404: Carrick's BIG TRANSFER Risk! Bruno WANTS Fernandes!

0:00Hello everybody, welcome to the United Stands. I'm Mark Goldbridge and this is your latest Manchester United news and transfer news as Fabrizio Romano gives a big update on Manchester United transfer plans. Apparently it's systems go with Carrick now the chosen choice. Man United can finally start moving on transfers. But I've got a bit of a question about that. Should we not have been doing that anyway, considering Michael Carrick is a head coach and not a manager and Jason Wilcox is the director of football? So you're telling me we've had to wait until Carrick gets the job before we can decide what we're doing in the window?

0:33One load of crap. Also, an interesting article coming out in The Telegraph with James Duker giving updates on Chouamini, Anderson, Balaba and Tonali and Bruno Fernandes wants Fernandes from West Ham. Should we be listening to players or is it just a case of we listen to players when they're doing something we want and then we don't want to listen to them when they do something that we don't want? So last to get into on the show this morning. Also a little bit more fallout from the decision that Carrick's going to get the job. Not a fallout in the sense we're going to fall out, but just a couple of things coming out around that.

1:07What I would say, just to throw it in there before we go to what Fabrizio said, I think my big... Look, Carrick's got the job. As I've said, let's hope it works out. Don't agree with it, but let's hope it works out. Certainly don't agree with these gaslighting Carrick fans who are out there trying to make out that if you don't want Carrick, you should go and support someone else and you want your own club to lose. ridiculous. It sounds to me like they're a little bit sensitive, these Carrick in us, isn't it? Apparently, if you're not sure about Carrick, you're not a real United fan. Apparently, if you're not sure about Carrick, you want United to lose.

1:36They sound like they do protest too much to me. But I think my concerns are, and I'll put these out there now, my concerns are the reason that they've gone for Carrick is he's cheap and so is Steve Holland. And we can't actually afford to get a decent manager. That's, I think, a valid concern. The only time will tell. and my second concern is they've gone for Carrick because he's a head coach and they don't want a manager I mean this is why Amrim got sacked because he said I'm a manager not a head coach those two things concern me have we gone for Carrick because he's cheap and we can't afford a decent coach and have we gone for Carrick because he's happy to be a head coach and can be molded by our owners so look they are valid concerns we'll have to wait and see but look let's get into this so Fabrizio Romano this morning and James Duker landing some big updates look the big one about Tonali is, is that Man United are put off by his gambling past.

2:26This is the fourth time in two months a journalist close to United has mentioned his gambling problems. I'll say it again. And I said it in March. Tonali to Man United ain't happening, is it? You don't put out there somebody's past, especially a past like that, and then expect them to want to sign you. and I think it's bad by United I really do I don't think that's a very classy way of behaving to talk about somebody's gambling past like that when he's been one of the best midfielders in Europe for the last year and it'll be very interesting if that's the reason United are swerving to Nali and trying to get the fan base not to do it because I've heard it four times now four times from four separate journalists that Man United are nervous about his gambling past and I think, you know what, I don't actually like that I don't like that being a reason because it just takes it away from football and makes us sort of like go, yeah, we shouldn't go with him because he's got a problem.

3:21It'll be very interesting if Arsenal sign him or Real Madrid sign him because if he's good enough to go and sign for Arsenal and Real Madrid with this perceived problem, is it just United using it as an excuse because they don't want to spend£100 million? So we'll talk about that. But first and foremost, some big stuff coming out from Romano in the last hour or so. For the transfer window, now there will be the final assessment to decide which situation the board wants to attack, even before the World Cup and then something also after the World Cup. Fabrizio Romano in full PR mode. Conversations for summer plans have started.

3:56They can decide who to move for now that Michael Carrick is the clear favourites for the job. And discussions over such transfer plans have already actually begun at Man United with the club moving forward with Michael Carrick. I mean, look, exciting, exciting. and we'll delve into some of the players that it could be. But I almost feel like, you know, you want to be wrong. You don't want to be right. I take you back to the March international break and that three and a half week period where Man United didn't play a game. And clearly, Jason and co just went on holiday. We had three and a half weeks and a March international break where I would have thought we would have spoken to managers, we would have spoken to players, and we would have got our eggs in order.

4:41and here we are in the middle of May. We're going to give it to Carrick anyway, so we've not spoken to other managers, and we're now going to finally decide what we want to do in the window. And you sort of like go, that's got nothing to do with Carrick. He's just been working on trying to get the job, so leave him out of it. You sort of look at Wilcox and Barada and go, you sacked Amorim in the first week in January. You've had all of January, all of February, all of March, all of April, and in the middle of May, you're giving it to Carrick and going, now let's start thinking about what we want to do.

5:14What have you done for four and a half months? See, look, if I'm Sir Jim Radcliffe, what have you actually done for four and a half months? Who have you spoken to? Why have you not got players lined up to come to Manchester United, regardless of the manager? Like, you know, on the one hand, you're giving interviews saying, Jason Wilcox is saying, you know, I can't help getting involved in the coaching. So he's obviously going to be very involved in the recruitment. And then it's like, well, now Carrick's here. we can now decide what we're going to do. In the middle of May? Mate, come on, we've got to have been talking.

5:46We've got to have a bloody... I mean, also, it's hypocritical. You're telling me that now Carrick's here, we can discuss what we want to do. But you literally want a head coach. You don't want a manager that's going to decide who we sign. So I'm sort of confused by what Romano's update is here. Now that Carrick's in, we can finally start deciding what we want to do in the market. But for the last two years, we've been told that the manager doesn't decide the targets anymore. We've got, you know, the board does. So I don't know. Look, at the end of the day, it is a little bit confusing, but hopefully we will now start moving forward on transfers because it seems to me that it might be a little bloody late.

6:24If we haven't actually, you know, finalised what we want to do, it might be a little bit late. However, I actually do have a little bit of a theory here. I don't think United are waiting for Carrick on transfers. I don't think Manchester United are going to sit in a room with Carrick and say, what do you want? I think United don't work like that anymore. Carrick will be a head coach. Carrick will sit in the room, but he'll have a minority view because he'll be able to be outvoted by Barada and Favell and Wilcox. I think United know who they want. I think it's more about when they miss out on players, they can go, well, we only got Carrick in the middle of May.

6:59So I think they know they want Anderson. I think they know they want Anderson. And I think they've known that for a very long time I just think it it might be that you know if it goes to Man City well you know we weren't actually ready to go for him anyway so it might be a little bit of PR in the sense that they can use it as an excuse if they don't get Anderson because they can say well we didn't get character in the middle of May so you know there we go but look in reality I said this on the start of the show last night the positive about the decision around the manager is that we have to now start moving forward because Elliot Anderson will know Michael Carrick's got the job, Chiumini will know, Balaba will know.

7:41Whoever else we're going to go for will know that Carrick's the manager now. I personally don't think it makes a lot of difference to players. I really don't. I mean, as I said last night, I think Balaba would sign for Man United if Mr Bean was in charge. I think he's desperate to sign for Man United, which in a way is a bit of a concern. But, you know, I don't think it's going to matter to him. I think the manager only really matters if you are a really top player. So if you are a top player and you're choosing between Man City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Man United, you're probably going to look at who the manager is.

8:13If you're belabouring Man United are the only club for you, I don't think it really matters who the manager is. So I think for United, I don't actually agree that we waited for the manager before we decide who we're going for, because I think there's certain players who would sign for us anyway. I think we're waiting on something else I don't think we're waiting on Carrick I think we're waiting on Anderson I think we're waiting to see what players want to do like last summer with De Lapp De Lapp was going to be our striker we would not have Benjamin Sesko if De Lapp had signed you know history will teach you the present we only have Sesko because De Lapp chose Chelsea Wilcox wanted De Lapp he thought he was going to get De Lapp De Lapp chose Chelsea and we were suddenly in panic mode and we were like Jocheres wants to go to Arsenal and we ended up with Sesko.

8:58So I think similarly again with Anderson, we are probably waiting to see what happens with him. I think that is what's slowing down our midfield move. And I think once Anderson decides what he wants to do, that will be the domino. The worrying thing about the Anderson deal is if he doesn't come to us, it sets a very high price for what the rest of the midfield targets are going to be. I mean, at the end of the day, if Anderson signs for Manchester City for£100 million, pounds, I don't think that makes Brighton go, you can have Belaber for 50. I think that makes Brighton go, you can have him for 75.

9:33So look, it's going to be a challenging summer. I think that now that we know what's going to happen with the manager, all eyes have to be on the recruitment. Because if we go for Carrick, who is cheap, and then we go for crap cheap midfielders who are cheap, you've got to question the ambitions of the football club. And I think we're all sort of sat here now. And I would say to you, what do you think the ambitions of the football club are because your thoughts are as valid as my thoughts as they are as any ex-player's thoughts because you know let's be honest man united's vision is about as clear as a as a foggy morning you know i don't know what what the ambitions are of the football club but we'll certainly find out with this summer transfer window and you can't some people want to sort of do it with the manager and say well there wasn't anybody else chelsea literally sat there interviewing iriola um what's his name?

10:28Alonso. There are literally other managers out there. Carrick is not the only one in the shop. And when it comes to midfielders, there are literally loads of them out there. We can't sit there at the end of August is what I'm saying and go, well, we ended up with Belaiba because there was nobody else. There are literally loads of options out there. So Man United's ambition isn't just about what they want to do. It's about what they can achieve. And I think what I would say there is like ambition isn't, ambition is also linked to competence. You know, if you want to break, if you're a fast sprinter for, I don't know, the USA, and you have the potential to, you know, break the 100 metre record, but you keep tying your laces up wrong and tripping over, that's incompetence.

11:12You have the ability to win the race, but you keep messing it up. Manchester United, it's not just about, you know, we signed the Labour, it's about do we sign the Labour because we miss out on everybody else because we're crap at negotiating or do we sign the Labour because he's our top choice so it's not just our ambition can be ruined by incompetence our ambition can be ruined by stupidity so we might have a director of football who just picks the wrong people well that's incompetence we might have a director of football who wants the right people but isn't good enough to get them so ends up with the wrong people see what i mean so our ambition is is twofold really incompetence can ruin our ambition um and um you know ineffectiveness can ruin us ruin our ambition we've got to get the right players in exactly we've got to do that um let's have a look at some of the stuff that james ducker has said though because i found this article really interesting this morning so it started off with um we'll come back to the bruno fernandez one but it started off with manchester city so James Ducker is a journalist for The Telegraph, very decent journalist around Man United over the years.

12:22You'll have heard the name. Manchester City are firm favourites to sign Manchester United's number one target, Elliot Anderson. The valuation is around£100 to£120 million, which would eat up the vast majority of United's budget. So they are likely to be forced to look elsewhere. Is that the white flag? and you know what I have said all along and you know I am not a negative person I just want Man United to win and you know I'm just honest about things that I think are bad for the club I was ridiculously positive about getting Bruno Fernandes there hasn't been a lot to be positive about with United I've always had a feeling we'd get Elliot Anderson you know it's new kit launch today new kit day today I mean I don't know whether we're meant to buy the kits or not anymore I'm a little bit confused, actually, because you've got people like Terry who say he doesn't buy kits, don't fund the Glazers.

13:16If you fund the Glazers, you're a moron. And yet he's out there going Carrick's a great appointment, which is basically the board. I don't know what we're meant to. I'm not blaming Terry. I'm just saying I don't I don't know. Are we buying kits now or not? There are no protests. So I don't know. Should we buy the kits to help the club spend money on transfers? Are we not buying the kit? I don't know. Answer's on a postcard with that. But anyway, look, new kit out today. Anderson's about to make his decision. We don't normally release our kit this early, before the end of the season. Is there a Goldbridge conspiracy theory that this means we're about to announce something big at the same time as Carrick?

13:55I have a bit of a conspiracy theory. Carrick's divisive. Some people are really happy. Some people are concerned. The new kit's coming out early. I don't think announcing carry is going to make people sign by the new kit. Are we about to drop a big transfer? And when you look at it, Elliot Anderson, as I was doing last week, Elliot Anderson, Elliot Anderson, Elliot Anderson, from September to May, from May, you know, it's been Elliot Anderson, everybody, David Ornstein, Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, The Telegraph, The Manchester Evening News, The Athletic, everybody has been Elliot Anderson, Elliot Anderson, Elliot Anderson, Elliot Anderson.

14:33And I've always felt there was something there. I remember Ben Jacobs saying in November as well that it wouldn't be more than£80 million. Now, I don't think he's going for£100 million and I still think we might get him. I just have this feeling that new kits, Carrick's not massively popular, United need to drop something that's going to go boom and make everybody buy the kit and everybody get excited and you know i don't think harrick's appointment is going to give united that boom and quite rightly so you know it's a big decision they've made a lot of bad decisions and you know it's you know quite rightly i'm quite comfortable with the fact that you know there's a bit of a split that's that's fine i think the club will be understanding of that to be fair what gets everybody to get together is that um United are in a position where they have a big, big signing for Manchester United.

15:34And I just have a feeling about Anderson. So there's your negative Nelly there. I've always said this to you. I've just got a funny feeling about Elliot Anderson. I do. I'm not on drugs, no. No, I do. I've got a funny feeling that we're going to announce a big signing. I think we'll announce a big signing anyway, but I've just got a funny feeling it might be Elliot Anderson. Everything just seems to be aligning. You know, the fan base is a little bit unsure about the board and Carrick. The new kit's out. Pep's leaving Man City potentially. Ben Jacobs said it will be below£80 million. I mean, that might have been to do with relegation, to be honest with you.

16:10I just have a feeling. Everyone's laughing at me in the chat. I do. I just have a feeling about Elliot Anderson. I really do. But what I will say, if we don't sign him and he goes to Man City for less than£80 million, what is United's excuse going to be? Because they have spun this fan base all season, regularly, at least once a week since September, through all the bad results under Amerim, through all the good results with Carrick. They've never stopped. They've never gone, oh, it's speculation. They've never said he's not a priority. He's been a priority for eight months. and if we just miss out to Manchester City like we missed out to Semenu in January I think the club have got a lot of things to answer for and you know in that Telegraph update it says to me it almost reads you know when it says the value of Anderson could eat up most of our budget it's almost like they're trying to say well look you know understand we'd like Elliot Anderson but we need to buy a lot of players and Elliot Anderson would take up a lot of our budget it's almost like we're all meant to go oh yeah, Elliot Anderson's a good player, but we're right not to sign him because he'll actually cost£100 million.

17:18We could spend that on two other players. What a load of rubbish. We all know Elliot Anderson was going to cost£100 million. We knew it at Christmas. You can't come out in May and go, oh, actually, he's a little bit more expensive than I thought. It's like going down your local Ferrari dealer, isn't it? And then you go, I like that one. And they go, that's£100 ,000. And you go, what? I thought it'd be about£10 ,000. where have you been under a rock? You walk into a Ferrari dealership and you think you're going to get that car for 10 grand. Yeah. You're an idiot. Get out. So get out. So look, I think that, look, I get the negativity.

17:58Some people think we've been spun and the club are just going to make up excuses for not going for Anderson. They cannot use the excuse that he's more expensive than they thought. They can't use that. especially when you can almost lump Tonali into that as well. Oh, Anderson's too expensive at £100 million, but you're being linked to Belaber for£70 million. Buying Anderson for£100 million is like buying a Ferrari for£100 ,000. Buying Belaber for£70 million is like spending£30 on a packet of crisps. It's like you're way overpaying, even though it's cheaper than the Ferrari, you know, some things are worth£100 million and some things are massively overpriced at£70.

18:43So look, we've got to be very careful about walking away from deals because we don't like the price. If the price is right and you've been linked to that player for nine months, you can't hide behind the price when any idiot would know what the price is. So look, Elliot's Anderson is definitely in the balance. I just have a funny feeling about it, that it's going to happen. But if we walk away or we don't do that deal, I think Wilcox and co has to take criticism because they've been more than happy to hide behind Elliot Anderson all season as a positive story to distract us. And then when push comes to shove, they go, oh, we can't afford it.

19:17It's cowardly. Look, these are things, look, I think the Michael Carrick appointment is very divisive. It's risky. It's exciting. Whichever way you choose, I can see. But what we can't do is take a risky, cheap managerial appointment and then not go and get good players that that that's like you know that's like starting a fire and putting petrol on it and hoping it's going to go out like we you need to balance the risk of Carrick with the um you know talented experienced signings you can't take inexperienced Carrick and then give him risky signings as well you can't take in life you can't take two risks the probability of failure is too If you take a risk, your second decision has to be more balanced.

20:08So we can't go risk, risk. We've got to go risk and then, you know, balanced. And I think with Carrick as manager, you have to deliver that first, you know, they have to deliver a signing. the way I always look at it is when Ollie got the job we're all singing Ollie's at the wheel and when it goes wrong to be fair I think everybody said he's got to go but there wasn't anybody saying well I didn't say we should do this and you know with Carrick I think some people are saying don't do it and if it goes wrong they'll be saying you know I did say don't do it if it goes well those people saying do it will be going I said do it so there's a bit of a division there you can't have that with the signings as well I always say how does the fan base react to everything if we sign Elliot Anderson I think everybody's excited and if he flops I don't think many people are going to go Wilcox is a wanker whereas if we don't get Anderson and we go and sign I don't know it's always belabor isn't it but let's say I don't know let's say who's another player that we could go for that Tyler Adams yeah if Tyler Adams is a major signing for Man United I don't think everyone's going to go that's a good signing so United need to go and buy people that excite the fan base because then if it goes wrong there's not going to be a lot of people who can go well I told you so also on the article from well a little bit about Chumini right so what's the latest tweet with Chumini Mark so I personally think there is hope with Elliot Anderson but let's remove that hope let's say he signs for Manchester City there are only three other players you can get that are going to make people go with the uncertainty of Carrick and get excited about the midfielder because we are replacing Casemiro here so if we don't get Anderson because he goes to Man City I don't think we're going to get Tonali which I'll talk about in a minute which leaves Chiamini or Bruno Gomez and beyond those four I can't see unless you lot can give me a name if we don't get Anderson, Chiamini, Tonali or Bruno to replace Casemiro, I think we're in trouble.

22:13I think it's a risk, whether it's Scott, Belaber, Garner, whatever. There's too much risk there. You've got to replace Casemiro with absolute A-star quality. And I don't think there's anybody out there beyond... And look, Daniel says Fernandes at West Ham. Mate, I've seen him play. He might work out well, but you're replacing Casemiro with a West Ham midfielder who's in his early 20s, I'd be much more comfortable with Fernandes coming in as the second or third midfielder. We're talking about the replacement for Casemiro that's going to play every week. I think Fernandes and Mainu as our starting midfield next year, going into two games a week is quite scary.

22:54So, look, personally, something might agree with you. Personally, I think replacing Casemiro has got to be Chiamini, Anderson, Brugge or Tonali. if Anderson's going to City Tonali's not on the options and Bruno Guamerez is too old it's got to be Chiumini now the situation with him is is that and I think James Duker said this in his article as well if Man City let Rodri go to Real Madrid there is an opportunity for Chiumini to go and Real Madrid would be looking to cash in to help that happen so I think with Chiumini we're very much in the hands of Jose Mourinho because this is not like Elliot Anderson who is leaving Forest and choosing where to go.

23:39This is a player that wants to stay at Real Madrid who they like. It's just an upgrade. They don't want to sell Ciamini and he doesn't want to go. It's just if they sign Rodri, who's one of the best holding midfielders in the world, he won't get game time and they want to bring some money in, so they'll sell him. So it's a weird one because we can't, you knock on the door of Belaber and he wants to leave Brighton. You knock on the door of Anderson and he's leaving Forest. You knock on the door of Tonali and he's leaving Newcastle. You knock on the door of Chumini and he's going, I'm not coming out.

24:12I'm happy where I am. But if they don't want me, I will. So it's like, I mean, coming out to play, I don't mean like, you know, he's not what you lot think. So I think that with Chumini, it's hard to get optimistic, but he could sign you know what I mean Anderson you know he's going Tonali you know he's going Balebi you know he's going but with Chumini the biggest problem is he might not go it's not really in our hands in any way shape or form it's not about persuading him it's not about the fee it's not about the wages he could easily be a Real Madrid player next season and if he is we can't get him so I think look Anderson I still hold a hope out for Tonali I don't think think there's a hope in hell uh bruno gamara is i don't think there's a hope in hell and chumini i think it depends on jose marino so realistically i think it's chumini or anderson which i'd be very happy with but what if it's neither and you can almost look at all four of them and go any of them would be great but all four of them could just disappear but chumini is different in the sense that if real madrid want to keep him he will stay the situation with him is he's happy at real Madrid.

25:25They really like him. But if they can upgrade him, they will let him go to generate funds and he would look to come to Manchester United. So, yeah, it's one of those. I also think Nagoyan makes a good point. Anderson is not really a six. I think that is a valid point. I mean, it's not one for now. He isn't really a six. And I think in an Amarim system with three centre-backs, actually don't need a six i think in a back four which is what karik has played you do need a six so anderson and maynew in front of maguire and martinez next season would be very interesting uh certainly but look uh why can't we get tonali mark i will come into your comments in a minute but there's quite a few stuff to go through that um despite this is this came in from uh james Dukka in the Telegraph as well.

26:20He said, despite being one of the best in his position, Tonali's betting breaches make him a risky signing and Newcastle would demand a huge fee. United have assessed Tonali, but interest has cooled as they focus on other targets. Now, look, Man United can make whatever choice they want. We can't dictate it. We can only give an opinion on it. Why would you assess Tonali? I'm asking you the question. Why would you assess Tonali and then go on to other auctions. So let me break it down for you. Why would you look at Tonali and then go, we'd rather get Belaber? Why would you look at Tonali and decide you don't want to go for him?

27:08I don't understand that. You know what? I think it is price. I think there is a I'm not going to make a big issue of it because we don't have the evidence yet. We won't have the evidence until probably the middle of August. But what if there is a... What if... Somebody mentioned it on the show last night. What if there is a price issue here? What if, like, what if Tonali and Anderson aren't possible because we don't want to pay£100 million and we don't want to pay the wages? Man City will be offering Elliot Anderson£250 ,000 a week, maybe even£300 ,000 a week. Tonali will want 250 grand a week.

27:47What if the reason we're not going for Anderson and Tonali is wages? What if we're now saying we don't want to pay 250 grand a week to people? I mean, that could be a reason. I don't see how you'd look at Tonali and go, yeah, we'd rather go for Belaber. I saw what, funnily enough, it was also James Ducker and he said this about Tonali. Sorry, about Belaber. He said, and what I'm saying here is imagine what I've just said about Tonali. Why would you look at Tonali and say he's not for us? But then this update, Man United have explored the possibility of Balaba, but were put off by Brighton's 100 million valuation last summer.

28:24It's been a challenging season for him, although injuries, the disruption of the AFCON and family problems are all factors in his drop off in form. So Balaba's basically been shit this season, but we're willing to find reasons for it. AFCON, injuries, family problems. so we'll still go for Balaba despite him being shit this season because there's reasons for it AFCON family problem injuries but we won't go for Tonali yeah and that's what I'm sort of setting up here so we've looked at Tonali and we're not interested but Balaba who was priced at 100 million last summer and has been crap this season we will look at and that's what I'm sort of that's why I'm sort of confused because I'm still labouring under this best in class thing and I know we haven't done it with the manager and I know best in class is basically just a myth that United use for idiot fans who believe it but I'd like to believe best in class is a thing so why do you look at Tonali who's been one of the best midfielders in Europe and is available this summer at 26 to replace Casemiro why do you go he's not for us but Balaba who's had a bad season and a place for Brighton, why would you go for him?

29:37Answer the question. Answer the question as best you can. Why would United look at Tonali and go, no, and then look at Balaba and go, yes? And he's had a bad season and they're making excuses for it. Family problems, injuries, AFCON. But Tonali has had a great season and we're making excuses about things that happened two years ago. Oh no, we can't go near him because he's got gambling problems, but we will go near Belaber because his issues are inconsistency, injuries and poor performance. I think sometimes you've got to look a little bit granular and I'm like, why have we steered away from Tonali but we're more than happy to keep Belaber there?

30:20Because as footballers, one of them's up here and one of them's down here. So what's making us take that person above him? And the only thing I can think of is wages because the transfer fees aren't that different. 70 million for Belaba, 100 million pounds for Tonali. Across a five-year deal, you're talking 5 million a year. Is it wages? Is it going to be wages with Anderson as well? Belaba's wages are probably going to be somewhere between 100 and 150 grand a week. Tonali, is it going to be north of 225? Is it wages? Is that's what it is? Because is one of the reasons we've gone with Carrick because we can't afford a Tuchel or an Enrique.

31:05Because if you go to Tuchel and say there's£20 million a year, I don't think he signs for England. If you go to Enrique and say there's£30 million a year, I don't think he signs for PSG. I think everybody has a price. Maybe Man Utd are still operating under financial restraints because we haven't had the financial results of this year yet. We're back in the Champions League. We're going to make 100 million pounds. But how much did we lose this year? So, look, I don't know. I find it confusing as to why some people are being dismissed when they're absolutely goal. I mean, I look at Tonali and I go, fucking hell.

31:40Stick him in the midfield with Maynou. He's absolutely perfect. He's not Casemiro. He's very different, but he's perfect. So very interested to see where we're going to land on these midfielders. I do have a story about Fernandes but there's a few comments I just want to get into Andy Atherton says Carrick is perfect for these owners we might have a decent summer window but going forward it's let's get top four average windows and fund the new stadium it's my biggest fear Andy it's my biggest fear and you can't blame Carrick and you can't really blame the signings my biggest fear is that the people who set the tone are happy with fourth every year because it's not about winning it's about earning um how little can we i'm just concerned that there's somebody in the club or people in the club saying how little can we spend to be in the champions league every year it's a sentence how little can we spend to be in the champions league every year i'm just worried that's the mantra i have no evidence i have no evidence and it could get blown out of the water by signing Elliot Anderson tomorrow.

32:46But my fear is how little can we spend and being the Champions League? It's sort of the Arsenal motto when they built their stadium, fourth place and not spending. So whereas other clubs will go, what's it going to take to win the league? How much is it going to cost to win the league? Whereas we could be, how little can we spend to be in the top four? And that's what worries me. That's what worries me because some of the things we're doing doesn't put out that concern, you know? But it's unfair to say it at the moment because we don't know. Like, we could go and sign Tonali, Anderson and Chiamini and, you know, and a left winger.

33:25And in which case, that concern would be allayed. Going to be big, big miss again if we miss Tonali and another big club like Arsenal get him. Remember, Ryan says Michael Murray. Well, that's my concern on Tonali, by the way. I'm not going back to Tonali, but that's my concern. We don't want Tonali because he's gambling issues. if he goes to Arsenal Champions League finalists and Premier League winners what the fuck are we talking about you know so it'd be interesting to know see where Tonali goes because we're not in a position to make choices like that if clubs that are bigger than us are happy to do it it makes us look stupid I think it's a bug in Data Dean's system if we go for Blaber instead of Tonali it says Katton Mike Royce says a bit off topic I know but I researched the last time we released a new season's kit before the current season finishes and we've never done it until today maybe another diversion tactic says mike look you know the new kit's out um i don't know whether we're meant to buy it or not uh i know seb wants one um and you know i'm not going to stop getting him stuff because you know why should he suffer but i presume it's okay to buy kits anyway because everyone's still buying season tickets um and everybody's happy with the well a lot of people are very happy with the decisions being made by the board so i i don't know and it's on a postcard on that one but i i i don't mind us releasing the kit early i think sometimes waiting till the end of june is a bit crap anyway um i just i just wonder conspiracy whether we're about to announce a new player because once the new kit's out a new player can hold it up can't they um i love carrick but big players won't be coming to play for him he is not enrique or ancelotti i'll support him in backing but this really puts me off, says Golden Boy Wazza.

35:06I think people still underestimate how important Casemiro is. When he played well, we finished third. When he played badly, we finished eighth. And that BRT, I don't think you're right. You are absolutely right. And I think that's why the replacement is so important. You don't replace a 33-year-old who's had a really good season, who has won some of the biggest prizes in the world, and he's respected in the dressing room and on the pitch, and a leader. You don't replace that with a 22-year-old who's never played at the highest level. because it's obvious what's going to happen, it's going to take them time to get to that level.

35:39I mean, if you lose, imagine like, you know, back in the olden days when there used to be like battles, yeah? Imagine you keep winning battles, yeah? And your captain who leads the battle suddenly retires or worse. In your next battle, who do you want to replace him? somebody that everybody respects and is experienced or somebody who's brand new and has got no experience you know at the end of the day i know bruno is more important to us than casemiro but casemiro is one of those people that when you look around the dressing room you go well he's won three champions leagues in a row don't replace that with you know some kid from west ham or brighton you go on replacing with somebody that's respected in the game and the second midfielder can be the kid from brighton or west ham but the main guy's got to be somebody that you know demands respect.

36:29If Chiamini walks in the door, you know, I've won things at Real Madrid. If Tonali walks in the door, I'm Newcastle's best midfielder. I've played in the Champions League. If Elliot Anderson walks in the door, okay, I mean, to be fair, if Elliot Anderson walks in the door, people might go, well, what have you done? But I do think we need to bring some experience in. I'm absolutely convinced about it. You are losing a guy that when he stands at the front and, you know, walks out, you go, he's done it all. It inspires people. You have to replace that. Bruno isn't as good as he was under Oli's first year and Carrick is statistically not as good as Oli.

37:06So we're not going back to our ex. We are getting together with our ex's ugly twin sister, says Marlo. I did see a post actually last night about if Carrick can replicate what he's done in the last four months, we'll be cooking next season. I agree.

37:24You know there's going to be a but I agree, if he can replicate what he's done in the last four months Next season, we'll be in a title race It's just whether you believe those results have substance behind them Or whether you think those results are a little bit Are hiding something And I'll leave it there George, welcome to Members Club, thank you very much Pete Phillips says, two years since we were promised best in class Can anyone remember and name anything that would qualify as best in class spin? And how much of the Manchester have we got back into Manchester United? I just think we've been consistently lied to.

37:58Hopefully, hopefully they get it right in the end. Oliver said I had a vasectomy yesterday while listening. It helped. Oh, my God. Is that one of them things where you do it like under a local anaesthetic and you're awake? I remember I having a mole removed from my arm about 15 years ago. and they just numbed my arm and slit it open and were stitching it up and you could feel it moving and it's just weird. It's weird. The club thing, Belaber is, sorry, Emily Derry says, the club think Belaber is a big signing so I think I'll wait till Anderson is holding up a shirt but the incompetence of the whole process around character appointments is the big thing that annoys me, says Emily.

38:40Well, we've got Ben Jacobs on the show at two o 'clock with Beth and I think the big question and Beth's already spoken about this morning that we'll be asking Ben is, you said consistently that Man United were going to run a thorough process at the end of the season and interview other managers. So why have they abandoned that? Were you misinformed or have they just decided not to? I mean, I think it's an important question and it'll be interesting to know what the answer is because if United were planning to run a thorough process, including Michael Carrick and do it at the end of the season and they've now abandoned it to just give it to Carrick, we end up in the same position, but does that not give a little bit of an insight into how this club is run incompetently?

39:28They plan on doing something and then they abandon it, which seems to be happening a lot. So Jim Radcliffe, Amarim's here for three years. Three months later, you're fired. Haphazard, inconsistent decisions. you know Athletic are saying PSG are interested in West Ham's Fernandes got to get the deal done quickly says HFBF

39:53look there was an article in the Telegraph today about Fernandes at West Ham and Bruno Fernandes has been talking around the club that we should go for him I think we should go for him I think a lot of you think we should go for him I think the fact that he's been relegated by West Ham cheapens his price he's shown that he's very good in the Premier League and I think he'd be a good signing for Man United. I like his character. I like his profile. And I think it's a deal that Man United can get done, but I don't think he should be the replacement for Casemiro. I think you can't have him and Manu as our main midfield next season.

40:27I think it's too inexperienced. So I think he has to come in as the second midfielder. Should we be listening to players about signings? No. We shouldn't be listening to players about managers and we shouldn't be listening to players about signings, either um even if it was cristiano cristiano ronaldo in his prime i wouldn't listen to him about signings you know you're a player you're not a director of football and you are not the ceo so i'm not massively and bruno's our player of the year but i still don't care what he thinks about players because over the years bruno's had bad games bruno's had good games focus on your own game we'll pick the team um so i don't think it matters whether bruno fernando is going around saying, buy this player.

41:13If anything, I don't believe that. I mean, can you imagine Bruno Fernandes knocking on the door of Omar Barada or Jason Wilcox saying, sign Fernandes? I'd say, get out. That shouldn't be happening at this. I mean, I would say shame on Barada and shame on Wilcox if you're allowing players to come and talk to you about what players we should sign. I mean, that just shows a lack of respect, shows a lack of hierarchy. I couldn't give a fuck what a player thinks. I really couldn't. do your job consistently and then we'll talk and I still won't listen I'd be like you're in my office telling me what players to buy can you show me the league table we're not top of the league are we how do we do in Europe this year what trophies have we won I don't care what you think until you're performing to the level I want you to perform and even then I don't care my job is to is to buy the players not you you focus on playing well every week because I thought we were shit at the weekend so I just don't agree with players having any say I remember when we used to have Paul Ince on the show and you know that was a very good team especially 94 what a great team there wouldn't be any conversation with Sir Alex about signings or you know anything like that because you know your job is to perform for Man United every week it's not to be involved in transfers or anything like that so look but I do like Fernandes and I'm sure Bruno's a big fan of him but he shouldn't have any input on what man united do because that's the job of jason wilcox that's the job of omar barada um it's frankie de jong all over again says keel yeah i think with chumini i know what you mean like you know frankie frank de jong didn't want to come and was only going to come if barcelona wanted to sell him and it got very very messy and chumini could go down that route if we're not careful but on the other hand it could be very smooth they might they might bring Rodri in, in which case he wants to come to us, in which case we do a deal.

43:04But also with Ciumini, why is it just us? What if Arsenal want him?

43:13There's this, sometimes there's a naivety in the window that, oh, if Real Madrid sell Ciumini or come to Man United, Arsenal are in the market for another midfielder. Maybe they'll go and get him as well. We're third because we moved to back four. Any competent manager playing back four can be successful with this squad. under Amrim we would never we would be near relegation says Sanil if and when Carrick doesn't work out we'll have to be at the end of Ineos right Ineos should have bought uh change but they would just be more of the same says Rajaf uh I believe we are about to announce a signing says Nick P and morning Mark can you wish my mate Kane a happy birthday he's 30 today can you wish him some gold goldbridge advice thanks from Jamie says Jamil happy birthday to Jamie 30 today any words of advice age is but a number enjoy your life we're not promised tomorrow we've only promised today there you go Pep was all over Wharton last night at the final whistle he wasn't shy to send out a calling card maybe his first choice Anderson isn't available says Nick P maybe he wants both maybe he wants Wharton and Anderson Daniel Thompson says hi Mark and United stand hope all well it's like the board are afraid of getting quality and just go for the easy and cheap option and that won't help us progress or compete.

44:28They have no ambition, just incompetence and the football suffers for it. I'll tell you what, I'm not taking any credit, but if we sign Elliot Anderson, remember, I have been saying for weeks, I've just got a funny feeling. I've got a funny feeling there's a big signing, there's a new kit, he's about to announce where he is. I've got a funny feeling about this Elliot Anderson thing. Is good football a non-negotiable? Wendell says, is good football a non-negotiable for you or would Carrick's boring counter-attack football suffice if we challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League similar to Arsenal?

45:03It's a good question. Look, I think some people have lost sight of the fact that Man United, like Liverpool, like Bayern Munich, like Real Madrid, like Barcelona, are more than a football club. We have an identity. Manchester United have always had an identity of playing exciting football the Man United way. I don't think it's acceptable to abandon that. But in 2026, let's be real, some of our fans think it is. So I don't think it's difficult to win and play good football if you have the right setup. Do United have the right setup for that? Probably not. So maybe we will just have to try and win a title playing counterattacking football.

45:53But I think that reflects badly on the board and the owners, because we are a football club that should be more than winning. It's about winning in a way that respects our history. but in 2026 I would put my hand up and say I don't think that's the opinion of everybody I'm from a generation where Man United should play the right way they should play football the right way but I don't necessarily think that's the same for all fans anymore no matter who we sign our midfield will struggle because of low defensive line play and the space that leaves between our attack and defence is Joey Joey well thank you very much for being a member pal And Ashley, who's been a member for 39 months, says, who do you think we will end up buying as a lot of the stories are smoke and mirrors?

46:42I just have a feeling about Anderson. I think United have to have to land Carrick a big Casemiro replacement. Because even if we gave the job to Nagelsmann, which I think was my favourite, or Iriola or Luis Enrique, If you replace Casemiro with Balaba or Fernandes, I think you make Enrique's job difficult. I think you make Nardwisman's job difficult. You have to replace Casemiro with somebody decent. And especially if Michael Carrick is going to be the job. So I have faith that as incompetent as the board is, you have to replace Casemiro. And to do that, it has to be Chumini, Tonali, Anderson or Bruno G.

47:25So I have to believe that we'll get one of those players. Mid says, the fact that we don't want Tonali tells me that Carrick Wilcox's vision is break up play and counter with players like Anderson winning the ball back. D Gold says, would you consider a domestic trophy in top three next season a success for Carrick in his first full season? Yeah, I think it would be. I mean, what I will say is it doesn't mean I won't be sat there going, I hate this football. Doesn't mean I won't be sat here saying we're not very good. We've got away with it. I don't know the circumstances of that top three and trophy, but on paper it would be, I think Champions League football next season is non-negotiable.

48:03You have to get it. We can't drop out of Europe again. If Carrick can get top four for next two years, that's progress, says Marcus9137. Yeah, but as I said before, is it good enough progress? Is Man United finishing fourth for the next two years progress? Yes, because we haven't done that. That would be three years in a row in the Champions League. but we are Manchester United fourth and fourth it's not really what Man United should be doing like I say in 2026 some people will be happy with it some people will be like you know depends how we're playing doesn't it depends how shit everybody else is depends how far you are off everybody else depends yeah like there's context to it let's get real and my fear is that maybe the board don't care about the context fourth, fourth, fourth, fourth, fourth, fourth for five or six years while they build a stadium might make them happy Nick says funny thing is it's such a domino in the midfield market if Rodri leaves to go to Madrid and Elliot Anderson goes to Man City and then Madrid sell Chiamini yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly and I think you do raise a good point if Rodri goes to Man City and Elliot Anderson goes to sorry if Rodri goes to Real Madrid and Elliot Anderson goes to Man City that could benefit us getting Chiamini of course you know absolutely spot on um so there is that there is that domino effect of course um Carrick has done all that could be asked of him but appointing him is the easy choice not the right one says Ewan results have outperformed the actual stats there we go uh thank you very much and our performance under Carrick got worse for four months don't want to imagine what we'd be like over a year says Kyron uh and Zach says it's absolutely stupid the way our club is run and are they forgetting that once the season ends we're against the clock before players head to the world cup and transfers become tricky and emily derry says going for fourth every year and only do enough to scrape in the margins become very small if things don't go to plan the required investment for fourth grows every year as other clubs reach higher says emily and look there will be challenges next season as well i mean i know there is still a potential that they go down but you know i think deserve be with a pre-season makes spurs a lot better they've got no Europe they're playing once a week Spurs under De Zerbe and the way he wants to play they could be a real threat next season for top five similarly Newcastle with one game a week could be a threat for top five as well we don't know where Chelsea are going to land Chelsea might not be in Europe so yeah look next season Arsenal Man City United Liverpool you'd say top four but Chelsea Spurs and Newcastle with no European football playing once a week I mean it's benefited us I mean you know I think I think the one thing I would give you credit for maybe myself I can't remember last summer we said playing one game a week is going to really help us I don't think it helped us up until Christmas I don't and I think the reason for that is like running a marathon with a backpack on, maybe you can run half the race and you don't really feel the weight.

51:16I think those teams from Christmas to today really started to feel the weight of European football and we didn't have it. So we sort of moved away from them. On top of that, I think Amrim's style of football was quite intense, whereas Carrick's is more preservative. So I think from January to May, we've benefited from a more low intensity football and the fact that everybody else has got tired and we've had a great run. I mean, look at the results. But how many of those results are based on the fact that we've been a lot fresher than everybody else? Now, next season, maybe we'll be all right till Christmas, but from Christmas to May, we'll be one of those teams playing, you know, getting tired after a long season.

51:59But it will be Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs that can take advantage of it. So I think that, you know, next season is going to be very interesting. and I would hope that we've analysed what benefited us and how it's going to benefit others and how we deal with that because the only teams that have really dealt with it are Man City and Arsenal and the reason for that Arsenal have a huge squad and Man City bought two players in January so we need to prepare for January to May next season because we could be really good until Christmas Chelsea were good till Christmas and then second half of the season it'll fall apart if we haven't got the squad Patrick Lynch says from what I can find Belaba's current wage is£20 ,000 a week Tenales is£150 ,000 it's definitely easier to entice Belaba for less wages and I'm worried about this Patrick I do worry that we are looking at wages more than we are looking at quality Ajit says how would you rate a midfield of Chiumini Yulmlin and Hackney I like Chiumini we won't go near Yulmlin and Hackney is a championship player that I don't really know much about.

53:09So I like the Chiumini signing. I think the other two are a little bit uninspiring. I still hope that we're going to go towards Stiller. I think Stiller, I know a lot of you don't know a lot about him. I think Stiller could be as transformative for Man United as Bruno Fernandes. And if we sign Stiller, I don't care who the manager is, I'd get very excited and I would applaud Wilcox and I would applaud Barada. I still think Stiller is a fantastic signing Stuttgart have had such a good season and he's the talisman of that team I mean it's incredible what Stuttgart have done I think they might be in the Champions League actually which will obviously make it very difficult and I've heard nothing about Stiller I mean they're fourth place going into the final day and they've got the same points as Hoffenheim with better goal difference and their final game is at home to...

54:03No, they're away to Frankfurt and Hoffenheim are away to Mönchengladbach. So look, if they get Champions League football, he might not be going anyway. Ashen says, if they go for Belaber for 70 million or above, they should 100 % get investigated. There's something wrong there. Thank you very much. Okay, great show this morning. Do not miss the two o 'clock show because we've got Ben Jacobs on the show and we've got some questions about some of the things that haven't happened that he said was going to happen so what has changed also we'll get the latest on on the midfield targets and where united like to get likely to go i think ben's always been quite interesting around the price for anderson as well so i think we should get some clarity on that too um karik has got no bed in time next season because we've seen the way we play he needs to hit the ground running fast or christmas will be hard says ray I think as well for next season, Ray, I don't normally really take much notice of the first six games of the season.

55:00But I think for Carrick, those first six games of the season are really important. I mean, you look at what Amrim got. We had Man City in the first six. Arsenal in the first six. And did we have Liverpool in the first six as well? I think we had. No, we didn't have Liverpool. I can't remember. We had a relatively difficult first six games. I think if you'd Carrick, he needs like Coventry, Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Sunderland. He needs six games that are not challenging. Because I agree, we need a steady start. You need that first six games where Bruno, the new players, Maguire, they can just navigate us through some good results at the start of the season.

55:54We do not want a challenging start to the season. And also, you want to be home for the first game of the season. So I actually think the fixture list is going to be quite interesting because we do not want a challenging start. Somebody makes a good point, though. So, yeah, but if you get an easy start, Mark, then when you're in the Champions League, you're playing hard games after. And you're right. You know, if you get Ipswich and Coventry and Palace first three games, you might have nine points. But then what's going to happen is when the Champions League games come out, of which there are eight, before and after those, you might be getting Man City away and stuff like that.

56:30So, yeah. Yeah. Is Carrick the board's solution to three problems? Difficult to get the manager they want? Give Bruno a stable last year. Low spend, says Marlow. and it's a good fair point. Zach says, I know the midfield is the priority and a left winger, but we're forgetting how far behind our defence is. We need a world-class centre-half. Look at Arsenal. And mid says, the fact that we don't want... There we go. Done that one. Great show, everybody. Really enjoyed it. We have got an 8 o 'clock show for you tonight. We've got 2 o 'clock with Ben Jacobs. Make sure you tune in for that and obviously make sure that you are subscribing to the channel because I think we're moving into that area now where, you know, we could be reacting to anything.

57:09Like I reacted to the Carrick story yesterday. So lots to get involved in. Thank you so much for watching. Stay safe. I'll speak to you on the next one. Great show this morning. Really enjoyed it. And I tell you what, I do feel like, you know, whilst I'm concerned about the Carrick appointment, at least, you know, we're moving towards this transfer window now, which is going to be so important. I found this, I found this season really hard work, really hard work. I think it's great that we're in the Champions League, but I think it's been a horrible season. You know, the amount of times where it's been two weeks without a game or three weeks without a game.

57:43Horrible, horrible season. Knocked out in both cups straight away. No European football. Some shitty results, not many good performances. So I'll be glad to see this season behind us and move into this exciting era of what can we do for next season? Because I never want a season like that again. I think it's one of the worst seasons I've ever watched as a Man United fan. It's been dreadful and not necessarily, you know, we beat Liverpool home and away. It's just the gaps between games and not being in the Cups. It's been a shitty season, really. So I'm excited to leave it behind us, know that we've got Champions League football and see what we're going to deliver.

58:20And I think next season is going to be great. You know, we're going to go from hardly playing to playing every three days. So very excited about the summer. Get involved in the United Stand. We will cover it all for you. Take care. Stay safe.