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Daily Manchester United - Episode 123 - Europa League, Easy as 123?
15 Plays1 month ago
Kieran, Tom, and Cormac are here to preview the Europa League game against Real Sociedad, it’s our last chance of a trophy this season!
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Transcript
Introduction and Europa League Expectations
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the daily Manchester United as part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. Every club, every day. You might have been expecting a little bit of a crossover, but I still have a great team behind me to go through the Europa League and maybe what we're expecting from the game.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm joined tonight ah by Cormac. Cormac, hello. I'm very well, thank you very much.
00:00:30
Cormac
and Hello, how are you doing?
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm also joined by Tom. Tom, how are you?
00:00:35
Tom Cairns
Hello, Kieran. Hello to Carmack and hello to everyone that's tuned
Significance of Real Sociedad Match
00:00:39
Tom Cairns
in. And we are giving up what could be the defining match of our season against Real Saucer. It is two legs, but we need to come away with a positive result. That's most certainly the case.
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, you could have told me at the start of the season that you know this is our best chance to win the Europa League and I still would have bit your hand off after a 1-0 win at Fulham in the opening game of the season. Yeah, we'll win everything.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um it's It's sort of not turned out that way. I'm sort of in a dampened spirit thanks to that knockdown on penalties against Fulham in the FA Cup. Really, this is our last possible trophy. I know you've mentioned it, Tom, previously that we might have a chance. We can't sack off you know the Europa League. It's our one chance of
Challenges with Squad Depth
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Europe. But I will come to you, Tom, first.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the final trophy we could realistically win. What do you think our chances are?
00:01:29
Tom Cairns
I don't know, because it feels like Real Saucer are going to be one of those teams, like one of those foes that are going to get in our way. But we'll have to wait and see. I mean, if we a look at our record against them in the Europa League previously, and perhaps maybe in the Champions League in 2013-14, because that was when we played them for the first time, our record is not actually that bad compared to some of the other Spanish sides.
00:01:50
Tom Cairns
But i'd like to say that, you know, we are going to be up against it when it comes them, because there's no question going have ah decent squad out there whereas us we haven't really when you look at our ah squad that's traveling i've only got like 18 players have traveled so 11 stars and seven subs similar to what it was on sunday
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's
Evaluating Manchester United's Chances
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's going to be a tough one. We'll get on to those ah later on in the episode to confirm the list that are travelling. But Cormac, I'll sort of ask the same question of you. The final trophy we could possibly win. how How do you rate our chances? Do we have a chance?
00:02:26
Cormac
I mean, yeah, not very good, to be honest. I mean, coming into the season, I thought, you know, United would be a shoe-in to be up there making the final, possibly winning this. You know, I think the bookies had them up there as well.
00:02:38
Cormac
But no, i yeah, mean, as the season's gone, we've just faltered. And, of course, we get a tough tie right away. Sociedad, you know, I watched a bit of their game against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey a few weeks ago. And even though Madrid won, um you know, Sociedad looked unbelievable. I think they hit the poster crossbar like four times.
00:02:56
Cormac
Not sure how they scored, um but yeah, they have a lot of talent on the team, especially attacking boys. um So yeah, it's going to be a tough tie for us. Hopefully though, last weekend's exit of the FA Cup will be a wake-up call for the boys and hopefully they're kicking it out extra gear knowing that the season really is on the line for us here.
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, yeah that's a phrase that's been heard on this ah podcast alone in the last couple of weeks. But how many more wake-up calls does this team need, Tom, before we actually see you know a consistent run? we We seem to see glimpses of what this team could possibly achieve under this system, but they're so few and far between.
00:03:31
Tom Cairns
Very few and far between. And I just don't know when they'll actually wake up and actually do it consistently. I don't know. i don't know whether too many of them are afraid to move the ball when they've got the ball. There's just a lack of confidence in that
Strategic Approach to the Match
00:03:44
Tom Cairns
team overall. And I don't know what Ruben Amarin has been saying to them on the training ground, but clearly something is not working.
00:03:50
Tom Cairns
And I'm struggling to remember the last time we had a consistent run of performances. I mean, we've had good performances against Liverpool and Arsenal at the beginning of the year, but Now, it feels like every game we're just relying on moments to get us out of jail. And it's obviously not good enough for United. So I think tomorrow's game, it has got to be a solid performance. We don't need to win the match.
00:04:13
Tom Cairns
We just need to keep Sociedad out and go into the second leg knowing that if we can get a win at Old Trafford, that'll be enough to send us through. So it doesn't matter, obviously, how many goals we win by. It's just a matter of getting through. And it's going to really, really scrappy tie.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
A scrappy tie. You see, that's that's interesting. What do you reckon, Cormac?
00:04:35
Cormac
Yeah, no, I have to agree. I think, I mean, I'd be happy, honestly, if we came away with a draw away. I'd be very happy no one going back to Old Trafford. I just don't want this tie, you know, first leg getting away from us too much and us having a mountain to climb because we've seen the past few weeks up front, we're kind of lacking in that area. We're not scoring too many goals at all. and So for this first leg, I'd just like just to to stay in it. But yeah, definitely think it's going to be a huge task for us.
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree with you both. It's going to be tough to stay in this leg, which is i fatal unfathomable. It's so easy for me to say that you could possibly see United dominating this game. It's almost set like this this tactic is going to be.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
a case of trying to absorb the pressure. And just to expand on what you said, Tom, as well, that players seem a bit timid and a bit nervous to actually pass the ball forward. I think that's spot on.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
i've I've noticed, in especially in recent weeks, that this defence, although they're starting to play more long balls, we saw De Ligt with that you know cross-field passing, which I think is going to be a very powerful tool on towards Dorgou coming up in in the you ah Europa League.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's almost like we're scared to lose possession because once we lose possession, teams know exactly how to hit us. And yeah, as you said, Tom, is it the fact that we're too scared to go forward to try a risky pass in the hopes that we will create a chance that we're so scared of the turnover because of teams and how quickly they can counter?
Current Form and Injuries
00:06:07
Tom Cairns
Well, the only players that seem to be confident enough when it comes to passing the ball are De Ligt, Fernandes and Dorgue. Others are just bang average at best. So that's something that needs work on. I'm just looking at the form as well for Real Sociedad at home. It's better, obviously, at home for them compared to what is their away form. So if United can just scrape a nil-nil draw even, that will put them in good stead for the second leg at Old Trafford. Because I can tell you now, Sociedad's away form has been dreadful.
00:06:36
Tom Cairns
And that's something that United should exploit.
00:06:38
Tom Cairns
So,
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you haven't learned your lessons, Tom.
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
it could be It could be dreadful for anybody, but it's a free three goals if anybody wants it, eh, Cole?
00:06:47
Cormac
and yeah Yeah, I mean, yeah, we've often given predictions, you know, going into match weeks and yeah, they completely go the other way. I mean, yeah, United ah times can be shaky, although I feel like their background has shored things up a a little bit. I mean, I didn't think Fulham created, you know, as many chances I thought what they would, um be it they had some, obviously.
00:07:07
Cormac
um But yeah, I think the problem with this game is really just going to lie up top and, you know, maybe we'll see finally a Hoyland goal. I think it's been, what, near 19 games or something now without one? Because I'd imagine he'd be up front.
00:07:20
Cormac
But yeah, you just in never know. You know, honestly, it's becoming hard to predict. yeah The heart says, you know, we go on to win it, but the head says, you know, it's probably going to be a low-scoring one.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, normally the headers won out this season, hasn't it?
00:07:33
Cormac
Yeah.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there we go. We'll take a little bit of a quick break. When we come back, we're going to have our reaction to, as Tom said, that 18-player squad that's heading to Spain and it's those players that have missed out through to injury. We'll be back after this.
00:08:27
Tom Cairns
you
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So to take you through our 18-strong squad heading to Spain on match day, we have three goalkeepers. Onana, obviously, will probably be starting, but we'll get on to that later. With two more youth keepers in Harrison and me. They're our goalkeeping department.
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Defenders-wise, Nihil is going to be delighted. Harry Amas is there alongside Diogo Dalo. Dorgue, we've got Heaven, Lindelof, Mazerawi, Yoro and De Ligt. In terms of midfielders, we've got Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Toby Collier, Christian Eriksen.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in terms of forwards, or you could call him a midfielder, forward, Garnaccio with our two strikers, Hoyland and Xerxi. And that's it. That's it in terms of who we are bringing to Spain. As we've already mentioned, it's quite a depleted squad, to Cormac, but it's no surprise because we've got quite a few injuries to contend with.
00:09:32
Cormac
Yeah, i mean, yeah, injuries, off in the story of United recently. um Yeah, no, just a squad, not quite down to bare bones, but nearly down to there. um So, yeah, you know, it's going to be a lot of minutes on players' legs who um have been getting overworked really um the last few games. You know, haven't been much time for rotation or rest for them.
00:09:52
Cormac
um So, yeah, you know, it's hopefully, please God, touch wood, no more injuries and the lads can get through it. and But, yeah, no, it's not ideal at all going, a way to sauce it out with a squad that's completely depleted right now with injuries.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you're right. It's not quite bare bones, not quite against Tottenham with ah only 12 senior players that are fit.
00:10:09
Cormac
yeah
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah we're we're talking about ah Maguire, who's possibly out with a hamstring injury. We've got Luke Shaw, who obviously we know is out for quite some time. Bayon Deer out. Kobi Maynou out with that muscle injury. We know Ahmad's out for the rest of the season. So too is Martinez.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously we've got the long long-term injuries of Johnny Evans And Mason Mount. And I do forget sometimes that Mason Mount is a United player sometimes. He's been so unlucky with injuries.
00:10:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Tom, how much of that, how much talent are we missing out on in terms of the names that are unavailable?
00:10:44
Tom Cairns
a significant amount. I mean, it it may feel bad enough having them in the team and yeah watching United perform in the way they had been, even when they're around. But when you are missing that many players, even with the level of quality they bring in, it really does hamper them.
00:10:58
Tom Cairns
When it hampers them, it hampers them like an absolute rock that's just hit you in the face, basically. So United really could do with all of them back, ideally, especially Ahmed. I mean, Ahmed's the big one for me that United really could do with being in there.
Youth Players and Future Development
00:11:13
Tom Cairns
But now it they've just had to make do with what they've got. But I suppose the blessing in disguise, you if United were to say, were to go out to Real Sociedad in the Europa League, obviously their season is over.
00:11:24
Tom Cairns
But it gives Amrind an idea as to how he could select his squad for the remaining games in the season. We mentioned about Obi. We mentioned about Collier potentially getting some more game time.
00:11:37
Tom Cairns
You know, what about Harry Amas? Could he maybe get a game or two or some minutes at least? It gives the manager or the head coach, as he is officially, ah chance to really give those more and more minutes between now and the end of the season. And that way, heading into the summer, if some of these are good enough to be in the team, then i can't think why he needs to go out and spend £250-odd million pounds on players of which he doesn't even know for a fact that may or may not have played for him are good enough to be playing in the Premier League, let alone at Manchester United.
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, for a club that's so yeah touted for its academy, you know class of 92 coming through Cormac, we seem a little bit hesitant to to start giving youth a chance in these scenarios, especially in that game against Tottenham, where we only made the one sob in injury time at the end of the second half. Why is it that you think that Amarim is almost a little reluctant to sort of rely on the youth, even if the squad's are a little bit depleted?
00:12:35
Cormac
Yeah, I'm not really sure. I mean, yeah, that Spurs game, as you said, that was a complete shock. You know, we only had Lindelof on the bench. The rest of them hadn't played a game for us. And yeah, he only brought on Cheeto for a few minutes. um You know, you would think it would be good opportunities for the youngsters to get even more minutes with all the injuries we have.
00:12:53
Cormac
You know, I think in past seasons, even like young players have been getting a lot more minutes, even when there hasn't been injuries. And yeah, I don't know. Amorim, don't know if he's just new to the club, not really that familiar with them or um you know, that's the issue. But yeah, I mean, it's hard to tell. You'd think they'd be getting minutes. um Obviously, you know, if Tom said we do go to Europa League, season's kind of over. So you'd think in the league, at least he would start to play them a lot more, um you know, give them game times and develop them a lot and give them more options going into next season, you know, who we can trust and maybe who we can loan out.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's sort of like this bit of limbo, but I'll give Tom a chance to answer that question. And two, I mean, why do you think that Amirim is not not relying on the youth, even when there's the golden ticket to do so with a bit of an injury crisis we have?
00:13:40
Tom Cairns
It feels to me like he's trying to force the players to just completely be gelled into this system that he's trying to put together and trying to get them to adapt to it. Because if they're not being given enough minutes, they're not going to be able to adapt to the system. And given they've played so many minutes, he's kind of committed to having them try and fit into the system.
00:14:00
Tom Cairns
I know he keeps saying system so much, and it sounds like a very generic term. But we're going to go say formation and all the tactics, the link-up play and everything like that, and how he wants them to play, Then that's when the likes of Dorgue and all that, who have just been signed by him, are the players to do it.
00:14:14
Tom Cairns
But these are basically the tools that Amarim's got right now. And in the summer, he's probably going to need at least five or six players in designated positions, most particularly the striking role, because we know that Hoyland right now is clearly not fit for purpose in what Amarim's trying to put together.
00:14:32
Tom Cairns
So how do you go about resolving it? Well, Obi, I think we have to say right now, he is a squad player at best. So you have to bring in someone who know is going to get you that 20 goals across the whole season, because clearly Hoyland's not that player.
00:14:46
Tom Cairns
And if you look at the midfield role, central part of midfield, Casemiro, is he going to be around next season? If not, then you need to bring in someone who can replace him.
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it's a difficult time. but It is this sense of limbo, but I suppose the the free golden ticket of using the Youth Academy and using those youth prospects. I mean, ah looking through, you know, Harry Amass and Toby Collier, the notable ones I can see from the United Academy.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You could add Aidan Heffern. He's not strictly from United Academy, but he is a young player that clearly has had a couple of a few minutes on the pitch in the FA Cup knockout against Fulham.
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it seems weird that, you know, Alan Hansen once says you can't with anything with kids, but I don't think there's anything to lose by by playing some of our youth prospects. So, yeah, the maybe maybe it's a bit of column A and column B, trying to get the senior players, use this system and and use this bit of limbo to get them used that system and then try and bring through the youth that way.
Predicted Lineup and Strategy Debates
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess we'll see when we head to to Spain, when we kick off against them. But we'll come back soon. And we'll try and put together a predicted 11 out of the 18 players we have to choose from.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think anybody's going to lambast me for suggesting in the first of the predicted Levinham goalkeeper, Andre Onana. I'm not hearing any kerfuffle, am I, from you both?
00:16:53
Tom Cairns
Nope. Nope.
00:16:53
Tom Cairns
Nope.
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, shake of the heads all around.
00:16:54
Cormac
ah ah
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spot on, spot on. All right, then let's move on to something a little bit more complicated. Let's have a look at the back three, the centre-backs. I'll start with you, Cormac. What are you expecting and who are you expecting in that centre-back line-up?
00:17:07
Cormac
Yeah, I mean, obviously, I think De Ligt and Jaro would be there. The question then is, you know, do you go Aidan Heven or Victor Lindelof? I would like to see Heven.
00:17:18
Cormac
I thought he was very good when he came on, to be honest. and you know, Kubo, I imagine for Sociedad would be on the right-hand side. He has a lot of pace. So I think we could benefit from having an athletic left-sided centre-back over there.
00:17:32
Cormac
And Heaven obviously being left-footed, it suits him a lot over there. um Yeah, so I would like to see him over Lindelof. I think just Lindelof, he'd done all right the other day, but I think that pen pen miss might maybe be lingering on him a bit and going into such a big game. um Although it would be a bit of a risk to play Heaven, I think he'd be the right choice given the opposition.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Tom, how do you feel about that?
00:17:54
Tom Cairns
Well, I think with Aidan Hervin, as far as I know, he's quite a tall player. ah so But do correct me if I'm wrong with that. But I would probably say it's better to just go with the back three of Matsurari, De Ligt and Juro. Because like Heaven, Juro is a left footer.
00:18:08
Tom Cairns
So Juro would benefit from being in that position with De Ligt in the middle. He's also a left footer and Matsurari, as we know, is a right footer. So that would be my back three. ah Right wing back, I suppose I'd let you...
00:18:20
Tom Cairns
ask us that question, Kieran, since you're in charge of the show itself. so
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh Well, I was going to say, because I was going to pick your brains there, because obviously there's that split decision whether we play Masraoui as the right-sided centre-back or we play him as a right wing-back. And I've always been of the volition that he's a great defender, is Masraoui. He can read the game defensively very well, but he is limited in going forward. And I don't know if playing him as a right wing-back...
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
is the best way forward. And I feel like you're goingnna come on to putting Diogo Dallo at right wing back there, Tom. that's That's where I felt the conversation was going. And so far, I'm agreeing with you.
00:18:55
Tom Cairns
Yeah, well, reluctantly, yes. I would be happy for Mats Rowe be at right wing back, but I think Delo is going be the chosen one to be in that role because although he hasn't been great, I just I can't really think of any other reason apart from the fact that you could maybe put heaven inen in centre half alongside Deleuze and Yaro and push Mats Rowe into that right wing back. But I think Delo is going to be the chosen right wing back.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I sort of see that one. I i see your point as well, Cormac. You want to start Aiden Heaven. i can't see that happening. I think Lindelof is going start alongside De Ligt as well. So that's where all my head is at with D'Alo on the right wing back.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, ah sorry, D'Alo on the right wing back. I'm putting D'Alo on the left. I'm not doing an Amarim just yet and swapping them both. D'Alo on the left because I can really see that link-up play between De Ligt and D'Alo. It had massive potential when D'Alo was down that left-hand side.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah especially in the first 20-25 minutes. And whilst Dallier didn't do ah bad job, I feel like if we've got Dorgo on that left-hand side on the re um receiving end of those cross-field passes, I'm sure Kormaki can do a lot more with it.
00:20:00
Cormac
Oh, absolutely. I mean, Dorgoo has been a complete breath of fresh air. You know, the positivity he has, you know, on the ball, looking for passes going forward, as I said earlier, and even making runs in behind, you know, Gernacho or whoever's out in that left-wing spot. um Yeah, I think he'll be left-wing back, no doubt.
00:20:16
Cormac
And then, to be honest, I've always kind of slipped my mind in the centre-back, uh, I was thinking purely just what centre of backs we have. But i yeah, I think Dallot will probably be the right wing back, although yeah he hasn't been great. um But if Mazerawi played it there, although he's a bit more defensive, I wouldn't mind that at all, given I'd like us to get back to Old Trafford still in the tie.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that would be my preference as well. Fingers crossed. Let's have a look at holding midfield because there's a couple of ways we can approach this. I'll start with your comment. How is your holding midfield prediction looking?
00:20:47
Cormac
Yeah, I'm looking definitely, I think Bruno will be there. um I don't think he'll play higher forward like we kind of seen the other day. And then I know he's just coming back, but I would love to see Toby Collier in there as well. um You know, I thought he's been doing good. He's kind of the one Amarim's giving faith out of the youngsters and Against Rangers, I thought he had a phenomenal game in one of our last Europa League games.
00:21:09
Cormac
um So, yeah, it's just question. He's just coming back from injury. Will he be that much fit? um But he he'd be the one I'd like to see there alongside him, some youthful legs in there.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Tom, how how is your holding midfield looking?
00:21:22
Tom Cairns
I do like the idea of having Fernandes and Collier there. think Collier, when he played against, I can't know which team it was against, was it Rangers he played against or was it Bodeglin to Old Trafford in the Europa League? It was one of the two.
00:21:33
Tom Cairns
But I think he'll get some minutes in a game like this one alongside Bruno Fernandes. So I think excels in that defensive midfield role at times, especially when he plays those long balls in.
00:21:44
Tom Cairns
So Collier and Fernandes would be the two that I'd go for.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. Yeah, I'm also thinking Fernandes because I thought one of you was going to put Fernandes in the more attacking role, but you didn't. And it's caught me off guard. But anyway, Fernandes is a deep line playmaker. I like the look of. He's able to actually drive through the middle of the park as well, which I think is something that's been missing from this system.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone who's able to control the midfield. But I'm going to go against you both. I'm going to use my head here because I think it's going to be Casemiro that will probably start. I don't think he's been too bad recently, but he can't run out a full game. I'm not ruling out Toby Collier coming on for him in the second half, but I do think Casemiro is going to start the game.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's have a look at attacking midfielders then. I'll come to you, Tom. How's it looking?
00:22:27
Tom Cairns
This may interest you and others as well.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:22:31
Tom Cairns
Casemiro and Eriksson. I've decided to go for those.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry?
00:22:35
Tom Cairns
Yeah, honestly.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, expand. Expand.
00:22:37
Tom Cairns
Well, I saw someone put together this and the more I thought about it, the more I thought, do you know what? This could actually work. And i thought, when you put Casemiro in that attacking midfield role, because i know he's kind of like a box-to-box midfielder, maybe was at times where he when he was at Real Madrid.
00:22:53
Tom Cairns
I think in a game of its magnitude against Real Sociedad, I think... He's the kind of man that knows how to play in that particular part of midfield in a game like this one in the Europa League.
00:23:05
Tom Cairns
So I'm going to put Casemiro alongside Eriksen because I think Eriksen at times in the Europa League has been okay in that position in the attacking midfield role because I think he's more of an attacking midfielder than he is a defensive midfielder anyway, is Eriksen.
00:23:17
Tom Cairns
So I'll leave my number nine until you two give your attacking midfielders.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you gotta let us sue that one. Casemiro is an attacking midfielder callback. What do you make of
Hoyland's Role and Team Dynamics
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
that?
00:23:28
Cormac
um Yeah, it's definitely one of the crazier ah positions I've heard him being in um I mean, for me, I'd probably just go with the obvious.
00:23:39
Cormac
Garnaccio and Zerksy, I think. um You know, Eriksen, to be fair, I wouldn't mind that much. I thought he, obviously the on the ball, he has quality. Just the question is with his legs. They're kind of going on at this stage of his career.
00:23:51
Cormac
um But yeah, no, I think it will be predictable enough. I think it will be Garnaccio and Zerksy. in the the two behind the nine.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
See, thinking... Tom psyched me out here. He's cooking something over there. He is cooking something starting Casemiro as an attacking midfielder. i
00:24:08
Tom Cairns
It's been crazy enough of a season anyway, Kieran, so it's worth giving it a go.
00:24:10
Cormac
yeah
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Valid point. Very valid point. um i think I'm going to go the more boring route. I think a route that was sort of proved in the Fulham tie. I think Xerxes is going to start deeper alongside Eriksen.
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think Amarim has been too concerned about playing as both strikers in the same match. I think that's going to repeat here again. So I don't think it's going to be too bad. But now that the more I think about Tom's Casemiro attacking midfield, the more I want it to happen.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Will it happen though? That's the other question. But I'm going to go with Xerxi and Ericsson in the middle of the park. And then, Tom, no price for guessing who's number nine?
00:24:51
Tom Cairns
I think because of his goal-scoring record in Europe, I'm going to go Hoyland, actually.
00:24:56
Tom Cairns
Because if yeah if you look at his goal-scoring record in Europe, he's got 10 for Manchester United already as Hoyland, including five this season in the Europa League. And I think in a game like this, away from home especially, that's where Hoyland, think, thrives more in.
00:24:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:25:10
Tom Cairns
So I think in a game like this one, especially when you look at the defenders, I mean, we've not spoken enough about the... um Real Sociedad players yet, have we, unfortunately. But I think Hoyland will be able, maybe on a set piece, to get his head on it.
00:25:24
Tom Cairns
But if not, maybe like a good dog-goo cross to Hoyland could be what separates the two sides.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm thinking ah a low cross from Dorgu for Hoyland to get on to the end of. That is if Cormac has also picked Hoyland up top. Drumroll, please.
00:25:42
Cormac
Yeah, know and no surprise. He'll be there for me as well. um Let's just hope Keirn he doesn't do any more of those dummies we've seen. And he actually it strikes the ball. um But, ah yeah, Hoyland will be there. I really do hope he gets a goal. and As Tom said, you know, Europe's kind of favouring him a lot more in the league.
00:25:58
Cormac
And, yeah, I think he would do huge leaps and bounds for his confidence if he could get one and then hopefully start kicking on and get that one out of the way after this terrible streak he's been on. And yeah, just really start going forward. i I hope as well he gets a lot more than 10 touches in the first half. That would be a huge plus as well for him.
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be. Progress, it would seem, that that would be happening. Yeah, I'm putting Hoyland up top as well. It it seems the only option to put up top, especially if Obi-Martin isn't travelling with the squad.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Hoyland's the only option for me up top. But Alan Shearer, when he was on the commentary the co-coms in the f FA Cup against Fulham, he was talking about how tough it is for a striker who's going through a bit of a barren run, hasn't scored in a while.
Conclusion and Broadcast Information
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was spotting that... Hoyland was getting into the right spaces for for a good portion of the match, but it's clear that yeah he's drifting wide, which Amorim may have told him to do, but as a lone striker to start drifting wide when you're hoping for some sort of, i guess, overlap here from your wingbacks, because that's really where the width is coming from in this system.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
to have To be as the lone striker, but on the left-hand side, trying to put the ball in. Who's in the box? you know who Who aerially will get there? Xerxes missed a couple of headers. he sort of went over him for for a couple of them in the FA Cup game. But yeah, it just seems it's it's a bit of a muddled system up top. Defensively, we see...
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. I'm not going to say great because that's not the case, but we've really struggled going forward. And hopefully, as you said, Cormac, a goal could give Hoyland the boost of confidence that he needs to press on and hopefully get us through this, this, well, a affair, this Spanish affair. We head to Real Sociedad this evening when you're listening to it. It's 5.45 on TNT Sports 1 HD. Aren't we lucky?
00:27:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
TNT Sports 1. We were TNT Sports 4 the last time we were on there. So we're making progress. We are back. We're so back. Nile would be so proud of me. ah Thank you all for listening along. And thank you to my wonderful hosts, Ian Tom and Cormac, for joining me. Thank you both.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And thank you for joining me on today's podcast. Hopefully, keep your fingers crossed for tonight. Let's see if it had good result. I said that against Fulham, and look how that turned out. If you like the sound of this and want to follow us on all the socials, you can do indeed. We're on Twitter and X, GSP and Man United. We're also under the same tag on Instagram and TikTok and Facebook. You can also watch all of our episodes if you're listening to them on Apple or Spotify by going to our YouTube channel, the Global Sports Podcast Network, LTD. Find the Manchester United playlist and watch to your heart's content to see our reactions and our lovely faces.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let's hope we get the result we need against Sociedad. Come on, Hoyland. Let's get you on the score sheet. Until next time, take care of yourselves. We'll speak to you soon.