Latest / Let's Kick It Off! / Ep 60: Carrick's winning start rocked by Newcastle defeat - should he take United forward?

Transcript

Ep 60: Carrick's winning start rocked by Newcastle defeat - should he take United forward? · Let's Kick It Off!

0:16
I'm Steve and I'm joined by Ash and US and it's been a good few
0:19
weeks since we spoke and there's actually been six games since US
0:23
3 lasted apart and during those six games there's been four wins
0:26
for United, 1 draw and one defeat.
0:29
And Carrick's record on top of that, he's got another two wins.
0:32
He's got six wins, one draw and one defeat.
0:35
So us come to you first. What you making of the recent
0:38
form? A little bit more mixed I guess.
0:42
I'm going to have to review six games now.
0:45
That's going to be that's going to be fun.
0:48
I think results are good. That's what that's important.
0:52
You know, if you look at the the table, we're third right equal
0:58
with Villa who are on a downturn as well, so.
1:02
Which you, which you always said will give you a shout out.
1:04
You said Villa are going to regress back to the mean, yeah.
1:07
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and and and and Emery doesn't seem to know
1:11
what. I think we've got Villa coming
1:12
up as well, haven't we? Bit of a bogey team this Sunday
1:15
for us next game. Yeah, yeah.
1:17
I think they've had a few injuries in midfield.
1:21
So that that helps us because that's.
1:24
A big game, big game, that old trap.
1:26
So we'll level on points or. Yeah, 51, we've got level, we've
1:31
got the goal edge on goal difference, but if you look as
1:34
well like Chelsea and Chelsea and Liverpool have, have have
1:38
had ups and downs. So like we're 33 ahead of those.
1:40
So in terms of results, happy in terms of performances, I think
1:43
the City game, you're saying that was the last one we spoke,
1:48
probably the best. Arsenal.
1:49
Arsenal. Oh, was it Arsenal?
1:50
So city, City, then Arsenal. So 2 massive wins, but two.
1:53
Two big games, I think the city game like the best performance
1:56
of the season and, you know, one of the best performances for a
2:00
while. Arsenal less so, but, you know,
2:02
solid, you know, we got what we needed from that game.
2:07
But then since then it's yeah, it's been been a struggle, but
2:10
we've managed to pull things out right.
2:12
Good, good opportunities to to to get get those points and
2:17
we've we've got them and then sort of wind out the sails of
2:21
the Newcastle game because that that that was an opportunity.
2:26
We've been lucky in some cases, like a lot of red cards for the
2:29
opposition. I think Spurs did Everton have a
2:32
red as well. Can't remember that.
2:35
I can't. Remember.
2:37
Well, we so Newcastle, obviously.
2:39
Newcastle had a red as well. Have we had a penalties?
2:43
We have. Have we had a penalty or.
2:45
Oh yeah, Crystal. Palace.
2:47
Red Car. Crystal Palace.
2:49
That was a palace. That was a palace.
2:50
Red car. I didn't.
2:52
So we've we've had a little bit of run of the green.
2:55
But Chesko Chesko's got some big goals in that run.
2:59
Yeah, he's done really well. I think he's been, I thought he
3:03
was underplayed personally. I was a bit disappointed Carrick
3:06
didn't play anymore and then but then against Newcastle he did
3:10
play and he didn't didn't perform.
3:13
So, you know, we can talk a bit more on the tactical side, but
3:16
generally positive. But this is this this last
3:19
result and performance sort of knock the air out right from
3:25
from everything. Yeah, Ash, how are you seeing
3:28
these last few games then? Yeah, fairly similar.
3:32
Great start getting the results. I think it's a tricky one in
3:39
terms of performance because as United fans we want performance
3:43
throughout the 90 minutes. But even if you look at the
3:46
Premier League generally this season in particular, there's a
3:50
lot of drab first halfs, nil, nil, teams cancelling each other
3:55
out. And then a goal normally happens
3:58
normally for a set piece just in the league generally, and then
4:01
things kind of open up. And I think we've been doing
4:05
that. You know, actually the set piece
4:10
goals and creativity started under Reuben.
4:14
He openly told us, you know, he's stolen ideas.
4:18
And it looks like Carrick and the team have, you know, evolved
4:23
those ideas. And as we kind of touched upon
4:26
in the last Pope, we were all together, they've done simple
4:30
things well in terms of playing a system that everyone in the
4:35
team is comfortable putting Bruno back in his best position
4:38
and natural position. Kobe Mane's back in the team.
4:41
And yeah, I know I, I even heard, you know, people would
4:45
say about Kobe not being that great against Newcastle, but
4:48
that's going to happen. He's 20.
4:50
But like you said, Steve Chesco's been firing in goals,
4:53
which was not really happening under Reuben.
4:56
So yeah, generally it's all good.
4:59
Yeah, this is the thing, right? Aston Villa big game.
5:02
Because that's a game where you can nearly knockout Aston Villa
5:06
in terms of, like, put them to the floor for the time being and
5:09
just, you know, build up on that lead.
5:12
What about yourself? Yeah, I mean, when I read out
5:15
the results and I say four wins, one draw, one defeat since we
5:18
last caught up as a pretty good record, especially considering
5:21
like what we were doing earlier in the season.
5:24
So you have to take it results wise.
5:25
I think also like, like we said, it's the moments that matter.
5:29
And in the big moment, Chesco delivered on the Stratford end
5:31
in that Fulham game 32 after throwing away 2 nil defeat.
5:35
So that was a big, big goal goal at Hem Everton's new ground.
5:40
Is it Hill, Dickinson Stadium? That counter attack?
5:43
That was just beautiful. United DNA right there.
5:47
That that was probably, yeah, probably my favourite goal of of
5:49
Carrick's rain And there's there's been some good ones.
5:52
So like big moments and yeah, shaky for doggies.
5:55
One better than doggies. Tony as a.
5:58
Strike as a strike as a strike, Doggies and kunyas were better,
6:01
but as a. Shout as a Chesco's goal at the
6:04
Olympic Stadium as well that was.
6:06
Top class, Yeah. Great finish.
6:08
Yeah. So moments, but yeah, there's a
6:11
there's been a a quote surfacing.
6:13
Well, it surfaced for a bit before it got deleted by our old
6:16
friend Paul Skulls. And then if you've seen it, us
6:19
what he what he said about delete it.
6:21
He's he deleted it like the next morning, I think.
6:24
So it was after the Newcastle game and on Instagram he put
6:28
Michael has definitely got something special about him
6:30
because United have been crap last four games night and then
6:34
he put Denali love her. So he's basically saying
6:37
Carrick's getting results but not playing well.
6:39
But he's come out today on his pod and said he was saying that
6:43
as a compliment basically that he can get results when playing
6:45
badly. But I think there was a big
6:47
backlash and he deleted it. So I don't know why he deleted
6:50
it. He should have stuck by it.
6:51
If you're going to put that out. Some people think it's
6:54
unnecessary. I think Patrice Everett gunned
6:56
him. You know it was.
6:57
There's a lot of misunderstanding though on my
6:59
part, like yeah, a lot of the United fan base took offence to
7:02
it, especially the younger ones, which is fair enough.
7:06
Maybe I was a bit lucky because I saw some of the clips that
7:09
were doing the rounds before the game about what he was actually
7:12
saying because Nicky Butt and Paul Scuzz were actually talking
7:15
about the next manager. And actually all Skulls were
7:19
saying was the last few games, you know, as I just literally
7:23
said it been getting the results, but the performances
7:26
they've been OK, you know, here and there with, you know, when
7:30
we need a moment, we've, you know, we got it.
7:32
Skulls basically said that and then essentially said probably
7:35
what we're going to touch on later, Steve, that if a top
7:38
class manager is out there, though, like for some reason
7:41
Thomas Seacole is available or Ancelotti, Enrique, you've
7:46
massively, massively still got to consider it because, yeah,
7:49
this is a massive job. Like it's all well, interim.
7:53
And we saw what Ollie did. I think Ollie won first 9 was it
7:57
in all competitions, which is stunning for.
7:59
Yeah, it was that good, right. And the football was actually
8:01
really good as well. Yeah.
8:03
But then it, you know, regressed to the main and like, we
8:06
crashed, you know, at the end of that season.
8:07
But the point being is that I've.
8:10
Yeah, I think a lot of people got offended.
8:13
The other thing is the Tanali thing.
8:15
He simply was saying he rates Tanali better than Declan Rice.
8:19
I think he said that in in the overlap.
8:21
So it was, I mean, I didn't think actually Tanali was that
8:24
good against us, but yeah, for whatever.
8:27
Yeah. Has any like reaction to that
8:28
comment? Or do you think it's Much Ado
8:30
about nothing really? My only reaction would be, and
8:33
I've said this before, I don't like the United punditry.
8:35
I think generally they put they're two negative.
8:39
They don't back the club enough in the way the Liverpool's the
8:42
opposite, almost put too much pressure on players and the
8:45
manager in scolds, even Neville to an extent, he was very anti
8:51
Reuben. It comes in, has one good game
8:55
and suddenly everything's brilliant and it's like it's a
8:58
bit bit. They're bit over over emotional.
9:00
I don't always sort of take them seriously when it comes to
9:03
United, but a lot of fans do and that doesn't help.
9:08
Yeah, I think there's a lot of clickbait though as well,
9:09
because if you actually listen to 90, well, if you listen to
9:14
the conversation that these guys have, 8090% of it is is non
9:19
offensive. But the clickbait stuff which
9:21
gets on the YouTube Shorts, etcetera, you know, Twitter,
9:26
TikTok instead, like these guys are all going to, you know,
9:30
these media companies, they're all going to clip up the stuff
9:32
which makes headlines. Right.
9:34
That's right. Yeah, exactly the dynamite out
9:38
there. As an example, I'd say there's a
9:40
large section, I don't know if majority, but there is a lot of
9:43
fans who have questioned the mentality of the players over a
9:46
number of years. I think that comes from these
9:48
pundits, right? And I, I've always said I don't
9:52
think there isn't meant to They they're trying hard enough that
9:54
some of them are just not good enough.
9:55
The environment's not great, you know, They, they, I don't think
10:00
it was a lack of effort against Newcastle, for example.
10:03
I just think because sometimes when you were, you don't get to
10:07
the ball quick enough. It might be that fast.
10:09
You're not quick enough anyway, like a copy for example.
10:12
You get played around or the system isn't working for you.
10:14
I personally don't like the system.
10:17
So I think there's another thing like a lot of people have been
10:19
going oh, it's basically put everyone in their best position.
10:22
I don't think it has. I don't think I don't like Kunia
10:25
as A and Boomer as sort of wingers.
10:29
Yeah, I think Kobe's done. You want to go back to Raven?
10:32
Yeah. I think 343 would be better for
10:34
these players personally because I don't like the thing I see
10:39
with Carrick. He's trying to play through the
10:40
middle, but the middle is often blocked in the Premier League.
10:43
There's no not enough width in this side right with the wing
10:47
back. You don't have the players, but
10:48
you used to. We used to have like Ahmed's not
10:50
playing. Remember Steve, we used to have
10:52
this debate or if we switch to the system, who's going to drop?
10:55
And I was like, Ahmed's going to drop and I we need Ahmed and I
10:58
don't like this team without Ahmed because it's not you don't
11:01
you need players? Why to take players on?
11:04
We don't have that. It's all a bit congested in the
11:06
middle. It's all a bit like, you know,
11:10
it's, it's kind of it's getting Bruno a bit more freedom.
11:14
I think Bruno's individual numbers should look a lot
11:17
better. I thought he was doing OK in the
11:19
central midfield role, like he was doing OK.
11:22
And I'd think Cuna and Bumo are better off a bit closer to goal,
11:26
a bit central and and having Ahmad on the pitch wide so.
11:31
I agree with you. It's not, it's not perfect and
11:33
there's trade-offs with any system, right.
11:36
But I think the thing I've enjoyed under Carrick is, yeah,
11:38
there hasn't been like much particular like flow or patterns
11:42
to it, but it's relied on like incisive quick passing and
11:45
runners, which like for me, like kind of reminds me of United,
11:48
whether it's even the 2000s, right?
11:50
Just running in behind and like a well timed pass like the
11:53
simples you could say. I think we'll see that against
11:56
filler because they play a really high line, but some of
11:59
these games that you know, they've, they're against teams
12:01
which really block the pitch up. Yeah, you need witch struggled
12:04
more. You need width.
12:05
You need like you. You need a damn ad out there.
12:07
We missed Orgu as much as everyone's like dog is shit, dog
12:11
is not good enough and all we missed all good.
12:13
Well he was awful under Reuben. He only picked his form up well
12:17
slightly picked up his form over Christmas.
12:20
Got the goal against Newcastle. Then you know it's more the
12:23
width. I mean like the system, like
12:25
having someone wide. Yeah, but that's what I mean.
12:27
It's personnel as well, right Dog Doggy got a ridiculous
12:31
hamstring injury. Even for the last few games the
12:34
build up it's been disrupted with Lisandro Martinez out.
12:39
Yeah, he's a big loss. Big loss he's been, you know,
12:43
there were stats. Even with the Arsenal game,
12:45
which is the last one, we were all together.
12:47
He was, I think he passed the ball forward the most out of any
12:51
single player on the pitch. So I think he's been out since
12:55
the West Ham game. Steve maybe.
12:59
So that's free games. So you're missing another left
13:01
footer in that sense. Shaw's obviously did he get.
13:05
He got injured against Palace I think and then came.
13:08
He came off, but he's played. Yeah, then he look, regarding
13:12
Newcastle, I mean, I don't know what you guys thought.
13:14
Like, look, we weren't great, but Ramsdale made all the best
13:19
saves. I know it was speculative shots
13:21
and stuff like that, but like we know we're not playing like 8-9
13:26
out of 10 football. We are playing.
13:27
Dude, they were down to 10. 7 out of 10.
13:29
It's 11 again. Yeah, I know.
13:31
And it's a struggle, yeah. That's, you know, you think it
13:34
was 11. I always felt 11 against 11.
13:36
Newcastle's tough. St James's Park on a midnight
13:40
game under the lights is hard. Their midfield and everything is
13:44
very physical. Yeah, the midfield physical.
13:46
But once they went down to 10, I was like, right, this is an
13:50
opportunity here. And I really felt, again, more
13:54
width Ahmed on the pitch would have been better for this team.
14:00
Yeah, I do think Kobe mainly has been good, but I do think this
14:05
team needs Amadiolo. He came on 15 minutes before the
14:10
end, right? It's not enough.
14:13
Like he didn't. Get Yeah, yeah, no, that that's
14:15
the point, I mean. He needs to start I.
14:17
Actually think the sub, the Subs felt a bit late against
14:19
Newcastle, a little bit late the Subs.
14:22
That's happened a couple of times, yeah.
14:24
So I think that might be something that they're trying to
14:28
figure out. Even even Cesco coming on
14:32
earlier, even Cesco coming on in certain games where he was on
14:35
the bench, didn't you feel like I would have brought him in at
14:38
half time or there was one game I think we were eleven against
14:42
10 at half time. I'm like get Cesco straight on,
14:45
like get him on half time, do it.
14:49
And this is where I always said to you guys, I've always liked
14:54
Southgate and Holland, but felt that they were not proactive
14:58
enough. And, and I don't know if
15:00
Holland's the right guy to be proactive to get, you know, to
15:04
make that tactical tweak early enough.
15:07
But we'll see. We'll see.
15:10
I think he's more a structural coach.
15:12
I think that's where his good work comes from.
15:15
Like you read the athletic stuff.
15:17
I've listened to other reporters who are close to United.
15:20
That's the stuff that they talk about regarding Steve Holland,
15:23
and I think I mentioned that as well.
15:24
Like it's those like team units and the structure like.
15:30
He's coached the back three as well with Kante and and with
15:34
Southgate. I'd like to see, I'd like to see
15:37
us if the problem is doggies out.
15:39
So left wing back would be Dallow again, but I think Ahmed
15:46
needs to play. And can't.
15:47
Why? Why do we need to change
15:48
formation for that? Surely he can play.
15:51
But then you'd have to drop Cesco.
15:53
Yeah, so you could have Ahmed Sesko.
15:57
Yeah, that you all drop one of them, Boomer or couldn't you?
15:59
Right. Yeah, just.
16:01
In the Sesko thing, just quickly I I look, he's obviously got the
16:06
goals to back it up, especially when coming off the bench, but I
16:11
actually didn't mind like certain games where, you know,
16:15
he didn't start because I think we forget as well.
16:19
Like we were so lucky to watch Fergie's team in the 90s and
16:22
naughties. And one thing we always did was
16:24
we grind teams down, so for 70 minutes we don't actually create
16:28
that many chances. But then in the last 20 minutes
16:31
of a game, that's where a soul show used to come on and get
16:35
that goal because there's a little bit more space to the
16:37
legs of the opposition, a bit tired.
16:39
That's almost like what I felt Carrick was doing in that kind
16:42
of like middle pier of that six games.
16:44
And then obviously it's gone from a point where he's got to
16:48
play from the start because he's been that good.
16:50
And he brought him in, to be fair, like when it was obvious
16:52
he had to start, he started him. And so like it is also fine
16:56
lines and like the results dictate the narrative, right?
16:58
Because you know, like we said in those previous games, even
17:01
the ones we won, like the one against Fulham, you could have
17:03
said, I'll bring the Subs in early, but when you win in the
17:05
last minute, it's paid off ultimately, right?
17:08
This. League is very marginal.
17:10
Like even for me, having a three-point lead is like having
17:15
a six point lead. I told you Wolves to DC don't
17:18
beat Liverpool. Yeah, it's not easy wins.
17:22
It's not easy in the last few games.
17:24
Right. So like we said though, six
17:26
wins, one draw, one defeat, like whatever way you put it, that's
17:29
a very, very good start, right? You shake hands on that for
17:32
sure. Yeah, of.
17:33
Course and like this is where it gets interested now because the
17:37
club, they always said Carrick's in till the end of the season
17:40
and we'll make a decision at the end of that spell, so in the
17:44
summer. So that was always what they
17:46
said from the outset. Given that he's won the six
17:48
games, I don't think there's going to be any change from
17:51
that. But if you're behind the scenes,
17:53
right, and this is what we like to do, think about it like how
17:56
they're thinking and planning. I do think they're backing
17:59
themselves into a corner a little bit, especially with two
18:02
cool resigning. I know people are saying that
18:04
might just be for compensation purposes.
18:07
Carlos sounds like he's on the verge of resigning for four
18:10
years. I read to them to get signed up.
18:13
And look, Enrique, I know there's been a bit of talk, but
18:16
realistically you'd think it'd stay at PSG even for the short
18:19
term. Those are probably the three gun
18:20
names. Then.
18:22
I don't think you're getting any of them now unless something
18:26
happens at the World Cup that's unexpected, you know, and you,
18:29
you move. But I don't think a club like us
18:31
can act like that. We have to be more planned and,
18:34
you know, phased almost so, especially with the results as
18:38
well, surely. I was like, do you just see this
18:41
as like Carrick, if as long as he delivers top five and there's
18:43
no, you know, mess up there, you think he's like, he's pretty
18:48
much got it, would you say? I think if he delivers top five,
18:53
it would be harsh not to give him the job because without an
18:55
outstanding candidate, if you had an outstanding candidate, it
18:58
doesn't matter, right? You, you go with the outs, but
19:03
there isn't an outstanding candidate, is there?
19:05
Unless you, unless you tell. Knuckles men for you.
19:07
You're a big fan of his Which? I really like Naglesman so if
19:11
Carrick doesn't make it he would probably be right right up there
19:14
in my top. I don't think you can put him in
19:15
the category with Ancelotti 2 and Enrico, though.
19:19
I think those three sit in their own top terribly.
19:21
That's a great so, but I mean before we talk about the other.
19:25
Moment I would, I'd probably take.
19:26
I don't know, actually, I was going to say I'd take him over
19:28
Toochel just because Toochel's so combustible.
19:31
Yeah, No, Do you know what I mean?
19:33
And he's re signed as well. So you have to take that as face
19:36
value that he's not available, right, Carlo, from what I read a
19:39
few weeks ago, it was basically done.
19:41
So I don't know whether there's. Still not signed.
19:43
That's what I mean. So like as a club I don't think
19:46
we can afford to wait until the summer.
19:48
I know it it's going to work out OK probably, but if it hadn't
19:52
have worked OK, I don't, I don't think that was the best
19:55
approach. I think you needed to know who
19:57
your number one was and be going for them like, you know, pretty
20:01
much. Maybe they do but they just
20:03
haven't made it public or like leaked it.
20:05
I don't think they do because of the way they've handled it with
20:08
giving Carrick until the summer, allowing Tuku to resign,
20:12
allowing Carlo to resign shortly.
20:14
If it's allowing you, you only assumption can be those two
20:18
managers want to stay in their current position and over they
20:21
would never and potentially we. They're not our number.
20:25
One, and they're not our #1 exactly.
20:27
Yeah, I don't think so. Or or we didn't or we didn't
20:30
speak to them. You know, like with enough
20:32
intent, it might have just been. That's possible given the
20:35
history. Like that's that's when we pet.
20:37
That's what I'm trying to work out.
20:38
And like I said, it probably will work out because Carrick
20:41
probably will deliver top five and it looks OK, but or if it
20:45
does unravel, like what? What we doing in the summer,
20:47
like the other names? Yeah, like you mentioned Ash,
20:50
you know, you've got your Nile Guzman.
20:51
I've heard a lot of talk about Deserby this weekend.
20:53
I think that's his side putting that out probably.
20:56
I think Sam Wallace mentioned his name.
20:58
So you've got this next tier of managers.
21:00
And I think we've said before, me personally, I would take
21:03
Carrick over that next tier. So I would say as a fan, I would
21:06
take Carrick over that next tier.
21:08
I'd only want the Elite probably over Carrick.
21:10
And yeah, any other names that you guys think could get it or
21:14
excite you? No, I mean unless it's very
21:18
different to the agreement discussion.
21:19
Well, the odds, Steve, for the next Man United manager.
21:22
Not looks at them recent. That's all my favourites.
21:23
Gareth Southgate still up there. Carrick.
21:26
Carrick, From an odds perspective, he might because.
21:29
Carrick I think is Carrick is like evens basically I think.
21:32
I think Southgate is in the top 3 or 4 still.
21:35
I think Glasner might even be in in the top 4 still.
21:38
I'd imagine Southgate is still high because he's still
21:41
available and if you actually wanted to do it, you can,
21:44
because even things like Steve Holland's in place, but they're
21:48
not going to do that. But yeah, you know, whereas.
21:54
Oh, Oh no, this is Tottenham. Thank God for that.
21:56
I was going to be like, what's your team?
21:58
What's your? Team not to see?
21:59
No. I guess you didn't mention
22:02
botch. This can't be right.
22:03
Number 2 is Robbie Keane. Wow.
22:08
I mean, did you, I did read actually, you know, for the
22:11
interim position, he actually told Spurs, you either hire me
22:16
as permanent or or not. He didn't want interim.
22:19
Who's this? Robbie Oh wow.
22:22
Wow. They should have taken him like,
22:24
you know, it's a bit like Carrick for us.
22:27
Like what? What could go worse?
22:29
I mean, they only got tutoring because he's mates of paratiche
22:33
and you know. He's kind of like still on the
22:36
contacts, but all right, let me give you the odds name.
22:38
Carrick is 65 favourite. This is the odds to be the
22:42
manager of the first game of next season.
22:44
OK, lover Glasner 8 to one. I'm not a fan of of glasner.
22:48
I think he's a good manager. I don't think he's a United
22:51
manager based on the football. I've also been 14 to one who I
22:55
do like, although he's a bit random.
22:57
Good dress sense though. Could be fun.
23:00
Derby 16 to one who I also like but again bit combustible so it
23:04
would have to work on the transfer thing again.
23:06
Southgate 20 to 1, Lewis Enrique 20 to 1, Carlo Angelo 22 to 1
23:11
and Pochettino 25 to 1. And then Iriola as well.
23:16
Marco Silva, you know, Emery, who I wouldn't want.
23:18
I don't want these guys. Hertzeler.
23:20
How is Hertzler? I mean, that's a ridiculous
23:23
idea. Essentially.
23:26
Eddie how's only 33 to one? That's interesting.
23:28
OK. Essentially, though, it's going
23:30
to be like Carrick's going to get it if we get.
23:32
Whatever. Didn't you say you wanted Javi
23:34
at one point? He's 33 to 1.
23:36
Is he? Yeah.
23:37
Where's the Dan? Dan's not even in this list.
23:41
I have the feeling it's going. To be Wayne Rooney's there at 50
23:44
to 1. Yeah, it's getting silly.
23:46
I might as well stick on it. Patrice ever on there 100 to 1.
23:50
Jose Mourinho is equal odds at 80 to one with John O'Shea, 82,
23:56
and Roy Keane. Oh God.
23:58
Robin van Persie, 80 to 1 as well.
24:01
Oh yeah, he's a he's a manager now, isn't he, In the Dutch
24:03
league? 100 to 1 Sedan and Sedan and
24:08
Cesc are 100 to 1. Well. 100 OK, I'd take Cesc over
24:14
sedan, yeah. Well, if we're back in the
24:16
Champions League as well, like that would be obviously nice,
24:19
but from the manager perspective, do you think you
24:21
could attract better managers? Right.
24:23
So yeah, yeah, I don't know. Maybe it's like it's Carrick or
24:27
if if something goes tits up, it's they'll consider maybe like
24:30
Deserby and Naglesman because they're probably available in
24:33
the summer. Maybe that's how they'll play.
24:35
The nice thing of Carrick say this again and again and again,
24:38
the most important thing is to get a recruitment right and
24:40
improve the playing squad and he's the type of guy that worked
24:43
well with upstairs. They can bring the players and
24:46
develop the squad. If it doesn't work out for
24:48
Carrick over the next 12 months, whoever comes in hopefully comes
24:52
in with better players because I genuinely believe Dogu, Cunya,
24:56
Imbumo, Cesco, La Mons, these are good, decent signings that
25:01
have improved the squad. You want to have a manager,
25:04
we'll keep that going. Tusha will go and you know, want
25:07
to sign Eric Dyer and you know, some other guy, some other 28
25:11
year old, some someone that will allow us to keep developing.
25:16
Lenny Oro's been playing a bit more.
25:18
I really like Aid in Heaven. Why did he bring on bloody
25:22
Molassia? I mean honestly, wasn't Heaven
25:26
on the bench to play left back? I think he would have been.
25:30
I mean, he was on the bench, found it random.
25:33
I I thought it was a wind up as in like I saw him.
25:36
I was like, this is like a ghost.
25:38
It's like this is like Eric turn off all over again.
25:41
Now it's just the thing, if this was Ruben Amarim, you'd be going
25:44
absolutely ballistic. Because he's made.
25:47
He made 100 mistakes. Carrick's made very few.
25:50
No, but do you know what I mean? It's like that isn't full on
25:54
blunder. Again, results, results business
25:57
to be fair. Carrick's been hammered this
25:59
week, even by United fans. He has, I mean, look, certain
26:04
circumstances, rightly so, but this was coming like.
26:07
Yeah, he's my, my, my real point was Aiden Heaven's a good
26:10
player. And I want to see, like now
26:12
they're in the Austin, I want to see people.
26:14
Who was the kid Shay Lacey brought?
26:16
I really like Lacey. This is the type of thing I want
26:19
to see. Nice lad, we met him.
26:21
Oh, you met Shay Lacey. He looked really good.
26:24
He looked really good and this is what I'm saying is that,
26:27
yeah, Carrick might not be the guy who wins at the Premier
26:30
League, but if having 12 months of Carrick might not be a bad
26:33
thing to help you develop your squad and some bit of calm.
26:37
Everything I've seen, the thing with Ruben, as much as I can
26:39
say, oh, intellectually I don't mind the 343.
26:43
It was too much emotion, too much chaos, too much craziness.
26:47
Carrick's bought the calm and I've said we need calm.
26:50
That's why I said Southgate bring some calm, Antilotte bring
26:53
some calm. Carrick also brings calm and 12
26:55
months have calm while you while the managerial market is you
27:00
know churns again because it will.
27:04
It will, yeah. If the right man, the perfect
27:08
man in there for a three-year deal, you don't need to, you
27:10
don't need to go out and, you know, bust lots of money.
27:13
I'm fine with that because like you remember when Ollie had his
27:18
run, Pochettino was available, me and Steve were big on like
27:21
getting Poch at that time. I think this is totally
27:24
different because like for me, there's no outstanding candidate
27:28
that's available or seemingly available.
27:31
I'm fine with that plan in terms of get Carrick, as long as he
27:35
gets us Champions League, you get him good players as well,
27:39
not just the the smart signings like a Lamont, but we need to go
27:43
big this summer like Elliot Anderson.
27:46
If if it takes 100 million, just do it because you get Elliot
27:49
Anderson that will boat bolster on midfield like no end.
27:53
And you know this is the problem, right?
27:55
Like I've heard other discussions and everyone's
27:58
doing, Steve, what we always do. So we need four or five players.
28:02
It's like every summer it's the same.
28:04
But we do need some like statement signings as well.
28:07
And as long as they do that along with like the smart
28:10
signings like the Le Mans type, then it should be like a good
28:15
platform for next season to get champs again and climb higher in
28:19
the league A. Similar summer to the summer we
28:22
just had, but focused in on the midfield.
28:25
I will take that. That's good.
28:26
Yeah. And if we should?
28:27
Get you about 10 points next season.
28:29
If we qualify for the Champions League, we should be able to do
28:32
that because a lot of players moving on as well like Casimiro
28:36
is the big one, right? Huge wages coming off with him.
28:40
So there should be an allotted space to bring in two good gun
28:45
midfielders like we brought in like Cunha and.
28:49
Wage wise, we should be good in the summer.
28:51
Sanchez coming off the books, I mean, yeah, Harry's wages, even
28:56
if he does extend, they will reduce.
28:58
Basically, Donna here to Barcelona.
29:01
Yeah, very close. Yeah, Yeah.
29:03
All right, Hoyland's a bit like iffy, right?
29:05
Because the whole the cutting, yeah, you have to qualify.
29:08
With the obligation, that's not a real obligation.
29:10
Yeah, if they make the top, is it Champions League?
29:13
It's it's an. Obligation.
29:14
I think so, I think. So, yeah, so like if, if those
29:17
work out, you should be able to do the same thing where you go
29:20
and sign 26070 million players and it will make a difference
29:27
this this team. So I would, I was just say like
29:32
the recruitment is more important to me than anything.
29:35
The one thing with the manager thing is though, I would say
29:38
players do like to know who their manager is because usually
29:42
part of the recruitment process is like you speak to the manager
29:45
and the manager gives you the the vision.
29:48
And in this case it'll be more like a Wilcox.
29:50
If we don't have anyone in charge who's providing that
29:53
vision, Ideally you'd settle in on a name and then that player
29:59
has a trick. But we're still Man United.
30:01
We can't compete with city like what we want.
30:04
Well, we won't because like Semenyo for example, right,
30:08
massive wages. Well, they 353 hundred 300.
30:12
Yeah, gay as well, right? Similar.
30:15
Oh wages, Gays agent got a massive fee out of it as well.
30:20
That was another reason why they did the deal.
30:23
Yeah, but weirdly on City, is Pep Guardiola going to be there?
30:29
I mean their their board will already know that.
30:32
Yeah, but they still take, we've been working six months with
30:34
him, right? Like, you know, over an unknown
30:37
somewhere. Else, oh, no, no, not about
30:38
Semenya because, yeah, why would you join United, like in our
30:41
current state, but like for the summer, you know, because like
30:44
Elliot Anderson's being discussed as like a top target
30:47
for them as well. If, for example, Pep is going,
30:51
you know, how did they disclose that or what did they tell
30:55
Elliot Anderson? But yeah.
30:57
It's going to be tough. I think they're going to offer
30:59
more money than us. That's the problem.
31:01
That's true. So if City want a player that
31:02
that's an issue. But I'm sure we can, yeah, like
31:06
I said, find one of the pool out there, have a good summer.
31:11
And I think the most important thing is that if, if, if it's
31:15
Carrick or not Carrick. I I, I think if, if we can keep
31:18
improving the playing squad. Maybe it's not this summer,
31:21
maybe it's next summer to get the manager.
31:23
You think Steve who's the elite manager that can go and win the
31:27
Premier League title? This podcast is sponsored by Go
31:32
Play Sports. The brand new mobile app changes
31:34
the game for grassroots, whether it's Sunday league or five
31:38
aside, Go Play Sports makes it easy to track attendance, manage
31:42
teams and cut out the manual admin.
31:44
No more analyst group chats, no more chasing payments.
31:47
Just turn up and play Go play sports.
31:50
Download now from your App Store.
31:54
If Carrick delivers Champions League is hard to say doesn't
31:56
deserve it. So I think a few moments ago, as
31:59
you probably nicely laid out what some Wilcox's whiteboard,
32:03
you know, the fact that give him a year, see what happens.
32:06
I think him, Barada Ratcliffe, they could do with a year of
32:11
calm as well because they've caused quite a storm in the last
32:14
few weeks since she last came on us.
32:16
So yeah, on your reaction to your old mate Jim saying the UK
32:21
has been colonised by immigrants.
32:24
And I've got nothing to add from everything, everyone else's
32:27
service. I mean, I've always said to you
32:30
like, look, all these billionaire types, I wouldn't
32:34
class Ratcliffe at the highest level of twat because there is
32:39
the, you know, the the Epstein class, which is like on another
32:43
level of planet of unbelievableness.
32:46
But yeah, you know, he was a Brexiteer and he said the quiet
32:53
thing out loud, didn't he? That a lot of these people think
32:57
all these Brexiteers because it's not, it's there wasn't
32:59
really, let's be honest, it wasn't about freedom or the
33:03
economy. And a lot of it was just
33:04
immigration and, and, and outright racism.
33:07
Let's be honest, right. Xenophobia.
33:10
Yeah. Terrible comments.
33:14
I, I have nothing to say apart from yeah, he's, he's an idiot.
33:20
Fair play. I mean, you done him, you done
33:21
him a favour because you covered off probably the one part you
33:25
could maybe give any US credit for is the recruitment has
33:27
improved a little bit. And that wasn't that hard you
33:30
could say, because it was so bad before.
33:32
But on the other hand, you know when your owner is coming out
33:35
and saying this stuff and absolutely amazingly, or not
33:39
amazingly, Ash, the silence from a certain Rio Ferdinand and Gary
33:45
Neville was very alarming, right?
33:49
Sorry, who are they again? No, you, you.
33:53
You heard from them every hour before Radcliffe said it, and
33:56
every hour after, but nothing. Steve, are you talking about the
34:01
guys who've been posting about their skiing holidays, their
34:06
overlap numbers, front cover of health magazines?
34:11
You talk about them, too. Yeah, the two on the payroll of
34:14
Jim Ratcliffe. I'm talking about the Gary
34:16
Neville who had no problem calling out Boris Johnson during
34:19
COVID. During the lockdown, he also
34:21
decided to call out people holding up Union Jack flags.
34:25
But he's got nothing to say on the owner of the club he
34:29
supports belovedly Talking about immigration in these terms, I
34:33
mean. With racist and xenophobic
34:36
comments. Interesting.
34:37
Yeah. Absolutely disgraceful and also.
34:40
So it's never on this payroll then like what is the deal?
34:43
This is what it's just about to say, right?
34:44
So when Ineos were kind of coming into the club, I reckon
34:48
they've done some sort of analysis, right?
34:50
And they've looked at stakeholders who do they need on
34:52
side. Ria Furden and Gary Neville were
34:54
on that list. I reckon because Neville went he
34:57
went straight onto the. Athletic.
34:59
Yeah, so reported and he went straight onto the new stadium
35:02
committee, right. You know, I know he he works in
35:04
property so there is like, you know, a reason for him to be
35:07
there. But they they got them on side.
35:09
Rio and Neville have both done commercial appearances for
35:12
United since Ineos came in. So they are receiving fees, you
35:16
know, for that. So they are on the payroll.
35:19
But you know, in a Rio Ferdinand as well.
35:21
This is a guy that's been through racism, his brother
35:24
experienced racism and he's not going to say one word about Jim
35:27
Ratcliffe making his comments. Sash.
35:29
What I find stunning about Rio is that he talks about
35:36
everything openly. Like, you know, you know,
35:39
Vinicius Junior, genius racism that happened a couple weeks
35:43
back talked about that. But I've seen absolutely nothing
35:48
regarding these comments from Jim Ratcliffe.
35:50
And it's really disappointed because you just said it's
35:54
Steve, like these guys talk about these big items normally
36:01
and just radio silence. I mean, look, if it's because
36:04
you're on the payroll, just tell us that and then we can get on
36:07
with our lives. But if you're going to then
36:09
comment on everything else and self remote everything else that
36:13
is going on in your world. I mean, funnily enough, I
36:16
remember when Rio moved to Dubai, he was on LBC talking
36:22
about taxes and like, you know, even the welfare estate, right?
36:27
In terms of like, we don't see, you know, enough bang for buck.
36:32
So I've seen comments about that.
36:33
I find it astonishing that someone who's been a modern
36:38
great for us had nothing to say about this subject.
36:41
Maybe he agrees though. Maybe.
36:44
Maybe they agree with Ratcliffe. Because if they haven't said
36:47
anything, I'm going to assume they agree with Ratcliffe.
36:50
Is that is that a problem? That's a that's a fair or
36:52
something. I think that's not, I think
36:54
that's not true, though. I know for a fact, I know for a
36:56
fact both of them because you know, their personalities, like,
36:59
you know, they come across as like social people.
37:04
Gary Neville spoken out against these types of ideologies
37:07
before. We've seen that.
37:09
So we we know fundamentally they shouldn't agree with it.
37:12
See, what I find disappointing with Gary is that he's openly
37:17
talked about racism since he's been a pundit and he he openly
37:23
admitted he didn't do enough when Ashley Cole got racially
37:26
abused at the burnabout, I think nearly 20 years ago.
37:30
So the fact that a comment like this by one of the owners of the
37:34
club and you know, causes massive division like.
37:37
I mean, the Prime Minister came out and and.
37:40
Everyone came out right. This is this is the story.
37:42
There and he didn't say anything about it.
37:44
And, and it's, it's equivalent to to what he said about the
37:48
Ashley Cole thing, that he didn't say anything.
37:50
Like he's a big voice and he should have come out and said
37:53
something. Yeah, and it's like he didn't
37:55
speak about the Glazers and then five years later admitted.
37:58
Exactly, he told United fans. Like stop talking about the
38:01
Glazers. And then as soon as he realised,
38:04
oh actually it is the glazes, he started piping up as well.
38:08
Have have never Lynbrio got criticism over this.
38:11
No, I've not seen anything. Yeah, I think they've got away
38:15
with it in terms of people have noticed it, but no one's really
38:18
called it out until us now. I've never seen, I've not seen a
38:20
single pod or any media outlet to be like what?
38:25
What did Gary Neville or Ria have to say?
38:27
About these guys are putting out content on an hourly basis about
38:31
everything else. That's the thing, right?
38:32
If if they were people that didn't speak normally, OK, fair
38:35
enough. You can understand it to some
38:36
degree. But these are people that are
38:37
paid to give their opinion, create content, and they've just
38:41
completely swerved it. And it is because they're on the
38:42
payroll, that is. That's the fact.
38:45
And if they'd like to come out and speak up, great.
38:48
We'd love to know what your opinions.
38:49
Are come have a chat, we'll speak about it.
38:53
So, yeah, that was very disappointed.
38:56
We felt, you know, me and you, Ash and other people as well,
38:59
just a lot of fans actually felt let down by them that they
39:02
didn't come and speak out because these are the two of the
39:04
biggest voices in in the game. That's right.
39:07
And you spoke about before like the negativity they they bring
39:10
on certain topics, but surely this is a topic that you should
39:14
be trying to unite people, right?
39:15
Yeah, they could be a really good strong voice to like the.
39:19
Sequel as an example, yeah. Yeah, that is disappointing.
39:23
I don't follow them closely enough anymore.
39:26
Yeah, I didn't realise they didn't say anything.
39:28
Yeah. And I would have hoped there
39:30
would have been criticism of them for not coming out and
39:33
saying anything. Yeah, that's what I've seen to
39:35
be honest. But yeah, it's anyway we, we, we
39:39
can unpick the reasons we're not, we're not daft.
39:41
So it's got to be called out though.
39:44
Anyway, no topic for today's pod.
39:47
We love talking about revenue and ticket price increases.
39:51
So 5% increase on season ticket holder prices next year.
39:57
Executive tickets are staying the same price.
40:01
But to be fair, the context on that is as an executive season
40:05
ticket holder, you pay a flat fee no matter how many games
40:08
they've been so obviously this season.
40:11
They've had less value for money, so that's kind of the
40:14
reason that's coming out. But yeah, 5% increases on us,
40:18
you know, it's not massive. It increases our season ticket
40:21
by maybe like £6070. But yeah, Ash, thoughts on that?
40:28
I mean, the general trend is that it's been increasing.
40:31
I think this is the fourth season in a row.
40:36
Yeah. I mean, I think the first
40:38
increase, I do remember when United came out and actually
40:42
said, and this is under the Glazers, they did come out and
40:45
say, look, inflation's gone through the roof, operating
40:48
costs of the stadium. You know, I think we had 10
40:52
years of price freezes within season tickets.
40:55
We won't talk about what the Glazers did initially when they
40:57
first joined the club. But yeah, I mean, I guess you
41:01
you would have expected it, I think.
41:03
I think what I find insulting by Ineos is some of the
41:08
communication and reasonings that they've mentioned on their
41:11
e-mail about a 5% increase and you know, that will be
41:16
reinvested into the team. It's like, do me a favour,
41:19
don't, don't try to kind of like blag the fans.
41:23
Like if you want to increase them that's fine, but just come
41:27
up with some half decent reasons, even like the Glazers
41:30
that just say like costs have gone up.
41:33
Like you don't need to insult us and say that this is going to be
41:37
reinvested into the team. If anything, I'd like my 5%
41:40
reinvested to the players, to charity, ex players, charity of
41:46
the 40,000 that they ripped, you know, from that group.
41:50
So yeah, I mean, it is, it is to be expected the two concerns I
41:55
would have going forward on the season ticket side, I fear that
42:00
this is going to be an annual trend we'll see next year
42:04
because hopefully we'll have Champions League money to cover
42:08
up some of it. And the second worry is I fear
42:12
what the price increases will be for the members given last
42:15
season. Yeah, there's, I've, there's an
42:18
early kind of talk from the journos about that.
42:20
News is going to come in a few weeks.
42:21
Expect increases there as I assume you're getting a little
42:24
bit giddy over extra revenue next year in terms of extra cup
42:27
games, Champions League revenue, extra ticket ticket revenue.
42:32
Let's get the Champions League first before we get giddy over
42:35
things. Yeah.
42:37
Yeah. I mean, I work in an industry
42:39
where 5% increase is very standard, right.
42:42
And if you look at the, I don't know the cost of from a
42:45
Cadbury's Whisper, it's a lot more expensive than when I was a
42:48
kid. Prices of stuff go go up 5%.
42:53
I think it's pretty, pretty normal, reasonable.
42:55
I think the the other thing because I always do some
43:00
negotiations of these contracts and stuff is that people always
43:03
look at the increase rather than the actual cost itself.
43:07
Some of the season tickets are decent value like we're middle
43:09
of the road in the Premier League.
43:11
I think it's a seat and a threat for the end etcetera is decent
43:15
value. I have as you know, no issue
43:17
with hospitality. We, our company's got Arsenal
43:20
tickets and because of financial regulation, you have to, the
43:24
clients often have to disclose right when we give gift them
43:28
what the cost is. And I think they're like £1400 a
43:32
game or something ridiculous. And, and it's like what, because
43:36
I've, I've done it once, it's like you get a little bit of
43:38
food and a drink or whatever, really nice seats, like the
43:41
padded seats. But I mean, it's that's the cost
43:44
of our whole season ticket, yeah.
43:46
That's the other thing the club at the club are doing.
43:48
They're moving another 600 fans from the South stand to create
43:51
more of these hospitality seats. So.
43:54
I haven't got no problem with that I.
43:55
Have no, no, I have none. I prefer that.
43:57
I would prefer we take money from hospitality to make sure
44:01
the core support. I've always said I want the
44:03
Stretford End affordable for the working class fan to make sure
44:07
the atmosphere is kept up. But the South?
44:09
Common fans have seats in the South Stand, especially if I've
44:11
had it for 4050 years. Because the South stand should
44:15
be the corporate stand so they we can move to another place.
44:18
But S stand, we want to make as much revenue as possible from
44:22
corporate tickets so that the average fan can keep, you know,
44:26
the average ticket, median ticket.
44:28
We should be middle of the Premier League.
44:29
We wouldn't be like Arsenal and all these really expensive
44:32
clubs. If we can keep those seats
44:34
affordable with a 5% increase, which, you know, everything's
44:38
going up. Energy prices, like I said, the
44:40
cost of a bar of chocolate sandwich.
44:42
I'm sure your Rudy's Pizza, Steve isn't are much cheaper
44:46
than it is in London because you always go on about Old
44:48
Manchester. So cheap.
44:49
I'm like every time I visit and we go for a restaurant, I look
44:51
at the menu and go what a bargain.
44:54
Wow. Oh my God, it's like, still,
44:56
isn't it still like £10 for Marguerite and Rudy's or
44:58
something? You don't worry, they're like
45:00
cheap if that's the trend going forward, like every year.
45:04
I mean, look, if any us are there for 10 years, we'll we'll
45:08
have the same prices as Barcelona, Real Madrid,
45:10
guaranteed. No, because their their prices
45:13
keep going up as well. So this is the thing.
45:15
As long as. No, but that's what I mean.
45:16
In Ineos, eventually we'll catch up, especially if we
45:19
consistently get Champions League as an example.
45:22
They'll just keep racking up the prices because if I gave up my
45:25
season ticket, there's about 50 other people waiting for the
45:29
ticket anyway, so they don't need my loyalty, right?
45:32
So the trend for United under Ineos in particular, is going to
45:36
go higher and higher. So their argument would be in
45:39
the capitalist model, which they are capitalists is if someone
45:43
else is going to buy you a ticket then it's worth it like
45:45
someone else. I want to know your argument
45:48
because we know what any OS's argument is.
45:52
But in the system you've got 2. As as you've got 2, ultimately
45:55
you've got 2. There's two lenses.
45:57
There's a corporate lens where it's obvious you could increase
46:00
revenues, right? The demand is there.
46:01
None of us are silly. We.
46:02
We. That's what I mean.
46:03
So ultimately, that's what it is.
46:05
I've always said as long as 50% of the stadium is affordable,
46:08
which is the core support behind the goal Stretford End, as long
46:12
as that's affordable, the the I have no issue with what they
46:16
charge your boxes and if there's a bunch of like random like
46:19
Chinese and Koreans that want to come.
46:22
I get, I get that. But wouldn't you say, wouldn't
46:24
you say if you could have a choice of keeping all tickets,
46:28
let's just say keep the current hospitality and keep all the
46:32
normal tickets at the current prices.
46:34
If you could pick, right? You're looking at the revenues
46:36
of the club and you're going to say how much does increase in it
46:39
by 5% bring in 2 million, they estimate, right?
46:42
You as the person you are, would you not prefer to actually keep
46:45
those tickets the same because of the fans that are currently
46:48
in And then just focus on other areas like commercial partners,
46:51
TV revenue? Would you not just keep it
46:54
because it doesn't make that much of a difference?
46:56
Ideal in the grand scheme? The ideal world, yes, but it
46:58
does make. So again, I work in this kind of
47:01
business that does this recurring revenue and it may.
47:03
And when you start compounding this 5% / a number of years, it
47:06
does make a difference. Oh, of course it does, yeah.
47:09
Yes, it does. That's.
47:10
Exactly why I brought it up because yeah, if we keep doing
47:13
annual 5%, yeah, but you've got. The thing is, every other club
47:17
is doing the same. You've got to keep up.
47:19
Like we aren't. We aren't the most expensive,
47:21
we're nowhere near the most. No, that's a fair enough.
47:22
Argument cheaper are we not cheaper than Liverpool as well?
47:26
Yeah, we we, we are, but we are. Trajectory.
47:29
I'm worried about the trajectory.
47:31
It's not about next season, right?
47:32
Because, like I said, it's Four Seasons.
47:33
As long as, again, as long as we are compact, comparable to a
47:37
Liverpool for example, and cheaper than the Tottenham and
47:40
an Arsenal, etcetera. Right.
47:43
And people go on about somehow like, you know, all working
47:46
class people in London are rich or something.
47:48
They're not. There's there's rich people in
47:49
London, there's poor people in London.
47:51
Yeah, but it's a, it's a bad example from Ratcliffe saying
47:54
like Fulham. There are poor people in the
47:57
Hammersmith that live in the council houses.
47:59
They don't all support QPR, yeah.
48:01
But that's not the point the the point.
48:03
The point is like you've got to centralise Manchester.
48:08
Is this poor understand horrible industrial city?
48:11
Yes, I'm sorry. Manchester Scott believes that
48:13
Steve Steve will tell you Manchester Modern place, a place
48:16
to live with great Scott Scott. Agrees with you remember like he
48:21
was on the poddy he advocated for like these prizes, but and
48:24
we discussed this about. There's enough well off
48:27
Mancunians to take those tickets as long as I said the stretch
48:31
for them. The core support is protected to
48:34
keep the atmosphere because you need the atmosphere.
48:36
If you lose the atmosphere, you lose what the essence of Old
48:39
Trafford is. I was going to say that's what
48:43
you will lose if you keep the 5% up.
48:45
There are people, let's be honest, like we know working
48:48
class people they are they don't have much disposable income.
48:52
And Manchester United at the moment, you know, 1200 LB season
48:55
ticket that's £100 a month add on cup games next season, that's
48:59
£200 a month add on travel. This starts becoming like 3,
49:02
four, 500 lbs. And for the working class fans
49:05
there at the moment, some of them are probably already on the
49:07
edge of afford and they're probably using credit cards to
49:09
pay it. So you are going to slowly see
49:12
that little drop off and it's at what point is that drop off?
49:15
Except, and I think that this is where personally there should be
49:18
a wider regulation because this is not a United specific.
49:21
Yeah, we've. Said this right.
49:22
Poor, you know, Newcastle who have just played.
49:25
You can't tell me Newcastle's the richest city to Manchester
49:28
and I'm sure their prices went up by 5% as well.
49:30
I'm guessing, yeah. Right.
49:31
So like there should be a wider personal regulator.
49:34
The way I think away tickets are capped at £30 or 30.
49:37
Yeah. There should be something that
49:39
says that a proportion of the stadium is protected, a certain
49:43
capped rate, the way away tickets are.
49:45
But the rest of that stadium, these people in the South stand.
49:48
No, it's. I was going to ask your opinion
49:51
on this like I I totally disagree with us about like it
49:55
should all be for the corporates in the South stand.
49:58
What's your thoughts? Yeah, again, it's it's two
50:01
lenses, right. As a fan, like I said, I've
50:04
actually as a leader, say if I was CEO of United, I would
50:07
actually make a stand because for the goodwill that you would
50:11
get from the fan base, it's worth more than 2 million in
50:13
revenue. And yeah, you know, you could
50:15
increase, you know, have a model where it increases by 5%.
50:18
But I think probably the more important factor is, yes, we can
50:22
say recruitments improved a little bit, but when you've had
50:25
catastrophic results in the main over 2 and a bit years of you
50:30
being in charge with the whole, we won't say it again, but we
50:33
will. Dan Ashworth, 10 hog Amarin,
50:35
right? These are big mistakes. £37
50:37
million worth of compensation. Right way exactly 3030 +
50:41
1,000,000 compensation. Just just be sensible.
50:44
Just know your PR. Just know that saying the
50:47
immigrant. Know your audience.
50:49
Yeah, saying these immigration comments aren't going to help
50:51
the ticket prices. I get more from a business
50:53
perspective because it does help financially.
50:55
But again, it's weighing that up as a lead and thinking is, is
51:00
the extra money worth it? And for me, 2,000,000 on a club
51:03
that generates almost a billion, it's not worth it.
51:05
Just keep the fans on side. That's what I'd say.
51:07
Yeah. So huge game, right this Sunday
51:09
against Villa, like we're level on points so we could open up a
51:12
three-point cushion if we win. So yeah, probably the biggest
51:17
thing we could be playing in the league.
51:18
So yeah, following that, we've got Bournemouth away a week
51:22
later, then we have a three-week gap.
51:24
So big, big two games coming up as right could really solidify
51:27
this top five position potentially.
51:29
And then and then we go to the bridge, that's a huge one.
51:34
There's just big every game in the Premier League.
51:36
It's just a big game. But when you look at that, you
51:40
look at we've still, we've still got to play Villa, Chelsea and
51:43
Liverpool. They're the three in, you know,
51:46
in and around us. And there's there's a lot to
51:51
play for still. I hope we can, like I said, sort
51:54
the performance. I fancy US against Villa.
51:57
I don't. Like I said, when there's space
51:59
in behind, I hope we can get the likes of Imbumo in behind.
52:03
Bruno's great at playing those 3 balls.
52:05
They're just Bruno just spam 103 balls in behind.
52:10
I feel fairly confident about that game, but they're a little
52:13
bit of a bogey team. Emery seems to will do something
52:16
I'm sure, but I feel confident. This is where you need to get
52:19
lucky. Being lucky is alright, right?
52:20
In big games like this, you take being lucky over being.
52:24
Have the luck that we talked about that Reuben didn't get.
52:27
Yeah. So, yeah, some big games coming
52:30
up, you know, in the end of season, the one in May against
52:34
Liverpool early May, it's not yet being moved for TV purposes.
52:37
That could be a huge one to possibly secure our position,
52:40
hopefully knock them out of the running.
52:43
So as you're going to be coming to that game, I think runs up
52:45
for it at Old Trafford in the summer, hopefully a bit of sun,
52:50
maybe, maybe a Rudy's or maybe something else we could target
52:53
that game. He's in the South stands.
52:55
He's going. Oh, oh, you want Oh, you oh, you
52:56
want Don't know. I'll get I'll get your meal.
52:59
What are? You telling me like Rudy's is
53:00
super cheap? Manchester so cheap right?
53:03
Oh, you poor people can't afford anything.
53:05
Why don't you take him out to a Drake concert afterwards?
53:09
Honestly, you telling, honestly speaking, you've, you, you've
53:14
lived down South a lot, right? Live most of your life down
53:17
South, yeah. When you go out to a restaurant
53:20
in in let's say Manchester versus down South, do you really
53:23
feel the difference? Not really, but it also depends
53:26
on what level of restaurant you're going to.
53:28
Go. You go into a Premier League
53:30
level of restaurants. Yeah, it's a nice restaurant, I
53:32
would say. If you're going, if you're going
53:34
to. Mid if you're talking mid table,
53:36
or if there's. A mid table it's on par.
53:39
If you were talking elite, London takes it to another level
53:41
and you always know that. Right, OK, elite, elite.
53:44
But we're that's, yeah, that's, that's S tier.
53:46
Mid table. Not, not, not massively, but
53:48
also things like housing, right? You you get a box for what you
53:52
get a house in Manchester. We're, we're literally living
53:54
like poor people. We can't, we can't afford a
53:57
decent space to live. You're living in a mansion mate.
54:00
You got loads of disposable income.
54:02
Steve, This is why we need to get Andy mitten on the pod.
54:05
We need to get Andy mitten on the pod.
54:06
He had an argument with with Jim Ratcliffe about this subject.
54:10
And like it's not, it's not going to be resolved because.
54:13
Literally like spending all all our income just on rent just to
54:18
live in a little box. Yeah, you've got a nice good
54:20
garden driveway you can drive around.
54:23
We're literally on the tube every day paying £7 a day just
54:26
to get him to work. It's a struggle for all of us.
54:29
Income left to do anything else. Our friend Donald's not made it
54:33
any easier even, right? So we won't.
54:35
Say that had to fuel fuel the tank up a week ago and now the
54:39
prices have jumped. 10 PA litre. Good old petrol.
54:43
Yeah, exactly. So yeah, well, football will
54:46
keep us going. It's been a few weeks without
54:48
the game because we weren't in the FA Cup.
54:50
So looking forward to having United back.
54:52
Let's hope we can get a good result and yeah, huge, huge game
54:56
this weekend. So looking forward to seeing how
54:58
we play and hopefully pull out a result and goals will be happy
55:02
again. So you're not going?
55:04
To launch a politics pod. By the way, Steve.
55:08
Not. Not yet.
55:09
Not yet. Not yet.
55:11
Yeah. So F. 1.
55:14
Oh yeah, F1's back as well, isn't it?
55:15
Cricket's done in D1, so yeah. Yeah, it's not real cricket
55:21
though, so it's fine. But yeah, at least the F1's
55:24
back. So that will plug some of that
55:25
gap in April. Yeah, cool.
55:28
All right, we'll leave it there. Thanks for joining us on this
55:31
podcast, and we'll catch you on the next one.