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Daily Manchester United - Episode 157 - Cucurella Estrella
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Niall is joined by Tom & Toluwa to discuss theChelsea match!
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Transcript
Introduction and Recent Matches
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the daily Manchester United podcast. I'm your host for this evening Niall Hannigan and i have two members of the podcast joining me on the episode this evening straight after that Chelsea performance. Tom Cairns. Tom, welcome to the show.
00:00:27
Tom Cairns
Hello, Niall. Hello, Talua. And hello to everyone that's tuned in to watch United to get beat once again for the 18th time in the league this season at the hands of Chelsea, who are in the race for a place in the Champions League like we are, albeit in a different ah in different circumstances.
00:00:29
Toluwa Famuyide
Thank you.
00:00:43
Tom Cairns
Let's put it that way.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Welcome to the show and talua famuide. Talua, how are you getting on this evening, this morning, this afternoon, wherever you are?
00:00:53
Toluwa Famuyide
Good, good. I mean, like Tom said, another loss. So at this point, I'm so numb that not even been upset. I'm just looking forward to the final on Wednesday.
Manchester United's Performance Analysis
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's ah it was a tough one this evening, um but it is getting a bit numb, these these defeats. And yeah, definitely definitely not a good thing. But to kind of start off, I suppose I thought the te first 10-15 minutes we were actually really, really good.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I thought that... There was a lot of energy. I liked the team that he put out as well ah with with Mount. I think I saw a stat at the start as well that was the first time Mount had played three consecutive games in the Premier League for Man United.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
When that stat came up, I just felt so bad for him. like He's had such a horrible time with injuries, but I thought we did look lively at the start. Tom, what did you think?
00:01:41
Tom Cairns
We started off okay, didn't we? I thought we settled into the game quite nicely. And I don't think Chelsea posed that much of a threat. i can't Apart from when Rhys James did that ah Benjamin Pavard-like strike on the edge of the penalty area.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:54
Tom Cairns
And yeah, that that was Chelsea's closest chance. Other than that, Chelsea didn't really create anything in the first half. Whereas well we didn't create anything either. it was just that one moment where Maguire got on the end of a half volley.
00:02:06
Tom Cairns
Who was it that put the ball in?
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah.
00:02:07
Tom Cairns
I'm trying to remember. Was it Bruno Fernandes who put it in?
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
bru no yeah
00:02:09
Toluwa Famuyide
you
00:02:10
Tom Cairns
Yeah, that was ah but was probably one of the best finishes from cent a centre-half I've ever seen. It was just a pity that it was ruled out for offside. It was almost like a shades of Peter Schmeichel when he he scored what would have been a goal at Wimbledon in an FA Cup match.
00:02:26
Tom Cairns
Albeit that was disallowed for offside. It was from a set piece. Someone headed it and Schmeichel in an offside position almost like Scissor kicked it into the net. But then that was ruled out for offside.
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:37
Tom Cairns
you if For those who haven't seen it go give it a watch on YouTube because you'll probably understand where I'm coming from with that.
00:02:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
What I loved about it was it was such a good finish and Hoyland was right beside him and Hoyland was looking at him going, ah, that's how you do it. Okay, okay, I see. That's where I should have been and that's how you put it in the back of the net.
00:02:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maguire just wheeled away as if, yeah, this is what I do now. i am ah I am a striker and this is why I do put the ball in the box and I finish it, but it wasn't to be Tolua.
00:03:08
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah. um It's funny because that's the sort of delivery that Hoyland wants every single game. And to see a center back, no less McGuire score a goal like that. I'm sure Hoyland was just thinking to himself like,
00:03:21
Toluwa Famuyide
Why can't I do something like that?
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:22
Toluwa Famuyide
Why can't the balls come into me like that? But I'll talk about Hoyland later. I feel like there's so much to talk about, but I agree. i echo both of what you guys were saying. I thought the first half we were the better team.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:34
Toluwa Famuyide
It wasn't a great performance by any means because we didn't create a whole lot like Tom said, but we had actual assertion over the game.
00:03:42
Toluwa Famuyide
Like Chelsea were... kind of sitting back, kind of waiting to see what we would do next instead of going forward and attacking us, which is what they did in the second half. um But it was promising, especially seeing that we had our basically our full 11 out there.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:56
Toluwa Famuyide
It was promising to see them actually take control of the game and try to assert some dominance over a good Chelsea team.
Strategic Considerations for the Final
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The big difference that I saw was, you know, obviously we didn't create that many chances, but we were moving the ball a lot quicker and we seemed to be just faster all around the pitch in terms of decision making and speed with the ball, speed off the ball, thought the pressing was quite good.
00:04:15
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it did look like they ran out steam towards the end of the first half and then I suppose we'll get into the second half, but it it was quite poor. But do you take any confidence from from that start, Tom, in terms of there seemed to be a bit more about us in the first half, at least?
00:04:34
Tom Cairns
Well, we settled into the game, didn't we? And I think that's what we need to do against Tottenham in the final. If we know we're not going score in the first half, we just need to keep and the likes of Dominic Snellenki and co.
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:04:45
Tom Cairns
honest, because we don't want to invite any form of pressure heading into the match. But the question is now, do you start Rasmus Hoyland in the final? We know you can't start Chiderebi. I'm surprised Chiderebi didn't even feature this evening, because Rasmus Hoyland was never going to provide anything.
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:05:03
Tom Cairns
Someone even mentioned on social media, would it be better if you just start Kobe Maynou as a false nine?
00:05:11
Tom Cairns
I don't think it would do any harm. If we know that Rasmus Hoyland isn't going to provide anything, what hope have we got in him? And it's a shame because do like Hoyland as a guy, but he's not a Manchester United player.
00:05:25
Tom Cairns
It's as simple as that. And you know I pretend to just say, you know, just play Kobe Maynou in a false nine
00:05:34
Tom Cairns
and have two wingers, may have to put Garnaccio on the left, even though I'm not a fan of Garnaccio playing on the left, and have Ahmed on the right-hand side, with Bruno in the 10, a bit like how Ten Hag used to do, or maybe how Emrin used to do when he first joined, before he switched it all up.
00:05:34
Toluwa Famuyide
Thank you.
00:05:54
Tom Cairns
So Emrin's got a choice to make now, he's got a big decision, and thankfully we didn't come away with too many injuries, I think the consolation from tonight is the fact that Aidan Heaven came on in the second half, now, With him not being much fit, but with him being a potential option for the Europa League final on Wednesday, he's going to be an option, I think, to maybe even start.
00:06:15
Tom Cairns
Because Delict is entered ah injured. sorry Martinez is injured. Jaro is injured. Evans isn't going to be fit. So your back three is probably going to end up being Lindelof, Maguire and Heaven.
00:06:32
Tom Cairns
with Matsurari playing on the right ah right wing back role, if you're going to stick to a back five, it's probably going to be right wing back for Matsurari and Dorgi left wing back. And then everyone else just fills it up for itself.
00:06:43
Tom Cairns
But yeah, Amarin's got a decision to make now. I think what i said also in the chat, in our WhatsApp chat, was that I don't know whether Amarin was afraid that he was going to be on the receiving end of the fashion or whether he fielded the side that he knew or you had an idea as to who he was going to start in the final.
00:07:04
Tom Cairns
That's the way I look at it compared to how me, Kieran, and I think it was you, Tulu, wasn't it, that we spoke about the other night of who we who we thought was going to be starting.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:15
Tom Cairns
It was totally different to what we ah predicted.
00:07:15
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:18
Toluwa Famuyide
yeah
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it is more of the the latter, Tom, in terms of this is the team that he's looking to play in that final. if you If you look around the team, they haven't played together at all. I would say that 11's never been on the pitch before together in terms of Mount being fit, Ahmad umad being f Luke Shaw being fit, Lindelof coming back from...
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not from injury, but just from kind of the the depths of the bench, I suppose, and actually getting the game time as well. um Yeah, there's a lot of unpack there in terms of what you were going through. I think that would be my my opinion on the on the team. I don't think he was less concerned about the result, but more these guys need to get used to actually playing with each other because this is the only opportunity you're going to have before I line them out in the pitch.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think the the Hoyland conversation let's just get into it now Lou if you want kick off you're the one that mentioned that you wanted to have a few talking points around it but I think I think we all know what they're what they're mainly going to be
00:08:22
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I mean, I like Hoyland. I really do. I thought when we signed him, I thought he was going to be promising. I knew it would take time, obviously. And he looked good in Ten Hag's system.
00:08:33
Toluwa Famuyide
I think he worked pretty well as a striker who liked to move into channels, running in behind. He was using his pace and his strength really well. But in this system, trying to hold up the ball, He can't do it.
00:08:44
Toluwa Famuyide
I mean, his biggest weaknesses are being exploited in this system.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:47
Toluwa Famuyide
And it's unfortunate because just like Tom said, he's just not a United player. If we were to change system again, would he be able to adapt? I don't think so. We've already seen him go from Ten Hag system to this system. And it's just been a complete failure.
00:09:01
Toluwa Famuyide
He looks lost and he looks so disorganized. He it he looks like he doesn't even know what he wants to do half the time. And I think it was summed up perfectly at some point in the second half when he got the ball at the edge of the box.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:13
Toluwa Famuyide
And Mason Mount was in acres of space and he hayland decides to turn back into the Chelsea defense. And I'm thinking to myself, you've played in the Premier League for how many years now?
00:09:24
Toluwa Famuyide
When do you think you'd ever have that much time at the edge of the box to turn back and get a shot off?
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:09:29
Toluwa Famuyide
You know, and that just shows where we are right now. That shows where he is right now. And I saw some tweets on Twitter. People said it perfectly. Every
Hoyland's Role and Team Dynamics
00:09:38
Toluwa Famuyide
time the the ball gets played to Hoyland, it's it's almost like he's on the other team.
00:09:42
Toluwa Famuyide
He offers nothing in terms of hold-up play. He can't even link up simple one-twos with Bruno or Ahmad. When he gets on the ball, he looks... like a ghost and it's just so frustrating because the first half i thought we played well the second half every time the ball got to hoyland tolson was just touch tight throwing him around like he was nothing and we lose the ball then we're back on on on the defensive side then we win the ball back and try to get it up we lose it again and that seems to be the theme of the the past like few weeks with hoyland he just doesn't know what to do and going into the final
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:19
Toluwa Famuyide
You know, Tom and Tom and I were talking about it the the other day. We really thought Chido would start in this game to give Hoyland some type of rest to give him some time. But I see Amarim is trying to provide competition with competition. That's what he said in his post match presser.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:10:35
Toluwa Famuyide
He said, I wanted to give the boys good competition because we're going to get into we're to have some great competition in the final. But looking at this, I don't think Hoyland even deserves to be in the squad.
00:10:45
Toluwa Famuyide
I don't think he deserves to travel. If not for the fact that Zerkse is injured, if not for the fact that those are only two eligible strikers, I don't even think the guy would be in the matchday squad. He's just so off of it right now.
00:10:59
Toluwa Famuyide
And it poses a problem for us because a lot of the times we're looking to to Hoyland as like a target man to try and build up the play. And he can't even do it.
00:11:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I think you've hit the nail on the head with the, especially with the the hold up play because there were so many examples of it and he wasn't really learning from his mistakes either.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even in the second half, I think he did have the ball, but he took two or three touches and then Tassin got his boot in and just kicked it away.
00:11:26
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was as if, exactly to your point, do you not think you're going to be under pressure? Like, you're not allowed to take three, four touches. You're just not going to get away with it. It would be an interesting time to see if Menuh does start in that false nine position.
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that would be a really... bold decision from Amirim to do that but on the evidence of tonight and on the evidence of the of the whole season, Maynou your main role up there with when you have kind of fly in number 10s is just hold up play and link play and Maynou's as good as anyone when it comes to that and definitely producing more than Hoyland
00:12:05
Tom Cairns
Would an option be to start Mania in the final in a false nine and then bring Hoyland on as a substitute in case the match ends up going to extra time and penalties?
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Potentially
00:12:16
Tom Cairns
Because you're obviously going to need Hoyland to take a penalty, won't you?
Striker Challenges and Market Constraints
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:21
Tom Cairns
You've got to think these things ahead as a manager. You've got to know who your penalty takers are potentially going to end up being. So I'd ah probably expect some changes to be made for the final to know
00:12:34
Toluwa Famuyide
Thank you.
00:12:35
Tom Cairns
Who's going to start and who is going to come off the bench? um I'd probably start i probably put Maynou in the false nine and then drop him back into a CDM or even and attacking midfielder.
00:12:46
Tom Cairns
Because Kieran argued the other day that Maynou is more effective as an attacking midfielder than he is a defensive midfielder. He would rather have Fernandes playing in that defensive midfield role, which I could agree with.
00:12:59
Tom Cairns
But Bruno's been our best player of the season who needs to make the difference when it all really matters on this one game in Bilbao that will determine who will get into the Champions League.
00:13:11
Tom Cairns
Everyone needs to be on their A game, full stop. I think if Hoyland is not on his A game in the final, it could be curtains for him as a Manchester United player because I just don't see him fitting into Amarind's system.
00:13:18
Toluwa Famuyide
with the inside the point.
00:13:26
Tom Cairns
And that's going to make for a really, really hard summer for Manchester United in terms of who they're going to get as a striker to play in that nine position, who's going to be consistent week in, week out in all the competitions that they're going playing.
00:13:40
Tom Cairns
Mateus Cunha, as we all know, is the first to title attacking midfielder, but he's not a recognised striker. He's sort of similar to Xerxes is. We need someone who's an all-out striker who can play in that number nine.
00:13:52
Tom Cairns
I can name many examples. I mean, there's a thing or two with Liam Dillap potentially going to Manchester United, which is conceivable, but is he the answer to Manchester United's problems? I'm not 100% sure on that.
00:14:03
Tom Cairns
I would want to go out there and sign Victor Ossimhen. I'd maybe consider going out there and try and get... or Who could you go and get who would be decent for Ruben Amarim's system in that number nine role?
00:14:19
Tom Cairns
Any suggestions?
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the issue. That's the issue there.
00:14:20
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think there's a plethora of number nines out there, to be honest. Um, I've thought about it many times. The question always comes up as well for Arsenal. you know Every team needs number nine. Chelsea need number nine. There was a guy starting up front tonight that I hadn't seen before.
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um so yeah, it's just... There's there's not the plethora of what there was in those kind of number nine so the kind of lone striker positions. um I suppose Jacare is probably the only other one that could come to your mind, which is you have the Sporting Lisbon connection there. But is he the answer also?
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
very unknown.
00:14:59
Tom Cairns
He's played in England before. you know hess He's done it in the Championship for Coventry, remember?
00:15:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably better than United. yeah So anyway, we'll take a quick break there.
00:15:05
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, there's there's plenty more to discuss after this.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've mentioned it before, 40% off by Ony. The lads need to get on this now for the next few days because the league performances have just been so, so poor and so underwhelming.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And somehow they've been able to turn it on for these Europa League matches, which but is concerning and also frustrating when when you can see that sometimes they do put in good performances. Toluwa, that team that went out tonight, do you see any changes to that?
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or do you think that that's what's going to happen in a few days' time?
00:16:29
Toluwa Famuyide
Knowing Amarim, I feel like he's going to fill the exact same team just because he likes to say he likes to stay pretty consistent with his lineups.
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:16:36
Toluwa Famuyide
Rotation is something that he rarely does, I've noticed. And when he does, it's not too drastic. He'll still include some of the first team players in the squad. But I mean, seriously, we have to. If if I was Amarim, I'd really be scratching my head on who to start up top.
00:16:49
Toluwa Famuyide
I mean, it's it sometimes it really does feel like Hoyland is playing against us. And not just to throw everything on Hoyland, because it is a team sport. But at some point, the quality needs to be there.
00:17:00
Toluwa Famuyide
And like you said, they they love to show up in Europe. But we need this on the biggest stage. Like Tom said, they need to be their game, 100%, from first last minute.
00:17:11
Toluwa Famuyide
and I said this to to Tom and Karen the other day that we're really missing Diogo Dalot. It would be so nice to have Masraoui play as the right-sided center back instead of having to rely on Lindelof.
00:17:25
Toluwa Famuyide
But because Dalot is not fit, then we're kind of struggling to fit in players that can actually impact the system that Emerim wants. So I don't think he's going to make a change regarding that part of the defense.
00:17:37
Toluwa Famuyide
Probably Luke Shaw will probably start on the bench.
Injury Impacts and Squad Adaptation
00:17:40
Toluwa Famuyide
i don't think he's... fit enough to play from the off.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You don't think it's dark? No? Hmm.
00:17:44
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:17:45
Toluwa Famuyide
I mean, I thought Luke Shaw played well today. I really did. um And depending on if certain players can be back in time, I don't think that Luke Shaw is Emmerim's first option at left center back.
00:17:56
Toluwa Famuyide
I think it's just another case of we don't really have many players fit. So you have to play here. Um, But at the end of the day, Amarim is the kind of manager that doesn't really make many changes.
00:18:08
Toluwa Famuyide
And if it was up to me, I would start Luke Shaw there. But if it was also up to me, I wouldn't start Hoyland. If it was also up to me, I'd probably start Garnacho and Mount. and Bruno and Casimero, but knowing Emmerim, he probably will start Garnacho, just knowing who he is.
00:18:23
Toluwa Famuyide
So it's a tricky one, but I'm hoping to see just a positive lineup. No matter who starts, I'm hoping to see impetus. I'm hoping to see these players actually give their all and try and win the game from the very beginning.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's ah it is going to be an interesting one. I think, Tom, to your point as well around you know playing menu from the start and then kind of adapting your team as the game goes on.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hoyland's main strength is running in behind and you're going to have... probably the the fastest back four from from Spurs playing in a few days' time. So that's going to be completely nullified. So maybe throwing in a Kabi Menuh in those little pockets and kind of confuse the defence, I suppose, from a Romero and Van de Ven point of view might actually benefit United.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And i to be honest, I can see the same four starting and in midfield with Ahmad, Mount, Bruno and Casemiro. And I thought it was interesting that you mentioned about kind of playing Mount and Ahmad kind of wide are those two players in the number 10 wide. So Bruno could kind of come in centrally.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought they actually did that out of possession and in possession tonight where Casemiro kind of looked like the lone defensive midfielder and did kind of go away from that kind of I suppose traditional formation that Amarim would play with two CDMs and two attacking midfielders where there was a bit of, um I suppose, dynamism in there where Bruno was kind of running around the place. But do you think, Tom, that that kind of that kind of structure is going to work against Spurs or do you think we're kind of leaving ourselves open for for them to kind of pass through us?
00:20:01
Tom Cairns
We've got to go with what we know that we're good at. and know And I was, yeah yeah, well, I was just thinking because we've had a few crazy formations that we came up we've come up with, um you know, that maybe didn't quite go the way where we wanted to have done because the manager's always going to side on the yeah the tactics and formation and all that.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
what's the um
00:20:24
Tom Cairns
What was thinking was instead of having the number nine, What you could do is have your five defenders, including your two winbacks, have your single number six, most likely going to be Casemiro, and then have your two attacking midfielders and your two wingers sort of like a, it's almost like a 5-1-4, if that makes sense.
00:20:50
Tom Cairns
But we could say, no striker, no.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
No shiker. so
00:20:52
Tom Cairns
No.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:20:53
Tom Cairns
To be honest with you, if you haven't got a recognised striker that can put it in week in, week out, I wouldn't mind if Emmer and Tried something different. Because you know that Fernandes is consistent enough.
00:21:07
Tom Cairns
You know that Mount can do something. I know Mount maybe didn't have the best of games, but at least he tried to make something happen.
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree, yeah.
00:21:16
Tom Cairns
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:16
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:21:17
Tom Cairns
Garnaccio for me, we know he isn't that great on the left-hand side, on the left wing, but we don't have any other our options either. But maybe that could be a an option for him to play as a left winger instead of as ah a left attacking midfielder.
00:21:30
Tom Cairns
And then you've obviously got Ahmed who can play on that right-hand side. And we know how effective he is on that right-hand side. And I think Ahmed is the kind of player that can make all the difference in a similar way to how Salah's been doing it for Liverpool this season.
00:21:46
Tom Cairns
So it's just thinking outside the box a little bit and just try something a little bit different because we're not producing anything when we've got only one recognised striker who can't s score a goal to save his life.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is. um It's brutal, but but it is true. And the evidence is there, like we what like we've seen so much. Ahmad, he wasn't in there one of the players that you mentioned, to Lua, that you would start with. Do you think, I think personally, I think he struggled a bit tonight.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Cucurella was excellent. Yeah. which I don't know it just annoys me just him in general annoys me the only any time I've enjoyed him playing is when they beat England in the final but apart from that I don't really enjoy watching him too much but I thought he was excellent I thought Ahmad struggled I think he kind of came into it towards the last five ten minutes but um you know is that kind of down to Cucurella being on form or is it coming back from injury or do you think it's just kind of one of those games for him
00:22:27
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:22:46
Toluwa Famuyide
I think think it was one of those games for him. I think it was tough for him as well because it was Kukurea and Colwell who were just doubling up and making it pretty difficult for him to do what he normally does.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:22:57
Toluwa Famuyide
I didn't leave, I didn't put him in the starting 11 only because I feel like in a game like this, he'll be so much more impactful off the bench. When Spurs are kind of, you know, a little bit more tired as the game draws on, Ahmad can just come on and boom, you know, impact the game like Tom said.
00:23:12
Toluwa Famuyide
I just feel like in a game like this with Ahmed, I feel like the one thing about United wingers, and this is Ahmed, this is Garnacho, this was Rashford when he was here as well.
00:23:23
Toluwa Famuyide
They're a bit too one dimensional. ah And when I say that, I mean, they always look to cut back in. They always look to cut back in. We had many opportunities in this game where if Ahmed had just taken his man down the line and tried to put in a cross, maybe we would have had something.
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree.
00:23:38
Toluwa Famuyide
But always cutting back in and trying to put it back on your favorite foot becomes very predictable. And I'm sure Ange is looking at this, you know, watch. I'm sure he sent scouts to the game to watch and see how our players performed.
00:23:50
Toluwa Famuyide
He's going to take notice of that and try and double up Ahmed and kind of leave us in a situation where we have to keep switching to Dorgu. And to be fair, Dorgu, I thought was pretty, he played pretty well today.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah great
00:24:01
Toluwa Famuyide
He played very well. I think he played well defensively, and going forward, he was very good. It's just a case of can Spurs play the same way that Chelsea did? I think we've been given a little bit of grace knowing that Kulaseski, Madison, and some of their best players are out injured for this final.
00:24:19
Toluwa Famuyide
And I think that changes their whole approach completely. I don't think Spurs are going to be able to go forward as well as they normally can, especially against us this season, how they've beaten us three times.
00:24:31
Toluwa Famuyide
But going back, I think them bringing in Bensankor, bringing in Basuma and Saar, that's gonna be a lot more industrial.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:24:38
Toluwa Famuyide
That's gonna be a lot more physical than per se having madie so Madison and Kuliseski who are way more creative. They're not really working as hard even though they can. So I think that changes the game completely. I think that puts more of the pressure on us to go forward.
00:24:54
Toluwa Famuyide
And I think we have to, because I don't think we should sit back to a Spurs team that probably will only have one outlet and that'll be Solanke.
Defensive Challenges and Reflections
00:25:01
Toluwa Famuyide
I didn't see a whole lot from Sun today that gives me hope or not hope, but that worries me or terrifies me.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:25:08
Toluwa Famuyide
And he's obviously still coming back into full fitness.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:11
Toluwa Famuyide
So there's a whole bunch of problems on the Spurs side that I think we can exploit. But at the same time, we need to be sound. Like defensively, we need to go forward with intent. Because if we don't, Spurs can always hit us on the counter and then just sit back.
00:25:24
Toluwa Famuyide
And like you said, Van de Van and Romero are probably two of the fastest center backs in the league. And it's going to be difficult to try and get past them. So gonna be it's going to be a tough game.
00:25:35
Toluwa Famuyide
I don't think it's going to be the the shootout that everybody expects it to be. But I think if we're going to win the game, we're going to have to take it to Spurs.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, and yeah, it shows that the we can't sit back and and defend. We're also not great at scoring goals, that hence the the league position. But Tom, second half, a little chipped in ball from Rhys James.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Our favourite player, Cucurella, comes in at the back post, heads it away. Bad defending or good ball or what's your take? Mm-hmm.
00:26:04
Tom Cairns
It was a beautiful turn from Rhys James to put that ball in for Kukareya, wasn't it? It was probably one of the best ah cross... Well, I say crosses. It was more like a chip into the penalty area for Kukareya to get his head onto it. But it was a really good finish. It was a very good header, which Onana couldn't do anything about.
00:26:19
Tom Cairns
You know, I got away with one with the penalty, but it was the correct decision when George... Was it George that went down in the penalty area ah when Onana came together?
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:26
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:26:27
Tom Cairns
That was a blatant dive. I couldn't believe the referee didn't even book George for that because... from even from live television cameras, I knew it was a dive.
00:26:38
Tom Cairns
I knew it was a dive from the moment he went down because there was not enough contact for him to warrant going down the way he did. So the fact that the referee didn't even book him for that is quite astounding. But at the end of the day, yeah you know, we were just simply not good enough in the second half and didn't really pose any threat on goal at any time.
00:26:56
Tom Cairns
I think the only threat we had really was when Ahmed cut back inside on the right on the right wing ah to get that shot away, which was on target.
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:04
Tom Cairns
But it was far from a convincing performance in the second half. real I don't think we deserve to speak to be getting anything from that match.
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I would tend to agree. Definitely. Anyway, let's take another great break there and you'll be back with a bit of something i about either Spurs, about United, something there's plenty, plenty to discuss.
00:27:22
Toluwa Famuyide
Thank you.
Zencastr Promotion and Player Quality Debate
00:27:34
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 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and delivered efficiently.
00:27:49
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.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was a podcast out this week, Gary Neville was speaking on it, saying that he would only take Bruno Fernandes ahead of any of the Spurs players when it comes to a starting XI and that he's concerned for the game against Spurs in the Europa League final.
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tloua, do you agree? if you were to pick an XI, who's getting in, who's getting out from United perspective?
00:28:30
Toluwa Famuyide
I think that's a bit harsh from Gary Neville just because I don't think pound for pound Spurs have a better squad than us. I know that our players, a lot of our players are very average. I won't deny that, but we're talking about Spurs who are in 17th.
00:28:45
Toluwa Famuyide
So I think I'd definitely take Ahmed as well. Bruno, Ahmed, um
00:28:52
Toluwa Famuyide
That's probably it. Now that I think about that's probably it.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:28:55
Toluwa Famuyide
Because I can't see any of our midfielders besides Bruno getting into that team.
00:28:55
Tom Cairns
uh,
00:29:00
Toluwa Famuyide
I think Spurs, in terms of the players I mentioned, Basuma, Saar, they're better than the midfielders we have.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:07
Toluwa Famuyide
Let's just be honest. um And defensively, as bad as both teams have been defensively, i wouldn't choose any of United's back line. Just, I wouldn't. Maybe, maybe,
00:29:19
Toluwa Famuyide
a saving grace could be Maserawi. I thought he's he's had a great season.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:29:23
Toluwa Famuyide
That'd probably be the only one. So yeah, if I had to choose, it'd probably be Ahmed, Bruno, and Maserawi. And that's so shocking to say. Not one single attacker, a striker. Not a single central midfielder, if we're counting that Bruno and Ahmed are tens or wingers or attacking midfielders.
00:29:39
Toluwa Famuyide
And that's pretty bad.
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And not even close, not even close to halfway as well.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, what do you think you're contemplating over there in the corner?
00:29:43
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:29:47
Tom Cairns
I'm just looking at Spurs' as players at the moment. Would you not consider having Joró or De Ligt ahead of Romero or Van der Ven? Or would you say those two are ahead of them comprehensively?
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have been out injured for quite a while this year. um It is hard to judge them, but as a partnership, I probably would take them.
00:30:11
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I was thinking possibly Maguire, considering his his recent form. I think his name probably gets a bit more stick than his actual performances. I thought he was actually really good this evening, again.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, yeah, I mean, it would be a bit of a toss-up, I think. I think Yarrow, I really like him. um Just in terms of the amount of games that he's played yet, I think he probably has a bit more to prove. But...
00:30:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i can't I wouldn't be fighting for many more, to be honest, than what Tolu has mentioned. and I think even if Kulisafski is fit, I'd be picking him over Ahmad as well. so
00:30:47
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um it's a It's a pretty dire situation to be in, but I think it is the reality considering the results we've had against him this season as well.
00:30:58
Tom Cairns
Well, I don't know. It's a hard one to say because both teams have underperformed horrendously this season. And um they both need to step up from the moment ah August comes around. But they've obviously got Europa League final to focus on. But yeah, it's difficult to really come to consensus on which of United and Spurs players we're getting the 11, combined 11. I would stick Bruno in there.
00:31:27
Tom Cairns
Madison, would stick in there as well, but it just depends on the formation you use. Because what formation what formation do Spurs use?
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
exactly 4-3-3 yeah four three three
00:31:34
Tom Cairns
Just remind me. Because I'm sure they go... Is it 4-3-3 they use?
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:38
Tom Cairns
So you'd probably put Madison and fernand and ah Bruno in the centre of midfield. Would you put Casemiro?
00:31:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're going very attacking you're going very attacking with the two of them so you need to have a good defensive midfielder with them as well
00:31:47
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:31:52
Tom Cairns
Yeah, i would say Casimir. Would you put Casimir or Ugarte in there? Because i' probably put Ugarte.
00:31:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I definitely wouldn't. I'd put Pizuma.
00:31:59
Toluwa Famuyide
I wouldn't.
00:32:00
Tom Cairns
Would you put Bezuna?
00:32:01
Toluwa Famuyide
I'd put, yeah, yeah.
00:32:02
Tom Cairns
Okay.
00:32:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then i would say definitely Bruno. I think Madison, yeah, if you're going all out. And then Kulisevsky on the right, even though I think he's brilliant centrally as well.
00:32:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we've spent it for a whole segment on Hoyland, so Solanke or anyone is probably going up top. And then probably Sun on the left.
00:32:21
Tom Cairns
Brett. Yeah, would you stick Brennan john ah brendan Johnson in there? Because he's been one of Spurs' better players this season.
00:32:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd probably still go with Son, but you can put either of them in. they're They're both going ahead of Granato probably, unfortunately. And then your your defense then, i mean, Jed Spence, Sudagi, we'll probably go ahead of considering Dargu's played probably 10 matches for us or 15 matches since January.
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i don't think Paro's that good, but then... Dallo hasn't been great. You could argue Masrawi for right back then. And then I think the other keepers is a toss-up as well. yeah i i wouldn't like at either of them.
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
We can put Bayern Deer in nets or something maybe. but um
00:33:08
Tom Cairns
you know what's funny, though?
00:33:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I'm not a fan of Vicario either.
00:33:10
Tom Cairns
do you know what's funny? It's the fact that both first and second choice goalkeepers of Spurs and Maniated are absolutely yeah horrible to watch these days.
00:33:21
Tom Cairns
Do you remember in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal when f Fraser Forster was in goal for Tottenham?
00:33:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yes, I was at this game, yeah.
00:33:28
Tom Cairns
and Yeah, you were at the game, weren't you? And he made two howlers that gave two United's goals away, as well as Bayern Deer, he was at fault for two of the goals at least.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:41
Tom Cairns
It just made it made me think, but Spurs and Maniaita have probably got four of the worst goalkeepers in the league out of any squad. Forget Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton, because you can talk about the team all you want, but it's individuals that we're discussing.
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:57
Tom Cairns
Fraser Forster is not the goalkeeper that he was when he was at Southampton and Celtic.
00:34:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Celtic, yeah.
00:34:02
Tom Cairns
of of Yeah, and and Vicario, I've not really seen enough of him to really come to a conclusion, but it doesn't feel like he's been at it all season long, to put it in those words.
00:34:14
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:34:15
Tom Cairns
And as well for us, well, Onana has not had a good season either, but not everything is on him. And by and dear, the only match I've seen in play that I would consider was a good performance was in the FA Cup against Arsenal.
00:34:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah.
00:34:31
Tom Cairns
and And that's it. So it's like...
00:34:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
i haven't seen i haven't seen a goalkeeper concede directly from a corner since about under 10s. And that was, he's about 6'6".
00:34:44
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:34:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And with his arms in the air, he's probably over 7'0". And then he jumps, he's probably nine foot And it still goes over him into the top and the other top corner. It's just, I don't know physically that's possible, but it happened.
00:34:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I saw it.
00:34:56
Tom Cairns
Well, at least David Seaman got caught out in his last ever England international against Macedonia all those years back.
Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes
00:35:02
Tom Cairns
I remember that too well.
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
but yeah anyway final thoughts on this evening then any standout players I know Tom you mentioned beforehand you were kind of struggling but anything that you're grasping onto for some sort of positivity going into the next few days and Tolu I'm coming to you after so you need to think of something also
00:35:24
Tom Cairns
I'll let Salua go first on this one.
00:35:28
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I think ah it was encouraging that we held Chelsea to a no-no for so long, considering we thought that they would...
00:35:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is there anything else that is more possible?
00:35:36
Toluwa Famuyide
I mean, truthfully, that's just how bad we've been this season, where I'm expecting...
00:35:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:41
Toluwa Famuyide
it I thought Chelsea were going to come out and just play us out of the park. So I'm very pleased that we at least held on and and actually played well in the first...
00:35:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:35:49
Toluwa Famuyide
Well, I say well, but we played decent in the first half. um Standout performances... I thought Dorgu played really well today.
00:36:00
Toluwa Famuyide
I've given him a lot of stick. I thought coming in, I thought he was just another one of those signings that we throw cash at a player because we need him. um And then he's not really up to the the quality that we need. But today I was shocked at how well he performed against Pedro Neto, who's a very tricky winger.
00:36:17
Toluwa Famuyide
And then going forward, he played well. He tried his best. He was linked enough to play much better than Hoyland, which is insane to me, that our left wing back can play one twos better than our striker. That's just so mad to me.
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely, yeah. And his end product was better today as well. I think there was a few times at the start where he kind of was panicking when he got into the final third, but I think he was picking out some nicer passes.
00:36:32
Toluwa Famuyide
It was better to today.
00:36:38
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:36:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um One to Mount in particular in the first half, but yeah, I thought there was definitely a bright spark down that side um and probably was doing two people's work, I suppose, because you know Mount was very central, so it wasn't really giving him much support out in the left-hand side as well. So I thought great engine all day.
00:36:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, anything else to add apart from keeping Chelsea to 0-0 for some time?
00:37:04
Tom Cairns
I give credit to Harry Maguire for his performance this evening. I thought he tried to make things happen.
00:37:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:09
Tom Cairns
It was very unlucky he got the goal disallowed because obviously without VAR, that would have been given as a goal.
00:37:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:15
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah.
00:37:15
Tom Cairns
And yeah, I think he's proven um what he can actually do. And I think this season has been a blessing in disguise for Maguire because this time two seasons ago, when we finished third in the league and we won the Carabao Cup, Harry Maguire was one of the worst plays in the ah in that United squad.
00:37:32
Tom Cairns
But it feels like this season, when we've been performing so poorly, there's been an opportunity for him to stand out from the crowd and actually make a name for himself. And this game was another one where he actually tried to make things happen, like he did against Lyon in the Europa League and other matches as well, that where he's had a very strong performance in.
00:37:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yep.
00:37:53
Tom Cairns
I think probably the one against Liverpool where he defensively was strong at Anfield. So that's what go I'll probably go for Dogu as well. But other than that, there wasn't really a lot to take away from.
00:38:07
Tom Cairns
It's not like there's one, like again, it's not like there's one standout player that has blown me away above the rest. I think everyone needs to improve in the final against Spurs and Bilbao on Wednesday.
00:38:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. I think that's a ah great place to finish off. We'll have, I'm sure, a couple of episodes doing a proper deep dive and a preview into this into this huge match next week. And we can only stress the importance of it as well for for the club and for the fan base and for the players and for the manager and everyone involved. So...
00:38:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lads, thank you very much for joining me after that. That was ah that was a tough one. But yeah, we we move and we have another few days to go until the the final in Mabao. So thank you both for joining me and we'll see you in the next one.