What will football look like in a year? | SportsMax Zone

I'm at a happy place in my life every living day. Happy place in my life every living day. Happy every living day. [Music] >> All right, we're back on the Sports Max Zone with football. It has already been an enthralling year for the beautiful game, but with a new season on the horizon, it would be remiss of us to not get the thoughts of our two premier football correspondents. As you know, former Trinidad and Tobago international, Brent Sancho, and the ever lively one Gango. Welcome to the show, gentlemen. It's not the type of show that, you know, we're accustomed to having. It's our goodbye show. But let me start with you first one. Um, how are you doing? >> I'm doing I'm doing well. I'm I'm I'm I'm doing good. I mean, I I spoke to you yesterday and and uh many others and it's it's it's I mean, not the best of situations to be speaking in, but I'm grateful for for for having been here. I mean, it's crazy. I I was remembering how it all happened. I I I was kind of in between jobs and I knew Cop America was coming and I decided to send an email to a place I had no clue about and to a person I'd never met and I said, "Hey, look, I can do this, this, and that." And the first person that I always said that I'm very grateful for is Simon Crosskill because I sent the email to him and two weeks later I was in Jamaica >> doing the Cup of America in 2015. >> And little did I know then that it ended up being almost 10 years that I was with with with a place that that it was more than just coming on and popping in and out and and you know giving my thoughts and information about the world of football. It was it was a place where I built relationships. And to this day, I was thinking before we went on air, I I thought about how wonderful a reality show it would have been to do that World Cup Lance in 2018 and seeing what was happening over at that infamous Flat Brent that had that they had Brent Sancho and I living together for a month. That would have been must see TV. >> Let's bring in Brent. >> Wow. Juan, that must have been your best culinary experience that you would have ever had. I cuz I I I cooked almost every day for one. So, he would have he would have appreciated that the food and and all the all the atmosphere that uh that that apartment brought. Uh it was a really special moment. Um and as as Juan said, and not to to to go um too too deep, um look, it's it's been an environment that is more than just a workplace. Uh and it's more than just friends. I've made family members here uh at the zone and it's it's remarkable. Uh coming from the background of team sports uh I know the impact of it but uh being with sports marks for the past 10 plus years uh was really about building family members and having family members and I look forward uh to continuing that relationship with a lot of the persons that uh I work with both in these studios in Jamaica and here in Trinidad. So it was it's been a really enthralling ride with so many great memories. Yeah, I'll miss both of you, but but I've been um told by my producer we also have to talk some football. I could talk to both of you all day about all sorts of memories and stuff cuz I love listening to the stories. And I actually met I actually met Wanji Orango for the first time this year in real, you know, Brent and it was so cool. He's the same. >> Wait till wait till he wait till he has a couple curry chickens and and stuff in his system and wine. He he changes quite quickly. I didn't see I didn't see that one but but you know let's just spend a little time because I know our viewers they enjoyed these discussions and let let's talk a bit I feel like I want to start first Brent with no more so warriors >> yeah an interesting development something that has uh been growing for quite some time now I believe since uh uh David John Williams uh time as president um it's a situation in terms of name infringements that uh was brought to the forefront. Uh and the TTFA has been battling this for quite some time. I believe that an offer was made and and still uh they have not been able to come to some sort of uh agreement. But I'm not surprised, Maria. The timing of it is is not surprising. Of course, this is really uh the hotbed uh of football happening now in Tran Tobago. Everyone's attention on the island, as you would expect, is on the qualifiers in in in September. And I think the TTFA uh for them to to cash in or to to make the commercial advancements that they expect to to make from this dip into the qualifiers, they have to make a decision and I think that's the decision that they they decided. I'm not surprised by it at all because I think their hands were tied and and this is the obvious move forward. >> Yeah. But it's just something that you know when you get used to to something just like I've gotten used to Sports Max, it's a bit difficult to just come to terms with it. But we'll see. So for you now, Juan, I spent a lot of my days talking La Liga with you. We spoke about my team Barcelona. We spoke about Real Madrid. So many players. So you know, um, next La Liga season, you know, what are you looking forward to? Cuz I won't be able to ask you about it. Yeah, it's it's it's a different Real Madrid seeing what happened to them and and all of a sudden they I mean they're protagonists in their own league, but you're accustomed to seeing them as protagonists in Europe and well all of a sudden everyone's talking about PSG because of what they've been able to do not only to to Real Madrid but also to Atletico Madrid if we remember that that that we now have kind of the the the power structure is shift shifted unexpectedly or ironically because now we've seen a team that's that's completely gone different but but staying within the La Liga focus is well how is this Real Madrid team going to bounce back from from from this adversity and knowing that Barcelona have gotten stronger and that being said is all the talk about Barcelona now having to take that next step forward because for them and and obviously missing a player like Luka Modric as you see right there how how is that leadership vacuum going to be filled eventually with Real Madrid And with Barcelona again, like I said, it's their season where they have to make that leap forward. They have to make that new new frontier of success post Leo Messi. And we'll see how that ends up working out because the structure is is very similar in La Liga, but now they begin the chase continentally of someone that's much better than them and and someone that maybe even is much better than them compared or they're better than everybody else if you even include the Premier League. All of a sudden, everybody's looking in a different direction because of a different structure, but also because of a coach that I ironically was led by Barcelona that's now changing the world of football. >> Yeah. Um but the transition and I think that's a concern when football teams transition from one coach to the next one. Um with the with the the new coach coming in Alonzo replacing Ancelotti and you mentioned the fact that uh Luca isn't there anymore that may be a bit too much for for Real Madrid and you can see the complaints already in terms of the personnel that they do have. the fact that uh Kian Mbappi has been criticized for not defending as much as Jabi Alonzo would would would want. There there are so many issues that they have to sort through and this could be the year where they they they they probably struggle to be in the top four in La Liga. Let's see if that's even a possibility. It always is a possibility, but it's it's a very low probability because it depends on that depends on how much of a step forward is going to be taken by Atletico Madrid. >> I mean, we always see that they're in the periphery that they're always looking to see if they can kind of snatch a title every once in a while and and you think that they're going to do it, but then all of a sudden they end up underwhelming and and now you start to hear about players that are leaving. You hear about Rodrigo Depal coming obviously to to enter Miami. You talk about different players that have really never panned out for Atletico Madrid. It's not just depending on what Real Madrid do. It's what the others decide say, well, you know, it's it's our year. We have to go do it. We have to go go for it. And and that'll be interesting to see. Uh who else? I mean, you start looking at an athletic athletic club. Will they be able to step forward? Well, they say, "You know what? Why do we have to stay in the periphery instead of of snatching points here and there once in a while for against these two giants? Why not try and make our statement? Why not do it?" It ends up being well, a bit of the status quo has to be uh kind of rebelled against and it's up to the other teams and not just necessarily what Real Madrid don't do. It's what everybody else takes advantage of when they don't do it. Brent, you know, an important thing coming up right now as far as World Cup qualifiers are concerned and many people think it's going to be a straight shoot up between Jamaica and Trindan Tobago for that uh that that that spot in the Caribbean group, but Cure. So, wow. Um they look really good as well. But but but tell me your honest thoughts, Brent, as to where do you think that spot would go? Look, the the the the the romantic man in me would hope that there's a Trinan Jamaica shootout, but I don't think that will happen. You know, I think now between now and September, and I said this a couple weeks ago, both squads of Jamaica and Curous could change significantly and maybe even Trion Tobago because they all have the opportunities to dip into the diaspora. There's already reports about Mason Greenwood joining Jamaican uh team that now gives them a completely different dimension uh than they had in the Gold Cup. And of course what we've seen from Kiraasaw in the Gold Cup, a team that continuously grew in that tournament and have the capabilities of of also dipping into the diaspora to change their dimension as well. Uh so it's very early to to for me to even suggest anything from that group because there's still a lot of time for changes to happen. But as it stands, it is going to be very very intriguing and interesting. And I I do feel that the early part, the first four games or so, can't tell you right away what will happen with that group. I think the team that is able to hold their nerve at home and get the vital points, all three points in their home fixtures put themselves in a very, very good position. One out of the three teams and no disrespect to Bermuda of course uh between Trout Tobago, Jamaica and Kiraasau will have to hold serve at home and the question is which one will blink first? >> Yeah. And I want to ask you about the apparent decline in quality and results of the the reggae boys. Um, Brent, because I know they've confirmed now that Mason Greenwood is likely to be playing in September, which on the face of it would significantly boo significantly boost their their chances as as an offensive threat. But a lot of Jamaicans are concerned that the team appear to be playing better last year and as we get closer to the World Cup qualifying, there are holes appearing in the team that people hadn't seen before. And the general feeling is that it's the wrong time for the Jamaica team to be struggling. >> Yeah, you could include me as the many Jamaicans that have concerns as well. Um but you know, look, you know, one of the things that concerned me, Lance, it's it's a big difference when there is tactical uh a tactical problem or maybe technically and the players are maybe not up to the standard. But what I saw through the Gold Cup really concerns me and that's a lack of effort. That tells me that something that the head coach is saying is not getting in between the ears uh of the players and that's a massive concern because just alone forget the whatever system Jamaica decides to play how to deploy themselves in the qualifiers if players are not up for it if players are not uh listening to the coach or carrying out instructions because I listen to some of the press conferences of Steve McLaren afterwards that you have to be very very concerned uh because there's not much he can do because if they're not going to uh of course apply what he suggested to them then you have a tr then you have a big big problem. Uh the question is what does he do between now and September to change that narrative. Uh is it meeting with players? Of course most of the players play all over the globe and in different places. He has a big big task and then from a Jamaica perspective it is extremely worrying uh because there's no fixtures between now and September for him to get that right. So you know a lot of it would have to be verbal and it has to be in in the way he carries about himself. So yeah, I think Colombell should be ringing if uh you're a reggae boys fan like I am. >> Yeah. And and let me end by going back briefly to Europe. I know we dealt with Europe before, but just a quick comment here from you Brent and um Juan as well because Liverpool won the EPL last year comfortably by 10 points and based on the quality of their team, they did reasonably well in Europe as well. Um, is Liverpool likely to retain the EPL title and beyond that probably a challenge in Europe as well because their squad has been strengthened, hasn't it? Let's start with Juan. >> They have a good chance. It I mean maybe we're seeing Chelsea come in and and start to give an argument to possibly overthrowing them. Um, it'll be an interesting squad for sure. And we still don't know yet who's staying and who's going. That's the biggest question with Liverpool. We don't know if Darwin Nunes is coming back and and I mean it's also a weird moment because as much as you want to say we want to talk about players that need to come in need to come out, there's also been a huge void left with what's happened with Yogota. And that ends up being something that that you know from a human standpoint is hard to replace. >> And and let me be a bit cold about it for a second. it it's just which personnel remains after the transfer market and which personnel comes in that that's a big question mark for Liverpool because there need to be changes in certain especially at their number nine you know we've heard a lot about what what Luis Diaz um is going he's coming he's going to Bayern he's not he he's going to Barcelona nobody knows yet and and there seems to be uh that type of of uncertainty from that aspect and and of course you see the fring palms and the Florian verts and all these other arrivals that are supposed to be coming. But we need to see what happens, especially with with with a team that's beginning in some positions to show their its age. >> How are they going to be able to to to come through? And of course, losing a player like China Alexander Arnold, how do you replace him? >> Do you still have enough to compete? Yeah, you do. >> But is Liverpool about competing or is Liverpool Liverpool about continuing to win trophies? That's the big question. >> Yeah. Your quick comment now, Brent, on that. Liverpool. >> Yeah, look to add to what Wana has said, I think it's a lot about the ones in behind or in and around Liverpool whether Manchester City with the the number of signings that they've had come in uh settle and and of course are able to apply uh what Pep wants from them and of course Arsenal whether or not they get that that elusive number nine that they've been searching for uh and and can produce a goal tally of 20 plus goals a season. I think it's really down to the ones in and around them to determine what happens with Liverpool. But I agree there's there's a lot still to happen, a transfer window still to to close, some movement still. Uh but you'd have to say if you were forced to make a decision, I think Liverpool will start this season as favorites. >> Yeah. Well, gentlemen, bye from our team. you know, we really had a good time chatting with all of you as and as you said, Brent, I think you said it perfectly like, you know, we gained family members, not just friends. So hopefully we'll cross paths again in in another I don't know wherever else we decide to go cuz as now everybody keeps asking me what's my plan and I'm like it just happened guys. I don't have a plan. So hopefully we'll connect again soon. Any final words? Hey, I hit five woods. Um, yeah, >> me too. >> See you soon. >> Yeah, >> one. >> Thank you. Thank you. I mean, you know, I've never felt so welcome and and I and I always have been and will be appreciative of of everyone there. I mean, it's more than that. It's the friendships that I've made. It's the people that I've uh sent messages to that kind of make you crack up. Uh I don't know. I mean, you know, it it's it's not it's not a goodbye. It's it's see you soon. We we'll we'll definitely cross paths. I'm I'm sure of that. And I I I feel that everybody there is A1 top level people. and and I and I really appreciate each and every one because they've made me feel A1 in moments where I didn't feel A1 myself and I I I'm really eternally grateful for each and every one of you. >> Thanks guys. Talk soon. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so do I have to do the toaster at the track because Lance prepared his final? >> Take a break first. We're going to take a break first. >> Okay, we're taking a break. I'm happy. So when you see me rocking with my friends, how can you see The kiad.