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Enjoying the Positivity While we Can
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Niall and Toluwa chat about the positive weeks United have had
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the podcast. My name is Niall Hannigan, I'm your host for the episode and delighted to be joined by Tuluwa. Tuluwa, how are you getting on?
00:00:23
Toluwa
I'm good. I'm good.
Thibaut Courtois' Performance Against Liverpool
00:00:24
Toluwa
I just watched Thibaut Courtois put on a masterclass against Liverpool. Shame that they got the result that they needed, but it was a good day for Champions League football.
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was, it was, we were we were holding off the episode to to watch some of the matches this evening. um I remember the good old days when we used to be in there. Not anymore, not to be.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was actually hoping Trent would score near the end, um just to quieten down the home fans. But as you said, not to be. But yeah, great, great to have the Champions League back and it's hard to beat.
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So hopefully we get back there
Reflections on Le Mans and Player Performances
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
soon. But it's been a while since we've been chatting to Lua.
00:00:59
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think the the episode we had last, we were mainly chatting about Le Mans and hoping that he would hit the ground running. And he certainly has. um And I mean, it's it's just an absolute pleasure and a joy to have him in nets, isn't it?
00:01:14
Toluwa
Yeah, it's crazy how much confidence you can build just by having just somebody competent. He didn't even he doesn't have to do too much.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:22
Toluwa
He just has to make the save, make the catch. And it's like the defense can play so much better. I'm happy. I think it was the right signing. It was either him or Emi Martinez.
00:01:32
Toluwa
And I remember when that speculation was going on, I was just praying that we don't go for Martinez only because to me, it's just a similar situation like Onana where the keeper is such a big personality.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:01:44
Toluwa
And I felt like we have a lot of personalities on the team further up the pitch. Let's just have somebody solid and secure at the back who is not trying to make headlines, who just wants to be secure.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:55
Toluwa
So I'm glad that he's hit the ground
Belgian Team Call-up and Consistency
00:01:58
Toluwa
running.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's so true. um When he was called up for the the Belgian team, there was loads of posts going around about how basic his clothing was and everyone was like, brilliant, perfect. I hope he never loses that. So it is nice to see yeah the consistency that he's been bringing, and which is great. and I suppose the bit of run of form we've been on, I mean, there wasn't there hasn't been much to shout about under Amram since he's taken over. But, I mean, unbeaten in four, some big wins against you know a bogey team like Brighton, which we've always struggled against. um
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, obviously, the big game at
Manchester United's Recent Victories
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool. How you found it over the last few weeks?
00:02:34
Toluwa
Yeah, I've been honestly really pleased with the way that United has played. I think obviously getting the results that we've gotten huge.
00:02:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:43
Toluwa
It's kind of kickstarted our season in a way where it was very stop start and getting that result against Sunderland, I thought was good. I thought the team played really well. And then like you mentioned, Liverpool and then Brighton.
00:02:55
Toluwa
I mean, those are huge results, especially for United in the past
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:59
Toluwa
How many years, like you said, both those teams have had our number. So I was also just really glad at the way that we won those games. We actually played like a team and it wasn't just individuals.
00:03:09
Toluwa
It was a team effort.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:03:11
Toluwa
Everybody was doing their job. We were going forward brilliantly, especially the Brighton game. I thought we played really well in that game. um Obviously, Nottingham Forest
United's Comeback Against Nottingham Forest
00:03:19
Toluwa
getting that draw. I'm not too mad at that just because...
00:03:23
Toluwa
I saw a lot of people commenting this, but the fact that we came back and drew the game 2-2 means a lot.
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:29
Toluwa
And I know so our standards have fallen a lot, but we're we're in the situation now where last season we would have lost that game 3 or 4-1, even though the stats will suggest that we were the better team.
00:03:40
Toluwa
And I think this time we did a good job to at least get a point, at least but keep the momentum somewhat going. So I'm looking forward to the next game. I think we can i think we can beat Spurs, honestly.
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:03:51
Toluwa
might be a little ambitious, but I think the team is in a good place right now collectively. um And I think they can do a job against Spurs.
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's ah it's interesting when you say you know it was a stop-start beginning of the season. you know If you take Arsenal out of it, everyone's been dropping points. And after that kind of Brighton game, we kind of suddenly found ourselves above Liverpool and you're you're wondering how that happened all of a sudden.
00:04:08
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So yeah, it's it has been a really interesting start of the season. You have Spurs getting a few good results and then um most recently then dropping points.
League Standings and Consistency Importance
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You had Chelsea kind of doing the inverse. you know that's It's people dropping points everywhere. So a lot more entertaining for the league, but also gives you confidence that you know the league's not running away from you. That if we can actually keep this consistency, then we can keep within that kind of top six area that we're looking to looking to achieve.
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and What I liked as well was there's been a good spread of of goals and and people contributing to the team as well, and right across the the midfield and then across the wing-backs and the the front three as well. so you know Obviously, you'd want kind of your your number nine to be scoring a lot more, but...
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, he's ah surrounded by very good players as well um that have been excellent for us.
Impact of New Signings on Team Performance
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And bringing in the likes of Cunhan and Buemo, I mean, we mentioned at the start of the season of of how important it is to have Premier League proven players.
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's absolutely shown, hasn't it?
00:05:15
Toluwa
Yeah, absolutely. Like you said, just having those two players alone gives us so much more threat, ah so much more threat going forward.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:05:23
Toluwa
And the point that you made was perfect. I mean, just having other guys who can spread the wealth and not have Bruno Fernandes be the main guy scoring or assisting every game, you know, got to a point where like it was understandable that we became predictable because if Bruno is going to be pulling a trigger out of his hat every game to save us, then yeah.
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:43
Toluwa
So now we have people and players who can just take the game by the scruff of the neck. I mean, Mbumo is one of those guys where it's like maybe two or three years ago, I didn't even know who he was, I'll be honest.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:54
Toluwa
And then I started to take note of him under Thomas Frank and what Thomas Frank was doing at Brentford, just revolutionizing that club and making them really hard to beat, especially when they were beating us.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:04
Toluwa
And then seeing Mbumo rise and then seeing him get 20 goals and then all of a sudden he's a United player, it's like, it's just honestly brilliant. I'm so glad that we signed him. And then Kunio on the flip side, just, you don't know,
00:06:15
Toluwa
yeah From the opposition standpoint, you don't know what to expect. you you You don't know if he's going to drive at you, if he's going to drop deep, if he's going to cut inside, if he's going to this, shoot from range. like He's just a jack of all trades, so I'm glad we have players like this who can finally give us a good impact.
Amad Diallo's New Position and AFCON Concerns
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. No, it's true. And Bwemo's so like understated as well. like You don't really hear too much about him, even on the pitch.
00:06:34
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's quite calm. And then in the other number 10, you have Cunha, who's just all-action, passionate player. Just, like you said, i don't really know what you're going to get from him. Like, He didn't really get on the score sheet over the first few matches, had that bit of an injury as well, but the amount of stuff that he was contributing in the game in terms of driving with the ball, being able to actually beat players is a thing that I don't think we've had in a player for a very long time.
00:07:01
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And to be able to kind of relieve pressure as well, which he did really, really well against Liverpool when we were 2-1 up and trying to kind of hold on to that lead. and All that stuff is invaluable um and and he's been absolutely excellent at it.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ahmad as well, getting on the score sheet for the first time. i mean, he's been pretty solid all season, really starting to get comfortable in that right wing back spot. And think me here and Kieran mentioned in another episode, that relationship with Mbwemo on the right hand side is just class.
00:07:31
Toluwa
Yeah, it's honestly, it's great that we have that dynamic down the right because so much pace and power. And if Mbumo ends up getting stuck in by a challenge and Amad picks it up, then you have another player who can just burst into the space.
00:07:45
Toluwa
It's funny because Amad Diallo, with how well he played last season, I'm sure a lot of fans wanted him to just kick on and take it to the next level.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:07:53
Toluwa
And I also felt that way. I used to think like, OK, come on, Amad, why are your performances starting to suffer a little bit? But I kept thinking to myself, like, we're playing him so far out of position.
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah.
00:08:04
Toluwa
Like, this is not his natural position in the slightest, but he's doing a good job, but nonetheless, to adapt to it and to consistently put himself in the starting 11 at a position he's not familiar with.
00:08:15
Toluwa
So I'm glad that he's been able to build this chemistry within Bumo. Um, I'm just concerned that if we lose one of them or both of them, what does that make our right-hand side
Social Media Reactions on AFCON Challenges
00:08:25
Toluwa
look like?
00:08:25
Toluwa
Because AFCON is coming.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:28
Toluwa
So... Yeah.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a thing.
00:08:29
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a thing. Yes.
00:08:30
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And our social media guys made made that very clear on TikTok make saying that it's going to be a rough January for us. so um Let's see what sort of concoction we can cook up on the right hand side. But I'm i'm not looking forward to it. And it's ah it is looming.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is definitely looming. and But we'll take a quick break here and we'll be back with a bit more commentary over the last few weeks.
00:08:56
Toluwa
Thank you.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Looking into the midfield, obviously that was ah an area of concern at the start of the season. And it probably still
Casemiro's Performance and Midfield Needs
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
is now. We don't have an awful lot of strength and depth in there.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Casemiro has been very, very good. And I think having a full week between games has given him enough time to recover, to be able to put in a solid 70, 75 minutes each game. But um it's an area that we're going to need to bolster. I don't know if it's going to happen in January, but I have been impressed with him.
00:10:27
Toluwa
Yeah. um Casimiro, man. I just, I don't know what to say anymore. It's like one week, I can't stand the guy. And then the next week, I'm like, wow, we needed his composure and his experience.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:40
Toluwa
um You're absolutely spot on, though. I mean, recently, just The way he's been playing, it's like how, why couldn't he have done that before?
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:50
Toluwa
All the mistakes that he made and all the times where he looked leggy and slow, like, why couldn't he have done all of this then? And maybe our midfielder would have looked a little bit more sure, but I mean, each game state is different.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:11:02
Toluwa
Each opponent is different. But I think we're seeing Casimiro in a situation where the team around him is also cohesive.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:10
Toluwa
I think when the parts around him aren't 100%, in tune, then it makes him just look like a passenger. um And then when Bruno Fernandes is your midfield partner, you're you're going to have to be really responsible for a lot.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're on an island.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:22
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:11:23
Toluwa
like So I think recently, especially um since the Liverpool game, Bruno has been a lot more positionally disciplined, I've noticed. Just watching the way he plays, he tracks back a lot. and he tries to He doesn't really try to do too much um now that he has Mbumo and Cunha.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:11:41
Toluwa
we can lay the ball off too.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:42
Toluwa
So I think it gives us a little more so solidity in midfield. um And I've noticed that especially when Ugarte will come on or Maynou will come on, we lose that structure in some way, shape or form.
00:11:53
Toluwa
And I don't know if it's because Ugarte likes to, he likes to chase the ball. Casimiro likes to kind of keep the play in front of him and wait and see. So just really valuable experience.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:04
Toluwa
But like you said, we do need to bolster that midfield because He's only getting older. He's 33. I don't think he has another year in him, even if we are playing one game a week.
00:12:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:13
Toluwa
I think this this is probably his last season ah consistently.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
actually can't believe he's 33. Like, he honestly, you're like, he must be 38.
00:12:18
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Surely he's 38. Like, I actually can't believe he's 33. That means people were writing him off at, like, 31 Crystal Palace.
00:12:26
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
like But he he really did hit a wall. So I don't know.
00:12:30
Toluwa
yeah
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jeez, I actually thought he was older than that. But it is true. I think the points you made are fair. I mean, the the Bruno one, I think, is a really good point because you can nearly sense that he actually...
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
trust the guys around him now to actually do the job in an attacking sense and he's like oh maybe i don't need to go and chase every blade of grass and you know pass the ball and collect it it collect your own pass so um yeah there's definitely a lot more trust there and i think your point around having a bit more protection around casemiro as well and it's not really protection around casemiro it's more i think the back three getting more used to that system
00:12:43
Toluwa
Yeah. yeah
00:13:06
Toluwa
yeah
00:13:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
and being more confident to for one of them to kind of jump out of that back three as well,
Back Three Formation and Defensive Strategies
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is what that system allows you because you have so much covering behind.
00:13:12
Toluwa
yeah
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And there's going to be times where a midfielder is left by themselves. So you know one of the third one of the back three jumping into midfield is is going to be really useful. So I think it is a combination of, like you said, the team being more cohesive in the system um and the quality has just gone up as well in the attack in third, which is...
00:13:32
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is brilliant to see. um ah was a bit concerned that Dalla was starting the big matches on the left wing back. i I really like Dargu and I'm not really sure why he's not backing him because he has brilliant athleticism.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is you know, a dogged defender. um And yes, his his final third needs a bit of improvement. But if you're playing him in big games or if you're playing Dalot in big games on the left-hand side to be more defensive, I don't really see what he's adding over Dargu on that left-hand side.
00:14:06
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm bit confused around that.
00:14:09
Toluwa
Yeah, me as well. um Especially with just the mistakes that Dalo makes, not even just defensively, like going forward, he makes a lot of silly errors and, uh,
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:21
Toluwa
I figured at the start of the season, Durgu didn't have the best start. I felt like that final third, ah that issue with his crossing in the final third kind of led Ruben Emmerim to say, you know what, let me put you on the bench a couple of games ah so you can kind of see the game from there and see what I want you to do.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:40
Toluwa
But like you said, Dalot is the guy that's in front of me I would be pissed. Like, he is so he's just I don't want to sit here and say he's bad because that'd be very reactionary of me.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Yeah.
00:14:51
Toluwa
I feel like throughout his tenure, Dalot has really shown up in really big moments. He's also had some really bad moments.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:59
Toluwa
So he's one of those players where, you know, just inconsistent. And that's kind of the story of majority of the squad, just inconsistent over the years.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:07
Toluwa
If I'm if I'm Dorgue, though, I'd I'd be telling Emreim off like, hey, like, I feel like I deserve to be in this. Just look at the games. Look at the sample size. Look at what he's done in the past five and look at what I've done in the past five.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:15:20
Toluwa
I don't think Dalo is registered in assists.
00:15:22
Toluwa
I don't think he's gone without making an error in one game. like in the past five. So those are the things that I feel like as fans, we have every right to question, like what's what's the thought process behind that?
00:15:33
Toluwa
And if like you said, if he's being brought in to be a defensive minded player, he's not doing a good job of it, to be honest.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:40
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just, I have good time for Dargu and I think, um you know, the reason why Dal was playing those games is maybe because, okay, Salah's on the right-hand side, we need double up on that, but I don't really see how he's that much better of a defender than Dargu, so that was kind of the the one thing, but um Maguire, I mean, but could have a whole episode, we could have a whole series about Maguire, to be honest, but
00:15:54
Toluwa
Yeah.
Harry Maguire's Performance Against Liverpool
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like he was absolutely incredible against Liverpool. um Kind of shoved De Ligt out to the right-hand side of the back three. ah We have Jaro coming back in there as well. Like we start to have a bit of a bit of depth in that back three. Do you think Jaro, De Ligt, Shaw is our best three with everyone fit?
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or what's your thoughts on the back three?
00:16:26
Toluwa
Yeah, I mean, my thoughts on the back through back three from the start of the season ah included DeLigt and Jouro. I know just the profile, the type of players that they are, they just suit the way that Emmerim wants to play.
00:16:40
Toluwa
And I think DeLigt has shown that he is just, he's ready for whatever challenge.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been excellent.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:45
Toluwa
He's been excellent.
00:16:46
Toluwa
Jouro, I don't know what is the the relationship between him and Emmerim. I'm sure it's a good one, but... you know We've seen so far a couple of games, Joro's not playing. He's coming off the bench late in the game and we're wondering why didn't he start.
00:16:58
Toluwa
So I think Amram rates him highly.
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:17:00
Toluwa
There's just clearly something maybe within each game that he feels like Joro might not ah excel at. And then Luke Shaw, I feel like Luke Shaw is really only there because, you know, Lisandro Martinez, obviously.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
else yeah yeah
00:17:12
Toluwa
Is it fit? You know, ah people were, people were, I saw some comments on Twitter. People were wondering like, Hey, where's eight in heaven? Like, why is he not getting a go? And I'm like, from what I've seen of heaven, he is a top prospect, but to just throw him into the situation would be kind of suicide. I think, um, he's ready for specific challenges, but I don't know if,
00:17:33
Toluwa
J.J. 90 minutes every Premier League matches is you know what he's ready for so to answer your question long story short, I think when everybody's fully fit, I think the Sandra Martinez obviously slots in for Luke Shaw but that's the back line for me, Lecha, the Licton, Yaro.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah exactly yeah yeah
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, having De Ligt and Jaro there, are like a massive time for both of them. um And, you know, a couple of interviews with De Ligt over the last few weeks is kind of, you can see now that he's nearly filled into the jersey a bit and he's got that confidence back of what he had a few years ago.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And he's still so young, like he's like 26 or something, isn't he?
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like, he's been around for so long. So, um You know, he was even saying, you know, that defenders kind of come into their prime towards late 20s, maybe even 30.
00:18:07
Toluwa
yeah yeah
00:18:16
Toluwa
yeah
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, yeah, he feels that his best years are ahead of him. So we could be looking back at a ah bit of a bargain signing with all these crazy
Masrawi's Versatile Playing Ability
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
transfers going on. But, um yeah, definitely a ah really good player to um to build around that back three. And we've seen Masrawi as well kind of was missing at the start of the season, but then has come on and played in a few matches recently.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another really, really solid option when it comes to that kind of right-sided centre-back of the back three. ah I don't really like seeing him wing-back. It's just too limiting. it You really are shutting up shop if you're putting Masrawi on the wing-back.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but another great option to have in defence.
00:18:58
Toluwa
Yeah, um' very ah versatile. I like players who are just willing to play anywhere. It doesn't matter. And do a shift, put in a shift.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah where did he play under 10 Hag he played as a 10 the writing was on the wall there that is madness yeah
00:19:06
Toluwa
He played as 10.
00:19:13
Toluwa
That was the game where everybody was like, oh yeah, this guy is done. like I'm out on the bench and Masraou at the 10. I remember seeing that too and I'm like, what is he doing? like
00:19:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
even Madrawi's looking back on the bench like in the middle of the game going really up here
00:19:23
Toluwa
He's just trying anything.
00:19:27
Toluwa
yeah But yeah, he's such a great player. And he's ah for me, he's one of those utility players that, like I said, he can slot it anywhere. ah But like you said, he's one of, even though he's naturally a fullback, there's just such a huge difference in this modern era but between a fullback and a wingback.
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:46
Toluwa
that it's just so it's so mind-boggling to me because they're essentially playing the same role, but the wingback just has to be way more proficient going forward than the fullback.
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:19:56
Toluwa
A fullback is more balanced, and Masrawi just cannot go forward as well as he kind of plays an overall balanced game.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:03
Toluwa
So it's I feel like it's the same with Dalo. feel like if Dalo was playing as a right back and a back four,
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
conventional right back. Yeah, yeah.
00:20:10
Toluwa
you'd be so much better. So it's it's strange.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:12
Toluwa
It's strange how that works. But shit, I'm taking Masrawi over Dalo any day, and in any in any situation.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I Yeah, yeah, yeah. Any situation. I mean, it is a specialised position, that kind of wing back role. And I'm kind of glad that we're not signing for these specialist roles because that's what we did with Vengal.
00:20:25
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:20:29
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
then we ended up with all these guys on ah on a heap then when the manager changes back to a back four inevitably in whatever year the manager will come in.
00:20:36
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:20:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, we we are adapting well. And Masraou is an interesting one because he actually is good on the ball, but he looks so awkward on the ball.
00:20:45
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You feel like every touch he's going to lose it, but he actually he's actually very confident on the ball. like So um I don't mind it when he does go on ah a bit of a run. But I agree that the whole positioning of a wing back, you know, you start...
00:20:55
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
nearly 20, 30 yards further up the pitch and high and wide and then have to be competent, being able to go past someone, but also defending.
00:21:03
Toluwa
Yeah.
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's super specialised.
00:21:07
Toluwa
yeah
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you need to be extremely athletic to play it as well. Like, there's just so much... yeah You'd nearly call it pointless running because, you know, you make that run 10 times, you won't get the ball. You make the recovery run 10 times, the ball will never come.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the one time you don't do it, you'll get blamed and shouted at, you know?
00:21:22
Toluwa
The ball's coming. Yeah.
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you can't you can't cheat any run, really, which is just, yeah, it's
Strategy for Upcoming Match Against Spurs
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
a...
00:21:28
Toluwa
yeah
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's an unforgiving role but anyway it's positive stuff for United at the moment which is which is a nice thing to be able to see and just to close out the episode we have Spurs next we have a couple of episodes now coming up this week but confident for the weekend
00:21:43
Toluwa
Yeah, um I'm confident. And I know maybe if this was a couple of games ago, we wouldn't be so confident. We'd be a little bit wary, I think.
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:52
Toluwa
But with United being four games unbeaten, it shows that there's something, I think, brewing, something building. um If they were able to get three wins in a row against tough opposition and then come to Nottingham Forest, who is still a tough opposition no matter what situation they're in, and fight to get a result,
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:11
Toluwa
I think Spurs are also in that conversation. we mentioned earlier how Chelsea are having a little inconsistent to start Liverpool City Spurs are in that conversation too.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:21
Toluwa
So this is the moment where United can kind of take these games, you know, like this.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, yeah.
00:22:26
Toluwa
These are huge opportunities for us to build on because we beat Spurs. It should give us confidence to go ahead and beat any other team in the top six. And then from that point, we need to find a way to finish games against teams in the bottom half.
00:22:40
Toluwa
Like that has to be priority, I think. But in terms of this weekend, yeah, I think United has a big, ah a huge chance, a big chance, especially with Spurs playing today. um United has the full week of recovery of rest.
00:22:52
Toluwa
Amarim has two games now for the week that he can look at to see how Spurs line up and how they approach.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:58
Toluwa
And I think this is a a huge opportunity, like I said, for us to get three points.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
well said let's see how we get on um but yes let's keep the momentum going let's keep it going to lua thank you very much for joining me um great episode and uh yeah we'll see you in the next one
00:23:11
Toluwa
As always.