2025-26 Premier League Season Preview

14:27Robbie Earle:Maduaki is a bit of a, ooh, that's kind of a lot of money, Mikel. When I first saw it, I was like, hmm, he blows hot and cold, Maduaki, what we've seen so far. So he has a ceiling, just a really high potential ceiling, but we don't really know. But that, again, Rob, if he can come up with eight to 10 goals, with Havertz, eight to 10 goals, Lodegaard's five or six, with Martinelli's six or seven, with the Saka's maybe 12, 15, plus the Jocares guy up front, plus their set pieces. You know where I'm going with this. I think they're going to be better.

15:01Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, those goals. Well, I mean, the big piece, mate, is Jocares. We can't deny it. That's the one we would say, you know, people have been saying, we're the striker. Well, we've got a striker. Many complaints saying, well, he was at the Championship of Country, was it, two, three years ago. 68 goals in two seasons in sport. And I don't care, Rob, where you play. If you're getting 68 goals, you're doing something right. Yeah. I don't think, and I was thinking about this this morning, I'm not sure there's a better team in the Premier League at building the ball from the back into the last third.

15:31Robbie Mustoe:I don't think anyone, when they're on the game, does it any better than Arsenal, as slick as they are. But something doesn't quite go right in that last third. This is what the guy's been bought for. 14 games that they drew last season, you can't win a title with 14 draws. If this guy can turn half of those into wins, they can win the silverware. And that's really the question, I think, for Mikel, for what he's built, for where he's gone, for how he's doing. And I know there's going to be a little bit of pressure on him this time because the money's been spent. People are going to expect him to deliver some silverware.

16:03Robbie Mustoe:And people are going to say that his guy up front, whether it's the one they wanted or not, but it's the one they've got now, has got to produce those goods for this team to be successful.

16:12Robbie Earle:Yeah, I think many people are going to say that. It's got to be this year, it's got to win something. I'm just not, you know, I just don't think it's as binary as that, Rob, for me. Never has been, never will be. You know, if he doesn't do that, then let's just see. Let's just see what happens. He's got the benefit of Myles Lewis, Skelly, Waniere, these young players that are developing, that are coming through. And you talk about before with Liverpool, Rob, but potentially the players they might still get. Abraja Eza has been rumoured for Arsenal. Now, if he comes in as well, that's a left number eight option.

16:44Robbie Earle:and that's a left forward, left wing option where Martinelli plays. That's a great, I mean, that, because potentially, you know, with Declan Rice in that left eight or is it going to be kind of habits? If they get Ezza, that's another option. Ezza can play further up. He's more of an attacking creative side. And I know it's a lot of money and I know that other clubs, I think Spurs are in for Ezza as well. But I just think if he came as well, wow, then you're talking about at least two good teams in that squad. and I like the sound of that. But no, I think Arsenal had a good window. Is that Andrea Berta, the new sporting director?

17:19Robbie Earle:Was there something that I... And he's hit the ground, mate. You know, he's an experienced director of football, experienced operator, and he's got in some...

17:26Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, done his business well, hasn't he? Yeah, got him in, done their business well. Seems to know the European market and brought in the players there. So it looks like, you know, Mikel's got all the pieces in the jigsaw. Just got to make the picture come together, mate.

17:42Robbie Earle:Yes, and we'll get to that at the end of this show, whether we think they're going to do it or not.

17:47Robbie Mustoe:Absolutely. Let's go to the blue half of Manchester, my friend, where, again, looking at things this morning, Manchester City, which by their standards had a pretty disastrous season. Disastrous season meant three points behind Arsenal and just 13 points behind Liverpool. So as bad as it was, Rob, they kind of still ended up with 71 points. for me Rob I'll come out first before I pass on to you I kind of feel like and I know we talked about players in and players out which is going to be key to success this year I kind of point myself to the manager more on this one I know you would Go on then

18:29Robbie Earle:what's your little feeling about him I know you get emotional

18:33Robbie Mustoe:My little feeling is that the new signings are going to spur him on It's going to change the chemistry. It's going to... And I'm not saying... I'm not at this point saying, oh, they're going to run off or they're going to be back to where they were. But I think he needed something, Rob, in this football club. And I think these new younger players who are ambitious, who want the Pep magic just sprinkled on them, I think he's going to enjoy that. And I think he's going to put fire back in his belly and get him driving back to the thing. And the second thing I want to say on the Pep is the other Pep, Pep Linders, who he's bought in as his assistant coach, who I think is a brilliant bit of business, Rob.

19:15Robbie Mustoe:Because I think Pep Linders, as we saw when he was Jurgen Klopp's number two, I think is supposed to be tactically really smart, come with good ideas, a good sound ball for the manager. At times can do the odd press conference when the manager's not in the right mood and just hold the fort a little bit. And I just feel that Pep has needed somebody over the last couple of seasons, probably since Arteta left. I'm not sure how close he's been. He's got other coaches and works with them. But I just think Pep Lind is another great signing for Manchester City to support number one Pep at the top of the tree.

19:50Robbie Mustoe:So I'm feeling a little bit warm and rosy for City. Not saying that they're going to be back to City dominating, but I feel like there's a fire being lit under them.

19:59Robbie Earle:Yeah, it's an interesting take, Rob. I'm with you a little bit, but I'm not all the way with you, with Pep. I'm not all the way. I don't know whether they've done enough in the window. Now, I know their window was an early one and they got players in to go to the Club World Cup. Another bit of a disappointment ending for Man City at that one. Gianni Reinders looks a really good player. Reinders, the midfield player. Watched the game the other day. They won every season. He got two. He should have scored three. He looks a really good number eight. Like a really clever, skillful, exciting player.

20:31Robbie Earle:I like the sound of him. And Ryan Cherky is a clever little Bernardo Silva type, an assisting player, a tricky little player. And Ryan, ignore you from Wolves, Rob, is very, very good going forward, but not a good defender. I still think, two parts. I still think that the attacking tilt of his team, when he's got his best out there and he's got his best players and his best teams, previous teams and star players, they are incredible. But when that quality or when that level isn't quite extraordinary level, then they turn the ball over a lot. I still think, and with Ait Nuri, you know, I still think he's going to be a liability defensively.

21:15Robbie Earle:And I just wonder if they've done enough to what, as you said, rejuvenate Pep. You said that the new signers are given. I don't know whether they've done enough to get back to where they want to be. We know Rodri has got another injury, Rob, I believe. Not a bad one, but he's hurt himself. A little groin injury. So he's not quite right yet. I mean, potentially, I think we know that Erlenhahn's going to score a lot of goals. And Mahmoud, who's a really good player. I just don't know whether they've added enough for me to say, wow, they're going to be tough to beat. They're going to be right back at the very, very top.

21:53Robbie Earle:It depends, doesn't it? Let me throw a question to you, Rob. if they don't start particularly well, right, and say they have their first six games, they win two, draw two and lose two. Is there going to be a sense of, you know, does that excitement go, Rob, or do you think they've made a tougher stuff this time?

22:14Robbie Mustoe:I think less with the new players, because I think you can kind of stir them up. They've not been down that road. I think that's why possibly moving some of those other players on who've been great champions and had great history with them. I think there's a difference in that. Actually, the other thing, Rob, that just hit home as well, I'm listening and reading a little bit of Pep, where he talked about he might have to just slightly tweak the way he plays in terms that he thinks people have got used to that, that they can't dominate possession as much. Teams are better set up, teams are more physical, teams get more territory.

22:50Robbie Mustoe:So he was saying at times that they might have to be prepared a little bit to be in more of a mid-block than totally dominating games. I just thought, well, to me, he's almost starting to reinvent the next scene. You know, the inverted full-back's got it. Yeah, it might be something new he brings in.

23:07Robbie Earle:Yeah, the false nines.

23:09Robbie Mustoe:He might have a little something that he'd just bring to the party that just changes it all up again. And we go, wow, now how do we deal with this? I don't know quite what it is, but it sounds to me like he's already, He's, you know, back in the chemistry lab, working up a new potion that he's going to unleash on the league. So we'll keep an eye on that. As you say, all the different parts and different players, different assistants, whether that does get Pep fired up again and back flying. But there's no doubt it's a better Premier League when Pep's firing and doing his thing. I mean, the only thing to say, Rob, and I know we'll just touch on it here, They still have that 115 financial irregularities sitting over them.

23:52Robbie Mustoe:The charges, yeah.

23:53Robbie Earle:It's got to come out. It's going to come out at some point.

23:56Robbie Mustoe:It was a time ago, and at some point, you would assume during this season, that's going to come out. Obviously, you have to wait and see what the verdict is and what the actions are against City with that to get over. But I just feel there's some bright horizons on the football side with what they brought in. Let's move to the other team. The world's greatest team, Chelsea. Club World Cup winners, European Conference League winners, Champions League qualifiers, all in Maresco's first season. Where are we? Are we ready to back the horse, Rob? I remember last season, was it last season we were at Stamford Bridge and he talked about giving him time, he wants to work, He wants to produce a Man City-esque team, but he's going to need the time and the players and the transfers.

24:51Are we starting to get to a place where we're starting to expect now a little more?

24:57Robbie Earle:I don't know whether we're at the point where those fans, the Chelsea fans are very demanding, are going to expect. Maybe their expectations are certainly higher, but I don't think, again, they're going to expect Chelsea to be there and to win the title. or to win other, I mean, I just, I like what's going on at Chelsea. I like the project. I liked it from the start. I liked it that it was different. And I think we, or certainly I was careful to say, hang on a minute, because they've got, they've got to get a bit hammered at the beginning. All these young, crazy long contracts and these signings of young players.

25:28Robbie Earle:It was different. It was different. And I think towards the end of last season, of course, the Club World Cup, they look really, really good. I know it's an odd competition or a new competition that people get in their heads around, but they were good in that. and tactically they smashed PSG in the final. Maresca, the way they set up, I really like tactically what they do, Chelsea. They've got a few little permutations and it's hard to track and figure out what they're doing or what the shape of midfield is when they bring a forward out of the defensive line. So I love what they do. I mean, we have a little rundown from our producer here, Rob, and there's a bit of notable signings.

26:03Robbie Earle:So there's so many signings. I mean, but we should mention just a few of the ones that's come in. And Joe Pedro from Brighton is something that's really interesting to me. Really interesting. Hit the ground running with Chelsea in the Club World Cup. Looked a million dollars. Something very different to Nico Jackson. He's clever. He comes off a line. He's like a false nine, really. But he's creative. His end product is there as well. I think it's an excellent signing. They got Liam De Lappe. They got Jamie Gittins, the exciting winger from Borussia Dortmund. Ester Val, the Brazilian Palmeiras.

26:35Robbie Earle:His last goal for them was against Chelsea in the Club World Cup. But he looks like they're saying he's a wonder kid from Brazil. The next big thing is a wide player, potentially. Gerald Hato from Ajax, the defender left fullback or centre-back that's got rave reviews. And they've let Gerald Felix go. They've got money from him. They've got money from Nona Matuaki to Arsenal and many, many others. Their net spend isn't that crazy because, as we've said from years now, Rob, they're a player investment business. They're a football team that are trying to win things, and they are a player. They're an investment business.

27:07Robbie Earle:They buy assets, sometimes distressed assets, and they buy them, and people scratch their heads. Where is he going to fit into the team? It doesn't really matter. They think it's a good deal for a young player, a good price, distressed. Canachos could be the next one that goes there. They'll bring, and some of those they'll be able to develop and get into the first team, but probably not, and they'll sell, loan, and sell somewhere else. So they've been player trading again this window, like every window, and in there there's going to be little diamonds that are going to come into the team and make the first team better.

27:39Robbie Earle:I'm excited to watch them I'm excited to watch them grow and I hope the fan base now are more bought in with the project and with the manager and I know it's a ton of money and they might say

27:51Robbie Mustoe:yeah but if we spent the money on certain players

27:53Robbie Earle:that is the argument but I for one I enjoyed the Club World Cup I'm like wow that's kudos Cole Palmer Rob was back to his best in the Club World Cup they got options in all areas of the side I think they're going to have a really, really big season.

28:09Robbie Mustoe:I mean, this is a team that could start well, Rob, and go flying at the start of the season, and everybody could be chasing them. That's the potential. We talked about what it means about winning in a dressing room. This group of players have won. The Conference League, not the best competition in Europe, but happy to win it. The Club World Cup, which will become more and more important to football clubs over the coming years, Rob, you wait and see that you've won. Getting into the Champions League was important for this football club. It feels that's where it should be. I'm still, I love what Moresco's doing.

28:47Robbie Mustoe:I buy into and take my half, but you saw earlier the player trading and the way that that works and the way that Chelsea know how to do it. Maybe others could try and not know quite how to do it, and selling homegrown talent, getting good money for that, making sure they're right side of PSO. But defensively, Rob, I still have my concerns. Yeah, I'm the goalkeeper. And Levi Colwell is out now with an ACL, who's one of their more consistent defenders. So between, was it Tosin, Fafana, Chaleper? I don't know, Hato has just come in. I'm not sure there's a top-end centre-back partnership, but that goalkeeper behind me, when I'm talking those big games, when I'm talking those big moments, can I rely on that three at the moment?

29:33Robbie Mustoe:I'm still a little bit unsure, mate.

29:35Robbie Earle:No, that's a very valid point. I know I'm a big fan of Fafana. I think he's not too far away. I think Chaliba hurt himself, Robin, in the last pre-season game. Donnarumma from PSG, he looks like he's in the club.

29:46Robbie Mustoe:I don't know whether he fits the profile

29:48Robbie Earle:of a Chelsea player, but wow, that could be quite the signing for Chelsea. So, no, I hear you. And absolutely right. I don't like Robert Sanchez. You know, he's okay. But, you know, to get to where they want to get, that's, you know, You're into some of the final pieces now, Rob, aren't you? With the centre-back. So, I don't know. I think they'll be fun to watch. They'll be fun to watch. And that's kind of the four teams, Rob, that we kind of addressed in question number one. And I think, you know, all four have had a very interesting window, positive window, and they're going to be all potentially in a race for the championship.

30:27Robbie Earle:Second question, Rob, is which time will have a stronger the comeback season, Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur? Let's start Man United, Rob, because lots of changes there. You've got a good close look at them in pre-season from the series. So we're looking at

30:40Robbie Mustoe:the Europa League finalists is what we're saying. Let's take a look at the... I mean, it's amazing these two teams. So 15th, 42 points for United, 17th, 38 points for Tottenham. Tottenham did win the Silverware, so they are Europa Cup winners. Let's start with United. No European football, Rob Which actually might be a blessing I'll give you a couple of quick takeaways From the Premier League Summer Series And something I'll try and do over the course of the podcast Because we've got some great access to Ruben Amram and the Manchester United team And their training Jason Wilcox Who looks after the football side The biggest thing I'd take away, Rob Is that Ruben Amram suggested This is a culture change From here on in, we move in a very different direction.

31:32Robbie Mustoe:He drew a line at the end of last season, and those who were coming with him were one side and those who weren't were the other. And if you weren't with him, he didn't have much care for you. Those players pretty much have stayed at Carrington while the rest have gone about the friendlies. He talked about Robert. Interestingly, it came out public, I think, this week. He talked about going into games being fearful, not knowing what he was going to get. I've got to tell you, mate, when you see him, and I know you were when he couldn't get there, but you would have loved seeing him on the training ground.

32:06Robbie Mustoe:He's a training ground guy. He's getting in with the players. He's coming up to you, moving you a couple of yards and showing you why and talking and working. And the relationship between the players, you can see, is building. You know, they were having laughs at times. He was on them sometimes. They worked hard. There was a spell at the end where five or six are doing the free kicks in the shooting for half an hour, he's telling them to come in, the others are doing. All the things, Rob, that you have to see at a successful club that we've kind of been around dressing rooms long enough were there.

32:38Robbie Mustoe:It tells me that there will be a change. How far that change is going to go, I'm not sure. When you've got a front three, about$300 million worth of Cesco, Cunha and Umberma, Rob, it's pretty good going forward.

32:53Robbie Earle:It's pretty good now.

32:55Robbie Mustoe:can he work behind that and get the other bits in place? That's the question in the system. But he's wedded to the system. Absolutely went there a few times, you know, as many. I mean, he's going to tweak it in little ways, but he's wedded to it. And he determined, he says, I live or die by what this system is going to give me.

33:15Robbie Earle:Yeah. Well, I think, you know, it's not a time to get into that, but they look pretty similar to all the other teams, mate, when they build up. When they got the two wingbacks high, they're pretty much the same as everybody else. Two number 10s behind a strike. a couple of guys in midfield, three at the back, kind of building up. It's kind of what they all try and get to. I mean, it's exciting. I mean, I feel, Rob, and I felt from the summer series watching bits of it, there's a bit of a momentum. You know, the forces were good. There was a good, you know, the field would factor a little bit better.

33:41Robbie Earle:Was it Luke Shaw, Rob, saying that there's no stragglers now in the dressing room and there's a better environment? He's enjoying the environment. Alain Drogonaccio, obviously, is not a good pro and he wants him out of the football club. Rashford's gone off to Barcelona, got a great move for himself. Others are good. Malachi is good. There's a bomb squad. There's people that he doesn't want to be part of this new project. And the signings, you've got to say, you know, Brian Ibermo, we did his highlights for Brentford so many times, and he was always involved in goals and assists. He's got good numbers.

34:07Robbie Earle:Mateus Cunha is a United type of maverick, you know, a loose player that can excite the fans, gets fired up. Bruno Fernandes now has got different targets to hit. The interesting one is the raw diamond of Benjamin Sheshko. and I think it's Sheshko, Rob, that we're going to end up saying. I think that's the way that Sheshko, I think we've got to say it like that. Wow. So I spoke to people that watched him in the Bundesliga. I've watched tons of film and clips and not just his goals videos, by the way. We have access to some other software that we can see, you know, for example, all his attempts at goal, all his shots and all his attempts at goal.

34:44Robbie Earle:I mean, I think even Amrim has said, like, he's got a lot of development in him. So I, Man United is a club, Rob, that expects a little bit. I hope, just the people I've spoke to says that sometimes he looks a million dollars. Like he's got great little shuffle feet. He's got a brilliant strike off both feet. Like outstanding power from distance. He's a big guy. He's well over six foot tall in the school in the year as well. But there's times he looks like a pub player. He's hot and cold. He's hot and cold. and one guy and I'm not going to say it was who's watched him a lot in the Bundesliga said I think he's a dud that's what his so there's very raw he's got incredible tools what I've seen decision making and ability to link up and all these doesn't that link itself Rob

35:39Robbie Mustoe:to a club that's not in Champions League a club that's not kicking it at the top of its game so we've got to go that's the market that's a 22 year old we've got tons of time

35:50Robbie Earle:loads of potential

35:51Robbie Mustoe:loads of things but we ain't going to get at the moment we're not buying the you know the finished article because that's not the draw

35:58Robbie Earle:well I guess Cunha and Brian O 'Boom are a lot yeah you know what you're going to get

36:03Robbie Mustoe:they've played in the league and they know the way around it

36:06Robbie Earle:we don't in terms of a ceiling for this guy Sheshko we don't know where that ceiling is well I assume we're saying

36:11Robbie Mustoe:he's a better version of Rasmus Hoyland isn't he

36:13Robbie Earle:well that's what they'd be hoping big numbers similar sort of age similar sort of

36:17Robbie Mustoe:his hero his idol was Zlatan and I kind of watched him and thought he's got a little bit of that around him was he 6 '3 I think he is

36:27Robbie Earle:he's got brilliant nice yeah good power

36:31Robbie Mustoe:off his shooting but yeah he's going to learn now what was interesting with the summer series now and then every for little periods of the game Kunio enters the highest player and stretch the pitch or Mbama went as a highest play in stretch the pitch so there might be, you know, and you can then bring a Bruno underneath as a 10 with the right midfield balance underneath it so it isn't that he's going to have to start every game and if things aren't quite going so well or the tyres or the physicality against big centre-backs in the Premier League they do have options with this I think, you know, Amrion will turn to

37:09Robbie Earle:Yeah, I think it's an exciting front three and I think it's going to be much better for Man United, I really do And it seems now Carlos Balaba, Rob, the midfield player from Brighton, is in their sights. Now, whether they have got the money to bring him in as well, I mean, I think most people, you know, like Balaba.

37:27Robbie Mustoe:I've just written a note. Kobe Maynou, my friend. Does a Balaba overtake a Maynou in the pecking and so? I mean, again, just because of what we saw, some of the things, I kept a real eye on him in the training and that. I mean, to look at him, he's a beast, mate. He's physically got good size. Yeah, he's well built. He gets around the pitch. He can use his body. But, you know, there's something in there that he's got to become more dominant on a football field. And at the moment, I know he's a young boy, I think still 22 years of age, but 22 years of age, people are making you happen at this level now.

38:18Robbie Earle:Yeah, yeah. Asa Wenger, Rob, wasn't it? Asa Wenger said, 23 years of age. You've pretty much got what you're going to get at 23. They're going to learn a little bit as they experience. But in terms of the soccer, the IQ, the physicality, you're in a good shape at 23. The only thing I've always thought about Kobi Mena is that we know he's technically excellent. excellent, like wonderful ability is mobility, is getting around, is getting back to make a last-hitch challenge in midfield. With the system they play and the two players in midfield, sometimes the wing-backs are far away. Those front three sometimes aren't close.

38:53Robbie Earle:Those two in the middle, apart from Man United, have both got to have good legs and energy to get around probably big distances. And that's the one thing. Has he got a big enough engine, Rob? Has he got a big enough running stamina? You've got all these qualities to make it as a Premier League player and then uber that to make it a club like Manchester United. So it might, I mean, I hope I'm way wrong here, but my fear is that he ain't quite got the stamina, the running ability and energy to be more of a dynamo with the ball and without the ball. I think we've seen that Carlos Balaba is more aggressive, Rob.

39:29Robbie Earle:He's more of a defensive player, cover the ground a little bit better than Maynard. I might be wrong. And maybe Mainu will go into the next line of the team, a brutal position. Yeah, maybe like an eight. But it's going to be interesting to see that. I mean, whether Balaba goes or not is going to be interesting. But Kabu-Mainu now has got to start showing that he can be – he's a fixture. Yeah, he's got to be reliable as well, dependable, I think. On the ball, he's reliable, Robyn. He's good on the ball. But without the ball, if it turns over, is he going to jump on it? It happened against Everton in that summer series when they were up in the game and ended up just seeing it out.

40:06Robbie Mustoe:OK, my friend, let's move it. So we've talked about tonight at length again. Let's talk about Tottenham, a very different-looking Tottenham with Thomas Frank now in charge. He's one of our managers that we love listening to. Great communicator, I think, with his players, with the media. Really going to be interesting what Thomas Frank's Tottenham looks like, Rob, because he is a guy who he talked to us before in the past. We've been fortunate to spend a bit of time with him. He talked about how he works his two or three systems, gets everybody knowing what they're doing, depending on who he's playing.

40:40Robbie Mustoe:He sometimes adapts to the opposition. Again, is that a tactic you do when you're a Brentford manager? Do you do the same thing at Spurs if it's going to get your success or you top them so you impose what you're going to play on the others. I just feel he'll find a better place for some of them square holes and round pegs. I think he'll find a fit that's better for the group that will be progressive and hopefully more successful, I would think, for Spurs. Really interested to see how Thomas Frank goes about this. Let's not forget, you have Los Unglund's son, one of their star wide players. It was a great addition to what they had.

41:21Robbie Earle:yeah I mean very old news now and I won't spend much time on it at all I fell for Angie a little bit Poster Goggin you know on record to say I think he deserves another crack at it at the start of the season obviously you know I just felt and again I'll be trying to be real quick here that he did put all his eggs in one basket he admitted that he picked the Premier League teams that were he knew weren't the strongest because he wanted to focus on the Europa League and he did it He got them over the line and won trophy. But I suppose the other games, Daniel Levy was not happy with them. He put his eggs in one basket, even though they won.

41:55Robbie Earle:Anyway, made a change. Good manager, Thomas Frank. And it's going to be really interesting, Rob, because there's a lot of times I've enjoyed Tottenham, enjoyed the players. Again, they've gone young. There's some really talented players there. But, of course, under Ange, it was an uber attack-tilted, possession-tilted team. And I'm interested just in a conventional, normal coach with this group, Rob. with this group. And they've brought in Mokudus, haven't they, from West Ham United? Yeah, he is, yeah. Which is going to be interesting because I think he'll compete with Brennan Johnson on the right-hand side.

42:27Robbie Earle:I kind of like Jao Palina from Bayern Munich, Rob, they've got a member of him from Fulham. Fulham, yeah, yeah. It's exactly what they need, particularly on the back of Yves Bersuma. Obviously, that news the last few days, he's been sent home or he's been left out of a squad, Yves Bersuma. And Thomas Frank was interviewed and said, disciplinary reasons. He was late too many times. That happened again, hasn't it?

42:47Robbie Mustoe:That happened with Andrew a couple of times as well, didn't it?

43:16Robbie Earle:a certain amount of players allowed to get forward. A certain amount of...

43:19Robbie Mustoe:Use the word normal, Rob, because in a menu spec, Spurs isn't a normal club, is it? There's always something different about Spurs, you know, whether it's Levy, whether it's Jose Mourinho. It's changeable. It's been changeable, Rob, hasn't it?

43:32Robbie Earle:It's been changeable. Yeah, it's always been a bit all over the place.

43:35Robbie Mustoe:And they've gone, you know, probably against type in some respects, whether Thomas Frank, you know, a small and not huge profile manager, somebody who knows how to get the job done somebody I think who gets on with players and will get the best out of the squad that's what they're hoping for it's a big challenge for them so in terms of those two teams who do you think I kind of feel like for me I've got to go Spurs because I'm just thinking from 17th in the league Thomas Frank will do a better job will increase that and get them top 10

44:14Robbie Earle:Well, yeah, Man United needs to be top 10. Man United need to be... And again, the expectations of Man United is what's really crippled the club over the years. The expectation when they finish second with certain managers not being good enough. Other players have not been good. Well, actually, they're probably doing OK. Expectations should change in Man United now. Expectations in a new season should be... I know we had a disaster. I would think eight for Man United. Yeah, let's get up there.

44:40Robbie Mustoe:Top eight is the first step.

44:42Robbie Earle:Is it one of them with Man United? I don't want to go back to them too much, but like, I feel like United, if they start well, and if these new front three kind of start well, they'll all go down the left-hand side. If they've got a stability in the defence, I still worry about the middle of the park, but maybe Ugarte can play in there, you know, whoever's partner is. They could go over that knife edge of, instead of losing games all the time, they might win a lot of games and they might have a good start. I feel like they need a good start for the momentum they've had in pre-season. This just feels like a fresh break,

45:12Robbie Mustoe:this is what Amrim wanted he always said even last year I wanted the pre-season I wanted my group players it's starting to get more that way he said good times are coming

45:21Robbie Earle:and he probably said good times are coming during the last year after he apologised for their season but anyway so I think United might do better than Spurs that's just my gut

45:29Robbie Mustoe:let's just see how that goes okay my friend let's move it on to we're going to question three which is which club is best poised to build on their success from last season so we've got three clubs in this category so we've got Newcastle, Villa and Forrest you all had in very different ways really successful seasons despite maybe one or two of them not being a little bit disappointing in the end but finishing fifth sixth and seventh which of these three clubs is sort of best poised to to go on again to kick on a little more maybe this is awkward mate because I almost feel like

46:10Robbie Earle:I almost feel like they've all they've all they've all got difficult difficult they've all got tough times ahead challenging yeah

46:18Robbie Mustoe:yeah I mean

46:18Robbie Earle:I think Newcastle United with the Alexander-Ezac stuff right now that's awful Eddie Howe is understandably super down about it he's basically saying that the team are down about what's going on with Alexander-Ezac they had a great season last year they win a trophy they finish in Champions League qualification spots everything's really really good But Anthony Alanga from Nottingham Forest, I think is a brilliant signing. I think it's a brilliant signing. I mean, he was my favourite player at Forest with his pace, with his end product. I think that's another really good winger. Anthony Gordon went off injured, Rob.

46:51Robbie Earle:It looked like maybe a hamstring problem in the last game, pre-season game. So, oh, a club and a team that I thought were going to power into a new season with some additions and this money that the Saudis have got that they can't really spend. They're up against it. like another one of these teams in Aston Villa and PSR, it feels like they have to be a little bit careful with that. And I could, you know, Aston Villa again, with a lot of the talk of Oli Watkins up front, Ivan Gissan, Gissan, the new striker,

47:21Robbie Mustoe:the forward from Nice in the last week or so.

47:25Robbie Earle:I'm hearing good things about him, Rob. I think he was the second best player in African football or something behind... Yeah, 24. Yeah, so I think that's a good signing. so maybe Villa would be my answer here who can kick on and do a bit better than last year I think Newcastle is going to be hard to beat fifth up last year and I think Nottingham Forest you know they've made a couple of sign-ins players that maybe don't know quite so well that were good fees that came in Dan and Doys are what I'm thinking of Bologna Igor Jesus so I think it's going to be hard for Forest to get where they were last year it was a remarkable season for them so to answer the question I would say by a smidgen Aston Villa might be able to build on what they did last year because they were sixth last season when they might have expected to be a little higher what do you think?

48:12Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, the Newcastle thing is just with Izak and we know how this is going to end Well is it Rob?

48:22Robbie Earle:So let's get into that, let's double click on that mate, how is it going to end?

48:27Robbie Mustoe:Well I think it's going to end with the player leading the football club which will be right before the deadline, probably after the two teams have played in the league. And Newcastle are going to try and get as much money as they can. I think there was a headline out today, I don't know how to choose some things, but Iza said he never wants to play or doesn't want to play for Newcastle again. And all that stuff's coming out from his camp now. Because obviously, like we know in this situation, you're pushing to get the deal through so the player can move on and play. quite rightly, Newcastle are not making it easier.

49:02Robbie Mustoe:Or if they are going to sell, they're going to get the most money available for one of the hottest strikers in European, if not world football. And it's such a shame for, as you say, in Eddie Howe, that it's like the second Champions League campaign. He's just won the Carabao Cup. He's just looking to build things on. And again, I was reading just a little background where, you know, how difficult it's been for Eddie Howe in the structures line. No chief executive, I think, in the time, I think it's Darren Eels, who's been taken ill and is actually in the football club. No scoring director called Mitchell.

49:32Robbie Mustoe:So you can imagine Eddie Howes a little bit looking around like, where's my help? Well, you know, if we are going to let him go, who are we going to bring in? You know, Ekotike was somebody on, I think, on their wish list at one time. Liverpool go and sign him. It's just been a nightmare from the end of what was a great season for Newcastle. Winning that piece of work. Seeing those Julie Frenzy and doing Wembley. and then moving forward into where we are now. Villa are a bit same. I think Villa are a bit hamstrung by PSR. While, you know, most of the team doesn't look bad, but, like you say, this Cassand, who they bought, looks like a decent additional strike.

50:10Robbie Mustoe:Oli Watkins looks like he may be staying now. Just feel like there's still a little bit of improvement for them. But Europa League, Rob, they're disappointed not to make Champions League, but Europa League is the kind of tournament they could win. I mean, they did so well and got to court finals of Champions League. You know, Unai knows this tournament, knows how to play Thursdays and Sundays. That's the kind of thing they could win. So, I feel a little bit more for Villa. And Foyce, I just think, is going to have some great nights in Europe. The fact was it's 30 years since they've last been there.

50:45Robbie Mustoe:They talk about they need to fatten their squad up a little bit, just in terms of with European football as well. playing but yeah based on defensive structure really wasn't it Forest you know Lenkovich and Murillo and Salves in goal it's almost like a new signing Gibbs White signing a new contract that was almost like business done and then it's whether Chris Woods and Alan E can score enough goals this guy Jesus from Botafogo which apparently is Ed who's doing connections down in Brazil. He's now ahead of things. I think it's a season to look forward to for Forest. Be safe, be comfortable in the table, try and get top 10, have a good run in Europe.

51:35Robbie Mustoe:I just feel as though Villa might have a little go this year.

51:40Robbie Earle:Before we move on to the next question, Rob, can I just chirp back at Isaac? Can I just go back at you, Isaac? Now, and I know this is what we've seen before, right? But I just and maybe I'm totally being naive and I'm going to be wrong but I feel like Newcastle number one I'm not going to let this go guy go unless it's nearer 250 million pounds okay and he's got three years left on his contract and this might be one of those rare situations where he ain't going

52:11Robbie Mustoe:you ain't going mate so it's going to take some healing and I guess the more he kicks up and the

52:18Robbie Earle:more he's just moved house apparently and the more he says i'm never gonna play for the more he burns the bridge will probably help him the club say you know what let's just get rid of it yeah but but it wouldn't surprise me rob if liverpool if not second bid they had 110 million pounds yeah there's quite a big gap there and there was a sense that they might not bid again and they haven't this is fascinating mate and and you're right mostly the player goes yeah i just think this one, they've got bundles of money in Newcastle United. They might say, you know what? You ain't going. And if you don't want to play, you sit in the stand for a little bit then.

52:55And, you know, they

52:56Robbie Earle:could do that. But that's not going to benefit anybody. Three years left on his contract, Rob. The club have got every right to say, unless we get to the team. You know, and I know the player often holds the power. But in this case, with three years left, they can say no if they're not going to get, you know, a a really strong fee, and Liverpool might not pay it, Rob. That's all I'm saying. It might be a very difficult one. You'll see.

53:21Robbie Mustoe:It's one that will run. It's going to be one of the stories of the start of the Premier League season and Liverpool play Newcastle in, I think, a couple of weeks' time. It just adds a little bit more to the story. But, yeah, let's see where Alexander Ezek ends up after the transfer windows close. Okay, my friend, so let's move on to the question four in our little run, which was, which club will end up being the biggest surprise this season? Now we can talk from you, Brighton's, Bournemouth, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Ham, Brentford or Wolves. Which of those teams will surprise us? And I think in fairness to the majority of those teams, they've all stepped up and gone on to another level, in many respects, haven't they, with the coaches that they've got, with the kind of recruitment that they've brought in.

54:13Robbie Mustoe:Maybe West Ham aren't quite where they'd like to be yet, but certainly the lines of Brighton, the Bournemouth, Full and Brentford in the past have shown, you know, that they've moved up and are no longer the easy whipping boys of the Premier League.

54:27Robbie Earle:I think there's a couple of clubs in here, Rob, that due to the nature of their football club and their structure are going to find it difficult. Bournemouth and Brentford have sold very good players, very good players. And Bournemouth go to Anfield on Friday. We're going to be there pitch side watching Bournemouth. they've lost three out of the back four, haven't they? Three out of the back four.

54:45Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, Kirk Ayrs. And the goalkeeper.

54:49Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, that's a lot to deal with there. And it's the nature of what they do. Same with Brentford, the players that they've lost now and the manager that they've lost and the captain that they lost and all that. So they're going to have difficult. In terms of a team that has the ability to surprise this season, well, maybe I shouldn't be saying this after what we've just seen them play, but Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace are a very good team. Now, I've just talked about two clean teams, and this is why we structure, bundle these questions like this, because they're all similar.

55:19Robbie Earle:Crystal Palace have got three very good central defenders. They've got three very good attacking players that can hurt anybody. We saw it in their community shield against Liverpool. We saw it against Man City in the FA Cup final. They're a very good footballing team. But it looks like they're going to lose at least one of their star players. Mark Gay and Steve Parrish basically said, we can't keep him. We've got Salim because he's a free contract.

55:45Robbie Mustoe:He's contracts up next season.

55:46Robbie Earle:Yeah, he's contracts up. I brought you Eze as a, I think it's a£68 million release clause. Yeah, release clause, yeah. He might go as well. It's a little bit like Bournemouth and Brentford and others and Brighton in the past that these clubs do a great job of recruiting. They get good managers to come in. I mean, you know, Albert Glasner has done a brilliant job at Palace and yet it's frustrating. I know it's frustrated, Rob, in the last few weeks about not having more players come in. You might lose key players right at the end of the window, which is the last thing you want. So I want to say Crystal Palace for a surprising season, but I think given what we think is coming, it's going to be difficult.

56:22Robbie Earle:The last club I'll mention before we let you get back in, Rob, is Everton. Everton. David Moyes and Sneaky bringing in some good players that are going to be, you know, are going to entertain and going to be in Dewsbury Hall from Chelsea. He's a good midfield player. He's going to be good on the ball. He's going to be proactive. He's got good energy. And your mate, Jack Grealish, going there on loan is a brilliant story. Everton with Enjoy as well. He might enjoy, Rob, the midfield, Charlie Alcala.

56:54Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, Alcala in general.

56:56Robbie Earle:He's got the centre-halves in Brunthwaite. He's got a good goalkeeper. They might have a sneaky good season. so alike, and I know they're still not done with their transfers, I like what Everton have done in the window so far.

57:07Robbie Mustoe:It was interesting because we spent a bit of time with David Moyes and obviously Tim's got a great relationship going back to this when they worked together. David Moyes, I can tell you, was not happy when he was in America with what was coming in, what was going on in the transfer window, which is sort of saying he doesn't feel he's got his team where he wants to be in preparation for the season, then all of a sudden

57:30Robbie Earle:And as you say, in the space of the week,

57:32Robbie Mustoe:Jusby Hall's come in, Grealish has come in looking for the two. Ben, Barry, the striker, I think is one for the future, mate. I think he's not there. Didn't look very good when I watched him.

57:42Robbie Earle:I watched him. I watched him in the raw and not quite.

57:44Robbie Mustoe:You know, he's got a bit to learn. But I think, as David Moyes said, listen, he said you take a gamble on these kids. And, you know, for£35 million with his record, I think it was 12 at Villarreal and he's got 20 in Belgian football. It was a gamble worth taking. but he's called him the baby Beto which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing he's somebody who's still got to learn his trade but he's got good size he's got all the good materials but it was very much what David Moyes was saying in terms of Everton he's got to, you know, they've moved in a brand new stadium he's going to almost now build a team and you know, he was talking Rob about you know, not just surviving he wants to get back to that Everton that was close to top six that was seventh or eighth that we're a real challenge about European football.

58:29Robbie Mustoe:And that's where he wants to be at this stage of his career. And he wants the club almost to have that ambition. He said it's almost like they've had so many years of just staying up where we're starting to turn into that kind of club. Let's make sure we're not in the relegation where he's saying, you know, I want to look at the other end of the table. So, you know, it's fascinating spending time with him. Palace is just, it's been such a great story since that FA Cup win and then the Community Shield. I mean, the UEFA ruling, it takes them now to the conference league. I mean, it's been really harsh.

59:02Robbie Mustoe:And I know Steve Parrish and the legal people come out with some strong words in terms of buying. Like, it's a privileging power in football. Sporting merit has been rendered meaningless when teams like Crystal Palace are not in the cup that they should have been having won the FA Cup. So, unfortunately, it doesn't look like there's anywhere else to be offered.

59:26Robbie Earle:they lost their appeal to the court of arbitration they're going to have to go

59:30Robbie Mustoe:with the confidence which is going to be such a shame for the team and Oliver Glasner but again we talk about good coaches, Oliver Glasner does a great job of setting his team up we look at players who under Roy Hodgson weren't really sure where they were were they quality Premier League players in the way that he's worked, he's turned them around and as you say they're now in the position where Adam Morton's the next one they're all talking about the kid in midfield they've got from Blackburn, Ezza, Mark Gay, you know, players who could leave. And if they leave, they're going to be a big bit for Crystal Palace.

1:00:06Robbie Mustoe:I've got to tell you, I still like Bournemouth. I still like what they're doing. And I know they've lost another one, Zaboni, I think, who's gone today. But under the ownership of Bill Foley, I think there's a real ambition in terms of training ground, in terms of new stadium. again, seeing the real work, he's a real training ground on the pitch working with players, liked what he was doing. I just think that they'll...

1:00:32Robbie Earle:They've got the attacking players, Rob, haven't they? Yeah.

1:00:34Robbie Mustoe:Really good attacking line. A real good way of playing. The players are very bought into the system as well. We talked to Tabernier one day and he just said, we all buy in and we all go on that high press. We said, we'll do it together. We know there's a risk, but we're prepared to take the risk because we feel that we win the world ball, but we're in the opposition's goal. And as they've shown many times, they do it as well as anybody in the league.

1:00:59Robbie Earle:Just a couple of clubs, Rob, we'll finish on before we get to the next question.

1:01:02Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

1:01:03Robbie Earle:Which is question number five. Just a line on Fulham and West Ham. You know, I looked at Fulham this last week and had a little real deep dive into what they've done. They've had a very, very quiet window. But is it one of those times where they just happen to have right now A very well-balanced squad. They've got a manager and knows what he's doing. He was rumoured a little bit for Tottenham earlier in the window. And maybe they don't need that much. They got, you know, the only thing I kind of thought when I went through the squad and looked at some of the players, Emil Smith-Rowe, Rob, probably needs a bigger season, I would say.

1:01:33Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

1:01:34Robbie Earle:Expectation for him from Arsenal.

1:01:35Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, maybe.

1:01:36Robbie Earle:You know, kind of in that little bit. I'd expect a bit more from him. It will be had a really good season last year. But I think Fulham, they're bang in the middle of the table. They play nice football. They haven't had to do a lot of trading. I mean, it is always nice to bring a couple of players in. We know what it's like in pre-season to meet new people and to freshen the team a little bit. I mean, they've done our game.

1:01:55Robbie Mustoe:Maybe the tactics are leaving it a little bit later. You maybe get slightly better value for money or whatever, a couple of loan people.

1:02:02Robbie Earle:Yeah. So I think, you know, not much more to say right now. Apart from, they're a well-run club. They've got a good balanced squad. If you look at the departments, they've got two good strikers. They've got midfield players. They've got creative players. They've got a decent back four. I mean, they've got a good manager. So, you know, maybe it's a case where, you know, like you said, maybe they'll try and get a couple of good value at the end of the window. Give us a sense of, before we move on, Rob, West Ham and I, we haven't really talked about them much. We've got a good look in the summer series.

1:02:29Robbie Earle:I feel like slow-burning, but going to get better. We'll miss Kudos, though, wouldn't they?

1:02:36Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, they will miss Kudos. But interestingly enough, you know, game-game pot is very open in the time. And so, basically, he was doubling up with Kudos, because Kudos and Bowen like to play from the same side, the right. And so in the end, Jared Bowen produces more as my captain. And we decided he was the one we prepared to sacrifice for the right money. So he went. It was over the summer season that we heard the Pacitor. That's good news, man. So honestly, mate, you could visibly see him the day in training. And I'll tell you just quickly a couple of things on him. He's as strong as an ox, by the way.

1:03:11Robbie Mustoe:He's a right aggressive little so-and-so in training. you know the one who doesn't take anything like it for thing trains like he plays and an absolute great character to be around one of them who's making sure training is at a high standard blew me away a little bit you know where you see him as a bit of a 10 and lazy not interested didn't have worked hard mate and didn't have to make sure everybody else was working hard

1:03:33Robbie Earle:the only thing I said we were lucky enough to have a chat with Graham Potter we had a little 10 minutes with Graham Potter and we asked him about Pakitar and this is before I think the news was out that he was cleared of all charges and the only thing he did say Rob was interesting for me is that he said there's just too much of a difference of performance level with Pakatar he said when he's on he is like world class amazing but he has too many times where he drips comes way off of that

1:03:59Robbie Mustoe:and he's a little bit

1:04:00Robbie Earle:ineffective so yeah maybe with all those charges I mean can you imagine can you imagine all those allegations about you I can't to be honest so that's good news for him so we'll see we'll see how much

1:04:11Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, it was a big season for West Ham. I think now, you know, pre-season, a few of his own players. I'll tell you, he looked in good shape. Fulcroft looked in good shape.

1:04:21Robbie Earle:Ah, good shout. Yeah.

1:04:22Robbie Mustoe:Good shout. He leaned up real determined. He was involved in a couple of goals in the summer season and that. And I think a big season for him.

1:04:31Robbie Earle:Could be a big season. I agree.

1:04:32Robbie Mustoe:A big season for West Ham United. All right, my mate. Let's just turn it to our last section of the day. and as ever we're going to go to the three teams that were promoted, how will the newly promoted sides fare? And if you have to pick one of them to stay in the league this year, which one is more likely?

1:04:56Robbie Earle:Well, I think more likely, gosh, this is a difficult question. It's probably going to be Leeds United, Rob. And I'm only saying that just, I mean, you know what, Rob? I think we're seeing this every season now where in the close season time when we're off, of course, we've got tons of time off and we do our thing, but also we want to get ahead of the next season. I've started watching less and less games of the Championship because all the teams that come up now, they are building new teams. And these three, maybe a little bit less so Leeds United, but I think Sunderland have signed 11. Burnley have signed a whole bunch of players.

1:05:33Robbie Mustoe:Eight for Burnley so far in County.

1:05:36Robbie Earle:I mean, there's some notables in there. Granit Xhaka going to Sunderland is a very interesting signing. But in terms of, like, trying to know, predict what these teams are going to do, it's very difficult. We all know data and facts says it's really hard to stay in the Premier League. You know, I can give you examples where teams haven't spent much money have managed to stay in, I think, three seasons ago. All three stayed up in Bournemouth, one of those. Gosh, Crystal Palace, I think, was one of those. I don't know. I can't remember. But these teams are doing what we might expect them. They're making new teams.

1:06:10Robbie Earle:You know, I've got some notes in front of me now from Bernie. Of course, we're going to see my old teammate, Scott Parker, who played together at Charlton Athletic, gets another chance in the Premier League. They've gone for a little bit more Premier League experience, Rob, on a look at some of their signings. Kyle Walker is a standout Man City champion that's joined the football club. Ogu Chukwu from Chelsea. Jadon Anthony was at Bournemouth. James Trafford, Dubravka, Newcastle United. Axel Twanzaby, Rob, that was at Ipswich last year. They're going a little bit more on the back of a remarkable defensive campaign, Burnley, last year.

1:06:44Robbie Earle:Where's the number? 16 goals against.

1:06:47Robbie Mustoe:16, yeah. 30 clean sheets.

1:06:51Robbie Earle:I mean, maybe that, I think for sure we're going to see more of a Sean Dyche Burnley than a company, Expansive Burnley, and probably to stay in the league. that if they can maintain that defensive kind of structure, which is way harder in the Premier League, and some of those experienced players might help and they can get some counter-attacks going, maybe they can do it as well. Sunderland is a whole new team. Just who knows? Who knows? But we have to wait. We have to wait to see the team play a few times. I looked on the squad list and then looked a little bit at systems

1:07:24Robbie Mustoe:and how they play and it's all very different. But I thought there was one thing I read this morning that I thought summed up. somebody said like Burnley, the archetypal club that seemed too good for one league, not good enough for the other. They got relegated so the last four years they got relegated with 35 points from the Premier League the following year got promoted with 101 points. They got relegated from the Premier League with 24 points and got promoted with 100 points. It's like, you know, they're that in-between team.

1:07:56Robbie Earle:Or Leeds are as well, aren't they? Leeds United are a little bit wrong. Daniel Farker, is he going to be one of the managers, Rob, because of what he's done in the past, and the opinion will be, well, he's great in form. Daniel Farker, yeah. Is he going to be like, if they don't start well, well, this guy doesn't do it in the Premier League, we've got to get somebody else in.

1:08:15Robbie Mustoe:A couple of things I liked about him, Rob, he said, like, the signings he got in, he wants height, he wants aggression, he wants physicality as a base to match the Premier League. So I think that's just a good realisation, Rob, of what that, despite the incredible quality and technical ability, you just physically sometimes have to be able to compete. You know, people can just run all over you if you're not careful. So I think he wants to address that. You know, I'm looking at his team thinking, and I know it's a bit cliche, but days at Ellen Road, Rob, if that team are difficult to play against, will be a benefit.

1:08:49Robbie Mustoe:It's something that works in your favour. They've got Joel Perrault, haven't they? Yeah, top striker. 19 goals last season, top in the Championship. They haven't done much more business at the top end of the pitch. They've got Sean Longstaff from Newcastle. I thought it was good business.

1:09:06Robbie Earle:Anton Stack, a German midfield player, Bundesliga experience. Yeah, midfield players.

1:09:10Robbie Mustoe:He's still got Dan James.

1:09:11Robbie Earle:He's still got Pascal Strait. They've still got Wifford. Yeah, not so. Brennan Aronson, of course, the American US international player.

1:09:17Robbie Mustoe:Absolutely.

1:09:18Robbie Earle:So they've stuck. I feel like the team... Oh, sorry.

1:09:22Robbie Mustoe:Just read one just before we came on as well. They've agreed for Dominic Cowlett-Lewin.

1:09:27Robbie Earle:Oh, interesting.

1:09:28Robbie Mustoe:He's won an agreement for Dominic Cantoloon on a three. Yeah. If we can keep him fit and we can get him on the football pitch, even if it's 20, 25 games, Rob, you know, he might be able to bring you the goals. From Burnley's point of view, yeah, it's whether, you know, that pragmatic approach from Scott and the clean sheets and that, does that carry any weight in the Premier League at the step up? When Josh Brown was your top school with 18 goals, which was an incredible return, but you're going to need to have another source of goals from attacking players if Burnley are going to survive. Spent£150 million now, Burnley.

1:10:06Robbie Mustoe:We've got about eight players. So I think it's three of the teams have kind of gone, as you say, under Regis Labrie, they've spent a lot of money themselves over the summer. Granit Jack has been the standout. Not quite sure how they got that business done.

1:10:23Robbie Earle:Yeah.

1:10:25Robbie Mustoe:But, you know, tactically smart young coaches, tactically, you know, have shown that they could do it in the Championship, can they convert some of that to the Premier League and maybe find a balance between playing the kind of football they want but being difficult to play against, I think, is one of the keys.

1:10:41Robbie Earle:It's funny, mate, isn't it? Because, you know, we're kind of wrapping up a little bit now with these promoted teams, but it's like, there's cycles, right? We've seen teams that park the bus and are pragmatic, struggle to score enough goals, they go down. Last year was Southampton and it was, and remember of course Burnley this expansive type of football managers thought that with that way they can play enough to create enough to stay up, that hasn't worked it's less about that for me it's more about the quality of the players that you get, whichever way you decide to play it looks like Burnley are going to be more pragmatic, I'm sure Sunderland are, Leeds United are going to be a little bit more balanced team, I think Daniel Farker is going to be a little bit more expansive, a little bit more on the front foot I mean I wish them all the best and it's good Rob, I mean there's been criticism about the parachute payments oh yeah what it what it means is why the parachute payments are there is that the three clubs can have a go and be competitive they can go ahead and spend 100 million pounds on players knowing that the revenues from the season they're up and then if they do go down the parachute payments will enable the the clubs to gently adjust back to the instead of going crazy and then yeah to fall back on i know it doesn't help my old club middlesbrough and a few of the other teams, Stoke City and a few others, find it hard to compete with clubs that get parachute payments, but it's there because of what we're seeing now and teams that are offered the chance to spend the money to stay in the league, they'll get help on the way down.

1:12:07Robbie Earle:So, yeah, wish them all the best, but my goodness, that's the thing with the Premier League right now, it's very, very hard

1:12:12Robbie Mustoe:to stay in.

1:12:13Robbie Earle:Alright, go on, mate.

1:12:15Robbie Mustoe:I just wanted to go on one place, more on you, mate, just before we move on. I suppose if one team stayed, Leeds, Burnley, whichever one, and one team dropped, which is your most likely team over the 38 season that might find themselves in hot water?

1:12:37Robbie Earle:All right, so good question. I hadn't thought about it too much until now, but off the top of my head, I'm a little worried about Wolverhampton Wanderers and I'm a little worried about Brentford. Yeah, exactly. You know, Keith Andrews. Who are you worried more about? Probably Wolves.

1:12:55Robbie Mustoe:Personally, I'll say Wolves. I think if Keith Andrews doesn't work, I think they've got the structure and that to make a change, bring in somebody and dress it. Although if they do let Wiesa go as well as Umbermo, Noel Godd in the manager, that's a big part of your team missing.

1:13:12Robbie Earle:But I do slightly worry for Wolves with no Kunio, no Aitnori and whatever.

1:13:18Robbie Mustoe:I mean, he did a great job and he's an excellent manager and did great stuff at the second half of the season, but slightly worth their job.

1:13:26Robbie Earle:They're the ones that could, and the promoter teams, they need a couple of... They need one, don't they?

1:13:31Robbie Mustoe:They need somebody to hang on to. Yeah.

1:13:35Robbie Earle:All right, so we're on to the final piece now, Rob, our Rapid Friar predictions. All right, so the first one, I'll just go down the list as it's been presented to us. Yeah. Who will win the Golden Boot?

1:13:49Robbie Mustoe:The Golden Boot will be going by Erlen Haaland of Manchester City, my friend. In a City team that's rejuvenated on the Pep Guardiola.

1:13:59Robbie Earle:Yeah, they had a bad year last year. He still got it.

1:14:02Robbie Mustoe:I was looking at all the new strikers and you're like, well, we don't know with all those. What we do know is that Haaland will get goals.

1:14:10Robbie Earle:I agree. So we're the same on that one. Who will have the most assists? I'll go first on this one. and who will have the most assists? Again, based on last year, based on how the team might go, I'm going to say Bakayou Saka of Arsenal. The Arsenal right winger, I think he's ready for a big season. I think he's going to have a lot of assists. Anything different on that one?

1:14:32Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, I'm going to go Florian Vert. Ah. Liverpool. Just sitting in that hole with good movement ahead of him from two or three different spots. Yeah. I think he might just win the assist this season.

1:14:46Robbie Earle:All right, you're first up. Which manager is most on the hot seat?

1:14:51Robbie Mustoe:He's probably one of the youngest, one of the most experienced in the hot seat following a legend that was Thomas Frank. I've got to say Keith Andrews at Brentford.

1:14:59Robbie Earle:Yeah, yeah. I've got three here. But my manager, who's most on the hot seat, is Ruben Amerin. Given where they were, given what they've done, given the new players that they've got.

1:15:13Robbie Mustoe:You think by Christmas if things aren't going right?

1:15:16Robbie Earle:Yeah. If they're in the bottom half, if they're in the bottom, if they're in the bottom third of the table at Christmas, he's going to be under massive pressure. And listen, I get the momentum. I like it. I'm with it. I'm just saying like, what seat's particularly hot? It's not right now because there's a feel-good factor about the signings and he's clearing out people. But the proof's in the pudding. Like at some point, they've got to be better than where they were last year. and they've got some good players in that we know are good players that can do good things. So there has to be a big improvement for Man United.

1:15:49Robbie Earle:So I'm saying Amarin for the hot seat. Yeah, I'm saying Keith Andrews.

1:15:53Robbie Mustoe:Where would you go with your best signing? Who's been good value? Who's slightly surprised you that they've captured?

1:16:00Robbie Earle:Well, there's been so many blimmin' signings, Rob. And I'm just, given what he might do and what it might mean, Victor Jochores is going to be the signing of the season.

1:16:14Robbie Mustoe:All Arsenal fans are hoping and praying you're 100 % right. Absolutely right.

1:16:18Robbie Earle:Yeah, yeah. And there's a ton of players out there, Rob, that I could mention. But given what they need, what the manager needs, what the team needs, and they've got their man, Jochores could be the big important part for Arsenal.

1:16:33Robbie Mustoe:Well, I'm going to go slightly off kilter with this one, mate. Very left field. My signing of the season is Granit Jacker to Sunderland.

1:16:42Robbie Earle:Granit Jacker to Sunderland. I know. It's an incredible team. He's a Leverkusen, a Bundesliga champion.

1:16:48Robbie Mustoe:He's a champion. A couple of years ago, wasn't he? Xabi Alonso. And once he comes back, and if Sunderland do have a chance, we've seen how this guy works and what he can do at Arsenal and at Leverkusen now. So, yeah, Granit Jacker to Sunderland. For sure. Yeah, that's signing.

1:17:07Robbie Earle:The last couple of predictions, Rob, we're going to do a top four and we're going to do a champions. Now, a top four, unless you're going to throw something a little bit left field, which you do tend to do that.

1:17:17Robbie Mustoe:I can't really on this time. I might get Man United in there.

1:17:22Robbie Earle:I think the top four...

1:17:24Robbie Mustoe:I think the four we talked of, isn't it? I think so.

1:17:27Robbie Earle:Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal, you know, I think would be pretty surprising if they didn't make it. But listen, this is the Premier League. And let's finish with the biggest question of all, my friend. After all that we've talked about, all that we've seen so far, with the caveat, as we always say, that the deals between now and the end of the window might make a difference. But as it stands right now, I think we all know who the favourites are in the Premier League right now, from a strong window from Liverpool. But are they your favourite to win, to lift?

1:17:57Robbie Mustoe:Well, unfortunately, I've got two answers. You can't have two answers.

1:18:02Robbie Earle:You cannot have two answers.

1:18:03Robbie Mustoe:So, without Isaac for Liverpool, I'm going Arsenal. With Isaac for Liverpool, I'm going Liverpool. Isaac's a difference maker.

1:18:16Robbie Earle:Okay. I'm saying with Isaac or without Isaac, they're not winning it. Arsenal. It's Arsenal's turn. Whatever Liverpool do, it's Arsenal's turn.

1:18:32Robbie Mustoe:Massive shell.

1:18:33Robbie Earle:They've got very close. They've got a guy that I would say right now, if he scores 20 Premier League goals this upcoming season, Arsenal win the league.

1:18:43Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, I wouldn't disagree with that.

1:18:45Robbie Earle:If Jokic scores 20 Premier League goals or more, they win the Premier League. They got the best defensive last year. They've got young players in Marcel Eskele. I hope you're right, mate. They've added to midfield. They've got habits. Everybody's fit and playing. Sackers. They're ready now. In all that sort of mentality, you know,

1:19:03Robbie Mustoe:go back three years of bottling, are they mature? Do they win when they don't play well? All those things have got to kind of be added.

1:19:11Robbie Earle:And we've said this, I've said this for a couple of seasons now, they've built from the back, they've built defensively, and now they've got attacking options now, particularly if they bring in a virtue. As a Liverpool, we know it's incredibly difficult to go back-to-back on league titles. I might say they might tilt towards the Champions League the new players that might I just got a few more doubts is Mo Salah going to score another 25-30 goal I just got a few more doubts about Liverpool's ability to bring all this together and the manager's outstanding and Arsenal now with Saka the moment he's at the fetal he looks like in pre-season the scorer that's an experienced player and all the bits around him and I'll say this finally I don't think there's any team hungrier in the league this season to win the Premier League title than Arsenal football club and Mikel Arteta.

1:20:02Robbie Earle:And that's why I think, listen, I've been wrong before. I tipped him last year. I think this is going to be the season. Of course. We're all just going to keep it off

1:20:11Robbie Mustoe:so I can play it back to you. Yeah, I know.

1:20:15Robbie Earle:Of course, I mean, I heard another pundit say this week and I kind of agree, I've been a journalist, that whichever of those two keep their key players fittest for the long run

1:20:26Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, that's why they've both got numbers now, mate. They've got squads. You know what I mean? They've got squads that can do it.

1:20:32Robbie Earle:I think it's Arsenal's season this year.

1:20:33Robbie Mustoe:All right, mate. I'm going Liverpool with Isaac, Arsenal with RT. Okay. Exactly. Let's do that. All right, mate. It's just two more sleeps before the Premier League is back. Almost every team in the league, there's a storyline to play out over the next nine months. So make sure you tune in to Two Robbies every weekend to keep up to date with all the drama. Don't forget we're live 2pm Eastern Time on the USA Network That's Friday, August 15th When we'll be at Anfield, head of Liverpool The champions facing Bournemouth But for now, I'm Earl, he's Musty Together with the two Robbies Thanks for watching and listening Be safe, stay healthy It's a good night from me

1:21:10Robbie Earle:And it's a good night from him Good night

1:21:22Thank you.