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 - 121 - Should Chido Obi-Wan Kenobi Start
20 Plays29 days ago
Niall is joined by Kieran to discuss the loss to Fulham and all things Tactics
If you like what you hear, dont forget to give us a 5 star rating wherever you find your podcasts!
#manunited
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.
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 to the Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the daily Manchester United podcast. My name is Niall Hannigan and I'm joined by Ciarán McGinley. Ciarán, how are you getting on?
00:00:18
Kieran McGinley
um I think that answers it for you. Just an um. ah I went in with optimism before the match and wasn't rewarded, let's just say.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no. um And there's two ways to answer that question. There's how are you personally? And then how are you as a United fan? And i hope i hope they're drastically different for your own sake.
00:00:40
Kieran McGinley
One of them's got to be I'm okay, isn't it?
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:42
Kieran McGinley
Surely, surely. But it's not the football, that's for sure.
Analyzing Manchester United vs. Fulham Match
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good, good. But anyway, yes, Tactics Tuesday. um We had a bit of a discussion yesterday with Cormac and Tom around kind of raw reaction to the to the result against Fulham.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And today we'll kind of do a bit of, I suppose, analysis on the game ourselves, get your own opinion, Kieran, as well, and have to touch on a few tactics as well. Normally you have a few stats up your sleeve from your sources, like so let's see how we get on.
00:01:12
Kieran McGinley
Yeah.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I mean, we were just talking off air there. You were saying that you saw a bit of a reaction there from the from the team in terms of actually facing this game with a bit more energy than what we're used to seeing.
00:01:25
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, I sort of felt like... ah The pundits at the BBC were out to get these two teams. I'll admit it wasn't it's not going to go down in recent history as and as an FA Cup classic. Not all of them can be.
00:01:36
Kieran McGinley
But to be honest with you, that the front three started pressing in the first 15-20 minutes really well. and I felt like it it wasn't, you know, it went well for the first 20 minutes. And then after that, once the United players started to realise that, oh, actually, we can't really press Fulham because they're beating the press every time, they started to stop doing that and sort of let Fulham have their own space, which slowed the play down, which benefited Fulham because we were, you know, it was back and forth at a time. But to allow Fulham to get back into the game and allow them to build momentum,
00:02:06
Kieran McGinley
is very un-Manchester United-like.
Fulham's Defensive Strengths
00:02:09
Kieran McGinley
If you're pressing, you've got to continually do it. You have to keep getting at Fulham. But I can't fault Fulham. They were fantastic. Calvin Bassey, absolutely unbeatable at the back.
00:02:22
Kieran McGinley
Joachim Andersson had his moments as well. He did get a booking, but... I thought Bassey and Anderson were just phenomenal at the back for Fulham.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:02:30
Kieran McGinley
It just didn't look like we were going to get through. And it it summed it all up right on the stroke of half-time. Whilst the players are umming and ahhing and moaning about how it was or wasn't a corner, they just lose the concentration again.
00:02:45
Kieran McGinley
you know ah Okay, the decision might not have gone your way, but let get on with it. you know
United's Concentration and Midfield Issues
00:02:50
Kieran McGinley
It's not... have a moan at the ref at half-time. He's not going to change his mind now. And it leads to it leads to a bit of a scramble.
00:02:56
Kieran McGinley
Comes off one Fulham player pretty much perfectly into the path of Calvin Bassie, who can just nod it home. And when you're conceding a goal like that, you can put it down to concentration. But I think that that first touch from the Fulham player, I forget who it was now, which is really bad of me.
00:03:11
Kieran McGinley
But when you're when you're conceding to a goal that's just a flick on and all of a sudden it's in the back of the net, you just think, well, I mean... if we Even if we were well-drilled side, would we have kept that out?
00:03:23
Kieran McGinley
I don't know. But ah it was a bit deflating to go in at half-time when we were on top for a good 20 minutes and it just seemed like we were really up for it. And then the last 20 minutes of the match, we just sort of let Fulham play their own game at Old Trafford, which is is all too familiar this season. the ah The away team comes to Old Trafford and is allowed to play their own style of football.
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, and you mentioned Bassey there and and Anderson and even Robinson as well. like They're they' great defenders, but they're equally as good on the ball.
00:03:52
Kieran McGinley
Thank you.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
like they're They're great footballers, and you mentioned being able to kind of beat the press, and that was seen. I think they had 59%, 60% possession in the match and like um I made a point yesterday and the in the podcast around us playing with two in midfield, and I really think that's going to be an issue.
Tactical Concerns and Historical Context
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Every team plays with three now these days, and when you have really good technical players in there, Smith-Rowe and Pereira, our former United player, and Zanderberg as well, like you know they were kind of just kind of knocking it around in triangles, and that's very demotivating when you're trying to press.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um especially when you you know you have Bruno went in there eventually, but you know he had Agarita and Casemiro who were just kind of chasing shadows for a while there. And that kind of kills the whole momentum.
00:04:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And it's very difficult to get that back like we saw. So it's ah it's definitely going to be an area that we that we need to work on in terms of how how we can't leave ourselves exposed with this new system of three or five at the back, which is which is more what it's normally looking like.
00:04:56
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, i mean, it was pretty shambolic because i knew sort of, was mentioned on the yeah BBC Sport broadcast, or I should say BBC One, where you know it was looking through all of the FA Cup matches. And I'm pretty sure, and I'm just having to look at this now, I'm pretty sure that the last time Fulham knocked us out of the FA Cup was one of the first ever meetings between the two sides in the f FA Cup.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:24
Kieran McGinley
ah where, you know, Fulham in 1905 won, in 1908 won. And looking back through it, I don't think they've ever beaten us in the FA Cup until this time around.
00:05:38
Kieran McGinley
ah Really? Really? i just, as soon as I heard that stat mentioned, I thought, well, that's it then, isn't it? Fulham have won this. United are making history.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:49
Kieran McGinley
It's just for every other team, you know?
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we seem to be good at that though. There's records being broken every week, like so um you know you you can't really complain too much, but I suppose when it is against you, it's bitter pill to swallow.
00:05:53
Kieran McGinley
We are really good at that.
00:06:05
Kieran McGinley
it's It is. It is. and For it to keep happening, for all of these records against us to keep happening, it's just, all right, it's getting a bit repetitive now, lads. let's Let's change up the record.
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:16
Kieran McGinley
But yeah, yeah.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joke's over. like Yeah, it was only the first time. like
00:06:19
Kieran McGinley
Wait, but I'm pinching myself now. Can we wake up? Yeah.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, I suppose tactics Tuesday.
The Role of Wing-Backs in United's Formation
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, there's there's so much to speak about. Obviously, we've we've seen this system now for three, four months. Cormac was making a point yesterday that...
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not really seeing any any progression. It looked like Amram's taken over just over the last couple of weeks. There's not that much changing. The players still look a bit lost. We did comment on that yesterday. But these wing-back positions, like we badly need some strength in in those areas. I think it's just such a key...
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
position um to be filled with specialists when it comes to this formation. ah It plays into um the point around being overloaded in midfield. you know If you have the correct press with those guys that they know exactly where they're meant to be at all times, it kind of distracts from that and you can get benefits from different areas. But it just seems like an area we really, really need to invest in when it comes to the summer.
00:07:15
Kieran McGinley
And I think in Patrick Dorgou, we will have that, I genuinely think, because you look at that game and De Ligt was absolutely pinging those long passes, think three in the first 20 or so minutes towards Dallow.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:07:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:07:27
Kieran McGinley
And two out of three, Dallow was able to control and able to push forward. And I feel like if you put Patrick Dorgou in that position, he's going to be very dangerous. I really think that is something that the team have been working on and Amarim has been working on, where he's It's not long balls forward. It's long balls sideways.
00:07:45
Kieran McGinley
Because you've you've got these wingers here and you've got two, let's say, attacking midfielders. Ericsson started alongside Xerxes. And you would think their instruction is to stay narrow.
00:07:56
Kieran McGinley
Allow the overlap to happen with the likes of Dorgou and I think it was Maserawi on the other side.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was, yeah. Yeah.
00:08:03
Kieran McGinley
So allow them to make the overlap. Now, we've already mentioned how Masraoui, not our strongest player going forward, but theyre you know that's fine.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:11
Kieran McGinley
We can play him as a centre-back. He's you know proven himself there. But Patrick Dorgu on that left-hand side, in the glimpses that we've seen him, looks like a very quick, very agile, very skillful player.
00:08:23
Kieran McGinley
I think he's exactly what we need to allow that left wing to be opened up because he's been putting in crosses as well in the games that we've seen. And yes, okay, with that miscommunication between him and Inanna at the back in our last Premier League game.
00:08:37
Kieran McGinley
He's only 20. And I think genuinely he he is going to grow into that role. I think he's going to lock down that left-hand side. I really hope he does because De Ligt's passing, that long-range passing he had was phenomenal. It was a joy to watch. It was actually good to watch something like that happen for once because it felt like it was predetermined. It wasn't just a long ball forward. It was literally De Ligt picking out the left wing back.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, um you made a good point. like We've seen it so often, and I think Hoyland gets, you know obviously he hasn't been great, but he gets a lot of criticism where there's been just hopeful balls pinged into him from 40 yards with no angle on it. and it's what What are you meant to do? like it's It's impossible when you're up there by yourself.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But once you put a bit of an angle on the pass, like you mentioned from De Ligt, diagonal balls over the top to your wing backs who are extremely high and wide. that's That's exactly what you need. I think we just need that now on the right-hand side and and whether that is going to be Ahmad long-term, whether Ahmad's going to play as one of the number 10s.
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know We have that flexibility there, but we also need a lot of cover in those positions because we did kind of get... one side predominant when it came when when garnacho was coming on especially in the left hand side um you know everything had to go down that side because we were a bit limited on the right so it's just an area that is very important for this formation and definitely something that we need to we need to improve on if we're going to progress but anyway let's take a bit of a break and uh hear from our friends at bionic
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Bionique was biting off more than I could chew there. But um anyway, we're we're back. ah Let's not put it on in a fit-in-y mode again. but
00:11:07
Kieran McGinley
okay Always helpful, you don't, but hey-ho.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we're learning the tech over here. It's fine. and But I wanted to to chat to you about Xerxes.
Xerxes' Performance and Pressures
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had a very interesting and start to his career at United. He's been involved in in highs and lows when it comes to penalty shootouts. He's been...
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, got the curly finger after 25, 30 minutes in other matches, you know, he has is really good moments, but, you know, then he might not make three people in a row and then give the ball away. and And you can tell he's very technical, but we don't really know what he is and we don't really know what his best position is.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
How would you kind of, I suppose, sum up how he got on yesterday, but but just in general with with his start at United?
00:11:50
Kieran McGinley
Well, he told us the moment he came to Manchester United what he was. He's a nine and a half. And we were all joking and laughing about it. But actually, playing him deeper is using his role a little bit better.
00:12:00
Kieran McGinley
And ah you're you're right.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:02
Kieran McGinley
Those those moments for Xerxes have been few and far between. And as much as i you know would love to give him all the credit for keeping his head up because yeah it's been tough out there...
00:12:13
Kieran McGinley
you know it sums it up when he steps up to take the deciding penalty, the fifth penalty. And it takes a lot of nerve to do that. I have a fantastic record of pretty much missing every penalty I've ever taken.
00:12:25
Kieran McGinley
And that was in front of nobody. So you know for Xerxes to do it in front of 70-odd thousand, A lot of pressure on him. And it's just one of those, I'll never slate anyone who steps up to take the penalty and it's on target.
00:12:38
Kieran McGinley
I'll never slate anyone for that because what more can you do? Sometimes you get some great penalties. i mean, we saw some great penalties in that shootout, which we'll get onto later. But yeah, I just think I can't fault the man for trying, but sometimes there are games where, as you say, he has a good game, but They're one in every three, one in every four.
00:12:59
Kieran McGinley
And when he's only got three Premier League goals this season, you know, yes, we're playing him slightly deeper, but Bruno Fernandes has got six. Armando's got six in the Premier League.
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:13:09
Kieran McGinley
So, you know, you want more from your attacking players and it's somewhere and something we are lacking is goals. And if they're not coming from Hoyland and they're not coming from Xerxi, they're having to come from deeper and you just get into this mess where players feel the need, like Fernandes, to push further on forward.
00:13:27
Kieran McGinley
and Garnaccio to try and snatch at chances as well in the second half. And when he came on, he was great at getting into positions. you know Him and Chido Obi-Martin coming on like completely changed the way our attack looked.
00:13:42
Kieran McGinley
But you know i i want to keep the faith with the players that are playing right now. I really do. Because... cause I see that potential in Xerxes, but he's going to have to start doing more than just being a strong character.
00:13:55
Kieran McGinley
he's He's got to deliver more on the pitch.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm umm very torn. And that this isn't just about Xerxes, but about ah but the majority of them. like is Is it good enough to to try hard? And I think even sometimes it's it's that's that can be questionable as well with with some of the and the performances or kind of the the motivation or the reactions to to what's actually happening on the pitch.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's... and and it's not just about this, but in general, like our standards, I think as United fans has probably just dwindled in terms of what we're actually expecting. Like if, if someone is, if someone is brave and tries stuff, it's like, yeah, no, he's, he's our leading force now because that's, that's just what has come to.
United's Scoring Challenges and Youth Potential
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's, it's difficult. It's difficult to to digest because, you know, you're, you're coming up to the weekend or you're coming up to, to a couple of days before the game or even the day of the game and the team comes out and you're like, yeah,
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it's still the same still the same guys that are going to be coming out at the weekend.
00:14:54
Kieran McGinley
Mm-mm.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you're just kind of, your heart sinks again and you you get your optimism up again. But it's just, yeah, it's tough. like Because i think at this level, you just have to be better. like You just have to have more quality.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're playing for United, if you're on those wages, it's the same in any job. you know if if you're If you're being paid that, there's a lot more expectations of you. And um if you're being given the opportunity that, yeah, you can perform at that level, then it's got to be better. And you know we spoke about Garnaccio yesterday about getting into great positions, but we've just seen so often that the end ball is just not there. And you spoke about...
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
our players on five and six goals in the league like it shows because at the end of the day you're you're in the bottom quarter of the table you need to score enough goals to even compete like if you're you're not keeping clean sheets you're you're screwed to say the michael owen the michael michael owen quote that if if they score a goal if they score more than the opposition they'll probably win like so you know it's uh It's just tough like because you know they probably should be getting more and we really should be bringing in players, I think, that that are of a higher quality in general because I don't think this crap is going to get us to where we need to be.
00:16:07
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, and I think you know we're we're conceding goals at an expected rate maybe slightly higher than those challenging for Europe. i think it's about five or six goals more, which i don't think is the end of the world.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:16:18
Kieran McGinley
But where we struggle is we've scored 20-odd fewer than those battling for Europe at some of them. So that's where it is. And we've we've known this for you know, since sort of October, November, you know, yeah we were bright eyed and bushy tailed when Xerxes got the winner against Fulham and the opening day of the Premier League.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:37
Kieran McGinley
And that was ah so far now, that's a third of his goals in the Premier League. And it's just, it's hard to sort of, it's not hard to pinpoint where the problems are. We haven't got enough quality attackers. We haven't got any cutthroat attackers. And this is where I wanted to, you know, spur onto Tito RB Martin.
00:16:57
Kieran McGinley
Finally getting some minutes there. ah It just seems like he's he's improving quite a lot. He has that absolute ah tenacity about him to get into those spaces. And where you kind of feel that Hoyland was getting into good positions, i think there was a good chance...
00:17:12
Kieran McGinley
ah in the game where he has to really take it first time and try and hook it around. And he can't quite do it because I think it was Bassey on him.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:17:20
Kieran McGinley
I think that was his best chance of the game. And otherwise, he was found on the wings quite a lot. you know, he was trying, he was then having to be the one to put the board in the box when you're sort of thinking, we need you in the box. this So when Chido came on, he changed the game along with Garnaccio.
00:17:36
Kieran McGinley
He was getting those shots away. He was testing Leno. And and that was something that only Fernandes had done up to that point after 77 minutes. And I thought he was really unlucky with that 90th minute. you know it's You know, it's in the range of Leno, but...
00:17:51
Kieran McGinley
the The headline, the back pages were there that the Manchester United youth were were to save us again.
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:56
Kieran McGinley
But to be honest with you, I want to see more of him. You broke my heart when you told me off air that he's actually not registered for the Europa League, he can't start against Real Sociedad. But look, if we've played FIFA and if we've played football manager before, we're going to Arsenal.
00:18:11
Kieran McGinley
Let's play Judo Arby Martin. We know what the story is going to be. hat-trick. Call it B.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and heaven come on and get it forth. Yeah.
00:18:20
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, exactly. From a corner. It's written in the stars. Let it happen.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Okay. Let's take another quick break and be back with a bit more OB discussion, I think.
Zencastr Advertisement
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencastr came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr.
Obi-Martin vs. Garnacho: Youth Impact
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mentioned yesterday that Obi, he's kind of funny to watch. like He's very unorthodox in the way he plays and comparing him to Hoyland who is kind of more polished in a way, you know like kind of a striker that you feel has you know gone through a lot of drills. and you know like Obi Martin seems a bit more instinct orientated, which can be absolutely brilliant as a striker because causes absolute chaos for the opposition. And I think It's similar with himself and Garnaccio. We also mentioned Garnaccio having more of an impact coming off the bench.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
When that game got really stretched, and especially when it went into extra time, it got extremely loose, and there's a lot of counterattacks going on both sides, and that's where he really came into his own. so um yeah it would be interesting to see him from from the start to see how he actually deals with that when the game is a bit more tight when his touch will be tested a bit more when he does need to kind of link up and um kind of hold the ball up i suppose and and not kind of uh have his back to goal a lot more than maybe what he what he has where he was chasing down bassy and the likes but uh yeah definitely an exciting player and does offer us something different so um
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
probably one of the the bright sparks we could take out of it. but And I know he's very young, but i yeah, yeah he's he's extremely raw the way he plays at the moment.
00:20:30
Kieran McGinley
ah But sometimes that's good. You know, as you rightfully say, you know, a player that's relying on instinct. And again again, that is something that can really help a striker, especially, you know, to read the play, to act on instinct, to get into the right place at the right time. That is a true fox in the box mentality.
00:20:49
Kieran McGinley
And you're right. When he started against Arsenal, let's bring it down to earth here. He probably won't start against Arsenal. He probably won't. But there has to be a feeling here that there needs to be consequences if you're not in form.
00:21:04
Kieran McGinley
And we're starting to see a little bit of Ten Hag favouritism come in for Hoyland. And I love Hoyland. I want him to do well. I think underneath him is a good player.
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
or do you think he just doesn't have any options and now he's kind of said because Opie Martin's only came out in the last couple of weeks before that it was he was rotating every week between Xerxes and Highland and it was kind of like oh one week you do well the next we'll start the other and it was just kind of chopping and changing
00:21:18
Kieran McGinley
Well...
00:21:26
Kieran McGinley
but
00:21:31
Kieran McGinley
But then, you know, for Amrim to sub him on in his first ever Premier League appearance with two minutes ago when we're trying to chase a game is, you know, yeah, that that was that was criminal to me.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I know the Spurs game, yeah, definitely.
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:41
Kieran McGinley
if you're If you're going to throw the dice, throw them earlier.
00:21:44
Kieran McGinley
And, i you know, from that, he's had 20 minutes in the Premier League since then. He's had, what's it now, 50 minutes in the FA Cup. And I think he's he's done enough for,
00:21:56
Kieran McGinley
And this is obviously, this is the state of play right now, but he's done enough to challenge Hoyland for that spot. I would love to see him take the start. I really would. It's just a case of, is it the right game to do so?
00:22:09
Kieran McGinley
I think Hoyland will start, but I can see Obi Martin coming on at halftime.
Financial and Strategic Benefits of Youth Players
00:22:15
Kieran McGinley
I really can. And give him 45 minutes and say to him, look, this is your chance.
00:22:20
Kieran McGinley
You know, we need a goal. Make it 4-1. No, I'm kidding. you Get a goal for us.
00:22:27
Kieran McGinley
because But he needs that faith in him. And Amram has got to start laying down the law with Hoyland and saying, look, you've had these chances. You've started most of these games. And yes, it's because of injuries. And yes, we don't have many strikers.
00:22:43
Kieran McGinley
But now there's someone coming through the youth who is putting you under pressure and you need to do better.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:22:48
Kieran McGinley
and And this is exactly what Hoyland needs. He needs a reminder that his place in the team isn't guaranteed just because he's the only striker there.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it's it's a sad state of affairs that he's he's competing with our starting striker and he's just ran around for half an hour like and and gone in and smashed people and had a few opportunities.
00:23:05
Kieran McGinley
God.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like normally you'd be like, you know, you're thinking of maybe Villa, like John Duran Watkins. John Duran's scoring every game. Watkins, you'd want to pull out the finger and then he ends up scoring every game and then kind of earns his place back in a way or earns what's kind of beyond doubt.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, it's It's where we're at and it's a good debate about you know who do we start, but but also about you know what is the right environment to bring a young player in? Is it when the team is settled and you have loads of really good professionals around and they're there to guide him and he kind of comes in and he's maybe the third, fourth striker? Or when it's absolute chaos and nothing's going right and you need some sort of a bright spark and you're like, look, I know you're young, but we need something and and this this could be the one.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm actually more inclined to put him in when things aren't going well um so I would be happy for him to play because you know it sends a bit of a shockwave like you said around the squad going look lads like yes there's injuries but also I'm going to play him because he's actually putting his leg in and he's actually creating chances out nothing as well and yes it is a different ball game when you're starting rather than coming on but you know if you bring that work rate in then it's it's going to give a bit of a boost and a bit of a lift to the whole team
00:23:57
Kieran McGinley
Mm-hmm.
00:24:21
Kieran McGinley
And you say as well, because that sort of conversation came up yesterday, when do you bring the youth in? Is it when you're already on top or whether you're struggling?
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:29
Kieran McGinley
But United have no choice. We've got to start playing youth players.
00:24:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:24:32
Kieran McGinley
And like you said about a month ago or two months ago when you tweeted out, you know, just sack sack off the season, play the kids. Well, this is it now. We have to start playing the youth.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's kind of happening.
00:24:42
Kieran McGinley
We have to. We've got no choice. We are short in most areas. You know, we've brought in Aidan Heaven as well to be that backup. I thought he was, I mean, as a centre-back in that game, he wasn't ever going to be covered in glory, but he did enough to keep us in that game.
00:24:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I like the look of him.
00:24:57
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, so I think he was okay.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:00
Kieran McGinley
Does he get start? I don't think so. I think the back three seem pretty locked in. Amarim's happy with that sort of ah back three. He would have been playing Martinez, but I think De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro seems to be that go-to back three, at least for the rest of the season.
00:25:15
Kieran McGinley
But I think it's you know when it comes to the midfield, you know you've got Toby Collier, who is sort of he's already made some appearance this this season. Does he come on against Arsenal? you know He's a really good...
00:25:26
Kieran McGinley
midfield ah You know, box to box, win the ball back. But we've yet to see what he can do going forward.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:31
Kieran McGinley
Is he is he brought rather a sort of Agate who is your destroyer, who wins the ball back and just plays a simple pass to the facilitator? Or can he be one that carries the ball forward and in a main route to drag us forward?
00:25:43
Kieran McGinley
I mean, we'll see. But we've got to start giving the youth a chance. this you know We've got a youth academy and it's been proven you know time and time again that it's one of the best out there.
00:25:54
Kieran McGinley
So why aren't we using it? Let's bring some youngsters in, give them a chance. We never know what could happen. We could save ourselves £100 million in the pound of the market. I'm sure Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be delighted with the cost-saving cuts we'll be making by investing in the youth academy. I'm sure he'll be delighted When eventually PSR comes knocking on the door, he says, oh, that's ah it's an easy 30, 40 million pound pure profit.
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it does.
00:26:15
Kieran McGinley
It all makes sense, doesn't it? Sorry.
00:26:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also a few ham sandwiches as well. like So throw them in. so
00:26:22
Kieran McGinley
Oh, God.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, look, like ah we we had a Wildcard Wednesday episode a few weeks ago, you know going through those seven or eight players that were on the bench against Spurs.
00:26:31
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, someone really didn't agree with you with Harry Emmast, though. I remember that.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we got a bit of got a bit of a kickback there. um To be honest, I'm i'm actually going to...
00:26:41
Kieran McGinley
Well, look, all opinions are fine.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. Actually, yeah just keep commenting. I actually invited him on the podcast, but I didn't get a reply.
00:26:47
Kieran McGinley
That's a shame.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm quite disappointed about that because I was looking forward to that debate. But yeah, I'm standing by my Harry Amas one. um Big fan. um Actually, he almost rattled me. I went back and watched a couple of the preseason games and I was like, no, Niall, yeah, you're dead, right? Yeah.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so i'm uh oh yeah i mean considering considering we were getting comments for the first time i was like oh ah know i now i'm right yeah i was like this is what it feels like okay okay um just surprised that that's that's the one that someone picked up on we've had a few howlers like none of them none of them have been picked up
00:27:05
Kieran McGinley
But he did get in your head slightly. He was up there rent-free just slightly.
00:27:14
Kieran McGinley
Oh, we're in the big leagues now. oh
00:27:27
Kieran McGinley
But anyone who's listening have stuck by our side, so we're we're we're doing okay, I think.
00:27:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Oh, yeah, you had your Anthony one. Actually, people didn't like that when you said he scored a hat-trick against Arsenal. Yeah.
00:27:37
Kieran McGinley
I was in make-believe land, I think, but hey-ho, there you
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah know It was actually less less harsh. it was You said he got a brace and he only scored one goal and everyone was like, did you even watch the game? It was like a year ago.
00:27:47
Kieran McGinley
No, I'm a fake fan, you see. That's that.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
00:27:50
Kieran McGinley
i
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We all are. We all are, of course. um But yeah, I think, look, you mentioned it about giving the young players a shout, especially when you have these amount of injuries and when the team is performing so badly.
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's probably the perfect opportunity to to give them a go. We went through a lot of them. They're basically play all around the park as well. You have Kone in midfield. They probably could get a run out at some stage considering the just the lack of legs we have at the moment and also injuries.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You have Harry Amas, obviously. um But then, you know, Obi Martin. Look, it's very difficult to know how good he'll be, but in the current state, let's just give him a go, you know, and see if we can.
00:28:30
Kieran McGinley
We've got no choice.
Podcast Wrap-Up and Audience Appreciation
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, absolutely. Anyway, Ciarán, yeah, thank you for joining me. it's um It's always rough every week, you know.
00:28:42
Kieran McGinley
You're telling me.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it has to be done. We're getting the episodes out. but People are tuning in to the Tactics Tuesday. So, yeah, we'll have um we'll have a wildcard Wednesday. We don't have any crossover with Real Sociedad this week, unfortunately, but we should be able to get one for for Arsenal coming up.
00:29:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, yeah, we haven't branched out into La Liga yet, but it's coming. It's coming. But, yeah, Ciarán, thanks for joining me as always. and I'll see you in the next one.
00:29:09
Kieran McGinley
Uh,