John Obi Mikel: Ill discipline KILLING Chelsea & Maresca; why Amorim is a ‘dead man walking’

21:52John Obi Mikel:Who knows how to win? Who knows how to win? You know what I mean? Your home is your fortress. Like people say, you can't lose a home. And now it's so easy for us to lose a home, isn't it? Like people come at home to Stamford Bridge and think they can come and turn us over and get a win. So if anybody knows how to play in Stamford Bridge, it is Jose Mourinho. But we have to find a way to win that game. we can't have a back-to-back loss. Because if you... As time for a bridge. So, Jose will come with Benfica and think, you know what? They're not playing well. They have players suspended. They have injuries.

22:24He's going to come. If anybody can smell blood, it's Jose Mourinho. He will smell that and think, they are not playing well. If I can be able to put a little bit of pressure on this team tomorrow, the fans might start turning on the managers, might turn on the players. Few whistles here and there. Oh, yeah. And I can get a win here. Jose Mourinho knows how to play the mind games. The mind games is going to start.

22:46John Obi Mikel:You listen to his press conference already. The mind games start from there. He knows what is happening, that the ship is not stable right now at the club. There's a little bit of, you know, results are not going well. The manager, he can try to put the manager under pressure, the fans under pressure. He knows that he might have one or two fans that are going to be on his side as well. Obviously, he's Mr. Chelsea. The club love him. The fans absolutely love him. So Jose, make no mistake about that. He's coming to Stamford Bridge thinking, I can get a win here. I can get a win here. And again, you talked about it.

23:18John Obi Mikel:A matter of plays after that, we have, of course, Liverpool coming to Stamford Bridge. They also are not going to want to lose two games in a row. They've just lost against Crystal Palace. So Liverpool are coming to Stamford Bridge thinking, we have to get a win here. They have to get a win. So games doesn't come any easy for us. We have to deal with it. this is the Premier League. It's the big boys league. We have to deal with it. Liverpool are going to come to Stamford Bridge to think they will get a result. It's up to us. How do we deal with it? How do we deal with the threats of Mo Salah, Alexandra Isaac, Eketike, Verts, Gakpo, Zoboslice, McAleic.

24:03How do we deal with those players? We have to find a way. We have to find a way. What does your hunch say? I mean, obviously, John, We're speculating, right? But two bad results in those games heading into the international break. And the little - Not good enough.

24:18John Obi Mikel:Not good enough. I mean - If we lose against Liverpool at home, that's what? 10 points behind Liverpool. That's so many points. I know it's the Premier League and we're not even in December yet, but to be 10 points behind Liverpool already and we call ourselves title contenders, not good enough. Not good enough. No way near good enough. So the least we can do against Liverpool is to get a point. The least we can do is to get a point. We can't afford to lose that game. It's going to be a massive game for us. We can't afford to lose that game. So the least we can do is to get a draw. But I hope we can come out in that game and try to get a win.

24:55If we play well, defend well, first of all, defend well, first of all, and we have our goalkeeper having a good game, then we might have a chance. Stay disciplined as well. Exactly. We have to keep 10 men on the pitch. and if you think in any team that can put you under pressure it is Liverpool well you said it though I guess the only I guess crumb of comfort that Chelsea fans can take away from this weekend Liverpool did lose their unbeaten record is gone the only unbeaten record now in the Premier League belongs to Crystal Palace three wins three draws and remember John we said on this podcast Palace themselves a little unlucky not to win at the bridge on the opening weekend they were they played really really well

25:30John Obi Mikel:at the opening of the season they were brilliant they played really really well we were lucky to come out of that game with a point because Palace have been absolutely brilliant now. I think they've taken the form from last season. They've carried it on to this season. They're playing some really good football. Oliver Glasner has done a fantastic job at Crystal Palace. And to come to think about it, they've lost some really, really good players. And that's, I don't think enough's made of it. Enough hasn't made of it. The job that he's done. Is he gone? We're talking two massive players for that football club.

26:06Gone. And yet, they've brought you in. They've kept the system. They've kept the style. They're still getting results. I don't think, John, you're right with that.

26:15John Obi Mikel:I don't think he gets enough credit as he deserves. Oliver Glasner, he's done some brilliant, brilliant job at that club, at Crystal Palace. Losing the likes of Olisse, that has gone to Bayern Munich now, the way that kid is playing. Oh my God. Going from Crystal Palace, not just Crystal Palace, to Bayern Munich. And when I watched him against Chelsea, when he played against us in the Champions League. Oh my God. He had Kukurela on a toast, mate. Absolutely on a toast. Absolutely destroyed Kukurela. But again, it does happen you have one bad game. I thought Kukurela had a bad game. But Michael Oluise, the way he's playing, every decision he made on that pitch that day was the right decision.

26:55He knows when to play one touch, two touch, when to dribble, when to half. It's class. It's class. Joy to watch. So for Oliver Glasner to lose those players, to lose the likes of Olisse and now Eberici Eze and to continue to win games

27:11John Obi Mikel:and to continue to do well the way they're doing. I mean, Michael, Oliver Glasner has done a brilliant, brilliant job with Crystal Palace and now they remain unbeaten in the league. Second place, second in the league. Well, Arsenal second, Palace third. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Arsenal now second and Palace third. It's absolutely, absolutely brilliant. And they did really well as well to keep Gaye at the club. I think he's been absolutely fantastic for them. He's a rock in that defense and they did absolutely well to keep him. But I think he's gone in January. I think Liverpool are going to snap him up in January.

27:43John Obi Mikel:I think it's the deal done there, Mike. I think the deal is done. I think January, he's gone. If he doesn't go in January, definitely in the summer, he's gone to Liverpool. So for me, the Liverpool game is a big one for us. It's an absolute must-win game for us. We have to make sure we win that game because Liverpool are going to come to the bridge and try to put a lot of pressure on us. You know, you're going to have Mohamed Salah running behind you. You're going to have Ekitike. He's been absolutely on form. Of course, they lost. You can see they, you know, it was a big miss against Crystal Palace.

28:15John Obi Mikel:It was. And of course, a small matter of Alessandra Isaac that we have to deal with. Slowly but surely he's coming into form now. You know, yes, he hasn't had the preseason. You can tell. You can see he's not, you know, he's not back to his best. But when he does, he will be absolutely brilliant for Liverpool. So for us, this is the Premier League. It doesn't come any easier. We have to find a way. And I know a lot of the Chelsea fans are slowly now trying to turn against Enzo Mareska. I like Enzo Mareska. I think he's a fantastic manager. But he needs to find a way of winning games. He needs to find a way of winning the small games, the easy games.

28:53I know there's no easy game in the Premier League. I know what you mean though. But the smaller teams, he needs to find a way of breaking the smaller teams. We've seen it again. They cost us so much, so much pressure. Drew against Brentford and now lost against Brighton. Drew at Crystal Palace. Drew at Crystal Palace. So for me, the so-called smaller teams are the ones that put us under so much pressure. We still haven't found a way of breaking them down because they come to the bridge. They make it so difficult for us. With 10 men behind the ball, we have to find out breaking them down. Enzo Moresca as well needs to become a winning manager.

29:26I know a lot of Chelsea fans are saying, Is he the manager? Is he a winning manager? Or is he just a manager? Is he the manager that just competes? But I believe that he can start to win trophies. He needs to change his mentality and be more proactive. We have to be more proactive in games. We have to go for it in games. And I believe if we can do that, we have a very, very good team. Good team, good manager. I like Enzo Moreska, good manager. But we need to start winning games. We drew way too many games last season, which is not good enough. And that's why come end of the season, we weren't there competing to win the league.

30:03But this season, we have to find a way of winning those games. Winning those games. Because the likes of Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal. You know, we saw Newcastle again yesterday. Absolutely brilliant for about 80 minutes. Absolutely brilliant Newcastle. The job that Eddie Howe has done at that club, you know, when you have the likes of, you know, Gimaraes, you know, Joel Linton, that maybe. Tonali. Tonali in that midfield. Absolutely brilliant. You know, I look at the defense yesterday. Dan Byrne. Willing everything. Jumping. Heading everything. Tackles. They look absolutely solid. That's what I want to see us.

30:40Our defense needs to be more aggressive. More solid. More assured when we go into tackles. Confident. Assured. That's what it's called. You will need those. We cannot win the league with the defense we have. We have to strengthen in general. Definitely have to strengthen. Of course, there'll be a lot of people looking at this and watching and listening to this saying, wait a minute, Newcastle, again, they've been so unlucky. They did lose yesterday. And again, you can't keep being brilliant and unlucky in losing football matches. I understand that. Liverpool lost, of course, Barcelona recently.

31:11They lost again to Arsenal. But to your point, they were so unlucky in those matches because the way he sets them up, I'm such a fan of Eddie. Aggressive, to your point. They're proactive. They're busy out of possession. They're a real good team out of possession. Two corners. Ultimately, Arsenal again, John. Again, yeah. Stat that blew my mind. Since the 22-23 season, I think it's now 36 goals that Arsenal have scored from corners. That is 15 more, John, than anyone else.

31:42John Obi Mikel:And he's playing close to a billion, isn't he? To be the new Stoke. Turning into new Stoke, isn't it? That's Arsenal. Turning into new Stoke, they get goals from Troll Wednesday. One sweet, melty bite of a Hershey's bar, and suddenly I'm right back sitting on the front porch with my grandmother on a slow summer afternoon. She doesn't say much, just breaks the bar in half and hands me a piece. I open my mouth to say whatever a nine-year-old wants to say, and she replies with a low, shh, listen. So we sat there, listening. That was the first time I learned that quiet can feel full. Hershey's, it's your happy place.

32:22Okay, family, thanks for dinner. I should get going now. Not without dessert. Done. Just ordered on DoorDash. I keep eating cake, but tomorrow's Juan's graduation. Well, that deserves a toast. Let me get some drinks.

32:39Alright, I'm... Pretty big snacks. Wait, this time, I'll get it. Oh, I sent it to my own address. I'll have to go. No, why so soon? For every reason to stay together, I DoorDash in La Casa. They get goals from corner kicks, they get goals from free kicks, and you spend a billion, and you can't score, you know, in open play.

32:59John Obi Mikel:It's crazy. It's crazy. So unlucky yesterday, but yes, they did win the game, but they were so unlucky. I thought, yeah, like I've just said, Newcastle were absolutely brilliant. I thought they started the game, they were absolutely brilliant. You know, the way they played, they were aggressive, they were first on everything, they won the first balls, they won the duels. That's what you want in massive features like that. you want your players to be up for it. And Newcastle were up for it. Absolutely up for it. I think Tonali is an absolutely brilliant player for them. A brilliant player for Newcastle.

33:30John Obi Mikel:And when you have him, Joel Linton as well, with his energy, with his aggressivity, Gimareas as well. When you have those three in the midfield, they look absolutely solid. And the defence again. Brilliant, brilliant. Eddie Howard's done a fantastic job at that football club. But again, it comes again. Arsenal, you talk about it. Set pieces again. This call goes from... They're master at it. They're the masters. They're masters at it. And I don't know whether we... And credit to them for that, for doing that. They're masters at it. And again, we saw the corner kick again of Saliba going. This is Saliba blocking Nick Pope.

34:02Nick Pope, I thought again yesterday, was absolutely fantastic. But again, the second goal, mistake, you know.

34:09John Obi Mikel:Again, it comes down to decision making. You know, he caught the ball and there was no need. 96 minutes, there was no need to try to set up a counterattack. Lost it there. Comes back. corner kick and he didn't try. Okay, you know what? It was my mistake. Let me try to make amends for it. Comes out, no man's land and of course, header from Saliba. But again, this is a, it comes down to players having experience in games and Nick Popo look back at it. He was again, I thought he was absolutely fantastic yesterday Nick Popo. Played really, made some brilliant saves and that's what you top, that's what you call a top top goalkeeper making top top saves.

34:42Yeah. He was brilliant again.

34:44John Obi Mikel:But again, it comes down to them losing the game and Arsenal, I thought yesterday, very, very lucky. Very lucky. Yes, they did win the game. And I hear people saying, that's what champions are made of. What? Champions are made of Arsenal champions. They just won a game. They're not champions. Well, they say this is what champions are made of. If Liverpool say, yes, this is how they win games, they never, what do you call, never give up attitude. Yes. But Arsenal talking about this is what champions are made of. Give me a fucking break, mate. They've not done it yet. They haven't done it yet. They haven't done it yet.

35:23You know, the idea about winning two trophies, which is a community shield, that's not a trophy. No, it's not.

35:31John Obi Mikel:That's not a trophy. We start, we start. I don't think Arsenal can win the Premier League this season. I don't think so. You still think that way? I think they still might start with it. With the team they have, they have the best sport in the Premier League. No doubt about it. No, absolutely no doubt about it. But when you watch that game yesterday, the way they played, I don't think mentally, I think they're very, very weak. Arsenal, I think mentally, they're weak side. And if you can be able to bully them and be aggressive on Arsenal, you have the upper hand. And I watched that game yesterday for the best part of 80 minutes, 85 minutes.

36:07Newcastle were very aggressive, bullied Arsenal. And you can see Saka was always on the floor. One thing I again have to say, credit to the referee yesterday. Oh, fantastic. We don't give them enough credit. We always come here and batter the referees. And I watched yesterday, a lot of the pundits came out yesterday after the game saying, oh, the penalty. It wasn't a penalty. It wasn't a penalty. It wasn't a penalty. Yes, he did get the ball. He got the ball. Before the contact was made. It wasn't a penalty. And a lot of this came out yesterday. There were so many things, positive things they can come out and talk about.

36:39But what? They all decide, oh, we're going to have a go at the referee. The referee was absolutely fantastic yesterday. They let play go. Wasn't blowing at every dive, every cheat that Arsenal would try to fall on the floor, trying to get penalties, trying to get fouls. He let play go. And it's been a long time since I saw a referee was not always blowing the whistle. The game was flowing. There was tackles. There was aggressivity. That's the Premier League. That's what we used to see in the Premier League. And I was delighted to see the little, I'm going to call it push, where Gabriel fell. It wasn't.

37:11Gabriel does that to opponents week in week out. It was a great decision. On the opening half, he does that week in week, every goal he scores. He does that. He feels a better contact. He goes on the opening half, corner kicks, throwing, he's pushing and shoving and kicking and stamping on people's feet. He does that. He's the most dittiest defender in the Premier League. And yesterday, he was crying like a baby. He was. That he got two hands on his back. Crazy. But credit to him, mentality-wise. He got the winner. He got the winner. He did. Credit to him. But he does that week in week out the opening.

37:43So he shouldn't be the one crying. Because that's what he does to open in, week in, week out. So credit to Arsenal. Very, very lucky that they did come out with a win yesterday. With a win yesterday. So... And given Liverpool lost, Chelsea lost. Yeah, it was a good result. Okay, City won, but it was a really good weekend. Good weekend for them. For Arsenal. They're up in the second. They're only two points behind Liverpool. Liverpool, of course, going to Stamford Bridge at the weekend. Another, you know where I'm going next, John. Another terrible weekend for Man United. I mean, the stats. 3-1 defeat at Brentford.

38:13It's now, well, what, seven points from their six matches. You look at this stat for you. This blows my mind. Manchester United have not won back-to-back games in the Premier League since May and August of 2024, John. Ended the season with a 2-0 win. I think it was away at Brighton. They started the season of the 24-25 season with a 1-0 win at home to Fulham. It's the last time United won back-to-back games. It's been over a year, John. Over a year.

38:41John Obi Mikel:My Manchester United, I don't know where to start from. He needs to go. You have way too many problems. Manchester United, way too many problems at that team. You can talk about the man. You can talk about Bruno Fernandes for me. Is he the right player for the club? I like him. Yes, we can say he's fantastic. He's not captain. He's a good player. He's a brilliant player, but he's an individual player. You need to find a team that works for Bruno Fernandes, a team that will work for Bruno Fernandes. Let him just be there, the guy that creates the chances and creates the chances and scores the goals.

39:16That's Bruno Fernandes. When you do not have a team that works for Bruno Fernandes, you struggle. And when I watch this Manchester United side, I don't think they have the team. Because the team is built around him. Make no mistake about that. The team is built around him. The team, the system doesn't work for him. No chance. He's not a holding player. He's not a number six. He's not a two holding player. He's not. That's not Bruno Fernandes. Bruno Fernandes is a brilliant player. I can vouch for that all day. Fantastic player. But the system that Manchester United is playing right now does not work for Bruno Fernandes.

39:54And that's why it's detrimental to the team. The team doesn't function well when they play that system and you have Bruno Fernandes playing as a number six. It doesn't work. That's not his job. His job, you need to play top end of the pitch. That's where he's more effective. You play him as a number six, he can't do the dirty job. He doesn't have the legs to break up plays. He doesn't. He's not a casino. He's not a grabbing bag. He's not. That's not his job. Play him up on the pitch where he can be more effective, where he can create chances. You know what I mean? And the defense of Manchester United, Harry Maguire.

40:28Oh, my God. And they're talking about extending his contract. What is going on here? What is going on at the club, at Manchester United? I have no fucking idea. No, I don't think anyone in the group is... The recruitment process is absolutely shambles. Shambles.

40:46John Obi Mikel:Shambles. I've said it. I've backed the manager, Amarons, since he came in. I thought he's a very, very good manager. I watched him at Spartan when he was at Spartan. The way they played, absolutely fantastic. Brilliant. Yeah. But the players at this Manchester United team are not good enough for the system that he wants to play. They're not good enough. Harry Maguire, Dele, all over the fucking place in the game. You're right. He moved Maguire to the right. He moved Dele to the left. Trying to find a system that works. It doesn't work. Too slow. They can't run. They are both. And you have a Fernandez and a Casemiro.

41:27As you're to hold him, I know Casemiro didn't play, but you have him. If he's fit, he plays. He plays. You can't win the league with those two. You will finish 13, 14 with those two as your holding players. That's where you finish. And that's where they are right now. And I think that's where they're going to end up in the season. 13, 14, languishing at the back end of the table. That's where Manchester United are going to finish. At some point, the manager during the game, this is so funny. Mbuemo, who you bought for how much? 60 million or so. Closer to 70. Closer to 70. He had him playing right wing back.

42:02What is going on here? Mbuemo didn't play right wing back. Mason Mountplay left wing back it's all over the shop all over the fucking place it is so that leads to the question I mean what is he he's won nine league games in 33 John yeah you were pestering me before we started this podcast to tell you how many he's won against Premier League clubs he hasn't won enough he's won six because of course he won two against Leicester and one against Epswich they're no longer in the Premier League so he's won six Premier League matches his winning percentage in the Premier League is around 27%. His winning percentage as man he had boss in all competitions is 36%.

42:41And yet we get, continue to be told he is our man.

42:45John Obi Mikel:And yet he's still at a job. I have no idea. Listen, I think he's a brilliant manager. I think he's a good manager. Do you? I think he's a good manager. I think he's a young... We all have that dream trip we've been wishing we could go on. But too often, life, or usually price, gets in the way. That's why Priceline is here to help you turn your dream trip into reality. With up to 60 % off hotels and up to 50 % off flights, you can book everything you need for your next adventure. Don't just dream about that next trip. Book it with Priceline. Download the Priceline app or visit Priceline.com and book your next trip today.

43:19Go to your happy price. Priceline. LinkedIn is pretty great at a lot of things, like helping you tap into the latest trends and insights in your field. We cannot stop your coworker from tapping her pencil. LinkedIn can help you find new jobs that align with your career goals. We cannot help you find the source of that weird smell in the office fridge. And while we can't stop your coworkers from bringing their hobbies into the office, LinkedIn can help you bring your career to the next level. LinkedIn is the network that works for you.

43:52John Obi Mikel:Good manager, but I think the system that he wants to play at Manchester United, for the love of God, please. I have never seen a manager since I played football for so many years. I played against all the best managers. Name them. I've played all of them. I've watched them. I've studied them. Their mentality. Where they approach games. Ruben Amoron, you're losing 2-1 against Brentford away. All 3-1. What do you do as a manager? To change them. You change it up? Yeah. Why are you still playing five in the back? Three in the back. Why? Managers chase games. You're already losing anyways. You're going to end up losing the game.

44:40I just watch him and I think, his body language, he looks like he wants out. He wants out. He's throwing the towel. He's done. He can't watch Bruno Fernandes every time it's a penalty. His head is down there. He can't watch him. At some point, he can't watch his players perform on the pitch. He's giving up. He wants out. He wants to be sacked. He's giving up. Does he go? The problem is way too much for him to deal with. Way too much to deal with. He can't fix Manchester United problem. Ruben Amor cannot fix the problems of Manchester United. It's impossible. He's throwing the towel. I watch him every time on the touchline.

45:19His body language is always there. He shakes his head. He doesn't smile. Nothing. That energy feeds into the players. It runs through the players, through the team. The players can see it. That this manager doesn't believe in anything we're doing. That's it. And that instruction is coming from you. The players have to believe what you're telling us to do. And the players look at him on the touchline. They're thinking... He's not having us. He's not having us, man. It is. He's not having us. It is like that. That's what's happening. It is like that. He's turning the time. I think he's giving up.

45:55it's just you cannot be that stubborn and say i will not change my system at some point that's not stubborn anymore that is just stupidity it is stupidity and that's why your point because i like and i think there is a good coach there but at what point with his failure to change do we start saying well wait a minute you're maybe not as good as we thought because good coaches good Good managers, adapt. Good top managers, adapt. We can see Pep Guardiola. That's how I'm working. I change it. What is it the old saying? Insanity is when you keep doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

46:32Yeah, yeah. Same thing over and over again. And every club now, every team come to play Manchester United week in, week out. They know exactly what they're facing. Same weaknesses. Same system, same play. Same. It's a problem. You cannot continue to be that stubborn. I can understand when you start the game that way. But when it's not working, during the game, you're down 1-2-0. Switch it. Switch it. Go for it. Change the game. Play two men up front. Go 4-4-2. Try to affect the game. Try to change the result of the game. Because you're down anyways. You can't keep playing three in the back. At some point, it's not stubbornness anymore.

47:13It's just stupidity. So with that then, he's a dead man. with that he's a dead man working I think it's a matter of time he's gone who comes in I don't think any man's I want to go to Manchester someone else said that to me with the players that they have it's still man United though John it's come on still it's still Manchester United it's still massive it's still a huge football club who will go there if Glasner gets a phone call and I'm not saying he's the right man there is still a little bit of a worry he's flavor of the month but if Glasner takes a phone call now from Sir Jim Radcliffe say Oliver we want you at Old Trafford Not with that defence.

47:47Not with that defence. You don't think he takes it? I think he takes it, but he has to bring in his own place. Not with that defence. Not with that. Rupert Amorun had the chance, had the opportunity in the summer to fix that situation. And he just bought attackers. And he just bought attackers. Bayern Munich got rid of Deleuze. There was a reason why they got rid of him. Harry Maguire was not playing. There's a reason why he was not been playing. There was a reason why he was stripped of the captaincy. There is always that worry, John, isn't there? when big clubs sell you players, it's a bit like...

48:19There's a reason why big clubs get rid of the players. So Delicht, question. Ugarte from PSG.

48:25John Obi Mikel:There's a reason. There's a reason. Mazaravi, there's a reason. Bayern Munich got rid of him. And what's happened to Bayern Munich now? They're flourishing. And Real Madrid. They're flourishing. Real Madrid. Real Madrid happy with 80 million for Casa... Or 60 million for Casemiro. For Casemiro, exactly. So you watch all this. The players that they're getting, they're getting a Washington... Listen, I'm a player. I was a player. And sometimes I just feel that players or clubs get the wrong players for the system they want to play. I've said it so many times. I absolutely adored Casemiro when we played.

49:06Wrong time. Rock solid for Real Madrid. Fantastic player. Scored goals, break up plays. Energy. the Premier League is the Premier League you cannot in the Premier League be found that once the club's teams find out the weak point they will attack they will go for it and the easy route to Manchester is through the midfield it's so easy to play through Manchester so easy watch it during games so easy to play through that midfield there's no energy there's no energy there's no legs I know they went for Belieba but yeah 100 million I thought a bit too much a bit much yeah but you should have strengthened that position and again i watch this kid kobe minor my word what has happened to kobe minor what has happened to that kid doesn't fancy him what has happened to that kid doesn't fancy him i watched him when he came on the pitch a shadow of who he was when he bust into the scene a shadow of who he was kobe minor was a fallout the second goal or third goal?

50:10He looked heavy. He looked like he doesn't know what he's doing, Kobe Miner. And when the manager doesn't believe in you, when the manager doesn't have the belief and trust you, that happens. And he's a kid as well. He's a young, young player. I will not sit here and criticize. He's a young player, so much improved. But coming from the Kobe Miner that we know, even some post calls were singing praises that he's like Zinedine Zidane. That's what we thought. That was the Kobe Mano that we thought. But now when I watch him, he's the shadow of who he is. He looks heavy. He looks leggy every time he plays.

50:44What has happened to Kobe Mano? I think the manager have absolutely zero, zero trust and belief in the player. And that's what has happened. If Manchester United got the right money for him in the summer, they would have gone rid of him. And for me, he is the best. I know he's not playing well, but he's still the best midfield player that Manchester United have today. the manager keeps getting rid of young, good academy players from Manchester United. Rashford, rid of. Sancho, rid of. Garnaccio, rid of. Kobe Mino wanted to get rid of. Didn't get the right amount of money. McTominay, gone. McTominay, gone.

51:17Now McTominay is God in Naples. He is. He is God in Naples. He is. There's a picture of him in the walls everywhere you go in Napoli. Go on, Scott. You're right, though. He's getting rid of young, good, energetic players, and he's keeping the old legs on the pitch. I think that's to balance the books, John, because we spent so much money on draws. Yeah, there's a way to balance the books, mate. You can balance the books. No matter how much you want to balance the books, you have to find a way to keep players with legs. They can run. This is the Premier League. Pep Guardiola has said it so many times.

51:52The reason why they were so successful back when they were... Because everybody thought because they were playing Tiki Taka more than everyone. No. He's come out and said it. They run more than anyone else. Anyone else. And I'll tell you right now, United definitely don't do that. No chance. So I'm going to ask you then, if he is a dead man walking, if we're expecting United at some point sooner rather than later to pull the pin on Ruben Amarin, who gets the job? Who do they pick up the phone to? It's not going to be Gareth Southgate. If you say Gareth Southgate, I'm walking out of this studio.

52:23Is it going to be Glaser? Is it going to be Eddie Howe? Is it going to be Areola? Your mate is available again. Graham Potter. I would love to say he didn't say yes, but no. I would love to say he's a young manager, but he was shocking at West Ham. But again, West Ham are probably, for me, the team with the worst team in the Premier League. West Ham? No question. There's no question about West Ham. I watched them. I think the only good player there is...

52:55John Obi Mikel:Bowen. Bowen. Or Paqueta, I like. Paqueta was good, but since... Bowen. his problems. He's not the same player anymore. Bowen is the one. Bowen is the one. That's the only player that West Ham United have. They have the worst team in the Premier League. West Ham. Yeah, the squad makeup is all over. It's impossible. It's a hodgepodge. So for me, it was a difficult job for him. He didn't do well at Chelsea. I thought he had good players at Chelsea. Didn't do well. But at West Ham, it was a very, very difficult job for him. But I think I would have sat here and say Graham Potter would have been the one.

53:32John Obi Mikel:Gary Southgate, listen. No, John, no. No matter how well you look at it, he has been the most successful English manager in terms of the national team that you have. That you have. That's ever coached England. If we appoint Gary Southgate on this pod, I don't even live in London. I will buy a season ticket to Chelsea if we appoint Gary Southgate. Your little one grew three inches overnight. Adorable. Also, expensive. Sell their pint-sized pieces on Depop and list them in minutes with no selling fees. Because somewhere, a dad refuses to pay full price for the clothes his kids will outgrow tomorrow.

54:12And he's ready to buy your son's entire wardrobe right now. Consider your future growth spurt budget secured. Start selling on Depop, where taste recognizes taste. Payment processing fees and boosting fees still apply. See website for details. They say you should learn something new every day. Like how you should only drink Jägermeister at zero degrees Fahrenheit. Ice cold. Like those frozen cavemen they find. Which makes you wonder, what would a caveman think of Jägermeister? Well, if you served it warm, he'd probably throw it in your face, say, Oonga Boonga, and storm off. And nobody wants that.

54:44So drink it cold or not at all. Jägermeister. Damn, that's cold. Drink responsibly. Jägermeister liqueur, 35 % alcohol by volume. Imported by Masked Jägermeister, U.S., White Plains, New York. then he's going to take over as a Manchester United fan you know I'll tell you I would want because I think he's at a bit of a glass ceiling I want Eddie Howe I want United to go back to all of the things you said earlier on in this podcast Newcastle what they are they're a proactive team okay they're not tiki-taka but they're in your face they're aggressive out of possession and they win football matches he's won a league cup he's taken them twice into the Champions League I think that's as far as you can go with the way that the football rules are set up.

55:24Saudi would love to invest more money. They simply can't. So I think he's done. He's probably taken Newcastle. You think that's why he's taken Newcastle? As far as he probably can, John. I want him to come in. I want him to kick on. I think who will United go for? Ultimately, I think they'll go for flavour of the month. So I think Glasner will probably. You think Glasner's going to get it? He's favourite with the bookmakers.

55:44John Obi Mikel:Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think so as well. But Frankfurt to Crystal Palace to Man United, there's no guarantee, right? That's a massive jump. He's walking into to a basket case of a football club. To your point, John, a lot of players in there are not good enough. But, but the one thing he does have going for him, back three, he's played it to perfection. He's played it to perfection, yeah. The 3-4-2-1 that Amarim's trying to play, Glasner has got it down pat. Now, the reason for that... You need plays. Wharton. Exactly. In the midfield, you need a Wharton in the midfield. You need those plays in the midfield.

56:16Even if you want to play that three in the back, you need plays, you need legs in the midfield. By the way, Wharton, I think is, ah. He's brilliant. Brilliant. He's not going to be there next season. Palace need to cash in. They absolutely have to. Remedior, I had him. So are Liverpool. That's the big one. So for me, Wharton is another one that's going to go. For me, absolutely brilliant. Young player. Every time I watch him, fantastic player to watch. He gets the ball forward. How do I break play? How do I? He breaks up the play, passes forward, moving forward. Everything he does. Absolutely brilliant.

56:48Young, fantastic player to watch. Wharton. Brilliant player. Yeah, I love him too. So for me, I think when you play that position, you need those two midfield players that have legs to run, that can cover the ground. Because the space is going to be too big for them to cover because that midfield is going to be too big. So you need players that can cover the ground. And that's why I think Manchester United do not have... Fernandes, Bruno Fernandes cannot give you that. Casemiro has been brilliant all through his career. He cannot give you that anymore. His legs are gone. His legs are gone. I'm sorry.

57:20He knows. that. I mean, the fact we're sitting here talking about a Man United team that have not won back to back matches in the Premier League for over a year, it says a lot, John. You cannot, Manchester United, it doesn't matter what man is that they're bringing today. They cannot win football matches. They will not be successful with the defence they have. Luke Shaw, I'm sorry, he's been injured for God knows how many, and he's back. Was a fantastic player when he was, but he's always injured. He was never fit. Now he's back. You know, he's okay, Luke. But he's not a player that plays free in the back.

57:56So for me, you cannot manage that. It doesn't matter who they bring in. They need to clear out those defense. Those defenders need to go and bring in two holding players that has legs, that can cover ground, that are good on the ball, and can break up play. That's what they need. Until they do that, it doesn't matter who they bring in that football club. It's going to be the same result. It's going to be the same result. I'm sorry, Maguire cannot do it anymore. Delit, for me, he's rational. He's all over the fucking garth. Yeah. He is. Premier League doesn't sue him. It doesn't sue him. So for me, it's...

58:31Manchester, they need to find a solution. The recruitment process has to get better. Has to get better. So for me, Manchester United, Ruben Amaran has to be... I know he said he's going to die with the way he plays. He's going to... And he will. And he will. If he was going to change, he would have changed. Yeah.

58:49John Obi Mikel:Ruben Amron is not going to change. Forget about it. Forget about it. He's going to be sacked playing the way he's playing. And that's what's going to happen. So for me, it's just, I think when you have that football club as Manchester United, you will do everything to keep your job. Right now, I think he's throwing the towel. He's giving up. He's thinking, get me out of here. Brilliant. Great. Love that. Just get rid of him then, if that's going to be the case. Because I'm with you on that. I think it's only a matter of time. Of course, the other news we've touched on it. Graham Ghosn from West Ham.

59:17Nuno Espirito Santu in sacking a manager on a Saturday, John. I'm not having it. Don't let him do the press conference on the Friday. It clearly means that Nuno was, there was a couple of details in the contract or whatever, but great, I'm gone. Six wins in 25. Everyone knows on this podcast, I love the man. He'll be all right. Whether it's back in the Premier League, I've got my doubts now, to be honest, Johnny will have to maybe go away. Nuno parachutes in, three-year deal. You said it, West Ham are a basket case as well.

59:43John Obi Mikel:I mean... How did he sort that out? How does he sort that out, Nuno? Again, he's walking into, I think, a very, very difficult job. Fantastic job he did at Nottingham Forest. Why they got rid of him, God knows. Absolutely God knows. I mean, you can see now, whatever is going on there is absolutely shambles. He's yet to win Ange. Shambles. He hasn't won a football match, Ange. And we said here on the pod, when he got appointed, I think they will struggle. I think they will struggle because you cannot get rid of a manager that's brought you to Europe, you know, for the best part of, what, 30 years or something like that?

1:00:22John Obi Mikel:You haven't been to Europe. He's brought you back to Europe. And for some sort of discussion or some sort of communication process. But again, I will not defend Nuno for coming out. whatever's going on in there should be dealt with behind closed doors. For him to come out in public at press conferences and attack the owner, for me, I think that's wrong. And manager should never do that. And he paid with his job. Should never do that. Every decision, whatever you need to, sort out with your owner, with your hierarchy, sort it out behind closed doors. Don't bring it out in the public. And Nuno did that not once, not twice.

1:01:00He did it. He came out. a lot of times and criticize the owner. Was he trying to pass a message through saying, I'm not in support of Edu that's coming to the football club? Because my communication with you was direct last season. Now I have to go through Edu to get in touch with you. Probably that's something that's happened. And the owners thought, you know what? I need to get rid of you. So for me, getting rid of him, I think that should have been sorted out one way or the other. Should have been sorted out. Nuno should have still remained at Notion Forest because they were a good team to watch last season.

1:01:34Good team to watch last season. Nuno had got them playing some really good football. They were solid. They were difficult to beat. They were not the most flamboyant team. They were not the best team, but they were difficult to beat. Now, you just go through, walk through over them and just score goals again, not in Forest. And that's what we've seen against, when Ange was the manager with Tottenham. They were conceding way too many goals. How many goals have they conceded now? Way too many goals now. Yeah, they continue. This season with not in Forest. Three at Arsenal. They then conceded three against Swansea in the League Cup.

1:02:04They conceded one at Burnley, two at Real Betis, beating at the weekend at home to Sunderland. So he's yet to keep a clean sheet. He's yet to win. So he'll say it's going to take time, but I do worry about nothing on Forrest. John, I'm conscious of time.

1:02:16John Obi Mikel:I do worry about nothing on Forrest as well. And I think one thing that Ange Pochogler is not good at, when things are going wrong for Ange, we know he's not the best manager to deal with bad results. He's not. He's going to come out in press. is going to say things that he shouldn't say. He's not very good with the press. So he's not good with the fans. You need the fans behind you. And we saw he filled that at Spurs. The connection between him and the Spurs fans was something that was not good at all. You need to connect with your fans. He's not good at that. He's not good when he comes out at press conferences to talk about games.

1:02:54John Obi Mikel:So for me, there's so many things that Ange needs to sort out. If it's not going well for him, it's all the way down. So I think Northam Forest are going to struggle. I think Ange is going to play the same way. It's the Ange ball. It's just going to attack, attack, attack. They look easy now to break down. They look easy to score goals against. So for me, that's something that we didn't see against Nuno. That's what Nuno will have to do, make West Ham difficult. Difficult to beat. Right, last couple for me. Two predictions from you. It is the return of Jose, the special one to the bridge. So who are you backing here, your former club or your former manager?

1:03:31Who gets the result?

1:03:33John Obi Mikel:Listen, I think it's going to be a difficult game. We've got injuries, we've got suspensions. It's going to be a difficult game. I hope we turn out and we've lost the first game in the Champions League. We can't afford to lose the second game again in the Champions League. So we have to do everything possible. Enzo and the players and the boys have to do everything possible to make sure we get a result. we cannot afford to lose against Befica. So I think we should be able to win that game. We should be able to win that game. So another lose is not good. It's not good enough. And we have Liverpool coming.

1:04:06John Obi Mikel:So we don't want to lose three games in a row. That's going to be bad. And then Liverpool on the weekend. And Liverpool on the weekend. So yeah, yeah. Listen. The Premier League. It keeps coming. It's unforgiving. It keeps coming. It's unforgiving. So it doesn't matter what your result was on the weekend. It keeps coming. It comes thick and fast. You have to deal with it. You know, so we know that. It's just unfortunate that we didn't. Again, we look light. We look very, very light in our squad. We look very, very light, especially the defense. We look very, very light and weak. We did not strengthen that position at the summer.

1:04:44We did not strengthen that position at the summer. And it was a key, key position for us to win championships. your defense your center backs has to be top top center backs top top center backs to win to win our trophies we'll have a word for JT we'll get JT the shin pads and the boots back on and we'll just parachute him back in right conscious that we've got well we're going to get a wriggle on so we do Thursday I want to reiterate that point brand new Obi-Wan podcast made possible by Betwinner interview John in Brazil with none other than Oscar. Do check that out. Available on all podcast platforms and of course on our YouTube channel.

1:05:25And then a reminder again, tickets get the Monday 13th of October. It will be a fantastic night. The Clapham Grand Centre of London. We're expecting many of you to turn out for John Obey McHale with Mr. John Terry. We will be reminiscing about the glory old days at Chelsea. And as John has already said, talking about what's kind of going wrong and what can maybe happen in the coming months as well. John, always a pleasure. looking forward to that brand new podcast interview with oscar on thursday it's part from us here on taking the michael thank you so much say hello to us give us a rating follow us on social media and we'll be back with you again very soon

1:06:16it's a season two playoff race with tgl presented by sofi Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern, Jupiter Lynx vs. Boston Common Golf. Monday at 7 p.m. Eastern, Los Angeles Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club. Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern, the Bay Golf Club vs. Jupiter Lynx. Keep up, it's golf. Watch on ESPN, ESPN2, and the ESPN app.