The Receipts Are In! Is Rio The Greatest Ever Premier League Defender?

0:00This episode is sponsored by ZocDoc. Have you been putting off a doctor's appointment or need a dentist and you don't know where to start? We've definitely been there and that's why we use ZocDoc. Actually, over the holidays, Michael had a dental emergency and seemingly every office was closed, but we hopped onto ZocDoc, found an in-network dentist, had great reviews, saw real-time appointments available, which was key. It was on New Year's Day and booked an appointment in just minutes. It took so much of the stress out of the already stressful situation. ZocDoc makes it easy to search and compare over 250 ,000 local in-network providers across more than 200 specialties.

0:43So you can find the right doctor or dentist and book instantly. Taking care of your health just got easier. Download the ZocDoc app today and book that appointment on your to-do list. That's Z-O-C-D-O-C. ZocDoc. bring me to the stage bro Rio Ferdinand come to the stage come to the stage front and centre you've been on podcast capping so just remember what you said and at least be wrong and strong and stand on it because then no one can say Rio Ferdinand's capping I'm glad that you've admitted guilt finally and you've worked behind the scenes to get off the charges but you went too far you went too far nah man thank you Joel for bringing this up it was just more about you know what give a man a bit of grace give a man a little bit of a squeeze sometimes you talk like the man in the barbershop you know like you know when you just go and you say something mad that's how the Kishelny thing happens did I say that?

1:38you're the best all time the best what? you're the best all time you're in my top four you're in my top four for sure that's a million percent fourth no one has a top four

1:52yes guys great to be back with another episode of Rio Presents we're here I'm back with the guys The boys are back in town. Joel and Steve, my guest hosts, we're here. How are we doing, guys? How you been? Yeah, man. I'm good, man. Yeah, you been all right? I'm getting good. Look at me, brother. I got my Crafted on, do you know what I mean? Finally came through. Thank you, brother. Yeah, this episode, as you can see in the background as well, it's brought to you by Crafted, guys. So, yeah, I've got mine on under here, actually. I've been in the gym, so it's been underneath. But, yeah, man. So, how are you guys doing, man?

2:19Joel, you were the England cap the other day. Have we seen anything, heard anything? What's going on? Man, it was wicked, man. Honestly, going down there, it's always a pleasure to go down there. And it's been a minute since I've been. And the first thing I can say is the boys look happy. You know, I had the chance to talk to one or two of the players there. I saw Ollie Watkins, caught up with Jed Spence as well. Looking at your interview with Steven Gerrard, where you guys talk about how you didn't really like each other. I wasn't there when you guys were in the England camp, of course, but it seemed totally the opposite of what you and Stevie were talking about.

2:54These guys are mates. They do exercises where they're forced to be around different people and different teammates. They all go out for lunch together. It was a real eye-opener. I really liked it. Steve, what about you? The international break, it allows for football to be seen in a different way and you focus on other pyramids of football, no? Yeah, we had a game at weekend, a team that had only lost once this season. They had quite a lot of draws, so I had a bit of an idea that they'd probably be real tough to beat. And I had 18 players missing. What we can't do is concede first, which is what we did.

3:31So we had to throw the kitchen sink at it. Finally get a penalty in the 85th to equalise it. I had the lads kicking off with me saying, are we changing the shape? Because I'm literally just playing two at the back, one in midfield, seven forwards. We're trying to get that goal. And I said, nope, we're going for the winner. I don't come for draws. we only come to win and we get a free kick in the 98th minute and my boy Omar steps up and sticks it in a joint and the kid's got an actual highlight reel of just game winning free kicks literally lads on the sideline going this is Beckham versus Greece 2001 this he's going to step up and he's going to bury it now obviously you was on the pitch for that weren't you when Beckham did that did you what was your thoughts because I I actually thought he was going to score as he stepped up to take that?

4:21I wasn't actually playing that well in that game and I was just begging saying please I don't want to get the one that it looks like has undone us going to a tournament and I was just thinking Bex and Bex actually in that game was playing like Superman yeah he was like Roy the Rovers and when it was him to step up I was just I was wishing there was no like oh he's going to score but to be fair Bex is probably the only player that I've played with who when he went up for a free kick in and around the box I used to think it felt almost like a penalty at times it was that good, it was that clean and I've been around some great free kick takers like Cristiano Lamps, Bex was the only one who would give you that feeling like this is almost as good as a pen and he was and on that day he produced the moment we needed If you had one player ever to take a free kick to save your life, is it Beckham?

5:14Yeah, 100 % and the next one would be Del Piero oh no no the next one would be Baggio Del Piero Janinho remember him Janinho Pernambucano mate yes oh what a free kick taker he was no but yeah there was Del Piero Baggio Maradona like these players there were some great players but Janinho was one of those ones that used to go wow like he used to move the ball ridiculously well who would you have in today's game who's the dead ball free kick specialist what's his name used to be at Southampton's at West Ham now. Ward Prowse. Ward Prowse. It is, but how is it though? Like, where's the sexy names?

5:53Yeah, yeah. I don't see... Who's out there now that you go, oh, a freak pops up and you go, oh, I wish I want him to be on it. Who is it? It's Ward Prowse, bro. Like, there's no... Yeah, like, it has to be. Like, it's not as defined as it used to be, I would say. Hmm. It's not. Let us know in the comments. We could be wrong. Maybe we're overlooking people. What was the kid at West Ham called a few years ago that went to Marseille? Forgot his name. Hayek. He was bad. He was bad. Yeah, he was bad. Yeah, I don't know who there is now. I'm looking and thinking about players to take three kicks. Who are they?

6:29No one's banging in five, six of them a season. Who's doing it? Not now. Declan Rice. Yeah, Declan Rice. But we're saying that, and we're saying that mostly based on the game against Real Madrid. yeah two goals you know what I mean he's not got a volume he's not got the body of work the body of work the volume where were you guys on that with thingy guys about with Scolese saying he touches it too much and the the stud rolling and that where are you with that with Declan Rice yeah I think it's a little bit of what modern midfielders do Scoles was someone that obviously he tried to play on two as much as possible, didn't he?

7:15But Scholes could do that sometimes if he was trying to find an angle. Literally that same move. Do you know what my favourite Scholesy move was? That used to send defenders west, and I don't see anybody in the current game doing it whatsoever. He would have a little body faint towards the ball as it was coming towards him. Yeah, let it roll across. Yeah, let it run and then pick it up. He's tucked two players out. How's he done that? He's not going to touch the ball. But do you know why you don't see that often? Because it's so hard to do. Because you're taking, your Your body weight's going over and past the ball from where it came from.

7:47And then it's on your weak foot 99 times out of 10, or most of the time. So your next touch is with your weakest foot to set you up to then pass. That's what Scolzi's normal run was. He gets that yard, but Scolzi won't want him to take two or three touches. He'd smash it straight away or take one. First time. So it's like, it was such a hard skill to do, but you've got to have, it's about awareness, about touch, spatial awareness as well. and then the weight of the ball's got to be right. So obviously the weight of the ball was always right because it was me. Have you ever tried to do it and fuck it up?

8:20Yeah, always in training. That's what centre-half, that's why I say about centre-halfs going into midfield is so hard. That's one of the moves that you kind of need to get out of trouble sometimes and let it run across your body. But because we haven't got the wing mirrors to see what's behind, sometimes you see centre-halves going in midfield and letting the ball roll across them, it's blind. They don't know what's there and all of a sudden, bang, they get smashed. Do you know who was wicked at that, Rio? Thiago, he doesn't get enough credit for him. Oh, yeah, Thiago was good. Oh, my gosh. What a player.

8:48He's one that you need to speak to, Rio, because... Yeah, I've reached out to him a few times. He's coaching now, isn't he? So it might be a bit difficult for him. But yeah, Thiago, if you're out there, man, you need to start responding properly, man. No issue, what's your business? Want to get you on? We've got some good ones coming up, by the way, guys. The Rio meets has been going crazy. Stevie's one is breaking records for us online. And it's just, it's been crazy. It's been shared by loads of different people. Honestly, I did not want to watch it. I couldn't think of a single reason why I would want to watch it.

9:24But how complimentary about United is it? Yeah, he was. I just think Stevie's one of those guys. He's quite a straight up guy. And he'll put rivalries to one side if there's respect that needs to be given. And he does that. What have you learned about Steven Gerrard the most since you've retired from football? I just saw a burning desire in there for him to get back into management and to really have another go. And he's desperate for that, I think. Obviously, it hasn't materialised with Rangers. And I think they had a lot of Rangers fans watch the pod in hope that he was going to say something.

9:56And then afterwards, he would do something. I think the reports are saying that he's not accepted the job. But I think it's to understand how important this kind of next step is for him. I had to sit with him like I did to understand that. But also the respect, like Steve said, the respect he had for our team, our club, and for football in general was really nice and refreshing to see. Because, again, you don't really get too high or too low about anything. He's quite a measured character in that sense. And you see that throughout the interview. He's good. and anyway I've had enough of you talking shit Rio it's time to pull up some receipts and I know a man that can pull up some receipts Mr.

10:36Carell Prince can you please make your way to the stand yeah right oh my gosh it's been going off did it just get warm in here Rio or was it me yeah you're sweating I'm sweating up now boy I'm sweating up the aircon just gone straight on because I tell you what you might have got done with a graphic in the first one but the last one that I've seen you are bang to rights yeah I've got to hold my hands up the Kishoni one got me but listen how you doing Kareem man you have taken over social media recently especially in the football world what made you start this and how are you doing I'm doing all right you know I just came here to collect some some bills you know first and foremost I'm glad that you've admitted guilt finally you know to be real what you've done over the last few weeks is you wielded your power do you know what I'm saying you sent the media team to tell me the receipts that it was supposed to be and whatnot and you've worked behind the scenes to get off the charges but I'm glad now that I'm here you've accepted the charges but what made me start this was I just like fact checking things to be honest you know like when it comes to movies and whatnot I'm all about you know if it's based on a true story I want to find out if it's actually a true story and then I just heard of like I watch a lot of football podcasts I heard a few stories they're not sounding right.

11:52I thought, do you know what? Let me look into them. And lo and behold, I landed on a gold mine of footballers bending the truth, forgetting that people were supposed to be there when they weren't supposed to be there and all that sort of stuff. What's the most outlandish, outrageous one you've heard that you've gone, no, no, no, no, no, no. That is way, way left field from the truth. Do you know what? There's two. There's two. The first one, Lee Clark saying he played against Zidane. in the Champions League when he's never played in the Champions League or against Zidane. It really, it really like, that one sticks with me.

12:29I know you're looking at me like that, Steve, bro. He said it. No, I'm not looking at it like you. I'm just thinking like, how do you make, how do you not know that you didn't play in the Champions League? Mate, I don't know. I don't know. And the worst part is, it's like, no disrespect to the clubs, but the clubs he was playing for like for a good part of his career weren't like Champions League teams, Sunderland, Fulham, it wasn't him. So where he got Zidane in the Champions League from, I don't know. And the other one is Carlton Palmer. He said he played against John Terry in 1991 when John Terry was 10 years old.

13:07That one sits with me as well because maybe I'm just a football fan and I remember a lot of stuff where I can recognise players, but some of these guys are just... Yeah, how'd you not know you didn't play in the Champions League? Have you ever been worried about posting something like you've done a video video and you go oh i don't know about this one you know this one might be a bit too far or whatnot no not really but i can always preemptively guess the reaction so if i make a video about you know it's good that real say a united player i know social media is going to be up in arms because they risk they love their legends in it so they're always like they're always going to defense mode but no i don't think so because It's a story, it's facts.

13:49I don't go into people's personal lives or question anything controversial or stuff that happened behind the scenes. It's usually just things that happened on the pitch. It's all in jest, really. If I was getting personal with people, I'd be a bit more worried, but it's not that. It's just facts, not feelings. Who's reacted badly? I would say Carlton Cole. He definitely Carlton Cole. Did he? He wasn't very happy. He was commenting crazy stuff, saying I was playing with his name and X, Y and Z. But we hashed it out. We had a call. I explained what I was doing. He explained where he was coming from.

14:25And, you know, it's all good now. I hope we're friends. And what about, I saw the one that you did here where it didn't go down well, bro. The Jose Mourinho one. You're talking about staying away from legends. That's the first time that I've seen the comments turn on you. I said, ooh. You know what? Mourinho was a litmus test because I need to know if people, care about the truth or care about their legends you get me so yeah and with with Mourinho it was a minor one but the the issue with it is okay cool it's a detail that you've changed but you're changing it to enhance a story like if the story is good enough on its own then you don't need to change nothing but but it's Mourinho you went too far you went too far you got it because the funny thing is he was still telling the truth he was like yeah he was like maybe I don't know 15 minutes apart from the actual event.

15:17But that's a big difference. Nah, you were scraping that one. You were scraping that one. No, no, no. Joe, let me ask you this here. If you're a manager and you give a team talk and you tell a player, don't do anything silly. Don't go crazy. Don't get sent off, right? And he gets sent off one minute after the restart versus 15 minutes after the restart. It's a big difference. It's the same with Rio. Rio, when it came to Gerrard's 32nd red card and the one you tried to show me from four years earlier is two different events. No, but that was an accident. And again, that's another example because they just got the game.

15:54They got the wrong game in their mind. That wasn't them trying to add to the story. That was a genuine mistake. You've got to remember, some of these players, they played like a thousand games, bro. I can't remember everything I did in Sunday League football. So you can't expect... All I thought was, and thank you, Joel, for bringing this up. It was just more about, you know what, give a man a bit of grace. give a man a little bit of a squeeze you know what I mean and I was like I was coming here today to say you know upon review of that one I'm shifting the charges from you to Steven Gerrard because Gerrard brought up the red card and he knew the one he was talking about and he went and when I watched it I said the man said yeah Rio you did this remember it was you it was you and then I think in the moment you're like he got peer pressure it was a red card maybe I have spoken to the referees before let me like you didn't sound convinced when you gave your response.

16:45All that came up in my mind was your face. I just thought, nah, I can't go with this. I can't go full hit with this. This is the great thing about what you've done, Carol, yeah, is that man are now talking on these podcasts, and when people are throwing situations and moments at them, they're having to go, hold on a minute. Let me just rewind and have a little understanding of where, was I there? Was I? Let me just make sure before we go. Can we edit this, guys? Have you got an editing team here? Just to go back. So because, man, people are thinking in that and they don't want to be on the receiving end of what you're doing so on that on that side of things you're going to clear up a lot of rubbish because there's a lot of rubbish being said out there and no one's being made accountable and you my friend are now doing that and i love it yeah but you know what you know it is though like some of it is i look at the the podcast or the show that someone's on and i'm like it's not even live you know you can actually just take a minute and go like have we got this right like can we can we redo that little bit and make sure that we've got the facts and figures correct.

17:43I blame sometimes the interviewer, sometimes the research team. They're tripping the players up, man. Like you said, they played a thousand games. There's got to be someone to be held accountable. Right, man, we've got loads still to come, right, on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this.

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19:32can you give us the uh the the the famous the famous line that joe said at the beginning please just just just give us a live one here please well who do you want me to bring to the stage so i can say rio rio me to the stage bro rio ferdinand come to the stage come to the stage front and center you've been on podcast captain and you know what is with you real actually what i'll say is and this is why you're too real because I think sometimes you forget that you're real Ferdinand and you've got a big platform because sometimes you talk like the man in the barbershop you know when you just go and you say something mad and then obviously by the time you come back for your next trim nobody really remembers the mad things you were saying or someone might pull you up on it but big platform bro like when you came out and said Desiree Duwe should win the Ballon d 'Or that was in the moment, that was real during the Champions League final obviously you didn't win it I don't think he finished top three, maybe not even top three.

20:25Did I say that? Yeah, you said that during the final when he scored his second goal. You're like, give him the Ballon d 'Or, give him the Ballon d 'Or now. Yeah, that's emotion, bro. You've got an idea of emotion to come out of people. You said you're real, bro. And it was the same after PSG with Oli. You know, give him the contract now. Oli at the wheel. Sign it now. You're real for that. You know, at least because that's... You see, that's why I allow you sometimes because it's live TV. But those kind of things. if in five years time it's not panning out the way it's supposed to pan out that's how the Kishelny thing happens so just remember what he said and at least be wrong and strong and stand on it because then no one can say Rio Ferdinand's capping do you know what they're not getting you on they're not getting you blagging about your career which is what a lot of them are doing that's what Carell's pulling up a lot of people bigging up their own career that they did this that and the other I mean I think you could have a whole one hour episode on Gabby Agbonloho saying that he got the better of Nemanja Vidic like just I think Vinicius scored as many against Villa as Gabby Agbomero scored against United.

21:26Did he say that, Gabby? Did Gabby say that? Yeah, this ties in with another case that had to unravel. So, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, ex-Blackpool, he said that he ripped up Nemanja Vidic when they were in the Prem. Obviously, you didn't play in either game. You were injured that season, I believe. But I did watch both full games. I don't want to say the website. I don't know if it's going to get me in trouble. But you can find the full games. I went and watched both games home and away against Blackpool and he did not do that so the next one is That's the kind of penance I live for by the way getting the full 90 minutes out a notepad and pen and sitting there and studying it yeah To say that one of the best defenders to ever play in this league a two-time Premier League player of the season was like lunch food for you I don't buy it I don't buy it because if you can do a vidage so easily I would expect you to have some Champions League experience that's all I've said I know listen on any day someone can have the better of you that's a fact but I don't think Fletcher's ever had the kind of the vim he's never had the chest out business running around near Nemanja Vidic definitely you'd have been walking about with his head turtleneck a little bit at times thinking where is he he's going to come through me listen and I think your memory sometimes over time it starts playing tricks with you a little bit in these situations and it's like it's even like the Torres situation he got sent off a few times in that Vida but how many times did Torres actually score in those games like the amount of games he played the goals to games ratio wasn't like oh my god he's torn Vidic up like he scored a couple of goals he went crazy it's moments it's really moments and I find that like with and it's a common theme I'd like to ask you about this Rio because you're the you'd be on that let's say the receiving end of this is when these players, no disrespect to them, on a lower tier, are making claims.

23:26Because a lot of these stories are players that didn't do as much as the guy they're telling the story about. But that player isn't going to respond. How do you find it when you might hear a story from another player or you see a report of another player saying something about you or your ability? Do you feel the need? Do you get an urge to respond and choose not to? Do you respond behind the scenes or do you just keep it classy and keep it moving? I think it depends on the mood. It also depends on how much alcohol you've got in your system. Because if you've got any alcohol, if you've drunk any type of alcohol that day and someone comes with any type of nonsense, the clapback is real.

24:02It comes straight out. But I don't know. I look at it now. I think it's... I love American sports and the way they report and the media is around it, right? And the athletes, they're so kind of like... A lot of the time, it's like they're up front and it's like they're talking to the media. If there's something to be said, they're up front, they'll say it right and I always used to wish that we could be like that more we're just frowned upon for doing it so I'm in a stage of my life now if a man says to me do you think you was the best yes I was if do you think you was better than certain this certain person yes I was I just wish that you could go hear the clips and you could just back it up because I know my clip someone sent me a clip the other day actually from my from the from the team and of me and uh some moments and I watched it and I thought, you know what?

24:47I actually don't say enough. I actually don't speak about myself enough. For what I just watched here, there ain't no player doing what I do here in the game. There's no player. Hold on a minute. I had to rewind it a few times and go, hold on, is that me? I forgot. You're the best. You're the best all time, Prem. The best what? Are you the best? About all time, Prem. My mind, yeah. Yeah, man. Do you know what, Steve? You know you're shaking your head, Steve. No, because he reckons it's Yapstam, but I'll tell you what, yeah. Yapstam couldn't play ball like Rio. I was watching a Yapstam clip the other day.

25:20I didn't bother sending it to Rio. I just couldn't be bothered, yeah. But he was more of an aggressor, which we know. He had that fighting spirit. He was a warrior, like, real, like, strong like that. But he couldn't play football like Rio. He couldn't play ball. Just quickly, Joel. Just quickly. Sorry. There's probably three or four names that are all worthy shouts to be considered the best. and I think all of them could put a case forward for themselves to be the best. Yapstan's one of them, 100%, right? But I'd say I'm the best. I don't care. Yeah, facts. Tell him, Rio, man. Because I'm looking at Yapstan and as much as I loved him, you know, when you're younger, you look at different players regardless of the teams.

25:56He weren't playing, he weren't pinging them balls that you were. He weren't breaking the lines. He was just a different type, isn't he? I think sometimes it depends what you like, isn't he? He was a different type. You could leave him 1v1 anywhere all the time. But this is to go back to the point, Carol. but we could pull up a clip of all of the players that we would all consider the best right and go oh they were made mugs that day there was a moment in that game oh my god Anthony Martial sending Virgil van Dijk to the shops yeah there's moments there's moments there are moments of them times I've seen moments of everyone like it's it's one of them but I would say I was having a discussion the other day like you're I won't say where but you're in my you're in my top four you're in my top four for sure that's top four that's a million percent top four.

26:38Four as a top four. No, he's actually, he's actually, it teeters between third and second for me. But the top three always changes. Do you know what, do you know why I think it's, it's Japs Stammer's number one? And there's, there's a couple of reasons for it, right? He wasn't as nice as Rio on the ball, right? And, and I think if you bring any of them into 2025, because of the way the game has gone, Rio looks even better than he did at the time, which was unbelievable. And I think he was the best player on the planet, centre-half-wise, for a few years. When United signed him, for sure, he was in the mix.

27:15But Yapstam's ability 1v1. He had Rio's pace, and he had a little bit of physicality about him as well. And I think he was probably a little bit better in the air. But, for me, who comes in and wins three titles back-to-back and dips? It was incredible. Rio won three titles back-to-back? Yeah, but he only had three goals at it. it's true physically physically but you would probably put like Yapstan's rivals like would be more like someone like even like Sol Campbell in the profile of player we're talking not ability just the profile of player they were similar in so many respects I think my partnership with Yapstan would have been a joke if we played together oh that wouldn't have been allowed that couldn't have been allowed that would have been cheat code I think when it comes to players I always think that for me I like the ones that could transcend errors so like Like, Rio obviously played 90s, 2000s, like 2000s, but I could see him playing now and starting for like every team in the world.

28:13And there's only a couple of them that were, you could say, ahead of their time then, but still top for their era and could be top now. And that's how I kind of, how I do it. I can understand why Yapstan would be up there in terms of all his time, but I don't know. I just don't see those type of players being able to survive now. Do you think, I'm going to go through a couple of players. Do you think Gabriel or Arsenal is much better on the ball than Japs Dam? Do you think Rudiger is better than Japs Dam on the ball? That's closer than a... That's close, that one. And these players are considered some of the best defenders in the world right now?

28:51True, but then I guess that would change with the era that you play in, doesn't it? So if you're allowed to express it more, you can look better at it. but then I also think if you could do it, you would do it for example in my era growing up, obviously I was a bit younger but watching say you and John Terry and seeing what you guys could do on the ball you were expressing it at a time where other defenders weren't so it's like, cool, I can see it now, but the ones that can't, say theoretically could they be better on the ball than Gabriel or Rudiger, but I didn't see it as much I didn't really get to express it and it's no disrespect to do you know who gets no love no love whatsoever and it's wrong Robbie Keane

29:40I stand by what I said thank you very much why you keep being wrong and strong it was bad who says I'm wrong how's an opinion oh come on man I don't even want to get to Robbie Keane from a technical point of view who's out there that's a bags man at the moment on Robbie Keane's level there's not many There are some, but there's not many. In the Premier League? He was an average Premier League striker. That's the point I was making. He wasn't an average Premier League striker, though. He wasn't average. He's got 100 Premier League goals, bro. He's literally average. Come on, mate. He wasn't average.

30:11He's literally average. He played for Milan. And? You can't say that Robbie Keane's average, bro. He's like... I'm not talking like your Gabby Agbon-Lahar average. I'm talking that is an average, good Premier League striker. Like, that is a Premier League striker. Whereas you look now... He was a good Premier League striker. He was definitely a... He's got 100... Right now, though, he would be elite, would he not? There's nobody... Yes, I agree. I understand that point. I agree with that point where you're saying... That's the whole point I was making. No, you said Ballon d 'Or. Yeah, Ballon d 'Or.

30:40That's elite. Scott McTominay just got nominated. Don't tell me Robbie Keane's not on that list. But he's not elite, isn't he? Where did he finish? It doesn't matter, he was nominated. There's a list of 30 players that have, like... And we know it's based on what you win that year rather than necessarily how good you are compared to each other. So, would Robbie Keane be nominated for a Ballon d 'Or if he was playing now based on his abilities. I reckon he would. I agree. I reckon he would. That's all I was saying. I think he would. I didn't say he was winning it. It's the average part. The average part I don't agree with when you're saying he's an average forward.

31:09He won. And Ballon d 'Or. And winning the Ballon d 'Or. I don't agree with that as well. Thank you. Carol, you've impressed me. You're obviously doing football content now, but you've actually got a decent knowledge of the game, bro. You might have to come on on a regular basis. That's the bit that I'm trying to show off a bit more. People think I just like screenshots. stats on Twitter. But genuinely, a lot of this stuff, obviously if it's not players before my time, I've watched the games. I did one recently on... I've got a question after this, before I go, but I did one on Evra and they were talking about...

31:44He was talking about Paul Scholes getting two yellows, right? One before and after half-time, taken from the Mourinho story, basically, even though Paul Scholes got two in the first half. And I remember that game. I remember watching it. I remember like it happening so because I've got a good memory and I can... It was an immediate you could go back and just straight away. Cool. But my last question for you is what was going on at Old Trafford when Sir Alex Ferguson was there because why is it I keep getting you and all your teammates in these videos because is the memory off? I don't know man because I think I calculated it was like I've got you, Rooney, Evra, Skolzen, and I think that's the most for any one club that I've got in so far.

32:31Do you know the common denominator between all them players? They've all played two points. They've all played a hell of a lot of games at the top level in high pressure situations and they've won a hell of a lot of trophies. So there's a lot to dissect. There's a lot to go through. Not many other clubs have that. There's a couple of things. There ain't no Knox County legends out here on telly every week, for starters. and for two our lot drank a lot of champagne back in the day champagne yeah champagne yeah no I said that the reason why there's a lot of United players is because it's a large part of the media whether it's in the podcast space or the TV space and you deserve it after winning so much so that's all I can say Harold you're going to be welcome back the way you're talking there I love that I love that I appreciate it thank you so much you know what I want to say just listen continue what you're doing man I saw you when did I message you?

33:20ages ago wouldn't it? Yeah, yeah, you hit me up. You, to be honest, let me give Rio his flowers, let me give him a rebate. If he ever says this, if I ever go places, he was one of the first. Like, he was genuinely one of the first, like, footballers and people in this space to reach out and show love, man. So, I appreciate that. I want to say that in front of everyone. That's it. HMRC, we like to give our rebates when we can. You get one for that. Oh, thanks, man. Listen, great to have you on, Carol, man. Keep doing your thing. I will do. Thank you. Cool. See you a bit. Before we finish up, Rio, we should discuss Jim Ratcliffe's comments on Ruben Amorim.

33:55He had an interview with the Times. The United minority owner said, Amorim needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. Look at Arteta. Look at Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time for the first couple of years. I'm not going to lie. When I saw that online, I was thinking, wow, are they really going to stick with him for three years if results keep going this way? What were your thoughts when you heard these comments? You know what I do like? I just like to hear the people that are in the driving seat for a football club come out and speak. And that's what I liked about Jim Rackleff.

34:27I think he obviously went on to a podcast to speak about something totally different. But obviously that podcast isn't going to allow him to come on in such a moment and not ask him about Man United. So it's just refreshing that somebody in his position actually talks. Now, do I agree with exactly what he said? I understand the sentiment, but I don't... I mean, if you go through the facts and we've had Mr. Fact Checker himself on, Carroll, I don't think it's the right person to kind of draw a comparison with. I think you look at Arteta, the difference with Arteta, there are similarities in some of the stats, but the big one is he improved the team from 10th to finish 8th in his first year, whereas Amarim took his team from 14th to finish 15th.

35:11There was also flexibility in the way that Arteta had his team. I think he had about seven different formations in his first 50 matches. We're just trying things out and looking at stuff. And I just think you were seeing probably a bit of a more, the improvement line would have been a bit more consistent. And you go, I can see it happening. Whereas with Amarim, you look at it and it's like, there isn't as much consistency or positives that are coming out of it that you're going, oh, I can actually see it clear. It's hitting me between my eyes now and I can't, I couldn't let this guy go completely.

35:43and I think right now I think we're at a stage with Man United and Amram I just want to see that consistency of some results coming through performance alongside that and an idea that you go oh I can see this training ground stuff really paying off and the consistency with all of those three different elements isn't there right now and I'm hoping he can get that right Steve what about yourself when you saw that in the times I literally asked for it about two weeks ago on a podcast I said I'd love it if they came out and actually said, this is our guy. I agree. Because the noise can't be helpful in the training ground, that indecision and stuff.

36:25And whether or not he actually goes and sees it through, it shows a bit of public support. Now, the reason that you see an Amarim laughing with like Wilcox and stuff at the train station, which kind of went viral a little bit, might be because he's secure in his position. It might be because he knows, he might have had the conversation behind the scenes of, look, you don't need to get top four this season, but obviously you can't finish 15th. There has to be some sort of a progression. And it might take to the end of the season, or they might have said to him, yo, we know that you've got your new attacking.

37:00Let's see if that can bed in. We'll sort the midfield out next summer. So maybe he's already working on a, you know, maybe not a three-year timeline. Maybe it's a one, two-year timeline where the progression has to be seen. I agree. If we end up finishing 15th and 15th, he ain't seen three years. If we lose five games heavily back to back to back to back to back, he might go then. I think that there has to be evidence of progression. That's what's going to keep him going. But it quietens the noise down a little bit because the noise has got to make it hard. There is a PR element to coming out and saying that.

37:35How are you supposed to attract players? How are you supposed to negotiate with players that you want to bring in in January or next summer if all of this noise is about who the manager's going to be. Also, just on that point, sorry to cut you, I think it's really important, the message sending out to the current squad as well. With that message, you don't get players sitting there going, oh, he's going to be off in a minute anyway. I can just sit here and chill. I can down tools. In their eyes now, he ain't going, I better pull my finger out and start doing a bit. Yeah, I think it's an absolutely positive thing.

38:05I like Jim Ratcliffe's desire to come out and speak. He seems like he's pretty accessible. He does do podcasts and when he's asked about stuff, he was at the London Marathon and he got asked a question about United and he doesn't say, oh I'm here to run he goes, yeah I'll tell you he's clearly recognising some of the issues there was a line that he mentioned that you didn't pick up on or you didn't mention there Jim Radcliffe mentioned that the squad's not been good enough so I think if the ownership's looking at it saying the squad's not been good enough then the ownership has got a responsibility to provide him a squad.

38:42And the comparisons with Arteta, it's only because it's the ones in recent memory. You can't really pull up too many other people that were given time and managed to turn it around because football managers don't get enough time. Not that anymore. It's true. And Arteta's spent a billion pounds on 40 players. Arteta's been allowed to buy two squads worth of players. It's not just about how much money you spend, it's about how many players you're able to bring in that can affect that change. but you've got to remember as well when Arteta took over Arsenal that was his first managerial job Amorim changed his formation frequently when he was at Sporting probably because he was learning the strengths and weaknesses of that sort of stuff you'll have done so much learning in your first 50 games as a manager that you'll have made some mistakes that you wouldn't have gone back to Arteta probably made those mistakes now he basically the formation is a stock formation 4-2-3-1 right?

39:37I think there has to be some flexibility in terms of the midfield. I think there has to be some changes to that because I see us incredibly vulnerable and I'm seeing players do stuff that they don't necessarily do when they're with their national team and they didn't necessarily do prior to Amarim coming. So I'm looking at players being given instructions because it doesn't matter who plays in that midfield, they always press high. so I can't imagine it's not instructions at this point and I think if we just had one person engage the ball with the instruction of delay only and one person screen the back three United would be so much harder to beat on the transition we're hilarious on the transition at the moment people go from the edge of their box to the edge of our box with two passes it's not good enough and I don't think you need to change much the XG shows that we're creating chances the finishes will come I'm happy with that we've got to be harder to beat and I think a tiny little tweak in how we line this shape up like Crystal Palace are probably one of the hardest teams to break down in the league they play the exact same formation so it's not a formation it's the implementation well I think that's a nice way to finish up a semi-positive vibe on Man United do you not think guys?

40:54I hope he actually does well enough to see out three years and that means we'll be in a better position than we are today so good luck to Amarim on that I'll do this weekend Rio Anfield I'd take a point all day right now but if we get a point there it's a humongous result for us and hopefully that instils some confidence we'll see but I'm not again I'm hopeful Very Guys thank you very much for watching please make sure you catch up with the videos on this channel the Steven Gerrard one was amazing I've seen Rio teasing other interviews I don't know where this Pogba interviews at. I see them chilling together in France, Paris week.

41:34I even tried to message him and say, Rio, what's going on with this Pogba thing, right? You know what I mean? He didn't give me too much. But yeah, all the interviews, make sure you check out Rio Meets. Rio Reacts as well is coming back soon. And yeah, shout out to Crafted, myself, Joel Baer, Stephen Housen, Rio Ferdinand. Shout out to Carell Prince for joining us today as well. Tax rebates given all across the board. And we're out. Peace.

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