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Episode 69 - Wildcard Wedneasday - Vive La France!
10 Plays18 days ago
On today’s episode, Kieran and Dan rate the best 10 French footballers to grace us at Old Trafford.
Did Dan take this seriously? How wrong did Kieran get his top 10? Let us know, and join our conversation on our socials:
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Transcript
Introduction & Episode Plan
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. With me, Kieran McGidley, I'm delighted to say I'm joined by the fabulous Mr. Daniel Dada Dan. Welcome along.
00:00:20
Daniel
Aha, all good.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good. Yeah, not too bad, not too bad. We'll get into your tough breaks for two strikers now score two games and two goals, I should say, since you decided you wanted to sell them.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But never mind, Dan. ave we We get one.
00:00:34
Daniel
ah I guess everyone could make mistakes there.
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We get one.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, absolutely. And we're prepared to make more mistakes today because Dan and I have decided what we're doing today is we're going to do another top 10, which is Wild Card Wednesday. We can do what we like. You can't stop us.
Controversial Picks & Rising Stars
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Today, we're ranking the top 10 best French players to play for Manchester United. Now, when you think about French players who might have actually come through the club, there's actually a lot fewer than you might have thought.
00:00:59
Daniel
yeah
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not a few of you might remember.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Dan and I are going to try and take you back into the past and the present ah for these signing sets.
00:01:04
Daniel
Yeah.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's go straight into it. Vive la France. Allez into Nouvelle-Disse. Who just about makes it into your top 10 there, Dan?
00:01:16
Daniel
um So this was going to be interesting. He hasn't played a game for us yet, but...
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hang on.
00:01:20
Daniel
so
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you about to say Leni, you're right.
00:01:25
Daniel
Letty Ora makes my top ten because I know how quality of a player he is.
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alpha. Alpha.
00:01:30
Daniel
I was just waiting for him to make his first. dave i know I looked at the list and there was a lot of people that unfortunately couldn't make my top ten. Even though they played more games, they couldn't be on my top ten list and I know that the quality of what.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then they've played a game, like at least a game more.
00:01:44
Daniel
And I understand that, but I know the quality that Lenny
Underappreciated Talents
00:01:49
Daniel
Ora possesses. i We saw it during preseason. I know what the time play he's going to be. So I had to play on my list somehow.
00:01:55
Daniel
There wasn't that many French players. Like we said, like we mentioned, there wasn't that many French players. I think it was probably like 13 or 14 French players. So making 10 out of those 14 would have been harder.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey
00:02:04
Daniel
And the ah the players I left off the list, I don't think they possess the level of talent that Lenny Ora has. ah
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I'm sure everyone appreciates a home. I've done this properly. And I'm going for Morgan Schneiderlin, who makes it into the top 10.
00:02:16
Daniel
Okay.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
A couple of trophies, actually. Looking back at Morgan Schneiderlin's career, he's got an FA Cup, lee ah wrote Europa League, and the League Cup in 2016 and 2017. So three trophies over that.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can count the Super Cup if you really want to in 16-17.
00:02:28
Daniel
Mhm.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, four trophies there to his name. Not too bad a player. I just think it was underutilized. And at the end of his tenure, it just seemed to there wasn't really a ah role for him in the team.
00:02:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he just sort of petered out, unfortunately.
00:02:43
Daniel
Yeah.
00:02:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah a decent talent. OK, moving on to number nine then. Now, Dan, have you took taken this seriously yet?
Impactful Players & Inconsistencies
00:02:53
Daniel
but Just like he, not number 10, but I had a snide in the number 9. I think, obviously, when he was at Southampton, I think it was Cauley, obviously, the got that got him the move to United.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who makes number nine for you?
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:02
Daniel
Like he said, he won a few trophy to Europe, the FA Cup, Lee Cup, even community shows as well. so um I think he was a quality player. Obviously, like you said, I think he was quite under US when he was at Manchester United. I feel like we it was a bit of a jump from obviously going from Southampton to jumping into that Manchester United team where there's a lot more expectation of you. Everyone's watching. You know, when you play it as a Manchester United player, everybody's looking at you. Every little thing you do is watched. The smallest of things could be talked about in the media. So it's a big jump for somebody to cover from Southampton to Manchester United, even though we have had a few players that have gone from Southampton to Manchester United. But yeah, I think
00:03:34
Daniel
I think he was a quality player but obviously he just wasn't he wasn't the best of what we saw when he was at Manchester United.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. And as you say, 261 appearances yourself at Southampton, ah playing over 20,000 minutes, which is incredible. And then to come to Manchester United, 47 appearances, a goal assist, I mean, a decent tally. to Well, I mean, a decent tally. Of course, he was a holding midfielder. We weren't expecting him to get the goals. So, yeah, I think that's fair number nine. My number nine, though, is one of those signings that, you know, the Hollywood signings. I've put Varan in there.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, hear me out, he did have a good season. His first season of Manchester United was really good. He helped us shore up the defence. But unfortunately, those injuries he had to succumb to. In fact, he succumbed to them at the start of this season.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He moved to Como on a free and got a few games in and and decided to retire from football entirely. I think he's now part of the yeah the Como backstaff there. I think that might have been the plan in the long run anyway.
00:04:29
Daniel
yeah
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think he was a very talented player. I just unfortunately think he could have been easily top three had he got how we got him 10 years earlier.
00:04:34
Daniel
Yeah.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, which is a shame. Anyway, moving on then to number eight, numero, I was gonna say the French word for eight and I've completely forgotten it, but we'll we'll bypass that for now.
Unique Styles & Keeper Rankings
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wheat, that was it.
00:04:48
Daniel
Wait. I have Fabian Barthes number eight, I think.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
What?
00:04:55
Daniel
Yeah.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
That far down?
00:04:57
Daniel
Yeah, ah obviously, it was a bit before my time. I'm a bit younger, so I can't attest to say how much of a quality player he was, but I knew that he was, from what I've done, from research, from what I've heard about him, he was kind of like, you know...
00:05:09
Daniel
the first goalkeeper, especially for Manchester United, that was, you know, this modern-day goalkeeper, a bit unorthodox, coming off his line, and, you know, not not really what we were seeing back in the day. So, and that in that regards, I haven't hired him, obviously, Schneider Lin, and Jorri, who has a play for us, but, um um like I said, i i wasn't I didn't really watch much of him. Obviously, the goalkeepers that I know from Manchester United, my time as a United fan, obviously, Peter Heyer and Van der Sar, now we've got Ohana nowadays, but,
00:05:37
Daniel
from what i've heard about him i think he is i don't know where he is right on my list is where you know here
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fabian Barthes at numeral wheat. that's That's quite something. You've really come out of the blocks here, Dan. No mercy. You're you're putting plays in the top ten of heaven to play for the club. I mean, take this seriously, Dan, eh? I've gone and put Anthony Martial at number eight, um started supremely, superbly. You know,
Contributions of Saha & Blanc
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'll always be remembered for that Martin Tyler line of commentary against Liverpool and a fantastic finish as well. So talented to be one of the best that he actually had a golden ball, ah golden a ballon d'or clause in his contract that we had to pay Monaco a bit extra. Should he win the ballon d'or?
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
we all know how unfortunately how that turned out eventually he became quite injury prone and yeah just nowhere near the player he could have been and and it was so frustrating so that's that's not
00:06:35
Daniel
Yeah, I tried to curve you on that one, yeah.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, just yeah, as as we've all seen, I think we've all mentioned on on the podcast at some point how frustrated we might have been with Anthony Marcy out. What a player he could have been. I mean, he just showed the early promise.
00:06:46
Daniel
Yeah.
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what makes it even tougher. So that's my numero wheat. Then ah jumping on to I think it's numero set. I've gone for actually, Dan, I'll let you go first again. who Who are you going to surprise me with this time?
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:06:59
Daniel
Oh, I've got your number eight as my number seven. So yeah, Anthony, you watch out at number seven.
00:07:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, OK.
00:07:04
Daniel
and Like I said, I'm obviously a bit younger as a United fan. So during when he first came to the club, I was quite, I was probably like 14, maybe 15.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:07:13
Daniel
So like him and Rashford when they first came through, which is like, these were like guys I was looking up to. Cause I would say I was, I was quite big on football. I was a quite a. a young fool playing myself as well. says its like Watching guys that that were young players coming through at Manchester United was kind of like, oh wow. that And the way he started, like you said, the Liverpool game, the mind my entire commentary was all like, wow, this guy is quality. laugh He came from France and everyone's thinking he's going to be the next one to read. And like you said, it kind of teetered out towards the end of the see the end of his um tenure here at United. But um and the level of a ability that he had was was ridiculous. He just didn't live up to what he should have been. So that's why obviously I haven't been further down my list. but
00:07:51
Daniel
I think yeah, he was still a quality player at times. Obviously those seasons were like the 1920 season, the COVID season where he scored 18 Premier League goals with no penalties. So like he still had quality season too. He just just wasn't to the level of what he should have been.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's why we've ranked him so low down is because he we were sort of basic on on what the player he could have been rather than the player where he was.
00:08:09
Daniel
Yeah.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that disappointment shows in our lowest rankings in the top 10. I've gone for seventh place Laurent Blanc. um I mean, we we got him at the twilight of his career.
00:08:17
Daniel
okay
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know I think he was 34 when he joined the club, maybe 35 actually, when he joined the club. Two seasons in the Premier League, got a Premier League title, made 40 odd appearances in the end.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
48 I think it was and yeah I still think he was ah an underrated player and more to the point that it's it's only a case of oh yeah Lauren Blong did play for Manchester United you sort of he's one of those players you think oh yeah he did actually but I mean started out as a sweeper I mean before sweeper keepers were a thing you had someone at the back there
00:08:44
Daniel
yeah
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
just ready to sweep up and ah stop any attack, any pace forwards going through. I think Laurent Blanc was so amazing for France, amazing you know for the likes of Inter and all the clubs before, but we're solely ranking them on how they did for Manchester United.
00:09:03
Daniel
Yeah fair, yeah
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Laurent Blanc, I think seventh is fair. And I think that's fair enough. that's that's That's four so far. We've got six to go and we'll have a bit more after this.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, here we go then, sixth place. Numogo sis for you there, Dan. Who've you got?
00:10:02
Daniel
Well, just like your seventh, I had Laurent Blanc number six on my list. Like you said, he joined ray and the other end very end of his career. He joined us from Intel on a free transfer. So that kind of tells you like, if Intel were willing to let him go on a free transfer kind of way
Pogba's Return & External Influences
00:10:19
Daniel
he was in his career. So like you said, he won a Premier League title when he was here. It wasn't the Laurent Blanc that we all know, the icon.
00:10:26
Daniel
when he joined Manchester United. However, he was still a decent player. I think, yeah, like he said, he won a Premier League title and I think about six on the list as well. It should be.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and one of those veterans you sign on are free to sort of help with the experience in the squad. And I don't mind those sort of signings. It's the signings that you sign them when they're past their best for a ridiculous amount, say 60 million, 55 million, or whatever it was, when they were right at the end of their career. So yeah, a decent signing, I think. And yeah, very worthy of that sixth place spot. um I've gone for Paul Pogba.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
on the same on the same realm of what a player he could have been. And this was one of those things where the argument comes in, was it a mistake that Ferguson let him go when he was in the youth you know prospect?
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it a mistake that he played Raphael one game at center defensive mid and stopped Paul Pulper actually playing in the game? but Sort of forced that move to Juventus, absolute world beater at Juventus.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We bring him back for, I think it was a world record fee at the time, 80 plus million.
00:11:22
Daniel
Yeah.
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he was good but then he became inconsistent and became a little bit lethargic on the pitch which again really frustrating because we knew what that boy could do he was a fantastic player when he was he put his mind to it and he in that rich vein of form he was absolutely unplayable his long shots were a dream.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you used to load up FIFA and play as Paul Pogba and those long shots, they were heading in straight to the back of the deck all day, every day.
00:11:52
Daniel
instance
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think, yeah, ah much the same as Anthony Marciel, it was frustrating that he never reached that peak from Manchester United that we all know he should have we should have reached.
00:12:02
Daniel
yeah
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, it's it's a frustrating one. It is a frustrating one. I will not let this go. um But there we go. Right, but we're are about to break into the top five down here. I'm going to go first because I'm very eager about this one.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've gone for Michal Silvestre, serial winner at the club, really. ah Four Champions Leagues, French Champions Leagues, four Premier Leagues, I should say. It would have been remarkable if you won four Champions Leagues, just the one Champions League, an f FA Cup,
00:12:28
Daniel
Right.
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lee Cup and of course the Super Cup as well, the Community Trophy if you like, and an Intercontinental Cup winner in 1999, which is your equivalent of the UEFA Super Cup now. I mean, yeah, 361 appearances for the club, really good left-back. And i yeah, I highly rate him you a decent amount of assists as well for a time in the period where the full-back wasn't really expected to be part of the attacking play. They were really supposed to lock down the right- I like to throw Mikael Sylvester.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lock down that right hand side of the of the attacking phase.
00:13:00
Daniel
Yeah, see, you're gonna hate me here.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no. what are you Are you about to pick a player who's never played for the club again?
00:13:05
Daniel
It's not that. I've accidentally left them off my list.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK.
00:13:10
Daniel
So now that I've looked at my list, I've kind
Defensive Icons & Versatility
00:13:13
Daniel
of looked at it as that. That makes sense. I was confused on why I had to pick Euro, and now it's kind of making sense why Euro's on my list. So yeah, he would have been on my list.
00:13:22
Daniel
However, I agree with everything. He said he was a serial winner, and like you said,
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:13:27
Daniel
Again, more of the, like just like Barfess, he was more of a modern that more modern that modern day player for his um time period.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and i Yeah, it was just a joy, ah so I would say, to watch him play. I sort of look back at highlights now, because that was a little bit before my time, which is really tough to say, but of what I did see, and you know you don't play 361 games for right Sir Alex Ferguson if you're not good enough.
00:13:41
Daniel
Yeah.
00:13:45
Daniel
Yeah.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's put it that way.
00:13:52
Daniel
Yeah.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, definitely great player, and I think well-deserved of ah of a place in top five. who Who have you picked for top five then, Dan?
00:13:59
Daniel
In fifth, I have Louis Saha.
00:14:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:02
Daniel
Yeah, I think he was quality. As much as he wasn't, he may not have been a star at the time. I think as a football player, that guy was quality. He was obviously here, but I saw him more at Everton as well when I was a bit younger.
00:14:15
Daniel
When I used to watch Match of the Day and try to keep up with all the games and I could see the guy, he was a quality footballer. That is my type of footballer. He was a quality footballer. I think around fifth on my list is where I think it was perfect for him.
00:14:29
Daniel
Again, i can when i only you when I talk about my list, you're gonna realize, yes, I'm a lot younger as a United fans, so you're gonna see where, and I'll give you but a bit of like background on where my picks come from, so yeah. But yeah, I think Faith was about about right where she'll be on my list, yeah.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's fair. I mean, I'll mention him a bit later. I'll go back into a bit more detail about him later because as you probably might have guessed down, he might be slightly higher up on my list.
00:14:48
Daniel
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Let's go fourth place then. ah he We've mentioned him already. Dan's mentioned him already. Fabian Bartez. ah You know, I think he was a keeper that was maybe a bit before his time, you know, before, as you said, starting to redefine what a keeper was.
00:15:00
Daniel
ah yeah
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, one of the one of the famous was, and I honestly forget which team it was against. And it really frustrates me. But it's one where the opposition are running in behind and the offside trap has been played.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not worked. So Fabian Bartis just stands there with his hand in the air. watching the attacker and watching the fourth official, just standing with his arm in the air nonchalantly. And it's only until the last second when the shot is about to be played that he then goes and and dives for it.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he leaves it as late as possible. The ball goes past him into the back of the net. The goal stands. But I mean, it was it was one of those mind game things where Fabian was like, well, I mean, look, you're past the defense. I'm going to try and catch you out here, make you stop playing.
00:15:46
Daniel
since citizen Yeah Yeah
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Unfortunately, it didn't work. But I think a good player, I think, no I don't think he's going to rank as one of the best keepers for Manchester United, but certainly he he had his time. he's He's had his period here and and I loved him for it. you know He's not, as we've said, we're legends of the club for goalkeepers wise. Fabien Bartheer sort of breaks the mold. He's sort of like what Anana has evolved into. And as you say, an eccentric keeper that was quite rare for the time. You normally had keepers stay on the line and defend the line or make themselves big.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Bartes was maybe one of those keepers that tried to change that and buck the trend and he wasn't the tallest keeper either I think he was just about six foot he might have even been shorter than that and modern-day you don't see many keepers shorter than six foot one six foot two now so that would be Bartes just misses out on my top three um but Dan who's your fourth really okay
00:16:24
Daniel
Yeah.
00:16:38
Daniel
Oh, in the fourth. I have Raphael around fourth. Um, yeah, I think, I think, and like you said, if you will probably join us 10 years late, um, uh, earlier, you might've been in your top three.
00:16:50
Daniel
However, even at Real Madrid, he had never been this guy that you're going to see 30 games a season from here. For Manu, he averaged about 23 Premier League games a season. And at Madrid, that's what he would do. He would give you 26, 27. But the difference is between Madrid and United is that Madrid had players that can come in from, like, they had, obviously they had Ramos, they had Pepe. They had all these players that, and I feel like Manu kind of, we didn't have, you know, the ability to rotate with, obviously, I'm not sure how you feel about Maguire, but at that time, Maguire wasn't having the best period playing the best period of football. um I've never really been a big fan of Lindelof. So even at that, I don't think he's always had he had the best partners. And when he did have a group partners and like Lissandra Martinez, we saw it. It was solid. They were a solid partnership, albeit he did have injury issues, but yeah, he would give us 23 Premier League games, 24 minutes. I just feel like we needed center backs where they were able to rotate with him where we need some, you need to kind of manage certain players that you need to know what type of player they are.
00:17:42
Daniel
and Varan is one of those players where he he is, like ah I see him more like a luxury centre back where you need to be able to manage how you play him. And I feel like we just didn't have the the the ability to manage how we played him. I feel like there was times where he was having to play, you know, six, seven games in a row and then you'll then you'll get injured and you'll be confused at, oh, why is Varan getting injured? But I think when he did play, he was quality. Every time I watched him play, I think he was quality.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, fourth is high. I will say that, but I agree with you.
00:18:09
Daniel
Mm hmm.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he was a stalwart in the team when he first arrived. And unfortunately, he was, you know, succumbing to injuries more and more. But yeah, no, all fair points. And yeah, those are our players that are just missing out on our top three.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
When we come back, it's the ones we've all been waiting for. Who makes our podium?
00:18:23
Daniel
says
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who makes our top three there?
Top Three French Legends
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back after this.
00:18:37
Daniel
The global sports podcast network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages. It's one of your stop shots for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Top three time. Numero trois. Dan, take it away.
00:19:07
Daniel
They're going to hate me again. like Obviously, i can from my list, I can kind of have a basis of where your top three went.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
i what What have you done this time?
00:19:16
Daniel
And and you had this guy a bit further down your list because of how he didn't perform to where he should have probably been. But yeah, further, I have Paul Pogba at I just, when that first season where you joined Andrzej Mourinho, he was our top goalscorer, our top assist, he was our top player in every single statistic, but that any every single statistic you could possibly be in, he was our top player. Although, you know, further down the line, and he wasn't the most consistent, you obviously will see games where, like, like I'm glad they would always say Pogba on his day, Pogba on his day, Pogba on his day. And it was always like, when is Pogba gonna be Pogba for this season? When is it gonna be Pogba for this next two seasons? When is it gonna be Pogba consistently? However, I think purely as a footballer, even when he was at United, wouldn't even obviously the consistency was better probably you better at Juventus than it was at United. However, as a footballer, his footballing ability, I think, people may not agree with me, but I think this is one of the best methods. I don't like to use the word on his day, but
00:20:12
Daniel
When he was, when when we would when we would watch football, I think that guy, his talent levels was one of the best midfielders I've ever seen in my life. Like with my own two yards, he's one of the best, most talented footballers I have ever seen. So that's why I have him so high on his list. He may not have won the trophies that others and may have won, but his talent level, even though it wasn't always shown at the highest or to the most consistent basis, I think there was times where it was taken out of regard. I feel like there was, we also as Manchester United didn't give him the best to succeed with. Popo is not a 6 at the end of the day. And when he first came to United, that's what they tried to do. They tried to play him as a 6. He's not a 6. We've seen it at France. When we watched him at France, even during his tenure at United, when he was playing for France, we was always like, oh, why is Popo so consistent from France? But then when we watched him at United, he's not as consistent. It was because he was playing in his favorite position. He was playing with N'Golo Kante next to him. He was able to do all the running for him. And then when he gets to United, you want Popo to do all the running. And that's just not his game. His game is affecting
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
but on his day.
00:21:10
Daniel
effecting the play in Final Four pretty much.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dan, you've never been so passionate. I love it.
00:21:15
Daniel
so
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I love it. yeah We've unlocked something in you tonight. No, it's ah no fair fair enough. I mean, yeah, I'm very naturally gifted and naturally talented player, oozing that talent all around him.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I've, as you say, I've ranked him lower because I think I'm disappointed by the fact he never reached that potential.
00:21:31
Daniel
Yeah.
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're right, you know, there are outside factors, external factors as to why he may not have reached his abilities, you know, being played at the wrong position. You're absolutely right, though. Pogba and Mourinho match made in heaven.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He played his best football on the Mourinho.
00:21:43
Daniel
Yeah, and even at that, we even if we look at that season, the I think the reason why he did play his best was because we had Matych.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's without a doubt.
00:21:50
Daniel
Matych was able to play behind Pogba and that, albeit Matych was at the latter stages of his career, but Matych was still a quality player, I think. like And that's why he played his best football. And then after that, we tried to play Pogba deeper because ah obviously Matych didn't have the legs no more and it just it didn't work out no more.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, it's it's all fair. I mean, yeah, good to make sure top three, though. ah in My top three, he's already been mentioned by yourself, Louisa.
00:22:15
Daniel
yeah yeah i was lost
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, look, I said it before, almost averaging a goal every other game. One hundred and twenty four, sorry, every three games, I should say, one hundred and twenty four appearances for Manchester United, forty two goals. I mean,
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I'm really jealous of those players that make football look easy. And Louis Sarha was one of those. He just made it look easy. He enjoyed himself out on the pitch. He played with a smile.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah absolutely brilliant.
00:22:42
Daniel
Yeah. Yeah, I was lost.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely brilliant to watch. Loved him. And um maybe 20 caps for France, four goals. Maybe even underused underutilized for France. um But yeah, I think for for a guy who's just played for Fulham and Everton are in between as well,
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He showed he had the class, so he had the ability, backed up on the pitch as well. And yeah, I'm very happy to say he made my top three.
00:23:07
Daniel
Mm-hmm.
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I'm questioning. Yeah, yeah we've mentioned Paul Pogba, we've mentioned Luis Saha. Have I got it wrong? No, I'm sticking with it.
00:23:15
Daniel
Shh, shh, shh.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Come at me on social media, GSPM Man United. Let us know how wrong we got it, which we're now closing in now on the top two. And this there are players we haven't mentioned yet, Dan.
00:23:23
Daniel
And now, yeah, I think we have to the same talk to you here.
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm assuming here they come. We might have the same top two, but I'm going to let you go first for number two.
00:23:32
Daniel
But yeah, second I have, uh, Evra.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's what I had.
00:23:35
Daniel
Yeah.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, thank goodness.
00:23:37
Daniel
so I know, I know I'm young, but I'm not that young.
00:23:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
who We love this game.
00:23:41
Daniel
But yeah, I think, I think, yeah, Apache's Evra was a, is a, is a guaranteed second, I think. on playing under um what five Premier Leagues, one Champions League. He was just a solid left-back at the end of the day. He was a lockdown left-back. He would get forward. He just he just did everything that he needed. I think he was a perfect player for our Sylix and Sylix loved him. He loved Sylix, so yeah.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no match made in heaven. Absolutely. I mean, let's face it, just absolute stalwart of that Premier League team. You know, you think of the, vi you know, you think of the Sir Alex Ferguson days and one of the first players that comes to mind is Patrice Ever.
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he was a, he was a full back for goodness sake. You know, you think of, well, you think of the Wayne Rudy's and the Christiana Ronaldo's, but at some point in the conversation, someone's going to say Evera and everyone's going to be like, yes, absolutely Evera.
00:24:26
Daniel
Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're absolutely right. No, a wonderful player, wonderful to watch. And someone who loved the game and still loves the game today.
00:24:34
Daniel
who Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It showed on the pitch, it shows now. And yeah, playing with his heart on his sleeve, wonderful player, wonderful defender. And yes, such the reason as to why we had so many so much success in that time.
00:24:47
Daniel
Yeah.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm very happy to put him at numero de de, which means numero a.
00:24:55
Daniel
i think it can ah I think it can only be one player.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could only be the king, couldn't it? Could only be the king, Eric Cantona. I mean, if I said Louisaar made look football look easy, Eric Cantona looked like he was playing ah youth football against youth players the whole time.
00:25:02
Daniel
Yeah.
00:25:11
Daniel
so
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, now this is where we have to, we have to butt in here because a lot of modern football is about modern day stats. And, you know, you've got the Ronaldo Messi who scores more goals and you've got Holland who's scoring, you know, at at the rate, you know, a goal a game, which is phenomenal, by the way.
00:25:19
Daniel
Yeah.
00:25:22
Daniel
yeah
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's something different about, you know, the 90s of Eric Cantona playing with the collar up and obviously getting that chip over the keeper and just looking around as if to say, of course, I was going to score that.
00:25:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyone ever doubt me? Now, let's not be let's be honest. He had his pitfalls, you know, the the incident at Crystal Palace where he correctly kicked a fan, let his temper get the better of him and and retired way too.
00:25:47
Daniel
Yeah.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he retired when he was twenty nine, I think.
00:25:54
Daniel
29 here.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so retired way too early. But, oh, what a player. What a player. Unbelievable.
00:26:02
Daniel
Yeah, just like you said, I agree. I think you will have called you a player. From what I've watched the highlights, like I said, I'm young. I was born in the 2000s, so I didn't get to watch um I didn't get to watch him at all, let alone much of him. But yeah, I did watch highlights and all of that stuff. And even to say that, as much as stats weren't as important in the 90s as they are in the 2010s and 2020s, he still statistically was great. I think he had like 144 goals assists and 108 games for United. So like it's not like he he didn't have the statistics to back up the ability. I think he had he had a bit of both. He had the the stats and he had the ability. And ah think um I think, what, did he win the league with Leeds as well before he came to United?
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
he certainly had his time in Leeds, which sort of makes it even better to really, doesn't it?
00:26:42
Daniel
Yeah, ah so I think.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
The fact that we got him away from Leeds and that was that. We have to we have to correct ourselves. He retired when he was 30, not 29, but even so, I mean, what a player.
00:26:48
Daniel
Yeah.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Total appearances for Manchester had 143, 64 goals. And even after his retirement, went to play for the French national team in beach football. what What that man couldn't do?
00:27:02
Daniel
Wow.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. um But Dan, that's our top 10.
00:27:05
Daniel
Yeah.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would say top 10 in French. I just don't know the word top. But um what do we think?
00:27:14
Daniel
I think, yeah, like maybe, obviously, I missed out a player on my list and I had you on my list. He doesn't play the game for us, yeah, I know.
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I wonder that.
00:27:21
Daniel
But, yeah, but...
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I did wonder that, Dan. You might not live that down, let's be honest. But there we go. Well, let us know on social medias, at GSP and Man United, on the likes of X, on TikTok, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do find us along. Do join the conversation. How wrong did we get it? Did Dan take this seriously, putting Lenny Ora at number 10? Perhaps I didn't take it seriously, but I bet in Paul Pulper at number six, what on earth was I thinking?
00:27:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let us know.
00:27:45
Daniel
so
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dan, it's been an absolute pleasure ah to share the microphone with you.
00:27:48
Daniel
No problem. Thank you for having me.
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, thanks for joining us. And for you at home, wherever you're listening and wherever you're watching, make sure you have a great rest of the day. Allez with your day. That's probably not a French word or a French saying. Anyway, I'll leave the French behind. Thank you for so much for listening. We'll see you tomorrow for tomorrow's episode. Until then, take care. Have a great rest of the day.