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Episode 196 - Weekend Wrap-Up!
18 Plays3 days ago
Kieran and Tom are on today’s episodes to have a review of the weekend’s action in more depth. Let us know who your man of the match was in Saturday’s game!
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Setup
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. Happy Tuesday. Have you recovered from Saturday? I think we have just about. If you've noticed, I have a lovely microphone again, so none of that backup laptop business.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm glad to say I've got Tom alongside me on this episode. Tom, welcome along. Have you recovered from Saturday at all?
00:00:35
Tom Cairns
I have, yes. And whilst it was a much needed result, I still felt there was more left on the table that we needed to serve. And I don't think we quite served enough in that game. But let's hope we can turn on the sails and carry on that momentum and try and get back-to-back Premier League wins. Something which we've not had for a very, very long
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Game Recap
00:00:52
Tom Cairns
time. And not and certainly since Ruben Amarin has come in.
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there was a stat that was released by the Premier League that I kind of misread in all the chaos that was going on on my episode on Saturday, was that that was the first time under Ruben Abram that we'd won back-to-back Premier League games at Old Trafford, which just seemed bizarre, in all honesty.
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I mean, yeah, it was pretty, pretty mental, that game. and All of it happened in the first half. And according to the Premier League, they had to look back in this. No Premier League game in the modern Premier League era history has had two goals and two red cards in the first half of a game.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we're we're making history no matter what we're doing, Tom.
00:01:34
Tom Cairns
Yeah, it's a very hard one to believe that, but yes, it is the case. But, you know, it's money-eyed against Chelsea. going to see tackles going in left, right and centre. And it's not without the yeah absolute relentless amount of rain that poured onto the pitch.
Chelsea's Old Trafford Struggles
00:01:48
Tom Cairns
And I think Chelsea fans were praying that the deluge would have been staying for a little bit longer so that the game got abandoned just like it was further down the road over at Ewood Park when Blackburn were 1-0 up against Dipswitch.
00:01:59
Tom Cairns
And when the pitch became so waterlogged to the point where the ball just couldn't roll along the surface, the game had to be called off. And that's what the Chelsea fans would have been praying at Old Trafford.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-mm. Yeah, because they haven't had a hump happy hunting ground, especially in the Premier League at Old Trafford. Still winless at Old Trafford since 2013, which is bizarre.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Considering the you know how United have not exactly fallen by the wayside, but the success that Chelsea has had in those years, you would have expected at least for them to pick up a winner in the Premier League at Old Trafford. But hey, they're they're one of the only teams that haven't done in the 2020s, which just is so, so bizarre.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, um let's focus on the game as well, because we'll focus as well on some of the big decisions, the goals as well, and the overall performance, Tom.
Analysis of Key Match Events
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I mean, if there's ever a red card for a goalkeeper outside of the box, taking down the last man, I can't argue that that was a red card in the slightest.
00:03:02
Tom Cairns
Yeah. And do you know something? I was watching parts of an FA Cup tie between Newcastle and Chelsea back in February 2005. It was the fifth round of the FA Cup. Chelsea were the runaway Premier League leaders at the time.
00:03:16
Tom Cairns
They lost 1-0 and went out of the FA Cup. And they had Carlo Couticini sent off for a last man outside the box. That was like at the end, towards the end of the game, though, not and in the early minutes of that one.
00:03:27
Tom Cairns
it kind of reminded me of that, except that the the nature of the challenge was different from Robert Sanchez compared to what Carlo Cattuccini had done. But yeah, it's it was a bizarre moment for Chelsea. And from the moment Sanchez got sent off, United were going to have the momentum.
00:03:42
Tom Cairns
And Chelsea, remarkably, in the second half, were able to find a rhythm. It was just unfortunate for them that they couldn't get enough out of it.
Missed Opportunities and Tactical Errors
00:03:50
Tom Cairns
They did have also a goal disallowed for offside, and rightly so.
00:03:55
Tom Cairns
I think United need to really take their chances. with i was saying in the WhatsApp group, which I think Tolu would agree with, we had so many chances and we hadn't put them away. We should have been four up in the first half if we took our chances like we needed to. If we correct our if were able to correct our decision-making with the passing, when you had Sesko and and ah Bruno and Ahmed there,
00:04:17
Tom Cairns
Ahmad was waiting on the edge of the 18-yard box when Bruno should have played it back to Ahmad instead of playing like a one to with Sesko. That really annoyed me. And that's something that Ruben Amarin has to acknowledge and say to the players, look, we need to establish these pockets of spaces.
00:04:36
Tom Cairns
And whenever we've got to player a player free that's on goal side of the um the defender, you've got to pick them out.
Bruno Fernandes' Milestone Achievement
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Although I will say actually as well, Sesko in that ah you know red card, Wonderful header from him, you know, rising high. And Umbermo is reading that perfectly. He knows at that point Cescou's winning the header. It's such, you know, on the same wavelength at that point to run in behind. And yeah, it gets taken out.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a red card. And then then the two goals come. So we've got 14th minute, Fernandes able to get on the end of a of a header. you know, it's... it's I'd say it's close. it's It is quite close to being offside, but it's only his arm.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
As we all know, he can't score with the arm. So the goal stands. i mean, it's a it's a good finish from from close range and the ball traveling at that speed. And Captain Fernandes does it again.
00:05:33
Tom Cairns
He 100 goals in 200 games for Manchester United for Bruno Fernandes. And it raises an argument, and someone raised this quite nicely, actually. If Bruno was playing for a better side and was scoring goals for fun to the figures of which he has been doing for the last six years yeah six years nearly, would he be in the running for the Ballon d'Or?
Current Challenges and Tactical Adjustments
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
hopeful
00:05:57
Tom Cairns
But because it's Manchester United and where they are... Fans feel that Bruno doesn't deserve to be thrown into that conversation, but I think, in my opinion, he does deserve to be thrown into that conversation.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
See, that's interesting because we had this conversation before that I think the closest player we've got to being world class is Bruno Fernandes. But something in the back of my mind is just telling me he's not he's just shy of being that.
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a fantastic player and he's able to change the game on on a whim. He really is. I mean, as you said, ah a goal every two games in his United career is is really something amazing for an attacking midfielder.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's something telling me that there's just that little something that That just stops him from being absolutely world class. And i think the City game kind of proved that to me, is that he he can go quiet and some of his passing can be really subdued if it's if it's dealt with properly, if he's marked properly.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know He can be really taken out of any game, but not in the Chelsea game. He was he was brilliant in that one. um And when the yeah the second goal came around, Casemiro getting ah any himself on the score sheet as well from Luke Shaw, absolutely barreling in to win the header. Love to see that.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Allows Casemiro to get his head on it and make it 2-0. And then... um Yeah, goes in for a challenge that he's already on a yellow. Now, ah debatable whether it is ah yellow, that that second that second challenge or that challenge he makes.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But why would you be doing that when you're on a yellow? Surely you'd be sort of thinking, actually, I don't need to. We're 2-0 up. We've got the man advantage. Probably don't need to make this challenge.
00:07:45
Tom Cairns
I don't know why he needed to go for it the way he did, Casemiro, considering that we're close to half-time. We've got the man advantage. I reckon that Amarim would have made that substitution at half-time, really, just to preserve Casemiro. But now Casemiro is suspended for the game against Brentford at the weekend.
00:08:01
Tom Cairns
I believe it's just a one-match suspension because it was two yellows and not straight red, wasn't it?
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:08:06
Tom Cairns
That was really annoying because we were in a hell of a amount of stride against Chelsea in that first half. I mean, irrespective of whether we've gone down to 10 men or not, something told me that Chelsea would have come out as a different team in the second half, just purely because of the nature of how a halftime team talk can inspire a team going into the second half of these games.
00:08:29
Tom Cairns
But if you're Manchester United and you're having a period of of a match where a gaggle of chances are coming your way, you've just simply got to take them. And we still haven't done that. And i say I still don't even feel like we're ready for this season yet.
Upcoming Fixtures and Managerial Pressure
00:08:44
Tom Cairns
Something tells me it. I mean, I know a lot of fans will be thinking, well, what on earth are you talking about, Tom? Well... I'm still not convinced by the way we are playing. him I know Amarin's system is still taking some time, but he hasn't got a lot of time.
00:08:58
Tom Cairns
These next two games against Brentford and Sunderland could define the future of Ruben Amarin. Because the first two games we've got back after the next international break, away at Liverpool and at home to Brighton, two teams that are not particularly fond by Manchester United at all.
00:09:18
Tom Cairns
Certainly not Brighton, because that's six league games in seven that they've won against us. And Liverpool, well, for obvious reasons, it's Liverpool. So we've got to go to Brentford and get a win against Sunderland as well and think that we've got a great chance of making a surge up the table before we play those two games of Liverpool and Brighton.
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, if we're talking about crunch time already for Amarim. That's how this season's going.
Second Half Dynamics and Chelsea's Resilience
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll talk a bit more about that and, of course, of the second half when we come back after this.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So second half gets underway, 10 versus 10. And from that point onwards, it kind of felt like Chelsea were in control, weirdly enough. Rhys James, down that right-hand side, was you know putting in some wicked crosses. And we kept getting away with it. De Ligt in the middle, though, was able to clear some of them away. He was great.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Masraoui on the right-hand side, he was putting in some decent crosses as well. but I felt like for both sides, there were there were clear opportunities for both of them to take a stranglehold in the game. And it just felt like neither of them could, especially in the second half. you United were in total control in the first.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as soon as they you know leveled up the playing field, if you like, 10 versus 10, it kind of felt like Chelsea were going to get back into this game.
00:11:40
Tom Cairns
It did. And I have to say, Rhys James did a really, really good job in how he handled the yeah the cross, which Shalabar got ahead of Onsou. I can't remember who actually took the corner, which their goal was disallowed for offside.
00:11:53
Tom Cairns
But I was amazed, considering the conditions on the pitch, that Chelsea were able to swing those crosses in because they were difficult for a United to and so clear. So Chelsea still had some form of threat in there. I know a lot of their fans will feel that Chelsea are on a downward spiral at the moment.
00:12:09
Tom Cairns
you know with the draw against Brentford the weekend before, the defeat to Bayern Munich, of which Harry Kane got two of those, much to the dismay of the Chelsea fans, just to add insult to injury. And of course, the defeat to Manchester United, a team that Chelsea fans will feel, well, this is a bang average Manchester United, said a team that belongs in the bottom six or bottom seven of the of the ah Premier League table.
Season Goals and European Ambitions
00:12:30
Tom Cairns
Chelsea have really got pick themselves up and they've got to ask themselves, what exactly are we going for this season? This is the side that won the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer. This is the side that won the Conference League last season, of a competition which they were expected to win it, considering the competition that was there last season.
00:12:47
Tom Cairns
What is Chelsea's goal for this season? They've got to ask themselves that. And it's the same applies to Manchester United. I think there was a meeting, or so fans are trying to make out to be, or some reports are trying to make out to be, that Ruben Amrind had a private meet-in.
00:13:02
Tom Cairns
with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and I think Sir Jim Ratcliffe made the objective clear for this season for him, that European football qualification is the absolute minimum. If we don't get it this season, I can't think that Ruben Amrim is the man to be sticking around. so Because if he cannot cope with this Manchester United team in only reaching the top half of the Premier League table when they've got no European football at all,
00:13:30
Tom Cairns
How is he going to fare when playing in Europe with the squad that's there, plus three or four more players that are coming in?
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It will be a question that's sort of on the bubble. I mean, would Conference League football be enough at that point? Is that the European competition qualification or do we need to be going into the Europa League for the board to be satisfied?
00:13:55
Tom Cairns
I wouldn't mind the Conference League, and I know some people think I'm being bonkers here, but the Conference League is pretty much United's level. Because the Europa League, there's a lot of brilliant opposition in that competition.
00:14:06
Tom Cairns
And I mean there are a lot of brilliant teams in there, whoever they are. But United, it just feels like still a stretch too far. And when you've got the Premier League alongside the Conference League, it sets United out a little bit better and it takes some of the discomfort and some of the distraction away from them.
00:14:25
Tom Cairns
Because we know that the teams where we are potentially going up against in the Conference League, if we do qualify for it, are not going to be like Manchester United's level. It'll be a competition that
Squad Depth and Transfer Market Strategy
00:14:34
Tom Cairns
United would be expected to win.
00:14:37
Tom Cairns
And it kind of gives that confidence boost going into each of the games. And it gives a chance to some of the youngsters as well, just as much as what we saw from Chelsea last season against teams like Noah, of which they won 8-0 against in the lead phase.
00:14:51
Tom Cairns
I wouldn't mind a season like that. if that If that is what it means, and Ramon's there, and we're still progressing in the Premier League table, because what you don't want, Kieran, It's qualifying for the Champions League and then the next season to be similar to what it was last season, where we've got no chance of winning the Champions League with the squad we've got.
00:15:10
Tom Cairns
And it ends up taking its toll on injuries, taking its toll on, you know, players of some degree that has an effect on the Premier League matches and other competitions.
00:15:22
Tom Cairns
In a way, I feel glad that we've got this kind of season now compared to what it would have been if we won the Europa League. Because I don't think we would have been ready for the Champions League. It would have been a huge distraction this season for United with the squad they've got.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sounds like what we need then is a competition that's just slightly below the Conference League. Now, I can't think of anybody, Tom, that would have made a competition that was one step lower than the Conference League.
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um By the way, that's a reference to a previous episode that Tom and I did.
00:15:57
Tom Cairns
yeah And I stand by that. um But the Conference League, if you think of it, you know if you United had won it, it would be a place in the Europa League, which, OK, it's not the Champions League that you qualify for, but at least it's still something to boost the club's morale. And it would help them commercially, in my opinion.
00:16:17
Tom Cairns
But you need to have players of depth in the squad that's going to help push United further towards finishing towards the top of the table. I don't know who United are looking for, potentially, for when the summer comes around. Because if you're thinking about buying players for this in the summer, you've got to start scouting now, if you haven't already done so, and start looking out for who you can get. I mean, they tried to get Carlos Balaba, which realistically wasn't going to happen because we didn't have the funds to pay that much, considering that we paid so much for Sesko, Cunha and Mbamo.
00:16:55
Tom Cairns
Can they get Belaber? There's no question to my mind that Brighton are going to put a huge price tag to his name of excess of 100 million pounds or how much call how or however much it's going to be.
Transfer Plans and Financial Constraints
00:17:09
Tom Cairns
You know, I didn't really need to think what needs improving. And if you were to ask me right now what really needs improving, it's in the middle of the park. because there's a lack of quality options in there. Ugarte hasn't impressed me so much this season.
00:17:23
Tom Cairns
Casemiro is running out of legs. Manu, we don't know for certain whether he's going to be at Manchester United next season, because he's been trying to get game time to give himself the best chance of playing for England in the World Cup.
00:17:36
Tom Cairns
United need, at the very minimum, two centre midfielders. Maybe even three, if they can help it. That's where the priority should be at. With Sainz and Le Mans... as pretty much a replacement for Onana.
00:17:50
Tom Cairns
We haven't seen what he can do yet. And I want to see what he can do in between the six. Will he start against Brentford? Realistically, no, but I'd like him to start to give himself a chance. I would save Bayon Deer for the games against Liverpool and Brighton, purely because he's been playing more this season than Onana has been.
00:18:11
Tom Cairns
And Le Mans.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I'll put it to you, Tom. Obviously, it's five Premier League games in, seven points so far.
Performance Evaluation and Future Expectations
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
That puts us, I believe, 11th place in the Premier League. So it's already an improvement.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what would you say, yeah considering the results we've had, we've we've had games against Arsenal, City and Chelsea in those five games. What's your sort of feelings after the first five? And what you know what are your expectations for the next 33?
00:18:45
Tom Cairns
Well, it's got to be top half. We can say that. think these next two games have only mentioned their must-win games, I think. Brentford and Sunderland. If we come away with less than that, I wouldn't be at all happy with it.
00:18:58
Tom Cairns
And then we've got to go to Liverpool, thinking that you know it could end up going one way or another. Having said that, Liverpool are team that leaves it late. if we can because If you think about Kieran, United in the last year or so have not been good at scoring goals in the first half. Chelsea was obviously an exception to it, but you United in general just haven't been very good at scoring goals in the first half of matches.
00:19:24
Tom Cairns
Cesco still hasn't got off in running, I don't think, even though he played a huge role in getting Robert Sanchez sent off, which obviously helped United on their way. But he needs to get a goal at some point.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I think it will come. i think it will. i think he's a very, he looks a lot more resilient. You know, he's celebrating with his teammates, even though and he's not the one on the goal sheet.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it will come. And I think now that he's starting games, that hopefully will just get more and more likely. Yeah. you know i would love it I think it will be a a huge roar of relief, but I hope it's not the roar of relief that we sort of had with Haaland. Haaland?
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hoyland? oh wish we had Haaland, but Hoyland. um Scrub that. Yeah, when we had the roar of him when he got his first goal last season and then it was just a big drought after that or it was very inconsistent. And that has a lot to do with service, which is still a bit of an issue in this Man United squad. I still don't think Cesco's getting a good bit of service. However, he's getting himself involved in the play.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's linking up well with the likes of Cunha and with Mbremo. I think it is only a matter of time before he gets a goal. It really is. So, ah yeah, we'll see what he can do. um Well, Tom, that's sort of that portion of it done.
Podcast Closing Remarks and Sponsorship
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's three points against Chelsea. Didn't expect that, but it's a very welcome surprise, that's for sure.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lovely. And with that then, it's time for Tweet of the Week, which we have remembered. It is a regular segment and I definitely don't need poking by the social media team. Tom, lay on us. What's your Tweet of the Week? What have you found?
00:21:15
Tom Cairns
It's time for a Simpsons one. Why not? So this one is from at EFL Simpsons. And the the tweet says, 10 men Chelsea lose to 10 men Man United Old Trafford. And basically the first picture is a man who is under the Chelsea guise saying, usually we don't beat Man United in front of Chelsea fans on the right hand side of the picture.
00:21:34
Tom Cairns
And the very next picture at the bottom saying, and this season shall be no exception. He shuts the door. And all the Chelsea fans are just sort of heads down like that.
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Simpsons and football. it's It's just a match made in heaven. It's always going to get a like from me Always a laugh from me. My tweet of the week comes from Cold Picks of Man United. It's at UTD snaps.
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a picture of Maserawi and Delict with the caption. Thank you. Bye in Munich. Simple as they've been phenomenal, those two, especially De Ligt. Masraoui now back from injury, looking pretty good as well.
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've been two shining lights. They really have. But there you go, Tom. Three points on the board with two must-win games coming up over the next couple of weeks. No pressure then, hey?
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
No pressure for someone that's, you know, yeah top of our fantasy football league, which I'm totally not jealous about, by the way.
00:22:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not fair.
00:22:33
Tom Cairns
is it's worth mentioning as well, Kieran, the fact that Cunha and Mount are back in the side after short spells. So I would probably say it's going to help give Ruben Amirim some options for the Brentford game, especially now that Casemiro's is suspended.
00:22:48
Tom Cairns
It might push Fernandes back into that centre of the, well, in the middle of the park, if you want to call it, ah alongside whoever it could be, whether it would be Manu or Yagate, whichever. But At least Kuna is back. And also Mount, which is going to add more options into that attacking line.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Tom, it's been a pleasure to to have you on the episode tonight and we'll see how Manchester United can do over the next coming weeks. Of course, we've got plenty of content for you coming up this week, so we'll see you for tomorrow's episode. it will be a wildcard Wednesday, so you really don't want to miss it.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, we can't bring you these episodes without our partners at Zencastle because here at the Global
Listener Engagement and Social Media Call to Action
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sports Podcast Network. We spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that can help you remove those ums and ahs or maybe sort of scrub any reference of Holland I made in this episode.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
With that, it's super easy to make a Star Trek podcast that sounds great and is also delivered efficiently. So if that sounds like that's up your street, make sure you check out the link in the description and check out Zencaster.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we big thank you to them for being our partners here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. If you want to start a conversation with us on social media, we would love to hear from you. Who did you think was the man of the match? from the Manchester United and Chelsea game, let us know. It's at GSPN Man United. We are on Twitter and X, on Instagram, on Facebook and on TikTok. So go and start a conversation with us. We'd love to hear from you.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also, if you're listening on Apple or Spotify and you want to watch our episodes, I'm glad to say you can. On YouTube, it's at GSPN Daily Man United podcast. It's so long, so you have to remember it.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until the next episode, I've been Kieran. Tom has been alongside. We'll talk to you as soon. In the meantime, take care of yourselves. We'll talk soon. Bye-bye.