Latest / Let's Kick It Off! / Ep 50: United win at Wolves, Kobbie Mainoo's Future & Mo Salah's Explosive Interview!

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Ep 50: United win at Wolves, Kobbie Mainoo's Future & Mo Salah's Explosive Interview! · Let's Kick It Off!

0:00
It's it's just feels like there's always some form of
0:02
excuse for him. It's like, oh, he's not always
0:05
some the training pitch. He he came.
0:07
He came. It's not that it's the same
0:08
thing. We're gonna say the same thing
0:10
over and over again because you can't.
0:12
No, we are I I was about to agree with you.
0:14
On three-year plan for something and you ask someone to come on a
0:17
pod every week I'm going to have.
0:19
To say the same stuff and you'll be like, oh, it's always green
0:22
with you on the bring me back in the years.
0:25
Like, no, I agree with you on the inconsistency.
0:28
Like Steve's never going to find fluid football this season.
0:32
What do you think about seller's comments?
0:33
Do you think he was entitled to do that?
0:36
I'm surprised. Oh, I was surprised.
0:39
I'm when Ash said he wasn't surprised.
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His comments, Oh, I was shocked. I couldn't believe it.
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I was like what is going on it for me?
0:48
It was on a Saturday night as well it came out, so that was a
0:50
nice Saturday. Like a.
0:51
Moment in Dream Team I. Cannot has any other player gone
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to this level apart from Cristiano and the Piers Morgan
0:57
interview? Let's kick it off.
1:14
I'm Steve and I'm joined by Ash and Us and it's the 50th episode
1:19
of Let's Kick It Off. So somehow we've made it to this
1:22
point and there's no stopping us now.
1:24
So there's lots to talk about in this pod, including United's win
1:28
at Wolves, Reuben Amaram's future again, we'll have a look
1:32
at the upcoming fixtures and this festive period.
1:35
Talk about AFCON, Of course we have to talk about Mossala.
1:38
Lovely to see what's going on down the road at Liverpool.
1:41
And we'll try and touch on United's latest financial
1:44
results as well. So lots to get through.
1:46
So us do you think Wolves are one of the worst Premier League
1:50
teams we've ever seen? Oh, not really.
1:53
I've seen a lot worse than wolves.
1:55
I don't know, maybe I'm an old guy and I've been watching a
1:57
load of shit over the years. Statistically, I think will
2:00
will, this Wolf team is like top three I think in terms of worst
2:04
ever, I think statistically. Yeah, because you're in a
2:07
Premier League that's so competitive now that if you're
2:11
it's been like, we just watched the F1 finale, right?
2:14
And you see these, these, you know, someone goes out in the
2:17
first session of qualifying and you look at it and go, oh, but
2:20
he's only 3/10 off the fastest car.
2:23
So it's like this Wolves team relative to the rest of the
2:26
league, they're not going to win many matches.
2:28
They don't they concede too many goals and they don't score many
2:31
goals. So you're going to lose lots of
2:32
football matches if you put this Wolves team though against some
2:35
of the teams and when the Premier League started in the
2:37
90s probably beat them. So.
2:40
So yeah, it got two points though.
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Yeah, this because the strength of the league, the Premier
2:44
League this year. I think a better question, is
2:47
this the strongest ever like in terms of depth of competition in
2:50
that mid table? I don't how do Wolves beat any
2:54
of these teams, right. Every game is tough.
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Yeah, we've seen that in our recent fixtures, right, West
3:01
Ham, Everton with were, you know, tough fixtures who are
3:05
basically average teams as well. I think the middle tier clubs or
3:10
like the middle clubs from last season were better than this
3:14
season. I don't know.
3:16
And the promoted teams, right, Sunderland leads, they're
3:19
putting up a good fight. Sunderland, really good leads
3:22
are putting up a decent fight. So like, where'd you pick up the
3:25
points from, right? There's just not as much
3:27
weakness out there. Even Brentford, who I predicted
3:30
to fall off, would fall off. No, they've done really well.
3:34
So yeah. They're they're.
3:38
What about you, Steve? Well, I just think just judging
3:42
by the performance on Monday, like it's it's hard to work out
3:46
how well United played because I thought Wolves were so bad, some
3:48
of the defending and the goals they conceded.
3:51
So it's more about like obviously United won 41, pretty
3:54
emphatic result. I think anyone would have taken
3:56
that pregame. So yeah, Ash, like do you
4:00
actually think we played well to beat that Wolves same or was it
4:04
just the fact Wolves are so bad? Now I'm I was actually
4:07
surprised. I thought we started actually
4:09
well, we pressed high, had good energy.
4:13
You know, Reuben's been talking about this for weeks, starting
4:16
at the right tempo. Obviously people are going to
4:19
tell me because wolves are shit, that's part of it.
4:23
But I do actually think they started well, create some
4:27
chances. Even before the goal.
4:31
Our Soulja Boy Diego Dallo had a chance, yeah, but obviously
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everyone's also going to look at the fact that Wolves scored
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their first goal, I think in six games.
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So, you know, as is assumption that we're good in defence, you
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know, that's still up for debate looking at the defensive tally
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as well of goals we consider this season.
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So yeah, clinical finish in second-half, but at least the
5:01
boys got some confidence because I think it's our biggest result
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in terms of scoreline anyway, since Reuben's been there, held
5:09
the goal difference a little bit, you know, we're six.
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So all the Reuben M people can say he's good as Maresca now.
5:15
So what do you think, Steve? What about the performance for
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your side? Yeah, I think we thought it was
5:20
solid. Again, I, I struggle when we're
5:24
not scoring goals. I struggled to like enjoy the
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patterns that we try and use like in our build up.
5:31
You know, it's very side to side, you know, relying on
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players running at defenders, which, you know, can create
5:38
openings. But yeah, I find it a bit of a
5:40
struggle to watch. But yeah, some of the goals I
5:42
thought they were they were good goals.
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Obviously first goal, good press from Casimiro.
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Then yeah, Bruno and Kenya have managed to get it in the back of
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the net between them. Bit sloppy, but you take it and
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nice playground goal. Yeah, it was it was a weird one.
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And then obviously, like you said, you know, conceded the
6:00
goal and you think, oh, shit, here we go again.
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And then to be fair, second-half, you know, we scored
6:05
some pretty good goals. Somehow Dallow managed to keep a
6:07
cool head and pass it to him. Boom, over his goal.
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And then I thought the third, third goal was the Mount goal,
6:18
right? Yeah, it's a great cross by
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Bruno, good finish by Mount and then obviously the penalty.
6:22
So yeah, the goals were good. But us, I'm interested to hear
6:25
your take care. Like, do you actually think we
6:28
played very well to beat that Wolves team or, you know,
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where'd you rank United's performance?
6:33
I was going to say, I don't think we played well.
6:35
I don't know why you assumed we played well.
6:38
We'd beat them 41. They were.
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They were scoreline. Yeah, scoreline was good.
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I didn't think we played well. I think that we had some good
6:48
moments like the first golf to me was symptomatic of the
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question is, was there something wrong with the pitch?
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Because it just felt like everyone's touch was a bit off.
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Bruno nearly falls out. Do you know what I mean?
7:01
So I don't think we played well. I think we were the better team.
7:04
We deserved to win. Another clarification would be,
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I don't. It's not that I think the
7:10
defence is good, I don't think our defence is good.
7:12
I thought you said at the start of the season I'm more concerned
7:15
don't worry about the defence. We yeah, because I'm more
7:17
concerned about the attack. It's not when I say don't worry
7:20
about the defence that it means that I trust McGuire and Deluxe.
7:24
They're not around at the moment.
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The Wolves game, I'm looking at it now.
7:27
Mazrawi, Aiden Heaven and Luke Shaw is a back three, no clear
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centre back. So we're always going to be
7:32
under threat from like balls into the box.
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So when the balls coming into the box, if you have a deluxe in
7:37
a McGuire, no problem. They're not around at the
7:40
moment. I'm more worried about the
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attacker. I'm with you, Steve, but I don't
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think the attack is yet fluid. I don't know why you have a
7:46
problem with people running at defenders.
7:47
That's a good thing. It's.
7:49
Good. I never said.
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I never said it was fluid either, just to be clear.
7:53
No, no, I just said I'm just going to clarify what I think.
7:58
I think that yes, I like I'm Joy Ahmed running at defenders, but
8:04
he still needs to get his head up more.
8:05
I think some of the final ball decision making wasn't good.
8:08
I think Cunia still just hasn't found that rhythm with the rest
8:12
of his teammates, but he's still a good player.
8:14
They'll they'll find it. The player I was most impressed
8:17
with, Mason Mount. I think Mount was excellent,
8:20
really good, pressed well, but on the ball is probably one of
8:23
the best games I've seen him playing. the United shirt, I'm
8:26
really pleased with him. So I think Mount was, whenever
8:30
he plays, I think we look better.
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So I was glad to see him get a start.
8:34
We're missing Cescos, we don't have the main striker.
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Xerxe, we all agree isn't of true #9 the attack still isn't
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good. But we scored four goals.
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I'm happy with that. But I don't think we played
8:45
well. But I think we deserve to win.
8:47
Do you not even think we started?
8:49
Well then I. Thought it was OK.
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I felt like I said, it felt like the pitch was a bit dodgy and I
8:54
think we started with good tempo, but I don't feel like the
8:59
that fluidity in the attack that knowing where the your teammates
9:03
going to be. Yeah, that's all season though,
9:06
right? Because like, if if you think
9:08
about the last couple of games, we've started poorly, Crystal
9:12
Palace, West Ham at home, Everton at home, very slow.
9:17
So that was the surprise to me. Yeah, everyone's going to keep
9:20
banging on about Wolves, but I was just a little bit surprised
9:23
about like we were actually going after 50 fifties high up
9:26
the pitch. Was that more that element for
9:29
me. I was like, oh, that's a
9:30
surprise in a nice way. We're doing that.
9:31
And it's the rest. We've been doing that in the
9:33
start of the season. I think in the last few games we
9:35
had a little bit of a dip. No, But yeah, like, you know,
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we've got one game a week. Like, so I would have expected
9:41
that Old Trafford against, you know, Everton and West Ham is,
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it's not like they're the best teams in the world.
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The problem is there's like no consistency.
9:50
It's just so up, up, down, isn't it this season?
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Like I know we have the thing. And we need to expect it.
9:56
The beginning of the season, we said we're going to looking at
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7th, right? 7th means up down.
10:02
Yeah. But it's the performance.
10:03
It's not. It's not even necessarily.
10:05
The result isn't it's, it's going to take a bit of time to
10:08
come and it's never going to be that good because we have
10:10
fundamental holes in our in our team.
10:12
Ruben's been here a year and it's still, it's still not good.
10:15
So, you know, there was the whole the reason given as to why
10:18
he came in last year to get his feet under the table, get
10:21
working with the squad. Now we've talked about having no
10:23
European football and that's going to help you know, the team
10:26
in terms of time on the training pitch.
10:28
But we're not, we're not seeing it in the in the performances.
10:31
We've seen it in some results and you know, moments, good
10:34
goals we talked about, but I'm just I'm really not seeing much
10:37
progress in. Fair enough.
10:39
If you look at the Premier League then which teams do you
10:41
think are really performing well?
10:43
Give give me the list of teams. It's basically the top four.
10:46
It's it's City, Arsenal, Villa, obviously, but.
10:50
Sunderland are playing well for, you know, giving, you know,
10:53
their ability as well. And Chelsea, probably those
10:56
those four teams. Right, so not many scrappy.
10:59
It's a scrappy league at the moment.
11:01
It's hard and physical and hard to contest.
11:03
We've got players like that have just come into the key.
11:07
Like I said, I feel the attack needs to still get that, get the
11:10
relationship. Cesco's been out.
11:13
We're missing our two key centre backs who in my.
11:15
Why are we still picking up injuries?
11:17
Man, you really sound like Reuben, Like, dude, like come
11:22
on, like you got. If you want to pick three
11:24
defenders at the back, that's on you.
11:28
You can't have excuses like this.
11:30
Like every time it's like there's always an excuse.
11:33
I said this on a pod as that you weren't on like so you.
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Know what would have been your team then if you wouldn't have
11:38
picked? No, it's, it's, it's just feels
11:41
like there's always some form of excuse for him.
11:43
It's like, Oh yeah, it's not always some training pitch.
11:46
He he came. He came.
11:47
It's not that it's the same thing.
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We're going to say the same things over and over again
11:51
because you can't. No, we are I I was about to
11:54
agree. With you.
11:54
On three-year plan for something and you ask someone to come on a
11:58
pod every week, I'm going to have to say the same stuff and
12:01
you'll be like. I'm agreeing with you on the
12:03
bring me back in the years. No, I agree with you on the
12:07
inconsistency. Like Steve's never going to find
12:10
fluid football this season 1 because we are actually not that
12:16
good compared to, you know, previous generations.
12:20
Also, in my belief, and you know this like I've the best way I
12:25
can sum Reuben's time at United and even though it's, you know,
12:29
slightly going up, it's square pegs and round holes and I think
12:33
that will be his whole tenure. Even when he improves.
12:36
Also he gets better players. And like I said on a pod, I
12:40
don't think you're on. I think he could have Adam
12:42
Wharton and Elliot Anderson in the middle of the pitch and
12:45
we'll still have these inconsistencies.
12:47
I just think he's a very conservative manager.
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Can I just add very attacking? Just listens to the latest talk
12:53
of the Devils and Carl Anker literally said on that pod Kobe
12:57
would get into a team playing four at the back.
13:02
Yeah, as have you. Not challenged that before
13:04
though, to say that the formation isn't the problem for
13:06
Kobe. Yeah, he did say that.
13:08
So I believe there are two positions in this team Kobe can
13:11
get into. Yeah, 1 is in the double pivot,
13:15
right in the central midfield. The second one is one of the
13:18
number 10 positions, I think that he doesn't get in a double
13:23
pivot because there's not enough forward passing in the team and
13:27
he needs someone to pass the ball forward and therefore he
13:30
has to play Bruno there, right? So that's why Bruno is playing
13:34
in central midfield when really won him higher up the pit.
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But Bruno is still getting high up.
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He's getting in the box still. He's still creating chances,
13:41
he's still scoring goals. So I don't think that's why I've
13:44
never had an issue with Bruno there.
13:46
I think he's still able to do what he does in the number 10
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position. I don't know if Kobe has enough
13:51
goals and assists in him to challenge a Cunia.
13:54
Is he as athletic and as good in the press as Mason Mount?
13:58
If you played four at the back system, he would he would just
14:02
partner him with still right That's.
14:05
The Casamiro, Kobe and Bruno as the three, and then you'd
14:09
probably have to play in Boomo and Kunya on the wings and then
14:14
obviously Chesco up front when he's fit.
14:16
So basically then it's like it's a straight choice between Kobe
14:20
and Ahmad. You drop Ahmad, then I like both
14:24
of them. The one thing I'd say with Kobe
14:26
is he's he, Reuben doesn't give him enough minutes.
14:29
I'd like to see more minutes from Kobe.
14:32
I think the issue Reuben has at the moment is it's everyone's
14:35
judging him on results and he's like, I don't care about youth
14:37
development right now. I'm prepared to sacrifice Kobe's
14:40
youth development to put on whatever I think is good for
14:43
results. I think that's good for Kobe.
14:47
But you think Ugate is better than mainly then as Bruno's
14:51
partner you not Ruben simply because he tackles more right?
14:56
So you'd pick Ogate ahead of Kobe menu for this formation and
15:01
system? It's not the formation and
15:04
system, it's the blend of players you have.
15:07
Someone needs to pass the ball forward in midfield, right?
15:10
That's what it is. Yeah, So that's Bruno.
15:12
So the next, the person next. Bruno because Bruno is weak
15:15
defensively, the guy next to him has to be strong defensively,
15:19
ideally someone big and strong good in the air because Bruno
15:22
isn't good in the air and you're going to get That's why
15:25
casamiro's there over agate if it's not the.
15:28
Biggest the first sub. If it's not a big and strong
15:31
guy, then you go, OK, someone fast who can tackle a lot
15:34
because again, Bruno's weak in terms of that defensive output,
15:38
right? And that's not Kobe strength
15:41
either. Then the what was Kobe really
15:44
good at is brilliant in a possession team.
15:47
And we're not kind of in that mode of dominating possession
15:50
and playing possession football. So I think when if Kyle said,
15:54
oh, Kobe, you'll get in some top teams, he's probably right
15:56
because in a good team, Kobe would be really good.
15:59
But in this kind of scrappy team where we're kind of playing bit
16:03
direct scrapping for second balls, right, That kind of
16:08
scrappy game of football, it's not, it's not as much of his his
16:12
game as it is, you know, I don't know if he was at City, for
16:15
example, he's doing his little, little dribbles and little short
16:18
passes. I think Kobe in any 433 would be
16:25
good. I mean, Steve, I was hearing
16:27
Nicki Putt and Paul Skulls saying, obviously because of the
16:30
minutes he's not getting, if Chelsea came on the scene, they
16:34
would be recommending him to leave immediately or like, you
16:37
know, take the lane to Italy. I think the lane to Italy is a
16:40
good move, especially Napoli, you know he.
16:43
Needs more minutes. He definitely needs more
16:46
minutes. He's not playing enough.
16:47
I was at the start of the season, I was telling you guys,
16:49
I'm not worried about him not starting, but because he'll come
16:52
off the bench and he hasn't come off the bench enough.
16:54
He hasn't played enough minutes. I expected more of, you know,
16:58
Bruno playing a bit more #10 than he has.
17:02
I think that Bruno's passing again from deep, unless you have
17:07
good passes in your your back line somewhere that can get it.
17:10
So maybe if Martinez can come back, then you take the emphasis
17:15
of of Bruno a bit and Kobe can play a bit more.
17:17
But until Leecher comes back then.
17:20
Yeah, it's it's the one thing regarding the Kobe conundrum.
17:27
And and again, I feel like Reuben has put himself in this
17:30
position because of because of his system.
17:33
You think of the previous manager, Eric Tanhag, Kobe Mane
17:38
played and even when we were useless, he still looked good in
17:43
a useless team. Gareth Southgate put him in his,
17:46
you know, Euro team in knockout games and was man of the match
17:51
against Holland in the semi final.
17:53
So again, I feel like it's something that Reuben's creating
17:57
for himself in terms of because he's obsessed with his ideas
18:00
about what he wants in midfield and because you've only got 2
18:04
spots, which is fundamentally the problem.
18:06
And I guess that's what Carl's saying as well.
18:09
That's why you have an issue. You actually have 4 spots he
18:12
could play in a #10. Not in a Reuben system, clearly.
18:16
No, he could. It's not a Reuben system.
18:18
It's a He thinks CUNY is a Reuben.
18:19
System you can keep saying it's not, but he thinks.
18:22
CUNY is better. Why does why did 2 why did his
18:24
two previous managers be able to fit in him no problem?
18:28
Gareth Southgate and Eric Tanhart Because they didn't have
18:30
his. Gareth Southgate didn't have any
18:32
midfielders. It's Jordan Henderson, right?
18:34
Who's it's because it is. It's Carl Ankers point.
18:36
They play free in midfield. No, we play 4 and he doesn't.
18:40
We have 4 positions right? So for example.
18:42
OK, yeah, but here's the thing. He's bought 2 two players this
18:44
summer to play the two 10s. So effectively he's actually
18:48
he's taken his two best 10s. From last season in the Wolves
18:52
game, yeah, he played Mason Mount.
18:54
You're saying you play Kobe Mane over Mason Mount?
18:56
He prefers. I thought Mason Mount was
18:58
excellent. I think Mason Mount's a great
18:59
footballer. I like Mason Mount.
19:01
You would rather have Kobe Mane? What?
19:03
Why do? You do this A to B thing like no
19:05
one said Mason Mansion be in the team.
19:07
We're talking about the two deeper positions, aren't we?
19:10
When have we said like Mason Mount should be out?
19:12
You could flip Bruno forward. One and put copy in right.
19:16
Yeah, but that's we talked about in the Samurai.
19:18
It's like there was a question mark, for example, over a
19:22
signing like Cunya. Did you need a Cunya?
19:25
And you know, and we're gonna find out if I don't think Kobe
19:28
will find out because like he hasn't got enough goals at the
19:31
at the moment to prove it, but we will see because he's got
19:33
half a seat. Exactly.
19:35
And that that's the thing, Like I I think the team did need more
19:37
goals. So that's why I thought, OK,
19:39
yeah, bring more goals. He's only scored one goal can.
19:41
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Don't.
19:43
I don't think he's got that many assists either.
19:46
No, he hasn't. The wider point, yes, but you
19:48
know, we'll see. He'll, he'll come Good.
19:50
But the wider point with Kobe is obviously, you know, we can all
19:52
see that, why it's difficult for him to get into this team with
19:55
the personnel. Sorry, Steve, why do you think,
19:58
just out of interest? And also obviously we disagree
20:00
on the system and you you basically wouldn't want Kombi
20:03
over Ahmad, is it because it of a British Manchester thing?
20:06
Is that what you cannot really? That's just in your head, so
20:09
let's. See why?
20:10
Why? Why would you sacrifice Ahmad
20:12
for Kobe? Because that's what you're
20:13
saying. I'd rather have Kobe than.
20:15
Ahmad no that it's just like play Kobe Moore So like I I
20:19
again, I don't understand this whole if you too.
20:21
Sharp. If you too sharp for a minute,
20:23
I'll tell you what I think, right Toby, obviously he's an
20:27
Academy graduate. He's the best thing we've seen
20:29
come out of the Academy since Scott Mcdominy, even though we
20:32
didn't know Scott would be this good.
20:34
Wider point again, the academy's not produced much over the last
20:38
10 years. I think we can only look at
20:40
Rashford, Garnacho, both gone. Koby Scott, you know, I know
20:45
Ahmad, obviously we bought him as well, but Koby, given how
20:49
good he was in that period for both United and England, the
20:54
fact that you can't get in the team is obviously a
20:56
disappointment for Manchester United supporters because we
20:58
love Academy graduates. It's what the club's about.
21:01
It's if you ask anyone about Manchester United.
21:04
Is that? So you are a racist?
21:05
No, no, that that's, that's one side of it.
21:08
So that's why there's natural. Disappointments.
21:10
With a lot of. How is he a racist?
21:14
Because you're you're implying that because you know Ahmed is
21:18
not English. Again, again you 2 shut up.
21:20
Racism it's he, he, he wants the local lad who's been at the.
21:24
Account No, no, no, no, no. He.
21:26
Does and I agree with him, I'm with him.
21:29
I would want Ahmed in the team along with Kobe.
21:32
And this goes back to why did we get Ruben?
21:35
Why did we do the recruitment where we brought two number 10s?
21:38
I would go back to that point. Now we're in this position, yes,
21:41
but maybe Kobe, if he's brought into the team, Ahmed would lose
21:45
out. I'm not necessarily saying I
21:46
want Amad to lose out. That's a byproduct of getting
21:48
copy in the team. But if you really want to ask me
21:51
what I truly want, I would rewind, you know, 1824 months
21:54
and when I'm doing the squad building, I would be looking to
21:57
get Ahmad and Kobe in the first team.
21:59
I totally agree. And my recruitment would be
22:01
around that basis as well. So, you know, it's fair enough.
22:05
I. Do think it was fair, somewhat
22:07
legitimate to say we need more Prem proven experience and more
22:11
goals. So yes in boomo you wouldn't
22:14
sign because Ahmad plays the role and we heard that a lot.
22:17
But honestly and Boomo I think isn't been excellent.
22:21
He has dipped a little bit, but we needed a bit more Prem proven
22:24
because The thing is these kids are really good, but you also
22:27
have pressure on results. We need to get the table we need
22:31
output right. I tell you who might have been a
22:35
good signing and I know he's gone on a downer this season, so
22:38
you may laugh at it, but maybe it was all about time and Ollie
22:42
Watkins, right? So we talk about Prem proven
22:45
experience and we wanted Prem proven experience in those
22:47
attacking positions and we went for two number 10s.
22:50
What if we'd have got one of those guys and got Ollie
22:53
Watkins, for example? I know he's not done well at
22:55
Villa this season, but someone that runs in behind has got the
22:58
Prem experience. Like you know what?
22:59
Maybe that's what we should have done.
23:00
Spent the money on the striking. Position Steve, I'll be honest
23:06
with you, if we had got Ollie Watkins in, haven't seen the way
23:11
the seasons panned out with the way Sesko has been playing and
23:14
haven't seen how Hoylan played last season, I actually think he
23:18
would be less effective than he has been at Villa because of the
23:22
way Reuben plays his football. And I know that's going to
23:26
upset. I know that's going to upset us.
23:28
But like, you know, I think that's that, that's probably,
23:32
you know, my take on it. So I'm not sure is the answer.
23:35
No, I think the thing with the Watkins versus Cesco was simply,
23:41
again, we've got to talk about what's the plan?
23:43
It's a three-year plan over long term period that Watkins has hit
23:46
his peak and he's now on the decline, right?
23:49
So yes, this season he'd probably provide more than
23:52
Cesco, maybe even next season. But this season we're going for
23:55
the league. What happens to what?
23:57
That was the concern. That's all it was.
24:00
But I'm with you if we need to, I'm always saying like if you'd
24:02
really need short term results you get the guy at the peak.
24:05
Now Watkins Prem proven would have delivered more than Cesco
24:10
100%. We went with Mbumo and Cunha a
24:13
bit younger, probably just not not past their peak, just at
24:17
their peak. And you're right, we've
24:20
sacrificed short term for a bit of long term.
24:22
If Cesco doesn't work out, it's not Scout, it's not going to
24:26
look good for the scouting department, Right Kissed.
24:28
It's. Just like it's frustrating, like
24:30
looking at the team, you know, for example, against Wolves in
24:34
the back line, you've got Luke Shaw, who guy's been struggling
24:37
at the club for 10 years. You've got heaven, a kid in
24:41
there, Maserati. So it's like a makeshift back
24:44
three, right? Like yeah, whichever way.
24:46
Again, if you were going to play a back 4, Yeah, where?
24:49
Where's your exercise when you're missing Delixe McGuire?
24:51
You. Have a problem, whatever
24:52
formation, the formation, this one.
24:54
This is my point, players. Yeah, that back, that back 3 is
24:57
not good. And then even, you know,
24:58
Casamiro's had his struggles over, you know, a couple of
25:01
years and then you're just looking at that spine and it's
25:04
just weak. Obviously Xerxe up top, we know
25:06
Chesco's injured, but it's like we keep spending 200 million
25:10
every summer. I listened to your previous pod
25:13
that wasn't on and it was very negative, but but people like
25:17
Scott were like, I've had a decent manager, we'll be in the
25:19
top four and I'm like, do you rate the squad that much?
25:23
Steve's just you've just gone through it like this is not
25:25
good, that's not good. Casamiro's dead.
25:27
The spy and shit at this guy. Oh yeah, yeah.
25:30
But he's back. We're really.
25:31
Going to come, we really going to come top 4 with this squad.
25:37
So the question. There's a chance to get 5th or
25:39
4th though. OK, so.
25:41
So on, there's a chance, there's a chance and there's still a
25:44
chance. We're 625 points.
25:46
I'm looking at the table, there's still a chance.
25:48
Oh yeah, yeah, when you look at the results of the table.
25:50
So I said there's a chance. It's a different again, it comes
25:53
back to the performances. I think that's why a lot of
25:54
fans, despite the results, are struggling.
25:57
So let's talk about like, you know, where we finished in the
26:00
league because we've talked about it before and we've all
26:02
agreed that Europa League qualification is probably the
26:05
minimum requirement. So I was actually thinking this
26:07
week, like, for me, someone who's given up on Reuben, what
26:11
would it take for me to back Reuben into next season?
26:14
And obviously that's a tall order given I gave up on him a
26:17
few weeks ago. And I was thinking probably what
26:20
it would take for me is to finish in the top five to get
26:23
Champions League football and win the FA Cup.
26:26
I think the FA Cup is actually really important to prove.
26:29
So if he came in, if we came fifth but knocked out in the FA
26:33
Cup in the fifth round, you're sacking the manager.
26:36
I probably would because I've given up on him and even him
26:39
finishing fifth isn't enough for me.
26:40
So he's finished fifth. Let's say he does the double
26:43
against Liverpool. Yeah, get some other good
26:46
results because you'd have to finish 5th.
26:49
Right. How's he doing this though?
26:50
This is the key. Is he just dumping Harry Maguire
26:52
up there and just. It's probably going to be
26:54
similar to what we've seen Stratford and it's going to be
26:56
similar surely to what we've seen so far this season if he
27:00
doesn't, But we're talking, we're talking results more so I
27:02
guess. No, because we I think
27:04
performances in style there will, there has to be if you if
27:09
you end up 50, you would have a pick up in, you know, unless
27:11
you're really lucky, there will be some good results in there.
27:15
There clearly will be some decent performances and moments.
27:19
You're never going to have a you're never going to with this
27:22
squad. I don't think any manager can
27:25
magic up great consistent performances because it's just
27:28
not good enough. Right?
27:30
But fifth, not consistent up and down.
27:34
But it's still sacking him seems a bit harsh.
27:36
Yeah, and you could say it's harsh because he gets in the
27:39
Champions League, but that's more me personally that I've
27:41
given up on him. I don't think this works like
27:43
medium term. So that's the reason I would
27:45
sack him. But the club 100% will keep him
27:48
in if we get top five. But again, you know, like Ash,
27:51
because obviously you've given up on Ruben as well.
27:53
But let's say he did that top five and FA Cup win.
27:57
Any chance you could let him have another season?
28:00
I could depending on like what football we're seeing, like if
28:03
it's more like what he did at sporting, maybe there's a
28:06
pathway because you know, to I guess what you guys were
28:09
discussing last season, you know, do you really want to RIP
28:13
it up at that point if there's, you know, real progress, not
28:17
just, you know, league position, but you know, the, the, the
28:21
performances on the pitch actually pick up.
28:24
So there's a possibility, I think, because obviously, are we
28:27
playing? Are we playing better than last
28:29
year? We.
28:29
Have to see who's do. You think we're playing better
28:31
than last year? Yeah, I think we're marginally
28:34
playing better, yeah, but it's all marginal, which is fine
28:38
because you know, you have to, you have to understand, I guess
28:42
where you came from. I hate the fact that we have to
28:45
benchmark it against 15 in that sense.
28:48
But yeah, the football is is better, but.
28:50
What about you, Us. Do you think it's better?
28:54
I think it's better. I think it's marginal, but I
28:56
accept the marginal because I'm, I always think that it takes
28:59
time for new players to settle in and, you know, and I also
29:03
think there's still holes. So I've always said to you, oh,
29:05
it's not this summer, there's another summer and another
29:08
summer. So there's the midfield to sort
29:10
out. Whoever the manager is is going
29:13
to struggle. That's why I said, you know,
29:15
he's got to hit Europe. I didn't even say 5th.
29:19
I just said you enjoy the football at the moment.
29:22
No, but that's, that's not the point.
29:24
The point is I enjoy winning more games and we're winning
29:27
more games and we're finding ways to win.
29:29
And if, if I've always said as long as the team is fighting and
29:33
able to compete, which we are. So for example, it was, you
29:38
know, the last is it like in the last 8 or so we've lost one
29:42
match or something like that. To me that.
29:45
Yeah, but then if you just, if you, if you do 11, it was free
29:49
defeats in 11. So the stats are just, you know.
29:52
But you know what I mean, Let's make up the stats that sounds.
29:54
Good. Not you, but anyone.
29:56
Yeah. Secondly, I would say there's
29:58
been many times, even in the peak of Man United, right where
30:03
we have just been a gritty team. And I, I love it when we're
30:06
gritty and I see the grit back. I see like the fight is there to
30:10
try and beat. For example, we're better on set
30:12
pieces now. We compete, we're tackling.
30:16
I feel that even when you know, we've won league title,
30:19
sometimes you're like, oh, we're not playing well and we score a
30:21
goal out of somewhere because you know someone, you know,
30:23
Canton pops up with one and it's one nil and you're like
30:26
brilliant. And as long as the results are
30:28
coming, that's why I'm like, if he finishes 5th, we found a way
30:32
through the camaraderie, through the fight, through the passion
30:36
to grit out and grind to 5th that I'm, I would be really to,
30:41
to then say, you know, give him some better midfielders and then
30:44
we can try and take the next step.
30:46
Sorry, just just to clarify, when I say I agree that I agree
30:48
with the grit, I think that's something we've talked about
30:50
like over the last month. That is something I think has
30:53
tangibly improved this season. But again, there has to be more
30:57
improvement, especially if you're talking about 5th and 4th
31:00
because we kept one clean sheet. I think because when you say
31:03
grit, I know what you guys are talking about, especially in the
31:06
last like, say six weeks, that like the Forest game and the
31:10
Spurs game, being able to come back.
31:12
And also we've been fighting a bit more like we're putting in
31:15
tackles. But the next step, and this is
31:17
what I mean about seeing that progression, is like we've got
31:20
to keep keeping some clean sheets.
31:22
I'm not asking for like 5 in a row or the Edwin van Dasar
31:25
record, but one clean sheet is perfect isn't?
31:28
It going to be tough though. You've got a goalkeeper from the
31:31
Belgian league come in, you're talking about the likes of Luke
31:35
Shaw, Mazrawi, Heaven back three.
31:37
You're talking about midfielder Casimir and Bruno.
31:41
It's not exactly the most defensively.
31:43
You know, if we had Declan Rice and Kai Sado and, you know, a
31:48
more experienced goalkeeper and even McGuire and Delic just back
31:51
in the team, Martinez maybe as well, you'd be more confident.
31:55
But I can always, you know, you can't look at that and go right.
31:59
That looks solid to me, whatever formation you play.
32:04
I mean, I'm just looking at the league table just just like
32:07
sporadically, but like as an example, Aston Villa, you know,
32:12
like a few weeks ago before the five win, five win streak, I
32:17
think all the talk was two wins. They've conceded 15 versus R22.
32:25
Having a look, Chelsea again, you know they've conceded 15.
32:28
I'm just saying right to see the progression to get to.
32:31
Don't you think they have better players?
32:32
You're going to have to do that. Don't you think those two squads
32:34
are better squads, right? Better midfields, better, more
32:38
settle. You talked about Emmy Martinez,
32:41
for example. You said wanted to sign, right?
32:43
We went for the young Belgian kid.
32:45
Yeah, but the Belgian kids good, right?
32:47
He's actually settled the defence down.
32:49
So the the Belgian kid or Le Mans, right?
32:52
He has a name. He's he's fine.
32:56
But yeah, I I feel like obviously some of it was on the
32:59
players as well. We, we cannot hide from that.
33:04
Like some of them can play better than they are playing.
33:07
Some are limited. That is very clear, right?
33:10
And I think that is going to be the story of our season.
33:12
Scott made an interesting point in that he was like, OK, you
33:17
guys said seven for 8:00. But the way the league is going
33:21
this season, there's an opportunity to go and get
33:24
Champions League football via the league.
33:26
So, yeah, I mean, this is where we'll see if Reuben can rise to
33:31
that challenge or will he just do par and then we'll have to
33:35
make a judgement. I think the next few weeks are
33:38
going to be very interesting and important because we don't know
33:42
if we've got the 3F con players for Bournemouth on Monday.
33:45
That's not yet confirmed. I think, you know, there's
33:48
probably still dialogue going on, so we don't know for sure.
33:51
You know, we could lose them in theory, but you know, we're
33:54
either going to lose them ahead of that game or after that game.
33:57
Bournemouth have haven't been great I think recently compared
34:00
to their start of the season. So it's a fixture we have to win
34:05
surely. I know I did this last time.
34:08
Are we? In West Ham, haven't you said
34:10
that already? Yeah, that's what I mean again.
34:12
Again talking about standards like we have to be winning that
34:15
game because we've got Villa away the week after.
34:18
So if. We're more likely to get 3
34:20
points at Villa then get 3 points at Bournemouth, I'm
34:23
telling. You but I want to see some
34:25
consistency in the results and performance like.
34:27
I'm with you, Steve. I don't agree with that.
34:29
I think Villa Riff being really good.
34:32
Emory's, it's always tough, I think, when you're Old Trafford.
34:36
You want two games in a row? The fans have been booing,
34:38
right? 100% win the game I want to.
34:40
See more One thing I want to see is a good Old Trafford
34:43
performance. We need a whole a home win.
34:46
I'm with you. I want to see a win.
34:48
I I think that would that we need to put a marker down at
34:51
home. Yeah, and we've let it slip, you
34:54
know, twice in a row where we were.
34:56
Going then if we go to Villa Park and get a draw, I'm OK with
34:59
that. I'm OK with that of.
35:00
Course, of course, that's the way you want it, but this is the
35:03
inconsistency of the team. What's more likely to happen,
35:07
and I'm talking reality as opposed to trying to be
35:09
negative, is it will be A11 draw at Old Trafford and somehow like
35:14
Crystal Palace will win because we turn up in the second-half.
35:17
That's this team is like, you know, that's.
35:19
What they're like, but I'm saying what we, what we want
35:21
and. What we want is totally
35:22
different. Of course we want, we always
35:24
want top performance performances at Old Trafford.
35:26
So yeah, these these next 3-4 weeks while FCON is going on is,
35:30
you know, the fixtures aren't too bad on paper.
35:33
Mind you, they're looking a bit harder when you look at the
35:35
recent form of Villa and Newcastle because we've got the
35:37
Bournemouth at home game. Then we will definitely lose the
35:40
FCON players. So that during that period we're
35:42
going to play Villa away, Newcastle at home, Wolves at
35:45
home, which surely should be a win and then into next year
35:48
leads away and Burnley away before the FA Cup break.
35:51
So you know, those games without those AFCON players, it's it's
35:56
not easy. So I think we'll know a lot more
35:58
in like 4 weeks when you say I was like after this little
36:01
period. Key run, very much a key run.
36:04
Christmas is always an important period.
36:07
Lots of fixtures, The fixers you mentioned Leeds and Burnley are
36:11
two again, right? You want to try and get 6 points
36:14
from those games but it's not in Premier League is tough.
36:17
Now, these games are easy. And this is where, yeah, you're
36:20
right, it's up to the manager to find a way through this period,
36:25
rotate, you know, find bringing those players in to replace the
36:29
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36:55
Let's talk most seller now. Yeah, obviously it's been all
36:59
over the news this week in terms of seller's comments against the
37:03
manager after the Leeds game and obviously there's been a lot of
37:07
reaction. Jamie Carragher, as always,
37:10
isn't quiet about it. And yeah, we've seen reaction
37:12
across the board. So interested to see where you
37:14
both stand on this Ash Club in the wrong or seller in the
37:19
wrong? When I heard the comments, I'll
37:23
be honest, I wasn't wholly surprised because very often
37:29
when my seller wants to make a point, he'll come out to the
37:33
media and say it. But Jamie Carriger's reaction,
37:38
again, not surprised. I expected it from him and he
37:44
went really to task with my seller unfairly.
37:48
So I haven't, I haven't heard the character stuff.
37:50
Tell me because some of the viewers might not have heard it
37:53
as well. Like what's he been saying?
37:55
So, Steve, do you want to have you got?
37:58
Yeah, I mean, he, he's, I don't have quotes, but he's, he's
38:00
essentially defending the club, obviously calling seller A
38:03
disgrace for his comments, saying that, you know, it's
38:07
disrespectful to the club, the fans.
38:10
And yeah, probably went in a bit hard, started talking about what
38:12
he's achieved with Egypt in that they've not won an AFCON.
38:17
And even he talked nobody before Liverpool.
38:20
Yeah, talked about the fact that he was known as a failure at
38:22
Chelsea prior to coming. So he's trying to make the point
38:24
that Liverpool have given him as much as he's given to Liverpool.
38:27
So very much just took the club's defence I guess on the
38:31
situation as like what? What do you think about Salah's
38:34
comments? Do you think he was entitled to
38:36
do that? I'm surprised.
38:38
Oh, I was surprised. I'm when Ash said he wasn't
38:42
surprised at his comments. So I was shocked.
38:44
I couldn't believe it. I was like what is going on?
38:48
It for me, it was on a Saturday night as well it came out, so
38:51
that was a nice Saturday. Like a moment in Dream Team.
38:54
I cannot. Has any other player gone to
38:56
this level apart from Cristiano and the Piers Morgan interview?
38:59
Yeah, I was. Like maybe that's why I'm not
39:01
surprised because I've heard this these types of comments
39:04
before. But this was just this is this
39:08
is a guy who last season I was saying, you know, should be in
39:11
the Balandor contender who is a legend of the club, surely,
39:17
right? Surely it's a legend of the club
39:20
and coming out with that level of, of, of passion because it's,
39:24
it's, it's different for when you sometimes players say stuff
39:27
and you read the median and they, they've blown it out of
39:29
proportion. I'm just like, come on, guys,
39:31
you you've blown. He's like, oh, I've been thrown
39:34
under the bus and this and that. And I'm like, Oh my God, this
39:37
guy really, really wanted to say something.
39:41
That's what I'm saying. Like if it felt like he, this
39:44
has been bubbling and he was ready to say it.
39:47
Yeah, like, oh, I had, they promised me this.
39:50
And the manager said, it's almost like, you know what?
39:53
I I need to I need to get rid of the bald guy.
39:57
Yeah, it's like, it's like San I go all over again.
40:01
Spirits gone into slot this season.
40:03
Unbelievable. I, I, I was shocked.
40:06
I couldn't believe that he made those comments.
40:09
I was expecting him to be disgruntled in the background
40:14
because it's only been three games as well, right?
40:17
Three games, but what I think is the driver to this assuming
40:22
Sellers telling the truth, Slot's not been communicating
40:25
with him while he's been dropping him.
40:27
So I think that's poor management if if that's true,
40:31
like, you know, we know what's a.
40:32
Dream Esty because I've heard something about this and for the
40:35
viewers and listeners like what's the.
40:36
Reason it's based on what Salah said he said he's got no
40:39
relationship with Arne slot, right.
40:41
So if you've got no relationship with your manager, for me that's
40:45
kind of on the manager because his job is to manage the clues
40:48
and the title and he's created that situation where he's let
40:50
his star player get pissed off. And and the thing with these
40:54
types of players, CR7's got the ego as well.
40:57
They're only so good because of that ego.
41:00
So we lured them when they're banging in the goals and the
41:02
assists because it's that ego driving in there.
41:05
And this is the bad side of that ego coming out.
41:08
But a good manager wouldn't have let that situation arise.
41:12
So I do think Slot's got a lot to answer for on it.
41:15
I do think why Salad, it was wrong.
41:17
It was wrong, but I think. That's why he thinks the club
41:20
are trying to get rid of him. Because, you know, like I've
41:24
just I've just started watching the Traitors.
41:27
So I just finished season 1. It's like in the Traitors, it's
41:29
like, oh, he's not talking to me anymore.
41:31
Something's going on. It's like that.
41:33
He probably feels like, oh, something's going on.
41:35
They're trying to get rid of me. They're going to vote me out.
41:38
They're going to kick me off. I think that that's.
41:40
Paranoia. It is, it really is because he
41:44
said that right? The club, it feels like the
41:45
club's trying to get rid of me. So I think yeah, he, yeah, which
41:49
is just so interesting. Which is because he's just, they
41:52
just, I mean. You want to put the United angle
41:55
to put the United angle on it. If it was, you know, if this
41:58
happened to us actually, like, you know, we probably spoke
42:01
about it like with Ronaldo in house, right?
42:04
That's what we would be saying. Yeah, keep it in house.
42:07
Yeah, keep it in house. The thing, The thing is like,
42:09
yeah, as much as I think what Salah done was like wrong
42:12
generally, I think, you know, we've talked about CR7 because
42:16
that's the obvious one, but if you think actually back to
42:18
Rashford. So he spoke to Henry Winter,
42:21
right? I can't remember.
42:23
I think it was after. Nothing like that.
42:24
This is nothing like that, right?
42:27
So Henry Winter already had an interview planned with him.
42:30
Yes, I know, I know the. Club were the club were
42:33
definitely trying to remove him because it was known in the
42:35
summer we were looking for offers right And then all he
42:38
said is, you know, look, yeah, I'm look up, it's fine.
42:41
I'm ready for a new challenge. That's it.
42:42
I'm ready for any. Yeah, yeah.
42:44
So it was more. It was more similar, never
42:46
speaks to the press. After the game he cut he I think
42:50
it was Norwegian TV, so he's clearly trying to find someone
42:53
with a camera. He's, he's basically trying to
42:55
get a message out. He.
42:57
Never speaks. It was calculated.
42:58
The only other time I've heard it, do you remember when his
43:01
contract situation was going on? He said I'm more out of the last
43:04
time and the same thing. It was the post game kind of bit
43:08
where they're outside the team bus and Sal has come come in and
43:11
decided to say something. He never talks and then the.
43:15
World, I think the the level of language times as well, yeah.
43:19
The level of language is just unbelievable.
43:22
I'm being thrown up the bus. They're trying to get rid of me.
43:26
Like it was just like what is going on?
43:29
This is just. Steve say, I've seen some of the
43:31
reaction from ex Liverpool players with the likes of seen
43:36
as I mean, if, if you want to include Jason Mcateer, but like
43:41
the vitriol towards Salah in terms of like, you know, given I
43:45
think the guy's what has he got 250 goals for Liverpool?
43:49
The the way they're just demeaning his achievements and
43:54
he's not like a legend. And it's like, you know, he owes
43:57
more to the club than, you know, Salah's performance.
43:59
It's like it's just wrong. I mean, you know, for example,
44:02
if Kenny Dalglish ever said something like this, like it
44:07
wouldn't be the same reaction. There is a.
44:09
There is a. Definitely, I haven't been
44:11
listening, but they're really demeaning his achievements
44:13
because he is a legend. Yeah, soon as, you know, I've
44:17
only seen clips, right? Because after 10 seconds I
44:20
cannot listen to someone like CNS or Mcateer.
44:22
But like, even in those 10 seconds, it's like you can just
44:26
feel like they're just demeaning his achievements that, you know,
44:31
you know, his standing is not like a Steven Gerrard, OK, even
44:34
though Gerrard, you know, put in a transfer request.
44:37
Looking it up now, Liverpool all time top goal scorers Ian Rush
44:43
365 is #1 Roger Hunt 285 #2 Salah number 3250 How are you
44:48
not a legend if you're in the podium of the greatest scorers
44:52
of your club of all time? You got Jamie Carriger saying
44:55
that you were nobody before Liverpool and.
44:58
Which is fine. Maybe you weren't nobody before
45:00
Liverpool, but you also helped Liverpool.
45:03
If we had cabs on, you'll be telling us they are the greatest
45:06
team of all time. Who was the key, One of the key
45:08
players in the greatest team of all time, Champions League,
45:12
Premier League. Without him they don't, they
45:14
don't win those trophies. They would also have agreed with
45:19
it before these comments came out.
45:20
So you can't. You got to be consistent.
45:22
He is a legend of the club. No, they've just got really
45:25
emotional about look, I get it, but you shouldn't.
45:29
Say his comments are unbelievable.
45:32
Yeah, no, they are unbelievable in terms of like the words he
45:37
uses. I think you said, yeah, that's
45:39
that's crazy words. That's bad.
45:41
But I still think with Rashford, I know it's not as bad because
45:44
yeah, the actual comments sell is much worse, but the actual
45:47
concept of speaking out against the club a little bit, putting
45:51
your name in the market. What?
45:52
What did he say against the club?
45:53
He said. I love the club.
45:54
I always love Man United. Yeah, but like, you know, in in.
45:58
Sara actually said that as well though.
46:00
It's the comments, the comments are different but he basically
46:04
made a point to say that the club had been trying to sell him
46:06
right and and it might be true, but he's still speaking out
46:09
against the club Rashford in some way.
46:11
Rashford implied it, right? Salah said.
46:15
There's a conspiracy against me almost.
46:17
Yeah. So it's like literally, it's
46:20
just unbelievable he did. He did caveat it by saying like,
46:24
I love Liverpool are the I still love the fans of something along
46:28
those lines for me say. Something for me, Rashford was
46:30
like, look, I'm resigned to leaving, Yeah, and I feel, I
46:34
feel bad, but I'm in a. Different situations, different.
46:36
Salah, Salah to me, you tell me if I'm wrong.
46:39
It's trying to get the manager fired.
46:41
Yeah, no, yeah, I was going to say, I was going to say Steve,
46:45
if you're going to compare the best one is Cristiano.
46:48
Yeah, that is the best 1 Morgan because like Cristiano literally
46:51
said like yeah, 10 are disrespected me the training
46:54
ground or in line with Salah. If anything you could say
46:57
Ronaldo went in harder because he started criticising
46:59
facilities etcetera. But again, going back to like
47:02
the concepts of players in general, going against the club,
47:05
speaking to the media, I think fans generally, the hardcore
47:08
fans and the hardcore players, the local players that came
47:11
through a club, their characters, the Nevels,
47:14
generally I think you back the club as a default position.
47:18
However, thinking about it from the players perspective, whether
47:21
it's Rashford, Ronaldo, Sala, from their perspective, I get
47:25
it. If you get backed into a corner,
47:27
you're looking after your career.
47:28
You need to do something that is going to basically get yourself
47:32
in the best position. If we're saying that though,
47:35
what I would say, I think as would agree because he was
47:38
hinting at it, it's a bit early. It's three games.
47:40
Like at least with Cristiano it was like, I don't know, 3-4
47:43
months that was leading up to it before it.
47:45
You know he he did the interview like 3 games of which I think
47:49
Liverpool had won two out the. Free it's The season as a whole
47:53
has been frustrating for seller, though, isn't.
47:55
Yeah, look, this is the. Thing but has he to an.
47:58
Extent you understand the seller angle.
48:00
Yeah. Has he performed as an
48:01
individual as well? Right.
48:02
So I would have given it a bit more time, let go to AFCON for
48:07
example. But then come then say it out
48:09
there. Then maybe you know like slot
48:12
are they going to fire slot right now?
48:14
No chance right, but maybe in the February March period.
48:18
So unless. When Xavi Alonso is available.
48:20
Unless he really wants to move to Saudi in January.
48:25
Yeah, that's the only other play, but like Prestiano, yeah,
48:31
it's. Literally, you know what, Piffs?
48:33
Piffs decided they're going to give me X amount of money, you
48:37
know, forget it, I'm done. If he really.
48:39
No, but Chief Chief Saudi League, the head has come out
48:43
today and said like in January, we're looking at salad.
48:46
So there is definitely a little bit of an angle because this
48:49
this did happen last season as well in that I think the agent
48:53
was involved in terms of getting salad to talk a bit about their
48:57
contract situation. Then you had the Saudi, you
49:00
know, Willy Won'tey and I feel like it's almost like, yeah, get
49:03
up again, right. Because what are we?
49:05
We're December. Yeah, we're early December.
49:08
So three weeks before, you know, Saudi League opens in terms of
49:12
being able to go after English players.
49:14
Oh, sorry, the English transfer window.
49:17
So yeah. Yeah, I think like what he did
49:21
was basically twofold in a way because he's he's it's obviously
49:25
a calculated move. He knows he's going to do it
49:27
probably before the game, he's probably spoke to his agent.
49:29
But the emotion of what he said, obviously it came out in a
49:32
certain way, probably went further than he'd planned.
49:35
But that's that's human nature, isn't it?
49:36
Like, you know, you're not going to say it perfectly, but the
49:39
move in general was calculated. And yeah, he could be looking to
49:42
get slot sacked and he could be looking to engineer and move to
49:46
Saudi. So it's great to see though
49:48
it's, it's very enjoyable. So watch as a United fan.
49:53
Thank you Eric Tanhag Spirit for going into slots body this
49:57
season. Yeah, it's going to be
49:59
interesting to see what happens there.
50:01
So just to close off then and bring it back to United.
50:04
Just very briefly today, we had United set latest set of
50:09
financial results come out. So obviously Keira McGuire has
50:12
been all over them seen, I've seen a few headlines.
50:14
I don't think there's anything to major in those results.
50:18
I think revenue is down a little bit, which is expected because
50:21
of the drop in European games and cup fixtures.
50:25
Cost base is obviously down because of the redundancies that
50:29
happened as like I don't know if you've seen the results, but
50:32
anything to take from that from your side or from what you've
50:34
seen? I haven't seen the results.
50:37
I can guess that you know what, what they were And I just say
50:41
like, look, it's going to take time to fix this club.
50:44
It's a it's a financial mess and it's going to take time and I
50:49
don't even know if we'll get out of it right because we need to
50:52
come in back into European football.
50:54
We were lucky enough that last season we had European football.
50:58
We've had a lot of luck in recent years with home cup
51:01
fixtures, for example, that help, you know, boost up the
51:04
revenue. We're slowly getting to grips
51:07
with the wage bill, but I've always said it takes time to
51:10
rebalance the wage bill, you know, So Casimira's wages are
51:14
still on that expense. So yes, we fired the tea lady.
51:18
Flow right in six months. In six months, but they're still
51:21
less so we fired the tea lady, but Casimira's still on 350 a
51:25
week or whatever, right? So.
51:27
Take fairness to him though, he he's played well this season.
51:30
Without him, we probably would have considered.
51:33
His fault it's it's the person who gave him the contracts
51:37
fault. It's not his fault.
51:38
I don't blame Casimiro. Let these play.
51:40
The players deserve what they get and it's but it's up to the
51:44
club to be smart and managing in the being called tight.
51:48
But I'm preferring the fact that we're tight rather than doing
51:51
stupid stuff. But it takes time.
51:53
These contracts will slowly roll, roll.
51:55
I think if we renew McGuire it won't be at the wage that he's
51:58
currently on, the 200 grand a week.
52:00
If we renew Luke Shore, it won't be on the wage that he's on.
52:03
We've removed the likes of, I don't know, Marci Al Rashford's
52:07
gone on loan with his huge contract and maybe Barcelona
52:10
will make it permanent, but these things will take time we
52:14
need. Too many contracts left though,
52:16
right? Like the big number ones.
52:18
Casimiro will go in the summer. Yeah.
52:21
McGuire 5050. Rashford hopefully in terms of
52:24
light stays. Rashford's another big one.
52:26
Sancho is going to be another one.
52:28
We've managed to get a loan to get his way.
52:30
Now base contracts are contracts expiring Exactly.
52:34
So like I'm saying, all the big money is coming after the
52:37
summer. Exactly.
52:38
So when we're when I'm thinking of finance, I'm talking I'm
52:40
thinking OK, hopefully in 2627. And 28, again, dependent on
52:44
European football. We need to get back into Europe.
52:47
We have to be, we have to be in the Champions League.
52:49
Forget Europe, we have to be in the Champions League.
52:52
The way that is expanding and they're going to expand in 20,
52:55
in the 20 thirties, we have to be back in the champion long.
52:59
Term 100%, yeah. So maybe, yeah.
53:01
But we've settled for, let's say Europe this year, but then the
53:05
following season, absolutely, right.
53:08
We need to be aiming the Champions League.
53:10
And if project, what is it? Is it Project 28?
53:13
If you want to win the league title, you take steps.
53:16
So I can imagine the finances won't look good now.
53:19
It's going to take a bit of time to turn around.
53:21
They've made the hard decisions cutting costs in the the non
53:25
playing stuff and we're slowly working through the playing
53:28
stuff. We need the football performance
53:30
improve. If the football performance
53:32
improved, the sponsors come back.
53:34
If we can get the stadium going, that's another revenue right for
53:37
let's say in 10 years time. So they have a long term vision,
53:40
but it's going to take time. The other thing that's, you
53:42
know, we always talk about is the debt.
53:44
The debt is still there. Ideally we want a full takeover.
53:48
Ideally we want either Ineos to get that full takeover done or
53:52
another party to come in and remove that dare because that's
53:56
still hanging over our heads. And that will always eat, eat up
53:59
at the club. So until that's done, you still
54:03
feel like we just, yeah, we don't, we're not going to have
54:05
that financial advantage. But we should say those loans
54:11
and the debt against the club that that's all up for
54:14
negotiation I think in 27. And you know, we need to make
54:18
sure that obviously the the rates we're going to be
54:22
favourable because yeah, interest rates aren't great at
54:25
the moment. But yeah, that's the problem in
54:27
two years time. So just to finish and Speaking
54:30
of extortionate prices, have you guys seen the World Cup ticket
54:34
prices for the USA in the summer?
54:37
We're still going, aren't we, Steve?
54:39
Need to win the lottery I think based on these prices.
54:42
So just talking England fixtures like the three group games,
54:46
starting price is around $220 per ticket up to $700.00
54:52
depending on the category and then they steadily increase
54:56
through the knockouts and for the final.
54:58
Not Jinxnet saying that England are going to get there, but
55:00
starting price for the final, $4185 starting price.
55:07
Wow, starting price, that's amazing.
55:10
Up to nearly nine K for category one for the final.
55:15
If you wanted, If England got to the final and you wanted to go
55:18
to every game, you're talking Yeah, best part of yeah, 78K.
55:22
But believe it's perfectly affordable otherwise people you
55:26
know shouldn't be in their seats, right?
55:29
Yeah, well, that's a lot of Drake concerts, right as.
55:32
Well, it's clearly aimed at Americans, who must be have a
55:35
lot of hyper wealthy people, rich Americans.
55:38
What amazed amazes me about Americans is what they're
55:41
willing to pay for an event. So I know some work colleagues,
55:43
for example, that said they flew from New York to Paris to watch
55:49
Taylor Swift because it was cheaper to do that than watch
55:52
Taylor Swift in America. Like what it's like, wow.
55:56
So they when, when I, when I discuss ticket prices with
55:58
Americans, they're like, oh, I don't understand why your
56:00
tickets are so cheap. It's like because we're poor,
56:04
maybe we don't have as much money and disposable income as
56:06
you and disparity of wealth in your country. 4000 for the final
56:11
sounds ridiculous. But here's the thing.
56:14
I don't know what the number is. We could probably ChatGPT at how
56:17
many billionaires there are in the world.
56:18
There's probably enough billionaires with football fans.
56:20
They're going to buy those tickets, unfortunately.
56:22
And that's, you know, this is the world we live in.
56:26
Capitalist. World.
56:27
It's definitely going to be all sold out and all the tickets
56:32
will go because it's America. Yeah, of course the demand will
56:35
be there. So yeah, just thought we've
56:37
talked about like regulation and before, haven't we?
56:40
So there's no chance of any regulation stuff in football
56:44
fans from getting ripped. Off.
56:45
And would that be just a question?
56:48
I hope that's not the teams that go there get an allocation,
56:51
right? Let's say England make it in,
56:53
England get the allocation. I hope the prices are different
56:55
for the actual. No, that, that, that's, that's,
56:58
that's the England Supporters Club prices.
57:00
Absolutely disgusting. Are you kidding me that it just
57:03
doesn't? Make sense.
57:05
You know, you know, the pricing for the group games, it's not
57:07
based like on just like set prices for every group game.
57:11
It's based on the team. So you have it's like, what was
57:15
it dynamic pricing? Steve?
57:17
You know, it's it's coming in and FIFA are taking a Commission
57:21
as well on secondary sales because they got their own
57:24
exchange website set up. So yeah, I mean, Janie Infantino
57:28
definitely not one for the, you know, for the world game.
57:32
Yeah. And I think Rio's on their FIFA
57:33
payroll now as well because he was hosting the draw, wasn't he?
57:36
So any AOB or should we wrap up there?
57:40
Good. Sounds good, looking forward to
57:42
that. Three points against
57:43
Bournemouth. 50 not out, Steve. Yep, Yep.
57:47
Unlike Arsenal in Pizzagate. Better than most of the England
57:51
batsmen achieved. Yeah, exactly.
57:54
Yeah, exactly. Played a patient innings.
57:57
What one? What?
57:58
1 little word out. Well done Lando on the F1,
58:02
really happy for him, really happy for him.
58:05
I know we do a little little bit of F1 once in a while.
58:07
We should get Scott back on to discuss a bit of F1.
58:11
Yeah, his Matt McLaren is his team.
58:13
We'll do a little season review or something because it's, yeah,
58:18
really. It was, it was tense.
58:21
I was like, Leclerc was just on his tail the whole time.
58:23
I'm like, come on, mate, don't blow it.
58:25
And he did it. He kept his nerve, did
58:28
everything he needed to do. Fully deserves it.
58:31
So well done. Well done.
58:33
Well done, Lando. Exactly.
58:36
British team, British driver, double world champions, first
58:41
world champion since Lewis Hamilton, who's British.
58:46
So I think he's the 11th British driver to win the world
58:50
championship and the 35th driver overall.
58:53
So incredible club to be in. Cool.
58:56
And on that bombshell, we will wrap it up there.
58:59
So thanks for listening to this episode, and we'll catch you on
59:02
the next one.