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Daily Manchester United - Episode 103 - Wilcard Wednesday - Back to the Past
10 Plays25 days ago
Show Notes
Kieran and Sam book a return flight to the past. Get you rose-tinted glasses oput and join us on our journey!
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Transcript
Welcome and Reminiscing Manchester United's Glory Days
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. Let's do what we do best and look at the past and reminisce. Ah, wasn't everything so nice back then, eh? Absolutely. Yes, let's do that even more. My name is Kieran McGinley, and I'm delighted to say on this Wildcard Wednesday, I'm joined by the fantastic Mr. Sam Brady. Sam, how are you this evening?
00:00:29
Sam Brady
Yeah, I'm good. I'm very good. um I know maybe some rival fans might hate this episode because it's United fans are rivaling on the past. But hey, it's a wild call Wednesday, so we get to choose what what we talk about. And yeah, I mean, I think enough's been said about the result on the weekend. So let's have maybe a bit bit of positivity midweek.
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
A bit of positivity. That's all what we all need at this point after that Palace result. We're seeing the FA Cup coming up on Friday. Brace yourselves because Sam and I have been discussing. There's a bit of an age gap between us. About five years, it's fair to say, Sam. And we were discussing before we hit the record button.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
What were the first seasons you properly remember?
First Football Memories and Player Transfers
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I was a lad who was raised on motorsport first. And so football took a bit of a backseat for me. It's weird how we got into supporting Manchester in the first place. But just as King Eric once said, you can change everything about your life, your car, your wife, your house, but you can never change your football club. And that's a mantra I've stuck by. So in terms of my first footballing memories, it's probably linked to FIFA 10. So you're looking at the 0-9-10, maybe 2010-11 period.
00:01:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's a stacked team. That's the team that's maybe to getting towards the twilight of the season. But I mean, I'm reading off some names here. David De Gea, he's absolute. ah Well, he wasn't at his prime just yet, but he was getting there. And the boy, was he on fire. I mean, you had Rafael and Patrice Evra down the fallback options. Phil Jones and Ferdinand teaming up together.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, that's 2012-13. We'll come on to that later. Van der Sarringol in 2010-11. Gary Neville in, I believe, was his final season before he ran past.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's when he decided that was it. He was hanging up the boots that season. Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown making a bit part up here, isn't he? And even Michael Owen turning up for the books at Manchester United, calls the style of the Liverpool fans.
00:02:22
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We weren't sure about him. at that point, but it's okay because he scored in the Manchester Derby and that's all that matters. so He scored the winner in the, I think it was the sixth minute of four righted minutes or something like that.
00:02:33
Sam Brady
yeah
00:02:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fergie time is never real, don't worry about it.
00:02:37
Sam Brady
Yeah I mean that season yeah we we were speaking about it before we obviously hit record obviously that season got to the Champions League final like once again against that Barcelona team who were utterly unreal probably the greatest in my opinion the greatest team in football history but I mean our team was incredible as well obviously losing losing Ronaldo, it was always going to be, I mean, how do we replace him? Would it be difficult? But I mean, as Sir Alex does, what he what he does best, I mean, he rebuilt a new team with without CR7, without arguably at the time the best player in the world and and gets to another Champions League final. um Yeah. And I mean, I mean, yeah, not not a bad ah first season to have to have your your first memories here.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not really. Yeah, as I say, I do remember Ronaldo being sold in 09 and I remember, you know, that 80 million transfer was a world record fee. Yeah, thanks to Barcelona and Neymar for coming along and absolutely obliterating that one.
00:03:41
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, actually, it wasn't Barcelona, it was PSG's fault. There you go, PSG.
00:03:46
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
They set a ridiculously high release clause. they get No one would ever pay for this and PSG came along and said, oh, we'll pay for it. That's all right.
00:03:53
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, what? But yeah, no, that was that was when the 80 million was madness that you could buy a Ronaldo with 80 million, 80 million, five years ago, four or five years ago, managed to get you the highest paid or the highest transfer fee for a defender in the Premier League for Tarry Maguire.
00:04:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I mean, that's not the player's fault.
00:04:11
Sam Brady
Yes.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not having a bash at the player. I'm just saying that inflation works in mysterious ways that now 80 million can buy you a lot less.
Legendary Seasons and Controversial Matches
00:04:22
Sam Brady
Yeah I mean it is crazy to think about it to think you could literally buy the best player in the world who just won the Ballon d'Or for 80 million and we got Harry Maguire and Anthony for the exact same price and I mean we got we paid the same price 80 million for an Anthony who was a for for playing for us for what two seasons so yeah I mean it's crazy I mean you you mentioned there your first season but on sort of Ronaldo and and and him being the best player in the world my like start of my memories
00:04:59
Sam Brady
bits not fully but bits and this is probably going to obviously expose a little bit of our age but yeah mine was the 07-08 season actually when of course we won the the Premier League and the Champions League um in Moscow and yeah I was what six years old when when that season was going on and
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh oh.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's terrible.
00:05:20
Sam Brady
I just remember it was incredible. We had the game in the Champions League, I believe that season against Arsenal, away at the Emirates when Ronaldo scored that absolute banging free kick from like 40 yards out, past Amouni in the blue kit, I believe that that was the season. ah we We beat Barcelona in the semi-finals, Scholes absolute a belter from like 25 yards out to get us through to the final.
00:05:46
Sam Brady
And then ah on ah on a wet, absolutely horrendous ah weather conditions in Moscow, ah played played Chelsea, who obviously we were challenging for the the league at that point against. and And fair play to Chelsea. They had an unreal team as well with Lampard and Drogba and Balak.
00:06:05
Sam Brady
I mean but our team going back and looking at our team then it's just unbelievable. I mean Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney, Ferdinand, Vidic, van der Sar and I mean again fair play to Chelsea. they they they um They held their own in terms of it was ah it was a good game for the neutral obviously Ronaldo with the header putting his 1-0 up And then there goes sort of Lampard, Lampard exposed a van south slip, but yeah, went into penalties.
00:06:35
Sam Brady
um And yeah, we all know what happened. Amazing night for us. ah Coincidentally, Ronaldo actually missed his penalty in that penalty shoot out.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did?
00:06:43
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, that that's that's the that was where sort of my first memories as a United fan like sort of comes from when I was six years old, watching that. And I was like, can't get any better than
Ferguson's Lasting Impact and Squad Transition
00:06:54
Sam Brady
this. This is I mean, I've chosen I've chose the right team to support here because they're winning everything.
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it it it felt good, didn't it it? It felt like, you know, turning up to school and it was you had all the Manchester United gear and it was like, everyone hated you because your team was so good and you made that your entire personality at one point.
00:07:09
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:07:11
Sam Brady
yeah
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I still remember the days when Nanny got sent off in the Champions League for a foul that wasn't a foul. Do you remember that? That was years ago.
00:07:21
Sam Brady
When was that?
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm trying to put...
00:07:22
Sam Brady
um
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is... That must be... That was against Real Madrid because it was when Mourinho was in charge and he said at the time, very famous for saying, the better team lost because Real Madrid went on to win that game after signing off.
00:07:23
Sam Brady
and the
00:07:33
Sam Brady
Yeah, and ronaldo did play for Madrid in that game?
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah did the He Thanks for reminding me, Sam.
00:07:37
Sam Brady
Yeah, he scored, didn't he? Old Trafford. Yeah, I yeah yeah um remember that, yeah.
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, thanks for that.
00:07:43
Sam Brady
um
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might have been 2013, I want to say.
00:07:46
Sam Brady
Yeah, it was a bit later.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Only 2013.
00:07:49
Sam Brady
That was when Fergie had left as well, wasn't it? Or might it be and it might have been like his last season like and I can remember our team, I don't think it was that great.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i'm trying to i'm trying to
00:08:01
Sam Brady
I mean, as I said, like, I remember bits of the 07-08 season, but I would say my full, like, as a season length, what I can properly remember is actually Fergie's last season, is the 12-13 season, um because I just remember
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm trying to.
00:08:19
Sam Brady
Because obviously back then there was no Fabrizio, Romano, there was no none of these transfer rooms going about. So I remember but I was on holiday in Italy. I would have been what, like 10 years old, something like this.
00:08:30
Sam Brady
And I remember me and my brother got a newspaper in the morning. And that's when that's when we first heard that Van Persie had signed for United on the back page of the newspaper.
00:08:41
Sam Brady
None of this Fabrizio spoiling it for us to eat in advance or anything. Proper football back then. there But yeah,
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't say proper football, come on Sam, you're better than that, you're better than that, but I see what you mean.
00:08:53
Sam Brady
i yeah I loved it when like transfers weren't ruined like a week before.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:58
Sam Brady
I loved it when you just woke up in the morning and found out, boom, yeah your your club had signed this player, or boom, your player had left. You know what I mean? Because at that time, Van Persing was probably the best striker in the league, if not in the world.
00:09:12
Sam Brady
And to wake up and be like, oh, we' we've just whacked out like however much it was, don't you think it was that much now? Don't quote me on this, but I feel like
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I will.
00:09:22
Sam Brady
I feel like it might have been around 30 million something like this for for Van Persie at that time. I was like, that's crazy. Well, obviously 30 million back then was a lot of money. but um Yeah I mean signed him and obviously that was the season after the Aguero Man City season so I mean Van Persie is basically exactly what we needed at that time and to be honest it was Fergie's last season our squad wasn't great so there was obviously talk of are like are we going to win another league or whatever and to do what we did and in that season and Van Persie that season was just unbelievable.
Mourinho's Tenure: Success and Challenges
00:10:00
Sam Brady
I remember
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Foley against Villa.
00:10:03
Sam Brady
Yeah the volley against Villa um that but when it was basically that confirmed that we won the league. I remember I was going to say on his he scored on his debut I believe against Fulham like a half volley on the edge of the box. He scored a hat-trick away at Southampton I remember because that Southampton team were pretty decent. They had the likes of Schneiderlin, Lambert I think, Mane maybe,
00:10:28
Sam Brady
and they went 2-0 up, I remember this game at St Mary's and then we came back to win 3-2, Van Persie, Hartrick. It was in the white kit, I don't know if you remember, it was like fully white with like the red, just the red lining.
00:10:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh yes the red and black yeah i remember it very well indeed yes
00:10:42
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah, yeah. and yeah and Van Persie that season was just unbelievable. um ah don't that That's why I say that might have been the season we played around with Drayden in the Champions League, maybe, because I don't remember that season, us going far in the Champions League, so it might have been that, but I just remember the league.
00:11:02
Sam Brady
Fergie's obviously last season, his last ever game i mean against West Brom, 5-5, Lukaku Hatrić. I mean, who would have fought it now, Lukaku?
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, we've got plenty more to reminisce about, Sam.
00:11:12
Sam Brady
Dukaku went on to eventually play for us and then now he's at Napoli 5-5. I just remember some crazy crazy matches in in that season. so yeah i mean
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, before we get into really reminiscing even more than we have now, we'll have a quick row from our sponsors.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:12:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got to be careful that this doesn't turn into reminiscing about how transfer windows used to be.
00:12:16
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But with Fabrizio Romano here, you will never ever get a transfer saga like Michael Essien ever again.
00:12:22
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You will never get it again, will you? Because you you won't have him turning up for a Manchester United press conference and then all of a sudden he's in a Chelsea show. Hang on. Roman's on the phone, he's signed for Chelsea.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, what are what a bizarre time. mean Fantastic play at Essien. Not to sort of harp on about a Chelsea player, but I think we all know the goal I'm talking about, the volley, the the sort of outside of the foot of volley.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a goal. I will always put that down as one of the best goals in the Premier League, but look, we're not here to talk about Chelsea players.
00:12:50
Sam Brady
yeah
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could have talked about you, Michael, if you were a United player. but we'll leave it there. um Yeah, we were talking about how, you know, it's been great to sort of reminisce, but obviously things come with ah with a bit of a price, you know, higher the higher the prior, the bigger the prior, the harder the fall.
00:13:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And no case is stronger than when Ferguson retired.
00:13:14
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And David Moyes was hand selected to take the reigns of Manchester United. Looking back 11, was it maybe 11, 12 years ago now? I don't think Moyes was given the full backing, not only of the board, but he took over an aging side. As you've already mentioned, when we talk about the 2012-13 season, this was a side that had a lot of talent, but a lot of talent that was turning towards veteran status. You know you still had Rio Ferdinand in the back line there. You had Dimitar Berbatov, who didn't really play and obviously was sold later on.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you even had Nemanja Viddich. I mean, what a play.
00:13:59
Sam Brady
Yep.
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was Karak.
Post-Ferguson Managerial Struggles
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was used quite a lot in that 2012-13 season, but he was starting to get towards the end of his time at Manchester United. Paul Scholes brought back specifically to help win the title, ah made eight appearances and a further eight from the bench, so 16 in total. So you kind of think there that maybe Ferguson took over a side that needed a bit of a rebuild, something that Ferguson was really, really good at. And it was lacking that experience in really turning over a side, which is what Ferguson had done for the last 20 odd years.
00:14:35
Sam Brady
Yeah I mean it's ironic really we've we've hopped on about it this season about players not giving their all and maybe them are having the individual quality but not putting in the effort and not and not sort of playing for the shirt when you actually look at Fergie's last season like really okay there's there's in some individuals there's there's quality there but as you've already mentioned that the players that had quality before were aging like gigs was still there as well we didn't mention he was 39 as you mentioned skulls coming out of retirement i mean when would that happen nowadays it just wouldn't
00:15:11
Sam Brady
So yeah, it was an age it was age in place with quality and then it was youngsters really, to be honest, that were just on the peripherals. I mean, you had like Tom Cleverly and Fabio and Raphael and you know, you had a mixture of veterans who knew weren't going to be in the squad for much longer and youngsters coming through and then obviously Van Persie, one of the greatest strikers in the league. so Yeah, for Moyes to come in when he did and obviously the pressure and expectation of taking over from Sir Alex and and what a job he did with the club. I think he was always set up to fail really. I think we look back now and
00:15:57
Sam Brady
we we look back and do go Fergie basically got out at the right time in terms of that squad probably weren't going to win ah another league and there was a massive rebuild to be done. it wasn't It wasn't the same as maybe if you compare it now to Arnie's slot at Liverpool taking over the reins from Klopp and the legacy he left at Liverpool whereas actually Klopp left on a slot with a championship winning squad.
00:16:24
Sam Brady
They only won the league a couple of seasons ago. Whereas, yeah, you could say that i get about Mois, but really, you could say that on the base level. But if you actually dived into our squad and and the individuals we sold that summer or who retired, then it was always going to be be hard for Mois.
00:16:42
Sam Brady
And look, should we have given him more time?
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:47
Sam Brady
I'm not too sure just because of how bad it it it got. But Any anyone in Moises shoes shoes would the struggle to be honest, so Yeah
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's a good point. You know, it was a tough act to follow. One of you the the English Premier League's greatest ever managers, you know, especially in the modern area we're talking about here, one of the greatest You know, to to follow that act is is impossible.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is impossible. And I think it's interesting you raise the point of comparing Ferguson, Ferguson having to leave off ah for Moyse, Moyse having to take over and Slott taking over from Klopp.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think those are two different scenarios because you you have Klopp, who is going to be always loved and adored in Liverpool.
00:17:27
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah.
00:17:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I have to say, very jealous when Klopp was announced to be Liverpool manager. Very, very jealous. Always wanted Klopp at the Manchester United. As soon as I saw that move, I thought, well, that's never happening, is it?
00:17:41
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
That will never happen. That dream dies here. um And what Klopp did to sort of change that around to a team that was, you know, round about the Europa League and Champions League Chasing Club to actually winning a Premier League, winning a Champions League as well.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you can call it a Covid Cup if you want. They won the Premier League. Any team would be saying they won the Premier League at that.
00:18:01
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah they didn't and they didn't just win one Champions League as well. They got to they won one Champions League, but got to, what, two other finals. So the ah as you mentioned, the turnaround the clock did was incredible to that team. but
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think as well what we've got to remember is slot yes he's taken over a great side but it's not without its pitfalls there are a lot of players there that are on the last year of their contract and Sal has already said in the media that he's going to move on and he wants to move on he he wants a new challenge so it's now it's coming into part two of the problem where you've now got to replace those veteran players and that is a very difficult thing to do when you're new and when you're new in town and you've got to leave a mark on your own system but
00:18:26
Sam Brady
yeah
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean that's another case for another day because we'll talk about and when we come back we'll talk about probably our favourite season post-Ferguson and there is such a thing I promise you that Sam and I have picked them out but we'll be back to talk about them after this message.
Favorite Post-Ferguson Seasons and Highlights
00:19:10
Sam Brady
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 your one-stop shop for your daily football and fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, post Ferguson, hey, what a time. And it's plenty of managers that have been and gone at Manchester United. You know, you've got David Moyes, Louis van Gogh, Jose Mourinho. I mean, I mean, all of them great managers in their own right. Jose Mourinho.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
a manager who needs no introduction. and We've also had 10 Hagen at period as well. We had that Ralph Ragnick sort of interim period, Olegunna Solshire as well, as well as cameo appearances from the likes of Ryan Giggs, and even Michael Carrick has had ah has had a turn, and Rue Van Astoria as well.
00:20:08
Sam Brady
Yeah. All right.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've had quite a few managers pass through the doors here, but Sam, I'm going to ask you first, because I selfishly stole away the first question of the podcast.
00:20:18
Sam Brady
Thank you.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let me hear your favorite post-Ferguson season.
00:20:29
Sam Brady
yeah see this is an interesting interesting one because if you just want to talk about success and sort of yeah yeah success and trophies and and and results based I mean for me there's only one place really and that and that's under Jose Mourinho and I think I believe it was his first season at United I mean Brought in Zlatan, you obviously had Pogba there as well and then the first season I believe it was was yeah just I mean incredible obviously winning the league cup beating Southampton in the final in what turned out to be an unbelievable game went 2-0 up and in in that um
00:21:10
Sam Brady
Yeah, and then they scored two goals. I remember Gabi Adini, he scored twice, made it 2-2. And then with about a couple minutes before the 90, Zlatan gets up for the header.
00:21:22
Sam Brady
I remember Herrera chipped it in and Zlatan on the header, won us that final. And then Europa League, of course, what what a what a journey that was. I remember Mikotarian was the hero of the Europa League that year, scoring many important
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes! Oh man! I forgot all about Meccatarian.
00:21:39
Sam Brady
Well, yeah, I mean, that season you scored so many important goals in the Europa League.
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:21:45
Sam Brady
I actually went to one of ah one of the Europa League games live that year. remember we played andelect in the knockout round and and I remember we we won the game, it went to extra time, but it wasn't without drama.
00:22:00
Sam Brady
I mean, we went 1-0 up and then they scored. So on away goals, it went to extra time. and then i mean I mean it's sad times to say this obviously with his move to to Villa but Marcus Rashford that day got the winner an extra time and he was and he was only yeah <unk>s only a young boy there for United and now look
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:21
Sam Brady
obviously making his move to Villa, but enough enough about that. But yeah, that that season, and then we went on to to win the Europa League. I remember we played Seltah Vigo again, Marcus Rashford scored an absolute banging free kick away at Seltah. And then in the final we had, and let me try and remember this, ah we had in the final, I remember Pogba scored, Antonio Valencia scored, um we had, who who did we have now in that?
00:22:51
Sam Brady
Where's my mind?
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had Ajax in the final.
00:22:53
Sam Brady
Ajax, that's it. Ajax, that's it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because remember, they actually had own honouring goals. So, you know, yeah, yeah.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Time flies. Time flies.
00:23:00
Sam Brady
Time flies when you're winning stuff, hey. So, well oh obviously the the downfall for for that that season.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tell me about it.
00:23:08
Sam Brady
and ah Yeah, that season, I guess. I mean, we came second in the league as well behind City, which in retrospect is is is really good. And Mourinho obviously called it in the ah afterwards his best achievement ever getting that United team to second in the league. i So yeah, I mean, results-based success-based, very good, and but obviously style of play is is what ultimately cost Mourinho his job in the end.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah well that was actually Mourinho's first season and ah he actually finished sixth in that Premier League but yes you're right he won the Europa League and he won the EFL Cup so league title league cup and a Europa League next season 17-18 he finished second you're absolutely spot on there and yes he said that was his greatest footballing achievement.
00:23:37
Sam Brady
yeah oh yeah
00:23:42
Sam Brady
yeah
00:23:49
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
which goes a long way. I mean, Jose was always one to sort of give the press the headlines they wanted, give the give the press releases. And whilst I've always got that soft spot for Mourinho at Manchester United, I've also, I don't know, the the the managers we've had come through the doors who have been and gone, I don't think have been I mean, it feels harsh to say this, but none of them were what we needed at the time.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And whilst Mourinho is really good at coming into a club and working with what he's got and saying, right, I'm going to assess the squad, I'm going to play you in the positions that I feel is best, get the best out of you, just like he did at Chelsea thrice over and what and win trophies at that point.
00:24:21
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:24:34
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't know what it was, and I've said this on this podcast before, I don't know what it is about the longevity of a Mourinho managerial career. He doesn't stay for long. And you could and you'll argue the Tottenham one is nowhere near his fault. He was sacked days before a Cup final.
00:24:52
Sam Brady
Yeah, here.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in the case of Manchester United, when things weren't going right, in the chelea case of Chelsea three times, things got started to go sour. you know He managed to turn the siege mentality of it's it's us against them.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know It's us players against the media, against everybody else.
00:25:07
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He managed to make it everyone versus Mourinho.
00:25:11
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's it's amazing how many times it's happened so often that it's often the players not really turn on you, but where you're trying to get that siege mentality, it doesn't work anymore.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everything starts to crumble away.
00:25:24
Sam Brady
yeah
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, for Mourinho, the fact that he brought in Ibrahimovic, Ibrahimovic then as a catalyst was like, oh, yeah, I'm the one that signed Pogba, by the way.
00:25:31
Sam Brady
Yeah. hello
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all to me. I mean, again, Ibras probably one of my first post fergsen players of all time just dropping 17 goals in the Premier League when the media were saying he's finished he won't cope in the Premier League.
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think 17 goals in the Premier League was that bad of a return.
00:25:46
Sam Brady
He was unbelievable for us.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh he was so good.
00:25:49
Sam Brady
He scored on his debut against Bournemouth away and then
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I had been
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I had been harping on to my friends for years. I'm like, I love Zuatan. I'd love to see him at the club. And the longer he wasn't there, you know, he'd been to, you know, sold away by Barcelona, by Pep himself, to Milan and then to play.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know to for PSG and I thought he might stay there for a while i and I forget i forget which all of this is. He had an MLS stint in there and I think that might have been after Manchester United.
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then he came back to Serie A and whatever level of football he played at, he was just amazing. What a player. Aged like a fine wind in Saturn.
00:26:26
Sam Brady
ah you are And can I just say as well, we've just mentioned that in the same season, by the way, and we haven't even mentioned one other person, and but we've mentioned Ibra, Ibrahimovic, Mourinho, and then obviously you've got to throw Pogba into the mix as well. What personalities we had at the club at that time, I mean,
00:26:44
Sam Brady
you look at it and on one hand you go wow you've got talent there who you've got winners but on the other hand you go that was never going to work with those clash of personalities i mean that's what i was going to say on the merino thing in terms of i think by the end A lot of things sort of were the combination of of of why of why we we got rid of him in the end. I think the style of football and the expectation of how a Manchester United team should play, in in comparison to the reality of what we were actually playing under Mourinho, he was under pressure for that.
00:27:18
Sam Brady
But I also think his relationship with Paul Pogba, I mean, that got sour and that got sour very quickly. And I think the owners had a decision to make, whether do we get rid of one of our biggest stars here or do we get rid of the manager?
00:27:31
Sam Brady
And I think it was a it was an easy decision but by the end. and But yeah, I mean, the personalities we had in that was and obviously we had Eric Bayi as well.
00:27:42
Sam Brady
He was another and weird and wonderful character as well.
00:27:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm eric body yeah
00:27:47
Sam Brady
and
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
never Never fit to play, unfortunately, but it would have been a good player had it not been for the injuries, that's for sure.
00:27:49
Sam Brady
a yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh my yeah he pulled down Bellassie when Bellassie went past him and so
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Just my final word, I think one of my favourite matches that I remember watching in full, 2016 FA Cup Final. That to me, in terms of drama, it had everything.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It has yeah had yeah had the red card for, was it Chris Smalling? You got sent off?
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And then for, you know, to be down to 10 men, then for Palace to score, Pardew to do his little dance.
00:28:19
Sam Brady
Yeah. Jason Pymch, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was sickening, sickening. And then for it ah for all for it to equalise, and then for Lingard to get the winner. Oh, I just, what a volley, what a volley.
00:28:30
Sam Brady
What a volley. What a volley. What a volley.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, you're just holding on for 120 minutes, like, please don't let them score. I can't go i can't go through penalties after going through this.
00:28:41
Sam Brady
because also what what I remember about that cup run is that in the semi-final we played Everton at Wembley and we also scored in the 90th minute to beat Everton as well.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:28:52
Sam Brady
I remember I think more, yeah, Martial scored in the 90th minute to go to the final and then the final obviously speaks for itself but yeah.
00:29:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah yeah
00:29:01
Sam Brady
and yeah another another season just just quickly i want to give an honorable mention too because as i said success and where we finished and sort of trophies wise it's merino but in terms of an atmosphere and the mood post fergie i don't think we've had a better atmosphere and mood as fans um since that ollie since ollie first came in and when he was when he was not even manager when he was caretaker and it was ollie at the wheel and we were battering teams left right and center i remember when ollie came in as caretaker his first game we beat chordiff five nil away at chordiff i think uh lingard scored and we had marshall we had rashford firing and then obviously the famous night in paris where
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:29:50
Sam Brady
I mean we were 2-0 down in the first leg of the Champions League. Everyone wrote us off. We had kids playing. I think we had Chong playing. We had the Caco up front in the pink kit with Rashford. And then the drama in that game as well. we Obviously we were 2-0 down.
00:30:07
Sam Brady
we yeah we scored once and then they scored so obviously it was 3-1 on aggregate then we scored twice and then 90th minute penalty you can't script it any better and again we' we'll look back at his united career with fond memories but marcus rashford doing what he does best for united and best in the united shirt stepping up and and and bagging the penalty past their past bouffon and sending us crazy and that's when you got that video on BT as well with Rio Ferdinand like give him the contract to put whatever he wants on it so I mean I don't think there's been a better mood around the club and around the fans than that to be honest obviously it didn't work out in the end but you know what
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
let him let him write whatever number he wants and inside it and i a back
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So this is the thing, and this is why I love reminiscing, because the rose-tinted glasses come in. The Ollie period was not without its, you know, its very, very, you know, blatant red flags in the fact that defensively we weren't that solid.
00:31:09
Sam Brady
oh yeah oh Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. no
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We normally relied on the other teams scoring first to give us the boost that we needed to actually go on and and do well in the game, if we did do well in the game.
Mourinho vs. Solskjaer: A Debate
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think, yeah, you're right. In terms of how Ollie focused it back on the youth and bringing the youth through the system. A very good move and I've always said that when it's almost as if the board went over Ollie's head to bring back Ronaldo and that sort of the the clash of personalities, the clash of heads there between Ollie and Ronaldo and then they're both left within two years anyway. One willingly, one not so willingly. Either way
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Within two years, it seemed like all of that hard work that Ollie had put in to sort of start putting the patches over. And they were patches, let's face it. They were patches. Seemed to be undone.
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then obviously we bring in, I think there was Tenharg, who followed afterwards.
00:31:59
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And here we are.
00:32:05
Sam Brady
Yeah, but it's crazy.
00:32:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know we're We're back to the present.
00:32:07
Sam Brady
It's crazy to bring it to the present. If you look at Ollie's last team away at Watford that is last game, our attack that day was Sancho Bruno Rashford Ronaldo.
00:32:21
Sam Brady
I mean, on paper, that's an unreal attack. Compared to our attack now where you don't even have a striker starting, they're both on the bench, and then you've got Ahmad and Garnaccio. I mean, I know what attack I'm taking, you know what I mean?
00:32:34
Sam Brady
So, yeah, I mean, and and that's sort of where we're at in present day in terms of we under Ollie and Mourinho were blaming, we were saying the squad isn't good enough and the players aren't good enough.
00:32:47
Sam Brady
When actually you look at our team now and you go, no, this isn't good at enough. we We maybe had the right squad back then, but maybe not the right manager. Whereas now we've spent nearly a billion and squads got worse.
00:32:59
Sam Brady
So, I mean, yeah only we could do that really.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, come on Sam, it's Wild Card Wednesday, good vibes only, good vibes only.
00:33:02
Sam Brady
so but There's a lot of photos there.
00:33:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, it ah to sum up this part three then, I need your favourite manager post-Ferguson era.
00:33:13
Sam Brady
Okay. um
00:33:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a tough one but,
00:33:17
Sam Brady
Yeah it is a tough one and I am going to I am flip-flopping between Ollie and Marino but I think to go on success and on just as a character for our club I'm going to have to go Marino you know I just am I mean Ollie you'll always be loved at United I mean he's absolutely legend and to be honest what he probably did for us as a club
00:33:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:33:41
Sam Brady
in for for longevity, probably obviously definitely better than Mourinho in terms of the vibes around the club. But Mourinho winning us the Europa League and winning us the League Cup, I don't think you can ignore that.
00:33:55
Sam Brady
And the players we had, Ibra, Pogba, Mikotori, and like, I like really liked the squad that we had at the time as well. So just hope
00:34:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
Van Gaal's Unique Style and Management Reflection
00:34:04
Sam Brady
it obviously ended up better, but never does with Mourinho, as you've said.
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah again i have to give a big shout out to ollie obviously he got a runner-up in the premier league as well that's often overlooked probably by me as well because it's just popped into my head oh yeah we did finish runner-up with ollie so maybe i'm bashing him too hard i think i agree in terms of success marina has to be at the top of the list um one one i didn't mention before we go and before we sign off van gogh
00:34:31
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:34:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
won't you know his total football or his five at the back won't be remembered too fondly.
00:34:35
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dean Maria never worked out but the dive in front of the fourth official with the clipboard in hand without a doubt that's going to live up here.
00:34:43
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, as a personality, post Fergie, he's right up there, Van Hall, with the Mike Smalling, and then and i and and then my players need to be horny, and then giving wine and pies at Christmas to the journalists, and his dive on the...
00:34:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mike's mauling. Yep.
00:35:02
Sam Brady
and I mean, what a...
00:35:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Louis van Gogh's red army.
00:35:06
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, what a manager, really. I mean, any club with Van Hall, you're going to be entertained week in, week out. I'll say that.
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely, definitely. I think so. We're both agreed then Marina probably our favorite manager in terms of success we've both got vibes with Van Gaal and Ollie and That brings us to the present day.
00:35:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Come on, Reuben. You can make the list. There is still time.
00:35:27
Sam Brady
yeah
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've still got your back to be fair I think we've backed you most Despite any other manager that's come before
00:35:32
Sam Brady
I might tell um like how none of us mentioned Tenog there, I think. yeah
00:35:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, too early for ten hard. give it Give it three or four years and we'll be looking back and thinking, that that style could have worked if we had the right plot, but not yet, not yet.
00:35:39
Sam Brady
oh
00:35:43
Sam Brady
yeah yeah
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Your time will come, Eric, don't you worry.
Closing Thoughts and Listener Appreciation
00:35:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, Sam, thank you for joining me on this Wild Card Wednesday. It's been a pleasure to put the rose-tinted glasses on and have a look back at the past.
00:35:55
Sam Brady
All good. Yeah, yeah it's been a been really good to, as you said, look look back in. Yeah, I'm not looking forward to next week where I'm going to have to come back to the present and then talk about what's gone wrong. so
00:36:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's almost, it gives you a case of whiplash, doesn't it? Coming back to the present. But anyway, we'll look ahead to Friday as well. Thank you so much for joining us and thank you for spending your wildcard Wednesday with us. Make sure as well you're following us on all the social medias.
00:36:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's GSPN, Man United. We're on Instagram. We're on Twitter or X if you're so inclined to call it either. and We're also on Facebook if you want to join us there. We're also on TikTok if it's still legal in America.
00:36:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, US.
00:36:32
Sam Brady
Okay.
00:36:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
s we We have nothing to do with that. I say it every time, but it it still feels like it needs um an apology at some point. We are also on YouTube as well. Global Sports Podcast Network, LTD. Make sure you find our playlist and you can watch our lovely episodes and see our lovely faces. What a terrifying prospect for you. In the meantime, though, have a great rest of your Wednesday and we'll talk to you soon. Take care.