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A tale of two Manchesters | City's sinking ship and Amorim has arrived
22 Plays1 month ago
Are Manchester City falling apart? 👀 Have years of success masked deeper issues, and can Pep guide them through? 🤔 We also give Liverpool their flowers for an incredible start to the season and discuss whether Amorim could finally be the answer for Manchester United 👹
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts and Podcast
00:00:18
Killian Ginnity
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to the Not A Pundit podcast. It is time for you to put away the politics after the election. Put away your pumpkin spice lattes. It is December, gentlemen. And As ever, I am delighted to be joined by Connor Glennon and Nathan Byrne, and we're gonna kick off today by not talking about Man United, we're gonna force Nate to wait for on that one. You've had something good, and you know what? It only gets better the more you
Challenges Facing Manchester City
00:00:47
Killian Ginnity
savor it. We are gonna jump straight in, Connor, and talk about Man City. I said it a few weeks ago. There was a little bit of a laugh, a little bit of a kind of like, ooh. I think the wheels are coming off the this wagon.
00:01:00
Conor Glennon
Well, I mean, you you may have called a pretty early, you know, the athletic are reporting. I'm not even joking when I say this that, you know, Guardiola is pretty much camped out in the training ground. He's not answering phone calls and quote unquote is unreachable at the moment because he's trying to figure out what's going on. I mean, it's it's worrying for them. Obviously, they've got a lot of injuries, but you'd imagine with a squad of the deaths that they have that they'd be able to figure something out. But I mean, it's it's.
00:01:27
Conor Glennon
It just shows their dependency on certain players you know roger is obviously a big hit a kanji is probably the best fit to fill in in that role with roger he's injured two to bring us just back from injury there could be potentially other things going on there you know there.
00:01:47
Conor Glennon
On the ropes, seven games, no win in all competitions. It's on it's new territory for Pep. you know I think it's it's safe to say that Liverpool absolutely rattled them, um as we've seen from from his reaction to the crowd when you know there was a bit of jovial, you're getting sacked in the morning. And that that didn't look like a man who thought it was funny. you know
00:02:11
Killian Ginnity
What do you think, Nate? Is this just albeit a big blip, but still just a blip?
00:02:19
Nate
Well, first of all, he used to pray for times like this and they finally arrived. Now, I think there's a big blip. I think we finally saw Gradiola get rattled at the weekend when he started holding up the six fingers. ah Quite merino-esque. I don't know if he has the aura for a bush.
00:02:37
Nate
and Yeah, like I discussed this a few weeks ago on the podcast. It's just their style of play. It's just evaporated. They don't look like a structured team at all.
00:02:50
Nate
Against the Liverpool team, it literally looked like men versus boys. and yeah I know that's a cliché to say nowadays, but it literally did.
00:02:57
Conor Glennon
It really did.
00:02:58
Nate
and schoolboy defending nowhere in the midfield and then the attack were totally isolated like early hotlamps like you wonder when his next goal is going to come and Loads of people saying about Roger this and that. I think this is bigger than Roger. I think this has been a something that Guardiola didn't see coming. I think it was avoidable. and I think it comes down to the lack of midfield options they have in terms of not just offensively, but also offensively. When you've got Bernardo Silva playing in centre mid, it's like that that's that's not the city of old, you know what I mean? So like personally, do I think it's going to get better? No.
00:03:40
Conor Glennon
Well i I think you're right man, it's it comes down to almost bad planning from a playing perspective and I think it all hinges on they didn't know if Pep was when he was going to leave. So like you look at a player like Kyle Walker, don't get me wrong, he's still firing at a very high level.
00:03:56
Conor Glennon
but There's no replacement from there. you know Kevin De Bruyne, no replacement from there. Roger, no replacement from there. and ah like I think it's a case of they didn't know when to go out and spend because they didn't know when Pep was going to leave and obviously now he's staying on.
Guardiola's Future and Team Strategy
00:04:11
Conor Glennon
Pep's always said he doesn't want to do, laughably when he says this, that he doesn't want to do the big money transfers that don't make the club sustainable. but I mean, they're gonna have to make big moves in probably January, let's be real. I don't know about you killing, but like I think they really need fresh faces in there.
00:04:27
Killian Ginnity
What's sustainable about bringing back Gundogan?
00:04:31
Conor Glennon
that was that was That was a failed experiment.
00:04:31
Killian Ginnity
What's the point of that?
00:04:33
Conor Glennon
and And I don't know about you, but i when they brought him back, I thought this makes sense because he knows the system. you know it's usually players Players usually need a year to figure out Pep's system, and he knew it, but it hasn't worked.
00:04:39
Killian Ginnity
no no like
00:04:45
Killian Ginnity
Not at all, but it's it's it's not a player that knows the system. The system's changed. like It changed to accommodate Roger. It's changed to accommodate Halland. I don't think Aguero could fit into this team.
00:04:56
Killian Ginnity
And he was there for a decade. like I don't think David Silva could just slot into this team anymore.
00:04:58
Conor Glennon
That's a fair point.
00:05:02
Killian Ginnity
like this This team has evolved. and like Between Kovac and Gundogan, they're not playing the role that is now apparently essential.
00:05:13
Killian Ginnity
um I think I said it a while ago, i am and not to be tutoring my own horn constantly, but hey, if I don't, who will? um bush I think this is Pep's Mourinho tenure. Mourinho normally three years and he's gone because he's poisoned. I think Pep has now found his limit. I think he has found that he can have maybe two maybe three generations. I don't think he has the fourth in him. And it's seemingly coming true because the recruitment has been pretty horrendous.
00:05:49
Killian Ginnity
like
00:05:49
Conor Glennon
But and that's because he banked on his system and players knowing it. But that that's what I mean with the likes of you know ah Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, arguably Jack Grealish.
00:06:01
Conor Glennon
These players should have been phased out when their value was higher than it is now.
00:06:03
Killian Ginnity
But also you you mentioned the fact that he doesn't want to be relying on big, ah big money signings as he leaves Jack Grealish and Matthew Nunez for 150 odd million on the bench.
00:06:04
Nate
Blah.
00:06:13
Conor Glennon
mean it I know i know it when he says the big money, so it is laughable because of the amount of money he spends. But I think, you know, you look at players like Rico Lewis, Oscar Bob. They've had their own injury issues. They have tried to bring in youth into it, but it's very much a team that is, and I suppose, relies on players in their late 20s and early 30s. And that is not a sustainable way to be to to have the club. So I think when he says sustainably spending, I think it's like Liverpool do, where they don't give players over 30 large contracts because they want more 24-year-olds coming through the system.
00:06:47
Nate
boy what Killian said on it it's interesting i think you're right for a large portion of it but i think this has actually been brought on by grady all himself i think if this was grady all a commitment to being here for a long time i think it would have been perfectly fine i think the thing is we've all gone oh he only sticks around a close for three years this and that and he's never he's never pushed on and go no i'm gonna stay for it it's always been these little half contracts where it's one year two year if If you're going to and I think we're we're seeing the downfall now is the the club weren't willing to back them to the full degree because they weren't sure whether he was going to be here in two years time and we've got this half team now that is sort of filmy gaps and world-class players and I think you're seeing them really suffer because Gradial hasn't committed to a short term or long term
00:07:36
Nate
And ultimately, I think we're at a point now where I i see the only end in this, like where they start winning trophies again, as if Gradio does leave and it's a fresh restart.
00:07:48
Conor Glennon
ah But and I think he's stuck there, sorry to cut across, you can i think he I don't think he wanted to do this additional contract and if he if obviously he has signed a one year plus ah an additional one year.
00:07:48
Killian Ginnity
do
00:07:59
Conor Glennon
There's no world in which he's doing that second year. I think it's a case of Bedin, Hugo, Vienna have a bit of stability with Guardiola. I can't remember if we discussed this in the pod recently or or in the group chat, but I really think that is the only reason he is staying on.
00:08:12
Killian Ginnity
I think we have to ah also address the elephant in the room. You have a club not willing to particularly backup manager of them ah in a relative sense, we should say, for a city. and We have a manager that's not willing to um commit long-term to to to the project. We have players that are staying beyond their sell-by date in the sense that the club wouldn't traditionally not do it this way.
00:08:41
Killian Ginnity
115 charges. I think this, like regardless of ah the whether or not they think they're going to win it in the end, I think we're seeing the, they caught like maybe it's correlation and causation and all that kind of stuff, but like I don't think you can talk about these issues and lack of long-term planning and not a address the elephant in the room. like I think this is playing on city more than they think. Then they're willing to admit it publicly.
00:09:10
Nate
Yeah but i I also think we've gotten to the point where and we saw it at the end of Sir Alex's tenure where the team ages a lot and it creeps up really quickly and I think when do you have a team that's as good as City was at that period is in a four or five year period dead players become really old really quick and the turnover has to be huge and I just don't think we've seen that like And I think we're seeing it now where like, say in the weekend with a Kanji and Aki, it's like they're both decent players, but they're not world class players. And I think we're we're seeing the disconnect now where you've got your four or five
00:09:48
Nate
maybe that's a push world-class players in that squad that are there for the future your highlands your and your highlands like your edisons and and all that that i' dr but can go that long period and the other half of the squad are ready to move on and I think we need them they're going to need to see that huge output of players and
00:09:56
Conor Glennon
Fodens, Rodri, yeah.
Aging Players: City vs. Liverpool
00:10:11
Nate
players to bring in, but I think this is where the charges tie in. is I don't think they can do it that now wait with the with the charges. le we
00:10:20
Killian Ginnity
Yeah I think you make a really good point and I think right now Stasis suits everybody and in City. I think there's that kind of like let's just try and freeze what we've had, it's been going well, let's not do too much and just we've done well up or to this point and we'll just keep doing that and wait for these charges and the fact that they keep rumbling on is kind of causing a bigger thing in the same way like like you use with the the Alex Ferguson comparison when he just was on the verge of retiring for about five years and just wouldn't go so it's kind of leaving everybody in that kind of limbo.
00:10:55
Conor Glennon
I think hindsight is 20-20 in one way and in terms of getting rid of these world-class players. like you know i i Like I said, I think they should have moved on from these players sooner, but what back when De Bruyne was running the league, even though his age was going up and up, it's very hard to explain to your fan base, you're getting rid of him for for the future goal.
00:11:15
Conor Glennon
you know it's it's I think it's a case of de Bruyne's demise if we're gonna call it that and the players around him is a bit of a Fernando Torres situation where nobody saw that cliff coming like everyone knew he'd he'd start going down a gentle slide but no one kind of expected that.
00:11:31
Nate
Yeah.
00:11:31
Conor Glennon
like don't get me wrong he's still an unbelievable player but I mean he's not at the levels that he was but I think it's it's like Nate said it's it creeps up on you quick and you know you neither were left with that when Fergie left and you know I think I know we'll get on to Liverpool in a while but I mean I think one thing that we should not forget about in this is it wasn't just a case of Man City's issues, Liverpool are playing some sensational football and have operated in a better way in which City should have in the fact that, yes, they've got three core players in Virgil, Trent and Salah and contracts that are expiring, which is terrible business. But then they also have a lot of players that Klopp brought in during his tenure that are really firing on all cylinders and have youth coming through like Connor Bradley.
00:12:19
Nate
100% along. I think the big thing that I don't know when you saw the team on the weekend is City's bench was stronger than the starting 11.
00:12:28
Conor Glennon
For sure.
00:12:29
Nate
Let's not get that wrong. They had Edison, they had Jacquery, Lisztocku, De Bruyne and Savino already all on the bench. like That's a 600 million like pound benchs like it What's going on there that Pep can't get the players that he spent the money on to to be able to play? like that That's where I sort of lose on the argument of the outdated team is when you've got a stacked bench like that. you know
00:12:55
Conor Glennon
i I think there's a, I think you're completely right. Like you mean, look, if you look at the valuation of 600 million quid, you could buy a team for that and a very good one at that. I think there's a multitude of reasons as to why those players aren't being picked. The Daku one, I can't figure out at all. The De Bruyne one, I think there's something going on there. You know, we've seen that he is back from injury and he's only getting 10 minutes here and there in games.
00:13:16
Conor Glennon
Now if he was only half it, would a player like him, you were far better putting them on for 50 minutes, 55, 60 minutes and then reefing them off and and and kind of him setting the tone going, I'm still a leader in this team. You bring them on for 10 minutes, it's a bit of a joke. ah You know, with Edderson, a little birdie named Killian told me there might be something awry over there. Killian, do you want to bring us through it?
00:13:37
Killian Ginnity
this is all social media speculation but when pep came out with the scratches on his face and stuff the rumour started to go around well if you look at the city squad who would you imagine would be capable of doing such a thing or
00:13:54
Conor Glennon
but Brave enough to.
00:13:54
Killian Ginnity
And yeah, and the the six foot tree guy with neck tattoos kind of came up in conversation.
00:14:02
Conor Glennon
I mean, yeah if if it's true.
00:14:03
Killian Ginnity
And somebody somebody said online, it's like, ah I guarantee Edison did it. And I bet you he won't start the next game. And then he didn't.
00:14:13
Conor Glennon
Well I tell you what, one thing that I would say is if it was, if if it was Edison that did it, you'd probably come out looking like Jay Leno instead of Pep Guardiola, but i kind of continuing on on that bench, like the Grealish one, that's one that I think he's lost faith in Grealish off the back of the Euros where he kind of made those comments that he wasn't as committed as he should be.
00:14:15
Killian Ginnity
Organization and correlation. let both
00:14:35
Conor Glennon
but i think and it's it's like i'm I'm not even throwing it to you, Nate, from a United fan to ragging them, but like I truly think there's serious issues in that club. For perspective, they haven't had a record this bad since 95.
00:14:50
Nate
Oh yeah, definitely. like and I think the thing that will come out in the coming day or weeks will be what is the issue. and like Just looking at Kevin De Bruyne and himself, like this guy's really been riddled with issues now for like the last year two years.
00:15:05
Nate
like Injury-wise, you have to start to wonder what's next for him. Is he moving?
00:15:10
Conor Glennon
even mental Even mentality wise, like he's floated that. like He didn't even live leave breadcrumbs. He left bread loaves about going to Saudi or like you knowre not longer than six months ago.
00:15:18
Nate
but The thing is, I wouldn't be surprised if we... See, I never really saw him as going to Saudi, maybe he will. But like, to me, it'd be looking at like, does he do a David Silva where he goes to a smaller club and becomes the main guy?
00:15:33
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:15:34
Nate
and or Or does he look at retirement? The injuries he's getting is just unsustainable, I think, on on his body. like So I'd imagine there's there's a big rift there purely on his fitness. like Can he be trusted by the team? When he comes back, he but he wants to be the number one guy, clearly, because he gets paid a huge amount of money, and yeah and we know how good he can be. and So like I just think that that team's and in the middle ground right now.
00:16:03
Conor Glennon
I really think this is where we learn about that city team's kind of mental strength and fortitude because, you know, it's very easy to, you know, have a positive attitude and and feel bulletproof when you're winning travels and you're winning Premier League after Premier League after Premier League.
00:16:17
Killian Ginnity
Thank you.
00:16:20
Conor Glennon
But this is really the first time we've seen this team in the doldrums and pep two. So it's not even like we have a manager who's used to this, who knows the path out of this. They're both both manager and um players are spoken by the city their pants like We can get big money from
00:16:36
Killian Ginnity
You wonder though on the de Bruyne end of things like obviously he's gonna have a massive influence on the dressing room um and our city protecting their asset in the sense of don't play him too much because if we can keep him looking not crocked like we'll we'll get a reasonable fee for him despite his age and all that like that's, stranger things have happened.
00:16:59
Conor Glennon
Stranger things have happened, you know.
00:17:01
Killian Ginnity
But like, I think or when you have this, there's such a a broken thing in that system. um And one on how they're signing people and two of how they've been managed, because like, I think what we're seeing is a better media controlled club than United.
00:17:19
Killian Ginnity
But I think we're basically seeing similar riffs that 10Hag had with the likes of Sancho, with the likes of Greenish and like that kind of,
00:17:28
Conor Glennon
But it's better managed and it's kept in house.
00:17:29
Killian Ginnity
It's much better, Matt. Yeah. Yeah. And I think and I'm sure they're all ah probably much more astutely contracted up in the city than they would be and and in the United But.
00:17:30
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:17:42
Nate
so Does this go back to what I was saying earlier? is like Pep Guardiola's uncertainty has lost his like is is hierarchy in that club.
00:17:51
Killian Ginnity
yeah He's losing losing credibility by not being being saying, not being like, I'm the boss and I'm going to be the boss.
00:17:55
Nate
And Are people like, this brother's out of here in two years, you know what I mean? like
00:18:01
Conor Glennon
But I think I think that's where they lost the likes of gun to win and it really affects their ability to recruit players because let's face it aside from winning titles even take that out of it the biggest pull it city was oh I want to learn under pep even if I get it you know two three years but if you're now looking to move going
00:18:14
Nate
Yeah.
00:18:17
Conor Glennon
okay, he signed a one-year without an optional, he might only do six months, or is he even going to do it all? It wouldn't even surprise me if he walked the end of this season, even having signed the deal. That's hard to pull in players on losing the most games you've lost in a decade, and then with a manager who's unclear as to what a system is, is he going to stay there? I think that's contributed to players leaving because they're like, how long is he going to stay, and will affect them bringing in new blood.
00:18:47
Killian Ginnity
And I think another thing that would go towards that as well is the general move away from, or move towards a more city style a transfer strategy from other clubs. Whereas city, I think partially kind of relied on clubs coming in for their slightly older stars or when when we're finished with them, there'll always be somebody to buy them. Whereas I think that kind of market has kind of moved on a little bit. Like when you see the likes of a Cole Palmer being the ones that people are willing to splash the cash on and we're seeing this more and more often where we'll spend the money on the young guys rather than attract jack real issues now twenty eight will he he'll be overpriced working fight find somebody five six years younger yeah more rob i'll get them for less than half the cost like i think
00:19:30
Conor Glennon
But you even you even look at Cole Palmer, though, and and the likes of Lavia. If they had those players with the problems they're having now, that would keep that team moving forward. But they let those players go.
00:19:43
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, and I think they assumed that they they could always either get them back or get get another one. Like this profit and sustainability rules, I don't think city have factored in. as well as we would have thought they would have.
00:19:56
Killian Ginnity
Maybe that was down to Yaman Chixi, the director of football, maybe with him now gone or planning on leaving that he had taken the eye off the ball and kind of wasn't managing the finances in the way that he kind of previously had, because like he's been there an awful long time, like long before
00:20:11
Conor Glennon
Hmm.
00:20:13
Killian Ginnity
um pep was ever there they had signed them in a bid to woo pep like i think he i think he's there longer than i think he was there just before manual pellegrini so like he's there an awful long time
00:20:23
Nate
But there was all this talk, like, about Reuben Ammer and being the next one to take over and see, is, was that the plan?
00:20:34
Conor Glennon
well, I mean if there if they were if Well, you wouldn't be wrong thinking it because if they're like it would have made sense if they were I think they Were hope and what would have made more sense for them?
00:20:34
Nate
I had the plan thrown at the window, like. like
00:20:44
Conor Glennon
If that was the plan was to bring in hugo vienna the year before they have and bring in amorim now It
00:20:49
Nate
But like, in terms of like, Like that pet contract came out of nowhere.
00:20:55
Conor Glennon
was but I think I think I think I think it was to put some
00:20:56
Nate
Right after Amber and Zoey, by the way. like
00:21:01
Conor Glennon
calm amongst the the team and also the media and I think I really think you know Killian's not into this before that I think that was an effort to to bat away the 115 charges in the media going oh look lads it's fine no matter what happens we got our fearless leader here you know
00:21:18
Killian Ginnity
And like that let's not forget, it was not that long ago that Edison said in the media, oh, this is a club that has a transition plan in place for pep leaving. he He basically implied that they already had the guy lined up and be that Amorim or not.
00:21:33
Killian Ginnity
like there's whatever city, had whatever picture they had in their head, it's all gone awry. And now all these frayed edges that would have just kind of gone by the way, so he didn't win it in his last year, but he had very very good six years before that.
00:21:49
Killian Ginnity
And now kind of looking to be potential long standing issues. And like, Pep has never been sacked. Could we see that happen by the end of the year?
00:21:58
Nate
i
00:21:59
Conor Glennon
he's got He's got enough cash in the bank, he he won't be sacked.
00:21:59
Nate
ah He'd be told to jump before he, like, but like I really do the more I think about it.
00:22:03
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:22:08
Nate
I think that a was lined up because now that we're seeing like players and we don't know if players are going AWOL, but we know that there is riffs in the camp.
00:22:18
Nate
It's like what is causing that? Is it that the manager that they taught were coming in? Has now not, is now not there lined up to come in? And then we've seen the reaction from City to go, oh, we'll just sign TEP 200 a year.
00:22:33
Nate
We'll be all right. And then the results haven't matched up. Do you know what I mean? Like, I just wonder if there's a deeper story to it than just results based on it.
00:22:41
Conor Glennon
Well, I think there's, there's even more issues there of like players should not know the succession plans of a managing team. Even if there is a plan in place, even the leadership group of that, those senior players, they shouldn't be aware of that.
00:22:54
Conor Glennon
That should be far above them.
00:22:55
Nate
but
00:22:56
Conor Glennon
And the fact that even Edison knows about it.
00:22:56
Nate
if
00:22:59
Nate
If they know about it, everybody knows about it.
00:23:01
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:23:01
Nate
Because their ages know about it.
00:23:03
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:23:04
Nate
And like that's what I'm saying. if When we started to hear that Ameren was lined up to take over city, it's like, just does not smoke without fire, is there?
00:23:14
Conor Glennon
ah But you look around, like i mean like say Pep does walk in the summer. like There's no world in which he'll get sacked in my book. But say he does walk in the summer and doesn't honor his his new contract. like the only The managers that are out there are managers that have been floating around for multiple jobs and will all be short term managers. like there's no I know management in general and football has kind of gone that way, like gone in the days of a Fergie or even an Arsene Wenger.
00:23:41
Conor Glennon
I'd really be curious as to who comes in because it's not going to be the likes of a Xabi Alonzo. They're not going to want to take on a project, especially with say these 115 charges come in and then there's an appeals process. They don't want that smoke.
00:23:52
Nate
Well, when people want to go there now, like, can they attract managers now? Now that that 115 charges above their head. And, you know, it was that manager, two years down, he could be managing the championship. Like, it's like, those styles become spoiled goats now. It's like, why would I go there to build a project when I don't know what curveballs could be thrown at me? Like, I'll be the one to taste the brunt of it.
00:24:17
Conor Glennon
Or is is pep then doing the honorable job of taking those bullets going okay look I've won everything I want to win here someone needs to be the man to take this ship and and like
00:24:28
Nate
i didn give yeah i didn't give it tis i didn you jump i I think if he knew that that punishment was coming he'd jump a while away.
00:24:35
Killian Ginnity
or he has a very big offer for staying.
00:24:35
Nate
like
00:24:38
Killian Ginnity
Like, yeah, don't worry about, ah don't don't worry, you stay, sign this contract on your normal one.
00:24:39
Nate
yeah
00:24:45
Killian Ginnity
Couple of years time, you'll be managing Saudi on more money than your children's children could ever spend.
00:24:50
Conor Glennon
I mean, you wouldn't it wouldn't be shocking, you know? Stranger things have happened in an offer like that.
00:24:58
Killian Ginnity
and But speaking of succession plans, one team that is going to have to face that, and we will touch on that, but we have to talk about the success first, is Liverpool.
Liverpool's Rise as Title Contenders
00:25:08
Killian Ginnity
um Connor, like he's all laughed at me when I said they're title contenders.
00:25:13
Conor Glennon
I laughed at you about title contenders, but Jesus Christ when you see the football they've been playing this season, slot is...
00:25:13
Killian Ginnity
and so like i
00:25:23
Conor Glennon
doing the Lord's work over there. Like when you look at the the managers he's beaten this season, he's beaten Alonzo, he's beaten Pep, he's beaten Ancelotti, to name a few, like he's got nine points ahead at at the top of the league. Like as Nathan said, they will have a blip at some point, but in the last, in in a space of four or five days, they made Madrid look incredibly average and absolutely dominated City.
00:25:49
Nate
Allads, we're not giving them flowers for being relegation, so I'd say, yeah, we're like, come on then.
00:25:54
Killian Ginnity
yeah
00:25:54
Conor Glennon
Even Satan on that one.
00:25:58
Nate
Yeah, like, listen, they've been really good. They're odds on to win the league in my opinion now. and But I watched that Southampton game of air last weekend.
00:26:05
Conor Glennon
if they drop If they drop it now, it Newcastle dropped it.
00:26:12
Nate
They looked terrible for 80 minutes. But they got over the line. And it's like, can they keep that going now? It's like, the games that you don't play well, can you get an over the line?
00:26:22
Nate
So like, I think they've got the minerals now and they've got the make-up too. go for the title. It's just when them games like the Southampton where, as they looked very bad for Adrian, it's very bad against a poor Southampton side, can they continue to keep getting over that line?
00:26:41
Conor Glennon
Well, I think it's.
00:26:42
Killian Ginnity
That was the magic sauce of Alex Ferguson, was getting results out of bad bad games. Like, let's not understate that.
00:26:49
Nate
no ah um i'm not i'm not No, I'm not mocking it. I'm just saying, can they keep that going? I think they've done really well to beat that Southampton side for looking very bad for 80 minutes. And it's just, can they keep mounting that then?
00:27:02
Killian Ginnity
Connor, I have have to kind of laugh at this um and I'm going to put it to you in this kind of a way. but If Liverpool do win the league, and I think they will, Is this the second Premier League title that they've ever had and the second caveat title? Because forevermore, like, oh, it was the COVID season. And this will be, oh, yeah, that was the season where City fell off.
00:27:22
Conor Glennon
I think that's doing them a disservice, to be honest. I mean, look, I will be absolutely flying that flag if they do manage to pull it utterly, because for the sheer banter of it. But no, I think Sloth came into an incredibly high pressured situation. Yes, Klopp had laid the groundwork, but he has made that team elevate from even where they were with Klopp. And I think I don't think it'll be the only thing they'll win this season. I think they'll they'll pick up something else there too. And I think to come in, any manager to come in in their first season and win the Premier League, if and let's face it, they're nine points ahead now. It could be 15 by the time the season finishes or they may not, but I don't think they will. But no, I think this will go down as one of the best debut seasons for a manager the Premier League's ever seen, if he can sustain what they're doing.
00:28:18
Nate
I don't think it's all over, though, yet. like like I feel like people are jumping early, going, oh, Liverpool have the league and the bag.
00:28:20
Conor Glennon
No, no it's not.
00:28:27
Nate
I look at them like, but it is only nine in points. like That's three poor results. and you know like an Arsenal's right back in it, or even the City right back in it, they can pull off a miracle. and I think the big thing for them is just world fixtures get on top of them when it's Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup. They're still in in a fair chunk of jun the competitions. I do not have to take a hit in competitions now.
00:28:57
Conor Glennon
Well, it's also from an injury perspective. Salah's doing some serious Michael Jordan last dance stuff at the moment. like I think he's got 24, 25 goal contributions in 13 games.
00:29:10
Conor Glennon
like He may not even be able to sustain that for the rest of the season, or if he gets injured, what's plan B? you know there There is caveats to this.
00:29:17
Nate
Yeah.
00:29:20
Killian Ginnity
I think they have plenty of plan Bs and I've said it before and I'll i'll say it again, I'll keep always harping on it. What seemed to be really bad signings so for three years, Slott has managed just to make them all work. like By having this ah like forward rather than strikers and having the likes of Inunez being able to pick just be be ah a a sort of a target man or at least draw in all these, ah draw in the defence and give space for the likes of Asala to be able to run in behind. I think they have a really good structure and the right players to be able to allow that to happen.
00:29:59
Killian Ginnity
But what's more impressive with Slott is his ability and willingness to adapt his plans in the game. Like for Subba Sly to drop deeper on a whim, like 60 minutes into it.
00:30:13
Killian Ginnity
Like it's, it's, it's really impressive. And like, when you consider in the city game, like I think it took city 60 minutes to get a shot. Like with Haaland's stat.
00:30:22
Conor Glennon
Which, when when was when when was the last time you heard that?
00:30:24
Killian Ginnity
Haaland's stat.
00:30:25
Conor Glennon
When was the last time you heard a city team not have a shot for 60 minutes? It's insane.
00:30:30
Killian Ginnity
No, I will say it wasn't a good cityside at all, but nonetheless, to get stop any shot getting through, it's, or at least shots on target anyway, like it's, it's, yeah, he he is very, very good.
00:30:45
Killian Ginnity
and
00:30:45
Conor Glennon
I think the best thing I can say about that Liverpool team, and it's not, there's few teams you can say this about, they look completely calm in any situation. And I don't mean that they're like, you know, ah fuck it, let's see what happens.
00:30:58
Conor Glennon
They're in control and they're three moves ahead of the opposition at all times. And if something, if the move they think is going to be made, isn't made, like you said, they adapt and overcome.
00:31:08
Killian Ginnity
Have a plan B and a C and a D.
00:31:10
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:31:11
Nate
i I have a question. The first question is, has Liverpool played Arsenal this season? Yeah, I don't think so.
00:31:18
Conor Glennon
No, it's coming up.
00:31:20
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:31:20
Nate
and like Have they had a pressurised game yet? On paper, that city game should have been a huge game and should have been ah you know what's what's considered a six-pointer. Have they had one of them yet?
00:31:33
Conor Glennon
I think that City Game was one. i know ah i know
00:31:35
Nate
I don't, they're on relegation form Connor. Like now for City because they'll actually get to three points against them.
00:31:39
Conor Glennon
I know they're leaking goals and like I think I think i saw starts like they're like palace They've leaked more goals than palace, but like I still think that
00:31:47
Killian Ginnity
the ah drawn with Arsenal and beaten Chelsea in October.
00:31:55
Nate
it's like is I'm really um now excited to see how that Liverpool team reacts to going into a six-pointer game against Arsenal where one loss really closes the gap.
00:32:09
Conor Glennon
Yeah, yeah i do I do think you're completely right.
00:32:10
Nate
You know what I mean?
00:32:12
Conor Glennon
But I i do think the the City game was a six-pointer almost mentally for that team. go yeah If you know what I mean, kind of going, we can get past the four-time champions of you know how many?
00:32:25
Conor Glennon
Is it four in a row, is it? But yeah, like i mean ah I totally appreciate your point. like this There's levels of six-pointers. And that Arsenal game, is that's That's a real six pointer of if if they can start winning those games comfortably, then it's really like, okay, this season might be locked up.
00:32:42
Killian Ginnity
In fairness Brighton and and Forest are both fourth and sixth so they're six pointers now and like they've been able to to do pretty well against that level of opposition so like it's a very weird season.
00:32:54
Killian Ginnity
and
00:32:54
Nate
like I think Newcastle and Everton are the next two games. I think they're big games. I think they could drop points against and that Newcastle side.
00:33:04
Conor Glennon
I mean, we're we're we're so unpredictable at the moment though, you know?
00:33:05
Nate
i
00:33:08
Nate
And a derby, I believe it's Everton's final derby in so like will that will i play on it?
00:33:16
Killian Ginnity
listen yeah Oh no, like it'll...
00:33:19
Nate
Who knows?
00:33:23
Killian Ginnity
like If they can get through this Christmas period unscathed, then I think they're odds on, dead on. It would take an absolute another capitulation. But if you can get to the new year without any spankings, it like if they could do it without dropping points debt nailed on, if they can get solid a results overall, I think they're still dead on to get to get the title.
00:33:48
Conor Glennon
If they're 12 points ahead in January, I think it's locked off. Like I know Newcastle famously lost the league having been 12 points ahead of Christmas, but I don't see a team like Liverpool doing that.
00:33:58
Killian Ginnity
There's not many teams like Newcastle out there what with that lack of mental fortitude only Newcastle and Tottenham.
00:34:01
Conor Glennon
There's definitely not.
00:34:07
Killian Ginnity
Do you think though lads that if they do push on well that Salah will stay or is it finally done?
00:34:16
Conor Glennon
I think he's playing a very interesting game. um Before we delve into it, do you believe do you guys believe that there has been no contract offer, or do you think he's saying that because he doesn't like the offer that was made?
00:34:28
Nate
yeah, I think that hasn't been a contract offer, as if there was, it would be leaked out 100%.
00:34:31
Conor Glennon
Do you think?
00:34:32
Killian Ginnity
yeah Yeah, I take him at face value on the likes of that.
00:34:32
Nate
Yeah, it would be.
00:34:36
Killian Ginnity
Or at least no offers that he's been made aware of, which I think when you're at a club that long isn't going to happen. like I don't think it's going to be an agent's job there.
00:34:42
Nate
Yeah, it really...
00:34:45
Conor Glennon
Because there's there's there's two types of contract, I think, but stumbling blocks, if I'm him.
00:34:45
Nate
she
00:34:51
Conor Glennon
Either he wants a one-year deal for an ungodly amount of money, which Liverpool like now, or he wants a three-year deal, and they're like, we'll give you a two-year deal.
00:35:02
Conor Glennon
I fully would be in the camp that I think there has been, maybe not a written offer, but I think there's been chat from C-suite to his agent going, here's what we're thinking. Salah doesn't like it, so he's trying to get the fans on his side. And let's face it, i he's just been playing out of his skin, and I will go as far to put my tinfoil hat on and say, I think when he ripped his shirt off during that celebration, I think that was to show everyone I'm still in mental nick.
00:35:28
Nate
I think we with Liverpool now, like they're going to have to like taste a bit of their own medicine in terms of these players. When your Van Dijk, your Salas, and your trends have been so good to the club and given so much.
00:35:45
Nate
it's like You're at a crossroad now, you either ended a bit brutally or or you...
00:35:49
Conor Glennon
Or back up the brain stroke.
00:35:52
Nate
no I don't even think it's a money thing. I think it you might have to take a hit on them for a year where for a year they're not very good in the last season. and like it's like I think they're at that crossroads now where they either have to be ruthless or you know they go, these labs have been instrumental to our club for the last six, seven years. Do we just back them for one more contract and see where it takes us? Personally, I think the fans would prefer the second an option.
00:36:21
Nate
back the players we because they've been there so long and I think maybe we're going to see where the club and the fans don't align on that and I think it's the other.
00:36:30
Conor Glennon
What do you think's a fair deal?
00:36:32
Nate
I think, what age is Salah now?
00:36:35
Conor Glennon
Uh, 32.
00:36:38
Nate
I think three years is fair.
00:36:40
Conor Glennon
I think three years. ah I think that would be in the area of what you're saying of respect to the player. I think two works for all parties if he accepts it. What are you saying?
00:36:50
Killian Ginnity
i so i I don't know if he should be getting a new contract at all.
00:36:52
Conor Glennon
Oh,
00:36:53
Killian Ginnity
like ah ultimately Ultimately, it's down to Slott, and I think that's actually the game that's being played, is that there's no contract offer because nobody's thinking about contracts yet.
00:36:54
Conor Glennon
oh
00:37:02
Killian Ginnity
Slott is focusing on getting the team going, ah like he's only in the door, and I think basically the ownership or the C-suiter turning around to him going, listen, whatever you want,
00:37:15
Killian Ginnity
youve You are the successor and we're going to wait for you to make the decision. This is your call and it's going to be a big call and we'll back you no matter what you decide. And he's going, I just want to get through Christmas.
00:37:26
Conor Glennon
But the the longer you the longer you wait, the more agents get in his ear and moves get he signs pre-contracts somewhere else.
00:37:26
Killian Ginnity
like
00:37:30
Nate
and And does it cause a rift in the team then?
00:37:32
Killian Ginnity
And then it takes it out of your hands.
00:37:36
Nate
Because after Christmas saying, this isn't dawn, it's like Denzel has to think about his future, actively has to. Then Van Dijk actively has to think about their future. Then they're not 100% focused in.
00:37:48
Nate
And then you could have other players going, I only have two years left on my day and am I going to be treated like this next season?
00:37:52
Conor Glennon
And ah exactly, exactly that.
00:37:53
Nate
It's harder than it's know about and I think if it's all sorted proactively, it could be there ah like the it could be what de-rails them for Fro, you know, you know what I mean?
00:38:04
Conor Glennon
Of those three players, how many do you think are there in next season?
00:38:08
Nate
One, two,
00:38:09
Killian Ginnity
ah one
00:38:11
Conor Glennon
i'm I'd say one as well. i think two I don't know which two will go.
00:38:14
Nate
I think two, I think two, yeah.
00:38:15
Conor Glennon
I think two go. You think two stay.
00:38:17
Nate
Yeah, if I'm not sure, yeah.
00:38:20
Conor Glennon
You think Trent stays.
00:38:21
Killian Ginnity
one I don't think it is I think with Trent, I don't know if you saw the comments from Michael Owen
00:38:22
Conor Glennon
i think he I don't think he does. I think the only one that stays is Van Dyke.
00:38:34
Conor Glennon
Is this the going back down field comment?
00:38:35
Killian Ginnity
Um, no, where he was basically saying that he regrets leaving Anfield in the first place. Cause he going from where the place that made you and you became the player that you were, um, obviously with such great success when, in Michael Owen's case, that going to the likes of a Real Madrid in a transfer suddenly makes you a commodity and then forever more your commodity rather than the player.
00:39:02
Nate
I don't see Trent leaving.
00:39:04
Killian Ginnity
Like i i think um I think that might, if he's clever, I think that comment should weigh heavily on him. And if I was his agent, I'd be saying, don't leave.
00:39:17
Killian Ginnity
Like like I always say with the the small the small nations and declaring with them, I think they'd be a much bit more beneficial for him to become an absolute legend of Liverpool.
00:39:27
Nate
But but like he's like won't title off being a legend.
00:39:28
Killian Ginnity
Look at Steven Gerrard.
00:39:31
Nate
like in terms of your He's going to get the salary he wants.
00:39:33
Killian Ginnity
yeah like he is
00:39:35
Nate
He's going to live a very cushy life. He's playing in a really good team in the Premier League that are competing for titles and um will compete for titles three years to come.
00:39:47
Nate
I don't see the need for them to leave. It's like you're on track to become like not only just a legend, one of the the very best clubs ever produced in terms of trophy halls and and longevity at the club.
00:40:01
Nate
It's like, to me, Remigine wouldn't even be that looked that good of a move to me if that wasn't me in that position.
00:40:08
Conor Glennon
You hear a lot, you hear a lot of ex-pros that like Roy Keane speaks about and a lot. Alan Shears mentioned it in recent months that their biggest regret in their career is is not moving abroad. And I don't think it's for a money perspective. I think it's just a life experience and ah a football experience. Decided things to just something new. Like, I mean, for me, if I'm Trent, I totally take your your argument on being one of the greatest players, the clubs ever produced. But he I think he always will be. And if they win the league this year, what a way to leave.
00:40:39
Killian Ginnity
i they I think the the point of like the the foreign experience, I think that's now moot in this day and age.
00:40:47
Nate
yeah
00:40:47
Killian Ginnity
Like when you have the likes of Trenton all jetting off to fashion shows or doing whatever, like they're getting the metropolist
00:40:53
Nate
Yeah.
00:40:54
Conor Glennon
Trimmings of it, yeah.
00:40:55
Nate
Wait.
00:40:56
Killian Ginnity
lifestyle without having to leave because but that wasn't an option for Roy Keane at that time or definitely not Alan Shearer. Like I think they they the celebrity of football has has completely changed that.
00:41:09
Killian Ginnity
And what you're saying about whether ah he could still be a legend in his own right evening did leave.
00:41:14
Nate
It's all Sarah.
00:41:15
Killian Ginnity
Look at Michael Owen. Michael Owen by the time he got
00:41:17
Conor Glennon
But you you forget he went to man, you know he did though lads.
00:41:19
Killian Ginnity
No, no, even before then, by the time he went to Newcastle, everybody had forgotten how good of a player he was.
00:41:20
Nate
boy
00:41:24
Killian Ginnity
Like he won the Ballandora, what was he, 20?
00:41:24
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:41:27
Killian Ginnity
Like, yeah, very, very early twenties.
00:41:28
Conor Glennon
20s anyway, yeah.
00:41:29
Nate
It does look different.
00:41:30
Killian Ginnity
Like that World Cup.
00:41:34
Nate
When you're at Real Madrid, it's like you're an object to them. You're just another player where when he's at Liverpool, he is one of them.
00:41:40
Killian Ginnity
Exactly.
00:41:44
Nate
It's even totally different to say Roy Oh Keane boy. wanted to go to the event. Roy Keane was one of United's best-ever players, but he wasn't. He's not from Manchester, do you know what I mean?
00:41:55
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:41:56
Killian Ginnity
like Even when you look at the likes of David Alaba, you forget he's at Madrid, because he's just another player. like he could have been he He could have been just some guy from some like Real Sociedad that we'd never heard of.
00:42:08
Killian Ginnity
But it's not, it's David Alaba who about four years ago was like, oh my God, what a player.
00:42:12
Nate
Yeah.
00:42:13
Killian Ginnity
like he was He was the player that was dragging Austria to to Euros and stuff. like it's I think Real Madrid, despite what players say, I just can't get it and wrap my head around how it's still such a destination for them.
00:42:31
Killian Ginnity
It's just insane.
00:42:32
Nate
I understand why it's a destination because like it is a Galactico. It is like the biggest club in the world in my opinion in terms of the size and what staff here, what they've achieved.
00:42:44
Conor Glennon
stature of it like yeah
00:42:47
Nate
I think the thing is once we can take it from Mbappe and what what he he's getting on and what he's doing is when you sign up to that lifestyle and it suits a lot of players is you do just become one of a great team.
00:43:03
Nate
You're not one of the standouts in the team. Do you know what I mean? like
00:43:07
Conor Glennon
And let's not forget that ground Madrid don't lose finals. They have such a record of success. And I think for someone like Trent, who's experienced everything there is to experience that a Liverpool player can do, I think the idea of wearing that Chris White shirt under the eyes of the Bernabeu playing against Barcelona, ah that's something that lives with you forever. you know
00:43:34
Killian Ginnity
Nice. Turn around. I'm gonna put this big key in your back.
00:43:39
Killian Ginnity
Wind you up. Go on.
00:43:42
Nate
It's not me up this week, lads.
00:43:42
Killian Ginnity
Man United 4. Everton Mill.
00:43:44
Conor Glennon
And that's all we have time for folks.
00:43:48
Nate
I'm in a great mood.
Manchester United's Resurgence
00:43:50
Nate
yeah and To be fair, I'm seeing a system. I'm seeing what he's trying to get the players to do. We might not be perfect at it yet, but I'm seeing desire from players to implement his style of play.
00:44:06
Nate
And yeah, I'm all here for it. As much as Everton were poor, I thought we made them poor in certain and certain men aspects. Our press was on point. That's the best press we've seen ahead of us in six odd years. I'm a Diallo water player, by the way.
00:44:25
Killian Ginnity
Told you.
00:44:26
Nate
he made two goals off his pressing from right wing back. Like, you see, like, Aaron loves him, like, and and I think we're seeing now that we're actually playing football in terms of there's a system, the players know what to do, and they're trying to get the best out of it. m like we've got players that are fitting in really well.
00:44:46
Nate
Amron loves Mason Mount, so that boy does not look like a waste anymore. is he was like The first thing he said when he came to the club was, I love Mason Mount. I've got about five positions he can play.
00:44:58
Nate
like He single Mason Mount though.
00:45:00
Conor Glennon
Even so, um and when it went when he turned to the train ground, he was dapping him up. He looked dead happy that he was there.
00:45:04
Nate
Yeah. And um the big thing for me is in the last two games, Boater Strikers have scored two goals. That's unheard of when they've had a hug.
00:45:14
Conor Glennon
Well, well even even remember as well for for those listening who may not know that Tenhag never managed to win a game 4-0 or buy four goals in his entire tenure.
00:45:14
Nate
Oh.
00:45:23
Nate
Yeah.
00:45:26
Nate
Yeah, but like I'll be honest, adds the goal part is like irrelevant to me right now. I'm really enjoying watching football. And I was very vocal beforehand. this Thomas Tuchel was a manager that I really liked and really wanted at United. is We're not seeing directly his style of play, but we're seeing a version of it. And I'm really enjoying that.
00:45:48
Killian Ginnity
Do you think you and I are going to need a massive overhaul now to make full advantage of this system? Because there seems to be a couple of players that don't quite fit in. Like you're getting the best ne out of very early days to be saying, but you're getting the best out of the likes of MasRari and Dalo.
00:46:02
Killian Ginnity
Ahmad is finally getting the place in it. Rashford actually seems to be adapting pretty good so far. I didn't think he would, but he seems to be getting the tune out of him. But again, early days, it's Rashford. He does that. But do you think the likes of Agar Nacho could potentially fall by the wayside, not out of lack of talent or ability, but just a system that doesn't play to his strengths?
00:46:28
Nate
um I think squad-wise, our squad's actually quite well balanced towards the start of the play. We've got a lot of centre-backs. We've got a number of players that can play out wide. We've got Bruno, Mason-Mountain, in Midfield, we've got two strikers. For Ignacio, I think it's going to be a thing. It's going to be trial and error whether he can adapt to that start of the play. I'm confident that he can.
00:46:52
Nate
and I don't know if you've seen what what Amrinn's been doing is he plays a winger on one one side of the pitch and he plays a fallback on the other and there's sort of a slam to it.
00:47:03
Conor Glennon
Oh interesting.
00:47:04
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:47:04
Nate
is Dallow can play left and right, Mazzraoui can play left and right. So I think we're going to see a rotation between Ahmad and Gernacho where one will play left, one will play right with a fallback alongside. So I think it offers good rotation. And I think the big thing that I think will happen is I think one of our strikers will be solved. And I think we're going to, I think they're going to try and get Caracas from sporting.
00:47:32
Conor Glennon
I do we think you're right with that because I don't know if you, I'm sure now you saw the comic and I don't know if you did where Amram said about Rashford. It's not an ability thing. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, but the one bit I do remember direct from the close, he said he needs to want it.
00:47:49
Killian Ginnity
yeah which i i've been saying that ratford is ah for everybody's sake needs to leave man united it's no longer the the love isn't there anymore um and i think even the for the fans it's kind of like the wife that's there after 20 years and you know you should probably get a divorce but you don't really want to either like you're a bit comfortable with them being there um like my My worry with Garnaccio is that he becomes a Callum Hudson Adoi 2.0. Like when Chelsea tried to play him as a wing back, that it just it just wasn't to his strengths and eventually he lost the head for it. He kind of like wasn't get weren't weren't playing to the best of his ability and not saying that's what will happen, but we do have a prototype for that.
00:48:35
Conor Glennon
What are the United fanbase saying now when it comes to Rashford? Because obviously I'm kind of butchered in Goykeres, I think is how you pronounce it, like he is putting up some serious numbers.
00:48:43
Nate
Well, the thing is, I think he'd be replacing, I think he'd be replacing Heuland or Xerxes. Rashford's that have been actually doing quite well in the 10 position for, for Amron.
00:48:56
Nate
And listen, I've been very critical of Rashford, but I think he's been very good since Amron's come in. I think he's, he's applied himself to that position. He's looked quite
00:49:05
Conor Glennon
Is that a new manager bounce or do you think he's able to unearth something?
00:49:06
Nate
I don't know. like east'squa and On the weekend he scored a goal and Jennie's the first time I've seen a smile in about 14 months. like and So what that entails for him, I think that only only he knows how much he's going to apply himself to this manager. But I'm well and surely on the boat is if you're not going to apply yourself, you know get on the boat.
00:49:31
Nate
and
00:49:31
Conor Glennon
Do we see any business being done in January? Obviously, you know, Amoram's come out categorically saying that if Goicres was to be a United player, it would not be in January. He respects sporting in that way. But do you think there'll be any business done?
00:49:46
Nate
Yeah, I think there will be business done. I don't think it'll be like a marquee sign. I think it'll be something done system wise, a player that's needed system wise.
00:49:58
Nate
I don't know who that will be or ah what that will be.
00:50:00
Conor Glennon
And do you think you do you think you'll have to sell to get that? Because obviously you know we've seen ah a very stringent ownership group.
00:50:07
Nate
Possibly, yeah. and I think we do. like I think our squad is a bit beefy, but in the positions that we need to be beefy, now centre-back's a huge position for us. like We need six-fit centre-backs to cover a three-back system. I'm very happy where that is now. like you know You got your Lenny Euro, your Lissandra Martinez.
00:50:29
Nate
and
00:50:31
Killian Ginnity
could do the job there.
00:50:32
Nate
Centre-back? Yeah, definitely.
00:50:34
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, it's like a left-sided one rather than I don't think he has the physicality for the wingback position.
00:50:39
Conor Glennon
Not even being funny, but does he even have the body anymore? Like, as in, you know, or as injury-wise, is he just done?
00:50:42
Nate
i don
00:50:44
Killian Ginnity
be just a match match made in heaven just as his but body is slowly deteriorating that might give him just the opportunity to mind himself a little bit more.
00:50:53
Nate
But like I think the big thing that adds is um like style of play. I don't know of Rafton about it but I've been devoid of that for a long time in terms of watching United and I'm well and truly willing to back this manager in terms of get the players that arrive for it as we see the vision, we see that it works. So like, I just want to see it deliver now.
00:51:16
Killian Ginnity
And like, one player that's really getting the benefit of, and I think it actually but proves one of the things that is going right and why I think there will be some, as you say, non-Markey signing in in in January is Ugarta.
00:51:31
Killian Ginnity
He's been phenomenal.
00:51:31
Nate
Yeah.
00:51:32
Killian Ginnity
Like, we've been told they've worked together and he knows how to get the best out of them, but it also proves why Casamiro needs to be to get to get out of there and just sign that.
00:51:39
Conor Glennon
You just can't get rid with the wages he's on.
00:51:41
Nate
i I think the team with Castanero is like, he's good enough to be a back-up.
00:51:41
Conor Glennon
There's there's no world in which he goes.
00:51:42
Killian Ginnity
I i take take the hit, pay him off. like
00:51:49
Nate
He's not good enough to start. And I think...
00:51:51
Killian Ginnity
Would you play him as the center back in one of the tree as the back open?
00:51:53
Nate
Listen, and he came in and played centre-back in the... Was it a league cup on against Newcastle? He played centre-back, he scored a goal.
00:52:00
Conor Glennon
You could have put the under-eights out knock in that game we still would have lost.
00:52:00
Nate
so like
00:52:04
Nate
He looked good at his end of that season, but he's a good back-up. I think our future in midfield is Ugaritay because he's very mobile and Kobe Maino is just unreal and in tight spaces and that's what he needs to be in this team.
00:52:19
Killian Ginnity
I do think you do you need a backup in there, though.
00:52:19
Nate
and
00:52:22
Nate
Oh yeah, 100%.
00:52:22
Killian Ginnity
ah like That's not a path mirror. I think you need you need to get somebody.
00:52:24
Nate
We need another workhorse. and
00:52:26
Killian Ginnity
like you need You need Scott McTominay.
00:52:28
Nate
Like, that's one thing I realized in terms of on the weekend is we play Castamere on Coby Maino and we're like, Coby Maino is a God in between playing the ball and linking up the team, but he's not as mobile as we need to be when he's playing with someone like Castamere.
00:52:28
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:52:44
Nate
So, I mean, you guys, they are perfect. And then I'm really excited and we haven't seen it yet is I want to see Bruno Fernandez and Macey Mammon playing the 10-roll together.
00:52:54
Nate
Like, I want to see what that looks like. and
00:52:56
Conor Glennon
I think Amorum can be to mount what Eddie Howe was to Joe Linton and I'm not being funny when I say you that. Like just really revolutionise him as a player and turn him into ah somebody.
00:53:06
Nate
i
00:53:06
Killian Ginnity
Do you think he could bring them into like a centre midfield and make that the kind of the in-between player?
00:53:10
Nate
No. I think the tan's perfect for him.
00:53:13
Conor Glennon
The 10!
00:53:15
Nate
Yeah, 100%. This is why I said like I'm really liking what I'm seeing and i I made that Tusho comment on purpose. It's amazing how he's used to playing this position on a Tusho. He used the Pressmaster at the top, playing in the 10 position.
00:53:29
Conor Glennon
You forget that, yeah.
00:53:29
Nate
so like like He played and in that three, quote unquote, five back for a long time. under He won a Champions League under two, so playing. So I think that 10 roll is perfect for him.
00:53:40
Nate
I think Amran sees that.
00:53:44
Killian Ginnity
I think it's really bright futures that you ah years have now. um like not Not to be trying to call it early days. um i don't think I think next year you could be challenging for a top four and that would be a really solid progression.
00:53:57
Nate
but But like, where do you think this season we could get oppped up to? Because like, we're only four behind City and Fiefelach.
00:54:04
Conor Glennon
I think, I think, I really think sixth would be a good year.
00:54:08
Nate
Like, we're we're four points off top four and we're six points off third.
00:54:12
Conor Glennon
Top six, I think you'd be happy with that. Would what about what a manager youre coming in mid season, I think top six, anywhere from sixth and up fair play, you know?
00:54:20
Nate
Like, on a I think a big thing we're seeing is like, people generally know that like, doesn't operate or are in charge now, you know, it in terms of like, I think 10 High spoke up a good game.
00:54:31
Nate
And, you know, I liked 10 High for certain periods, but Amr and Will stick to his goals. Like, this is how he plays football.
00:54:38
Conor Glennon
He seems non-negotiable in his way.
00:54:40
Nate
Yeah.
00:54:41
Conor Glennon
I just hope, I just hope it works because historically, you know, you look at someone like Vincent company who had his own way of playing and wouldn't deviate from it. That doesn't really work out a lot of the time, you know?
00:54:53
Killian Ginnity
double edged sword. and But like it's it's one of them things that I think if you can fin it, even if she's got seven, I think that'd be pretty solid.
00:55:01
Conor Glennon
but Yeah, it wouldn't be bad.
00:55:02
Killian Ginnity
And one of the things now about having Amaran in is the fact that like is have a manager that there's no question marks over. So for however long that'll be, maybe a year, maybe six months, maybe two years, but like for a player now that they can kind of go, okay, I'm going to go in there.
00:55:10
Nate
Oh, yeah.
00:55:18
Killian Ginnity
I know what kind of football I'm going to play and I know I'm going to play it for at least 18 months rather than that 10 hag kind of oh from very early on.
00:55:27
Nate
but like
00:55:27
Conor Glennon
Yeah, I'm going to be a player under his team for six weeks. like
00:55:31
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:55:31
Nate
I'll be honest, I want to see, like, I want to see Europa League run. I think that could be a way in the Champions League, I'm sure, and is trying to make that Europa League. And I think it's a perfect way for him.
00:55:41
Conor Glennon
Tip that in.
00:55:41
Nate
I think take the pressure off league-wise, it's like, let's focus this year on getting the system down, the players we want in the system. And I think we're in a good spot where we're not stressing about the league, the Europa League's there to take advantage of if we want, and then let's see where we get in the cups.
00:55:58
Killian Ginnity
I think it's too early to be considering any form of Champions League at all.
00:56:03
Nate
I think you're opening, though.
00:56:03
Killian Ginnity
Like, I think if he's, good I think if he can get every, like, even if he's get into the Champions League via the Europa League, I don't, I don't, i would I, if it was me, I'd be instantly writing it off and kind of going, right, let's go back into Europa League again at some state.
00:56:13
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:56:16
Killian Ginnity
Let's go as far as we can into Champions League, but if we drop down into Europa League, perfect.
00:56:21
Nate
I think it just attracts a different type of player though.
00:56:21
Killian Ginnity
And just keep progressing in that way.
00:56:24
Conor Glennon
Yeah, yeah.
00:56:24
Nate
I think if we win that, say the Europa League this year and get into the Champions League, the players that we then buy are of a different caliber, you know what I mean?
00:56:34
Nate
like Just having the Champions League next to the name.
00:56:37
Killian Ginnity
To be honest, I'm not sure if it particularly does because it's not like Yzur Brighton going into the Champions League that's going to open a new thing.
00:56:42
Nate
Yeah.
00:56:43
Killian Ginnity
But I think what it would do is it would free your ownership to release more funds. And that's where you'd get the different quality rather than the attraction.
00:56:49
Nate
Yeah, if you get used to modding.
00:56:52
Killian Ginnity
Yeah. But that's all for the future. And gentlemen, we have a lot more future episodes to be doing. Well, actually, we don't. and Next week is going to be our final episode before Christmas, apart from our very special Christmas episode, which will be going out after Christmas Day. and So make sure to tune in. am My thanks as ever to Conor Gwen, Nathan Byrne, and to you, the listener.
00:57:18
Killian Ginnity
um Let's hope that ah the Arsenal Man United match is going to be an absolute bumper probably tonight whenever users are listening to this.
00:57:29
Killian Ginnity
If that's when you are, we're recording a drama choose tonight. So maybe Amran, we could be having a very, very different discussion in the next episode.
00:57:36
Nate
Hopefully not.
00:57:37
Conor Glennon
Fingers crossed. Bye bye.
00:57:38
Nate
Bye.
00:57:39
Killian Ginnity
by Bye bye.