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"Are you Amor-In or Amor-Out?" - with Special Guest Alex from The Noisy Neighbours Podcast!
27 Plays5 days ago
Kieran hosts special guest Alex of the Noisy Neighbours Podcast as the Better Half of their Pod. On this episode, they dive into the Red Devils’ start to the season, a look at each game so far, debate over the system and of Bruno’s role in the side, and ask the ultimate question. Are you Amor-in or Amor-Out?
A big thank you to our special guest in Alex from The Noisy Neighbours Podcast, make sure you check out their show:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheNoisyNeighboursPod
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Theme
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. It's a bit of a special episode this time around because we've got a special guest. My name's Kieran and I have Alex from the Noisy Neighbours pod alongside me. One half of the Noisy Neighbours pod. But between you and me, it's the best half because this guy is the Manchester United side. Welcome along, Alex. It's great to have you.
00:00:33
Alex
Thank you, Kieran. Absolutely buzzing to be on. And yeah, I totally agree, by the way, even if we are struggling at the minute and City obviously had ah a few better seasons, but yeah.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. It's it's not been the the greatest start to the season, has it really? I mean, we we could always, i mean, we've had six games, we've got seven points. we We can touch on the games quickly as we went through um because we're now coming towards the what seems like the umpteenth international break of the season so far, which is nice, actually.
00:00:55
Alex
Yeah.
00:01:03
Alex
Yeah.
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's nice to have a break from watching them.
00:01:05
Alex
Yeah. Yeah. Welcome two weeks off.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, absolutely.
Season's Tough Start and Key Challenges
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. 17th of August then, the the opening game against Arsenal, the 1-0 loss.
00:01:13
Alex
Yeah.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now at the time, i was sort of thinking, well, when we were playing, didn't think we actually played that badly.
00:01:15
Alex
Yeah.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's just that Arsenal were the better side defensively. They were really tough to break down.
00:01:23
Alex
um
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was one of those games where Arsenal came with a game plan of they're going to smash a goal and then they're going to hold it. and And they just showed how defensively good they are. And they have been and shown to be over the past few seasons.
00:01:37
Alex
Yeah, that's it. Yeah, yeah. i think I think going into the Arsenal game, so so so I went to the Fiorentina pre-season game. if you remember, it was the last it was the last pre-season game of the summer and they had it at Old Trafford.
00:01:49
Alex
And I actually went to it, took my son there and I was watching the the the set-up, particularly the Bruno Casemiro, which I know we're going to come to. So going into the Arsenal game, I was a bit on a low because I just didn't think it was going to work.
00:02:03
Alex
the midfield. Didn't think it was to work at all. So going into that game, you know what's strange about the Arsenal game? Considering it was against Rice, Zubemendy and Odegaard, that's probably the best we've looked midfield.
00:02:15
Alex
And I know Amorim keeps referring to this and he goes, well, we did well against Arsenal with them two midfield. But now, like you said, we're five games on from that. How long can we hang a hat on ah on a 1-0 loss. We did lose at the end of the day. It was better.
00:02:31
Alex
I thought Arsenal were a bit pre-season-y as well, in fairness. But you're right. To go from looking like, okay, we've got we've got a bit of a better set-up now, the team looks more comfortable, to to like almost worse than the back end of last season now.
00:02:46
Alex
Obviously, we'll come to Saturday in a minute. I was just, yeah, i I was sort of on a bit of a low going into the season. But I must admit, the midfield did better than I thought that day.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it it was such a strange one, but I think it helps as well that there was kind of, I don't know if it's correct or wise in saying this, but three in the midfield for Arsenal, you had Rice sort of like that the deeper lying.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I never knew if he's a playmaker. He's more of a, if you play football manager, he's a register. He's one of those defensive midfielders that just pummels forward whenever he wants.
00:03:15
Alex
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:18
Alex
Yeah.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and is able to contribute really effectively in some phases of the game. But Zubomendy and Odegaard, who are more attacking-minded, um I felt like the midfield could actually work with Fernandes and Casemiro at that point because you've got one destroyer.
00:03:33
Alex
Yeah.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, maybe when we're five late five years too late to the party Casemiro. In fact, we are five late years too late.
00:03:39
Alex
yeah
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Fernandes, a more creative one, to bring a link between defence and attack.
00:03:45
Alex
i mean
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It really felt like it was it it had turned a corner. You know, you had Cunha and Mount and Mbamo in that little triangle. I wasn't really a huge fan of the triangle. I still felt like we were missing an out-and-out striker.
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you could argue that six games in, we're still missing that out-and-out striker.
00:04:02
Alex
Absolutely.
Player Positions and Formations Debate
00:04:03
Alex
Yeah.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the rotating triangle wasn't bad. ah just, it wasn't to my taste.
00:04:09
Alex
No, I know what you mean. i think, yeah, Cunha had a particularly good game, didn't he? I'm just trying to remember back. He had that ridiculous 70-yard dribble. and he was He was a constant threat.
00:04:19
Alex
But he played number nine in that game, didn't he? And Mount played as the other 10.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:04:23
Alex
And Mbwemo played as the other 10. Yeah, I mean, we definitely missed a focal point. And that's something that we that coming into the season, and I thought Cunha was going to play as the 10 from minute one. I know, I appreciate he played well against Arsenal.
00:04:36
Alex
To see him as the nine... I was like, how many players have we got out of position now? Like, it's even like Kunja was a bit out of position because I appreciate he can play there, but I go through the team. i do it with my brother all the time. You've probably seen my clips.
00:04:51
Alex
How many players are actually not in their best position under Ruben Amarin? And I think a couple of tweaks could sort that out quite quickly, personally.
00:05:03
Alex
What do you think about... the players out position and, and, and just a little tweak here and there, even in a three, four, three, if you had, maybe I saw someone online say this, I wouldn't love this, but I'd like to see it. If Casemiro was one of the three and he stepped into midfield with where Bruno and, uh, a main who could be, would that,
00:05:25
Alex
give us more balance where it is 3-4-3, but Casemiro can come into midfield where you've got a Maynou and a Bruno. What do you think about the situation with the 3-4-3 and definitely players out position?
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it's an interesting one. I mean, i I'm a fan of the system and and the potential it has. You know, you've got the wingbacks giving you the entire width of the pitch, but they need to be the athletes.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that means you need someone as an anchor in that defence.
00:05:49
Alex
Yeah.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So when you're in possession, if you're caught on the break, you have your anchor there dropping to make a back four. So Luke Shaw being a wider centre-back isn't too bad because he's at trade left-back.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then if you put Maserawi as a right centre-back, again, he can he's sort of had his time as a right-back, so he can drift further right, drop Casemiro deeper. Okay, he lacks in the yeah height and now slightly physical department, but he's more defensively solid.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it would make sense to have him as an anchor. And then if we lose possession, he drops back, makes a back four. That makes sense to me. But it's not happening in that way. What normally happens is you've got the three defenders there who are pushing a high line.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as we saw against City, which again, we'll come on to the very high line, everyone forgot about the halfway line.
00:06:36
Alex
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. so So you allow Haaland five yards of space and you know he's gonna he's just going to destroy you.
00:06:41
Alex
Yeah.
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it can work, but you need the players for it.
00:06:44
Alex
Yeah.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We've had two windows now and you're right. It still feels like we haven't quite got that sense of the right players in the right positions.
Midfield Dynamics and Tactical Issues
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I kind of would like to see, you know, I mentioned it on a previous episode, the if If you're in trouble and the system's not quite working, there's no reason you can't go boring with it.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bring it back to a 4-3-3. Simplify things. If you make it a 4-3-3, you have Casemiro as a holding midfielder.
00:07:08
Alex
ye
00:07:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He knows where he is there. You either can then have Fernandes or if you want Mainu in the centre of that midfield or you can mount in that as a box-to-box, you have that. Then you have Cunha and you have Mberma on the wings and Sesko up top.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
The two wingers there in Cunha and Mberma, more natural positions rather than trying to get them in a bit narrower as half wingers and try and underlap or either overlap with the likes of Dallo and Dorgue.
00:07:32
Alex
Yeah.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Sometimes if you are struggling and a system's not quite clicking, doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad system. It means you need to be a bit more malleable. And there's nothing wrong with dropping back to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 until fortunes start to change again.
00:07:45
Alex
Yeah.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
until fortunes start to change again
00:07:48
Alex
100%. I think you make a great point. The flexibility side of it is the wildest to me. And it it definitely feels... and And to be honest, there's evidence to back up the the stubbornness against just not changing for not changing's sake.
00:08:00
Alex
Because when he makes subs, i don't know if you saw it, but Micah Richards made a really good graphic on the back of Saturday, actually. And it was with the subs and and it's like, I think there was three windows of substitutions.
00:08:11
Alex
I think Yoro came on and then... I think, when Mason Mount came on. And what he does is, he brings on attacking changes. Xerxes came on at the end. But what happens is, these players just end up out of position because he won't change from the 3-4-3. So you end up with Mason Mount, left wing back.
00:08:27
Alex
And Buemo... was at right wing back for a bit. Then he came up when Xerxes came on. And it's like, mate, you can just loosen the reins with this system. Like you said, even 10, 15 minutes, we watched the all-time great coaches change. we I saw Pep Guardiola go park the bus two weeks ago at Arsenal.
00:08:48
Alex
One of the best coaches in history. My brother will say he is. Sir Alex Ferguson changed 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 to 4-5-1. You know this. It's like, Ruben, just give us 15 minutes. If you're struggling, like you said, after that even after the first goal, change it. Just give us a little bit little bit more stability, even with the players on the pitch.
00:09:07
Alex
You know, the the lack of flexibility is a real thing for me. And it's stubbornness.
Defensive Tactics and Positional Mismatches
00:09:13
Alex
That's the only explanation for it.
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
stubbornness only works if you're successful.
00:09:18
Alex
Correct. so
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and this And this is the thing. So yeah we finished 15th last season. If you didn't hear or already, that's where we finished. and We're only one place higher than we were last season at the moment.
00:09:26
Alex
Yeah.
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it it kind of does feel like, you know,
00:09:30
Alex
Yeah.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
the stubbornness and your losing is a it's a huge hugely bad cocktail to have. you know That's one way to absolutely sap the morale of what little is left of the morale out of the players.
00:09:42
Alex
Yeah.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know we have the debate as well about you know when we come to Fulham game. yeah I feel like that was two points dropped rather than the point gained against Fulham, especially on the fixture when we opened the season, we opened last season against Fulham with a Xerxes last gasp winner.
00:09:55
Alex
yeah
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
how times were so much better 15 months ago
00:10:04
Alex
Wow, yes. Sorry, yeah. complete Yeah, you're right. wait It was the first game, wasn't it? on the Under 10 Haag. Wow, okay.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes yeah
00:10:11
Alex
Yeah. the the The interesting thing with that Fulham game, the first 20 minutes, we were absolutely at it. so So you're right. I know the Arsenal game was a loss, but you're right.
00:10:22
Alex
People did go, well, there's something to build on there. Coming to the Fulham game, I did a watch along my brother, actually. First 15 minutes, I was like, we are at it. like They were sharp. Kunja hit the post, I think, early.
00:10:33
Alex
um I think Amad and Buemo were loading up on the right-hand side, and I was like... We're going to blow these away. This is this will be a 3-0 win. Okay, you lose to Arsenal, but it wasn't that bad.
00:10:45
Alex
And then you go, right, okay, now we've got... I think Burnley was third, wasn't it? so The Fulham game, to go from that first 20 minutes and then you have the pen miss to then second half was just a basketball game.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:56
Alex
It's like, it's hard to... yeah they they seem to be a different team 15 minutes to 15 minutes. Do you agree with that? Like they they can play well. I've seen them as Fulham. They were fantastic for 15 minutes.
00:11:10
Alex
And then second half was no control, no control, no creation. It's very hard to understand this team. Honestly,
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you're right. It's it's consistency, and that's what's the gripe about it. It seems like we you know this system, Amarim's been here for, what, a year now? Maybe just shy of a year, because Ten Hag was sacked at about November, December time, if I remember rightly.
00:11:34
Alex
You're coming up a year. Yeah.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:11:35
Alex
Yeah.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um so A year to learn a system seems way too long. You know, a system needs to be implemented over a summer or, you know, the winter break, for goodness sake.
00:11:42
Alex
Yeah.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not a case of, you know, it's still a year and the system still doesn't look like the finished product. um Tom, who's ah one of the guests on the podcast, one of the yeah one of our hosts,
00:11:53
Alex
yeah
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
He said that coming into the season, coming into the Arsenal game, it it still looked like we hadn't properly been through a pre-season. And it still felt like we hadn't got the players. They hadn't learned the system.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah We've brought in some good talent. Would I say world-class? No, but they're good talents in Umbermo and Cunha.
00:12:14
Alex
Yeah, yeah.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cunha may be more you know rough around the edges than Umbermo, but Umbermo, he scored 20 goals last season. He's no bad player.
00:12:20
Alex
He's top player.
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is no bad player. So... ah you know We're bringing in players and I feel like the strategy over the last couple of windows has been better. Not absolutely well beating, absolute best, but better.
00:12:34
Alex
Hmm. Hmm.
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're still overpaying for players and we're still paying £70 million pounds for Umbermo, who, yeah, 20 goals in a season is great. And he's led Brentford to to great things and helped be a part of how they've stayed up for as for as long as they have as as you
Recent Matches Analysis: City and Chelsea
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
know a well-run club.
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to drop 70-odd million on him, and Cunha was roughly the same, about 60, maybe even more. I can't remember off the top my head.
00:12:59
Alex
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, know...
00:13:00
Alex
It is a lot. yeah you I mean, look, I've been saying this for ages. They need to go Prem Peruvian. And the first two signings of the window, think they were the first two when they, Kunja and Abwema, both Prem Peruvian, like you said, 20 goals from Abwema. I think Kunja was around 16 league goals for Wolves.
00:13:15
Alex
i and and And let's be honest, despite the struggling start, those two have shown why we spent the money. like they I think, I know that the team's not functioning perfectly.
00:13:26
Alex
I think Abwema's been Good? would you so Would you say he's been good?
00:13:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been our best player, ah hands down.
00:13:31
Alex
Yeah, I think he's been. Yeah, and I think Cunha, I know he had the injury, Cunha. um i agree with what you're saying, by the way. I think Cunha's influence on the game seems to come and go.
00:13:42
Alex
i And Buemo is a constant threat, goal threat. His movement's fantastic. The pen at the weekend is because he's in the right place, right time. He gets hauled back. Should have been a red, by the way, but we'll come to that later.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
i agree. I agree.
00:13:54
Alex
But yeah, you you're so right. Those two signings were were, I think, really good steps in the right direction. I did not rate Garnaccio, did not rate him at all, never did. I did not. so So the upgrade for me from Cunha and Buemo, we lost Hoyland to Garnaccio, basically.
00:14:10
Alex
I think that's huge. But the the the team is still struggling. And that's got to be the most damning thing right now, where you elevate the talent. Even Cesco looks okay. I mean... I'm not fully convinced. Again, you you talk about the overspending.
00:14:23
Alex
Was he another overspend potentially? But he he's looked all right, Sesko. I think his holdup play good. Seems to pick up good areas. But it's like we've replaced the front three and we're still struggling in 20-minute spells against poor opponents.
00:14:39
Alex
You know?
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it's it's totally right. um I mean, we move on to the Burnley game where that was, you mentioned a basketball game with the Fulham game. This really was a game of basketball.
00:14:49
Alex
It was.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You really didn't know where to look. um You had Cullen own goal.
00:14:52
Alex
Yeah.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, was it it was supposed to be Casemiro, but Cullen actually got the the final touch on it.
00:14:58
Alex
Yeah.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then you had Foster score in the second half to level it and Burmo scores two minutes later. ah Then 10 minutes later, Jadon Anthony gets the goal and then it's a last gas penalty.
00:15:08
Alex
Yeah.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I was listening to all of this on BBC 5 Live.
00:15:12
Alex
Fernandes. Yeah.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i I was listening to this. it It was literally a game of table tennis. It was like going backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards. It's like, what is going on in this game?
00:15:21
Alex
It was.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just felt like we had no control over it. Over a game, we probably should have had an ounce of control.
00:15:28
Alex
yeah it's interesting i I really wanted to speak to you about the control actually and um i I think that I know the midfield is much maligned and I i completely get it.
00:15:39
Alex
ah ah Essentially, we're outnumbered from the get-go anyway because it's two. Most teams set up with three. Even if you play a 4-2-3-1, your 10 can drop in. The way Amarim sets up the two 10s, they're more wide 10s, so they can't naturally come and make a three in there.
00:15:56
Alex
Now, the control aspect for me... a I think there's a few things here, and I really want to get your opinion on this. is I don't just think it's attributes that you said that Casemiro's probably passed his athletic best.
00:16:08
Alex
Bruno's never really been a centre mid anyway. He's a risk-taking number 10, and I really like him as a number 10, which is kind of killing me a little bit, seeing him in this role now. And Bruno is is an important one here because he's his influence on the game from deep, he's now really...
00:16:26
Alex
being pulled back into long balls because he's got to hit that killer. Bruno loves that killer ball, right? If you're in a two-man midfield, you're hitting that killer ball from maybe halfway line, 10 yards inside your own half, as opposed to where he used to do damage under Solskjaer and Ten Hag.
00:16:42
Alex
So I've got some stats for you. want to talk about this. around the control, i was looking at the passing ah with Fernandes and Casemiro, our main two midfielders, and I was looking at the per 90 attempted passes, long passes, by the way.
00:16:58
Alex
They attempt 27 long passes per 90. My initial thought was, wow, that's really high. So what I did was I thought I'll grab Palaces. They play 3-4-3.
00:17:09
Alex
Everyone loves Oliver Glasner now. So I looked at Wharton and Hughes and they combine to attempt only 11 long balls a game. So we are, Fernandez Casemiro are nearly going at three times the amount long balls as Wharton and Hughes fought in the same system under different managers, obviously.
00:17:29
Alex
What do you think about the issues in there with the control aspect? Because Is it just they want to play to the quick guys very quickly? Is it Bruno struggling to suppress his natural instincts as a 10? What do you think it is?
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's an interesting... I mean, I didn't realise it was that much of a gap. I know that, you know, it feels like there's a lot of long walls played. I didn't quite realise it was that substantial. Almost one every three minutes, essentially, isn't that?
00:17:55
Alex
Yeah, on fbref.com, obviously, if anybody listens to this and I've got my stats wrong, but that's where I got my stats from.
00:17:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
i Yeah.
00:18:00
Alex
They do quite a good breakdown, so I'm trusting them guys.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we will trust them as well. Bow down to them.
00:18:05
Alex
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bow down to them. Yeah, I...
00:18:08
Alex
Yeah.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I think even under Ten Hag, you still saw the what we called a Hollywood pass from from Bruno Fernandes.
00:18:15
Alex
yes
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He loves to do a long ball to sort of get him behind. But it does feel like this system is is caught in two minds. whilst i've actually I actually see a potential for Fernandes to drop a little bit deeper because I feel like this system needs a link between defence and attack.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got you know attacking midfielders. You've basically got attacking complete wing-backs who have no interest in defending unless we lose the ball. So you've essentially got two wing-backs, two attacking midfielders, and you've got someone up top. So that's, if my math is right, five.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've then got Fernandes, who's more attacking-minded. So again, that's six. So now you've got... three, four defenders. it's It's not a lot.
00:18:56
Alex
now Yeah,
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we constantly get caught on the counter-attack. Constantly. So whilst we are making chances, and when we went into the City game, I don't know about you, Alex, if you're ah an XG believer, I am a know agnostic.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what I can say is it it gives you an idea of the quality of chances that are made.
00:19:13
Alex
yeah.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
00:19:13
Alex
and yeah
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know we were hot we were top of that table going into the game against City. So we were making the chances, but we're just not clinical enough. And that's turned on its head since the City game. City were playing counter-attack football at one point, weren't they?
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know At 2-0, when we're pushing for a goal, they're sort of you know putting 10 men behind the ball, leaving Haaland up.
00:19:28
Alex
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. yeah
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And because we've got such a high line in trying to press, nothing wrong with going for a goal to get yourself back in the game.
00:19:36
Alex
yeah
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, that's where I've said previously, Anana would be halfway up the pitch as a sweeper. Now, would he have got to Haaland? Probably not.
00:19:51
Alex
yeah
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He might have taken him down and got a red card. But the point was, he he probably would have been a nuisance in that counterattack. But Altai isn't a sweeper.
00:19:58
Alex
Yeah. No.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's not a sweeper-keeper, so I don't think he suits this system. If you're playing such high line, you need a sweeper-keeper to at least try and you know cut back the but the counter-attack.
00:20:04
Alex
No.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what this system does make in creating chances, and and it feels like it does create more chances than we were last season, it is so vulnerable to the counter-attack.
00:20:18
Alex
No.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i I like seeing Fernandes play deeper, but on transition, and if he needs to track back, he's not the man you want to track back.
00:20:29
Alex
Yeah, yeah. No, you're so right. I think like the XG, I do i do think there's something in that. like um I mean, the the thing with the XG is you could flip it the other way. And I was looking at the XG against, which we are now tied for fourth worst in the league.
Brentford Match Breakdown
00:20:46
Alex
And the two two of the three below us is Forest and Villa are only a decimal behind us, 0.1. So we're almost, give or take, the second worst XG against in the league.
00:20:58
Alex
However, we are also one of the best XG. So it's like we're paying for it a little bit the other way and we're not being clinical enough to accommodate it.
00:21:08
Alex
And you're right, there's... every team gets measured by the same metric. So if you like XG or don't like XG, every team's getting measured by the same computer, essentially. Obviously, not myself, not you, but somebody a lot smarter than us is saying Man United are creating chances.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:21:24
Alex
They're not taking them. But the XG the other way being that high, is that a result? So so you're right. It's like Fernandes being your sort of... playmaker if you like and he's a bit of a bonus player because you've already got three ahead of him plus two wingbacks it's like are we creating all those chances because of that but then at the same time are we getting absolutely decimated this way because like you said the transitions were not good in transition even Casemiro's not good in transition and now Lenny Yoro's found himself on the bench where he are awful in transition as we found out on Saturday you know
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
m Yeah. One that springs to mind is Harry Maguire, where Peter Crouch on the TNT coverage, you know, basically said he's caught in two minds with, um, Tiago.
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's either wanting to press up and trigger the offside trap or track the runner.
00:22:18
Alex
Yeah.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And because he's caught in two minds and decides, I can't really decide which one to do the offside trap gets beaten anyway.
00:22:23
Alex
Yeah, it doesn't either. Yeah, yeah.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um,
00:22:26
Alex
Yeah, um I mean, like look, I think the thing is with um the dropping of Lenny Yoro, um um I am confused with this and because i think that the way we have to play... When I watch Palace, ah I'm not going to say I watch every minute of Oliver Glasner's 343, I don't, but when I have watched Palace...
00:22:46
Alex
They're a lot more compact. I feel like their players are a lot closer together on the pitch. Ruben Amorim wants the same thing, I think. I don't think he likes massive spaces everywhere.
00:22:57
Alex
But what happens is, like you said, you've got a defence that's a little bit nervous when they get closer and closer to that halfway line, especially without Lenny Yoro. So that means your midfield ends up on an island between your front three and your back three. Your wing-backs are too wide to help.
00:23:12
Alex
And I think, perfect example, like you said, Maguire is like... He's getting nervous. Every step towards that halfway line, he's going, if this goes over my head, I am knackered.
00:23:22
Alex
And, well, they scored off it. exactly Exactly what you're saying. And I think that's the problem where Amarim's like, you've got to squeeze up. But then Maguire delicts, and even Shaw to a degree, he's passed his best pace-wise.
00:23:35
Alex
They're looking each other going, in wow, there's 40 yards of space here with a goalkeeper that doesn't come out of his box. You know, it's a big problem.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is is a massive problem. And we've been enjoying this conversation, Alex. We're going to take a little bit of a break. Give your ears a break. When we come back, I'm sure we'll have more diversions and divulgations. What's the word?
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Divulsions.
00:23:58
Alex
Hey, that's word of the day that word of the day.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Word of the day. but it in the dictionary. We'll be back after this.
Future Prospects and Managerial Strategies
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back after that one. I'm here with Alex from the Noisy Neighbours podcast. Make sure you do check them out on YouTube. Two brothers who are either side of Manchester. And we got the better half in Alex today in the Manchester United side.
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's good for us.
00:25:20
Alex
Fox.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Let's have a look as well. i mean, speaking of that city, dar that Manchester derby, I mean, what as well as we'll call it the city derby. That's what it was.
00:25:30
Alex
Yeah.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:25:31
Alex
Yeah.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It felt like a gut punch, this one, but not until 2-0. I felt like you know this game was still pretty open even when Phil Foden scored. It still felt like the heads didn't quite drop at that point.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was a lull for about five minutes, but I think we got back into the game. And then the yeah the cheat code happened in Erling Haaland.
00:25:50
Alex
Yeah, yeah. i mean I mean, yeah, you mentioned gu pointss gut punch there, Kieran. I did a live watch-along sat next to my brother, who, like you very well pointed out, is a City fan.
00:26:00
Alex
So, yeah, as those were rolling in in the second half with that high line, I was kind of regretting everything podcast-related at that point. But, yeah.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:26:09
Alex
So, yeah, no, you're right. i actually What a weird game, right? You touched on it earlier about the... us us having more possession in a 3-0 loss to a Pep Guardiola team at the Etihad. It was so strange.
00:26:22
Alex
And I think I thought in transition, we got ourselves into good positions. The transitions ended with defenders on the end of them, like Patrick Dorgou, who had a bad game crossing.
00:26:36
Alex
And that almost just breaks the whole offense because Dorgou and Mizrahi were almost your spare guys. We didn't have Kunyar. And I think, who was who was the other 10 in that game? Oh, Diallo. Diallo played.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:50
Alex
i did I did not think Diallo played well against City.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:26:52
Alex
I'm a big fan of Ahmad. thought he a really poor game. um I thought we had... I mean, Rodri, my brother, honestly, he's not on air. Obviously, I'm sure you'll get to meet him. My brother in that game could not believe how bad Rodri and Rinders were.
00:27:07
Alex
he sat He sat next to me in this room and he was going... I cannot believe how many turnovers United generated in that game. Ugarte did quite well. I'm not his biggest fan, but I thought he did well. Bruno did well and Buemo was pressing.
00:27:19
Alex
But the semi-transitions, Kieran, we created nothing from. Nothing. Until the the latter ends of the game.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think my head didn't drop at one nil because ah it was such a bizarre goal to concede. You had Doku on the right who went to put in a cross.
00:27:32
Alex
Oh, yeah.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It gets blocked. It just falls perfectly back to him again to then put in a first-time cross.
00:27:37
Alex
yeah
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was one of those goals. It was like, oh, come on. what What else could you have done at that point that is just...
00:27:43
Alex
Yeah, it it was a but it was a bit of an unlucky one. And yeah, it was just, you you're right, could have gone anywhere off Luke Shaw, come straight back to Docu and he probably just put it back into an area.
00:27:55
Alex
And Phil Foden has the freedom of the box. that There is issues with picking runners up. We've seen this. this is You mentioned it earlier with Bruno Fernandes in the transition this way. Obviously we had, was it Smith Rowe for Fulham who ran off Bruno?
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think so.
00:28:07
Alex
And also Foden, yeah. No, I thought the derby was a weird one, but that we were so poor in transition. I know Haaland, like you said, cheat code, but It was 3-0. I think Reinders missed the one-on-one.
00:28:20
Alex
Haaland missed that one off the line. um
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:23
Alex
it was um It was a strange one, but then we did get some chances towards the end. um That save from Donnarumma was ridiculous. Casemiro had a good chance as well. um An odd game.
00:28:34
Alex
It's the oddest derby I've seen since Guardiola's been at City, by far.
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That probably makes it one of the most memorable, even though it was a 3-0 loss.
00:28:41
Alex
yeah
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, but you'll never sing that.
00:28:43
Alex
We had more possession.
00:28:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, just just a weird one. But I think we had more possession because by 2-0, City were very happy just sitting deep in their own half and letting United have the ball. Because I think at that point they knew...
00:28:54
Alex
Yeah.
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're not really being very threatening. If it had gone to two one totally different story. City would have come back at us and, you know, they would have made sure at that point that there's another goal between us. But they were very happy at 2-0 to just let United have the ball.
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's worrying. That's really worrying. So, yeah, that's it about that.
00:29:12
Alex
Yeah. I mean, i mean they yeah, this is the thing. I mean, Guardiola's approach in that game and then he sort of he sort of fell on that a little bit in the United game. Like you said, I think you're right. i think he thought,
00:29:24
Alex
let these have it, they'll probably do more damage themselves than if we... Because they're not what they were. Rodri is... I mean, he's coming back from an ACL tear. I'm not expecting Rodri to be Ballon d'Or level Rodri, but Guardiola was like, we can contain these. Let Dorgue and Masraoui be the spare guys.
00:29:40
Alex
And we have got the ultimate, number nine, up top, who can hit you on the break. And was it the third was it the third goal that we had possession and we were comfortable? Sure, Ugarte and Maguire ballsed it up and they scored off it.
00:29:52
Alex
So... Pep Guardiola is right. Let them off it.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. And at that point, what on earth can Altai do? There's nothing he can do in that scenario. With Harland bearing down on goal, no one around him. There's not even a question of offside because he's inside his own half.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
The one player you don't give a five-yard head start to is Erling Harland.
00:30:11
Alex
yeah
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We gave him a five-yard head start and a pat on the back on his way. And he was able to just dispatch it as he always does. So, I mean, yeah, yeah.
00:30:19
Alex
lethal. He's absolutely lethal in front goal. Um,
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I only say he's a cheat goad because I'm absolutely jealous of of how good of a striker he is.
00:30:23
Alex
Phenomenal player.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's so deadly. So deadly. You give him...
00:30:29
Alex
I think, yeah, I mean, obviously we'll we'll save the City segment for when Christian meets you. But um I do think that Haaland is weirdly, I think this is the best he's ever looked as an all-round player.
00:30:42
Alex
But he's got he's apparently had the worst start goal-wise since he's been at City.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
What was it? Eight goals and six appearances.
00:30:49
Alex
Eight and six is his worst.
00:30:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Terrible. Washed.
00:30:51
Alex
Unbelievable, man.
00:30:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Washed.
00:30:52
Alex
But yeah.
00:30:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
washed but no it does feel like you know there was a game for so again when christian's on we'll have a chat about it more but it it was a game in particular and i failed to pick out which one but it was harland dribbling his way through past two or three players and it was like oh no he's figured out dribbling as well oh no
00:31:06
Alex
Yeah.
00:31:09
Alex
Oh, yeah. he so I tell you, you're right. and and he he's got a lot more I know that the notion when he came to England was, you know, he lacks a first touch and all this. His touch has improved, man.
00:31:20
Alex
Haaland can get a grip of it. He brings people into play. And know if you've seen it last night. i just watched a post-match interview before of after the Monaco game. He is scathing.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Watch your language here.
00:31:32
Alex
Yeah, yeah. He is calling out his team post-match. prop like prop prop Like, really scathing interview, talking about, you know, there was no excuse on the pen or anything like that. He was like, not good enough.
00:31:45
Alex
Not good enough. I'm looking at him like, wow, this guy's like means business in that dressing room. So, yeah, we lot we we were going to struggle with, heart like you said, a high line against Erling Haaland is not advised, but have a high line with Maguire and Shaw there, you know.
00:32:00
Alex
you
00:32:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we're asking for trouble. Asking for trouble.
00:32:03
Alex
Fox.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
A high line, though, that Chelsea put out cost them five minutes in. I mean, this was also a really weird game to have yeah know um Sanchez sent off within five minutes, taken out of Bermot.
00:32:11
Alex
Yeah.
00:32:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's... it's Denial of a goal scoring opportunity.
00:32:19
Alex
Yeah.
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's the last man. It's a red card all day long.
00:32:21
Alex
Hmm.
00:32:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Then, you know, we had Fernandes score Casemiro score. That was great. And then i don't know what came over Casemiro. Whether or not that second challenge, that second yellow card, is a yellow card or not, why are you diving in when you're on a yellow? For the first yellow that definitely was a yellow card.
00:32:42
Alex
Yeah, I think you you you've summed it up perfectly there. I was really, really frustrated with Casemiro in this game after... oh Look, You know, tell you, he's got a knack of being right place, right time, by the way. He picks up the odd goal, Casemiro.
00:32:55
Alex
and First year under Ten Hag, I think he was good for a real bunch of goals, actually. like and But yeah, the first one, I think it was Enzo Fernandes, was it, that he chopped? um I might be getting that wrong, so so forgive me if I am. But I think it was a land one on someone, so i don't know if there's a bit of ah bit of back and forth in the game that I'd missed.
00:33:12
Alex
um to You are so right. To then... ah yeah your 2-0 up, Chelsea had subbed off nearly every attacker they had to go and give the ref an option. I don't think it was a second yellow. I'm not being biased here.
00:33:27
Alex
I think if that was, I think if he pulls the shirt, yellow, I'm fine with it. But at at a a shoulder tug back a little bit. um I don't think that's a second yellow personally, but he gave the ref an option and
00:33:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the point. Yeah.
00:33:41
Alex
when When a ref has sent someone off early, like he had with Sanchez, there is an evening up element to this in referees' heads where they go, if I can even this up and make a decent game of it, um what does Casemiro do? A guy of that experience gives the ref the opportunity.
00:33:58
Alex
And like you said, threw the whole game into jeopardy because after that, it's back to what we've seen on every other game. Yeah.
00:34:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
and your And your theme of lack of control comes up again, where we handed control back to Chelsea for sort of large periods of the second half.
00:34:10
Alex
yeah
00:34:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when Trevor Chalabert gets that goal, you're just thinking 10 minutes to you're thinking, here we go again. Here we go. How we going to throw this one away? But somehow we held on for three points. I mean, that was just...
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a game I don't want to put myself through ever again. But in the first half, the premier league in Premier League, modern Premier League history, I should say, always preface it with that. It was the first game that had two goals and two red cards in the first half. It had never happened before.
00:34:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if anything, we're taking away from this season, making history.
00:34:39
Alex
um
00:34:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you'll never sing that.
00:34:44
Alex
I really like that stat. To be honest, I hope that' hope that's one of the few stats we do half-time because I'm worried about that half-time record under the Ruben. You know, they're winning at half-time, not lost in, ah I mean, what is it now, 300 games?
00:34:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:56
Alex
I'm scared of that going under Amaroum. But yeah. No, you're right. Look, look the game, it was and at the time, it felt like a massive win, right? I mean, you you especially looking at, look, we've got Brentford, relegation candidates coming up next.
00:35:10
Alex
We've got Sunderland after that, going to the break. This is our opportunity to win three in a row. um well And, well, we're going to segue into what happened after the Chelsea game now.
00:35:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:35:20
Alex
but
00:35:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, funnily enough. Yeah. I mean, you say relegation contenders. I mean, Keith Andrews, I think, has done all right at Brentford, considering the massive losses that the club had.
00:35:26
Alex
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know they lost Thomas Frank to Spurs.
00:35:29
Alex
Yeah.
00:35:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
They lost Umbermo to us. They lost Norgard as well to Arsenal. And Norgard was a big leader in that side.
00:35:38
Alex
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've still done okay. Like, don't get me wrong.
00:35:40
Alex
And Visa? vi Visa to Newcastle?
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. So they've done they've done pretty well in the start of the season. I still worry for them because Brentford are a kind of a dark horse.
00:35:47
Alex
Yeah,
00:35:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're a very well-run club. And when you see a well-run club that starts to struggle a little bit, you're sort of thinking, oh, go on, go on. We gifted them three points. No, we didn't. They took the three points off and never looked back.
00:36:01
Alex
yeah yeah Yeah, that's it. um Look, yeah coming into this game, i really obviously there's ah a lot made. Ruben Amarin's not won back-to-back games ah since he's been here.
00:36:12
Alex
You mentioned he's nearly been in it it been here a year. It's 34-35 league games, right? I mean, this is your opportunity to build on a decent win against Chelsea, albeit whether you go asterisks with the red or not.
00:36:25
Alex
And What do we do? We come out and firstly, yoro Maguire played quite well against Chelsea. I think he's gone, okay, I'll play Maguire again. But surely all week you're looking at Brentford hitting you on the counter-attack and you think, well, Lenny, you're my quickest defender.
00:36:43
Alex
Do I not play Euro over Maguire? it it's so straight It's almost like a a bit of a default going back to Maguire, almost a safety net. Lenny, you're young, a little bit maybe you could say raw.
00:36:55
Alex
But if you're going to play a high line, you play Lenny Orr, right? And the first goal comes from exactly that. Jordan Henderson and has an acre to land a long punt into.
00:37:06
Alex
And obviously, typical for us, Thiago slices it in the top corner. But what yeah, unbelievable finish.
00:37:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a great finish.
00:37:14
Alex
I mean, and I've not watched Thiago at all this season, so I didn't know what to expect. I didn't expect that. um I'm looking forward to him probably not scoring for the next 15 games, typical. But What did you think, Kieran, about the um omission of Lenny Yoro for Harry Maguire and how it sort of did feed into that first goal?
00:37:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was weird, wasn't it? Considering that you've got Jorah and De Ligt, I think are a really good pairing at centre-back. And then it's sort of whoever, you know, whether it's between Shaw or Maguire or sometimes Masraoui as that centre-back, it sort of changes between them.
00:37:40
Alex
Yeah.
00:37:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I feel like we are a stronger unit with De Ligt and Jorah on the side. So I'm a bit confused as to why he was dropped. um I think, you know, the start of the season has been okay.
00:37:54
Alex
Yeah.
00:37:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not been great, but it's been okay for Jorah. And he's a young lad. I do see him within the next three or four years. knocking on the door of the French international side to get his first French cap.
00:38:06
Alex
Oh yeah. Fox. oh Yeah.
00:38:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
so So he's going to get there.
00:38:07
Alex
Yeah.
00:38:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But and in this side, it is going to be tough. But one thing this game reminded me of is how vulnerable we are defensively. Not only that, but Brentford, who are you know this season and and seasons past,
00:38:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
are really good, so efficient at pressing. In that game, United didn't get a chance to breathe. They didn't get a chance to do a lot with the ball. And that's why it went backwards, because Brentford were pressing so effectively.
00:38:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Grimsby showed us how to press as well. I'm glad we didn't mention that game.
00:38:37
Alex
Yeah.
00:38:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the point is, if a team are pressing efficiently, effectively, for long periods of the game...
00:38:39
Alex
Yeah.
00:38:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
we go backwards because we have players that can't really play through the press. You know, City are really good team at playing through the press.
00:38:50
Alex
yeah
00:38:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're very comfortable on the ball. They can knock it around in diamonds, in triangles, whatever they like, until they find that one killer pass, you know, Pep raised that system at Barcelona, where the first two thirds were absolutely structured. You must do this. You must keep possession. You must line up in this specific way. As soon as you get to the final third, when you've got Messi and David Villa, do what you want. you know At that point, the game is yours.
00:39:16
Alex
Yeah, yeah. You get the freedom.
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, exactly, you get that freedom in the final third.
00:39:21
Alex
Yeah.
00:39:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it doesn't feel like that with United. It feels like if any team... come up against us and they are pressing and they give us little space. There's not a lot we can do. we We can't really play through a press.
00:39:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that worries me considering that it's a very physical league and how many teams really afford pressing and counter pressing?
00:39:34
Alex
Yeah.
00:39:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pretty much every team in the Premier League at the moment.
00:39:41
Alex
yeah It's an athletic league. like you said it perfectly. We we lack the we lack the the the personnel to receive it on the half turn and like you said, receive it under pressure.
00:39:52
Alex
you You can almost sense the anxiety. yeah well If you're at Old Trafford or even watching on TV, you almost every single pass gets a little bit more... under pressure.
00:40:03
Alex
you know So it'll be Shaw back to De Ligt, out to Jorow, up to Dallow. And each time you see the panics building and building, it comes to Ugarte, who's a centre mid for us, and he's not good on the half turn. He's not pressure resistant.
00:40:17
Alex
Fernandes likes to get it with looking this way as well. Kobi Meynu is probably the most pressure resistant footballer and he can't get minutes because... There's no, well, you can't play him and Bruno in a centre mid pairing.
00:40:30
Alex
So you're right. If, I mean, I'm, i look, i you know, I don't want to cut you up here on your agenda here, but like looking ahead to Liverpool and how they press Anfield.
00:40:41
Alex
and we've got them in a couple of weeks, I am. That first 20 minutes at Anfield, like you said, Brentford pressed us, Grimsby pressed us. Are Liverpool going to come at us at Anfield and press us like that? Because they will absolutely crumble.
00:40:55
Alex
It could be 3-0 after 20 minutes. You know.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i'll be watching from behind the sofa you know cowering over just wondering and how big the cricket school is going to be
00:41:01
Alex
ah love she yeah but I'm actually on holiday, and I'm flying back as the game is playing. So,
00:41:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good for you.
00:41:10
Alex
I will land and check my phone. yeah. ah yeah
00:41:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're in the right place for it though. Up in the air. Just, you know, forget about it.
00:41:17
Alex
Yeah, yeah. I would say not a care in the world, but um there is a care in my head.
00:41:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No chance of looking.
00:41:21
Alex
Yeah, look, I mean, you you're so right with the press. i'm i I think pet teams as well smell blood. You're right. Teams are athletic. You notice it under under Ruben, we've struggled against Bournemouth's Newcastle put us through in Old Trafford last season, didn't they? When Joe Linton, Tonali ran at us and they ran through us.
00:41:39
Alex
And we lack that ability to hold off and keep possession. And I think that's probably why, you know, was talking before about the long passes. It's probably why we do launch it quickly to the three guys up top because it's it's almost our best play.
00:41:53
Alex
Get it to the quick guys. Let them try and do something in transition and we'll live with the consequences because the more passes we make in that, you you said Pep's first two-thirds, the more passes we make there, the more chance we're going to turn it over.
00:42:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in a way, it's sort of a bit counterintuitive because this system seems to favour possession.
00:42:06
Alex
you know
00:42:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It seems to favour players that can carry the ball really well, players that are intelligent and can pick a pass, resistant to the press somewhat. you know If there's three at the back, you can always pass it to the other one.
00:42:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you've got a sweeper keeper at the back, you can always pass it to him to then get a full view of the game.
00:42:27
Alex
Yeah. Yeah.
00:42:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
but to have a system like that and then play the long ball just seems counterintuitive. And and maybe that's where this disconnect is lying because you're trying to play a system here that works on possession at the back, wing play, your wing backs are your width in the pitch.
00:42:33
Alex
Yeah.
00:42:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then you've got your attacking moves and striker and sort of the spine of the team there to try and help you play through. But then you're bypassing the midfield altogether. So so it it just seems, it does seem a bit disjointed and and counterintuitive to to play the way we do.
00:42:51
Alex
Completely. Completely. Yeah.
00:42:57
Alex
Yeah. Well, you're so right. I mean, i mean it's um it's it's dysfunctional. It's the best the best way you can explain it. And and like I said, i think I think that the issues around people receiving the ball, it isn't just... It's a lot of them struggle receiving the ball. Because Patrick Dorgouk,
00:43:15
Alex
Amazing athleticism. But if you're slinging passes into him, he he he can easily have a loose touch, lose it, turnover. And then the panic starts, the turnover starts. And Dallow, I mean, i don't know what he was doing on Saturday.
00:43:29
Alex
we have We've seen a lot of this from Dallow over the years. That was it, the second goal, the rebound. The ball goes over Dallow's head and him and De Ligt switch on the on the retreat. I just, I'm watching it like, but there wasn't a communication of like, De Ligt said, you cover the guy inside. It was almost like, Dallow ran that way, De Ligt ran that way.
00:43:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:43:50
Alex
was like, what is going on? We had a week to prepare for this game.
00:43:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was, yeah, I sort of more put that on De Ligt because he's the closer player to Haaland. You know, if you if you, of that back line, if you're going to put a player to man Mark Haaland, even though it's quite impossible to do, but if you're going to pick a player, you would have picked De Ligt.
00:44:00
Alex
Yeah.
00:44:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it was a case of De Ligt lost Haaland there, which, mean, it happens to the worst of us.
00:44:07
Alex
Sure, yeah.
00:44:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It can surely happen to the best, but...
00:44:14
Alex
That's the thing as well, isn't it? They pick up. they did there's never The thing with the back three as well, ah there is confusion. You know, like in a back two, I think with Rio and Vidic, Vidic, you're picking up Drogba. And that that that was the case for most of the game. You can sort of hang your hat on that.
00:44:28
Alex
With this, you're right. I mean, the the the Harland's first goal, he was unsure, wasn't he? You had Doku on Yoro, and then the first goal was Doku on Shaw.
00:44:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:44:39
Alex
Appreciate he did switch sides, but there's never a consistent of like, like you said, De Ligt, you look after Haaland, because there's three of you there. Haaland can peel either way. Thiago can peel either way.
00:44:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:44:51
Alex
And I think that's another thing of consistency where you almost want to strip it back and just go, look, Leni, Yoro and De Ligt as a back two, you're picking up Thiago, you're the spare man. And just...
00:45:02
Alex
Because they're overthinking. They are overthinking, no doubt to me.
00:45:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've obviously been really enjoying our conversation here so much so that it's a a longer episode.
00:45:14
Alex
Wow.
00:45:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to ask one.
00:45:15
Alex
It's my fault, Akira.
00:45:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no. I like long episodes. It's all good with me. Um, but I will ask one more question then.
00:45:19
Alex
Yeah.
00:45:22
Alex
Go for it.
00:45:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, and we can settle this debate. Are you Amor in or Amor out?
00:45:27
Alex
Definitely out.
00:45:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:45:29
Alex
i i was I've been really on the fence since I went to the pre-season game because I don't believe the system is the best for the squad. what The thing is for me, I don't mind the 3-4-3, but just you can do something different until you've got the players to play your 3-4-3. I really think Maynou in for sure, or one of the back three, whoever you want to get rid of.
00:45:54
Alex
Shaw probably because he's he's probably not a centre-back sort of thing. Mainu in for sure, go 4-2-3-1 and just show me what that looks like for a game or two. If it's rubbish, fine. But it's like, it's the the negligence of not giving it something else a go.
00:46:09
Alex
um I don't know how you win at the top level, even if we say we got we did get a good side together. Are we going to win a Prem with a guy who won't flip from system to system? Even game in games, we spoke about Pep and Fergie you know changing systems.
00:46:23
Alex
It worries me. And from a preparation standpoint, yeah we spoke about Brentford earlier. they went They've been playing five at the back all season. On Saturday, went 4-2-3-1 and outnumbered us in the midfield 3-2.
00:46:38
Alex
And it's like, I was sat there going, Brentford are making adjustments to dominate us.
00:46:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:46:45
Alex
What about you, Kieran? Where are you at Tell me.
00:46:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, i the potential of the system is still what's got me onside.
00:46:53
Alex
Yeah.
00:46:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like I've said, i had a ah solo episode where I just absolutely tore into the whole Manchester United mantra. You can't keep changing managers year after year and nothing works. Look how many it managers we've had walk in here, have some semblance of success, and then they're sacked.
00:47:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, we're becoming the Chelsea of the Abramovich era.
00:47:13
Alex
Yeah.
00:47:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
If, you know, if five games, six games in, you're not good enough, you're out.
00:47:16
Alex
Yeah.
00:47:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that really the way we want to go?
00:47:19
Alex
yeah yeah
00:47:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, it took Ferguson how many years to to finally win a trophy?
00:47:24
Alex
It was?
00:47:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was the FA Cup that saved his job.
00:47:27
Alex
Yeah.
00:47:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, Mark Hughes being being the one to save your job.
00:47:30
Alex
Yeah.
00:47:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's ah That's a statement that only works in the 80s and 90s. It doesn't really work nowadays. But the point is, you know, you've got... You've got ah manager here and you've got a board, like him or hate him, have seen Amarim's system, seen it work at Sporting and said, that's what we want here.
00:47:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then there's the disconnect because Amram's come in as a head coach. So how much of a say does he have in transfers? I would probably say not as lot as, say, Ferguson did.
00:47:58
Alex
Yeah.
00:47:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not as lot as, say, David Moyes. You know, okay, we had Fellaini.
00:48:01
Alex
Yeah.
00:48:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had massive influence on that. But that was a deadline day signing and more of a panic signing. It didn't turn out that bad. But, you know, for United, we wanted more. So you've got this cocktail here of big transfers, big signings.
00:48:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Take Anthony, for example, who's now enjoying life at Betis. Good for him.
00:48:21
Alex
Yeah.
00:48:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a massive fee, massive pressure on him, and 80 million translates to, this is a player that is a finished product.
00:48:30
Alex
Yeah. And
00:48:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And not that's not the case. We're paying, you know, Lenny Yoroh wasn't that cheap either. He was nearing 50 odd million, wasn't he?
00:48:37
Alex
another prayer.
00:48:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
For, you know, an 18 year old. So the the the the problems lie not only in the system as well, but where is this, you know, you've got a radical system here.
00:48:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the word I'll use because it's so different to what we've seen before.
00:48:49
Alex
Yeah.
00:48:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Such a radical system. So why have we only just won half a throw, you know, an underarm throw at it?
00:48:54
Alex
Yeah.
00:48:58
Alex
No, you're right.
00:48:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you need to go full pelt at it. So I think...
00:49:02
Alex
I think you're right. and just just want to just want to piggyback on what you've said there, whether I'm a rim in or whatever, but i'll tell you one thing you are right on is Ineos went and plucked this guy. You said from Sporting Lisbon, we love what you're doing there. Come and do it at Man United. He's gone, right, okay, well, it's a good job you want to see 343 because it's all I can do and it's all I will do.
00:49:20
Alex
ah He comes here and you go, like you said, are you going all in or are you going... we're going to put a few chips in, we're going to hold a few back. You need to give Ruben Amorim six, seven players. You need to overhaul.
00:49:34
Alex
He needed more than a front three in the summer. And I know there's issues around money, but you went and got this guy. don't be Don't be like, there's your front three, but you're getting no midfielders.
00:49:45
Alex
ah You need more... It's like if you wanted to just get a bit more out the team than Ten Haag, go and get a coach that coaches 4-2-3-1 because that's what these boys are used to. You go and get someone that plays 3-4-3 and knows nothing else and then only give him three players.
00:49:59
Alex
I do agree with you on that point massively.
00:50:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're Amarout, give me the manager you want to come in and change all our prospects and make everything good again, like we've had the previous six.
00:50:06
Alex
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:50:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh-oh,
00:50:11
Alex
Yeah, I know I'm going to probably get a bit of stick for this um because I did on my pod.
00:50:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
go on.
00:50:17
Alex
I'll give you two. i do. I do. I really like the idea of Javi, probably because the midfield has just been such a mess. And I actually like Poch.
00:50:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
not against Potch.
00:50:29
Alex
And that's OK. I got a bit of for the Poch one, right? I'll tell you.
00:50:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:50:34
Alex
I'll tell you what. tell you why i like Poch. And I think he inherited a poor Spurs team. um I can't remember whether it was Villas-Boas or Juan de Ramos, whoever he inherited that team off. And he went and bought players from your bottom half team, similar to where Man United are now.
00:50:49
Alex
I think you alluded it to it on your own podcast. You know, we are by we are buying Wolves' best player, Brentford's best player, for a reason. That's where we are. And it's not a bad strategy, by the way. um I think Poch built that Spurs team really well.
00:51:04
Alex
He put faith in youth. Obviously, Kane was an elite talent, but you've still got to bring them through. i'm Built a good, solid spine. you remember Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Lloris, Dembele, Kane, Eriksen?
00:51:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:51:18
Alex
He built a strong side. And i I think, I know, was the Chelsea tenure that bad with Poch? I thought he did okay.
00:51:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did okay, but I think it was the era of if you're if you've had 10, 15 games where it's not going well, you're out.
00:51:33
Alex
Yeah, well, you touched on Chelsea before.
00:51:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, kind of ruthless.
00:51:35
Alex
I mean, they they pulled the trigger. I think maybe Maresca is benefiting from Poch's hard work that season a little bit because I do think, obviously, signed Palmer for 40 million. i mean, that's that's a phenomenal buy looking at in this current market, like you said.
00:51:49
Alex
and So, not you're not like Javi?
00:51:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
i i I think Xavi's a lot like Zidane, where at one club, he will be amazing.
00:51:57
Alex
Okay.
00:52:02
Alex
I hear you
00:52:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if he tries it anywhere else, that's the reason why Zidane has only ever managed Real Madrid.
00:52:04
Alex
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:52:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's that's my That's my call on the matter.
00:52:09
Alex
and
00:52:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like sometimes as a manager, as a top level player, you know, you have one stint where you've helped Real Madrid get a decimer and you've helped them become established at the top of European football once again.
00:52:11
Alex
yeah
00:52:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that point you say, I don't have to prove anything else. that's fine.
00:52:28
Alex
yeah yeah
00:52:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stick to what you know. Stick to the club you know that's brought you success.
00:52:31
Alex
yeah
00:52:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't fault them at all. I don't fault Zidane for just saying, that's it. I'm done with management. I'm good with that. I kind of feel like it should be the same for Xavi.
00:52:39
Alex
Yeah.
00:52:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like if he tries to basically create a legacy outside of Barcelona, I just think it's a bad idea.
00:52:41
Alex
Yeah.
00:52:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But hey,
00:52:48
Alex
No, I hear you. And know and'm also just talking about the Barcelona, completely different clubs to Man United, our DNA, our principles, our style of play. appreciate we don't typically play 3-4-3 either, but I do think Amorim gets the the size of the club and the charisma side of it.
00:52:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:53:02
Alex
I do like the way he speaks. um And Xavi is that thing. He's going to bring a Barca DNA with him. It's all, like you said, it's all he knows. He's played there all his career, Barry and a bit of Qatar at the end.
00:53:13
Alex
He managed there. He's going to bring a Barca DNA to a team that, I mean, we can't keep the ball, right? So again, it does it's not a match made in heaven. And I'm i'm just plucking a name out, really. i Oh, I like Xavi. But what Poch, for me, I do think there's a bit of a similarity with where Spurs were and where we are.
00:53:31
Alex
I know that's awful. That is just the truth of it. um and And yeah, I did i just like Potch. Yeah, that's probably my that's probably my call, Kieran.
00:53:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
There go. You've heard it here first. We we prefer the potch on the pod.
00:53:43
Alex
Potch in.
00:53:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go.
00:53:44
Alex
Please don't come for me.
00:53:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Potching.
00:53:45
Alex
I got absolutely hammered for that on my pod, so yeah.
00:53:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we can get hammered here as well. It's okay. It's all good.
00:53:51
Alex
Let him come for me. It's fine.
00:53:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's fine. That's fine. Bring it on. And if you want to join us on all the social medias as well, make sure you check out and Alex and Christian's podcast. They're the Noisy Neighbours pod on YouTube. So make sure you go and check them out. They've been fantastic guests.
00:54:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah At least the Manchester United side has as well.
00:54:07
Alex
yeah
00:54:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also you can listen and watch this episode, of course, if you're already listening on Spotify or on Apple, then you can head over to our YouTube channel as well. It's at the Daily Man United podcast. It's got GSPN at the start. i forgot about that. It's such a long name. You have to remember it.
00:54:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
and That's the tagline. And of course, we couldn't be here with you today without our great partners at Zencastr.
00:54:28
Alex
Thank
00:54:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because at Zencastr and at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. And Zencastr came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that can remove those ums and ahs and maybe a bad word that Alex said that he hasn't realized yet.
00:54:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It gives you all the tools you need to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. So if you're ready to tell your story, make sure you check out Zencast in the show description to learn more about their product.
00:54:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alex, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on the show today. We'd love to have you back and maybe one of us can traverse onto your pod.
00:55:03
Alex
100%. We need to get you on ours, definitely. I really enjoyed that, Kieran. It was great chewing the fat over a Man United. Hopefully, next time we speak, it might be in better circumstances. But thank you for having me. I've really enjoyed it.
00:55:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It's been brilliant, Alex. Thank you so much for joining us. And yes, hopefully we've got at least three more points in the bag. We've got the Sunderland preview coming up shortly as well. So make sure you tune in for that. And it's a nice international break where we don't have to watch United for a little bit. Zen.
00:55:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Love it. Can't wait. In the meantime, take care of yourselves. Have a great rest of your day and we'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye.