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“That’s What I Want to See More Consistently” – Headaches with Head Injury Stoppages, Referee Inconsistencies, and Grass is Green! All the Predictable Talking Points for the Red Devils!
20 Plays10 days ago
Kieran and Sam jump on today’s episode to unpack the tactics that Amorim set up, Kieran hiding behind his sofa at one point, Goalkeeper talking points, and the headaches of head injury stoppages.
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Transcript
Introduction & Sam Brady's Return
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. Happy Tuesday, everyone. Are we still recovered after all of that? I know one person who's still got a beaming smile on his face hasn't stopped smiling since Sunday. It's the Magnificent. And have you noticed that we've an uptick in form since his return to the podcast? It's Mr. Sam Brady. Sam, welcome back.
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
You were on the episode yesterday along with our Cormac.
Manchester United's Recent Victory
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah yeah On that yesterday's episode, you pretty much summed it all up. What a result. seemingly out of nowhere and if anything I was shell-shocked myself after 62 seconds I couldn't believe what I saw
00:00:49
Sam Brady
I mean, not a abouter not a bad time to return to the pod, eh? I mean, yeah I'm buzzing. I'm absolutely buzzing, to be fair. And I can't think of it a time recently where I've been this happy from a United result. Because even when we win games, it's almost like nowadays, it's like, oh, we're expected to to win those games like Sunderland and and whoever else. Whereas this one...
00:01:14
Sam Brady
genuinely I can't believe it I can't believe it like it's just a performance that came out of nowhere and i and I said it yesterday in terms of the performance like it's just it just came out of nowhere and obviously with the goal within a minute that that just came out of nowhere as well um and yeah it's just it's it's it's a pleasant surprise like I haven't felt like this on on a Monday morning, feeling, you know what, like the week's better because your team actually has won for once. So, you know, I haven't felt this feeling in a while and and none of us United fans have, but but it's good to actually be able to go on social media and people not laugh at your club for once.
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
For once.
00:01:57
Sam Brady
So, yeah.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
For once. Yeah. Yeah. it It is a very nice feeling.
League Position & Tactical Decisions
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It puts us ninth in the Premier League table, which again, very nice. Top half. um We're recording this as Brentford are playing West Ham at the moment. At the time we're recording, Brentford are 1-0 up. So, yeah, we're not catching them just... yet Well, yeah, maybe they're catching up to us. We're catching up to them.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
In any case, um you know, West Ham, the less said about them, the better, I'm pretty sure. We'll see what happens with Nuno at the helm there. Yeah. I also want to talk about a more you know a more tactical, a more pragmatic approach to how this side was set up. And I was watching, in fairness, the build-up to the Brentford and West Ham game, other way around, because it's at West Ham.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he was talking about... How Amorim, and you're going to be shocked about this, Sam, how Amorim tactically got it right. And that's not often, we don't often hear something like that.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Such praise coming from pundits, especially from Carragher and Neville. they've They've both had their say on Amorim. They've both had their say about, you know, inconsistency. But the way this team was set up, and Carragher was explaining it on Monday Night Football, the long balls that are you know sent up by Lamans up towards the sort of halfway line.
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
First ball is there to be won by either side. But the difference was that instead of United having a man running onto it, as in to win the wind header and get in behind, it was a case of keeping the midfield narrow.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So when the first header comes in... it's hopefully going to ah Manchester United shirt, at which point it can then be sent out wide to either, at the time it was Dallow or Ahmad, to then facilitate the play going forward.
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, you know, looking back at it, and it's it's hard to notice when you're so invested in a game. You know, Jesse said it best on the on the crossover about saying, when Liverpool and Manchester United meet, all the form book goes out of the window. You treat it like a cup final. It No matter what form either side is in, no matter how dominant the other side has been over the yeah over the other team ah since 2016 at Anfield. That's the last time we won there.
00:04:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a long time. But the point was... Amorim has been praised for you know how he tactically approached this game. And I feel like in those bigger games, you know the the teams scrubbed the City game.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when we came back and against Chelsea, yes, the early sending off for Sanchez had a big part in that. But also Casemiro got sent off. So it kind of leveled things up in the mad, weird game that it was.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
City, yeah, we got blown out of the water. Fair play on that one. Liverpool... It was a great display.
Midfield Analysis & Counter-Attack Strategy
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Gakpo was lucky. He only got the one goal and not the five that he probably should have had.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But in essence, it was a good display. Rode our luck a little bit. But I think if you ride your luck, if you're not playing at your total best and are still getting three points, isn't they say that's the sign of a champion. i'm not going to go that far yet, but...
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
ive i Sorry, I've had a lot to say. i've I've had it held up since Sunday. But, you know, I was watching that game and just thinking, we were on we were on it in the first half. In the second half, we let Liverpool play.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I got really frustrated in that second half.
00:05:22
Sam Brady
Yeah, and and the thing is, I think there's two things to to be said about Almiron's decision-making and the system. I think the the squad he chose, the starting XI he chose yesterday, concerned a lot of people, pretty much. and And the addition of Maguire coming in, Nocesco, Mount coming in, you see the midfield of Bruno and Casemiro, which...
00:05:46
Sam Brady
doesn't doesn't seem to have worked. and then And then it unfolded how it unfolded and it it turned out they got it spot on. And obviously with with Maguire getting the winner, it only sort of cements that in terms of Armour getting is again his ah starting 11 choice absolutely spot on. And he talked about Maguire being key for set pieces. We score the winner off a set piece.
00:06:11
Sam Brady
ah Bruno obviously getting getting the assist. um dropping Sesko and playing Cunha and Maln and Mbwemo, I mean, that seems to be perfect. I mean, I said it, ah if not on the episode yesterday, the the crossover, where Cunha and Mbwemo, since they've come in, I think have been outstanding, especially their link-up play together.
00:06:34
Sam Brady
So I think they're best when they play together so closely because you've got Mbwemo on the right and Cunha down the middle. Whereas if Cesc goes playing, you've got Cunha and Mbwemo on opposite sides effectively. and So in terms of his starting at 11, you've got to absolutely spot on. And then, yeah, just going off what you what you said there,
00:06:56
Sam Brady
Against big teams, okay, Bar City this season, but even against City last season, against the the traditional big big teams, this system seems to work.
00:07:08
Sam Brady
I don't know what what it is about it. well i think I think one thing to note is that when we're playing the so-called lesser teams in the league, obviously they they sit very deep and they sort of play the counter-attack on us and it's sort of on us.
00:07:25
Sam Brady
it's It's on us to sort of break them down. um And I just think we don't, for whatever reason, and to be honest, I think maybe it is a lack of sort of playmakers in the midfield. Obviously, you've only got Bruno Casemiro who's not really yeah your playmaker who can play the balls through the line.
00:07:44
Sam Brady
But I think it's because when team when the so-called lesser teams counter-attack us, if we're pressing them and we're up the pitch, we have no midfield. So I think our midfield in this system gets exposed against teams who sit back and play counter-attack on us.
00:08:01
Sam Brady
Whereas when we're the team sort of yeah getting the second ball in the midfield and then playing the balls over the top or or down the lines... that's where we can really sort of damage teams. And you saw it yesterday when Mbuermo's running in behind and the ball's getting played through or the back post on offset pieces.
00:08:23
Sam Brady
You know, I think the system really caters towards a very sort of fast on the break, on the counter-attack type style. But it's a different style of counter-attack because...
00:08:37
Sam Brady
I remember under Ole and somewhat under Tenog, we used to be sort of like a counter-attacking team and and try and catch teams on the break. And I used to hate that that style of football where against the bigger teams, we just sat back and absorbed pressure and it almost felt like a goal was...
00:08:56
Sam Brady
a certainty eventually at Anfield or at the Etihad. Whereas now we we sit back, but we look so dangerous going forward. And that's the difference, I think, to previous years.
00:09:09
Sam Brady
Not only do we sit back and to be honest, defensively, well, I thought we were pretty solid players yesterday I mean, as I said yesterday, still feel like there's a lot of improvement in in that defence.
Referee Decisions & Head Injury Rules Debate
00:09:23
Sam Brady
As I said, we've got a left-back playing centre-back, a right-back playing left-back. It's all all over the place.
00:09:29
Sam Brady
But now with with a solid goalkeeper who... I want to get your opinion on him, by the way, because I thought he was outstanding once again. and But, yeah, with ah with a somewhat solid defence and an unbelievable attack, we can really hurt teams.
00:09:46
Sam Brady
and And that's what I want to see it now more consistently. And and that's the thing. OK, it's OK. Like last season, it's OK getting a draw Anfield and a win at the Etihad. And this season, a win against Chelsea, a win against Liverpool.
00:10:03
Sam Brady
But now we have to see it more consistently. If there's any chance, any hope at all, of us improving and kicking on, we have to sort of beat beat teams the the likes of Brighton on on Saturday at Old Trafford. We just have to.
00:10:18
Sam Brady
And if we don't, I'm sorry to say, but this kind of means nothing. look...
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:23
Sam Brady
no but let's celebrate it, let's be happy, but the players need to look screw on and and get your head back on massive game on Saturday. Because I tell you, if we beat Brighton on Saturday, then we can start then the talks can start about, okay, now we're starting to see something, blah, blah, blah.
00:10:44
Sam Brady
I'm not going to base it off a win against Sunderland and then... and Look, an amazing win at Anfield, but I need to see more. So I'm hoping i'm hoping we we can beat Brighton.
00:10:57
Sam Brady
But the goalkeeper, Kieran, thoughts?
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
i Again, much the same as the first game against Sunderland. Did what he needed to do. um He was... Again, i was watching that preview of Monday Night Football and they have this this graph that showed every every single pass that Senna Lamans played in that. and There was only one time he didn't go long and that was, ah like I think, a 20th minute pass they picked out to Dallow.
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every other time, he went long. you know Played that direct style. And... He didn't look unbothered. you know he he He looked like he was able to just you know cope with the pressure. I mean, a goalkeeper is always going to send it long.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know theyve They've got that train there. Goal kicks, they send it long. they They can do that all day, every day. Get it past the halfway line. So it just looked like he was in his element. And ah noticed how the the ball more balls on the left-hand side that were directed towards the left-hand side.
00:11:54
Sam Brady
yeah
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's where left-hand side would have been I think...
00:12:05
Sam Brady
ko yeah
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cunha, yeah, it would have been.
00:12:07
Sam Brady
Oh, well, no, actually, Mount, sorry.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yes, Mount, whoever was in that triangle, it was it was kind of, like again, like the first day of the season. It was nice to see. But down the left-hand side, those balls were being won. Down the right-hand side, they weren't. And even though there was a ball that was and won by, I think it was Van Dijk, the first goal,
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's led to recycling the play in the midfield, again, where that narrow midfield comes in, and then it just expands. It's able to push forward and expand.
00:12:36
Sam Brady
yeah
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's you know it was really nice to see. It was structured play. There was a sense of man marking as well. Man for man marking at throw-ins, which is another thing that Jamie Carragher... I'm just stealing all of Jamie Carragher's points. There's no point in me being here. But the point was...
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It seemed like there was a structure. It seemed like there was a game plan. And really, for one of the first times that I've seen that we've actually had a game plan stuck to it and it's worked.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And OK, Gakobo hitting the post three times, missing an absolute sitter to make it too too had me on the edge of my seat for all the wrong reasons.
00:13:15
Sam Brady
Yeah,
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was hiding behind my sofa when they said eight minutes of added time. Where did eight come from?
00:13:20
Sam Brady
that was a joke, by the way.
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
what a Where did that come from? i mean, I know...
00:13:23
Sam Brady
I haven't even mentioned it, but you reminded me a lot. The referee yesterday, I mean, my God, these English referees, but I don't want to get into that tough watch.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I mean, obviously, there were controversial calls in the game. um In fact, when Gakpo scored his goal... I was watching it at my friend's house. He's a Liverpool fan. and And I looked at him and I went, that looked suspicious to me. I'm not i' not happy with that. He looked back at me and said, yeah, I didn't like that. We'll have to see.
00:13:55
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's that moment, that freeze frame.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And think it's Dorgou's leg. is but you He's trying to block it, but in doing so, he's played on Gakpo. And i just sit I just sunk down in my seat like, oh, they're going to give that. Oh, no, it's 1-1.
00:14:07
Sam Brady
but say well what did you make of well I'd say that the the most controversial well controversial one from the Liverpool side, i guess, the air argument is first first goal and Bwema's goal, McAllister goes down for a head injury, ref doesn't blow, we score.
00:14:26
Sam Brady
i mean you know I'll give my opinion, but what what did you make that?
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah This is always going to be a tricky one for me. And we've got the benefit because we got a goal out of it. And if it happens against us, you're going to feel aggrieved no matter who you support. And this is where this whole, you know, what's fair for one team isn't fair for another team.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And how do you balance that as much as possible?
00:14:46
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Looking at like the rule book, it's up to the referee to stop the game. You know, ultimately it's up to him to stop it. So if he doesn't, the game goes on just like any other injury.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
If a team kicks it out of play, they're doing out a sportsmanship. The ref hasn't blown them. The ref hasn't asked them to kick out of the play. um you know it It's a difficult one because we benefited from it.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't give you an unbiased view on it because it's like, oh, well, of course you're going to say that because you got a goal out of it.
00:15:14
Sam Brady
yeah
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think... players have to be careful about crying wolf when they're not not actually got a head injury. Because it's part of the gamemanship. You fake an injury, you fake injury.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
you'll sit You see goalkeepers fade injuries as well to waste time because they're the only player on the pitch that can't be sent off the pitch to recover, to get medical attention. So they'll have yeah know a time-wasting injury, they'll have a bit of cramp, get the physio on and waste a bit of time, get the team talk in there.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's part of the game and that will be the part of the game until the rules get changed to either stop it or completely get rid of it. But I think it's up to the referee and in that split-second decision, the referee said, going to let play go.
00:15:57
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think whether you agree with it or not is whether if your team scored, and that's a weird thing to say, but i in that scenario, I don't think you're pleasing any sets of fans by giving a decision.
00:16:05
Sam Brady
yeah
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you stop the game there, United are furious because they're in on goal, but it's stopped for a head injury.
00:16:14
Sam Brady
yeah
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's it's it' a difficult one. And I think we're going to be biased because we we we got a goal out of it.
00:16:21
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, the way I see it, to be honest, I mean, if you're going on the the law, the law says if there's a head injury, play must stop, no matter where the ball is, whatever, the ref must stop the play.
00:16:34
Sam Brady
However, we are, as football fans, we are constantly asking for more common sense to be applied to some of these decisions. Now, when you look at the situation,
00:16:46
Sam Brady
The head injury is caused by his own player. United are on the edge of Liverpool's box. And, look, I know people might say, oh, head injury is a hedge injury.
00:16:58
Sam Brady
But McAllister got straight back up on his feet, got it bandaged, and away he went.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't say straight back up.
00:17:04
Sam Brady
It's not... Well, you know, he was he was... There's worse head injuries that could have occurred. So if if there was blood pouring out of his head or if he was concussed or knocked out, then I get it. Completely stopped the game.
00:17:20
Sam Brady
you know, help him. But the fact that he got hit in the head by his own player, we're on the attack on the edge of the box. And McAllister, look, he's got a knock on the head, but he seems like okay.
00:17:33
Sam Brady
I think common sense, and by the way, While the game was going on, the VAR actually gave the explanation that the ref didn't even see it. So I think, and that probably doesn't help my my argument, I guess, but common sense for me, just we we're always asking for it to be applied.
00:17:52
Sam Brady
And as you said, if the shoe's on the other foot, Liverpool are not complaining ah at all. I think it's one of them where if you're really... If you're really complaining about that, you're clutching at straws, really. I mean, you should be you should be asking where the hell Van Dijk's going if you're a Liverpool fan, not why has the Raph not stopped the play.
00:18:13
Sam Brady
So look look look at your own defenders before you start crying about the Raph. And saying in that, the apple doesn't far fall far from the tree. I mean, Arnie Slott's comments about, oh, United just come and sit deep. And when I didn't see Cesc go start, I knew what how the game was going to go. I mean, shut up with you, mate. Cry me a river. you know what mean?
00:18:34
Sam Brady
But, you know, when you manage just setting the standards ah like that, I mean, set a standard for a crybaby fan base, I guess. Yeah.
00:18:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, now, hold on up a minute.
00:18:45
Sam Brady
well
00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
What separates a crybaby from someone who is, you know, sets the mentality of us against them? what's the What's different from Mourinho saying things like that? Oh, they just came, they're part of the bus and that's that.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we we can't get... Why is he a legend and nobody else is? I don't get the double standards there.
00:18:59
Sam Brady
to be, to be fair, like, I haven't actually seen much controversy around the head injury. I mean, I feel like it was a slight, um, uh, like debate at the time.
00:19:11
Sam Brady
Obviously, Carrigan mentioned that as it happened on the comms, but I think it was, it was quickly sort of like next problem, you know what mean?
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:19
Sam Brady
So I haven't seen much about it, you know, but look, I mean, as I said, if the shoe's on the other foot, then no one's complaining.
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:27
Sam Brady
So it is one of them. Um,
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I'll always have the stance of you know head injuries should be you know they're so much more recognised.
00:19:34
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the long-term effects of ah heading the ball, head injuries, you know it's only taken until modern-day football from when leather footballs used to be used. And you used to have players in the 50s 60s absolutely header everything, you know head through a brick wall even.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're only seeing... yeah 20, 30 years later, how that effect has had on former professional footballers. So I think it's the right thing to stop the game for a head injury.
00:20:02
Sam Brady
yeah
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it sets a precedent because if the ref doesn't see it, who Who else is going to see it? Are the assistants there?
00:20:13
Sam Brady
Yes.
00:20:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
VAR going to pick that up? you know where Where does that sort of grey area, if the ref doesn't see it, well, who who is going to see it? There's four officials on that pitch. You've got Stockley Park also having a look as well. you know it As you said, i think you perfectly said, it is one of those.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
If it goes for you, you're not complaining. If it goes against you, you're furious because your head injury.
00:20:34
Sam Brady
um And I also think a massive difference is that he's injured by his own player. Okay, fair enough. You could make the argument if Mpuemo injured him If Mbwemo injured him and it was a head injury, you could go, not only has he not stopped the play because of a head injury, he hasn't even given the foul.
00:20:54
Sam Brady
But the fact that it's Van Dijk injuring McAllister, it's almost like, come on, I feel like we are clutching at at straws that a little bit here.
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's ah That is a fair point.
00:21:04
Sam Brady
But...
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
If it's you know player on player, you know you did do you stop the game even if so they're injured? you know because we saw i think I haven't seen the incident, but Arsenal fans have said about, you know the I think it's two Fulham players.
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll have to be correct on that.
00:21:22
Sam Brady
I haven't seen it, so.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, but I know there's a point raised by there, and their game was stopped. um So, again, it's creating inconsistency. At the end of the day, refs are humans.
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would never be a referee. But we've kind of had this problem for a good five, ten years now where the inconsistency is is annoying.
00:21:45
Sam Brady
Oh, they're the worst.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
if we can have ah If we can have a bit more...
00:21:47
Sam Brady
The English referees, and look, no I'm not here to bash referees or whatever because I know how hard of a job it is, but they are the worst referees in Europe, in the top five leagues.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:59
Sam Brady
They just are. like And that's just not me saying that. That's everyone
Defensive & Goalkeeping Issues
00:22:03
Sam Brady
that's saying that. I even had a mate who he's from Madrid and he didn't watch a lot of Premier League. But since I've met him, he started to watch a lot Premier League. And I said to him when he started watching, he was like, oh, La Liga refs the worst. And I said, no, no you watch Premier League.
00:22:18
Sam Brady
They're the worst. And he was like, no, how can they be worse? but what Two weeks later, he came back to me and said, yeah, actually, you're right. I agree with you. It's what you said. It's the inconsistency.
00:22:28
Sam Brady
They haven't got a clue in terms of one day it's a foul, one day it's not a foul, this, that, here and the other. like It's just all over the place. And to be honest, VAR hasn't helped in the slightest.
00:22:41
Sam Brady
Hasn't helped in the slightest. I mean, i am in in my opinion, I'm against VAR. I would actually get rid of it because I think... what it was brought in in 2020 to help referees and and to help the game and it's what been five nearly six years now and nothing has helped the only thing that's helped is is keep the automatic via uh offside i think that that's good um but look it it it hasn't helped at all um and it's on and it's a week week to week basis now every week there's a controversial decision and
00:23:17
Sam Brady
but i mean yeah um I don't want to get into the whole ref situation because i think it's been talked about a lot, but i mean it is a joke, to be honest.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:23:25
Sam Brady
and mate Some of the the files that should have been given yesterday, and but if I had lost that game, and I'm not even just saying for United, on both sides, the ref was horrible. So, yeah, I mean, it's one of them where we've been saying it for seasons now that needs to change. It never does. So i guess you just got to get on with it.
00:23:43
Sam Brady
In terms of what I did want to sort of circle back to is the goalkeeper, is Lemans. And you know what i think it is, mate? We have gone from sort of... Look, I love De Gea. He's one of my favourite United players of all time.
00:23:57
Sam Brady
But in the last couple of seasons of De Gea, he was shocking. Let's be fair. He cost us many, many games. Then we went straight into Inanna, which cost us many games. ah And the Inanna-Bayandir era, which was horrendous. Thank God that's over.
00:24:13
Sam Brady
So I'd say now, for a good... What, it must be five, six seasons? That defence hasn't had a solid goalkeeper. so Imagine, for five, six years, the defence haven't been confident about their own goalkeeper.
00:24:29
Sam Brady
So now, even in the two games... If the fans are feeling it and the fans are sort of feeling that sort of relief and that weight, that pressure that we know, OK, if there's a shot coming in, he should he might actually save it.
00:24:43
Sam Brady
So if the fans are feeling like that, my God, the defenders must be the most relieved boys in the world. I mean, it's just little things like corners now. I feel like all of a sudden, and whether it's the goalkeeper, whether it's Maguire, to be fair, getting his head on to a lot of them,
00:25:01
Sam Brady
corners even against Liverpool, set pieces, we were pretty solid off them. I mean, every bloody set piece we've had this year, I felt like it's going to go directly in. So now, yesterday, it was almost like, oh, a corner's come in and he's caught it. it it's It's actually amazing. So, look, only two games in.
00:25:20
Sam Brady
ah law I don't want to curse him, for but hopefully, hopefully we're in a we're in the Le Mans era now.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
you You already have.
00:25:29
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, wouldn't that be nice, eh? Listen, we've done a lot of talking and there's one thing we haven't done for a long, long while and that's go to a quick break. When we come back, just a little bit of a quick recap. I've got a couple of things to say as well to respond to Sam. We'll be back after this.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
You mentioned about the La Menzera and zero and you know the era of claiming crosses. He's back. We are so back. Did you see the shot, though, where he's he's jumped a little bit too...
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm trying to tell if it's too late, but it's the shot where he his arms are behind him by a good foot and a bit.
00:26:59
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He still manages to hang on to it. That was a bit of a scary moment. But I will say, know, he is 23. I feel i feel like You mentioned you know the the progression from when we get to De Gea and now we've got to Lamens here. After two games, I realised that this is going be an overstretch.
00:27:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it does feel like we missed out on the natural air to De Gea. And that was Dean Henderson. And look how he's doing. at Crystal Palace now.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Phenomenal keeper. Phenomenal shot stopper. And able to sing along with the ah with the Crystal Palace fans no matter what. die He's got a gru bright future. I do think he's going to be England number one at some point in his career.
00:27:47
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Jordan Pickford is going to be very, very difficult to get that number one shirt off. I think Nick Pope is probably going to be number two, number three in that lineup. He's a good keeper. I just think Dean Henderson is is great. And we missed a trick.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
by not giving him the proper chances. I think he did have chances. And at that point, you could have said, well, he's a young keeper. He needs that time. He needs that development. And ah hindsight is always 20-20.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it feels like and we let Henderson go. he went to you know He's found his feet at Palace and he's now starting keeper. Now he's on the way, you know, European football beckons for Palace.
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've built us a solid team. And Glasner has built a solid team around it as well. I really feel like we missed we we missed that natural progression from De Gea to Henderson. But I know there's reasons why that that happened and why the boat was missed on that.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm just glad Henderson has found a Premier League club, that he's made his own and he's having a heck of a career.
00:28:51
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, I said at the start the season that if Henderson continues the form that the he was in the back of last season, which he seems to be doing ah to to some extent, that Tuchel's got a big decision to make in the summer.
00:29:06
Sam Brady
I mean, Pickford, I like Pickford, that I rate Pickford. I think he's pretty decent. I think thought This might trigger some Everton fans. I think he's a bit overrated by Everton fans.
00:29:18
Sam Brady
But um for England, you you can't question him.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:29:21
Sam Brady
I think he's been outstanding. But he's never had competition. If you think about it, he's never no one's really ever challenged Pickford for that for that number one spot.
00:29:34
Sam Brady
And that's partly to do with Pickford's performances, but partly because we haven't produced good England goalkeepers. um So, yeah, I mean,
Dean Henderson's Career Choices
00:29:44
Sam Brady
Tuchel's got a big decision to make in the in the summer.
00:29:48
Sam Brady
And I think, to be honest, it's funny how people pick and choose ex-United players and they go, oh, he's doing so well and he's doing so well. But actually, i don't i mean i don't really...
00:30:01
Sam Brady
see people sort of loop back to Henderson and United, it's almost like Henderson is is doing his own thing now and people forget that he actually did play for us at a time.
00:30:12
Sam Brady
And also, i mean, i don't think we've even mentioned him so far, but Carreras for Real Madrid as well. that He's literally starting left-back now and United fans might remember him as Alvaro Fernandes.
00:30:27
Sam Brady
We used to have him. And now he's at Real Madrid, a starting left-back. But people seem to pick and choose your Antonis and your who else because they they we paid the big money and the Hoylands and and all this.
00:30:41
Sam Brady
But actually, we're we're missing out on a really good left-back in Carreras, who we sold. Dean Henderson, who who could have saved a few bob on on lemons. So, yeah, I feel like, you know, people people want chuck out your Antonys and your Hoylands to to make to make the headlines. But people forget that that we have other ex-players out there doing doing really well as well.
00:31:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
The other thing I just wanted to say, one of the final things I'll say, because I realise we've been yapping a lot, Sam. where with you You might like when you're listening wherever you are. But um would Dean Henderson be in contention for that number one England spot?
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
had he stayed at unit United? Because I feel like sometimes leaving United, and this has been a ah common trend, leaving United is the best thing that can happen to you. And I think had Henderson stayed at United, would he have had the same development? Would he have had the same, you know, kind of progression into the keeper that he is today if he had stayed at United?
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there would have been a lot more pressure on him. The microscope we saw at the end of De Gea, even though he was one of our best keepers and in the mid-2010s, one of the best keepers in the world.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the end, United fans, i should say including myself, were sort of looking at De Gea and thinking, are you costing us more points than you're winning us, essentially?
00:32:01
Sam Brady
you
00:32:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that it's a really difficult thing because De Gea is a legend. He always will be. But it's like one of those things where you see a a legendary player not be at their best and you just think, I love you.
00:32:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah don't want you to go. But yeah it's getting really difficult to justify. I wonder if continuing to try and play De Gea and not giving Dean Henderson the chances maybe contribute to that. But again, this is all hindsight. This is all 2020. We might go back five years and there's reasons why Dean Henderson isn't starting.
00:32:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:32:42
Sam Brady
yeah Yeah, and the and the thing is, what will say on that, and the thing is with Dean Henderson, why I'm not like, oh, why did we sell him, blah, blah, blah, with players like I am with with players such as McTominay, for example, because I think Henderson, it was almost...
00:32:59
Sam Brady
Wrong place, wrong time in terms of obviously, i mean, under Ole there, he started about half a season. And look, he was decent. But even when ah think it is a case of when we sold him, he wasn't good enough for United.
00:33:17
Sam Brady
And not only I would say he wasn't at the level that that we expect from from our goalkeeper, But also, Gea was still there. And I think because De Gea is such a legend, it's almost like you can't really say to him, all right, your time's on the bench now.
00:33:35
Sam Brady
It's either you start De Gea or you sell De Gea. And we weren't in a position to sell De Gea. And also, Dean Henderson wanted game time, He wasn't at the level that we wanted him to be at.
00:33:47
Sam Brady
So at the time, it it just felt like a natural move. Now, obviously, he's gone on to do great things for Palace. But and this is no disrespect to Palace.
00:34:00
Sam Brady
He's a good goalkeeper for Crystal Palace.
00:34:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, carefully, this is Crystal Palace who are in Europe, Sam.
00:34:03
Sam Brady
Now... i
00:34:06
Sam Brady
but This is the thing. I remember when Dean Henderson had that loan spell at Sheffield United when I believe they they were in the Prem. Maybe they were in the Championship, actually. But he was very good at Sheffield United.
00:34:19
Sam Brady
um And now he's very good at Crystal Palace. So maybe, and look, maybe it isn't. Maybe he could make a move to a big club and and do well as well. And Palace fans would probably say, why not?
00:34:31
Sam Brady
But it also could be a case which I'm leaning more towards is that Some players are just good for those types of teams, those sort of mid-table, challenging for conference or or whatever.
00:34:46
Sam Brady
Some players thrive at clubs like that. like and And that's why it gets thrown at us like, oh, should have kept Anthony, should have kept Hoyland, all these players. But Hoyland, well, Anthony is good for Real Betis because he's the star there.
00:35:04
Sam Brady
And it's just common football math that some players are good enough, that level, are mid-level, but they can't make the step up. And that's not saying they're bad players.
00:35:15
Sam Brady
that's just And the same goes with managers. Exact same goes with managers. Why do you think Sean Dyche always takes relegation-level fodder clubs?
00:35:26
Sam Brady
Because no big club would ever take Sean Bleich, but he's very, very solid for the likes of Everton, Burnleys, the Forests. Same with Nuno. Nuno's good with wolves and wolves and wolves.
00:35:42
Sam Brady
well No, no.
00:35:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Forest. Say forest.
00:35:45
Sam Brady
No, no. I mean, yeah, yeah. Sorry, Forrest. Yeah, Forrest.
00:35:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank goodness for that.
00:35:50
Sam Brady
Yeah, Forrest doesn't look like it's going so well from for West Ham at the minute. But, yeah, my point still stands. These managers and players, some managers and players are...
00:36:01
Sam Brady
are good for that level, but they can't make the step up. And and that thats that' just that's just football, i guess. But no, and wish Henderson all the best. And I would love him to be number one for England. And mate, I'd even love him to get a big move.
00:36:18
Sam Brady
But I just don't know how how beneficial that would be for him. I mean, look at Kepa, for Christ's sake. I mean, he went to he went to what? Chelsea, absolutely stunk out, went to Bournemouth, played amazing.
00:36:33
Sam Brady
So, you know, there's my logic.
00:36:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He also had a loan spell at Real Madrid, didn't he it
00:36:37
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:36:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, that was weird time. It's like when Javier Hernandez went on loan to Real Madrid. It's like, hey, come again? Anyway,
Conclusion & Future Prospects
00:36:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
we've done a lot of yapping on this.
00:36:46
Sam Brady
And now he's at Arsenal, so, you know.
00:36:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who, Hernandez?
00:36:49
Sam Brady
No, no, yeah, yeah. No, yeah. and
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, turn up for the books, that one. Well, we've done a lot of yapping today. Hopefully you've enjoyed today's episode. at What has been, well, some good vibes, but the message from Sam is clear. Consistency is key.
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to keep moving and keep moving forward. Hopefully we will against Brighton at Old Trafford. In the meantime, thank you so much for listening and watching today's episode. If you like the episode and you're listening to us on Spotify or Apple, don't forget you can leave a rating down below.
00:37:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you should give us a five-star rating, but I might be a bit biased. so Rate fairly. Go on. You know you want to. You can also watch the episodes on YouTube now as well. We are at GSPN Daily Man United podcast on YouTube. It's such a long name, so you have to remember it. Give us a subscribe over there. And if you subscribe on YouTube and follow us on Spotify and Apple, you'll get a push notification whenever the next episode goes live. So you will never miss another episode again. Another reason why you should be following us.
00:37:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can also follow us on all the social medias as well. Well, we had a TikTok that absolutely blew up because so we had the crossover episode that Sam, our Sam was a part of there.
00:37:56
Sam Brady
Okay.
00:37:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely tearing apart Bruno Fernandes. He got the winning assist, if that's a thing. Yeah, you know, you know you want to be there. At GSPN Man United, we're on TikTok and we're on X, we're on Facebook and we're on Instagram. So go and start the conversation. We'd love to have a chat with you.
00:38:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your Tuesday. We are ninth. We're on target, I hope, for a place in Europe. And only two points off of Liverpool, who are third. I'm getting deja vu from last season. Are you?
00:38:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's hope it doesn't end the same way. Take care of yourselves. We'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye.