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00:00:01
Daily Manchester United - Episode 120 - FA Cup Knockout
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Niall is joined by Tom & Cormac to discuss the knockout against Fulham.
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Transcript
Manchester United's FA Cup Loss Analysis
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the daily Manchester United podcast. I'm your host for this evening, Niall Hannigan and yeah, we're recording this a couple of hours after the Fulham match in the f FA Cup.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unfortunately, not going to retain that that cup this year, lost out on on penalties in the end, but I'm not alone to kind of drown our sorrows tonight. I'm joined by Karmic. Karmic, how you?
00:00:32
Cormac
Alright, yeah, not too bad. ah
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good stuff. And Tom, how are you getting on?
00:00:39
Tom Cairns
ah Depressed off that game had finished, but I suppose that's one less distraction we've got in our season. But, you know, I'm just hoping that when it comes to the Europa League, we can actually yeah get some form of ah get some form put together.
00:00:54
Tom Cairns
and And, yeah, and just the performances are ah continuing to just continuing to dwindle.
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. And I think there's going to be can to be plenty to discuss um
Criticism and Praise for Bruno's Leadership
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
this evening. Obviously, we had a bit of a more extended coverage of the match with the extra time and the penalties, probably something that we didn't really need to see more of United. But that was um that's what happened and what unfolded this evening.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carmich, I'll go to you first. and I can see in your in your face the frustration there. So yeah, just talk me through your your emotions following the game there.
00:01:31
Cormac
Yeah, no, was just a rough one. You know, like FA Cup, we're kind of done with the Leafs. The f FA Cup really mattered for us and, you know, defending champions. And, yeah, I mean, it was a fairly dead game, to be honest. I mean, Fulham didn't really do much in that first half at all. And then they got that goal going into the half from the corner. just can't defend set pieces again.
00:01:49
Cormac
But, yeah, it's just a lot of the same old, same old. We're just up front. We don't seem to create that much. um I thought our backs done well, to be fair. I thought the three centre-halves particularly delayed.
00:02:00
Cormac
um Had a great game and then even like Maserawi down the right side and I thought that Loha was doing a bit better attacking. um But yeah, and thank God for Bruno really because if we didn't have him, I don't know where we'd be. But yeah, it was just lacklustre up top again. I mean, just yeah, same old, same old really. It's just it's just awful to watch really.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it really is. an interesting you mentioned Bruno there, Tom. Would would you privy to the to the clip going viral there with Roy Keane during the week of um talking about the captaincy? And what was your kind of reaction to that, I suppose? Was it a bit harsh or was he was he on the money?
00:02:32
Tom Cairns
I didn't quite read into what Roy Keane had said, but I thought Bruno played like a leader today. um i have to be yeah honest with you. um But I think he proved him wrong in some way with the well-disciplined performance he had put in, especially when he got us back into the game, because throughout the majority of it, we didn't look like we were going to be scoring.
00:02:50
Tom Cairns
But, you know, thankfully he came up chumps and kept United in the cup, albeit for only another hour or so.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:57
Tom Cairns
But, you know, I do like Bruno as a captain. um I'm not saying he's improved his maturity, but if he looks like a standout leader compared the other United players, and that's the kind of man that you need in the um in the squad right now.
00:03:09
Tom Cairns
Because it doesn't feel to me like everyone's trying to be a leader in the squad. It's just only like a handful that are kind of wanting to be the leader, but there's no standout leader as of yet. And Bruno looks like the the man who's most likely to fill in the captaincy.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it's kind of an indictment on the team because you're like, oh, well, okay, if it's not Bruno, who's the captain, there's no real other obvious answer there. And you're like, let's just stick with him until that kind of answer becomes a bit clearer. And it just seems to be the way for for the past number of years. um No one really kind of putting up their hand. And in terms of actions on the pitch, he is the only one that's actually doing anything and actually producing that bit of magic. Like, I mean...
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'll we'll go back to the the start of the game, but when we're touching on it now, in terms of that goal, like the technique to finish that was unbelievable. Like it wasn't an easy chance at all, Carmich.
00:03:59
Cormac
Yeah, no, it was phenomenal. I mean, just, yeah, like those ones are tough kind on the half-volley bounce and then he just literally, I don't think he could hit better than that, like, skidding along the ground and also going away from the keeper.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:10
Cormac
um Yeah, it was just, you know, a phenomenal strike. Yeah, like that's the quality we know a Bruno has and it's a shame, like, he doesn't have much else, like, around him up top because, you know, like, he's kind of up there its on his own and having to, like, do stuff like this without, like, I'm mad I'd put up there with him, but, um yeah, no, I just, he pulled us out of hole there for a little while, but yeah, unfortunately we just couldn't get the job done at the end. But yeah, what a great strike from him.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, no, absolutely. Tom, going back to the start of the game, a slow start again from United.
Tactical Challenges Under Ruben Amorim
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've seen this ah a bit of a pattern um but for a very long time now, I suppose. It took us just so long in the game to even to even wake up, but what what are you putting it down to is it is it kind of the the players look a bit lost and in on the pitch in terms of what they're meant to be doing and are we are we good enough is that is that a different thing because obviously Fulham are going well this year and a couple of points off kind of trying to get into the top four what is what is it at the moment that we're that we're lacking so much in these games
00:05:12
Tom Cairns
I think just um looks more like interview individuality within the players. It does look like they're lost. But the interesting fact is, Niall, is that the first 15, 20 minutes, we looked like we were in the game because I thought we looked like we were creating chances. The urgency was better than we thought in some games. But after the 20-minute mark, we just looked flat and we remained flat pretty much up and until the end of extra time.
00:05:35
Tom Cairns
So i would be tempted to put that down to... the fact that the players don't really know what they're doing. They look completely lost in the system that Ruben Amram is trying to put together. But we're going to be saying that time and time again, you know, in the matches to come until the end of the season, because what we've got to remember, it's not his players.
00:05:53
Tom Cairns
So if you've got players under a system that you've put together they're not gelling to that system, what makes you think that they are good enough to play for Manchester United right now?
00:06:04
Tom Cairns
Because the a manager can't come in and inherit a system that was already there. He's going to bring him his own tools, his own systems, and with the expectation of the players to fit into that system.
00:06:17
Tom Cairns
It's not the other way around.
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's an interesting one because, you know, you can you can really go on both sides of the fence here in terms of, well, you know, all the managers that we've had, to be fair, have been have been bringing in their own players. Like, Tyn Haag brought half of Ajax with him.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and You had Van Gaal bringing in a lot of Dutch players as well at the time. um and other managers as well seem to be able to get at least performances out of teams even if it's not their players that they want or and in particular you are right like the 3-5-2 or whatever formation we want to play and they ah they are kind of specialised positions especially in the wing back roles but the rest of them they I feel like they should be adaptable enough where they've played in enough minutes a lot of them are experienced they should be able to just adapt into these roles but they just seem to not know where they're meant to be you mentioned that
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, you felt they were a bit flat. They don't really know how to press either. um And there's no urgency at all in the play, which means Fulham are just so comfortable in the game. And especially when we were 1-0 down, Carmich, it was just baffling. It was like we weren't even chasing after the ball because they were nearly terrified to leave their position on the pitch in case they had left any gaps in behind. But, you know, if there's five sitting across the line and and you're you're not putting any pressure on the ball, then Fulham will just keep knocking it around you.
00:07:30
Cormac
Oh, absolutely. And I think, like, to be honest, it's it's crazy to me, like, we're, what, four months near the inn under Amarim. You'd swear he only took over, like, a few weeks ago, because I really don't see any difference to the first month.
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:43
Cormac
Like, players still look lost. um You know, obviously, like said, like, he does need his own players, but, like, how many players is he going have to bring in to get us, you know, up six, seven places, you know? like, are three, four really going to change that much?
00:07:58
Cormac
Like... yeah i just I feel like the problem I have with Amarim, I know i've kind of coming across critical here, but like the adaptability, like this clearly isn't working. He keeps playing the same system and there's just no signs of progress anywhere.
00:08:12
Cormac
like I'd love to see him change to foreback because like as you said, other managers under him have come in and Ole coming in like right away, even Ruud van Nistrooy this season, um you know it came in and would had good results off the bat. and Amorim, I just yeah don't know.
00:08:29
Cormac
He really just gone or sticks his guns with this system. Hopefully in the summer window we can get a few in. but like i just really At the moment, like I love seeing him change things because it's clearly not working at the moment.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, 100%. And he's nearly shot himself in the foot saying that he's not going to change. If he changes, that's him. That's him done. So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see if if that pressure can amount so much that he does change. But we'll take a quick break there um and we'll be back with a bit more coverage from the game this evening.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, we saw a couple of of young players coming on this evening. um We had ah a podcast a couple of days ago kind of going through those young players about, you know, who we wanted to see come in, the potential that they could have.
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
We saw Obi Martin come in, make a bit of an impact. And we also saw Heaven come in um at the start of Extra Time. What was your kind of thoughts around their impact?
00:10:16
Tom Cairns
and I thought Obi came on and was a positive light. Very, very unlucky with that chance that got saved by Laino, which would have got us through there. So there's signs of promise, clearly. I think he's improving every game he's playing, just as Dogger has been for United since he's joined.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:10:33
Tom Cairns
So there's a bright spark in there, I think, for Obi-Martin.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:10:36
Tom Cairns
So what does Amrim decide to do for the Europa League game against Real Sociedad? Does he start Obi-Martin? Or does he stick with his usual plan by sticking Hoyland up front? I think for the sake of the fact that it's a European game, which I think Hoyland thrives in more than he does domestically, he may decide to start with Hoyland and then bring over Marcian in the second half. But judging by Obi's performance...
00:10:58
Tom Cairns
Against Fulham, I thought he was a bright spark in that team, just as Garnaccio was actually when he came on in the second half, which he usually does say when he comes off the bench. As for Aidan Heaven, I didn't really see an awful lot of him, if I'm going to be briefly honest with you.
00:11:12
Tom Cairns
He didn't really sort of blow anything away. He didn't do De Ligt kind of performance, of which De Ligt had today. I thought De Ligt, actually, you think of it, was was solid at the back. But for Heaven and Obi, I think Obi's got a bright future ahead of him.
00:11:25
Tom Cairns
between now and the end of the season. And given the lack of options we've got now, I would say he could end up being a regular starter before the end of the season.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's an interesting one. Like, you know, when when a club is is really struggling, do you put them into the deep end or would you rather bring them in when, you know, the club is actually with a bit better structures, a bit of few, I suppose, more experienced players and players that are actually firing to kind of guide them. But, you know, we're in the position we are. We have the players that we are.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're performing the way we are. it's it's It's kind of just just hope that something starts to work here. um Yeah, Carmich, what was your thoughts around it?
00:12:01
Cormac
Yeah, no, I thought Obi Merton, I thought, yeah, he was much positive light, as Tom said, coming on. I thought he showed more there and, you know, an hour of football than Hoyland showed the last 10 games probably.
00:12:12
Cormac
um Like, I think Hoyland, again, only had like nine touches in the first half. But yeah, Obi Merton, he was a great save by Leno and even he was getting in good positions. Like, I think around the 90th minute, he had that one that just went wide as well.
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:25
Cormac
um so yeah, it was it was nice to see like finally Stryker, like kind of get more involved with the play. um So, yeah, I thought he'd done well it up against, you know, Bassey and Anderson as well. It's an easy task. um So, yeah, I was very impressed with him. And then Aidan Hevinham, I thought done well. um Didn't see too much of compared the other centre-backs.
00:12:43
Cormac
But he looked like a natural there, you know, from the glimpses I'd seen him.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:46
Cormac
He looked very athletic um playing on that left side. And he was just, yeah, solid, clearing the balls he needed to de clear. And I thought he put in a solid shift overall.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Obi's interesting to watch from from me. I think he um he's nearly a bit unorthodox the way he plays as well.
00:13:01
Cormac
Yes.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and it's a good thing in a way because the defenders probably don't really know what's what's going to happen. And maybe Hoyland and Xerxes to a lesser extent are probably a bit predictable in the way that they play and a bit more kind of cultured in a way but always very raw in terms of how he plays which can be off-putting for the defense so um it was exciting to see him come on he did cause some issues for them and um you know there was a couple of chances i suppose that that kind of went by him but also got on the end of a lot of things as well and and considering it was you you know cameo for for half the game i suppose including extra time it it was it was a pretty but big impact and
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um yeah, I think I agree with yourself, Cormac, around heaven. I think really nice to see that he's a left-footed defender as well, especially if we are going to continue with the back three. like It'll be nice to have him and there, I suppose, to kind of compete with Martinez on that left-sided centre-back.
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Big man as well, and also quite good on the ball, which was great to see. you So, um yeah, I was kind quite, I suppose, promised watching that and and seeing a bit of an impact, but Yeah, um Tom, it's tough to find kind of find ah bright sparks from
Europa League: A Season's Turning Point
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
this season.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know As you mentioned at the very start, that's the FA Cup gone now. Is it just the Europa League and it's hit or bust, I suppose, for Amrum?
00:14:21
Tom Cairns
Well, I think for this season, it feels more like a consolidation campaign for him because Amorim wants to come in in the summer, not in November.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:14:30
Tom Cairns
So it's he he's thrown himself in the deep end, really, when you think of it. um But United wanted him as soon as possible. As for the Europa League, we've probably got one of the toughest teams it left in the competition Real Sociedad.
00:14:45
Tom Cairns
And we've got to get by them first before we end up facing... I think we could end up facing Fenerbahce or someone like that in the quarterfinals if we get through. But we really are up against it.
00:14:57
Tom Cairns
And these next three months now are going to feel like an eternity.
00:15:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's... ah I don't know. like It felt like, in a way, they didn't realise how important this was. Karmic, to your point at the start, like the FA Cup was literally trying to save the season here because the the the league is over. Yes, we'll probably stay up, but it's not as if we're we're crawling over the line here. um you know there's There's not any game you're looking at over the next few months thinking, yeah, there's that's an easy win.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, it was just quite frustrating to kind of see that lack of urgency and... I suppose the Europa League campaign for yourself is that something that you would like to see us win in a way where we're in Champions League football next year but like we shouldn't be there like you know
00:15:43
Cormac
Yeah, no, I mean, obviously, I'd love to see us win it. um I think, you know, if we go on and get European football for next year, I think you can kind of put aside what's happening in the league and kind of forget a bit about that. Like, I think a lot of fans will see it as a big success if we can get Europe, given where we are in the league.
00:16:00
Cormac
um But no, yeah, I mean, it it will be tough. Sociedad, I watched play against Madrid last week, and to be honest, they should have beat them in the Copa del Rey. I think they hit the post across the fair like four times.
00:16:11
Cormac
They just looked electric on the attack. So I'm really not looking forward to that tie. But yeah, hopefully like the players realize now after going out of the FA Cup that Europa League, this is the big one now. You know, everyone needs to be coming to this match switched on and should be showing the passion.
00:16:25
Cormac
Like your season is on the line pretty much because the league, obviously, we're not going to get relegated, but we have nothing really to play for in that.
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, 100%. And we can kind yeah we can kind of will ourselves to win all these games, but at the end of the day, we're just not seeing enough that that's given us any confidence, I suppose, that that we can get over the line in these games. But um yeah, I think, you know, Oli used to say it that, you know, he wasn't winning a trophy, but he was coming second and third in the league. And he was saying, look, that cup's kind of...
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose, paper over the cracks of of a team. And that's what we saw with Tynhaag as well. And you're kind of conflicted saying, oh, it would it mask a lot of the things that are wrong with the club if we were to go on and re win the Europa League? But at the end of the day, we're fans. Like, we want to see to see us winning cups and everything went out the window over the summer when we were parading away in Wembley. So, yeah, it's a it's a tricky one.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah. yeah Let's see what happens anyway. We'll take another break here and we're back to discuss some of the penalties that we saw this evening.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, I mean, per Xerxi, going from hero to zero in the FA Cup just a couple of months ago, gets the winner in the Emirates against Arsenal, and then
Penalty Shootout Reflections and Future Outlook
00:18:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
this evening has that penalty that that Leno gets across and saves. I mean, it's it's it's tough for him. I'm sure it's it's not been an easy start for him at United, but was it deserved in the end, do you think, from ah from an overall game perspective?
00:18:34
Tom Cairns
I don't think we played very well, but I thought we were genuinely the better team to Fulham. I'm going to be honest with you. I thought Fulham were decent on the defensive front, but it's not like they had loads of chances compared to what United had.
00:18:48
Tom Cairns
I thought United played well enough to just sneak over the line, even though it wasn't a convincing performance in any way.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:18:55
Tom Cairns
So it was going to be 50-50 in the shootout. But I think the problem we had when we went into the shootout is we had a lot of our regulars on the bench or dropped off um or taken off.
00:19:06
Tom Cairns
So that's always the problem when when it comes to keeping the players you want on the pitch in case it ends up going to penalties. Amarin got it right at the Emirates with keeping the players he had on.
00:19:18
Tom Cairns
and This time around... I don't think there was an awful lot he could have done. I'm trying to remember who else took penalties for United. I know Fernandes took the first one. Then it was... Who was it that took the other ones before Lind...
00:19:30
Cormac
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:31
Tom Cairns
Was it Delo?
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had Dalo.
00:19:32
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:19:32
Cormac
yeah
00:19:32
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:33
Tom Cairns
His penalty was good, by the way. um
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:36
Tom Cairns
And then the third one... Who took the third one for and United? said Was it Casemiro? i think it was Casemiro, wasn't it? Yeah.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:43
Tom Cairns
So all three of them did good jobs with their penalties, but you have to say with... ah Lindelof and Zerkesy.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lindelof. Yeah.
00:19:51
Tom Cairns
Yeah, Lindelof and Zerkesy. Yeah. I mean, we know Lindelof is not a genuine penalty taker, even though he got us the shootout winner against Brighton a couple of years ago in the semi-final.
00:20:03
Tom Cairns
um I think he might have scored in the Europa League final shootout, didn't he not? A couple of years before that.
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the one that just kept going on.
00:20:10
Tom Cairns
Yeah, the one that kept going on, yeah.
00:20:11
Cormac
to
00:20:13
Tom Cairns
Well, you know, he's been on the wrong end of it this time, though. But ah you can't really blame anyone in the shootout, to be honest with you, because there's always going to be someone that misses it. And unfortunately, it was Oz on that side of things.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a tough one.
00:20:24
Tom Cairns
I don't think... Yeah, it doesn't reflect the nature of the match, though, Niall, because I think either side could have ended up winning it.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, I think that's fair. um Both teams kind of had spells. I think United were really in and out of it for for a while. Obviously, after the goal, the natural kind of bounce got a bit of momentum back. The stadium got into it a bit more. But yeah, there was just such a level of um anxiety and frustration, I suppose, around the crowd. And you could hear it that when when that pressing wasn't happening in Cormac, it was just...
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know that the To be fair to the fans, they really are trying to will the team and urge the team on, but you know at some stage the players kind and kind of have to give a bit back to get the crowd going.
00:21:04
Cormac
No, absolutely. And we were saying the other night on the podcast, like you can never question the United faithful, like always supporting the club, no matter what.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:12
Cormac
But no, yeah, it was just like there multiple times in the matches where, yeah, weren't pressing. They were letting like Sander Berg just dribble up the pitch, no one near him. um And then, yeah, you heard at halftime, like the boos ringing around Old Trafford. Like it's, yeah, I guess it's it's just the players we're in right now, but it seems like it's all too common. Like the players shouldn't be getting this booed this much. Like, and like the fans getting so upset by it But yeah, it just seems like, I don't know, something's not clicking there. um Yeah, maybe the the passionate times in there for certain players. And yeah, it's just, it's, it's not a great look at all right now from us.
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. And i suppose we we we touched a bit on the the formation. um We're not convinced it's going to work and we haven't seen any adaptability like you mentioned as well.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I felt watching it that... having the two in midfield was a massive disadvantage this evening. and It felt like at at times, and and we could have been punished more by them, but um Smith Rowe and Sanderberg and Pereira just kind of dancing around the midfield and being able to kind of string a few passes together and probably couldn't believe the amount of space they had.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's going to be a problem unless this kind of formation really adapts to a place where the centre-half, they know which one needs to step out. we can actually play with a back three rather than a back five all the time because it's just so, so deep and so defensive all the time. But it's just like you mentioned, Cormac, we're not really seeing that progression yet from, you know, four months, five months down the line with Amram. And you you can say, okay, he needs, he needs the players. And when we know the players don't have the quality that we need to get back into top four, but it is getting a bit frustrating where we're not seeing that much progression in terms of even shape and how we're kind of pressing the opposition.
00:23:02
Cormac
Yeah, i mean that's how I think that's just the most frustrating part is just seeing the same thing over and over again.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:23:08
Cormac
And you just know like when the match comes to know on the weekend, honestly, you kind of know the way it's going to go. like um But yeah, you're hoping every weekend it will change. But I think that's just the most frustrating part is like knowing what's going to happen. and You want him to change and he's not changing it.
00:23:25
Cormac
And yeah, I mean, we're always back to manager, but like, I don't know if he's seen something different in training, you know, or he's trusting the players going into the weekend more. But I mean, yeah, it's just, you know, every game now it's even against the smaller clubs.
00:23:37
Cormac
Like we've seen Southampton a few weeks back, like they were just sitting back and they were kind of all over us. And it was, it was quite very, you know, even game.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:45
Cormac
Honestly, Southampton might've been on top, but like it should never be that. Like it's just feels like games now. We're never like the team that's in control of it really.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. And it's, ah it is, you know, you get your hopes up throughout the week and then you see the team come out at the weekend. and You're like, ah, yeah, it's not still the same team. that's right there's
00:24:02
Cormac
Yeah.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing really has changed. Like, and and you can just expect the same performance and seeing players play out of position and and everything and not really kind of suit the roles that we need. But, Another bright spark, potentially, Tom Garnaccio, you mentioned him. I mean, made a good impact off the bench. I think we've spoken about this before, that he always seems to play his best football when he is coming off the bench and whether that's a mentality thing for him of, I want to prove them wrong, but probably need to bring that into and to games when he is on from the start and seem to have a good reception from the crowd as well when he came on.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably a built-in of frustration of not seeing anything happening, but what did you make of his his impact over the over the hour or
00:24:43
Tom Cairns
When he's on the ball and he's driving through players, it's great. It's his execution of the finishes that he needs work on because there was not one that I saw.
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:53
Tom Cairns
I think he had about three shots or four, perhaps, where he either got it on target or he just ends up going skywards.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:02
Tom Cairns
And it's really frustrating because he was getting into good positions to get the shot away. But it's just so, so sloppy.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's frustrating because, you know, when you kind of see the top players in the Premier League and the ball gets to their feet or they get a ball in danger and you're like, oh, no, like, he's probably going to finish this.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just have I just don't have that feeling with him yet that he's going to be a clinical enough in front of goal. and you know that one over the top from Casemiro in the second half was a great pass obviously look there's there's a couple of men on him but there was another ball as well that was played into him think it might have been Xerxes clipping over the top to him and you know there is a decent chance he's in the box to get that shot away in front of goal and it's just a tame finish and then Tom the one you mentioned where you're kind of dribbling through and he's on the edge of the box and just at the last moment just that bit of composure that's needed to actually bury it and
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's difficult, Cormac, because like look we want to support all these players, but at the end of the day, is that is that a squad player for ah for a United team that needs to get to the very top again? is that someone we can rely on to kind of get that twenty twenty five goals a season from that position if you look around the league? its It's tough. like I just don't think we're there.
00:26:13
Cormac
No, I think, to be honest, going forward, I think he's more of a squad player. As I said, he's kind of off the bench. He's doing his best work. There's been countless times. like Me and Tom were talking about the Tottenham match a few weeks ago. He missed that great chance knowing around him.
00:26:27
Cormac
and know I can recall you know a Palace, you know West Ham, hitting the crossbar both times. missing He's just lacking that execution. like um And even to be honest, like I think he's quite effective when he gets the ball just outside the box.
00:26:40
Cormac
But I think, I forget who he was up against today, but there was a time where he ran down the line and he just dribbled the ball out of play. And I was thinking, like, jeez.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sanderberg, yeah, yeah.
00:26:46
Cormac
Yeah, it was so I was is this really like the best winger we have at the club right now?
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:51
Cormac
Like, Diallo, obviously, he was injured but at the moment. And yeah, I just scared Nacho. He's still highly rated. So ideally, I'd like to, if we could, get a bit of money from him.
00:27:03
Cormac
And, you know, bringing someone new, because I do think even like, you know, mid-table clubs have kind of better wingers.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:08
Cormac
Even, to be honest, when Southampton played us, I thought Suleymane was causing us all sorts of trouble. Like, you know, and then we have, we just need a winger like who can consistently produce and he just hasn't been this season.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Tom, any any thoughts on that in terms of Garnaccio and getting that PSR money? Would you be in or out on Garnaccio at the moment?
00:27:28
Tom Cairns
If he doesn't put his chances away when they come to him, then he's not the kind of player that United to need right now. He can do bits, but bits aren't good enough. It needs to be a string of solid performances in front of goal, especially on that left attacking midfield position, which he should be thriving in, but he's just not getting his chances away.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:27:47
Tom Cairns
I would say he's one of those that can fit into the system short term, but short term only. So I would maybe start looking at players that Amarin knows are going to play in the system he's trying to put together and trying to get the players to adapt, see who's out there.
00:28:05
Tom Cairns
And if there's no one out there, then result to what you've got in the academy. Because I think from what Obi Martin has been able to do so far, today he displayed it, despite the fact that not had a lot of minutes, I think he's one that could possibly fit into the system, unlike hol ah Hoyland has been able to. say
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, classic United. Let's go back to the academy and and see what happens. I mean, we've nothing to lose at this stage, so um definitely worth a punt. But yeah, lads, look, another tough evening at the office. um We had to come on and share our thoughts, I suppose, on it. But I yeah i appreciate you jumping on on some Sunday evening for the but the listeners to probably do a bit of a hit watch on you United. Or if you're a fan of United, you can join us in this episode.
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and drowning up the sorrows but uh yeah karmic tom thanks very much for joining me and we'll see you in the next one
00:28:49
Cormac
Bye.
00:28:57
Tom Cairns
Thank you.