8 | The Mid Table, “Pogba, Pulisic, and some pretty neat moments”

David Kalsow 0:00

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David Kalsow 0:10

I'm David Kalsow. And you're listening to APC Presents where I showcase independent podcasters from Northeast Wisconsin. This week on Dave's faves we're jumping across the pond to the other kind of football. This episode is from Caleb Williams' most recent podcast the Mid Table. Each week they recapped Premier League games, but it only ran for one season. It is a great example of the duo co host format. Caleb and Kevin do a great play by play with some friendly banter. So let's dive into an episode from early last December "Pogba, Pulisic, and some pretty neat moments" from the Mid Table podcast.

Caleb Williams 1:07

Hey, everybody, welcome to the mid table. We're entering in another exciting wrapping up another exciting week of the Premier League entering another one. I'm Caleb. Hi, I'm Kevin R. And we have quite the exciting games including a number 12 Brady citing early on, but it's not Tommy Brady. It's another Brady and we'll get to that in just a little bit. In fact, as I'm looking at the notes that you so kindly typed up, it's the first game so it's Burnley Everton and number 12. Brady, not Tom Brady gets on the board quickly, Kevin.

Kevin 1:44

Yeah, early Saturday morning for us here in the US. We have Burnley Everton three minutes in though. Little Mr. Brady number 12. It's a goal I think is first of the season, if I'm not mistaken. I've really pressed as high up the field early on forcing Everton into some just sloppy passing very uncharacteristic in which Brady picks off the past in a minute in the middle of the field, and just has a long range effort and ends up in the net catching Nick Pope I think kind of off guard there or not not Nick Pope, excuse me, little Jordan Pickford off guard the

Caleb Williams 2:20

Yeah. And it was, it was one of those moments where I thought, Oh, no, this is gonna be one of those Pickford games again and all that, but I thought he really gathered himself again, pretty well for the rest of the game. And Everton had a lot of work to do, because like you said, they just did not see themselves early, early on version of themselves from this year, Kevin, but in the 45th minute, we see Mr. Reliable, dominant, Calvert Lewin, tie the game up it goes. It starts though with Alon who wins the ball off of brown Hill playing it over to Charlotte Mason, who just who's in the left flank, spacing it out and shoots the ball into the box, passes the ball into the box, and there's Dominic Calvert Lewin rushing to meet the ball and knocking it into the net tying the game just before halftime. He has been their most reliable player this year. Most definitely pride

Kevin 3:25

as I've said before their most clutch player as you call them, Mr. Reliable it this is a game just kind of frustrates me though because Everton were so good those first few weeks. And now, as I think we mentioned last week, dairy are just kind of back to the old efforts and they win some they lose some they draw more. It's it's kind of sad to see because I really was hoping Everton would be turning a corner this year. Ancelotti is an amazing manager. He's taken the helm of so many iconically big clubs in the world and has opened he'd kind of have this Renaissance if you will, at Everton and it just hasn't panned out that way yet. We're only like a third of the way through the season though so I mean, there is still time for it to be some bigger but I mean, I just want to see more and pick for did have a bad starts, which kind of had me going like, Okay, how much more is Everton going to take this? Or are they actually going to finally make the switch and have Olson play more?

Caleb Williams 4:33

But right now, as you said he kind of woke up later in the game and had a pretty, pretty solid good game and the rest of the game but yeah, it just, it wasn't as I had hoped for. I thought everyone would come away with three points out of this one, but they didn't each point or each team gets a point out of this one. Yeah. And while we're giving praise to Pickford for his recovery, we also got to give praise for Burnley for staying in it and Maintaining and receiving that one point because I thought Everton had some pretty solid looks. In the second half. The attack seemed to pick up another level and Burnley stood their ground. So

Kevin 5:20

they I mean they had some moments of shaky defending I remember, but they were able to recover Nick Pope. He He's a really good goal keeper I honestly don't know why he's not England's number one over Jordan Pickford, but he had some great saves, the only defense was able to recover and handle some things. So yeah, is as much as I want to give praise to Burnley. And I want them to get three points out of the ions. They

Caleb Williams 5:49

did think about Everton Yeah, I was gonna get three points out of it. And they didn't so credit Burnley for robbing two points off of them and getting the point themselves, right and we're entering that time of the year for Everton, you know, you start out really well. And then you notice that teams adjust to the way that you're playing. And now you've got to adjust to that too. So it'll be interesting to see. Because Kevin, you've mentioned this Christmas time of year is really the the momentum builder that you want to have going into the second that second half, but you know, the next year of the season.

Kevin 6:26

Absolutely. And even in the next couple of weeks here is when they start having two three games a week and they need to have some depth to the benches whichever 10 right now has got a few injuries in the defensive side of things which doesn't help the case very well right now and moving forward. So it'll be interesting coming up in the next couple of weeks here as we finish out December going into January. How how much form they're in and what momentum they can gather going forward.

Caleb Williams 6:55

Well, speaking of momentum, one team that is getting momentum the right way right now is Manchester City as they played for them, and they had quite an impressive performance it was to mill but it was still overall just the dominating performance for men city.

Kevin 7:16

Very much so I mean, credit to for them. They held out better than Burnley did against them in the predicted Yes,

Caleb Williams 7:22

I mean,

Kevin 7:23

for them only conceded the two goals in the first half. And the first one came really quick in fifth minute. Manchester City recovered the ball in midfield, the groin and makes a run forward with the ball perfectly times and is weighted his pass out for Raheem Sterling. Sterling just gets in places his shot on the far post and it's in the goal and interrupt pretty early. And I honestly thought after the first call, I'm like, oh, we're gonna see another five, five nil game.

Caleb Williams 7:53

Yeah, and really this is i was i was listening to an interview today about Raheem Sterling in how he didn't get much playing time over the past month, per se. And I think he was benched a couple of games. And they just talked about how that fueled and they're starting to see it. He saw it in the Champions League again today. So we're seeing rejuvenated Raheem Sterling, which is good for Manchester City. And again, we're seeing these beautiful passes from the bryana. And he's also scoring goals which we see in the 25th Minute. Anderson a follow them has a very light touch on Sterling, which we both agree with you and I that that was a was a light touch, they awarded the penalty, the brightness steps up hits it opposite direction of which way the goalie goes. It was a light penalty, but do you see why they gave it a penalty? Kevin?

Kevin 8:58

Yes and No, I mean, there is contact and this will kind of play into my getting the card later. So I don't want to go too much into this. But I don't know I've said in the past. Sterling is the name are of England.

Caleb Williams 9:13

I could see that. Yeah, he

Kevin 9:15

goes to grow. He falls all over the place. I mean, jack grealish has given him a run for his money on just dives but I still stand by my claim that Raheem Sterling is the name my which is just sad because I'm you He is a phenomenal player. He's an amazing talent. And I get that he's trying to get the foul to get his team to get to the goal. But that touch was so dinky describe it. Yeah. And it just kind of bothers me that something like that in real time when you watch it. I mean you watch it, it's in slow mo this contact made but when you watch it in real time, they're like man, that was a very light touch. You know, so slowly but fortunate For follow him that was all the goal scoring that they had

for that day. There's defense really stepped up and the second half I read it, yeah, even after that, like I was very pleased with how foam performs.

From there on. Yeah, I mean Manchester very much dominated that game possession passing movement. Fallen didn't really get too many locks in on goal they only had maybe two or three. And they weren't terribly great either. So Manchester, the better side, the better team came out on top, getting three points for the day, but vollum has improved

from where they were 11 weeks ago. Absolutely. And moving on to another Manchester. It's my favorite game, of which Manchester will show up for Manchester United. It was the good one this week, Kevin.

It was. Seems lately, Manchester United has had some very comeback performances, which is very exciting to watch. But you can't rely on that. But the first call ends up going to West Ham in the 38 minutes we see Westham earn themselves a corner kick, corner kick goes right to the near post, let's flip to the far post by Declan rice with the old head and soucek runs on to the flip the ball and just read your exit into the nets. And it gives irons the lead in the first half. One zero.

It was it was an exciting build up that play. Like normally corners are Bang Bang, like yeah, this was Bang, bang, bang kind of moment. And so it's just more and more. And I had to rewind a couple times double take it I'm like, How did this happen? It was it was an exciting goal.

Absolutely. And we see that from a man who is in all of the headlines. for them. It seems like every day, Dean Henderson clears the ball to the right flank. That's not who I'm talking about. I'm add, but Fernandez chases it down, cuts it and lays the ball off to Praga Pogba. That's who I'm talking about. Who has just enough time to get space and beautiful beautiful strike hits the outside of the box and bends it right into the net. All level one one beautiful kick from the French midfielder Pogba was was money on that shot?

Yeah, he definitely, I think needs to have some good performances, especially with all the reports that he's wanting to leave, he's going to go. I think if he wants to go somewhere with a quality side and a quality coach, he's going to need to put on a good show, you know, show that he still can. And I think he definitely did that game any student champions league too, despite them not having a good week of Champions League this week. But nevertheless, just three minutes later, though. You see man you have a throw in it comes to Fernandez, who then does a little heel flip to tell us tell us crosses the ball into the box. Greenwood's their spins with the ball. Let's lose just a banger of an effort. And Manchester is in there. Now up to the one. Greenwood had been hustling all game. I think he needed something and he finally got it. They just caught Westham not set up for the throwing I mean, they were still kind of figuring out their marks and who was going where and Manchester United just seize the opportunity.

Yeah. And part of me was wondering, I'm like, Where is this? Why isn't this Manchester around all the time? Like when you see elements like that, and the players that they have? It's like, what's going on? Why? Where's the consistency? Because that moment there I was like, that's Manchester United.

Yeah, very much. So I mean, it's almost like they need a good slap in the face. They take the meal. There's some that way. Because, like you said, it's just inconsistent. Like they need a full 90 of consistency to do well, but

we can't just say that it's almost just seems like they need a good gut punch or something to get them to wake up and be like, okay, he can play now. Yeah, because I mean, the scoring wasn't over for Manchester United we see in the 78th minute from the backline. The ball is played into Padma passes it to Fernandez, who, though he didn't score had a very good game, Fernandez lays it off to Mata Mata spots. rashford. running to the left side plays a beautiful long ball to him scores. The goal past fabianski making it three to one. And again, it's one of those moments where you go where? Where's this been? But it was beautiful at the same time.

Yeah, most definitely. I mean, it was just good quick thinking good quick passing. Heads Up play. By man, you'd finish out the day and get three one. We do see like, almost a copycat story in the next game of Chelsea vs. Leeds. This time, Leeds takes the early lead at four minutes. Leads mob up just some sloppy play from Chelsea and goes out wide to Calvin Phillips, who then says just a curling, perfectly weighted pass into the path of Bamford is running in on the box. Bamford makes no mistake puts it in right past Monday. It's taken early, surprising lead on that one.

All right. Patrick Bamford, getting that payday next year. He's playing for it. I don't know who it is. It's probably just gonna still be leads, but he is gonna get a pay raise. He is tiny and fast, a little Vardy in him in a way where he just outpaces you which we'll talk about that later on. But yeah, unfortunately, though, for leads. Like you said, with the last game, Chelsea had to have that slap in the face and Chelsea woke up, they build it up with an attack on the right side z, he lays the ball to Rhys James, who whips it, and finds durood who meets it and redirects it right into the net and Chelsea levels as the 27th Minute. Rhys James is becoming quite the setup man with these crosses, Kevin?

Yeah, um, I mean, in the modern game as so often the coin, you see those outside backs getting forward, making those passes and Rhys James is doing a really good job of it. And not only that, he actually defends pretty well as well. So it's pretty exciting to see a young English kid come up and make such a huge impact for a team. Yeah,

I mean, and England's pretty set there with Tia and him in the backfield and yeah, they've got their two back guys for a while. And that's all the scoring in the first half Kevin but early in the second half, we see more scoring from Chelsea

Yeah, Chelsea get a corner kick in some we've seen quite a bit this season. Mesa mountain just sends in the corner kick. Zuma runs in just gets above everybody else puts his head on it, and is blasted into the nets. And Chelsea are now up to two one. Just a classic play it seems like lately you know for them. Absolutely. And I found this absurd stat for Mason now.

I'm trying to find it. Where are you Here we go. Mason mouth created seven chances against lead this week seven that for any against anybody to create seven chances is impressive in 90 minutes. And that's the most for Chelsea in any game this year. He was on his game Mason mount. But for America, the best news came last in this game in the 90th Minute. We see coverstitch play the ball to Warner who's on the right flank who is running as fast as he can because he is a road runner for all your cartoon fans Saturday morning cartoon fans, but he cuts the ball back and passes it finds Paul Lucic in the middle sliding down getting the goal is a two goal lead polu sick and Warner teaming up that is what I wanted all year long.

It was it was a good counter attack really I mean at this point Chelsea especially this late in the game could have just sat back and defended Park boss but they didn't they kept going kept pushing on and I think it just like you said it kind of made my day that pulisic was the man to put the final nail in the coffin for Chelsea that day.

Quite the quite the beard. I don't know if he's old enough to grow that out. Yeah, it's it looks a little weird on him.

There was a there was a meme I saw was Shoji Giroux in him side by side and it says when you try to dress like the best looking kid in class obviously Olivier's your rule it's very style and political homeschool to say

that game with Chelsea Sup amps up Saturday and we move on to Sunday now, which starts with West Brom Crystal Palace with a dominant performance from Crystal Palace but we got to start in the eighth minute work crisp Crystal Palace is awarded a free kick placed into the right channel for Zaha who have sent across, but it hits a West. It's not going to the West Brom goal by defender oh it's an old goal to Furlong I'm stuttering over my words I'm just gonna say on goal for now on Joe Furlong. Not the way that you want to start the game if you are a baggies fan.

Nope, not at all. Um, but I think the highlight for this game is coming up before when the game was started was that Wilfred Zaha back in its he very much is making his mark yet again after coming back from I believe was a pretty lengthy injury there. Yeah. And he gets kind of a assist of sorts on this one. Just weapon in a very venomous cross on this that Furlong just couldn't handle it ended up putting in his own net.

Yeah. Yeah. Great. An impressive game Pirzada. You saw he kind of is an identity guy for them. And you saw that throughout the whole game.

But I mean, they definitely struggled the last couple weeks without him and now it looked a lot more electric this week than they had before.

Unfortunately though, Kevin, the one nothing lead doesn't last forever.

Nope. 30 minutes. We see Furlong who just scored an own goal earlier that has now played into space and makes a good run towards the goal line. And he just cuts back a pass right in the middle the box where Gallagher is waiting for it. And Gallagher blasts a shot and it's in the net net all level now. Very similar to his goal last week against Chelsea I believe and they know who they played last week. West Brom played enter. I mean, it was it was the almost the exact same setup cut back top of the box bang goal for Gallagher yet again two weeks in a row. So if anybody scouting him, mark them on the top of the box he's gonna do

well, I'm actually enjoying Gallagher's play a lot, I think, regardless of the outcome of West Brom this season, I think he'll be in the Premier League somewhere next year.

Well, he's a he's a Chelsea Academy product and I don't know if he's there on loan or if he's there full time, but he's had a pretty good upbringing with some pedigree to it is career so that was kind of a neat thing I learned about him last week, I guess after he scored but the game's excitement did not end at the 30 minutes obviously, it did not see in the 34th some drama. In fact, in the 32nd minute actually been Anholt knocks Pereira down and a free kick is awarded but far took a look at the initial foul and has the rest go to the pitch side monitor. Take a look at it. And he comes back in issues. Pereira West Brom a red card for basically kicking at that Anholt when he knocked him to the ground with his studs up at him

Very Cobra Kai of him.

Yeah, but I mean I don't want to say tit for tat is that but we had who was it acquire got knocked to the ground one game and he kicked out like that and was deemed okay cuz he was protecting himself. Yeah. And watching this one Pereira didn't I mean, he didn't like thrust a lunge or anything really hard. Like kick hard. I mean, his foot does come out straight and studs up at the guy. I'm not saying he doesn't doesn't not deserve a red card. But yeah, it's like, if not that one. And why is the no i don't i don't know. It just was

one of my not the other. Yeah. Yeah, no favoritism.

And it almost was one of those ones if you watched them real time. I don't know if he just missed it. But it didn't really look like he kicked out him in real time either. So I don't want to think that this far, they can slow it down and look at it and go, Oh, yeah, that looks like he kicked him even though in real time. It didn't look like it kicked on. So it's definitely a hard one to call but he does get the red card sent off. And it does make a huge impact on the rest of the game.

It does with a man up we see in the 55 minute palace is pressing and searching for another goal. And they pour poorly cleared away. MacArthur recovers the ball quickly and plays it to Zaha who takes a little touch inside and goes into the goal and gives Crystal Palace the lead. And yeah, because the HA strikes again in the 55th minute

Yep, But it doesn't stop there just four minutes later palace have this some great link up play a through ball is played towards gold and hole chases down, shifted back towards the middle of a box where ventec A just lowers his head down to meet the ball just nods it right into the nets. And now they are up three to one. And

it just keeps going on. I mean, this is what's supposed to happen when you're a man up and you're an attacking team. When you when you have two players when you have Zaha and been techie. I mean it's like I mean, I'm probably over exaggerating here, but the way that they're built this is why I'm comparing it to them in tech a is like a whole, like a bouncer. And as a has like the flash like he, I know it's two different universes for all you nerds out there. But Quicksilver will say quick sulfur then just to be accurate. So I mean, we got we've got the speed of Zaha, we've got the power of ventec a. And they perfectly connected this whole second half of the game. And then the 68th minute we see as a gets the ball for palace dribbles. goward giving it a little given go to bentek a with a sloppy touch and the return but it falls right to Zaha therefore the rebound makes no mistake gets in front of the goal and scores again. Got a blow on our hands. Yep. And then in the 82nd minutes title in a podcast and then

to finish off West Brom and put them out of their misery. I you who is subbed in plays, the ball to the annual client is on the run client sends the ball in on the ground, not even an aerial cross. But bash y who is looking like to be on the end of it just lets the ball roll through. And it goes to Ben tech and Ben tech. He turns his defender and just hammers it in like a hawk. And they end up winning the game five to one.

Yeah, quite impressed. Like you said, this was that momentum that Crystal Palace needed. They were on a downward trajectory the last couple of weeks. Zaha comes in and just gave them that Jordan secret stuff kind of thing. And they turned it around. And they they looked like the palace for the first couple weeks that we saw. Yeah. I mean, also helps that they were up a man.

True that Yeah, it definitely does help when you're up 10 versus 11. But Zaha, I think without him pulling the strings. It made a huge difference and just having that partnership as you point out earlier, so who's a fast nippy striker in Tecate, who plays a good hold up forward, just a body of front, the two of them able to connect and play off each other and as a, who's just proven to be an amazing playmaker. Just dangerous on the wing. You get all that coming? atcha it's it's gonna be hard to defend against no matter who you are.

Yeah, absolutely. And so I'm excited to see what Crystal Palace does. As I'm sure as Zaha, you can take your my my name off of your bulletin board now. You can. You can do that. Now. You've proven me wrong. It's been a fantastic year for him. And our intern, Mr. Mr. Apple got back to us. And West. Brom played Sheffield. Sheffield. Okay. Yes. So thank you, Mr. intern for that. And now as we go on speaking of Sheffield, they're the next game against Leicester Sheffield still looking for that much missing three point game for them. Would it happen this week Kevin?

Absolutely not. 24th minutes, Lester, move the ball around with quite a bit of ease. And it goes out left to James Justin who just sends in this cross. That Perez is on the end of who flicks it with his head all Brighton on the opposite side. Albrighton takes a shot it's blocked but the deflection falls right back Tyrese Perez. He just gets a hold of it too buried in the nets. I was impressed. I also know

I haven't heard a name in forever.

This is not a popular opinion amongst Newcastle fans, it seems like but I miss him at Newcastle. He would be great but I haven't heard that name and forever.

It's not a name that you commonly hear in scoring goals at Leicester but I'm happy for him. I do wish he was still on Newcastle he was great that last season and the last couple seasons but two minutes later Sheffield doesn't back down. No they do not know, as they get a corner lundstrom takes the corner sends it in, right to the head of Nick Burnie, which is a great last name and is not a shows level, again. Very exciting moment right there. Or I was thinking, Okay, is this the fight that Sheffield's going to put up? And they put together a pretty good fight for the next 74 minutes, Kevin?

Yeah. Do me a favor real quick, though. Yeah. Say all over McBurney, and your best Scottish accent?

Oh, no, I do not want to complaints. Come on, come on. You do and then I'll tell them McBurney. Only that'll make better money. That's way better than I can't even do an excellent. I hope they're not listening. stay subscribed.

So for 74 minutes, from there we see or I can't even do my math right now. Is 60 Yeah, 64 minutes. We see Sheffield put together a solid game but but we see in that 90th minute some fatigue in Sheffield, and only one man knows when to take advantage and he showed up?

Yeah, I mean, such a cruel game but they have Leicester they have a throw in Sheffield went back but just sloppily give it right back to Leicester. James Madison gets the ball just sends Jamie Vardy on the run. Vardy does what he does, scores a goal scores the game winner. And Leicester come away to the one I I was pretty gutted for Sheffield United that yeah,

it wasn't good. But at the same time, like I kept on watching it, Kevin. And just like the brilliance of the Vardy run, like he was aware, he's like, I need to get back onside. Yeah, but like, like he cut in. I know you guys can't see this. But you know, he cut he cut towards the middle. Then he backed up to get back on side and then took off again, like your body's not supposed to be able to adjust like that. That quickly. Right. And especially

in this age of like var where a shirtsleeve make you off sides. Yeah, the fact that he got everything back on size just in time for that pass from James Madison. Right. It just worked out perfectly for him. But

even the type of shot that he chose, that's a very difficult shot. At the 90th minute of like, how confident Do you have to be or cocky I don't know. Fine Line or the final. Just he didn't get a yellow card though. destroyed a corner kick flag. It might be one of my favorite photos though of the Premier League this season. And luster. They they actually like the more I was looking at their record over the last couple weeks. They needed this when they had not been playing well. This was a much needed three points for Leicester. Absolutely. I mean both teams needed three points out of that day

in Sheffield had chances I mean Oliver Burke early on had one he got a hold of it but he like didn't have his weight shifted right or something trips over his own feet right in front of the box had he been set he probably would have banged it in and it would have been a whole different game so yeah Sheffield United's search for three points is still on

and how long do you think their coach is gonna stay there? I mean, I know that the players like him I know that he the fans like him but at the same time moves have to be made sometimes.

Yeah, I don't think he'll leave of his own of his own will. I think it's gonna take the owners say I'm sorry. We got to do something. And I think at this point you really got to be looking over his shoulder at that but like you said the fans and players like him a lot. So there's that to consider as well. But I think he's just they've just got to get better quality in finance seems to be screwing them over week in and week out.

Yeah, and which is unfortunate because they spent so much money on a striker at the transfer deadline. But as you said you weren't sure if his style would transition at Sheffield and it's still up in the air it's only the first season but right now there's definitely been a learning curve for him and it's just hasn't gotten to where it needs to be.

Yep. But Sunday moving on. We have the North London Derby at Tottenham Tottenham in very good form Arsenal not in so good for because I have I have some I have a handful of friends who are all our arsenal fans and they were texting me during the game and they're just as miserable as a Newcastle fan. So I feel for him but it was an exciting game to watch nonetheless if you're a Tottenham fan and in the 13th minutes we we get our first goal with Tottenham who get the ball moving forward out of the back and they play it outright to Burj one but then plays it to Cain Cain just switch to the point of attack by playing this huge long ball out left to him and Son Son just goes on a blazing run taking on Arsenal defense decides to have a shot out from distance and boy who has it a shot does curls inside the far post in Arsenal take or excuse me Tottenham take early lead one zero

felt like I was watching golf and somebody had the pitching wedge out and hold it like that was like it was perfectly it deserved a golf clap at the end it was is awesome and yeah I know you said this so many times but right now it looks like Kane and son are playing on the playground together against you know their competition there Yeah, they're so fun to watch.

I think you've got a new goal celebration right there where the player should run to a corner flag all stop and just give a nice little he deserved it.

Like it felt like I was watching golf which I don't do often so but and the connection continues because we see right before halftime in the 45th minute we see Tottenham starting an attack with ra who plays it to lisel Oh my gosh. Whoa Kalsow Let's so let's also Alright, alright plays it to sell so who goes in on a run with the ball find son perfectly timed I thought this was gonna be son's moment. But he backs up find Cain who was still running towards the near post kicks in. And Cain becomes the all time leading scorer in the north London Derby and gives the Spurs to nothing read.

Yep. And that's how the game would end to zero Arsenal's woes would continue. Tottenham looking strong. There's a lot of chatter about them being titled contenders. You know, we're getting to that point in the season where we can start looking at teams going hey, are these are these claims founded? You know, is Chelsea Manchester City, Leicester, even Liverpool like are all these teams actual title contenders. And right now I feel like yeah, there's probably about six teams who really could make a go at the title this year. I mean, nobody's perfect. Obviously right now there's lost games. So it's not it's not like a couple seasons ago. We're one little one loss can ruin the whole title run. I mean, in the long run, yes, one loss can but it's not gonna come down to the one loss of the year. Right? Or their only loss, I should say of the year. But yeah, I mean, I wouldn't write off Tottenham as a title contender at this point. I mean, yeah. Are they going to win it? I don't have a crystal ball to say yes. But they're in the top six teams, I would say that I'm making a threat on the Premier League title this year.

And you know, what's, what's interesting is, in this whole conversation so far, we haven't mentioned Gareth Bale was was he needed was it was he was the addition just to kind of push the players to do better because of his name. Like, you're replaceable, and they just stepped up their game. Possibly,

I mean, Marino did say pregame interview that he's still a couple weeks out from being fully fit. But why it's been over two months or two months since he's arrived. And you're not fully fit yet. I know he arrived with an injury. He is getting playing time. I guess a sub but not as a starter necessarily. So maybe it was something to come in and kind of push people to say hey, you need to up your game, but I'm not on the training ground so don't get to make those decisions.

I mean, if he's not fully fit when he does get fully fit, I mean, wasn't an addition. Yeah, I mean,

if you had him instead of burrs wine out on a flank it. It it could look a whole different level of danger, you know? Yeah.

So speaking of championship contenders or title contenders, we see Liverpool playing wolves and they looks all the part of defending champions in this game. There's wolves looked all the part of looking like they're missing their front striker. In this game, we see early on in the 24th minute, Jordan Henderson lost the ball into salah and Connor, Cody, he moves into intercept it and but misjudges the flight of the ball and there's just a blunder still lands at solaz feet and he scores the goal and it's an early one nothing lead and that's quite the way to start the game Kevin wouldn't you say?

Yeah, Liverpool get on the board and the 43rd minute wolves are possibly given a lifeline here they have a corner kick goes in across the box Cody goes down after a weird overhead a kicked out by Moni the ref points Amelia to the spot and says hey wolves you get a penalty but var chimes in says you need to take another look at that and they go in and they take a look at it and Mani actually pulls out of his weird little overhead kick thing and makes no contact on Cody so Cody just goes down on his own and a call ends up getting reversed no penalty

which Good call I don't know how to respond to that it I agree it was it was a it was an NBA caliber flop

right there and much Grammy an art Grammy Oscar award winning flop.

absolutely absolutely and in the 58th minute though the second half we see wolves getting caught out and Liverpool breaking quickly on them. Henderson placed the ball to a wall them when when all them yep when all them I'm gonna learn all these names one day people when all them the ball Liverpool, they have numbers the wolves defense is backing off of when all them who covers who covers the other players but to no avail when alum shrivels to the goal and shoots himself into the net as like the parting of the seas. Go Liverpool.

Yeah, I mean, I can't fault the wolves defenders for backing off and covering up the likes of Mani Sala all of them upfront. But at the same time someone does have to get out and pressure the ball and they don't do that. And when all that just takes it makes the most of it.

Absolutely. And you know as a player who plays with star players, not myself I'm talking about when all of them I only play with Kevin when he wants me to play against him and FIFA but No, she's never never. But yeah, when all them as somebody who who recognizes who he's who's up front and recognizes that they're gaining all the attention, like, kudos to him for taking that shot and scoring like those are, those are the best opportunities for him.

Yep. And then just 10 minutes later Liverpool get a corner kick and it's taken short to sulla who then sends it across himself and Joel matchup is there he just meets it with his head rising above everybody else. And now Liverpool are up. three to zero. Yeah. Great, great cross. Great score,

and it doesn't end there. 10 minutes later, we see Alexander Arnold play the ball across the face of the global seller and money rush to get it money touches it but it touches a defenders leg. I believe it's some Ito's leg and it touches it and knocks it in it's an own goal. Little insult to injury salt on the wound. It is a for nothing victory for Liverpool and they loved all the part of premier league champions seven.

If I didn't need that last call. I have some NATO in fantasy in that. Negative 10 points.

Oh, man, I don't even know how a fantasy Premier League works. So you're gonna have to teach me the scoring system because it probably doesn't help that I just pick on Newcastle players.

So there's only a couple that bring you some points. Yeah.

But then we go on to Monday, Monday Night Football. We had one game. It was quite an entertaining game. In my opinion. It was Brighton and Hove versus Southampton. And goalscoring gets started in the first quarter of the game Kevin.

Yeah, first goal for the south coast. Darby is over comes via a penalty across comes into the box for Danny Welbeck chest the ball up and over him in attempt to try to turn his defender who was James Ward Prowse. And in doing so warcross has an outstretched arm, hand comes right or the ball comes right down on his hand. The handball is given it's pretty obvious one of those ones I think James we're proud was going to go back and go What was I even doing? But valleys given pascall girl steps up because malpais is not on the field at that time. And just coolly converts the penalty a second week in a row giving Brighton Hove early lead one to zero

yeah and we see the game moving on and right before halftime we see the game get all level and James WordPress with a little bit of redemption but the corner kick taken by WordPress since the kick in and vestergaard rises up next to the header in an A is all level little redemption but also some momentum going into the second half Kevin

very much so I almost feel like to Brighton kind of fell asleep there in the last second so that first half like they were just like alright halftime is coming Yeah, it's gonna work we're gonna go into this up one zero we can get a break and they just conceded a corner kick and we're just not quite switched on. I mean granted best guards the tallest guy on the field that day. So he's kind of an easy guy to pick out to target but at the same time they they got a you know, Mark him up and do a better job of it but it didn't happen. But in the second half we see Danny ings to comes on as a sub returning from injury. He gets a penalty in the 77th minute, March goes down with a hefty challenge on Kyle Walker Peters the right back of Southampton. Initially the kick is just giving us a free kick outside the box. But var takes a nice lengthy look at it. And they determined that the point of contact is inside the box penalties given who else got to step up to take it for Southampton but the aforementioned Danny ings comes on just smashes it in like Danny's does very confident, very cool. And ends that day. Wanted to brighten one with the two. And

let me tell you something about that goal right there is something that I never noticed before. Danny Ainge says quite the tattoo sleeves

Yeah, Danny ings. It's very interesting. He he while at Liverpool kind of had this like bad boy, charisma about him and maybe he still does at Southampton. But the sleeves that kind of add to it. A lot of professional players these days are just very tattooed and he's kind of no exceptions. It but he yeah he definitely I think it was his his in was trying to be that bad boy swagger and having all that.

Yeah well caught my eye way to go Danny ings and quite the week for Southampton way to wrap it up. And again we're talking about that time of the year again. Southampton is remaining very high up in the table. Kevin. Do you see this last thing or

you know, I think they actually have got a system down and a bench that can support it. I think they could finish realistically anywhere from fifth to eighth by the end of the year as being like if they just start kind of falling apart and getting extremely inconsistent. Fifth being that they just kind of keep on the pace that they're on. So it's it's a pretty pretty big improvements for Southampton we haven't seen in Southampton side like this since all What's his name? Dutch manager Ronald. Ronald Coleman. I think it leaves his last name.

Blessed our intern Apple after this.

But yeah, Rob. Rob Coleman. Sorry. Anyways, since him like Southampton hasn't been up in that Tom Sussex area since then. But yeah, Southampton are doing very well. hassleholm had awesome huddle. Your name's Ron J. Man. It's, yeah, it's interesting to see the progress he's made from last year to this year with that team and how good they've done.

Absolutely. I'm excited to see what they do. And I would be excited to see Southampton in Liga Europa. So it'd be fun to see. They're an entertaining team to watch. And I look forward to many more of the games this week, or this upcoming season, as long as they don't play Newcastle. Yeah. All right, Kevin. We are near the end of the show. So you know what that means. Is our team of the week. And yeah, you want me to start? I feel like you start all the time. Yeah, you go ahead and start this time. Oh, right. So at goalie I'm going to go with Mr. Pope. I think he had a really solid recovery game or really solid game after that goal. And yeah, I just I think I agree with you. I think he should be England's number one goalkeeper. Then I'm going to go with conselho for Manchester City at right back. And then I will go with left back. Here's where the mix up came in my notes. Andy Robertson, at left back. And then all the writer from Tottenham probably butchered that name. Oh, man, and then for Vimeo as well. You know, I messed that up. Rhys, James Reese James, not Robertson, my back's so then I've got Hoiberg from Tottenham sun from Tottenham as well as to Brian and I'm going to put Fernandez Bruno Fernandez in there and then up top my strikers it's going to be Zaha and Kane

very solid picks my team of the week cuz we don't want the fourth 433 starting keeper I had weaving Kelly her his name does not even look like pronounced like it's actually the the Irish derivative of Kevin. But who would have figured but Kelleher from Liverpool third string keeper making his Premier League debut and playing a phenomenal game and some great games that game in defense. Right back ahead. Nathaniel Klein. He had a great game for Crystal Palace centre back I had vestergaard he had a great game for Southampton that last game of the week. And then the other centerback I picked was Joel Madden, who has battled back from injury and also just had a great performance With Liverpool, left back I had Patrick van Holtz, who also just was a good Pacey outside left that Crystal Palace this week, three midfielders I had as a de bryana and Mason mounts. All three were just good performances, solid defense, defense, solid midfield play, to transitional play, but to get forward way to provide assists. And then up on the attack from my forwards I had Pentek a, he's a ha that partnership this week was just absolutely great. No complaints there. And the third forward I picked was Mohamed Salah, who just is being himself if you will. Absolutely. Putting on a good performance again this week.

All right, raising scarves, great team of the week, Kevin was raising those scarves. I am raising my scarf to Mason mount. I think he had a great game as I said seven. He he's he was the reason for seven opportunities for Chelsea. They didn't get all seven. But you know, he just had great control the game. I am giving it to Mason mountains.

I'm raising my scarf this week to Bruno Fernandez. He didn't start the game. But he came on the second half. And it made a world of difference for Man United. It may have been part of that wake up that they needed for the second half to get back at Westham when he he's a player that if they don't have them on the field, it's very obvious. And he makes such a huge impact. I he deserves to have the scarf raised for him. Absolutely.

All right, giving my card. Ah, who am I giving my card to probably give my card to myself, because I was a fool as a fool. In our very first episode. I said well ferns I called Wilfried Zaha. And I look like a fool now. So I'm going to give myself a card and not make. I also said that Tottenham needs to blow it up in the second episode. So I'm just going to give my card myself a card and tell myself to calm down with my overreactions?

That's pretty funny. This week, I'm showing the card to var. I think there needs to be some reassessments on fouls in the box. I think the stat this weekend was something like 50 penalties have been given this year because of var. There are a lot that do need to be looked at. Like we did see the correct decision made in the Liverpool wolves game where Manet backed out of the challenge. But it seems like in games with fallen in Man City where a sterling in lifetime had just the slightest small little bump goes down. It's like come on, there's not even enough in that challenge to really make anything fall over. threw himself to the ground is feeling something when you see that quite often. And that that's got to be watched, I think in real time engaged. Hey, that challenge was not even me enough to warrant a free kick if it happened anywhere else on the field. Stop getting penalties for stupid calls like that, but that's just my two cents as a as a middle class male in northeastern Wisconsin.

I agree 100% but I am also in the same demographic. So we may not know what we're talking about, but I agree with that card as well. Very well done Kevin. And this week we've got some exciting games to happen especially one in Manchester

Yes, Saturday is the Manchester Darby United versity it's going to be interesting. Is Manchester going to come out awake is city going to be in great form like they had last few weeks in advance in the table or are we going to get the commentators curse where they get so excited they build up this cane that ends up in a 00 draw. Who knows that could happen

Right the return of Sergio Guerrero for Man City is a great addition We'll see. Yeah, I'm excited. Bruno Fernandez the brain it's gonna be a great matchup.

Manchester definitely are united definitely need it in wake of a really bad Champions League this week so yeah, but it should be a good one regardless which team you support. I mean, both teams are playing pretty well. So

Then we got a battle we got a civil war going on. We got the North versus the South. We've got Crystal Palace vs Tottenham. Quite Quite the matchup again two teams that are as of this past week are rolling in the scoring. Yeah, well, we'll see what happens.

Yeah, we'll see if there's a ha can break through that Tottenham defense that's been getting better and better and better. Very Marino

it's becoming more and more like Marino's identity.

Very much so. And then on openSUSE me Sunday, we see two teams that are really in need of three points right now Arsenal who's in just a weird spinning stall, if you will. In Burnley, who is just fighting an uphill battle? Both teams need three points. They need redemption. Who's going to come out on top in this game? Time will tell.

Yep, just kind of backing up with Arsenal like Arteta was one, I really was hopeful he would do a good job at there at the arsenal. It just came out first week looking good looking promising. And then since then, has just not really lived up to it. So I hope for Arsenal fans, my friends sake, who are all Arsenal fans, it does shape up better for them here in the weeks to come.

Absolutely. And with that, Kevin, we're wrapping up another episode of the mid table. We'll be back next week. But until then, enjoy the beautiful game of football, watch the Manchester Derby, it's gonna be great. Regardless of the score, you'll have a good time. I believe fans will be back for that as well. So it'll be great to have some fans there, Kevin. I'm not sure not the fans, but maybe you. You know what, well, well, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I'll blame our intern. But until next week, Kevin adios amigos.

There you have it! Some solid play by play recaps from Caleb and Kevin. Honestly, it's the first I've heard Caleb do any kind of sports calling and I kind of want to hear some more. Unfortunately, the Mid Table podcast was tabled while Caleb continues to get Clear Hits Radio off the ground. So we're gonna have to wait. But in the meantime, you can go support that project. Remember, you can go check out clearhitsradio.com for positive hip hop, and other hits. As always, though, I hope that you can find some inspiration from listening to the Mid Table even though it's not going on anymore for your very own show as you create it. And if you do need some help with that head on over to Appleton Podcast Co-op comm for community support resources and the chance to win some free gear. If you know anyone in Northeast Wisconsin who wants to start a podcast, share this show with them. If you've made it this far, please rate and review the show on Podchaser. I got nothing else for you. I'm David Kalsow. Your neighborly podcast nerd and thanks for listening

Transcribed by https://otter.ai