Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 39: Sporting Post Match Review
6 Plays1 month ago
Daily Manchester City - Join Jools and Keelin as we discuss everything that went wrong and is going wrong during City's 4-1 loss to Sporting and their now 3 game losing streak
Sponsors and Advertising Zencastr Built for quality - designed for growth
a new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio+video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools - all in one place. Get started for free, we highly recommend it!
https://zencastr.com/?via=ken
Global Sports Podcast Network - creating the world's first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world's biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience - email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2024 | Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
Recommended
Transcript
Manchester City vs Sporting CP: Match Reaction
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to Daily Manchester City on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Jules Jordan-Probert and today ah me and Keelan McNamara, hi Keelan.
00:00:19
Keelin McNamara
Hello.
00:00:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
are here to give an immediate post-match reaction to City's stinging 4-1 loss to sport in CP, in what was an incredibly dramatic but painful game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium for City. Pep Guardiola's men took an early lead through Phil Foden, but plunged further into the maybe not-so-mini crisis as three goals in 10 minutes either side are half-time, and a hat-trick completing fourth for Victor Gjokores took this game away from City for a third consecutive loss for only the third time under the Catalonian manager.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The previous two times were in 2018, where a loss to United was sandwiched in between two losses to Liverpool and the Champions League. And again in 2021, on the back of the Champions League, final loss to Chelsea. City lost the Community Shield to Leicester and against Spurs on the opening day of the Premier League.
Defensive Struggles and Tactical Issues
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, Pep is the manager you want to turn a bad situation around.
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
as he did those last two times, but times do seem to be particularly tough right now for the Sky Blues. Losing to Spurs in the Carabao Cup, Bournemouth in the Premier League and now sporting in the Champions League represents weakness from a team who seldom knows the meaning of the word. Mounted injuries would show no sign of slowing down, especially a city prepared to enter the club World Cup in a and a month or so.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
have limited pep's options and the players who are available are starting to look a bit jaded too. Defensive problems unlike the which we've really seen under pep just grow more evident as well. City have collected just two clean sheets in the Premier League this season and yes this was the first Champions League game City have conceded in this year. The sporting could have even had more than the four they finished with.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
City have gone behind first plenty of times this season and turned it around. But other than when the penalty for City was awarded before Earlan Holland missed it, it never really felt like there was a successful plan B of any semblance. And as the game progressed, sporting grew in confidence and the City players were clearly losing theirs. So Keelan, I've given and an overview of many of the issues there. So I'm not really sure where you want to start. So I'll just throw it over and say, where did it all go wrong for you today?
City's Recruitment and Squad Depth Concerns
00:02:20
Keelin McNamara
Oh, James, how much time do you have? I mean, just, I mean, we don't overreact on this show. We get very balanced and sort of well thought out opinions on Man City and everything that's going on. But my God, that was bad. But I mean, this whole week or two has been terrible, but this might be the worst out of the three.
00:02:43
Keelin McNamara
You know, the first two losses to Tottenham and to Bournemouth I can kind of forgive because of extenuating circumstances, a lot of injuries. Tottenham just play very good football. Bournemouth play brilliant football as well. This loss I can't forgive. This is just...
00:03:02
Keelin McNamara
It's the culmination of so many different things. It's an astonishing amount of arrogance and ego at the recruitment level. You know, we've blown so much money up the wall and crap players. We haven't recruited where we should have.
00:03:17
Keelin McNamara
The players we have recruited have been nowhere near effective enough. You know, I get it's their first season, but Jeremy Daku and Savino cannot contribute goals the way our old wingers used to. Mateus Nunez, respectfully, is worse than useless. he He did absolutely nothing on the wing, no contribution, no ability to change the game. And really, that's the crux of the problem. Man City have got no game changers on that pitch at all.
00:03:47
Keelin McNamara
Erling Holland's been miserable the last two weeks. Man City are too content with these cute little flicks and side to side passes. There's no willingness to change the game. Aside from Kevin De Bruyne, who has literally only just tonight returned from injury, there is nobody willing to step up and do anything different.
Pep's Tactical Approach Under Scrutiny
00:04:06
Keelin McNamara
There's no willingness to change the pace, the tempo, even when things are falling apart around them. City are too, and I don't exclude anybody from criticism tonight,
00:04:16
Keelin McNamara
Rico Lewis, the backline, the midfield, the front. They're all as bad as each other at this. Nobody is willing to step up and change the game. And Jins, I'm not going to be over-dramatic here.
00:04:27
Keelin McNamara
With the way we're playing, we are not going to survive until January. I mean, forget the Premier League. We might not make top four this week.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah so Sorry Keeling, could could you just repeat that last sentence? You just broke up a little bit.
00:04:40
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, at this rate, I mean, we'll be lucky if we see top four. Forget about the Premier League at the moment. We are miles off this. Arsenal and Liverpool, for all of their faults and all of their criticisms, they are playing on a different planet to us right now.
00:04:56
Keelin McNamara
And quite frankly, if we don't get our act together and save this in January, Tottenham are probably going to end up overtaking us. We are so poor at the moment and the vulnerabilities we have in the midfield and at the back, absolutely disgraceful.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's try and analyze what exactly some of the problems are. So I say i asked specifically this to Lewis about the Bournemouth game too. There's obviously a lot of injuries, so the options are limited at the moment.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But was the selection right for you today? Because three three losses in a row now. We have we have to stop pinpointing some accountability places, don't we?
00:05:35
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, there's very real, there's very tangible problems here and realistically I could spend 20-30 minutes in this but of course we're very limited. So I'm going to bang through this as quickly as I can. Mateus Nunez needs to stop playing on the left wing because I see nothing from him out there. There's no game-changing, there's no X-Factor. All he does is run down a cul-de-sac and pass the ball out to the side. I could have Jack Reilish do that, and I'd prefer Jack Reilish do that. Erling Holland's been terrible the last three or four games, missing chance after chance after chance, hitting the ball straight at the goalkeeper. His heading ability has completely gone out the window, just like the ball probably would have. you know His penalty tonight was abysmal. you know He just looks completely out of it at the moment.
00:06:22
Keelin McNamara
maybe this is where we need a proper number nine to come in and give him some competition. I mean the midfield, where do you start there? Mateo Kovacic cannot play the six, he just cannot. He had a torrid game, he got cut through at every opportunity and the two midfielders either side of him were no good either. I will excuse Simpson Pusey because he's a 19-year-old kid, I don't have expectations for him, that would be completely unfair.
00:06:51
Keelin McNamara
but Jasko Vardiel was terrible, he gave away his stupid, stupid penalty. Rico Lewis was cooked. I mean, to be fair, his tiredness, I do get that he's played nearly every game this season, but just nothing went right at all. There's no cohesion, there's no discipline, there's no defensive awareness, kovacic, I mean, again, it's not really fair to blame it on kovacic, but every time the opposition win the ball in their own half, the floodgates are just open to attack City every opportunity, and City aren't good enough to deal with it.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you say it's not fair to blame Carverchitch.
Reflecting on Past Strategies for Success
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose it's not, right? But you could look at Carverchitch specifically for me as an opportunity cost sign-in.
00:07:34
Keelin McNamara
Mm.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's 30, 40 million that you could spend on someone who is much better at the defensive aspects of the number six role.
00:07:41
Keelin McNamara
Totally agree.
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, and and the games that City don't do well in, he always seems to be on the pitch. Do you know what I mean?
00:07:48
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, I do.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's that's the feeling that the feeling I have with him. And it always seems to be teams that, can get at City in a way that that that you know can't normally do to the high press and the distances between everyone being so well.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when Carver Church is there, it just feels like there is this hole it a hole there that, yes, of course, it's more noticeable because the best player in the world is normally filling that hole.
00:08:11
Keelin McNamara
Hmm.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, maybe it's got to be a double or double pivot. He shouldn't really be there by himself. And I think that's what I'm getting at tactically is something's got to change at this point, right?
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like <unk>s the selection, maybe maybe we don't have too many options with the selection due to the injuries, but tactically it's been the same.
00:08:22
Keelin McNamara
Yeah.
00:08:26
Keelin McNamara
Hmm.
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
They played the same way in three different games that they've lost now. So what, what well, I'll word it like this. I'll word it like this. So
Adapting to League Competitiveness Post-Break
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can you remember some of the ways that in which Pep turned it round the last time they lost three in a row? And can or will the same things be employed this time around?
00:08:48
Keelin McNamara
Well the last time I remember City losing three in a row, City got much more back to the Rahim Sterling Leroy Sanne style of City which was fast wingers hugging the touchline, getting in behind oppositions and having someone there who was on the penalty spot to finish chances. City have got far too much of an obsession with trying to walk the ball into the goal.
00:09:12
Keelin McNamara
You do not need to do that. All you need to do, get in behind the opposition, score the ball, score the goal. That's all you have to do. There is too much of an obsession with this walking the ball into the net and almost disrespecting opponents.
00:09:25
Keelin McNamara
We don't need to do that. There is no need.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think i think I think it's more a case of Les trying to score the perfect goal but Pep trying to set his rest defence up in a certain way and the but the ball has to travel so slowly all across the pitch for him to have all his pieces in the right place for a counter-attack. However,
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is the way in which City have been able to be attacked so effectively for so long.
00:09:51
Keelin McNamara
Yeah.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So so I don't get the the thinking with it. City at the best have always been a team. Yes, you mentioned Sarnay, Stirling, Maores, these players that are dangerous out wide and normally more direct.
00:10:01
Keelin McNamara
Hmm.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe it's a lack of quality as Savino and Darko get to grips with being in the team. But I have a feeling it's tactical. And this is probably challenging for Pep in a way that he's not really had for a number of years.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, Liverpool, of course, pushed him very hard. And during the COVID season, there was about a 20-point gap. But this this feels like something different, because the quality of multiple teams around them in the Premier League is higher than usual.
00:10:26
Keelin McNamara
Mm.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Yeah, and that'll do for part one of the rant. We'll ah get into a little bit more after this short outbreak.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to Daily Manchester City on the Global Sports Podcast Network. We're here today, me and Keeling, to immediately give a reaction to City's 4-1 loss to sporting. And in part one, we, I suppose, just went free with a rant. And I suppose, I think the rest of the episode is going to be somewhat similar. So, um specifically then, um just to follow on from what I was saying before the break, what would you like to see tactically different in the City team?
00:11:41
Keelin McNamara
I mean there's there's too many things to mention, to be honest with you Jews, but if we're looking at realistically what can be done to fix this city team, I think we need Jack Grealish back in that left wing to try and get proper control this time, not Mateus Nunez type control, we need proper control hugging the touchline, stretching defences apart again,
00:12:04
Keelin McNamara
We need, I don't even know if a double pivot is good enough at this point because I think the players who need to play it are too old and too slow, but we need some kind of cover to protect the defence because Mateo Kavicic on his own is absolutely sick.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
may maybe re Rico and Carver Church and then I know i know you sent Kyle Walker to the Sun last week but Akanji or Stones can play right back as well and then you get another another one of them in the middle for a bit more solidity maybe.
00:12:18
Keelin McNamara
i
00:12:25
Keelin McNamara
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:32
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, I wouldn't mind stones necessarily moving into midfield and having a kanji in the middle of the centre back pairing because I feel a bit more confident about that. But just,
Squad Overhaul: Necessity or Overreaction?
00:12:43
Keelin McNamara
there is such unwillingness to change what's going wrong from Pep. Pep would rather lose to the next 10 games and stick with what he's doing rather than admitting something's wrong and there is something very fundamentally wrong.
00:12:56
Keelin McNamara
And like I said, I don't want to go on too much of a tangent, but the fact is we have become so ridiculously reliant on one player to do the job of three, that we thought let's go and waste £30m on a midfielder who plays nice sideways passes, when in reality we needed a competent ready-made replacement for Rodry in case this exact same thing went wrong. And this notion of having this small tight squad is all well and good,
00:13:22
Keelin McNamara
But when it goes wrong, my God does a good blow up in your face just like it has done. Instead of spending money on players like Mateo Kovacic and bringing back players like Ilkay Gundogan, we needed someone like, not exactly, but we needed someone like Martin Zubamendi, who could competently step into this situation.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and like I think that's a great point you bring up about the small squad because yeah like you say I think it's great when everything's going well but it but it's also a choice it's a it's a squad building choice
00:13:54
Keelin McNamara
It's a philosophy.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if players get injured, which they're going to, because you know how many games you're going to play every year, you can complain about it, but it's going to be the same. That is how it is. So it's a choice to have not ready-made replacements, as opposed to filling out the team or having ah maybe one or two unhappy people. That is a choice by the team. So when it goes wrong, that has to be blamed and accounted for.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I understand how maybe some other fans might feel listening to this, you know, City are still in the in the top few positions in the Champions League, still near the top of the Premier League, but the standards at the club are so high you only end up winning six it out of seven Premier Leagues in a row when you set the standards this high and nip these problems in the bud. I think why City fans are so upset at the moment is because it doesn't seem like there's Any answers for how things are going to change.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bournemouth Spurs and Sporting are not bad teams, not a single one of them. But I wouldn't say any of them are some of the best in Europe. Sporting maybe, be Spurs maybe, be but they're not there right now.
00:14:58
Keelin McNamara
No!
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe sporting are going to do a madness this season, you know, if they keep Gokores, but they probably won't know they're losing the manager. So this is, this is not a three-parter that City should get zero points from or being eliminated from one, one competition. and
Sporting CP's Strategy and Gjokores' Impact
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
up against it in another now.
00:15:20
Keelin McNamara
Yeah.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I still expect City to comfortably go through in the top eight positions of course, but it's not a good sign. um and I think I'm getting ahead of myself now. I'll i'll come i'll come to Kevin De Bruyne in a sec, but I did want to just touch a bit on sporting because i thought I thought they were excellent today.
00:15:39
Keelin McNamara
Oh, they were grown.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
The first 35 minutes, City were brilliant, actually. But as soon as that equalizer went in, it was like everything changed. Everything changed. Sporting got their confidence up and they realized, oh, if we press higher and attack them, we can just go through the middle of them.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was like City he had no no way to stop it. But to get back to a little bit of structure. Amorim's second last match in Charger Sport in Surrey. His last in Europe for the club and his last at home. and My God, he has indeed himself to his new fans on the red side of Manchester with that one.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's seen as an absolute legend to the club. They're the current league champions for the second time in three seasons. They won the league by 10 points last year. This season, they've won, I think it's 14 of the 15 games they've played every single match since they lost the Super Cup to Porto, which is incredible. They've scored in 41 consecutive matches or either 40 or 41 consecutive matches. There's no question about it. Amorim has turned sporting into an excellent team. Of course, it's disappointing, but we do need to give them credit. It was never going to be an easy match. But again, the standards are such at City that a 4-1 loss to anyone is bad. A third consecutive loss to anyone is disastrous. So I just want to ask before we finish up on a bit of City, what ah was there any standout players? or and So what impressed or surprised you about sporting tonight?
00:17:10
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, listen, first of all, let me be very clear. My frustrations with City have nothing to do with sporting Lisbon. They were absolutely incredible and they fully deserve to win. I mean, like I said, after the Bournemouth game, this type of ass-kicking has been coming for a while and City have been asking ford for it from the beginning of the season.
00:17:30
Keelin McNamara
And my god did they get their asses handed to them tonight, deservedly so. But Sporting Lisbon were absolutely brilliant, and Ruben Ammerham set his team up brilliantly. Yes, City played very well for the first half an hour, I agree, but the second they were given a whiff to get back into the game, they took it.
00:17:47
Keelin McNamara
and from there it was basically game over, I felt, which is not a way I felt about City in a long, long time. and They were ruthless, they were killer, they have paced, they have energy, direct through balls in behind that slow, on-a-word defensive line. And they punished City and they took them to school the way City have been asking for it from the beginning of the season. Victor Guillocares was absolutely untouchable tonight. He did exactly what Holland should have been doing at the other end, but hasn't been doing.
00:18:17
Keelin McNamara
And their other two wingers were brilliant as well. Trincao and the other name escapes me at the moment but...
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got the assessed for the first, is it?
00:18:25
Keelin McNamara
Quando, you're absolutely right.
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:27
Keelin McNamara
and But that entire sporting team was brilliant. Their defensive line, really, really good. Their midfield, full of energy and full of pace. But absolutely full credit to Sporting Lisbon.
00:18:38
Keelin McNamara
They deserve to kick our ass tonight the way they did.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, Victor Gokhara is definitely worth an extra mention as well.
00:18:46
Keelin McNamara
Yes.
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
20-23rd goal in 17 games this season, I think it is. and That's absolutely ridiculous. um He never showed this when he was at the mighty Swansea City, I'll i'll show you with that.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He didn't when he was at Brighton.
00:19:00
Keelin McNamara
He's going to make the European club very happy someday.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, i i I'd be surprised if he lasts any more than one more season at sporting at this rate, surely.
00:19:10
Keelin McNamara
Oh, not a chance.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's, I've heard rumours of Real Madrid, Barcelona, of course Man United now. I mean, yeah there's got to be a universe in which a Scandinavian duo of Gjokores and Haaland's got to excite some people too.
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who wouldn't want that player? but like he He's mass isn' is not too massive, but he's as strong as if he is six foot four. He's quicker than he looks for someone of of his strength as well.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
is He doesn't necessarily look like an amazing dribbler, but he always keeps the ball. His movement's great. His determination is always, always, always on point and is finishing. Oh my God.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is not afraid.
00:19:48
Keelin McNamara
You know who he reminds me of? You know who he reminds me of watching Kiyokura as?
00:19:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cool.
00:19:54
Keelin McNamara
Vek- Vektor Osterman?
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:19:57
Keelin McNamara
that That is who I saw tonight when I saw that hat-trick. Just electric pace and tearing that defensive part at every opportunity. And what I love as well is just the clinical finishing of Guillocares. No nonsense hit, ma'am. Bang, bang, bang. Hat-trick, you're out for the count. I love that about Victor Guillocares.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. And he shows no touch no no signs of slowing down at any point either.
00:20:21
Keelin McNamara
Oh, not even close.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We're just going to take a short outbreak, and then we'll finish off with a few more reflections on today's game.
City's Transfer Market Decisions: A Critical Look
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to Daily Manchester City on the Global Sports Podcast Network. We are discussing City's 4-1 loss to sporting in the Champions League um and there is just a couple of points left that I wanted to bring up. First of all, touching on something you said about Mateus Nunez.
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I've pretty much said in every post-match that he's an unconvincing left winger, even though he's been getting he has been delivering output when City haven't. So I think he deserved it he deserved his place in the team on that front because he's one of the only players contributing any goals or assists at the moment. and But I completely agree with you about his in-play ability as a left winger. just ah It seems like he's been asked to do the same thing as Jack Rieleich, but he's not nowhere near on the same planet of skill as Jack Rieleich.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
because you know Jack Rheelish probably isn't going to burn someone for pace on on um the outside, right? But what Rheelish gives you is he never loses the ball. I cannot say the same about Nunes. So I think what my question is, is City can't afford to not well to waste any players in their squad at this at this moment. Is he, among some other other players that you think in this financially um ah scrutinised era for City, I'll say, you know, with all the charges and e etc. Is there some players like him that you'd be looking to move on and replace with some quality in January?
00:22:29
Keelin McNamara
Send them to Ruben Neves in Saudi and let GM's market seat takers place. That's all I have to say about Matias Nunez.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, anyone else who don't think is up to the standard. Because I think a lot a lot of teams would would say that, you know, City still have ah have a really good squad, but there are players like Kavacic and Gundogan at the stage of his career, Nunez, Savio at this early stage of his career.
00:22:41
Keelin McNamara
yeah
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are they good enough at the required standard for City to keep winning everything every year? Because that is that is success at Manchester City.
00:23:03
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, listen, Karvachic isn't. He absolutely is not. and You know, when you you made a really great point there about the standard required. Karvachic is a decent number eight, but he's not Kevin De Bruyne. He is sure as hell not David Silva. He's not even close to some of the best midfielders we've had.
00:23:22
Keelin McNamara
In fact, if Mateo Kovacic had been like he was at that time, he was at another club, we wouldn't have looked at signing him. And listen, I love Il Chai Gundogan more than anybody, but he has not been the same player at all since he came back. He's looked old, he's looked slow, his reading of the game's gone down and frankly maybe making an emotional signing was the wrong one. And I can admit that as well as anybody.
00:23:48
Keelin McNamara
The fact is there are too many signings who aren't good enough to keep City where they are. You know, Mateus Nunez was never good enough. I'm sorry, he wasn't. You know, you look at even the defence, I have concerns about the defence as well. I have concerns about Edison's shot stopping as well. Is that starting to go into decline?
00:24:07
Keelin McNamara
The fact is, we here's the plan, right? Here's the 6-12 month plan. Get to January. Survive the final round. Get to January. Sign the number 6. I don't care who it is. As long as you're semi-confident, Nico LaBorella, Martin Zubermendy, one of them, get them in. Try and survive till the end of the season. Get to the end of the season. Clear house with a squad. I don't care if you take a hit on them. I don't care if you have to give them away for free.
00:24:36
Keelin McNamara
You need to clear out that midfield and we need someone to be competitive for Holland and we need proper wingers to compete with Daku and Savino. Because when we had read Mares, Mares could bring you goals. Raheem Sterling at times could bring you goals. We have not replaced the quality that we've lost and we've gotten too arrogant to replace it. That attitude needs to leave in January.
00:25:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think City have had such a spectacularly successful hit rate with transfers ah generally um since not maybe maybe not the first few years of the takeover, but since City started winning things at the start of the 2010s, pretty much
00:25:08
Keelin McNamara
Right.
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
bar the odd ones which we spoke about in an episode we did earlier check that out worst ever city signings a lot of the ones that didn't go well will be featured in those teams but yeah city normally get it absolutely bang on so it seems surprising that i i I know you guys don't necessarily agree, but you're dropping 100 mil on Jack Relish, where you know that's that's money that could be distributed throughout the team. ah Mateus Nunez for 50 million. That's crazy money to me for someone that's had about five good games for Wolves.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and then
00:25:48
Keelin McNamara
One for one go.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah I think he played well more than once but yeah he scored once yeah he didn't he didn't pull up any trees that's for certain um yes like you know just a few of these a few of these signers Doku was signed for quite a lot of money as well yes he's young but I don't think I At this point, I don't think he's improved since the player that he resigned. He still looks pretty much the same player which he obviously still has a long time to go and I reckon it will click. I do think he's a very good player but you're not seeing the same progression in year two that you tend to get under path and it fear it's it's not usual to have these type of problems so maybe it was the right time for Shiki to go
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know if you're saying maybe it's the end of the cycle and you're looking at someone like sporting who keep having these phenomenal transfer windows and unearthing yes we obviously knew about Victor Gokores but I don't think a lot of Europe did and he's probably the most the most desired striker in the game right now and
00:26:49
Keelin McNamara
What a strike from Europe, no question.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, City have just got Hugo Viana, so maybe City really like the look of what Sporting have been doing, which I suppose is an interesting crossroads for today. i'm But I also wanted to touch ah specifically on Phil Foden, because that is someone that there's there's no point in talking about replacing him. He's going to retire at Manchester City and and he and as he should.
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's all about trying to get it to work. He scored his third goal today of the season, but the other two have only come against poor Champions League sides and not have a single one in the Premier League so far. So what what's what's going on with Phil? I know he scored a good goal again today, but I still don't think he was fantastic. Know when he had a standard we're used to seeing from such a good player.
00:27:34
Keelin McNamara
It's a great question, the problem with Phil phone is he has been at his best when he's played every game in the middle. He's a midfielder, don't put him out in the wing, don't do what Chelsea do with Cole Palmer.
00:27:48
Keelin McNamara
You put Phil Foden in as a number 8 and you watch him do his thing. The reason he's been so poor this season is okay as he had injuries at the start of the season, but he needs to get up to speed. You know, Phil Foden always takes 2-3-4 games before he hits his peak form.
00:28:04
Keelin McNamara
And I am not blaming Phil Fulton for these three losses one bit, because like I said, he is still getting up to form. But when he gets up to speed in midfield, he will start firing again.
00:28:15
Keelin McNamara
I have every confidence in that. My concern is how you replace Kevin De Bruyne when we eventually have to cross that bridge. Because I don't know, aside from Jamal Musiala, maybe.
00:28:26
Keelin McNamara
I don't think there's a midfielder in World Football fit to replace Kevin.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I don't think there ever will be. he He's not only the world's best midfielder over the last 10 years. he's ah He is the guy that has been the figurehead for Manchester City's dominance over the over the past decade, too.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
he Yes, City had won two Premier Leagues before he arrived, but he was the one that you really thought, oh, City can challenge for the Champions League now.
00:28:53
Keelin McNamara
Oh yeah, he took this up a level.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know He was the guy. And yeah, he is the reason I wanted to do this podcast f effectively. you know like i i I like watching City because Kevin De Bruyne is my favorite footballer.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think any team can replace him. But what you can do is you can find different options in the squad. So it's a more well-rounded offering, which I think is what Pep is trying to move towards in in this end of end of a cycle, let's say.
Importance of Game-Changing Players
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's not working. you know you spend
00:29:24
Keelin McNamara
know So you know what the thing is? You've just made a very, very good point there. I don't want a more well-rounded offering. I want an X Factor who can come in and change a game with one pass or one shot or one piece of vision.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what's sitting in sin now, right?
00:29:38
Keelin McNamara
i Yeah, I don't want three players who can do what Kevin de Bruyne does between them. I want Kevin de Bruyne. I want a player who's like, right, the rest of you losers stand aside, watch me do my thing. Watch me put this cross in. Watch me play this through ball. Watch me hit this top corner rifle from 30 yards out. There is not one midfielder in that city squad apart from Rodry who plays a different role, who can lease the boots of Kevin De Bruyne on his worst day. And that's the kind of standard we need to get back up to. And we have fallen short of that, this last two transfer windows.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree, and it's so difficult to replace someone of that quality, but like you say, Musiala, or possibly Vert, are the two in my head that could have a somewhat equal output from central attacking midfield positions.
00:30:25
Keelin McNamara
well Yeah.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
but um yeah other than that and there's probably not too many out there that you got well you're gonna have to break the bank i think that's that's the thing right city you've tried to be conservative doing his last couple of windows as well but if you're replacing players like well let's say guero you've got to get the trackbook up for harland put your place in Even players like Laporte, you've got to get the track put out for a Kanji. And I know a Kanji didn't cost much, but he was someone with a lot of experience and a lot of quality already, where I think it's moved towards players that have got a higher ceiling perhaps, but they're less ready-made. And I think with all the injuries that are happening now, that lack of immediate quality is quite evident, I think.
00:31:15
Keelin McNamara
But you broke the bank for Kevin De Bruyne in 2015. Have people forgotten this? City were laughed off for spending £55 million pounds on the Chelsea flop, the Chelsea defect.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:27
Keelin McNamara
Go out and spend the money on the player who is going to win you premierships and winning you Champions Leagues. Enough with this BS of signing the likes of Mateo Kovacic, who might do half of what Kevin De Bruyne does.
00:31:41
Keelin McNamara
clear out the rubbish, go and get Musiala or Florian Burtz or whoever it is, spend the money like you did with Kevin De Bruyne, get the hell out of his way and watch him do his thing. That's how you win games, not this pissing about that we saw tonight.
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree. And throughout history.
00:31:57
Keelin McNamara
Sorry, you know.
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no, I think yeah i think think you're absolutely bang on.
Positives and Looking Ahead to Brighton
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's a good point to just go to maybe one or two positives, because always trying to be harsh, glass full here on the on the Daily Manchester City podcast. um You mentioned the debut for Jamais Simpson-Poussé, which I don't think he had a particularly bad game. I don't think he was particularly a fault for any of the goals. Of course, Guyacara has made mincemeat of him, but he made mince of a kanji as well. so so and you know you can't you can't necessarily blame him but yeah special day for him and his family to start and start his first city game at a great stadium, a way of sporting and the Champions League, yeah Shamer couldn't have been about a better day for him.
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm struggling to think of another positive. Oh, yes, of course. Kev coming back from injury. I was a bit mortified seeing him thrown on with with five minutes left at 4-1 down in case he case he got more injured, to be honest, but he didn't. So it's good to see him back. And yeah, I think please, King Kev, get City out of the rut.
00:33:04
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, I'll say as a final note, to be fair, even though we he still cannot shoot to save his life, very good moments from Savino. To be fair, he did have a couple of really good individual moments. That Araujo, who actually was one of the gold scorers, he did have him on toast all night at left back. A couple of really good moments, but has to figure out how to score goals because it's starting to hurt the team. Aside from that, he did have a very good game to his credit. His touch and his dribble is first class.
00:33:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, i I agree. I think, yeah, Savino is one that probably could escape some of the criticism of the last week, because he, he like Nunes, is still coming up with moments in in the matches, and he's so young.
00:33:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I suppose it's not his fault that he doesn't have the the best of City around him at the moment, but yeah, he seems to be doing his best. But yeah, that will that will about do it for today.
00:33:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah City's next match is on Saturday against Brighton, so make sure you
00:34:02
Keelin McNamara
God help me.
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Make sure you tune in for our crossover episode with Daily Brighton. It will go live on Thursday. um But other than that, thank you for listening. I've been Jules Jordan-Probat. Thank you, as always, to Kealan McNamara. and We've been Daily Manchester City on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.