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Daily Manchester United - Episode 173 - Don't Iwobi, About a Thing
23 Plays13 days ago
Niall is joined by Tom to discuss the upcoming Fulham match this weekend!
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Transcript
New Season Jingle and Fulham Game Introduction
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the daily Manchester United podcast. Yes, you are in the right podcast. We do have a new jingle at the start of the episode. It almost ofmo threw me off as well. But yes, a snazzy little tune for the new season. um And yeah, another episode coming your way. And today we are going to be previewing the Fulham game at the weekend.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm your host for this evening, Niall. And I'm delighted to be joined once again by Tom Cairns. Tom, how are you?
00:00:44
Tom Cairns
Hello, Noel, and hello
Memorable Matches at Craven Cottage
00:00:45
Tom Cairns
to everyone. Yep, ah not long now before we travel to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side who are looking to build off that last-minute draw they picked up at Brighton.
00:00:57
Tom Cairns
And ah we'll we'll we be able to go there and grab all three points and get off the mark for the new season and gather a little bit of momentum.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the plan. That's the plan. And I don't know about you, but I love matches at Craven Cottage. It just reminds me of ah that kind of Ronaldo goal on the left-hand side, left foot into the bottom corner. think Garnaccio had a very similar one last minute, right foot, bottom corner a few years ago as well.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We always kind of wear black shorts, black socks, red jersey. i don't know. It's just something about that ground um that that really interests me for the game. Are you looking forward to it or you think it's going to be just one of those forgettable ones?
00:01:35
Tom Cairns
No, I am looking forward to it. I mean, Craven Cottage has not been a bogey ground for us, certainly not in recent years. I just looked into the stats actually about our record at Craven Cottage. We've won in our last eight visits there, including last season.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Considering how bad we've been, that's mental, isn't it?
00:01:52
Tom Cairns
Yeah. law
00:01:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
is not.
00:01:55
Tom Cairns
The last time we failed to win at Craven Cottage was in August 2010. That was when we drew 2-2 against a Fulham side who were managed by Mark Hughes.
00:02:08
Tom Cairns
ah Paul Scholes opened the scoring. Then Fulham came back twice in the second half to rescue
Lineup and Strategy Against Fulham
00:02:16
Tom Cairns
a point. And the man who got the second equaliser was the one who scored the own goals. But United 1-0. So was a crazy, crazy game.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I don't know what it is about the stadium. It's probably one of those ones that are that are left in terms of and a historic stadium and and a really old one in the Premier League. So and something about it that I'm really looking forward to. But not only the stadium, I mean, such a promising performance last week, um despite having not come away with anything.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm kind of bouncing coming into this weekend, really looking forward to seeing all the new signings again. and We spoke quite highly about Mbemo and Cunha last week. In terms of the starting team, Tom, think it's going to be something similar or um what's your what's your kind of thoughts going into the game?
00:03:04
Tom Cairns
I would expect Sesco to start this time.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:03:06
Tom Cairns
I think he needs to start over probably Mount, but I would expect Mount to come on in the second half and just bring a little bit of stability because they will want to risk ah rest Sesco for the upcoming League Cup tie for obvious his reasons and go up against Burnley and then heading to the international break with our head tight, aiming to continue that form. But I would say Sesco will start in that recognised number nine role, with Mbamo and Cunha in the tens.
00:03:41
Tom Cairns
And it's a question mark, I think, who is going to end up playing in the eights or
Midfield Focus: Kaby Menuh's Development
00:03:45
Tom Cairns
in the sixes. No, it's going to be more or less eights, isn't it Because we're looking at box-to-box midfielders now, as opposed to central defensive midfielders.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:53
Tom Cairns
It's probably going to end up being Bruno, And Casemiro in those eights, with Dorgue on the left, Ahmed on the right, and then you're looking at probably the same back three as what it was against Arsenal.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
who Yeah.
00:04:09
Tom Cairns
um It's a question as well whether Onana is going to be in between the sticks, because i looked at the injury list. Onana's name was not up there, so is that the assumption that he's going to be in goal this time?
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see um who actually goes with. Obviously, we saw the the the presss press conference during the week with Amirim about really backing his player with Bayern Deer.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it'll be interesting to see if he sticks with him going into into this game against Fulham. Really exciting team as well. You know, it it was kind of clear that we played Dallot at right wing back against the a stronger opposition like Arsenal.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But the thought of Ahmad and Mbwemo down that right-hand side for for the guts of at Craven Cottage at the weekend is going be really exciting. and We saw high positive Dargu was as well against Arsenal and and how he was kind of um really manning that left-hand side nearly by himself with Cunha drifting anywhere he liked.
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that front three is is something that that we've been looking forward to seeing since we saw the Cesco deal get over the line. and Just to see how the interplay works, it's it's a brand new front three um to see if there's kind of initial chemistry there as well. so and I think it is important that Sesco starts and and gets embedded into the team as quickly as possible because it seems as if it's the main option this year with United as a club really looking to push Highland out the other side of the door and um and to make as much room for Sesco. So it will be interesting to see how it goes on.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and In terms of the midfield, Kaby Menuh. what's your What's your thoughts on this? It it just doesn't seem to be that it that he's able to get in at the moment. um In the pecking order behind Ugarte as well, it seems like there's only one spot available for him in the team, and and that is that position beside Bruno and in the two eights, like you mentioned.
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think this is a game for him, or or what's your thoughts on Maynou in general?
00:06:06
Tom Cairns
He'll be on the bench. Will he get any minutes? I think it depends on the nature of the game. think if we're leading comfortably we're looking like we're going to be coming away with all three points, that's when I think Manu will get a start.
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:19
Tom Cairns
I would say he'll be involved in the League Cup tie at Grimsby.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:06:23
Tom Cairns
That would be my take on it. But I don't think... It's too much of a concern to me because United need options in there and there's going to be injuries and suspensions throughout the season anyway.
00:06:36
Tom Cairns
And that's when Maynou can take his opportunity and make himself as a viable option to play in that eight alongside Bruno, should he need to be. Or even coming in for Bruno if Bruno gets suspended or injured.
Fulham vs Brighton Recap
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, it's um it's a frustrating one with Meynou because you know when he really bursts onto the scene with Tin Hag, he was that deep-lying playmaker taking the ball off the centre-halves and dictating play and and being defensive in terms of his work rate as well. and Amram just hasn't really seemed to fancy him and and he has been injured. He's been in and out of the team. He's gotten a lot bigger as well in terms of his frame um and kind of what player he's developing into. I'm not too sure. and Then we had the system change. So a lot of things have changed for him. and um
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's kind of, you know, two years ago or a year and a half ago, you would have been saying this guy is going to be... ah one of the first names on the team sheet going forward for United um after coming off the back of the Euros and everything.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's just interesting to see how he actually makes his way back into that squad. But yeah, hopefully he can put in good performance in the in the League Cup against Grinsby. But yeah, Fulham, did you catch any of that game against Brighton? Obviously the last gasp equaliser from Muniz.
00:07:52
Tom Cairns
I was at the game, Niall.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I was thinking, I thought you mentioned that like um earlier on in the week. Yeah.
00:07:58
Tom Cairns
Yeah, it was good.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
How was it?
00:07:59
Tom Cairns
i mean, in terms of the nature of the match, it wasn't that great. But um it was good to be there.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:08:05
Tom Cairns
um And obviously saw the tributes to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. God bless them. um But I think overall, I don't think either side played well enough to win the game. I think Brighton had slightly more chances to what Fulham had.
00:08:19
Tom Cairns
ah thought I thought Fulham got lucky with that last-minute equaliser that Munez got, because it was a scrappy corner, but Munez was in the right place at the right time on that far post to just tap it in.
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay
00:08:30
Tom Cairns
And, yeah, as soon as the that went in, the Brighton fans, including myself and a friend of mine, um had all left to catch the train, because around where Farmer is, it's a very busy area, and they can get quite head-sick.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:48
Tom Cairns
so But in regards the game, I think Fulham are going end up being what they were last season because they've hardly brought anyone in. I think they've only brought one player in, and that's a goalkeeper who they've brought from Montpellier for like half a million pounds.
00:09:06
Tom Cairns
And you know players like Willian has moved on.
Fulham Team Analysis: Departures and Injuries
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:10
Tom Cairns
ah They've kept hold of the likes of Tom Kearney and Josh King. um who have been instrumental in Fulham's rise, I'll say rise, that just keeping hold of their place in the Premier League really because the last few seasons before they've been in the Premier League it since 2022, they've had really, really dogged periods there but they've done well to stay in the league for as long as they have done.
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:34
Tom Cairns
There's only a couple of injuries which I've spotted that Fulham have, and that's Anthony Robinson and Ryan Sassignon. I couldn't pick up on what the injuries were, but I don't expect them to be lengthy injuries for Fulham. Their injury list is about the same as what many eyes have got, with Martinez who's expected to be out until the end of November, whereas Mats Rowe is expected to come back around about the end of the month, if not after the international break.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay yeah um Anthony Robinson used to give us ah a lot of bother so I'm probably kind of happy he's not going to be playing a player I wanted to ask you about from Fulham and he's always kind of rumoured or linked with but United on Twitter which is 95% of players across the world but Sander Berger in midfield um probably a type of profiler player that that we need. and it's It's clear that you United have been in the market for a midfielder and for that type of, I suppose, controller in the midfield as well and being able to kind of dictate play. He has a good frame about him and and seems to be very good on the ball as well.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did he stand out to you at all and in that game or ah was it more of ah it was a dull watch in general?
00:10:49
Tom Cairns
yeah It was just a dull watch, really. I don't think Berg really impressed me enough to think that he won't be in that Manchester United team. I mean, one of the points I took away from that game, i was closely watching Carlos Belaver, I could see why United wanted him.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay. Talk to me about that.
00:11:05
Tom Cairns
Because, yeah, well, he's good at holding the ball up very well in midfield and he' he's good at going at ah and sort of attacking players or pressing players when he needs to.
00:11:18
Tom Cairns
But considering how wide the pitch is, you don't want to be losing so much energy just chasing down players and pressing them. But Colours Belayba is
Key Fulham Players and Defensive Strategies
00:11:27
Tom Cairns
good ah holding the ball up and creating solid passes and putting together links between him and players.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which is what you need in that position.
00:11:38
Tom Cairns
yeah Yeah, exactly that.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:39
Tom Cairns
Yeah, and ah the flow of the play which Brighton had put together when Belayba was playing... was absolutely brilliant. What lacked was that final bit quality in the final third to put together the finishing touch, essentially.
00:11:54
Tom Cairns
Because there were a couple of them there were a couple of opportunities after they'd gone one-up where they should have put the game away. And i think Belaber had played a huge role in in putting together those chances, which is something that United need in them in the near future.
00:12:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just looking at the the front three there with Harry Wilson, Josh King, Awobi and then also Jimenez up front or Armuni's coming on and actually getting the getting the equaliser.
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah thought United looked quite steady in defence and quite good in defence against Arsenal. um Arsenal kind of put in that that classic, you know, go a goal up and and kind of protect the lead. So they weren't really penetrating the the United defence an awful lot, particularly in the second half.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um last year I think I would have been a little bit less confident in terms of us being able to deal with that but but I think you know there's nothing too scary there in terms of the the attack and threat from Fulham is there any them that kind of stand out you that you think we probably need to keep an eye out for okay okay
00:12:57
Tom Cairns
Harry Wilson certainly. I thought Harry Wilson played phenomenally well in that game against Brighton, um in my opinion. So he's someone that we need to keep honest. It's difficult to say with strikers because strikers have different attributes to how they control the ball or what they do off the ball.
00:13:13
Tom Cairns
But either way, but back three need to keep Wilson honest. There was a thing about when teams like Fulham even Arsenal attack, if you've got three at the back...
00:13:27
Tom Cairns
and you've got two going at you, obviously you're outnumbering them with the number of defenders you've got there, sometimes you bring your right centre-half out of play into the middle to put off the player that's got the ball, so it leaves him with less less options as to where to play the ball to.
00:13:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:13:47
Tom Cairns
And sometimes one of your midfielders, like the right wing-back or whatever, like Ahmed, would slot into that position that's left over. So it's about taking the opposition players out the game, really, when they're going on the attacking front towards the 18-yard box.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
who
00:14:02
Tom Cairns
And Harry Wilson he's going to be one of those that United need to pick up on and not allow him too much time and space. Because we know what he can do in terms of scoring goals from outside the penalty area.
00:14:15
Tom Cairns
I think we've seen it before somewhere. i can't remember which games. But he's lethal when it comes to his striking ability.
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a great spike. Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:21
Tom Cairns
So he's going to be one look out for. Josh King. United players or United fans know what he can do. He's penetrated us in the past.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:14:30
Tom Cairns
ah I don't recall him doing so for Fulham, but he did when he was over at Bournemouth years ago.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:35
Tom Cairns
So he's another one we need to and but needs to keep quiet. And and think it's just I think the most important thing, really, is just when Fulham have the ball, is just... Obviously, you want to press them, but not too much. Just allow them possession if you need to.
00:14:53
Tom Cairns
And when you get to hold of the ball...
00:14:57
Tom Cairns
Just go on the break and attack them. Because I think that is Fulham's weakness.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:15:02
Tom Cairns
Because they got caught out on the yeah on the break a couple of times a little bit when Brighton were going at them. Brighton should have put them away.
00:15:11
Tom Cairns
And I don't see Fulham coping with the likes of Mbamo and Cunha and perhaps Cescou as well when they go in on the counter. If Brighton can't do it, there's a chance that United will. And think United said will end up penetrating them when it matters most.
Man United's Tactical Approach
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's we like to hear. Good stuff. Okay, we'll take a quick break here um and we'll be back with how we think the game is actually going to pan out.
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mentioned at the start of the show that I'm really looking forward to the game, you know, not just because it's in Craven Cottage. i think I went a little bit overboard on on how good that stadium is. But it was the first time in a long time that United had dominated the ball in terms of possession against Arsenal at the weekend.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, you'd be coming into a game, even against Fulham or the kind of smaller teams, as you would say, that that we were fighting and scrapping with last year in terms of down at the bottom of the table.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
those teams would would be dominating the ball and and we would be counter-attacking and that's how we were set up for for years and years and and I'm really looking forward to actually going there and being able to dictate play and and really put our foot in the ball.
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You mentioned our you know our abilities to counter-attack because of that newfound pace that we have in the front three. and But what sort of display do you think United are going to put on here at the weekend? Do you think that they're going to build on that momentum from Arsenal? Or do you think it it could be a bit of what we saw last season and and a bit of a whimper going into the weekend?
00:17:45
Tom Cairns
I think Fulham will be more stubborn defensively compared to how Arsenal were. But I think it's about finding the spaces and actually go with them.
00:17:58
Tom Cairns
I don't know how often we're going to go on the on the counter because we don't really score goals on the counter at Craven Cottage when Fulham are set out to play against us.
00:18:10
Tom Cairns
It's also maybe about working on our set pieces because that's a clear weakness that we have. And I'd expect Fulham to be prepared for those kind of situations.
00:18:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Defending them?
00:18:21
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or, yeah, yeah.
00:18:22
Tom Cairns
Yeah, yeah, defend him. um So i think it's going to come down to the creative side of things. If Ahmad is set up to play ah at least start, because he didn't start at the weekend.
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:18:36
Tom Cairns
Who was it that was starting? It it was Delo, wasn't it? Delo started on that right wing back role before Ahmad came on.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:42
Tom Cairns
And Ahmad made a positive impact when he came on. So I'd expect Ahmed to be involved, and if he's involved, his crossing ability is going to come in handy for Cesc to get on the end of it and just put Fulham away, really.
00:18:57
Tom Cairns
It's just a matter of, will everyone else turn up? Will Mbomo turn up? Will Cunha turn up? Will Bruno turn up? I'm confident they will do, but it's a different feel on the day to what it is when you're discussing about it a few days before.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, it's easy to get up for the first game of the season at home against Arsenal. These are the games where you know you're away from home against Fulham. That's not something that you're going to bed dreaming about. so It's just that the right mentality is there for these players that that they're coming there on a bit of a mission this season to to actually go and and grab the game by the scruff of the neck and go get three points and in all these matches.
00:19:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So I am really positive that they are going to build on that because I really did think that there was a ah big difference um last week compared to anything we saw for for a long time. I think that the crossing point you mentioned is is important, obviously with Sesco playing.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you know, the the sheer dominance of him in the air and and the physical presence that he has. We haven't really had a striker like that in a long time. And I think with the crossing abilities of Ahmad, like you mentioned, but also Mbwemo, and being able to kind of have those dinked lofted crosses as well, where he's cutting back in on his left foot, I think will really suit Sesko.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And of course, then the kind of penetrative runs from... from Cunha, the kind of crossing ability of Bruno as well and the the kind of range of passing that
United's Attack Options and Predictions
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
he has. I think there's there's a lot of different ways that we can attack teams now and I think that's really exciting um and and it really keeps the opposition guessing of ah who do you actually shut down because you know You put a bit of emphasis on the defending United's right-hand side, where you have Mbemma and Ahmad, and then you leave space for Cunha or Bruno on the other side.
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
While last year, we were kind of just relying on a bit of Bruno magic, and it wasn't getting us too far. So I think we've developed more attacking threats this year, and I think that's really going to pay off. So I'm looking forward to the game, and hopefully we can get three points.
00:20:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
To wrap it up, Tom, score predictions? What do you reckon? How do you think the game's going to pan out at the weekend?
00:21:03
Tom Cairns
I think it'll be 3-0 to Manchester United. I think though they'll go out and i give it their all.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, love it. Love it.
00:21:08
Tom Cairns
and Put in a very, very convincing performance and they'll come to point game where they can just see it out, I think. Give players a rest. Give those a go in preparation for the game against Grimsby.
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who's getting the goals?
00:21:24
Tom Cairns
And Bermot will get one.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:21:29
Tom Cairns
Cunha will get one and I think Cesc will get one.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be the dream.
00:21:35
Tom Cairns
Yeah, I think Bruno will assist two of them.
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:21:37
Tom Cairns
And I think the other, maybe be from a... It'll probably be like Cunha to Sesco for Sesco's goal. So I think Cunha will get two goals and and assist in the game.
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I think I'm going to go for two now I think Cunha will get a goal and... I think Bruno will get a penalty or something like that later on in the
Engaging Listeners on Social Media
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
game.
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, really, really positive going into the game. ah We spoke about kind of the the threats of Fulham, what we kind of need to look out for. and we mentioned as well how we think United will set up. Probably a a bit more attacking from the line-up that we saw against Arsenal.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, really looking forward to it. Half four on Sunday afternoon. um I'm sure we'll be getting ah a good live reaction after the game and and hopefully it'll be a positive one.
00:22:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Tom, thank you very much for joining me this evening. um This episode will be available for you Friday friday morning um as you get ready for the weekend. So thank you very much for listening.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you can find us on social media, GSPN Man United, um comment away on the tiktoks we're flying got new social media people now so we're getting a lot more content out there um let's get a bit of a debate going in the comments as well and uh yeah if you're if you're enjoying the podcast then you can you can listen on any of the platforms that you that you listen to your podcasts on but tom thank you um and i love the positivity going into the weekend bit of a change from last year we'll see you we'll in the next one
00:23:13
Tom Cairns
I should think safe, safe,