Latest / Let's Kick It Off! / Ep 22: Stick or Twist Ruben

Transcript

Ep 22: Stick or Twist Ruben · Let's Kick It Off!

0:16
Let's kick it off. My name's Ash.
0:18
I'm joined today by Azam Ron for our free regular listeners.
0:22
You may have noticed our chairman and host Steve is out
0:25
of office this week. He's sunning it up, so he's left
0:28
me in charge. Good luck with that.
0:31
He's actually celebrating this week as we've done 21 episodes
0:34
and apparently that means now we are in the top 1% of all
0:37
podcasts ever. Who would have funk it?
0:39
So as we tried to avoid getting cancelled on episode 22 under my
0:43
stewardship, let's turn to the football.
0:45
And rather than starting with yesterday's Premier League
0:47
result against West Ham, we'll go back in time a few days to a
0:51
very noisy Old Trafford and another glorious European night
0:54
on Thursday. Manchester United 4 Athletic
0:57
Bilbao One run Welcome back. What did you make of it?
1:03
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
1:04
Yeah, what a amazing night, amazing result.
1:08
Any European final that you get to is a terrific achievement.
1:12
And you know, I think before we go into Thursday night, I was
1:14
just looking at sort of our stats over the last 10 years or
1:17
so and the number of finals that we've reached.
1:20
And if you think about it, post Fergie, we've been through a
1:23
decline, to put it kindly, and we've struggled both in the
1:27
league and obviously in the Champions League, which, you
1:29
know, we haven't participated in very much at all.
1:32
But if we look at our record in the League Cup, the FA Cup, in
1:35
the Europa League, you know, it's been phenomenal.
1:37
And this is our ninth final in the last 10 seasons.
1:39
From those eight that we've played, obviously the 9th, 1
1:42
next week, from those eight that we played with, 1/5 and we've
1:45
lost 3, rolling back to 2016 FA Cup winners, 2017 League Cup
1:50
winners, Europa League winners, 2018.
1:52
We lost to Chelsea in the final, 2021 Villarreal mildly lost in
1:57
penalties and then 2023, you know, we beat Newcastle at
2:00
Wembley in the League Cup, unfortunately lost to City in
2:03
the FA Cup and then 2024 FA Cup winners somehow against Man
2:08
City. And then obviously next week
2:11
we've got the Europa League finals.
2:12
So, you know, that is some record for a club that has been
2:16
through so much over the last 10 years or so.
2:18
And it just just goes to show the big club, big club mentality
2:22
that we have now. There's something in the air and
2:24
and fingers crossed it continues for for next week.
2:26
But yeah, coming back to Thursday night, I didn't think
2:29
the performance again, you know, for about 70 minutes was pretty
2:32
much what we've seen all season. But somehow I thought the
2:35
substitutions tend to be fair to Ruben.
2:37
The sub that he did make made a huge impact.
2:40
Mason Mount, I mean, I have to be his best minutes for the club
2:43
since he joined two goals Casimiro the last couple of
2:47
months. Looks like the Casimiro from
2:49
Real Madrid. Phenomenal got his goal as well
2:52
and Razzmus turned up as well and got his goal.
2:55
So let's hope that's a good sign again for next week.
2:57
So yeah, if we remove to 70 minutes or so, those last year
3:01
20 minutes and you know, the game had continued, I'm sure
3:03
we'd have scored a few more. So a phenomenal night and let's
3:07
hope it's all good news walking into to next week.
3:11
How's what was your hot take on Thursday night?
3:14
No hot take. It was a great evening.
3:16
I was nervous for for the for the first half of the game.
3:19
I was like, please God, don't throw this one away.
3:21
I've been through through far too much this season.
3:24
I felt like, you know, they the players are a bit nervous as
3:27
well, a bit, you know, fearful of what was going on.
3:30
They score a worldy and which I think I was like, I think could
3:33
a Nana have got there? It was a brilliant shot.
3:36
But I felt like, you know, if he had kept that one out, it would
3:38
have been, you know, and then as it settled down, I didn't feel
3:43
we're under much threat, to be fair.
3:45
I felt like it was more that we kind of didn't know what to do.
3:49
But I didn't feel like they were they were going to score three
3:52
goals at any point. So I was just, you know, I was
3:54
just hoping that the clock would tick down.
3:57
And then as as Ron mentioned, that when the Subs came on,
3:59
certainly changed the game. Suddenly you saw what we were
4:02
missing with Ahmad when he's been away like someone who's
4:05
just going to get the ball and go right defender.
4:07
How about this? Let me just run at you have a go
4:10
take you on get past you A lot of the time as well.
4:13
He's he's he's a good kid. He hasn't, you know, been around
4:19
for a while and I think that showed how much we missed him
4:22
like someone who can just, you know, take the grain by the
4:24
scruff of the neck and and he changed the game and mount as as
4:27
Ron mentioned as well, he's barely been around for so long.
4:31
Another player that I a lot of time for great work, great
4:36
perfect for the system that that that little Cruyff turn and and
4:41
goal it just it just it just brought a smile to the face
4:44
because it was once he did that it's like we're done.
4:47
We're going to the final bit worried about the final, but at
4:52
least we're there and that's all that matters.
4:53
And you know, I was looking at my pre season predictions
4:58
because I'm like, you know, what did I actually predict?
5:00
Because it definitely didn't predict, you know, getting
5:01
relegated and I had Athletic Club as the Europa League
5:05
winners. So to knock out my predicted
5:07
winners, it was it was lovely. And then the the other capping
5:11
it off the mount scoring that well, like 45 yards.
5:16
It was just it just felt like a party atmosphere for the last 20
5:19
odd minutes. And as Ron mentioned as well,
5:21
Casimir a a great performance, but also a fantastic hug with
5:26
the manager. I thought as he came off, it's
5:28
like, well, that was a bear hug, right?
5:29
That was a good WWF bear hug proper.
5:31
I've I've really, I've felt like Samira's below the standard in
5:35
the Premier League. I felt that when he start this
5:38
pre season, he just looked overweight, slow, you know, not
5:41
up to the speed. But in this Europa League
5:42
campaign he's been absolutely fantastic.
5:45
And yeah, he probably shouldn't start the final given that spurs
5:48
his Premier League position. But I think he deserves his
5:51
place in the team Means he's been he's been a revelation in
5:54
the last few sort of Europa League games.
5:57
He sort of carried us in that experience that quality has
6:00
scored another set piece goal. So yeah, top man.
6:03
Let me ask you, do you think he's playing better in Europe
6:06
because it's a slower pace game compared to that fast-paced, all
6:10
action Premier League? I think so, yeah.
6:13
I think, I think it's not just him.
6:15
The reason I say that, I think all of the players, if you if
6:18
you watch the Premier League games and we'll talk about the
6:20
West Ham game, but generally in the Premier League games, you'll
6:24
see that there's a physical superiority of the opposition
6:27
and often we're getting bullied in in duels that the speed of
6:30
the game is too much for our midfield.
6:33
Agarte, Casimira, they just lose the ball a lot, but you just
6:36
have a little bit more time. There's a physical edge that
6:39
we've had. And that's why I'm like a bit
6:41
worried about the fact that we're facing a Premier League
6:44
opposition in the final, even though Spurs are somehow worse
6:47
than us, which is extraordinary. But I do think that the yeah, I
6:52
do think that the tempo of the game has something to do with
6:54
it. But I also want to give some
6:56
credit to Casimir. He looks fitter.
6:58
Like physically his body, he does look fitter, yeah.
7:02
Is he the long term solution in the Premier League?
7:05
I'm still sceptical. Yeah, just to give some context
7:09
to the listeners. So Tottenham are 17th, obviously
7:13
we're 16th. They've scored 60, three goals
7:15
but conceded 59 and we're inverse.
7:18
So we've scored 42 Premier League goals and conceded 53.
7:22
So yeah, it's definitely going to be a war of attrition or it
7:26
could be an absolutely mental night in Bilbao and it could be
7:29
a four free thriller. We absolutely have no idea.
7:32
And I think that's what sets this final up nicely, right, in
7:36
terms of like, we just don't know what's going to happen on
7:38
the night. And also, I'm not sure if you
7:41
guys have been watching Spurs recently and in the Europa in
7:44
particular, but it does seem like Angie's step back from his
7:48
principles a little bit in terms of, you know, conceding
7:52
possession, trying to be a bit more robust.
7:55
Obviously that didn't happen yesterday against Crystal
7:57
Palace, but he's definitely tried to make adjustments to,
8:01
you know, stop the flow of conceding goals and obviously a
8:05
big blow for Spurs leaving James Madison for the final as well.
8:08
So yeah, it's going to be an interesting one.
8:11
I just want to go back to Thursday night because we talked
8:14
about it in the pre pod. In terms of the atmosphere and
8:18
Old Trafford itself. First of all, what I thought was
8:21
when the goals went in, it was just Electric Stratford and I
8:24
don't know what you guys felt about the atmosphere, Ron.
8:27
Yeah, it's only looked like it was absolutely pumping.
8:31
I we've been very fortunate to be at many European Knights.
8:33
Unfortunately went there on Thursday, but you know the ones
8:36
that we have been to. Memories come to mind of the
8:39
Champions League semi final against Barcelona.
8:41
Paul Skulls Roma 71, Milan 3/2 And I thought there's.
8:45
A knee bashing run. Indeed, Yeah, I'm still I'm
8:48
still aching from those knees. But you know, those those last
8:52
20 minutes just watching it look like I know it's Europa League
8:55
and it's not quite the Champions League, but just looked like Old
8:58
Trafford was absolutely pumping. What you know, I think we did
9:01
notice. I mean, watch United Games is
9:03
the support that Ruben has amongst the match going fans,
9:08
the song that continuously plays and it's such a great song, you
9:11
know when you hear it. Bing Bing.
9:13
You're not going to sing it for us.
9:14
I'm still. How long we got?
9:17
But you know that that really does shine through when it's
9:20
heard. So yeah, it was, it's just
9:22
absolutely awesome on TV to to to sort of hear that and, and
9:25
see it and reminds you of so many prior nights at OT, which
9:29
was enjoyed many, many, many good evenings and good nights.
9:32
What about you, Ash? You've obviously been to quite a
9:35
few European nights as well. How does that compare for you?
9:38
Yeah, certainly in the post Ferguson era, definitely one of
9:42
the best atmospheres. And I think I said it nicely
9:45
with the Mount goal. First of all, kudos to Mount
9:48
with the golf technique of the way he just absolutely pinged
9:52
and sliced it perfectly. It was just like a beautiful
9:55
golf shot. Some listeners or people that we
9:58
know wouldn't classify that as a skill shooting that far out with
10:03
no goalkeeper yet. Credit where credit's due and
10:07
absolutely fantastic atmosphere, party carnival and that's what
10:11
we wanted. We didn't want a nervous Old
10:13
Trafford, but with like 20 minutes to go before the first
10:16
goal went in. So yeah, one of your predictions
10:20
actually run in terms of when Reuben first joined.
10:23
You said that Mount, like, you know, fitness permitted, would
10:27
get his game time. And obviously Reuben was very
10:31
quick to praise him post match as well.
10:33
Credit in his diet, his sleep, almost like he was trying to
10:39
question someone else as but yeah, I'm not sure if that was
10:43
the case, but yeah. What did you make of the
10:47
atmosphere and anything else you wanted to add in terms of like
10:50
the game itself? Yeah, I didn't.
10:52
I didn't TuneIn for the build up.
10:54
I can't remember why. I probably had to work on, but
10:56
when I switched it on, I'm like, is Old Trafford on fire?
10:59
Who was just this smoke bomb was incredible.
11:01
I think they're trying to sort of recreate the Continental.
11:05
Yeah, pyrotechnics. Yeah, was was great.
11:08
So yeah, you got to say in it's been one of the worst seasons in
11:13
the club's history, the worst I can remember.
11:16
And you got to shout out to the supporters been incredible.
11:20
Like fully behind the team turn up week in, week out Thursday
11:26
night, putting their money on the table and yeah, 100% behind,
11:32
behind the players on the pitch. And yeah, it's nice that they
11:36
got something to smile about because most of the time, you
11:39
know, it's it's fairly depressing.
11:41
So yeah, some good moments. And yeah, it's interesting you
11:46
say it's a golf shot with mount because he actually hit it.
11:49
If you look at where it crossed the line, it was right in the
11:51
middle of the goal. So, you know, if he ever does
11:54
play foot golf, then he'd be pretty good because it was like
11:57
an arrow straight the pin. So yeah, I.
12:01
Think he does, actually. They'll play some golf as well,
12:03
actually. So yeah, I'm sure some
12:05
techniques. He must do.
12:06
Yeah, a lot of the footballers do.
12:08
I know Declan's pretty good and they're mates.
12:11
I think that's where it comes from.
12:12
So Declan and him play some golf, definitely in the past
12:16
anyway, for sure. Yeah, and I saw I mention James
12:20
Madison. I'm sure he does a bit of golf
12:22
as well. So I should all, you know, we'll
12:25
see who's whoever, whoever wins that they can take it on the
12:30
course as well. But I thought it was a lovely,
12:31
yeah, little, little. It was with his left foot as
12:35
well. That was the other impressive
12:36
thing. It was like, it's like perfect
12:37
technique. I feel sorry for the guy, Ruben
12:41
says. He's he does everything right.
12:43
No footballer wants to get injured and it's just one of
12:46
those things. He got overplayed in his Chelsea
12:51
time and sometimes This is why, you know, I I actually prefer
12:55
the way Ruben has done some rotation.
12:56
He's rotated those players, he's managed their minutes and I
12:59
think mounts one that has benefited a lot from just being
13:02
slowly and slowly introduced off the bench, off the bench.
13:05
And now he might be in contention potentially for a
13:09
start in the final. We'll see.
13:10
But if not, then again, off the bench he's going to be a really
13:13
useful option I think. Yeah, so that was the glorious
13:18
Thursday night. So unfortunately we're going to
13:20
have to turn to yesterday. So for those who don't know,
13:24
Manchester United lost to West Ham 2 nil at Old Trafford,
13:28
slightly changed team and Nana got arrest.
13:32
Harry Masks came back in, but we had regular starters in the
13:36
likes of Bruno Fernandez and a lot of them at midfield and
13:39
attack. Was there a bit of rotation with
13:41
defence? So the likes of Harry Maguire
13:43
didn't start. So Ron, it looks like you were
13:46
fortunate to watch that. Unfortunately, I only caught the
13:49
highlights or fortunately. So yeah, we'd have to start with
13:54
you again, my friend. And how was it?
13:58
It was pretty much like every other game we've seen the
14:02
previous 35 games this season. I think what amazes me really is
14:07
it just seems as though the players can quite easily down
14:09
tools in the league and then when it really matters in the
14:13
Europa League, they seem to turn up.
14:15
I just thought it was such an opportunity yesterday now that
14:17
we're in the final for, you know, players to really lay down
14:20
a marker for a starting position in the final.
14:23
So I look at players like Mason Mount.
14:25
I look at players like Kobe Maneu, Luke Shaw, maybe even
14:30
Ugarte as well, because we still don't know whether Bruno will
14:32
drop into play midfield as opposed to take up one of those
14:35
#10 positions for the final next week.
14:38
So it's an opportunity for these guys.
14:40
And when you're in the final, this, this is the highlight of
14:43
your career to play in the European final.
14:45
And it just seemed like, you know, for whatever reason, the
14:48
players just can down tools quite easily in the league.
14:52
And I know we've put nothing to play for really.
14:54
Yes, there's a bit of money for the club at stake, finishing
14:56
higher. But, you know, at this level,
14:59
it's always about pride. And, you know, we do not want to
15:02
finish 1760. The highest that we can finish
15:05
now is 13th. Again, just looking back at, you
15:07
know, some of the stats we've collected 39 points, you know,
15:11
from 36 games. So the most that we can get to
15:13
now is 45. Last season we closed out on 58
15:17
points. So, you know, whatever happens,
15:19
we're going to be thirteen points down on where we were
15:22
last season. And so, you know, having said
15:24
that, the players have to try. They have to do everything they
15:26
possibly can. When you put on that red shirt,
15:28
you wear that red badge and you have to do everything you
15:31
possibly can for the club. And it's just a shame that this
15:34
is happening, you know, week in, week out.
15:36
If we look at, you know, Amarim, I know we're going to go into
15:40
Amarim a little bit more in detail in in his stats, but you
15:43
know, he's averaging at the moment less than one point a
15:45
game. I think it is.
15:46
He's collected 24 points from a possible 75 available do.
15:50
You think Ruben deserves some credit for, like, resurrecting
15:53
these guys from the dead, certainly with McGuire.
15:56
And he was tossed aside by, you know, Eric Tanar, you know,
15:59
Captain was stripped as well. I'm talking about coaching.
16:02
Credit for that. I'm talking about coaching.
16:03
I'm talking about actually developing talent and and
16:06
making, making your the way you play better.
16:08
Yes, Casimir Mcguire's performances in the pitch have
16:11
improved, but I think a lot of that is to do with their
16:13
character and they're in a self belief and which they've always
16:15
had. You know, Casimiro's, how many
16:17
Champions League is 1? Is it four or five at Real
16:19
Madrid? You know, he's he's a born
16:21
winner. And we know that McGuire and
16:23
he's been through a really rough time in recent years.
16:25
But yeah, he's got tremendous character and I gave him huge
16:28
credit for that. But in terms of actually
16:30
improving the way we play, improving players, I can't think
16:36
of one player that Ruben Ameron, you know, since he's been at the
16:38
club, has actually improved. And you know, Bruno, whether
16:43
he's tired or I don't know, but he wasn't particularly great
16:46
yesterday. But you know, without him, you
16:50
could hog. He would be in that, in that
16:51
bottom three, you know, 30-4 games, eight goals, 9 assists.
16:56
I think as she pointed out, we've scored 42 goals this
16:59
season, but he's been involved in 17 of those, 17 of those,
17:06
which is about 40% of all of United's goals he's been
17:08
involved in. You know, so the numbers are
17:11
really stark. Unfortunately for Roman Amber,
17:13
and if you take away the Europa League, you know, there, there
17:18
really is absolutely nothing to get behind.
17:20
We haven't scored in 10 games this season in the time that
17:26
he's been in charge and I think 14 in total this season.
17:29
So out of the 36 games, we haven't scored in 14 of them.
17:34
Yeah, it's just not, not acceptable.
17:37
As before we get into Reuben a bit more, tell us what you
17:41
thought of yesterday's game. Is it true that the players are
17:44
down till in? Is it just the case that, you
17:47
know, the Premier League's very competitive?
17:49
These guys had a tough game on Thursday.
17:51
You know, they're probably a bit mentally jaded and you know,
17:54
it's difficult to switch on when you don't have much to play for
17:57
in the league. What's your thoughts?
18:00
Yeah, for me it's disgusted as I was because you don't like
18:05
seeing a team lose. I don't hate losing to West Ham.
18:07
I don't like West Ham as a club and and we've got Chelsea next
18:11
Friday and I not looking forward to us losing to Chelsea either.
18:16
There are certain clubs you you know, you want us to to be.
18:20
I think it for me it was actually more the latter.
18:22
I think they I didn't. I don't feel this team downs
18:25
tools, I just feel this team is just often physically weaker
18:29
than the opposition. We we also just seem to have a
18:32
lack of quality in front of goal.
18:33
Another game where we generate 2 plus XG and to score and we give
18:38
away just shit goals right where you're like what the hell are
18:41
you doing? So it is.
18:42
I agree that it's been consistent in terms of previous
18:46
performances, but I can imagine I've said this before.
18:50
You know like put a proper striker in this team.
18:53
You know that he put out a defence I thought was way too
18:56
inexperienced. I don't know why he's rotated 09
18:58
are out the team by and is you know, not a proper goalkeeper.
19:01
And then he had Mazrawi Yoro ensure it's like 2 full backs
19:05
and a kid. It's just asking to get beaten
19:08
up by West Ham, right? Big physical team.
19:10
Look at the size of some of their biceps as well.
19:12
I'm like, these guys are on. They're really, you know, these
19:15
other physical Premier League teams.
19:17
When did they all get so much like massively jacked?
19:20
You know, look at these like KU foul.
19:22
And I'm like, his biceps are bigger than my thighs.
19:25
So we've got these little boys going up against him, like 70
19:29
year old Paul Harry Amas and Ahmad and Koby Maynu and you
19:33
know, Mounts just coming back from injury.
19:35
It's just like it was a bit men against boys in certain
19:38
situations. So I don't think it's a lack of
19:40
effort. It's going back to that point of
19:42
I do feel this team lacks a bit of physicality and post the
19:46
Thursday night, that mental thing, there was definitely
19:49
there's always this mental drop off and physical drop off.
19:52
Yeah. So it wasn't it wasn't good.
19:55
I didn't enjoy it. It's it's it's it's horrible.
19:58
Like I said, you know, we're seeing Jared Bowen celebrate
20:01
goals. You just.
20:02
You know, in front of those EastEnders just, yeah, it's just
20:06
not very nice. And yeah, I'm really not looking
20:08
forward to Chelsea. I hope we beat him.
20:10
I really hope, you know, we can put a dent in them.
20:12
But you know, you're never, you're not too optimistic.
20:15
Although Jackson got red cards, so he's he's suspended.
20:18
You know, it's probably Cole Palmer we need to start.
20:21
But yeah, again, like, am I optimistic that we'll score any
20:23
goals? Not really.
20:24
It's just not enough goals in this team, not enough threat.
20:28
Yeah, I, I don't have some of the decision making is I don't,
20:31
I don't know what you guys think.
20:33
I don't like Kobe Manu in the 10, which he was.
20:35
He was playing in that game. I don't either, yeah.
20:37
Yeah, no, I don't like it. But just like you, you're
20:40
lacking a goal for it. Why do you have Manu in the 10
20:42
and Bruno in in the in the deeper position?
20:45
I think it's. More about control though, isn't
20:47
it? I agree with you about the XG.
20:50
We're second in the league based on chances created.
20:52
I think we're -8.22, so that's second out of 20, which is, you
20:58
know, says it all really, that we are and we do create chances.
21:01
But my word, the amount of times that we miss good, good
21:04
opportunities, you know, we saw that the other day with Ghana.
21:06
one-on-one we land, I mean, countless.
21:09
You could put a catalogue together of Ireland's chances
21:12
that he's missed this season and easy chances as well to that.
21:16
So that's. The thing, this is thing, Ron,
21:18
it's like that. That's why I'm like when you say
21:21
I don't see patterns of player improving players.
21:24
I kind of I actually disagree. I feel let's go back to the
21:28
point you made on McGuire and Casimiro that it part of it to
21:32
come from them. Absolutely.
21:33
And I'm really happy you said McGuire is a great character.
21:36
That's the second five years. I'm really.
21:39
No, no, no, I'm really. I think to just on McGuire, I
21:42
think we're going to compete because let's be honest, Leo,
21:44
where does Man United want to be?
21:46
We want to be fighting for titles and I get the moment that
21:49
that isn't the case, but at least we want to be in in a
21:51
month. We agree.
21:52
Yeah, we agree is. He is he going to get us there?
21:54
He's well, he's well past his best now.
21:56
Harry, like when we signed him, he was a really good player.
21:59
But you know when you're going to have a physical decline, He's
22:02
having his physical decline, but his character is showing
22:04
through. But I do also no doubt, yeah,
22:08
you know, the the fact is we are we are more compact and that
22:11
helps these players who are physically not as strong.
22:13
So under 10 hog, the game was so open end to end.
22:17
The midfield was so open that, you know, McGuire and Casimira
22:19
just had too much space to cover.
22:22
So we have closed the space a little bit, but we're still
22:25
susceptible. I do think he's improved them
22:27
through showing some love to the players because I just felt like
22:30
so unloved under 10 hug that, you know, that when I talk about
22:34
that hug, I mean it like seriously.
22:36
There's like a connection where Casimiro and McGuire seem
22:39
motivated to try and give 100% even if they're not the
22:43
standard. And we both agree that we need
22:45
to move on from these players to, you know, to the likes of a
22:48
euro, for example, in the long term, but that he has that.
22:53
And then and then Bruno Fernandez, you mentioned as
22:55
well, there's so much question mark over can Bruno play a, a
22:59
type of football in a more positional team that oh, no, he
23:03
can't. Like, oh, if and I I said no,
23:05
but when you're watching for Portugal, he does.
23:07
He's more controlled. He he can play and he's played
23:10
this midfield role pretty well. Like you've got to give him
23:14
credit, but also a little bit of credit to the manager for almost
23:18
coaching the craziness, the Hollywood, the the, you know,
23:21
because Bruno is just a a bit of an erratic player, right?
23:24
In terms of he gave the ball away a lot.
23:26
I feel he's more composed and he's calm.
23:28
So I think he's improved. Ahmad Diallo for me is a
23:31
revelation like he was. No, he was nowhere.
23:34
He's nowhere near the team under 10 Haag, and I really believe
23:37
that. I know it's only 6 months or
23:39
three months and it's not, it's a small sample size and maybe he
23:42
doesn't make it, but I see a kid in there that is willing to take
23:46
on players that is going for it goes for the full back, which
23:49
you don't see as much of. So I think he's got better as
23:51
well. I'd like to shout out as well, I
23:53
think Lenny Oro, I feel sad if he's going to miss the final
23:57
because he is in the Bill Bauer game and other games, just that
24:00
that he reminds me a lot of a young Rio Ferdinand.
24:04
His ability to come out with the ball.
24:05
You know, you get one-on-one defender as well, right?
24:08
Yeah. Like, I felt like Rio's career
24:10
was somewhat limited because he played with the four in the
24:14
back, with the two at the back, right.
24:15
See, he couldn't do that ball carrying as much but but Euro
24:19
because of the system making those driving.
24:22
Was it the mountain goal as well?
24:23
Was it Lenny Euro? For the first.
24:24
That's the centre back coming right up the pitch to link with
24:27
the number 10. So I want to give a bit of
24:29
credit to Euro. I think Maz Rawi as well has
24:32
given everything this season. He's he's done a lot.
24:35
So I think Reuben's doing a decent job with these
24:37
individuals. They're just just we're. 17
24:41
we're. 17 we're. 16 in the league.
24:44
We're 16 in the league. Exactly.
24:46
Fundamental lack of quality of individuals you can't say.
24:49
Ruben's doing a good job. He's not doing a good job.
24:51
We're 16th in the Premier League.
24:53
We are 0.96 in terms of points per game under 10 hog.
24:57
Last season we were at 1.58, finished 8th, granted which was
25:01
very disappointing for Man United.
25:03
Yeah, but the the underlying numbers were 16th as well last
25:06
16, right. We just happened to finish more
25:08
chances than the way that finishing this season.
25:10
It's a lot of those goals given it is about results, but you've
25:13
got to look at the the fact is we were, we were atrocious last
25:17
season as well. The defence was so leaky.
25:19
We we've cut down on the number of shots we concede, but we're
25:22
still conceding goals, like I said.
25:23
We are, we are way worse this season than we were last season.
25:26
And I'm not putting this all on Ruben.
25:27
I think there's a number of factors obviously that we can
25:29
allude to, but to say that Ruben's actually, I just don't
25:33
see, I don't think he's improved anyone.
25:34
I think Ahmad and Euro is just about evolution.
25:37
Naturally. They're young players.
25:38
They're going to get better year in, year out and they're
25:40
progressing to where they should be.
25:42
Euro is a top player. I mean, I like him.
25:43
I think he's a very good signing.
25:45
Ahmad, we know he's got great potential and he's just on that
25:47
journey where, you know, hopefully he's going to get
25:49
better and better. Regardless of the manager,
25:51
whether Amarin's actually coaching these players and
25:53
making them better. I, I generally can't think of 1.
25:56
I look around Europe and. No, that's fair.
25:58
That's another point you made. I just you haven't got enough
26:01
time to coach because you're playing every week.
26:03
So this is just something that it's a general point, not not
26:06
for or against Reuben. I think that when you come in
26:09
mid season and you come in with just a continual amount of
26:13
games, you can't, you actually can't coach players.
26:16
It's not possible. So like there's the.
26:17
Expectation there. That's your job though.
26:20
It's not it's not possible. No, no, it's just not possible.
26:24
It's. It's not your should have.
26:25
Said it in the Irish accent. Yeah, the individual coaching of
26:28
players, it takes a bit of time, the main job and where I think
26:32
that people have more criticism and it's understandable is the
26:36
general belief is he set out a style of play, a system and a
26:40
style of play that doesn't suit the individual players.
26:43
Agree with you. That's what I think the
26:44
criticism is. And I think that's what you feel
26:47
more than anything, right? You don't like the back 3?
26:49
It's about 5:00. What do you mean about 3?
26:51
So I think it's worth just touching on the system before we
26:55
talk about Reuben's future and also to what Reuben's actually
26:58
said since the West Ham game because some quite startling
27:02
comments have been made. I mean, it's not the first that
27:04
Reuben's done, so we shouldn't be too surprised.
27:07
But you know, in terms of my own thoughts about tactical setup, I
27:11
can't remember. I think it was the Athletic game
27:13
actually. I was obviously trying to square
27:16
the circle with our midfield situation.
27:19
You know, most games we get dominated in midfield and that's
27:22
because we play, you know, 2 midfielders, you know, I'm not
27:26
going to count the the number 10s because at the moment they
27:28
don't press well enough to make it a box for which is what Ruben
27:33
would like. And then obviously one of the
27:35
points she mentioned as in terms of the way Ruben likes to attack
27:39
at Sporting is for one of the defenders to try and get forward
27:43
and into the phase of the attacking play as well.
27:46
And what I've noticed with the Bruno situation in particular is
27:50
he's obviously getting a lot of credit, and rightly so, about
27:54
his usage of the ball. But the problem is we're still
27:59
massively exposed, particularly in the Premier League.
28:03
You know, when turning in the other way, Ruben needs help and
28:06
that's the issue. If we could just sign either a
28:09
great #9 or Rashford equivalent who's plays more in one of those
28:14
10 roles but scores a lot of goals.
28:17
So I think we're linked with Matthias Cunha as an example of
28:19
that and #10 who will score a lot of goals.
28:22
That's what they see. Let's touch on the centre
28:23
forwards because there's a lot of different opinions, you know,
28:27
talk to friends, season ticket holders, mixed opinions.
28:30
I'm going to try and get some names out of you guys.
28:32
So what do we think? Like obviously the talk is about
28:37
Dilap from Ipswich. I think the rumours about Viktor
28:40
Osserman to be honest, have disappeared.
28:42
But should they, should they still be around?
28:44
Should we be looking at a more prominent striker?
28:48
And then any other centre forwards in the Premier League
28:51
or around Europe that you know, take your fancy.
28:54
So as we'll go with you on that. I think this is the most
28:58
important signing I think of the summer is signing some goals.
29:02
Remember Steve asked us that question of, you know, who of
29:05
the previous area players would you like in this team and we
29:08
went both with goal scorers. I assume Ron, you would be the
29:10
same, right? How would you answer that
29:12
question? You could take anyone from the
29:14
previous era for this United team just to improve it.
29:17
Who would you have? Has to be centre forward.
29:20
Bruce, Venice, Troy. Ronaldo, right?
29:25
I mean, Ronaldo, just bang him in in, right?
29:27
Yeah. But I think we just need box in
29:29
the box, don't we? Yeah, so like, you know, I guess
29:33
if we're talking about Reid, the guy at the moment would be
29:36
Victor Yokores, obviously a former Reuben player at
29:40
Sporting. To me it comes.
29:41
Down. Yeah, my concern with that is
29:43
to, you know, we still probably maybe need someone who can also
29:48
create their own chances a little bit.
29:50
That's why it's like Cristiano can score them, but he also does
29:53
it himself. And you mentioned Wazza.
29:54
He's the same. He can score them, but he can
29:56
also create them himself. I see.
29:58
Like I like the Kunia link as a poor man's Wayne Rooney, right?
30:02
He's kind of got that dribbling ability.
30:04
Play slightly prefers coming a bit deeper than playing at the
30:07
last line. But I think as someone in that
30:09
inside 10 role, he's done well for Wolves.
30:13
So I like that, that profile you mentioned, the Aussie man who I
30:18
wanted us to sign a couple of years ago, I think that he's
30:22
another one for me still. He's still quality.
30:24
The issue with him is just that he's still just very expensive,
30:27
right? It was the same two years ago
30:29
and it'll be the same now. I'm sure Price would have come
30:31
down, but he's on a lot of money and I know Sir Jim is.
30:35
I was just going to ask you, if Sir Jim allowed you to sign off
30:40
the finances for Victor Osserman, what would you do?
30:44
Yeah, I mean, the thing the problem with finances is you
30:47
need to look at the PSR now as well, right?
30:50
Because the moment you you spend a lot in one area, you kind of
30:55
have to compensate on the other. Also, we're in a financially
30:58
terrible position. But let's assume that we had
31:01
good finances #9 and it could good #9 in this team, I think
31:04
makes a lot of difference. Just someone who, and it's, it's
31:09
amazing in football how we've all, we've all played.
31:12
If you have a good goalkeeper and a good centre forward, you
31:15
always feel like just a little bit more secure, but that it
31:18
will keep something out and your guy up front will just bang one
31:22
in. Just just it does help a lot.
31:24
And same with this West Ham game.
31:25
I was like, if we score the first goal, I think we'll be
31:28
alright. And then if we don't score the
31:29
first goal, I don't think you know that this is a problem.
31:32
So Liam Dillat, I'm not convinced.
31:35
I think it feels like one of those, oh, he's available for 30
31:38
million, so we should get him. I've looked at the tape and he
31:42
looks like a really good player, but he doesn't look at the elite
31:45
level. To me he looks like a good
31:47
scrapper, decent player. Jamie Vardy vibes don't know
31:50
about you. Yeah, it's like he's.
31:53
I mean that in a positive way. You know, he's a good scratch
31:55
channels. He fights, yeah.
31:57
Fights, but yeah, I feel like someone someone genuinely, you
32:04
know, like at high level is what we.
32:07
Need we need the. Issue with likes of Dilap and
32:10
Hoyland is that if you look back, you know, and I know this
32:13
is going back to the glory days of Dwight, your Teddy
32:15
Sheringham, Andy Cole, Solska, and you've got 4 strikers there.
32:20
And what you kind of need now is if you're going to sign a young
32:23
player like a Dilap, you need players, you need strikers
32:26
around them that are proven and that you can learn off and
32:29
you're not having to rely on them week in, week out.
32:32
Let's say we win next week and when the Champions League, you
32:34
know, if you're playing midweek Saturday.
32:37
Europa next year, maybe run. You can't rely you can't rely on
32:42
a young kid. And that's my worry with the
32:44
lap. You know, if we had two or three
32:46
other strikers that are proven, sure, no worries.
32:48
You know, 30 million seems seems feasible from a financial
32:52
standpoint to go ahead and sign that off, but not when he's your
32:55
main man definitely not. So to the fans who are screaming
32:59
outlet's not worry about the finances for now.
33:03
Give us a name, both of you. Champions League next week, if
33:07
we win, it's a game changer. Then you know, all of a sudden
33:10
you've got the money in in the bank and you can go and attract
33:13
plays. The dream signing and if you
33:15
take everything away for me is Esac.
33:17
I think he's absolutely remarkable.
33:19
Yes, you won't be able to price him away, but if you want a name
33:22
he would be, he would be my #1 go to proven in the Premier
33:26
League, you know, scores, goals, pacing behind, can link the
33:30
player up, very versatile as to your point, you know, can even
33:34
create for himself as well. He would be my dream signing and
33:37
if I was Arsenal I'd be all over him.
33:41
As any alternatives around Europe or someone in the Premier
33:44
League, we haven't thought about enough?
33:47
There's plenty of. The thing is, it's fairly easy
33:50
to upgrade our current striker situation and that just depends
33:54
on the levels. You could go through the table
33:57
and Esacs unrealistic, but there are realistic options that would
34:00
also be upgrade. So I know like Villara looking
34:03
at potentially selling Watkins, you know, he'd be an easy
34:07
upgrade. Matata at Palace, I think could
34:10
be moving this summer. We've already mentioned Matthias
34:12
Kunia who's probably more going to play in the 10 but it's, you
34:15
know, similar kind of goal scorer.
34:18
We could go to Saudi and see if Ivan Tony has paid off his
34:22
gambling debts and wants to come back to the Premier League.
34:24
Maybe there's also on a free transfer if you want a budget
34:29
option, Jonathan David who's at Leal who will be available on a
34:33
free. My 2 summers ago option for that
34:37
was Marcus Turam, who's now playing in the Champions League
34:40
final, you know, so you know, sometimes I think both David and
34:45
Taram are not at the elite level, but their upgrades and
34:48
this is the thing, I think if you look at it, Hoyland hasn't
34:51
worked out. I think Hoyland somehow got
34:54
worse. It was just weird for a young
34:55
player because and when he came in he looked decent.
34:57
And now I'm just like the guy has cut his guess.
35:01
He's finishing was always raw. But Eastman seems to have lost
35:04
his physical edge, his speed. I don't know what he offers at
35:06
the moment. So like, and and I think Xerxi,
35:09
another player by the way, Ruben Amerem, I think improved a lot,
35:12
you know, get from getting booed at the Newcastle game to where
35:15
he ended up when he got injured. He really came good.
35:18
But he's also not a guy who hits the ball cleanly.
35:21
So he's not a goal scorer. He's someone who's going to link
35:23
the play. So upgrading our, let's just
35:27
call it more generally shooting capacity in this team I think
35:30
will be pretty easy. So you could pretty much go
35:32
through the Premier League and just like who's available from
35:35
any of any of these clubs, right?
35:38
As I said, the sort of key there is for Hoylin, it's just not
35:43
having other strikers around him.
35:45
You know, you can see it week in, week out.
35:47
The pressure is just increasing the longer he goes without
35:49
scoring. Before he scored against
35:51
Leicester, I think the run was something like was it 20 goals
35:54
or something he hadn't scored in 20 games or something he hadn't
35:57
scored. In 20 games, yeah.
35:58
So if you don't have that sort of experience, you know, striker
36:02
unit around you, you know, it's a lot for a young kid,
36:05
particularly at a club like Man United where the pressure is so
36:07
intense, you know, the scrutiny week in, week out from the
36:10
media, from us as fans, you name it, you know, it's a global
36:14
club. I think that's the yeah, I think
36:16
that's the scary part for me about Hoyland.
36:18
It's kind of like touching on what, as is mentioned, it's
36:21
almost like the decline. Like, yes, he wasn't scoring
36:25
goals left, right and centre last year, but he had a good run
36:29
and obviously got enough goals throughout the season.
36:32
I've watched him over the last like couple of games and you
36:35
know, in particular yesterday to Ron's point, he missed some
36:39
golden chances. So I guess that's a nice
36:43
transition into Reuben. As I mentioned, he's had some
36:47
interesting quotes. I'm just going to, you know,
36:50
read some out and paraphrase. So no accents, but these are
36:54
some of the quotes that have come from him yesterday after
36:58
the two nil defeat. So the first one is everybody
37:01
here has to think seriously about a lot of things.
37:04
Everybody's thinking about the final.
37:06
The final was not the issue. We have bigger things to think
37:09
about. I'm talking about myself and the
37:11
culture in the club and in the team.
37:14
We need to change that. It's a decisive moment in the
37:16
history of the club. We need to be really strong in
37:19
the summer and to be brave because we will not have a
37:22
season like this next year if we start like this, If the feeling
37:26
is still here, we should give the space to different people
37:29
now. He also went on to say or
37:32
question whether he's the right man to be there for next season.
37:37
And again, there's a lot of opinions out there.
37:40
Be really interested to hear what Steve says when he's back.
37:43
So Ron, what do we think? You've talked about the Premier
37:46
League, We're basically 17th. You know, all eggs are in next
37:50
Wednesday. I'm used to saying next
37:53
Thursday, but it is next Wednesday.
37:54
What do we think about Reuben's future?
37:56
Have you got a shortlist or are you just backing him to the hill
37:59
with the transfer window? Well, let's hope you can say
38:02
that next season where we are playing on Wednesday in the
38:05
Champions League. Absolutely.
38:09
It's really interesting that he's come out with these quotes
38:11
and actually this is the first time that, you know, he's come
38:14
out and really questioned his own future that I can remember.
38:16
And what you have to say is that he's brutally honest and he's
38:20
been honest since day one. I remember his first press
38:23
conference when he was still sporting manager.
38:26
You know, he was very honest in his assessment as to whether he
38:29
should take the job halfway through the season or whether he
38:32
should take it at the end of the season.
38:34
And that theme has really continued throughout his ten
38:37
years so far at the club. In some ways I'm not quite sure
38:39
that's the right approach all the time to be as honest and as
38:43
transparent as he is. I think we've got to be a little
38:45
bit savvy, particularly with the British media and press.
38:48
But you know, the fact that he's come out with that statement
38:50
about we have to change something.
38:52
We've got to be strong in the summer, as you've said.
38:55
And if not, you know, if it doesn't work for me and things
38:57
are not going to change, then maybe we should give our place
39:00
to to different people. That to me is interesting to say
39:05
the least. And perhaps, you know, what that
39:08
sends in terms of a message through that dressing room
39:11
before what is going to be, you know, not just the biggest game
39:14
of our season, but probably the biggest game, I don't know,
39:17
probably in the last decade. You could almost argue I'm just
39:21
questioned the timing of it. But perhaps that's something
39:24
that, you know, he's thought about meticulously and he's
39:27
trying to send, you know, shock waves through that that dressing
39:30
room because, you know, let's be honest, the performance in the
39:33
leagues have been absolutely diabolical to this point.
39:35
But regardless of what happens, I think next Wednesday, I just
39:39
can't see any arson, the club making a change.
39:43
The worry and the fair is that we have a rinse repeat of what
39:46
happened with 10 Hog where we were in a similar situation that
39:49
let's not hope this happens. But if we do lose on Wednesday,
39:52
are we going to be, you know, facing a summer of is he
39:55
staying? Is he not staying?
39:57
Eventually they back him, they allow him to bring on his own
39:59
players to play the system. And then, you know, if we are
40:03
1012 games into the season come October, November time and you
40:07
know, we are in the bottom half of the league, we're going to be
40:11
in the same situation potentially as we have been.
40:13
But I just cannot see them making a change.
40:15
And yes, they've been decisive. You know, they with Ashworth,
40:18
what they did with 10 Hog and they've owned up to their
40:21
mistakes. What they'll do that again.
40:22
I just can't see it in the summer.
40:25
But you know, unfortunately the numbers are the numbers in terms
40:28
of where we are in the league and we can't, we can't move away
40:31
from that. You know, if we look at our run
40:33
at the moment, I think the last seven games we have lost five,
40:39
we've drawn 2. And this is the longest winless
40:43
run since going back to October and November of 1992.
40:48
Funny enough, that was the first Premier League title under
40:51
Fergie in 92 and 93. But you know that that and that
40:55
goes back sometime since then. I think Van Hal went through 6
41:00
winless Rainier and Ollie have done it, I think 5.
41:04
But we've never had 7 until 1992.
41:08
And we look at our fixtures coming up, as you touched on it,
41:11
Chelsea away and then we've got better at home that have
41:13
something to play for. So you know this, this run can
41:16
only continue. So it's really worrying.
41:19
I mean every single stat in the book is there to be seen.
41:22
Nine home defeats this season been highest ever since 1960,
41:27
two 1963 and could be a record 10 by the time we we play the
41:33
last game of the season. So Ron, yeah, just very quickly
41:37
on the simulation world of RUN next week then what are you
41:40
doing? So let's not worry about any US.
41:42
We know what any US are going to do or we think we know what any
41:45
US are going to do. What would Run do?
41:47
Like, do you need the final to happen to make your decision or
41:50
do you know what you're doing already?
41:53
Well, like ever. Whenever you make a change,
41:54
you've got to have a plan. And you know, you worry in the
41:57
past that the plan has never been there.
41:59
If you are going to if you are going to exit with this plan of
42:04
Bamarin and then you need to have a replacement, you know,
42:06
who is that replacement? I must have not.
42:09
You're director of football have run in this simulation.
42:11
You should have this all lined up.
42:13
I'm expecting 5 names. I haven't actually.
42:16
I haven't actually thought about a suitable replacement, but
42:19
having said that, I should. Have been in contact with their
42:21
agents by now, surely. I do.
42:24
If you were, no. But I think the question is from
42:26
ashes, like ignoring whether you have a plan or not, because you
42:28
would have a plan. We know what you're like.
42:30
You're the most organised person here.
42:32
Now you've got your plan. Let's say Reuben.
42:34
Reuben dies of a heart attack. You've got a plan for that,
42:36
right? You're, you're, you're a
42:38
succession planner. So you've got your your list.
42:41
But more importantly, would you let him go?
42:45
Yeah, I would, I would because the, you know, the Premier
42:48
League table doesn't lie. That's your bread and butter day
42:51
in, day out. I have some sympathy to a
42:52
certain degree because he hasn't had a transfer window, generally
42:55
doesn't count. And we know the way he plays,
42:59
which is completely different to, you know, previous managers
43:01
gone by. So he hasn't had the opportunity
43:03
to bring in the wing backs, you know, the field, the energy that
43:06
we need, a number 9, etcetera. But having said that, these
43:10
results are so diabolical, but that to me, would you trust him
43:15
with another 150, two 100 million, similar to where we
43:18
were last summer where 10 hog was bad, given, you know, from
43:21
what we've seen, why would you go and give him another 150, two
43:25
100 million to spend? I just don't think that's a
43:27
sensible decision. So yeah, if I was director of
43:30
Footballer United, I would definitely have a plan and you
43:31
know, you'd have some replacements lined up.
43:33
But yeah, the dates are in. The results speak for
43:36
themselves. Looking forward to hearing that
43:39
shortlist in a couple of weeks when you when you make your next
43:41
appearance on the pod. Someone then asked do we need a
43:44
short list? You guys do.
43:47
You defied him ages ago. Yeah, yeah, I'm more than happy
43:51
to give my take afterwards. Yeah, no, I mean, we know.
43:54
We've we've heard you already. You fired him ages ago.
43:57
You gave Areola an offer. He couldn't hear Iola, an offer
44:00
he couldn't refuse, Right. So, yeah, for me personally, you
44:03
know my view on this, I would I would stick with Ruben.
44:06
I like his honesty. I think he identifies the
44:08
problems. I think that any manager coming
44:10
in, you know, whoever is on runs list.
44:12
Would it be Eddie Howe or Iola? One thing I know for a for a
44:16
fact Gareth Southgate's not on this list.
44:18
I can discount that one, but whoever's.
44:21
On I'd rather keep Ruben. I'd rather keep Ruben.
44:23
Exactly, exactly. But whoever that is, I think
44:26
they'll have the same problems in terms of lack of equality and
44:29
a lack of goals in keepers. It's not like you can come up
44:33
with a system that doesn't need a central midfield or a striker.
44:35
They all need a central midfielder and a striker.
44:38
So, you know, there's arguments around around wing back and I
44:43
kind of agree. I would be a bit worried if we
44:45
sign a very specific wing back style profile.
44:50
I saw Gary Neville mentioning I think was on the overlap
44:53
Dumfries, right, his performance for enter in the Champions
44:57
League and as brilliant as he was and he was absolutely
45:00
fantastic. You know, I don't want us to
45:02
sign that type of very specific player, but I think a dog who's
45:05
a good example of someone that, you know, a good young talent
45:10
could develop as a fullback or a winger.
45:12
I prefer more like a Dorgu profile who's, you know, I trust
45:16
as a defender seems to be strong in on one-on-one duels, but also
45:21
attacking. He dribbles well.
45:22
So I think that's I mentioned that Ahmed and Dorgu link up in
45:25
the Bilbao game, like Dumfries doesn't do that.
45:28
So I'm looking for that type of profile.
45:30
And if we sign that, I don't mind because you switch manager.
45:33
I mean, the opposition for Inter in the in the final is PSG.
45:38
Technically they play with two full backs, but they're both
45:40
players capable of playing wingback.
45:42
We were linked with Luno. Mendez is a left wing back and
45:45
Hakimi is my favourite full back, but he's basically a wing
45:48
back, right? The guy is was incredible
45:50
against Arsenal. He's always right at high end,
45:53
high end of the field. So yeah, if I could have Ashraf
45:56
Akimi as a right wing back, right?
45:58
It doesn't matter if it's Ruben or not, because if he can always
46:01
play full back because he's good enough.
46:03
So that's the kind of profile I'm looking for.
46:05
And what does Reuben, we talk about the type of profile Reuben
46:09
wants to sign. He wants more dribbling and more
46:11
speed and more power and more running.
46:14
I think that this team, whoever the manager is, if you look at
46:17
Iriola at Bournemouth, it's all about speed, transition, power,
46:22
right? That those guys, Semenyo,
46:24
Klaiber, Atara, all of them are like like high power, high
46:29
energy guys. And I think this is what Ruben
46:32
wants in the Man United team. And he's inherited sort of a lot
46:36
of 10 Hog players who are technically decent, but the the
46:41
the Premier League is going back to the size of some of these
46:44
West Ham players. It's just, it's just this level
46:46
of physicality that we're short. And I think that, like I said, I
46:50
love Casimiro, but I do think at the Premier League level he
46:53
doesn't have the physicality. And I think we need to bring in
46:59
some power upfront, some power in midfield and I think the
47:03
power at centre back. Given that we agree Harry
47:07
Mcguire's past, it might be there in Dilict.
47:09
I quite like Dilict, so he could be a solution there.
47:13
I like Euro, but yeah, I know that we were looking at was it
47:17
Branthwaite, for example, as a replacement to Lisandro.
47:23
Size, height, power is something this team needs and I think that
47:27
that's what Reuben wants. And I think whoever the manager
47:30
is, that's what they'll want. So I wouldn't like a transfer
47:33
window where we went Reuben specific, but if we had a
47:36
transfer window where we went power, Premier League specific
47:40
sign, destroy the team needs it. And then if if it doesn't work
47:43
out for him next year and he said himself, if he he's talking
47:47
about a cultural change that he wants to make that Jose Mourinho
47:52
mentioned Moyes, van Hall, Ollie, they all mentioned that
47:56
they want to do this cultural change.
47:59
And I think his message was not to the players and not to the
48:02
dressing room. I think it was to the board.
48:04
I think in previous windows the OR Edward Woods and your Richard
48:07
Arnold's weren't behind the manager.
48:10
And I think his message was that we need to be brave to the board
48:13
in the summer. When I say I want to remove a
48:17
Marcus Rashford or an Anthony or whoever, you know, we need to be
48:20
brave and take the fee required where previous managers haven't
48:25
had that backing. That was my I don't know what
48:27
you felt of those quotes you've made.
48:29
Do you think it was a message to the dressing room or the board?
48:33
Yeah, I think it's a combination.
48:35
A lot of the times after Premier League games in particular, he's
48:38
very critical of the team and he was actually critical even
48:41
yesterday. So it's almost like a
48:43
combination of factors. It's like I'm, you know, with
48:47
the comments as well last night, and I think a friend of the pod
48:50
cabs mentioned it, It's almost like he's trying to get himself
48:54
fired. I'm not sure he's doing that,
48:56
but that's the feeling with the with the latest comments.
49:00
You know, it's, it's very heroic of him to say, you know, we
49:03
shouldn't be thinking about the final because obviously a lot of
49:07
the fans are going to put all their eggs in, in terms of what
49:10
they think about what to do with Reuben on next Wednesday.
49:13
But yeah, for my own take, it's like, I really don't want to get
49:19
rid of him. I just don't see how this is
49:22
this is going to change. And final point on it, it's
49:25
like, whereas in yesteryear, and we're talking 20-30 years ago,
49:30
you can give managers time. You could, you could give them
49:34
like, you know, potentially like 4-5 in Sir Alex Ferguson's case,
49:38
6-7 years, unless you're going to be playing the type of
49:42
football that the manager envisages like a few years
49:46
later. Like Michael Arteta is a good
49:48
example. He's playing the same football
49:51
for the last five years, only one trophy.
49:54
But in terms of progression, like in terms of that five year
49:58
period, they're far, far ahead of us in terms of football
50:02
development in my opinion. But yeah, going back to Reuben
50:05
for my 2 pens, it's like I would change irrelevant of next week.
50:09
But yeah, there is no silver bullets out there.
50:12
That's that's for sure. So doesn't matter if it's.
50:15
I think you could give him time. I don't think the time's an
50:17
issue. I don't think it's a.
50:19
I think it is an issue because. It's up.
50:21
It's fundamentally up to the ownership.
50:23
Arteta is a brilliant example. He was under a lot of pressure,
50:26
but they backed him not just with time but also with
50:29
essentially remoulding that squad.
50:31
Like Ron mentioned, Ruben hasn't had a single Summers transfer
50:34
window yet. So it's a case of do you fire
50:36
him before his first transfer window?
50:40
And I think that we saw the. Difference is though, Arteta is
50:45
not in team esteem. The worst I think he's finished
50:48
in the full season was 8th. So.
50:50
The numbers are so bad, I'd say that's the point we're making.
50:53
No, no, the numbers are. So we've lost.
50:55
I think irrelevant of the numbers as well, the
50:57
performances, you can see it with your eyes as well.
50:59
Like look, I understand as this point in terms of you can see
51:04
shoots of, you know, green roots for sure.
51:07
And I, I actually think Ron, you mentioned it in one of your
51:10
opening pods when you came on about the way we keep the ball
51:13
at the back. So you can see certain like
51:17
Reuben patterns. But the point is, is it
51:21
progressive enough? And is it, you know, did it lead
51:24
to performances and ultimately results?
51:26
I don't see the, the connectivity across, across the
51:29
thread, right? That's my problem.
51:30
If that's the thing, if you're saying has Reuben got the best
51:34
of this season? No way.
51:35
So just quickly. Yeah, on the 10 hog point,
51:38
because you know, when we last tried to do the manager higher,
51:42
it was Poch and 10 hog and you went 10 hog because you wanted
51:46
essentially the higher ceiling of football, right?
51:48
You talked about it at the time about if we go 10 hog, there's a
51:52
higher ceiling in order to play the right football, in order to
51:56
win a league title, you know, even if it's like 5 years down
52:00
the line. So I'm gathering your thinking
52:03
the same here in terms of like, in terms of your Victor
52:07
Pereira's, your David Moises? Yep, this season, you know
52:10
they'd probably finish maybe with 20 points more than Reuben
52:14
Ramarin, but you're thinking year three-year 4, Year 5,
52:18
right? Like with the That's why I
52:19
thought Michael Arteta is a good example.
52:21
He was Michael Arteta was demanding a style of football
52:24
that requires good players. There's always that argument
52:27
like who's a better manager, Pep or Mourinho?
52:29
And the people on the Mourinho side's argument is always
52:31
Mourinho can take an average team, play his football and do
52:35
well and Pep Con and I've always been like, yeah, you're right, I
52:38
can't argue against that. Pep Guardiola football requires
52:41
high levels of technicality because he wants positional play
52:44
and he wants you to pass the ball in certain patterns and
52:47
then receive the ball in the penalty area.
52:49
He's not going to just rely on your physical output and that's
52:52
harder to do and it requires coaching.
52:55
So he'll struggle with with a bad set of players.
52:57
And I look at Amarim, he's got he's got a positional play
53:00
system and he also has a system that requires a bit of time.
53:06
We've put an investment in him. He seems to me to have the
53:10
charisma and has the personality for this club because of that
53:13
and because 10 Hog didn't. And that's where I got it wrong
53:16
with 10 Hog. I'd like to see him back, but I
53:19
want to see him backed in a way that we all want, which is a
53:23
director of football style recruitment where we hire to
53:26
profiles and we don't just go, oh, who do you want?
53:29
Oh, we'll pay 100 million for this guy.
53:31
If you've hired, if you've recruited the right players for
53:33
the next manager and you're still in the same league
53:36
position in November. And let's say you've invested in
53:39
quality and you look at that squad now and you go that's
53:42
quality, something's wrong. Can you not give him till till
53:47
the rest? This is the point though.
53:48
Can you in November? It's still a small sample size.
53:52
Can you not then allow him to get through January and get into
53:56
the second-half? Of the 17th yeah, it's just too
53:59
it's it's it's the difference between your struggling your
54:03
kind of table and a few wins here or there and you'd be in
54:06
the top six and the current run is it's it's completely
54:09
unacceptable. Right with with if you've given
54:12
him a summer, you've got a preseason.
54:14
He's had a chance to assess the squad, move some of the players
54:16
out that he wants to and bring in some decent quality.
54:20
Something's wrong. Like there's something
54:21
fundamental that he he hasn't been able to grasp and he just,
54:25
you just move him on. You know what's really funny
54:29
when you talk to whether it's family, friends, work
54:33
colleagues. If you had said even two years
54:36
ago, Manchester United in May with two games to go don't have
54:41
40 points or let's just say 17th, you wouldn't.
54:44
Believe that you. Would just think, not a chance,
54:47
right? But what's so funny is now it's
54:50
happened and where you thought all your rival fans would give
54:55
you so much stick, you wouldn't be able to cope with it and
54:58
like, you know, they'd just be on you.
55:00
This is the thing. They feel sorry for us.
55:02
It's really strange me and as I've talked about it before, as
55:05
a joke, it's like being in purgatory.
55:07
I don't, you know, we don't know what, we don't know what it
55:10
feels like. But this is the closest thing.
55:12
It's this weird, crazy world that we're in that, you know,
55:17
we're above the relegation zone yet we're miles clear of it.
55:21
But but we still have the opportunity to get into the
55:25
Champions League next Wednesday And if there's anything you
55:29
would have wanted next Wednesday to get your shot at, you know
55:33
being there is to play Tottenham.
55:37
It's Spurs lads. Ron, tell us about Virat Kohli
56:28
and Rohit Sharma. Oh.
56:29
I'm gutted honestly. I was super excited for this
56:32
series in England and now all of a sudden I'm like, we're going
56:34
to get absolutely batted. But yeah, obviously gutted.
56:40
But yeah, tremendous. I mean, they, both of them go
56:43
down in my eyes anyway, as you know, two of the very best in
56:47
Test cricket, phenomenal careers.
56:48
Look at the numbers. As you know, I'm a data guy,
56:51
love the numbers. Numbers are phenomenal.
56:54
But also, I think they've changed the culture of Indian
56:57
cricket, particularly Vera, you know, what he's done before he
57:00
came in, you know, there was a sort of especially away from
57:04
home, we're going to win at home, we're going to dominate.
57:07
But away from home, there was a sentiment that, you know, India
57:09
will struggle. And he put that belief into the
57:12
team. And through every single player,
57:13
you know, throughout that team that he's captained and managed
57:16
and, you know, been a part of, he's changed the dynamic of that
57:19
of the Indian cricket team for sure.
57:20
And I just hope that we've now got the mantle for the next
57:23
generation to continue on. I'm sure we do because we just
57:26
got so much quality and talent and people to choose from.
57:28
But yeah, there won't be another players like Virat Kohli and
57:31
Rhett Sharman. So in the pantheons, where does
57:36
Sachin Kohli and Rohit rank? Give me the order.
57:43
I think you've caught it in that order, Sachin Vera Rohit.
57:49
Wow, where's Rahul Dravid in this conversation?
57:52
He's not in the top three out of those 30.
57:55
Controversial. Maybe, maybe it's me.
57:58
Maybe it's more about, you know, but why do you watch sport?
58:01
Obviously you watch sport because you want to win.
58:03
You know, we support Man United because we're used to winning.
58:06
And for me, India, I'm used to winning.
58:07
So winning is paramount. But also it's about being
58:10
entertained. And yeah, I mean Sachin.
58:13
No VVS Laxman. Yeah, where would he be in that
58:17
list? Keep going.
58:19
It's just, it's just in the you said you're a stats man and
58:23
we're talking about Test cricket here, right?
58:24
I don't want to talk about all the formats because they've
58:27
retired, retired from Tests. Who is the top scoring Indian?
58:30
Yeah. Sure, Drive.
58:31
It's probably got better test numbers, doesn't he?
58:33
Yeah. Well, he's the number one to
58:34
Indian scorer of all time. Yeah, 13 but.
58:37
Then I'm looking at I'm looking at Test cricket and the way
58:39
it's. A strike rate of role like.
58:41
Exactly. Test cricket's evolved for me,
58:43
right? So if you're asking me that
58:44
question in the 90s when, you know, I was growing up and
58:47
watching cricket, watching England versus West Indies and
58:50
those series and things like that, you know, Brian Lara's and
58:52
Michael Atherton's over the world, that's a different type
58:55
of question. The Test cricket that I've seen
58:57
over the last 10 years or so. And you know, you can thank bass
59:00
ball for that. You know, it's about it's about
59:02
entertainment. Even when we go to cricket now,
59:04
you know, the run rate we're seeing, we're seeing 300 plus
59:06
runs a day. So by that definition, you know
59:09
Dravid wouldn't wouldn't get into my top three.
59:12
Yeah, I look back and it's same with with Sri Lanka.
59:14
I always look back at those guys and you're like, oh, you put
59:17
respect Ranathunga Aravinda da Silva and then followed on with
59:21
Jai Ward and yeah, Sana and and also yeah, and Jai Ward and her
59:26
and Murali and they're they're the era like the great.