"IMPOSSIBLE!" Gabby Agbonlahor RULES OUT Chelsea's title chances after conceding 22 games IN A ROW!

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Chelsea look great but can't win the title — Gabby Agbonlahor rules it out

This talkSPORT segment focuses on Chelsea's title prospects. Gabby Agbonlahor insists Chelsea cannot challenge for the Premier League because they have gone 22 matches without a clean sheet — their worst run since 1961 — even though their attack (Palmer, Pedro, etc.) is frightening. The panel also praises David Moyes for building a British-hearted Everton side, discusses Bournemouth potentially selling Alex Scott in January for around £100m, and notes this season's relegation battle is impossibly tight.

Sam Matterface, Alex Crook and Gabby Agbonlahor discuss Chelsea's title credentials ahead of their clash with Everton. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague chelsea

Transcript

get fiery tomorrow lunchtime 12:30 live from the Hill Dickinson Stadium. It's uh Everton against Chelsea live on Talk Sport. Chelsea have got style, haven't they? And they're very entertaining. But can they win anything without substance? 22 Premier League games now without a clean sheet? It's their worst record without a clean sheet since 1961. So if you can't keep a clean sheet, can you mount a challenge to win the league, Gabby? >> No. Impossible. going forward frightening. um J Pedro or Palmer Rogers even Netto when he plays at wing back as well but you have to be able to keep clean sheets in them tight games especially against the bigger sides you know you're not going to be able to outscore a team like Arsenal are you Manchester City it's going to be very difficult did they show the substance last Saturday against Bournemouth and that substance was called Moises Kaisedo and Jordan Henderson that blended midfield worked a lot better >> still gave away a lot of chances so no probably is the answer to your question um >> you won by five goals the one. >> Yeah, they're going to outscore teams, but ultimately I agree with Gabby that they're going to come up short, but then what is success for Chelsea this season? Because they were never really going to challenge Arsenal for the title. We expect Manchester City at some point to lose points. Liverpool are struggling a little bit for consistency. We talked about Manchester United, I think they can finish second if City do get deducted points. Yeah, but I think it will be a distant second, >> but they're going to be good to watch. They're they're going to be the the Newcastle of of 2026, that team from 95 96 that ultimately flirted with the title. But again, their defensive efficiencies came back to haunt them. >> That the midfield partnership really worked last week. The blend of Jordan Henderson and Moyes Kaised. I told you not to worry about it. >> I I want to apologize, Sam. You >> don't do it game. It's one game. [laughter] >> And Brenford fans will tell you actually that the Jordan Henderson >> had a good first half of last season and really faded away in the second. Oh, he's a fader. >> Well, maybe he's had an injury, >> which he did at the end of last. >> He played well though. >> He did play well. He deserved a little bit more credit than he got actually. I think he was overshadowed a little bit by the return of Moises Canyo, but he played really well. Jordan Henderson in the midfield for Chelse. >> So important as well with Ree James injured and he's had minor surgery, hasn't he? Jordan Henderson's going to be playing more games than maybe we all thought. >> Yeah. And there's nothing wrong with that because actually he's got I think the blend is better when those two play together because obviously fantastic covering the ground. got the legs and whatever, but >> with Lavia, he's been out the side while hasn't he >> has he's been on the bench recently and not >> Well, he went away with Belgium international duty and they did a sort of discussion where they managed his minutes away uh on international duty, but he he he didn't play at the weekend because he's >> in the game before if I'm if I'm right, he was on the bench and didn't come on. I was confused because he >> he he has had a a history of injuries though, wasn't he? Ever since he got there, he he was another player discovered by the great Jason Wilcox actually at Manchester City. Oh, interesting. >> What does that mean? [laughter] >> We need Wilcox to come on, don't we? We need to get him on crooked. >> Yeah, I'm sure he'll voluntarily come on and speak to Crook. Yeah, he's queuing up. The last time he saw Crook, actually, we were walking out of um Claven Cottage [laughter] and walked out and they sort of locked eyes. >> They walked across both of them just stared at each other and Jason walked off in one direction and Croo was like, "Oh, so you see what I did there? I just stared him out." [laughter] You didn't. you just looked at each other racket in your hand, >> mate. Conversation in his head, but they've been good to watch Chelsea and and that front four, they're going to get a lot of goals. I actually tipped up Xiao Pedro for for Golden Boot at the start of the season and he's only what one goal behind Harland. >> So, is that again? >> Is he one goal behind Harland? Jiao Pedro at the moment. >> Yes, one goal behind but more goal involvement than anybody else. So, he's got the goals but he's also got a couple of the three assists already. >> How did he not get in the Brazilian squad at the World Cup? >> Incredible. That was >> well there's a massive massive question but not one that Chelsea be too worried about because obviously he's come back and determined to prove a point and proving a point he is at the moment on Romeo Labio he did play 20 minutes at the weekend >> Sam defensively though they just don't look at it do they center half if it's Cowwell if it's Laqua whoever it is back there you don't feel confident really >> I think their best defender actually is a Champong I think he's terrific I think he's really good I think actually if you've got Cowwell Laqua and Achen Pong together I think if you and keep those three together then you'll build a decent partnership. >> There lies the problem though Gab isn't you look at Arsenal Califury >> Gabrielle Civas coming back to fitness [clears throat] concert Ben why they're all better than any of Chelsea's >> players. Yeah, but also you have to factor in that Chelsea haven't had Pstra yet. He's going to be their right wing back and he's going to play the majority of the games when he's fit. They haven't had him yet. Chavaria has started to play and he played well last week. So I think you know I was talking to someone actually last night when I was in um Leyon and someone who does a lot of German football and they were saying the thing that surprised them most about the early part of the season is the amount of chaos in Chelsea's matches because when he was at Leverkusen Jab Alonzo is a bit of a control freak >> he wanted to make sure that things only happened on the pitch at certain times >> and he said but it did take him a few months to really get his ideas across to the players so that they all fell into this automatic passion. and of controlling the ball and knowing when they can do those manic frenzied sort of runs forward which is what Chelsea seem to be doing. >> Not an easy game though. >> Take a little bit of time. >> Everton unbeaten so far. >> Chelsea's record there is absolutely shocking by the way. Absolutely shocking. They have a problem with this fixture. One win in nine league visits. >> And they're looking like the starting 11 that they can pick. David Moyes. I mean Jack Re has started well. Brennan Johnson's been a lucky gold hall. Hayden Hackne on the bench. He's available as well. Garner >> Bram is playing well as well. >> Yes, exactly. >> What about the 11 that started at Hull on Sunday? Can give me give me a common denominator here. Pigford, Matlin, Niles, Tarovski, Keen, Branweight, Garner, Armstrong, Stewbury Hall, Greish, Brennan, Johnson, and Tiero Barry. >> What is what what is unique about that starting 11? >> Is that nine English players? Nine English players and a Welshman and one Frenchman. 10 of the 11 could put on a shirt for England or Wales. That's not a coincidence, is it? >> No. And that's that surprised you though with David Moyes. Looks like that sort of manager, you know, he like Jack Reedish said to me, that's where I want to go. Everton because of David Moyes. Also, his man management skills are top. So he doesn't >> It's amazing that he's gone back to sort of Britain to sort of import a bit of steel in. >> It's working for them though, isn't it? Yeah. And again after a turbulent summer I remember being on air that transfer deadline day when the Flo Ballagan deal broke down. They'd obviously sold in Jai. They'd sold Betto. A lot of Everton fans were not happy. David Moyes was not happy because they were trying to sell Armstrong to Forest in the buildup to the window closing. But he he's managed to galvanize that squad and as you say with that British core, they made themselves hard to beat. I guess the the big issue still is where the goals are coming from because they should have won at hole and t Barry could finish. They would have won at hole. >> We we we watched that together uh last Sunday and I audibly gulped when he missed the chance where it went through his legs which is a bad >> What they good at though, isn't it? They can sit back if they want to, >> but they've got they've got a spirit, you know, and then they're never beaten in games. We saw that against Manchester United with that world of a goal from Anley Maitlin Niles. We saw it even against Hull when they had a couple of setbacks but they still managed to to get themselves to a point where they were in front in the game. And I just wonder actually you know when you when you look at um Everton is is that that sort of British heartbeat one of the reasons why they're performing so well. You were in a um an Aston Villa team it can help >> that had a British core. >> Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, James Milner Downing Milner of course it helped. Steven Waro you add in there as well. Obviously Irish like um Shay Given, you had Richard Dunn, you had Welshman like James Collins. I think it can help. >> Why? Why? Why does it help? >> I don't know. I think like because you all speak in the same language maybe the language barrier maybe sometimes when you bring um players that are speaking other languages. Remember when we brought in like six or seven or eight French speaking players in the changing room, the Tim Sherwood didn't really work. they were speaking French and you don't know if they're talking about you and not I mean they're >> paranoid. >> No, but that that's what all the English players felt at that time was there were separation and changing room. So I think he's got the the right mix there. But what's funny about Everton, did they get the right investment this summer? No players coming out and complaining. Are they cookie? >> Well, but the manager has said he found out about the sale of the club the same time as everybody else did. Yeah. >> That's not a brilliant way to run a football club either, is it? There's no no players coming out and moaning about the club not bringing in >> Well, they're going well, aren't they? So, obviously >> interesting to see if they do. >> Interesting if they do. If results don't go their way, quickly. >> Would you have a go at them if they did? >> It would depend on the circumstances. >> Okay. >> If [clears throat] they together, >> you've got a judging case on merit, haven't you? >> To be fair, I I think they have been short changes a little bit. And I think there was a a little bit of a rumbling, wasn't there, at one stage from one or two of the players about that. I thought maybe one or two did mention that that they needed more investment in the playing staff because look they they they have found themselves having to deploy players out of position in order to cover. >> James Garner has had to play right back on a couple of occasions this year. K and Juice B Hall has been pushed from pillar to post. >> How many signings would Everton need in a squad have got now to compete to try and get into your business? >> It depends. It depends if you're going to keep the manager employed because what happens when you put a club up for sale is that someone comes along with big ideas and they think oh yeah we'll change this and we'll do this that and the other and they think they can get a better manager and they don't really understand the core ethos of the club. You've got someone who knows Everton inside out in that dugout if you invest in him you won't need to invest much for him. >> Everton fans would be looking and seeing like Sunderland are winning in Europe. Brighton are doing well in Europe. Crystal Palace are doing okay. Bournemouth Everton fans were thinking like we should be these teams. >> They should have been in Europe last year. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. They faded away at the end of the season, didn't they? But um >> they should have been in there because if they had given them any players, they would have got there. >> And replacing David Moyes would be a massive mistake. I think if you look at his two spells at Everton, he has been sensational for that football club. >> Quick touch on Alex Scott. Bournemouth apparently now open to selling him in January under the right conditions. As long as they're not in a relegation fight. >> Yeah, I think open is is maybe too strong a word, but they're aware that his contract is is ticking down. He's he's not showing an inclination to sign a new deal despite the fact he's been offered a paid packet that would make him their highest paid player ever. So, you know, Bournemouth are run as a business, but they have a valuation. I'm told that valuation is around the 100 million pound mark. If somebody offers that in January, I think it would be difficult to turn down even if they are looking over their shoulders towards the bottom three. >> 100 million pounds for Alex Scott. Would you pay it? >> Fair. Yes, I would. I think he's a top player. >> What qualities has he got that makes him a wonderful >> What about the injuries gap? a bit concerned about injury record. >> Uh not really. No, because he's for me as a player, I look at him, you know, he's always on that half turn, always wants to play forward, running with the ball as well, dribbling with the ball, can score a goal. Was it Arsenal last season away? That that great goal he scored. Look how he took his England debut, his full debut, wanting to play even though he's got a knock because he loves his country. Everything about him I love. But I can ask you a question, guys. You know, we tip Fulham to go down. Could you name three teams now that you'd say, "Yeah, they're going to get relegated." I think it's going to be super tight. If I'm Bournemouth, I don't sell. I think Bournemouth, I'm not saying they're going to get relegated, but I think there could be 89 teams that in and around it. I do. >> They don't need to sell him in January, do they? Because the Soas will still be there in the summer. Okay, they might have to take 10 million less come the summer because it' be closer to the end of his contract, but when you compare that to how much it would cost if they were to be relegated, it's a it's a gamble worth taking. whole Coventry Ipsswidge all getting results like it's going to be interesting. >> Well, interestingly, I just had a quick glance back at Alex Scott's injury record. Hamstring injury this time is going to rob him of about 50 days. Uh meniscus tear um in the 2425 season. So, he did go a whole season last year without having serious injury. 115 days. That's a horrible injury by the way. uh and then a knee injury um at the beginning of the 23-24 season which led him to miss 69 days and 12 matches. >> Um but last season pretty healthy for for the most of it which is amazing sign. He's a good player. Um >> just on your point about relegation >> opa analyst, have you ever used that website? They do like a they do like a prediction table. It's a load of data that all feeds in and they sort of give you a percentage figure of where everyone's going to finish and who's the favorites. >> They predicted this this week that there is every chance that you may need 43 points to stay in the league. >> Surprise me, >> which I think speaks to what you're saying, which is you cannot pick it. >> Can't call it. >> I cannot call it ever like when we get the odds on sometimes like yep still favors go down. Like how? Look what a game I know it's only one result but Coventry beating Newcastle 4-1 >> then you look at Ipsrids fighting back maybe they should have lost but they didn't they beat they beat Fulham so if I'm teams like Fulham if I'm teams like even Sunderland you bulmos I'm like forget about what you've done last season this season could be a real battle for a lot of teams >> and and the European football is going to be an issue you know Sunderland having to work hard for it away from home in Portugal last night and actually speaking to Bournemouth fans at the Vitality before the game on talk sport too it was a huge night for the club first ever European home game only 17 years after they almost dropped out the football league and went out of business. But a couple of them were saying to me, I can't fully embrace this European tour because I'm petrified about what's coming in the Premier League. >> Sorry. Um I can't call results full. >> None of us can call results. >> Yes. [laughter] >> As golden goals has proved over >> a change. It's just who's going to win in terms of the right score. >> Cook tell us he's good at that game. >> I am. >> He's good at every game that we don't measure. He's he's great at tipping. We did a tipping competition. You lost that. I I've been having a good successful personal tipping competition on my own with my own bed. >> I just wanted to get naked in in Times Square. >> Of course you did. Um do you know where um Alvaro Aralo used to work by the way? >> Do you know where he used >> Do you know who he is? >> You know where he is? He's a big He's a big deal. >> Pressure pressure. He's been at it on his shoulders since he was a kid. Um he's been talking in the last hour ahead of what is a must-win game at the weekend. The Fulham manager speaks next.