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Episode 172 - Game Week 1 Result Does Not Equal Game Week 38 Final Result
15 Plays15 days ago
Kieran and Tom discuss how a loss at the start doesn’t necessarily mean a loss at the end! Starts of previous seasons are reviewed and it shows that walls shouldn’t be torn down over a Match Day 1 loss!
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Transcript
Manchester United's Early Season Form
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. It's time to get in our time machine again, but not for, you know, reminiscing reasons. ah Tom, who's alongside me today, had the fantastic idea of seeing what the early season form has been like in recent seasons and showing us everybody that it's not all bad news.
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
As I've already mentioned, Tom is here on today's show joining me, Kieran Tom. are you doing?
00:00:40
Tom Cairns
Hello, Kieran. Hello to everyone. And yep, after that, ah Weekend blip. um It's all not doom and gloom, considering how we know seasons can pan out after the opening weekend of the season.
00:00:54
Tom Cairns
So it's about diving in and just saying, well, it's not all what you may think it's going to be this season with the result. You know, it could lead to better things in the future. It's not about how you start, it's how you finish.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's absolutely right. And one of the last times we did lose 1-0 away on the opening day of the season, we slightly went on to win the title. So you never know. It a 1-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park. Oh, Goodison Park. Let's just take a remember moment to remember Goodison Park.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, ah it's ah it's not impossible. But yeah, I think we might just have to temper the expectations off of last
Season Predictions and Expectations
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
season. But as you say, Tom... you know write Write that off at your own peril.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
As you say, when it comes to these seasons, 37 games to go, a long way to go. i mean we're all predicting i think you're our highest prediction of sixth place. The rest of us are sort of seventh or eighth. We've definitely tempered our expectations.
00:01:47
Tom Cairns
I stand by the fact that we'll have a really good year. I think we'll plough on with what we've got. And I think the goals will come and the results will come our way sooner rather than than later.
00:01:57
Tom Cairns
Mind you, we do have some so fixtures coming up and with the likes of City and Chelsea after the international break. But those are the matches that kind of what we are prepared to do. You know, Chelsea and City are two of the teams we want to be beating the most. I mean, Liverpool are one team especially we want to be beating as well.
00:02:17
Tom Cairns
But whoever we go up against, we need to be getting points. And that if we get the results that we want, it will ease some of the pressure on Riemann and Riem before we head probably into the next international break after this one coming up.
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. And just a bit of foreshadowing, by the way. do you remember who scored the Everton goal last time we lost to 1-0 away?
00:02:39
Tom Cairns
It was Marouane Fellaini, a future United player yet.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah future United legend? Would you go that far? I'm not too sure. But definitely Moyes siding if you've ever seen one.
00:02:50
Tom Cairns
Well, I wouldn't call him a legend, but he he was someone who did bits for us, and he turned out to be a quality sign-in and the end of the day.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:02:59
Tom Cairns
i don't think it was a complete waste of money, because, what was it, 30 million? Just over 30 million we signed him for?
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
think, yeah, 32 and a half, I think. That rings a bell.
00:03:07
Tom Cairns
So when you think of it, it wasn't actually too bad of a deal, was it?
00:03:10
Tom Cairns
For us...
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I in the in the ski in the context of how football transfers were, say, 10 years ago, maybe it was quite a stretch.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, 32.5 million nowadays probably trans transfers to the sort of 50, 60 million mark, maybe. Someone will have to get an inflation calculator out on that one.
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it's a deal that we're seeing very similar money in terms of how much the money's worth. that makes sense, send us a postcard. But I want to point out in that season as well, having we lost 1-0 away from home, our second match was against Fulham, ah albeit at
Memorable Matches and Performances
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
home.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We won 3-2 on that day, but this time we have to go to Craven Cottage to deliver. to see how it goes on that season. And I'll throw some names at you, Tom. ah You had Raphael, you had Kagawa, and you had Van Persie all on the score sheet.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Damien Duff, a certain Ireland international on the Fulham scoreline with Nemanja Vidic scoring an own goal. But yeah yeah we can gloss over that one.
00:04:11
Tom Cairns
Yeah. Well, we came over with the result. And then the third game, we played Southampton away at St Mary's. Southampton were playing in their first ah one of their first games back in the Premier League after a seven-year hiatus.
00:04:25
Tom Cairns
It turned out to be ah cracker of a game, actually, that Van Persie got a hat-trick on the day. His first United hat-trick and only his second start for the club, which was...
00:04:37
Tom Cairns
completely outrageous, not as outrageous as Rooney's hat-trick against Venebacho, which was his debut for United, but still, ah it led to great things for you United that season.
00:04:48
Tom Cairns
So, yeah I am confident we're going to come away with positive results against Fulham and Burnley. And then it's two Premier games and then we'll see where we end up. And providing we don't get any injuries for when we face Chelsea is it chelsea at home or it Man City away?
00:05:06
Tom Cairns
think it's Man City away and then Chelsea at home the two games after the international break.
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Man City away on the 14th of September. And then it's, yeah, United at home, at Chelsea at home at half past five on the Saturday, the 20th of September. So, yeah, absolutely right. So, again, those are tough games to some up come up against. But I feel like we've already had a tough start of an Arsenal side that once they got the goal, just showed how defensively resilient and resolute they actually are.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, as ah as Sam was saying on yesterday's episode about how it's a case of, OK, they weren't at their best, but they still got three points. And you hear that all the time about, oh, yeah, if you're not at your greatest, but you still get the three points.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's, you know, your form form of champions is is what it was. And I would say, well, we are our best. I think we're better than we were towards the end of last season. And you know with with a bit more you know a bit more clinical finishing, we would be walking away with three points in that one. But ah you can't feel too deflated, more disappointed that we couldn't quite take a hold of that game like we should have.
00:06:17
Tom Cairns
Well, it was the opening weekend of the season. If you put in a strong performance like that but get beat, you have to feel positive that going forward, if we play like that each and every week, we would be getting goals and results.
00:06:31
Tom Cairns
hundred percent know 100%. I don't care what anyone thinks, we will get results because performances may not align with the results to begin with, but they will do at some point soon enough. And I am very confident that these performances are going to come around... and And maybe for one particular supporter who hasn't cut his hair for the best part of a year, waiting for Man Utd to win five games in a row before he does at last cut his hair, he's going to be praying for that kind of run at some point.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He's got to be hoping for Cunha or Mbema to get in some sort of scoring form. ah that's That's the only ticket out. We shall see. It's gone on for a lot longer. Kind of reminds me of um Tom Huddleston.
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, how he promised whilst whilst he was at Tottenham, because he was in a rich scoring run of form. And he said, I won't cut my hair again until I score. It took him, goodness, how long. he Eventually he transferred to Hull.
00:07:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
The whole city where he finally got the goal. I'm going to have to look up how many years it was. Tom's going to say it. I know he is.
00:07:32
Tom Cairns
ah Well, it I'd have to have a look at that because...
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
How many years it was. i will too, because it's only popped in my head. But I just remember that the commentary on match the day was finally he'll get a haircut. And I feel like that that commentary line needs to be prepared by the United Strat.
00:07:47
Tom Cairns
ah Tom Huddleston ah scored in the Premier League for Hull City three times, in fact, during the 2013-14 season. That was Hull's first season back in the top flight.
00:07:59
Tom Cairns
His last goal for Tottenham... was in the 2010-11 season. So at least two to three years he went.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:11
Tom Cairns
um I'm just trying to find the exact date when he actually, his first goal, yeah.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's
00:08:16
Tom Cairns
so in On December the 28th, 2013, he scored in a 6-0 home win against Fulham. His first goal since, I think, the London derby for Tottenham against Arsenal in April 2011 in that 3-0 draw at White Hart Lane.
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
a long time. It's a long time.
00:08:33
Tom Cairns
Yeah, nearly three years.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, long time to grow his hair. But in in fairness, he did I think he donated his hair after he'd shaved it. So it was a really you know remarkable, noble thing to do for Tom Huddleston. And yeah know as a former United graduate, and I'd love to see him do well. It was quite a ah nice smile. How did we get on to Tom Huddleston? That was my fault. um We were talking about starts and how hopefully that not the worst ones...
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
the worst ones don't necessarily mean that we're in for a rough ride. ah We're going to take a little bit of a break. When we come back a little bit more, delving into the past and seeing what sort of results and what sort of early season form we've come up against and still had a good chunk of change from the season. We'll be back after this.
00:09:17
Tom Cairns
Thank
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Up until, and well, I would say last night, so i don't know why I was going so recent, but up until the loss against Arsenal, we had one of the best win percentages of match day one in the Premier League. Before the match, we had 33 wins, 33 games, I should say, 22 wins.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's not a bad result. So maybe match day one kind of should be our thing. We've only lost seven of them in the modern Premier League.
00:10:49
Tom Cairns
Yeah, well, thinking of it, in three of our ah opening weekend defeats, we've gone on to win the title during the Ferguson years. Obviously, times have moved on since then.
00:11:01
Tom Cairns
But like I say, it's kind of like that little curse, that opening weekend curse, where it can quickly turn around from there. And we've seen a lot of seasons turn around for other clubs as well from here, not just us, but even teams like City.
00:11:15
Tom Cairns
Like four years ago, they lost their opening match at Tottenham. They still went on to win the league. So it's going to come down to who can make up for it this season.
00:11:25
Tom Cairns
you know If United can do it, then great. And once we get to round about mid-September or October, the opening day defeat to Arsenal will just be long forgotten.
Coaching and Managerial Comparisons
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:11:39
Tom Cairns
So I am...
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:11:41
Tom Cairns
It'll be long forgotten because people won't remember too much about that because we will probably know it's not the same United or somewhat is the same United, but the more clinically United to what we saw against Arsenal.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's very true. And not only that, but as we all know, it's Amarim's first full season in charge. um I feel like a good thing to look at would sort of be yeah you know previous managers' first matches in charge. I mean, the likes of Louis van Gaal, you've got Jose Mourinho. I mean, let's have a look at Louis van Gaal back in 2014, I believe it was. 2014-15 was his first season in charge.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... see how we go from there because I guess you could try and compare it to previous managers about how they've started. Now, there is the caveat of Amrim's head about since, what was it, October, November he was appointed?
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's had, you know, a bit more of ah a head start, if you like, but still, it's his first full season in charge and it'll interesting see how we stack up against previous managers and and their starts to the campaign.
00:12:42
Tom Cairns
There's going to be a lot of managers under pressure this season, Kieran. You think about Mikel Arteta, who is going be under massive pressure to deliver something for this season for Arsenal. You've got Graham Potter, who hadn't been on the best of run with West Ham even last season when he was there.
00:12:57
Tom Cairns
And I think he's going to be up against it. And that's why there's this thing going around saying, right, who will be the first manager in the Premier League to be sacked? And a lot of people said Ruben Emerum, which i which i think is conceivable.
00:13:11
Tom Cairns
But... United are not playing in Europe this season. So that this this is where I think people need to be mindful of the fact that Ruben Amarin hasn't had enough time to work with the players.
00:13:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:24
Tom Cairns
Someone put a thing out a while ago, Kieran, of how many interviews or how much work Ruben Amarin has been doing within the media for people compared to how Pep Guardiola, Mikel Alteto and Arna Slott have been doing.
00:13:40
Tom Cairns
The numbers are staggering. I would want to find out, actually, where how how many interviews Reuben Emmer has done with the nbm with the media.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you were going to go all Scott Steiner on me and say the numbers for you spell disaster at sacrifice. But yeah, I will have a look. at i I mean, I'm looking at, I think, what I believe was Louis van Gaal's first game in charge, at least the first opening game of the season ah back in And was loss.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it was a loss It was a 2-1 loss to Swansea at Old Trafford. Rooney on the score sheet. ah But he also had the likes of Kee Sung-yong scoring. Wilfred Bonney on top who didn't score, ah but still good to add loved a bit of Wilfred Bonney.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Had a great song at Swansea. But yeah, again, another ah manager that also had a loss on the opening day in Louis van Gaal. Let's have a look at Jose Mourinho. Okay, Jose Mourinho won 3-1 away at Bournemouth, but there you go.
00:14:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah With Rooney Ibra and Matta on the score sheet.
00:14:37
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
All the love for Ibra.
00:14:42
Tom Cairns
I mean, even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won... That's another thing, actually. When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer first took over from Jose Mourinho in December 2018, he won his first eight games in all comps, which is like the best run, or equal best run,
00:14:56
Tom Cairns
for, I think, any manager in the top five leagues or something like that. I'm i'm probably talking of my backside on that one, but it was one of the best runs for a manager starting at top club like Manchester United.
00:15:11
Tom Cairns
Looked at the Ruben Amrim one, and apparently, um about 14 weeks ago, this post was was put out, just on four ah just under interviews,
00:15:24
Tom Cairns
reuben amri has conducted within the media, which is probably going be more than that, but probably over 500 now that he's been doing with the media. It's insane. and he's he's only had He's only been in the job for nine months.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a good bit of maths in there, so that's what, 50 interviews a month?
00:15:41
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that that right?
00:15:46
Tom Cairns
ah Probably even more than that, actually.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
my probably Yeah, you're probably right.
00:15:49
Tom Cairns
If about 55, that's almost like, on average, two a day.
00:15:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:54
Tom Cairns
Two a day.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, ah is that counting all of the MUTV interviews he does? Does that count preseason at pre-season? Pre-game, pre-match conference, post-match conference?
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, if if they're going to do the halftime ah halftime interviews now with Amarum, that's going to be more.
00:16:14
Tom Cairns
that's going count. as it So what I've got 296 interviews for 25 Premier League games, 150 interviews for 10 Europa League matches, 45 interviews for four domestic cup matches.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But does that come as part of the yeah as part of the package as being Manchester United manager? Because, you know, i i get as a manager, you you take the heat off the players. You you you take the heat yourself.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, that's why managers at the hell will always get the sack first because it's easier to get rid of one manager than 11 players. But the managers there... and to kind of take the heat of a bad performance or a bad day at the office, but then plaudits the players you know when when they get 3-0, 4-0 victory. So it's kind of like, is that part of the job description where you are in the media and you are trying to back the players as much as possible?
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Is that part and parcel as a Man United manager, or is that just where we're going with managers in general that have to be in front of the camera more often?
00:17:14
Tom Cairns
It feels like nothing has been different from manager to manager, Kieran. And it's just a curse of being a Manchester United manager. And i I thoroughly wish people would just give these managers some slack.
00:17:25
Tom Cairns
But of course they won't, because it's Man Utd. It's arguably the most commercialised football club in the world.
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:33
Tom Cairns
so yeah I just wish the Glazers, for instance, would just put some former veto to the media and say, look, we're restricting more on the interviews because our manager's not been able to spend enough time on the training ground with the players, which sounds a bit blasé, but the reality is he wasn't able to do that last season, which explains why in just over five just under 500 interviews when this post I saw that came out in May, actually.
00:17:59
Tom Cairns
So from November to May, in that's six months,
00:18:03
Tom Cairns
What's that in general? About 80 or 75. seventy five It's a lot.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. It's a lot. It is a lot.
00:18:12
Tom Cairns
Oh my.
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now.
00:18:14
Tom Cairns
it It was a massive distraction Reba and Amarim. and I get that the journalists have a job to do, especially the... You know, the ones like from Sky and all that who have got rights for or and to attend press conferences or representatives for them going to press conferences at Old Trafford or wherever it is.
00:18:35
Tom Cairns
But come on.
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:37
Tom Cairns
Yeah, i'm I'm just not a fan of it. I mean, if you're going to do it with Amrim, you may as well do it to clubs like Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal. So where's the consistency in that then?
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think there is so much attention on Man United because yeah it's off the back of... i We say, and we have said before, the worst Premier season, but we should probably clarify that and say it's the worst modern Premier League season of all time for Manchester United.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because there have been seasons being relegated from the top flight ah back in the 70s. I think it was the Yeah.
00:19:11
Tom Cairns
Yeah, it was 1974 when we were last really dead.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know i thank Thank you, Tom. See, i love having an encyclopedia on the podcast. um yeah so So it's not the worst top flight season ever. but can but you know We should clarify that. It's the worst modern Premier League season of all time that we've had.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, you know, a title hasn't been in Manchester United for ah over 10 years now. The last time we had it was Sir Alex Ferguson. For the last Premier League winner, the last Premier League manager of Manchester United, the winner of the Premier League, to be still Sir Alex Ferguson, even 11 years later...
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that's why the spectacle is all over us. Yes, we've had FA Cup success. We've had Europa League success over that time. So it's not been a completely barren run. Let's not let's not get all yeah doom and gloom.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the elusive title, the the Premier League, has been away for too long. And the longer that goes on, the more media attention is going to be.
00:20:10
Tom Cairns
So if we win the Premier League, will that shut the media up for a while?
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah you've you've you've instantly hit the crux of my argument there. No, it won't. But I think that comes hand in hand with what you said as Manchester United being one of the most commercialised
Balancing Brand and Performance
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and one of the most recognisable brands in world football.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think therein lies the difference. It's not just a club, it is a brand. And this is what Manchester City and Liverpool, and I would say Chelsea as well, have to deal with as well, that they have to be brands outside of England to have that global success.
00:20:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um you know It comes passing in part part and parcel with having an international fan base. But the the thing about that is not everyone can tune into those pre-match press conferences or even the post-match press conferences.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have fans around the world that are tuning in to try and watch it, but some will try and tune in on social media or on MUTV afterwards. And so the the content has to be there for them as well.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, I think kind of answering my own question, does it come part and parcel of being Manchester United manager? Yes, I think the press, the media are paramount in...
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
making sure the good image of Manchester United is portrayed, even in such a ah terrible, poor season that we've just had.
00:21:33
Tom Cairns
and I mean, with where the success is at United on the global front, you know it's on the understandable because you know it's popular in the US, it's popular in Malaysia, it's popular in Thailand. you know the The club's a big, big brand and fans all over the world tune in to watch Manchester United, no matter what the yeah the time zone is over there.
00:21:55
Tom Cairns
I just want to prove why they are the beast club in the world and let's see see what we do on the football pitch. That's what's been missing for some time because the Glazers have been resulting more to sponsors as opposed to ah aligning that to what we do on the football pitch.
00:22:13
Tom Cairns
So that's where I'm really, really perplexed by where the Glazers are going. get money and stuff back to where they are. It feels to me like they're most happy to do it the hardest way in a way where it's not on them if United win it.
00:22:32
Tom Cairns
If you see where I'm coming from, it someone's like it's like, it's an entrepreneurial thing where you don't want people to know about it But it's like, you want to find the plausible reasons as to why Manchester United are the most successful football club, on the commercial side of things, at least.
00:22:49
Tom Cairns
But they would never ever say that to the media at all, because they're in the football club. You know, there's obviously sponsors involved, there's contracts involved and things like that. But the proof is in the pudding.
00:23:02
Tom Cairns
United on the football pitch, it's just, it doesn't align to what the commercial side of things says. And Especially now with the recruitment. It's not even on the pitch, it's recruitment.
00:23:14
Tom Cairns
Because we had, what was it, Dan Ashworth, who was the football director, wasn't he, last year?
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I believe so, but left off for a few months.
00:23:24
Tom Cairns
Yeah, I mean, explain that to me, because he looks like a ah positive addition to the club, only to be shown the door a few months later.
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, sure, Ralph Rangnick was effectively airing out what was wrong. And whether those warnings got heeded, I don't know. But even Rangnick, in his interim time as manager, to almost give us a guss-heading run towards the end of a season, even he was pointing out, you know, this shouldn't work. there's There's this problem, there's this problem, and if this doesn't get solved, you'll get nowhere.
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Rangnick was giving... yeah almost constructive criticism. But when that wasn't and that wasn't heeded, he then went public with it. And I mean, you know, talk about airing your frustration.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, um you know, what what he said, you know, goes down. or You know, you've got the interview with Ronaldo as well. it's Somehow we've gone from... It's not all doom and gloom if we lose an opening day to now being like the the the total inner mechanicians of Old Trafford. But how does it all work?
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I think the important thing right now is no matter how many interviews Amaroom does, no matter how much less of him on a TV screen you want him to see, Tom, or at least you want...
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You want to see of him. There we go. I've got the words in the right order there. And him more on the training ground. I feel like the the summer, we haven't heard a lot. you know Transfers are in.
00:24:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nobody's really left the club. If they have, it's been on loan and it's been sort of our youth products and youth talents going out on loan to to gain experience. um But I feel like there were positives to take away from the first game.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And that has been something I really maybe not have said over the last couple of seasons. And that's been quite refreshing, even if we didn't get three points or even a point.
00:25:19
Tom Cairns
Rewind back 12 months ago when we played Fulham in the opening game of the season. We won the game 1-0, but did the performance align with that?
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I've scrubbed last season out of my mind. I'm trying to remember what actually happened.
00:25:35
Tom Cairns
Xerxes winner.
00:25:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was...
00:25:36
Tom Cairns
It was Xerxes who came on as a sub and got the winning goal.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yes. Oh, yes, that's right. ah we was i was so positive after that game. I think I've learned my lesson.
00:25:46
Tom Cairns
I wasn't convinced by the performance at all because that that performance was so flat.
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:25:51
Tom Cairns
And I would have happily taken what we had at the weekend what we had 12 months back because it was a clear paper over the cracks and then we lost our next two games to Brighton away and Liverpool at home.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean you could and I mean, you get the Liverpool one. you know It happens if you're coming up against one of the top sides in England right now. um And even with Arnest Slott in his first season taking over a Klopp side, it was still a very dangerous side.
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
dont Don't care what you say. Yeah. Yeah, I think I, not only have blotted that out of my memory, but I think maybe on the flip side, I'll have to look back at the last year's episode about you know the the game against Fulham. I was so full of positivity and saying, yeah, we can get Europe this year. I'm sure we can. I um don't think I was that blindsided that I was talking about a title or, you know, i we could be back at the top. but I definitely was much more positive.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
in terms of I was blindsided about what actually happened in the match and Xerxes scoring what would be one of, I want to say, four Premier League goals that season. Might have been three.
00:27:05
Tom Cairns
Who's Serksey?
00:27:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:07
Tom Cairns
Well, overall that Serksey's scored.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah In the Premier League that season.
00:27:10
Tom Cairns
Okay.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Which is only three or four.
00:27:12
Tom Cairns
Yeah, it was it was it wasn't many.
00:27:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure it was. So...
00:27:15
Tom Cairns
But what I was i was also thinking, going back to our topic of the opening games for us, we played Wolves a couple of years ago at Old Trafford.
00:27:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:27:24
Tom Cairns
We won 1-0, thanks to a late Ferran header that got us over the line, but we survived a penalty shout, which was a slam dunk penalty. I don't know why VAR didn't give it. It was when Onana came out and just clattered into the Wolves forward or whoever it was.
00:27:43
Tom Cairns
And we survived that one. And we didn't play very well in that game either. And the one before that, 22-23, Brighton at home, Ericsson Hogg's first game. Wifeful again.
00:27:56
Tom Cairns
We lost and we didn't even play very well in that either.
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:01
Tom Cairns
So you have to say, in the last four seasons, the game against Arsenal was by far the best performance out of the lot since we won 5-1 against Leeds.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Against Leeds as well.
00:28:13
Tom Cairns
um not On that note.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that always makes it a nice sweet pill to swallow as well.
00:28:15
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, hey, hey listen, if our if our episode has taught you anything, it's not all doom and gloom. As Tom has said, possibly one of the greater opening day performances. Maybe not result, but you never know what could happen over the next 37. We have the Fulham game on Sunday. Don't forget, we'll have an episode for you tomorrow, diving more into the preview of the actual game itself.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course... Some hosts of ours will be joining you pretty much immediately after the match, as soon as we can get the episode uploaded about the Fulham game. So hopefully it's the all three points at Craven Cottage. We shall wait and see. Tom, thank you so much for joining me on today's episode. It was it was nice to sort of have a... I mean, we've been more positive this week, I think, in in more other podcasts this week. um But I feel like, you know, there's there's a lot to be happy
Looking Forward to Upcoming Matches
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
about. There's a lot to be...
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
frustrated about, but i think in the long run, looking back at it, plenty to plenty of positives to pick out.
00:29:19
Tom Cairns
Absolutely so. And I am looking forward to the weekend against Fulham. And if we can put in another performance like that, we've got a great chance to do come away with a strong result and kick on.
00:29:30
Tom Cairns
Obviously, we've got the League Cup tight at Grinsby to follow, which could be another opportunity for some of the youngsters to get a go at it, as well as Tom Heaton getting a game and goals so that it can provide at least an option for Ruben Amarin for the trip to... Oh no, he's at home against Burnley, isn't it?
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I believe so, yes.
00:29:48
Tom Cairns
And so, yeah, so I'm looking forward to it either way. And if we can put Fulham to the sword, because I did go and see them at the weekend at Brighton. And yeah, well, it was ah it was a scrappy game, but I don't think Fulham created enough to win that game.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're very scathing of that report. I know that much. I saw that.
00:30:06
Tom Cairns
and I think it's going to be Fulham being Fulham. So if we can go there and start what could be another league double over them, like we did last season. You know, we did beat Fulham twice in the Premier League last season, and I think we'll probably do so this time around again.
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, I've erased last season out my memory, so I'm glad Tom's here to remind me. But hey, let's hope that doesn't come back to you. and Since we're, i believe, both not on the preview podcast tomorrow, school prediction?
00:30:38
Tom Cairns
going to go to United.
00:30:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
o
00:30:41
Tom Cairns
LAUGHTER
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I was going to say, please stay to United.
00:30:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:30:46
Tom Cairns
Can imagine if we actually performed very well despite the fact that we go three nil down?
00:30:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah That would be, ah even I would struggle to to do that. I'd find a way, but I'm going to go 2-1 United. i think it's, yeah, I think that there's elements of the game that are starting to push through, you know, that that sort of triangle up at the top.
00:31:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Cesco starts, we'll see. If Hoyland makes the team, we'll see. But yeah i'm going to go 2-1. 2-1 to United and hopefully our first three points all be on the road. But we shall wait and see. Join us tomorrow for the preview podcast episode and hopefully you'll join us on all the social medias as well to get joining in on the conversation. It's GSPN Man United. We are on Twitter and X. We're on Instagram.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're on TikTok and we're on Facebook. And you can also watch the episodes now if that if you're of that volition. If you're listening on Apple and Spotify and thinking... I wonder what Tom's looking like right now. Well, you can head over to our YouTube page. It's GSPN Daily Man United podcast. Go on, Tom, give them a wave.
00:31:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
See, you're missing out. You are missing out if you're not watching on YouTube. So go ahead, subscribe so you don't miss another episode. In the meantime, though, thank you so much for listening and watching today's episode.
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got our fingers crossed for all three points at Craven Cottage. Until then, we'll talk to you soon. Have a great weekend. Take care of yourselves.