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Episode 71: If you dont laugh you cry - Forest Review
18 Plays11 days ago
Niall is joined by Kieran to discuss the Forest match at the weekend!
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Transcript
Introduction and Return from Abroad
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Daily Manchester United Podcast. My name is Niall Hannigan, and I'm back with Kieran McGinley. Kieran, how's it going?
00:00:18
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, yeah ah a lot better than yesterday's episode with a bit of a thieving dream when I recorded that. But Niall, it's great to have you back. It's it's great to hear your voice again.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, thank you. Yes, I was, as you mentioned, down in the Southern Hemisphere and still still didn't get any points in the Premier League since since I went away.
00:00:37
Kieran McGinley
yeah yeah Yeah.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, um yeah, it's um back to the good old days, I think. um So we'll see how we get on today. I mean, yeah, we are so back.
00:00:45
Kieran McGinley
We are back.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was really looking forward to kind of saying and that today after the weekend, but ah I suppose next weekend against City we'll have to be, we are so back.
00:00:55
Kieran McGinley
Yeah. let's
Analyzing Team Tactics
00:00:57
Kieran McGinley
Let's see. Well, we've got to dive into yesterday's game. It's Tactics Tuesday. All right.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:01
Kieran McGinley
Let's get this over with, eh? Crack the knuckles.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:04
Kieran McGinley
Let's dive in.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to say, it's kind of hard to talk about Tactics Tuesday when they're and there aren't any. But we definitely are implementing some sort of tactics. Whether they're working or not is is another question. But ah yeah, I mean, we listened to your, I don't know, your fever dream podcast last night here.
00:01:20
Kieran McGinley
Yeah.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But ah i don't I don't know what time you did that ad. But I'm glad you got it out anyway.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But them yeah, what what what did you make of it? I mean, it was ah was a rough day at the office.
00:01:25
Kieran McGinley
yeah
00:01:30
Kieran McGinley
I mean, it's just so deflating. I mean, let's let's start with the first half. I mean, 90 odd seconds before the length of it scores. Headed in from a corner, obviously.
00:01:41
Kieran McGinley
yeah I got it wrong yesterday. We've conceded through three corners in two games now because, of course, both the Arsenal goals were corners. Amazing. um So, yeah, corners are a weak spot for us.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:52
Kieran McGinley
Forrest knew that, exploited it to perfection.
00:01:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But honestly, on the corner, Micalenkovic, 6'5", at least, probably the the biggest, scariest man I've ever seen. And then Meinu was tracking him, and then he passed him to Martinez.
00:01:54
Kieran McGinley
In fact, the only
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm like, what is going on? Like, you couldn't have picked two smaller players to be marking him.
00:02:11
Kieran McGinley
because
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, did you see the screenshot of Martinez with his face and in his back, basically, trying to out-jump him?
00:02:12
Kieran McGinley
um yeah
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah, I don't know.
00:02:18
Kieran McGinley
It's a bit of a miss.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
These are simple things. Simple things. Anyway, Kieran, carry on.
00:02:21
Kieran McGinley
Oh, yeah.
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just had to say that.
00:02:22
Kieran McGinley
got No, no, you're right to say it because it's just like, what's going on here? You've got the licks and you've got your who are i was north of six foot two, six foot three, who could have been a bit more of a challenge.
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:32
Kieran McGinley
But yeah, that's where the likes of Martinez is going to struggle at five foot. He's five foot eleven, isn't he? I do forget sometimes.
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, that's, that's generous. Is it, is it five foot 11?
00:02:40
Kieran McGinley
Is it really? He might be, okay, well, he might be shoot shorter than that then. But yeah, what he, you know, like 175 centimetres, someone convert that into Imperial, because I don't understand metric.
00:02:52
Kieran McGinley
So I'm on writing. So yeah, let's um let's just say, not the best idea in the world.
Defensive Struggles and Nottingham Forest's Form
00:02:59
Kieran McGinley
And we got back into the game through a sort of, a save that cannons off Matt Sells and straight into the path of Hoyland. I mean, as the poacher he is, advanced forward, he is is he's in the right place at the right time. It's what you need from a striker. And I thought going into sort of the half time, I just thought, you know, we were not great, but it wasn't like it wasn't anything we haven't seen before.
00:03:20
Kieran McGinley
I mean, this is a forest site. Some, you know, they are challenging for Europe at this stage. I mean, it's amazing the form they're in. Now, they'd be Liverpool, didn't they, as well?
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're dead.
00:03:30
Kieran McGinley
1-0.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 1-0.
00:03:30
Kieran McGinley
So that they're not to be messed with.
00:03:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:33
Kieran McGinley
and And I just kept having in the back of my mind thinking, Chris Wood's still on the pitch. Chris Wood. And this isn't a Newcastle, Chris Wood. This is a Nottingham Forest, Chris Wood.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a statement. What a statement.
00:03:43
Kieran McGinley
And And but that's what I was thinking. Chris Wood is still on the pitch. You know what they you know what happened, right? Chris Wood transferred to Forrest and now he's just blossoming, right?
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's like that It's like that clip of Messi when the Atletico Madrid fans are crying when they see Messi warming up. like You're like Chris Wood is still on the pitch.
00:04:01
Kieran McGinley
yeah
00:04:03
Kieran McGinley
He's still there!
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's an outrageous comment.
00:04:07
Kieran McGinley
But look, he's been in fantastic form. With that goal, I think he's become Forest's all-time Premier League goalscorer. Premier League-era goalscorer, 25 goals he's got for them now.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:17
Kieran McGinley
So, I mean, am I right in my sort of i hesitation to say Chris Wood's still on the pitch? Well, yes, because, well, I mean, I'll talk about the second half later, but...
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
leave but
00:04:27
Kieran McGinley
We got to halftime and I just thought, you know, I don't think we've been abysmal. We've started games worse, but once again, we can see within 20 minutes in the first 20 minutes. And that seems where we're most vulnerable in these games. And that that's that's transferred over still from not only the start of this season, but seasons before. And, you know, I feel like a broken record saying we don't start games well.
00:04:53
Kieran McGinley
the last three last three games I think we actually scored in the first minute or so or not last three games but three games we've we've really hit the mark running scored within two minutes in three games under Amorim so it's sort of like yeah maybe maybe things are starting to turn you know the intensity is right off the bat but yeah we misside majorly in the first half and yeah it wasn't a foregone conclusion at halftime let's just say that
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
Offensive Challenges and Player Roles
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
no, 100%. I thought they reacted well after the goal, um playing kind of decent stuff. I thought Bruno was quite good. um And I am a fan of Holland. I think his conversion rate is really high. And like a lot of people say, well, he doesn't take enough shots. There's no one creating for him. He's he's running around, trying to chase down dead ends, just getting loose ends from, we can't really seem to,
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
have any sort of interplay high up the pitch. It's always across the back three. So Heuland is very isolated at times. But I think eventually, like I think he is the the right option for us out of the options that we have at the moment to play and to play in our best 11. So I thought he once again was in the right place at the right time, tucked it away. um Celebration, i I think the jury's still out on the celebration. I'm not 100% convinced about it, but I think he's like,
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
so There was a lot of conviction behind that when I think he thought we were going to go on to win the game. But I'm not too sure about the whole thumbs up, thumbs down kind of gladiator stuff. So um we'll see how it gets on. But yeah.
00:06:23
Kieran McGinley
if he If he gets 20-25 goals a season, then yes.
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:06:28
Kieran McGinley
I'm all for it, you know?
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and ah Exactly.
00:06:30
Kieran McGinley
Nice, nice, creative, but you do look like you've got egg on your face when you then lose 3-2.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:06:34
Kieran McGinley
But you're not meant to know that at that point.
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:37
Kieran McGinley
That's the goal that gets you back into the game. Against a forest side that have been in really good form, I mean, I can't not understate how good forests have been.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:45
Kieran McGinley
and this is This is a team that were this was with team that were battling relegation not that long ago and now they've just come out of the blocks.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
finish shock
00:06:51
Kieran McGinley
They've seemingly done the impossible against Liverpool that not many teams have managed to do and get the upper hand on them and we thought we were going to walk in and ah take three points like it was nothing. It was never going to happen.
00:07:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, it's only game Liverpool have lost all year. So yeah, it's um it was difficult. Bruno had a good chance. I mean, it smacked off the crossbar just before halftime.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Good free kick. But then, I mean, let's let's talk about that goal in the start of the second half.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, like what do you like?
00:07:20
Kieran McGinley
Do we have to?
00:07:23
Kieran McGinley
Do we have
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was watching it back. I was like, surely not. And also, I was watching it back. I was in the airport flying home. And of course, Man United, biggest club in the world, showing 12 hours away from the UK, was the Man United game. A rerun of the forest game, as if I needed to see it again. And i I had three hours to wait in the airport, and it was just staring at me in the face. So I had to watch that howler again. But I don't know. Kieran, what do you reckon?
00:07:47
Kieran McGinley
now i I love Anana, but that's not great.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:07:54
Kieran McGinley
And look, I'm going to be the first to say so many players, so many fans are so quick to put all of that on Anana and just to say he's a terrible keeper or something.
00:08:06
Kieran McGinley
Forgetting the fact that he earned us a point against Ipswich and he's the only reason he earned us a point because no one else bothered to turn up.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:12
Kieran McGinley
You know, so, you know, it swings around about, he's an eccentric keeper. He is unpredictable and he's going to make mistakes. Keepers make mistakes. And when keepers makes mistakes, it normally ends up in a goal.
00:08:23
Kieran McGinley
No one's bothered if a striker makes a mistake and hits it into row Z, because apparently they they're allowed to free pass at some point.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:29
Kieran McGinley
But yeah, I get, I get the fact that if you make a mistake in goal, it probably leads to a goal because you know, the dangerous nature of it.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah No room for error at all.
00:08:40
Kieran McGinley
No, no.
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, we'll take a quick break here and be back with some more in-depth analysis of this game of the weekend.
00:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
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Managerial Challenges and Performance Reflection
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it goes to 2-1 to Forrest, and then it just goes from bad to worse. I mean, talk about the defending and the keeping being bad for the second goal, but the third goal is just, first of all,
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
The cross that goes in, there's zero pressure on the cross. Dallow is just strolling out to the right-winger when he's crossing. I think it was Gibbs-White. like You need to be chasing out to that in order to put a bit of pressure on the cross.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then a big loopy cross to the back post, a big loopy header back across the goal, pass, de-licked Martinez and Onana, and just slips into the bottom corner. like I mean, I don't know.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Talk about schoolboy defending, like you mentioned earlier, Kieran. It's just pathetic, really, isn't it?
00:10:07
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, it's sort of someone else will do it kind of thing, isn't it? No one's taken responsibility in that back line to say, look, I'm going, my ball.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:10:15
Kieran McGinley
It's all it needs, isn't it? It's a my ball situation. And that's why you need a leader in the back line. um It's all well and good, given Fernando's the captain's armband, but he's not in the box. And normally when you need a captain, you need them in those moments to make a decision.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:30
Kieran McGinley
you know, it's either my ball or your you've got it or my literature, you've got it, some something like that, something commanding voice in the back to just control everything, command the box, because in those moments, you really need it.
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:43
Kieran McGinley
And it was so lacking. And just to see, just to see Martinez almost almost think it's going wider, then all of a sudden, no, it's in. And it's like, what? what What just happened? and I talk about my episode was a fever dream last night. I have no idea what literature was thinking there. If you're in any doubt, one of the first things you learn is kick it out. If in doubt, kick it out. It rhymes, so it must be true.
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, he he was growing up in Argentina, so I don't know if that translated well back back to them.
00:11:11
Kieran McGinley
Ah, yeah.
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And my Spanish isn't good enough to try and give that a go, to be fair. But if that happened in an under 10 match, Kieran, you'd be like, there'd be questions asked like there would be.
00:11:22
Kieran McGinley
undertain god
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kieran, Kieran, there's three of them.
00:11:24
Kieran McGinley
you
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's if if it just it would be inexcusable if that happened in an under 10 match, like it was ridiculous, like and I just, I don't know, you could see Amoram on the sideline. Like there was a clip of him, I think from the, from the fan view in the stadium. And he'd nearly turned his back. You know, when, when Chris would initially head the ball, cause it's, it's so loopy and there's three of them and Anana's just waiting to catch it. And then he kind of checks back.
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and He's just an early in disbelief and just shakes his head and walks back into the bench. I mean, like, it's, it's the whole Amuram thing is interesting because I'm a really big fan. Like, I really like him. yeah He is all the right answers, says all the right things. Like, I mean, I mean, after the whole Oh Nana incident, like you mentioned, he saved us against Ipswich, like,
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
he reacted to that so well he said look he did save us against Ipswich and he saved us in so many other games you know he has to react and we all have to react like every other player when he makes a mistake you know just to have that kind of emotional intelligence after losing a game and being able to answer appropriately was really really good but he must be looking at that going therere They're worse than I thought. I didn't think they were this bad. You know what I mean? Oh, I could turn United around. They just need a bit of structure. And at least they know what they're doing on the pitch. And they're looking at them just going through. They just look like lost souls out there. He has a massive, massive job on his hands.
00:12:50
Kieran McGinley
He does. And I think that was Forrest's first win at Old Trafford in 30 years. 3-0. Not great. Not great at all.
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:13:01
Kieran McGinley
Breaking records, but the wrong ones. Yeah, so not great at all. But again, you know if If it had been a 2-1 loss to Forrest, I think, in hindsight, it would have been a case of, well, Forrest are actually playing really well this season. like Yeah, it's ah it's a tough one. But it again, it's the way we lost. The the way we lost this game was, ah you've said it, pathetic. I mean, when when does it get better? When does that cheat code come in of new man? like Did we have a new manager bounce? I guess we did.
00:13:36
Kieran McGinley
it was lasted yeah Does that count?
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
root
00:13:39
Kieran McGinley
Does that count? He was playing the same system as Tenharg and somehow it was getting results. so like Think of that what you will but yeah look it was not a good game for I was gonna say for the neutral no there were five goals so maybe not so bad but yeah yeah yeah
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
pretty much brilliant for everyone, but that wasn't a United Land gear, and just like every other game that United play at the moment.
00:14:01
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, yeah, isn't it great? Isn't it great? Well, I just, you're you're just sort of hoping, right? We talked about the pre um sort of our pre-show before when we discussed what we're going to talk about on the show.
00:14:14
Kieran McGinley
I said to Nal, there's no Europa League until January. That wasn't true, actually. I missed in my schedule that we've got Victoria Pleasant. I think that's how you pronounce it. Probably not.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:14:24
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, don't say who. Don't say who. Because that's ultimately setting us up for failure. Have you not learned anything from this podcast?
00:14:36
Kieran McGinley
Your time in South Africa, you've completely forgotten on our way.
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:14:39
Kieran McGinley
For goodness sake.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've exposed my location!
00:14:42
Kieran McGinley
Well, you're not there anymore, are you? So it's all right.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was doing promotion for the podcast.
00:14:50
Kieran McGinley
Uh-huh.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what I was doing when I was, yeah.
00:14:51
Kieran McGinley
All right, yeah, yeah, sure. All right, OK.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was doing speeches amongst crowds about our our GSBN podcast, so I was.
00:14:53
Kieran McGinley
I'll let you off.
00:14:58
Kieran McGinley
I'll let you off then.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, yeah.
00:15:00
Kieran McGinley
I'll let you off then.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, no, I'm not looking forward to that then. When's that Thursday night?
00:15:06
Kieran McGinley
Thursday night, yeah.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, lovely.
00:15:08
Kieran McGinley
it's just look The only solace I can take from it is that and this is a this is really taking everything I can. We're undefeated in the Europa League. We're not that far away from from top eight.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um yeah You're talking about me jinxing it and you've just said we're undefeated in Europe.
00:15:24
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, we're undefeated in the ro Europa League, even though we threw away results against Porto, against Twente. So even when we play really badly, we're still we're still not losing. i
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and we're trying our best like we are trying our best.
00:15:36
Kieran McGinley
We're really trying. Give us a badge for effort. you know We're really trying. Oh, you were talking about the players. Oh, right. Okay. Hang on.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We're trying to lose and we're still getting points in Europe. like what's that It's always good when you're picking up points when you're playing bad, is that not right?
00:15:47
Kieran McGinley
Massive. but We are massive in the Europa League. That's all I can say.
00:15:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good stuff, right? Let's try and get this back on track after the break.
00:15:57
Kieran McGinley
Nah.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:16:07
Kieran McGinley
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts. With dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football, and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. So find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:16:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we're getting a bit delirious here. like I mean, it's it's not just the start of the season anymore. like We're 13th and we're we're almost at Christmas. like it's almost It is, if if you don't laugh, you cry at this stage.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:16:50
Kieran McGinley
That's how we're getting by.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, it seems like it. and I mean, everyone else is having having a great time watching us. So yeah, it's um it's it's it's pretty tough.
00:16:59
Kieran McGinley
We're the most.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're so far off. It's not even funny. But ah Bruno also scored a goal in the game.
00:17:04
Kieran McGinley
But you have to laugh.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was it was a pretty good goal, actually.
00:17:06
Kieran McGinley
Yes, I was. It was a lovely cutback from Diallo as well. And we've we've mentioned so many times how Diallo's been such a great player. Had a quiet game, but that cutback and the finish, just just a preview of what we can do, of what this team can do.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:23
Kieran McGinley
But like I said yesterday, when Fernandez was subbed off and withdrawn from the game, the whole team was lost. It's almost like they didn't know what to do with the ball anymore.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:32
Kieran McGinley
Like they'd lost that,
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:34
Kieran McGinley
you know progress through the midfield and Diallo completely isolated on the wing and Forrest were very happy to shut up shop so they should when they're you know away from home to shut up shop that's that's ridiculous but the fact that we couldn't break them down in front of you know old Trafford it's just Bizarre. It's so bizarre. We're so used to, you know, you and I, so used to growing up as Old Trafford being a fortress and teams feared coming to Old Trafford and say what you want about the referees, but they got the job done, those players and whatever it took.
00:18:11
Kieran McGinley
you know, however scary you had to be, you got the job done, you got one point, you got three points, whatever. But now teams turn up and it's a lovely day out. And, you know, we've we've lost that fear factor of old travel.
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:23
Kieran McGinley
And that's a massive factor in in why we've and we've we've thrown away games at home. I mean, losing to Forest is not great, considering there is that historical rivalry.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:34
Kieran McGinley
It's not as, you know, not as you know, hot as it was. Still there is a rivalry between Forrest and to have the first, you know, league loss at Old Trafford for 30 years, it's not great by any stretch of the imagination and when it comes to January, and I'm sure we'll have podcast episodes on this, I'm not sure it's going to be a say a
Transfer Strategy and Management Issues
00:18:59
Kieran McGinley
case of who can we bring in. I don't know how much, you know, Dan Ashworth now out of the club
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:19:04
Kieran McGinley
sacked you know it's it's yeah it it seems a bit silly you're five months in the job now we come into you know we're less than a month away from the January transfer window what's the strategy do we bring players in or is it a case of we ship players out
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. What is going on? like
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:19:19
Kieran McGinley
And if if that's the case, we shipped out good players. Scott McTominay would be a good option to bring into the midfield at this point. You know, we we got rid of players we shouldn't have and brought in players that, you know, I still stand by it.
00:19:32
Kieran McGinley
It was a really good transfer window. What probably one of our better ones in the post Ferguson era.
00:19:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just shows how bad we've been because it was a good one compared to our others.
00:19:38
Kieran McGinley
Hmm.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when you look at it now, in the cold light of day, it's it's pretty rough still.
00:19:46
Kieran McGinley
Hmm.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yarrow, I think, I really like the look of him. like His cameo against Arsenal, a he looks good. like And he's very, very young, but he he looks good. Ugarte, I'm still not convinced.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, and then Xerxes, the Perla just seems lost. Like it just seems completely, completely shot of confidence.
00:20:04
Kieran McGinley
Yeah.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like as if, as if as's the the club and the pressure just swallowed him up completely. So hopefully he can kind of, I suppose, take a bit of time. And, you know, he did get his, his couple of goals, um, a week ago, but I'm, I'm not, sure I'm not sure.
00:20:18
Kieran McGinley
But like I think though,
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I think he's a good footballer, but I think it's just, his head's gone at the moment.
00:20:24
Kieran McGinley
I just think he works better as as deeper, maybe alongside Fernandez. You know, if you're talking about, we we we talked about before how he he likes to be that deep-lying forward. He hasn't got the pace about him, the speed to get him behind like Heuland has, but he's very good at holding up the play and and bringing others into the into the field of play, into the attack.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Yes, yeah. yeah
00:20:42
Kieran McGinley
And I just wonder if we drop him back to where Fernandez is playing, as part of that two in the midfield there.
00:20:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:48
Kieran McGinley
What can he do from that position? Because it seemed to really click when he did play there slightly deeper. you know He got into those opportunities. He managed to found find those pockets of space and was really able to really have a good game.
00:21:00
Kieran McGinley
And I was really hoping that the brace would give him the confidence, give him that spark back.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:06
Kieran McGinley
And you it's it's horrible for a striker to go so long without a goal, to go through a goal drought. you start yeah You start to be your own harshest critic at that point.
00:21:16
Kieran McGinley
And at that point, you just want to school. You just want to get on the school sheet. And I think you're right. Xerxes is a good footballer. It's just not clicking for him right now.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, and yeah, it's an interesting point about the two the two kind of positions and behind the lone striker because You know, the amount of different profiles of players you can play in there. We saw against Arsenal he played Mount and Garnaccio with Bruno sitting in behind.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I actually didn't really mind that. I thought it was thought it was good that Bruno was quite, um what's the word, not patient, but like controlled and measured in his performance. And and and that was kind of a thing that you could kind of nearly
00:21:52
Kieran McGinley
calculated yet.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
a stick that you could hit Bruno with where like he was always forcing it and I think like Amorim after the first game against Ipswich kind of said look he always wants to play the long pass and sometimes he needs to look for something shorter as well so I thought he did play with that discipline against Arsenal so you know he can play and in the two positions in midfield, Mound can do the same and then you have the two people in behind you either have like wingers like Rashford or Granaccio or more kind of centre attacking midfielders like Bruno for example so Yeah, Xerxesee would be interested in that role, but I think if we are going with our strongest team, Hoyland is best suited for that loan number nine role and and and everyone else has to fight for their position, I suppose. But yeah, it's um it's rough. like And the the whole Dan Ashford thing that you mentioned as well, like it's not providing a lot of confidence in
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
in where the club is going I suppose because if we were chatting like we were six months ago about upstairs in the club and how that's going you kind of thought okay well that that box is ticked now at least there's a bit more um I suppose structure and organization and a bit more strategy and plan about what's happening and then even that's a mess upstairs you know this league's coming out now that they never really
00:23:05
Kieran McGinley
Mm hmm. Hmm.
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and agreed on signings that Ashford had Xerxes at a signing based off stats and the rest and didn't really like it and then he wanted a different manager to Amram and you know how much has he actually been involved in the decisions because if you were involved in decisions you wouldn't be leaving after five months you know as there must have been some sort of a falling out so you know it's it's just not good times at the moment like um and like it's it's no surprise but it's ah yeah it's it's hard to pick out pick out any positives I suppose so
00:23:39
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, yeah, it is. Um, but we move, you know, we have to, we have to keep moving forward.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:44
Kieran McGinley
We have to, well, I think pass forward, you know, I looking at, look no, seriously, looking at the passing maps though, you know, 51 passes between Martinez and Delict, the highest combination in the team in that match, 51 between them, you know?
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That's what I was mentioning at the start, where all of our play is across that back three and we can't seem to...
00:24:04
Kieran McGinley
Yeah.
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And teams are happy for us to do it because we can't seem to be able to create any chances or create any sort of passage of play through the middle or out in the wings. It goes out and it's kind of like, okay, everyone's static. What do we do now? Okay, give it back and let's try the other side. And I don't know whether it's the players learning the system.
00:24:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think it is because it was the same situation when we were playing four at the back in 4-2-3-1, which every player was used to playing. We weren't able to dominate a game in the opposition you know in a danger area rather than just across the back line because, yeah, we we can dominate possession. But if if the possession is just knocking around the center circle in Old Trafford, it's an absolute waste of time.
00:24:47
Kieran McGinley
Yeah but I think there's a difference between patient play and hesitant play like there's a difference between patience and cautious because right now this is cautious like yeah United are scared to lose the ball and that's because they're so open to the counter at this moment in time and even though we've got three at the back We've got those two wings really pushing up and trying to join the attack as much as possible, trying to overload the wings and trying to overload that middle of the park.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:12
Kieran McGinley
We're really pushing for that. All that does do is it leaves you open to the counter and we've seen it a couple of times this season, mainly against Ipswich, who love to break on the counter. This is a system where it really depends on the confidence in players to be able to keep the passing going, keep it flowing, but also to give that quick passing a go, try and get through the midfield or try and get it to the wings and try and look forward.
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:25:38
Kieran McGinley
You know, sideways is not always a bad option, but backwards really should only be when you're one or two nil up and you're just looking to slow the pace down, try and get a control of the game. But it doesn't work when you're three, two down. You know, the team defending want you to control the game at that point. They want you to slow the pace down. They're very happy to for you to have the ball if all you're going to do is pass it across your back line.
Gameplay Dynamics and Tactical Concerns
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, 100%. And you can go back or or sideways, you know, you have to, but it's, it's in the aim to go forward and it's fine to pass it back and sideways when you're, when you're camped outside, you know, the opposition box and you're trying to find an opening, but we we never really have that sustained ah attacking pressure.
00:26:06
Kieran McGinley
Hmm.
00:26:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's comes down to patience, but also the bravery to be in that position because you look at the really good teams at Liverpool or an Arsenal or a city, they're camped outside, they're going around the box, ever back and forth, back and forth, waiting for the right time, runners coming off the shoulder. we Our attacks are never like that. They're over in 10 seconds. They're just quick counter attacks and hope for the hope for a bit of magic from one of the wingers, really. And and that's kind of it. Even the Ahmad chances that he's creating are It's all on him.
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's just He's just suddenly bouncing past four or five players and then pulling it back or creating a path for someone else or shooting himself. you know The Ipswich game, Fernandez's goal, you know that isn't like really good team play.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just individual brilliance. So you know hopefully, as the players get more used to the system, can be more confident, like you're saying, play through the midfield and have a bit more sustained pressure and attack.
00:27:17
Kieran McGinley
Mm-mm.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
because I do see it like personally with Agarte the last day, it felt like he was scared to get on the ball, receiving it from the center halves. And it felt that he was very cautious about.
00:27:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
so receiving the ball with his with his facing the goal and didn't really want to be able to turn on the ball um and you need that as your your deepest line midfielder you need a midfielder who wants to get on the ball and men who could be that option but I think he still wants to play a bit further more forward and doesn't really want to be that first pass from the center half so you know, we we need to find some sort of an answer there um because then the three center halves keep knocking it around to each other and don't have any options to to give it to anyone. And, you know, you look at every team pretty much in the Premier League has at least one of those midfielders that is super comfortable in the ball and wants it all the time, wants to be able to turn on it and get the play going. And but we've been we've been lacking that for for a while now, for years, I think.
00:28:15
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, there's there's the disconnect, isn't there, between defence and midfield right now. You normally have, you know, in some of these teams, you have a deeper lying playmaker to be an option for the defence to give the ball to, and it's up to them to facilitate, it's up to them to then look forward and see who's you who's available, get that vision in there. I think that's what we're lacking at the moment. And I think Maynu could be that type of player, but right now, he's so he's good at the ball with his feet, and I think he's encouraged to just drive forward and that's not necessarily a bad thing but I just feel like it is a different sp skill set because once he drives forward you're then relying on you know an anchor at the back or if the ball is lost you need someone to win it back and I think I think we're more suited to that play but yeah I think there still is that disconnect in the midfield so if if we can get the you know the the strikers the attack looks pretty good on the most part
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just a different skill set. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
00:29:09
Kieran McGinley
especially compared to last season, the midfield is struggling because the defence can't find them.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:29:15
Kieran McGinley
And some of these goals is the defence looping the ball over on towards, oh, yeah.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or vice versa. I mean, the defense are trying to find them, but the midfielders either don't want it or aren't available or don't know where to run yet with this new new box in midfield, I suppose.
00:29:24
Kieran McGinley
Hmm.
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's why I didn't really hate that Bruno was playing in that deeper role against Arsenal, because he will want he will take the ball.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he can take the ball on the half turn in tight spaces and always wants it. and seem to be playing with a lot more discipline in terms of trying to link play and little flicks around the corner rather than looking for a Hollywood pass all the time.
00:29:34
Kieran McGinley
Hmm.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, and and I could see that later in his career where he will just, you know, move further back a bit, like what what's goals that in a way and sit in that deeper position because he is excellent.
00:29:53
Kieran McGinley
Yeah.
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Technically, he's a great read of the game. But sometimes he just gets a bit carried away. But you know a player like him that is more defensively minded, but is also comfortable in the ball, is what we need in there. And and I'm not sure we have that answer yet.
00:30:11
Kieran McGinley
Yeah, come January, let's see what happens. But again, I think there's going to be a couple of outs. Couldn't say who yet, but you've got to trust Amory with that decision making. He's with the players day in, day out.
00:30:22
Kieran McGinley
I'm sure he's getting a picture now of who has the heart and who doesn't.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely. All right, Karen, we'll leave it there for for this evening. Thank you for joining me. and We're back with with, of course, more episodes this week. We have Europa League preview.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have the crossover coming up with the city lads.
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no.
00:30:43
Kieran McGinley
Yikes.
00:30:44
Kieran McGinley
Yikes.
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's going to be pretty rough. But ah yeah, as always, if you like the the episode and the podcast, leave ah leave a rating. Follow us on the socials. And yeah, we'll we'll see you in the next one.