Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 171 - Wildcard Wednesday!
17 Plays16 days ago
Kieran and Sam talk the talking points after a couple of days to think, and a little bit of everything gets discussed.
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 #MUNARS
Recommended
Transcript
Wildcard Wednesday Introduction
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. You join us here on Wildcard Wednesday where we talk about a little bit of everything today. There could be a little bit of the match result with someone who hasn't been on the show since Sunday or it could be a little bit of anything we like. My name's Kieran. I'm joined on this episode by Sam. Sam, are you doing?
00:00:28
Sam Brady
Yeah, very good, man. Very good. Enjoyed, what, the most part of the opening weekend. Obviously, we'll we'll touch on the game in a couple of minutes. But yeah, I mean, for the for the most part, i enjoyed enjoyed watching the opening weekend and and and so glad the football is back now. So, yeah, really good, man.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are so
Manchester United vs Arsenal Review
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
back. We are so back. But um yeah, it was always going to be a tough game because we haven't been on an episode since ah we had that 1-0 defeat add Old Trafford to Arsenal. Sam, what did you make of the game?
00:01:01
Sam Brady
um From a yeah United point of view, I thought we played really well, to be honest. that I thought it was probably better than I think a lot of us actually expected. Okay, you can look at it the on on the flip side of that and say we lost and sort of it's...
00:01:18
Sam Brady
you know, um sort of how you can set talk about all these positives that I'll probably go on to talk about, but in the end of the day, it's ah it's about the result. And and yeah, we we did lose.
00:01:29
Sam Brady
But saying that, I thought we played really well. I think, I thought we were much the better team. I thought we dominated Arsenal, to be honest, throughou throughout the game and definitely ah after the goal.
00:01:41
Sam Brady
um I thought going forward, we we looked fantastic. I mean, Mbwemo and Cunha, they... definitely don't seem like they're lacking confidence.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:01:50
Sam Brady
And and that's certainly a ah really good thing because that was sort of always the worry that can they sort of bear the weight of of the United shirt and and Old Trafford.
00:02:01
Sam Brady
And Cunha especially was was unbelievable, I thought. And yeah, I thought... you can really sort of see like patterns of play i emerging and and and going forward, I think we were you were very good. I mean, I said before the the opening weekend that I still feel like we were light in the midfield and and light at the back and I andnna still stand by that, to be honest. I still think we are light in the midfield and I think ah quite a few times on the transition, um Arsenal arsal did seem sort of
00:02:35
Sam Brady
and not I wouldn't say a danger, but they cut through us sometimes a bit too a bit easier than than I would have liked. And I definitely think, again, I'll reiterate what I said about man Manu Agate. I just don't think he he's
Goalkeeper Issues at Manchester United
00:02:49
Sam Brady
good enough now. I think we've seen a season out of him.
00:02:52
Sam Brady
Yeah, he's been okay. But pre-season and and then this game, I think we definitely need um a player there next to... um sort of Bruno Fernandes or Casemiro there as well. I thought, to be honest, I thought Casemiro played very well.
00:03:08
Sam Brady
I thought De Ligt was absolutely solid at the back. I thought he handled Jokeres very well. And I know people are sort of Talking about Jokeres and saying he didn't do much for Arsenal and we need to see much from him. But I actually think that's a lot to do with Matthias De Ligt at the back. I thought he was very solid.
00:03:28
Sam Brady
Obviously, we touched on Cunha. But obviously, ah as I mentioned, we have yeah we're lighting the midfield and then goalkeeper. i mean we talked We touched on it last week. that That's a serious position that we need to get fixed very quickly.
00:03:42
Sam Brady
Otherwise, no matter how we play, we're going to lose games because of our goalkeeper this season. and the The thing is, we got rid of David De Gea because he was costing us games.
00:03:54
Sam Brady
and Now we're in that same situation where we still have goalkeepers costing us the game. and and Really, that that's what it came down to. The the goalkeeper cost us the game. I think Apart from that, um Arsenal didn't do too much and and um they were lucky to win 1-0. Don't give me wrong, credit to Arsenal. They were very defensively solid. i mean We expect that from from Arsenal now. and yeah they're They're very solid. They they sort of grinded out the win and away win against a ah one of the big sides like light United at Old Trafford on the first weekend. i mean It's a very, very solid win for Arsenal.
00:04:33
Sam Brady
But if it wasn't for our goalkeeper mistake, they they definitely would not have won that game.
Manager Amorim's Optimism
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and um in the post-match press conference, and the question was asked that, you know, Amarim was obviously frustrated with the result, but in terms of performance, must have seen a lot of progress and feel quite positive.
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Amarim's response was, yes, it's that feeling that it's we we play better, we we were the better team, but we lose the game. But I'm really proud of the work they put in on the field. and that's important to move forward.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then it became the question of, and do you have no concerns about the three goalkeepers that are your three goalkeepers for the season?
00:05:01
Sam Brady
Yep.
00:05:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amorim responds, I think we approved today that we can win any game in the Premier League, especially against a great team like Arsenal, and we were the better team, so I'm happy with the three players. I'm happy with the three goalkeepers.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, for Amorim's sake, um is see, this is the thing about man management. Even if...
00:05:26
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe you're not a fan of of certain players in the squad. You can't just say, I don't want him in there. He's going to be dropped.
00:05:33
Sam Brady
yeah
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
In a sense, you have to back the players until they're not your players anymore. And I feel that can be done if Altair was you know five or six years younger. But he's i think he's 27 now.
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Might be 28. Might have to fact check me on that one. But in any case, you know he's a keeper that should statistically be... nearing his prime. And if he's getting shoved off the ball, that's a, that's a concern at this stage of his career.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Mark Clattenberg on, what was it? The Sky Sports, I can't remember of the show that you're going going to dig me out on this one.
00:06:04
Sam Brady
Graph watch, I think, maybe.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it.
00:06:06
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ref watch. Yeah.
00:06:06
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. did mention that perhaps it should have gone to VAR and maybe the challenge that Saliba made on Cunha probably should have gone to VAR. But I just feel like at that point you're clutching at straws, especially with the goalkeeper one, because when the corner came in for Raya on the opposite end, Raya was in a similar situation. He was being muscled in, but he managed to get a fist to the ball and get the ball out of the danger zone.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think in that game, the referee let a lot of those physical challenges go and he set that precedent very early on. And I think it was it the game flowed better. Obviously, the way Arsenal play, they want to slow the game down with those you know bitty fouls.
00:06:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And once they're ahead, they're a very solid unit.
00:06:46
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
You give them a chance to time waste, they're going to take it.
00:06:48
Sam Brady
yeah
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, as you mentioned as well, Agate didn't really have his greatest game, especially coming off on the bench. I thought we looked a bit weaker earlier.
00:07:00
Sam Brady
yeah
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
and especially, you know, going, defending and attacking. He was making mistakes where Maguire had to bail him out with, you know, a cynical yellow card challenge. So, was yellow card all day long. That's just Harry Maguire. That's what he does. if he yeah Either the ball was getting past him or the man, not both. And he chose the ball was going past him on that occasion.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I just think... I would love to see upgrade on goalkeeper. You know, there's been... Donnarumma has been a name that's been flown around, but I just think either he's going to go to City or he's going to go to Chelsea.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think Trafford actually had a decent game. He didn't have a lot to do in that Wolves game, but he he did a decent job.
00:07:34
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Sanchez... So anyway, um I just think Donnarumma might have more appealing options elsewhere. And I think for this season, we have Inanna.
00:07:47
Sam Brady
yeah
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I always thought Amorim, in the best case scenario, was going to give Inanna another season. He was going to give him one more season regardless.
00:07:57
Sam Brady
Yeah, and I think with Donnarumma, the problem is wages as well. i don't know if if we sort of have have the wages to sort of match his demands. But it's an interesting one. I just think my whole issue is like, and and this is...
00:08:13
Sam Brady
sort of been the issue we've had in the recent years is weve we've sort of sold players because they weren't good enough, but then replaced those players with players who are still not good enough. And I think we're in a situation like that with the goalkeeper situation.
00:08:29
Sam Brady
I mean, da David De Gea right now is is probably on... we We sold him because, as I said, he was costing us games. And yet we're and yet we're we're left with...
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:08:39
Sam Brady
by the by the end of his career at United, obviously. but And then we're left with now goalkeepers who are doing the exact same thing. And it's one of them where it's hard because because it is the first game of the season. you I don't think you should really read much into it. and But it's a difficult one because i want to say we're we're starting to now see good signs and we're starting to play progressive football and and and we're starting to see those those patterns of play emerge.
00:09:12
Sam Brady
But yet we still lost the game. So it's a hard one to really predict with Fulham away next next weekend. That's where... you'll really see that the the cat amongst the pigeons, basically, where if we lose to Fulham away, that's when we've we've really got a real issue. Because then you go, OK, Arsenal, losing to Arsenal, one of the sort favourites win the league, 1-0 and we were the better team.
00:09:37
Sam Brady
you Not really ah ah a terrible result. But then if you go away to Arsenal, away to Fulham, sorry, next weekend and you lose again, that's where you sort of go, OK, where is our level here?
00:09:49
Sam Brady
And as I've said, I personally believe we might beat Fulham away. we will We will definitely, I think, win a lot more games, hopefully, from what I've seen of of the first weekend.
00:10:03
Sam Brady
But in my opinion, from what I've also seen this first weekend, you're going to also have games where you deserve to win and you're the better side. And yet one mistake from your goalkeeper is going to cost you games. so And that's not going to come against the Arsenal's. And that that can happen against any team.
00:10:20
Sam Brady
So we're going to lose games against teams lower down the league because our goalkeeper is going to cost us games.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:26
Sam Brady
and And that's what happened with Inanna. And now it's happening
Role of a Confident Goalkeeper
00:10:29
Sam Brady
with Bayern Deer. So we have to, we have to get that position sorted. Do I think it's going to happen? No, I think we're going to stick with Inanna for this season. I think...
00:10:40
Sam Brady
yeah think Obviously, Almiron is not going to come out and criticise goalkeepers heavily, especially goalkeepers a position where you need confidence. and But i definitely, if I was them, I'd be looking at the Donnarumas, I'd be looking at the Martins at Villa.
00:10:57
Sam Brady
We just need sort of that bold character who pushes everyone out of the way and gets his hand onto the ball in the gold you in in the box. You can't have a goalkeeper who seems timid in net because also he sets the precedent for the rest of the team.
00:11:13
Sam Brady
If you've got a confidence goalkeeper, then you've got a confident back line. If you haven't, it unnerves everyone. I heard Gary Neville say, when you when you have a goalkeeper who flaps at the ball, you sort of get that murmur through the crowd. crowd the crowd kind of gets nervous and and everyone sort of starts to play very nervous when you don't have that solid goalkeeper and I said it last week on on the the podcast where every championship winning team has an outstanding goalkeeper that's what sets the standards for the rest of the team and and that's a big problem at the minute and I don't think we're going to get it sorted
00:11:49
Sam Brady
this season um and we'll see how Inanna plays because there is rumours that he will start at Craven Cottage and next weekend so we'll see how he comes back from injury and and see if he is in better form for for this season but I'd be looking at sort of next weekend and if we still don't see so a positive signs out of Inanna that he has made a real improvement you've got two weeks left of the transfer market and I'd really be looking at another goalkeeper option
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, what do you think as well? Well, let's have a little bit of a break here. Let's calm down. Let's calm down Sam.
00:12:26
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get some safe hands on him. And we'll be back after this.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
post-match interview with MUTV as well, Amrim said it's really hard to lose like this. And I think As opening days go, it could have gone a lot worse. But also, I wasn't deflated like I have been and and and in losses against the big teams last season. and It wasn't deflating. It was disappointing. And whether you call that an upgrade or not, it's entirely up to you. But I genuinely felt in there, as you said in the in the previous part, but for one error, we'd be walking away of Old Trafford with one point against a title contender this season.
00:13:57
Sam Brady
Yeah, I really struggled to know how to feel on ah on on Sunday night, to be honest. Because in one sense, i was I was happy with our performance, but on the other sense, I was fuming. I can't lie, i was absolutely fuming because I was so disappointed that we didn't at least get something out of that game. And I knew what the narrative was going to be sort Monday morning and it was going to be, oh, same old United and blah, blah, blah. And I just don't feel like...
00:14:25
Sam Brady
Well, from that performance anyway, we deserve that criticism. Obviously, going into the season, it was like, is Almorin the right guy? oh Are United, are they going to struggle again? Blah, blah, blah.
00:14:37
Sam Brady
And I think if you didn't watch the the game and just saw the scoreline, you'd go, oh, United, they've lost again at Old Trafford, blah, blah, blah. But... It's so frustrating when you play so well and you get nothing out of it.
00:14:52
Sam Brady
And and and I was fuming, to be honest.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:14:54
Sam Brady
four and And I get sort of when Almorin says it's so hard to lose like that, because I get it. When you play really well, as we did, and you are the better team...
00:15:06
Sam Brady
And, by the way, you come up against um an Arsenal team who, mind my language, but who have become proper basically. that That's how they're playing now. like whether you Whether you like it or not, Arteta has become such...
00:15:22
Sam Brady
a manager who plays such that style of football where he time wastes, he plays long throw-ins, he puts it in the corner and to lose to a team like that who do that, I mean, it was it's reminiscent of of old Mourinho really where you just grind out a result and and to be honest, it's if it wasn't If I'm looking at it from an objective point of view, that's a championship winning performance from from Arsenal.
00:15:50
Sam Brady
To go away, to grind out a result, to not play your best and to get a win out of it. So, look, fair enough. They did what they had to do and and and they they they they obviously got the results.
00:16:02
Sam Brady
But when you're the the team on the other end, it's horrible to lose like that. it's absolutely horrible. So, yeah.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's it's one of those football manager games, isn't it? By the way, I'm washing your mouth out with soap after this episode recording is done and dusted. So I'm glad you all know that.
00:16:18
Sam Brady
Oh.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, it's it's one of those. If you've ever played football manager or if you've ever played EAFC, what was called FIFA back in the day, and you have all these chances, you can't finish them. And it's it's one mistake or one shot ends up in the back of the net. And that's a point where you restart it. You can't do that here.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You can't do it. But hey, I will take the positives away that, you know, the the link up between Umbermo, Cunha and Mason Mount as well was was really good to watch. So good to watch. but
00:16:48
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know without a recognised striker in that line-up, let's face it, there wasn't a recognised strike. It was sort of three attacking midfielders, one being sort of second striker, others being playmakers and and and getting forward when they can.
00:16:57
Sam Brady
yeah
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that led to Dorgou putting the ball into a box where no one was there. No one was driving into the box because whilst they've you know you've got some players with some real quality, some real flair who can really change the game, you haven't got someone with that killer instinct anymore.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
as a striker.
00:17:17
Sam Brady
yeah
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
What you have is Seshko. Now, he only had 30 minutes and it might have less than that, actually. And in fairness, at that point, United were pushing up. you know At that point, we brought on ah you know a couple of players to change the game. With 15 to 10 minutes ago, we brought on Maguire to be the target forward. So the game had completely changed by that point. We weren't playing in our usual style.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think with a recognised striker, that system will work a lot better. And you have to drop Mason Mount back, but I thought he had a great game, but he does struggle with injuries. So it might not be, you know in terms of rotation, might not be a bad thing.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there was one question that was asked towards the end of the press conference, I believe, the post-match press conference, which was, um no Rasmus Hoyland, which is always going to be a question now. You've brought in Sesco. There was no Hoyland involved in the squad whatsoever.
Rasmus Hoyland's Potential Loan
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Amarim said, it's a fight for the places. We'll see what's going to happen on the market. Rasmus has the same characteristics as Benjamin Sesko, so sometimes we need to choose. So it's that sense of, is it competition or is Hoyland on the way out?
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, take your pick.
00:18:23
Sam Brady
Yeah, and to be honest, on the Hoyland situation, I do think he's he's on the way out. Not not permanently, I think he will sort of um go on a lone move before the sort of window ends. And to be honest, I truly believe that that is the best thing for him.
00:18:40
Sam Brady
I truly believe he can go out to to another league. There's rumours of him going back to the Italian league. And and I really think he can do well well for a team and and really gain his confidence back and and score a fair few goals and then hopefully come back to and United and and and do the same thing. And with, obviously, Cesco coming in now,
00:18:59
Sam Brady
I think he's obviously not going to be the main man as as he was a lot last season. um And to be honest, I have to admit, I looked at the starting line-up before the Arsenal game and thought it was really interesting and I didn't necessarily agree. Obviously, Ahmad was on the bench, Deleuze was on on the right instead of him, Mount started...
00:19:21
Sam Brady
But I have to say, I was i was very, very surprised and very happily surprised, basically, because, yeah, I doubted the starting line-up. But on on Mason Mount, by the way, unbelievable. I think that was one of the best games in a United shirt he's had. And the thing is, I've always backed Mason Mount. I've always known there's a player in there. And I really do do you think we've seen glimpses of it. Last season,
00:19:50
Sam Brady
Scoring against Bilbao, scoring two actually against Bilbao in the Europa League.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
from the halfway line
Mason Mount's Impact Against Arsenal
00:19:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
as well.
00:19:57
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:58
Sam Brady
and And we've seen glimpses of the Mason Mount, ah of what he used to be at Chelsea and what we bought him, the the player we thought we bought him. And it's just a shame that he's been hit so much with with injury at United. But I think people are really forgetting the player that he was at Chelsea. I mean, he was one of their main men when they won the trump Champions League under under Thomas Tuchel. And obviously that was quite a couple of years ago now.
00:20:24
Sam Brady
But I really do think there's there's such a talented player in there with Mason Mount. And if we can if he can stay fit, i really do think he can be a really important player for us.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
you can
00:20:36
Sam Brady
And not just Mason Mount. that The same applies to Luke Shaw as well. I think it both of them, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, I think they're essential for for everything we we do, really.
00:20:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. yeah
00:20:47
Sam Brady
I mean, Luke Shaw, I would say, is is more important just because he gives us that sort of option, that centre-back option that that I think we we might need. um for Mason Mount also He's a very, very good option off the bench or starting.
00:21:04
Sam Brady
I think, yeah, he considering everything he's been through, I think, yeah, that was one of his best performances, to be honest.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Luke Shaw as well as that sort of left centre-back, playing as a wider centre-back, which I think, he's is he 5'10", 5'11", is Shaw?
00:21:19
Sam Brady
a lot Yeah.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
might Roughly that. So maybe a little short on the centre-back side, but yeah he's no stranger at that position under Amarim's system. He's played there before, but it it seemed to click a little bit more for him. And I wonder if playing him a little bit deeper on that defence can sort of combat the injury issues he's had. Now,
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we know Luke Shaw's missed, what it's a silly amount, it's something like 40%.
00:21:44
Sam Brady
yeah
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the end of last season, 40% of his entire Manchester United career has been in the injury table, which is which is absolutely mad, considering he's been there what's it now, 10? Is it 11th season at Manchester United? Again, someone will have to correct me on that one.
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm pretty sure he came in in the 2014, 2015 season. But again, you'll have to correct me on that one.
00:22:05
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Either way, yeah for 40% of his Manchester United career, he's been injured and not not fit to start, not eligible to play.
00:22:13
Sam Brady
yeah
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's That's a huge amount. That's a huge chunk of his career that he's missed out on, that we've missed out on Luke Shaw. you know Him coming in as a 19, 18, 19-year-old from Southampton, full of such promise and a career that just seems like it's been curtailed by injury.
00:22:24
Sam Brady
yeah
00:22:28
Sam Brady
Yeah, and that's the thing. That's why I said you can sort of put him in in the same boat as Mount, where when they're both playing well, they give us such good options, considering... So, on Sunday, we had Shaw, who played um outstanding, De Ligt, who played amazing, and obviously, Jorah is very, very solid, and... and looking like a really, really good good addition as well. So you've got three centre-backs there who on their top game or are outstanding.
00:22:57
Sam Brady
Then you've obviously got Martinez as well for him. When he's playing well, he's one of our best defenders. So you've got four defenders there who are very, very good like when they're when they're on their top form.
00:23:11
Sam Brady
Then you then in in in the attacking sense, you've got Mason Mount. If he can play it like he did on Sunday every week, then... then he Again, he's going to give, like at the back, he's going to give Almorin a decision to make. if If you've got sort of Cunha up there and Buemo up there, Sesko up there, Bruno.
00:23:29
Sam Brady
So if these players can play fit, it gives Almorin such a good decision to have to make because he's got all these good different options. And and to think, Ahmad didn't even start either.
00:23:42
Sam Brady
So, i mean...
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:43
Sam Brady
I do think, personally, I think Ahmad has to start. I think he has to start every game. Look, I get why De Lott maybe started on the right, just to give us maybe that more defensive, to be more defensively solid at at the back against Arsenal. But to be honest, I think Ahmad has to start. I mean, everything he doesn't give you ah defensively, which, by the way, he's not a bad defender,
00:24:08
Sam Brady
running back, he gives you so much more in attack and he's unbelievable. I mean, I said at the start of this and the start of the weekend before the games had all kicked off that I really do think this season will be sort of the um season that rival fans and and opposition fans see Ahmad for what we see um see him as.
00:24:32
Sam Brady
I mean, just when he comes on, he just changes the game and he just... Yeah, he just runs ah runs at full-backs and gives us so much more of an attacking option going forward. So I love i love that him on the right. And then yeah, I think he he should be starting against Fulham. But that's the thing against
Debate on Starting Players
00:24:51
Sam Brady
Fulham. So you've got you can't obviously drop Cunha.
00:24:53
Sam Brady
And Buemo's got a start. Ahmad, in my opinion, has got to start. Sesko, I would start. That's another option. that Give it a couple of weeks and and when Sesko's up to full fitness, he's another option where you've got a really good option ah in Sesko.
00:25:11
Sam Brady
I have to... I have to admit, even though lot he only played half an hour, I would have liked to see a bit more from Sesco, just in terms of just ah bit a few more touches and and a few more chances.
00:25:25
Sam Brady
But, look, it's his first game at Old Trafford, first half an hour, so I'm not going to sort of say anything about that.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
i oh Yeah, I will say as well that when he came on, the the the game wasn't the same as the first half. you know it It completely changed where United were going, much more attacking.
00:25:36
Sam Brady
Yeah, yeah. yeah
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
The formation was sort of slightly a little bit more flexible than maybe it's it's normally. So yeah, pinch of salt with that one But I think i think the back line dealt with Jocarez really well. um They nullified his attack.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
They more often than not sent him wide, which is... of the opposite of what Arsenal want. They don't want Jokka as wide. They want him in the middle, but the cross is to come into him.
00:25:58
Sam Brady
no Yeah.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the defence did well there. And I just think, you know, one of those shots goes in. I mean, Dorgu hitting the post.
00:26:07
Sam Brady
ah He was outstanding as well, by the way.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was, he was.
00:26:09
Sam Brady
Thor, Gil. um I mean, yeah, he was outstanding, Dorgou, on the left. and And that's the thing. If he can stay fit, going forward, he looks like a threat. Up and down the pitch, he he was outstanding.
00:26:22
Sam Brady
So that's why I say I think the only real real positions that that we're lacking is obviously goalkeeper. But we have no really... We don't re we have depth there in in in terms of we have two keepers. Well, we have three, but two realistic keepers who are going to...
00:26:38
Sam Brady
play um but none of them are ah really the the standard we need and midfield I do really think there's a drop-off in midfield when Agate comes I thought Casemiro actually played quite well to be honest but as we expected and as we said last week you only get 60 minutes out of Casemiro and then who'd you bring on and and we saw Agate came on and yeah andm im I'm just not a fan, to be honest. so But if you don't bring Agate on, we don't have anyone else who's going to give you that defensive stability. I mean, you've got Maynou, but obviously de he's he's not giving you that ah defensive stability stability. So it's either Bruno and Casemiro or Maynou and Agate together.
00:27:22
Sam Brady
So I do really think we need a
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
me
00:27:25
Sam Brady
Belaba type player but I doubt I really ah highly doubt that that Belaba transfer is going to go through this season so I mean Toby Collier I mean he he obviously went to West Brom I believe on loan which by the way is a great move for West Brom I really do feel like that that's a great little loan signing and a good move for for Toby Collier. He's going to get a lot of game time.
00:27:50
Sam Brady
and But, I mean, he would have given us another defensive option. Not that i think he's probably he's good enough to sort of um play week in, week out. But, He's probably on par with what we have now in terms of, I'd say Casemiro is our sort of number one defensive midfielder.
00:28:08
Sam Brady
But the drop-off from there, to be honest, I think Agarte, as I said last week, is very hot and cold. And at the minute, he seems very cold. so yeah i' add Again, with the goalkeeper situation, I'd look how Fulham plays out next Sunday.
00:28:26
Sam Brady
And if there's still no improvement, what, you've got a week and a half, two weeks left of the transfer window. And if it's not Belaber and you're not willing to sort of pay the the prices for Belaber or Brighton aren't willing to let him go, I'd either look at someone else or potentially look at a little loan move as well. I mean,
00:28:45
Sam Brady
Douglas Luiz has just gone to Nottingham Forest for about £25 million. I wouldn't mind him. Paulini has gone to Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich. I wouldn't have minded him either.
00:28:56
Sam Brady
So we have missed out on these types of players that that maybe would ah would have filled a hole. Whether we've missed out for good now, that that's the scouts' jobs, I guess. But yeah.
Episode Conclusion and Sponsor Message
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that about wraps up our wildcard Wednesday. And to make sure that you don't miss out on another exciting episode of the Daily Manchester United, make sure you're following us on all the socials as well. We're on Twitter and X, we're on TikTok, we're an Instagram, and we're on Facebook, all as GSPN Man United. You can also watch all of our episodes on YouTube. So if you're on Spotify or you're on Apple and you're thinking, I'd love to see those faces, make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel. It's GSPN Daily Man United podcast. It's so long. So you have to remember it. It's the law.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you to Sam for joining me on today's Wildcard episode Wednesday, day where we just sort of talked a little bit about everything. We sort of went on on a bit of a tangent there. And to be honest with you, I quite liked it. And of course, we couldn't do this without our sponsor in Zencast, because here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencast came out the clear winner.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that can remove all those ums and ahs or maybe in a little bit of a swear from Sam. It's super easy to do and it makes it sound really great and delivered efficiently on the platform of your choice.
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. In the meantime, thank you so much for listening along to today's episode. We'll see you in the next one. Until then, take care of yourselves.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye.