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Daily Manchester United - Episode 164 - Part 2 of the Players that Could Have Been
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Kieran and Cormac jump on today’s episode to bring you more player names we feel missed the mark, circumstances changes, or maybe we felt so much was left on the table. Let us know on our socials who we missed!
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. Once again, well, you're hearing us on a Sunday. I know, how bizarre, but we're here to sort of ease the woes. I mean, I heard what Cormac was hosting earlier on in the week on his wildcard Wednesday on a Thursday. Love that, love that, by the way, Cormac.
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I thought, that's a great idea. Let's steal it and carry on with it. My name is Kieran and Cormac, wouldn't be right to not include him in this one, is joining me as well.
Discussion on Anderson
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cormac, welcome along. How are you doing?
00:00:39
Cormac
No, doing good. I think we left out a few names the other day. i'm So excited to to talk about more players. We thought we're going to be a lot better than they turned out to be. So, yeah.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i was I was listening to it and there were a couple of names that I was not quite screaming when i when I was listening to the episode out, but they were definitely on my mind and thought, right, no, we need to but need more of this. We need more time to dive in into this.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'll do the honourable thing, Cormac. I'll let you go first because this was your idea and it would feel wrong to steal your thunder on it.
00:01:13
Cormac
first player i'll talk about tonight this guy um i'll give his name first anderson um he didn't have a bad career at all he united you know won a lot of titles and stuff um but i think you know he paid 20 million pounds from as 19 20 year old and then went on to win the Golden Boy Award and you look at, you know, players who won the Golden Boy Award, like, I feel like he just should have had a lot better career at United, even his career in general, because he left your United, as you know, at the age of 27 and then just went to Brazil and he kind of, you know, faltered out there. I remember there famous clip of him fighting a teammate in a training down there and it just seemed like it wasn't working out at all for him and he ended up retiring at age 32, which...
00:01:53
Cormac
you know, he could have went a lot longer. I think issues with his body maybe and, you know, off the field issues. But, you know, at United, he had 105 appearances in the league, six goals, you know, put in a good shift and he was instrumental. You know, I'll never forget his goal in the Champions League final, the penalty.
00:02:10
Cormac
um You know what? I think he roofed the top ins. think he went like sixth or something. and So, um yeah, he he was a solid player at United, but I just think he should have done a lot better given the accolades he was winning when he was younger.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, to be fair, ah you you said as well that he's got a lot of accolades to him. I mean, it's one of the great Ferguson sides that won, you know, in the one of the Ferguson's last season, about his last season, and alongside Cleverley for some of the season as well. And that goes down as a midfield that it was just a case of it just performing out of its skin in that season.
00:02:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I seem to remember, was it Anderson? think it have been in Brazil when he went back. There was a clip of him, I remember, a few years ago, way back now. where he he had to be given oxygen in one of the matches. is Am i rick am i remembering that right? Am I going mad?
00:02:59
Cormac
I mean, I wouldn't be surprised at all because he looked so out of shape when he playing Brazil. Yeah,
00:03:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
but yeah Again, he did struggle with injury, though, as well, in his in his career.
00:03:07
Cormac
no, he did have injured it.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, I think as a squad player for United, I don't think he was that bad at all. I think he did his job and helped rotate the side to to help us win plenty of titles. But...
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get what you mean, though. You expect more from a Golden Boy, but I think we'll find out later on that someone who's the Golden Boy, maybe it's a title that's given just a little bit tad too soon.
Mkhitaryan and High Expectations
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure maybe we'll come on to that later. But yeah, I think, how much was it? 20 million, did you say?
00:03:34
Cormac
20 yeah we paid 20 million back in what seven seven oh yeah no it's back then especially for i think he spent one year in porto um yeah back then that's a lot of money to spend on a teenager
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's no chunk of change.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, it is. Yeah. 20 million now doesn't get you a lot in the in the ah in the modern transfer window.
00:03:51
Cormac
oh
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So thinking about 20 million now, I don't know how that translates to 20 years ago money, but it's a lot more it's a lot more value now.
00:04:01
Cormac
Definitely.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would probably say it's around about your 60, 70 million, probably what we're playing for Cunha for a player. So yeah, not cheap. But I think he did what he was supposed to do, did a job.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we can be happy with that.
00:04:14
Cormac
definitely
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, definitely more potential. I'm going to keep it in the midfield because this was a player we brought in big money for Borussia Dortmund.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, €42 million euros i should say should have done a lot better. And that's Mkhitaryan. I mean, he's great player. Don't get me wrong, absolutely fantastic player. But it didn't click. you know It just did not click. He had a couple of good games here and there. I'm i'm trying to remember um how it all went for him. But from what i remember...
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah date it wasn't that great. I mean, he then got himself a transfer to Arsenal. I think it was, he did better at Arsenal than it did at United for sure. But both times, both his stints in England, I think were underwhelming.
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the word I would use, especially for 42 million euros. I expect a lot more from someone who, to not use a Micah Richards, ah Michael Richards' line, but it really did burst onto the scene um when he came to the access Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund and expected a lot more from him.
00:05:22
Cormac
Yeah, no, 100% agree. I remember that transfer window. I think we brought in Pogba, Ibra, Bailly and him and honestly I thought he was the best sign out of them all because I'm pretty sure he was coming off the back of winning Bundesliga player of the year I think he had like something like 50 goals and assists or something crazy like had a ah phenomenal year there and yeah you're really thinking he'd be the playmaker in our team and yeah just didn't really pan out from didn't have the only memorable moments I can think of was the scorpion kick he scored and then also the um
00:05:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:54
Cormac
He scored a goal as well in the Europa League final when we beat Ajax. But yeah, he didn't really yeah live up to expectations at all. he He should have been a lot better at you know than what he was.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
What, the scorpion kick? That may or may not have been offside.
00:06:08
Cormac
No ver, so he counts.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
True. very
00:06:11
Cormac
Yeah.
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's coming back to bite us now, but true. No VAR back then. Yeah, for United, 39 appearances in the Premier League. Five goals, six assists. ah You know, 11 goal contributions in 39 games. I know its you know modern football is very stat heavy, but I think even 10 years ago, we were in looking at stats and thinking, you expect more from someone like Mkhitaryan. So I think I'll put him forward as a slightly big money signing for 10 years ago.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
As you say as well, in that big, massive transfer window, we've brought
Exploring Nick Powell's Career
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
in so much talent. I just think Mkhitaryan was little bit underwhelming. And I know Di Maria got mentioned in the in one of the previous episodes about being slightly underwhelming.
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think I'd rank them both kind of together. I'd group those two together because they were okay, but for the money we paid for them, should have got a lot better from them.
00:07:00
Cormac
No, 100% agreed. up
00:07:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to hand it over to you now.
00:07:03
Cormac
Yeah, I'll go next player.
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll go back and forth now.
00:07:05
Cormac
Yeah, yeah, back and forth. OK. Yeah, next player I'm going to go with is Nick Powell. um
00:07:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:07:12
Cormac
Yeah, this is going a bit back, but didn't play too much United, but we paid £6 million pounds for a League 2 player, which you know is still kind of unheard of you know these days. The only other one I can think of, and it wasn't even League 2, was Dele Alli when he was at MK Dans.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:27
Cormac
But, I mean, yeah, Nick Powell... He only had three appearances, one goal in the Prem for us. And, you know, on his whole career, basically, just mostly played a championship, League One, League Two. But think, you know, the hype and, you know, what Ferguson i'd be able to was doing with youngsters back then, um I just expected a lot more from him. And he was kind of such an emerging English talent, especially with that price tag on him from a young age. And,
00:07:51
Cormac
Yeah, you you kind of thought he could be, you know, a future key midfielder for us. But, I mean, yeah, it just didn't work out for him at all. And, um yeah, just ended up having a pretty unremarkable career overall.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
it feels harsh when you have to say that unremarkable career when we're behind a feels a little harsh. But in terms of professional footballer, when massive move for your career.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And maybe that maybe that weight of expectation does have ah have a role it. But yeah, you're right. I do remember there was a lot of buzz around Nick Powell. There was a lot of buzz about whether he should be you know playing as an attacking midfielder or maybe playing up top.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
a He could have done both. But yeah, I feel like maybe it was it was falling into the trap of seeing potential early and you know being suckered into it. And actually, maybe that was...
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Not necessarily the peak of the powers, but adding on that added pressure and adding on that weight of a huge transfer value for where the player came from, maybe maybe contribute to that.
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, i I would say could have, maybe should have done better, definitely had the potential to do better, which is
Joshua King's Success
00:09:12
Cormac
Agreed. Yeah. No, it is.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is sad, I think.
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It feels like missed opportunities when that happens. And I think a a massive missed opportunity um is Joshua King. Now, he was at United. but got him in from Valorenga in Norway and yeah got into the under-18s, was marinating quite nicely, went on a couple of loans as well to Borussia Mönchengladbach, to Hull City, um but never really got a chance in Manchester United. Deemed not good enough, was transferred and had stints at the likes of Bournemouth,
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
at Everton, at Watford. All in all, 204 appearances in the Premier League, 53 goals, 17 assists. That's a decent Premier League player are we let go there.
00:09:56
Cormac
Yeah, no, I mean...
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe it's not a case of didn't live up to their potential, but United missed a good utility player, a good squad player there for sure.
00:10:05
Cormac
No, absolutely. Those stats kind of shocked me, to be honest. 54 goals in the Premiers, I didn't think that at all. and
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:11
Cormac
But yeah, no, he's... I mean, yeah, i would have seen him get much more of a chance. He was a bit of a FIFA legend too back in the day. He had that pace. um and But yeah, no, it's a shame. I feel like, you know, kind of then as well, strikers, we were kind of, you know, we got Falcao on the lawn the one season. And I feel like that was a period where we could have used, you know, a striker like that. um yeah Young coming through, pace, you know, and as it showed, he'd done well in the Prems. So he could have, I imagine, done something for us, squad player even.
00:10:42
Cormac
um But yeah, just another youngster who left us and went on to do better things.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Much better things, yeah. and you know Joshua King and Bournemouth are now synonymous with each other.
00:10:53
Cormac
Yeah.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's how good he was for them. Currently plays his football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Khalish. So he's 33 now and obviously enjoying the sort of the twilight of his career as maybe looks to wind down. But yeah,
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great stints at Bournemouth. had stints Everton and Watford. Fernabache to lose. So, you know, very much a decent player that we we let slip through the ranks.
James Wilson: A Decline
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, we'll have much more players. Many more players, I'm sure.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wonder who Cormac's got hiding there.
00:11:22
Cormac
Thank you.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll be back with more players after this.
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look out, it's Cormac. He's got another player on the ranks.
00:12:23
Cormac
Yeah, this one is going to be James Wilson. And, you know, funnily enough, when you think of that Aon kid with the black collar, he's actually one of the first players I think of when I picture that.
00:12:34
Cormac
But no, I thought he was going to be a a lot better. He scored two goals in his premium debut versus Hull. I mean, you know, was following the ranks of other youngsters with a game like that in his debut. And he really just, you know, didn't.
00:12:48
Cormac
played that much for United. He had 15 appearances, three goals, and, you know, it's not great at all. And then, unfortunately, when we had the manager, Mary, go around, Van Gaal came in and he just kind of fell out favour with him. And then, I think, his career, he didn't play in the Prem again, and it was just kind of, yeah, Championship, League One stuff. I believe he's still in League One right now. um But, you know, just a start, he had a United young player coming through.
00:13:13
Cormac
bit similar how Rashford started, obviously, his career went ah another way, but, I really did think back then, especially after the two goals of his debut, like we had found a star in the making. Unfortunately, ah as the tale goes, it didn't work out for him at Old Trafford.
Federico Makeda's Memorable Goal
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and again, you know, watching on hindsight being twenty twenty James Wilson coming onto the scene, as you say, just dropping a brace like it's nothing.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great. He's already off to a great start. um But yeah, felt like one of those stories where it could be ah we could actually have a strike come through the academy and lead us to great things. And yeah, again, just maybe one of those where was the was the pressure on too early?
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think this is... Well, some players from the academy in Carrington absolutely took to the water like it was nothing. You know, Rashford and Kobi Maynou being recent great examples.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you You have James Wilson, who, by all accounts, is a good, a decent professional player, would certainly run rings around me at any point.
00:14:15
Cormac
Thanks.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is why I have to keep saying that although we're we're attacking these players, they could absolutely thwomp us in and any park at any point.
00:14:17
Cormac
like
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in terms of the standard of Manchester United... started off so promising and just, it didn't, it didn't stick. And kind of one of those, again, what could have been, but I guess, yeah, that's another one for the history was, yeah, James Wilson. I remember him as well. on You brought up FIFA, I'm going to bring it up too. I do remember he had a decent potential one as well.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm pretty sure he was like mid seventies, low seventies. So he was tipped for, you know, Premier League success. um But hey, that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. I'm also going to bring on a player,
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
who absolutely did the unthinkable on a debut. And then just sort of, that was that was the peak. And that's sir Federico Makeda. The Villa goal...
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
goes up there as one of the all-time great last-minute goals. He went on to score another three for Manchester United before he moved on. I mean, what a way to sort of announce yourself onto the seed. After that, he went to, i think it was QPR on loan. He went to Stuttgart as well on loan. Quite a few loan transfers in there.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But bearing in mind, he scored that goal in 2009. He was still contracted to Manchester United by the season. thirteen fourteen season So, you know, got a bit of a chance, got quite a few loan moves in there and yeah, just didn't quite stick for him in English football, it seems. But he's having a great time out in Greece at the moment. and
00:15:47
Cormac
Yeah, no, I'm a kid. I mean, you said it, that Villa goal, that's something I'll never forget. You know, I often go on YouTube and just reminisce looking at that goal. But I mean, yeah, what a moment from 17, just getting thrown in there in a 2-2 match or even being 2-1 at that point when we were losing. and um But yeah, just that that turn he'd done was just world class. And then just, I believe Brad Friedle was in goal for Villa, just curled it right past him, cornering.
00:16:13
Cormac
yeah i'll never forget him running over his dad in the crowd and just going over to celebrate with him and yeah you know really again as we've said thought we found a stare there um but yeah no just such lackluster after that and he's really one when you think of whatever happened to him that comes to mind because he just kind of in a way just fell off the face of earth like know unless you had brought that up i wouldn't have known he was in greece nowadays to be honest um
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:39
Cormac
um But no, yeah, what what a moment he gave us. And yeah, it's it's disappointing it didn't work out for him.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah ah Yeah, how can you score a goal like that and then just fade away?
Alexander Buttner's Brief Success
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, come on, that's not fair. No footballer deserves that, but certainly announced himself onto the seed and scored one of the most unforgettable goals in the Premier League.
00:16:54
Cormac
No.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so maybe in that sense, maybe we'll never forget him purely because of that. So yeah, I had to get Makeda in there because that was one name I was absolutely screaming in there being like, come on, someone say Makeda.
00:17:09
Cormac
yeah
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so all I had to say it.
00:17:12
Cormac
yeah
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. That's me now.
00:17:15
Cormac
all right i'll move on to the next slide then um this guy probably forgot a lot by united fans and that is um the dutch left back alexander butner um came in 20 season um and yeah i remember his debut would be wigan 4-0 and he had a goal and an assist from left back i mean like
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's
00:17:37
Cormac
as a left back doing that in your debut like you're only thinking that what a player we found um but it just didn't really work out again he had 13 appearances two goals in the prem for us and then it was you know the managers again come in Moyes came in and he just fell out with him really Moyes put Evra kind of back at the forefront and it's a shame because I thought he was going to be a great replacement for Evra um who was kind of on the way out um you know maybe 13-14 season and Butler looked pacey, looked dangerous you know down that left-hand side. um
00:18:10
Cormac
He was there, I think, only year and a half, maybe. I just didn't see enough of him. It just didn't work out again, as a lot of these players didn't.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got a theme here, the players that just burst onto the scene and then that that's it.
00:18:23
Cormac
Yeah. yeah
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It's really sad about that. No, i i Butner as well, when I was growing up on those FIFAs again, here it comes, it comes back again. They they call it EAFC now.
00:18:36
Cormac
mm-hmm
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was ah he was a silver warrior. I remember that. 73 rated, I think he was, if i if memory serves me well. But yeah, also one of those in in career modes that I did, I was back, but now, you know, i thought, yeah, this is it.
Anthony Martial's Potential
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to be great.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going amazing. And yeah, as you say, just didn't click, didn't click after a few chances, but I think, yeah, we're getting a pattern here. Those that but those that burst onto the scene,
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
all of a sudden, you know, later down the line, next get next few games, it just doesn't quite work out for them. Maybe, maybe is that we're spotting a pattern here, Kormak.
00:19:11
Cormac
Yeah, I think so.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe, maybe this is a lesson in not to get your hopes up too high.
00:19:14
Cormac
Yeah, yeah. haven't learned now yet.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes Oh dear. But yeah, I mean, again, player of what could have been, especially with you know scoring a goal and getting an assist on debut. It's it's sort of like your modern day wing-back where you've got to be the athletic force down the wing that now Manchester United has.
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey, look, maybe Butner was 10 years too early, Manchester United. Oh, well, there we go. I'm going to bring on a player who I'm i'm debating this.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am debating this, whether to mention him. But I think I'm going to mention him because of the hype and you know the the the ceiling. The sky was the limit.
00:19:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Anthony Martial. And while the stats show that he was a decent Premier League player, 209 appearances in the Premier League, 63 goals, 33 assists, that's not bad.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not bad whatsoever. But the promise, another Golden Boy winner, you know, ah the Ballon d'Or clause that we had to pay to AS Monaco, if he won it.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So much promise. And didn't hit it. And i wonder, you know, where where the injuries lie in this, you know, his his fitness, unfortunately. i think questions were raised about his attitude as well.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think whilst he was a decent, those were decent stats, it could have and should have been so much more.
00:20:43
Cormac
No, absolutely. i mean, you know, we talked about the starts these players have had, we've discussed and I mean, yeah, but another moment, never forget coming on against Liverpool and scoring that goal and the famous Marcia, like commentary line.
00:20:57
Cormac
um But yeah, no, Sarah Graham, even then, I remember in the next match, we played Southampton away and he, I believe he scored two goals. For one of them, he absolutely dropped Van Dijk when Van Dijk was at Southampton.
00:21:08
Cormac
And yeah, he just, honestly, that season, like he was nearly our best player, I'd say. He was just such a threat. And I think that honestly was his best season. I know, I think, was it around the 20, 21 season, maybe? He had another really good year. But, you know, in between that, he kind yeah, dropped off a bit. And there was a lot of times watching him, you just thought he looked...
00:21:27
Cormac
he didn't have any confidence in himself, which if you look back at that first season, you know, especially like that Liverpool goal, he would drive at players, you know, he'd cause problems and it seemed like he just kind of lost that on the way. But, you know, as you said, a Golden Boy winner, the clause in the contract, the sky was the limit for him. And, you know, he had so much hype. There was few comparisons with Thierry Henry at a time.
00:21:49
Cormac
um and yeah, a bit like Anderson, had I had a solid career at United, but ultimately... it should have been a lot better given the hype that sounded them early on.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
if we remember him for one thing, is the isolated skirtle there.
00:22:02
Cormac
Yeah.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know the next two words without me having to say. And whilst you recite that excellent Martin Tyler line, we'll be back after this quick short break. When we come back, what do you reckon, call back two more players each?
00:22:14
Cormac
Sounds good.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's do it. We'll join you after this.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
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Radamel Falcao's Challenges
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Cormac, your penultimate player. Who have you got?
00:23:02
Cormac
Yeah, I'm going to go with, I mentioned him earlier, Radamel Falcao. um
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh.
00:23:07
Cormac
Yeah, I came in on that loan spell when we had Van Gaal. And yeah, you know, just go on. base off you know him before coming to united he was honestly like one of the world's best strikers um you know he was absolutely phenomenal and then he came to an united and it was honestly just it was such an awful spell um you know he scored the odd goal here and there but i think we expected a lot lot more from him and um it's a shame because then he left um you know and then went to manaco and at manaco he was showing glimpses as the player we thought he was gonna be i'll
00:23:39
Cormac
Never forget that chip he had against City in the Champions League. um was just such a class player. But for whatever reason, at United, it just didn't work for him. I don't know, was it Van Gaal's system just wasn't really there for him or was it that couldn't adjust to the Premier League? but um No, he was a ah really, really big name. We got on that loan move and he just ultimately didn't live up to the hype at all.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, El Tigre, he was, wasn't he he? I think he was at Monaco before he came to Manchester United. I think his was a career that was ravaged by injuries because at Lettico, he was phenomenal. At Monaco, he was phenomenal.
00:24:13
Cormac
Mm-hmm.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at some point in Monaco, he had ah i think it was a major injury of some sort. I do remember. It might have been a knee injury, but I'll have to i'll have to look that up. But that was one of the major factors as to what happened. And sort of like this explosive player...
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah you know An explosive player like we found out with Ronaldo Nazario, you have couple of knee injuries and that's going affect the way you have to play. You can't rely on the bursting play that you can do, that you need the knees to do.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And yet, if there's one thing that we can all consolidate from is that... Chelsea seem to copy whatever United do and it somehow ends up worse. Because I remember Chelsea loaned Falcao after we had loaned Falcao the first time around.
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Chelsea must have seen something that nobody else did. and he went there and scored a fewer goals ah for Chelsea than he did for Manchester United. So all's well that ends well. But yeah...
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's a career as well that was absolutely amazing. But yeah, cruelly, cruelly by injury. Just never happened again. It was it was sad
00:25:22
Cormac
Oh yeah, definitely.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to to check that. But you you can all tell me in the comments how wrong I am. But what a player he was. What a player he was. um What a player this one could have been as well. Again, one of those that came in with a lot of promise. and And maybe the move away from United in the end is what saved his own career.
Memphis Depay's Turnaround
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because he had good stints at Lyon, but an amazing stint at Barcelona. Any ideas, Kormac?
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:25:53
Cormac
My one's in on blank now. I should i should know this one.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll put you out your misery. It's Memphis Depay.
00:25:58
Cormac
Oh, right.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, yeah, um again coming in from PSV, €34 million, euros ah promised so much promise about him, a very tricky winger, able to just change the game on the turn of ah of a penny.
00:26:00
Cormac
Yes, that's a great shout.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just absolute, so much flair about him, so much about him that was so great. But it was almost as if it it was kind of stifled that he had to fit into a system. And it was only when he broke away from Manchester United that he turned into the player that he would eventually be. and And in some cases as well, leading the line for the Netherlands as well. So, you know, there's there's all this case of we play him on the wing. And then when he went to the likes of Barcelona and towards the end of his stint to Barcelona, when he was appearing in the Netherlands, starting up top for the Dutch and doing quite a good job as well.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think, you know, but What might have been for Memphis? And there's a whole range of factors as to what happened there. But that's a name I thought I needed in there because a lot of promise.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But once again, nothing to show in terms of, you know, you know I guess memories is the word I'm going to use.
00:27:05
Cormac
Yeah. No, yeah, i mean, Depay was, yeah, that was a great show. I completely forgot about him. But yeah, having the number seven jersey and all the hype that goes around, yeah.
00:27:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it.
00:27:15
Cormac
um with that number. um Yeah, no, I thought he was going to be a lot better. And to be fair, like after, as you said, moving on, he's done well for himself, um you know, for the Dutch team and Euros. I thought he was phenomenal for them.
00:27:28
Cormac
And yeah, it's just, he showed it so much promise at the start, I think. But yeah, ultimately just didn't live up to that price tag. And um yeah, another one that just didn't work out at United. Yeah.
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, ah yeah. 53 appearances for Depay, for Manchester United, and I believe in all competitions. Seven goals, five appearances. Compare that to his stint directly after that at Lyon.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
178 appearances, 76 goals, assists.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, Memphis. I wasn't familiar with your game.
00:28:01
Cormac
Yeah.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But yeah, then had the stint at Barcelona. 42 games, 14 appearances, 2 assists. A decent player for Barcelona, especially at the time they were going through financial crises were coming out of their ears at that point.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, that's a player who had high promise. Should have been a better player, should have had a better career at Manchester
Morgan Schneiderlin's Underperformance
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
United. Goes to Lyon and shows us what we could have had. Here's what you could have won, said Memphis. But there we go.
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cormac, your final player.
00:28:32
Cormac
Yeah, I was thinking there's a few players that go along with, it but I'm going to mention this guy, Morgan Schneiderlin.
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh, OK, OK.
00:28:39
Cormac
um Yeah, yeah. You know, when Southampton got promoted, I think it was back around season. tarine season um You know, they had all those breakthrough players, um you know, Van Dijk, Lallana, Ricky Lambert, but Schneiderlin was so good for them.
00:28:55
Cormac
And then I think we ended, was it like 25 million or something we paid from 30 million? It wasn't a cheap price tag at all. And, you know, I really thought we had found, like, our defensive midfielder right there.
00:29:06
Cormac
um I believe Van Gaal signed him. um But, again, I don't know if the system didn't work for him, but he was pretty unrememberable that United never really seemed to show what he had at Southampton and just kind of fizzled out, really.
00:29:19
Cormac
And then i think we sold him off back to Everton for, like, 15 million or something.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:29:23
Cormac
Maybe i might be getting that wrong. Yeah. But yeah, he was one I thought coming in, he had good size in midfield. um Just based off seeing him at Southampton that year, thought he was phenomenal and thought he was going to change in midfield. And yeah, it was pretty standard, pretty poor, to be honest with you.
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, again, that's that's one that's just, I have to rack my head around to sort of remember some of the games he played. And yeah, none spring to mind that I thought, oh yeah, Schneiderlin played.
00:29:48
Cormac
Yeah.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the role of a holding midfielder is never to win the headlines unless unless you're Roy Keane and you want to sort of
00:29:56
Cormac
if ah that Yeah, I believe so.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let people know you're still here. um But I think, yeah, I think uneventful, I would have probably gone with his with his United. cook it Wasn't that at the time he was playing alongside potentially Daley Blind in the middle of the park?
00:30:13
Cormac
Yeah, it was that area.
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then when Daley Blind left, they actually found he played better as a centre-back. Ken, someone who has a better career after they leave United.
00:30:18
Cormac
Yeah. yeah
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a shock. But no, we're about Schneiderlin here. And yeah, i kind of I kind of agree with you. But in the way that I can't really, you know, I can't really say whether it was a good or bad stint because, as you said, it wasn't the most remarkable of times in Manchester United.
00:30:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's about that's about all I can say about Morgan Schneider. feel so bad. But Morgan, if you're listening, please please let us know how wrong we are, Morgan. Let us know what you did.
00:30:45
Cormac
Oh yeah.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no, I think that's a great shout, Morgan Schneider. Again, for the money we paid, should have got maybe a lot more. Now this, Cormac, you're going to like this one. This is one where this was a ah Ferguson signing.
00:31:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I'll see if you can guess from from later down the line. This is a Ferguson signing that he signed from Portugal.
Bebe: The Mysterious Signing
00:31:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
but reportedly had never seen him play before. It's the man, the myth, the legend that is babye Wow.
00:31:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
what What a blast. but an absolute blast. Imagine now making a transfer like that. you know this's There's been reports of what the deal maybe was and who was involved with it. But the man that is Bebe, I think he's still, is he still playing football? i want I want to say that he is. I really, really do. He is. He's in Ibiza.
00:31:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Excellent.
00:31:36
Cormac
Oh, perfect for him.
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
35 years old 35 years old, fantastic. But there's not a lot I could say about Beppe. He never made an appearance, I don't think. for Oh, no, he made two Premier League appearances.
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm mistaken.
00:31:48
Cormac
There you go.
00:31:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, yeah, I think the name sums it all up, I think.
00:31:55
Cormac
Yeah, no, that's kind of one of the crazier transfers in, I think, United's recent memory. um Was it like, I think it was, it wasn't that cheap, but it was like six or seven million pounds for ah player.
00:32:06
Cormac
um i might be wrong that again, but I believe, oh even, yeah, yeah, six million pounds for a player he had never seen.
00:32:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
8 million euros. So you're talking about 6 million pounds, yeah. and
00:32:13
Cormac
And I'm not sure, was it something like, I hope, he was playing at the homeless world cup or something or was that just a myth?
00:32:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's something, yeah.
00:32:21
Cormac
Yeah. I thought I remember that was where they had found them or something. Um, but yeah, no, I mean, I was actually thinking about him. And then when you said Portugal, I was like, Oh yeah.
00:32:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You knew instantly.
00:32:31
Cormac
Um, yeah, yeah.
00:32:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:34
Cormac
Um, but no, I, I mean, I, I think he went on and done a right or right over by a can off. Um, in the recent years. um But yeah, but before that, though, I don't really know what happened to him. and yet But when he was at United, there actually was a bit of hype and possibly potential, but I guess because he was so unknown and Ferguson had found him.
00:32:54
Cormac
And you know Ferguson's track record with young players, he thought he'd be something. But you know as I said, two appearances, didn't get to see a lot of them at all. And yeah, just kind of fizzled out. But that that's a great show, baby. Yeah.
00:33:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, I mean, you have to end on a high, don't you?
00:33:10
Cormac
Mm-hmm.
00:33:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah yeah, if the stories are true, Bebe has had a i good career. I mean, he's been a serviceable player in La Liga. ah He's made 162 appearances in La Liga, scoring 10 goals, assisting 17 in the second tier of Spade, 83 appearances, 14 goals, 5 assists.
00:33:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the top flight of Portugal, 45 assists, 13 goals. So in the end... It kind of went all right for Bebe. It kind of went all right. Now he's playing his football in Albiza. So I've got to say, a pretty serviceable career in the end. But what a start. What a way to make your way onto the professional scene, eh?
00:33:44
Cormac
Absolutely.
Podcast Conclusion and Engagement
00:33:45
Cormac
Mm-hmm.
00:33:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i've I've thoroughly enjoyed that, Cormac, looking back in the past and and seeing what might have been for some players or what eventually came to be once they left United. That's a worrying trend recently, but there we go.
00:33:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Hopefully you've enjoyed that at home as well. And let us know if we missed any players on the list as well. Get them down there in the comments and we'll comment and be like, how on earth did we miss that one?
00:34:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know. ah You can find us on all the social medias as well on GSPN Man United. We can find us on all of the socials. We are on TikTok. We're on X and Twitter. We're on Facebook. We're on Instagram. You can also watch our videos on YouTube. So if you fancy seeing our faces,
00:34:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
See, i'm I'm posing now. If you're watching this, you'd see what I'm doing. You can see all of that on our YouTube page. It's GSPN Daily Manchester United podcast on YouTube. It's so long, so you'll definitely remember it. In the meantime, thank you so much, Corbach, for joining me on today's show. I've been Kieran.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll talk to you in a little bit, well, for the rest of the weekend. Enjoy it, and we'll speak to you soon. Take care.