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Overcoming Technical Difficulties... Recap on our form & Amorim System
21 Plays9 days ago
Throwback to Sam & Cormac catching up on the Spurs match from last week and Uniteds recent form
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, my name's Sam Brady and you are listening or watching to the Daily Manchester United podcast. And of course, I'm joined by my good friend Cormac for today's one. How are we, fella?
00:00:28
Cormac
Yeah, doing
Mixed Feelings on Weekend Game
00:00:29
Cormac
alright now. um Not a loss at the weekend, although would have liked to have gone on and won that match. But I mean, I'm happy with the Dillift equaliser at the end because I was thinking, you know, I was just going to be like Farris again where they scored two rapid goals and they might, you know, i'll get three points. But now five in a row I'm beating now. Yeah.
Avoiding Losses and Spurs Performance
00:00:49
Cormac
I think United Strand could have been getting his hair cut if he had just changed his thing.
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:00:54
Cormac
But i have no, it's in another unbeaten match. you know We're avoiding a loss and Spurs you know are high up there. We have a good squad. So um yeah, away from home. um I'll take it.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that was going to be my sort of starting
United vs Spurs: Concentration Lapses and Slow Start
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
point. I mean, we aren't going to focus that this episode on the the game on the weekend because Niall wonderfully covered that yesterday.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
but obviously we haven't been on since since the game. so So what were your thoughts?
00:01:19
Cormac
Yeah, no, mean, thought it... um To be fair, I thought it was a bit iffy. I thought we were... Because I watched Spurs play Chelsea the week before and I thought Spurs just looked awful.
00:01:32
Cormac
And I really thought, you know, we could go out there and do something. But I thought the start was a bit slow. I don't think we looked quite as good as we had the last few weeks. um But then, granted, you know, we we got the lead, went ahead, and then it's just the same old, same old, you know, few...
00:01:50
Cormac
lapses in concentration, um that the first goal was a joke really, just not being switched on, it kind of reminded me of the Forest game again, you know, you just switch off for a few minutes and, you know, the floodgates open, and yeah, I thought when, you know, Spurs went ahead, I was like, oh, here we go again, but Credit to Matthias Seligt. I can't say an enough about him. He's been such an important player this season. and get Shades and Maguire there with a header and saving us late on. um so i
00:02:20
Cormac
If you'd say going into the match at point, I take it.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:23
Cormac
you know If we were just a bit had better concentration areas and bit more clinical, we could have got three. but I'm happy we just we didn't get a loss after leading from up until about 80 minutes.
First vs Second Half Performance
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I feel slightly similar um in in terms of if you would have said to me before the game away at Spurs, a draw, I probably would have taken it.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then adding context to actually how the game panned out, I'm actually quite disappointed that that we got a draw and we were, what, 30 seconds away from losing it. And I mean...
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
A draw overall is a fair result. I would say first half, we were the better side. Second half, they were the better side. So i think overall a draw is probably about right.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I mean, that this is my whole problem. And this is these are the types of sort of um drop in performances that...
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
doesn't give me confidence in our system, in the way we play, because I don't get how we can have two contrasting halves.
Substitutions and Pressure Issues
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of first half, I thought we played really well. I thought, you know, i thought Spurs had more of the ball, but i thought like we were clinical going forward. We created good chances.
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Second half, we were rubbish. We were absolutely garbage. And like to go from one extreme to the other, and then you look at... look Look, we won the law and you look at the subs we bring on and you and everything, a combination of everything.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and and it's almost like, you know, as soon as the pressure is on our defence, as soon as a team puts pressure on us, we're we're going to
System and Consistency Concerns
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
concede. that It's just inevitable.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then for us to sort of be so close to a loss. I mean, if we had lost that game, I would be absolutely fuming. um So, look, a draw. I'm really disappointed by a draw, to be honest. And I guess especially because, look, it's it's Spurs. It's not like, look, as you rightly pointed out, they played Chelsea the other week and they were absolutely terrible.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we we can't be like nearly losing to Spurs when we're 1-0 up in the game. We need to be managing those games out and and seeing it through. and and And it's one of those games where, yeah, we were 1-0 up.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Second half, we didn't play well at all. But they're the games that you don't play well, it but you just scrap it out in the second half and you see it over the line. And i ah you this these are types of... Look, we're undefeated in four now.
00:04:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Undefeated in fives, I should say. um not five in a row but yeah undefeated in five so look we' we're going well and and it's we we're going steady but it's just like if we could have just nicked it just got over the line we would be in second right now so it's almost you know take a draw or take the point but it's the what ifs like and and that's I think the the next step as as a team, as a club, we
Player and Tactical Critique
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
need to do that. we We need to not play well and still get results. And I just don't think we're there yet. If we don't play well, we don't win games. And that's a problem, I ah think.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, i mean, yeah.
00:05:34
Cormac
and Just going off, you made the point about the subs. Something I've never really understood for Amarim, he always has to take off centre-backs. you know Always loves to do it. and then you know He makes the fight changes early and then we see Sesco gets injured and we have to take him off. and then Basically, we're playing with a man getting sent off.
00:05:53
Cormac
um
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:54
Cormac
It's something that I didn't really agree with at all. I think sometimes he's just making and changes to make changes. I feel like I don't really understand the tactics behind it and, um,
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I mean, i think it's a combination of both where I don't get Almorin swapping and changing the centre-backs at every game.
00:06:05
Cormac
ah i can
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be honest, I don't get some of the players he starts ah in games. Like, for example, Maguire, and and me and my brother were having this conversation while watching the games.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get the whole um the whole thing around Maguire starting. He's good off set pieces. He's good at putting crosses in the box. But... against the big teams we're starting Maguire when we've got Yoro on the bench Maguire should almost be like if we need him we'll bring him on not starting games and yeah as we've said in previous episodes he scored important goals scored against Liverpool but that means almost the centre-back who should be playing just gets brought up on the bench and then obviously Maguire gets injured but I also think it's a combination of Almorin doesn't
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
tactically make the right decisions at times, but also the level drop-off in our subs is a joke, to be honest. I mean, Agate is terrible. De Lott is terrible.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, Sesko is a question mark, and let's let's just be fair, he has to do more. Like, you just... We're at the point now where... not A £70 million pound player, yeah, he's adjusting to the league, but you've got to be doing more. And then when you don't and you go off injured and now God knows how long he'll be injured for, maybe two, three weeks, it's it's not looking good.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I got it, as I said, the drop off.
Manager Almorin's System and Adaptability
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
i fought And even in that game, I thought Casemiro was having an amazing game. Why bring him off? I get it. we we've We've even said on this podcast, Casemiro doesn't have the legs, he can't play a full 90.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, if he's having a game like that, then try him, you know, try. And Dorgou, no, and I mean, Delos left wing back in Agate and bringing on Jorou and then Sesko. It just...
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's almost like that. And I think I spoke about it in a previous game. I can't remember who against. Maybe it was Brighton, but it sends a message to your opposition and to your own teammates that, look, they're hanging on here.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like there's 25 minutes, 20 minutes to go. And they're already thinking about just scraping the 1-0 win instead of trying to get another. And I just don't like the message it sends.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't like the players we're bringing on. And I think ultimately it's one of the the main reasons we we drop points on the weekend. and And that's just what it is. And obviously it's not all down to armouring, but it's it's the players he's brought in.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And look, we've touched on Almorin, and this is the episode where we're going to touch on Almorin Cormac a bit more, because as this episode goes out, one year ago to the day, Ruben Almorin was appointed Manchester United manager.
00:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, we were saying off air that, wow, it's it's already been a year. at times Time's flown by. I'm not sure if it's gone if it it feels like it's gone really quickly or really slowly. i can't decide yet.
Almorin's Tenure Evaluation
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But yeah, year... to the day that that he joined United. comma look, how would you sum up this past year? Is it a success?
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it ah disappointment? Or is it somewhere in the middle?
00:09:24
Cormac
um Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, there's been better signs recently, but I think when you think that the whole year as a whole, i think it's it's been disappointing.
00:09:34
Cormac
I mean, that was the worst season we've seen United have in the Premier League since you or me being alive by a mile, you know, we're finishing down 15th, 16th.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:46
Cormac
It was, you know, absolute tragedy. And um to be fair, when Amarim was coming when Ten Hag got sacked, I was kind of, I didn't want Ten Hag to go, to be honest, at the time, i thought,
00:09:58
Cormac
you know Going back to some of the results, I thought the players let him down massively. you know yeah His last match was that West Ham match where Dallot missed that open goal.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:07
Cormac
Garnaccio hit the crossbar. There was another match we drew, 0-0 with Palace, that I thought United played unbelievable the first half best I'd seen them in a while. um so I thought it was just kind players letting down. But anyway, so when Amarim came in, I was kind of a you know i bet but not broken hair but a bit upset about Tanag leaving especially know getting us the FA Cup um and but even then we had Van Nistrooy a few games won one of us I think he went three wins in the draw or something like that yeah so when Amarine came in i was like great you know um Van Nistrooy had this team winning as an interim and
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
whilela ah
00:10:42
Cormac
Even you'a watching, I think, Sporting had destroyed City a few
Disappointment Over Past Season
00:10:47
Cormac
weeks prior Avraham getting...
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:48
Cormac
So I was actually like, all right, let's go. on And then as it started, it was just tragic. I mean, we were we couldn't attack or do anything. We were getting battered. I mean, there's multiple results I could go through. you know the likes of losing a bar with Trina at home.
00:11:03
Cormac
um There's so many... Even the Southampton match we won. We're playing bottom of the league, Southampton. And... We had Ahmad saving us with 10 minutes to go. um
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:11:14
Cormac
But granted, there were some there was some sp bright sparks. I thought that City win away last year was something else. Recently, that that Liverpool win away was was you know phenomenal.
00:11:27
Cormac
And to be fair to Amarim, he didn't really get much back. It came in a tough time November. um This summer though, I think with the signings he's got there, I have seen progress being made and I have been happy now with how they're playing. Although we were kind of thinking, you know, the Saturday season was rough, especially that Grimsby Town defeat.
00:11:47
Cormac
I was thinking, you know, here we go again.
Comparison with Past Managers
00:11:49
Cormac
I know some other guys in our group were were kind of saying Amory might have to go ah soon if it continues. Not pointing at you, Sam.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
i live what Well, actually, it wasn't even after Grimsby, I said. It was actually after Brantford, but even so, I mean, yeah.
00:12:05
Cormac
it's Fair. Not even fair though. Yeah, but i' no, I think it's definitely getting better. We'll save more time. But um yeah, I think if I had to summarise overall, I think it has been disappointing with him and Charity Bus.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so it's been a year now. Is it now fair to to judge Armourin? Or are we still in in the sort of period where he's allowed a bit of grace, where you give him time?
00:12:32
Cormac
Yeah. No, I think a year. Because if you look at previous managers, Moyes had a year. you know I feel like Van Gaal was judged pretty early on.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:42
Cormac
i mean
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:45
Cormac
Granted, okay maybe it's a bit different for Amarim because, as I said, he came in middle of the season and it's kind of taken him a while to get back. and so I'd normally say year fine, but I'd say I'd maybe give Amarim...
00:12:57
Cormac
you know I'll see January time, how he's doing. um But I feel like most of the squad that's been there a while, you left they've had time to get used to his system. and you know Sometimes we've we question the system a lot.
00:13:11
Cormac
Although I do think they're starting to click
Adaptability in Management
00:13:13
Cormac
a bit more better. And the likes of Van Puembe coming in, Cunha, have really helped with that. um So I'd say I could give him a couple of months, but we're reaching that point where I think you know you can't be saying he needs more time to
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
m
00:13:27
Cormac
to be judged I think when you're in a United manager position you know you're going to come on through it nearly and you know it's we're one of the biggest football clubs in the world you have to be you know you don't have time you have to be doing things as quick as you can
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and the only reason I ask that is because, well, I guess some United fans and Almiron himself would say he plays a completely different system to to different managers in the past. And a lot of managers, most Premier League managers,
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So he would say, um and and obviously there's been a lot of talk about the system, but he would say he needs time to you know let the get used get the players used to the system, get the players he needs in for the system.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So my question to you would be, what's your opinion on his system, but also how stubborn he is and has been to sort of die on on the sword of his system?
00:14:30
Cormac
Yeah, no, it's good question. i mean, it's something all going last season we made comments about. um Personally, I'm never a fan of the five-back. um You know, I prefer standard, you know, four-back formations. um I just don't want like to see United, growing up when we've seen them play such a tackle, you know, fluid football.
00:14:52
Cormac
I don't really like them. I've seen them sit back now against you know especially the bigger teams and counter-attacking.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:14:58
Cormac
I'm not really a fan of it, but you know it's it's his way of thinking. He's a professional manager. um If he thinks he can get the job done, then it's his team at the end of the day. but um You made the point about adaptability. That's something I've harped on about all year. i think that When we were really going through that rough patch, it was almost insane.
00:15:22
Cormac
Nothing looked good the way we were playing and he just wouldn't change a thing. And I just can't understand that. um You know, and, you know, he made the point about, you know, it's a new system. You know, those first few months, you know, if it's not working, and especially that should be a time because the players would have still been kind of used to, you know, the four back, stuff like that.
00:15:41
Cormac
um But yeah, I mean, not a fan of... I think he could be a lot more adaptable, but we kind of did see a few matches ago, I think it was the Bright match, we me and you talked about, you know, the they were pressed and then changed up, so I think we have seen a little bit more flexibility from him.
00:16:00
Cormac
um But yeah, he's just... He firmly believes in his system, and I mean, yeah, if he backs at the end of the day, his choice, but I'm hoping you know it will work out, and
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:16:11
Cormac
You'll get the job done for us.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, if you're a manager, like Almorin did do, and said right at the beginning he wasn't going to change his way and this is his way, how long do well do you never change as bad as it gets?
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or what would you do? How long would you give it until you would potentially change? Or do you not change at all? And you back it in the press like you did. And and now now it's almost like ah you can't you can't go back on your word.
00:16:45
Cormac
i think I think you have to put your pride aside. I mean, if it's not working on you, you have to change something because, you know, i to me as well, that's looking like he doesn't really care. He's just rolling over and is ready to be done. If you're not fighting to change stuff, you know, you look at any business in the world, if they're not doing well, they're going review their you know practices and how they operate and try change things.
Almorin's Philosophy Debate
00:17:09
Cormac
And in that case, so that's what should be done. Yeah.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but if the But if the boss of that business at the start says, this is gonna work, I'm gonna see it through my way, and then he does a U-turn on what he says, how does that look on on him?
00:17:26
Cormac
Obviously, you know, it doesn't look good at him, but, um you know, I think you lose... When he's saying that at the start, he seems confident and he loses credibility there. um But, you know, at the end of the day, the board won't be happy. And I think if he... if he He's been lucky because I think if we had kept losing and you know didn't get been on the streak, he could have easily been very ah much on the chopping block. you know As you said, after the Brentford match, I think that's where really the pressure was on him.
00:17:57
Cormac
um But yeah, I mean, it's it if he wants to keep his job, and at the end of the day, he wants to win matches. It's as simple as... I know if he said he's not going to change at the start, but you'd just be insane. now If you're still losing and you just dont want to change because your pride might get hurt, I mean...
00:18:14
Cormac
I'm sorry, but like that's it's it's not going to work.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:16
Cormac
I think you have to adapt to the league. You know, he managed in Portugal. It's a lot higher step than over there.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:23
Cormac
And yeah, I mean, you can appear confident all you want, but at the end of the day, the results show on the pitch and that scoreline is all that mattered. And, you know, if if you're not getting the results, I think you have to change no matter what you set the start.
Fan and Media Perceptions
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and I share similar opinions to that in terms of, look, I am Almiron out and I have been since that Brentford game.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And I'll tell you why. it's Look, a night ah I like the guy. He's an honest guy, seems like a really nice guy. i think I said a couple of weeks ago I'd go for a pint with him and I would. I have nothing against him.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when you're so stubborn in your ways, we are all a year on now. And if anything, we are worse um than than under Ten Hag, when Ten Hag left. We had our worst season ever. And I'm not saying it's all down to Amorin, but he doesn't help himself.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
When he says things like that in the press and he makes tactical decisions and he sticks by the system, you you you don't help yourself. And when I look at him and I look at...
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
his system And it's so ever it's so so clear that it doesn't work. Yes, we have moments. Yes, we're in a good run of form
Impact of Recruitment and Decisions
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
now.
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's not long term. And I've seen, well, in my opinion, it's long term. I've seen managers like like this with United before who have a certain way. I mean, Mourinho's the most famous one.
00:19:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, you you can get short-term results. You can have good wins at places. But long-term, if you want to really challenge for serious trophies and and compete with the big clubs, in my opinion, you can't play this style of football. And in my opinion, you saw that against Spurs.
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We were playing really good and everything was flowing. And then from out nowhere, it just changed in the second half. I don't know what happened. I'm sure Almren's scratching his head in terms of what happened.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I know that that still might have happened. But because how we were set up, it was almost like, as I said at the start, you know we're going to concede. Soon as a team puts pressure on us, and not even a team really with that... good high quality forwards. I mean, they had Odebird, Richarlison, Brennan Johnson.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, that's, okay, that's a decent attack. But when we've got a five at the back and we knit we can we can see two to Spurs, we can see two to Brighton, we can see three to Grimsby,
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
We never keep clean sheets. mean, when's the last time we've we've kept a clean sheet? And you have five at the back. So if anything, you're meant to be more defensive. Now, don't get me wrong. I love our attack now. I think our attack's sorted.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I also don't really think that's to do with
Viability of Almorin's System
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Almorin. I think that's to do with the recruitment. you brought in Mbwemo, you brought in Cunha, okay, Sesko, look, he has to do more, but I don't know how much that's down to Almren and how much that's down to the recruitment and would that have just happened anyway?
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I also think we might be in a position like we have been with Tenog, like we have been with previous managers where this manager is gone in a year's time and we're left with players who fit his system in a year's time.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
and, and I want a manager to come into my club who I can look at and go, you're not just here for ah bit of short-term success. I want to see a long-term goal. hit like I'm not even asking us to win every game.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even if we lose games, I want to go, you know what? We lost that game, but we competed and and we we gave it a go. It's two complete opposites with United. We either play really well, win, or we play absolutely garbage. There's no consistency and there hasn't been consistency for the past year.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you want to be a top successful club, consistency the number one. I mean, look at Arsenal. They're the only consistent team, big team and in the league right now and they're top.
00:22:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that just shows that if you have even an ounce of consistency, you can get somewhere. And even... Look, I bet ah some Arsenal fans, and that's what Radcliffe pointed out a couple of weeks ago, they compared us to to ah the likes of Arsenal under Arteta.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's different. That's completely different. Because you've you've got, Arsenal won the f FA Cup and now, look, that they have built something that their team has absolutely, completely changed.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, you could say, look, that that might happen with armouring. But Arteta didn't change everything at once. He progressively brought in players, tweaked the system here and there.
Speculation on Almorin's Future
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Almiron's come in and gone, right, I'm playing the system. I want these players to play positions I've never played. And by the way, even if we lose games, embarrassing games, I'm not going to change it.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm like, do I want that type of characteristic as my manager? I don't. Like, as I said, seems like a nice guy, honest guy. But if you're that stubborn as ah as a football coach, you're not going to make it at the high level.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, you can make it a sport in Lisbon because, no disrespect, you're you're playing lesser opposition. You can have one-off games like against Man City, but that's not going to happen week in, week out. and And that's my issue with it And look, I hope he proves me wrong. And I'll be the first person to say he proved me wrong. And I'm um i'm so open-minded for him to change my opinion.
Memorable Victories Under Almorin
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just don't see that happening. But it is a bit ironic. ah As soon as I declared myself armouring out, we went five undefeated. So i guess who's the mug there?
00:24:09
Cormac
Just stay on the remote and hopefully we'll keep winning.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. Do you know what mean? But we will talk about what the the the next year looks like. But just give me one final thought, Cormac. Your best moment under Ruben Armourin in the past year.
00:24:25
Cormac
Yeah, best moment. I mean, i think more of Maurice, but I did touch on the... you know the um The City win away last year with a mad coming up clutch. But honestly, I think I might have to go for, I think, the Liverpool win.
00:24:40
Cormac
Just given the recent misery we have that i've had there, you know, the 7-0 trashing under 10 Haag. You know, in recent times, they've just kind of embarrassed us. And yeah, well, when we beat them, it was their first time in 10 or something or 2016.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
since 2016. Wayne
00:24:57
Cormac
Yeah, so there you go. You know, it shows... how important and big that win was to you know go out and do that. um And yeah, especially a match, I think a lot of thought Liverpool were still going to batter us, even though they were on a three-game losing streak in the Prem anyway.
Almorin's Impact and Future Predictions
00:25:12
Cormac
So yeah, I think for me, that has to be my my best moment under Amarim.
00:25:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I'd have to agree, to be honest. Just everything around that game, the fact that no one expected us to to do anything. We never do anything at Anfield. Maguire, the way he won it, especially after his miss in the last minute last year.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I think, I mean, what what a moment and um what a game. And Almirin's provided that. As I said, he's provided individual moments of of brilliance. But i as I said, want to see that on a weekly basis.
00:25:45
Cormac
Mm-hmm.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we will go to a short break now, Cormac. And when we get back, we'll look ahead at what the next year might look like and whether we're talking about Almorin in a year's time.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back soon.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the Daily Manchester United podcast part two. And look, Cormac, we touched on Almorin's first year at the club, the ups, the mainly downs, unfortunately.
Expectations for Upcoming Season
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But will it be mainly ups or mainly down in the next year, Cormac? what What's you what is your gut feeling right now?
00:27:27
Cormac
You know, my gut feeling... I'm not just saying as step, but I do feel optimistic. You know, this little stretch we've we've had, we haven't seen nowhere near this.
00:27:37
Cormac
You know, I think, what, we couldn't even win two games in a row before during this year.
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:27:41
Cormac
So, you know, won three in row, five unbeaten overall. um And granted, you know, I think besides Arsenal and City, really, I don't, I think the rest of the top four there is open. So, I'd like to say we can challenge for that top four spot.
00:27:56
Cormac
um You know, like how Loved how Mbwembe was there to Cunha. I think, as you said earlier, attack is kind of set. like Granted, Sesco needs to to get scoring because even at the weekend, there were some chances he he just fluffed, really.
00:28:11
Cormac
um you know He just doesn't look up on the pace. He had that one chance where he was caught from behind. But if you know we get him scoring, Cunha and Mbwembe, nothing needs to be said about them. Just fantastic. I think then just shore up the back line. I think I want to see Lenny Yarrow getting solidified in there.
00:28:30
Cormac
um You know, just make him more sure. I didn't mind Maz Rowe at all. I thought he played quite well right back. then if Dorgoo, I thought was all right as well. um But yeah, and then, you know, I think if he can get a bit of recruitment in one more player, maybe it's a centre mid, I think would help out a lot.
00:28:47
Cormac
um You know, because as you said, Ugarte just isn't cutting it at all. um But I think that the team can be set up quite nicely. And, you know, I think, the form we've seen recently shows, I think, that the team is gelling a lot more, getting used to the system because it has been a while. um And yeah, I mean, we've had big wins, you know, away to Liverpool, like we said, you know, results away at Spurs. So, you know, going away to these big teams, I think we can get points there and then, and then we just have to shore up against the teams we've had problems with in the past, the lower league
Team Goals and Ambitions
00:29:21
Cormac
teams. But I think the win against Brighton showed that, you know, now it might be different. So,
00:29:25
Cormac
Yeah, I'd like to say we can we can challenge for the top four.
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and I was going to come on to that in terms of, I remember after Brighton, I said that in that dressing room, Anamaran should be thinking, you know what, like we can do this. like We can push on and and try and challenge for Champions League.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think he's thinking right now in in terms of his ambition and his aim? And what would he consider from last season? what What do you think he's considering a good season ah come the end of the year?
Evaluating Success Metrics
00:29:58
Cormac
Yeah, I think, you know, he's come off as very honest guy. You know, he kind of says that how how it's been, especially knowing we had some losses last season. He was coming out and saying stuff that really hadn't heard managers say in a while.
00:30:11
Cormac
um You know, we finished 15th and I think, you know, he said he's a very stubborn guy. I think he he's going to say he needs few more players for his system. So have a feeling, you know, if we can get, you know,
00:30:29
Cormac
8th and above, I think he'd be very happy with that, to be honest. um you know Jumping 8 spots on the table, I think he would but say that's progress for him. but um yeah I'd like to aim a bit higher and say top 4.
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and on the flip side of of the coin, if come the end of the season, where would we have to be for the board to consider Almorin's job at United?
00:30:59
Cormac
Yeah, I mean, I think it depends as well, you know, if we win a cup or something, you know, like FA Cup, I think that would factor into it. I think you could finish a few spots down in the league if you won FA Cup, but I think it has to be Europe and I don't mean Conference League, I mean like minimum Europa League, I think because the money we've pumped in, we're still spending more than, you know, a lot of these clubs are ahead of us
Expectations Without European Competition
00:31:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:23
Cormac
and they're still, you know, a looking better than us.
00:31:25
Cormac
So, I mean, I think a year and a half, a year and eight months is time enough, really, I think, with some of backing he's got to, you know, if he can't finish, what is it, it's sixth or seventh now against Europa League, depending on hey FA Cups.
00:31:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah yeah Well, yeah, it yeah depended on faops and
00:31:44
Cormac
So, yeah, I think if he's, you know, finishing eighth, you know, below that, seventh, if it's not Europa League, I just don't think that that's good enough, really. And, you know, but we have the likes of Bruno, you know, running...
00:31:57
Cormac
His prime years are kind of getting further away, you know, with each year going by and we kind of have a team now, I think that, you know, we just can't be messing around anymore waiting for this thing to work because we've seen the struggles it's had in the past and think you made a good point, you know, long term, it's, it doesn't look viable because, you know, any match you watch, we're never in control of the game with this system, you can't be and, you know, it seems like we're sitting back a lot, especially against the big teams and that's just not the way I think an elite team ever is, you know, going to go out and,
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:32:29
Cormac
when granted you have some exceptions like Inter Milan but um but yeah no I think finishing below seventh eighth anything there below i think you have to call it
00:32:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and for the for the all the negatives, maybe we we've highlighted this episode. I mean, we should actually mention and that he has obviously won Manager of the Month recently as well, um which, you know, it's about everything we we say.
00:32:52
Cormac
yeah
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then pulls up. He has a ah great month and and wins that, so congratulations to him. And also, um Brian Mbwemo as well. so i mean I can't remember the last time we we did the double. I think it can't even remember. did I did see it. I can't remember now. But yeah, i mean this is what I'm saying. I think we will have good moments under Armourin and maybe even good months.
Future Speculations on Almorin's System
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah yeah, I mean, for me, look, if we finish seventh or eighth, that's probably where I expected us to finish at the start of of the start of the season.
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as you said, i want us if we're going to be finishing seventh or eighth, I want us to at least be challenging for Europe. So if we're, but there's a difference between being away from Europa League by three points and being away from Europa League spots by nine points. So we have to be in and around it come the end of the year. And if we don't make it, then I'll go, do you know what? We tried. We had a great opportunity at the start of the season.
00:33:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if if you as we said about Spurs, if you would have asked me that at the start, I probably would have taken it. So, yeah, I would i would say around there. But what I would also say is context matters a lot now because we're not in the League Cup anymore.
00:34:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're not in any Europe in the week. So our only cup competition really will will be the f FA Cup. um and And that's obviously not midweek and everyone else is is playing that grant if they if they get through.
00:34:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I also think teams and rightly so and fans will look at us and go, you should be finishing in Europa League because you you don't have to play Europe this year. So that's the added element of of pressure that Amman has, I guess. He has a full week to sort of tra get the players used to the system.
00:34:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think if he can't get the players used to the system this season without any added distractions going on, then when will he he ever? And and look... It is the the fact of how long do you give him, how many players do you bring in.
00:35:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the it's the ah the the trouble that we might bring in the players and he might not be here. And and we've been in that scenario before. And that's why I'm so cautious. And that's why... And maybe that's not even Almorin's fault. Maybe he's sort of the the result of past failures in in my... In my opinion, maybe my opinion, admittedly, is is probably to do with that factor as well.
00:35:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, I think if we're not in and around 7th, 6th, 8th, I think he's in trouble. And and to be honest, if... I mean, I don't mind, like this run is great and all of this, but we we we win nice games and we do good games.
00:35:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as I said about one performance to the next, we also have absolutely embarrassing performances. So yeah, we've beaten Liverpool away and yeah, like we we beat Brighton and we beat Chelsea.
00:35:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's not forget we lost to Grimsby, we lost to Brentford. So we had we had games we we weren't expected to win that we won and the games we actually expected to win we didn't. So this is what I mean about the inconsistencies.
00:36:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I feel like I'm um'm deja vu because this was the exact same under other managers. So, yeah, I mean, I suppose to round off, Cormac, November the 11th, 2026, will Ruben Almiron be the manager of Manchester United?
00:36:28
Cormac
try A year from now, Wolf. and ill I'll give, I think the recent times of, you know, forget about that last year, last season. I think recent times to base off that, you know, a manager of the month, as you said, had phenomenal set of results.
00:36:46
Cormac
And yeah, I think the last person, last last people I can kind of remember doing that was maybe 10 Hag and Rashford. Yeah.
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, maybe, yeah.
00:36:54
Cormac
yeah I think Rashford's involved in there. But um yes, positive signs, something we haven't seen in couple of years. and And yeah, i I'd like to to back him and say if we can get top four and he'll be around next year, I'll be optimistic and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and back up the the recent play we've been seeing.
00:37:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe a bit more of an interesting question is if he is still here, like you've just said you think he is, will he be playing this system in a year's time?
00:37:24
Cormac
I think so, because ah I think he would just will never change it.
00:37:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:37:28
Cormac
So if if he's still going to be here, I think that system will still be here, unfortunately.
Final Thoughts on Almorin's Future
00:37:33
Cormac
But I'm hoping the players will will fully ah understand it and gel with it by then.
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Cormac, you'll have to join me again in a year's time. We'll have to do an episode looking back. and
00:37:45
Cormac
At this end.
00:37:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, this episode to see if we're right. um i let me make I put you on the spot, so it's only right I make a prediction. I think he will be.
00:37:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I genuinely think he will be. Whether I agree in a year's time if he should be is is another question. But also the noise coming out of of the board and Jim Radcliffe suggests to me that they are going to give him time.
00:38:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Look, it it depends on how bad it gets. But it can't get much worse than last year. And if he's not being sacked after last season, then I think any any sort of season after this, he's always that the board will always have the excuse to fall back on.
00:38:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
of oh yeah, but we've improved since last season. which contextually, factually, maybe, but contextually, you know, there's a bit of a paper and over cracks there, I would say.
00:38:46
Cormac
Yeah, sorry, just a minute.
00:38:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
and so yeah.
00:38:48
Cormac
I feel like Emery might be the, you know, luckiest United manager because that's the bear that got set for him right away. And it's always going to be up. So I don't think any other United manager we've had has really had that luxury of kind of probably always having an improvement on your following season.
00:39:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and I just just think what I said like before about him in terms of he doesn't help himself, just win games. No matter how you win games, win games.
00:39:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then that gives you the sort of foundation to just relax a bit and and and breathe. I think that happened after Liverpool where... the bright And after Brighton, especially, where he just had time to just, everyone was just like, OK, let's less's relax now. Like, we're under the pressure.
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's what a couple of wins do for you. and And that's what's happened in the past couple weeks, where now the pressure, even a draw. Look, if we were off the but coming off the back of losses to Brentford and Grimsby and we drew that game against Spurs, people would be criticising that result.
00:39:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
or they scored in the last 10 seconds, they should have won it. But now it's almost the opposite where people are going, draw is not a bad result, you know. so it's So it's so funny how the narrative can can change. And I think, as I said, that's what a couple wins give you.
00:40:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But rest assured, we lose a couple games. and ah Our name's Manchester United, so people are always going to talk about us. um So look, Cormac, it's been a pleasure. We'll round it off there. And as as ah as I said, the viewers and listeners will have to tune in in year's time to see if our opinions are correct. um But yeah, pleasure, mate, as always. And for the viewers, for the listeners, make sure you tune in for the next one.
00:40:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for now, it's goodbye.