Is Kobbie fighting a losing battle? | What I was doing at 15 - Max Dowman comparison

0:00Hey guys, it's Mary from Two Judgy Girls. This episode is sponsored by Aerie. If you're counting down the minutes until you take your bra off when you get home, it's probably the wrong bra. Or if the straps are digging into your shoulder or you're constantly adjusting throughout the day, it's definitely time to get a better fit. That's why we love Aerie. Their bras are designed to be the essential effortless first layer with soft fabrics, great fits in up to 59 sizes. So you can find the one that's right for you. Your bra should be holding you in, not holding you back. Visit Aerie.com to find the right bra for you.

0:36That's A-E-R-I-E dot com.

0:42Yes, guys, welcome to this episode of Rio Presents. Plenty discussed with Joel and Steve today. Those two were humbled by Jack Grealish's performance forever and two assists. So we get right into that. Also, I talk about how I would work with Maynard as goalkeeper to improve on set pieces. and Joel brings up the comparison between Paul Scholes and Kobe Manuel after he's not played a single minute this season, which led to quite an interesting chat. And also, I give my thoughts on the psychology of the Man United side and the way they approach the Fulham game and a Fulham team compared to an Arsenal team.

1:18Also, discussing the mental strength shown by a young kid to get to the top, to get playing in the first team at 15 years old. Still at school, Mr Max Dallman. Oh, listen, Steve broke down in his car, an old banger outside. Yep, you guessed it, the Etihad. So let's get stuck in.

1:40Listen, I'm just looking at the screen there. Where the hell are you, Steve? Is that the Etihad? What are you doing? What are you doing there? I broke down. Oh, my gosh. well listen before we get into why you're there and what you're doing there we have got um anyone listening anyone watching we have got a mad giveaway to give on our insta broadcast channel brian and bumo gave us his first interview at manchester united exclusively um after signing um and he gave us a shirt and he signed the shirt while we were there so for one lucky person you got this is a competition to enter the competition by the way you got to find the broadcast channel yeah so it's next to the link tree on a rio ferdinand presents go and join it then scroll up to the top and like the photo of me and brian and boomer where he's signing the shirt that you could potentially win and we'll announce the winner on wednesday and tell it like a person how to collect their prize so make sure you join it um rio i ain't joined it yet you know what all I've got to do is press join, right?

2:49Just join the chat. How can you not be in the chat? Sorry, sorry. My bad. My bad. I'm joining now. We need a voice note for yourself and Steve when you both join. Yeah, I'm going to drop it later on because I can't do it now, but I'm definitely going to drop Wait, hang on a minute. I'll drop something that says top of the league soon, yeah? Not getting carried away again, I see. No, no, just talking facts, mate. That's all we're doing today. Speaking about socials, Rio have you seen our guy Jed Spence on socials bro after after Tottenham beating City listen his captions the memes he adds to the videos out of this one bodies bodies bodies I loved it bruv like he doesn't care does he Rio no Jed Spence I mean he came on the fact he came onto the podcast with a pair of blacked out shades in the studio had everybody going like whoa what's going on here but that told me one thing this guy this guy don't care about no one he's confident and he's backing himself and the way he started this season in pre-season who did he lock down in pre-season or played the best I've seen player against him Kerry Shailer the PSG winger locked him down I don't even know if I said that right but locked him down right best I've seen him played against comes into this season and says goes to Man City and says bring your best winger right bring me your favourite winger I'll deal with him basically that's what he's saying and for a defender this is what I think about if I had social media in my pump I think I would this would have I would have been like this guy because this is yeah because this is he's now in winger's heads every winger that's going to go up against him now I reckon they're going to be going I've seen the tweets I've seen the confidence he's quick he's aggressive 1v1 backs himself I might have to go and play inside bad man it hurts me liking his post but he's a cool guy, man.

4:42He's a friend of the show. So all day long. Yeah, love. Shout out Jed Spence. Yeah, man. But I want to jump in because last week I asked if Manchester United only performed well because it was Arsenal. We all know there's the rivalry. There's the encouragement, the excitement you have when you play against Arsenal. You play against Fulham and the energies ain't the same anymore. Rio, Stee, how did you feel about that? We'll start off with you, Stee.

5:12It's not because it was Arsenal. Although I do think there was aspects of the performance where we maybe didn't quite respect Fulham as much as we should have done. Me and Rio spoke about this last night. How open we were. We weren't quite as open against you. My missus just come for a cup of coffee. Thank you. Hi, Kay. Say hello, then. Hi, Kay. You're all right. Doing great, thank you. Come on, you. We're here in Dubai, guys. We're here in Dubai. Yeah. So I think There was aspects of the performance Which were because it was Arsenal But I don't think we played well Just because it was Arsenal I think why we played poorly yesterday Had nothing to do with that I think Fulham figured us out Let's give them a little bit of credit But what does worry me Is that we've conceded twice from set plays And even though I personally feel like We're quite easy to play against And quite open We're not conceding goals like that We're conceding goals That should be a lot more preventable It's like cock-ups, inset plays, which is trainable, right?

6:15The comments we discussed yesterday, it won't be talking about getting in the 10 positions behind our midfield. Marco Silva talking similarly as well. It seems like we've spoken to even players that go, listen, we know how to play against Man Utd. We know what they're coming with. We know how to play against them. And that's what it seemed like yesterday. I don't like seeing teams have that confidence when they come at us like that and talking about, oh, we know how to main night they're going to play. We know how to combat what they do. We just got to execute it and we'll get a result or we'll get results out of it.

6:50And that's the way it seems when I'm hearing the words and the interviews after a game from opposing teams and players. Is there a technical difference between playing Fulham and facing Arsenal that makes it more difficult for Amarad Sain to compete? I don't think it's technical so much. The only thing I want, you're playing against better players, all due respect to Fulham. Fulham have got good players, but there's more better players in the Arsenal team, which is a fact, right? So when you give up chances in those games or a slight lapse in concentration or you go away from your tactics and your structure, you will get punished more often than not in the games against the bigger teams, right?

7:29But I think as big, if not bigger, I would actually argue as bigger is the way that you go into a game psychologically will almost certainly, I think nine times out of 10, determine the result of your game or determine definitely how you start a game. You have to be so switched on. I found it, and this is why I think we're United at the moment. It's easier to get up for the bigger games because them games demand more. There's more eyeballs. There's more talk. It focuses you straight away. You know the quality you're playing against is super high. I'm not going to be in basketball I'm laser focused I think that drops and the best team managed to keep that laser focusedness throughout the whole season against everybody alright and approach everybody equally the teams that drop off and don't they're the ones who become inconsistent and then you see the results are inconsistent and they start flitting up and down the league and they don't challenge for anything that's where Man United are now so they go to Fulham they know it's going to be a hard game but individually there'll be players that are approaching in that game aren't doing the same things as intensely and as focused during the warm-up, during the pre-match journey to the ground.

8:40The night before, maybe staying up half an hour a bit later than they would normally. Might have that little dessert that they wouldn't normally have. Might not eat as much as the carbohydrates and the protein might be a bit different compared to what it is. All these little factors play a part psychologically when you go into the game and then there's a drop-off. And then the hardest thing to do is if you've dropped off psychologically going into a game, the hardest thing to do is to then get into that game and go, oh, we're under a bit here. Let's turn it up. Let's turn it up. Turn the engine on.

9:11Can't do it. Don't care who you are. Maybe a select few in the world can do that, but it ain't going to happen and work every time. So the way you go into a game psychologically, I'm telling you, determines a lot. And I don't think that we're capable right now of doing that because the results are suggesting that a part to play in that is that. But we started well yesterday. You were talking about getting into games and starting well. I thought we started really well yesterday. Obviously, it didn't end up that way. And I don't know how much of that is Fulham figured us out. I don't know how much of that is we didn't have the confidence to continue doing the same things.

9:48I know that's Amorim sort of put it down to that a little bit. You can start well or you can start badly. it's all about if you're not prepared right psychologically you're not prepared for situations that will arise in a game so you've had a good 5-10 minutes and then it starts going the other way and the momentum changes you're not prepared psychologically to be able to react to that because you've took your foot off the pedal a bit this is going to be a little bit easier this is going to be a bit more chill well actually you're going to have to roll your sleeves up in this game and you have to find a way to get around this team without just relying on one individual moment of brilliance and you're going to have to be together as a unit and do that.

10:26And if one or two are out of sync, collectively you fall down. And that's where we are at the moment. Rio, I must say, Bruno Fernandes with the penalty. Yes, it's one thing that he missed it. Anyone can miss a penalty. But it's the fact that he was rattled by the referee beforehand and then he came out post-match. Again, blaming the referee. What's your thoughts on that? Yeah, he said he was. Yeah, I just think, listen, it can affect you with the referee walking in and bouncing you and just interrupting your routine. A lot of players have routines, but like a boxer, if your ring walk is disturbed at any point, you've got to get yourself back on the show and you go, listen, this is it.

11:10Back in the groove, do it, concentration and laser focused and get it done. You can't allow for something like that to disturb you and not get it right. And I just hope he's not blaming that as to why he missed. Why do you think we're conceding on set plays the way we are? We look shaky. The goalkeeper doesn't film with massive confidence from set pieces. I've got to be honest here, he made a great saver in the game from the young kid King when he came out of his feet. Done really well there. But from set pieces, even outside of the goal, he's coming for things that are a bit 50-50, not sure. The whole back line don't look good in that area.

11:47Not just the keeper, to be honest here. Rio, here's Amarim's comments regarding Kobe Mainu. You know, if Kobe Mainu plays, he has to dislodge the captain in order for him to get picked. Now, that doesn't strike me with a lot of confidence. If you're looking at the stats, I've got him here. Started 15 of 44 matches under Amarin. Is he setting him up to fail? Wait, he was injured for a lot of those, Joel. That's not fair. Yeah, I agree. There is a caveat to that, of the injuries. But I would say, if that is like, right, you've got to dislodge the captain. Well, he's fighting a losing battle, isn't he?

12:26Because Bruno Fernandes has been the talisman for this team for the last three or four years. How is he going to display someone like him in that position? He's going to be near on impossible. He's the guy they look to for when they want a goal, when they want a moment, when they want a chance. So yeah, but the way I read into his comments were that, listen, he may not be playing now, but it's a long season. There's a lot of games to go and he's going to get some time and then he's going to have to go and prove to me that he has to stay in the team. That's the way it seems. And I think we need to listen to somebody like Michael Carrick, who we had an interview with him a little while ago, plays the same position and said, listen, not all youngsters and most youngsters in the early part of their career have a spell where they come out of the team and they've got to find their way back in.

13:11They've got to find their way back into form and to fulfil the manager with confidence and build back that confidence. It's not out of this world and just like crazy that a young player isn't playing at some point in their career. I disagree with the both of you because first of all, yes, he was injured for the majority of the time, Steve. But at the end of the day, you've also had Mason Mount injured. But it doesn't mean when Amarim likes a player, he likes a player and he'll say it. Kobe Menuh has been a ghost, man, throughout his period. We've got the likes of Paul Scholes. Paul Scholes saying he's the nearest thing I've seen to Zidane in taking the ball receiving the ball cruising past people I've read a few comparisons between me and him and this kid don't waste your time he is 10 times the player I was at 19 if I'm Kobe Maynou bro and you're not playing me and obviously the fans are still cheering from Amarim to stay I could be looking at another club at the end of the season right?

14:09I've got to be honest I don't know Scholes's comments about Zidane I think were a bit wild if I'm honest You compared him to Seedolf. I think he's more of a Seedolf player. That's what I think. I think his style of football is more Seedolf. But Scolzi's saying he's a 10 times the player that he was. And I think you've got to remember that telling number there. At 19. At 19. That's what he's saying. Scolzi wasn't developed yet. Still a fantastic potential. But Scolzi had Asma. He couldn't finish games properly at a young age and stuff. he wasn't nowhere near the player that he became at 19 he was playing this kid's playing in European championships he was playing in do you know what I mean it's not like he's a kid who was there and you're going oh he's just in the youth team just got out of the youth team in 21 he was playing for England starting for England Scoles in 19 wasn't doing that so that's where he's talking about the comparison but listen I'm same as Steve I'm a massive fan of Kobe but But he has to work out, what do I need to do to get back in this team?

15:16And we've all had these moments in our careers where, shit, man, I ain't playing. What do I do? Well, the first thing you do is go to the manager and go, what ain't I doing that I need to be doing to get in this team? Right, he's going to tell me. Then I go to work on a training pitch every day. I go to work. I play up against whoever, Bruno, et cetera, and I start dominating them. That's the type of mentality and mindset he has to go with. And then when the chance comes to play, take it with both hands. Now, his argument right now will be, I'm not getting the chance to take it. And that's a fair argument.

15:51But what I would say is do not let the chance come and you're not ready. So train hard. Be focused. I agree, Rio. But I also think he is going to be someone suffering because of this system that Aaron are in plays and he refuses to change it. You know, like, you've got the talent there, man. No one can tell me that Kobi Menuh cannot play football. No one cannot tell. The boy is brilliant. One of the best talents I've ever seen. And you'll tell him, for whatever reason, he couldn't get minutes yesterday. Couldn't even come off. He ain't had a minute this season. Yeah, but just do what I mean. But then on top of that, right, you're supposed to go win the game and you bring on your centre-backs.

16:32What's this Maguire business coming on to try to save the game all the time? What's going on? he's been doing that ever since he's been here he brings two centre-backs on like late on it's crazy but it's not good enough you should be past that now you've gone out there to go get certain players to win games and you're still reverting to those kind of tactics come on bruv like I don't have to be a Manchester United fan to turn around and see that that's wrong and for someone who if I take off my Arsenal hat and I'm talking about enjoying football in general that stinks bruv absolutely stinks I love how critical that you are about tactics and stuff when you're basically stoked from London.

17:08Yeah, set-piece merchants. Steve, it doesn't matter what you say. When I have my tactical criticisms, I keep them away from you because I don't want you to use them as weapons against me. But what I'm saying is, I'm being honest right about now, and I'm sure the people in the chat and the audience will agree. Your tactic to win a game shouldn't be to bring on, you know, Maguire. Who else did he bring on? It was Maguire and... Hey, Nevin. You're right, in a way. And I don't say that often, so cherish that. but the fact that he always brings on a centre-half or two every game baffles me especially when you had not just Kobe Mayne who didn't come on Joshua Zerksy's on there as well and I think I like Joshua Zerksy I like what he offers and me and Rio spoke about this last night when he's got runners he's a really intelligent footballer and I think he finds people now it might have paid off because Harry Maguire gets his head on it and he goes a foot wide of the post with his first touch of the ball it looks a genius if that's gone in.

18:04But it is weird that he's bringing on centre-half slate in the game. I mean, I don't know. Me and Rio came away from that last night and the one thing I came away saying was I have more questions. Every game that goes by, it doesn't answer my questions, it gives me more questions. Every week I've got more questions. I don't know. Last week there weren't questions. Last week there was more hope. There was more, you were sitting there going, there's more optimism. This week has created more questions and going, all right, okay. where's the growth? We saw probably an eight-minute spell in the first eight minutes of the game where you went, I was sitting there going, yes, this is it.

18:41We look aggressive. We look, the intensity is good there. We're pressing from the front, winning things and getting chances and shots off. And then after that, it fizzled out. And I was like, this feels like the way we played yesterday after that goal was a bit like last season in some respects. And that was a disappointing thing. But what I said last night on the live that we'd done with Steve is this team, this manager and his staff, I think you play the first eight minutes, first 10 minutes, whatever it is, first 15 positive minutes of this game and say, this is us. This is what I want to see for 45, 60, 75 minutes.

19:15Now I know you're not, now I know games ebb and flow and it changes, the momentum changes, but we need to have more good spells and positive spells like this and show them the template. That first five, six, seven minutes, whatever it was, right, was as good as I've seen us consistently winning the ball and turning over possession and putting the team under pressure and putting a foot on someone's neck. But we didn't score. That's the killer. You've got to score then. Is this what Manchester United is reduced to? Oh, we played well for eight to ten minutes. Guys, the standards, man. Joe, Joe, Joe.

19:46Nah, man. But that's my issue. Joe, you're going on like last season with Champions League plays or something like that. We were 16th, whatever it was last season. But this is what I'm saying, Rio. Manchester, even then, I said Manchester United should not have been 15th. I don't understand why the standards are so low on the floor. Look at the league table. That's why. Do you know how mental you would sound if we came 15th and you're like, why aren't we winning the league this year? You look as bad as you do. I didn't say winning the league. I'm talking about standards. And do you know what? I saw the live you did yesterday.

20:19I saw the live you did yesterday, Rio. And you said, if you was coach, you would make sure that everybody sees the first eight to 10 minutes and that's what you're focusing on. And I agree, you have to focus on the positives, but at the same time, these negatives as well, when are you going to address them? That's all I'm asking. You can't just show a team the first eight to 10 minutes and I know you're saying build on it, you go from there to 45 minutes. No, Joe, because I'm sure he's already shown them what he doesn't like. I'm just talking in isolation here. He's probably shown them a hundred times, I don't like this, I don't like that, I need this.

20:55That amount of time we saw at the beginning of the game would encapsulate, I think, all the positives that Ruben Amarin wants. Pressing, intensity, in numbers, from a structure, and getting chances off the back of it. What you want to add to that is I want goals off the back of that now. So I think it's a positive reinforcement of the way that the team was set up. Can't be unlocked by the next 80 minutes that was there. You can't allow that to happen. You have to find, I'm saying, what I'm saying is find a way to create some positivity within this team to start building. And I think that's the job of the manager.

21:29It 100 % is. Speaking about positivity, how would you work with the goalkeeper and the defence to try to make yourself stronger when it comes to set pieces? Because you can call us corner of sea all day long, but you guys can't defend set pieces for nothing. I'll take that one. I'll take that one. How would I sort this goalkeeper out? I would take him to Manchester Airport and I'd stick him on the first budget flight out of here. Thank you. Wow. See, you made a good decision. Rio is not good enough, man. Say it. You played in front of Edwin van der Sar. You can't look at biscuit wrists in net there and think that he is anywhere near good enough.

22:08He nearly threw one in yesterday. He needs to laugh enough. I know that, definitely. That's Rio in broadcast mode. I know that you are a player and you have an allegiance, but you're in a fraternity that we won't understand. But we've got to talk about it, Rio, man. How are you improving the goalkeeper and the defence from corners? Buying a new one. I'll tell you what I'm doing. I'm getting him out of the pitch every day and smashing balls under the crossbar. I'll tell you that. He's got to get used to it. He's got to get used to contact. Work out a way. Make sure the referee's aware, by the way, there's going to be contact.

22:43Shout. Get him aware to look at you. So if there is any contact, like in today's game, you get the free kick. But I don't think he talks enough. He don't make the people aware of what's going on. And then his decision-making in those moments, I think at the moment, haven't been good enough. But I don't think he's seen enough of that. I don't think he's seen enough of balls. Declan Rice is whipping balls right on his nose yesterday. A couple of balls getting flashed across the goal. But again, he's not on his own, by the way, in lacking a bit of confidence, it seems. He's not, but it has to improve.

23:21Confidence or is it just ability? Because you can have the most confidence in the world. If you ain't got the ability, you ain't got the ability. And there is, outside of the fact that he's a two-footed goalkeeper that can play with his feet, what goalkeeping ability does he have? He's a shot stopper, though. He's an okay shot stopper. I'll give him that. So is a blackboard if you put it in net. But listen, I agree. from set pieces we look all over the place so that needs to improve and that has to happen immediately because you're looking at Arsenal and we're having a laugh and we're digging Arsenal out but they've got over 30 something goals from set pieces the next is on about 24 like they're brilliant it's way less than that I think I think they're so far ahead yeah anyway I got a shoot because the RAC have just turned up I need to go speak to them but I'll leave you on this I crucified Jack Grealish last week I know you're in love with him I'll give you the floor now to give him some praise like you always do Jack Grealish did alright yesterday didn't he yep what happened Joe listen get your car recovered by the way Steve good luck with your car right man we've got loads still to come right on this pod but we'll be back shortly after this hey guys it's Mary from Two Judgy Girls this episode is sponsored by Aerie.

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25:56I've got the floor. Listen, what happened with Jack Grealish is what I've been saying all along, people. Jack Grealish, the talented footballer, has not performed the way he should have done at Manchester City. People can talk about celebrations and what he does off the pitch. I'm not really here to talk about that. I'm talking about what I see on the pitch. And do you know why I stand on that? Because you see him in Everton colours yesterday. The Everton blue. Two assists. My man dribbling. Doing what he's supposed to do. What he does. Falling in love with the game. When I tell Rio that he's not been performing at Man City, Rio's trying to find holes and say, oh no, but he did this and he was part of the build-up play.

26:32He wasn't good enough. Yesterday was the Jack Grealish that we know and that we knew at Aston Villa. And even for England in Euro 2021 when he had his 10-minute cameos. And that's what we want to see. Right, just to go back a bit. I have never said that he played as well as he did for City as he has for Villa. I never said that. I've always said he's playing a type of football that will be beneficial to the team and what Pep is asking him to play. Is there a better version of Jack Grealish? Yes. but would that make for a better result for Man City? Pep Guardiola obviously thinks no. Now he's gone to Man City and he's won trophies, he'll be happy.

27:20I still believe that when his career finishes he'll say you know what I won things which I dreamed about but my most enjoyable football was at Aston Villa because that's where he played best and he was free to play and that's the key word. There was a freeness about the way he played, to be a maverick. Now, my wish is that he goes to Everton and is allowed freedom. Now, we didn't see that at the weekend. He got two assists, which is great for him. One of them, a great assist, smashed it across the box. The other one, just a two-yard ball, passed it backwards, and then it was smashed into the back of the net.

27:55But he still didn't play over freedom. He still didn't play over freeness in the game for Everton. So I just hope that there's a chance for him maybe to slot into that number 10 position behind the forward and give him that freedom and to be able to roam. That's where he was best when he was at Aston Villa. The ability to just turn up anywhere, not isolated on the wing, which he was still for Everton. And as well as he done, he was still isolated there. You watched the first goal that you set up. What did he do? What happened in that goal, Joel? He ran down the wing and he crossed it in across the goal.

28:25Yeah, what happened though? What happened when he was doing that? Who comes across? Because he's Jack Greenish and he's dangerous and he holds the ball. Two players then come to him, frees up someone else. This is what his game's about. But I'll tell you one thing though, did you see his post-match interview? He spoke about being out of love with the game or, you know, not as, yeah, not, and then he changed it. First of all, you use the word love and then he changed it to enjoyment. But then he spoke about how his family said that he hasn't enjoyed the game. And then he looked and he said, that's probably my fault actually.

28:56Dude, those performances, they've got to remain at that level. They do. He has the ability. Everybody knows he has the ability. No one once said that Jack Grealish isn't a good player. But for£100 million, what he produced at Man City, looking at the stats, even though you don't like the stats that I pulled up last week, Rio, it hasn't been good enough. And that's where I stand. But£100 million, right? There's context to it. For£100 million, to some people's eyes, he hasn't played well enough and he hasn't delivered in terms of numbers. That's a good argument, yeah? But the way I look at it is, our Man City, is Pep Guardiola content with the£100 million given the trophies that he won while Jack was there and Jack played a big part in a lot of those moments?

29:41I keep hearing this argument. Pep Guardiola, he stifles talent. I think... I keep hearing this. Does he stifle talent? I don't agree, man. Like a new styleful flair. That's what I hear you hearing. I'm trying to think. Sometimes. Sometimes he does. Who? Who? Who then? Jack Grealish is one. Yeah. I think he's the main one, to be honest with you. Sane was a flying winger at City. Mahrez, flying winger at City. Scoring goals. Assists. Sterling, done mad numbers at City. Scoring goals. This argument that he stifles wingers is crazy. What about your boy, Eze? Eze in the building. Rio. You know what?

30:30Couldn't have come at a better time given the two injuries you lot have got. Odegaard and Saka. We're hearing Saka's going to be out for four weeks now, they're saying. Yeah. Minimum. So, big, big, big signing. Rio, I have to be honest with you, yeah. Like, I come up and sometimes I hype things up because it's, you know, I'm facing you and Steve. But I have to say, I don't think I've been so excited for a new signing in years, man. Like I'm trying to think the last time I was this excited was probably Ozil and the way they did the rollout involving Ian Wright. I thought Saul Campbell was going to be involved if I'm honest with you because of the whole Spurs thing, but they got it just right with Ian Wright.

31:07And also the messages sent by Thierry Henry. You can see the excitement and the happiness, just the way he smiles when he walked out and he looked back at the crowd. And he's a player that is an example of, you might not like the team, but you like the player. Do you see what I mean? I think there's not a lot of fans out there that will say, oh, I dislike Eze. He is someone that everybody appreciates and they look at him and they go, he deserves that move. What a story. And hopefully he can step in now with Odegaard being out and Saka being out and show us why he's the number 10 for Arsenal. Yeah, I loved the whole rollout of him coming, like you say, harking back to the history of the club with Wrighty and I love all that type of stuff.

31:52Thierry on there talking as well. And I think he's a, he's one of those like, he's a symbolic signing maybe. I think he could turn out to be a young black boy, was at Arsenal as a kid, had to go the long route to get back there, had loads of trials and tribulations, got back to the top now and is at the club that he's always wanted to be at. I just hope he goes out and produces and I hope he's given a bit of time to go out there and produce and I hope he hits the ground running from a lovely family and a kid obviously made of the right stuff. So you wish that kind of kid well. When they're made of the right stuff and they've had to go the long way around, they've been told no.

32:28Not once, not loads of times. No, you're not good enough. And by the way, when you see his videos as a kid playing, by the way, he was a madness as a kid. I don't even know how he was told no by half of these clubs because some of the stuff he was doing in training and in games, the footage is out there. Go and have a look at it. I don't know how it's took him this long to get noticed. So I wish him all of the best. And I think he's, again, the planet that it's all aligning from because there's two injuries, the two of the most influential attacking players. There's going to be a responsibility now and expectations on him to go and deliver.

32:58We have to talk about the 15-year-old wonder kid. My man technically isn't in year 11 yet because school hasn't started, right? He's not 16 till December, Christmas Eve. It's the man himself who won the penalty as well. He ain't afraid of no one. Mr. Max Dowman. Rio, I'll let you have the floor. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Like this kid, I mean, it's not like people who know the youth game, know the academy game. Anyone who's got any idea or have ears or eyes knows of Max Dowman and the potential that he possesses. But I spoke about it earlier, about approaching games from a psychological standpoint. This kid between the ears, he just looks as good as it gets.

33:48He ain't fazed. You know that he's been at Arsenal all these years and the thought of playing in the first team, the thought of getting there, the conversations that are being had at home with his mum and dad, the expectation within his house of him because they're so confident in him but keeping him level-headed because he's from a good background, good stock. The expectation of everybody that watches him that when's he going to make his debut? Not if, when. That's a pressure. I had that. I don't think it was even to this extent, but I was seen as a bit of a wonder kid as a young kid, expected to make my debut.

34:21Not at 15, bruv. That's the difference. I was 17. I was out of school. I'd done a year in the youth team, everyday training at the club, around the pros. This kid's going to school. This kid's got homework that he ain't been able to do because he's got having to train and go to away games. you've got to travel with a team you've got to get like a special letter and mum and dad writing to the headmistress and saying listen Max needs a couple of hours extra off a week or he needs to have a day off or a couple of days because he's actually going training with the first team at Arsenal these are mad things like for a kid to actually think about so the difference between him is that what's between the ears is going to be so important and I think differentiated between the great young talents we've got an interview dropping with Michael Owen soon he talks about this brilliantly about mindset.

35:10Wayne Rooney, you look at the kids like this now, like Louis Niamel, they expect to be good enough. They feel I can transfer what I'm doing in the playground or with the youth team anywhere. Whereas players that are below that level, even if it's a smidgen below that level, are going, I better play my way in and just take it easy, feed my way, fill my way into these games before I can start trying to do what I do there. These ones don't do that. It's like, listen, I'm going to be me and I'm going to be unapologetic about it and you're going to love it and you're going to take it. Could that be what separates him?

35:45Yeah, yeah, 100%. I think if you think about it, there's a lot of kids with ability. There'll be kids on this planet that have got more ability than him, that could do more things with the ball, right? Could be more outrageous maybe, be more explosive, have different parts of their game that they're better than them at. But a differentiator between being a player that can do those in moments and to being a player that can go and actually take the big stage and stay there and be consistent on the big stage at such a young age is what's in between here. That's the most important thing. That muscle, not on your legs, not on your feet, not anywhere else, but between your ears, your brain, will be what changes things.

36:21Because as I said, you could go into them moments and climb up and become all stiff. But when you've been in a youth team where there isn't as much pressure, where everyone expects you to be the man and you are the man and you're confident, I'm as good as these guys, I'm stronger, are easily, outrageously the best. It's easier. When you've got the big season pros on your back, that you know that if you make a mistake, could be a meme now, will be on social media, you will have a big centre-back captain on midfield who's going to be shouting, pass it, give it back to me, don't try and take liberties.

36:52There's different pressures that are now there. Between there is what sorts that out. And he seems like he's got like a filing cabinet in there that he just goes... at mad pace and just does it seamlessly. Some AI brain, man. What were you doing at 15 years old, man? I know that you were also a wonder kid. I know you play it down a little bit. You were called up to go with the England squad at 16 years old to see what the senior team was doing. But what were you doing at 15? Bro, I was playing kiss chase, bro. I was playing spin the bottle behind the back of the school. Like, just, oh, so-and-so's offered you out.

37:33you've got to go to the thingy and have a fight. You're doing stupid stuff. You know what I mean? You're going in a tuck shop, trying to nick something out of the tuck shop. You're doing crazy stuff. You weren't thinking about playing Premier League football. I was hoping, my mantra that I lived by as a kid at that age was, if I can play one minute of professional football, I'll die a happy man. Wow. Didn't matter what level. I weren't thinking Premier League. It was professional football. That could be Div 2. don't care I'll die a happy man this man is looking at Division 2 he will never see Division 2 Division 1 or Championship you know what I mean he will never see that he won't see Europa League you know what I mean so it's a very different different way of thinking for this if he continues in the vein of form and the trajectory that he's been on the world is his eye start and I think one of the things I saw Jamie Redknapp talking about him and I'd like to reiterate that he has a solid foundation of a family His mum and dad seem like the right types of people.

38:34I think his dad's been involved in football. His dad takes counsel from select people, not jumping into anything. And the kid's just level-headed. As I said to you, I've got a company called Football Escapes that travels around the world at different resorts with loads of different legends at a game training young kids. He's been one of those kids on those training things. We've known about him for years. The kid wants to come and help and pick up the bibs and put cones out and be like, coach the younger ones. He's like, he's just football mad. I just want to quickly bring it back to Giocares.

39:02I saw something that he did this game that he didn't do as much during the United game that you had actually picked out running down the channels, running across and giving people a hard time on the shoulder. What did you see that you liked from him? Well, the two games I've seen now of him, I think that's his best trait. His best trait is either running through, which is going to be difficult in most of the games. But I think away from home, especially, he'll have an opportunity to do it where he can run onto things. that's his best trait because he's powerful, he's quick enough and he can run through on things and that's where he looks most confident or running down the channels, run down the sides and he's now a different type of outlet for Arsenal.

39:43He gives you a different dimension that you haven't had. Before Havertz wants the ball into feet, he's a different type of player. Whereas this guy, he can stretch the game which will enable the likes of Odegaard when he's fit, Eze, even Declan when he's in there in that little eight to ten spot area, if he's stretching the team and the defenders back, that creates that space. And Arsenal haven't been able to do that a lot with the number nines that they've been playing over the last year or two. So he's definitely a different element for you guys. It's just about you guys utilising that. Now, what I see with Arsenal, you guys are good at utilising your strengths.

40:19You know what I mean? Set pieces. You've got aggressive players, great delivery. You utilise it and you're very good at it. Is Mikel Arteta going to see that, see something in Gokares and go, that is now a different reference point for us. We're going to hone in that. It's different. That's going to help him help us. And we're going to see what that is. Because if we start seeing these patterns of him always running in the channels, always getting the team up, stretching the opposition, then the 10s getting space to work their magic and getting chances off it, then you can say, then you'll be saying, listen, I see now why he signed him, why you went all out for him.

40:53Do you have any experience of strikers scoring either earlier on or late on after a move? and what value does that add to get an early goal especially when there's so much pressure like on Victor Giochari yeah well Wayne Rooney they don't come much more pressurised than when he signed for May United it was worldwide news record breaking signed for a teenager it was just like crazy comes in Champions League scores a hat-trick like what that does for confidence now listen Wayne Rooney wasn't somebody that was ever lacking confidence but I'll tell you what don't matter who you are if you go three or four games big signing number nine you don't score Trust me, the confidence starts coming out, seeping out of you quickly.

41:32I was pleased with that for us to get goals and start scoring early because, as I said, I actually want to see him do well. I want to see him produce and transfer that form from Portugal, where he's being questioned, into the Premier League. I want to talk really quickly on Donnarumma. It looks as if he's going to be signing for City. How do you rate him when it comes to playing with the ball at his feet? What's your thoughts on him? well he's not Edison with the ball at his feet but I tell you what he does do he keeps the ball out of the net I watched him multiple times in the Champions League last season and at times he was outrageous big moments big saves and what I love about him is that he actually can be quiet in a game for a long time and then all of a sudden bang you need a moment Courtois is a bit similar in that respect with Don Aroma the only thing that goes against him in the modern game is that with his feet he doesn't look as clean and so like an Edison Edison looks night and day different and better than him with the ball at his feet.

42:28But I would say that Donnarumma is a better goalkeeper. And if I was a defender, I'd want Donnarumma in my goal. No, I agree in the fact that you can't doubt his, especially shot-stopping ability in the Champions League last season. I thought, wow, what's going on here? But what value do you put with the fact that he's only had one single error that's led to a goal in the last two seasons? that's like 50 games right that's what I'm saying so what that tells you is he ain't great with his feet okay that's okay that's evident when you watch him but he doesn't he doesn't cost you goals that's the difference if someone's not good with their feet right okay he's not being able to set us up to play which is a hindrance but then his counter argument will be well how many goals do I cost you a season probably how many points do I get us with performances that's what you've got to weigh up and I'd be on the side of the fence where I'm saying, he don't cost us goals and he actually puts points on the board with his performances.

43:29So I'm taking him all day long. Well, the difference is, this is the Premier League as well. You know, PSG are a very dominant team in their league. So we'll see how it turns out, especially with Pep as well. I just think these players, I'm really eager to see how they work with Pep and his style because we all know that he likes to play it from the back. If that's not his strength, how long will he last? I don't know. We will see. But, Rio, I have to say it's been a great episode. One of my favorite episodes so far. Of all our time doing this. Yeah. You know, thank you very much for not hiding.

44:02And, you know, thank you very much for everyone joining the broadcast as well and checking out the interviews, big interviews on this channel, man. We've been doing post-match lives as well. We are feeding the audience, Rio. Ain't that right? Yep. 100%. We are here live and direct. Like I said, man, you might have not heard, but you got here now. I'm in Dubai now. but there's more content coming out than ever. We're traveling worldwide. We're out of the studio into your front room. Let's go. Everybody watching, if you haven't done so already, join the Rio Ferdinand Presents broadcast channel on Instagram.

44:35We will be giving away the Mbwemo shirt but you have to be joined to that broadcast group to have a chance of winning. Ain't that right, Rio? Yeah, make sure you do it, man. There's a video of him signing that shirt. That exact shirt is there. Up for grabs, competition time. join do not be left behind guys yeah and don't forget rio's dropping voice notes in that group chat as well so it gets nice and personal and stuff like that during games and everything so you don't want to miss out it's going to be hilarious stay tuned peace

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