- 3 years ago
Lee Sobot and Michael Plant look ahead to the Premier League games this weekend.
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00:00 Hello there. Welcome to the second edition of the Footy Forecast with myself, Lee Sobot.
00:05 And we're joined this week by Michael Plant from Manchester World, who covers Manchester
00:10 United and Manchester City. So a great guest to have on for us this weekend.
00:13 How are you doing, Michael? Are you feeling back in the swing of things now the Premier League is back underway?
00:17 Game's about to come thick and fast again.
00:19 Yeah, I'm good, thanks. Yeah, pleased the football's back now.
00:22 It's been a long summer with, well, not that long, I suppose, with Manchester City ending late,
00:26 but it's felt like a long summer anyway. But yeah, certainly pleased to have the football back.
00:30 Good stuff, right. We had our first episode last week and basically every single score we predicted came up.
00:35 So no pressure at all then on that one. It didn't quite, to be honest.
00:39 I mean, myself and Will Rooney, we were a bit chickens just picking out all the bankers, which pretty much came in.
00:44 But, you know, some of them weren't hard to call and there might be some this weekend as well.
00:47 But for our main game this weekend, we're going to look at Manchester United in action at Tottenham, the Saturday evening game at 5.30.
00:54 You've seen both those games at the weekend, obviously covering Man United for Manchester World as well.
00:59 I don't know where to start with this one.
01:01 I mean, I suppose with Tottenham, it's Ange-Bastia Koglou, obviously a new era, the first game, his first home game.
01:05 But for Manchester United, I suppose people probably looking for them to kick on this season, you know, after the way they finished last season.
01:12 What was your initial take on that first game of the season where, obviously, a 1-0 victory and drama and controversy at the end, shall we say, to say the least?
01:21 Well, that was my big thought. I don't know how they managed to get away without giving away a penalty at the end.
01:25 I think we all thought when the referee ran over to the touchline, he was about to check the monitor and give the penalty.
01:29 But it wasn't the B for Wolves.
01:31 I think that, you know, United weren't great on Monday night.
01:35 I don't think anyone would argue with that. I think Ten Hag even kind of admitted that after the game.
01:39 I think even Bruno Fernandes said that afterwards.
01:41 So, yeah, listen, United weren't great.
01:43 But I suppose the important thing for them is that they did pick up three points, that they came through it.
01:48 Defensively, I think they look pretty solid. And I think that Ten Hag will hope that he can iron out some of these issues in the coming weeks, certainly, as they get a little bit more back into their rhythm.
01:57 I think that the concern is still at the moment up front, where they didn't score enough goals in the latter stages of last season, where the start of this season, not looking fantastic.
02:06 I thought their decision making in the final third wasn't good with a front three on Monday night.
02:11 And obviously, Marcus Rashford at the moment is playing up front.
02:14 I think Marcus Rashford is a terrific player, but I do think he's better on the left, cutting inside, rather than playing up front.
02:20 So, they're the issues that I think Ten Hag will be wrestling with a little bit going into this game.
02:24 Also, the set-up at the midfield, I thought they were a bit too open at midfield last time.
02:29 And I think that'll be the issues that Ten Hag will look to address.
02:31 But it should be, I certainly think it'll be a good game on Saturday evening.
02:35 Yeah, and I suppose, you know, I mean, I guess, Man U are probably a bit of a work in progress almost from that extent.
02:40 You know, obviously, like, you know, the number nine situation, obviously, they've got the big signings come back, come into the fray yet as well.
02:45 And Tottenham, obviously, it's life about Harry Kane.
02:47 So, we talk about number nines.
02:48 I mean, he's the best one there is, isn't there?
02:49 I mean, obviously, they've had their first game now under Ansh Pasterkoglu.
02:53 I don't know, I saw most of that.
02:54 And I thought, really, I think probably people could expect a big hangover on the back of Harry Kane not being there.
02:59 But I thought they looked all right.
03:00 Myself, what about yourself?
03:01 I mean, I know, obviously, then you got a point in the end.
03:02 But what did you make to them against, you know, in their opening 2-2 draw with Brentford?
03:07 Yeah, it was an interesting one because there were spells I thought they looked really good.
03:10 And there were spells that they really struggled with the directness of Brentford.
03:14 And I think United are moving more, slightly more direct model under 10-10.
03:19 Certainly plenty of long diagonals out wide, which I think will be an interesting aspect on Saturday.
03:23 And there was some, I suppose, like most teams in the opening weekend, there were some good things, some bad things from Spurs.
03:29 And I thought James Madison was really good in that kind of number 10 role.
03:32 I thought that Yves Pessouma was actually really good at holding midfield.
03:35 And it's going to take a while for Apostle Caldwell to get his ideas across.
03:40 And, you know, you mentioned it there, there's going to be a real hangover regarding Harry Kane.
03:44 He is, well, born Erling Haaland, the best striker in the Premier League, if not the entire planet, really.
03:51 And to get rid of him, it's going to take a long time to adapt.
03:54 I didn't think McCharleston was really into the weekend, obviously, the new number nine.
03:59 And I think it will take a while for him to really grow into that role.
04:03 I don't think he'll ever measure up to Harry Kane.
04:05 And that's no insult to McCharleston, just Harry Kane is a superb player.
04:09 So I think that will be an interesting aspect, obviously, going into the weekend.
04:12 But I think, you know, I did kind of touch on it there.
04:14 I think the fullbacks will be interesting.
04:16 Emerson Royale pushed inside a lot last week for Spurs against Brentford.
04:19 Yeah.
04:19 You know, if they do that this week, you know, it could be Garnaccio, it could be Sancho,
04:23 potentially even Rashford or unlikely Rashford.
04:26 Why did they do that and give United a lot of freedom down the wide area?
04:29 I think that could be an area they could attack.
04:31 But then at the same time, I think Spurs obviously had a lot of the ball against Brentford.
04:35 That's what United struggle with against Wolves.
04:37 So there's so many kind of dynamics and aspects of it going into the game.
04:40 Yeah, definitely.
04:41 So what we're saying basically there is both teams, like, you know,
04:44 the sort of like works in progress, really.
04:45 And probably haven't really got a clue what's going to happen, to be quite honest with this one, have we?
04:48 But it comes across as that sort of game.
04:51 But we've got to put our neck on the line.
04:53 What I mean, I'll go first with this one.
04:54 I mean, I think I'd probably just about go with the narrow home win for Spurs.
04:57 But I mean, it's one of those games I could see going either way.
05:00 I'm basing that really more on what I saw against Man United,
05:03 sorry, from Man United in their first game of the season, which obviously wasn't great.
05:06 I can totally see how they might improve and they might even be better away from home.
05:09 But I think I'll just go like narrow.
05:10 I'll go like, I'll go 2-1 to Tottenham, I think.
05:12 I don't know what you're thinking yourself.
05:13 Yeah, I'm going to say that I think both teams will be happy enough with a point in this game.
05:19 Ultimately, I think United will take a point away at Spurs.
05:22 And I think Spurs, as I say, work in progress, you know, to avoid defeat.
05:26 I think they'll be relatively happy with that.
05:27 So I'm going to go for a 1-1 draw in this game.
05:29 Yeah, so we're quite close to what we think really is, or one goal either way.
05:33 Let's have a run through all the games this weekend.
05:35 Obviously, we lose one because of Luton's game not in action, obviously,
05:38 with a wait for Kenilworth Road to get sorted for their home games.
05:41 Obviously, you know, great story then being back in the Prem.
05:43 Won't see them this weekend.
05:44 But what we will see on Friday night is two teams that were sort of like,
05:46 I suppose, maybe expected to be down there in the battle to stay up,
05:49 which is obviously Forest against Sheffield United.
05:51 I asked pretty close when you would think, but I mean,
05:54 how do you see that one going and a scorecast for that one?
05:56 Do you think, Michael?
05:58 Yeah, I think Sheffield United are going to struggle this season,
06:01 if I'm honest.
06:01 I think they could really be in the grips of a relegation fight.
06:04 I think Forest, I think from their perspective, they'll look to push on.
06:07 Played relatively well against Arsenal when we saw the highlights,
06:10 but certainly give Arsenal a good go.
06:12 I think, actually, I think it could be a difficult start for Sheffield United this season.
06:17 I'm going to go for actually quite a strong Forest win.
06:20 I'm going to go 3-0 Forest, actually.
06:21 Yeah, you're going to go 3-0.
06:22 I've got 2-0 down here as well.
06:24 I think, agree with you.
06:24 I think Forest at home, especially with that one.
06:26 Maybe one that might be a bit tighter.
06:27 We'll go to the Saturday games now.
06:28 Fulham-Brentford, how do you see that one?
06:30 Yeah, another tight one.
06:33 I think two teams will probably drop a little bit from last season, if I'm honest.
06:36 I don't think there'll be a huge amount of goals in this one,
06:40 just given relatively good defensive records.
06:43 Brentford, very difficult to beat.
06:44 Fulham, yeah, obviously kind of a couple of issues from the summer in terms of Mitrovic
06:49 and things like that and transfer issues they need to get sorted.
06:51 So, I think I'll go for just a narrow Brentford win.
06:54 I'll go 1-0 to Brentford.
06:56 Yeah, I'm going 1-1 for that one.
06:57 I'm just sitting on the fence nice and easy.
06:58 If in doubt, just go for a 1-1 draw.
07:01 I always think that's probably a pretty way to go.
07:02 So, we'll just go for a 1-1 there.
07:04 But we're quite close to all our predictions.
07:06 It's one goal either way.
07:07 I'll intro this next one.
07:08 Obviously, Liverpool at home to Bournemouth.
07:09 I mean, obviously, each week, I suppose everybody looks for a banker, really.
07:13 Someone who's definitely going to win.
07:14 I suppose when you look at the fixtures this weekend,
07:16 I think most people would see Liverpool as being that against Bournemouth at Anfield.
07:20 And, you know, Salah looked amazing in the first half of the weekend, obviously.
07:24 He wasn't very happy to be coming off, to say the least, when he got subbed.
07:27 But I think they'll have too much for Bournemouth.
07:29 And I think I'm going to go something like 3-0 Liverpool in that one.
07:31 I don't know if you agree along those lines or what you think.
07:33 Yeah, I'd actually go for the exact same scoreline.
07:36 3-0 to Liverpool.
07:38 I think that they're so good at home, by and large.
07:40 And Bournemouth, you know, I think some people underestimate them,
07:46 but I don't think they're going to be able to deal with Liverpool this weekend.
07:48 Yeah, I think you're right with that one.
07:50 Wolves, obviously, you saw them at the weekend.
07:52 How do you see that against Brighton?
07:53 I mean, because obviously you've seen Wolves up close, obviously, straight away.
07:55 Yeah, I mean, I think if there's an upset this weekend,
07:59 it's one that people might not expect.
08:01 I think it could be this game.
08:03 I maybe fancy Wolves to get a win in this one.
08:05 Brighton, obviously, fantastic side.
08:07 One of my favourite teams in the Premier League.
08:09 If not, it's just the way they go about things.
08:10 But Wolves defended really well.
08:12 Brighton do have this habit of, I know they did kind of
08:14 buck that trend a little bit last weekend,
08:17 but they have a habit of not tending to convert all their chances.
08:20 Wolves defend pretty well.
08:21 And I potentially think that we could see a little bit of an upset,
08:24 perhaps a 2-1 win for Wolves this weekend.
08:27 2-1 that one. I'm going 1-1 with that one.
08:28 I totally agree with you, though.
08:29 I could see why that, you know, you could see the rationale for that.
08:31 But I thought Wolves, you know, they impressed Old Trafford,
08:33 basically, didn't they, in that game?
08:34 And they wouldn't be surprised at all if they got a win there.
08:36 We'll go 1-1 with that.
08:37 A real big game on Saturday evening.
08:39 Obviously, team you know well,
08:40 they've got the European game coming up first.
08:42 But Man City against Newcastle, I mean, talk about the talent on show here.
08:44 I mean, there's got to be goals, hasn't there?
08:46 I think I'll go, I mean, I think Newcastle are a fantastic team that really go in places.
08:50 But I still think City will have too much for a man.
08:51 Probably going to go something like 3-1 Man City.
08:53 Has that been a bit over the top, do you think?
08:54 I mean, I thought Newcastle were the team of the opening weekend against Villa.
09:00 They were fantastic.
09:01 You know, attacked Villa's high line.
09:05 City operate quite a high line, although they tended to do it a lot more successfully.
09:08 I think City tend to start the season a bit slowly.
09:10 I think the fact they've got a midweek game,
09:12 and there's a little bit of uncertainty, obviously, with Kevin De Bruyne,
09:14 the injury this week that was announced.
09:16 Where's the creativity going to go for?
09:18 So, listen, I'm going to, second week of the season, there'll be a few shocks.
09:21 I'm going to go for a draw on this one.
09:23 I'm going to go for it for a 2-2 draw on this game.
09:26 Yeah, there's plenty of reasons why you could see that,
09:28 especially with De Bruyne, who's obviously facing, what is it,
09:30 I think a few months out potentially, isn't it?
09:31 And obviously that's a big loss for City, of course.
09:33 A couple of games on Sunday, Villa-Everton.
09:36 I mean, I don't know what you think of that one, really.
09:37 I mean, I'm being boring and just going for 1-1s all the time here.
09:40 But that's another one I find fairly hard to call.
09:42 I think I'll go 1-1 in there.
09:43 What do you think, Villa-Everton?
09:44 I think two teams already pretty early on in the season
09:48 that would worry about losing at the weekend.
09:50 If they suddenly started the season with two defeats,
09:52 then it'd be a really worrying start to the new campaign for them.
09:56 I think Villa should have too much for Everton.
09:57 I think that Everton are, yeah,
10:00 are going to struggle again this season.
10:02 Villa can't be as bad as they were last week.
10:04 And I think at home they're a much better side as well.
10:06 So I actually am going to go for a relatively comfortable Villa win.
10:09 I'll go 2-0 Villa for that one.
10:11 OK, cool. Good stuff.
10:11 And then the final Sunday game, we've got West Ham against Chelsea.
10:14 Obviously a bit of a London derby, but I mean, Chelsea on their travels.
10:16 I mean, if they can finish, the chances they might have too much for West Ham.
10:19 I know it's a derby and stuff.
10:21 I think I'm going to go, I think I'll go 3-1 Chelsea in that one.
10:24 What do you think for that one?
10:24 Yeah, there's a common theme for me actually going through these.
10:27 That I think that there are just a number of teams that will probably
10:30 take a few weeks to bed into the season
10:32 and maybe not kind of firing on all cylinders at the moment.
10:34 So I've actually gone for a draw in that one.
10:36 I don't think West Ham can see too many goals normally.
10:38 So I'm going to go for a 1-1 draw in that game.
10:41 OK, and then to finish off with on Monday night, Arsenal are obviously up and running.
10:44 I think everybody expected them to get a hatful in the first game of the season against Forest.
10:47 They obviously had to set up a 2-1 in the end, but they did get three points.
10:50 They're seen as the main rivals, obviously, to City's crown.
10:52 Of course, they are, whether that is the case remains to be seen.
10:55 But Palace against Arsenal, I've got a feeling we're going to agree on this one.
10:58 But let's just see.
10:59 I don't think, I mean, difficult place to go Palace, but I'm going to go 2-0 Arsenal.
11:03 I just think they have just too much quality.
11:04 Yeah, I've got the exact same scoreline, 2-0 Arsenal.
11:07 I think Arsenal will control the game enough,
11:10 create enough chances to put Palace to bed.
11:12 And I just don't think that Palace have enough tack and talent to disturb Arsenal in scoring enough goals.
11:16 So, yeah, I think it'd be quite a comfortable one for Arsenal.
11:19 That could be, along with Liverpool, one of the bankers for this week, I think.
11:22 There you go. So we've saved the best till last.
11:24 Right at the end now, we've both agreed on the same result and the same score for the Monday night game.
11:28 And I think so.
11:29 I think we both definitely agree on that one and that Liverpool are the bankers of the weekend.
11:32 So loads of action to come this weekend.
11:34 They're not going to be a busy man you are this weekend.
11:36 I think we all will be.
11:36 But enjoy the football.
11:38 Thanks for tuning in with us and we'll be back for the third week of the Premier League season here on National World.
11:42 Cheers for now.