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Daily Manchester United - Episode 160 - We Are So Back!
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We’re back! Kieran, Toluwa, and Cormac kick start Season 2 of the Daily Manchester United by talking the ins and outs, and all the latest rumours.
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Transcript
Season 2 Premiere
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. Season 2 of the podcast starts right here.
Manchester United's Last Season Review
00:00:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you watched on from last season, or at least listened on from last season, you'll know that this the first episode of where everything starts to go really badly wrong.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're trying to bounce back from 15th place in the Premier League and heartbreak in the Europa League and let's be honest, one of the worst finals I think any football fan has ever seen in
Host Introductions
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
their lives. My name is Kieran McGinley and I'm saying, I'm fantastically saying to you be joined on the first episode of this podcast by Tolua and Cormac. Gentlemen, welcome back to the podcast. Cormac, we haven't seen you in so long. How are you doing, sir?
00:00:49
Cormac
Yeah, no, it's been ah a good while. ah took a bit of a holiday before the season ended, so yeah, it's been probably longer for me than the other guys on the podcast. But no, doing good. It's good to be finally back with a new fresh season upon us. So it'll be good, just fresh s slate and see what you United can do with this upcoming season.
New Season Optimism
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Toluwa, also as well, good to have you back as well. We started to sort of fall apart towards the end last season. We were right in the thick of it at the time, but new season, surely new aspirations.
00:01:18
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, honestly, I'm in agreeance with Cormac. Like, I'm just ready for the new season. The last season is behind us now. Looking forward to seeing what Emmerim can do because for some reason, I just have confidence that he can really change things at the club.
00:01:30
Toluwa Famuyide
We've already seen he's really no-nonsense getting rid of a certain group of guys. So um i think he I think he can change things so the to the most of that he can because I know he still needs to be backed by the board and things need to change behind the scenes. But I have confidence that this will be a better season.
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's hope so. hey Let's hope so. we were We were this optimistic last year, about this time last year, actually, when we first started up the podcast. Let's hope really this time that it goes a little bit better.
Transfer Window Moves by Ruben Amrim
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's start, first of all, by let's start with Ruben Amrim for starters, because you mentioned as well that he's been quite, let's just say, cutthroat in this transfer window.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He knows what he wants. He knows who wants. more specifically to sell. And the BBC came out with an article about six hours ago from recording ah that's titled The Man United 5 Ousted But Not Out, written by Simon Stone, the chief football news reporter of BBC Sport, where in his words he says, Reuben Ambram was unequivocal.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did he know what he wanted his squad to look like when Manchester United returned for the start of pre-season training in July? Yes, he said, I have a clear idea what we want. As you know, we're a bit limited. We can't do it all in one summer. But there's a clear picture for what we want.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously, the so-called title on BBC Sport, The Bomb Squad, has been truly outed, is is one quote for a subtitle in there, where it mentions the the likes of Anthony, Garnaccio, Rashford, Malassia and Sancho, estimated, it says, to be earning wages of a combined total of a million pounds a week.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in essence, trying to see where they will go. We've already seen Sancho, well, Chelsea have paid £5m to Manchester United to give Sancho back to us
Player Transfer Speculations
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
after his loan. Whoever negotiated that contract deserves a little bit of a hiding.
00:03:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Cormac, I'll come to you first because the fantastic fire, we might call them on this podcast for now, are going to be such highlights in the transfer window. We've we've heard and we've heard the rumours about Rashford going to Barcelona. We've heard Garnaccio leaving. Anthony potentially wanting to stay at Real Betis.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's say of the five?
00:03:37
Cormac
Yeah, I mean, to be honest, out all the ones you name, I think probably have the best chance of moving on Anthony out of those loan spells between him, Sancho and Rastford. He was really the only one who had... A good one, you could say Rashford wasn't terrible, but it was nothing special. And Sancho was just desperate. um But yeah, I'm glad it' kind Amarim was taking stance on them. But I feel like it is going to be hard to move them. I think Anthony maybe. But I honestly can't see Garnaccio or Rashford going unless we take a severe pay cut on the transfer fee, which won't be too happy about. Because especially Garnaccio has been so highly rated the last two years. And we had chances probably to get a lot from And same Rashford.
00:04:17
Cormac
you know i think villa could have paid 40 million from there didn't want him and you know sancho um i'm not sure how much it was in the chelsea um clause but i think it was around like 30 mil or something like that um and we can't even move him on so um i think betty's if i were them i think i'd go in for anthony i think he was superb for them last season arguably their best um player you know, taking the European final. um And then, yeah, Rashford and Garnaccio, it's going to be tough to to move them.
00:04:46
Cormac
um I wouldn't actually mind seeing Rashford maybe getting a few games, um but I think Garnaccio definitely is one I want to see gone. And then, you know, we obviously have the likes of Malassia in there as well, who should definitely be gone.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, these are names that keep coming up on our podcast as well.
00:05:00
Cormac
yeah
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know sometimes we get a little bit tired about talking about them, but it is a transfer window. So these five are going to be really high on the agenda in terms of where they you know rotate in the news cycle.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but what What do you think, Toluwa? How do you see the the fantastic five panning out?
00:05:19
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I mean, I got to say, I totally agree with Cormac on like pretty much everything. I think Anthony is the one guy that doesn't really deserve to be in that mention just because He tried.
00:05:29
Toluwa Famuyide
I'm not saying he was good at all, but at least he tried. Sancho, Rashford kind of gave up at some point. Sancho gave up a long time ago, especially with the freedom Instagram comment. Like to me, that was because I used to have to have a poster of Sancho on my wall. I took that down so quick because to me, that's just like you don't care anymore about that.
00:05:49
Toluwa Famuyide
Forget the institution and who you work with. You don't even care about the fans at that point. So it's like you you already show your true colors. A lot of those guys laid there their bed and they slept in it a long time ago. And we just kind of had to try and give them the benefit of the doubt. But they just kept showing us over and over that they just weren't fit enough to wear the shirt.
00:06:05
Toluwa Famuyide
So, yeah, I agree with Cormac that Anthony, he probably has the best value. I'm sure there's a lot of teams in Spain that like he would fit their profile tremendously. So he would probably get going. I don't want to see a loan for Rashford or Sancho, though.
00:06:18
Toluwa Famuyide
I just want them out completely. I agree though.
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:21
Toluwa Famuyide
If Rashford can be of some use, then why not? um I wouldn't be mad at it, but it's like, if we can get him going, let's just get him going. Let's not play around with the loans and try and figure it out next season when we're still trying to get rid of more players.
00:06:34
Toluwa Famuyide
Like, I don't think any Man United fan would disagree in saying that like there's certain players that are still at the club. We still got to get out and they're not going to leave this summer, but they're definitely going to leave next summer, you know? So I agree totally.
00:06:45
Toluwa Famuyide
And I'm just, um I'm just ready to see the back end of those guys. Cause I'm, Really excited about Kunia when I was watching his interview on United's YouTube
New Signing Highlights
00:06:54
Toluwa Famuyide
ah channel. He just looked ready to go.
00:06:56
Toluwa Famuyide
He was like, I don't care what the situation is. Like, I'm going to do my best for this team. And we've already seen he can do it in a team like Wolves, who are a bottom half team, like us, I guess. But like us, I guess. But he can do it for them. So he's in a better squad.
00:07:13
Toluwa Famuyide
There's a clear identity now. There's a clear vision, like Amarim said. And I'm just hopeful, I guess.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Better squad, Toluwa, yeah. We'll put a little citation, a little star next to that, at least and for the last season. I just i can't get the yeah the image of you like you with the Sancho poster up and you're all just tearing it down at the moment.
00:07:26
Toluwa Famuyide
I
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just no, absolutely not.
00:07:32
Toluwa Famuyide
tore it down.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The sort of tear marks are still there on the wall where it's left. But yeah, yeah it's...
00:07:37
Toluwa Famuyide
Probably.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's I think i agree with you. Anthony, out of all of them, seems to be the the shining star and you know make of that what you will. you know As you said, he went to Betis, he got his head down, started playing really well. And whether it fact that maybe he was a better fit in that Betis squad, you know some players, when they move to a massive club or when they move to a club that's riding with a lot of pressure, United right now,
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It can be really hard to hit the ground running. It can be really hard to show the fans what you can do and play with that confidence because it's almost like you're marred by the weight of expectation.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
You come in as this, what was it, £85 million, was it? I'm sure we'll be correct on that one. But that's a huge price tag for any player to come in out at any club.
00:08:25
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think when Anthony went to Betis, the pressure eased a little bit because Betis are, you know, they're challenging top half. They're probably, know, getting into Europe on the occasion as well.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
If there's less pressure, yes, but I feel like that gives Anthony a bit more freedom to be the player that he wants to be, to plea to be the player that can have a bit of flair in La Liga. And I do think he suits it.
00:08:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, As you both said as well, it's frustrating with the likes of Garnaccio and Rashford. We didn't sell while the stock was high. I think with Rashford, I understand why, because it's a product of the academy.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester United are very much protective of whoever they bring through the academy. They are protective of those assets right up until the moment where your Real Madrid or your Barcelona or your PSG come in to sweep them up.
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like Garnacha was a missed opportunity with that Real Madrid interest. Was it a couple of seasons ago? Maybe a season a half ago? Maybe we should have capitalised on when his streak was hot. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hindsight is 20-20. And we couldn't have predicted that Rashford and Garnacha would both... kind of fall off in the way that they did. And they have been exiled essentially by Amorim.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amorim is sort of, whether he's been very puzzly about it, whether he's been very obtuse about it, say what you will, but he's made his stance clear and he can't back down now.
00:09:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
These five are going and that's that. And we look at sort of players that have already departed who got released, Lindelof, Ericsson, Johnny Evans. I mean, I would have loved, I'm sad as well, Niall will and be absolutely heartbroken that Johnny Evans has now left the club. But what was, how is it for you, Cormac, then? Johnny Evans leaving the club after returning for what was initially a one-month contract, turned into about a year and a half.
00:10:18
Cormac
Yeah, no, I mean, to be fair, I don't think anyone thought Evans would have the impact he had. You know, he's played a lot more games than we expected and he's done a fine job. You know, I think a couple of man of the matches in there as well.
00:10:29
Cormac
But no, it is sad see a player like that kind of really the last one from the Fergie you know, played under him and winning plenty of titles, um, back, you know, start of his career. And no, it is a sad one for everyone's always liked him. You know, it was a professional all throughout his career. Um, and yeah, he was a tough one to go or to see go, excuse me. And then Lindelof, uh, yeah,
00:10:53
Cormac
It was right time Flandle off to go. you know He really just didn't live up to that expectation of when we signed him a good few years back for like 30, 35 mil, which was pretty decent money back then before the market really got inflated. And yeah, it's a shame he just didn't work out. He had the nickname the Iceman, you're expecting big things from him.
00:11:13
Cormac
I mean, he'd done an okay job at times, but I don't think he turned into the starting centre-back we really all thought he would be. um So yeah, I mean, sad for Evans and then Lindelof and Eriksen as well. I mean, Eriksen done an all okay job, but you know I don't think too much was expected of him. I know that first season, probably a lot of people were saying he could have been up there as signing in the season, free transfer, coming in, doing a solid job, but You know, with all he's gone through with his body, um yeah, you just so especially last season, he just looked very slow and sluggish. And think it was the right time for them two to move on.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree. I mean, Johnny Evans, as you said, being the last of the quote-unquote old guard. It feels weird to say it's the old guard, but the last of the Ferguson breed. I think it summed up for me, Johnny Evans, you know, that penalty being won in the final game of the season, and he makes sure Ericsson is the one that takes it.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
When Ericsson questions him, he's I'm not taking it. Johnny Evans gives the face of, what are you talking about? Of course you're taking it. Take that penalty now. Yeah, just different breed was Johnny Evans.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we will miss him in the side and did a fantastic job as a squad player. Ericsson, again, as a squad player, really good player. option when it came to be. I think he did struggle against the physical sides.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
really did get exposed, but that's to be expected, as you said, Cormac, with what he's been through in his career. I think the fact that he got to play in a Manchester United shirt, I think, is great for him. And I think he'll look back on that with fond memories.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He still wants to play at a top club. He still wants play at the top flight. We'll see where he ends up in this transfer window and beyond. And, yeah, Viktor Lindelof. I think a bit player.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I would have loved to have seen him be maybe five years younger and see what
Preseason Expectations
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
he could do in this system. But again, hindsight's a wonderful thing and it is always 20-20.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Lindelof played okay, wasn't the best defender in the world, ended up being a squad player. Not a bad squad player at that, but yeah, still sad to see him go.
00:13:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tolua, what do you make of our three released players or retired players?
00:13:19
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, Johnny Evans, just to me, such a great player that, like Cormac said, really reminds me of just the glory days, honestly. Even though back then I didn't really rate him, which is crazy.
00:13:31
Toluwa Famuyide
um Because to be honest, he was always kind of like third, fourth choice. um But he was solid in that and that role either way, um especially when Chris Smalling and Phil Jones came through.
00:13:39
Cormac
Thank you.
00:13:40
Toluwa Famuyide
it was kind of like... He kind of just fell out for me, but he still always performed when he was called on. called on And he did the same thing in his second stint, which is all you could ask for at his age, especially.
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:13:51
Toluwa Famuyide
Lindelof was actually for me a sad one because I really expected him and Eric Bailly to be like our next center back core. Like when they first came in, they had so much promise and they started off well, but then just something fell off.
00:14:06
Toluwa Famuyide
Maybe it was the injuries because they both did suffer from injuries. I don't know. just feel like that's just the story of our lives at United. Players come in with so much potential and they have everything going for them and then boom, injury or boom, confidence drops and then they just can't seem to recover.
00:14:21
Toluwa Famuyide
And by the end of this time at United, he was just so bad. I just felt so bad every time he played. And you know he was bad because Amarim would only play him when we had literally no other option. Like that's how I knew he was bad.
00:14:34
Toluwa Famuyide
So it's like he he just another one of those players for me where I just wish it could have been more.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:39
Toluwa Famuyide
But it is what it is. I'm glad that he's gone because now we can finally start to rebuild and get some of these players out that just have not been performing and they're on good wages. And then Erickson, like you guys said, with the things he's been through, especially his age as well, it's not like he's fairly young.
00:14:55
Toluwa Famuyide
He's getting up there in terms of um ah being a footballer. And he's he's been a great servant at every club he's been at. He always gives his all. But like you guys said, he was just too slow.
00:15:07
Toluwa Famuyide
this last season and in a formation like this where you kind of have to be decently fast. Yeah, he just looked out of place. There were times where his brain was just still moving faster than everybody else, but his body just couldn't keep up.
00:15:20
Toluwa Famuyide
So it's just another case of like, you know, let's just get these players out now. I know it kind of sucks that they all left on a free. It would been nice to get some value for them, especially since we paid at least for Lindelof.
00:15:30
Toluwa Famuyide
I think we got Erickson for free, which is that's a positive at least. And Johnny Evans for free. So. But yeah, these players, for what they are, I'm glad that they were at United for the time that they were.
00:15:45
Toluwa Famuyide
It's just kind of sad to see that this is how it ended for them. I wish it would have been much better.
00:15:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think we'll look back up the three of them and sort of think what what might have been in in better circumstances.
00:15:53
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, when we come back after this, we'll talk about a couple of new arrivals into the club, as well as maybe touching on a couple of rumours. Here's a clue. It's going to be a long one until the end of August in terms of transfers and whatnot.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's plenty of rumours because, as we always say in any transfer window, who aren't Manchester United linked with? We'll be back after this.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's, of course, the big money signing. Another one coming through the doors at Manchester United. It's Mateus Cunha, who joined from Wolves for a fee reported by Tranto Mark of about €74 million.
Impact of New Signings on Team Dynamics
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He comes with plenty of experience, of course, in the Premier League. He's made 82 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 29 goals and having 13 assists as well. Tolua, I'll come to you. What can we expect from someone like Mateus Cunha?
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
What can he bring into this Manchester United side?
00:17:41
Toluwa Famuyide
Man, he can give us just a new way of moving forward with the ball. I just love his attacking intent. Like I said, his passion for the game is, it seems like he just wants to play no matter what.
00:17:54
Toluwa Famuyide
He just wants to play and be impactful. And the way that he can drive forward, the way that he can spur his teammates on, the fact that he's the type of player that we wanted Garnacho to be, I think he's just a massive upgrade on Garnacho.
00:18:06
Toluwa Famuyide
The only problem is we don't really have a backup in case he gets injured, but thankfully we have less games. So maybe there's balance that we can, you know, somewhat find, but he can just bring us so much on the ball that we've been lacking.
00:18:18
Toluwa Famuyide
I feel like he's way more calm and composed than Garnacho was. Garnacho was, Garnacho had the right intent, but he just could never execute it consistently. And Kunia can show that he can take the ball, drive forward, be his man, be physical.
00:18:31
Toluwa Famuyide
He's strong and he's fast. And we need that. That's the type of profile we need for the 10. Because I feel like whenever Bruno Fernandes plays on the left 10, or maybe Xerxe is there, we have no pace.
00:18:42
Toluwa Famuyide
The only pace down the left hand side is Dorgu, who's just up and down, up and down. But then eventually that gets found out. So what do we do? We go to the right. And it's kind of the same situation where Ahmad is really good, but Dalo isn't really up to par.
00:18:53
Toluwa Famuyide
So I feel like this finally gives us that piece we've been missing for on the left. And we've always wanted that like mercurial left winger. I feel like ever since I've been a fan, I've just always wanted our left winger to emulate Ronaldo.
00:19:04
Toluwa Famuyide
Like that's what I've always wanted. maybe not in terms of goals, but just impact and the way they drive forward. And CUNY seems to be somebody that can kind of fit that mold.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I've got to say, when he was playing at Wolves, really good player, I just worry about price tag Cormac.
00:19:22
Toluwa Famuyide
yeah
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
is Is that something to be worried about or can he proof prove the price tag essentially?
00:19:28
Cormac
Yeah, I mean, it is a tough one because Wolves, I think, just survived relegation 17th. paying that much for a player from a club who nearly got relegated seems a lot. um But I think, you know, Wolves paid like 50 mil off Atletico Madrid for him. So, you know, it's not like we've gone too steep on that on that original price.
00:19:48
Cormac
um But all for me, I'm actually very happy with the the transfer. I think looking at Cunha at Wolves last season, I think without him, Wolves get pulled down and potentially get relegated. I think he was by far and away their best player.
00:20:00
Cormac
And yeah, as Toluus said, he's just a really exciting player. The drive he has, you know, everything he does on the ball seems to be kind of what we're missing right now. And I think he's a player, you know, especially in the attack where we've struggled, United can really rely on. And I think he'll be like a consistent player versus, you know, the likes of Garnaccio, who we all know is so inconsistent, Rashford inconsistent.
00:20:23
Cormac
So I think it is refreshing and I'm i'm glad we've gone for an attack and signing first you I think that's really where we struggled. But no i'm I'm really happy to see Cunha in United jersey and he's gotten that number 10 jersey now. So I'm hoping the pressure, you know, he'll be able to burst through that and put aside the rest of the signs we made, how they've kind of been cursed and really flourish and become a you know staple in that attack for the next two seasons for us.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think as well, he's 26 years old. He signed a five-year deal. So, you know, statistically and on average, we're signing him at the peak of his powers. So I think that's a step in the right direction.
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we've been caught napping and, you know, say two, three seasons ago where we were signing these star players, but right towards the twilight of their careers and wondering why after one or two seasons, they weren't the player they a season ago.
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
think with Cunha, we've got this player, hopefully, for the next at least four five years of a powerful striker or second striker, if you like, able to really make an impact in that, you know, the two 10 roles, as you put it, Tolua, really give Brudo Fernandes the option.
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you've got the playmaker Fernandes if he starts in that attacking midfield role. You've got Cunha to maybe make those runs in behind towards Xerxi who might try and hold up the play. I feel like it's it's got potential, that one, but it will also add firepower.
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And firepower is something we so desperately need heading into the new season. It's been made abundantly clear because of how far down the table we were. Another transfer that came through the doors, an 18-year-old, Diego Leon from Paraguay, I believe.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
For €4 million, he made the switch from Cerro Porteno. I do apologise to our any of our Spanish listeners out there. and i Don't really know a lot about him. But looking at it, €4 million euros for an 18-year-old who made 16 appearances at Saraporteno.
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
12 in the Primera División a Puerta, 2 in Libertadores, scoring a goal in both. There we go. That's easy for me to say. Cormac, I'll come to you.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, he is a left-back. So maybe one to really compete with Dorgun.
00:22:36
Cormac
Yeah, no, I mean, obviously... don't know too much about him, but I was reading his interview when he signed and I like his mentality. He was saying, you know, he doesn't want to be low on doubt. He wants to challenge Dorgou for that spot. And I really like that mentality from a young 18 year old. And, you know, just seeing bits of clips in preseason, whatnot, or training, he looks pretty physical for an 18 year old. And, ah you know, if he has that pace as well, like Dorgou has, I mean, why not give him a ah chance and put pressure on Dorgou? You know, I think Dorgou,
00:23:08
Cormac
kind of has it easy you know obviously Milassi is going out and Shaw is kind of you know regressing a lot um so I think it would be you know good competition for Dorgou there as well and just drive the two of them onwards um but I'm i'm really excited about Diego Leon I really like his mentality and you know 18 year old has a whole career ahead of him hopefully you know he could turn into you know something special at United's
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, let's hope so. Talua, what did you make of the transfer?
00:23:36
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, just like you guys, I had no idea who he was. I didn't I've never heard of him. But then when I saw we signed him, of course, I looked up some clips on YouTube and looks like a really decent young prospect.
00:23:48
Toluwa Famuyide
I'm not trying to get too ahead of myself because, you know, the league competition that he was facing was just compli going to be completely different. But it's funny to me because, you know, if he could be that guy to challenge Durgu and maybe even surpass him, it's really ironic that we're signing an 18 year old like him and Luke Shaw is leaving the club.
00:24:08
Toluwa Famuyide
When we signed Luke Shaw, he was 18 and was supposed to be the next big left back in England. And look how that turned out. So I'm having um i'm hopeful that Diego Leon is a stud, like I'm hoping. He looks physically like he can already match most players in the league.
00:24:23
Toluwa Famuyide
Like he looks like he's, from the clips I saw, he's quick and he's strong. He like bounces off players like it's nothing, but this is a different prospect. The pace of the league is much quicker, so his physical attributes might not look as impressive.
00:24:35
Toluwa Famuyide
So we just have to wait and see. But yeah, even in preseason, he looks like he fits, like a glove, even from the like two-second clip United gave us. You know, he looks like he fits. So...
00:24:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's all we need. Two seconds.
00:24:45
Cormac
Yeah.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you mentioned about bold claims to Lua. It'll have to be a really bold claim, like Ardane putting Leni Jorreau in the top 10 French players who've played for United of all time. And Leni Jorreau had not stepped onto the Old Trafford pitch yet.
00:24:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Going to be tough to beat that, but you could be up there. You could be up there. We'll have to wait and see. We have to head into rumours as well, which, you know, we have to try and pick out the actual rumours that are you know have some weight to it. But with Andre Onana seemingly out and maybe might miss the start of the season, the rumour mill has been around Emilia Martinez, who will also be suspended for the start of the season.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's not quite worked out. But Martinez to United... How high do you rate that, Toluwa? How likely is it to happen? And you see Martinez in a Manchester United shirt?
00:25:37
Toluwa Famuyide
I mean, this one is kind of tough, honestly, because Martinez has good ability, but I just feel like he's way too much of a character and Onana is also too much of a character.
00:25:48
Toluwa Famuyide
So that's going to create internal conflict, I feel like, almost immediately. Because once Onana comes back from his injury, if we sign Martinez, he's not going to want to just sit on the bench for Martinez. He's going to think he's of equal standing with him.
00:25:59
Toluwa Famuyide
And that might create some issues. And I don't think that's what Emory really needs at the start of the season when our schedule is a bit tough. But like you said, he's also going to be suspended. So... that just fundamentally makes no sense because it's almost as if you're, it just doesn't make sense.
00:26:16
Toluwa Famuyide
I'm not a fan of that signing. I think we should be looking at other keepers with, A little bit younger, but still have the same ability. I know we don't have the transfer fund, so that makes everything so much more difficult.
00:26:28
Toluwa Famuyide
And I know, we're just in a tough situation, but I feel like we're not going to make it better if we sign someone like Martinez, who's known to be an outspoken character. I feel like right now we need level-headed guys who are just determined to get us back to the top.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cormac, what do you make of Martinez potentially to Man United?
00:26:45
Cormac
Yeah, I think I'd have to agree with Tulu. I'm not really a big fan of it. I think if it were to happen, I think Onana would need to go because I just think with our money situation, what's the point i having two keepers who on paper are kind of up there as some of the best keepers around?
00:26:53
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:01
Cormac
um But I do think we need a keeper. Onana the last few years has shown us we can't trust them really. um so i know earlier on there was a bit of talk about vania milinkovic savage who we used to have but had to pass him on because we couldn't get a work permit from but i would like to see kind of maybe yeah a cheaper option is to do is kind of touching on um rather than another big one but i mean martinez is a good keeper um you know i wouldn't be opposed to seeing him in that but i think onana would have to leave first but
00:27:32
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:27:32
Cormac
I definitely do think keepers is a huge issue for us because even Bayern Deer as a backup, as he showed last season, was not great at all. Better that one game he had against Arsenal. So, yeah, we'll see what happens. But if O'Neill can be passed on somehow, then I would be for him coming in.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an interesting one. As you said, to he's a character, but I feel like if you're if you're a goalkeeper, if you've ever been a goalkeeper, you have to be a character. You have to be the most mentally strong player on the team because if a goal goes in,
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know The rest of the team who feel like they've done their work, this might be an unstoppable shot. There might be nothing you can do about it straight into the top corner. You've have that mental resilience to say, no, we're still in this. Let's get back into it.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
A keeper makes a mistake. It most likely ends up in the back of the net, of your own net. A striker makes a mistake. We will shrug it off and say, I can't believe how bad that miss was. And we go again. So to be a goalkeeper, you have to be...
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have to be different.
00:28:29
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:28:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I feel like as much as he's grated on me in past seasons, is you know, he's grated on the media as well with his World Cup win and his antics.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I feel like if you have a character like that, not only is it a bit of ah a boost to the team, But it's also boost to the fans as well. like Can I see it happening?
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not whilst Anana's at the club. I agree with you both. think if he signs for United, that's the exit door shown to Anana. And I feel like Amram's going to give Anana one more season to properly settle into the squad and see what he can actually do and hopefully be the keeper.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
we know he can be. He can pull off some amazing saves and if he can just sort out that decision making, if he can make more right decisions than wrong, there's a solid keeper in there that can get us back into Europe.
00:29:14
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I say into Europe, you know, let's start with Conference League and Europa League and see where we go from there. There's some strong teams in the Premier League. We saw that last season, so we should see how it goes.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And final rumour I want touch on today because there's going plenty of them here on the Daily Manchester United. Brian Mbumo from Brentford to Manchester United. Cormac, what do you think?
00:29:43
Cormac
Yeah, no, I'd love to see it happen. I know it's a bit of a saga now, but I mean, you know, another kind like Cunha proven in the Premier League, he's been phenomenal at Brentford, you know, scored against us plenty of times. And yeah, I've always been a big fan of his, um you know, the price again, and i think a bit of like £62 million pounds was rejected. So it's looking like we're going to have to go even higher than that to get him, which I'm not too big a fan of, but I would be all for him coming to the club. I think another attacking option up there,
00:30:13
Cormac
you know maybe then we could push Amad out to right wing back where I thought he was phenomenal for us um because I think right back's an issue for us right now. I don't think Dallow is cutting it. But even it's just more options and even maybe he could you know put a shifting up top striker if he has to.
00:30:28
Cormac
um But yeah, know I'm a huge fan of Brian Mbwemo. I think he's fantastic player. And yeah, if we can get him signed up as well, I think our attack will will really be looking good going into the season.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
How about you, Tolua?
00:30:41
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I mean, the thing I like about Mbuemo, obviously last season was like technically his breakout season, 27 goals and assists in the league is just tremendous. That's crazy when you think about it, because I remember back when it was like the times of Drogba and Torres, like 20 goals in a season was like the top, that was the peak.
00:31:00
Toluwa Famuyide
And now Mbwemo is just getting 20 goals like it's nothing. You know, that's crazy. And his his rise has been steady, too. It's not like he just burst on. Like, he's been steadily improving every season, getting him at an age of 26, just like Cunha, which is like he's getting into his best years, you know. So it's another positive.
00:31:16
Toluwa Famuyide
I feel like the intent which is good from Ineos and Amarim if he's suggesting these targets. like these are good targets. And the fact that these guys want to come to United is even better. they're going to actually want to play for us, and they're really going to care about the money.
00:31:29
Toluwa Famuyide
So it's another great signing. And like Cormac said, it gives us just another great option in attack where we can actually rotate a lot and experiment different things against different teams.
00:31:40
Toluwa Famuyide
Imagine right-hand side of Mbumo and Ahmed. like That's going to be so hard to stop from from some teams.
00:31:44
Cormac
Thank you.
00:31:46
Toluwa Famuyide
They're going to have to double up. They're going to have to send their winger to track back. And if they don't, it's going to be dangerous. So I'm excited. These are finally these are actually signings that make sense for what the manager is trying to do. I feel like previous managers just make signings to make signings.
00:32:03
Toluwa Famuyide
They don't really make sense to fit the culture of the team. Some players don't actually like I don't know, it just didn't make sense to me. And I don't know with Amarim, it seems like he really does have intention and he knows what he's doing.
00:32:15
Toluwa Famuyide
And even with the system, it took me a long while to like kind of get used to us playing in a three at the back. I've only known United playing with four, you know, so like him coming in and changing it completely was bold.
00:32:27
Toluwa Famuyide
And I know at first it seemed like the team just wasn't clicking, but I saw good things, even though we concede a silly goals, which that's probably one of our biggest problems is conceding silly goals and then not capitalizing on our chances.
00:32:40
Toluwa Famuyide
If we can fix those two, I feel like we're going to be much better than people let on. So I'm excited, to be honest.
00:32:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, and Bubo, just want touch on him before we
Brentford's Transfer Strategy
00:32:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
wrap up today. 136 appearances so far in the Premier League. He scored 42 goals and had 28 assists. Remarkable. So you're looking at 60-odd, 70-odd goals and assists in 136 appearances.
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, very exciting if that happens. And I think it could happen for the right price. Brentford will not want to let him go. As they've already said, they've rejected two bids. Latest bid being £60.5 million, according to Manchester Evening News.
00:33:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's very clear they will not let him go. They're making signings of their own as well in Brentford. They've recently, as of today, I think, recording-wise, they've announced Jordan Henderson. They've also had Keevan Kelleher rejoin their ranks as well.
00:33:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they're making signings as if they want to progress forward, and they intend to progress forward. And the way for progressing forward for them is whilst they've lost Thomas Frank, they've got to hold on to Mbumo, or if they but can't hold on to him, they've got to get as much money from him as possible.
00:33:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Final thoughts then. I'll come to you first, Cormac. We're back. What do you make a pre-season? I think we've got Leeds coming up on Saturday in the US.
00:33:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Hopefully a chance to wipe the slate clean.
00:33:58
Cormac
Yeah, no, I mean, I'm actually pretty happy with our preseason schedule. I think we play a West Ham, Bournemouth and maybe Everton as well. So getting games in against Premier League opposition.
00:34:05
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah. Yep.
00:34:09
Cormac
um And yeah, it'd be great chance to see the likes of Diego Leon, as we talked about. And yeah, really just get players settled into the, you know, Amarim system. You know, him and Cunha, the new guys, getting...
00:34:09
Toluwa Famuyide
no
00:34:20
Cormac
games against Premier League clubs is perfect idea for, you know, transferring into this system. um And yeah, we'll see how the preseason goes. And hopefully, you know, we won't have any terrible things touch wood like Lenny Arro last season getting injured in preseason.
00:34:34
Cormac
um But if we can make it out, you know, injury free and put in some decent, you know, shifts from players and get decent results, I think it'll be great going into the Premier League season. Hopefully we can kick on from there.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Tulu, obviously we're back. Season two, we're here. um It's your first pre-season with the Daily Manchester United. What do you expect from this one?
00:34:55
Toluwa Famuyide
um expecting I'm not gonna expect too much to start just because I wanna to just see what the guys can do creativity wise, just athleticism wise. I'm really excited because seeing the players look so much leaner really gives me confidence that they're actually taking this serious.
00:35:10
Toluwa Famuyide
I felt like a lot of the players For lack of better terms, we're just not fit majority of the season. Like they just couldn't last a full 90. They just look tired by 60 or 70 minutes. And if they can just last a full 90 and work harder than some other teams, we can just get a result by grinding it out.
00:35:25
Toluwa Famuyide
No shame in winning 1-0 if we're winning, in my opinion, especially with this in the state that we're in. So I'm excited to see, like Cormac said, us play against Premier League opposition. for the first for the only preseason games. That's perfect.
00:35:38
Toluwa Famuyide
That'll tell me right away what I need to know about where United is trying to go. And they're good opposition too. let's not I know on paper, these these teams sound like, oh, these are just bottom half teams, but they've shown consistently, like the likes of Bournemouth.
00:35:52
Toluwa Famuyide
I know West Ham and Everton are kind of always flip-flopping from whether they want to be good or not, but Bournemouth is definitely a team that we need to be careful of. I think we lost both of our games to Bournemouth from... Correct. Or maybe we lost. We definitely lost at Old Trafford and maybe we drew at Bournemouth. So they're a team we need to definitely be careful of because for some reason we struggle against them.
00:36:12
Toluwa Famuyide
And West Ham too, even though I think we should have beat West Ham. Deleuze's miss will always haunt me for like for the rest of my days. And that's the that's the game that Ten Hag got sacked. I'll never forget that.
00:36:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um How could we forget?
00:36:24
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:36:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It made global news, goodness sake, the week after.
00:36:26
Cormac
Thank you.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But hey-ho, yeah, I've sort of wiped last season clean and it never happened in my book.
00:36:32
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:36:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we look back at the history books of the 24-25 season, it's an empty page.
00:36:34
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:36:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing happened.
00:36:38
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:36:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing interesting happened anyway.
00:36:39
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:36:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
No other team won their 20th top flight title. We don't need to talk about that. um Anyway, what we do need to talk about is, well, here we are the end of our first series or the first episode of season two.
Zencastr Sponsorship Acknowledgment
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, we can't go without saying a big thank you to another one of our sponsors in Zencast, because here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencast came out the clear winner.
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs if you fancy it. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently, much like us here at The Daily Manchester United. So if you're interested and ready to tell your story, make sure you check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr. A big thank you to Bionic and Zencastr for partnering us here on The Daily Manchester United.
00:37:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
From myself, from Merck here in McGinley, from Tolua and from Cormac, it's been a great first episode. and In the words of our very own Niall Hannigan, we are so back. In the meantime, take care of yourselves. Have a great rest of your day. We'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye.