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Episode 165 - We Go Again in 6 Days!
1 Playsin 9 hours
Kieran, Sam, and Tom all jump on today’s episode to review our pre-season, our transfers so far, the latest links, and where we feel the Red Devils could finish after the 38 Premier League games.
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Transcript
Season Opener Excitement
00:00:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. We are but, well, less than a week away now from the Premier League getting underway when we face Arsenal for the opening day of the season. But before then, we've got lots of previews. We've even got a little bit of transfer news to hold and to bring you.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also the winners of the Snapdragon Cup. You'll never sing that.
Pre-Season Insights
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're here to discuss everything pre-season. My My is Kieran and I'm here to be joined by Sam and Tom. Sam, welcome along. Welcome back.
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fresh faces, of course. How are you doing?
00:00:44
Sam Brady
Yeah, good, good. Good, Karen. Good. Feels good to be back and ready to get it all started again. Just as you said, under a week now until the football gets back underway. I think this summer's been a bit odd, really, because we had some football straight away with the Club World Cup.
00:01:02
Sam Brady
And then when it went away, i feel like I got used to sort of watching football constantly. And then I missed it and now it's back again.
Season Expectations
00:01:09
Sam Brady
So we love to see it and and get it all started again.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Tom, obviously as well, pre-season, ready to get into it. Are you ready to get stuck into what should be a, well, pretty interesting season by all accounts?
00:01:21
Tom Cairns
Well, yeah, I mean, I'm looking forward to it. I mean, with Leagues 1 and 2 starting again last week and Championship this weekend we've just had... The Premier League is not far away and we are looking forward to the first batch of matches.
00:01:34
Tom Cairns
Who's going to get off to the best of starts? Will Man Utd rebound from what was a really, really disastrous campaign last time out? Can Liverpool retain the Premier League title? It'll take some doing, I think, considering what they've gone out and bought and what they've sold.
00:01:48
Tom Cairns
ah Will Arsenal finally break their duck after finishing second in the league three seasons in a row? Can Chelsea build on this FIFA Club World Cup success along with the Conference League?
00:01:59
Tom Cairns
Can Newcastle continue their trophy habit, you know getting their first trophy in 70 years? a lot of questions remain to be answered. ah But in terms United...
Unexpected Dynamics in Football
00:02:12
Tom Cairns
It's going to be a long season, um but with the fact that we're playing a reduced amount of games compared to the previous seasons, it could be a blessing in disguise come May.
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I feel like um it could be. this This is the important thing because I think right now the Premier League is a really interesting and kind of bizarre place. I mean, as we're recording this, ah Crystal Palace have won the Community Shield, which is, you know, now they've won one try, but they can't stop winning stuff now.
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, it's interesting to see Glasner and Crystal Palace face into the new season. But as you said, Newcastle also getting a trophy under their belts. I mean, we've been overdue some rogue winners or some outsider winners for a long, long time now up at the top echelons of English football. And I'm glad to see it right now.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But this also leaves an interesting mark for Manchester United because obviously, yes, a couple seasons ago, we won the FA Cup. So it's not like we've gone on a barren run for long. But I feel like the competition's getting
Transfer Highlights
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
tougher. The tactics are starting to not just catch up, but those teams that may not necessarily have the quality are you know pulling off what Leicester did, I'm going to say 10 years ago now, because it was. That's bizarre. That's outrageous that that was 10 years ago now But, you know, the hard graft is really coming back into these systems. You know, um the the possession style of City is, you know, getting exposed. You've got now Liverpool being some massive spenders in this window.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, it's been sort of a net, you know, I think it's net... 100 plus mil, but they've got some, you know, Luis Diaz they've sold. They've sold Darwin New Year's as well. So, you know, they've got some huge outgoings and in-goings. And one in-going for Manchester United that everybody's going to be talking about now is the confirmation of Benjamin Sheshko, who has chosen Manchester United over Newcastle United to join us for around about 78 million euros. It's going to be roughly 70 million pounds. There are thereabouts.
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a big price tag. It's been a common theme of this window for Manchester United. Tom, what do you make of the Seshko transfer?
00:04:13
Tom Cairns
It's a really interesting one. I mean, I'd have liked us to get Jokeres if he could have helped it, but he's obviously gone to Arsenal. And I'd also like to have seen Sean Philip Mateta being thrown into the conversation for a and a place in that number nine role.
00:04:27
Tom Cairns
With Cescou, it feels more of a risk, but he earns the right to play in the Premier League in my point of view. Was it the right time for him go to United? I think considering where United are, it probably is the right thing to do.
00:04:39
Tom Cairns
He may not be playing in the Champions League, but I think in the last couple of seasons, Leipzig have really struggled in Europe. And if you if you're going struggle in Europe, you may as well take a shot of going somewhere else. And I think Manchester United could well be the place to help him get up that next phase of winning trophies, really, because it was tough for him at Leipzig.
00:05:00
Tom Cairns
But United, if it all comes together, especially with the signings of Matthias Cunha and Brian Mbamo in there,
00:05:09
Tom Cairns
It's not going to guarantee us like 60 plus goals between those three because it doesn't work like that. But it kind of gives the vibe that if they all work together and the performances are great, the results will start to align.
00:05:20
Tom Cairns
And that's what we need this season, considering that we're playing a reduced schedule of matches.
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, he's I'm just looking at it here. He's 1.95 metres tall, which makes him up roughly 6'5". So he's taller than me. He's got to be good, though, right, Sam? He's got to be good. 41 appearances for Slovenia as well, 41 caps and 16 goals.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not a bad return for for Slovenia, is it? What do you expect from him and Manchester United?
00:05:46
Sam Brady
Yeah, it's not. and And the thing is, United have struggled really now for multiple years for for strikers. We had Weghorst on a short-term deal, Egalo, Cavani, all short-term deals.
00:05:59
Sam Brady
Obviously, Cristiano Ronaldo was a sort of short-term basis. And our last real bagsman goal scorer up front was Ibrahimović, really. And you have to go back a couple years for him.
Striker Market Analysis
00:06:14
Sam Brady
And and yeah, we've we've tried obviously Hoyland and and that transfer at the minute doesn't seem to be working out. And there are rumours now that Seshko's come in that he might um might go out on loan. and And to be honest, I think this, i might have said this at the back end of last season that I think that would be a good sort of move for Hoyland to sort of go out on loan to to a club that that can bag some goals and and get his confidence up and maybe come back
00:06:42
Sam Brady
ah when when United as a club are in a different position as well. But in terms of Seshko, I think, look, there are always going to be question marks over his price tag. and But to be honest, I just think that is sort of the market we're in for strikers at the minute.
00:06:57
Sam Brady
You've seen Jokeres go for a lot of money to Arsenal. You've seen Eketike go for a lot of money too to Liverpool. ah and And I wouldn't say...
00:07:04
Tom Cairns
Thank
00:07:06
Sam Brady
These are sort of world-class strikers at the minute. I would say the only world-class striker that that was being talked about is Alexander Izak. And I think he is probably worth the sort of hundred and twenty hundred and fifty million po mark that's placed on on on his head whereas You talk to the likes of Jokeres, Eketike and Szesko and it's all about potential and you're paying for that that potential. And yeah, as you said, his return for ah Slovenia, is it? I think, yeah, um is is very decent.
00:07:39
Sam Brady
He scored, i think, maybe in the sort of team goals last season for RB Leipzig. yeah. Yeah, it's a lot of a lot of money and and and a lot of people are going to sort of obviously make that comparison with Hoyland because it was around the same price tag Hoyland came to us and he's around the same the same age. So, of course, there's there's going to be question marks, there's going to be comparisons.
00:08:05
Sam Brady
But at the end of the day, we needed a striker. All last season, our problem was scoring goals. and And now we've sort of improved every area of that attack. We've obviously Mateus, Cunha and Brian Mbwemo coming in. I think there's more question marks over Sesko because I think from English fans' point of view, we've seen Mbwemo and wema when we've seen Cunha play in the Premier League and sort of prove them themselves, where obviously Sesko coming from Germany there are going to be question marks. And as I said, there are going to be comparisons to Hoyland coming over.
00:08:40
Sam Brady
And and earn of course, and we have to be cautious. But hopefully from United point of view and our point of view that he he hits ah the ground running and and we can really start to see a number nine spot really solidified now.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he leaves RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, 64 appearances, 27 goals and 7 assists. But as Sam has said, obviously, this this is a pitfall that maybe we fall into with Hoyland, with spending big on a young talent. But yeah what makes this different, Tom, ah the Sesko deal, to say the deal that we use to bring in Hoyland or Xerxi? What's the different style of player that we're bringing in?
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:20
Tom Cairns
Well, he's got a lot of height. We can say that for a fact. but i think that could be handy, though, when it comes to the corner kicks, especially because set pieces have been an Achilles heel for us last season and maybe the season before that.
00:09:32
Tom Cairns
But I think with Cesc, if he can link up well with Cunha and Mbomo, because the difference with Cesc is that he's obviously not Premier League proven. But if he can link up straight away with Mbomo and Cunha, which I think for the first game against Arsenal is going be a little tricky for him because he hasn't played a minute in Manchester colours yet.
Defensive Concerns
00:09:51
Tom Cairns
It would have been great if we got him for that pre-season tour, but it is what it is. So he has to settle very, very quickly. I would tip him to start against Arsenal. I think he could do with getting some minutes on um under his belt before we start seeing him playing 90 minutes every single week.
00:10:08
Tom Cairns
I don't think he'll play the whole game against Arsenal, but I think he'll play a good hour of it before Ribbon Emmerin decides to sub him off and bring in Joshua Serksy.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
i see I was thinking he probably wouldn't start for that reason. As you say, he hasn't played a lot of minutes in pre-season for Manchester United. He would have had some sort of pre-season with RB Leipzig.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, we'll see. I mean, it'd be interesting to see you know how it happens with Hoyland. Is he on the way out? Rumours are that he is. It's interesting as well, if Xerxes is going to stay at the club, how will he go into the side, into the new season?
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of questions up top. And what I would probably want to say as well after that, you know our final pre-season game against Fiorentina... It was nice to finally actually for Old Trafford to say goodbye to David De Gea. felt like, you know, we could draw that line in the sand.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Seeing him at Old Trafford was nice to see him at Old Trafford again. um I have my quorums with him, of course, but at the end of the day, it's always nice to see, know, a bit of a club legend return, even if it's just for the one game and against you.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But that pre-season game, that last one against Fiorentina, both goals coming from Fiorentina, one of them being an own goal. Sam, is that a bit of a concern heading into the first game or is that more of a relief that's happening now so that we can learn from it before the first game?
00:11:33
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, to be honest, I wouldn't read too much into it i just think it is one of those things. And of course, it probably is going to take time for that new attack to gel. I mean, we have a completely new attack, essentially, with with those three up front now.
00:11:49
Sam Brady
Now, Ahmad is obviously going to... ah having and have ah have a heavy influence on that right wing back position and and Bruno may have to drop drop deep as we've seen him do a few few games last season as well so I saw fit ah think yeah it is going to take time for them to gel and and um yeah i wouldn't read too much into sort of um ah that game against Fiorentina. My concerns are the defence now. I think, to be honest, our attack is is sorted. I think it's pretty quality. I saw the game pre-season over in America against Everton and it was so free-flowing down that right-hand side, especially with Mbwemo and Ahmad.
00:12:33
Sam Brady
and and and Just a word on Ahmad, by the way. He looks like he's come back. um even more confident than ever. He saw his little Penenka in the penalty shootout as well. I mean, the cheek of it.
00:12:44
Sam Brady
um And I think he is definitely a player that... or the I mean, United fans appreciate how good Ahmad is, but I really, really do think this season, rival fans and other Premier League fans are going to realise how special this kid is. Because I think last season we saw glimpses of it and then obviously he got injured.
00:13:04
Sam Brady
and But for for those couple of months, even last season, he was saving us in games. I remember one that game where scored a hat-trick against Southampton when we were, I think, 2-0 down or 2-1 down.
00:13:19
Sam Brady
um And I honestly, ah just on Ahmad, feel like he's going to get the appreciation he deserves this season. But on on the attack, I feel like we will start to start to see sort of the the fruits of the the summer ju January transfer. to And I feel like we will we will score a lot more goals.
00:13:37
Sam Brady
It's just about will we score as many goals as we can see it, in my opinion. so I think the defence has got a long way to go. I still feel like we need a centre-half, another one to be honest, in case of injuries. I still feel like we need another centre-mid, to be honest. I know there rumours of us going in for Balaba last week. i don't I'd be surprised if that deal happens this late on um as the season is is about to get underway.
00:14:03
Tom Cairns
you
00:14:03
Sam Brady
And to be honest, the goalkeeper situation isn't one that fills me with confidence either. so yeah The attack, i feel like we will we will start to see them them working in conjunction with each other over
Goalkeeper Discussions
00:14:16
Sam Brady
time. But I think just just keeping eye on our defence, to be honest.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, defence as well, but there's been a couple of rumours, Manchester Evening u nt and TNT Sports, that say that Manchester United are in for Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG, the goalkeeper.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, is that are those true and how big of a signing could that be? And would you even want to see Donnarumma at Manchester United?
00:14:40
Tom Cairns
Of course i do. I mean, what doesn't lie is the fact that PSG had bought in a new goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier, from Lille, for €40 million. euros so
00:14:51
Tom Cairns
Surely that speaks volumes. Now, just because that has happened doesn't mean Donnarummo's going to go to Manchester United. It could be that PSG may want to field Chevalier for...
00:15:06
Tom Cairns
the league games, whereas using Donnarumma for the cup games, i.e. Europe, which is something that Barcelona did. If you remember, I think it was 2014-15, where they had Claudio Bravo in goal for the league matches and Sestegen for the European games.
00:15:26
Tom Cairns
Is that something that Luis Enrique is trying to do Because he was the manager of Barcelona with that system. So that could be something that they're trying to do, just to make sure that Donnarumma is not being... used too much.
00:15:38
Tom Cairns
Because he do they do need him for the most important games. Obviously, if Iver gets injured, then they know they've got a backup goalkeeper sorted out anyway. But it's... Where does Donnarumma stand with it?
00:15:49
Tom Cairns
Because he will want first-team football. The issue with the United is that he's not they're not playing in Europe at all. But would he want to go to Old Shefford now? I would say, if he was go to Old Shefford now, he would easily be in between the sticks.
00:16:04
Tom Cairns
I had a Von Arna. And then what do you do with Inanna?
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
it
00:16:08
Tom Cairns
it's about It's about shipping off these players if you know you're going to be signing the ones that have been linked.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's...
00:16:14
Tom Cairns
And once you get those, yeah, go on.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's... No, I was going that's true. I mean, it just brings in that dilemma as well. By India as well, you know, would he be the backup? Would Manchester United move him on? Anana, we know, is out with an injury, possibly will miss the first couple of games of the season. um So, you know...
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is that is that wonderful effect that it's just, yeah, we could try and bring in somebody and then worry about the consequences further down the line. But, you know, when Donnarumma, you know, 26 years old, by the way, feels like he's been in football forever. He's made over 320 senior team appearances, both for obviously AC Milan. And now Paris Saint-Germain.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's got a wealth of experience underneath him at 26. As you say, Tom, it would be silly not to bring him in because he's a fantastic shot stopper. um I would love to see him in Manchester United colours, but hey-ho.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's still The window's still open for a little bit of time, so anything's possible.
00:17:07
Sam Brady
and and know I was just going to say, Kieran, on this goalkeeper situation, I saw Jamie Carragher talk about it in the week, I believe, on on the overlap.
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:17:15
Sam Brady
into and he's And he's dead on, by the way, in terms of every serial every big club that that pushes for serial trophies has that solid goalkeeper.
00:17:20
Tom Cairns
you
00:17:25
Sam Brady
I mean, you even go back to United's goalkeeper with the Schmeichels, with the Van der Sars, with the De Gea's. You have Liverpool... um Obviously, with Alisson in that last season, you've had Man City with Edison. You've had Chelsea back in the day with the Czechs and the Courtois.
00:17:42
Sam Brady
If you want to be seriously challenging for trophies, you need a solid goalkeeper. There's no ifs or buts about it. And I think United are in a really struggling position at the minute with O'Neill. Because if he plays anything like he plays...
00:17:59
Sam Brady
he played he's played in the in the first first season and second season. We won't win anything this year. And and that's just that's just a fact. So it if it was me, if we if we have the chance to sign Donnarumma just off the off chance, you make that deal immediately if you can, if you're Manchester United.
00:18:17
Sam Brady
There's no debate in Dewey. Donnarumma is a serial winner. He's won it all. The Euros, the Champions Leagues, the Leagues. He's won it all. You get him in because you know instantly he's going to make such an impact in goal for United. And whether that seems harsh in an honour, unfortunately he's been here for two seasons now and he hasn't made that position his own. So I think if you have the chance to sign him you have to, to be honest. Especially, i think I saw the fee and yesterday. I think it was in sort of the 20-odd millions. And for a goalkeeper like Donnarumma, who's only 26, you'd snap your arm off really for him, to be honest.
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
You would. I mean, there's there's a couple of sources that give wildly different transfer fees. I think TNT Sports give $28 million.
00:19:02
Sam Brady
Mm-hmm.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester Evening News say $56 to $60 million. So even the price is up in the air.
00:19:05
Tom Cairns
you
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's probably your clue that the deal's not quite there just yet. But we shall wait and see. We'll keep an eye on this space. One thing we do need to do is have a little bit of a quick break and save your ears a little bit. We'll be back after this.
Midfield Strategies
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, ah Sam channeling his inner Sir Alex Ferguson there and reminding us that attack wins games, but defence wins titles. We might not be in a position to win a title, Tom, this season, but what are your expectations? How happy have you been with pre-season?
00:20:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've already had a bit of a discussion about the market. We can transfer over to here. How happy have you been with pre-season?
00:20:35
Tom Cairns
Fairly satisfied. I think there's still some gaps open there. I think one thing we have to get right is having that recognised partnership in midfield because I don't feel that is sorted just yet.
00:20:48
Tom Cairns
I just don't know who would link up well with Fernandes in that particular part of the field. If he's dropping down into that eight position, or six rather, whichever you want to call it, he's the best man to be alongside him. Because I feel like with Ugarte, as much as I do like him, he's never confident with the ball whenever he's on it.
00:21:06
Tom Cairns
He's good at putting challenges in, that's clear. But he's not got the confidence when he's got the ball underneath him.
00:21:13
Tom Cairns
Casemiro, he's good, but he can only be good for a certain period of the match.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:21:19
Tom Cairns
Maynou. I'm not sure the Maynou-Fernander partnership works as efficiently as it needs to be. So that could be the reason why Carlos Belayba has been linked with the move to United. I don't think he'll come to us in this window, and I'm not sure we'll do in January because we're not going to have the funds to do that.
00:21:39
Tom Cairns
But next summer, I can imagine his price tags are going to go up. And if United get it right this season, he'll be next on the list. And if we get Donovan Runner this window, that saves us having to go out and get him straight away because there's going to be so many clubs out there that'll be asking him for his signature.
00:21:58
Tom Cairns
If we get it right now, that stops him from going to those rival clubs.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just wonder as well, because there's a lot of money we've spent in in pre-season. I mean, we're looking at nearly 200 million on bringing in new players at the moment. I'll ask the same question to you, Sam. How happy have you been with United's pre-season thus far? I say thus far, but this that's pretty much it for pre-season.
00:22:24
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, similar to Tom, where it's been OK, it's been decent. I mean, we've got we've got quite a few wins, we've we've won the trophies that that we've been in. I'll go back to to what I said in in the first part in terms of we've only kept one clean sheet in pre-season and that was a 0-0 draw against Leeds where we didn't even score.
00:22:43
Sam Brady
So that it has to be a concern if we're not even keeping clean sheets into pre-season. And we don't even really have injuries at the back any anymore now. Aidan Heaven's back.
00:22:56
Sam Brady
Our core defence is back apart from obviously Onana but as as I've said I don't think you he would do much help anyway to be honest. but yeah It's been okay but it is interesting to see how we set up go going going forward in into the new season because You would like to think Embuemo starts. You'd like to think Cunha starts and Sesco starts. So then where does that leave Bruno? Bruno has to play. So that means he drops further down and into that sort of eight position.
00:23:26
Sam Brady
So that means there's one position basically next to Bruno up to grabs. between basically three players in Casemiro, Agate and Maynou. And they all sort of bring... Well, Agate and Casemiro bring sort of similar things. Maynou is probably the outlier who is that sort of box-to-box, someone who who really puts the foot on the ball. But as Tom highlighted, in my opinion as well, I i don't see that Maynou-Bruno partnership working that that well in the midfield.
00:23:58
Sam Brady
um I don't think Agate, he doesn't fill me with a ah confidence at all either because I think, yeah, he gets stuck in and and he's a hard worker, but I think technically lets us down quite on quite a few occasions. He's a bit hot and cold, very inconsistent. And as I said, I watched the game against Everton. I go back to that and he was shocking in that game, to be honest. ah He got a yellow card, I believe, and got subbed off. So, yeah, he doesn't fill me with confidence. and And as Tom said, I agree with him with Casemiro where,
00:24:27
Sam Brady
I personally would start Casemiro out the three next to Bruno if you if you play Bruno in the eight, but you'll only get 60 minutes out Casemiro and then you've got to pick one of the two out of Mainu and Agate. So yeah, it's it's a difficult one and that's why I do think centre mid we are sort of lack in we are still lacking that that number six who who is very solid. and And you look across the board at the Rodri's, the Caicedo's, the Gravenberch. We're missing that the Declan Rice. where
00:25:00
Sam Brady
We're missing that real number six who's really solid defensively, who can who can control the game. Because Bruno obviously is still our best player, but he's not that defensive unit in the midfield that that we need as well. So I'd say that that is a concern. And on the transition, I think we still are going to
Defensive Depth Concerns
00:25:22
Sam Brady
have problems. And and I think the first game of the season against Arsenal, we're going to really find out sort of the runners between the riders, because I think
00:25:31
Sam Brady
they can really hit us on ah on the break with their attack going forward. I would hate to see Jokeres get a goal against his ah against his best friend, Armourin, but
00:25:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:25:42
Sam Brady
unfortunately, I'll go back to it, if we don't sort out that defence soon, and and I don't think we're going to do it this window, so I think we are sort of going to have to go in and and deal with what we have. I feel like we are going to have real issues, and the only and and another concern I have is we have all we we do have depth in centre-backs. We have Hevin, Martinez, De Ligt, Jouro,
00:26:07
Sam Brady
But will they get injured? Are they reliable enough? Where we saw last season, we ended up in some games. Johnny Evans played some games. Lindelof. And, look, I know we we said about Maguire that he he's been decent of late.
00:26:23
Sam Brady
We can't be starting games with Maguire in 2025 anymore. Like, what what what are we doing? So, I do...
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am.
00:26:30
Sam Brady
Yeah, so...
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm absolutely going to attack you there, Sam, because I think McGuire has, you know, come of, I say come of age, but I feel like, you know, he's had a lot of hardship.
00:26:36
Tom Cairns
you
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's bounced back. I don't think he's as bad as you say he is, especially if you've got him in the centre of that centre-back side. and you've got, say, Heaven and Jorah, who are the pacier centre-backs beside him, who can run, you know, or push forward a little bit because they can recover.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
feel like Maguire can be the one who just wins the ball in the air. He's he's good at that.
00:27:00
Sam Brady
yeah Yeah, don't get me wrong.
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:02
Sam Brady
I think he's a solid defender, but I don't think he's Man United level defender. If we really want to be challenging for trophies, like major trophies, with which I admit isn't goingnna going to be for a couple of years, but if we want to even get to that point, we can't be playing Maguire.
00:27:19
Sam Brady
like it's just He is solid and he's a unit and he wins headers and he gets stuck in. and i'm i'm not I'm not hating on him, but he'd be a good defender for... Crystal Palace.
00:27:31
Sam Brady
He's not Man United level. You know I mean? And even Crystal Palace have Mark Gay at the back. So they wouldn't even take him right now. you know so but i'm not And it's not about Maguire. We've said... is he's at and he's and and I rate, to be honest, how he's come back and he has sort of revitalised his Man United career and and he has fought for that position where you go, you know what? like He actually could get into the squad now, maybe potentially with our centre-backs.
00:27:58
Sam Brady
But I just think that's where our level of centre-backs are at right now, where you're actually debating whether Maguire should start. I think all of our centre-backs are very decent, but I think they're a bit inconsistent. I think some some games are really good, some games they go missing. So that's that's my only concern, really.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really wanted you to bring out the Gattuso press conference there when you were saying that, but never mind.
00:28:23
Sam Brady
Exactly, yeah.
Season Predictions
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's family friendly, this pod.
00:28:25
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Tom, final question. Where will Man United finish this season?
00:28:33
Tom Cairns
Either 6th, 7th or 8th.
00:28:37
Tom Cairns
you me to go for one position? Are you happy with that?
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, go for one position if you want to lock it in. We can look back at this in nine months' time and see how close we all were.
00:28:50
Tom Cairns
I'll be generous and go sick
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Generous. Okay. Okay. That would be on the cards. That's probably either Europa League or Conference League, depending on how competitions pan out. Sam, where do you reckon?
00:29:02
Sam Brady
ah Tom, mate, I rate the confidence. I really do. But if we go from, what where were we? 16th to 6th.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
15th, Sam.
00:29:10
Tom Cairns
fifteen
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll think you're fine.
00:29:11
Sam Brady
Sorry, 15th. If we go from 16th to then we might do.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
were better than you thought.
00:29:16
Sam Brady
And look, I haven't made my pre-season predictions for the whole table yet. I usually do that the day before the season starts to see the Community Shield and the Super Cup, see how those teams play out.
00:29:28
Sam Brady
But if I had to say right now where I think... Well, we should be aiming top half. There's no doubt about that. Where I think off the top of my head, and this might change come Thursday, i would go... i'll go eighth.
00:29:44
Sam Brady
I'll go eighth. yeah was Get us maybe conference, you know?
00:29:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
was I was thinking eighth as well. I was thinking top half, I think is doable.
00:29:53
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think we'll miss out on Europe this season, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. ah Just financially, it might be a bad thing, which as we all know has been the hot topic. But if we can splash out 200 million in this summer market, I don't think we're in as bad as a position as as they say we are.
European Competitions Outlook
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey ho. um So Tom is locking in. Are you locking in sixth, Tom?
00:30:15
Tom Cairns
Yes.
00:30:16
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I like the confidence.
00:30:16
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like it.
00:30:18
Tom Cairns
Yeah, because ah something tells me, if we get Don and Roma, I don't think we will, but let's just say we do, I think we will finish sixth, minimum.
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
i like it. I like it. Well, obviously, Tom's predicted sixth. Sam and I are going boring. We're going eighth place because neither of us is going to...
00:30:34
Sam Brady
And Kieran, what would say is tom Tom's right there. And if we somehow in a week's time manage to get either Donnarumma or Belaber, then my prediction will change.
00:30:45
Sam Brady
um well and And also going back to what Tom said at the start, I think it was Tom or you, Kieran, where someone said one one game a week this season will definitely help us 100%.
00:30:58
Sam Brady
I just don't see us doing that massive jump this year. But who knows, you know, so...
00:31:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a funny old game, the Premier League, isn't it?
00:31:05
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:31:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got Newcastle and Palace winning trophies after, well, Newcastle's drought and Crystal Palace never winning a trophy before. So, look, things are changing in football. We'll see what
Closing Remarks
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
happens.
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know where you think, at this stage, Manchester United will be finishing in the lead. There's only 38 games to play. plus a couple of cups along the way. We'll see how it all pans out. Thank you so much for listening along to the Daily Manchester United. Perhaps you've been on YouTube as well and watching along. If you're listening on Spotify or on Apple and you'd like to watch our lovely faces instead, ah you can head over to the YouTube channel, which is at the daily GSPN Daily Manchester United podcast. It's so long, so you'll definitely remember it. I'm sure you will.
00:31:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can follow us on all social medias as well. It's at GSPNManUnited. We are on TikTok. We're on Twitter and X. We're on Instagram and we're on Facebook.
00:31:50
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:31:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So follow us where and when you like. I've been Kieran. We've also had Sam and Tom on the podcast. We'll see you again in the next episode. Until then, take care yourselves and we'll speak to you soon.