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00:00Welcome to 5Aside on BN Sports. This week we're talking about French football, African players
00:23playing in France, African players playing around the world, and football in general.
00:27Starting off with a conversation about Le Classique happening this weekend, Marseille vs PSG. Predictions, players to watch, who are we excited to see?
00:36Excited to see Tim Weyer, for sure, the son of George Apong Weyer, one Libyan footballer with a Ghanaian name.
00:44That's a fact.
00:45You know what I'm saying? That already had such a strong input and a strong presence in Le Classique.
00:50So that's my pleasure to watch. He obviously scored today at the Brenna Bau. First American to do so?
00:56Yep. Ever?
00:57In the Champions League.
00:58Oh, I'm about to say it. In the Champions League.
01:00Let's sit on that. What do you guys have to say about that?
01:04The historic moment?
01:05Yeah, I mean, it's huge. And it's so big also being in a World Cup year.
01:09And the fact that he's new to Marseille and this is such an opportunity for him to also revive his career and be an out-and-out starter.
01:15Also in his preferred position.
01:17So I think this move to Marseille is going to be huge for what he'll be able to do for the U.S. men's national team.
01:21Yeah.
01:22Le Classique?
01:23For Le Classique, I'm going with Paris.
01:25I think Paris will probably win by at least two goals, if I'm going to be honest.
01:29And I think what they're going to really be able to exploit is the way that Marseille plays out of the back.
01:34Knowing how clinical Paris is, how they've had Marseille's number for so long recently.
01:38And them obviously sitting on top, coming off of the treble.
01:41I think Paris will be able to capitalize on those key mistakes that I think Marseille is going to make.
01:45So I'll give Paris a 3-1 away win.
01:47For me, I think Marseille is actually going to capitalize on the home advantage and the whole underdog story that they're coming in for this one.
01:55I think the fact that they're able to hold off Real Madrid from any goals during the regular passes of play is a huge testament to their defense.
02:03And I think also PSG will struggle with Marseille's wingbacks, Povaard and Emerson, and then even Hoiberg in the middle.
02:13Everybody likes to talk about their attacking front, but they're also very strong in the back.
02:17And a lot of those players can be strong defensively and get forward.
02:20So I think they're going to cause an upset this weekend.
02:22I have a soft spot for Marseille, but unfortunately, I think PSG is going to take this one.
02:28Part of the reason why is because their manager has become more and more unhinged as weeks go on.
02:32You guys see PSG's manager standing in the...
02:35Yeah, yeah.
02:36Basically, Luis Enrique.
02:37He wants a new perspective, bro.
02:39He goes, he goes, I love it.
02:40I'll see rugby coaches do this.
02:41Yeah.
02:42So he goes and he stands in the stands with like a headpiece on and a microphone over his face talking about how he wants to get a new perspective for the game.
02:48And so clearly, things are going on in his mind that only he can understand.
02:53And so because of that, I'm going to go with PSG.
02:55Listen.
02:55I don't really know what's going on, but I can't bet against him.
02:57But is he wrong?
02:59No.
02:59Where do scouts usually fit?
03:01Scouts are further off.
03:02It's a more clear bird's eye view of the pitch.
03:04You can understand the spacing and depth perception a little bit better.
03:07Luis Enrique clearly knows what he's doing.
03:09Yeah.
03:09Won their first ever UCL trouble last season.
03:12Yeah.
03:12I mean, Marseille, as you mentioned, they have a really good team.
03:15We're about to get into their transfer window.
03:17But I think PSG right now, it's too much.
03:19Especially early in the season.
03:20Later, we'll see the second leg.
03:22We talked a little bit about how PSG looks really good.
03:24But Marseille could throw us a surprise because they have strengthened themselves a lot this transfer window.
03:29They brought back some old players like Aubameyang who did well at the club.
03:32Brought them back for some experience.
03:34They brought in tons of players from Serie A.
03:36Pavard is coming in, sits in the back.
03:38How do you guys feel about what they've been able to do?
03:40The star name, of course, is the boy from Brooklyn, Tim Weah.
03:44Yeah.
03:44How do you guys think their transfer season might affect such a big match like this?
03:48Because, of course, all eyes are going to be on them.
03:49The fact that you're incorporating all these new pieces.
03:52Yeah.
03:52But those pieces overall are really good.
03:54And I think they probably have the second most talented squad in France.
03:58When you consider the players they had previously and the additions with the likes of Tim Weah,
04:01Pavard, et cetera.
04:02So I think the long term for the season, all these additions are going to be a great piece for them
04:07and it's going to get them maybe a second place finish.
04:09But I think for the sake of this game and some of the shakiness I saw in the back against Real Madrid,
04:12specifically playing the ball out the back, I think that's where it could hurt them in Le Clasic.
04:16So those players that you brought up with Weah and Aubameyang as well are players that also have experience in Liga.
04:22Yep.
04:22Yep.
04:22You know, and so that's something that should be very encouraging for them.
04:25And honestly, you know, yeah.
04:27For me, I think one of the X factors that a lot of people probably aren't talking about with the signings like Weah
04:32is Igor Paxiao from PSV, scored over 15 goals last season, had a couple assists too,
04:39and kind of lit up a lot of the international competitions.
04:41And I think that's one of the signings that's going to be a huge X factor for them this season
04:45and even possibly in this matchup.
04:47Speaking of X factors, the U.S. men's national team is looking for that X factor.
04:52Now we have two big players in Liga now, Balogun, Tim Weah.
04:56Of course, there's going to be some competition up top.
04:58They play in different positions, but we know that Pochettino is looking to change the lineup
05:01because things have not really worked in the ways that they should have leading into this World Cup.
05:05The debate for us as an American show is Tim Weah, Balogun.
05:09Who's going to be the biggest star in Liga?
05:10Who's going to carry that American flag highest in the French League?
05:13And at the end of the season, who's going to be that star man to lead the U.S. in the World Cup?
05:18I'm going to go with Tim Weah for this one.
05:20I think they could start and play together, but if I have to pick one, I'm going with Tim Weah.
05:23I think just because he offers a bit more on the pitch, when I think about Balogun as a nine,
05:28you're looking simply at goals.
05:30And if those goals aren't flowing and the confidence isn't there,
05:32are you going to be that key piece to the national team?
05:34Tim Weah just spent a couple of seasons playing right wing back.
05:37Now he's playing as like a left winger slash left attacking mid.
05:40He can provide, obviously, the offense going forward, beating his man, assists, goals,
05:45but also defense and just like solidity in the squad.
05:47So he can also have a great game without the stats showing up.
05:50So I think because of that overall and his versatility, I'm going with Tim Weah.
05:53Balogun's part of the third place Monaco squad.
05:55And even on the international level this past break, you know, he was able to score against Japan.
06:00Yeah.
06:00Only his second start with Puch.
06:02He's been away, you know, a bit with some shoulder injuries last year.
06:04But if you look at the game, with Korea, he had the most touches inside the box from a substitute since like 2010.
06:10You know, as you're saying that.
06:11Great movement too.
06:12Exactly.
06:13Which is what we're looking for.
06:14And Monaco definitely have a squad this year.
06:16So I wouldn't be surprised if Fulharin does what he needs to do.
06:20For sure.
06:21I think bouncing off of that, it's going to be Balogun for me as well.
06:24I think at the end of the day, Tim Weah knows that his spot is pretty much secured on the national team.
06:29Whereas Balogun is competing with a lot of forwards who are like doing their thing around the world.
06:34Including Josh Sargent, who has gotten a start ahead of him a couple of times on recent break.
06:38So if anything, this is his season.
06:40Hasn't been doing well.
06:41Like he had seven goals last year without getting that many starts in the league.
06:46So like he knows he can bag goals.
06:47It's just like whether or not he can prove it this season, I think he will.
06:51Speaking of ballers with something to prove, Ousmane Dembele put together what is potentially a Ballon d'Or season last year.
06:58He spent a long time at Barcelona and wasn't able to always be as healthy as he wanted to.
07:02But last year he went back home, went to Paris and put together a season that will be remembered forever in France.
07:07The question is, will he be given that Ballon d'Or?
07:10He already posted something on his Instagram, a photo of him back at Sargent when he was younger.
07:15People are saying that that was the day he got the call from the Ballon d'Or people saying that, yeah, the Ballon d'Or is yours.
07:21What do you guys think?
07:21Do you guys think he deserves it?
07:22Do you think anyone can maybe sneak in there and put together a little late grab for the trophy?
07:28Does anyone have a better season from last year that deserves it over him?
07:31What do you guys think?
07:32Okay, okay, two questions for y'all.
07:34Who else got PSG's first Champions League in the modern era?
07:37Okay.
07:38Yep.
07:3951 gold contributions.
07:40Who else got that last year?
07:42So if you want to bring it in.
07:43Who was the only one?
07:44There was a couple.
07:4551 though.
07:46I think there was probably just Rafinha.
07:48I think there was a couple.
07:48Maybe Mbappe.
07:49Maybe Rafinha and Gilkiris, but Gilkiris is...
07:51And so to highlight the conversation becomes Dembouz or Rafinha.
07:55Yeah.
07:56Which one won the Champions League?
07:57And a treble in general.
07:59Yeah.
07:59You know what I mean?
08:00What's to it?
08:01Yeah.
08:01I think it's Dembélé for sure.
08:03Especially the way they're factoring in team trophies.
08:06It has to be Dembélé.
08:07It has to be.
08:08Similar to a Luka Modric in 2018.
08:09It has to be Dembélé.
08:11Yeah.
08:11And I agree.
08:12And to cap that off and to go off what you were saying about Luis Enrique kind of going
08:16off the deep end, he had a quote this past week where he said, if Dembélé's name was
08:21Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there'd be no argument.
08:25If he doesn't win the Ballon d'Or, it's because the people who voted don't have the competence
08:29to vote for the Ballon d'Or because his stats and everything he's won are very strong.
08:35Well, speaking of people who don't have the competence, transitioning to our Manchester
08:40United segment.
08:42That's a good one.
08:43That's a good segue.
08:44That's a good one.
08:45That's a good one.
08:45Yeah.
08:45That's a great one.
08:46Very true.
08:47Wow.
08:47So this is a BN Sports segment, so we speak about all things African football, but we
08:52also have properties to touch, such as the Turkish League, the Portuguese League, and the
08:55French League.
08:56In this case, a Cameroonian star, someone who was lauded as one of the best goalkeepers
09:00two years ago, not too long ago, at Inter Milan, Onana has left Manchester United and
09:05joined Trabzonspor in Turkey.
09:08A lot of people raised their eyebrow at that move.
09:10A lot of people thought, okay, I mean, why that team?
09:12Why that club?
09:13How will he do there?
09:14So in his first game in Turkey, the Cameroonian goalkeeper arrives and faces 30 shots.
09:17In the first game, saves eight of them, and listen, there was an expected two goals
09:21in that game.
09:22Guys, what Onana managed to do in that game was incredible, but for someone that left
09:27Manchester United and immediately found his level again, which is kind of the narrative
09:31that's starting to brew around that club, what do you guys have to say about the performance
09:34and what that narrative has carried on for players just all over Europe?
09:39I'd definitely say the performance is good to see.
09:42You know, man of the match, especially on your first match for a club, is always a good
09:46confidence boost there.
09:48You know, he's able to play his game, which is to help build up from the back, you know,
09:51to be able to spray passes and be bold in the build-up play.
09:55But no, definitely good for him, good for Cameroon as well, you know, especially with
09:59the competition coming up later in a couple months.
10:01Yeah.
10:02I think it's just proof of footballers' performances based on confidence and comfortability.
10:07So all these guys have left, Rasmus Hoyland scored this weekend as well, Antony with
10:11Betis, Garnacho Chelsea, et cetera, et cetera.
10:13But when you're feeling calm and confident in a location, you're going to do better than
10:16elsewhere.
10:17So big ups to him.
10:18Excited to see him in the Turkish league all this season.
10:20And yeah, I think he's going to buy out for them and for Cameroon in December.
10:24As a Cameroonian, I kind of want to ask you guys, how should I feel?
10:27Because now I have another star from the country who's gone to Manchester United, Mbwemo.
10:32So what does that mean for him and his career?
10:34I'll offer him.
10:34I'll give you a little bit of help every night before you go to...
10:37I got a friend from Mbwemo.
10:39Oh, you got a little shrine in here, right?
10:41Definitely.
10:41With his bald head right there.
10:43Nah, look.
10:45Little bobblehead.
10:45You know what I'm saying?
10:47But they say it's good luck, right?
10:48It is good luck.
10:48No, I will say not every United player the last few years has had poor individual performances.
10:54If you look at the likes of, speaking about the Portuguese league, Bruno Fernandes and
10:57what he's done for that team and what he's done for the Portuguese national team.
11:00So Mbwemo in his first few games has actually looked pretty bright.
11:03I thought he had a pretty good game against Manchester City.
11:05And I think he'll be able to greatly contribute to the Cameroon national team.
11:08Now, where will they finish in the league?
11:10How will they do in the FA Cup?
11:11I don't know.
11:12But I think from an individual performance standpoint, Mbwemo will be okay.
11:15He looked good.
11:16He had a great volley that Donnarumma saved.
11:17That could have been a goal.
11:19What does a good season in the Turkish league for a goalkeeper get you these days in Europe?
11:24What's the next place for him to go?
11:26He can make a move to the likes of PSG, who just lost Donnarumma, honestly.
11:29So if he gets back to the peak level he was at before Man United, the sky's the limit,
11:33in my opinion.
11:34Yeah, I mean, United definitely were willing to let him step away.
11:37But he stepped away from, I guess, a project that still needs his values and his skills.
11:42Yeah.
11:42So I wouldn't be surprised if all sorts of things that they would try and keep him back, though.
11:45But money is there, too.
11:48Of course.
11:49On that note, stay tuned for next week's episode of Five Aside on BN Sports.
11:53We'll see you every week at 5 p.m. on Thursdays.
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