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Can we keep this momentum?
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Niall is joined by Sam to discuss latest form
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Transcript
Introduction and Sam's New Beginnings
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the Daily Manchester United podcast. I'm your host for this episode, Niall, and I'm joined by Sam. Sam, it's been a while. are you keeping?
00:00:24
Sam Brady
Mate, it's been a while. been too long, my friend. been too long. um Yeah, really good, man. Really good. had ah had a bit of a relocation, had a bit of a start to a new job. and us yeah It's been been a bit chaotic and then obviously in between always got make time to watch the game. so um yeah it's ah It's been a bit of a mad one, mate, but i' glad I'm back on with you, mate.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good stuff. And you were telling me you're you're in the proximity of the Emirates as well, which is hopefully you'll be able to get away game in there at some stage.
00:00:54
Sam Brady
Yeah, I am. and And the funny thing is, I didn't even think about it before I moved i moved here. um I just obviously had a few viewings, found a flat. And then it was when I actually moved here, I was like, I looked at the map and I was like, oh yeah, it's only it's only literally of about 10, 15 minutes away from me.
00:01:12
Sam Brady
So yeah, I mean, i mean I'm deep in the enemy lines right now. And ah every time there's a match day, boy, they they let me know about it as well.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I can imagine.
00:01:21
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can imagine. But it hasn't been all doom and gloom for us United fans over the last month
Manchester United's Recent Form
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
or so. How have you found it? I mean, such a change from the norm, I suppose.
00:01:31
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, have I found it? I mean, yeah recently, yeah it's obviously been been very good. Five undefeated. and Before that, I think it was kind of same old, same old in terms of what we were watching last year.
00:01:46
Sam Brady
Seemed to seem to continue over to to this season, um which has kind of swayed my mind on Almorin.
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:01:57
Sam Brady
But... ah you know the last five games of have been a massive improvement. and Yeah, so look, it's been up, it's been down um and I think that probably sums up where where we're at as a club at the minute. um And yeah, who it's it's it's kind of who knows what's going to happen in terms of the game-to-game basis. But yeah, not bad. Definitely where i i would have expected us to be in in the league if you if you asked me at the start. So not bad.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, no, I think that's a fair assessment and the difficult thing is is that that consistency is really hard to come by apparently for this club, so like we could have these five games that have been pretty decent, undefeated like you said and then after this kind of international break struggling again and
00:02:35
Sam Brady
Thank you.
00:02:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah you're not really sure what you're going to get from the players. Sometimes they show up and um it's not a great sign that you're actually surprised when they do win. So hopefully that kind of ah dies down a bit and they can get some consistency. But um obviously big wins against against Liverpool and then kind of following that up with with Brighton. Was there anything that kind of stood out in those games that's given you a bit of ah a glimmer of hope moving forward?
00:03:07
Sam Brady
Yeah, I think, I mean, i said it on on previous episodes in terms of, I think these past couple results have given us a bit of a breather and and the pressure has just been relieved a lot, especially on Almorin.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:22
Sam Brady
think, look, if going into that that Liverpool game, he was in he was under some some serious pressure and then gets a result at Anfield and then gets a result at home against Brighton.
00:03:33
Sam Brady
And then, you know, it's It's starting to... and we're starting In phases of
Defensive Struggles and Goalkeeper Review
00:03:40
Sam Brady
games, we're starting to sort of put put pieces together.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:43
Sam Brady
And obviously, the the shining light so far has been our attack. I think Cunha and Mbwemo, they haven't looked out of place one bit. I think they're exactly and the the type of United attacker that we expect from our forwards.
00:03:59
Sam Brady
they They play with such intent and they play with... they're so dynamic and and they they link up so well together. So obviously that that's a sort of glimmer of of hope of of things to come as well. And for once you you can for once in a while, you can say that that recruitment, they they probably did did a good job in in that aspect.
00:04:21
Sam Brady
um So I think, look, going forward, we've been very good. um I still think defensively there's a lot of room for improvement. I think when you look, even with these these past five, you know we we conceded two to Brighton, we conceded, I believe, maybe two to Forest, we conceded to Liverpool...
00:04:41
Sam Brady
conceded two to Spurs on the weekend. So I think even though we're undefeated on five, we still can't keep a clean sheet.
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:04:48
Sam Brady
And I think that's a big concern. And I think that's always going to happen when you're playing pretty much a back five that pretty much everyone is out of position. I mean, you've got a left back at centre back, a right back at left wing back.
00:05:01
Sam Brady
So that that is going to happen. I mean, the one... I mean, and who, again, you've got to take your hat off to the recruitment, is Le Mans in goal.
00:05:11
Sam Brady
I think he is such a... And and it might be because Anan and honor in the Bayern Dier era were so bad, but he looks at least solid.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:21
Sam Brady
He looks like at least a goalkeeper who can catch a ball.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:24
Sam Brady
And, yeah yeah, we haven't had that in a while. so And I think also when a goalkeeper... just is is pretty solid. It gives the whole defence confidence as well. And I think you have you have seen that. um and I also think a few goals here and there with with Maguire scoring the winner at Anfield, they licked on the weekend. So our defenders can chip in off set pieces and off goals.
00:05:48
Sam Brady
But I just think there's always that... There's always that and feeling that when a team is putting us under pressure, that we're going to concede. And that that needs to needs to change.
00:05:58
Sam Brady
I mean, you saw it on
Squad Depth and Key Player Challenges
00:06:00
Sam Brady
the weekend. As soon as Spurs started to put on a little a little pressure, it was almost inevitable that that we were going to concede.
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:07
Sam Brady
So, yeah, there's there's there's been good moments, but still a long way to go.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's a great kind of overview and summary of it, to be honest. I don't really disagree with anything you've said. um it it is funny about the Le Mans thing, though. It's like, like how how low was the bar?
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
like you know It's like, he's come out and caught of caughtta ah a corner and everyone everyone's just sitting there applauding him in the stand, just going, I haven't seen that in a couple of years.
00:06:33
Sam Brady
Shit.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And even the couple of saves that he made against Spurs before they got their two goals, you know, Tricky enough saves, and but what I liked about them, he was actually parrying them away from goal and not right in front of the feet of a Spurs attacker again.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know You'd swear some of the other goalkeepers we've had were getting kind of commissioned per save kind of thing, looking to put it back into the area to see if they can get another one.
00:06:57
Sam Brady
yeah
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, not it's ah it's interesting as well about the the different positions of our of our defenders because... It's looking like that probably isn't going to change. Like, I mean, when we have Martin has come back in, hopefully he can kind of slip in and a bit more of a comfortable position in that left of the back three.
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and was interesting that we had Maguire and Delick play. I think to be fair, Maguire kind of deserves to get that game time. He has been solid when he's been playing. um And Delick's been absolutely excellent and can kind of play really well in that right of the back three, but also in the center.
00:07:29
Sam Brady
Yep.
00:07:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, the... The Dargu kind of um the Ahmad wingback. One thing, African Cup of Nations January time, we're going to be losing Ahmad and Mbwemo.
00:07:43
Sam Brady
yeah
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
How much of an impact is that going to have? Because I'm not looking forward to that.
00:07:47
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, of course, ah it'll be it will be big it'll have a big impact on us. I mean, luckily for us, we're only losing two players. I mean, obviously, some some clubs that are going to be losing more.
00:07:59
Sam Brady
But in terms of the players we are losing, they are obviously one of our most influential players, especially the the form Brian and Vermozen as well.
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:08
Sam Brady
And that's basically our whole right side. um
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:11
Sam Brady
So, look, I expect in those periods, Masrawi will be playing, I guess. um So, he will play on the right. um And then, yeah, the the the front three will will will interchange with Cunha and Mount. And I suppose Seska will get a lot more game time while Mbwemo is out.
00:08:32
Sam Brady
And to be honest, I think... Sesko probably needs that that game time where he's in the squad playing week in, week out. He's in the starting XI.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:08:41
Sam Brady
Look, I don't know what what your opinions are on Sesko, but I think it's about time that that we don't we we so we have to question him now. Look, he's still young. He's still got a long way to go.
00:08:56
Sam Brady
or as Gary Neville kind of said about Virts, and I know Virts for Liverpool is... slightly different scenario because he costs a lot more money but it's the same feeling where we can't really tiptoe around the around the conversation he is the one player that we brought in that isn't really hitting the hitting the expectations that maybe we should
00:09:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:09:19
Sam Brady
and But, yeah, I mean, going back to Buomo and Ahmad, yeah, it's going to be a really, really big impact. um Yeah, but I feel like players like Mazrawi, who's been out for a while, will will get more game time. Sesko, hopefully, will get more game time as well. So, we'll really see...
00:09:37
Sam Brady
We'll really see where where the drop-off or is in the starting XI because that's another thing which concerns me big time. It is the drop-off between the starting XI and the subs.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:09:48
Sam Brady
I mean, you saw on on Saturday when we when we're bringing on... When we're 1-0 up and we're bringing on Agate, De La, Yaro. I mean, you know, what message does that send to the rest of the team? And also, I don't mind brit if you want to...
00:10:03
Sam Brady
be more defensive and be more defensive and bring on defen defensive players. But when you're bringing on the likes of Dallot and Agathe, who clearly aren't good enough for us anymore, than then we have really real issues. yeah.
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I couldn't agree more with the the the depth of the squad. I was actually at the game at the weekend. um
00:10:23
Sam Brady
oh yeah
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lucky that I have a mate working at Spurs, so um I was keeping my keeping my cool in the Spurs home end. ah But the Ugarte thing is is a big problem.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Like, Casemiro is the only player that Amarim trusts in that midfield. We're already kind of hindered because of our formation playing in the Premier League with. We have two in there and everyone else has three.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when Bruno does kind of lose the head, and he's been quite, to be fair, structured. But when he does lose the head, you know, inevitably, five, ten minutes in the game, he just starts chasing the ball.
00:10:53
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you are left on an island by yourself with Casemiro there. and And I think that doesn't help when when teams are kind of getting on top of us and and having that sustained pressure where we don't have any help beside him.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you can see 65, 70 minutes, the legs start to go from Casemiro. And then the only option is Ugarte because he just doesn't fancy Manu at all in that role.
00:11:15
Sam Brady
yeah
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that's a big problem. Like he's just not up to it at all. Yeah.
00:11:19
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, the
Manager Amorim's Tactics and Team Dynamics
00:11:20
Sam Brady
thing is about Casemiro, I know, look, I know there's that there's always that conversation around him and and rightly so that nowadays he doesn't have the legs to play a full 90 and, you know, he has to be subbed off at every game.
00:11:34
Sam Brady
But I actually think when he's playing that well, which I thought he had a really good game what once again,
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's playing well, yeah. Hmm.
00:11:40
Sam Brady
Once again against Spurs. I remember he came off against Brighton a few weeks ago and got a standing ovation by Trafford. I think when he's in this type of form and the drop-off is so much in Agathe, I think just keep him on. Honestly, i think just keep him on because he... Him sort of with...
00:11:59
Sam Brady
Okay, his stamina goes and things like that, but I'd rather have a sort of slow Casemiro who's playing damn well than bring on Agate just for the sake of bringing him on, just because there's this whole thing of Casemiro can't play a full 90, when actually, if you think about it,
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:19
Sam Brady
ah got a Well, before the Brighton game, Casemiro flew with Brazil to Asia and played Japan. Then Casemiro came back and played the 70 minutes at Brighton.
00:12:29
Sam Brady
So, look, we might not think he can play a full night. i And look, he doesn't have age on his side, but he puts in a damn shift when he does. So why not why not try it? you know Why not try it for one game? and This is my whole thing with Almorin, where he's so structured in every decision he makes, whether it's a system formation, whether it's his routine subs every game.
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:52
Sam Brady
he For me, and and this is why I'm obviously I've i've made it pretty vocal since the Brantford game that I will no longer... support him to be honest and and this is why in the fact that look i want him want it to work out for him he's a nice guy he's an honest guy but if you're that stubborn and you don't adapt to to the circumstance of the game to the context of the game to the context of other team systems if you don't change that we're always going to have problems and and and and that might not be
00:13:26
Sam Brady
Now, we we might have individual games of of ah brilliance, but long term, if you're so rigid in everything you do and it and it doesn't work, then what's your plan B to fall back on it?
00:13:38
Sam Brady
And that's where I think every game we see two centre-backs get swapped out.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:43
Sam Brady
Marte comes on and it's just like some games, that's not necessary.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:47
Sam Brady
We don't need to do that. So, I mean, what what are your opinions? I mean, I haven't spoken to you in a while about armouring. Where's your head at in terms of it?
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think the points are fair. this the The formation does concern me because... why is it so good? Like, why is he so stubborn with sticking with this formation and he's completely built his career on it and looks like he he won't ever change? And he does say, look, every time he's kind of put the question to him. He says it's not about the formation, um but it clearly is because if you're that structured on where you won't change, fair enough. um The one thing that I did like actually watching the Spurs game was the subs that he made initially were actually attacking subs. So he took... um Who did he take off? Now we're playing kind of...
00:14:38
Sam Brady
came on with yeah.
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had Mizrawi came off and we put Ahmad to wing back, which is actually an attacking sub.
00:14:42
Sam Brady
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Ahmad went back into right wing back.
00:14:45
Sam Brady
yeah
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is when we were 1-0 up at the time. um And I actually think the players didn't react to that sub. So by playing that sub, automatically you're thinking, okay, the manager still wants us to go for it here.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought they sat back and said, there's 20 minutes, 25 minutes left here. Let's just hang on to this 1-0 lead. It became... we were sitting on a lot more. we were kind of playing these hopeful balls up to him to kind of create something.
00:15:10
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We weren't kind of getting enough bodies around him.
00:15:10
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cunha was getting a bit, not tired, but like sick of kind of chasing the ball because he wasn't really involved in the game. He was playing kind of false nine and didn't really know what to do.
00:15:20
Sam Brady
yeah
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then that's when Spurs started to pile on the pressure. And then he said, then he made his usual substitutions. Even though Maguire got injured, you can imagine he probably would have taken him off to bring on Jorreau anyway.
00:15:30
Sam Brady
yeah
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the Agarte one, like we've mentioned. So I think I was happy that he decided not to kind of shut up shop and ah bring on more defensive players to kind of keep that 1-0 lead. I actually thought the players left him down in that. and But yeah, it is it goes back to the consistency, like we said at the start.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
if he plays in this system and United are winning games, I couldn't care less what system United are playing in as long as they're getting results.
00:15:55
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you are being stubborn and you aren't getting results and other managers could get more out of the players and could get results, then it becomes a problem. So, yeah.
00:16:05
Sam Brady
Yeah, ah exactly. and and And I totally agree with that. when i don't care how we win as long as we win. And and people might say, oh, you should care about the style of play, blah, blah, blah.
00:16:17
Sam Brady
We're not in a position as a club right now to...
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no.
00:16:20
Sam Brady
Beggars can't be choosers, you know. But the problem is when you're playing that type of system and you're not winning games. And and that's the thing with Almorin.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:29
Sam Brady
I think he doesn't help himself. Like relieve the pressure by just winning winning a few games. You don't have to, you can sack your system off for a couple of games just to get results and then go back to it and and um whatever.
00:16:43
Sam Brady
And that's that's what I said before in terms of just look at going five undefeated, what it's done in terms of the the whole atmosphere and and the pressure. The pressure has just lifted slightly.
00:16:55
Sam Brady
Don't get me wrong if you lose.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:57
Sam Brady
If we lose again, everyone will start talking again. But this is what... and And he should have done this a year ago when he first came into the club and he realised, hang on a minute, like we're actually losing games here.
00:17:09
Sam Brady
He should have then gone, look, let me switch it. Let me just like settle it down and then start to... But the fact that he's come in and straight away tried to play this way and and just stuck by it, even though we're losing games...
00:17:25
Sam Brady
unfortunately, I think as as soon as a manager starts to do that, you you're sort of saying, I'm going to die on my sword here. And as a manager, i think I think in some sense, look, in some sense, I admire it.
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:17:40
Sam Brady
I go, do you know what? Fair enough. you you You want to play your system. You value your sort of morals and and values and and fair enough. But in some way, I go, it's also really selfish because if you're not here in six months time, you've actually come into a club, brought your players in, tried to play your type of system and you're not actually here for the long term.
00:18:04
Sam Brady
so when any if So in some sense, you've actually taken us backwards. from where we and And this is the whole problem we've had in the past couple of years post Fergie, where managers have come in, brought their players in, played their system, and long term they're not here.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:18:20
Sam Brady
And now we're stuck with all these players that aren't even the current managers players. And that's been the whole system and its recurring cycle. So when I see Almorin come in and do the exact same, how can I how can i believe that?
00:18:34
Sam Brady
i tried to I tried to, I did the same with Tenog, I did the same with Ole, but ah like I said to Cormac yesterday, the signing of Insanity is doing the same thing over and eventually as a fan, I need to go hold on, i'm i'm not you're not pulling the wall over my eyes this time. And and look, as I've said before,
00:18:55
Sam Brady
I love Armour and I think he's an honest guy. i go to the pit I'd go have a pint with him. I have nothing against him. and Of course, I want it to work for him. But in this at this moment in time, I can't support what he's doing.
00:19:08
Sam Brady
but i'm um I'm willing to be turned around. you know so
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they're interesting and points. It's it's very... um they're good They're good debates because you mentioned... at the start he should have just come in and got results and then there's also a really strong argument where it's like the seasons are right off anyway and what's the point of me i actually i have to get the system into the lads heads at some stage so i might as well start now and have the pain in the short term but the thing is it didn't turn around quick enough for him so in hindsight it looks bad because it's you spent six months trying to get them to the system and we're still losing games and we're 15th in the league like um
00:19:34
Sam Brady
Hmm. Hmm. the
00:19:44
Sam Brady
and and And that's the thing, and that's all well and good. And I would have given him a bit of grace from last season. But the fact that we've come into this season looking the exact same, okay, recently we've we've played well.
00:19:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. yeah
00:19:58
Sam Brady
But at the start of the season, you had Grimsby, you had Brentford, you had City. and And it was the exact same as I was watching last year. So i went, hang on a minute, mate. we gave you We gave you time last year. This was the season where we're meant to kick on now and we're not.
00:20:15
Sam Brady
And also, it's been a year. So how long do you want? you know so but and and And I've never, ever like wanted a manager to be sacked or...
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:25
Sam Brady
I will always sort of support the manager, four when you're sort of losing games and and it's not, you're not, um when I don't see your sort of long-term vision, that you're sort of you're sort of only looking so short-term at the project, I'm like,
00:20:47
Sam Brady
It's selfish and I don't want my club to okay like ah Like I said before, we'll have good games and bad
Recruitment Strategies and Future Improvements
00:20:54
Sam Brady
games. we We'll have good games against Liverpool and City last year. and But this isn't playing like this isn't sustainable.
00:21:01
Sam Brady
And then also, i I question some of his decisions at a moment. I know you said before in terms of Maguire maybe warranted at a start because of the form he's in. But...
00:21:13
Sam Brady
What are we doing here when maguire we're starting Maguire still in 2025 against the the big teams?
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:21:21
Sam Brady
And he's not even playing Maguire against the sort of lesser teams. He's actually playing Maguire in the harder games. And it's like, that can't be the case. We've got Yeni Loro, get my words out.
00:21:35
Sam Brady
making me rather and yeah we've got one of our best prospects on the bench over Maguire like Maguire's been here now seven years like and again with Maguire like the guy seems like a nice guy but And I'm not singling him out. Obviously, Agate we mentioned, DeLock we mentioned.
00:21:55
Sam Brady
But this is the whole point where a player has a few games, a manager has a few games, and everyone sort of lose sight of of actually what's been going on. And look, um that's natural as a football fan. But let's just remember, like, okay, few good games for Maguire, for armoring, but let's just actually be realistic about where where we want to get.
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. No, makes sense. And I think yeah one positive as well, you know, when you compare it to maybe different systems that we've had in that post-Fergson era with Van Gaal, like we bought very specialist players. I think what's good about the recruitment this season is that the players that we bought aren't necessarily,
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
like suited for even Amarim system. They could play in a four, through three, three or any sort of normal system that any other manager plays. So I'm kind of happy that we don't have these specialist wingbacks that might be struggling to to find a place in the team if a manager did change. So um at least they haven't gone.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've said, yeah, we'll give you good players, but we're not going to go completely all in buy like seven specialized players that can play in all these positions. So I think that's one positive thing to take from it.
00:23:04
Sam Brady
And i also think if you look at the the back end of last season and you looked at our starting XI, for example, i mean, we had problems everywhere in all areas, defence, midfield and in attack.
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:16
Sam Brady
So the the positives you you can take after the summer in terms of recruitment is you go, look, our attack seems to be fixed now. So, look, you can't fix the whole team in one summer, but least they've fixed one area.
00:23:31
Sam Brady
And then you're hoping that the next transfer window comes around, you fix another area and then you fix the the other area.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:37
Sam Brady
Because I still think, obviously, I still think we need a class number six to obviously fill Castellanos.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, we need like three midfielders. Like...
00:23:46
Sam Brady
Yeah, I mean, I think we need a ah number six. I mean, if you just think of all the top-level clubs in the world right now with the Caicedos, the Rice, the Rodri, the Gravenbirch, all the top-level clubs in the world have a number six who is class. A DM who sort of tidies everything thing together, holds everything together.
00:24:06
Sam Brady
We need someone like that. And Casemiro, as we mentioned, is doing a job right now. But long-term, we need someone in there. Obviously, we went in... apparently vote for Carlos Belaber in the summer.
00:24:17
Sam Brady
Maybe we would go back in for him. I'd actually like to see more someone like Adam Wharton maybe come in or and even, oh, the player's slipped my mind now, an Elliot Anderson um maybe come in in because I think that'd be perfect for that.
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. Yep.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:33
Sam Brady
And I also think we we need a centre-back, to be honest. Again, with the DM position, in in my opinion, I think we need a centre-back that sort of hold again, holds everything together, so of sort of is that standout centre-back to take our defence to the next level.
00:24:51
Sam Brady
Because I think our centre-backs are decent. I think they're all decent at what they do, but I don't think there's one above the rest.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:00
Sam Brady
I think they're all on their days 7, 8 out of 10, which, look, it's consistent.
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:25:05
Sam Brady
It's it's not bad. But you know there's not one standout centre-back and that's where i think if we had one sort world-class standout centre-back in the middle and a delict a martinez a euro next to them our defense would be class to be honest but i think we're right now even if you're looking at our bet our best back five there you've got obviously in the three center backs you'd probably say would be delict martinez and euro and
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:35
Sam Brady
look it's not bad it's decent but i think we need one more to to take them to the next level and then obviously fullbacks again i think we need to also fix our sort of fullback area because again our fullbacks are decent masrawi is decent he's mr consistent doggo he's young he he can be decent on his day but we need more than decent if we're gonna take the next step you know
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. I think it's a fair point. there's a There's still plenty to fix. like so it's ah It's hard to pick just one area.
00:26:05
Sam Brady
Yeah.
00:26:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um yeah, I suppose we'll we'll wrap it up there. Sam, I mean, it's great to kind of have a bit of a a chat about the the manager and how the actual team's been playing over the last while.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like you said, you know we can't forget start of the season and and how gloomy it was looking. And then we kind of pulled these results out of nowhere and and seemingly getting a bit of run of form.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
after the international break, I mean, having a look at the fixtures, actually, I must, I must take a look, but are you, do you think that this is ah a blip in terms of a bit of a purple patch or do you think this is something that we can actually take forward?
00:26:43
Sam Brady
Yeah, well, it's funny you say that. I actually looked looked at the fixs fixtures the other day. and Well, Everton, Crystal, Everton at home, Crystal Palace away, West Ham, Wolves are the next four.
00:26:57
Sam Brady
And you're looking at West Ham, Wolves, and I mean, well, Crystal Palace and Everton ah as well.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:03
Sam Brady
They're winnable
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Fixtures
00:27:04
Sam Brady
games. They are honestly such winnable games, especially Wolves and West Ham, the form they're in.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:09
Sam Brady
So I'd be looking at those those next four games. um really going, you know what lads, like we've we've got a chance here. And I said this to Cormac a couple of episodes ago, i think it was after the Brighton game, maybe after Liverpool, where i'd be i'd be if I was Almiron and I was those players in the dressing room, I would be going,
00:27:28
Sam Brady
Lads, realistically, at the start of the season, we probably would aim for ah for Europa League challenging. But we've got a chance now to push for Champions League. Everyone else has been inconsistent.
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. exactly
00:27:40
Sam Brady
you know If we just show a little bit of consistency, we've we've got a really really really good chance there. So, if I was them, I'd be going, come on, like this is our chance now to sort of pick it up. and And look, after those four games, ah God knows where i we'll be because, as I said, everyone else is sort of Chelsea losing to Sunderland, Liverpool. I mean...
00:28:04
Sam Brady
they're ah they're a whole different problem um happily for us uh at the minute so yeah i think everyone else is is obviously bar arsenal are really inconsistent so if there's that one team and arsenal have shown that that can show a bit of consistency you can you can go far this year
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's a great point. Everyone's dropping dropping points and way more than any other season. So yeah, which is making it interesting for the neutral. But like you said, leaves a bit of a door open for ourselves.
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's see how we get on. But Sam, thank you very much for joining me. Great episode as usual.
00:28:35
Sam Brady
Thank
00:28:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Check us out on our social medias, GSPN Man United. We'll be a few more clips of some of the podcasts as well. But until the next one, thank you.