Usain Bolt VENTS About Man Utd Defending | Comparing Doku To Nani And Grealish

0:00Hello, I'm Max Rushton. The World Cup is back and Football Weekly is going daily. If you want award-winning soccer coverage from a podcast that's been over-analyzing the game for more than 20 years and still hasn't run out of opinions or just repeats the same ones over and over again, this is where you'll find it. We'll be producing 33 daily episodes across the tournament, breaking down all the action, the results and, of course, the drama. Can the US make it out of the group stage and into the spotlight on the biggest stage? World Cup Daily. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch full episodes on YouTube.

0:29This is why you have each other You play for each other So if I push up The midfield Slot in Like come on Please Mark Please real Get to somebody Please He's begging He's begging there You're saying He's like He's like many Man United fans Around the world You know in fact Football fans around the world

0:55Yes guys We are back with another episode of Rio Presents, brought to you by Crafted Guys. Listen, Steve Housen and Joel Baer are in their house as usual, man. How you doing, guys? I'm all right. How are you? Yeah, man. Joel's been better, but he looks happy. Yeah, man. Happy as he can be. You all right, Joel? I was watching that city Liverpool gave yesterday. And guys, I have to be honest with you, man. Four points at the top has never felt so uncomfortable in my life, but we'll get onto that later. So, I've been seeing you here, there, and everywhere, Rio. Just wanted to know, when you're back in London, Are we going to get back in the studio together?

1:28Of course we are, man. Of course we are. But you know what? I'm going to be in London. I've got a couple of things going on, man. On the 14th of November, you might not have seen, obviously not with you guys, but I'm going to be judging a panel of Alibaba's co-create pitch and also like a panel discussion to share like my business tips for European entrepreneurs. This is one of the best opportunities to elevate your business. I'll be judging businesses like they do on Dragons. They're a little bit similar, a little bit more low level. But it's a phenomenal thing to give people an opportunity. And I'm looking forward to seeing the 30 finalists on the day.

2:04And who will win their share of the$400 ,000, by the way. $400 ,000 I'm talking about in front of myself. And there's a couple of other star guests there as well who are judging. So it's going to be a good day out. I'm really looking forward to it. And it's something that's close to my heart, entrepreneurism. That's what I do. I'm an entrepreneur. I love getting involved in different businesses and this sings to that massively. What kind of dragon are you going to be, Ria? Open and honest and direct. Oh, mate, I would love to see you on Dragon's Den because you get so giddy about stuff. You'd be in on everything.

2:41Yeah, you would do that. I wouldn't have no money left. I'd be, ah, get me involved in that. Please, please, please. The only thing I'm mad haggler about is the percentages of equity that I think I deserve. I'll be going hard on that. But no, man, I'm just looking forward to seeing like, Like, you know what is, I've learned over the years, I've invested in a lot of stuff, especially in the tech world. And at the beginning, I used to get really kind of giddy about like the idea. Oh, that sounds amazing. It looks brilliant. The idea is not really ever the thing that makes it. You need the right people behind it who's pushing it and driving it.

3:15You've got to invest in them people. Two things. What was the biggest win? It doesn't have to be financial. It can just be like that was the biggest success because of the impact or whatever and the biggest loss. Talk to me about them. I want to see the wins or the loss. What was a big mistake and what was a big win? A loss once was listening to a financial advisor and I invested in property, lost a hell of a lot of money. How did you do that on property? I thought no one loses on property. That's what they tell you online, mate. Social media today makes everyone believe that property or any investment is unreal.

3:49all the wins um probably property again property that i've invested in some even the building i invested in where where you are joel now um that's been a great investment loads of different property things um but also tech i've invested in a hell of a lot of tech things over the years and most of them haven't been the fruitful return that you all like desire but in tech it's a little bit different that if you get one or two that do really well it takes care of all the bad beats that you've had. I thought you was going to say, Rio, that the best investment was just basically invested in yourself.

4:23Because if you look at the platform, for example, this Rio Ferdinand presents, what a hell of an investment over the last few years, right? You've even got like top people now paying attention to it, celebrities, just because of the promises that you made earlier last year. I promised when I stepped away from TNT that I'm going to take this channel to the next level. I think we have with the content and the consistency and you guys being a big part of that as well. But also, So when you're getting people like Usain Bolt, who's a massive fan of Man United, coming on and leaving voice notes, not on my page, on the channel's page.

4:55And he's venting these frustrations about Ruben Amirim and some of the players after the draw this weekend. I think we should play it and take a listen. This is the first time I'm hearing it, by the way, because you guys won't let me hear it. You want to see my natural reaction. Yeah, here you go. Real, Usainia, I just watched a United game. One of our biggest problems, bro, it's when we invite pressure to ourselves. Because a while ago, the goal that we scored, they scored against us that first goal. Euro came out. The guy's back is turned. Instead of him pressing him so he could pass the ball back, he just turned and ran back into defense.

5:36They're always running back. All we do is invite pressure. Please, I'm begging you, man. Please. Get to the team and say something. You are one of the greatest Manchester United defender we had. Please, bro. It's stressing me out. And I know you have nothing to do with this, but tell the guys to pass the ball quicker. They pass the ball like, oh my God, I'm sorry. I'm venting to you, bro. They don't know how to defend one-on-one. Shaw is the only one that seems like he understands. All they know is system. line up and play well. That's all they know. They don't know to step up, push the defender, then pass the ball back down and then you go back into your line.

6:22This is why you have each other. You play for each other. So if I push up, the midfield slots in. Like, come on. Please, Mark. Please, real. Get to somebody. Please. He's begging. He's begging there. You're saying he's like many Man United fans around the world. You know, in fact, football fans around the world, they want their team to do better. They want certain players to do better. I think he's got a couple of points there, but I think the only one I really back him on is the passing the ball quicker. I saw Reuven Amarim talk about it the other day. He wants the defenders especially to pass the ball around quicker, recycling it quicker, be a bit more assertive.

7:01I agree on that at times. The jumping out defensively, Luke Shaw does it, yeah, but I think our best one who's done it this year is De Litt. De Litt is when the one has jumped out. And we talked about this earlier in the season, about players knowing the right time. I think De Litt has been really good at it. I think he's shown the way the manager wants him to do it. I think he's been aggressive. I think he's been on the front foot. Listen, there was times in the game against Spurs where it didn't work and it wasn't working as a cohesive unit. I get that. But it's going to happen. Again, we're still in this rebuilding phase.

7:36And I think that's what we've got to manage, the expectations of the fans. I think I've seen some people going off on one, like going crazy that where this, where the manager ruined it with a substitution. Yeah, listen, he might have made a couple of mistakes, substitutions, but if he didn't make any substitutions and we still got the result, right? Everyone's going, why didn't he change it? Why didn't he change it? Like he's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't sometimes. And I think, listen, Slott won the league last year, went to City this year, got it wrong, completely wrong on a date. It does happen.

8:02You got Mikel Housen over here, who his personal team scoring and winning games from set pieces now as well. I saw that as well. Yeah, we're going to talk about that more slowly. But being more pragmatic, Steve, would you agree? Do you reckon that Amarim has to be more pragmatic? Do you agree with Hussain Bolt? I think he's asking for the defence to press. And I actually think that the best thing that we've done in the last month for us... It's not press. Yeah, is actually get into position and get players behind the ball. I watched that first goal a good few times I was thinking, how has this been allowed to happen?

8:39And I actually don't think we did anything technically wrong for their first goal. I just think it's been an unbelievable first touch and an unbelievable turn and finish. And then Delick's got a knock on it and it's took it past the keeper. And you think sometimes that just happens. So, yeah, I understand some of the stuff he's saying, and I totally agree about the speed of passing. and I would even argue that I agree with the substitution thing I think we probably made too many subs You texted me at the time didn't you? Yeah About the subs Yeah I think Casemiro had to come off that was the right call Masraoui probably still needs a bit of match fitness because he's not played in a while that was the right call but did we need to take Dorgue off?

9:24Dorgue was just involved in everything and he was dueling like a madman The Brighton game shown us this and the Spurs game shown as this. You make all those subs and you've conceded two goals. That's not a coincidence when it's happened twice. You know, it's too many subs at too quicker interval or that supporting cash just is not good enough at the moment. Just to go back to one of your saying's points about passing, it's funny, Ruben Amram said something quite interesting after the game. I said, here's his quote. I think he, this is about De Ligt, I think he has more quality on the board than he's showing because he's still at a point where he doesn't want to make a mistake with the ball.

10:04When we reach a very good point, our three centre-backs will control the tempo and the quality of the game. It's such a real kind of statement of intent of where he's looking to go with his team. The back three absolutely dictating with the ball around the pace of passing, the pace of the game and controlling things in terms of build-up in the whole game. And building from there, that's so different to when I was a player. Centre-backs never had the ball like that. We were the players that were getting it and giving it to the better players and the better passers, the people that were better on the ball with more imagination.

10:37Do you know what I mean? I'm looking to find Scolese, Carrick, Ryan Giggs on the wing, or Bex, or Cristiano, or if I can slip it over or through to the number 10, Rooney. That's my job done. I'm delighted with that. Whereas now it's like, we'll control, we'll probe. When we see an opening as centre-backs, then we'll play forward and then we'll get the game moving and we'll up the tempo. that was never the case with us really. It was just so, it's so, the ask of a centre-back in today's game is so different. It's the sort of stuff we was touching on when we spoke to the manager in New York. That's the thing I was trying to get out of him is like, we've taken a player from midfield and added it to defence.

11:15What's the specific role are we looking for? Has he just answered that question there? He's looking for a playmaker in defence. Maybe two. I don't think, maybe spring to the wide centre-halves is where you get that extra playmaking ability it from. Have we got a Van Dijk who can control it like that? I think when you saw De Ligt as a kid, he looked like he could become that command in all playing centre-half who can control things and whatnot. But I think he's growing, like the manager said. He's at the moment, this is what I said a few weeks ago, even last season, we've got players that are just hoping they don't make mistakes right now.

11:48Don't want to be the one to make a mistake, just getting through solid. I'm controlling what I can control. That's me and my game before I look at anything else. And once they get through that, which is confidence, and momentum and more results, good results, that will come where they start thinking, I can take care of other people. I can take a few more risks. If it goes out of play, who cares? Right now, I still think they're in that other zone I was talking about before. It's funny how you say that the centre-backs have to be able to play ball, man, because opposition teams can smell it if someone can't.

12:17Referring to the game yesterday, City versus Liverpool, you can see how Canate was left on the ball with no pressure because they know he's not the one that's going to be split in the past of that Virgil van Dijk. He's the weakest in possession. And then they just exploit it. I think it's cycles, isn't it? I think that Trent and Andy Robertson were, for a couple of years, the most touches on the ball you'd see. And in the last couple of years, just mainly defenders, especially like the van Dijks, even Dunkirk at Brighton, massive amounts of touches. But like you say, yeah, Rodri, I think that City, when they were dominating, he was the one it was all going through.

12:51I think it depends on his cycles, but also what the teams require. and I look at it in my time the requirement of a centre-back was get on it and just play quick around the back four until there's a moment where you can go forward or you know what play a couple but don't go overplay and then play into I was probably the first one who was actually taking a few risks on the ball I loved the pass over the press into the number 10 if they were pressing us high and then I could see Wayne Rooney just drop off into the number 10 position. That was my best thing. Or Giggsie coming off the line into that half space as well between midfielders and defence.

13:32And I could clip it over it. That was my favourite pass. Or I might give it the eyes to the fullback and play it through the lines. I don't remember as many in my time we were doing that. I was one of the probably first ones to consistently try and do that. But also having the confidence of a manager to do that. You've got to remember a lot of the managers back in the day was like, listen to you, I want you centre-halves, head it, clear it, play back to front. But in today's game, if you're a centre-back in today's game and you can't pass the ball, and do you know what the main thing is? My two boys, they play in the academies, and Brighton are massive on this.

14:04The centre-half's job is to invite the press. Your job is to invite them, not just keep playing the ball side to side for no reason. Sometimes stand on the ball, stay on the ball and say to their players, come on, come on to me. And you see it with the first team, but you see it in the Premier League. Van Dyke does it loads. come on, as soon as someone jumps out of their shape and comes to press him, he'll play it round one to the other, then someone's free in midfield or somewhere else. City done that massively, really well in tight areas, especially to Liverpool yesterday. Go on, come and press us and we'll pop it out of there and then we'll find the spare man in open grass who can hurt you.

14:40They've done that loads yesterday. Bearing all that in mind, Rio, who is United's most important player right now? I don't think it's one man. I like that little smile. I think you'll probably agree with me. It can't be down to one man. I think De Ligt's been our best defender this season. I think he's been outstanding for us. He's even adding goals like the equaliser last-minute goal the other day. But I think in terms of his press, he's assertive, his willingness to go into foreign areas up the pitch to defend as well at the right times has been good. But clearing out of his box, he's been brilliant.

15:17and Bumo has been a joke as well I think he's really kind of stepped in there and become a real mainstay and someone that can give us two or three seconds on the ball relieve pressure for us scoring important goals, creating chances I think he's I saw Thomas Frank's comments about him yesterday about nearing a complete winger, I think by the end of this season he'll be in that frame to be one of the most complete wingers in the league I would say because I think he can do everything just needs to consistently continue doing that in a red shirt. And the goalkeeper. Can't talk about anyone being our most important player about saying we're a goal.

15:55There's no coincidence that our upturn in form, we've got a goalkeeper that it seems like all the players trust. I thought when he was on the bench for so long, I thought, oh, what has the manager seen in training that we haven't? But I have to be honest with you, really, really assertive. I want to move it on to Arsenal versus Sunderland. apparently Rio and Steve Sunderland moved the advertising boards closer to negate the long throws of Arsenal Rio how much do you rate that move? I'm absolutely buzzing with it Steve you? I've never been more here for it I told you Sunderland was a problem man told you Sunderland was a problem for people I had them staying up this was the year that all three that came up were not going straight back down again and the reason was because Sunderland were always going to be hard to beat and Xhaka might be one of the signings of the summer because he's not just added a bit of steel to him.

16:46Isn't he like three or four assists deep or something as well this year? Like he's on fire, man. He's doing bits. They can't believe they've got him. I'm telling you, I know that all their fans must be sitting there going, how have we got Granit Shakira here? How have we got him up here? Like one, the weather's terrible. It's grim up there, right? They're a team that was one of the favourites to go down and he's just a footballer that knows the game. He is like that coach's player on the pitch. He's the one that the coach knows that everything he talks and thinks about goes through that player.

17:19He's one of those guys and a really good guy as well. And I think it's Arsenal. I think all their fans were going crazy. And the fans that make you think, oh, what's going on with Arsenal? You could see the reaction so negative. Sometimes a result away from home, even if it is one of the teams that people are saying could go down, it's a good result. I agree. It's a decent result. Do you know what I mean? You can't turn your nose up sometimes when you're getting... You're not getting beat. That's the point. It's the same thing I was saying about United. And I see a lot of United fans going and throwing their toys out of the power about the result of the weekend.

17:51Listen, we're on a momentum building, confidence building run at the minute. You've got to cling on to the fact we've not got beat. This is Spurs, by the way. They've done all right. Like, their new manager, yeah, they're not flying. But Spurs away is not an easy game. It's true. And you know what, Ria, 100 % spot on. And all I could think of after that Arsenal-Sunderland game, or Sunderland-Arsenal game, I should say, is good point gained. And what you said when you sometimes had those results with Roy Keane, or you heard Roy Keane say in your changing rooms, we have to accept Sunderland are unbeaten at home this season.

18:25They're not a joke. It doesn't matter whether you know a lot of their players or not. Right now, they are being coached to a T. And you have to take it, man. You have to take it. Steve, why are you smiling? No reason. go on Steve say what you think go on please because it was only Sunderland when United beat them oh Steve I didn't say that keep talking Steve keep talking I'm just saying it was only don't get gassed you've only beat Sunderland meanwhile 2-0 comfortable made them change their way of playing they had to throw an extra defender on because they were struggling to cope with Manchester United true but it's like I was said about Man United last week and I'll say it again this week for Arsenal.

19:08Who are the people in that change room are saying, guys, good point. Points drop, disappointed. We expect to come here and win, but listen, we'll take that. We'll bounce back down the road, bounce back into the international period. We're sweet. We're cool with that. Do you know what? That's what we do. Why? Because they know. Nah. They know what? They know what? They know what? What do we know? Going back in that fridge, mate. That's what they know. They know. Yeah. I think any people that were popping their champagne or getting it ready, like getting it chilled out has put that straight back in the flipping in the cabinet and said listen I'm going to have to calm it down a little bit City not even been good and they're right on their heels and if anyone knows how to win a title in this league it's them lot down the road you lot you lot are just nasty I'm telling you I can see the glimmer in both of your faces no but we don't even want them to win I don't even want them to win I don't know let's reiterate again if Arsenal or City are going for a title I want Arsenal to win trust me right but it's made it really hard to believe in you guys in the last few years because you just haven't been able to get it done.

20:08What happens if you bottle it again? You know, if we do, then we really got to start asking some serious questions because four years on the bounces, in my opinion, it's not acceptable. That's a hundred million pound player in every position with the money you spend. And I'll tell you what, Steve, I don't like this notion of, look, Gokhorez didn't play. I'm not jumping on this negativity train, but we're here to win the title, right? I don't like this theory as well as, oh, Gokhorez is here to score in the smaller games. No. Imagine you sign Ruud van Nistelrooy or City sign Haaland and that was the premises.

20:41It's not about that, man. We're going to need all our players firing because like you're saying, Steve, City are on our heels, man. But it's only November. You don't win the league in November. There's an international break and we've got a big squad. But Joe, sorry, just on that, my point about Gokura's scoring against the weaker teams was, it wasn't that that's all he's good at. It was that it's important to do that. you guys tripped up like again this week if you're going to put it like that tripped up against a team that people expect you to win so you need a player like that if he's going to be a bully of the average teams great a great asset to your squad I'm not saying I'm just saying it's been the trend in this league for all the strikers all the best strikers score more goals against their worst teams it's natural you're right I think when you put it in that context I'll be honest with you it does make sense But I just don't want that to be an excuse, if that makes sense.

21:37Because it's already been three years, bro. Like, if you're coming in, you're coming in to score and win in every single game possible. I don't want to hear any of that. The problem you've got, Joel, is that you're playing against City. That's the problem. That's what Steve's saying. It's not like you're playing against City, who have been here. They know what they're doing. Let's even talk about City now. They've played against Liverpool. And I think it's a really important thing. to win the league you've got to set down markers in a season City have had Liverpool come to their back garden and said listen we're going to slap you up and pull your pants down and send you packing back up the motorway to where you're from because you ain't coming here and trying to give it anything we're going to put we're going to put you under it and we prepare tactically can you respond you've had a massive game in the week can you do bang bang two of them out in a week the answer was no right man And we've got loads still to come out on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this.

22:36Hello, I'm Max Rushton. The World Cup is back and Football Weekly is going daily. If you want award-winning soccer coverage from a podcast that's been over-analyzing the game for more than 20 years and still hasn't run out of opinions or just repeats the same ones over and over again, this is where you'll find it. We'll be producing 33 daily episodes across the tournament, breaking down all the action, the results, and of course, the drama. Can the US make it out of the group stage and into the spotlight on the biggest stage? Watch World Cup Daily, listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch full episodes on YouTube.

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23:37Jeremy Doku, that's got to be one of the best winger performances I have ever seen, Rio. Like, we need to speak about how he's improved his game this season. And I also want to ask, is he world class? First of all, he's not world class yet. I think he has everything to be world-class. He just hasn't been in enough of those big, big games and to be able to be considered, I don't think yet. Has he got world-class potential? Absolutely. And I don't think it's going to be long before we can be talking about that at all because if he continues on this trajectory, he's going to be there or thereabouts.

24:13What I would say is that Doku has, he has absolutely world-class talent profile. he's got assets that are superhuman superpower assets pace, strength merging those two together with balance an ability to understand when 1v1s can be pulled on and he can pull them into an area and then go right this is me against you he's got a confidence and a want to engage the 1v1 in today's game he likes to kick and run these are all traits that just mean this is, for the position he's playing, it's world-class traits. What separates the good players from the world-class ones or the very good players from the world-class ones is decision-making and final delivery.

25:04Your final ball and your delivery and your decision-making in the final third and then consistency of all of that. Added to them the profile that I mentioned earlier, it gets all that together, mate. We're talking about, we don't know what you're talking about, But one player, there's two players that he reminds me of. There's similarities. There's differences, but there's similarities. One of them, Sterling, when he left Liverpool and went to City. You could see there was that raw potential pace, trickery, bravery. That raw pace and power together, mixed and blended together. Could he bring it all together with that end product and decision making?

25:47He eventually started doing that and scoring and assisting goals, winning trophies, and he was on a wave. He had a crazy run. England's best player at a tournament lot. And another one he reminds me of, in many ways, is Narnie. Narnie was a frustrating player. In many ways, I think, up to this point, in the last few weeks especially, that Doku's probably been for some of his teammates. Because what you see and you can smell what he possesses, and your frustration is that he's not delivering it on a consistent basis. And you're sitting there going, oh my God. But what I see with Pep is he's sitting there going, licking his lips at what he's got and the potential he's seeing and saying, if this comes together, we could go on another winning run around someone like him because he's a threat and he's scary.

26:32He's one player. I don't want to be around. There's certain players that you go, don't bring him into my area. I'm delighted he's a winger and stay out wide. Keep him out wide. Don't come in. You saw when he came in the box with Canate, all at sea. like he's a centre-half nightmare because he's too small too powerful and small and quick all at the same time and wants the 1v1 nah and can kick and run no I don't want that do not want that so Rio why is it that he was able to give Conor Bradley a torrid time whereas Conor Bradley did really good against Vinny Junior earlier last week what's the difference Conor Bradley done well against Vinicius Jr.

27:16But also I think sometimes a player can help you. And I think Vinicius Jr.'s decision-making in that game in terms of when he's seen a 1v1, I saw him recycling the ball at times. When there's one versus three, I saw T.M.R. talking about it, 1v2 or 3. He's looking to go past people when there's too many people there. I think his decision-making in that game, as well as Conor Bradley done, played into Conor Bradley's hands. Where this week you had two or three number 10s in the City team at times, hanging around that position, thickening up the infield. Liverpool having to go on man-to-man that.

27:50And then it was 1v1 season out wide. 1v1 out there. I don't know a defender on the planet, maybe right now, other than probably Jed Spence, who's actually confident enough to try and go 1v1 with Docky and actually might have a good positive outcome. Because he's just like, he's relentless with it. He was in the 50th minute of the first half. A 1v1 situation came about normally a player just going to run that in the corner just chill out recycle it a little my man said nah burners on let's go 1v1 I'll have it with you I've got a corner like mental a defender's nightmare on the Nani comparison and the decision making comparison to get him to that next level to be world class what was you seeing that Nani was or wasn't able to do that Docu either can or can't do the point I made about Nani being a comparison is that you can see world class traits in him you can see the his ability that you go this can't not be world class and the frustration for a teammate is that I can see it there where the hell is it every week then that inconsistency for a fan yeah it was frustrating for everyone he played with any fans etc because you can see it and you saw so many glimpses right but there wasn't a consistent package enough at the time especially in his early time when he got towards the end of his career you were seeing it more consistently and I think he was I saw Gary Neville speak about this the other day as well.

29:13I think he was bang on about it. The problem with Nani that he had as well is that he was being judged against Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs. Two of the best wingers you're ever going to see in the Premier League. And then he comes in and you're expecting that clear idea of what a winger should be producing, the consistency of crosses that Giggsie would get, the dribbles and the outcomes and the positive outcomes that Cristiano would get, or shots on target after a dribble. Nani's doing one in three or four on target, like out of a dribble. He's taking someone on, taking the mick because he's an entertainer.

29:47He was actually one of the biggest pee takers about at that time, running around doing keep-upies against Arsenal at Old Trafford that time. Couldn't get near him. And you're sitting there sometimes as a teammate going, oh, well, I want to see him put up before we do that. So Nani was just probably, he was probably hindered by the fact that the teammates he had around him were that good and their standard was that high. But with someone like that, you've got to be on them. And I'm sure, Docu, I'm sure whoever is in that change room on that staff, they're on him. I'm sure Pep is on him all the time about end product.

30:19The decision-making is when to create the 1v1, when to go past somebody, when to dribble, how long to stay on the ball at the right times. When is it a give and go? Do you know what I mean? When do you take your foot off the gas and just slow it down? And I think a big thing I saw Gareth Bauer and Thierry talking about it the other day is changing the momentum of your approach to a player, slowing it down at times, slowing the defender's feet down and then quickening it up because you've got quicker fibers and you're quicker than the defender. If you slow him down or if you just change the pace on a regular basis, he's never going to know when you're going to go.

30:54It's the ones that always go a hundred mile an hour that are easier to defend because you know, they're going to come at a hundred miles an hour. You're prepared for that. Pep said after the game, they said, you know, they were praising Doku and he said, hey, sometimes you overestimate what the coaches and that do. They said that sometimes it's also down to the player. Saying that, I want to ask, when you look at someone like Grealish, did he end up having to play the game by numbers because he didn't have the trust of Pep to deliver in a way that Doku is doing right now, Rio? I think it's a different profile of player.

31:26And what Pep's going to ask of Grealish, Doku's probably not going to be as capable of doing that and the same way the other way. Grealish is more of a dribbler. He's more of a slow you down and burst. He's more of a drag players towards him, create a 2v1 against him, and then someone's going to be free and he'll find that spare man. Doku, again, all you're trying to do, which they've done so many times yesterday, you're trying to get Doku 1v1. That's all you want to do. Get the team over one side of the pitch and then as soon as you've got a chance to get it out the other side, he's 1v1 in space with a lot of green grass about.

31:58Absolute nightmare for the opposition. But even in this season, you've seen him go central at times. he's got a bit of freedom because in them areas as well, central areas, it'll be an absolute nightmare for a centre midfielder. They don't see players like him in and around that area a lot. And if you can put him in there every now and again as a surprise package, he's going to cause damage. In the middle of the pitch? Yeah. Oh, mate, you've got the touchline is another defender, right? So when you're wide, you can always try and force someone wide because they can't go beyond the touchline, can they?

32:29When you've got someone like Doku central in the pitch, force him which way? Where's he going in? Where are you forcing him? You're leaving him, he's going past you. You leave him, he's going past you. He's a problem. And I think, going back to the question you just asked, Grealish just didn't fit City. The style of dribbler he is and the style of dribbler that doku is, you put a doku in the mix, it's a hand grenade in a small room. Like, it's an absolute nightmare and it changes the energy of a game. and I think that's the fundamental difference of them as players is that Doku's getting at you in an aggressive kind of way that he's going to make you make something happen.

33:11Whereas Grealish, I think, is a little bit more passive with his dribbling. He's going to see where things can go and I think he almost kind of tried to change his own game a little bit to fit in with City, whereas Doku's gone, this is who I am. Doku says to you, he looks you in the eye and says, can you defend against me every time I get the ball? Because I'm going to ask you that question every time I have it. I'm going to build up lactic acid in your legs that you've never had before. You're going to have to get down low and stay with me for 90 minutes. Can you do it? That's like the old school stuff used to be.

33:44Me and you, 1v1, let's have it. That's what he's creating now every time he gets the ball. And then, like we say, he's popping up in the midfield areas. Grealish, he's... I look at Pep's best teams. has Pep ever had a winger who wasn't like a greyhound? From Sarney to Sterling, Pedro, that pace of players who can beat you for pace, if not guile. But Grealish was just a different one for him. And listen, they won the trebles too. As much as anyone can say what they want, he still won the treble. Do you know what I mean? So it's not like they were playing a man down. It just wasn't the Grealish that we'd seen at Aston Villa.

34:21That's it. But, Doku, absolute nightmare, beast physically, and he's relentless in his approach to wanting to dismantle the fullback. That's what reminds me of Nani. Nani wanting to embarrass the fullback. I think that's what he's got a lot of. Doku wants to embarrass the fullback. He wants you to come off and know that you need to ask for my shirt next time you see me. That's the vibe he's coming with. What would Sir Alex Ferguson or your plan be if you were coming up against Doku centrally? You can't allow space to turn, can you? I mean, that's where I'm... And it can't always be perfect and work, but a lot of the time I'd be shouting Carrick or Scholes or whoever's in midfield, Hargreaves, left and right.

35:06If he drifts into that area, forget about Doku, just stop the ball at source. Stop the ball getting to him. Because if the ball gets to him, he's hard work. So if the ball gets to him, you've got to get to him quick. so he can't get up to pace. But the main thing I used to always think is stop the pass into him. So move pieces in front of you to stop him getting the ball. Or I'm going to go out there. If there's not a number nine or the number nine's out wide or not occupying the centre half, I'm not leaving Vida too many times if I can 1v1 there. But if I have to, I'll go in there with the confidence that if it does go in there, Nemanja Vidic can deal with the stuff behind.

35:44Do you know what I mean? And that's the conundrum that City give you. are the defenders capable now going 1v1 against Haaland with big spaces around them if he's going to be 1v1 and the other centre-halfs going into midfield for Doku? Not many are going to be about winning that fight. So these are the problems that City are now starting to throw at people, especially if Doku becomes consistent in his output and his decision-making. They have another absolute threat, which we're all thinking and talking about, Haaland just being that guy. This weekend has shown us, yes, there was huge potential there, but actually, he actually might be the one this season that takes him to another level.

36:18Cancel that open top bus, Joel.

36:23What are you talking about? It's November, bro. Steve is mad. Open the permit. Just get your deposit back. Don't worry about it. It's November. I was going to say, though, Rio, we've waxed lyrical about Doku. We've obviously spoken about Haaland every week. I've got to put my hands up. That was, in my opinion, one of Phil Foden's best performances as well. It went under the radar because Doku was so good. But the balls he was spraying, like I thought to myself people still questioning him about his quality and how good he is man I don't get it man I don't get it baffles me that one I don't know I think it's because he's thrived he's thrived via system so we'll see what he does for England Steve off to you I'd just like to put it out there please because the amount of wibble that I have seen this morning even Rooney saying that the goal should have stood No, it shouldn't.

37:14It was a perfectly correct decision. People have been proper cherry-picking the word and the keeper line of sight and interference with play. There is about five paragraphs in Law 11, and one of them is proximity and impact. I agree. There you go. Listen, I have to say, it's been interesting. We have to watch out for Chelsea, by the way. Only six points behind Arsenal. They're going about their business quietly. Not very consistent, in my opinion, but Esteval really showing what he's worth really. That guy, I don't think he's got the Neymar skills, but watch out, he's doing his thing. Rio, any big interviews coming out?

37:54You've been teasing us all week. Yeah, man, I was in Saudi the other day. I went to watch Al Nassar play in Cristiano and co. They actually got beat by Benzema, I see him actually in the cup. But I actually stayed around and I stayed over. and went to Sadio Mane's, man. I went to his house, man. He showed me around. We had a nice time, lovely, to go in there to his new house. He's got a show-me-around. He has got a man cave to battle any man cave. Unreal downstairs. A place you'd stay there all day, every day, every week. Phenomenal. But it was nice to get to chat to him, man. It's about loads of stuff about his relationships with Klopp, with his teammates, Salah, Firmino, etc.

38:40etc. And how's it going with him in Saudi? So yeah, it's really interesting. Really, really nice guy, man. And loads about what he's doing as well back home in Senegal. So watch this space where Ria meets with Sadia Mane. That's going to be massive because you know he's like, he's a big deal worldwide and even in his homeland and I'm really intrigued to see what he says about his teammates, especially that relationship with Salah. Hopefully you didn't let me down, Ria, and you went in for the juggernaut. Yeah, man. We asked the right questions. Oh, humble Rio. That means we got something. All right, guys, I want to say thank you very much for watching Rio Ferdinand Presents again.

39:17Please keep on watching. The socials are blowing up. We want to get those numbers higher up. Rio, you've got to make sure you're still messaging in the community group as well, by the way. Yeah, I dropped a message the other day. You want some voice notes and stuff? Yeah, voice notes. Don't worry. Make sure. And if you don't know, make sure you follow us on socials. Stephen Housen is officially the new Mikel Arteta, scoring set pieces with his team. I think he's more alidice I think he's more alidice You need to come and actually watch a game And see the app That we put on It was only what we deserved It just took a set piece But we boxed him up Down the pitch My striker Listen This is what needs to happen Can you give us some advice here Alright Because my striker When he was single 10 in 10 He's got loved up He's got a bird Bandor territory Talking now He must have had 10 shots at weekend He must have You know his legs must be weary That's what the problem is He's got weary legs Need to fix up Weary legs You need to go and sign Papa Cisse by the way He scored six at the weekend For the Wivenshaw Vets team Bro he's cold You should go and get him I've heard a rumour That they've got A serious player So that's Wivenshaw Amis That have Basically The Harlem Globetrotters Of the non-league Cheshire League vets Right Heskey's turned out for him Stephen Ireland's Turning out for him I think Drink water Oh mate There's some serious Footballers playing for him Omar Nias is playing for him.

40:41If you go online and look at Papasite's finishes, he dinks the keeper twice in two out of his six goals. Ridiculous. You don't need this. Playing basically Saturday league vets, and you turn up and it's like a thousand Premier League appearances on the other side of the pitch. And they're parceling teams up as well. They're not messing about. Imagine turning up there as a Sunday league player, right, against this team with full of ex-Premier League players, right? You're about like a tequila bottle deep from the night before. right? You've had about 20 packs of Chris in your munchie stage last night before you fell asleep and you've had two hours keep get up you've had probably 10 fags by the time you get there and a Lucas Ave, right?

41:19And you turn up and you see these lunatics walking out Premier League about 300, 400 appearances between them. I'm motivated if you ask me if I'm honest. But yeah. Anyway, guys thank you again for watching. Do you know who they're signing? Do you know who the next one is that they've got? No. Watch this space. Is it Ravel Morrison? No, he's got a club in there, I think. He's in Dubai. Oh, is he? No, I'll text you because it's not my news to break, but oh my days. Oh my days. They're going to have more people watching their Vets team than the first team. Oh, wow. Interesting. Balotelli. Ooh. Is it Balotelli?

41:59I'm not saying it. I don't know who it is. I just said Balotelli. Oxlade-Chamberlain. He's free as well, isn't he? he's available yeah you never know guys thanks for joining again Stephen Housen Rio Ferdinand Joel Beyer signing out Rio Ferdinand presents Peace

43:01We'll be right back. down all the action, the results, and of course, the drama. Can the US make it out of the group stage and into the spotlight on the biggest stage? World Cup Daily, listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch full episodes on YouTube.