Paul Merson: Arsenal’s title charge, Man Utd’s problems and living with Gazza

29:21Nicky:and you're down to 10 men you're not getting no stick for it you may have to go and try and score goals they put the white flag goals up too soon the white flag goes up too soon they've come out just recently after that game the owners and saying we're backing him. Do you think he's the right man for the job, Maresco? Going forward. Yeah, I don't know. He's not in charge of who buys the players. Do you know what I mean? I think they need a goalkeeper in my opinion. I think Sanchez is a brilliant shot stopper. Some of the saves he makes are off the charts but he will do something in the game. I think he made it quite clear.

29:57He wanted a centre-off. Colwell. Colwell, Colwell, whatever you call it. he got injured and he made it quite clear he needed another centre-half and he needed a goalkeeper and they didn't yeah well they're not going to make profit are they really you know the money's in the forward entertaining players he'll always have that to fall back on though won't he I think so yeah I mean he'd done well in the World Club Championship because PSG had a go at Chelsea and I think if any team has a go at Chelsea you know they can but I just think I think Jackson was a bad sell and really did I thought Jackson made Palmer and Palmer made Jackson you know as a centre forward you know as put it this way as a midfield player that you were and I we like to pass the ball you want pace up front yeah it's a dream and he would always go and it would open the game up and Palmer would get on the ball he'd have space now all of a sudden he's gone the old Pedro plays he wants he's a 10 so he comes short and the game goes like that and all of a sudden these flair players like your Fernandes and your palmers don't get time on the ball.

31:03And then all of a sudden, what you do when you don't get time on the ball, I'm just going to go further and further and further back and get the ball to the centre half and you're not going to hurt anybody back there. And I think that was a big problem. For me, that was a problem. These midfield players have numbered times as well. You need pace up front. You need an Ian Wright. When Nicholas Jackson, I don't think he's a great finisher. We were talking before about players running through, he's going to score. I don't always get that impression of him. No, no, never. but at least he gets you on the pitch and he's got the movement.

31:31And he will have his days. He then gives the space to Cole Palmer. The spare is a big one. The space behind us. When you're not playing against pace, everyone's pushed up. There's nowhere to go. There's nowhere to go. I'm so tired. But yeah, I thought that was a bad, bad load. What do you think about this sort of thing of it's not the manager's player? Like someone else is bringing in a player because they see them fit into that system. It's the European model, isn't it,

31:55Nicky:of 10, 15 years ago that this country's got back into Sporting Dax. Man United never had a sporting director until probably two years ago, maybe three seasons ago now. It didn't last long either. Yeah, it didn't last long, no. I think you have to have... I couldn't want to be a manager with players on the pitch that I haven't got confidence in. I didn't want to buy, I didn't want to have the pitch. There's got to be some cohesiveness that they're buying them together. I get the club stance on it because, going back to Arteta, he's put the fundamentals back into that football club, right from the bottom, the academy building all the way up.

32:27Nicky:he's part of the process he's helped build what it is now but I understand when clubs come in Amarin's a perfect example if Amarin's picked all them players for 200 million in the summer and he gets sacked in November the next man coming in could just say I don't want them players straight away the 200 million down then they've got to pay the contracts up probably another 100 million to get rid of them so as a club I understand why they want to have a say in it but it can't just be the club the manager's got to have a say a piece of it as well because again if you've got to have confidence in your players well it is yeah And all his excuses come out, and you'll see it if he got sacked.

33:00Nicky:But they must be some of his players. Nick, everyone's made the same excuses. Mourinho, Van Gaal, they've all gone and said, no, well, I didn't want to sign him, I didn't want to sign him. A manager, he's got to have some kind of involvement just to take that excuse away from when they leave the club. It's so easy now, though, isn't it? And the 80-odd million goes for 20-odd. I mean, when we play, if someone was bought for a lot of money and they failed, the manager was gone. That, he was gone. 1 million percent if he fouled your head is on the block we're paying a big money for this player if he don't perform you're out now it's like oh well that was unlucky do you know what I mean and no one even looks at the sporting director you know it's like it's unbelievable yeah I just don't get it that's why I think Arsenal are doing well Arteta has a massive say huge say in who comes into the club I think Pep will winning at City yeah Pep's earned it he can do whatever he goes he'll have a save but certainly Arteta I think that for me is the best run football club in the country from an outsider I don't know the insides but it looks stable it looks like it's a cohesive decision making and any player that comes in but he has a massive say in it I think he got it because the only question about Arsenal now which people from the outside as Murs said before will look at is can he get them over the line that's the next big part from people looking on the outside we know how good he's been he's been absolutely amazing he's turned that club right round but when the questions start can he get them to win a win I think he will this season people say Cucure is that his name?

34:36yeah Cucurella

34:40I can say Cucurella but Cucurella I thought he'd done alright yesterday people were going he leads the line he does all the dirty stuff even when the ball goes up Burns and all the centre-ups, they weren't getting 60-yard headers back into the danger it was always getting his body where the balls bounce down I thought he'd done alright, I thought he was unlucky yesterday, I thought he keeps on playing like that but yeah, I think Arsenal Again though, I think he could be in that bracket of, he's going through, I'm not sure if he's going to score Yeah, I don't see him going through too many times I don't, when he went through yesterday he went through one on one with the defender and he burst I thought oh here he goes and I thought he was just going to go like that and hit it and he tried to cut inside again and I thought just hit it that's not him is it no if he gets a bit he's got a bit he's got a bit he tried like a little chop yeah a little chop come and sit with me and watch the rest of this game can you remember

35:46Nicky:any big signings that's cost the mind you any big signings that you can say that definitely got the mind you I think Anthony was a big one. Do you know what else I think? I think obviously Ronaldo, Ronaldo hadn't done great, but I think Ronaldo coming back as well killed a bit of the actual camaraderie in the Man United. Do you know what? I just remembered something about Ronaldo. I think this is true. You need to talk about Harlem before, 50 goals in 49 games. I don't think Cristiano scored in his first 30 Champions League games. Really? 30? Have I made that up? Probably, yeah. That sounds a bit high, that.

36:23Is it? Can we have a... I wouldn't know. Whoever's in the corner there behind the curtain is a wizard of ice. I think it's something stupid about it. Should I have 30 minutes? No, I'm pretty sure it was something like that. What's the main difference when you hear this, you lads have played there, what's the main difference with a Premier League as opposed to playing in Spain or Italy? I'd say physicality. Physicality, yeah. I think you look at most Premier League players now, they're like machines. When we were playing, they were like big lads, weren't they? They had bear bellies knocking about them.

36:56Yeah, yeah. But now everyone's a machine and I think United are struggling with that. Two of the players that started for United against Brentford, physically they're not up to Premier League standard.

37:07Nicky:But also, every game is a tough game. You go away now, Brentford away or Palace away. Because everyone's a machine. Everyone's athletes, everyone's a beast. We've seen about Fulham. In Spain, Holland, the top two teams, they'll go and beat everybody away from Holland. They don't do that in the Premier League. But that's where the game's changed, isn't it? Yeah. It's like when we were growing up and playing, you had to be able to play. Yeah. And then if you was quick and strong, it was the biggest bonus in the world. It's swung the other way now. Yeah. If you're big and strong, that's it. But if you can play, it's an absolute bonus.

37:39I was at Brentford yesterday watching my boy play. And Brentford's under-21s were training. I don't think there was a player under 6 '1". Do you know what I mean? They were huge giants. And me and my wife were watching the game, my boy playing, who's 10, and we're like there, and you're looking there, and you're like, I can't imagine him ever being that big. You know what I mean? And they're all that big.

38:02Nicky:It's like when we played Arsenal, you had a Vieira playing against us. Every single player is Vieira's size now. Every single one of them. 100 % in my routine. Except, obviously, Bruno and one or two others, but the majority of them are big, big lads. like powerful lads so it's like they're looking more like they're more athletic and everything else and then the skill and everything else comes second I think that's why people are saying now where the game's changing I don't there ain't that anymore is there you know the Mavericks anymore it's pretty safe because that's what they can do they can run 100 metres in 11 I think yeah but I think that's why a lot of people like players like well I do like players like Grealish he still feels a little bit Maverick-y to me when he said Maverick then he's the one player yeah is there anybody else can you put Eze in that bracket yeah I think Eze but it'll be interesting now because Eze's playing at a big football and I don't mean no disrespect to Matt Palace but at Palace I've seen Eze play at Palace and try and nutmeg players on his own box yeah he'll never be able to do that at Arsenal yeah and that's the thing you look at Jack now it's swung round either way like Jack's gone to Everton where teams are going to go and have a go at Everton they're not going to double up there's not going to be ten players behind the ball so he'll be able to run at players like he is now.

39:16Eze's gone the other way. Everybody has a go at Palace, loads of space, get caught on the counter-attack and he plays. Now he's got to play off his shape and it's... It's like when Zaha

39:26Nicky:coming to the United is exactly the same. He couldn't have the space, didn't have the time, the room to run into, couldn't do all the dribbles, couldn't give the ball away six out of ten times because he'd get absolutely annihilated. It's a total different match. If you're playing for a big club like Arsenal, it's a total different pressure on a player. So what did he do to adapt not a lot really he got sold he got sold he got sold he got sold straight away it's a fine line though it is you think because Arsenal big club Arsenal have signed because of what it does every week for Palace now it's hard because you want to knock that out I mean you talk about not making people the edge of the box you've still got to have a bit of I also think London boys struggle coming up to I don't know about when you went up to Middlesbrough but they struggle coming up to Manchester and North it's a total different life they have in London the way they brought they live with the mates all over the best friends and I'm the same I'm the Manchester lad and I struggled leaving Manchester but I do think London boys struggle coming up up and off to play how did you find it in Villa when you were there yeah Villa's on up the road do you know what I mean it ain't that far enough to work yeah I was travelling I travelled most of it and then I moved up at the end but yeah I like Villa was yeah great club did you also Middlesbrough Middlesbrough first that was hard yeah it's a long way oh that is a long way yeah I realise did you travel England for the first what was it first three months I drove up every day.

40:44Fucking hell. Yeah. Was that five hours? No, there was no cameras in them. They had made all them cones by then, do you know what I mean? They put out on the motorway now. So yeah, it took a couple of hours, three tops. You'd have been with Gazza there, wouldn't you? Yeah, he moved up. I scored one goal against Stockport County and he moved up, Gazza, yeah. They moved him and Jimmy Firebelly in the same house as me and my brother. That must have been quiet, I was going to say. My family wouldn't come up with me. My family wouldn't come up. So my wife said the kids are all happy at school. So every day by Friday, we wouldn't do it on a Saturday, but every day by Friday, we'd come back from training at half one.

41:22Me and Gaz would give Jimmy and my brother a load of money to go and get some bottles of wine. And we'd come back and we'd pour the wine into massive glass jars. Every day? Every day by Friday because we had a game on a Saturday. We were professional. We were professional. So at two o 'clock, Gaz and my brother would sit on that sofa. Me and Jimmy would sit on this one. we put a load of money each on the coffee table like so if I put 500 and Gazza put 500 if you won we took the 500 but if my brother put 100 and Jimmy put 100 if one of them won me and Gazza would take 400 quid back then we'd start drinking wine and on the hour every hour we'd pop a sleeping tablet and whoever fell asleep last just picked the money off the table and that's all we've done every day

42:03Nicky:every day there wasn't a lot to do in the Middlesbrough at the time if I'm being honest a little village but that's all we done we was in bed by six fucking hell ten sleeping tablets later you know what I mean felt great the day after training it was alright brilliant training it was old he didn't care we never went out Robbo was saying what are you two doing last night we had a newly night we had a newly night these lads are what we're saying they're in bed at six o 'clock every night it was in bed by six or seven five tablets Gazza was a genius he was the best English player I ever played with He was like, you just couldn't go near him when you were with England.

42:44At the end at Middlesbrough, he was coming towards the end and he wasn't as great. But in his pomp at England like 1990, around that time, I thought he was the best in the world. You couldn't go near him. He would destroy you. He was easily the world's most famous footballer at that time as well. How did he handle the pressure of everyone? because he was so likeable as well and he seemed like a proper man of the people. Approachable. Approachable. How did he, you know, we know all what's happened in his life, but how was he as a person to be around right in the eye of that storm? Yeah, so caring.

43:27Do you know what I mean? Like you could come out of somewhere or you could come out, have a shop and someone would be sitting there with nothing and he'd give him his last ten. If he had 20 quid on him, he'd give him the 20. Yeah. And he would walk home. Yeah. He was like, he was such a nice bloke. He was like, he was just so normal. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, so normal. Love playing football. Addicted to football. Yeah. You know, addicted to football. Just wanted to play football, play football. I mean, when we was at Middlesbrough, what's the training ground called now? It's like, that's where we were, but he's got a golf course on his now.

43:58It's like off the charts now. But when we were there, we were in port-a-cabins. He'd be walking down. we'd get a train up like after three months me and him used to get a train up in the morning and he'd be walking down to training with a like an egg and bacon sandwich like grease dripping out of it and the lads are running around the pitch and he'd just be running around it's like the funniest story

44:22Nicky:I've had remember when we got into the World Cup 98 and we went to the Italian the night time yeah remember we went to the Italian and he stood on the table and did night fever but he put his finger in a glass of tequila like that and lit his finger. And he's doing nice things like this in the Italian restaurant on this. We had a private thing, but there's paper tablecloths and he's got down with his hands and the tablecloth went... But the next morning, he gets to go training. He's got a big bandage around his finger. He's burnt his finger, third degree beer on his finger. Oh, it's the funniest, absolutely funniest, nicest, most likeable fellow I think I've come across, what a player they are.

45:05Like I said, we only caught the end of England, but try to compare him to a player. Messi was at his peak and you're playing against Messi, you don't want to go near him, because he'd make you look an idiot. But he was also nasty, wasn't he?

45:23Nicky:He'd leave his foot and he'd elbow you going past you. That was his big one, elbows. elbows yeah yeah yeah yeah

45:32Nicky:at the world cup i was with gaza when he got told about he really didn't score than i was i was one of the last thing with me gaza di on dian phil don't have um hinge cliff i can't remember if it was um remember that remember the smashing of him up yeah i went in off the next one in after him. Yeah. Really? Yeah, I remember I was walking in the door over there. Glenn was here behind the desk and I walked in and as I walked in he was standing behind the desk white as a ghost like that. Yeah. And the room I've never seen anything like it. It smashed up there's bars it smashed everything it was turned over and I walked in and I literally took three steps in looked around and he looked at me and he went you're going and then I just walked out.

46:16Yeah. He honestly smashed the place up like you could. I went

46:19Nicky:we got on sorry buddy we've got a plate we've got a private plane to go home on that trip i remember i was on the plane looking at him and i wasn't i wasn't too bothered about being let go because i was never one that wanted to go away for six weeks and never get on the pitch i was like well that's what it is i'll get i'll go away i'll have a great holiday with my mates and i'll do the misses and then i'm ready for the season that was my mind i was only young so that's my mindset gaza got on the plane and he was just crying and you've got your one of your heroes growing up looking like he's got nobody I was talking to him he was saying I've got no one to meet him at the airport and it landed in Manchester so he come back to my house because he had he was like one of the most famous people on the planet he had no one to come and get him and take him wherever he wanted to go so he actually stayed at my house with me for about 6, 7, 8 hours and I'm thinking I don't know what to do here anyway long story short he got on the phone I think it might have been Jimmy or some other guy comes and drives back picks him up and he's gone and then he got the impression he wasn't in a great place around that time It was a shame though because when we went to the Olympic Stadium drew Neil-Neil he was one of the best players so he played a massive part and he should have gone he smashed the room off he should have gone do you think because he thought not the fact of being dropped which is obviously going to be upsetting but just the fact that he thought he was in the I think everyone thought that oh you thought he was a shit I think Glenn Glenn was quite clever what he'd done really because all you do is Nicky sit for four weeks you just sit in a hotel don't you wait for a game you wouldn't even know you're in the World Cup.

47:48You're a million miles away. You turn up for the game, back into a million miles away from everybody. It's so interesting to hear that as a football fan. No, it's not like the Olympics. It's not like you're in a state. We went to France, middle of nowhere. It's just boredom.

48:01Nicky:You're just sitting there. Lucky, all you're doing is watching the games. You can't sit outside in the sun because they won't let you sunbathe. You literally just... We have no idea what's going on at home. No, no. It's not until you come home and you get knocked out. It's like quarter past summer. And you see all the fans and stuff. Fucking hell, what's going on? we didn't realise you only realise when the next World Cup comes around what the one you were in looked like the numbers might be wrong but we was in Japan and I promise you we played pool every day I think it was about 98 frames to 92 as you did play pool for six weeks your mind is just like this I was looking after Mike because he was only 78 at the time so I was with him I was one of the older players in the squad I just played pool with him every day so you think obviously if Glenn would have I think yeah he looked at it he gave him the thing he said you can go out Saturday have a drink Saturday and go and play goal Sunday and Gazza went in overdrive didn't he he was well gone do you know what I mean and I think he just thought I'll give him that rope just to you know what I mean and yeah because sitting around for four weeks but yeah looking back now in hindsight who knows what but yeah it's a shame he was like unbelievable footballer it's one of them things I think again as a fan when you hear about Sir Alex was looking at him and when you just said about him which was heartbreaking hearing that where you're talking about there's no one there to meet him I think someone like Sir Alex I was going to ask Mercer as like a rock no one no wherever you go you've got to take your head with you you've got to take your head do you know what I mean and what's in your head is completely it don't matter you don't listen to it when you're in addictions and you're in it like he was you don't care for anyone you don't listen to anyone I had one of the hardest man you can ever have in George Brown I didn't go out at night and think what's George going to say George petrified him but when I was drunk and I was out on one I didn't care for anybody he wouldn't have been out of control interesting to hear that he would have been out of control told him.

50:12There's a saying, when people feel down, oh, I'm going to go on holiday. That'll make me better. It won't. You've got to take your head with you. It's what's up here. I hear that all the time. If we'd have gone to Manchester with Sir Alex, he would have been, no chance. No chance. Gazza was Gazza. Only he can change himself. No one else.

50:32Nicky:Do you think that's why he picked Tottenham? Because of the lifestyle there and the nightlife there? And that fact that Terry Bennebils would have given a bit of leeway? You know what, Nick? you probably you get more space in London you get more space you can go in a place in London and never be seen there's so many faces and no one everybody walks with their head down no one's interested do you know what I mean we used to go out Tuesday nights no one would care do you know what I mean everybody's getting on with their life I always found like when I went to Aston Villa a big city and Middlesbrough which is a little city but great place it's like a fishbowl and I find you hear it up here with me everybody knows I used to go out and get divorced from my wife and I'd be going out in Birmingham and I'd go out and pick the kids up and she'd go, I heard you were drunk last night, dropped a bottle in a bar.

51:21I'm like, how do you know that? You know what I mean?

51:25Nicky:Even more so back in the day in Manchester, there was probably like six places to go. That was it. Yeah, London, there's a place. And I think, you know, I think if he was in a more successful football team, he might have got a little bit better. if that makes sense do you know what I mean where you're winning every week and I think that might have been I think it wouldn't have been Sir Alex Ferguson it would have been the players the players around because they had that winning mentality and they want to win but they still had that they still had that culture though of going out with Robbo and the lads yeah but they turned up and they were expected to win on Saturday no disrespect to Tottenham Tottenham wasn't expected to win on Saturday they were there to entertain and if they won they won if they lost they lost at Man United you draw with Crystal Palace away it's headlines on Monday morning you know Tottenham get beat by Fulham away little piece in the corner yeah other players would have been a big influence for him as well wouldn't it yeah I think that's the thing that it would have been the players around him I think when he went to Tottenham he was a huge huge fish in a little little pond and the players weren't a couple of them were but others weren't at his standard if that were me I think people at Man United there were some big players who would have picked him out and gone you ain't doing that and you ain't doing that I don't think that was the case at Tottenham they didn't have that kind of player Gary Mavitt was a lovely bloke and he took him under his wing but you're talking chalk and cheese you're never really understanding you know when you've got Robbo and people like that they would have understood where he was going for it when you were saying things about you still take your head we are if Gazza know and you could say to him there's a magic wand knowing everything you know we're going to give you the chance you're a 20 year old you can start again do you think he'd still be the same Gazza or totally different?

53:17No, the same Gazza I don't think he'll have regrets I think he'd have enjoyed his time yeah, I mean he enjoyed it you know he's always smiling always laughing I know that time Nicky was talking about but I don't think who wouldn't have been disappointed bar Nicky he wouldn't get on holidays but everybody he's packing his stuff Gazza's crying and Nick's packing his stuff I'd like you said because when he's like I think it's all right. I like fucking my flight. What's up, you know? I've got a iron apple somewhere. Iron apple, yeah. You're not going to make the door click. Iron apple, iron apple.

53:52You remember? Shut up. I always remember. No. We all had to give a song for a playlist. Oh, if I'm saying something else. No. Oh, you wouldn't do that, mate. Oh, good help. I'll find out that one. But he chose with or without you. You too. I fucking left out the day after.

54:14Nicky:I'll tell you one of the funniest things as well, on that trip, where was it? What was it called? La Manga, wasn't it? Yeah, La Manga. With Pennebal. Pennebal with Martin Keogh, I was singing Danny Boy with his eyes shut. It's one of the funniest. Danny Boy. I was, I saved the other day. Danny Boy. It was like. You mean eyes shut as though like, I'm having myself. No, it's eyes shut for the whole song and everyone's like, what's going on here? Yeah. It was unbelievable. It's funny. This episode is brought to you by Google Health. Stop chasing someone else's definition of health. What matters is what's healthy for you.

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55:39Michelob Ultra is giving away$1 million worth of FIFA World Cup 26 tickets and prizes. Enter now at MichelobUltra.com slash superior access slash FIFA World Cup 26. Michelob Ultra FIFA World Cup 26, superior access, no purchase necessary. Open U.S. Residence 21 Plus begins on December 1st, 2025, ends on July 31st, 2026, multiple entry periods. Visit www.miclobaltra.com slash superior access slash FIFA World Cup 26 for free entry, entry deadlines, prizes, and details. Sorry to bring the mood down, lads, but let's talk about United. or get your seatbelts on here it'll be interesting what Merce thinks

56:10Nicky:because we've been immersed in it since we've we've said everything for 12 years now since the age of 11 we've been there as kids and growing up and like Merce said about being at Arsenal I was at United we was at United you didn't leave 11 to 30 so it's a long time but I mean no one can deny what's happening there and I'd never want to sit on a TV podcast and say mine just should go it's not what I believe in but surely I can't have much more longer. Yeah, I don't like seeing managers get the same. I just don't like it, but there's just no flexibility, is there? You know, he plays a system where he hasn't even got the players to play.

56:49I mean, when we play, the hardest position in the world, if you play three at the back, was the wingbacks. The wingbacks, it was called the graveyard shift. Up, down, up, down. Then you had to have a bit about you as well, and they haven't got that. You know, they haven't got that. And you swap them round as well. Yeah, they've got no legs. I always found when I played at Old Trave, I might be wrong, but it seemed a big pitch. Massive pitch. Massive pitch. Got no legs in midfield. You know, it's like, he's gone out and bought the lads at Sesco. He's never going to score a goal because there's no one's going to cross the ball in.

57:22He has two players behind now, in Kunio and in Waino, who, they're cuffy. They're off the cuff. They're going to get the ball and they might beat three players and score. They'll beat three players and put it wide. you're never going to get someone out wide and put the ball in the box I feel sorry for the centre forward I can understand where the manager is coming from where he's come from here and he's gone to manage the biggest club or one of the biggest clubs in the world of football and think what I got here from playing the way I play but you can play players out position when you're sporting and win football matches because you're not playing against top teams week in week out and I think that's what he's underestimated in my opinion.

58:05That's the biggest issue. He can't win. I think he's lost more than half. We're in one back-to-back. He's lost more than half of his Premier League game. I think it's a great point about the centre forward as well. You think he's 6 '5", that centre forward. And Man United, historically, as with Giggs here, and historically, you think about wide players, people who get you off your seat and crossing the ball. They've signed a 6 '5", centre forward. We have full-backs who cross the board. Gary Neville cross the board. Gary Serling still on them. How do you know you score goals? You look at a team sometimes and you think, Harlan, City, he runs through, can be a brilliant finisher.

58:44I can't tell you how many are. I could tell you how many are. Everything's off the cuff.

58:47Nicky:The only way you score a goal over the last 18 months was Bruno. And now Bruno has now come deeper, so you've lost that as well. So I think you've gone worse. The only bright light has been Bruno. And I was one of his crickets because I think he doesn't do what I like as a footballer but he's a top top talent and scores goals but now he's not playing at the top of the four he's playing deep so you've lost that as well it's shocking what's happening we talk about Armour and his job don't we and we all say we never like to see anybody sacked of course we don't but I think say if he'd have been sacked yesterday I think we'd all be here saying yeah probably probably about time me watching the game I don't think people understand how big the club is though as well they get bought in they come in I'm a big Chelsea fan Mason Mount was unbelievable at Chelsea unbelievable he goes in at Man United probably had two good games can't stay fit can't stay fit what is it about United that has its effects on managers remember when Moyes came in I think I saw Rio talking on an interview about it years ago about they played a pre-season game or something they were getting on the plane back to Manchester and he said I got on and he said Moyes was sat there tie on dumb, just looped, dishevelled.

1:00:03And he went, it's a big club, isn't it?

1:00:05Nicky:The football club's got four departments in my eyes, and that's why it's massive. And a lot of clubs have it, but certainly Man United. You've got the football side, which obviously is the most important. You've then got the commercial side, which has to tie in with the football, because the amount of times they want the players to go and do stuff. Then you've got the business side and the recruitment. You can't go in there as a manager and do that all. And I think that's where David got mixed up. He did have someone like a Mike Feele, and he should have had him there to look after all the crap he doesn't want to look after.

1:00:32Nicky:I don't know if that's been the same with Amarin going in, but you can't just... I think Amarin's got to go in there and look after two parts of the club, which is the football, obviously, and the recruitment. I don't think he's doing that. I don't think he's allowed to do that. I think you make a good point about having somebody with him. He looks lonely on the sideline. I think you even look at the big managers, they've got a bit of presence next to him. What's Amarin got next to him? I couldn't tell you who's assistant I don't know who's assistant and they don't know the club and it isn't all about I think Arsenal's one Man United's one Liverpool's one Real Madrid Barcelona AC Milan they're not just football clubs they're institutions they're institutions and you need to have someone in that football club that helps him out who knows the football club and knows the dynamics of how it works he hasn't got anybody there the trouble he's got with that now though I think if he decides to bring someone in now like let's say it's a Ruvan Nisse or a Michael with him it makes everyone think he looks a little bit weak and he's under pressure and he's under pressure the fans start singing they're not like you talk you talk about the lad at Newcastle Tindall he gets a bit of sticking always next to Eddie Al exactly they could be 3-0 down he stands next to him he never like he's never one of them you know you see loads of people that stand up when they're winning and when they're losing they sit down and put their head down he's always there he reminds me of Phil Brown with Sam big Sam yeah always he used to get hammered because of their talent and everything else.

1:01:58Yeah, but always there. I've got most respect for him because he's always there. It doesn't matter how bad it is. It ain't been bad at Nuclop, but whenever it is, he always gets up. He never sits down. He always takes it. Even with Arsenal, you've got Albert, who's great experience with Man United, with Van Gaal, the Dutch squad. He's got Gabby Hines at a place next to him a little bit. I couldn't tell you. I can't believe you've said that. When you said that, I was thinking... Yeah. Honestly, I was just sitting there thinking that. Nobody knows. We know Tindall's name. Do you know what I mean?

1:02:29We know the ones with Pep Colo Torre and Pep Linders. I watched that Brentford game. I actually thought that in my head. I went, who's who behind him there?

1:02:37Nicky:It's a big, lonely club. No one looked like you can't judge a bit by its cover. But looking at him and all, I thought, it just doesn't feel right. Even Sir Alex, for all the unbelievable stuff he'd done for that football club, he always had a number two if he trusted and was right next to him. outside where it'd be a Brian kid, Carlos Kuros, Steve McLaren, all big, powerful personalities that were alongside him. Obviously, the manager took all the credit and all the adulation, but he always had someone next to him who he trusted who was there all the time. It's weird, because when I got the manager's job at Wolves, I wanted to be young, do you know what I mean?

1:03:11And I had Simon Osborne at Wolves and Ify and Nora. Great lads, great coaches. But it was hard, because I was young, they were young, and it was like, oh. And then, obviously, they went, and then Frank Barlow come in. My God, he was about 60-odd years of age at the time he was and he was unbelievable. That experience, you know what I mean? We were winning football matches. It was just his calmness, you know what I mean? When you're effing and blinding as a young manager, you know what I mean? Sometimes you can't explain it. But they know how to win games. And there's a way of, if it ain't going right, like it ain't at United now and it wasn't at Walsall at times, There's just a way of saying it.

1:03:53Do you think you should tweet that? Do you think you should do that? Amron's got nothing to go, you know what, should we go four at the back today? They ain't got any pace up front. Why are we wasting another defender? Did you not get the magnetic board? No, I had bibs. I had it on order and then I got the sack. I sent it back. I swapped it on swap shop for some table tennis. Do you know what? Saturday was a great example, wasn't it, of him being stuck in his way, tactics-wise. And then all of a sudden, a brand new manager in Keith Andrews he swapped to a back four and batters him yeah this is the thing he went to a four yeah when I watched it you know what I got and again no skin in the game but I actually I found myself I was annoyed watching it I was annoyed at the sheer stubbornness of him now and like going you're doing this thing you're taking your centre back off swapping and then everyone's moving round like you were saying you do it every game you swap centre back the one thing he shouldn't do you've got to have top draw wing backs they affect the whole game the wing backs are the ones they're the ones that give you the width they've got to get up, get back I don't think he's got it at Man United if he'd have gone into Chelsea I think he'd have been a success I really do because they've got Gusto they've got Cucurella, James who are top, top draw defending I think there's a problem come from the people that have pointed him from the way he plays Man United that I've never I've played this million I've said this a million times did never ever play three at the back I can count on one hand the amount of time so Alex thought right we'll give it a go we'll try three at the back after ten minutes now I think Amarin now is out of position yeah that was at Southampton that time yeah he changed it didn't he I think Amarin knows

1:05:38Nicky:I think Amarin knows what's the right the right hand is going to be on the wall and he's dying on his sword and he's because if he changes now and gets sacked he looks a complete idiot I think now he's realised and that's another point of having experience next to him come on I think you need to change something like that I think as well I think the players have got used to losing it's just become acceptable and other players that come to Old Trafford are not scared they're going I've got a chance here sure good I'm not coming by me in summer I think everyone's got used to losing around the even us when we see a game it's no surprise you know what I didn't expect them to beat Brentford no I didn't I didn't Honestly, I had to do this thing, the prediction thing, and I said, I just don't see Brentford losing.

1:06:24I don't see it, which is a shock, really, isn't it? Especially with what Brentford have lost this year. Yeah, exactly. Brentford do great, don't they? But you know they're going to have a long throw, they're going to be well organised. And as I say, Man United are so cuffy. Every goal will come from a... Oh, wow. There's no like Arsenal yesterday when Trossard hits the post. that's from their own corner flag bang bang bang bang bang and they're away I said last season transfer deadline last January Man United needed a Mateta a Palace big strong leads the line he's a threat causes problems but they're not going to buy him because he's crystal power he's not fashionable he's much better playing than Sesco

1:07:11Nicky:and he's doing it in the Premier League and he's doing it in the Premier League it's like the lad at Arsenal now Gokres like he was scoring goals at Coventry two years ago so he goes to Portugal you can't tell me Portugal made him that much a better player it's because if they'd have bought him from Portugal it's not cool is it and that almost Mitesi would fit into the style of the play almost like Gokres playing for Amrima at Sporting he'd do the same thing there was talk of Kane going there before he obviously went to Germany as well they spoke about Kane and Declan Rice didn't they they said he didn't want to do it was too much money do you think if If United get beat at Sunderland, he's gone.

1:07:51It's that November international break, isn't it, where a lot seems to happen. Is that where they've got next? I don't know. Sunderland away, Nick? No, it's at home. No, it's at home. Oh, they just beat Forrest, didn't they? They're a decent team.

1:08:02Nicky:Yeah, decent team, yeah. But, well. But I'm telling you, I think if he gets beat, unlike the international break... If he gets beat by them, I can't see him way past that. Merce, while we've got you here, 1993 League Cup final. you won man of the match but it was a little bit overshadowed yeah tell us why I scored as well I scored and got man of the match I played well that day and then you think you were going out that was the thing when I that was like to my mates we were all out and then all of a sudden Tony Adams is there and Stevie Morrow run towards him and Tony picked him up and went flying what do you think about when you look back now the drinking thing yeah not great do you feel bad about it no no no that was at the time I thought it was great every football fan would have loved that we loved that it was a country yeah I mean it's quite iconic you know what I mean more pictures I signed I mean I was even in Squire or something like that with my boy at the time he's 30 now he's about 5 he was doing it that ain't great that ain't great but he was doing it do you know you talk about iconic the most iconic thing about well I think about you I always think about your high tech boots with a white tongue oh yeah I remember them.

1:09:14Nicky:I remember them. Biggest payers. Feet are like that now.

1:09:22But he nearly lost his arm. He scored a winning goal in the cup final. He wasn't playing every week. That could have been the start. Exactly. And such a nice bloke. Yeah, he was a lovely bloke. But yeah, he nearly lost his arm. It was more serious than what we thought at the time. The thing I remember about you, Merce, the most that stands out is the outside of your right foot. Yeah, I couldn't... Did you ever kick a ball with your left foot? about four times I swear if someone put the ball down there and said you have to hit that door I wouldn't be able to do it hit the ball but I could hit just yeah I had I had an operation when I was younger when I was about about 10 I lived 11 we moved on to this estate and we were one of the first houses on it so we were playing football out the back and there was this grass and I was playing in goal at the time I slid out and there was a piece of obviously a builder had thrown some rubbish out and a piece of iron was sticking out and it went in my knee it ripped my knee and all my skin come down they went to the hospital put it back and stitched it then we went to Bob Norregis or somewhere on holiday and we were playing cricket and I was in with wicketkeeper because I couldn't move and the ball went up and I went to catch it and I slipped it come undone again lucky enough I went to this hospital I don't know if it was Chichester or Winchester hospital and the bloke who was there was lucky enough it was a doctor a surgeon there and he put cat gut in my knee you know like where you're having a tennis racket so I could bend my knee literally all the way so I could always kick the outside of my foot, do you know what I mean?

1:10:48And that's why. I don't expect it to not. Natural talent. No, a doctor's stuck. Yeah, yeah. All the kids are now wanting to get a cat and got a nice one. Everybody's like that now. I've got a big thing here. I didn't know about this. It said, Is it true that Arsenal players used to do eating challenges on the way to a way game? No, on the way back. On the way back, right. On the way back, we'd come back. Because we could go on the coach and we'd have prawn cocktail, lasagna, roast dinners, and we'd have a competition. Fucking hell, what kind of coach is this? Oh, yeah, we had chefs on the coach.

1:11:31Soup, roast dinner, you name any. A roast dinner? Like, so, like, when we got back to the ground, and you just say to the chef what you wanted next week and you get it all in. Oh yeah, honestly. When me and Scores first got in the squad

1:11:44Nicky:we used to have to go and serve all the players the soup and all that and you'd be going down the M's and you'd be getting slaps off Brian Robinson by the back of your Everton. Remember? That's our job. Remember when we had to go to the chippy? We had to go to the chippy once at Goodison Park. We were in my Man United tracksuits. 25 fish and chips. We'd go to this chippy Buses Park there and all the Everton fans there we'd walk in a chippy 25 fish and chips and everyone's yeah fuck are they going to kill us and then you get back in and you forget one pie the whole hell break loose I mean unbelievable the club used to give us 150 quid to get food on the way home so I used to say to the lads food or off license we'd just fill up with drinks and fall off the coke that's not that decision everybody was starving that decision wouldn't take that long this is how bad it got we played I think it was Hartlepool away one day and Steve Stoughton play for us.

1:12:38Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant coach. So we're going home. He went, could you drop us on the corner gaffer on the way back? So I said, where do you live, Steve? He went, I live down now. I said, we'll drop you off. Got the coach. Drop us off. He went, do you want to come in? So I said, yeah, we'll come in. We're having a drink. We've got all the youngsters in there. We've got about six or seven, 18 year olds that have been in the squad. So now we're in having a drink, marking cellars up on the table, singing, dancing. I said, now I've got all the lads coming in the kitchen, the younger lads. My mum's at the training ground waiting for me.

1:13:11I said, have a look at his fucking medals and caps. You'll learn more. And then I give you a quick story, Steve Thornton. So he lives next door to me, right? So one day he goes to me, I come out and I go, what are you up to, Steve? He went, no, nothing, I want to get in a coach. I went, come down to the airplane. Come down and coach the kids, it'd be brilliant. So he comes down and starts doing a bit of coaching and all that. So I'm under a little bit of pressure. we're not doing really well. So I said to him, come to Bournemouth away on Saturday with us. He said, I'm going to play. I need to concentrate on playing.

1:13:41You just, you do the manager for me. Do the shots, because I need to concentrate here. I'm under a bit of pressure. So we go out first half. We have a player sent off. So we're nil, nil. And I'm playing all right. I'm playing well. You know, I'm the older one telling the kids where to go on the pitch and all that. All of a sudden, someone gets injured about 20 minutes into the second half. One of their players. So I'm standing talking to one of their players while their thing's on. The ref taps me on the shoulder. I said, what's the matter? He went, your number's up. He took me off. I walked off the pitch.

1:14:14I went, what are you fucking doing? He went, you told me to make the decisions. I thought you looked tired. I went, I'm not tired. I'm the manager. I'm sitting on the bench in the corner like that. I want us to lose now. Sub me.

1:14:39Nicky:What was that like with obviously we've been good compared to George Graham with obviously different cultures different what was that different how is that oh completely yeah yeah George was all going out you know I mean even though it was hard he wanted everybody out we go Marbella three times a year yeah I mean for that three or four those blinding that was one of our first trip our first trip it was like that was because it was togetherness do you know what I mean and when people had a drink people picked each other out and it saved him doing it do you know what I mean he don't want to keep on coming in every week same voice same voice do you know what I mean and then Arsene go I mean he was heaven oh did you find that straight away from day one when he was there at the training ground what was what was the effect like on you yeah good he was he was unbelievable he was so far ahead of his time yeah Like, George was, we wouldn't have won anything without George.

1:15:30Tactically, he was phenomenal. And that's why probably a lot of us are still working in TV and radio now, 30-odd years on, because he learned the game, do you know what I mean? But I could tell you what I was doing, not November this year, but November next year on a Thursday. I could tell you what we was doing. It was everything was regimental, do you know what I mean? Then Arsene come in, it was like, there was no running. It was everything was with the ball. everything he'd done was thinking only 20 minutes everything because concentration levels so far the players he brought in are just off the charts in the end, you know, your homies your fatigues, your vieras and Nelka I mean I thought Nelka would be I thought he'd be better than R9 I did I'd never seen anything like it when he was 17, he was leaving Steve Bould, Tony Adams on his backsides 1v1s like literally and then going around Dave seemed like they weren't there and you know they were at the top of their game is that when as a player when you see young lads like you think is it time for me I haven't got my boots leave it up I don't know I'm 29 I played my best football in 29 30 31 you know I played my best football you want to play with them players yeah you just want to play with pace you know I love playing with pace yeah my game was about being with pace.

1:16:57Like brilliant playing with Alan Smith because Alan would flick on, hold the ball up. He was probably the next best thing to mark you holding the ball up. Very unsung hero. But then when I dropped further back, I was fortunate to play with really good quick players but you don't even have to be good. I just want quick. Just want quick so I don't look and I can put that ball. There's nothing better. Nothing better, is there? Yeah, the pace is, you can't teach pace. If you could pick a player to play with, no with that in mind up front, who would you go for? Have they been playing now or have they played before?

1:17:30No, they're playing now, but you could play with them where you could knock them balls through somewhere. Oh, Haaland. Oh, Haaland. You wouldn't even have to be on the money, would you? That's the problem. You don't even have to be on the money. He just knocks centre-halves out of the way like they're not there and they're like six foot three units. He just does. He just gives them a little barge. I would say him. Would you go with Haaland, you two? it's hard not to as soon as you ask the question it's hard not to yeah it's hard not to Merce thanks so much for coming up thanks mate thanks Merce it's gone too quick and you're funny I knew there was some coming there I fucking get it off these two you know what he made me do something once I look back now and I think I'd never do that again in my life I know what you're going to say is it is it to punish you

1:18:23Nicky:is that another podcast is that another podcast oh god so basically is it rude oh it's a chocolate so basically it's on youtube I think so basically so remember back in the day when you like football DVDs you like goals gaffes hoes all that kind of thing this was right in the DVD side and I think we'd done Phoenix Nights and what I mean, before I did Max and Paddy, and this company approached me about doing one, obviously I love football, and they said, we're going to get like, some legends in for you, so it's good fucking mercies on the, Graham Taylor, Cammy, Cammy, Tomo, Tomo, Ian Rush, yeah, yeah, Alan, McAnally, yeah, yeah, like, so I'm going, okay, now this is unbelievable, so the, The idea was that I came up with these.

1:19:23I live in a big country manor, and I'm doing these links. Have a look at this game, what happened in the 90th minute or whatever. And all these were me, like, servants in the house, so they'd all be, like, white gloves on with their things and all that. And it's a scene.

1:19:44You can't tell us. It's a scene. I can't believe it. There's a scene where I go, I'm walking in and I'm asking, so he's in there and he's... So he's crying. They meet Tom and Cammy in there facing the other way. They're facing this way like this and Mercy's like this. And they're polishing the troll. So I walk in, they're all turned around like this and I go, oh, what the fuck's going on here? So, Kami and Tomo turn around with the trophies and go, oh, we're just polishing your silverware. I go, all right. I go, what's he doing? He goes,

1:20:30I'm going to leave him. Leave him, leave him. Oh, God. I forgot. How did you get away? That was mad. Do you know what I forgot all about? I remember that night I had to take you all out to Hell's Kitchen. We were in Hell's Kitchen, didn't we? they were doing the programme half the chefs cook chicken and half cook meat Tomo went for chicken you don't get amateurs cooking your chicken I think he was spewing his ring up it was like the pink flamingo

1:20:59Nicky:got me somewhere to watch tonight on YouTube it's a fucking belter and the face is unreal as well your proper vinegar strokes face anyhow what an end to the fucking podcast Oh, jeez, I can't believe it. I fucking totally forgot about that. I can still see you. Oh, yeah. That was a worrying thing. I had it off to a tee in the face. I sort of turned around like, oh. It's one of them though, isn't it, you guy? It's all right, DVDs, they're gone now. And then YouTube comes up. Yeah, YouTube comes along. Oh, fucking hell, it's back there. Someone showed me it the other month. I was like, oh, brilliant.

1:21:42Brilliant. Well, you had a good career at Skymers. That's amazing. Thanks for joining us on the Good Devon and the Football. You can see us on all the usual podcasts, YouTube, Apple, Spotify. And please remember to give us a five-star review. And if we don't get sponsored off Uber after that, I don't know what we're going to get.

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