Carrick's Bruno RISK! Sesko READY For City!

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1:44Hello, everybody. Welcome to the United Stands. I'm Mark Goldbridge. This is your latest Manchester United news. What are we talking about? Well, we're talking about Bruno Fernandes, injury concerns, hobbling, limping out of Old Trafford yesterday. Did Carrick playing for too long? We'll talk about that. Also, Sesco, has he done enough to start in the Manchester derby? Should he be starting in the Manchester derby? And was anybody else good enough to force their way into Michael Carrick's first team plans? We've also got Lewis Hall officially signing his contract this morning. With that, there is some stories coming out around about how close Manchester United were to signing him in the summer and how close they could be to signing him in the summer as well.

2:24Plus, a load of other bits to get into this morning too. I hope you're doing very well. It's fast paced, isn't it? Look, it's Friday. This is almost like, it's almost like, I wouldn't say it's like waking up on Christmas Day, but it's a little bit like Christmas Eve. You know, it's not far off. It's welcome to the world of being a football club that's relevant, is what I would say. You play a Champions League game and then you're straight into a Premier League game. I mean, last season, we were literally building up Man United against Burnley all week. Whereas now you play midweek Champions League game, you build up to that, you play that, you barely have time to react to it.

3:02And then you're straight into your Premier League game. So this is what being a big club is. And it better not be a bloody glimpse. It better be, you know, for the next few years, because it's great. It's fast paced. You know, I've moved on from Sabah very, very quickly into this Manchester Derby game, which we'll be previewing tonight. But look, one of the big talking points that came out of last night, and 86 % of you have already voted this morning, should Carrick have subbed Bruno Fernandes? 86 % of you are saying yes. Now, he was limping out of Old Trafford last night. I don't see that as a problem.

3:38I mean, even if Bruno Fernandes was on crutches, I'd still expect him to play on Sunday. In fact, if Bruno Fernandes was in the back of an ambulance with his leg being reattached because because he's been bitten by a shark at Old Trafford, I'd still expect him to start on Sunday. So I'm not worried about that. I think there is a bigger picture argument about whether Bruno Fernandes at 32 should be playing 90 minutes anymore. And I actually saw a clip from Match of the Day last night with Mark Chapman, and I think it was Warnock, not Neil, the former left-back for Liverpool, Stephen, basically saying that Carrick should have took him off.

4:13It's too much of a risk to keep people like Bruno Fernandes on the pitch for 90 minutes when you're 3-0 up against Sabah and you've got a big game on Sunday. What are your thoughts on that? Because, look, we have got a big game on Sunday. That is what I would call an amateur Champions League side. In the last 10 minutes, somebody could have gone through the back of him, broke his ankle, and you sort of like go, well, it was a risk. Did we need to do it? However, I'm probably going to be in the minority here, certainly in the chat. I'm going to be in the 14 % and say that I don't really have a problem with him not subbing Bruno at the moment.

4:50Because Bruno Fernandes didn't have a pre-season. He played with Portugal in the World Cup. He only got back for pre-season about two weeks before we played Hull. So he's not had a complete pre-season. And the quickest way to get up to speed is to play games. So Bruno Fernandes, in what is effectively our fourth game of the season, playing 90 minutes instead of 60, I don't think Bruno looks very sharp. I thought against Everton he looked off the pace. I think against Sabah last night he looked a bit off the pace. So if giving him 90 minutes is to get him up to speed then I don't have a problem with it.

5:28So I probably sit here in the minority and say I don't mind him playing 90 minutes last night. There is a risk of him getting injured but Bruno rarely gets injured. Where I would have a problem with this is in two months time when Bruno's played about 20 games and we're playing midweek Champions League against, I don't know, Roma, and we're winning 3-0 with 25 minutes to go, take him off then. Look, I think on this topic, for me, it's one to just monitor because we have seen other managers, Amorim, Ten Hag, Oli, never really want to sub Bruno. And if Carrick's going to be another one of those, I think it's a mistake.

6:09But this early in the season, when he didn't have a proper pre-season, I don't have a massive problem with it. But it might be one to revisit because if he is going to play every minute of every game because he's Bruno Fernandes at 32, I think it's bordering on stupidity because we are such a Bruno-centric side, there's no point having a tired Bruno. So that's sort of my stance on it. But I fully expect him to play on Sunday. and he could well be man of the match. So no, I didn't have a massive problem with it. Jamy says, if he doesn't get subbed against Sabah, he never will. Hall renews at Newcastle.

6:49Live reaction, says Rich Mitch. Well, let's hit that one very, very quickly because that is coming in this morning. I think we all knew he was going to sign a new contract, Lewis Hall. And I suppose it's just about what you think might happen with it, with United. So he's signed a new contract, a new long-term contract at St. James' Park. They announced it about an hour ago. This is coming from the Newcastle correspondent for The Athletic. Manchester United showed some interest in Lewis Hall this summer, but Newcastle rebuffed it and told them he was not for sale. Hall has now signed an improved deal until 2031 with no release clause.

7:33So a five-year deal until 2031. which strengthens the position Newcastle now hold if Man United renew their interest next summer. They would face a higher fee and would need to offer Hall better personal terms. The new contract does not fully kill United's interest or the chance that he could move in the next couple of years but it makes it less likely. Some of the earlier narrative had treated a switch to United next year as almost inevitable. Tying Hall down long term is meant to show faith in him and keep him central to Newcastle's rebuild. I think this is the most common sense update I've seen on Lewis Hall for quite a while.

8:10Even Fabrizio Romano said yesterday that if you ask me whether I expect Man United to return for Hall in summer 2027, I think it's a serious possibility. Man United loved the player and already wanted him strongly a few weeks ago. So seeing them come back for Hall is realistic. But I think this is the difference between your transfer journalists and reality. Your transfer journalist who has basically closed their period of relevancy or excitement has now got these barren months of September, October, November, where no one's really going to be excited about transfers. So if you're Fabrizio talking about Lewis Hall going to Man United next summer, it's in his interest to say that.

8:53And he's not wrong. There is a possibility that it happens, but there's not really anything going on. So I think that's just what, you know, certain people will do. I haven't got a problem with that. But I think that update that I've just read there is exactly how I read it. Two things. One, he signed a new contract on better wages for five years. he will be more expensive next summer. So you tell me with our board why we wouldn't buy him this summer for 70 but we will buy him next year for 80. We won't. You know this board as well as I do. We won't do that. So and also why didn't we buy him this summer?

9:34If we're big fans of Lewis Hall, why didn't we buy him this summer? Because he's factually going to be cheaper and his wages are going to be cheaper. I don't know what his wages are at Newcastle but let's imagine he was on wages at Newcastle of 40 or 50 grand a week and he's now on 100 grand a week. So when we go for him next summer, instead of saying come to Manchester United and we'll give you 110 grand a week, we're going to have to say come to Man United and we'll give you 160 grand a week. So the wage is higher, the fee is higher. Why didn't we do it this summer when the wage and fee were lower?

10:05So don't swallow the rubbish, follow the news, follow the logic and that update from the Newcastle correspondent in the Athletic is absolutely spot on. That long-term contract from Newcastle strengthens their position 100%. And if United wanted him, they had a better chance of getting him that last summer than next summer. But we did what we did with Ajax. You know, we did what we did with Ajax. Ajax, we got Ten Hag, he knew that team, and instead of going and getting the two or three players from Ajax that we wanted, we sat on our arse and bought Anthony for 90 at the end of the window after Gravenberg and everybody else had already gone elsewhere.

10:44It's typical United. So no, I don't get excited about Lewis Hall next summer. I think it's probably more of a pipe dream than Anderson was this time last year. I think it's a ridiculously hard deal to do. What United will do is they will fan the flames of Lewis Hall to make you get excited and end up going for somebody who's cheap. You know, we're going for Elliot Anderson. You're getting the Labour. We're going for Tonali, you're getting Tillemans, you know. We're going for Chumini, you're getting Santos. That's basically what I think will happen. And look, those receipts are out there. I was thinking about this this morning.

11:22It's completely irrelevant to where I'm going next. But remember, there are journalists, content creators and fans who said, I'm not going to support Man United if they get bought by Qatar. I want Ineos. If we get bought by Qatar, I won't be watching Man United anymore. Well, you know, you can say Virgil van Dijk's the next Chris Smalling and people remember that from 10 years ago or how many years ago. I also remember the people, journalists and fans who were like, if Man United get Qatar, it's immoral. I won't be going anywhere near Man United if Man United get Qatar. Look at where we are now.

12:01Stuck in debt with a club that spends less than Coventry. It's what we are. It's what we are. Anyway, get your comments in as always. Thank you. Let's talk about Sesco next because obviously Sesco was taken off after 60 minutes yesterday. Lots of conversation around that. Oh, first of all, just before I do that as well, big shout out to all the members. Our latest Rooney video went out yesterday answering your community questions. Some of them hilarious. I really enjoy doing that. So if you are a member and you see the post go up, make sure you get your questions in because if put a good one in, it'll probably be Asterway and Rooney, which is a nice moment for you.

12:39A few thousand of you've watched it already, which is great because we want all our members to be watching all the extra content you've got. That's one of the big things to be a member. So make sure you check that out every Thursday. There's about four extra videos with me and Rooney now you can watch. And we've got our fantasy Premier League stuff and we've got some more exciting stuff coming up very, very soon as well, exclusive for you as well. In addition to all the stick to United and free stuff you get on here. But make sure if you are a member, you are watching that content because there's a lot more members than there is people watching it at the moment.

13:10So I don't think people are aware of it. So make sure you're watching it. And if you want to be a member, click and join and get involved. Some fantastic stuff in there. Let's talk about Sesco then. So again, I think like, look, it's the propaganda, isn't it? I was on social media this morning, as I always am, Man United are posting, what did you think about Xerxes cameo last night? And I sometimes, I don't know what I want Man United to be, actually. The post about Carrick after we'd drawn with Everton, where it's like, you know, like that. Waking up this morning to a picture of Xerxes and the official Man United account saying, what did you think of the Xerxes cameo yesterday?

13:50It took all my will to not reply with, I'll tell you what I thought about it. He should be at Everton and our tight-arse owners should have invested in a proper backup striker. But I thought, I don't want the heat. I don't want the heat and it's not Xerxes' fault. But it's the low IQ level of some of our fans that they get in the replies going, he was cooking. He was like Gordon Ramsay. He was cooking. He should start in the derby. And you go, this is why the Glazers win. This is why the Glazers win. It's not even a fortnight after the transfer window closed and they're able to put a picture of Xerxi up saying, what did you think about his cameo last night?

14:31I'll tell you what I think about his fucking cameo last night. I think he shouldn't be at the club. I think you're shit at selling and we should have upgraded him for a proper striker. That's what I think. Because ultimately, I think I'd have done a half-decent job at centre-forward against Sabala. I'm joking. But you know what? I think Jamie Vardy would have looked good. I genuinely do. I think De Lapp would have looked good. I don't think it takes that much to look good in that much space in the last half an hour against Sabah. But this is the, you know, talk about Sabah, talk about the bar at Man United.

15:03The bar is so low, they can mess a transfer window up and then put a post out about a player we should have sold and people are there going, oh yeah, cooking, Jamie Oliver FC, cooking, he's in the kitchen. I like Xerxi, that's not my point. My point is, this club manipulates this fan base incredibly. Two weeks ago, people are like, it's a disgrace. It's a terrible window. We should have got rid of Xerxes and bought a striker in. There's no ambition. Two weeks later, we beat a bunch of bloody amateurs, basically, in the Champions League. He comes off the bench and does well. Oh, he's cooking. He's cooking.

15:38And I'm like, he'll come on against Liverpool in a couple of months' time. He'll be absolutely shit. We'll get beat and everyone will be going, what's going on? But, you know, it's this endless cycle, isn't it? This endless cycle. But look, he won't be starting in the derby. Will Sesco be starting in the derby? Should Sesco start in the derby? We've done the poll on Bruno. I want to know your thoughts on this. I'm mixed on this. I really am. I love Sesco. I'm really mixed on it, though. And I'll tell you why. There is this... Basically, obviously the preview's coming later, but I'll give you a little bit of a thought on this.

16:24If Sesco doesn't start against Manchester City on Sunday, it's Old Trafford, I don't want to see, like we did with Ahmad, free Sesco in the chat, or Maynou. I don't want to see T-shirts or anything like that. This is Manchester City, who are going to be fighting for the title. who have spent ridiculous amounts of money on their team in an ambitious way to be good over the last few years. They're probably going to have more of the ball than us. When Sir Alex Ferguson used to go toe-to-toe with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, we didn't go toe-to-toe. You'd chuck Phil Neville in the midfield and we would counter-attack.

17:04So if this was Fulham, Sesko should start. If this is Crystal Palace, Sesko should start. If this is Aston Villa, Sesko should start. But if it's Arsenal or Man City, they're the two teams where I would go, it might be wise to let them have the ball, pack the midfield and use Embermo and Rashford as the outlet ball and counter. And look, I've stolen it from Wayne. If you've watched Stick to United with the extra bit on Disney +, where he tactically, you know, did what he would do, I have stolen it. because I'll be honest, at the start of the week, I was like, start Sesko. But having listened to what Wayne said and seen what Sir Alex Ferguson's done in the past, it's not the wrong decision to go Bruno Foltz9, Tillemans, Santos and Maynou in the midfield.

17:59Right, Wayne, what are we doing here today? Filming promo for a new podcast, me and Mark Oldbridge. What's the podcast called, Wayne? I don't know. What is it called? Oh, that was good. Wayne as a player, exactly what Man United was all about. But I'm sure we're not going to agree on everything. What would you think about Mark if you were a current player? Probably think he's just... We'll be wrapped into all the games. Do you do your own painting in your house? All the big stories. Just have my socks on and my underpants. Good. Hopefully no sackings. Hopefully. He's gone first, I've bolted him.

18:31I think we will have to bait. That's why I was saying you can go first. I did. On the volley. United. Perfect. On the pitch, off the pitch. I've got a little goal in my garden. I'd have saved that, to be honest. Stitty United is coming soon. And counter with the pace of Mbremo and Rashford. However, if he does Bruno, Maynou and Tillemans and puts Kunja false nine, get fucked. That's not... So I want to be very, very clear on that. If it's Bruno false nine with a midfield three of Santos, Tillemans and Maynou, fine. If it's Kunja, false nine, and then Bruno in a midfield three, no. No, if we're playing a false nine, you've got to put three midfielders in there.

19:17So either Sesko starts and we go with Bruno and Maynou and Santos, or Sesko doesn't start and we go Santos, Maynou, Tillemans and put Bruno at false nine. Tactically, there's a way for Sesko not to start where I'd be okay with it. But if it's Kunja over Sesko, I'm not okay with that. I'm not OK with that. We've got to abandon that because that's too attacking anyway. That's not like we're going defensive. So. But what I will say about Sesco is, and, you know, fortunately, I have been saying this for months. I genuinely believe we have a forward there that can be Harry Kane. Harry Kane at Spurs.

19:57I genuinely we've got a striker there who can be Izak at Newcastle. I think Sesco can score. I'd love him to be Erling Haaland. but I certainly think he can be a prolific Premier League goalscorer that gets 20 goals a season. I genuinely think he can. I think if you look at what he was doing at Leipzig and you look at what he's done at United, albeit it's a small evidence pool, he can score with his feet, he can score with his head, he can run the line, he can hold the ball up and he's still young to get better. I think Sesko's got all the attributes. Somebody said to me yesterday on the watch-along, why weren't you happy about signing Lukaku?

20:36And the reason I wasn't happy was because I believe if you're a top level striker, you should have a first touch better than a trampoline. And Lukaku never did. He could score goals, but his link up play was horrific. So I think that it's really important that with Sesco, I genuinely believe there's no need to look elsewhere. I've seen some people saying we need a more experienced striker. I wouldn't swap Sesco now for anybody apart from Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. I don't... Latoura Martinez, Alvarez, Oli Watkins. It's a big statement, but I'm very happy with Sesco. I really do think we've got a really good player there.

21:26But where I have an issue is are we going to utilise it? Because he wouldn't be the first player at Man United that we misused. Wamata, Mkhitaryan, Kagawa. There's so many players that we've misused over the years. The graveyard shift has to become the fairground shift. We've got to make it so he's got so many options and he's enjoying himself. Crosses need to come into the box. Balls need to go into his feet. There needs to be a better focus on our striker that I don't think we do. I think we've got too many players in that team that are thinking about something else. Like Mas Raui yesterday should be hitting the byline and whipping the crossing.

22:16He's cutting inside and he's shooting. Deleuze is the same. Luke Shaw doesn't really get forward enough for me. When he does get forward, he can put a crossing like he did for Sesko, but he doesn't do that enough for me. Marcus Rashford, leave him out of it. Let's see what he can do. I think he's simplified his game. Kunja, not really a crosser of the ball. Mbemo, I don't think Mbemo puts the cross in quick enough, to be honest, as well. Bruno, I think Bruno's the number one assist maker in Premier League history. But I do think with Sesko, it's not as simple as just picking him. We've also got to, as a team, provide for him as well.

22:56I think that's really important. So 86 % of you would start Sesko in the Manchester derby. Interesting. Let me get into some of your comments. Bruno injuries on Carrick. What is he thinking for 90 minutes? Stig, I don't think Bruno is injured. Like, obviously, he was limping a little bit walking out, but the man's the bionic man. You know, he's not going to be injured for that game. And I don't have a massive problem with it.

23:29yesterday. Look, Michael Carrick. I saw something from, actually, let me just do these super chats and then I'll come back to that. Whoever plays striker, I would like to see teamwork, tracking back, discipline and a proper game plan, says Learn Kids Yoga.

23:49Robert McCormack says, Dorgu Ahmad Embermo was front three in January, Sesco unused. Yeah, I mean, Robert makes a great point. I mean, look, this is sort of the Carrick thing I want to talk about in response to what Carriger had said about him as well. There is a lot more scrutiny on Michael Carrick now. Do you think that's fair? Why do you think that is as well? I'll come back to that. But Robert's sort of hitting on that theme as well, that we don't even know if Carrick likes Cesc. We don't. We don't. There's not been a consistent... Bruno Fernandes, no, forget him. Marcus Rashford shouldn't even be at Man United.

24:28Should be in Barcelona. We messed up the sale. He wanted to go there. 45 minutes without a pre-season because he was part of the England team. 45 minutes against Hull. Rashford's on and he's been picked the last two games. Obviously, Sabah's a little bit different. So Rashford's straight in the team. No messing around. Michael Carrick wants Rashford in the team. Maynou's in the team Michael Carrick wants him in the team so I don't necessarily believe that Carrick is convinced about Sesco because we've seen with Carrick Luke Shaw, you're my left back Harry Maguire, you're my centre back Maynou, you're my midfielder Rashford, you're my left winger Sesco, well he's coming back from a bit of an injury I don't know, I'm like that with Carrick and Sesco we'll find out over the next few weeks I don't think Sesko's a starter for Carrick at the moment, but there might be a reason for that.

25:23Would you put Kunja on the wing and play Rashford up front, says Jeremy. You could do that. You could do that. We've done it before at Anfield years ago. Put Rashford up front for pace. You can do that. I don't think City's defence is slow and Donnarumma's a sweeper keeper, so maybe it's better off with a wide player. Xerxes played how he normally does. He isn't an out-and-out striker, which is the problem. them. Sesco needs more starts. That's the bottom line, says Tristan. I really like Sesco, but there's no chance I'd start him on Sunday, says Robert. I'm sort of like, well, we'll see in my preview later, Robert, what I would do, but I'm a little bit conflicted.

26:02Do you think Bruno has wasted his career at United, says Rich? I mean, that's a TikTok short in itself, isn't it? Let me play the game. Trying to think of the answer as well. Don't know why I'm rubbing my stubble. OK, Rich says, do you think Bruno has wasted his career at United? Yes, I do. In a blunt reply, I think he has. Do I begrudge him for it? He's playing for Man United. What a dream. I'd love to play for Manchester United. So have you wasted your career signing for Manchester United? In one way, he hasn't because you're playing for Manchester United. But is he a lifelong Man United fan?

26:41I don't think he is. He's a player that loves Man United. He moved here for his career and that career has let him down. Bruno Fernandes, for me, is a player that could be playing for PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Manchester City, Arsenal. He's playing for Manchester United. We won't win a league title in his time. I don't think he's ever won a league title. I think Sporting started winning titles after he left. He won't win a World Cup with Portugal either. But has he wasted his career at Manchester United? Yeah. The number of managers, the lack of backing for those managers, the number of sackings of those managers.

27:12Bruno Fernandes has been the most consistent thing about Man United in the last few years. And what goes in accompaniment with that is that Man United won't be winning the league or the Champions League. And I think Bruno Fernandes is the sort of player that should be competing for that. So technically, yes, I think he has wasted his career at Man United. And I thank him for that. I thank him for that as a United fan. But he has, yeah. Unpopular opinion, but a Kobe, Tillemans and Kunja would be much more balanced midfield. I don't Kyle there's some good I want to get onto this Carrick thing from Carriger but there's some great questions coming in this morning and look it's a bit like an 8 o 'clock show this you've obviously all had your coffee because these questions are very good I don't like the midfield of Manu and Tillemans I said it before the season and maybe I had a little bit of foresight I live in central England which is about an hour and a half from Manchester and an hour and a half from London.

28:12Where I live, to be fair, Coventry is probably the closest Premier League club to me now, but it used to be Villa. And I know a lot of Villa fans. They love Tillemans. They were disappointed to lose Tillemans, but Tillemans played in the Manu role for them. And most Villa fans will tell you Tillemans needs a Casemiro next to him. He needs a Kamara next to him. He needs a defensive destroyer next to him. Oh, just like Manu. So going into the season, my concern was Maynou needs a destroyer next to him. Tillemans needs a destroyer next to him. We're now playing them together. Offensively, good, brave.

28:52Defensively, we've already seen. I mean, even yesterday against Zabar, I saw three times one of their players just ran through. I don't think he was very good. He just looked good because he was quicker than Maynou and Tillemans. So defensively, I think they're not good enough. Offensively, they're very good. So Kunia, Tillemans and Maynou is only going to work if you have an amazing back four, an amazing attack. you need a back four with pace if you've got PSG's back four I think it would work but with our back four that lacks pace and the midfield lacks pace we've not seen it yet and hopefully we won't see it but I think that midfield's going to have a bad day I think it's going to have a bad day at some point defensively because I don't think we're the sort of team that can have 60 % possession against Liverpool or even a Newcastle.

29:54So when it's got to defend, it worries me. But that's just about the balance. Tillemans doesn't bully me. Tillemans doesn't bully me. Tillemans doesn't worry me. Mainu's brilliant. In fact, I saw somebody say that, is Mainu in the top three midfielders in the world at the moment? Absolute horseshit. No, he's not. But the positive is that people are even thinking about saying that. He's been very, very consistent for us in 2026. and Tillemans is a good signing. I just think it's about balance. It's always about balance. And I think Belaber goes straight into that team. Not worried about Tillemans.

30:29Definitely not worried about Maynou. I think Belaber will go straight into the team. The player that I'm worried about a little bit, and it's very early days, is Santos. In the summer, he was the new Casemiro in pre-season, and since it's got competitive, he just looks a little bit average. Long way to go, but£48 million he's not there to sit on the bench he's got to compete for a first team spot Santos didn't come from Chelsea sitting on the bench to sit on the bench at Man United he's got to take a look at himself and he's got to be better because against Hull and even last night it's not at the level he needs to be like we need Santos competing with Tillemans and Mainu and Balaba So he's got to go up a few gears because he's left Chelsea because he didn't want to sit on the bench.

31:22And what I've seen so far, he's going to sit on the bench because Maino and Tillemans are better. So Santos, very early days, but he's not pulling up trees, is he, at the moment? So he's got to be better. Even in that second half against Sabah, he's got to be coming on and going, I'm going to take this opportunity. And it's early days, but that's what, you know, My point is I'm not worried about Tillemans. I think he's had a good start. I just think the balance will be better when we've got Belaber back. And hopefully Santos. Look, I think Santos needs to play against City. I do. He's the only one with any defensive capability.

32:03But will he? And actually, you know what? I think that's probably a bigger question than Sesko. Hot take. Like Santos starting on Sunday is probably more important than anything. Do you want to go against City with Tillemans and Mainu as your defensive shield? I think you need somebody else. Any update on Ahmad, says Abu. Well, to be fair to that Sully guy, I always said he's good on injuries. Hopefully it wasn't his guy who got sacked, but I've always said he's good on injuries. He did say six weeks. I think it was the mail that said six days. it looks like it's going to be six weeks. I mean, he's been out for what?

32:45Two weeks? Three weeks? So, yeah, I mean, look, I don't know. Two plus two is four. That story came out the other day that somebody's been sacked from Old Trafford for leaking stuff to Twitter accounts. And it was leaked that Maynew was out for six weeks. Then it was six days and now it's six weeks again. I mean, I don't know whether I'm a conspiracy theorist, but maybe United didn't want it to be known that Ahmad was out for six weeks. So they counted it with six days to try and shield off the truth. I don't know. But.

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34:36I'd rather get the truth. If a player's out for six weeks, I'd rather know they're out for six weeks. I think United are a bit weird with that. I genuinely don't think Fulham and Man City are going, is Ahmad fit? Oh, it could be six days, it could be six weeks. I don't think people look like that. I'm not a Bruno hater, says Will Todd. You're definitely going to be a Bruno hater now. But do you reckon Cescou not starting against Premier League teams because of Bruno staying high up the field, whereas Kunja will drop deeper into false nine? I think that, to be fair, you're not a Bruno hater, Will.

35:05It's a very good point. I think it's been proven that, and we spoke about it a couple of days ago, Michael Carrick might prefer a false nine. And that's something that we've got to analyse over the coming weeks. We didn't play a false nine yesterday. We did in the other three Premier League games. Will we play a false nine on Sunday? Will we play a false nine against Fulham the following week? we might find out in the next fortnight that we're a false nine team. And if we are, Sesco's going to be sporadically used, isn't he? Didn't know teams were supposed to win players' titles, says Jim.

35:45Of course they are. Of course they are. If I'm Roy Keane signing from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United and Blackburn want me, part of the conversation of me signing will be what she planned to win the title. Oh, we haven't got one. I'm going to Blackburn. If I'm Wayne Rooney and I'm choosing between Man United and Newcastle, and Newcastle say we're going to spend all this money to win the league, and Man United say, well, we're Man United, we're not. You know, it's absolutely a club's responsibility to win a player titles, and if they can't fulfil that, the player leaves. I think in the case of Bruno, he's probably been lied to loads of times.

36:23I mean, that summer transfer window that just there is total horseshit. I don't know whether you watch Stick to United, Jim, but I asked that question to Rooney and I got a lot of praise for it, but these are the sort of questions we will ask. I said to Rooney, if you were at Man United now and you're 27 and you've just seen that summer transfer window, are you putting in a transfer request? And he said, I'm definitely banging on the door and saying, what's going on? And he actually said, you're basically talking about Bruno as well, aren't you? And I went, well, yeah, I suppose I am in a way.

36:54You know, you break the Premier League assist record, You're coming up for 32. You're back in the Champions League. You're looking at all the money being spent by Chelsea and Man City. United don't even buy anybody other than midfielders and don't even get plan A's. I mean, what sort of ambition is that showing a player that deserves better? He does deserve better, Jim. Come on. I want United to beat City as a Liverpool fan, says Nathan. Thank you, Nathan. Don't forget Premier League Predictions is going out at midday on That's Football, by the way. Man United won't win the league again in the 21st century, says Alms.

37:30Come on, that's 74 years. We'll all be dead then. I don't think you can say United won't win the league in the next decade, really. I think things can change around in football very, very quickly. But you would need owners that want to do it. Do you reckon United can get a cutthroat performance on Sunday, says Amit? Of course I do. We saw it in January. I've seen us beat City loads of times. I could see us winning that game 3-0 as much as I could see us losing it 2-0. I think we can win that game. These are not the games I worry about. I think that these games, there is no team talk needed. We turn up for these types of games.

38:10The crowd turn up for types of games. I can't wait. I'm really excited. Daniel Thompson, hope you're doing well, sir. He says, I hope you're well. I hope Sesco starts, but if not, I don't have an issue as the win is most important. Xerxes is a guy, but he was toasting on an already toasted slice of bread last night. That Bruno assist grinds my gears because it's not a reflection on how the team plays. Pick a card, football is our strategy. We must improve, says Kyle. Let me just talk to you about this Carriger thing. He says, Michael Carrick's results since he took over Manchester United have been fantastic, but this season he's been pushed harder by the media and unfortunately for him that may continue if results don't get well this week, as he's still seen as an interim manager.

38:52Big, strong words from Carragher. Now, look, I disagree with what Carragher says as much as I agree with him. But to be honest, I know a lot of you don't like him. Some of you do like him. But I like people who say what they think, whether it's going to be controversial or popular, because it's authentic. If you try and say things to make people like you, then you become unauthentic and fake. I think in life you've got to say what you think within reason and I don't think he's massively wrong there look the thing that stood out to me is that Michael Carrick is still seen as an interim manager I think that's a mic drop and I doubt he watches the United stand but I said that on Monday I said the thing with Carrick is the start to this season and the transfer window he got But the club haven't really given him the backing of a proper manager.

39:51And the results haven't really been the start of a new dawn either. So there is that still feeling that he's an interim manager. Which is strange because when Oli got the job, it was very quick. I remember Oli getting the job and getting smacked up at Goodison Park a month later. But I never felt like Oli was an interim once he got the full-time job. But I get what Carrick is saying. There is this feeling of interim. And I think the club have created that, by the way. Some people think it's because Carrick's quite... I mean, he doesn't give much away, does he? But I think when you have a shite transfer window like that as your first summer transfer window...

40:33Look at David Moyes. It never felt like David Moyes was a Man United manager. It felt like even in the first couple of months of Moyes, he had some bad results. and it never felt like he got settled as Man United manager because the club never backed him in the first summer. And then it was just always a matter of when he was going to get sacked because they felt like... With David Moyes, it felt like they realised he'd made a mistake very, very quickly and didn't want to spend money on him. And he was gone before the end of the season. And I think with Carrick, again, they haven't spent money on him.

41:02And I think it doesn't... I don't think this has anything to do with the media or the fans. I think the club have created this. It does feel like he's a bit of an interim still because it didn't feel like the board went out and went, this is our manager, let's back him. So I do sort of agree with that. And the scrutiny will be harder if the results aren't good. That's not unique to Carrick. Ten Hag had it, Amrim had it. If you have bad results, if Carrick had had bad results as an interim, he never would have got the job. He got the job because he did an incredible job in winning a lot of games.

41:41But a lot of people said that was not sustainable. It was almost a plaster on an open wound. He needed a lot more to be able to do that, and he's not been given it. So look, he is going to get scrutinised, and he does need results, starting with one on Sunday. I think on Sunday, if we were to lose that game, it's not like the end of the world in the sense of a sacking, but it would be a kick in the nuts for him. And you know what? I think it comes down to trust. I think you have money in the bank and Carrick's got money in the bank because he was an amazing player and he's a likeable person and he did well last year.

42:34But last season gets forgotten very quickly. and I think that the interim thing is quite an interesting observation in the sense that it'll be interesting to see how quickly he can shed that and the only way to do that is by winning games which he's more than capable of doing this Man United side is capable of beating Man City, beating Fulham coming back from the international break and beating Spurs we win our next three Premier League games, everything's fine till Christmas. You know, you could afford a couple of bad results as long as you don't go on a losing streak. So the opportunity is there.

43:15Michael Carrick was speaking quite positively after the game. He was saying things like, I think we've improved a lot of our play from last season. I know we haven't had... I mean, that's an interesting thing. He thinks we're playing better than last season. And yet...

43:34I'm not too sure yet. I can't answer that. I don't know whether we're playing better from last season because I thought Everton, we were shit in the second half. We were awful against Hull. But we've scored nine goals in two home games. So the jury's still out on that. He says, I know we haven't had the results, but I think there's a lot of promising things in our performances. and that's encouraging. A lot of our attacking play has been really good. Some of our combinations have been really good, creating chances and scoring goals. Again, I don't know. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but I don't feel like we're creating loads of chances.

44:14I think against Everton, I don't remember loads of chances in that game.

44:21Kunja.

44:26Missed over the bar, didn't he? Mbemo. So lots of chances against Ipswich, lots of chances last night. Look, in the home games, we've created a lot of chances, which bodes well for Sunday. In the away games, I think we've struggled a little bit. But it's early days, isn't it? It's early days. But look, overarchingly, I think that there is going to be scrutiny, more scrutiny of Carrick because he's the full-time coach now. So, you know, you need that. You need to be... It's standards, isn't it? and I don't think the standards have been there for a long time. Mas Rowe says, I think Sesko is a good player.

45:05Do you? I think he can be a good player. Yeah, I think if you build around him, he can. Do you reckon... Sorry, I've done that from Amit. I've done that one as well. Done that from Robert. OK. Right. Thank you so much, everybody, for watching this morning. We have got reactions at Carrick's press conference coming up at lunchtime. so we should know more about injuries and who's going to be back. We've got the preview for the Derby coming up this evening as well. Very excited about it. Check it out. Also, tonight I'm live on That's Football for Bundesliga. It's back as well. Friday night Bundesliga is back tonight.

45:44Our first one of the season. And again, shout out to the members. Make sure you watch the members section. Once you're a member, it's there for you and there's loads and loads of good stuff there so go and give it a watch whether it's fancy Premier League you might need some help for your team tonight H is brilliant on that so watch it get some tips or the Rooney video that goes out every Thursday make sure if you're a member you're watching it and supporting it it's brilliant FC 27 Goldbridge gameplay when is that out mate because I am going to do some of that yeah definitely brilliant show this morning some awesome questions by the way there was three or four brilliant questions there and I love that that's what makes the show so good Stig says can I be a guest on the show one day?

46:26Mate, you never know. Some of the things that we've got planned, you literally never know. So keep getting involved. Have a great day, everybody. Stay safe. I'll speak to you in a bit. I've got to go and get Premier League Productions up. Premier League Productions. Premier League Predictions up on that football if you want to watch that. That's going up soon. Take care. Speak to you in a bit.

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