Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Daily Manchester United - Episode 122 - The Best & Worst United Signings since Ferguson retired
16 Plays28 days ago
On this Wildcard Wednesday episode, Cormac is joined by Tom and Toluwa, to discuss the best and worst signings Manchester United have made since Ferguson's departure.
#manunited #ggmu
Find us on:
Instagram: gspnmanunited
X: gspnmanunited
Tiktok: gspnmanunited
Our Sponsors
Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.
We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.
Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.
www.bioniq.com/gspn2025
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
ken.davies@globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2025 Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
#fyp #mufc #fyp
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Theme of Wild Card Wednesday
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Manchester United podcast. On today's episode, it's Wild Card Wednesday, so me and the guys are going to be looking at United's best transfers and their worst transfers since Alex Ferguson departed the club.
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name's Cormac and today I'm joined by Tom. Tom, how are we doing?
00:00:26
Tom Cairns
Hello, Colmack. Hello, Tol. How are we doing? Yes, we're going to go through the best and worst transfers of Manchester United since he had departed as manager back in 2013. Since then, Manchester United have been nowhere near the same in terms of their transfer business.
00:00:41
Tom Cairns
So we'll be looking through the best and the worst and find out where they're going wrong.
Successful Transfers Post-Ferguson
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. And Tuluwa, we doing good?
00:00:48
Toluwa Famuyide
Good, good. I'm assuming that there's going to be a lot more negative than positive, but we move.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeahve absolutely Yeah, absolutely. So I guess I'll kick things off with, for me, i think United's best transfer. um I guess you could argue with someone else, but I'm going start off with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I think, you know, in terms of getting him in on a free and, you know, just the impact he had, I think we never really were struggling for goals when he's up top like we are now. And just, you know, the Carabao Cup final, the two goals he had, um huge win the sack game and just his overall presence up top. You know, we had a world-class striker and he was just
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
never really done wrong for us. um So yeah, I think he has to be my best. um and Tom, what did you think of his time at your United?
00:01:34
Tom Cairns
I liked so Sutton. It was a shame it was effectively one season he had. ah Bearing in mind, towards the end of the season, he got injured in a Europa League game against Anderlecht, which was a big shame because we could have done with more of his goals um in the run-ins of the season.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:47
Tom Cairns
But it didn't matter too much. We came away with the Europa League and he played a huge part in that with so many goals that he had scored. I think it was something like 28 goals or something along those lines in his first season Old Trafford, which is quite mesmerising considering it was only 35 or 36 years of age.
00:02:03
Tom Cairns
So yeah, that was quite a bargain given him what he what we came away with that season.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Tolua, your thoughts on
00:02:10
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I have to agree. I thought it was kind of disappointing that he was only there for one season. Definitely the type of striker that we've needed for a long time. And, you know, having the types of, you know, strikers like Lukaku and, and,
00:02:22
Toluwa Famuyide
Zlatan, players with more, I would say, more impetus, more effect on the game, especially in the Premier League. um He was so good. I mean, obviously, Zlatan, anywhere he goes, he shines. But there was something different about his time at United compared to a lot of the other strikers that we've had.
00:02:38
Toluwa Famuyide
We've tested a lot of the different players that we've trialed. And, yeah, it was sad to see him go. But obviously, at his old age, he wasn't going to be there for much longer. So a good piece of business for the one year.
00:02:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely. In terms getting them on the free, I think it has to be up there. United's better business. Tom, I'll bounce at you. Who's next player you put as good signing for your United?
00:02:58
Tom Cairns
I've ever got to put Bruno, haven't we? Because although we paid £68 million pounds for him, he really saved United's campaign in that 2019-20 season.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:07
Tom Cairns
And he carried it over into the following campaign as well, bearing in mind we were playing behind closed doors. But he had a brilliant first 18 months at United and he dropped away a little bit, i think, that the next campaign and then bounced back in the next... term campaign of when we won the League Cup.
00:03:23
Tom Cairns
And it's been hit and miss, really, with Bruno. But I think when you look at his stats of this season in particular, despite United's problems, he is, you have to say, one of the bright spots in that Manchester United team right now, and most certainly was when he first started.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. I have to agree with you. mean, when he came in that January transfer, I think it was 2020 right before COVID. I mean, it was just refreshing to get a player who we paid decent money for and actually was providing the goods right away. He was outstanding, you know, and then, yeah, over the years, I mean, he's never put a foot wrong. He's been probably our best player the last, you know,
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
four years at least. And yeah, even this season when we're kind of in the mud, he's been the one really trying to dig deep, drag us through, and he's been putting in some great performances recently. Tolua, yeah, what do think about
00:04:09
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I mean, it's hard to ignore the performances of Bruno ever since he came to the cal club. He's easily been our best player, in my opinion. I think the the influence that he has in almost every game. I know, you know, he's gone through spells where he's given the ball away a lot. He's tried to do a little too much.
00:04:24
Toluwa Famuyide
He hasn't been able to kind of rally the team together and and and have everybody play as a collective. But I think individually, he's just so world class. You can see it when he goes to Portugal. He's a different guy than at United. And clearly, the the quality in Portugal's team is much better than United's overall.
00:04:41
Toluwa Famuyide
um I think Bruno is one of those players where given the right resources around him would easily be without a doubt would easily be one of the best ah creative midfielders that the Prem has ever seen. It's just tough when you're laying the ball off to a certain players and they can't finish, you know, and this has been happening for seasons on end for us to rely on Bruno as much as we did when he first came. And now, you know, i feel like he was probably promised over the years to get more reinforcements, better players around him to support his game you know,
00:05:10
Toluwa Famuyide
That just hasn't happened. But, you know, like you guys have said, he's just such a workhorse. It doesn't matter what the situation is around him. He'll just do his best for the club. And I just I can't ignore that ever.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, he's just been a phenomenal player for us over the years. Talua, who's next for you?
00:05:26
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, it was hard to to honestly think of, you know, some players because we've had players that have come in and done a good job. You know, I think Ronaldo would be one of those, you know, that you can say he came in and was excellent for us in the first season, but then it fell off. I'm going to go with a little bit of a different one. um Didn't score a lot of goals for us. Wasn't, you know, the most...
00:05:45
Toluwa Famuyide
technically gifted player, but I think he gave everything for the badge and that's Ender Herrera. I know that was kind of a while ago ah that he was playing for us, but when he did play for us, never complained once, never complained, did his job, was hardworking, was was just the perfect midfielder in terms of ethic.
00:06:02
Toluwa Famuyide
I know he wasn't the most technically gifted. We've had so many different players like Pogba and players who play that same position. that are better on the ball. and but But he was just so class for me. And it was a shame to see him go as well, because I thought he was one of those that could have stayed with us forever, to be honest. It didn't seem like he was ready to leave.
00:06:20
Toluwa Famuyide
It was kind of just one of those things where didn't fit the new manager system and was forced to leave. But yeah, he was one of those that, you know, always always remember as United player.
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom?
00:06:32
Tom Cairns
I liked Herrera. I mean, he who was fans player of the season in 2017 when he won the League Cup in the Europa League. He played a huge, huge role in that. I think he was certainly one of United's best players that season that we had of 2016-17. But yes, it was a shame that he had left in 2019 to go to PSG because I think he went on a free or something like that.
00:06:50
Tom Cairns
But, you know, um but yeah, he hasn't quite been the same player since. But You know, times move on. And I do wish him ah all the best, but it was a great five years that he had at the club. I think certainly his first season, he was adapting to life in England compared to he got an athletic build battle. But yeah, he wasn't exactly a goal-scoring machine, but he was ah huge, huge team player in that middle of the park. And I think you United have been lacking with that for quite some time, hence why I've been relying more on defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders as opposed to box-to-box midfielders.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, yeah, 100%. I mean, Herrera, he was a pure fan's favourite. I mean, you never questioned his passion, his determination on the pitch. I think we definitely missed that right now. um But yeah, no, what a player. I remember, I think, when we played Chelsea, he was assigned to Manmark Eden Hazard the whole match. And I hadn't seen someone Manmark that well probably since Perci sung.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he even managed to get a goal that game. But yeah, no, definitely missed a player like him in the midfield. Absolutely. Definitely a great signing for United.
Troubled Transfers Post-Ferguson
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go... and Another one, he wasn't really a starter as much, but I thought in terms of business he was on, he always put in a great shift. And that's actually going to be Sergio Romero.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, what the jobs he was doing coming in as a backup, I mean, for a time there, he was probably the world's best backup keeper. I mean, we probably had the best goalkeeping room in the world with De Gea in the form he was.
00:08:12
Toluwa Famuyide
Thank you.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Romero backing him up. And, you know, when he played in those cup competitions, I mean, he he looked superby, honestly. Could have been our starter. um If De Gea, obviously, we didn't have him. He was in the form of his life.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, i just thought getting him in for free, he never put a foot wrong for us, and he he really just came through when needed. and What you think about it, Tuluwa?
00:08:34
Toluwa Famuyide
Yeah, I mean, Romero is one of those where, like you said, whenever he was called upon, he was just stellar. He was class. um I can't remember if I'm thinking of this correctly, if he was forced out of the club. I'm not too sure. i just remember his departure was a bit dodgy.
00:08:49
Toluwa Famuyide
It wasn't in the best light, I feel like, with the club and Romero. But for, you know, United, who, let's be real, the goalkeeper position has always been a topic for United. um We've had some really world-class goalkeepers as our number ones, but number twos haven't been great.
00:09:04
Toluwa Famuyide
I think Romero has definitely been the pick of the bunch in the past decade. I remember, you know, we had Lindegard at a time when, you know, when Sir Alex was there. Just those are the type of calibers, second keepers we had, but Romero is really good. Byendier is coming up and could be, you know, just as good as Romero, hopefully.
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom.
00:09:22
Tom Cairns
I mean, I liked Romero. I liked it when he stepped up to the plate whenever a chance had been given to him. and But yeah, especially his performances. I think i remember him saving a penalty at Southampton, which was a couple of games before the Europa League final. i think Mourinho was trying to prepare a team that knew was going to be picking for the Europa League final. And Romero was certainly going to be one of them in the line-up.
00:09:45
Tom Cairns
And he put off some brilliant saves in that Europa League campaign of which we won it. So, yeah, it was a bit of a shame that we let him go. But bearing in mind, he only made seven league appearances. When you compare that to the other cup competitions, and just trying to have a look.
00:09:59
Tom Cairns
ah If you minus 61 with ah seven, that's 54. fifty four
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:10:04
Tom Cairns
So he played 54 cup games and only seven league appearances for Manchester United during that time. So, yeah, it's mental though, isn't it?
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
it it really is yeah i mean but yeah i mean the cup was going so well from you know unfortunately we had to honestly if the head gone i would have been fine romero just stepping up didn't need to sign anyone but yeah i know um for me definitely has to be up there uh tom i'll go back to you for next player
00:10:27
Toluwa Famuyide
Thank you.
00:10:29
Tom Cairns
So i think we're going to have I'm just looking at the signs we've had. think it's worth adding Lissandro Martinez in there because although he is an injury-prone player, when he first arrived, I remember the first couple of games we had against Brighton and Brentford, he was out of his depth.
00:10:44
Tom Cairns
But the very next game after that against Liverpool, he played like an absolute menace. like I remember him and Malassia playing in that game and i just thought, these two have arrived. Certainly Martin as in that game where was just so ruthless against the likes of Seller, Milner and everyone like that.
00:11:01
Tom Cairns
They just totally battered Liverpool everywhere they could. And that was the beginning of what proved to be a quality player that United were going to need for the next few years. It's just a shame that in each of the three seasons he has had, he's picked up an important injury and he's likely to be out for the rest of this season, which is a really bad dent to the side.
00:11:22
Tom Cairns
But i'm hoping next season when he does return from from injury, he's going to have um an injury-free season and United going to need him to go forward, whether it be in Europe or without Europe at all.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to Lua.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, agree with Boche. Definitely up there is a great sign. It's unfortunate about the injuries, but no, I love that he proved so many people wrong.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I will go for a quick ad break now. When we get back, we'll continue with more transfer talk.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tolua, I'll go to you for the next player on United's best transfer list.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom.
00:16:01
Tom Cairns
I do like Delo. It's just a shame he's been performing the way he has been. I mean, if you look at the number of games he's played, he's played over 25 times in the league for Manchester United. In a season that he's had, this has probably been by far his in terms of his performance at the club.
00:16:13
Tom Cairns
Didn't play that many games in 2019-20, despite a few goals. like The oddd god ah ah goal odd goal or two, I think the first goal he got was in an FA Cup tie at Tremier, of all places. And then went out on loan to Inter Milan, where I thought he thrived.
00:16:28
Tom Cairns
And um I think he won the league as well when Antonio Conte was there. So that was part of the reason why United wanted him back. got so many games on the Solskjaer and thought he excelled but I think since Ruben Amarin's come in he has not been the player that he once was and i do worry for him as to whether he's going to be part of United's setup for next season I think he will be but the reason why I say that with Delo is because of the lack of options we've got in that position because we know Matsouraoui can play in that right wing back role So could Dello, but sometimes Matsurari has been switched that right centre-back role.
00:17:02
Tom Cairns
So it kind of limits United's options right now, hence why I think Dello will end up sticking around. Bearing in mind, he turns 26 later this month, so he still has a number of years left in his career at United if he can prove himself that he can be part of Amarin's system. And he needs to, and quite fast, because if Amarin doesn't see it in him and he's not going to be part of the system, then his time at Manchester United is going to be cut short.
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, we only paid around 20 million for
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean, yeah, you touched on Tolua last season. He was superb, you know, nearly player of the season for us, I might say. And yeah, I definitely think he's a good buy.
00:18:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I thought just obviously getting me in for cheap, but the job he'd done up front, it's just a shame. He didn't really get to play at Old Trafford much. He was kind of there during the COVID stuff. But yeah, just saw, you know, world-class finisher.
00:18:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Some of the goals he had was One that sticks out for me was that chip he had against Fulham, which I was going crazy for. And then even, I remember, a great goal against Everton as well, kind of slathering near corner.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a world-class striker, and it was good to see that up front for United again. Thoughts on that, too, though?
00:19:00
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom.
00:19:58
Tom Cairns
I liked Cavani. I liked his impact at the club in that 2020-21 season where he's got a handful of goals in that Europa League campaign. And I just liked his work ethic. I thought he just came in and got on with the job that he was set out to do.
00:20:10
Tom Cairns
um was just maybe five to ten goals short, I think, in the league where he needed to just elevate your United a little bit further. Because what we've got to remember, we finished second in that league to Man City. I think we lost it by 12 points or something like that.
00:20:24
Tom Cairns
So it'd be nice if we can get someone like him. Probably around the realms of 22, 23 years of age where need an out-and-out goalscorer who can adapt very well, not just to Manchester United, but to the Premier League.
00:20:38
Tom Cairns
Because an all-out striker and a consistent striker domestically is something United have been lacking for some time now. and Because if you look at Hoyland, he seems to thrive more in European competitions, whereas in the league or in the domestic cups, he really struggles.
00:20:54
Tom Cairns
We need someone who can adapt to both domestically and in Europe.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
100% agree with you. I think strike right now is what we're missing the most. We'll change it up now going, I'm sure there's lot more to talk about with our worst signings. I'll kick back to you, Tom.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who's going to start off this list as some of United's worst signings post-Ferguson?
00:21:14
Tom Cairns
Where do I begin, Cormac? That's the million pound question. Let's begin with Jadon Sancho, who people thought he was going to bring in some rather big moments. Well, say big moments. He was going to be the kind of play United needed, especially on that right-hand side.
00:21:30
Tom Cairns
He proved to me a nightmare and a difficult one to handle. but No matter which manager it was, whether it would be Solskjaer at the dugout, Zan Haag at the dugout, or even Amrim at the dugout, he was always going to be.
00:21:41
Tom Cairns
an obstacle to that Manchester United team. Almost like a bit of a ah Roy Keane type player where he tried to make himself the big fish in a small pond, except the worst player than what Roy Keane was. And um yeah, I think he just totally self-destructed, unfortunately. And there's nothing more to say on that because although United are paid the best part of £75 million pounds for him, it certainly hasn't lived up to that.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to the I'm sure you agree with Tom here.
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I agree with you. mean, he was just terrible. And yeah, I think we paid 75, 80 mil for him.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, no, it's just his body language.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, he's definitely an awful transfer for United. Tolua, who's another one for
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom, great.
00:25:53
Tom Cairns
Yeah, well, answering Tolu's question, it was 33 games. It's 33 games he's played for Manchester United in the space of 18 months, which he definitely doesn't meet the price tag, does it?
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:26:04
Tom Cairns
But and I'd like to give Mount another season just to see if he can actually fend off all the injuries he's been getting. um But if he doesn't thrive in the next season, then it's probably time for him to move on. But I'd give Mount more time just to see if he can actually fit into that Manchester United team. Because right now, with the lack of options you United have got,
00:26:22
Tom Cairns
if he If he comes back from injury now, if he came back anytime soon, United would just throw him into the line-up.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he'd do well at United, but Yeah, no, that number seven jersey just seems to be cursed. And yeah, it's not working out. But I would like to see him in Amarim's system because Amarim was saying he was a fan of his. So yeah, we'll see Ophi get back as soon as possible.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll go for another quick ad break and then we'll be back. We'll wrap up worst transfer signings talk.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
The next player I'm going to throw in there, I think, has to be, for me anyway, the most infuriating one, and that's Alexis Sanchez. You know, from what we've seen at Arsenal, you know, he was obviously such a great player.
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought we had done a great piece of business, you know, swapping Mictetarian for him. And just, you know, the wages we were giving him, I think he was on, what, nearly £400,000 a week. And he just didn't make an impact at all.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was just terrible. You know, I don't know what happened to him at United, but when we signed him, I was like, oh my God, like, here we go. Like, we have a world-class winger.
00:28:40
Tom Cairns
oh I mean, he just didn't exactly thrive. I even remember that piano um advert or whatever it was when he he yeah you know, playing goalie Grosman United on the piano or something, or at least it maybe he was pretending to.
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
mm-hmm
00:28:52
Tom Cairns
But yeah, it was just a really, really bad signing really for us. And I suppose the only consolation is that we swapped him for another player who wasn't exactly that great for United in his second season, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who I remember actually, he scored a brilliant number of goals in that Europa League campaign when we won it.
00:29:09
Tom Cairns
But the second season of the Mourinho era, he was absolutely awful and he just couldn't settle. And when we signed Sanchez, he was even worse.
00:29:20
Tom Cairns
So it was kind of bad business, really, for both Arsenal and Mani Aida just doing that swap deal.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Somehow, yeah.
00:29:25
Tom Cairns
it's It's almost like they sabotaged each other in such a way. But yeah, Sanchez, just to me, just didn't fit the bill at all. And the wages he was on was an absolute joke.
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Talua.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's what they all say. I'll go back to you now for another show.
00:30:31
Tom Cairns
I think we'd be slaughtered on this podcast by people if we didn't mention him, and that's Anthony. Because the the ah amount of money we paid for him, I know he made somewhat of an impact you know when he scored on his debut against Arsenal, but £86 million pounds for a player who...
00:30:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:30:49
Tom Cairns
I'm just getting the stats up on Anthony as we speak. If you compare these stats at United, so 12 goals in 96 appearances for United, since he joined Betis on loan,
00:31:01
Tom Cairns
three goals in seven games. So make that make sense to me.
00:31:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:08
Tom Cairns
Make that what you will.
00:31:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, you'd hope he'd keep finding the form at Bettis and, you know, hopefully come back a change, man.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when we first got him, I was like, oh, this is actually a good sign. I love it. We did overpay for a Dutch League player. But that start he had, I mean, what, he had three games in the first, or three goals, sorry, in first three games.
00:33:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he just started so well, and then all of a sudden he just fell off a cliff. And, yeah, he's just brutal. And, yeah, it just got, it kept getting worse. It was honestly just painful to watch him on that right-wing side.
00:33:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely a terrible signing. Tolu, I'll go with you next for another one.
00:34:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
there.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom, great.
00:34:43
Tom Cairns
Yeah, ah I mean, Veghorst wasn't cut out to be a Manchester United player, I think. Anyway, i think he needed to get away, because I think he was over in Besiktas, wasn't he? But it was a good job he came to United anyway, given the circumstances of what was going on in Turkey at the time, which we won't go into detail on.
00:34:58
Tom Cairns
But in terms of his spell at United, he he was one of the worst strikers the United had, but you couldn't blame him for just working his heart out, because I think he did have heart, but...
00:35:10
Tom Cairns
At Manchester United, you need more than heart. You need consistency. And he just never showed it.
00:35:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, he was, I mean, definitely had the heart. You couldn't question that. But yeah, I mean, he was really just like a donkey up front. I mean, he just had no technical ability. And yeah, he went on some stretch of games not scoring for us.
00:35:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember was, what, Europa League game. We were already I forget was against, but he scored a tap in and he was celebrating. He'd just won the lotto. But no, thank God we didn't sign him permanently.
00:35:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
At least it was a loan. We didn't have him that long. But yeah, he just wasn't a great player at United at all. I'm going to go for my next one.
00:35:50
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:36:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, reached a point then when he was getting on after not playing for a while, he just wasn't impactful at all. And yeah, another player, we just took a loss on and it's a shame. I really wish it worked out, you know, for him. But no, he was just, what, we paid £35 million for him.
00:36:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just wasn't worth it at all, really. Tom?
00:36:35
Tom Cairns
Yeah, ah he's a shame with Van der Beek because I really wanted him to do well he United on the back of what he did for Ajax. But like say, it just didn't work out for him. And I don't think he really adapted to the Premier League as well as he needed to have done. I even remember actually in Solskjaer's last game against Watford, he was one of the bright sparks.
00:36:52
Tom Cairns
It was just a shame it came a little too late and he needed to show that more on the Solskjaer whilst he was there. And I think from the moment that Ranier could arrive, he wasn't exactly going to be playing Van der Beek on a regular basis. And when Ten Hag arrived,
00:37:04
Tom Cairns
OK, it may look convenient, the fact that, you know, he played under him during the Ajax days, but he was never going to be fitting into the system, bearing in mind of what we had in that central part of midfield.
00:37:16
Tom Cairns
So, yeah, I do wish him all the best. I'm trying to see where he's at now. Can you remind me where Van der Beek is at?
00:37:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that Gerona in the Spanish league?
00:37:25
Tom Cairns
Girona, is he at?
00:37:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:27
Tom Cairns
Yeah, I don't know how he's getting on there at the moment, but I can't imagine he'd be setting the world alight because Girona haven't been great this season. in La Liga. But yeah, I'm hoping he can revitalise his career. But yeah, i think you have to say it's been a miss for him at United because he didn't really fulfil his potential compared to how he'd done at Ajax beforehand.
00:37:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Talúo.
00:39:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah no real shame tom i'll come to for the last player wrap it up who's gonna be
00:39:06
Tom Cairns
um I don't know what people think of this one, but I am going to go for Paul Pogba because he, yeah, I think it would have been unfair. I did consider Harry Maguire, but I think he's had decent spells, ah i think. I think this season is probably one his better ones for Maguire, so I thought I'd leave him alone for this one.
00:39:24
Tom Cairns
But Paul Pogba, for me, certainly did not live to the expert expectations of which we signed of £89 million pounds in 2016, which was a record signing. He just did not.
00:39:37
Tom Cairns
set the world alight. It just felt more like a commercial type player as opposed to an on-the-pitch type player where we needed him to be the kind of man of what he's just shown at Juventus.
00:39:48
Tom Cairns
Because Manchester United was essentially the sandwich really for Paul Pogba because he went back to Juventus, didn't he, after he left United and then his career just took a massive dive since then. But in terms of his six years at United, ah think you're overall overall he just did not really match what his price tag had suggested.
00:40:07
Tom Cairns
and Whilst he's had good moments, most particularly in the one against Leeds United, where he scored four assists in a game, I thought, you know, he might just actually they come alive, but he never really did, and he really struggled, and I think he was hit by injuries at times, which had just set his career back even more, and now considering that he's got that so lengthy banner thing for... You may have to fill me in on this one, but yeah, his career has just taken a yeah
00:40:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I believe. Yeah, yeah.
00:43:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I'm on the same line as you there. Pogba, for me, you know, obviously the consistency was a problem. And yeah, we paid a lot money for him. And overall, he just didn't live up to that value. But I think the glimpses we've seen from him, was a player I was really always excited to watch.
00:43:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we didn't really have much players like him.
00:43:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
no care at all and having fun out there. And yeah, it's a shame. He just couldn't keep that going. But yeah, think the consistency was the big issue with him. And yeah, real shame. It just didn't work out for him because he was technically a United homegrown.
00:43:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you would have loved to seen it pan out, but it wasn't to be. Well, I think we'll leave it there, lads. We could talk all day about United's worst transfers, numerous names. De Maria, another one I think should be mentioned.
00:44:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, I appreciate you two joining me. Make sure to keep listening the Daily Manchester United podcast. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode. And yeah, thanks very much for listening.