Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 167 - Wildcard Wednesday - Combined XI Time!
0 Playsin 5 hours
Kieran and Niall reminisce on today’s episode by making a combined XI of our 1999 and 2008 Champions League triumphs. Let us know on our socials who we missed!
Find us on:
Instagram: gspnmanunited
X: gspnmanunited
TikTok: gspnmanunited
Don’t forget to rate us below, it really helps us out!
Sponsors and Advertising
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!
#MadeByZencastr
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
#GGMU #DailyManUnited #MUFC
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Episode Theme
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the daily Manchester United. Here it's Wildcard Wednesday, our first really of the brand new season and it's not like us to reminisce is it?
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not a chance. We'd never pick a topic that takes us back into the past and think of better times. Without further ado, here's today's Wildcard Wednesday. We're looking at the two Champions League finals both of 1999 and of 2008 and coming up with a combined 11 out of the two. Now there's a couple of rules we're putting in place as you can see. I've got pen in hand if you're watching on YouTube.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'll see how seriously I'm taking this. We are restricted to only the starting event of both sides. so there's no nanny and there's no gigs. You can't have them because they are on the bench for the 08 final.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not doing this
Goalkeeper Selection Debate
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
alone, of course. I have the wonderful Mr. Niall Hannigan joining me. Niall, welcome along.
00:01:01
Niall
Ciarán, delighted be on for the reminiscence reminiscing episode tonight. So yeah, looking forward to this and and ready to be absolutely slaughtered in the in the comments and on social media. So can't wait.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't have it any other way. So without further ado, let's get straight in there at goalkeeper.
00:01:15
Niall
Yeah.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, obviously, two choices you could have. You could have Peter Schmeichel or you could have Edwin van der Sar. Niall, who have you gone for?
00:01:26
Niall
I feel like this is a horrible of place to start for being slaughtered.
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It It is.
00:01:32
Niall
um Going off that game, um I'm going to have to go for the the penalty save from Edwin van der Sar. um And just that iconic celebration of just punching the air like ah like an old Dutch man in a nightclub, which is him in
Defender Choices Discussion
00:01:51
Niall
Moscow that night. And it was absolutely gold dust. So I'm going to have to go with Edwin van der Sar.
00:01:57
Niall
even though Schmeichel is probably the the most successful goalkeeper in the Premier League, never mind at United. But yeah, I'm going to have to go with Edwin here.
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I went Schmeichel. I went the other side of the coin. I thought, you know, both fantastic shot stoppers, both absolute heroes of Manchester United.
00:02:09
Niall
Yes.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe less so for Schmeichel because he went the other side of of Manchester, you know, for a season. But hey-ho, we can all put that behind us because what?
00:02:22
Niall
Before they were relevant as well, such a strange
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
what I know, know, I know.
00:02:25
Niall
Yeah.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
i know
00:02:26
Niall
yeah
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We'll let him off. We'll let him off. and He just wanted to see what it was like. But yeah, I think yeah even even you love to see a goalkeeper but just get up there in the 90th minute and just make themselves a nuisance in the opposition box and Schmeichel could do that. That was amazing.
Midfield Selection and Strategy
00:02:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And yeah, I've gone Schmeichel, you've gone van der Sar. We've already started a war underneath us, which I love. Good. Let us know how wrong we got it.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. we're We're both going to be boring as well, but that's because United were very famous for lining up as sort of like a 4-2-3-1. So we'll go with the four at the back then, Nair. Who have you gone for? Let's start at centre-half.
00:03:05
Niall
ah this is This is actually going to be horrendous, I think. Okay.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:11
Niall
ah ah Do you want you want to call out the options? Because, I mean, it just kind of shows how difficult this task is, really.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so you've got Ferdinand and and Vidic. I mean, you could technically have Wes Brown, even though he started as as a fullback in the game. And in the 99 stage, you had Japs Stam.
00:03:25
Niall
Mm-hmm.
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have Dennis Erwin. I mean, yeah, eats it's a tricky one. It is a very tricky one. But who are you narrowing it down to? Yeah.
00:03:36
Niall
So centre-halves, I've gone for Japstam and Vidic. Absolute no-nonsense defending from these two.
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:47
Niall
And and I think when and you see the rest of my team, it's probably going to be necessary that these two definitely stay back and are are holding down the fort.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:03:56
Niall
I mean, yeah never got to saw never got to see play. in person but uh from from the clips and the videos and the matches that i've watched in the past just an absolute stalwart an absolute machine um i was probably let go by by united way too soon as well only playing for a couple of seasons so uh yeah he was definitely going to be in at center half and then vidic is just iconic i mean putting you're putting his head everywhere um Just one of the bravest players, but but mad, I suppose, as well.
00:04:30
Niall
um But yeah, I think the two of them would um wouldn't wouldn't be dealing with too much nonsense. So I went with them as the the two centre-halves. And then at right back, I've gone for Genev himself.
00:04:42
Niall
Hopefully he's tuning in. But yeah, I had to go with Gary Neville. um Just so consistent and one of the best right backs that the Premier League has seen as well, playing in for for so many years.
00:04:54
Niall
um So yeah, i had to go with him. And for left back... I was torn with my home allegiances.
Attackers and Formation
00:05:02
Niall
You know, I was like, should I get Dennis Irwin? And especially because Keane's not playing in the 99 final, know, there has to be an Irish player in there.
00:05:08
Niall
and Once again, going lie, didn't see too much of Dennis Irwin, but from what I've seen on videos and from what other people talk about him as a footballer, I think he would thrive and in today's game.
00:05:20
Niall
um Being an attack and fallback, a fallback that's taken penalties and free kicks and stuff is just unheard of in in that unbelievable United team.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, sure.
00:05:29
Niall
and But I do have a bit of a soft spot for for Patrice Evra. So I'm going to sneak Evra in left back to complete the back four.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I'm shocked and appalled because that's exactly the same back four I had written down.
00:05:43
Niall
No way, no way.
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
The yes way. The app stamp as well. I probably was thinking about Ferdinand in there as well. um I mean, the village Ferdinand partnership is just iconic.
00:05:54
Niall
Yeah.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just is. um It served us so long at the back there, two of them both stalwarts. mean, you know, Ferdinand being a, at the time, a world record fee, wasn't it, from Leeds United?
00:06:04
Niall
Yeah, 30, wasn't it?
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:06:05
Niall
No.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, about 30 odd million. So it was, it was a big deal for him to to transfer.
00:06:09
Niall
Yeah, back then, that feed back then is madness.
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:06:13
Niall
Like, what would that be now?
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:14
Niall
I'd say if you did a a little inflation calculation, it's probably close to 100.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just under, just, just, just under half a Cesco. So we'll see, we'll see how that pans out. Yeah.
00:06:23
Niall
Just his right leg.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I, yeah.
00:06:24
Niall
just Yeah.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I guess which one's more important. I don't know, but yeah, I, I was toying with, with Ferdinand. You're right as well. Dennis Irwin, you know I was thinking maybe, i mean, this is so tough, but I would rather it this way than any other.
00:06:39
Niall
yeah
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I went Evra because we love this game and he loves this game. so and And he loves a big game.
00:06:43
Niall
He really does. He really does.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
he just but Him playing, I mean, 2011 Champions League, that rocket against Bayern Munich, he just absolutely hits it. and just It's a wonderful shot.
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Ignore the fact we went on to lose that game. But give me something. Evra was fantastic. I loved him.
00:07:03
Niall
there's no better sight than seeing him bombing up the left it's just he's just he's just the perfect like shape of a left back as well exactly what you'd want super aggressive good on the ball loves attacking yeah it was it's brilliant and then his yeah his personality off the pitch over the last few years has been fairly entertaining
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
He loves this game. He just loves it. And who could blame him? When we come back, we'll have a look at the rest of the field up in the midfield and up top.
00:07:24
Niall
Thank you.
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, we'll have a word from our sponsors.
Further Midfield Analysis
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's dive into the holding midfield then. And, well, I i feel like it probably should be Carrick and Scholes. I'm just putting it out there.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm straight in there. As you say, no nonsense. You've got Carrick, who I feel it is United career. we we spoke about before how Michael Carrick, once he had left United and once he'd retired,
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
the heartbeat of that team was was almost gone. And it's it's one of those things that you don't realise what you have until it's gone. And for Carrick, he was exactly that. um And a perfect partner to Paul Scholes and that sort of heart midfield. Scholes could, I mean, pick our pass out every every day on Sunday to...
00:09:07
Niall
I see.
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
to move the team forward. I mean, he was wonderful to watch. And he's so mad how he started out life. He started out his career as a footballer, as a striker. And then it was seen that, well, actually, he's got a heck of a pass on him.
00:09:17
Niall
and
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's let's drop him deeper and see what happens. And ah turned into one of the best midfielders United's ever had.
00:09:26
Niall
Definitely, yeah. I mean, i definitely went with Paul Scholes. 08, Paul Scholes, obviously, it was injured or suspended for the 99 final? Was it injured? I think it might have been injury.
00:09:37
Niall
um But yeah, I had to go with him. And I've slightly shoehorned it but not too much. It's still... It still works, and he did definitely play here later on his career. I put Beckham in beside him in two holding midfield roles where Scholes in 08 is definitely more of a holder than than probably what he was back in 99.
00:09:58
Niall
um And then Beckham as well, just with the range of passing, I think, but in that formation as well. I think he probably would have to play in in those two midfield roles rather than the kind of 4-4-2 formation that they would have been been playing before. So um absolute ballers in midfield there.
00:10:15
Niall
ah Just ah no short passes a allowed. Only 40-yard diagonals is is the name of the game. And yeah, when we see who we have up front, it probably makes sense as well.
00:10:25
Niall
Yeah.
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah, I mean, I'm going to move on to wingers because this is an important one because I've put Beckham on the right.
00:10:33
Niall
Mm-hmm.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've not put him in midfield or centre mid, I should say. I put him on out on the wing there. So, I mean, the the the man could do anything.
00:10:37
Niall
Yeah.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
a Dead ball specialist as well.
00:10:43
Niall
Yeah.
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
An absolute menace wherever he was on the pitch. Just a range of pass. He could finish as well. I mean, there wasn't a lot he couldn't do. David Beckham.
00:10:51
Niall
Yeah.
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was a wonderful wonderful to sort of watch on there and just to sort of say that you know the amount of times he bailed out England, ah the free kick against Greece comes to mind.
00:11:02
Niall
yeah
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Just a player you want for the big occasion because he can always deliver.
00:11:06
Niall
And I feel like he's he's always undervalued as a player as well because of just the global like icon he is. that it's He's so much more than his football career, but then it's kind of underestimated of how how good he actually was.
00:11:19
Niall
um And yeah, it his career was it was incredible. Obviously, going on to play for all all the big clubs that he did as well, but just a player that was just... pure technique and an incredible athlete as well in terms of his fitness but yeah i just those corners in the Champions League final as well and in clutch moments to put both of them right into the corridor of uncertainty into the area into the mixer whatever you way you want to call it it it worked out anyway and that's exactly what you want from your big players and big moments is to is to give you a bit of a chance for for a few poachers to get a toe to it so um yeah he he had to make the team ah I'm glad he's he's made both of our teams
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, me too. me too um I'm going to ask you who's on your right-hand side because you've put Beckham in the midfield. So interested to see who's on your right-hand side.
00:12:10
Niall
Ronaldo.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
On the right? Interesting. Okay.
00:12:14
Niall
Because he wasn't really playing on the left or through the middle at United. um A lot of his time was spent on the right-hand side with kind of gigs on the left-hand side. And even for a time Rooney was playing out on the left-hand side to kind of shoehorn him into the team.
00:12:29
Niall
um So I've gone for his kind of just... raw pace down the right hand side um terrorizing defenders as we know and to be honest with the players that we have and in the front in the three and behind the striker very interchangeable um and I can imagine that they'll be they'll be switching over to terrorize the other full back after half an hour 40 minutes or so so um I've got him on the right hand side to to start with back in his his United days
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, I can guess who you've put on the left there, because I've put Cristiano Ronaldo on the left. um You know, because I feel like you put Cristiano Ronaldo in, I think you can see where I'm going with this, want you to predict it.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i actually said, actually, oh, you can't have gigs. Well, actually, he yeah he did actually start in the, yeah. in know
00:13:17
Niall
VOS. Or 99, sorry.
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:19
Niall
Yeah.
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
99, yeah, he did start.
00:13:20
Niall
yeah
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, you could have gigs and I was wrong. See, that's the first thing you can pick out as being woefully wrong. Ah, there you go. See, it's all good. It's all in good jest.
00:13:30
Niall
yeah For the social media guys, that's within the first minute, I think, when... when Yeah.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was solely for content, I promise.
00:13:35
Niall
Yeah, absolutely.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um yeah, okay. So you've I'm guessing you've put gigs on the left.
00:13:43
Niall
isn't making the team. I'm sorry.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, okay.
00:13:46
Niall
Yeah, I've gone for my three and behind the striker. I've gone all 08. I'm keeping the trio. i'm I'm bringing the band back together again. i've got I've got Rooney sitting in behind the striker and I've got Tevez on the left-hand side and they can switch whatever way they want. They can find pockets space wherever they want. Rooney out to the left like he was a lot of the time um back in the day. Tevez in behind the striker, Ronaldo on the right.
00:14:11
Niall
Rooney and Ronaldo can swap if they want, but I'm i'm keeping the the three maestros on on the pitch and their their interplay those couple of seasons was just incredible and just, yeah, make you make you fall in love with football, I suppose. just Just put the ballers on the pitch and just let them sort it themselves.
00:14:28
Niall
So that's what I've gone with for the three and behind.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to be honest with you, I went for Ronaldo on the
Striker Role and Historic Reflection
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
left. I put Rudy in that sort of number 10 role, if you like, ah just behind the striker because, you know, centre forward, right right, you know, complimenting the striker.
00:14:38
Niall
yeah
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He played that role for years, you know. ah Shoehorning in Javier Hernandez moment, you know, as as we do on the reminiscing episodes. But Rudy and Hernandez as a centre forward striker partnership was was amazing.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I put Rudy the centre forward and I put Tevez up top. ah I agree. Those three.
00:15:00
Niall
Oh, okay. Okay.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Those three were absolutely unbelievable. I mean, you...
00:15:05
Niall
I'm glad the three are in. I'm glad you put the three in.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I had to.
00:15:07
Niall
Yeah.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
As soon as I put Ronaldo in, i was like, well, look, who's who's he going to link up with?
00:15:09
Niall
Yeah.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rudy and Tevez. Of course he is. Those three were just absolute menaces, no matter where they went. It was, um I forget the team, and you can absolutely crucify me for it, but it's that one where they go from the counter-attack and it just ends up with one passing to another in front of goal.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the like one of the easiest goals you'll score. And I'm trying to think who who that possibly would have been against. Someone in the comments will be able to tell us who. and tell her tell me how much of a fool I am for forgetting.
00:15:40
Niall
Yeah, a fraud.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're right. it's It's moves like that that make you fall in love with football. It's moves like that that make you think, that's it. that's That's all I needed to see. And to put those three on the same pitch, it has to be done.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just has to be done.
00:15:54
Niall
It does. And I put the three of them in behind Andy Cole. And I think that...
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah.
00:16:01
Niall
the amount of chances that that they would be creating for this man, for this absolute killer of a striker, like criminally underrated as well. The amount of goals he got and in the primary league is just ridiculous.
00:16:12
Niall
Like, and he didn't even take penalties.
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:16:14
Niall
It's, it's absolutely mind blowing. Um, Obviously, back in the day, it was kind of like a partnership. York and Cole, him playing in other teams as well, it was normally two up front.
00:16:27
Niall
um I think just because of the sheer amount of bodies that would be getting forward, i don't think i don't think it would be an issue. So, yeah, I wanted to kind of get him in with the the youthful three in behind him and um see how 55-year-old Andy Cole would get on in the game.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
thank you
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's what the world would want to see. It's what the world would want to see.
00:16:45
Niall
Yeah, it's incredible.
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
well i i was Well, Andy Cole is an interesting shout, but I don't think I would have picked Andy Cole unless I was also picking Dwight York because I feel like though they go hand in hand.
00:16:56
Niall
Yeah, fair. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They complemented each other so well. And Dwight York, what player. ah it's ah It's a crime he he actually didn't make by 11. I should be you sentenced for that. But you know Dwight York was an absolute heartbeat of the team. It just made things happen.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Andy Cole ah could play those roles up top. you know He was a target forward. He could be a poacher. you know He could play off of Dwight York. They were almost telepathic at times. where to be and how to play the ball.
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I feel like Andy Cole is a, it's a good shout. but I think I would have to pick him with Dwight York. And since Dwight York isn't making my team, I felt, you know, Andy Cole was probably not the option, but it's on vibes.
00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's on vibes. And,
00:17:41
Niall
Yeah.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wonder as well, up against Bayern Munich of 1999, Kahn in goal. You have Babel Kaffur, Lota Mateus, deadly striker, deadly, ah at least going forward.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, it's it'ss terrifying name to just drop in there, Lota Mateus. And in 08, you've got check and goal. mean, Claude McAlealy alongside Michael Essien is just, with Carvalho at the back.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, honestly, Michael Balak in there. It was a great game, 1-1. And John Terry missing the penalty by giving a slip. And as you say, Van der Sar, saving the decisive penalty.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd love to go back to those finals and, and well, especially in 99 to properly experience it because it's slightly... I wouldn't say before my time, but I'm nowhere near old enough to remember it. So I would have loved to have gone back to experience those two late goals to snatch it from the jaws of defeat.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
What what a moment it must have been.
00:18:43
Niall
no incredible my uh my uncle actually won tickets to go to that game in in barcelona yeah he he must be one of the luckiest person just going into raffles and winning two tickets to go to barcelona but yeah um big united fan and ended up there and
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really? Really?
00:18:59
Niall
said it was probably one of the worst games of football up until 88 minutes, 90 minutes. You know, I think even what Bayern Munich goal was a poor enough deflected kind of free kick, like a scruffy enough goal.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:12
Niall
And then even the United goals were scruffy, but I mean, the pure drama of the last couple of minutes and in stoppage time. But, you know, football football games do have... um they're funny like that where they can go through seriously dull lulls of play um but yeah he said it was just absolutely iconic so i can i can agree with you and i can only imagine what it was like as well um yeah
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, as well, for Bayern Munich to score before the sixth minute was even played, ah but as you say, it was a Basler free kick that gets deflected and finds way into the back of the net.
00:19:40
Niall
yeah
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then just for Sheringham and Solskjaer to just come off the bench and completely change everything. And Solskjaer, with that goal alone, wrote him into folklore.
00:19:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um if he
00:19:53
Niall
Mm-hmm.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to say... i i agree I was going to put Soul Shire down, but then I realised it would be breaking my own rule, and I'm not a fan of breaking rules. So I put Tevez instead, but I mean, it was so tough to leave out the baby-faced assassin because of rules, that our own self-established rules to leave out the baby-faced assassin.
00:20:14
Niall
Yeah, well, look, life's tough, Ciarán. This is what we have to do.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and is.
00:20:18
Niall
like um
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is.
Wayne Rooney's Career Retrospective
00:20:20
Niall
Yeah, I suppose your York Hall debacle was kind of ruled out once we had that formation with the what wasn't the one striker, I suppose. um But yeah, I'm just thinking...
00:20:32
Niall
of the front four that I have, they can all play in all four positions. I can just see it being absolute carnage for the defense. um Even Cole playing in the number 10 role, Tevez going up top, Rooney going up top.
00:20:44
Niall
You know, like, Rooney played everywhere for United, basically. I mean... he he says a lot on podcasts and interviews that he didn't he didn't enjoy playing as the lone striker and then he kind of was forced to play it those couple of seasons before Van Persie came under Ferguson and he was scoring like 30 goals a season and it was like I don't really enjoy it like I'd rather be more involved in the play but he's you know finishing and winning the Premier League with that many goals like the man could do everything it's absolutely ridiculous
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And later on in his career as well, being dropped into the sort of heart of the midfield.
00:21:16
Niall
yeah
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, listening to that, it was it was perfect role for him, wasn't it? to to To drop deeper in the midfield, to be part of the play. And even as he was starting to decline physically, I mean, you know,
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
People would have been saying, and I say people, but you know things get flown around that maybe he was starting to physically decline by his late 20s. And you think about it, he you know he's he was playing since he was 16 when he debuted at Everton.
00:21:42
Niall
Yeah.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wayne Rooney, remember the name, but we all do now. And ah feel like if Rooney had made a debut 10 years later, you know what What kind of career could he have had? and With all of modern sports science you know really taking a hold, we're seeing more players make it into their early late 30s. You've got Lewandowski up at Barcelona, just still still banging in the goals. You've got Harry Kane now at Bayern Munich.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know He's still an absolute goal-scoring threat. I do wonder yeah how many more players can can go into ah their later 30s and still be you know that physical presence that you need them to be, such as Harry Kane.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I wonder, you know, 10 years later, could we have seen maybe a couple more years of Wayne Rooney or is it the fact that it happened when it did, you know, the the mid 2000s, he just burst onto the scene and made history.
00:22:37
Niall
Yeah, it's it's an interesting one. I think there is definitely a world that could happen, but then I think as well, it probably comes down to the players motivation to focus on that side of the game as well, because in the same area you have gigs who was playing until 42 or something in midfield for, for United and had an absolutely crazy long career who was putting in a lot of miles as well in the legs, but just kind of bought into the more physical, the yoga side, they always mentioned, but, you know, looking after the body, understanding that it's a, that it's a very, very long road.
00:23:13
Niall
Um, So yeah, maybe he would have been forced more to do it because the they knew more while it was probably more onus on the individual players back then and ah buying into it or not. So um I almost think it makes it even, like there's even more charm to it as well that he just completely fell off a cliff at like 31. But he just was like, do you know what? like I was unbelievable and yeah, I'm just um going to the States now. I'm going to play for Derby and you know, Everton for a bit then just call it a day.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but also you know still scoring a halfway line goal in the MLS just you know why not why not you know you don't know
00:23:49
Niall
Yeah, exactly. ah You don't lose it. You don't lose it. It's incredible. Just the football and ability of him was, was ridiculous.
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, so let's let's talk about
Combined XI vs Historic Teams
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
this then. Combined 11s then, first up against Bayern Munich and second up against Chelsea. Does your team win? It's a silly question, I'm sure, but does your team win? And and what would your scoreline be? Would it go to penalties, I wonder?
00:24:17
Niall
um Would my team win? I'm looking at and I'm thinking, oh, the midfield might get slightly overpowered. But then, did the midfield get slightly overpowered with Scholes and Carrick in that Champions League final? I'm trying to think back.
00:24:30
Niall
It was probably more of like a Premier League game where it was a bit... no one really had control of the game. it was going kind of back and forth a bit. I'm looking at Essie and McAlealy and Lampard and I'm looking at that and Balak and that's a massive midfield.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:44
Niall
So um I think, you know, Beckham and Scholes will have their there work cut out for them. But yeah, there's just there's just no way they're they're dealing with... them with the attacking threat that we have. And also we're very, very solid at the back. Absolutely no nonsense, as we mentioned, with the same back four. So I'm going to say that we win 2-1 in normal time rather than 1-1. We get another goal in normal time and we yeah we save all the drama and we win it comfortably 2-1 in Moscow. But there'll be no fun in that.
00:25:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah No, there wouldn't be. no i feel
00:25:21
Niall
And Schmeichel will probably make the team if there was no penalties.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
True, very true. I mean i think that the magic of those Champions League games, i mean especially for us in 08, is Drogba getting sent off deep into the second half of extra time.
00:25:34
Niall
Yeah.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he can't take a penalty. We know Drogba... just turned up to big games like they were nothing. He just absolutely dominated the game, was an absolute menace in the air, you know such a physical specimen to get off the ball, let alone put in a challenge.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I feel like him not taking a penalty was a huge reason as to why Chelsea didn't win that penalty shootout. And I think he is a a huge figure in that Chelsea side. you know So good he came back twice and still was was absolutely um insane both times in his at both stages of his career.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, you know, as a leader point, they they missed that. And I feel like if if that happened again, don't know. mean, it's Ronaldo who scores the header in 08.
00:26:19
Niall
Mm.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Obviously, it's Ronaldo scoring a header.
00:26:21
Niall
Brilliant header.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's amazing.
00:26:23
Niall
Brilliant header.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's amazing. But obviously, it you know, he's a physical, like a menace in the air. You're not jumping higher than Ronaldo. the End of story.
00:26:30
Niall
Mm.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So you've got that you target forward if you really want to But I just feel you unleash Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez against that 99 Bayern Munich team.
00:26:43
Niall
Ah.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
they would struggle. I mean, it would be wonderful to watch. And what I was going to say as well is part of the magic maybe of those two finals was the way that those games were won.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, I can't speak a lot for 1999, but you look at the scoreline, you look at the score sheet, I should say, and for it to be sort of 90th plus one and 90th plus three, is it? You know, just come on.
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah to win a final in the dying embers of the game where you're 1-0 down with extra stoppage time looming. Come on. ah
00:27:17
Niall
It's a movie. like It's a movie. And then for that to be the...
00:27:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is.
00:27:21
Niall
To to cap off the treble as well. It's just like...
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:25
Niall
Yeah, mental stuff, like, mental. No wonder it's talked about so much. No wonder we talk about it so much. What else are meant to talk about?
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I see it.
00:27:31
Niall
One
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Bermot, maybe. i don't know.
00:27:35
Niall
but one of them.
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:27:36
Niall
Diego León. One of them, yeah.
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
well Yeah, yeah. Well, hopefully they can instill that, I hope. Well, you you see, let's see what happens. um So Niall, just to give us a reminder then, take us through your combined 11.
00:27:48
Niall
Okay, so in goal, Edwin van der Saar, back four of Gary Neville, Jaap Stam, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra. I've gone for two in midfield of Scholes 08 and Beckham.
00:28:03
Niall
And then we've gone for Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez in behind Andy Cole.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a nice side. It's a good side.
00:28:12
Niall
Not bad.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've gone for Schmeichel between the sticks. And then I've gone for a back row of Evra, Vidic, ah Stam and Neville. So I've just copied Niall. ah But then it changes up. The midfield and the holding midfield. I've got Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then you've got a three there of Ronaldo and Beckham on the wings. Rooney in the middle and then Tevez up top. Let us know then in all of the socials, how much did we get it right? Who would you have put in the combined 11 and how much of an idiot we were for not choosing your player?
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know how wrong we got it in the comments. We'd love to hear from you. We'd love to start a debate with you as to why we're right.
00:28:46
Niall
just
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it passes the time, of course, until the new season, which is not too far away. Niall, thank you so much for joining us on this episode and and another reminiscing wildcard Wednesday.
00:29:00
Niall
ah like you mentioned at the start of the show, Ciarán, we wouldn't have it any other way. And, um, it's the only thing getting us through the day at the minute. So let's just hope that
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is.
Episode Conclusion and Acknowledgements
00:29:10
Niall
we can, uh, turn a corner.
00:29:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Hopefully it's not like a i hairpin corner.
00:29:14
Niall
It's the longest corner I've ever seen, but yeah one of them ones. Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Well, hopefully so. Hey, anyway, but thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the daily Manchester United, which is brought to you by Zencastr because here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencastr came out the clear winner.
00:29:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that can automatically remove all of those ums and ahs if you want them to.
00:29:36
Niall
Thank you.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, make sure you check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr.
00:29:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
A big thank you to Zencastr for sponsoring on this episode and for you for checking out Zencastr for your all your podcast hosting needs. You can follow us on all the social medias. We are at GSPN Man United on the likes of Facebook, on Twitter and X, on Instagram and on TikTok.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you can also watch our episodes. If you're listening on Spotify or Apple and you'll want to watch the episodes instead, you can follow us on our YouTube page. It's GSPN Daily Manchester United Podcast.
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Follow us on YouTube and you can watch all of the shows instead of just listening to them so you can see our lovely faces. Now, give them a smile. There you go. You see, you're missing out. missing out if you're listening to us only. In the meantime, though, thank you so much for listening and watching today's episode. We'll be back soon for more.
00:30:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We might even have the Arsenal guys on. Oh, Lord, help us. See you soon.