Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Daily Manchester United - Episode 162 - Summertime Sadness
13 Plays1 day ago
Niall is joined by Tom to discuss the poor summer of transfers in and out of the club
If you like what you hear, dont forget to give us a 5 star rating wherever you find your podcasts!
#manunited
Find us on:
Instagram: gspnmanunited
X: gspnmanunited
Tiktok: gspnmanunited
Our Sponsors
Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.
We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.
Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
ken.davies@globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2025 Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
#fyp #mufc #fyp
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Season Outlook
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the daily Manchester United podcast. We're in season two and in the summer break at the moment. Looking forward to the season ahead. Well, as much as we can, I suppose.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, my name is Nylee Hannigan, your host for this evening and for this episode. And I'm delighted to be joined by Tom Cairns. Tom, welcome back. it's been a while.
Transfer Challenges and Major Signings
00:00:32
Tom Cairns
It has been a while, um although for those that watched the podcast of last night with me, yeah Dan and Cormac, you know, this is my second episode. But either way, gearing up for the new season, although not feeling as optimistic as I'd like to be, but we've got a bit ah bit of a long way to go.
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:00:49
Tom Cairns
Well, I say a bit of a long way to go. We've still got a long way to go to sort out what we need to get rid and who we need to bring in. But it feels like the biggest hurdle we're facing at the moment is bringing those in. we've only made one major signing in Mateus Cunha. I know there's Diego Leon who is signed from ah some Paraguayan side somewhere for 7 million quid.
00:01:09
Tom Cairns
ah But Mateus Cunha is the major one that's got in. We don't seem to be travelling at full speed to get who we need to bring in. It feels like Vitor Jokeres is on his way to Arsenal.
00:01:21
Tom Cairns
And Bermot is up in the air at the moment. There has been A new bid being put out today of 65 million plus 5 million in add-ons. Do I think Brentford will take it?
00:01:33
Tom Cairns
I think if they're putting it at 70 million, ah you would think they would take it, wouldn't you?
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'd think so. um And it's interesting with that number I saw David Ornstein put it out.
Market Prices and Strategic Debates
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a few others as well. 65 plus Adams, like you mentioned. You look at the numbers that these players are going for at the moment, Alanga and Kudus, and you're like, of course they're going to hang around for a few more because you know the output that Mbwemo had last year was was higher than those guys and they all went for 55 million.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
and The money is just absolutely crazy. They mentioned at the start that they... Basically, we're tying it off whatever we paid for Cunha and felt that he was kind of at the same level. so So 62.5 million odd for Cunha.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It's going to have to be above that. And now it's it's creeping closer to 70.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just fills me with dread, Tom. I don't know about yourself, but it just it's very united that everything just drags on when it comes to these signings, especially over the last 10 years or so. It's just been really poor in the transfer market, and it's ringing a lot of the Sancho situation a couple of years ago when it just dragged out for the whole whole summer, and then we eventually got over the line, and that one darn didn't turn out so good, I suppose. But Mbwemo, if it did get over the line, would you be happy with that?
00:02:51
Tom Cairns
I would, although some people say, well, if Brentford keep asking for more and more money, then just pull out of it and go for someone else.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:59
Tom Cairns
But it feels to me like United are too committed in getting a Bermot in after all this time. So I think we've probably paid more than what we should be paying for him.
00:03:10
Tom Cairns
I don't think he should be more than 50 mil, in my honest opinion. But it is what it is. Brentford know who they're selling the player to potentially. You know, it's a need to bring Mbomo in. I mean, he's essentially another attacking midfielder, isn't he?
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
who
00:03:25
Tom Cairns
Mbomo. So you probably think you'd play alongside Bruno with Cunha sort of pushing up sometimes as like the yeah the striker, if he could play there. Although I think Xerxes is more of a designated striker than a Cam.
00:03:40
Tom Cairns
It just helps give United more options in that particular part of the pitch. And goals are what were missing last season.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:03:46
Tom Cairns
People can criticise Andre Inanna all they want, but that's not the number one issue.
Ownership Critique and Management Issues
00:03:50
Tom Cairns
The number one issue is to sort out it sort out the yeah the attacking line involving the number nine, because we don't have a number nine that's going to be consistent enough.
00:04:00
Tom Cairns
I would prefer a circus over Hoyland on the back of what we saw last season, but we've got to bring in someone who we absolutely know is going to be scoring week in, week out.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely, and there's there's not many of them on the market. and I think every club is looking for that. ah Arsenal, I suppose that's kind of the one missing link that they're that they're looking for their back for. Their midfield is excellent, and they're just looking for that number nine. And like you mentioned at the top of the show, Jacarese looks like it's going to get over the line there. But from a United perspective, I think you hit the nail on the head. It gives us so many more options going forward. and If the Mbamo deal gets over the line, you have...
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kunjan and Buemo probably in and in the number 10s and Bruno playing a bit deeper potentially. If you want to rest one of them, you can put Bruno in the number 10s. It provides a lot of competition as well for Ahmad on the right-hand side.
00:04:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't really had any competition um last season and was one of our best players. So it's ah it's just good to kind of better the whole squad in general. um So it is going to be interesting to see if it's over the line. But...
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it's ah it is a steep, steep price and they exactly know who they're selling to. And ah it will probably end up going to, to the 70 million. And that just feels, it feels way too much for a player like that. But um that is normally what what happens to us when we're, when we end up in the transfer market.
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
just kind thinking back, Tom, ah we, the last time we spoke was the aftermath of the Europa League final.
00:05:26
Tom Cairns
And you'll
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, That was a pretty depressing podcast. like That was about 55 minutes to an hour of just... It was ah it was tough going, trying to analyse the game, trying to collect our thoughts.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been a month or so, probably a bit more since then. Probably, oh yeah, almost two months. I mean, are you underwhelmed by what's happened in the summer with United? Because because I definitely am.
00:06:01
Tom Cairns
I would have to feel that way. I mean, a month ago, i felt a little bit more optimistic because I thought we're going to get Mbomo done before the end of the month and potentially Jokeres.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:09
Tom Cairns
But it feels like we've pulled out of Jokeres and we're only just getting Mbomo over the line before pre-season begins this weekend, actually, because we're travelling over to Stockholm ah for our first pre-season game.
00:06:23
Tom Cairns
i I just want the all the business to be done before the season starts. I hate it when we keep going into a season having not done anywhere near enough. And what has annoyed me even more as well, Niall, is we haven't been able to get any club to accept an offer to sell, you know, the likes of Rashford, Anthony, Garnaccio, Sancho and Malassia.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:49
Tom Cairns
Five players of which have all been wanting to move on.
00:06:54
Tom Cairns
since last month. And there's just no clubs out there to basically, you know, for United to say, look, we want X amount of money. Can you please accept it?
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:07:04
Tom Cairns
Because we want to get them off our wage bill.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And honestly, that is... ah Scarily enough, considering how bad it is us bringing players in, that is probably a bigger issue, is getting rid of players. And the clubs are smart. I mean, they know how frayed those relationships are with those players that you mentioned that are at that are at United.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They know that they want to leave. They know United want to get rid of them. And you can just see they're just waiting and waiting for the price to drop and drop and drop and they get closer to the season and then kind of swoop in towards the start of the season where the price is at its absolute rock bottom, where they can just get them at at such a ah discounted rate.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's very frustrating, especially when you see other players kind of selling their players or other teams selling their players for such high prices and... you know Yes, they those group players haven't haven't been at their best at United, but there're they're still quality players compared to some of the players that are going for $40-$50 million at the moment. so It is frustrating when when you see that that could be income for the club, particularly on the PSR side of things with the the academy graduates and um getting that pure profit. But
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's ah it's it's a pretty bad indictment on the on the club itself in terms of its and its transfer policy this year, both in and out.
00:08:30
Tom Cairns
mean, the problems lie within the football club internally. You have to begin with the owners who have basically allowed the whole fiasco to um to take place. And now they've invested more in this new stadium that's been put together.
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:08:42
Tom Cairns
was it? Two billion pounds they've invested in a new stadium or about to invest in a new stadium.
00:08:50
Tom Cairns
I mean, explain that to me, because where on earth are they getting this money from? Because the government aren't paying for it.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:08:57
Tom Cairns
Are they?
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:09:00
Tom Cairns
it's It's just mind-boggling where the priorities are at.
00:09:06
Tom Cairns
So that tells you about where the Glazers are going with it and what it is they want rather than what it is the funds want. It's no wonder the funds are so against what the Glazers have been up to.
00:09:19
Tom Cairns
In terms of what some jim cla ah Sir Jim Ratcliffe has had to put up with, I don't necessarily like everything that he's done so far, but there is a part of me that says that he is at least trying to make things happen.
00:09:34
Tom Cairns
But it's just making do with what we've got right now.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's very difficult to know as well who's actually calling the shots when it comes to this stuff. um The interview that Sir Jim Radcliffe did good few months ago now with Gary Neville was just like,
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It was difficult to know where he was coming from really and where he was laying the blame, and saying that the club was in so much debt and they kind of came in and saved it. But then we have all these players and he was naming them by name of, it doesn't matter if we sell them, we still have to pay for their wages. Basically, over the next few years, we have to pay back the clubs over the next few years because we haven't paid off all the transfer fees. It just kind of painted a bit of a bleak picture.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But he wasn't kind of laying the blame on the Glazers because he because he he can't call them out publicly. But you still don't really know who's actually doing, making the big calls behind the scenes is Baratta, is Sir Jim Radcliffe. It's just it' just hard to know, really. And you can...
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can kind of just throw a blanket over all of them and and just say that it hasn't
Season Challenges and Squad Analysis
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
been good enough. And it's ah it's clear when you compare it to the other teams in the league that just seem to be getting their business done so much more efficiently um and in the areas that they really, really needed as well.
00:10:49
Tom Cairns
I don't know, Niall. I just, you know, as much as I respect Sir Jim Ratcliffe's points, you know, he can't, as I rightly say, he can't call out the Glades because you have a contract that tells you that he can't call them out publicly by any means.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:11:03
Tom Cairns
But the bigger picture is that the fans are not happy. They've been really unhappy with how the club has been run for the last, well, let's be honest, 20 years.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:11:17
Tom Cairns
The leverage we had was when Sir Alex was there And the moment Sir Alex left, we knew what was coming.
00:11:26
Tom Cairns
And I never expected us to be as low as we ended up last season.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah it's ah it's going to be a tough one. you know you you come out We came out of that Europa League final quite um and down in the dumps, I would say, and it hasn't really filled me with confidence over the last few months now. um So yeah, it's going to be going to be a tough one to try and crawl up the league table, I think.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, we'll take a quick break there. and We'll be back to discuss maybe a bit more our the signing that we did make this summer.
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Matthias Cunha, 62.5 million, paying hundred and fifty k a week. what are we thinking tom
00:13:02
Tom Cairns
I'm excited for him. Five-year deal as well for Mateus Cunha.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
who
00:13:06
Tom Cairns
um'm looking at the ah Looking at his form in terms of how he got on last season for Wolves, I'm just trying to get his stats up at the moment, just as we speak, so just bear with me one moment.
00:13:19
Tom Cairns
But I do like him. he's um He's a good player. I like his willingness to be involved. He kind of brings that Bruno vibe into the team that where he really cares about what the club wants to be achieving, despite the difficulties they've had to face.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:13:32
Tom Cairns
And we need those kind of backbones in the team. It's something they've been lacking for some time. Last season, he got, in all comps, he got 17 goals in 36 appearances. The season before, 14 goals in 36 appearances.
00:13:47
Tom Cairns
He had an initial loan at Wolves whilst being on loan from Atletico Madrid where he was all right, but he never really adapted to life, though, in the same way as he has done in the Premier League. And he also had type spells at Hertha Berlin and RB Leipzig and the Swiss side Sion, where he scored 10 goals in 32 appearances for them in his first season as a professional player.
00:14:13
Tom Cairns
I do like him. He's not like a... He's not a Jokeres. But he is a player that that can do things in front of goal.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no. Yeah.
00:14:22
Tom Cairns
And think the Premier League is somehow being able to fit around how the Premier League works in regards to the pace of the game, the style of the game, and how he's basically integrated to it.
00:14:37
Tom Cairns
I can potentially see that at Manchester United because he's not a one-season wonder. i mean, if you look at the previous two seasons, he's had with Wolves in a really poor Wolves team.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:48
Tom Cairns
He's actually been brilliant.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely. Like, I'm very excited about this signing, to be honest. um I don't think I was getting too excited about signings last year. ah I'll hold my hand up if I go back and listen to the episode. It probably was.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um I think he he adds something completely different to what we have. Like, we don't have anyone really who can carry the ball any way efficiently. I mean, Garnaccio carries the ball, but normally carries it out of play.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So Cunha is just like this incredible ball carrier, kind of um sneakishly fast as well, um quite a big frame, and then scores from outside the box. Bit of a Maverick player as well, which I think is really kind of old-school United style, which um which I really like as well.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Not much of a system player, which is concerning with our manager, but I do like the way he plays, where he does play off the cuff, and he does try things as well. And I think...
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's what we've been missing as well. We're a bit too stale going up front. Um, we just kind of give the ball to Bruno and hope for the best. And I think the two of them on on the same pitch will be, will be playing on the same wavelength. I think it would be really, really exciting.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, and I also think going back to the system with the two number 10 positions that we have, he's perfect for that one on the left. So I'm, um I'm happy that we've actually bought a player that will fit the system. Um,
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But will also kind of bring his own his own edge to it as well um and has that bit character about him. he' We know that he's gotten into trouble a couple of times, um a couple of scraps over the last couple of years.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you need a bit of bite as well, especially when you're coming to United and we're so poor. So i'm ah i am I am looking forward to it to see to see what he can bring. And it's it's very... yeah Positive to hear the the stats that he's had over the last couple of years, considering that he's not a a one-season wonder and and he is playing in a per-wolves team, like you mentioned.
00:16:43
Tom Cairns
And we need that in a player. you know You start from the bottom and you make your way up to the top. And I think, whilst I don't think we'll win a league under him, he is someone who's going to play a huge integral part in getting this club back into the Champions League, I think.
00:16:59
Tom Cairns
But it may not be this season coming up because of the competition we face and the signs that other teams are going to be making.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:07
Tom Cairns
I would say... If we get a good 15 goals from him with like another 10 to 15 assists,
Team Needs: Midfielder and Striker
00:17:17
Tom Cairns
would you take that right now from Cunha alone?
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that would be an incredible season. Yeah. Considering, like you mentioned, where we're coming from, like this this team is really poor. like Really, really poor, especially going forward. um Doesn't really know what it's about.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't really adapt to the system at all last year when Amarun came in. I think 15 goals playing and in a left number 10 position would be incredible. um I would 100% take that. 15 goals, 10 assists.
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
was wondering who he's going to set up for those assists. I wonder who's actually going to score the other goals for him to get 10 assists. But um absolutely. Absolutely. Do you think it's doable? Because... I do really like him, but there's there's a lot more that comes to you know players getting stats that than just the player being excellent. And um' ah just the team doesn't fill me with confidence at the moment.
00:18:10
Tom Cairns
It doesn't. um But I think when watch them on the pitch, it's just finding those gaps to fill in and so getting on the end of the balls coming in. I mean, we were really poor with set pieces last season and that was something we needed to rectify.
00:18:26
Tom Cairns
can't remember how long it took for us to score from a set piece. don't know if it was last season or the season before, but it was a long time before we actually scored from a set piece. That's something that needs fixing right now.
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. i yeah I just hope we could get more signings because this one this one is exciting. um I mean, you mentioned the left back, Diego Leon. He was signed back in January, wasn't he? And then now he's just kind of joined up with the team at the end of the season.
00:18:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've heard a couple of spicy quotes from him as well, talking about how it'll take him just a couple of months and then he'll mark down his place in the team. He's not just coming here to train, which I like all this. It's better than him saying, oh, I'm just so happy to be part of the club. need someone that has a bit of a bite about them, I suppose.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
that that left sided um That left-hand side of United is is really up in the air. um I mean, I'm sure you've seen all the propaganda or all the photos of all the players apparently looking a lot more lean this year, um which is probably the bare minimum you'd you'd expect from a professional team. But...
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it is a World Cup year and everyone's saying Luke Shaw is going to pop off again this year so do you think he could try and compete for that left hand side with Dargu and with Shaw and with any of the other players Martínez that's coming back into into contention
00:19:53
Tom Cairns
He could do. I mean, this is make or break for Luke Shaw now. I mean, I don't know how he got into the Euros.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah he played he started the final yeah yeah
00:19:58
Tom Cairns
I think he went to the Euros last summer, didn't he? Somehow. He started the final, yeah. Strangely.
00:20:06
Tom Cairns
He's got get off his backside now, Luke Shaw.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:09
Tom Cairns
and As you pointed out in the post-Europa League final podcast, he's a shell of a player. He's a player that is disintegrating and there's got to be some motivation generated back into the man.
00:20:24
Tom Cairns
Whether Ruben Amarin's the one to do it, or someone else, Luke Shaw's got to apply himself. He's got competition now in that left wing-back role with Dorgou, Diego, Leon, Martinez possibly, and himself.
00:20:41
Tom Cairns
That's good number of options, because we struggle for a left wing-back. As much as Luke Shaw was away injured or unfit, Diego Daly had to play in that left wing-back role, and he was terrible.
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:20:54
Tom Cairns
He was not very good at all.
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dallow's got a new number this year, um ah just which is concerning.
00:21:01
Tom Cairns
Yeah, has. Yeah.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's now... What was he, 20 before? and Now he's two, is it? He's dropped the dropp the zero. um Yeah, per Victor Lindelof, off out of the club.
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Dallow's stepped up to the number two, which is concerning considering he probably now will be the starting right wing back or... right side the centre back hopefully ah I don't know for for the for the next season but hopefully we can get some competition there yeah we'll take another quick break here and i'll be back with a bit of an insight into who you want or not even who we want where we need to strengthen over the next couple ah ah couple of weeks in the in the transfer market
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencastr came out the clear winner. With four k video recording from your phone and AI editing, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Tom, I think after that Europa League final podcast, we but probably got rid of 80% of the squad. Some of that might have been ah an initial reaction to the game, but and the in the cold light of day, you're probably still wanting to get rid of a decent chunk of those players and and to kind of move them on and and shift them on to different clubs.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, we know we don't have a lot of time left in the transfer window. We spent a lot of time on this Mbamo deal, whether it comes through whether comes not. A few weeks left. You have one signing that needs to be done in a certain area. Where are you like, we 100% need someone here?
00:23:03
Tom Cairns
Well, we definitely need a number nine, don't we? I think it's safe to say. get that Get that done first before you look at anywhere else on the pitch.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:13
Tom Cairns
um It's just where where are we going to find a number nine that's going to fit into where, yeah, we're going to need a little bit of a think about who we we could possibly bring him in.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:23:22
Tom Cairns
mean, Ossinghen is he's out of the window, isn't he? Because I think...
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you do do like that signing if that happened? I'm not convinced about him. Mm.
00:23:29
Tom Cairns
Ossinghen.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Osman, yeah.
00:23:34
Tom Cairns
I think he earns the right to have a chance in the Premier League.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:38
Tom Cairns
I just don't know if United is the place to do it at.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:46
Tom Cairns
I don't know. It's just, is it worth a gamble? if he was If he was free right now, if he was a free agent, would you take him?
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah, if he was free agent, yeah. But the this issue is I think we'd have to fork out 60-70 for him, even 50-60-70, which I think is is a lot. But I think I'm in the minority here around Ossiman. But it's funny, you're like, oh, we need to have a think about who we're going to bring in. don't worry, we're not alone. All the football clubs are trying to figure out what number nines are actually on the market that...
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, there's not a plethora of them. it's It's difficult to kind of pinpoint a couple. Haaland was the obvious choice a few years ago where you couldn't really think of any other number nines. At the moment, I mean, it's just Isaac, really. I think the rest them are unproven um in terms of how good they actually are going to be.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think, look um look in our defense i'm not It's not that I'm very happy with it, but I'm content with it. um I would love for us to get ah really, really good central midfielder.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think an area we struggled last year with the new system was playing with two in midfield when pretty much every other team plays with three. And I think we need someone extremely athletic who can basically do the running for two people, but also can play football. And that is a very niche person as well.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think the midfielder that we brought in in Ugarte isn't really fulfilling that role.
Transfer Market and Talent Acquisition
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if Bruno is going to play in a deeper position, then we definitely need a really, really strong centre midfielder to do a lot of that running for him and a lot more physicality and a lot of the defensive work.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that that is an area that that I'd love for us to strengthen um because I think that's going to be an area that we're just going to get blown out of the water and when it comes to next season. i don't know what your thoughts are on on our midfield options.
00:25:42
Tom Cairns
I mean, we've got, what is it, Casemiro in CDM. You've
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got Ugarte, we've got Mount, we've got got Maynou.
00:25:47
Tom Cairns
got a...
00:25:52
Tom Cairns
we could do... it Yeah, we've got Maina, yeah.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:25:56
Tom Cairns
i mean, going what was saying about the number nine, I'm looking at the best number nines out there. You've got Lotharo Martinez at Inter, who... He'll be 28 next month, and apparently his value is at €95 million. euros
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
No way. Is it actually? That's ridiculous. i don't I don't really rate him either, to be honest. ah That's crazy. He's a 9, he also...
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, he could play off the striker and play probably wide as well, if needed. um But, yeah, that that's what I mean. Like, if you're if you're going to laarra Latara Martinez, like, there aren't really that many options out there.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Sesco, Benjamin Sesco, what would you think about that one? He's very young, lot of potential, but unproven as well.
00:26:47
Tom Cairns
I do like Sesko. Just looking at his stats as we speak. Because he's been over at Leipzig for some time now. He's been there for a couple of years because he joined from Red Bull Salzburg.
00:27:00
Tom Cairns
ah How many goals has scored now in all comps since his a arrival from them? 39 goals and 87 appearances, which for a team like Leipzig isn't too bad. I'm just not sure that his way of playing would integrate well in the Premier League.
00:27:17
Tom Cairns
Because we've seen a lot of strikers from Bundesliga come into the Premier League and flop. Arsenal did think about going to sign him, didn't they? Before Jokeres...
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, Chris.
00:27:27
Tom Cairns
Yeah. I would say that if it's anything more than 50 million quid, don't bother.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, it'll be more. It'll be way more. Yeah. This is the issue. Alanga went for 55. Like, this is, the the market is just insane at the moment when it comes when it comes to these players.
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, I think obviously the number nine is is an area that we need to look at. um But yeah, I think there's there's a hole there in midfield that i'm I'm not looking forward to when it comes to...
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
when it comes to next season. um Even like, you look at Arsenal and what the moves that they've made, like, they got Norgard for how much? 18, 19 million? Like, less than 20 million? Like, da that would have been just such a, that would have been just such a smart signing.
00:28:10
Tom Cairns
That's a bargain.
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, you know, ah a really, really solid Premier League midfielder who's a good footballer and runs a lot. Like, you know, it's, and and was a captain at his at his side as well.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, you know so signings like that i think we could be making to to kind of bolster the midfield a bit um because i do see it as as a bit of a hole but there's plenty of gaps in that team um and there's plenty of players that we need to that we need to move on out of the players that we mentioned uh sancho garnacho it's like the fantastic four rashford and uh Who's the fourth one?
00:28:54
Tom Cairns
anthony
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sancho, Anthony. Which one would you give the last chance to, like, okay, we can't get rid of all them. We're going to give you one last chance.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if we can get them back on site again.
00:29:08
Tom Cairns
Rashford is a no for me.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:29:12
Tom Cairns
Gonaccio. ah said on the podcast that I would keep him. But, yeah.
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Nacho's a no for me. No.
00:29:19
Tom Cairns
Yeah, it feels like he's... his attentions are set elsewhere off that social media post about with him in an Aston Villa shirt.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. the villager.
00:29:26
Tom Cairns
That really annoyed me so much.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. It just sums him up, really.
00:29:31
Tom Cairns
So he's out of it for me. So do you go with Anthony or do you go with Sancho?
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a choice.
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, spoiled for choice there.
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
that it Like, it's it's pick your poison. Like, it's ah it's tough going. I mean, Sancho is never going to be signed by Chelsea. Like, I don't know. He he was not good for Chelsea at all.
00:29:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't shaken a leg in years in terms of trying to get any sort of output. Anthony, God love him. i think I think he should stay in Spain. Like, I think he he just seems to be enjoying life a bit better under the radar.
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gets
Final Thoughts and Future Hopes
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
the odd appearance, but... Did you watch the conference league final against Chelsea?
00:30:16
Tom Cairns
I did. Yeah.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, he, like, Cucurillo was just playing with him, toying with him. Like, he was just pushing him off the ball. It was, he's nowhere near the level. Like, he's nowhere and absolutely nowhere near it. So, to answer my own question, I have no idea who I'd pick out of those four.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I probably would pick Rashford because he's the best player out of the four. But I think it's just too late. I think it's just too late, unfortunately.
00:30:43
Tom Cairns
I'll change tech then and and just Gary Rashford, but I just... It needs to move on. All four of them need to move on. If they've requested to leave, there's no point keeping them.
00:30:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no one will take them.
00:30:57
Tom Cairns
Oh, no.
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the issue.
00:30:59
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah they'll all wait until when's the when's the deadline days it's in the middle of the season it's a couple of seasons a couple of weeks into the season is it sometime in august end of august yeah there'll be a bit of a um a clear out in august probably all for like five million or something just to get them off the books but um there's not much we can do
00:31:09
Tom Cairns
Yeah, end of August, I think.
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, Tom, it was great to to be on the podcast with you again after a bit of a stint away. um Not as positive as probably we were hoping for when we were coming off the back of that Europa League final.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But we still got time. We might get the Mbwemo deal over the line. We might get a little emergency pod in then if that happens and we can talk about how the team is going to look with him. If not, then we just hope that they're going to pull something out of the bag when it comes to these signings.
00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we we live in hope. I feel like we're going saying that a lot this year.
00:31:54
Tom Cairns
Yeah, we are. But, you know, let's let's keep our hopes up and hope that um we get a couple more signs over the line before the end of the month. If we can do that, then it puts us in a slightly better shape. But I still wouldn't feel confident going into the season at all.
00:32:09
Tom Cairns
I think we've just got to go into it with very low expectations and just hope for the best.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sounds like a plan. Brilliant. All right, Tom, I'll see you in the next one. Thanks very much.