Week 8 provided no shortage of drama and storylines. The Football Yanks are here to get you all caught up!
Premier League Roundup
Ryan is delighted to report that Chelsea continued their winning streak (Derek: sure we’ll call it that) with victories over Brighton (in the Carabao Cup, for what that is worth), Fulham, and Burnley, showing signs of progress under manager Mauricio Pochettino, but concerns remain about their front line and depth in certain positions. On the podcast, we discussed how competitive the EPL is, with several teams vying for the top spots and the separation for the bottom three seeming larger than ever as they struggle to find footing.
Refereeing Sh*t Show Continues
Refereeing decisions have been a hot topic in recent matches, with questionable calls and inconsistencies causing frustration among players, managers, and fans alike (and the three a**holes on this podcast). The on-air yelling match between Mike Dean and Paul Merson further highlighted the divide while effectively demonstrating our relative maturity compared to those in positions of influence. The need for more consistency and clarity in decision-making from the referee cartel has become paramount, as controversial tackles and baffling red card decisions continue to detract from the quality of the matches. Of particular note this weekend was Kovacic trying to break Declan Rice’s ankle without receiving a straight red, or even a second yellow. We watched this match live on the podcast! Listen into our reaction below:
Standout Performances
Several players have stood out in recent matches for us. Connor Gallagher has been killing it for Chelsea, impressing with his work rate and contributions on both sides of the ball in midfield. We can’t go one episode without discussing James Maddison’s form for Tottenham, and how critical he is to their new-look tactical style. Late transfer Mohammed Kudus provided a sublime finish to salvage a point for the potential surprise of the season: West Ham – who sit at a “nobody predicted this” position of 7th on the table.
On the other hand, Mason Mount’s performances for Man United have been dog crap, with strong opinions expressed from fans (and Ryan) due to his controversial departure from Chelsea after being previously crowned as Mr. Chelsea. Meanwhile, Harry Maguire’s struggles at Manchester United have raised mixed opinions. His aerial prowess in the attacking third somewhat compensates for his uninspiring and frequently bewildering contributions (attempted) in his actual position in the defense.
In our Yanks in the Ranks, we discussed Pulisic’s red-hot form, bagging a critical game-winner against Genoa on another excellent finish, assisted by his USMNT teammate Yunas Musah (LFG). “That goal was American Made!”
Arsenal Edge out City
In an otherwise very tight game, Arsenal’s substitutes found a late winner, with Kai Havertz (of all people) assisting Martinelli on the game-winner for Arsenal. The goal also included Ake doing his best Harry Maguire impression (hope his mom doesn’t have our Twitter handle), which was especially appropriate given all of the offense he generated out of position in the 1st half.
On the podcast, we continued discussing the lack of depth and ideas at the incumbent champions. Particularly in the second half, City looked like a team playing for a point rather than going for the throat. Also… what would it take for Pep to turn to Kalvin Phillips?
Meme of the Week
