes at the start of this show this is Rossi's hot take Rossi what is your hottest your most scorching of hot takes

20:21Ross Halls:now this can completely go wrong from the opening day because I think town hopefully Fort Worth Portman Road will be the one I think we've got to win our home games and And on paper, a home run is not too bad. I know we've got Liverpool for the second game. But just going through it, if we can get through... What's your hot take, Ross? Come on, what is it? Basically, we'll be unbeaten until November at home. There we go. That's what it is. There'll be draws. I'll expand.

20:51Mark Heath:I thought when I read this, I thought Ross has gone mad. Unbeaten at home until November. But then I looked at the fixtures, as you're about to argue. and other than Liverpool, which obviously is quite a big one in terms of getting through that unbeaten. I can see it, Ross. You can obviously see it as well.

21:09Ross Halls:Yeah. So if we can get through Sunderland and Liverpool, then we've got Fulham, which not too bad. Forest, Bournemouth, which tricky. Villa. So I think the Villa one is maybe the one where, yeah, we may lose. But I just don't think it's that bad. so even Newcastle in December that's the next game so then Brentford Chelsea do you know what we could even go the whole until December we'll do a Tiel with Villa game we'll be unbeaten so there'll be a few draws in there but I think we've got to win our home games we've got to you know make it a hard place to go and you know some teams going oh god we've got to go to Portman Road this afternoon and hopefully they'll you know they'll struggle so yeah

21:55Mark Heath:hopefully that can come off We're all very giddy, aren't we? We've got AJ saying they're going to absolutely tonk someone at some point. Some suggesting it might be Sunday on opening day. Ross saying they're going to be unbeaten in the league until Christmas. Home. Home. Not in the league. Sorry, home. Home. I'm beating home. What is the actual... Because I think you said November originally. Have you now just extended that to Christmas?

22:16Ross Halls:No, I'll say November. November. Yeah, I think that's... Play it safe. Don't want to get carried away. Yeah.

22:22Stuart Watson:Looking at that fixture list, that period I think from mid-September to the end of October looks so make or break to me Palace, Everton, Fulham Man City, put that one aside Forest and Hull that is tone setting stuff for the way this season pans out we're going to start talking about maybe some team zips which could catch I think I've just mentioned a few of the names in that little run so that looks a huge period to me

22:53Mark Heath:right then let's try not to get hot takes i've been too many hot takes let's see what this one is no anymore in that one uh right mvp which obviously for our american listeners understand that means most valuable player but for people like stew hate everything american that means star player uh stew who's going to be the mvp

23:17Stuart Watson:I always like to differentiate this from signing of the summer feels a bit boring using using the same person so most valuable player I think I plumped for Issa Diop not the one that probably people are talking about the most out of the 12 summer signings so far but he has more Premier League experience than any player in this squad he's just shy of 200 appearances in the top flight for West Ham and Fulham. And I really like the look of him in pre-season so far. He can cover the ground with speed. He's playing as a sort of the sweeper in this back four. He's the one that while everyone else is kind of pushing forwards, he's a bit of the insurance policy.

23:58Stuart Watson:Strong in the air, fresh from a World Cup, bit of hunger that he didn't get as much game time as he wanted last season. And let's be honest, Ipswich are going to probably have to do quite a bit of defending at times this season. So I think he could be the most valuable player.

24:15Mark Heath:I like it. That's solid. The more I think about that signing, the more I like it. AJ, who's going to be the MVP? The answer is Darrow Shea. There isn't really a lot more to say on that. I feel almost quite bullish on that. Just, I mean, as I wrote in there, captain, leader and a key figure at the back. I think he's going to play right back. He can play centre back. Like, he is obviously on the pitch. I think when I did my kind of end-of-year player of the season picks, he was third in the last Prem season. I had him second harshly behind Azor. So naturally, he's going to be number one next year.

24:54Comes into his third season. He's the captain. He's going to be setting the standards, not just on the pitch, but also off it. Obviously, a big task dealing with some of the best attackers in the world. But I think that in a season that can prove to be incredibly difficult, as we all know, it is very likely to be. I think he's going to be crucial, obviously, on the pitch, because aside from about two games, he's been fantastic in the last six to 12 months. And off it, I think that he's going to have a huge, huge role to play. So, yeah, he'll be my pick.

25:28Mark Heath:Captain Fantastic. Right, I'll go now because I think Ross has something similar. I'm going to go, my MVP is going to be Sasha Lukic. I think I'm a bit in love with Sasha Lukic, by the way. I did the profile when he signed. Not again. Yeah, I did the profile when he signed, and he's a really interesting guy. I love the background. I love the way he speaks. I love Stu's interview with him, what Stu kind of fed back about, what kind of character he is. And I think he's everything that Tal need in the Premier League, especially in that kind of um engine room uh he's not like a flashy um you know someone who's going to stand out every game i love the quote about him which i found during the profile which is the sort of play you need to watch live to fully appreciate um and the fact he's going to bring that tenacity he's got obviously that experience he's got underrated uh skills on the ball box to box energy um the only thing that does worry me is of course the yellow card thing he gets a I'm not getting a frankly ridiculous amount of yellow cards.

26:31Mark Heath:So he needs to chill out on that. But I can see him being town's most important player this season. So I'm going to say Sasha Lukic. And by the way, I know we've all got our favourites heading into the season. AJ, I believe that yours is Sindra now. He's your new Jack Taylor. Stu, I think you're also on the Sasha Lukic train. This is my observations, by the way. And Ross, I don't know. Have you got a favourite player at this point of the season?

26:56Ross Halls:Not yet. I've got, you know, there's Liv Davis, you know, he's been part of this incredible journey. He's probably up there. But yeah, we'll see. Maybe some of the new signings. AJ? Mine's a new signing, actually. I know that you mentioned Cinder and he's great. And go and check out my exclusive interview with Cinder Alarageli. One up this morning, one up tomorrow. And as you know, Mark, because you sat with me as we watched him, I have slightly fallen into love with Dyson Maida. I really hope he's good. I really hope he's good. I think he's fantastic. So, yeah, he's my favourite.

27:31Mark Heath:I forgot about that. As we watched him at Wickham in that sign, you said to me, I might get a shirt with my aid on the back. Didn't you? I might get his number on. I won't actually, but if I was going to get one, that would be it. Yeah. Rossi, we digressed there. Who's your MVP?

27:46Ross Halls:Yeah, echo what AJ said about Dara O'Shea. I think he's got a point to prove. I think last time in the Premier League and he's sadly got a pretty bad record of relegations, hasn't he, with Burnley and Town, backpack relocations with teams. Hopefully you can go away from that. And the last time, of course, we had a captain who was playing for Ireland. Of course, Matt Holland was not born in Ireland, but Irishman, we finished fifth. So, freedom of that, as you will. That's not happening. But yeah, Dara O'Shea, he's just, he is captain fantastic, which of course, what Matt Holland was. So, he's just going to be key for this team, leading, you know, from the front.

28:26Ross Halls:And a hot take as well. I think he's going to score a big goal away from home. He may even be part of Stu's hot take in terms of goal of the season nomination or goal of the month nomination because, of course, his goal gets you in Berlin.

28:39Mark Heath:How many hot takes do you want, Ross? Just throw it out there now. All the hot takes. All the hot takes. Have another zinger. Let me ask this to the group. So, two of us are saying Dara O'Shea. And then I'm saying Sasha and Stu is saying it's a deal. Can Dara O'Shea, I'll ask you this, Stu, being as you didn't pick him. Can he be the MVP if he's playing right back all season? Do you think he can still be as important?

29:01Stuart Watson:Yeah, I guess the more I think about it, the most valuable player is who would you miss the most if you took them out of it? What are they bringing overall to the party? And the off-the-pitch stuff that AJ has touched upon shouldn't be underestimated. This is global recruitment now. How many different nationalities in this squad that have come from far and wide? and his role in kind of bringing everybody together and getting that team spirit is going to be massive. Don't know how I feel about him right back at this moment in time. I can see why you want him in the team, because of his experience and his leadership.

29:44Stuart Watson:The thought of kind of playing someone semi out of position, going into the most unforgiving league in the world. Have some slight reservations about, but yeah absolutely he can be most valuable player he was from that wrexham game away where he was you know he had a bit of a nightmare in february time last season he was near faultless during that promotion running and was was incredible and it was a coin toss between him and as or for player of the season so um yeah he's going to be a big player for ipswich no doubt absolutely right then let's move on

30:19Mark Heath:destiny it's my hot take right then you've all done very exciting very positive hot takes allow me to take a little bit of water from the reality well and just pour it on a little bit of that flame because my hot take friends is that town's battle against relegation is going to go right down to the last day I think it's going to be one of those seasons where they're up. They have maybe like AJ's already said, they one week they tonk someone and we're all like, yes, this is great. They're going to qualify for Europe. And then they go on a three game losing streak. Well, actually, it's quite hard, isn't it?

30:59Mark Heath:I've forgotten about that. So I think it's going to be up and down all season, proper rollercoaster ride, which is good because we want, you know, things to be playing for. And I think it's going to end up being decided on the last day of the season, which from our point of view, Stu, would leave you in something of a moral dilemma, of course, because they play Everton at Portman Road on the last game of the season. I know which side your bread will be buttered if indeed that comes to pass. That's what I'm saying. That's my hot take. Take it or leave it, but it's mine. I'm sticking to it.

31:30Stuart Watson:Don't do that to me because I think I'm not convinced by Everton at the moment. I just think there's a bit of a staleness creeping in. The fan base aren't sold on the recruitment. I would put them in the mix of teams that could get dragged into it this year. Imagine both teams fighting on the final day for it.

31:53Stuart Watson:I think I can't even contemplate that one at the moment, but it's not possible.

31:59Mark Heath:Now I want it to happen, just to see you on that day. Anyway, right, we've got two more left. Let's do... Oh! Cancer of Destiny has spewed out the highlight, I think, of every pre-season pod, which is the Aaron Drinan Memorial Award surprise package. Of course, when we first started this pod, I picked Aaron Drinan. You and Hutchie started giggling straight away, Stu. And I said, what are you laughing at? And he said, he's gone out on loan. I was like, great. And that set the tone for my input to the pod ever since, essentially. Complete nonsense. Although I do, as a result, have Aaron Drinan signed Itchurch Town shirt hanging on the wall over there.

32:39Mark Heath:I reckon that's probably the only one on the planet. Surprise package, please, Orozco.

32:46Ross Halls:I'm sure there's loads of Swindon Town ones, though. Oh, yes. I'm talking Ipswich Town, mate. I'm talking 26 dry in Ipswich Town. Yeah, very much so. My surprise package is going to be Sindra Wally Aghelli. He had a tough sort of first season, didn't he, in the championship. Missed out. Of course, check out OJ's exclusive interview. Part one. Part two will be out shortly as well. He looked really good in pre-season. He's playing in the 10 now, which is his favourite position. Yeah, I think we're going to have some moments from him. I think he's going to enjoy the Premier League a bit more. It'll still be tough.

33:25Ross Halls:But, yeah, he may not start every week. I think he'll come off the bench. He may start in some other games where you're like, wow, I wasn't expecting him starting. And once again, bringing in the chat about goal of the month nomination. Oh, you're not going to throw a screamer? Yeah, he's going to score a screamer. How many players are scoring screamers this season, Ross? We've got about five of them now. It's CISO, Doris, and Sinjof. But yeah, this is going to be a big season for him, and hopefully he can do it.

33:53Mark Heath:Christian Walton. Sherpen, yeah, he's just going to... First game of the season. Oh, dear, oh, dear. We're all getting a bit giddy. AJ, who's going to be the surprise package, the actual surprise package, who's going to make Aaron driving proud? I really struggled with this one, I've gone with Christian Walton, and I just think he's going to find a way back into the team somehow because he always does. He's almost like, and I know Jack Taylor's been a popular pick. You know how, and I think I've said this on previous posts, Ipswich have tried to replace Jack Taylor about 50 times, and every time Jack Taylor ends up back in the team.

34:25Now, I think that his luck might be running out on that front, but I think Christian Walton's got a similar kind of story. No matter how many goalkeepers Ipswich try and sign, it always kind of turns out that Christian Walton is probably the most reliable one. And it's really harsh, and I'm kind of basing this off a little bit of pre-season. I'm not fully there with Kel Sherpen. I have some slight concerns, and I just think that there's going to be a game, be it based off injury or a really good cut performance, where Walton will come in and he'll keep the Sherpen. So, I think that, given that most people wouldn't expect that to happen, and they'd expect Sherpen to be the starter throughout the season, there's every chance he is.

35:04but just got a gut feeling that he's going to come in Christian Walton for Kel Sherpen, and he's going to get the shirt and he's going to keep it.

35:11Mark Heath:I can see it happening as we already established Sherpen is too tall. He's gone over the line on usefulness of keepers over the line. He's three inches too tall. In fact, as we already established, one of the tallest ever. Don't start this again, but also AJ, I think that's the first time we haven't picked Jack Taylor in a surprise package. So that would make sense. As I said, like Jack Taylor, if this was not the Premier League, if Town had ballsed us up last year, I would be sat right now previewing the Championship again, talking about how Jack Taylor is going to be the starting midfielder for Ipswich again somehow.

35:45I just think that with the plethora of options he probably, I wouldn't be surprised if I moved away, is on the cards this summer. But yeah, it is weird how, as I said, they tried to move him on, they tried to take him out of the team no matter what signings Ipswich made he always came back to Jack Taylor. and I think that Christian Walton might have something similar.

36:04Mark Heath:Yeah, I can't see Taylor playing much this season. Stewie, who's going to be a surprise package for you?

36:11Stuart Watson:Struggled with this one. It's trying to pick something that nobody's talking about and I plumped for Jadon Filogene in the end, which sounds strange, but it's been a little bit out of sight, out of mind this summer. People have forgotten just how good he was at times in the Championship last season. the goals he scored, the moments he had. And it was almost an acceptance. Oh, he's off after all the agent-led noise at the start of the summer. But my understanding is he's fully reintegrated now. He came on for the second half of the final warm-up game in Germany and looked quite sharp on the ball.

36:52Stuart Watson:And when he gets back to full fitness again, I can see Gary O 'Neill putting a bit of an arm around him and him being far more effective in the Premier League this time than he was two years ago, which signed him in January. He came into a struggling side. He hadn't played a lot of football in the first half of the season and we weren't convinced, but we saw the real Jadon Filagin last season in the Championship. There's a reason he's made big money moves throughout his career and been an England under-21 international. And I think he'll, for all the talk about Dazen Maida, I think he could end up being the kind of more often than not the starting left winger and have some big moments.

37:31Stuart Watson:So that's why I've gone for Fulajin.

37:33Mark Heath:I like it. My surprise package is actually also on those same lines. Someone we're not talking about, we haven't talked about really all summer. And that's a gentleman by the name of Azor Matasiwa. We're all talking about Lewis and Lukic and Lewis is an upgrade on Azor and Azor's been injured. And yes, that is a concern. And I hope he gets back up to speed because his physical shape is obviously very important to the way he plays the game. but at the start of the summer when Tam were first promoted we were all saying right who's the most Premier League ready Azor Matasiwa and I think we've kind of forgotten about that because he's not been playing he's not been kind of in the conversation but I fancy him to get in the team and stay in the team because I think he's built for the Premier League they recruited him for that very reason so I'm going to say Azor Matasiwa is going to remind people just how important a player is to this team in the Premier League right then final one How have destiny has left this one to last?

38:25Mark Heath:Well, last, as you say. Best signing so far. Now, obviously, they've made 12 signings, 10 new faces. There's going to be more to come, but we can only base it on what they've signed so far. Ross, who is the best signing that Ipswich Town have made so far?

38:42Ross Halls:It was between two, but, of course, I've got an hour down, just one. And you've mentioned him in glowing reference. You basically love him now. I do. I don't know how he would react to that if we ever speak to Sasha. Yeah, our host of the podcast, Mark Key, said he loves you. You've got an answer to that. But yeah, Sasha Lukic, just what a superb sign that is. I'm still sort of surprised we've got him, really, because he was a solid player for Fulham, Premier League experience, international player as well. It's funny when you go through our squad and, like, players are playing in the World Cup.

39:17up there won this many cats internationally for their country.

39:21Ross Halls:It's just incredible. But he'll be a general on that midfield. He will get a few yellow cards and he may miss games because he may be suspended maybe. But I think he will stop at nothing to get town a win and really battle. So, yeah, best signing up. The fee is well paid. He isn't too shabby. So, yeah, Sasha Lukic, best signing up for us so far.

39:39Mark Heath:And a stupid bit of business. He will get yellow cards though. He was tied for fifth and he only played 20 games last season. I think the season before he was tied for first. So he's going to get loads of yellow cards. Stu, who's your best signing so far?

39:54Stuart Watson:Can I only echo all of your thoughts on Sasha Lukic so far? Experience on the international scene and in the Premier League. And was just so impressed with my first meeting with him out in Germany. He's a winner. You can just see he's got that kind of serious Serban hardness about him. I wrote in the piece about how it was his birthday out in Germany and the players gave him a bit of guard of honour in training. I think they sorted him out a cake and called for speech. I think most people were kind of waiting for a bit of a light-hearted few words and it was very much a kind of, right, let's get down to business.

40:37Stuart Watson:I'm here to do well for Ipswich and I have high standards and I expect the same of you. I just really like the look of him in that first game against Union Berlin. Not just the combativeness that we talked about and you need that sort of nasty edge, but also the way he just takes care of the ball. There are some real Sam Morsi similarities there, I think, in terms of what he's going to bring on and off the ball. And I think he's going to be very good for Ipswich. Both him and Diop, I think, are the two sort of key bits of business. so far.

41:08Mark Heath:Yeah, I think he's also someone that's not going to be trifled with. A bit of a kind of figure of steel in that midfield. I've actually found a picture of him playing against Town for Fulham, that game that De Lapp scored that extraordinary goal. And it's him standing next to De Lapp. And we all talk about De Lapp as an absolute unit. But Lukic, at least from that picture, doesn't look that much smaller than him. You know, a physical specimen as well. So, yeah, good shouts to you. I'm going to go. I'm going to let AJ finish this. It'll be no surprise to anyone who I think the best signing so far is, obviously, Abdul Fatou.

41:41Mark Heath:I'm very excited about him still. I still think he's going to be brilliant. I like what I've seen from him in pre-season. He's going to be explosive. There's going to be several times this season, I think he's going to get us kind of out of our seats and talking in tongs and go, wow, do you see that? Because he's so quick with the ball. He's so keen to run at people. If they can get him isolated one-on-one with people, he's going to do damage. My only slight concern, little caveat, is that he can be quite inconsistent. so I think he'll do something incredible one game where we go wow amazing and then he'll be anonymous next and we'll be going but I'm still saying Abdul Fatou because I think of all the players at town I've got I reckon he's going to be the most exciting so that's my answer AJ what is your answer?

42:21I can't believe that Ipswich have re-signed Julio and CISO permanently I cannot believe it he was talking about someone who's 22 so still has his whole career ahead of him he's already played in the Premier League. He's already had a spell at Town, but that was on loan. And if he'd gone back to the end of that loan spell and said it's actually going to go back and sign him permanently when you're back in the Premier League, you go, what? He must have had a really terrible season after that. No, he's gone to France. He's paid in the French top flight, and in all competitions, he's bagged 12 goals, 9 assists, which I think is a pretty good return.

42:51Town have managed to negotiate with Blue Co, notoriously difficult to kind of go through and deal with them and get what I think is a really good fee. For someone who's just been off at the world cup and oh yeah by the way just scored against germany and helped paraguay knock them out of the world cup to reach the quarterfinals think for the first time in their history he's the poster boy of a south american country he is this young x-factor exciting player i i know that he's not probably the finished article there i know that there's probably areas of his game that he still has to work on but we've heard about how he's matured as a player and if he can do that and still have those individual qualities i think he's going to be fantastic and also i think this is the first signing that we've had so far where i mean ipswich have done really good business so far this summer you mentioned lukic and diop they're really exactly what ipswich needed but i think this is the first one and probably the only one i'd say so far and i think there'll be more to come where i've looked and gone wow they've got they've got in c so they've managed to sign him wow that is and i think that that is something that's spread through the fan base he's signed in the week building up to the season can you just feel that the mood's lifted about ipswich's transfer business a little bit in a crucial week and obviously they're going to be ambitious in the final weeks as well but it's kind of i think been an eye open and we're not messing around here and i like that so i like what he's going to bring on the pitch i'm still really impressed it was which i managed to get him permanently and um i just think that yeah he lifts the mood around portman

44:16Mark Heath:road a very important time nice aj genuinely a bit stunned there about the julio and cso signing like it well this brings us now then boys let's have a look at the what we think is going to happen to the Premier League? Because I know you're going to ask where we think Town are going to finish and we're just going to leave that till a bit later on because it's all going to kick off when we start talking about that. Let's do, first of all, who's going to win the Premier League? I watched Arsenal Man City at the weekend. Arsenal absolutely tonked Man City. Therefore, I'm saying Arsenal are going to win the league again.

44:48Mark Heath:Ross, who do you think is going to win the league?

44:52Ross Halls:Yeah, I would like it to be a bit different but I've gone for the Gunners. I think they've got that momentum. I lost that one in the Champions League final, of course, but I think they're going to make it back-to-back and then have a good season. They've recruited well. So, yeah, they're going to be a tough team to beat this year.

45:10Stuart Watson:Stu? Can't look beyond Arsenal. Too much transition around them, post-pep at Man City, changing manager at Liverpool. Chelsea, you just don't know what you're going to get with the wild transfer windows that they're having. But, yeah, I think Arsenal will win it and probably quite comfortably. AJ, who have you got winning the league? I agree that I think Arsenal are probably the most likely, but I want it to be different. And I like Chelsea this season, and I think that there's good vibes around them with Xabi Alonso. I think that he's going to get them in order a little bit. I think that bringing in people like Welbeck and Henderson might seem a bit ridiculous, but actually the dressing room culture can be good.

45:50And they're still going out and doing Chelsea things, like being the top spenders in the league, going out and spending huge, huge amounts of money on very talented footballers. I've just got a feeling that it might all click. And with Arsenal tired, shattered after last season, a lot of players out of the World Cup, when's Declan Rice going to be back to his best again? I wonder if a team like Chelsea can start fast and open up a bit of a gap.

46:12Mark Heath:Okay, let's go back around the room. Starting with me is with top four. So I've said Arsenal are going to win the league. I agree with you, AJ. I think Chelsea, they finished 10th last season. I've got them finishing second this season. Quite, you might say, the underdog story. I've got them second. Man City, I'm not convinced about, mainly because I've seen Maresca at Leicester. I don't know if he's ready for Man City. So I've got them maybe toiling a bit. I've got them third and I've got Liverpool fourth. So AJ, you're saying Chelsea are going to win the league. Who are the three that are going to finish behind them?

46:47Yeah, I've got the same thing, just in a different order. I think that based on this, I'll go with Chelsea and Arsenal to be a fair little whack away from the rest. I think this could be a transition season for City. Not only that, but losing Rodri is a hell of a blow. So I think they could drop off a bit. And I also have Liverpool in fourth as well. I think they'll probably just edge it ahead of Man United for me. Stu?

47:12Stuart Watson:I'm just trying to remember the order I put them in. I've still got City up in second. They've got one or two decent players still, haven't they? if you look through their squad. And then I had, I think Man United will be up in the top four again. I thought they finished the season so well under Michael Carrick and Tielemans is a good pick up for them. And then I think I had Liverpool making up four. I just think Iriola is a really good manager for them and I think he could kind of suit them and get them going again. So they're my top four.

47:42Mark Heath:Carrick will be sacked by October. That's the Manchester United way. Rossi, what are you saying?

47:48Ross Halls:So yeah, behind Arsenal will be... I'm not going to do it in order, really. I know that's probably cheating. I kind of want you to do it in order. That's the point. Okay, okay. Let's do... You know what? I think Main Otter are going to go for it this year. I think they're recruited well. And yeah, I think they're going to finish second. Man City third. Chelsea fourth. Liverpool, I don't know. Salah's gone. I know they've recruited, signed other players, but I think they're going to struggle this year. Liverpool. I've got a good manager, of course. He did well at Bournemouth, but that's Bournemouth.

48:21Ross Halls:This is Liverpool Football Club. So, yeah, I think they'll strive to get in top four. Chelsea, I'm interested. I'm intrigued, but I think that could all fall apart at some stage, potentially, with all their players.

48:34Mark Heath:Now then, Dark Horse. I'm going to go first. I want to take you on a little journey, boys. What would be a football fairy tale? This team, starting this season with nothing but a dream quite frankly and 350 million pounds of new talent uh but they did finish 10th last season uh so that for them to jump up to where i'm saying they're going to be which is in the title race would be quite the fairy tale in my opinion uh so i'm saying chelsea are my dark horse aj i know you've got feelings about this uh let them let them flow now you cannot put a big six i don't care if they're not a top six club anymore like they've been outside the top six you cannot have a quote unquote big six and that counts for someone else here who's also done that you cannot have them as a dark horse pick you cannot have the fourth favorites for the title in the bookies odds as a dark horse pick and you cannot have the top spenders in the premier league you've just spaffed 110 odd million pounds on morgan rogers as your dark horse pick 117 i i was a little bit I didn't feel as confident as I probably looked when it came to the Kjell Sherpen debate.

49:47But this is like, I do think, I am currently booking you a flight to The Hague where you should be tried for your course.

49:54Mark Heath:Let's not start this. Get ourselves cancelled. Okay, well, I would argue that there are different types of dark horses. I would say that in terms of the title race, having finished 10th last season, I'm saying they're going to be in the title race. I think they qualify as a dark horse. So if you're just basing it on money spent, AJ, you'd say Ipswich Town can't be a dark horse this season because they've spent the third most in the league so far. I think anyone would say objectively that's nonsense. So I'm defending it. I'm going for it. Chelsea, my dark horse. Who are yours? So I've gone with an actual pick and not a stupid one.

50:28I've gone with Leeds to be my dark horse this time around. The team who looked like they were going to get relegated last year, then have the kind of epiphany that Stu mentioned where they just went back five and Daniel Farker changed things around and they looked really, really good. I think the recruitment's been good. I like the players they brought in. They've gone with experience in signing players like Wilson. Then they've gone and got, for my money, and I know he didn't get to play that much last season, one of the best goalkeepers in the division, especially young goalkeepers in James Trafford.

50:59I like the experienced kind of centre-back. So they've got a youngster in Muramera Rich, who's come in, and Elvedi as well, kept the core of the squad. Then you add in a lot of their rivals to finish where they want to be playing in Europe. Then you add in Elland Road's a bit of a hard place to go, isn't it? It's where a lot of teams fall down flat on their faces, just think they're going to have a good season, and I think they'll be definitely in the top half. Plucky underdogs, just like Chelsea.

51:27Mark Heath:Stu, who's your dark horse?

51:31Stuart Watson:yeah the definition of this is always difficult isn't it I plumped for Nottingham Forest why Oliver Glasner did ridiculous things at Crystal Palace FA Cup Community Shield Europe and he's gone to Forest to burn through so many managers last season pretty crazy season don't have Europe to contend with they finished 16th I think they'll kick on from there. I know Elliot Anderson's a big loss, but they've spent some money. I think they'll probably spend a bit more. In terms of the biggest rise from where they were last season, I've got Forrest.

52:09Mark Heath:OK. Forrest leads Chelsea. I think we can all agree excellent picks so far. Ross, what have you got?

52:17Ross Halls:I've gone for Spurs because the last two seasons they finished 17th. I'm with you, Ross.

52:24Mark Heath:I think that's nice.

52:25Ross Halls:They got relegated. and yeah they're supposed to be a top six club but I don't care about that sort of thing I think they're recruited well I think they've got a decent manager they've got rid of Romario who was their captain or whatever he used to just get sent off all the time so they got rid of him and I think they've got a good squad I'm not saying they're going to battle for the title but I think they're going to be up there and I think it's allowed to be a dark horse because they've finished 17th the last two seasons It helps when you can spend£200 million on two different players, basically.

52:58Mark Heath:Do you know what me and you are, Ross? We're outside-the-box thinkers. We're not tied down to traditional, boring thinking.

53:03Stuart Watson:What do Spurs and Chelsea have to do, respectively, AJ, for you to sign this one off? I don't think you can. I mean, Spurs, I tell you what, Chelsea, I cannot go for it. I'm sorry. Even if they won the league, I wouldn't have it as a dark horse pick. Spurs, I can push myself a little bit more given how shambolic they have been but to have them as a dark horse pick I would need them firmly in a title race as an absolute minimum and even then it irks me a little bit I'll be honest

53:39Mark Heath:Small minded, that's all I'm saying Open your mind Embrace new ways of thinking Anyway, speaking of new ways of thinking let's do the big ones, shall we? Before we do the relegated sides Let's do where Ipswich Town are going to finish. Here we go. Right then. Let's start with AJ, shall we? You know what's really fun? I think, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm the only one who's gone for this one and it always feels like the logical pick to do. I've gone 17th. So I've gone with Ipswich staying in the Premier League. I'm not going to go European Dreams with the Sunderland. I just think that they are in a better position than the two teams they've come up with, commentary feel very well i'm kind of gonna be gonna have the commentary essentially are are they feel very ipswich of two years ago and hull i need to see them like actually sign some players would be a start um and then it's just about finding someone else and i think that maybe unlike previous seasons where there was a really big gap i can i can kind of envision a couple of sides getting dragged into it so i think they can drag someone in um but o 'neill's done it before with a couple of different clubs.

54:49I think that will help. And it's just about a fast start, getting those players to gel quickly. So, yeah, not going to go too big, but I'll back them to do it. 17th and survive in the Premier League. I'll take it now, AJ.

55:00Mark Heath:17th. Ross, you've been very, very positive. Purbeya of hot takes. Slinger of fire. Where are Ipswich Towns? Don't go with Ross next. Yeah, I'm afraid we have to. No, no, no. I'm afraid we have to go because we have to have a conversation, you and me. We have to have a grown-up conversation. So let's get the dreamer out of the way, shall we? Ross, what are you saying?

55:21Ross Halls:Yeah, this could be changed in a few weeks' time after being absolutely spattered by Maynard and Liverpool. But once again, I just feel fine. I just feel very goody, of course. I'm just very happy about the transfer business. I feel we're in a better position. Gary O 'Neill doesn't want to finish 17th. He said that already in his interview, like, 17th is nothing for me. they want to finish higher. So I've gone 15th and that is very ambitious and I don't think it's out of the question it could happen because there's so many clubs in transition with new managers, big players leaving. This time around, I'm not going to say it's easier Premier League, but I think there's going to be more teams around it going to be struggling.

56:10Ross Halls:So we've got to take advantage of that and hopefully we will. We need to beat the teams down around us. I think that's what we didn't do last time around. So 15th would be lovely. Of course, I'm not going to get too carried away and go, yep, European football, but that can wait. But yeah, 15th.

56:28Mark Heath:Okay, so who are the five teams they're finishing above, Ross?

56:32Ross Halls:Bloody hell, I'm not prepared for that question. It could be anybody. Well, do it now. Okay, so, well, whole commentary. Yeah, yeah. Fulham. Yeah, yeah. They'll sack him.

56:47Ross Halls:Trying to think of the Premier League teams now. Do you know what? Newcastle. I'm not having this Newcastle bloke. The new Newcastle manager.

56:56Mark Heath:Yeah.

56:56Ross Halls:A lot of people said that.

56:57Mark Heath:Yeah.

56:58Ross Halls:They're definitely on the downward trend. So you've got one more. What's the other teams?

57:04Mark Heath:Everton. Sorry, Stu. Straight through the heart. Right then, Stu. We've got to have this conversation. Where do you think Ipswich Town are going to finish?

57:14Stuart Watson:I'll cut to the chase. Boo me if you like. I've gone for 18th.

57:21Stuart Watson:Ipswich have come. I'm really excited about the overall trajectory of Ipswich Town Football Club as a whole and all of the things that we've discussed, the training ground, the recruitment, the fact that Gary O 'Neill's done it before, the fact that he's talking about being a little bit more adaptable and pragmatic at times. I think maybe what Sunderland and Leeds to a lesser extent last year has maybe made us forget how tough the Prem is and there was a reason that there was becoming a bit of a trend of the teams that go up coming straight back down Ipswich have closed that gap that gap is a lot smaller than it was two years ago the water levels have risen we always use that analogy the players that were brought in as starters last time in the Premier League are now becoming kind of more squad players.

58:15Stuart Watson:But I look at, you know, you've just asked Ross about who, who are they going to finish above? And I can make some arguments for some clubs, but I don't know if I can make them strong enough. Here's an example, right? Spurs finished 17th last season and look what they've done in the transfer window. though. I'm looking at the favourites, the bookies' favourites to go down. Do you know, beyond the three that have come up, the next favourites are Sunderland. They finished seventh last season and are playing in Europe. And I just think this could change over the next couple of weeks. Ipswich, I think, are two missing pieces of the jigsaw away.

58:58Stuart Watson:And they need a central midfielder and a striker. They need their Granit Xhaka and their Brian Brobby. That's kind of how I feel. And if Ipswich can deliver those sort of signings, then I could upgrade that. But that's kind of where I feel at the moment. You still need a Newcastle or an Everton or a Leeds to have a real drop-off. You're needing them to drop sort of 10 points from what they did last season. That still feels like quite a big drop-off to me. So that's my logic. I know probably people will go, come on. If you can't get behind Ipswich this season, then what's the fun in that? But my job isn't to sort of get too carried away.

59:42Stuart Watson:I guess my job is to be honest about it. And that's what I think.

59:46Mark Heath:Very negative, Stu. Very negative. I'm saying fifth. I think that's what I'm going to feel. I'm not, unfortunately. I'm agreeing with you, Stu. And as ever, you have explained you're working very well. I'm of a similar mind. I think we all got very giddy last time in the Premier League. You know, not unexpectedly because of the back-to-back promotions. We all thought, wow, why not? They can go. And I think we all predicted 17th last time. I think Ross actually might have gone 16th. And looking back at that now, you think, well, that's a nonsense prediction, really, looking at the squad. Town have made huge strides this summer.

1:00:21Mark Heath:They are much better prepared to go into the Premier League. But I also think amongst all that excitement and hoo-ha about the signings, people have forgotten just how hard the Premier League is and the calibre of player they're going to be up against week in, week out. And it's more kind of me thinking, let's be realistic here. It's kind of head over heart. And we desperately hope, obviously, to be proved wrong. And certainly in my scenario, history will show that I'm frequently wrong. But unfortunately, sitting here, I think realism over kind of optimism and kind of blind faith, I think that they might just come up short.

1:00:59Mark Heath:but what I don't want because obviously we put this out early in the week our predictions immediately people come back so so negative god typical that's not what we want to happen friends we want Ipswich Town to finish be safe by Christmas trust me we need Ipswich Town to be successful having just launched KOA we need them to be successful we do not want a terrible season at Ipswich Town but we are here we are paid to give our honest opinion based on certainly in case, knowledge, actual knowledge of the situation. I would always be honest with you, always have been, and I just feel that it's going to be really close.

1:01:34But sitting here now, they're just going to come up short.

1:01:37Mark Heath:If they go out and sign a striker, because I'm worried about where the goals are going to come from, a good striker, then, you know, all bets are off, as it were. But sitting here right now, I can't predict who they're going to sign. I'm going to say 18th. So, Mears-Jewis is saying relegated. Alex is saying 17 Ross what are you saying again? European football lads get ready for next season let's do it narrow minded aren't they Ross? that's what I mean I don't understand it yeah just like the media

1:02:04Ross Halls:like the other media they're back in commentary back in commentary stay up but it's time to go down

1:02:10Mark Heath:typical mainstream media anyway

1:02:12Stuart Watson:I've got a lot I've got a lot of hopes and fears kind of rattling around in my head as always at this time of year you can swing from optimism to pragmatism, whatever you want to call it, almost on an hour-by-hour basis. I look at it this year and I think there's nine new managers starting the season, which I think is a record. So a bit of instability around the league provides an opportunity. Ipswich, of course, are one of those. And we just don't know how a new era is going to go. I know we're kind of putting a lot of emphasis and weight on Gary O 'Neill having done it twice before, skipping over the kind of second season at Wolves a little bit.

1:02:50Stuart Watson:But you don't know with post-Kieran McKenna, you don't know what you've got till it's gone. And, you know, let's not forget he was a very special manager, Kieran McKenna, and they're transitioning out of that. Love the fact that they're spreading the let globally. And I think you have to do that to stand a chance in the Premier League, but that will provide its challenges as well. We're talking in excited tones about the top end of the pitch and the goals they could score. but is it a collection of attacking individuals? How will they come together in terms of chemistry? I'm not sure. Defensively, you look and it's three of the starting back four from the last Premier League season in O'Shea, Grease and Davis that conceded quite a few goals.

1:03:34Stuart Watson:So have they come on enough to sort of bridge that gap? I don't know. We're about to find out. And that's the great thing, isn't it?

1:03:45Mark Heath:Yeah, that's a great segue to Sunderland. I can see two things happening, potentially. But I can see Town coming out Saturday, playing really well, beating Sunderland. We're all like, wow, this is definitely going to be competitive. They're definitely going to stay up this season. I can also see them coming out and losing Sunderland on Saturday, then losing to Man United, losing to Liverpool. And we're sitting here after three games going, what? What's going on? What's the first three games? Gary O 'Neill's not very good, is he? So I can see both those things happening. It is the great unknown.

1:04:11Mark Heath:And that's the beauty of sport, isn't it? Let's talk about Sunderland, friends. We've done our predictions. Let's talk about Sunderland. Because there's one big conversation left I want to have. And I'm going to start with you, Stu. I know Ross, you don't care about it. So I'm basically going to focus on Stu and AJ here, which is who's going to start. We've got Nciso, we've got Utara thrown into the mix. And we don't know anything, really, in terms of massively versatile, obviously, the young lad and where he might play. 17 million suggests to me anyway that he's going to end up starting somewhere, but maybe not.

1:04:42Mark Heath:Let's have that conversation. So, Stu, if you were picking a starting XI now, who you might expect to trot out against Sunderland on Saturday, what would it be?

1:04:49Stuart Watson:Churping in goal, I think that's pretty clear that he's been signed to be the number one. And as AJ says, had a couple of nervy moments in pre-season. We can't get away from that. Raises some slight fears of, is this Aramuric take two? That's another little concern, the unknown around the goalkeeping department. But hopefully that was just a bit of adrenaline and he's settling in and he's going to be great. And he's come and collect crosses at these scrums of corners and pull off save after save as he did in Belgium last season. But complete unknown between the sticks, I would say, in Kiel Sherpen at the moment.

1:05:25Stuart Watson:Looks like it's going to be O'Shea right back, Diop, Greaves, Davis. Midfield is very hard to call at the moment because we don't know Florentino Luis where he's at in terms of fitness. That was all very vague after Berlin last week. He'd missed out with a knock. So we'll find out a bit more at Gary O 'Neill's press conference. All being well, it would be Florentino and Lukic. If Luis doesn't make it, it's a difficult one to call, whether he goes with Nunez or whether, you know, does he chuck Wattara straight in because he's played a bit of central midfield. I don't know. And then front four, Patawu, similar conversation around Luis.

1:06:05Stuart Watson:Missed out with a knock last weekend. I think he'll be okay. I think he'll be on the right. I think Maeda will start on the left just because Villagin is probably playing catch-up a little bit in terms of fitness. Emerson up front, that's a given. Shortage of strikers at the moment. And then number 10, does he throw Nciso straight in? I think there'll be a temptation to do it just because it's Portman Road. It excites the crowd. It lifts the crowd. Fitness-wise, I don't know how many minutes he's played for Strasbourg, but he's got plenty of game time at the World Cup. I think they might just chuck Julio straight in.

1:06:41Mark Heath:Okay. What do you say, AJ? Do you agree with all of what Stu said? Yeah. Literally, I have everything written down here. I made a note thing, funny enough, in Berlin Airport about what I would do as my team. and it is literally exactly what Stu has rattled off there. I have the same debate with Nciso. It's not Nciso. I think it will be Sindra. And then you've got the kind of debate about, yeah, how the injuries are going to shape up. I think Fatou will be fine. I hope Florentino will be fine because I think that that could be a bit of a problem if he's not because I'm not fully on board with Marcelino Nunez at the moment.

1:07:17And I don't know if this kind of double pivot is Wattara's best role, but it needs must. So they could do with another midfielder in there or they could do with Azul coming back. But other than that, I don't really have too much to change. You can then go and name a strong bench. You go with Walton Furlong, Wattara Nunez, Sindra, Casey McIntyre, Jack Clark, Villagene, Akbom. So game changers on the bench. And even then, you're leaving out players like Matissira and Taylor, both injured, Van Uvalen heading to Valencia. And then Kipre, Humphries, even Anis Mimeti isn't getting a place on the bench at the moment.

1:07:52and that's with more players to come, at least in the team that I've picked there, I should say. And that's with more players to come through the door, as Mark Ashton has alluded to. So, yeah, for an opening day squad, I'm pretty happy with that. I've just remembered, by the way,

1:08:06Mark Heath:I'm going to put you on the spot now, AJ, because you've used the term. I had an email from someone the other day that said, I've been watching football for 60... I love your stuff. Correct. I've been watching football for 60 years and the boys keep talking about a double pivot. What the hell is a double pivot? And I'm the same, AJ. You just mean midfielders, don't you? I mean, what's a double pivot? Yeah, essentially two deep-lying midfielders. Nonsense. Just say midfielders. But then that could mean, what about the number 10? Is that too technical? No. Does that count as a midfielder? Double pivot is a big-lying midfield.

1:08:39So where do you draw the line?

1:08:39Mark Heath:Nonsense. Well, I heard another story. Dean Saunders coaching a local football side. Young lads. Asked the lad, where do you play? He said, Cam. Dean Saunders said, what? What's a Cam? Well, that's the FIFA era of football. Double pivot. Complete nonsense. Stu, back me up there. You would use the term double pivot.

1:09:01Stuart Watson:I'm all right with it. I've probably been quite curmudgeonly about borderline Dean Saunders. Dean Saunders and co. have taken it to an absolute extreme. Why are we calling it the high press? We used to just call it closing down in our day. Look, language changes. doesn't it, in all walks of life, and it's changed in football. I'm OK with double pivot. I think most people know what that is. It's not for me. Just say what you mean.

1:09:31Mark Heath:Right then, we need to do a little chat about Sunderland. I'm going to stick with you, AJ, because you're probably the one who's going to know most about Sunderland. Seventh last season, Darnell Furlong has said that they are inspired, they're inspiration for town this season in terms of what can be achieved. They've not done a lot over the summer, Sunderland. So what are you expecting from them as they come to Portland Road this weekend? Yeah, interesting because they haven't done a lot. You're right. They signed someone right at the start of the window. That was Thomas Meunier. Remember him?

1:10:02That guy used to play for Belgium and Dortmund and PSG for a bit. He came in, 34-year-old free agent. And then they've had this left-back who's come in, Diane Mithali, who they agreed to deal to sign from Toulouse. And it looks like a medical could scupper that one. So they feel like they're chasing themselves a little bit there. but you can't look past how strong they are and that is with us talking about them as possible teams that Ipswich could catch in a relegation battle who are preparing for a Europa League campaign I think they're first born at that kind of level in God knows how long finished the season by beating Chelsea at home they've won both games they played in the derbies against Newcastle, they beat Spurs they've beaten they've taken points off City off Spurs again, they took points off Arsenal this is a very good team and they're a team that have shown their ambition last year coming up with the recruitment and really casting the net widely look at Brian Broby who's been excellent Xhaka in midfield Jews mentioned both of those but also the young midfielders there, Sadiq Diara, experience in the back, Ballard stepped up really well, Alderete coming in, Muciele formerly of PSG there's a lot of quality there and the manager has adapted really well to the Premier League so what am I expecting?

1:11:21A really strong team, they are weakened by injuries, it looks like remember Luco9 from, he might have been around during the League 1 days for something, looks like he's going to start this one due to some injuries at the back so they're probably not in their best shape at the moment, Sunderland but you're looking at that and still looking at a team that is going to start Trahume, Reynaldo, Xhaka, Siddiqui, Enzo Le Fay, Brian Brobby have really good options off the bench. So not one of the, I'd say, strongest squads. I'm interested to see how they balance Europe with the Premier League next year.

1:12:01We're looking a little bit thin in depth, but I think they're going to be a very difficult team to deal with on Saturday.

1:12:09Mark Heath:Small apology, friends. I think when I was talking about double pivot, I may have just turned into Jeremy Clarkson then. Apologies if I did, that was not my intention. I'll move on now. Stu, have you got any thoughts about Sunderland and then we need to do predictions? The first of the prediction lead.

1:12:25Stuart Watson:I was hoping you were going to double down on the double pivot chat. I want you to go full Clarkson, Saunders, whatever you want to call it. Please don't apologise. What am I expecting from Sunderland?

1:12:42Stuart Watson:In some ways, we were like, this is a good game for the opening game. Winnable, inverted commas. As I say, I think bookies have got them four favourites behind the three that have come up to go down. Got to get off to a good start. And the last time it was attack the division, started so well against Liverpool on that opening day for an hour. How proud were we of that performance? So good. And I think if that had been against any half the division that day, they'd have had a really good chance of winning. And then who knows what happens from there. It's funny how momentum gathers. And instead it was, you know, Man United could have won that.

1:13:20Stuart Watson:Anana pulled off so many good saves. Villa, Fulham, games that could have been won but just ended up in draws. And all of a sudden it's like November before you win and you can't be chasing your tail in the Premier League. So it feels like, ridiculously, it feels like an important game with Man United and Liverpool to follow. I guess ideally you'd play Sunderland more deeper into the season when they're really getting tested by Europe. But Portman Road is going to be bouncing. It's going to be excited. The sun's going to be out, although I have seen a few flashes of lightning in the background while we're recording this.

1:14:02Stuart Watson:But opening day, anything feels possible. And the NCISO signing and others have excited people. So, yeah, I just, I don't know. I genuinely don't know. They could win it. They could lose it. Anything could happen. And as I've said earlier, it's this time of year, isn't it?

1:14:23Mark Heath:I think you just engaged full Ross mode there. I did.

1:14:25Stuart Watson:I did, yeah.

1:14:26Mark Heath:Could be a win, could be a try. Could be a loss.

1:14:28Stuart Watson:As the words tumbled out of my mouth. And I might plump for draw after saying all of that.

1:14:35Mark Heath:Okay. Well, let me tee this up. Let's do predictions. Prediction League, obviously, is going to be back this season. I've always said it is a great indicator of who knows the most about football. And obviously I won it last season by some distance. So, again, that proves that fact. What I want to do this season, friends, I haven't told you about this, but I wanted to spring it on you live. I'm going to call this not only is the only prediction league this season, I'm going to add someone else into it because this season is going to be men versus the machine. We always hear about AI knows everything.

1:15:05Mark Heath:I'm going to add AI into our prediction league. Let's see who really does know more. Us or the bloody machine, Cyberdyne, the Terminator. So I'm going to ask AI every week.

1:15:17Stuart Watson:And whoever finishes bottom gets sacked and is replaced by AI.

1:15:20Mark Heath:Exactly that. Exactly that, Stu. It's the logical. And if AI finishes top, then we're all sacked in the race. Anyway, so do you want to hear the AI prediction first before you make your first predictions of the season? Okay, because I've just been asking my friend. Come on, Martina. What is it? It's not Martina. It's a very well-known one with three letters in its surname. I call it the Matrix when I talk to it. Anyway, I'm reading a bit too much. The Matrix AI says that Ipswich Town are going to beat Sunderland 2-1. I've asked for a first goal scorer. It says Emerson. it also has provided a second goal scorer and that's going to be julio and sisso and it also says sunderland are going to score from a set piece so it's gone into great detail thinks it knows everything doesn't it bloody ai so ai is saying 2-1 emerson to start the season that is our ai first ever ai prediction in the prediction league men versus machine are we not men uh i won the league last season so i will go first and i'm going to say one one and i'm going to say i'm going to say emerson i agree with ai on that front so i'm saying one one i'll be quite happy with that as long as i get something out this first game i think um is what we want aj you're desperate to have your prediction i can see I thought you need a wee.

1:16:55Someone take Grandad's phone off him. God. Yeah, the worst part is with all of this, my prediction I had in my head was 2-1 Emerson. So that is very depressing. So I'm going to change it. I'm going to change it away from that. I'm going to stick with a win. I'm going to say tight KG 1-0 victory. First goal scorer. I'm going to have to be different. So I'll go Dyson Maeda.

1:17:23Mark Heath:That would be a very popular goal score. It's going to be interesting, isn't it, boys, by the way, how full the press box is with Japanese journalists who obviously follow their players around. And we saw evidence of that already this season, in the pre-season. So you're saying win Dyson Maeda. Stu, what are you saying?

1:17:42Stuart Watson:I think this is going to be a really entertaining game. I think all the noise we're hearing from Gary O 'Neill is we're going to go for this. It's been 4-2-3-1 all three through pre-season. It's going to be front-footed. We've seen it in the pre-season games. I think they're going to really attack this. It's not going to be let's stay in the game and try and nick it late on. It's going to be let's really go for this from the start. I think it will make a really good game. I don't underestimate what Sunderland can bring. I think I'll probably go for a Desmond. I'll go for 2-2. That would be good.

1:18:17Mark Heath:And who's going to score first?

1:18:20Stuart Watson:I'll go with the boy Emerson. He's got two in his last two in pre-season. I think he's making steps forward. Opening day, I'll go with the striker.

1:18:30Mark Heath:Okay, like it. So two draws, two wins so far. AJ, of course, as the child is agreeing with AI. Ross, what are you saying?

1:18:40Ross Halls:Yeah, I'm just going to copy the AI because then I won't lose my job. You can't lose your job then? Yeah. So, smart. Smart. But I am going to go 2-1. I'm going to go with the win. I did have that in mind prior to the AI input. But I want to go for a bit of a rogue shout for first goal scoring. Maybe not too rogue, but I want to go Leif Davis. Okay. He scored a few goals in pre-season. He scored twice, actually, against Rayo Valicano. So I think with how he's playing right now with Oizem Marder, I just think he's going to really be in position to score. He'll be bang up for this as well. And of course, yeah, Sunderland, you know, the Newcastle route.

1:19:25Ross Halls:So I think he'll score a good goal to get us on our way. And, you know, Porton Road will erupt. And then Sunderland will equalise a few minutes later. But then we'll score a late winner or something. So, yeah, 2-1. What a way to start.

1:19:42Stuart Watson:I like that as a shout, Ross, because he was playing almost as a 10 at times in Berlin last weekend. Did we discuss, and we probably should lay this out now, did we discuss getting kind of extra points if you picked a defender? Is that something we're all on board with or do you want to just keep it as was?

1:20:03Mark Heath:Good cue, Stu, and you've thrown that out. You've really thrown a cat among the pigeons with that live on air. I feel like it's a good idea what are we saying so at the moment you get what's the scoring system

1:20:17Ross Halls:just remind me Ross so correct score so yeah we win 2-1 beautiful you get three points correct result which if you you know if you've gone for a win you get points that's four and then correct first town goal scorer is two points so do you just get maybe one point for if you got the correct goal score if you went for Emerson he's a striker you know he's good at scoring I feel like you should get more

1:20:37Mark Heath:I feel like you should get more I feel like you should maybe get three points if it's a defender. Yeah. I mean, are we then going to get into semantics about midfielders and strikers or forwards? I don't think we are, are we? No. Let's just say, right, if you pick a defender and that defender scores first, you get three points. Anything else, first scorer, two points. Agreed? Okay. Deal. Excellent. Men versus machine is in the books. I just want to throw out one more stat, and I know we're approaching 90 minutes, but it is the big season preview. This is a fantastic stat, friends, which I think will indicate how we're doing.

1:21:08Mark Heath:I came across it when I was doing my research the other day on Opta. Look at this stat. So in the 34 seasons of the Premier League, the 16 newly promoted sides who have got eight points after the first five games have stayed up. So if Epswich Town can find their way to getting eight points in the first five games, that doesn't sound like a lot, does it? Eight points from five games. There's a good indication they might be all right. and again you think well they need to get something out of the first game have you got any thoughts on that Stu? I find that to be a fascinating stat

1:21:42Stuart Watson:Eight points does sound like a lot to me considering they're going to Old Trafford and Liverpool in there so anything from those is probably a bonus so then that puts pressure on was it Sunderland, Palace, Everton the other three games in there I want to open up another debate as we get to the latter stages of this but in terms of points you would take from that are we talking i think 40 is still the magic marker isn't it to to stay up so just over a point a game i'd take five or six certainly i think from from those first five okay that's a

1:22:22Mark Heath:good indicator anyway look for that friends well um we've come to the end now i need to remind you friends of course that we have launched a new website and app um fittingly as town head towards the premier league lots of you saying you enjoy it and there's been some feedback which we are trying to work on around the functionality of the live blog at the moment you need to come out of the live blog and then go back in for it to refresh which i appreciate is annoying it is annoying and we are working on the pull down to refresh functionality but um koa as we already said is is the one-stop shop for everything that we do you will not find that content all in one place anywhere else it's the only place you're going to see our videos this video itself would only be made the wrong koa it's the only place you can uh watch other stuff like the insight videos the profile videos the signing videos um it's the only place you can enter competitions and there's some great ones going at the moment indeed the most asked for competition we've ever been asked for fittingly is to come on the podcast and there's currently a competition running for just that if you're a koa subscriber you can enter the competition and you could be sitting here with us uh telling me how little i know on a podcast in the future and aj will enjoy joining up and ganging up with you and that.

1:23:33Mark Heath:So that's there to enter as well. You can also win a part of the net from the promotion game against QPR. That's also live on the website at the moment. And Stu has the away shirt, which he's going to try and get signed. Well, he's going to get signed actually for another upcoming exclusive competition. So there's another bonus. You also get a Friday newsletter, which is a kind of behind the scenes kind of exclusive stuff and everything else that we do. Clearly all the written stuff and loads of extra bells and whistles this season, including, and we trialled it the first time over the weekend, the ratings game, which I very much enjoyed, which is basically just Stu and Alex hopefully disagreeing violently over the course of the season about the ratings.

1:24:09Mark Heath:That will be there, and as we've already said, the verdict, Stu and Alex's verdict is now only available on KOA, and that will be 6am the morning following every game. I want you to wake up, pour yourself a bowl of cornflakes or whatever else you have for breakfast and watch the boys talk about the match from the night before. Hopefully you'll enjoy that. So as it stands, friends, still£2 for two months or£29 for one year. I can't speak highly enough of the app. The app is beautiful. It's a beautiful user experience. There are no ads on it at all. And as I say, a lot of people are enjoying using it.

1:24:40Mark Heath:So if you feel able to support us, hopefully you'll say that's not too expensive, even when it's full price, it'll only be£3.99 a month or£39 a year. And we will give you everything this season. We're really going to level up the coverage across audio, across video and across written and your support is truly, truly valuable and appreciated. It just means we can carry on doing what we do and bring you the level of coverage that we do. The other thing to mention, of course, is our sponsor, Molecular. If you use the code KOA10 and molecular-uk.com for 10 % off all their excellent car cleaning products, which I'm using on my car to make it absolutely spotless.

1:25:17Mark Heath:Right then, friends, anything else to mention before we take our leave? we are, well, it's 12 o 'clock now, so just over 48 hours away from kick-off. 51 hours away from the big kick-off, in fact, he says, doing some mental arithmetic. Ross, how are you feeling? Any final thoughts for the KOA Army?

1:25:35Ross Halls:No, I just enjoy it. You know, we're back in the biggest league in the world, seeing the best players in the world play up close and personal. Looking forward to getting those snappy snaps of some of these incredible footballers. so enjoy it if you're going if you're not follow our coverage as standard and game day as well I'm hoping to get some new faces and voices on that and yes can't wait to see Portman Road packed the atmosphere is going to be amazing bring it on

1:26:05Mark Heath:I think I'd say boys and hopefully getting this opinion from the podcast we are all genuinely really excited like this week has been incredibly busy but also I feel like I'm running on pure gasoline I'm that excited about this weekend. AJ, any final thoughts? Enjoy it. Enjoy it by being disciplined.

1:26:29Mark Heath:Stu, the big dog, what have you got to say to your army or legion of adoring fans?

1:26:38Stuart Watson:I'm so deeply uncomfortable when you say things like that. I can't stress that enough.

1:26:45Stuart Watson:I'm certainly not blase in any way, shape or form of Ipswich being back in the biggest league in the world football. This is now Ipswich Town being carried across the globe. They had an international media day at the training ground this week where they have players kind of addressing various micro-nations across the world for their TV coverage. And yeah, only the second time in 25 years, it's easy to forget that Ipswich Town have been in this rarefied air i keep kind of keep reminding myself of where we've come from we've all got our little moments that we look back to some of the darkest days of recent years and ipswich town are back and they're giving it a real go um and that's exciting so uh yeah i know we've been slightly pragmatic borderline pessimistic at times in this and i think a bit of realism is important but as you say absolutely buzzing can't wait exciting times if you see us on saturday

1:27:46Mark Heath:friends we're all going to be very excited come and say hello and talk excitedly about how which is towner we're going to beat sunderland 5-0 on saturday we'll get very excited about that right then friends um all that remains then is just to obviously uh say if you can't be at the game on saturday hopefully many of you will be for it all with us on the new koa and sign up to that I have, in time-honoured fashion, prepared a little final thought for this podcast, which, if you don't mind, I'm going to read now and then we'll take our leave. Are you sitting comfortably? Good, then I shall begin.

1:28:18Mark Heath:Before we get to where we are now, it's important to look back at where we were then. Six years ago this week, town unveiled the sum total of their summer transfer business on one famous day. that trio of Titans, Stephen Ward, David Cornell and Ollie Hawkins. Five years ago this weekend, town were drawing 2-2 at Portman Road with the football behemoths of MK Dons in League One. So that's how far we've come. Now, here's where we are. Two years ago, we all got very giddy as we went into the Premier League and had our collective asses handed to us by the bigger boys. Four wins, 22 points, one home victory.

1:29:04Mark Heath:But this time could be different. This time, town are prepared. 150 million spent so far. Four players from this summer's World Cup, three of whom scored on football's grandest stage. More than 400 Premier League starts in the likely opening day 11 on Saturday, compared to just 11 last time out. and they were all Axel II and Zebi. By every metric, every measure, Town have much more quality, much more experience, and they're bigger and more physical too. But let's not forget though, just what awaits. This is the best of the best, the land of the giants and home to the truly, truly elite. But this is what we wanted, isn't it?

1:29:51Mark Heath:Another shot at the Premier League, another chance for town to prove they belong. So, friends, I ask you, as you listen to this in your car, on your dog walk, or while you're doing the washing up, are you ready? Whisper it quietly to yourself or scream it at the person next to you right now. Are you ready? Boys, are you ready? Are you ready, boys? Let's go. Yes. Yes. Come on. Because I think town R. Once more onto the breach, dear friends. Once more. Friends, please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. It's going to be a bumpy ride. And we'll be with it every step of the way on that journey with you.

1:30:45Mark Heath:Now, let's go and be the very best versions of ourselves. Be bold and brave. Up the KOA. And come on, you blues.

1:31:29Thank you.

1:31:54Thank you.

1:32:41We'll be right back.

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1:33:08Mark Heath:And I'm Presley Hossbock. And if you're enjoying this podcast, be sure to check us out on Serving Smiles. Serving Smiles is a podcast where we try to make health and wellness way less overwhelming. In partnership with Colgate Palmolive, we're breaking down topics like oral health, pet nutrition, skin health, and more with the help of expert guests. We'll be swapping stories, learning healthy habits, and asking the tough questions like, how often should I floss? What kind of sunscreen is right for me?

1:33:34Ross Halls:And finding out what vets wish every owner knew about nutrition. Be sure to check out Serving Spinals wherever you get your podcasts.