- 3 years ago
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00:00 So Michael, on Manchester United, just look at their transfer updates, any sort of late
00:04 business expected? What was the latest you could tell us?
00:07 Yeah, I feel like a broken record when it comes to Man United this summer. But still,
00:13 the position they're in now is that they need to sell players in order to bring in further
00:18 players. I think it's going to be, I don't think there'll be any, well, I don't think
00:23 there'll be a huge amount of high profile arrivals in the last, let's say, 10 days or
00:27 so off the market. But in terms of selling, I think Henderson, Dean Henderson will leave
00:32 and will move on either on loan or permanently, obviously being linked with Palace as well.
00:38 I think Donny van de Beek, Eric Bailly will move on as well, looking likely. And I think
00:42 Brandon Williams will probably leave the club, whether that's a loan or permanent loan, we're
00:45 not 100% sure at this stage. But I think the issue for United is that three big transfers
00:50 that they would have liked to have completed this summer and at this stage are looking
00:54 unlikely are Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial. Now all three of those
00:58 players are on relatively good wages, well, certainly on good wages and would earn quite
01:05 a significant transfer fee. And they at the moment look unlikely to shift all three. I
01:10 think particularly Maguire and Martial would like to move on. I don't think, I know McTominay
01:15 didn't play at the weekend and a lot was made of that, but I think that Ten Hag is happy
01:20 to a certain extent to keep McTominay involved if he does stay. So that's kind of where United
01:24 are at at the moment. They would like, I think in an ideal world, they would like to bring
01:28 in a goalkeeper, a centre back, another midfielder and a striker. It's not going to happen. It's
01:33 just not going to happen. A goalkeeper obviously does look pretty close at this stage, Bayern
01:38 Deer, the goalkeeper coming in, Turkish goalkeeper. So obviously in that one, I mean, Ten Hag
01:45 has tried to sign him before when he was Ajax manager. So yeah, certainly that one will
01:50 be one to keep an eye on. Centre back, I mean, there's a lot of talk about Thodebo at Nice.
01:58 I think that one is unlikely at this stage. We'll have to see in that one. I do think
02:02 a midfielder is probably more likely though of anything. Obviously an interesting Gravenbosch,
02:06 that probably be more likely alone at this stage by next season, which obviously would
02:11 suit United because of the Glazers and everything. And perhaps next year they won't be in charge
02:17 of the club. So they wouldn't have to foot the bill, I suppose, in the long run. And
02:21 then obviously Safi and Amr, but it's just a transfer story that's gone on and on and
02:24 on. I haven't heard a huge amount about that in a while, if I'm totally honest. And it
02:28 looks like it is becoming less and less likely that he joins United. But we'll see. I still
02:33 think there's a very good chance he will join United in the final couple of days of the
02:38 window. I think a striker is just pretty much impossible at this stage for United. So yeah,
02:43 plenty of issues to address for United in the transfer market. And I don't think they're
02:46 going to address them all, to be honest.
02:50 And just looking at United's midfield, it's raised a few eyebrows so far this season,
02:55 obviously two games in. What's your take on it? Why hasn't it so far really clicked in
03:01 there with the three that have been playing?
03:07 I think there's a lot of things to it. I think that's a new sign in Mason Mount. Obviously
03:12 they haven't really worked out the best way to utilise the three, being Mount Casimiro,
03:17 Bruno Fernandes. I think that's part of it. I think there's been some basic tactical flaws
03:23 from ten high, if I'm totally honest, in terms of how much Mount, certainly against Wolves,
03:28 how much Mount and Fernandes pushed up. That was incredible to see really just how exposed
03:32 Casimiro was. It wasn't quite as bad against Spurs, but it still wasn't great. And there
03:37 were once or twice, I remember at the end of the first half, Spurs just absolutely cut
03:41 through United with ease, really. So that is a bit of an issue. I think you said before
03:46 the call, are Mount and Fernandes two similar players? Maybe, but I do think they could
03:51 be utilised correctly. I think that Fernandes played deeper last year and was good. I think
03:56 Mount's intelligent enough to work out a way of doing it. I think they can do it, but they
04:01 just need to work it all out. It's quite interesting at the moment that, as well, United are going,
04:05 almost reverting slightly back to the Solskjaer-Rangnick style of two seasons ago, which was very look
04:12 to hit teams on the counter. It was very on transitions rather than controlling the game.
04:18 It feels like that's a little bit what United have gone back to a bit under ten high. Plenty
04:22 of long balls down into the wide areas. Obviously struggling at the moment as well. I think
04:27 the midfield is impacted by the fact they haven't got a proper centre forward, if I'm
04:30 honest. That's a bigger issue throughout the season. I think that could come back to haunt
04:34 United potentially. I think it's an interesting one. They don't really seem to be going for
04:40 a midfield control at the moment. As a result, it means that the other team are dictating
04:45 to United. I know it's only two games, but Wolves and Spurs so far have dictated to United
04:49 what sort of match it was going to be. Basuma and Maddison absolutely ran the show against
04:54 Spurs and Wolves repeatedly cut through United in midfield. They need to wrestle back some
04:58 control in the middle of the park. I think there's plenty to address going forward. I
05:04 think we just touched on it in terms of sound. I think if they could bring in someone that
05:07 perhaps just gives them another option. I think that, let's say, Casemiro Fernandes
05:11 will always start. I think you've got Mount who is more of an attacking player, who can
05:16 press really well. You've got Christian Eriksen who helps to maintain possession. You've got
05:22 Scott McTominay who's more of a, let's say, an energetic presence without a huge amount
05:26 in quality on the ball. If there is someone who maybe could sit in alongside Casemiro
05:31 a little bit and help maintain possession and offer a little bit more of an attacking
05:35 threat, something they don't really have at the moment, so a bit of a hybrid almost of
05:40 a couple of the players they've got. That would be quite interesting to see if they
05:43 can do in the transfer market. I do think that in just after two matches, I think it
05:47 is quite worrying how United's midfield has looked, if I'm totally honest.
05:51 Finally, for United, Forrest at home. They've won the last four games against Nottingham
05:56 Forest. Surely they see this as going in and getting the three points and really trying
06:01 to punish your team as well because it's only the one goal scored so far this season.
06:07 Yes, I think that Tenhook will obviously want the three points, but he will really, really
06:11 want a good performance this weekend. Forrest, you said it there, they played United four
06:17 times last season. United won all four pretty comfortably, won all four if I'm totally honest,
06:21 perhaps excluding the league game at the city ground, but in the end it was pretty comfortable
06:26 for United.
06:27 Yes, Forrest aren't a fantastic team. I don't expect them to come away from Old Trafford
06:35 with anything. If they did, there really would be a lot of concern from United, I think,
06:42 but we just touched on it there with the midfielder. I think this will be a game that they will
06:46 want to really dictate to Forrest. They will want to get on the ball, show the qualities
06:53 and the ability that they have in this team and there's no doubt in denying that. I think
06:57 there will be some goals, you just said it there as well, only the one goal scored. I
07:00 think their xG would suggest that they have underperformed in that area and missed actually
07:04 quite a couple of good chances against Spurs. While it was a poor performance and there
07:07 was a number of alarming aspects, actually if they'd taken a few of those chances it
07:11 could have been a slightly different story if United had done the day.
07:14 Yes, I think United will win, but I suspect they won't have the authority and command
07:22 of the game that United fans would like, but I do think they'll get three points from it.
07:25 Michael, on to Manchester City. What's the latest you can tell us in terms of the transfer
07:31 market? Because we've seen it being very, very slow and in and out and not really much
07:36 needed from them as we've touched on before. Is there any late business that could go on
07:41 before the deadline?
07:42 Yes, I mean, you said it there, the European champions, they don't need a huge amount in
07:48 the market, but I suppose the departures have perhaps slightly just at times forced them
07:53 into the market a little bit. Obviously, you want a little bit of a refresh, don't you,
07:57 every season. So, yes, I mean, the player that we are expecting imminently is Jeremy
08:01 Doku. City have agreed a 65 million euro deal with Rennes for the winger. I think that's
08:11 about 55 million pound in around that region. So, yes, it would be an interesting signing
08:15 for City. Someone who offers a little bit of something different, I suppose, than the
08:20 players they've got. He is a really raw, energetic midfielder, a right-footed winger as well,
08:27 who may well be utilised on the right as well, which would be quite an interesting aspect
08:32 I think for City. So, yes, I think it would be really interesting to see how City harness
08:36 that as well. And Guardiola, listen, he does like his dribblers, I suppose, and Grielich
08:41 is very much a dribbler and Foden is. I need him to broaden it to a certain extent, but
08:45 I think you'll have to obviously be a bit of adaption to get into the fundamental of
08:49 always of Guardiola that you've got to keep the ball, you can't lose it, which obviously
08:55 wingers do tend to do, attacking dribbling wingers. So, yes, it would be interesting
08:59 to see how he gets on. And, yes, certainly an interesting signing for City, who obviously
09:02 will look to replace Riyad Mahrez, who departed earlier this summer. I am expecting another
09:06 departure imminently as well in a report, agreed, a €25 million fee with Al Maseer,
09:15 the Saudi Arabian side. So, yes, I think that will be wrapped up pretty soon. He's a player
09:18 as well, it's worth remembering, won all five Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola.
09:22 It's only a handful of players have done that during his time at City. So, yes, I really
09:27 think he'll be very fondly remembered by City fans. At one point, he was probably one of
09:32 the best centre-backs in the league. I still think there's a very good player there. Actually,
09:36 I'm surprised that some of the top Premier League sides haven't made a move for Laporte.
09:40 I think the likes of Spurs and Arsenal were linked. I actually personally think he would
09:43 be a great signer for both of them. But, yes, he's a fantastic player, but I don't think
09:48 it would be a huge miss for City, just given the resources they have in that area. And
09:52 then I think a few names to monitor in the final weeks of the season. Cancelo, I think
09:57 he will leave and probably join Barcelona on loan. Cole Palmer, I mean, a couple of
10:03 days ago I said I think he's going to stay. I don't know because Doku coming in. If I
10:08 had a bit of money on it, I think he'll stay, Palmer, but I'm not 100% sure on that. And
10:14 I mean, the players pretty much said it will be a transfer or a real stay. It won't be
10:19 a loan move, which is quite interesting as well. Talk of Calvin Phillips, I mean, I think
10:23 the player wants to remain and fight for his place, but four games in the season, hasn't
10:27 played a single minute once again. I don't know. I don't know on that one, really. I
10:32 wouldn't be surprised if City are willing to let him go. And then just two others to
10:36 mention that the Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva, I expect both of those to stay. City
10:41 growing increasingly confident that Kyle Walker is going to stay despite interest from Bayern
10:45 Munich and Silva. Yeah, I mean, I think he's going to stay as well. City were always going
10:49 to get a big, big bid for him to be allowed to leave. That was never really forthcoming.
10:53 And obviously a lot of talk now that he is going to sign a new contract with City. So,
10:56 yeah, I'm not expecting a huge amount to happen in the final days of the window. But I think
11:00 the only other thing I should probably add is obviously the transfer for Lucas Paqueta
11:03 is off. There was real interest from City. I think that at one stage that looked very
11:08 likely to happen. It's now off. I just think it would be interesting to see if City do
11:11 go into the market for another midfielder as well as Doku. But again, I think that will
11:16 be it really. I think Doku, potentially a midfielder and that will probably be it for
11:19 City and will obviously, yeah, be covering all of Manchester world. So, yeah, plenty
11:23 of potential to see that potentially happen.
11:26 And you touched on De Bruyne. We've spoken about him and what a big loss he'll be for
11:31 City. It's looking so far that Phil Foden could be that man to step up and just try
11:36 and unlock a bit of creativity in the side. What's your take on Foden doing that? How
11:41 much potential do you feel he has filling that role?
11:45 Yeah, it was interesting because I thought he was fantastic against Newcastle. He kind
11:49 of played the number 10 role and caused Newcastle real issues throughout the game. He's very
11:55 different to De Bruyne, isn't he? He's much more kind of energetic, explosive, I would
12:01 say, than De Bruyne. I mean, De Bruyne does dribble and run at players, but Foden, it's
12:04 all in the half-tour and a little bit with Foden as well. He probably lacks the control,
12:09 I think De Bruyne would show. I think he probably lacks slightly the vision, but his energy
12:13 offers something pretty unique for City. I think it'd be interesting to see in general
12:17 what happens with Foden this season because his career has been a slowly kind of upwards
12:21 trajectory up until last season, which was plenty of ups and downs, impacted by injury.
12:27 I don't think he came back brilliantly from the World Cup as well. So yeah, it'd be interesting
12:33 to see. I don't know, I mean, Alvarez has played that number 10 role as well this season.
12:39 I do wonder whether City, as I mentioned, will go into the market for another 10 as
12:42 well. So we'll have to see. But I mean, Foden will never be what Kevin De Bruyne is to this
12:47 team, but he can still be a fantastic player in a similar type of role. And I do think
12:52 in the long term, I think Guardiola's season is Kevin De Bruyne's long-term replacement.
12:56 I think there have been little hints that Guardiola has said that. He seems to answer
13:00 a question every week on whether Foden can play in the number 10 role. I think he's probably
13:03 a little bit sick of it, to be honest. But yeah, I think he'll have a big season for
13:10 City, yeah.
13:13 And finally, Sheffield United away next. City yet to concede a goal in the Premier League.
13:18 It's looking quite good, like quite the perfect start really. What can you see going on there?
13:24 Because it could be quite an interesting one. Does City just go there and get the job done
13:28 again?
13:29 Yeah, I think it'd be a pretty comfortable one, if I'm honest. I mean, City have played
13:34 well the first two games of the season. I mean, they've obviously played four matches
13:37 already this season now, including the two at the Community Shield and the Super Cup
13:41 last week. So yeah, game five of the season already, incredibly. But yeah, I think it'd
13:46 be a pretty straightforward one against Sheffield United. In truth, I haven't seen either of
13:50 the games this season, but they are lacking quality and they've kind of sold some of the
13:55 best players from last season. I do think they'll be probably in amongst the favourites
13:59 to go down. So it should be a relatively comfortable one. Those sides at the bottom of the table
14:03 just really struggle against City. It's just so, so difficult to offer enough going the
14:09 other way and to keep them out. So I think it could be a big score. I think City will
14:12 certainly try and get a few goals. I think Arling Holland, I think he's definitely...
14:15 If you haven't got him in your fantasy team, then definitely try and get him in, I think,
14:19 ahead of this weekend. And I think the only interesting thing really ahead of this game,
14:23 I suppose, is the fact that Pep Guardiola's not going to be there. Obviously, the news
14:26 yesterday that he has gone to Barcelona for emergency surgery on his back. Going to miss
14:32 the game against Sheffield United and the Fulham game as well. So I mean, it's just...
14:37 I mean, Guardiola, when you're at the matches, he doesn't sit down. He's constantly pointing
14:41 and shouting and screaming. Even in the Newcastle match at the weekend, he grabbed Mateo Kovacic
14:46 and he was pointing, saying this and this. Kovacic was having a really animated conversation
14:51 with him and was really involved in that as well. So it's just whether they lack those
14:55 little things. Obviously, Juanma Lelos had to take charge of the next two games. But
14:59 it'll be interesting. And yeah, I don't think it will have an impact, if I'm totally honest.
15:04 I think that's just the one kind of interesting aspect ahead of this weekend's game. But as
15:08 I say, expect a comfortable victory for City.
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