How Patient Should Man Utd Be With Ruben Amorim?

0:09Hello and welcome to the rest is football question and answer episode with Micah Richards and me Gary Lineker. Nyle and Shearer today he's grafting somewhere or so he says probably on a golf course but apparently he's working in London. Micah how you doing have you got over your weekend because you're a little bit well you had an amazing weekend in many ways. obviously we saw you at the festival but you were also a bit downbeat because of your fantasy team but we'll do that in the second half shall we answer some questions yes we shall let's do it right I'm going to start with one from Bo Predictor Amorim has 28 points from 29 games yet United fans have been patient and understanding if he reaches 38 games with relegation points hall will patience run out 100 % it's so hard talking about United in terms of it's also negative isn't it yes it's always so negative but what we try to do and I know you not a pundit you're a presenter but on this you give your opinion and I'd like to think that your opinion is very measured and fair I'm not a presenter anymore either well you are you are not a football presenter well you're still a presenter though aren't you My new reality show, The Box, which will be coming out sometime next year.

1:33Well, I can't wait for it. I can't wait for it. Yeah, it'll be fun. But anyway, I like to believe that we're fair. And unfortunately, I said I wasn't judging Amarin until this season. He's got a pre-season under his belt. He's got the players he wants in. And then we'll look at the end of the season. Of course, I don't think he's helped himself. at times when constantly talking to the media. Things actually be kept in the dressing room. It's sort of leaked out into the media, which I don't think helps. But I think he's a good coach, but I think he needs players to play a certain way. I saw improvements in the first game, certainly against Arsenal.

2:16And then Fulham, that was good for a spell in the game. First 10, 15 minutes. They've not got no consistency, have they? and that is the key. So if it gets to the end of the season and it's the same old Man United, then of course he's going to be under pressure. A friend of mine who I went to the Fulham game, JD, is a big Manchester United fan, been a season ticket holder forever. And he came with me and he said, and this is a little bit, I think, how Man United fans are at the moment. They sort of just, I don't think there's much hope or aspiration. And he sent me a text saying something along the lines of after that superb point at Fulham, we're now only five points off the top of the table.

3:02So it does seem an aura of almost defeatism around Manchester United at present. And that needs to change. But as we all know, as we all know, it's generally the coach that suffers. I also saw a thing that said, well, you know, everyone's saying, well, he needs to sort his own way out. he's come into this team and he needs time. And yeah, absolutely agree with that. But someone said, compare that to Thomas Frank. He's needed three games, you know, a brilliant performance against PSG and then six points out of two in, in the first two matches. I think, I think even though they finished in a similar league position last season, I would say he inherited a much better squad, perhaps for the way he plays than the way that Amorim plays.

3:51although I would also say in Thomas Frank's favour that Thomas has more than one way of playing and Amorim needs to show that he doesn't have just one way of playing. Exactly that. Adaptable, he's played a five at the back, he's played a four, he's played with a three. So yeah, I think Amorim has stuck to his principles which I think has hindered the team a little bit. Yeah, and we'll see what happens. M30 asks, if Liverpool can only bring in one player, is it more important to go for a centre-back or a striker? And if they do end up getting Isak, what kind of formation could Slott use to fit Isak, Iketike and Gakpo together?

4:34Thanks, guys. Love the pod. Thank you, M30. I suspect that's not your name. Be good if it was. Well, I kind of mentioned it on the pod the other day, didn't I, when I said that the start that Eketike's had, which has been electric and scored in both games, does that make it less likely that they'll go for Isak and pay that extra money? I think, yes. I think you raised a good point. But I don't think Liverpool should care about the form of Eketike. get a striker while he wants to come to you. If you look at, historically, look at the teams who have won the league. They've had loads of options in the forward areas.

5:26Well, Manchester United, I know it was different in those. You just played two up. Rather, nowadays, there's only one nine, isn't there, generally, in most teams? Yeah, but Eketike can play sort of off the front as well. He can play off the left. He could share that with Gatpo as well. I just think if you're looking around Europe now and you're thinking, who are the top teams? Man City will always be there or thereabouts, even though they're going through a little bit of a tough period. I would say PSG are nailed on to be there. Barcelona look really good. Bayern Munich look fantastic. Real Madrid inevitably.

6:04Real Madrid, as we know. But I think if you add Issa to Liverpool, that changes the dynamic of everything. I suppose going back to his actual question, is perhaps the back more important at the moment, though, with someone like Mark Gay? I mean, it's all both. I don't think... I think we lauded Kanate and Van Dijk last season playing together. Kanate has started the season very shakily. Is shakily a word? Is that a word? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, very shakily. So all the talk of gay, of course, that's going to increase. But I actually think if they was to stay fit, Egetike was at PSG. It didn't work out for him.

6:55He went to Germany, did really well. He's still got to prove that he is a top striker. Isak's already proven that, especially in the Premier League. You add Isak to Liverpool, it's guaranteed goals. And I'm a big fan of Eketike. I think he's brilliant. But he's had a good start. He needs to maintain that. So I would say it'd be more important for them to sort out adding another striker because I think they could just outscore teams. Quite possibly. William Jones, how do footballers' contracts work in terms of unauthorised absence if a player refuses to train or plays? Obviously alluding to the situation involving Isak and Wissa.

7:43Is there a consequence to them not training or playing? This is a hard one, isn't it? Because there's certain rules that you have to abide by and the PFA can get involved. and it's always The PFA have been very quiet about it Am I sorry Am I sorry Can you hear me now No No You're not being quiet I said the PFA have been quiet Oh okay I thought I thought I thought I thought I thought I'm speaking loud Are you what's doing that No I think you know the Professional Footballers Association that is the union for the players in this country have obviously been quiet on this I've not heard anything from them whatsoever.

8:29And I actually looked, because I saw that question, I actually checked and they've not really issued any kind of statement or guidance on that particular issue at present. But I mean, basically you've got two players that are almost on strike. And, you know, whether they're getting paid, whether they're getting fined, I don't know. It depends on, I suppose, someone like Newcastle and even Brentford, I don't know, but I suspect they wouldn't want to pour petrol on the fire at the moment because they'll also think that in five days' time, when the transfer window closes, they'll be our player still.

9:08And then I would assume that they have to come back and play for them, or maybe not. But either way, I don't think the clubs would do that at present. But I suspect if a player doesn't turn up for training and refuses to play, then they'd be well within their rights, I would think. That must be some kind of breakage of the contract and they could be fined. Yeah, but it's not as easy as that. I think you can fine them up to a certain amount. And then if you fine them over a certain amount, then the PFA can get involved. and then if the player says they're struggling mentally or the whole thing's become too much for them, essentially, then it's a difficult road to go down.

10:03We had a similar thing with Carlos Tevez. Do you remember when we won a league with Mancini? Of course, yes. The fellow at Bayern Munich. Went and played golf. Yeah, we just went to play golf, but no one sort of knew what was going on and there's rumours that he got fined. There's rumours that he couldn't get fined because he wasn't in the right frame of mind to be playing football at that time. So it's a very sticky situation. Very grey area, I would say. Yeah, it is. And on that, just to put in, Owen Thomas also asked, do players still get paid by the club if they down tools to try and get a transfer?

10:40So hopefully we've answered both your questions there with an answer that is not entirely clear, obviously. Stephen Cross, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, that's the new one for Everton, looks and sounds like it is going to be the loudest atmosphere in the Premier League. As footballers, does the atmosphere make a big impact from a home and away player's point of view? What a very good question. It's hard to measure it, isn't it? But I think it does. I think it does make a difference, even if it's a subconscious difference for the players and inspirational. It's funny, I went to Fulham, which is, let's say, a calmer place, Fulham.

11:25It's a very civilised place to watch football. And the only fans you heard singing most of the game were Manchester United, were constantly singing the whole of the first half. And you didn't really hear the Fulham fans singing. And then when Fulham actually scored, for the first time, they started singing in the game and they were singing, you only sing when you're winning to the Man United fans, which I thought was quite ironic. But I don't know. I've always wondered. I mean, we both played. I always wonder. I mean, I suppose the fact that I suppose historically, if you look at statistics, that the teams will win more at home than they do away.

12:08which suggests that might be a part of that. Although so might familiarity of ground, of dressing rooms, of playing surface, of just a more homely feel. I don't know, but I think it's an heartfelt when the crowd, it just feels great when the crowd's buzzing, doesn't it? It's amazing. I think home advantage is a thing. when I was playing I used to go to Main Road before the Etihad and it was just sensational, it was right near the pitch the fans were great and then it changed a little bit when it went to the Etihad because it was a bigger stadium, a bit further back from the pitch but when you're running down that wing and because I take throw-ins and everything and when the crowd are jeering you up It gives you some sort of power that you can't describe in terms of you could be.

13:07Did it make you throw it further? It made me throw it quicker, mate, when I was getting abused. But when things are going well and the crowd behind you, you could be tired, but it lifts you up. Or if you make a good pass or a good tackle, like I always used to judge my performance. If I make a good tackle in the first five minutes at home, the crowd are right behind me. And when I was at the Etihad, at times I just felt unstoppable. So I think it definitely, definitely helps. I think it does, even if it's a subconscious quite sort of thing. I remember going to that second leg when Liverpool turned it round against Barcelona.

13:58you remember when the Trent corner and all that I mean the noise they were sucking that ball into the net at some point it was just unbelievable I've never known anything quite like that and obviously it was it was exaggerated by the fact that that Liverpool started to get into the game and once they got two goals and after that oh my goodness me that was I think that was the I think the wildest atmosphere I've ever heard that night at a game that I was actually at. One more question before we take a little breather. Matthew Hall would love to hear your thoughts on how Zuby Mendy is slotting in, relatively unnoticed at Arsenal, seems to have smoothly slotted in without any problems so far and could be just as exciting as Ezzer.

14:48Well, he's a very different player to Ezzer, who I think is a genuinely exciting talent. Zuby Mendes are more of the brains behind of a team, Mikey, yeah? Yeah, I would say in that holding role, but he can play a little bit further forward as well. I think he's going to be... Do you remember when Rodri first came to Man City? And I was looking at him thinking, he's not really Busquets or anything like that. Took him a while to get settled into the Premier League and know exactly what the team wanted. I thought he was a little bit slow on the turn, but he uses his brain better than anyone else.

15:27After four or five months, he was just exceptional in terms of reading the game, the weight of pass, knowing where to be for the counter-attack. He just mastered everything so quickly. Zubimendi's a little bit different because he's not got the stature of a Rodri in terms of size, but his technical ability on the ball and his know-how is very good. I think at times, coming from Sociedad to the Premier League is always going to be tough. I remember when David Silva first came over from the league and he was saying, it's just relentless. But those sort of players find a way. And the fact that Arsenal have played okay in the first game against United, then played a stormer against Leeds, didn't they?

16:21But Zubimendi just knits everything together. So I don't think he'll be raved about like maybe a Jokeres or a Saka, but he could be going forward the most important player for them in terms of how they dictate and move from back to front. Yeah, I don't think that's perfectly well described. Let's take a break and when we come back, we'll answer some more of your questions.

16:50welcome back to the rest is football question and answer episode with uh micah and uh me gary um thanks once again for your questions we've got one on fantasy football micah this is from chris tully how is the triff fantasy team getting on what's your rank and which players are you looking to bring in. Well, let me give you the details and then I'll leave it to the experts. I might even drag Harry in here because you two are kind of grinding this out between. So we're not doing too bad. Now, it sounds bad when I first read this out. They've got 120 points from the two weekends. So an average of each week, Micah?

17:3260. Brilliant mathematical genius. The TRF team are 4 ,759. That is the highest I've ever been in a league table. But it is out of 32 ,768 of you. I mean, amazing numbers that have joined our league. Thank you so much for that. Top of the league, I should mention, giving him a mention. Andrew Morris with 177 points and he's 550th in the world. And as we know, there are millions and millions and millions of players. So great start for you, Andrew. I'm convinced there's time travel going on. Sometimes you look at the teams, Gaz, and somebody's triple captained. Like, I seen someone captain Timber the other day.

18:23And I know me and H can make some maybe outlandish decisions at times in terms of what we want to do. But who triple captains Timber? he gets what did he get two goals a set oh really someone did that something fishy is going I'm telling you this is not a conspiracy theory but you do know who it was don't you who was it it was Durian Timber

18:49it must have been surely oh dear that's amazing that they did that yeah there is those sort of things so we're doing alright the other part of the question is who are you looking to bring in Harry come here because we've got we've got a couple of injuries haven't we but we've built up transfers we've got two free transfers yeah Palmer and 8 Noria the two that we don't we haven't had anything from the managers yet so we don't know they're out we don't know so we've basically got to see who we might bring in and then on Friday pull the trigger who are you looking at Micah and thinking they're looking good and we could bring in because those two they cost a lot of money so we can bring in whoever we want basically you know what the Triff team needs to do the exact opposite of what I'm doing.

19:38Can you talk us through your wildcard? I'll tell you what, Michael, leave it to me in hand.

19:44Because I'm trying to get a set team and I'm going to pay my bench boost on the first week because you never really pay your bench boost throughout the week unless you've done your wildcard. So I thought it was the right time to do it. You don't know who's going to play. New players in the league. And I just wanted to see who was going to play. And it worked. It worked to a certain degree because Goodman's son on the Monday night got me nine points. So it worked, you know, and he was only four million quid. However, I took out Joe Pedro. No, you didn't. Oh, deary, deary me. And put in Chris Wood.

20:25Oh, that's a sickener. It is absolutely sickening. Not many points. Ajao Pedro, much as points. 15, I think it was. 15 points. So, yeah, I've had a little bit of a stinker, but I feel now my team is set. I've got one more transfer maybe to work. But as for the Triff team, things are looking all right. Yeah, we're okay, aren't we? So who do we bring in then? I've had a look and if let's say Palmer and 8-Nori both are injured and they're out I was having a look at taking minus four for a triple transfer of going Palmer for Kunja 8-Nori for Goodmanson playing 3-4-3 and taking out Mark Gouy for Eketike Mark Gouy?

21:16Yeah the guy you know he's on loan from Chelsea Oh that one Gouy You know how it's pronounced Mark as well is it? No How's it pronounced Micah? No because I thought it was Gouy and there's been videos saying it was good it's Mark G or G someone a commentator said it that was like two different people have said it different Mark G apparently Mark G so we're looking that's what I've I've had a look at so it's changing the formation from quarterback to a 3-4-3 with Eketike Watkins and Joao Pedra Kunio for Parma you know he's let me down though seriously Watkins but the thing is when you've got injuries you can't be taking out other players can you so that's one for the future I think yeah But if Palmer and Aitnori are both fit, then we can have a rejig.

21:59But the Triff team's a little bit up in the air because of injuries, so we can't really nail down any transfers at the moment. All right. Well, let's pause until the weekend. You bugger off back into your chair, the producer chair. He's always getting us a quick come here. Well, no, it's, you know, it's his area of expertise, sort of. Before we move on to the next question, we are actually going to give a giveaway for the person at the top of the table, our fantasy football table, at the end of September around the international break. So the prize will be a signed Marcus Rashford shirt. Just to tell you, most of you are members, but you have to be a member of the Players' Lounge to qualify for that prize.

22:47So if you're not already and you're taking part in our league, then why not join? It's free. Right, let's get back to the questions. Chris Coleman, not that Chris Coleman, surely. What's the future for football and refereeing with technology enhancing more and more? Cameras everywhere, AI playing its part. Is there a place for human refereeing in the future? Well, they're a bit robotic most of the time with some of their decisions, but... You know what? We went to the Premier League, didn't we, up in Liverpool when we was doing our team? Yeah. And the technology, especially on the offside, was outstanding in terms of the cameras.

23:29We're stopping arguing about offside in much the way we've stopped arguing about balls across the line. We're trusting the technology. We don't know that it's 100 % accurate. But by the time you see it, you sort of trust it. You go with it. It looks good. From what they were showing me in the Premier League briefing, I've not got a skin in the game. I don't need to praise anyone, you know, but in terms of what, it was amazing. And I had my doubts. The guy was being a bit funny as well. I said, oh, here we go. He's showing me this. And he'd go, well, your career wasn't perfect, was it? I was like, steady on, calm down.

24:07But the technology was really good. He's right there. No one's was. As for referees, I'm sick to death of, Let the referee just ref the game. If he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake. We're actively looking for things now, which is killing the game. Yeah. I think I go back to my, I've hopped on about this so often, but an appeal system where you get one appeal a half and the team that makes the appeal has to stipulate exactly why they're making that appeal. And then they look at it. And if it's upheld, you keep your appeal. And if it's not, you lose it. and I think that will stop them looking at every corner and every foul and every incident and all this.

24:53I think it's the only way out of this mire, but I do think in terms of goal line technology and now offsides, we'll trust it. So I think that is the next obvious step and I think it'll come at some point, surely. Brian Hooper, one for you really, Micah. Chelsea have been linked with Fermin Lopez, although I can answer it too, the Barcelona player, of course. He says, I know Michael likes him as a player. How do you think he would do in the Premier League? I think he'd absolutely smash it to pieces. I think he's that good. I don't think he would go, to be honest, because Barcelona, what they're building there with all the youngsters that they've got is just phenomenal.

25:37They do have issues, obviously, with registration things and the finances over there and trying to balance the books. So maybe that's why. Yeah, but I can't see it. He's too good, isn't he? He's too good. I watched him in the, he was actually the final of the Olympics and I went to go watch France versus Spain on the 23s. And he was just a different level. And then I was thinking, can he do that jump in the Champions League in Barcelona? And he just looks the exact same. It's difficult for him because there's so many great players at Barcelona. But in answer to your question, he would fit in amazingly well with someone like Cole Palmer, the ticker tacker, the Jao Pedro, getting into the pocket of space.

26:24The good thing about Thurman Lopez is that people don't give him credit for. He can play as a number 10, but he could also play as a number six. So he can start attacks and create the last pass, which is just phenomenal. He's one of my favorite players to watch. I think he's that good. So I don't think Barcelona would be letting me go. But if they were to get him, it would be an astonishing signing. Talking of rumours, I saw one this morning, Morgan Rodgers linked with Tottenham, Spurs. I saw that a couple of weeks ago. Did you? I think, I mean, I'm sorry, Villa fans. I mean, I think they might have PSL problems.

27:06But I mean, I think that would be an incredible signing for Spurs. and just I think given the disappointments of missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White and also of course on Eberichiezi, I think that would more than make up for things. No, I mean he's got to stay. He can't go anywhere. It'd be a great signing but if they were to get rid of him, Embraer might as well leave. What's the point? Selling all the young talent. How is he supposed to build? But if Spurs could get him, it'd be a heck of a signing. He's a player. He's a proper player. Yeah. Which leads me to the final question, quite nicely, actually, from Kez.

27:52Which new player to the Premier League will end up being the best signing this season? Get your crystal ball out, Micah Richards. Initially, if you asked me before a ball was kicked, I was raving about Reinders and Wurz. Wurtz has sort of taken a little while to get going. You can see his quality there. He's probably taking a fraction too long on the ball and he's getting, he's a marked man because everyone knows about him. Ekotike, because not a lot of people knew about him, he's sort of overachieving. So, it's a tough one, you know. I'll throw one at you. because it hasn't cost them any money at the moment.

28:39Palina. Oh, yeah. Tottenham. Just what they needed. I can't believe Bayern let him go, to be honest. They've got a young boy. They've got a young boy at Bayern called Pavlovich. Pavlovich at Bayern. So I understand why. Really good player, plays similar position, can play a bit forward as well. But it didn't work for him at Bayern. Although Palina is not exactly new to the Premier League, he's been here before he's been here before he's been around the block he was class of Fulham wasn't he I've really liked the look of Eke Tike so far I mean I know we saw him score a few goals in Germany and obviously it's with all due respect it's easy scoring goals in Germany we've seen lots of players come over people like Timo Werner have not quite scored as many goals here as they did in the homeland but and obviously you know Kane scoring a goal a game there and his average wasn't quite that prolific even though it was incredibly prolific at Spurs so but the start he's had and the confidence that will instil be interested to see if Giocarez trains on after scoring two goals against Leeds obviously that was hugely important for him and he will get chances with the quality of players that Arsenal have got so that would be one I'll always look at strikers what about Grealish Grealish to a sit that could be an inspirational sign if Jack gets his mojo back it'd be brilliant wouldn't it I'm trying to think of one outside the box still because it's easy to say oh Rinders everyone saw him the first game everyone knows what he's like I don't mind and Doy at Nottingham Forest you know I don't mind him at all he's he's a he's a handful is that a good start McAtee at Forest I don't know where he's going to play in that system, but he's a really good player.

30:38But if you have to give me one, let me go. Let me go, John. I like Cunha at Man United, you know. Yeah, he's not new, however, to the Premier League. Oh, they have to be new to the Premier League? Well, that was the question. But then you mentioned Polinia. And I corrected myself by saying he had previously been at Fulham after. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. New to the Premier League. I'm going to go with you, Eketike, because I think he's going to score loads of goals. Loads of goals. Rinders or Eketike. Yeah, okay. Lovely, positive way to finish. That's it for this episode of The Rest is Football.