Family therapy

What's the track welcome to the Irish lights podcast another edition of family therapy and the kitchen tables of a moment Jacqueline McGuinness Hello everyone, and this week. We're going to talk about Jesse Morris's recent comments by Manchester United and their structural setup especially with the new takeover as it is We'll have a bit of a Banter back and forth about crazy season and see what transfers will come away this week Have a look at the Spurs game moving forwards and then take a look at what is left for Manchester United now in January So first up Jesse Morris's comments you posted this on Instagram. What did you make of them? Those are pretty damning. I think that's why the good weather for all frantic as quick as we could Yeah Do you think that Ralph sort of seen that and advice that to? the likes of Jesse Morris the likes of people who he had worked with in the past and maybe Possibly shared his opinion upwards in Manchester United towards they took a fancy and irrelevant Well, apparently anyone who leaves a manager to leave Man United have to sign an NDA Yes, one alluded to this when they went out It's been in a couple of I was there was it it was a come out and sort of damningly said I can't talk about it Yeah, yeah, so you saying like a waiver to say that you want smarts? Yeah But it was a really interesting way to do it because Jesse Morris can't be hammered for it He just indirectly said look at a conversation with Rolf Ronjek and for anyone who hasn't seen this yet Check out our Instagram page and have a look at the real It's actually really interesting to watch anything listen to it. Sorry to interrupt the way I think it's from an interview he did with the channel called upfront No, I could be wrong, but the full interview is on YouTube and it's over an hour So that's just one insert from it that he was talking about He you know reference man United and how shit they are from the top It's the the comments he made about the lack of cohesion and communication and it was interesting here and directly reference the scouting department and turn right instead of the scouting to orbit or actually not linked in a Communicative way with any of the structure of Manchester. They're basically not listening to their function That is operating a very high cost with absolutely no end product. And if they produce no end product there's no accountability because the structure Manchester is wrong and When Jesse Morris was calling that out from having a conversation with Ralph Rodney before Right, well direct comparison here. Jesse Morris is at Leeds To all expensive purposes he presented himself as a bit of a doom claim but a failure and a failure but if Jesse Morris is having conversations with Ralph Rodney and doing comparisons and Premier League clubs and Championship clubs is not being highlighted. But man, yes United or what does that say about it? But he referenced Ralph Rodney so it's coming from Ralph Rodney. Oh, yeah It's Ralph Rodney's direct quote, you know towards the club But I think come back to your reference to the scouting department there have been reports numerous reports Coming out recently that the scouting department are actually ignored Yes, that was Ed Woodward that was going after this these Galactico signings and Apparently the scouting department told the board that Anthony was not worth 25 million and they scouted him a few times when he was playing for Ajax Anthony is Erickson Hagg signing. It wasn't the board that identified Anthony It was Erickson Hagg. Erickson Hagg turned around and said to John Murdoch And this is this is where you come to the crux of Manchester United's problems. You have a manager instructing our supposed director of football John Murdoch that he has to sign Anthony and that we need Anthony and the football would change to be Anthony and you have someone in that position of power who doesn't have the backbone to turn around to Erickson Hagg or listen to No, I feel that's wrong They ignore the scouting department and John Murdoch stuck with the man that he brought in and Erickson Hagg signed Anthony through and it's been a mistake You know, it's it's damning to see these Mid-table clubs that are producing these players that are playing better football than Anthony. Michael O'Leary said Crystal Palace is a brilliant example of it But also I've said this before I think Anthony Alangazade put this season is putting Anthony to shame Because he used to be our player 15 million pounds we sold that lad for to make room for the likes of Anthony in this team and Anthony Alanga is showing more Than Anthony and I don't think Anthony Alanga is the standard to which Manchester United should aspire to But it's quite damning that our starting right-winger who cost 90 million pounds isn't as good as he is Well, I agree with you, but he was asked in a press conference today about Anthony and he said that his off-field problems are impacting this play Enough, but he also said that that was down to Anthony that he has to get that sorted out In other words his personal life But he also said that he's not delivering the performance to expect from him and he can do so much better In his opinion Is what I would say to that If you watch Anthony playing for Ajax, he's a totally different player than one playing for Man United at present I agree and I don't really like skate sports style of journalism because I think at times they try to pick out a scab That's already there. Anthony's a very easy target But they did a really damning report during the week and they highlighted players who were actually playing better in the Dutch league Who are pumping out better offensive stats than Manchester United's Anthony. Ruud Hullet They slammed him before he signed for Manchester United They say that he's not the best winger in the Eredivise, that he has been signed for a premium But they don't think there's a player there that warrants the money that he's going for or that warrants starting for a big club Now these are the players that you would expect kind of to garner the money. Cody Jackpot was one Who was outscoring Anthony in the Eredivise and sort of garnered a lot of respect Sinisterra Who ended up signing for Leeds had more goals and assists that season than Anthony did But Anthony was signed for 19 million. I think Sinisterra went for 17 for Leeds He's overinflated big time That's insane. Yeah it is. But that's the board. No, I believe that's the manager mum. But the board have to okay that for it Yes, the manager wants him. But the finances are coming from Man United Football Club But should there not be a certain amount of blame put on Arcton Hagg? Should there not be the accountability to turn around and say how are you that for a judge of character? But the higher accountability comes from the Man United Club Yeah, but what my point is you have a mind. I'm sorry to interrupt, but if you had footballing people in positions to make decisions like that Anthony would not have been signed I agree with you But I don't see how you can't see the negative in a football manager who can't pick his own players who managed the lad For a couple of seasons and actually decided you know what this is the signing that I need in the Premier League That's the point of it that I can't get at the minute Surely it falls at his feet and someone has to turn around and go what made you make that decision? because We're taking this from what he said today and to go back to that original point in his opinion Anthony can do a lot more. He has not shown that since he came through the door of Manchester United There have been flickers of the iron Robin cutting inside and shooting and scoring But glimpses of it. Uniform between yeah, I know what you're saying But the bottom line is Rory that any manager can go to the board and say Klopp, Pep Guardiola Anybody can go to their board and say I want such-and-such and it's up to the board to okay that It's up to the board to look at the finance say all right, we're going to pay a 90 million pound for a player That's not even worth 25 but should a manager so Premier League manager not have a certain amount of tactical noose and Scouting noose to be able to see players that would be implemented into his system like again, not to sound like a broken record How did he get this one so wrong? How did he actually decide that it was a good decision to spend 90 million pounds on Anthony and that? Anthony was the player to fix his system Let's put into context Anthony came about at the end of the transfer window last year There was an initial decision from Manchester United football club that they were not going to sign Anthony I actually done their business early and Anthony's figures had pushed it into a stratosphere that we did not want to approach Then we seen Ericsson Hague start to his tenure at Manchester United and it was a disaster and during this disastrous period He decided I would be doing better about Anthony and he pushed and pushed to get Anthony And the club bought him, yeah, but off the back of Ericsson Hague's continuous recommendation There were two transfer targets that entire window Anthony and Frankie de Jong Ericsson Hague players and players he believed he needed to play his style of play Now I can't speak to Frankie de Jong But my god, did he get it wrong with Anthony because if he's trying to implement his system this year Anthony is one of the issues that he has and now that he has Done the Jadon Sancho situation, which I agree with I'm glad he's gone to Bristow Durban for a play Sold on Anthony Alanga and now he's selling on Facundo Colestre He lives and dies on whether he can get Anthony working on that system And I don't, do you see it? Do you see Anthony come and do it? I agree with you, there were glimpses last year that there could be a An excellent player there, I was going to say we're in class, but that's a stretch and a good player there in the making for Man United, there were glimpses but This season everybody is playing below par. Yeah I've got one for you, honest question Did Anthony Alanga show more in the glimpses that he'd shown in the Manchester United shirt than Anthony has? Hmm, in the United shirt? So far nothing to do with his time at Ajax, right? Just solely in a Manchester United shirt. Do you think that Anthony Alanga did enough To warrant more of a chance at Manchester United than Anthony has done so far? Playing for United? No And that's my honest opinion You think Anthony has been better in the United shirt? I think they've been about equal But I don't think Anthony Alanga has been better than Anthony, no so One cost 90 million pound and one was sold for 15 million pounds, and I'm just asking this objectively Do you think the right decision would have been to leave Anthony in Holland and try and see where Anthony Alanga would develop to? Well, hindsight is 20-20 of course. Yeah, but no, in my opinion Anthony Alanga is not what we're sparring to He's doing really well at Nottingham Forest, but in my opinion again, that's his level Are the club right to let Facundo Pellestri go and keep Anthony? Yes, for two reasons. We're not going to get rid of Anthony, not in those wages, not at those inflatable prices so Facundo Pellestri, the lad needs to play football, and he's not going to get his time with Man United Is he a better footballer than Anthony? He's a more tenacious footballer than Anthony, yes But no, I would have loved it for Pellestri to work out He seems a right good lad, and he seems he's a really good footballer But when you have somebody on the books that costs that much and on those wages that you know you're not getting rid of anytime soon It's right for both parties to part ways Well in the realms of hypotheticals, if I took the money out of the equation, and you were the manager of Manchester United And I said right Jackman You've got two players here, and I can only keep one. I'll either keep Facundo Pellestri or I'm keeping Anthony, but I have to ship one I would give that to Anthony I would agree with that. That's my entire point on this, I would agree with that I would have Facundo Pellestri playing for Manchester United more than Anthony But there's other variables you have to take into account Oh 110%, but variables created by this manager And the board, you can't solely pin it on the manager. Yes, Eric Ten Hag Liam has to be a tribute to Eric Ten Hag, but that board okayed that at that money They did, and he has seen Anthony fail in a Manchester United shirt, but he is choosing to defend him He will fire other players to the wolves And he will sell Facundo Pellestri and limit that lads game time And you just said you would keep Pellestri over Anthony, so I blame nobody but this manager I don't blame the board on that, I blame the board on the financials and with him being brought in But if Eric Ten Hag didn't want Anthony to play, then he wouldn't play Anthony And we've seen this with Cristiano Ronaldo and the case that he made for Ronaldo and we've seen it with Jadon Sancho when Sancho showed his flicker of insubordination and Eric Ten Hag decided you know that was it, that was done But Anthony can be accused of whatever and he gets shielded by the manager He can play in whatever standard of football he wants to play and he gets shielded by the manager And I don't think that's good enough because I agree with you I think Pellestri gives Manchester United more of a start than Anthony does, so I don't know how Anthony is still on that pitch Apart from, blame being assigned to Eric Ten Hag, he picked him He has stood by him, and he needs it to work, otherwise he looks like an idiot Yeah because of the big financial investment by the club Not only that, if you take the finances out of it He has stood by this lad the whole way through his career so far at Manchester United The lad can do whatever on the pitch and off the pitch and he gets to play I disagree with you to a certain extent because he's quick enough to sub him in games Why does Koundé Pellestri not get the chance to shine in Eric Ten Hag's system and then be subbed off if it doesn't work? Why is there such a consideration for Anthony at the minute? I'll tell you why, because he picked him and he has to make it work And that's all it is, and if, and in my opinion, when it fails It's going to be solely on Eric Ten Hag and not on the Manchester United board Well it is going to be on the manager if the manager keeps picking him But he's not producing It's going to be interesting to see if Koundé Pellestri goes in this window Because I suppose this segues us then into the transfer and the silly season Do you know what, I'm sticking by my prediction, I honestly believe And there's an awful lot of hope in this statement That the loan fees for Jadon Sancho and Donny Van De Beek Will be combined with the Koundé Pellestri sale to Saint-Cyrille-de-Grasse Well, I'll give you more hope Okay That apparently, now this is reports coming out of Spain That Benfica want Alvaro Fernandez done this week I've actually seen a few things on this recently as well, and apparently that is a real... And Joe Hugel is going to Burton Albion Yeah, Joe Hugel going out isn't going to garner any money though I think the Alvaro Fernandez one is interesting And Daphne's Fulcaino-Pellestri one Because that is raising funds for something You know, and I think the decision on Fulcaino-Pellestri is a wee bit It's about six months overdue, in my opinion But he does have a surplus of right-wingers now that Amit Jalloh's back We've been linked to another Ajax striker Don't ask me who, because I read the headlines and they just glossed over it I couldn't even tell you who plays up front for Ajax Not at all There's a really good Mexican striker playing up front for PSV Jimenez Very good finisher He's been touted to be going to a few different clubs Much like... Do you know why I'm pinning the hopes on Sadio Grassi? Because this lad was linked for 15 million To absolutely everybody at the start of the January transfer window And it's mad that nobody has activated that clause Nobody has gone straight away for this player So with an awful amount of hope in him I think Manchester United, who were strongly linked to the lad Have maybe made contact with the agent and said Look, we need to raise the funds but we will take your lad in That's an awful lot of hope in him Isn't it? It is Crazy amount Crazy amount But... I don't know Why wouldn't you leave Celestrian till... Tell me if I'm wrong, right? That's... Grassi Yes Is 27 Yeah, 27 He's 27 Yeah This is the first time I've ever heard of him Yeah This season He's a striker that costs 15 million I'm not pinning big hopes on him You'll get him in on a permanent transfer He's been scoring goals in Germany And he costs 15 million In the current state we're in now, he's totals down Yeah, as long as the board doesn't offer him a quarter of a million a week No, I think he'll come in on humble wages as well It'd just be a big chance for him to come in There is a real strong affiliation between the African nations And Manchester United as a football club I think we've seen this with Odi and McGallop So Sadie Grassi, I think, would love the opportunity to come and play on the United shirt And I, again, hope him I'm hoping that's what's weighing him A bit like a yellowie sitting in the wings and just thinking Oh my god, can this actually be a bossed elite and can we make this happen? But, who knows That's a complete guess, I have no basis for that I just think they're raising the money for Dominic And I guess Scrappi Right Anything else crazy that's come up from last week? Any other mad ones? Someone mentioned to me Kieran Brandsman Who I said would be a brilliant signing from Manchester United But that's madness now No, it costs an absolute fortune Yeah I've seen the wages he was on And he's on like 550 grand a week Yeah So even if you cover half his wages That's 275 grand a week Well if Anthony Martial's still there, we're all right Anthony's not going? Anthony Martial, that is? Apparently not Yeah Oh no, the crazy one is We all know about the Fenerbahce links Inter Milan, apparently, are interested in taking him on loan Until the end of the season I don't get this loan scenario at all Someone would need to explain to me why any football club Would pitch a loan deal to Manchester United For a lad that's out of contract now in a couple of months Get him off the books, get him breached, get him off the books But why would they pay his full wages? Do you know, are they going to pay it out on behalf of his wages Because he's going anywhere? I mean, that was the scenario I would take that But there are games, does that not feed into My theory that a striker is coming? Don't know, but there was an article last week It was this BBC And this is all to do with financial fair play And getting wages off, not necessarily selling players But getting the wages off the books In order to bring somebody in That's a big one, that needs to happen Jadon Sancho, we've all said some of his wages Donny van de Beek But wouldn't it be nice to get Anthony Martial out? Yeah I mean Anthony Martial is in faded wages as well And you've played your hand You know, you've played your hand Now you've not activated the extension You know that he's leaving for free in the summer The whole world knows now that we've made that mistake With Anthony Martial It is what it is So we don't owe him anything And we can just move him on To move another piece in the Manchester United That has a bit of a longevity I think they got burned by the loan I think the reason we haven't seen them move as quickly this summer With loan deals is they were burned last year Sebitra was hit and miss Redhorse was a fail Rahulian's men alone Bleh Total bleh Yeah, he was only for cover So I think they are trying to raise their funds Johnny Evans was signed for cover And look how many games he's played Johnny Evans has done alright Do you know something? It's not really outlandish, right? But I would keep Johnny Evans for another year I wouldn't I think Johnny Evans is one of these brilliant modern day scenarios, right? Where we look at everything that Johnny Evans does With rose-tinted glasses And don't look at what he does wrong Simply because Johnny Evans costs nothing And he's an ex-Man United player And it makes for a good story that Johnny came back into the squad And did an alright job And warrants a new contract I don't think Johnny Evans is as good as people are making him out to be I think he's playing average In each game I agree with you However, right? If we're going to buy two centre-backs in the summer Hopefully And that's what I want for the club, right? Johnny Evans is back up, back up Tampala Oh yeah, he'd still be there Yeah, but I'd rather see him get the minutes that Johnny Evans would steal from Johnny Evans was there But, and we discussed this during the week Victor Lindelof triggered a year But apparently there's a couple of Italian clubs in for him And want a bit of money for him, right? Hiram Wire's contract is up in 2025 Okay Baran will be leaving Baran will be leaving This season or next season Next season Yeah We need two centre-backs in So that's what Martin is, two centre-backs Tampala And Evans is back up, back up And I would keep Evans for another year He gets the club Yeah, I can see where you're coming from It's Martin is and Baran for another year Because Raphael Baran, he is 18 months left in his contract Whether they trigger an extension or not Baran is going to be there with Martin is And Baran should play with Martin is when he's fit Then you're looking at a back-off for Raphael Baran Which I believe is going to be Sean Clare to Devo I think him not moving to Spurs It's then there for another season at Nice Another past season at Nice Just indicates that he is going to come to Manchester United So there's your two in the right-hand side Then you need a left-hand centre-back to cover Martin is Willy Kambula can play on the right-hand side So I think he will be utilised in that space You need a left-handed centre-back And then if you've got another one, that would be nice I think they need a right-back They need to sign a right-back If we're talking about transfers, it's not happening in January But we're looking forward to the summer We have to sign a right-back We cannot go into another season with Diogo Dalo and Armando Saka And this half, you know, one can do one I think Armando Saka will go back to Crystal Palace Dalo, if you want to go forward Manbo Saka, if you want to defend But you lose the offensive output with Armando Saka Or you sacrifice goals because Diogo Dalo is headless chicken When it comes to defending United need an out-and-out starting right-back going into next season Somebody established Somebody who is elite That needs to be a priority More so, I'd say, than centre-back Because I don't see Harry Maguire going Not now that he's had the season of his life Do you think that'll renew his contract? Well, he's not out of contract this summer, is he? No So why would he leave? He's not a year I think Maguire could be another potential Anthony Martial I think Maguire stays in Manchester United And stays in a Man United shirt It seems to be his friend though, doesn't it? I mean, we've put the power into the player's hands for years now So I don't think this is on the current regime But I can see a lot of players following the Anthony Martial-Harry Maguire blueprint Where, yes, Manchester United won't rid of you But you simply turn around and get out of the club You have no bar to get rid of me You have no say in putting me out of this football club And if you want me to go, that's grand You will be mitigating the wages that I'm about to lose By packing my contract in to sign for a West Ham Or to sign for a Fenerbahce Like, Anthony Martial is going to rinse us for every penny that he can get out of us And then disappear out to Turkey And because Fenerbahce aren't paying a transfer fee for Anthony Martial Then they'll be willing to pay him higher wages So it suits the player and it suits Fenerbahce I can see Maguire doing the same I think Maguire would be a United player until he runs out of contracts Because I don't see why he would leave Well, financially, yeah I think we're starting to see now the problems and the issues That we've caused for ourselves with these massive contracts I'll tell you another one Jason Sancho, going back to Bruce Eorman Looks like a brilliant story He's kissing badges He's all happy He's dropping a part of his wages Is he going to be happy to go and play in Dortmund permanently For what Dortmund are currently paying him now? I don't see it Jason Sancho will go to the highest bidder come the summer 110% But what if there is no bidder? Even if he has a good season A good season in Dortmund But he's not happy to take the financial hit and close the club Yeah, I think there could be a contract cancellation with Jason Sancho There could be I think the only two players that you realistically get money for in the summer Scott McCalmine will get a transfer fee I believe that You'll get something for Viktor Lindelof And who else would we be talking about going? We could actually... Aaron Wan-Bissaka will get a transfer fee So three players I think you know they'll make money off I don't really see anybody else at that football club Bringing us any money in, do you? I don't know, unless it's some shop transfer like Marcus Rashford or Bruno Fernandes No Mbappé is leaving PSG PSG will sign someone There were rumours that they were interested in Marcus Rashford beforehand I don't know Would Luis Enrique buy him? Does he feel like a Luis Enrique player? I mean Luis Enrique is dropping the stars out of that team to play the kids at the minute I don't see him bringing a Marcus Rashford in The club would The club definitely would Yeah because he still has a name in football, Marcus Rashford But would Enrique be okay with that? I don't think so They're going to need a big name though With Mbappé going Off topic from Manchester United Where does Mbappé go? I can't think of anywhere else but Madrid You think so? Yeah To play where? I know Vinnie Junior plays his role perfectly for Madrid There is rumours now Gathering rumours That he wants to go to Liverpool No Yeah To replace Sala And Diaz plays off the other wing maybe So that Mbappé could play on the left That's nightmare fuel That'll keep me awake tonight I can't see it happening personally but Can you see Liverpool football club Paying, what is that lad on? Is he on half a million or what? I have no idea what he makes I think he knows that he'll have to lower his wages to go anywhere else I think he's ambitious enough to want to play in either the Premier League or La Liga Because he believes he's the best player in the world Apparently he was desperately unhappy that he was locked over for both Best player in the World Cup and for the Ballon d'Or And he believes he has three or four or five Ballon d'Ors in him Like Messi and Ronaldo do That he can rule football Now he could do that every year on Madrid But the ultimate stage in football now is the Premier League It has stolen the spotlight off La Liga Madrid and Barcelona don't have the ball on par I think globally now that the Premier League Are winning the Champions League at the minute So if he came into Liverpool and he rules the world in Liverpool He takes Liverpool to another Premier League He takes Liverpool to another Champions League He wins the Ballon d'Or He would do, he's incredible I didn't give him enough credit for how good a footballer he is And I've watched PSG a few times this season And watched France this season His movement His off the ball movement is incredible As good as a player as he is on the ball And as brilliant as he is at gliding past players And running beyond players And his trickery and his shooting and that His off the ball movement to give and go And get himself into positions is unlike anything I've seen in football He's incredible He's just that good I think no matter what club he goes to he's going to be a force It would be interesting to see if he would go to Madrid But if they were Finney Jr is not going to give up his spot to Kylian Mbappé Finney Jr believes that he's as good as Kylian Mbappé Which would be an interesting one to see Barcelona can't afford him They've basically said no Have they employed him as a forward at PSG in some matches? He's played up front for France And he's played up front for PSG He has, hasn't he? Are you going to have that fluid front to three with Madrid? Interchanging positions and all that good stuff Wasn't there a career map laid out at one point for Erling Haaland That Erling Haaland would end up at Real Madrid That Man City was the next venture That it was Bruce Udortman who ruled Germany Then came into England He's going to rule everything with Man City He's one to travel and stuff like that Wasn't the blueprint that he would end up at Real Madrid Or that he would end up in La Liga? I believe I read that somewhere It could be from a pure conjecture Yeah, I think so I think Haaland ends up going to Madrid at some point So I don't see where Mbappé, Haaland, Finney Jr or Rodrigo All fit into the same plan Especially when you choose Bernard I mean, that's galactical heaven for... Yeah, it's off the scale It is It is But I think Haaland suits their plan more than Mbappé does Look, Madrid will take Mbappé Because of the star that he is 110% They'll find a place for him I think Mbappé would be shrewd enough though To turn around and say No, I want to be the star I want to be the player Replacing Salah at Liverpool? Stranger things and all that Yeah, a lot of the Liverpool fans are convinced But they're delusional anyway Do you know, I am the type that's going to go now And Google that Within an inch of its life afterwards And that is potentially ruin my weekend So thank you for that Yeah, well And this is James from the United We're in their weekend We still have Sunday Well, it's a short weekend So yes, the Tottenham game Haaland vs Kintyde It's very interesting what he said In his press conference about Tottenham Hit me So now this is not for Baleham But he said they're very enjoyable to watch A lot of dynamics, very proactive Spot on Yeah They are They're very enjoyable to watch Because it's chaos football It's a bit like when Klopp came in the first time And you're like, what is this? How can a team so You know, fluidly attack another team And leave themselves so open at the back? You know, it's just If we score, brilliant If we don't score, here's your chance I think he used the word proactive a couple of times Do you think he's trying to hint at his own squad? It's smack of it to me You know, they're very enjoyable to watch They're very dynamic They're proactive While we're not No, not at all Not even close to being that style of the I don't know Is he just pondering with the crowd? So would it be nice that there is a silver lining in a statement like that? I think he plays the media really, really well Because he was asked about Jadon Sancho One of the reporters asked him about Jadon Sancho And he replied What did he reply? Oh, he wishes him well and the best of luck Right? And then somebody else asked him a question And some other dopey reporter Went back to the Sancho bit And he turned around He says, I think I've answered that I'll forfeit He does have a strength to him when he does He does You know, in other words, I have answered that I've answered That's it, draw a line on theirs So I think that he's a type of man that just speaks his mind Did he allude to anybody being back for the weekend? He made some noise And picked her in love And Mounts back? No, sorry No, I'm finished here Oh, don't do that to me I love doing it to you But I'll say it, we'll not be back It's too simple Let's just lead with that Will you just turn around and say The following players will not be back If ever There's a good chance of Clasimiro and Martinez Being back But he also said, in other words, haven't played in a while So they might not be starting match But they could be on the bench Two huge boots Huge, huge Do you think Clasimiro will play with Kobe Meunier? And with that light, will Meunier be able to go forward more? I'd love to see that And I'd love to see Kobe Meunier doing the box to box bit Yeah, so would I But Kobe Meunier can defend And he's an excellent defender But his I watched the Wigan game back in highlights, mum And some of his close control in tight moments is just exceptional We keep making the reference He's Pogba-esque It's just that ability to take the ball away from somebody In a moment And his passing ability is incredible His range of passing is incredible He's a very composed player He's a very mature player for his age He is And you have to think This dad is setting a standard now at the minute That looks good enough in the current Manchester United team to play To play certain games What is he going to be like in 4 or 5 years? Oh it's scary It is You know His trajectory is just off the charts at the minute And I mean if he hits the heights that he is meant to hit this lad And we're talking world class because that's what they're saying Fair play to England For having Kobe Meunier and Jude Ballingham on the books Do you know what I mean? England That England youth Grassroots football has really stepped up its game They are producing player after player after player They really really are Football clubs are really starting to come around to that Let's refer back to Kobe Meunier again Was it Sorry Woodwell said That he's got good people around him Which I was happy to hear He's got a good family background Very level headed lad So that's what you want to hear as well That is what you want to hear On the Spurs game What do you think happens on Sunday? I think we have a good chance of beating Spurs I really do Because of the high line that Spurs hold I think Similar to Villa Very similar They are very similar The only thing is Do I trust our defence? Not really Yeah I would say Tottenham's attack is much stronger than Nelson Villa's is I think And we'll probably go back to the philosophy is They'll score but we'll score more Possibly I mean you're always going to turn around And look at the fact that they're missing Son Right Son's a huge miss to them But even without Son in recent weeks We've seen Rich Artisan Kulasevski Brennan Johnson stepping up He's a brilliant player Kulasevski? Yeah Yeah he's magic He is Brennan Johnson's a good wee lad too You know full of pace Full of running Full of industry He kind of reminds me of the likes of Cole Palmer Where it's just non-stop going at you Yes not everything comes off And not everything works But they're very young lads Yeah they're young ladies And they're willing to get at And when you have a back line like ours If Martinez isn't back in Spartan And you are having to play Johnny Evans in there And this misshapen Wambasaka-Dallo fallback dynamic You know who takes what wing Dallo playing off the left These sorts of players like Kulasevski and Brennan Johnson Are going to hurt you I trust Aaron Wambasaka to shackle Brennan Johnson I do not trust Diogo Dallo against Kulasevski I mean Kulasevski will give him a run around all game And that maybe is where you would employ Garnaccio back on the left And maybe play Anthony and drop Rashford Does Rashford come back enough to help Diogo Dallo? He does not stand a chance to do these at all He's going to have to Because Kulasevski is backed off by Pedro Borro Who when he marauds forward is dangerous Cracking fullback So that's where I see Martinez getting hurt at the weekend I do think it's going to be a lot closer than people think And a lot of people have said he's going to get hammered this weekend I don't see it No Don't think so With a score, an L score It's who can come out of that But who wins the individual battles all over that pitch And the big ones for me are going to be Our left side versus their right side Borro and Kulasevski versus Dallo And whoever he decides to put out in that left wing And the middle of the park I think Because if Casemiro isn't in there We're looking at what? Is Amrobath fifth? Amrobath is way to the left of him Oh flip I keep saying that So he is Yeah Christian Ayrton What do you think of Kobe Manning playing against the Tottenham midfield? Funny in Kobe Manning playing against the Tottenham midfield He Because they have good star back don't they? He's a brilliant player There's a few missing as well And maybe some missing from them Yeah there's some missing They're missing their back line Yeah They've got this Dragonstein fella in to mitigate the injuries that they've had But is he going to be much fit? Is he going to be able to play? I don't see that Something like he throws him straight in So I mean I've seen Tottenham Leak some absolutely crazy goals in the past few weeks Because they have to play full backs and centre back positions And Eric Dier has just gone out Because Dragonstein has come in He wasn't really bad though was he? No he wasn't I mean it's down in that Arjan Postakovic was playing full backs over Dier in centre back I don't think he's seen Dier as a centre back Because you have to remember Eric Dier started his career as a holding midfielder at Tottenham We were used to him being a holding midfielder And supporting this one as well Yeah And then I think it was, was it Constant decided that he could be a ball training centre back? I think it was And then Anton decided no, not for me Yeah well see this is it Score, score prediction? If I asked you now what do you think the score would be? Don't say a 3-1 You know it's 2-1 you go for isn't it? 2-1 every time It's 2-1 every time I think it'll be a draw You think so? I think it'll be a draw yeah 2-1 each I think I think United beat Spurs Oh my god that's positive or? Yeah I do I think with a villa game you sort of see in the blueprint Probably Manchester United can counter attack you and get at you And that's where we really flourish in games And I think Tottenham will naively come into this trend of theirs because they do Anson's no plan B It's attack, attack, attack, attack And when it comes off it's brilliant And when you exploit it it's not so brilliant And if there was ever a game for Eriksen Haag to sort of garner a bit of respect back This is the one That's why I think Rashford starts Because that's the only thing he's good at Do you know what? Against Spurs if they can find those runs And they work this way in training And they find those runs Marcus Rashford could be very dangerous Very dangerous A brilliant outlet And I think he would go If he decides that he can beat Spurs He'll go Rashford and Garnachio If he thinks Spurs are going to be in the ascendancy I think he has to play Anthony and Anthonisa Because Garnachio does his defensive duties on the left And Anthony will do his defensive duties on the right We'll see what happens during that Wigan match He was absolutely shocking in the second half So what you do is you put Rashford on the left Garnachio on the right In the first half, right? And then shift him over If Rashford's not there in the second half Then take him off The way I kind of caved a bit on my Praise for the sake of praise for Marcus Rashford is concern I truly believe that Marcus Rashford And Bruno Fernandes are up three players They're players that you can suffer If you don't have them in the same team Give the ball away through two different outlets Bruno Fernandes is fast And at times really bugs me Because Bruno Fernandes gives the ball away a lot in possession Trying to play the killer goal And yes when it comes off it's brilliant And when it doesn't It's simply giving the ball back to the opposition And putting us under pressure Marcus Rashford does the exact same thing Trying to take people on Rashford tries to go for the Hollywood The spectacular YouTube take on Where he tries a few flicks and tricks And all these silly wee things And all of a sudden he loses Because he tries to take on two players Someone dispossessed him And then the team comes out and traps Alice You can't have two players like that in the same team So when things are going brilliantly Yeah when things are going brilliantly And you're attacking teams And you're all over teams Fernandes and Rashford look brilliant Like last season But when you are under the cosh And you're having to defend And Tottenham are coming at you You don't want those two lads in the same team You don't Now it's going to be interesting to see When the lads get up to speed Whether I'm right And he plays Mount in the pen To accommodate Casemiro Or Mane in midfield Plays Bruno off the right And drops Rashford for Garnaccio That's what I would do In Hoyland Because then you've got that outlet With Bruno Fernandes Who I know people don't like in the pen position Some people think he overlaps with Mason Mount I think you're seeing that at the minute With Scott McTominay And Rashford Hoyland I think Hoyland comes alive If he has the service out And the right on save Bruno Fernandes Who's a very good crosser of the ball When he has the time And he's got a team like Mason Mount Who will look for him Mount's a selfless player He'll look for the striker So I think this weekend I can't really call If we went 1-11 Who's your goalkeeper? Is Onana still here? Onana's still here Madness Yeah But Onana will start Arnold Saka Baran Evans of Martinez Isn't fit Delaware Shaw Is not fit Midfield I would pick Christian Ericsson Over Scott McTominay So that I've mainly been Christian Ericsson Yeah I agree And then Rashford Hoyland For natural I think the team picks itself Because of the injuries and illnesses That it's seen So unless there are shots to come back I'm going with a very similar setup To what we've seen at Wigan I think it's going to be Same backline Same goalkeeper Midfield I see being the same If Ericsson's not back Kobe Maynard And Scott McTominay Bruno obviously plays as a 10 I don't think he drops Rashford I think he plays as Rashford On the left hand side He's going to play for a natural On the right hand side It's the Wigan team for me Yeah Same team as that Wigan I agree I'd load sick Ericsson in for my family Would you? Oh definitely Yeah I mean Yeah I agree with that But is Ericsson fit? Can Ericsson play? If he is fit And then who's got time For the rest of January? Are we not on a break? Are we on a break? It's the winter break Oh yeah so it is Do you know what? That is not common It's coming up really in time For Manchester United It really has It gives us a full what? You're talking 13 days Before we have to play Newport County Which kind of feels like a day off No offence to them Newport and Eastlake Whoever gets through there You should be beating them So our first competitive strong game Is Wolves away on the 1st of February What a boring shit two weeks This is going to be I really don't like The international break Once it comes into it I lose I suppose it's because I remember Crap You can't lose All-in plays in football And I don't Is this an international break Or is it the winter break? Premier League winter break I'm not sure Well if it's the winter break There's other leagues on Hopefully But that is going to be All we have time for this week So thanks for listening to this And make sure you check out The socials Where we have constant contact From Manchester United And also folks Next week we're going to be Launching on YouTube And we're going to be doing A few videos To catch up Trying to react a bit more Into team history Rowan's going solo next week Mummy's not going on YouTube Don't worry I'll probably answer it At some stage But yes Thanks for listening to the podcast And we will be back Next week with family therapy We're going to be around For the Spurs game We'll do the pre-lunch time And post-match analysis That's going to be Our first effort on YouTube So stay tuned Bye everyone