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Episode 77: Wildcard Wednesday - Rashford, Injuries, and "Super League 2: Electric Boogaloo"
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Kieran and Ollie have a wild Wednesday by talking on the Rashford Interview, Injuries, and our yearly talk about a certain “Super League”.
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Transcript
Introduction and Catch-Up
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. It's Wild Card Wednesday, it's me Keira MacGidley and I'm delighted to say I'm joined by Mr Ollie Pit and Ollie, long time no see, how are you?
00:00:20
OllieP
I know I'm very well, thank you very much. Good to see your face again.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, good to see you too.
00:00:23
OllieP
um
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, sharing a mic again together. The the last time I think we shared it was, well, some months ago, maybe a month ago now, so...
00:00:28
OllieP
Yes, it's been a while.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It has been too long, too
00:00:31
OllieP
He has.
Marcus Rashford's Future: A New Challenge?
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
long indeed.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And speaking, ah yeah, yeah, well, before we jump into our Wild Card Wednesday, we have just had some breaking news in the last half an hour as we're recording this, when Marcus Rashford has basically announced he wants to leave the club.
00:00:33
OllieP
He's got a minute.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He says he wants a new challenge as he was talking to Sky Sports News. It's a developing story, but Ollie, what do you make of it?
00:00:52
OllieP
Ooh, it's a lot, isn't it? It's a bit of a shock already. I wouldn i wasn't expecting him to be so clear with it all. I thought there'd be some riddles there as there always is with footballers, but I don't know, maybe is there agents to say to him, just be clear, just be, just be very forthcoming and just tell them what your intentions are for the future, which I'm, you know, i it's it's been, ah it's been a run.
00:01:12
OllieP
It's been a good run, but yeah, I think it's a good thing.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah well it's well Rashford has told Sky Sports News for me personally I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps.
00:01:15
OllieP
I really do.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
When I leave it's going to be no hard feelings. If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's sort of a it's not a goodbye. It's not really I want to leave, but it's more of a if someone wants to come and get me, please come and get me.
00:01:39
OllieP
a
00:01:43
OllieP
I'm ready.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm sure we'll be talking more and more about, you know, when Rashford may go. But we were sort of talking in our pre-show before we hit the record button. Where could Rashford where could Rashford go? Which team would actually swoop in and and go for Marcus Rashford?
00:01:57
OllieP
I see it's the million dollar question, isn't it? I think with his wages, they're just astronomical. Most most player teams around the world don't want to pay anywhere near that much. I was thinking like Italy, they don't want to pay that much. Spain, all the big teams, they have pretty much got a full shop at the moment. You're looking at
Potential Destinations for Rashford
00:02:13
OllieP
Real Madrid, not Barcelona aren't going to pay those wages. Real Madrid, they've got full house at the moment. I don't think they really need Rashford.
00:02:21
OllieP
and they certainly don't want to have to pay in like 300k for a cave someone who's going to be sitting on the bench.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:02:25
OllieP
So you are looking at Saudi. That is the main option I'd say.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:29
OllieP
I think they'd want him commercially. He's he's huge. I think they'd really want him over there. But yeah, to consumer Europe, I can't see anyone wanting to pay 300k for him. You look at PSG maybe, but I think they were just trying to lower down, lower their um their wages, their wage bill really, have to get rid of it.
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
do you think chris do you think chris do you think christian ah ron and nardo is just rubbing his hands together after seeing that statement from rashford seeing like yes come to our nasa yes come on over you know yeah see them link up again yeah it's um it's one of those weird ones it's it's one i wasn't really expecting when i walked in my front door this morning uh this afternoon but i mean i suppose it's the case is this is time for reflection because rashford
00:02:47
OllieP
Yeah. okay yeah that yeah
00:02:54
OllieP
Yeah, finally.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely burst onto the scene on Micah Richards' desk and every debut, every debut he made was phenomenal. He scored on every debut, you know, you you name it, you know, League Cup, I'm pretty sure there was an FA Cup debut, Premier League debut, Europa League debut, England debut, every single time he scored.
00:03:24
OllieP
Yeah.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's just sort of a case of, you know, where did that Rashford go?
00:03:33
OllieP
Yeah.
00:03:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
A Rashford that was so brimming full of confidence, what happened in in the last nine or ten years?
00:03:39
OllieP
That's it. just There was such such high hopes for him. He was. He was clinical. He was just like full of energy. he just looked He was one of the best players in the world at at one point. He was. He was brilliant. He just could score from anywhere, great touch, skillful. um But yeah, it's just his mindset. it's the The talent's obviously still there. You don't lose that talent. But it's just season after season where he's just not reducing. It's not acceptable. Not all those wages as well. he He's on a high wage.
00:04:08
OllieP
you expect the best. You really do.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:10
OllieP
And he's just not delivering at all. So I think maybe this this is healthy for him because because you look at him playing, he looks like he doesn't want to be there. We said at at the start of the season, we said it like most of the three last season as well.
00:04:21
OllieP
His mind isn't there and it's he's not good for him. It's not good for his career. And I wish him the best if he does leave. That is I do wish him the best because he is a talent and it's great to him back in the England team again.
00:04:31
OllieP
But yeah, this is healthy for England and ah in for Manchester United and for Rashford.
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's one of those bittersweet feelings, isn't it? You know, as soon as he transfers to another club, he's going to light up whatever league he's in again, you know, it's going to be one of those annoying things.
00:04:42
OllieP
Yeah, exactly.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I just can't see United being willing to sell to another Premier League team.
00:04:51
OllieP
Yeah.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they would much prefer to sell abroad. The only We say soundy, but there's the potential of PSG. Now, obviously, we've had this sort of um French football TV money debacle that that the league has had, which has meant teams like Lyon have now been handed a provisional relegation ah unless they get their finances in order. But that's tricky when the TV money they were thinking they were going to get is now much, much less.
00:05:18
OllieP
Yeah.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So the only thing team I could really see getting it was PSG, but I don't know how much of a risk they're going to be willing to take. They have the highest wage bill in France, obviously, but is that a realistic transfer for for Marcus Rashford to head to Paris?
Financial Implications of Rashford's Contract
00:05:33
OllieP
I think if he takes a massive reduction in his wages, then it is is a possibility. um It'd be a good move for him as well. I think it'd be a good team for him to go to. He'd score a lot of goals. He'd clean up in that league.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:05:43
OllieP
He'd do really well. I know he would. um But yeah, it's just easy willing to drop his wages by like half, which is a lot. I don't think he is.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:53
OllieP
I don't think he's... Is he that kind of player? Is he that kind of guy? Is it football at the forefront of what he's thinking at the moment because we don't know where his head is Obviously we spoke about mentally where is he at?
00:06:05
OllieP
Um, but yeah, maybe he's just not willing I couldn't imagine him being willing to drop that much of his wages Yeah
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
<unk>s where He's 27. So statistically, you you look at the average of ah a career of a football player, he should be at his pinnacle, he should be at his peak. know this is this you know he's He should be at the peak of his career and yet he can't really get that form together. He can't really get that playing time together that he you know, needs to sort of settle himself down.
00:06:29
OllieP
Yeah.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't think he he helps himself because, as you say, in some matches, he does look a bit disinterested. And I kind of feel like this has been playing in his mind for longer than just the last couple of days.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
This seems to be something that's been playing on his mind for the last couple of months, maybe even the last year.
00:06:40
OllieP
course.
00:06:45
OllieP
Hmm.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm trying to think where he's when he signed his contract extension was it a couple of years ago now.
00:06:48
OllieP
you Wasn't it just after the World Cup?
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So.
00:06:51
OllieP
Because he obviously played...
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Possibly.
00:06:53
OllieP
he was just he That was when he was on fire, wasn't it? He was playing really well and I think just after the World Cup he might have signed a new contract. Cause didn't he score a few goals in the World Cup?
00:07:04
OllieP
I'm sure he did play quite well. And I feel that was that the point. They were like, right, let's tie him down. And I was for, Oh, are we going to actually do this? Are we going to do this? Is it, is it wise?
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:15
OllieP
And then, yeah, I think he decided his contract and then that his form just dipped massively. He just went back to old Rashford, Rashford old times, which was, Hmm.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but Rashford Old Times is a bit a bit harsh because Rashford Old Times is you know a 17-year-old making a debut, which was absolutely fantastic. Made his debut in the 15-16 season, I believe, or at least was ah made his breakthrough into the first team there.
00:07:35
OllieP
Yeah.
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He had his last contract extension July 2023, so yeah, about a year and a half ago, and which his contract expires in 2028.
00:07:41
OllieP
Hmm.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's a very long-term deal that he's on. So you know whether a team comes in and and is willing to you know in In essence, try and break that contract. it's It's a massive contract that they're going to have to break. And it might be something that United have to very much lower the wage, or not the wage, but the the transfer bill. And that's not going to help our PSR, is it?
00:08:07
OllieP
No, not at all. He's not looking good. that's why That's why I was just so worried when, as soon as we he signed that contract, I was like, oh my word, five year contract. That is incredible.
00:08:18
OllieP
I know you, you forget how young he is. That's why he gets that contract.
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:21
OllieP
But yeah, it was just a gamble because it has been season little bit parts in season. He's been decent. And then it's just been like seven months where he's been appalling. That's been him. Like the first three seasons, he looked amazing.
00:08:33
OllieP
And after that, it was just. the The disinterest, you could see it in his eyes. It just seems to happen every season. Maybe he played really well just for the World Cup, because he was trying to get into the England team. um But then he just didn't get the games that he thought he was going to get. So I don't know. it It was always a gamble. I don't know who put forward that contract. It was crazy. We should have given him another season. See how well he played. I just don't know how it works behind the scenes. It's incredible. It really is. It's like, yeah, you play well. That's it. That five-year contract. It is insane. It really is.
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
when it comes to contract negotiations, normally it does take two to tango. So not only does ah you know the board and whoever's negotiating those contracts, director of football, whoever it may be, negotiates that contract in the first place, Rashford, if he sees a five year deal at that wage, yeah anybody, anybody would jump at it.
00:09:09
OllieP
Hmm.
00:09:19
OllieP
Oh yeah, jump set it. Yeah. Hmm.
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So so I don't blame him for that at all.
00:09:22
OllieP
Oh, your hand off.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. So but yeah, whatever you feel about Rashford right now, I think we can all agree that it's it's quite sad that it's going to end in this sort of
00:09:31
OllieP
Hmm.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
with ah not with a bang, but with a whimper. and It's that famous quote, isn't it? But so it lets let's move on from the breaking news.
Luke Shaw's Injury Struggles and Future
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're getting a little bit tiresome and whatnot. you know it's It's all that stuff. But when we come back after the break, we'll talk more about ah what our Wildcard Wednesday was supposed to be without that breaking news. We'll be back after this.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all of those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
After that Rashford news, I need some more time on the sideline. Speaking of which, more time on the sideline for Luke Shaw. The BBC, BBC Sport, I should say, released a graphic I saw earlier this morning that Luke Shaw has now been unavailable for a total of 1,675 days due to injury, which is just over four and a half years.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, obviously, that doesn't account for off-season and pre-season and whatever, but to miss four and a half years of your footballing career to an injury. I mean, it's I know Matt has his own opinion on what is happening behind the scenes with Luke Shaw. We saw, what was it, a week and a half ago that Luke Shaw put out that social media post to say that he was devastated, he's run into a problem, and now we don't actually know when he's going to return from injury. so I mean, we're we're sort of looking back and seeing, well, this injury crisis or this injury problem has not just affected Luke Shaw, but it's affected multiple players last year and in recent history at Manchester United.
00:11:32
OllieP
Yeah, it's it's incredible. You don't know what happens but behind the scenes, like the the medical team who he works with is regime. ah Each time he comes back from injury, you just don't know what is actually happening there.
00:11:44
OllieP
But for four and a half years, that is astonishing.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:11:47
OllieP
It really is. It's such such bad luck, really. it's I don't know what he's doing, what he what he's doing at home, how he takes care of his body, but yeah, it just seems to be little injuries as well. we Obviously he had that horrific injury at the start of when he came to United in 2014, 2015, he had a leg break.
00:12:07
OllieP
But since then, it's just been every little injury. It's been a calf injury or ankle injury, something or other. It's just popped up and it's yeah, it's it's not acceptable. We what do you do?
00:12:18
OllieP
What do you do that? We know the quality of this guy. We know how good he is. He was um just pivotal in the team help when he played alongside Rashford as well. Just he honestly was brilliant. But you kind of think is it worth having a guy like that in the team?
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:31
OllieP
So one who's just going to be a liability each season and he's
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:36
OllieP
What do you do in it is they're very difficult. I feel bad for him. because He's wasted a lot of his career um But where'd you go from here? That's the question Yeah
00:12:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it isn't it like it's a case of you know, he signed a contract extension April 2023 So again year and out a year and a half ago. Yeah, how to get my maths right there um But yeah, it's a case of missing four and a half years in total ah Due to injury. He's only made three appearances this season. He's made ah minutes wise. He's had 98 minutes this season um Which is not great, you know, that's just over a full match isn't it really?
00:13:11
OllieP
yeah yeah
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not a lot when you think about it this this season um but this is again someone who joined Manchester United in the 14-15 season from Southampton and as you say had that had that injury that really set him back early on in his career and you just sort of think it's another thing of what a career he could have had.
00:13:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know The player he was showing himself to be, even at United he had those spells where he was absolutely untouchable at times that left back.
00:13:31
OllieP
and
00:13:38
OllieP
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
00:13:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He locked that position down but now we've had to sort of adapt and keep well keep adapting because Luke Shaw doesn't get a good run in the team before he's out with an injury again.
00:13:49
OllieP
Yeah, that's it. And it's just people having to cover for him constantly. And it's, we're chopping and changing. You can't really make solid plans because you don't know how long you're going to have Luke Shaw for. So it's, we need to, we need to be looking forward and we need to thinking, right, who's our long-term left back, left wing back, whatever you want to call it.
00:14:08
OllieP
And can you really envision him in the future? That's the thing. And in this squad can hammer him. Oh, he's probably thinking this guy's a liability man. It's, this is 10 years, 10 years. He spent half his career at this club but on the medical bench.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:22
OllieP
it's It's, it's not good.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:24
OllieP
It's not good at all.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not good.
00:14:25
OllieP
Um, big questions are going to be asked. I think at the end of the season. Um, the rejig is going to
Fixture Congestion and Its Impact on Football
00:14:31
OllieP
be needed. It really is like, is my last year going to be the the guy that we need? Is he injury prone as well?
00:14:37
OllieP
Um, but yeah, just lots of questions need to be asked. There really is. Cause it's, it's not good for the future. It really isn't.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, Molassu might be a little bit early to tell at the moment because he had that knee injury.
00:14:46
OllieP
Hmm.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had to have surgery on the knee. He's been out for, I think, over a year, fully out.
00:14:53
OllieP
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So he's now started to make his way back into the side. And I suppose after a year, you know, nearing a year out of football, if not exceeding a year out of football, you you take yourself a year out of any athletics whatsoever.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah you're going to struggle trying to get back into it. were Are you ever going to be the same player that you were physically? Because you know we saw Ronaldo and Nazario, R9 as he's more colloquially known, we lost a great striker thanks to knee injuries.
00:15:22
OllieP
Hmm.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, an explosive player up at the front and the recurring knee injuries that he had had to curtail his his career and and a star-studded career at that. He had the health issues later on down the line as well, which didn't help, but those knee injuries were the start of it.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when it comes to knee injuries, you know, if you have an ACL, if you rupture an ACL or anything to do with that knee, you know, you can, you can just shorten your career or at least shorten how physical player you are just in that instant.
00:15:49
OllieP
Yeah. It's fierce. You're constantly living in fear, aren't you, of just it happening again, a reoccurring injury.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:15:56
OllieP
And it's if that goes again, it's not just a hamstring, it's not a hamstring it not calf muscle injury. it This is something you're going to be out for another year with.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:16:04
OllieP
You just don't heal from these injuries that well. It ruined his career. Imagine the player he could have been if he didn't have these knee injuries and had to have this surgery.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:14
OllieP
um it's kind of terrifying to think how good he could have been injury free. It's incredible. just It's just amazing to get players like Messi and Ronaldo that we've got now, the obviously R9, how they've stayed injury free.
00:16:27
OllieP
It's incredible.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah
00:16:28
OllieP
And that's how they've had such an amazing career. But yeah, you just get and lucky players like that who, yeah, it's just demolished their career really. They're only playing at like 60, 70%. That's not what you want to see.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, every time you have a knee surgery, the knee gets weaker and weaker every single time.
00:16:41
OllieP
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you know again, how how often, and as you say, mentally, that holds you back.
00:16:49
OllieP
Yeah.
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's one of those. And yeah, it's it's a huge shame. I mean, I've got some numbers here about the the entire Premier League. This is so thanks to PremierInjuries.com. We're just having a look back here.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um United in the 23-24 season had 45 separate
Super League Criticism and Competition
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
injuries. Now that's not just 45 players injured, that is 45 injuries that happened across the squad. And when we look at how you know how many individual players were injured, we had 21, which is joint second in the Premier League, up there with Liverpool and Brighton.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is where that sort of theory comes undone about what's going on with our medical scene. I mean, I've said before and and the common knowledge is that Brighton is a well-run club, yet they're up there. 21 players injured last season.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool, 21 players injured last season. You know, it's not... I don't think it's a united problem. I think this is this is a football problem. Right now, you know these teams are playing more games than ever.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You look at City, for example, who are playing in the Club World Cup soon.
00:17:42
OllieP
Yeah.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's 60 plus games. You're nearing 70 games a season. And you know you might say, well, with me, you're on £200,000 a week. And that's a fair comment. But there's only so much the human body can take in in terms of elite football.
00:17:56
OllieP
Mm.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And these players are absolutely devoting themselves, their time, their effort. and their bodies to being professional footballers and you know you run the risk of players burning themselves out before they're even 30 at this rate.
00:18:10
OllieP
Yeah, that's it. And as well, people think games, it's not just games. These are training sessions as well. So you're talking like two training sessions either side of those games. So it's players getting up. They're not getting out. They're not getting that respite that they need. And the game's going to suffer as a result of it. It really is. I know we want to see football on the TV all the time. I know TV's huge. Like you say, 200K a week. But it doesn't matter. You can pay these players 500K a week. They are still human. They are going to break at some point.
00:18:37
OllieP
And it's just like the game is going to suffer. I'd rather see less games, higher quality. We're not going to see that. We're just going to see players getting angry and angrier, get more injured each week. And we're not going to see that quality.
00:18:48
OllieP
We're not going to see that explosiveness that we want to see. We're not going to see players taking the chance. So it is. It's down to the FA. yeah I guess you wait for whoever you want to call it. How greedy are they going to be? Are they just going to keep pushing these teams?
00:18:59
OllieP
Because I don't like them as it is.
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Yeah.
00:19:01
OllieP
I'm not going to. Sorry, guys.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're not making friends out here, Ollie, that's for sure.
00:19:04
OllieP
Yeah, ah no, I'm not making friends at all, but I want to see quality football and that's what the world wants to see. That's why the Premier League is what it is. It's huge because of the quality of football, but it's dwindling.
00:19:16
OllieP
It really is because we're not seeing those superstars out on the pitch as much as playing as well as we should.
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And we'll speak more about fixed your congestion and injuries and whatnot when we come back after this break.
00:19:36
OllieP
GSPN, yeah and the Global Sports Podcast Network, is changing the face of football podcasts. With dedicated daily podcasts 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. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:20:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just we were talking about how fixed congestion might be a thing, how Newcastle last season lost 1,900 days, thanks to injury. you know that's ah that's That's a lot of it, that's a lot of days.
00:20:16
OllieP
Love.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester United lost 1,600. You see this, Ollie? Unifi League. That's what we want. More games of football. Yes, this is the unlikely Christmas tradition, as reported by the Guardian, of A22 coming back and saying, look, we know you didn't like the European Super League, even though some teams were on board, but how about the Unifi League?
00:20:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it just seems like it's it's in different wrapping paper now.
00:20:35
OllieP
Oh word. It is. it's It's just different terminology, isn't it? Just sugarcoat a little bit, but it's still too many games. It's just over the over the Christmas season, how many games there are.
00:20:48
OllieP
And it's winter as well. It's not even like it's ah during the summer. these These are times when players are going to get the most injuries, when muscles aren't as warm and it's the pitch is different.
00:20:58
OllieP
It's what we're trying to do to these players. Honestly, it's incredible.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:02
OllieP
it' We're just not giving them a chance.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, though, as well.
00:21:03
OllieP
I know they're paid a fortune, but yeah, it's crazy.
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think as well, you know, this sort of spurs off the injury side, but this is, you know, an important conversation that we seem to be having yearly at this point, the idea of this Super League, and I am highly against it.
00:21:17
OllieP
I am.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and one of the reasons being is that, well, you have all these leagues in these different countries, you have this Super League already, it's called the Champions League, it's called the Europa League, it's called the Conference League.
00:21:26
OllieP
Yeah.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, this is where these teams who get to the top of their leagues decide to face off against each other.
00:21:27
OllieP
Yeah.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you keep having Barcelona vs Manchester United and Barcelona vs Real Madrid season after season. Would that not get a bit boring?
00:21:41
OllieP
The magic's gone. Exactly. We look forward to these. I love a stat where it's just like yeah Manchester United not faced Barcelona since 2013. It's a great stat, isn't it? It makes it more exciting. But if you know they're going to be playing each other like we do in the Premier League, it's not like we're going to be playing West Ham every season.
00:21:55
OllieP
It's boring. You want that excitement. You'd be like, oh my god, a trip away to Real Madrid. We're not seeing them in ages. It brings that excitement. It makes it more special.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:05
OllieP
And it's just trying to take the speciality away from it. And and the game is going to suffer ah as a result of it, it really will.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just becomes top heavy, doesn't it? that's that's the That's the real issue.
00:22:14
OllieP
Yeah, yeah.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, all of these teams that are starting to get somewhere, i.e. Brighton, who, you know, i I say them more than once on every podcast, apparently. They live rent free in my head, but they are they are very well run.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're doing a brilliant job. they They have a fantastic recruitment program.
00:22:30
OllieP
Yeah, amazing.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know and You've got the likes of um Corona as well. Now take take it or leave it that they are part of the Citigroup, but they're a team that's on the rise. and you know you you still yeah I think the whole point of the Super League is to try and get away and break away from everyone else when actually the whole reason why we watch football is because of a Leicester season.
00:22:50
OllieP
Yeah.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
The whole reason we get behind football is because once every so often and something strange will happen.
00:22:56
OllieP
Yeah.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you won't get that with the Super League, but with the Premier League, you have the 15-16 season where Leicester City won it at a thousand to one odds.
00:23:04
OllieP
Yeah.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you won't get a season like that again. You had to be there.
00:23:07
OllieP
It
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
Injury Management in Football
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
who cares if it was, oh, it was one of the lowest point scoring seasons of the Premier League. I don't care. I really don't care. It was it.
00:23:13
OllieP
was magic.
00:23:15
OllieP
We love. Yeah.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Olly, it was magic. Absolutely right.
00:23:18
OllieP
It was, we we love an underdog story, don't we? And that's what everyone wants. we Obviously, you want your team to win if your team's up there with the best. Obviously, it's all good. But ever if you're a football fan in in your heart, you want a bit of magic, don't you? You want something special. You want to know that there's a chance of an underdog story. And that's what it was. That's what Lester was. And yeah, the whole Super League thing, it will destroy all of that. And it will just take away the magic of football, which it's it's kind of pointless watching then otherwise.
00:23:45
OllieP
So yeah, we need to make sure that this is kept far out of the way, far out of the reaches and just stop these greedy people just trying to steal our game.
00:23:55
OllieP
It really is.
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I was disappointed was not the word when I heard Manchester United were, you know, looking at the Super League last year.
00:24:02
OllieP
Yeah.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I was a distraught is also not the word. I think it was disgusted when I heard that United were interested in it.
00:24:07
OllieP
Hmm.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's as you say, it would lose the magic. It would be a wholly money driven situation.
00:24:14
OllieP
Yeah, great.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And even and even though the money would be coming together, you still have them, you know, season ticket, all the money and tickets themselves going up and up and up and up.
00:24:23
OllieP
Yeah, it doesn't stop.
00:24:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they happen year after year. um So yeah, with money and injuries, who who'd have thunk these would be the two problems in football. um But yeah, I think going back to what we were saying about the injuries and how many games that players are having to play as well. You say play fewer games seems like a really simple solution but When you have to weigh it up, how much of it is there are too many games and how much of it is you're suffering from your own success?
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, where do you draw the line of saying like you're, if you're a successful team, you're probably expected to have 50, 60 games a season because when you look at the championship, I mean, that is a 46 game season.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
item I had to do some math there.
00:25:02
OllieP
yeah lot of games
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a 46 game season and that's just the league.
00:25:06
OllieP
ye
00:25:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Never mind the FA Cup and League Cup that they compete in as well. You're looking at 50 plus games even if you're a championship team. So where do you draw the line between sort of, you know, are you suffering from success or is it just simply too many games?
00:25:19
OllieP
I think a bit of both, isn't it, really? it's sir you do want to You do want to be in all these competitions. You you want to win all the cups as well. That's it. And you have to play all these games. But somebody's got to give. It really has. It's what's more important. It's it's bad to say, isn't it? Obviously, the the lesser cut, I'd like to see it's not playing in the League Cup.
00:25:39
OllieP
It's just extra injuries. That's all I ever see when I i think of the League Cup. I'm like, that's just another opportunity for another injury, which is bad. It really is bad. But there is just too many games and it's it's all for us. It you seems to be all clustered around the same sort of time as well. And that's just when we pick up all these injuries and it all just goes wrong for us. So, yeah, we are a victim. You can be a victim of shes of of success. Sorry. And yeah, there are just too many games. So it's difficult. It's difficult difficult at one to call.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And, I mean, the list which we were going through doesn't include ah Molassia because they were injured before the start of the campaign. So even without that um tora ah Molassia's injury, it's still a case of 1600 days lost in total.
00:26:18
OllieP
Hmm. Yeah.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I mean, it Looking at United here, this isn't a United problem. This is a league problem. this is Compared to 2022-23, recorded by the PremierInjuries.com website, there was 19% uptick of total injuries lost, or total days lost to injuries, and there was an uptick of hamstring injuries as well. i mean Is that not probably saying that maybe this isn't a United issue,
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the fact that this is probably a Premier League and and by a broader stretch of football issue.
00:26:58
OllieP
Yeah, it's got to be. um I didn't realize those numbers. i I thought we were up there.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Neither did I.
00:27:02
OllieP
I thought we were just way ahead.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It felt like it, didn't it?
00:27:05
OllieP
what The one area where we were just really just like flying around the league. I thought that was us. But obviously not. Like Newcastle, you wouldn't really think about them that much, would you? Like sustaining that many injuries.
00:27:16
OllieP
um But yeah, obviously it's all across the board.
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:27:19
OllieP
These players just can't take it. they Their bodies cannot hack this. So something needs to be addressed. Obviously there needs to be some sort of ah think tank group that comes together to say like right our players cannot sustain this it's not sustainable for the future uh what do we do next what do we do next
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean the premier injuries, ah Ben Dinnery said that the biggest red flag with injuries is fatigue. With fatigue you'll find until your body reaches the breaking point and then you have a
Need for Independent Medical Oversight?
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
problem. I mean 18% actually that was in the rise of hamstring injuries compared to 22-23. Many players suffered more than one injury according to their findings.
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the total number of injuries for the 23-24 season rose by 11% compared to last season, which had a winter World Cup as well. So you can't even use the argument of, oh, by the way, there was a World Cup halfway through that through our season.
00:28:05
OllieP
Wow.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even that couldn't tip the scales in the fact that there were more injuries last season than the season before and I don't know I haven't really kept up with the numbers of this season but if things keep going the way they are soon we're going to have to be relying on youth players more and more which I suppose for you United is not a bad thing but it's not a great thing that we can't really field a strong 11 and no one can.
00:28:23
OllieP
Yeah. Hmm.
00:28:28
OllieP
Yeah, exactly. And it's, yeah, exactly. And it's squads are going to have to get bigger, aren't they? They're going to have to get bigger. And that just means that the quality of the football is just going to dwindle. It really is. Cause obviously you're going to have to bring in youth players all the time.
00:28:41
OllieP
Uh, people that aren't playing week in week out. So the quality is going to show. So this something has to give. It really does. Um, I just hope there's some common sense at the top.
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:51
OllieP
You just hope you really do. There's not much at the moment, but you hope there will be some of some. point Yeah.
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Juries out on that one. I mean, i mean the injuries are not a new thing, obviously. you know We've lost some great talents and have some curtailed injuries and careers thanks to injuries. Owen Hargreaves with his, I think it was knee tendonitis, wasn't it?
00:29:09
OllieP
Yeah.
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
We played for United, Wes Brown, Phil Jones, Marcus Rocco. I mean, they're all good players. I mean, Owen Hargreaves, fantastic player, proved it at the likes of Bayern Munich.
00:29:16
OllieP
Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know that knee injury that he had really stifled what You know what career he could have made at Manchester United was a real shame to see and he was a top quality player You know, they're not a new thing injuries, but the fact that they're becoming more of an issue, you know, I mean you had Yeah, I mean look um not to mention Tottenham because we've got them uh coming up soon in the league cup But ledley king, you know ah The common thing is he played without any knees.
00:29:34
OllieP
Yeah. Especially at Els as well.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He wasn't able to train and yet he's just a fantastic defender So, you know, I think
00:29:47
OllieP
Yeah.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
do we look back at a rose-tinted glass and say, oh, there were fewer injuries 20 years ago? But I think actually when it comes to it, you know I think you had more concussions back then, you know especially with 30, 40 years ago when it wasn't properly understood, even maybe 10 years ago, when concussions weren't properly understood.
00:30:02
OllieP
yeah
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now we've brought in the measures to you know have the concussion substitution, if need be. you know I think now you, well, they should be pushing, if not already, an independent medic.
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you have the medical teams from both teams, but you need someone who is completely neutral to step in and say, no, this player cannot play. Or yes, this player is fine to play.
00:30:27
OllieP
Yeah.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the approaches to injuries have got better, but it doesn't help the fact the injuries keep stockpiling and and they're getting more and more time lost for every team.
00:30:36
OllieP
Yeah. Well, frequent. That's what it is. It's the frequency of these injuries. There's always going to be, there's always going to be an ACL injury. You're all going to get someone with concussion, but it is, it's just the shit numbers.
00:30:49
OllieP
That's, that's the worrying thing. And it's, yeah, like you said, that there needs to be an independent body that steps in and just says, right, this, this can't carry on. This has to change. Something's gone wrong here.
00:30:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, I think, yeah, I think that's more, I was sort of saying concussion wise, because you can play on with it, like you, we've seen managers and players in the past want to play on because, or thanks to a concussion, you know, it's widely regarded that maybe Carius in the Champions League final was suffering from a concussion.
00:30:59
OllieP
Um, and how do we rectify it?
00:31:05
OllieP
Hmm.
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
during that final. Now, i haven't I can't remember the exact workings and the exact lookings into it, but if that were to be true, and that is a big if that were to be true, and that's an example of a concussion not being properly diagnosed by the medical team.
00:31:31
OllieP
Yeah.
00:31:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so at that point, I think you need someone to step in.
00:31:35
OllieP
Yeah.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think where you sort of lie on, well, that should be the result of all the responsibility of your sports scientists and your medical team and the physios to keep on top of that.
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So how much do you leave it to competition and how much do you say actually injuries are a real problem ah around Europe right now?
00:31:53
OllieP
Yeah, that's it.
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a tough one.
00:31:55
OllieP
It is.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we'll leave that for for all you to have a think about at home.
00:31:58
OllieP
It and Why not at all?
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and How much of this is down to the league? How much of it is down to Manchester United? Because you've heard the numbers. We're not alone in this issue. So we need to have a rethink about blaming Carrington because apparently it's ah it seems to be a league wide issue, it's easy for me to say.
00:32:09
OllieP
to
00:32:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Ali, it was fantastic to share a microphone with you again.
00:32:17
OllieP
I know it was very
Podcast Conclusion
00:32:18
OllieP
good. Yeah. It's been quite emotional, quite a bit of a shock actually with the Rashford news. But yeah, I think we've covered it well and hopefully we'll hear a lot more tomorrow because it is. It's very interesting time, isn't it?
00:32:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
hopefully, hopefully indeed. Well, hopefully you've enjoyed today's podcast.
00:32:30
OllieP
and
00:32:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Hopefully we've not tired you. I hope you're not ruled out ah for the next game upcoming. Yes, I think you've heard by now, well, I've already mentioned it a couple of times, we do have Tottenham away for the league quarterfinal.
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wonder if Niall's going there. I can't remember what he said last night, Ollie, but I said to him it's some sort of self-fulfilling prophecy that he yeah keeps going to that stadium.
00:32:47
OllieP
no
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, eventually, hopefully he'll go there and he'll see United victory, eh?
00:32:55
OllieP
Yeah, mate, we need it. We really do. hate me
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
We do. We so need it. Well, hopefully you've enjoyed today's podcast. Enjoy the rest of your day for myself Kieran and from Oli on the other side.
00:33:05
OllieP
ah Okay, guys.
00:33:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been a pleasure. Take care. We'll speak to you soon.