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Rio Ferdinand Presents

12 Oct 2026 · 35m · 11 chapters

Episode artwork

What’s Gone Wrong For Carrick? | with Rio Questions Man Utd’s Standards & Wirtz’s Impact

In short

Rare Presents episode debating why Manchester United’s standards have slipped after a flat 1-0 loss/draw vs Tottenham, what Michael Carrick’s coaching is getting wrong (pressing/goalkeeper pressure, disorganized press, poor box/cross defending), and whether Man City and Arsenal are title contenders. They also discuss Cristiano Ronaldo’s statement tone and Florian Wirtz’s impact/criticism (via the “Wirtz’s impact” framing) and Liverpool’s scrutiny of Florian Wirtz.

Guests

Rio Ferdinand (host), Joel Bay, Steve Hartsman.

Key claims

United’s win rate fell from ~75% to ~25% with the same core; the team lacks physicality and midfield balance when playing two vs three; they defend crosses poorly (Martinez fighting the man, not the ball; low energy/standards); Carrick’s tactics contribute but players matter too. They argue United should stick to counter-attacking DNA rather than trying to dominate possession.

Notable examples

Tottenham’s early aggression; repeated cross leading to the goal; Wrexham game (July) and Everton game (throwing away leads); Bruno/“Kobbie Mainoo + Amad/Tielemans” midfield issues; Belaiba’s cameo improving dynamism; Ronaldo manager-trust disagreement; Arsenal “legally winning.”

Written by AI. May contain mistakes.

Chapters

1:54

Discussion on Jamie Carragher's Comments

Rio Ferdinand responds to Jamie Carragher's remarks and the media's portrayal.

“I'm here with Joel Bay and Steve Hartsman, as per usual.”
3:20

Analyzing Cristiano Ronaldo's Statement

A deep dive into Cristiano Ronaldo's recent controversial statement and its implications.

“And when you do, it's cool from my knowledge.”
5:48

Manchester United's Recent Performances

Evaluation of Manchester United's performance against Spurs and recent form.

“I'm not going to sit here and say the tone of everything was perfect because I think in years to come, I think Cristiano might sit there and go, I probably could have delivered that in a different way.”
7:52

Tactical Analysis of the Game

In-depth tactical breakdown of the game against Spurs, discussing the team's strategies.

“I've been sitting here racking my brain because the win rate we're talking about has gone from 75 % to 25%.”
14:01

Analyzing Midfield Dynamics Against Spurs

Discussion about the team's midfield structure and performance against Spurs.

“That was one of the things that was glaring for me in that game when I watched it.”
22:48

Coaching Issues and Player Accountability

Debate on coaching responsibilities and player performance in recent matches.

“Steve, I saw people online and I don't want to start this whole Carrick in this and that, etc.”
28:00

Florian Verts Under Scrutiny

Discussion on the pressures and expectations surrounding Florian Verts' performance.

“But maybe the pressure wasn't quite as on him as it's been on some of the other signings around the league because he didn't need to come in and transform.”
30:00

Comparing Player Performances

Analysis of player performances and the impact of team dynamics on their success.

“Steve's going to say, can I just say something?”
31:50

Coaching Styles Impacting Players

Exploration of how coaching styles influence player performance and freedom on the field.

“because he went back to Germany and played for Germany.”
34:10

Rio's Recent Football Experience

Rio shares his recent experiences on the football pitch and upcoming content.

“It's just like, this is me and I ain't changing really.”
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35:50

Upcoming Interviews and Insights

Preview of interviews with notable football players and insights from their careers.

“you've also got big interviews coming up.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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0:37You just pay per session. Grow connects you with thousands of high-quality, licensed therapists across the U.S., offering both virtual and in-person sessions, nights and weekends. You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity, or availability. And you can book a therapy session in minutes and begin in as little as two days, not the national 48-day average. See if you could pay as little as$0 for therapy in seconds at growtherapy.com slash start now. That's growtherapy.com slash start now. growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.

1:20Yes, guys, we've got a massive, big episode today, guys. Obviously, loads of stuff about Michael Carrick, and these are the types of things you can expect to see. I tend to agree that the profiler player of Tealmans and Mainu is not the most energetic midfield the world has ever seen, but would you have said Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes was? It's a different conversation to try and compare Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, to Tealmans and Mainu in a team that isn't functioning as superior as what we were.

1:51Yes, guys, welcome to another episode of Rare Presents. I'm here with Joel Bay and Steve Hartsman, as per usual. And you know what? We'll try and work out the reasons for Man United's flat performance against Spurs this week. I was watching it in an airport on the way back from Indonesia with a few of the lads, Giggsie, Shazie, Wes, etc. And you know what? We'll ask whether Man City, regardless of what's going on off the pitch, are the real deal this year and are going to be title favourites, given the 3-0 thrashing at Anfield against Liverpool. And we'll also discuss Arsenal legally winning a football match, as we do, mate.

2:23Legally. Oh, mate. But that's six wins in Sixers City, man. They're on a roll, no matter what's going on off the pitch. Yeah, no, for sure. Rio, I just want to quickly ask you, what the heck is going on with these Jamie Carragher tweaks, man? I've seen him and Piers Morgan go back to back. I don't know, man. I just don't know why my name is always coming out of Jamie Carragher's mouth. I don't know what the issue is there, man. I'm just minding my own business. I'm in Indonesia with the boys just chilling. And my man, he's got a spat with Piers Morgan going on. And I get dragged into it. I just don't know why.

2:56It's obviously to get clicks. Without me, my man's nothing. Whee! Why does he call me out, though? Why is he bringing my name into it? I don't understand, man. Just stick with Piers. You and Piers have got a good thing going over there. Piers is mocking you. You're coming back with your bit. Piers goes again. You go back. If you're back and forth, don't bring me into it, man. I don't need to be a part of this, man. I'm just chilling. I'm living my life, man. I don't need this. Do you know what's funny about you two is you've run into each other a couple of times. And when you do, it's cool from my knowledge.

3:26Like, I always get confused when I see the stuff online. No, do you know why? Do you know? I'll tell you why, right? When I see Jamie, it's all love, isn't it? It's like, oh, yeah, hugs and kisses. But his tone, and we'll talk about tone with Cristiano and his statement. but his tone on text comes across very different like and that's why i've said to him before like no i'm fine it's cool it's cool but online your tone is different like in real life it's fine i'm up for i love a laugh he knows that we're both we both want to have a laugh and have a joke but sometimes his tone is a bit close to the bone can i just point out one thing here how mature steven house and has been in the last couple of years because uh if this is stevie for um steve for a couple of years ago, he would have jumped in and we wouldn't have been able to finish this section of the pod.

4:16But I just want to say, well done, Steve, for growing up. I can see the maturity in you, mate. We should talk about the statement Ronaldo made, though, Rio. I just think in this particular situation, he should have calmed down a little bit more. Joe, Joe, Joe, we're all saying he should have calmed down, but we're not in the cooker with him. We're not in the oven with him. We're not when it's like, he's obviously patriotic about his country. It's an emotional time for him, right? And the manager is not telling the truth when they've agreed something and going out and doing something totally different.

4:50Now, if the manager had been towing the line and just talking normally and doing what they'd agreed and talking about what they'd agreed, right, in the press conferences, Cristiano's tone would have been totally different. The fact that the person he trusted and the manager was going out in some authoritarian way and going, no one's telling me what to do and no, but I'd agreed something before. Do you not think any human will be sitting there being pissed going, what is going on? We had an agreement. Right? So the next thing I'm going to do, because I have the power, because I'm the best player this country has ever produced and I'm one of the greatest players ever, I'm now going to tell you what you need to say and I'm going to get the FA to come in and the people that employed you, who I helped employ you, they're going to tell you what to say as well.

5:36We're going to agree it and the statement's going to go out and this is what you have to say. Because I can't trust you to say what we agreed. Rio, I think he is right overall, by the way. I just think he's delivering. Yeah, yeah. And you know what, Joel? I'm not going to sit here and say the tone of everything was perfect because I think in years to come, I think Cristiano might sit there and go, I probably could have delivered that in a different way. But you know what? I was upset. I was emotional. And I'm big enough to say, you know what? I could have done it different. I think that's what he might say in the long run.

6:09But at the time, it's like saying to you, you shouldn't have shouted that time at that person at the lights when you were a bit of road rage. You shouldn't have shouted. You can't think. In the time, I didn't even think about it. And that's the way it is in the situation sometimes. The issue is he's had days. That's why I think it's not good. It's not like he came away straight away after the interview and then he wrote that. He still had a good week or so. When you're in the moment like that, though, Joel, man, there's no there's no like you just what you do need is you need people around you to go whoa the temperature of that needs sorting we need to dial that down a little bit maybe that's the situation that's definitely something that could be talked about but i i sit here and think to myself like if someone's going against you who you put in position twice right to be here and they're they're not being truthful with you right in the glare of the media am i to sit here and just take that?

7:04I might just sit here and just pull my pants down and say, slap my ass again. No. If I had my drugs case again, I'd have spoke the day after immediately. I was advised by all the lawyers, don't speak, don't say nothing. Then a narrative is painted and drawn around me that is not true. And people then come to their own conclusions because I've not said nothing. Whereas I should have gone out and said something immediately and put the record straight. But I didn't and even till to this day it's i sit here and think i should have just spoke man i should have just because people just were allowed to write stories and write narratives that were nowhere near the truth right but and i'm sitting here kishano situation and going good speak your truth in these situations i'd always advise any player nowadays go and say something because there's too many people out there they're going to write something about you and it ain't going to be anywhere near the truth rio you want to move on to united well listen man i watched the game in the airport me gigsy i posted on on social media me gigsy shazie wes was in the background somewhere burba be there about all there as well we're sitting down watching the game and you think about this time like or last year when michael took over he had a 75 win rate last season like and only one player who started the game this week wasn't part of that and that's t-line that's not his fault by the way i'm just saying that so he's got he's working with the same group of players basically.

8:26So, I don't know what's changed, man. I've been sitting here racking my brain because the win rate we're talking about has gone from 75 % to 25%. So, Steve, what are you thinking, Steve? I would have taken the result because I thought once we got 1-0 up, I was like, right, these don't really look like they're going to score at the moment. So, probably take the 1-0, look at it in the week and move on. But it was poor. Like, the first half, especially, it was just, you know, you're playing against a deserved team. You know what his goal keeper and center halves are going to do they're going to go wide and they're going to try and hold the ball they're going to try and bait you into pressing them and we and we we took the bait and then they popped it around the corner for them and it was easy and you're almost like and once they got out of that kind of first phase we sort of went into a bit of a mid block and they actually struggled passing it through us for the most part for them and they were kind of going a little bit over the top into the channel and stuff like that with it and you're just thinking why did we not set up like that from the first phase and maybe try and win the ball back a little a bit closer to halfway when they're trying those riskier passes because the centre-halves would have been forced to try and play longer balls and they would have landed closer to their goal.

9:32Like it just felt daft to me. He was pressing with six at times and he's just thinking, you know exactly this is like Deserby couldn't have text you a better instruction for him. Like if he was going to go and do this, but then on the flip side of the, so like that first half of defending awful, the sort of mid block stuff. and we talked about this like a couple of weeks ago about where United aren't really getting carved open by teams in the middle of the pitch in the way that we saw with Amorim and Ten Hag. But then the crossing defending and the fact that Tottenham didn't even really score that goal, it just kind of hits him in the back and goes in.

10:09It's comical, but it's another cross. And I spotted this from the Wrexham game and was like, hmm, don't like that. Everyone told me it's only pre-season, stop panicking. Why is Alessandro Martinez too busy trying to dance with him rather than just focus on where the ball is and just clear the ball. Because he does that. And look at the Everton game. It's another game where we've been in front and we've just thrown away points at the end of the game. And that's where we find ourselves, what, 12, 13, something like that, where we are, bottom half of the table anyway. And it's because we don't know how to defend crosses.

10:42And why are we trying to go into a low block at the end of a game when we've got something to defend? Why don't we just keep doing what we've been doing, which is looking okay. It wasn't a good performance actually on Saturday, but it also looked like if you'd have just carried on doing what you were doing, Spurs was going to open up and they were going to give you opportunities to go and get another one. Meanwhile, he's not scored. He's not assisted. But you can't tell me that that sort of opposition, a high line at Old Trafford is not tailor-made to bring Marcus Rashford on. Bring Marcus Rashford on.

11:13You take Kuhn, you're off. You've got two outlets there that it's going to be hard work for Tottenham to cover and you're taking away people. And Joe, even take Bruno off and put Kuno looked all right in the 10. Xerxes looked all right in the 10. Bruno Fernandes is not having a good season. So why is he playing 90 minutes every single week? Rio, Rio, I just wanted to ask you, you mentioned earlier that you were watching a game with the lads, the United boys. What were their thoughts on the game? What were they saying about the performance? Just downbeat, really. I think when you watch the first 20 minutes alone, you were like, whoa, what is this?

11:45I mean, I heard boos on the TV at 20 minutes to some of the things that were going on. And it's like, wow, we've been there. We've seen it. We've felt that. Let's not try and pretend that we were perfect. But it ain't a nice place to be. But when them situations happen, that's where you roll your sleeves up and you start going for it physically and you start trying to be aggressive against teams. The difference is our team was primed with people that were physical and physically capable of going up toe-to-toe with anybody. But this team don't have that makeup. They don't have that physicality that runs through the spine of this team at all.

12:17And you look physically, whether it be me and Nemanja Vidic or Patrice Evra or Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Rafa, then in midfield where you've got Carrick, Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Fletcher, and then all the attacking players that we had, those guys physically could go toe-to-toe with any team. The best Chelsea team, the best Arsenal team, like physically, physicality wasn't a problem. This team here, you look at the two centre-halves that played at the weekend, if you asked them to have a leg race from the halfway line to the goal, they're not going to be in a chance of winning that race nine times out of 10 with strikers in the Premier League.

12:57And the same in midfield. I mean, the two midfielders that we saw at the weekend, Kobi Mainu and Tielemans, for as great as they are footballers with the ball, they were left in there as a two out of possession most of the time in the game. And you're looking at it and going, if any two of our midfielders you didn't want leaving in there as a two, it would have been those two. because, again, physically, that's not their biggest, biggest actions in a game. And I would go further and say, when you play two versus three in midfield, because Spurs had three in there, when you go two versus three in midfield, that only works when either you're elite defensively, like a Vieira, Keane, Kante, Rodri, or technically superior and elite, like a Modric, Cruz, Xavi, Busquets types.

13:43And if your combo is none of those, then there is no room for error whatsoever in the way you push in the spaces, in tactically the way you look at it. And if a partnership ever needed a Bruno to drop in and become a three at times to help navigate this game, then it was these two midfielders against Spurs. That was one of the things that was glaring for me in that game when I watched it. And I just thought this needs working out because again, you can either be a team and I think we're a team that looks a little bit stuck in not knowing what they are at the moment. I think we are a counter-attacking team.

14:19Our forwards and our attacking players like Bruno, etc., they're not about keeping possession for large periods. They're about we get an opportunity, we have a go, right? And then we regroup. But we're not about maintaining possession. So we're either going to be a transitional team to win games on the counter like we did last season from a mid-block, or we're going to have to be a team that dominates possession and suffocates a life out of teams. And we're not that. So I think we really need to pin ourselves to what we are and stay with that. And I just think that Balaba is now getting fit and you saw a difference in the dynamism in the midfield when he came on.

14:57He kept the ball well, man. He retained it well when he came on. One player is not going to change the fortunes of this whole team like that. Bruno had done that last season, but he was playing at a level that we haven't seen before. Yeah. Yeah. Steve, you were at the game, obviously. How much impact did Belaiba's substitution have on the crowd? Crowd was in a good mood until the football started. Until 20 minutes. Yeah. I think it was nice to finally see him. He was our marquee sign in the summer. Obviously, there's still a little bit of an excitement around him. But you got what you ordered, I think, with him.

15:34Like we saw him put himself about, I can't remember which Spurs player it was, He absolutely flattened him completely fairly, just shoulder to shoulder, mullered him. Love that. Do that every week. You're going to be a fan favourite very, very quickly. People love to see that sort of commitment and physicality. He put himself around a little bit. Like I said, he was tidy with possession. I didn't see him run with the ball as much as I used to see him run with the ball when he was at Brighton, to be honest, because he used to ghost pass people in midfield. And I don't know if that's orders from United or he just wasn't seeing the opportunities to do it.

16:05It's his first game as well, isn't it? It's his first game just a few years away in. But it was nice to see him. And I think him and Cobby actually look quite good. But then that leaves you at another conundrum, doesn't it? Because you're like, okay, so Tillmans is clearly fancied. And there's a real leadership side of Tillmans, which you see on the pitch. You see him directing traffic. You see him organising. You can't play all of them though. So what are you going to do? Like we've got this weird situation where we're overstacked in certain positions and completely deficient in others. I don't know how we're going to get the best out of everyone unless you're just thinking, I will just rotate.

16:38because there is, you know, we play Atletico Madrid tomorrow. What do you go with there? Like, I would like to think Belaber's going to be a big part of that there. You know what, Steve? I think that game could lend itself to our profile of player more, though. Like, every attacking player, I think, has the profile of someone that thrives on the transition, apart from probably Zerksi. I think Cunha wants to be on the transition. And Bumo loves that. Ahmad loves that as well, who I think could play other ways as well. But then you've got Bruno, again, like, if he sees a chance to create a chance or to finish a chance off, you don't waste no time in pulling the trigger.

17:09So the game against Athletico, I think, could lend itself to that and would maybe suit us better. So, Rio, are you saying you've seen enough to suggest that Maynard and Tillemans doesn't work? That's it? No, no, I think that's too quick, too gung-ho to come up with that type of statement. I think that you could name probably 75 % of the Premier League that if they played them in a two, would look a little bit like, well, who are these guys? What's going on there? That's not what we're used to seeing. I think that they need to have more stability around them. I think if you were just to tweak the formation and brought Bruno back in and around them, then you'd have much more of a chance for them to shine and show their true colours.

17:49I don't think you just throw that combination away. I think there's many combinations in the league that will struggle just being in a two and being left with big spaces around them. The game today is very different. And like I said before, unless you're like a physical specimen, both of you, then there's going to be gaps everywhere always. If the midfield can't cover the ground, what do you think about making the Old Trafford pitch smaller? One, I don't buy that we can't cover the ground, to be honest with you. Like I said, I'm not seeing us getting carved open. I think there's other reasons for it.

18:23For how we're... Like what? Well, it's our box defended is a problem. We give teams a chance with that. Our press does look a little bit disorganised. but we're not I don't necessarily think it's a case of carving us down the middle I tend to agree that the profiler player of Tealman's and Mainu is not the most energetic midfield the world has ever seen but would you have said Michael Carrick and Kapal's goals was?

18:51The game was different then though the game was different we were nine times out of ten owning possession like I said before that goes back to my point we were a team that dominated possession most of the time in Europe in some big games, etc. Maybe we relinquished possession sometimes and went to a mid-block. But when you're a team that dominates the way and they're a super elite in that area, it's a different conversation to try and compare Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, to Tielemans and Manu in a team that isn't functioning as superior as what we were. Do you think that he's maybe trying to get us to that?

19:23Do you think he wants us to be that team that can dominate the ball? Yeah, but then again, the profile of players in the forward areas aren't that though, are they? You play Zerksy if that's what you want to do. Because we just haven't got the players, I don't think, that want to dominate possession and get in and around the opposition box and be patient. Bruno's not that guy. Bruno's a guy, look at the stats he got last year. That's not from turning away from an opportunity to create something or have a shot. That's like, it's open, bang, I'm going for it. And I love that about him. But at the same time, if you've got like four players in your team that none of them want to retain possession or the rules aren't, we get up there and we just suffocate and push back the opposition team when we keep the ball for long periods.

20:07I don't understand that being the way that he, I don't think Michael wants to play like that anyway, because Michael's really into the way that May United's DNA has been. And that isn't about just holding possession without outcomes. He wants outcomes if they become available. 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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22:48Steve, I saw people online and I don't want to start this whole Carrick in this and that, etc. But I saw people online, especially Aaron. Aaron, who's a commentator. He said he wanted to believe that Carrick is the man for the job. He said he was convinced after what he saw. He goes, but you cannot put what's been happening solely down to the players. He's saying it's definitely a coaching issue. Now, is he right? Yeah, there's absolutely elements of it that are coaching. for sure like deciding that you're going to press the defense and goalkeeper when they're playing out against Tottenham and a Deserby team is dumb in my opinion now there's other things that I think we're doing quite well that we're not going to get credit for because you're not getting results but then at the same time the box defending has been dog shit which is about as kind as I can be about it since Wrexham in July so after four months no one's decided like do you know what we're going to really like hammer anyone that you can see when someone's about to cross.

23:48They knock the ball out of their feet. They get their head up. No one's crossing it blind. Yeah. Ashley Young don't play anymore. So no one's crossing it without having a look. You are seeing players shape up to put a ball in the box and we are doing nothing to stop it. And do something, either stop the crosses at source or deal with them better. And I think that's probably why Harry Maguire is playing over Lenny Yor at the moment. because you think Harry Maguire is going to be able to deal with balls into the box. But when you play Harry Maguire, you've got, you know, across Harry Maguire and Lissandro Martinez, it doesn't really matter who the opposition play up front.

24:24They're going to be quicker than them because the one thing those two are not is blessed with pace. Yeah, I agree. And I think when you look at the crossing, the crossing isn't like a new thing, by the way. Last season, we were talking about under Ruben Amorim, defending crosses was really poor. The XG puts a six on the table, but you know what? We're actually 13th. That shows you that there's chances being created, but you've got to score. You've got to take your chances when they come your way. If you don't, you're going to get punished. And we are getting punished in our other box, in our box, because of bad decisions and bad defending and the inability to defend crosses.

24:58And I think there's two aspects to it. Like we saw with Martinez at the weekend. He's fighting the man rather than going for the ball, right? Which is when he's physically, is it a disadvantage as it is already, right, size-wise, right, but also, I don't see enough energy to go on stock crosses in this team and I don't see anybody when a ball comes in the box and the play starts again and they're building again, when the ball's out of their area going and asking, why are you letting him fucking cross the ball? Like, I used to think it was an offence if our full-backs allowed a cross in the box and they would know about it.

25:31If you ask Evra, if you ask Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Rafa, Fabio, when a ball come in our box, And we dealt with it. And then a minute later, I'll be screaming out and going, stop the fucking cross. Like, I don't see that energy to anybody to have them standards that you set. Right? And if the ball does come in, then we've got to defend it. And we didn't always get it right. And if I didn't get it right or Vida didn't get it right, someone would shout at me. But I expected that shout to come. And if it didn't, I'd be thinking, where am I off it? We're way off it. But those standards have to be set every day in training, in the games.

26:01and it's got to be an obsessive trait within you that you just find it offensive that things start coming into your box freely. And I don't think we're at that at the moment. But I have to say Spurs, I think the way they approached the game, how aggressive they were in the early parties especially, they absolutely ran all over us in the first 20 and that set the tone for the game. And yes, we could have finished and won the game 1-0 if we'd managed to see it out, but we didn't. But you have to give them credit. I thought that they, again, the way they started it, given the season that they've had so far, I think Zerbi will get it right in time.

26:34How valuable is having Bruno Gimaraes coming off the bench for us, man? Two late goals against Sunderland, right? And now Leeds. Do you know what? I think it just says, you know what? You guys are up there again. You're going to be up there again because that's just squad depth. That's experience. That's Premier League know-how. Someone who's accustomed to playing in there. someone who's just hit the ground running in terms of being impactful and he's just added to an already championship winning team he was the man at Newcastle and he's becoming an important figure at Arsenal when you get two goals now two late goals against Sunderland and Leeds like he has important points at the end of the season it's going to be it's going to be a tight league I'm sure again if City continue to the vein of form where they are Arsenal will be on their coattails at worst So, yeah, I think it's a great sign for if you're an Arsenal fan when you've got a player like that who's just come in.

27:33And if you switch it and think to new signings, Liverpool, last few new signings they've had, Isak, Verts, these guys, they're still waiting for those guys to hit form. And they've been there, they've played a hell of a lot of games and they've been there quite a long time in comparison. So it shows you just how hard it is to get signings right, even at that level. Like we were saying, though, it's not always a guarantee. when you sign someone that they're going to hit the ground running. But maybe the pressure wasn't quite as on him as it's been on some of the other signings around the league because he didn't need to come in and transform.

28:09He didn't need to come in and start scoring. He didn't need to come in and prove he's this whatever because you got him at a pretty good price in the grand scheme of things. So yeah, I'm not really surprised to be honest. He's a good player. You got him at a good price. and he's going to be someone that helps you be able to compete on several fronts. Rio, people are getting on to Florian Verts, who Steve mentioned as well recently, including your mate, Jamie Carragher. But do you reckon it's fair? When you're into the hundreds of millions of pounds for a transfer, then you're going to come under scrutiny.

28:42I was a record at 30 million. So I expected criticism if things didn't go well. Forget when you're looking at me on the eye, because I think on the eye, I saw him do stuff at his previous club in the Bundesliga and thought, wow, this kid's going to be a world beater. But that hasn't transferred to a Liverpool shirt at all. I don't think they've seen a full 90 minutes where you've gone, wow, this kid, you've seen what he's done. Or where he's just took hold of a game of a decent level and gone, this is my level, guys. I don't think anyone's seen at Liverpool yet to suggest that the value that they paid for him is warranted right now.

29:18And then you look at his stats, they don't back anything up either because he's failed to score, assist or create a single big chance in 79 % of his league games for Liverpool. And so when you look at it like that, I saw Jamie Carragher's comments and I thought he was spot on in terms of normally you come away from a game and you can still see a little bit of I can see why there's money being spent on him. I reckon if Cole Palmer, Cherokee, Bruno them guys, you leave a game and they're out of form and they're playing terribly but normally you'd still see something in there that you go, I'll wait, I'll still wait for that.

29:55And at the moment, I think Florian Virch is finding it hard in that department. Steve, you're smirking. You want to add something? Steve's going to say, can I just say something? Before Steve says it, Steve's going to say, if he was a Man United player, the conversation would be different. I wasn't actually, but you're absolutely 100 % correct. It would be a completely different story if United's record signing wasn't delivering to that level. we can all remember Graeme Souness is saying four assists in a game is just what he expects of a£100 million player and his silence on Florian Verts is deafening, shall we say but I do think I think he was a great player when I was watching him playing in Germany I was thinking Manchester City need to sign him because this is the closest thing to Kevin De Bruyne I have ever seen it was like they just copy pasted him it was unbelievable but last season it was like he was playing well and not getting the goals and the assists but you're looking at him in games and you can tell he's a player there you can tell he's he's got a touch about him you can tell he's got vision you can tell that he can make things happen but obviously it's Liverpool so I'm just going to enjoy the fact that he's not getting the goals and he's not getting the assists I think what they struggled with more last season was probably their best player by a country mile was Sabozlai and their entire shape of the attack was completely messed up to accommodate different sort of positions and Salah didn't have his vintage season, but he's never going to get dropped.

31:22And then when he is dropped, it's a drama. And it's like, there was all of these kind of things that was going on, which wasn't helping him. And sometimes, like if you compare what's happened with Bruno Gormach and how he's just gone into a team that is successful, that the pressure isn't on, that already knows what it needs to do. It's way easier to go in and be Bruno than it is to go on and be Florian Verts. If you decide Florian Verts, he might have done the same thing. Do you think it's maybe Stahl, the style of football is something that's hindering him because he went back to Germany and played for Germany.

31:52I think he's got a goal and an assist and he's like, actually, there is something there and what we saw in Germany, I mean, it's a different brand of football, different league, I get that, right? But he is a player that you look at and go, there is talent in there, man. It's just like, how do you unlock it? And I think that, you throw it to Man City and Mareska and what he's now done at Man City with Cherky. He was showing glimpses under Pep but nothing consistent the way he was going because... I disagree with that, Rio. Cherky was doing bits. We just knew that Pep didn't fancy him. No, no, no.

32:24That is not the same. No, no, but what Cherky's doing this season compared to last season is night and day. I don't think it's night and day, Rio. Everything that Man City are doing this season, Cherky's got his fingerprints around it, right? Last season, he was being told by Pep to calm down, stop doing this, stop doing that. He was playing almost with a handbrake on compared to what it feels like he's doing now, right? Still producing moments last year, but not at the rate of what he's doing now. And you're going like, Mareska, that's what he'd done with Palmer at the beginning. And you're going, okay, he's somebody, he obviously likes a maverick in his team and creates an environment where they have a freedom to go and just do what they do without looking over their shoulder or without question.

33:08And I think that's one of the things in football today that you look at and go, I've got a Raquel Me shirt on here, by the way, yeah? All right, so it's... Man life. Right, right. But like Raquel Me, do you think Raquel Me was ever, was told when he played Brees, when he was at his best, was ever thinking, before he made a pass or after he made a pass, does the manager want me to do that? I think Cherokee was, no matter how good we say and we know that Pep was, I think players like Cherokee were thinking that around Pep because he was so demanding. He was so intense. You wanted to please him. He's the best around.

33:42He brings success. You know that. You want to do what he says to the detriment sometimes of your own beliefs and your own game. And I think Cherky sat in that line of players. Whereas now... Jack Greenwich as well. Yeah, yeah. And I think you've got to be a certain type to be able to still produce them moments for yourself, but still play into what he wants. And it's only certain guys who can do that. But like Mara has done that. But you look at Cherky, he looks like one of them old like Raquel Me vibes. It's just like, this is me and I ain't changing really. I'm going to try and adapt, But really, deep down, you're going to know I'm not happy.

34:16Whereas this, he looks really happy under Maresco. Now, whether they're going to be successful, will remain to be seen. But we're seeing the best version of Cherki, I think. Producer George trying to throw in them stats in there, saying Cherki has matched goal tally for last season already. Get that stat out of there, man. OK, just letting you know where I'm coming from. Get the stat out of there. Oh, my gosh. But Rio, I know you were recently away, right? Like you mentioned, you name dropped it a few times at the start of the podcast. Like we didn't know who the players were. I hope you had a good time.

34:47I saw on socials and you slapped in, you slapped in your POV of you on the football pitch. Oh my gosh. Is that individual content that's coming out? Yeah, we done a whole funny, man. And you know, there's a mad thing in there because the referee, you're going to hear me destroying the referee. And I actually manhandled him a little bit because he was so rubbish. And you know what the crazy thing is? it's a bloody friendly right and there's a big screen in the stadium right all i'm saying is after the incident ref just have a look you've got it mark your miles off it you've got it wrong it's up there and he won't even look at the screen it's like mate it's a friendly chill out have a little look and just correct yourself because you're in the stadium at the moment you're like an idiot he wouldn't so i told him i'd give him a little piece of my mind dragged him up a little bit here and there but it was a it was good to just get out on the pitch and his boys have been in Indonesia, some old boys from United, also from Arsenal.

35:41They won in the end, but assisted by the referee. It was so good. I'm looking forward to seeing the content as you guys coming off the pitch. I mean, you've also got big interviews coming up. I just want to big up my interview. I sat down with Stephen Housen as well. You need to check it out, Rio. He spoke about a lot of good stuff and it's been received really well. And you are very appreciated in the community, Steve. Sometimes you don't know it, but I think myself and Rio, we think the same as you. you don't like the mushy stuff, but we've got to tell you. So thank you for coming on my channel, Joel Bear TV.

36:10It's doing really good numbers and check it out if you have. That's my cheeky plug. But real. My interview's on there. Steve's on there. Who you got next? You know what? You know, I'll tell you, I've got Danny Welbick this week, you know. Nice. Like it. I like it. That guy. Yeah, I've got that guy, Welbs. He did us a good job. So yeah, looking forward to that this week. And what was I going to say? Yeah, you've got big interviews coming out on the channel. I saw you with a bunch of guys tell me you sat down with him yeah man listen we got some good ones like we're going to hear from Falcao on like his time at United why things didn't go to plan his career like when he was one of the best number nines in the world at a point when was that in his career he gives us all the inside info my man made his debut in professional football at 13 years old man 13?

36:59what? yeah crazy so yeah loads of stuff with him how injuries and things affected him and then we just a little one on the off chance we got with Carlos Tevez

37:15and he does not hold back mate seriously, the certain man are under fire when it comes out I always respected him even when he went to City I didn't like his decision, I didn't like the reason why and he was putting it on me well why didn't you like it, what was your problem him. Why don't you like it? He puts it on me in the interview. It's funny, man. But yeah, he goes in and he's unapologetic. Exactly how I remember Carlos Tevez being in the change room, on the football pitch. He's exactly the same in the interview. So listen, watch this space, guys. It's dropping soon. That sounds great, man.

37:48Well, thank you very much for watching. Please make sure you like, share, comment and subscribe. Premier League Football is back. So we're all over your platforms. Rio presents. Rio Ferdinand presents channel as well. So make sure you subscribe and like. Joe Bale Rio Ferdinand Stephen Housen signing out peace

38:37Thank you.

39:01Yes, yes, yes! Me... ...

39:08Sharking Gend envy The world won't escape Aeste las eloware

39:33the memory

From the publisher
Rio Ferdinand joins Joel Beya and Ste Howson to break down Manchester United’s draw with Tottenham, question what’s changed under Michael Carrick and respond to Jamie Carragher’s comments on social media about Rio and Cristiano Ronaldo. After watching United alongside his former teammates, Rio explains why the performance left them downbeat. He examines the support Mainoo and Tielemans need, questions whether United’s approach suits their players and recalls the standards he demanded when defending crosses. Ste challenges the substitutions against Spurs, asks why Bruno Fernandes keeps playing 90 minutes and questions the squad’s balance with limited options up front. Could Carlos Baleba help change the midfield dynamic? Rio also addresses Carragher’s online tone and debates Cristiano Ronaldo’s response to the Portugal situation with Joel, drawing on his own experience of staying silent when he wishes he had spoken out.

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