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1:44Hello, everybody. Welcome to the United Stands. I'm Mark Goldbridge. This is your latest Manchester United News. And I tell you what, I'm absolutely fuming about this. Really fuming about this. Three stories this morning. I want to delve straight into slamming and praising players, but it's completely the wrong way round. And actually, it shouldn't happen at all. We're talking about the pile onto Lemans and the PR-ing of Rashford. And I blame neither player on this. I blame the media. And I woke up this morning and I read Laurie Whitwell talking about how Rashford's had the most take-ons and the most passes this season so far.

2:19And then I read Rennie Mullenstein saying maybe we need a new goalkeeper. and I'm sort of like, no, no, no, no. This is just bloody ridiculous. This is ridiculous. We've got four points from nine. Nobody's doing amazing and nobody's doing totally shit, but we have to call this out. And then I thought, you know what? I suddenly feel a little bit better because the great thing about having this platform and this community is you can throw it in. Loads of people can interact and we can all work it out. And I'm thinking maybe I will actually feel a little bit better when I've vented to you about why I think this needs to stop and why having platforms like this is so great to call it out.

2:56So do call it out, whichever way you are. Also, an interesting piece coming out this morning saying that defence was never a priority for Manchester United because of the numbers that they've got. Is that acceptable? Also, Carrick. I miss this completely because of Sticks United and everything. Carrick being called out by ex-players. Is that right at this stage in the season? We'll talk about that as well. And a couple of other bits I want to bring into the show as well, plus everything you want to talk about. But look, I want to start off right with this. So look, I did an interview with Wayne and another ex-United player on Monday.

3:32And that player I have called out before. So, you know, this is a platform to, it's a news show. Quotes, journalists, you're in the news, you get scrutinised, much the same as we do and I do. So look, it's open season. That's the way it is. But when I read this and look, these comments from Rennie Mullins, who used to be an assistant coach at Manchester United, they're quite split. They are actually quite split around what he's saying. And I don't necessarily blame him for what he's saying. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but we're also entitled when someone puts an opinion out to have, you know, some scrutiny back on it.

4:16So he's talking about Lemens and he said, don't get me wrong. He had a really good season. He made some remarkable saves and he helped United a lot. But would I name him in the same breath as Schmeichel van der Sar de Gea? No. Can he get there? Not sure. I doubt it because I always do my judillions on things. And one of the things I felt with him is he's young. But obviously what happened with him at the World Cup is something identified in him. I think really critical people will look at him with the first goal against Everton near post. For me, if you talk about strengthening, you talk about the two most important people on the pitch, the goalkeeper and the striker.

4:47Now, Rennie may well come on stick to United. He's more than welcome to. But listening to what he said, it felt to me like the goalkeeper was being called out as a problem. It felt to me like that's a position where you shouldn't have a goalkeeper like Le Mans. You should have a, you know, experienced goalkeeper there. And then I read this on the same morning, right? And a whole article from Laurie Whitwell. Marcus Rashford is fourth in the Premier League for chances created, sixth for successful dribbles so far. He looks confident and is picking good options. Him and Shaw have exchanged 57 passes, only behind Fernandes and Tillemans for Man United partnership.

5:25This is in The Athletic from Laurie Whitwell. So I've got a goalkeeper who had a brilliant season last year being scrutinised after three games and he's young. And I've got a prominent Man United journalist writing a complete article about passes between Shaw and... I mean, I've never heard these fucking stats in my life. passes between the left back and the striker he's done 57 he's looking confident he's had he's sixth for the most successful dribbles and he's fourth in the Premier League for chances created I mean so we've got a lad who's going to be 29 who we thought had left who's been treated like he's 19 and was scrutinising passes to the left back as a positive and then we've got a young goalkeeper in the pressure pot of being Man United's number one being scrutinised and called out.

6:15And I'm like, hold on a minute. This is nothing to do with Rashford, right? I don't know whether his PR team are telling Laurie Whitwell to write stuff. I very much doubt it. But this does need, well, I think it needs to be called out. And if you disagree with me, clip it, put it out there. I don't care because I think it does need to go out. I do not. Man United have got four points from nine. Marcus Rashford's had his career at Man United. He's been nurtured. He's a 29-year-old next month. Lemens is our number one goalkeeper who is learning on the job. Do you think we should be scrutinising him like we are whilst we're going, oh, but Rashford, like a new signing, he's took a few people on.

6:56He's looked lively. How many goals and assists has he got? None. How many points have Man United got? Four from nine. You can't glaze passing to Luke Shaw and then go in on the bloody goalkeeper who's a kid himself. Like, oh, one's from Belgium, one's from England. I mean, I don't know whether I want to go down that route, but we have seen this year after year after year after year. And I'm calling it out. We cannot keep burning young players. Look, can I just say, this is not personal to Rashford. He doesn't write the article. I've seen a quote from Ryan Giggs today talking about Pep wanting Rashford.

7:32What year was that, Ryan? I mean, was it last week? You know, what is that? What is this? We've got four points from nine and we're glazing Rashford. We've got four points from nine and we're going in on the goalkeeper. It's not about Rashford. It's not about Le Mens. It could be. It could be Dorgou and Luke Shaw. Treated very differently, aren't they? That's my point. These journalists, these ex-employees of Manchester United It does get a little bit repetitive of who they go in on Because of who they know A lot of the time, they know or have relationships with certain players And they don't have it with the new players So the new players are easy picking This is completely wrong It is bang out of order And we will never, ever, ever, ever be successful If we burn the young players and the new signings because they're going to be the future.

8:36So, you know, I've said this, I remember saying this about Tahit Chong. He had a bad game and social media was full of it. And I'm like, hold on a minute. This is not a 29-year-old having a bad game for Man United. Right? You can scrutinise players. Luke Shaw's been here for a bloody decade. He's earned well over 150 grand a week for a long time. Deleuze's been here for eight years. LeMenza's wages are probably pretty shit. You know, he doesn't cost a lot. He's a young player with immense potential who I think has done a good job. But you know what? Let's scrutinise him. And you know why it happens?

9:12You know why it happens? There's too many people out there looking for a fucking headline because they're not intelligent enough to run something like this where you can build something real based on real conversation that doesn't need to be hyperbole headlines all the fucking time because you're competing with loads and loads of other podcasts. I've seen loads of criticism, loads and loads of criticism of Le Mens over the last couple of days. And look, I never played in goal, but I've seen Manuel Neuer be beat by shots like that. David Seaman got beat by Ryan Giggs in an FA Cup semi-final on his front fucking post because it blasted in above his head.

9:49David Seaman was one of the best goalkeepers in the world at that time. Keepers make mistakes. I don't even think it was a mistake. I even saw a clip yesterday that LeMens can't just stand there looking at the ball. You know, you can't make a save if you don't dive. He ain't saving that Maitland-Niles shot. I don't care if you've got to. That's incredible to me. He is not saving that shot. You can't scrutinise that Maitland-Niles shot. It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous. The second goal, I personally think it's Luke Shaw's fault as well. Luke Shaw slows down on his way across and he needs to get tighter and block the shot.

10:26and of course there's only one place that can go and I think Lemans probably should do better but are we going to forget the Hull game? I know we lost the Hull but we could have lost five and nearly made two really good saves the amount of saves he made last season Michael Carrick probably owns his job to him the amount of one-on-ones he saved last season look I am absolutely ecstatic with Lemans and my message to him would be absolutely mate no problem with you at all I saw David De Gea when he came to Manchester United and he made mistakes and he became one of our best goalkeepers. You're young, you're going to make mistakes, but you know what?

11:00Even if you're 31, you're still going to make mistakes. Goalkeepers make mistakes. Martinez should have probably stayed Havertz shot at the weekend. Goalkeepers make mistakes. You cannot mention Inanna and Lemens. Inanna was a bloody pantomime act. The guy thought he was bloody prat man jumping through the air with two hands in the air. You know, he He was shite. Bosnich was shite. Barthes at times was shite. I know what a shit Man United goalkeeper is and I know what a good Man United goalkeeper is. And we, I'm telling you now, I can't tell anybody what to think. I haven't looked at the chat yet, but when I'm waking up on a Wednesday morning and a player who could be our goalkeeper and one of the best goalkeepers in Europe for the next 10 years is getting scrutinised like that.

11:44And then I'm reading a bloody journalist writing an article about how many passes as Marcus Rashford's played to Luke Shaw and now he's sixth in the league for take-ons. I couldn't give a fuck. Why don't you write an article about Le Mens? Why don't you write a bloody article about Le Mens who could be, you know, really good for us in the future, who could get better and better? I'm sorry, but Rashford, Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, they're not getting any better. They're in their 30s or late 20s. They've had their glow-ups. Why are we writing bloody articles on 29-year-olds?

12:18Well, you know, we should be, well, we will be trying to build our new signings up and our younger players up. You actually might get this club out of this 10-year decline. It's madness. It's madness to me. And look, as I've said many a times, Rashford starts on the wing for me against Man City. Rashford starts against Fulham. He looks like one area of the pitch that actually looks like it's got a little bit of structure. You know, there is something going on down that left hand side. But I wouldn't say it's fucking amazing. No goals, no assists, because we haven't got a number nine in the middle.

12:57It's mad to me, but I will call it out. You can counteract it. You can agree with me. I don't care. But I think it needs to be in there because this is exactly what this community was set up for, to be a counter to the bullshit we sometimes get from the mainstream who just go, I'm going to write an article about where my Marcus Rashford is on take-ons. And I'm going to write an article about how Luke Shaw got an assist at the weekend. And I'm going to write an article. I'm going to say something negative about Lamenti. We might not be good enough. You know, I'm at bollocks. There's a future. There's a path.

13:31There's a knowledge. You've got to back yourself on it. You have. And also, also, you know what? Last season, Ahmad got absolute pelters because he wasn't getting goals and assists. I'll guarantee you, Ahmad was quite good at passing it to Deleuze or taking people on. I guarantee you he was. So, you know, at the end of the day, Man United have got four points from nine. Why are we trying to polish a turd? There is no individual in team. This is a team thing. You win together, you lose together. The day we start going down the pathway of individual write-ups and glow-ups, we're in big, big trouble.

14:07And I think Marcus Rashford would agree with that. And I think Bruno Fernandes would agree with that. After the Ipswich game, Bruno, Bruno, Bruno, Bruno. After the Everton game, Bruno was shit. This rollercoaster of individual glow-ups and praise and criticism, it's incredible. And I think it's fed by this sort of bullshit that you wake up to this morning. But it really did annoy me about Le Mendes because he literally is a player that for me last season was a huge positive for Manchester United, a huge, huge positive. And I don't know. I don't know whether there's this like, I don't know whether there's this like hunger to, I don't know whether, you know what, I'll just say, have we got locked into this cycle at Manchester United where some of our fans actually enjoy the cycle of excitement over new signing?

15:05They're going to be really, really good. Oh, I'm a bit bored of it now. Oh, they've made a mistake. They're shit. We need something else. Because I'll tell you what, I'll tell you who's going to be next. I'll predict it for you now. And I'm going to try and go the other way. Santos. I think Santos is next. I can already sense a Garte, Dorgu vibes around the fan base for Santos. And the guy has barely kicked the ball competitively. In pre-season, he was the reincarnation of Casemiro. And after the first three games, oh, we might have bought a flop. And it's way too early. Way, way too early. but these are the players look unfortunately Luke Shaw Harry Maguire Bruno Fernandes the low probably Marcus Rashford are not going to be the players that make Man United successful because we're not winning the league for the next two or three years at least and in two or three years time most of those players are in their early 30s or retired so the players that actually and it's a great way of thinking about it and I've been thinking about this for years when I see people like Lacey when I see people like like Dorgu or Lemans or Menu or Santos or Amad.

16:18You know, these are the players that I look at and go three or four years goes really quickly. In three or four years time, they're the next wave. These are the players that if we're going to be patient with anybody, if we're going to write glow up articles, Laurie, these are the people to write them about. Because the other lot, they're not going to be around for a long time. they're not going to be around for a long time because they've sort of had their chance or they've lived through an era where it just didn't quite work out. So it's really important. I really think it is. And look, you know what?

16:50I'm not individualising René Mullenstein. It's just a lot of people have said a lot worse. And actually he also said in his Sane article and I completely, and this is what I mean about balanced opinion. He also said Luke Shaw is not the Luke Shaw when he first walked through the door. He's an experienced player, but you could also see against Ipswich when he got in a one-on-one, he was in trouble. Harry Maguire is an experienced player, but he's not getting any younger. That's a reality. And he came off a really good season last year with a lot of games week to week. How's it going to affect him when he has to play on a Tuesday and on a Saturday and on a Wednesday and so forth?

17:26It's going to have a knock-on effect and it's going to be a challenge. Exactly. And I think that's a great point. And whilst I don't agree with the Le Mens stuff, it feels like, you know, sort of scrutinising laments as a problem goalkeepers live on confidence as well but I do agree with him on that you know we've walked into a situation whereby we are wide open and look you know what Carrick's had a bit of criticism what do you think about that and do you need to get in your comments because people are saying that Patrick Lynch has made a good point some people have said about Carrick oh he's getting a bit of criticism and I was looking around and I was like you know obviously I did the show with Wayne brilliant check it out there was I suppose there was, I wouldn't say it was personal.

18:08It's like you've lost, you've blown a lead. Like you're going to get, you're a Man United manager. 2-2 at Everton when you've been in front in the last 10 minutes twice. You need to get scrutinised. You probably should have got scrutinised more. He's lost to Hull and he's blown a lead twice in the last 10 minutes of a game against Everton. You've only got one striker. You know, that's got to be scrutinised. But I was looking, and apologies, Gary, you know, I've only just read this. Maybe I should be looking at your comments a little bit quicker. He said that he voiced his decision about Luke Shaw and Deleu coming off and comparing the decision to the frequent defensive tinkering scene under previous regimes.

18:45He says, I don't think it's going to go away. And that's my big fear. I think conceding goals is going to chase them and hunt them down the road. And I don't know how Michael deals with it because he's got his best back four on the pitch. I don't know why Shaw went off for five minutes to go. Hopefully he's not injured. And, you know, obviously we can't ignore it. said Carrick as well. But look, if you're Man United manager, you have to get scrutinised. I'm not saying that. I just think there's levels to this game. And I think that one of the things I praised on Stick to United was that the noise around Rashford has been really quiet.

19:21When we did count down to kick off and the half an hour before the game kicked off against Everton, we never spoke about Rashford. We were talking about the midfield. We were talking about Sesco. The game comes along. he does quite well and it's nice. There's not a load of noise about him. So when I wake up this morning and I see an article completely about him and he's taking people on and he's fifth in the league, I'm like, oh, shut up. Just leave the lad alone to do what's been a reasonably decent start to the season. I don't want the hype around certain players and the shite around others.

19:55But if anybody needs scrutinising, the manager must be scrutinised because he picks the team, He does the tactics. He does the subs. If anyone needs scrutinising, it's the senior players, the captain, you know, the organisers. I don't think there's a problem scrutinising Deleuze and Luke Shaw when they've been here for what feels like 50 years combined. But I do think with new signings and younger players. you have got to take on board that there is a period of development as there is at other football clubs. Look, Louis Skelly at Arsenal cannot be the completed thing. If he misplaces a pass or causes Arsenal a goal at Sunderland at the weekend, you think Arsenal fans are going to social media saying he's a bag of shit.

20:43There will be other players at other clubs like that. Elliot Anderson at Manchester City, they want him to deliver. But what about Bouadi? you know I mean look what was it Erling Haaland said after the game yesterday I actually had it here Erling Haaland said about Boadi I told the chairman we found a gem he's training in fantastic way you can see how good he is so you know he's a young player but he's got the star striker coming out saying stuff like that after a good performance and Man City fans will be patient with him we have got to be patient with our new signings they might not be good enough you know realistically I wish we had Boadi and Anderson and not Santos and Belaber.

21:20And that's nothing against Santos and Belaber, but that's what we've been given. That's what we've got to go with. But look, the scrutiny on Carrick, I've seen it, you know, Gary Neville's right. You're right. He... Let's be honest. If you have a cat, you've probably wondered what your house smells like before guests walk in. Thankfully, Arm & Hammer cat litter helps take that worry off your plate because not all litters are the same. Arm & Hammer Hardball Cat Litter gives you long-lasting odor control, plus strong clumps that make scooping quick and easy with low dust, too. It's a 5-in-1 litter made for busy people, helping your home stay fresher every day so you can feel confident opening the door for family and friends.

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23:20There are a few things about Carrick that I think he's got to sort them out very, very quickly. Look, I got asked this question. Am I concerned about Man United? It was in the comments yesterday. In fact, it was a much blunter comment than this. I think it was in the Stick to United comments. If someone can be asked to go and find it, we'll give the person a shout out. But maybe our moderator, sorry, maybe the producer will do it at one of you, because I'd love to shout the person out because it wasn't a nice comment. It was something along the lines of, I'm trying to remember the words now. It was a good question.

23:58I don't mind the difficult questions. I think that's, God, you know, you listen to certain people and I'm not going to give them another shout out. they big themselves up on their videos. I know this. I know that. Listen to me talk to this person. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then it's like you absolutely will not talk about this important 40 % of what's going on at United. Budgets, ownership, you know, performances from certain players because they're your mates. It's censored. It's bullshit. I like the difficult questions because I think that gives you authenticity to be able to answer any question about United and talk about any issue at United.

24:37And the question was, it was something like all this bravado about United not spending and your back, Carrick, but what do you really think is going to happen this season? You know, balls on the line or something like that. And I thought, well, you know what? It does take a brave person to sit here and say, I think this is going to happen this season to Manchester United. And when I predicted that we would finish, I think I said third, that was obviously before we played Hull with two and a half weeks left of the transfer window. And I did not expect us to do nothing at that point after Belaber.

25:18So what concerns me about Carrick today is that, because Carrick's fundamental to our season, we're not individualising it. If Carrick does well, United will do well. If Carrick does bad, United don't do well. What worries me about Michael Carrick is I don't feel he's got the charisma in interviews, post-match interviews at all at the moment. And that's never really bothered me massively because I listened to some of his Middlesbrough interviews before he came Man United manager way back in January and they weren't very charismatic. He's just someone who's like that. There's plenty of managers that really aren't that charismatic in press conferences.

25:58He might be the life and soul of the party away from Canberra's. He might be absolutely brilliant. So he doesn't bother me massively. But I do think that we're sort of going down this road. And I've listened to a few people who know Carrick or have been a manager. And they're like, it worries me that I've heard it more than once now. hopefully what he's saying in public isn't what he's saying in the dressing room for example if he comes out and says after Hull or after Everton it's not been a bad start to the season he better be going in the dressing room and giving those players a dressing down well that's a leap of faith isn't it do you think Michael Carrick sitting there going it's been not been a bad start to the season will be okay and then he's walking in the room and going you fucking idiots you have like I don't know.

26:42I don't know whether he's doing that. That worries me a little bit about Carrick, because if he's not going into that dressing room and behaving differently to how he has just done in the camera. And remember, the players will watch what he said on camera, and I would think that would leak out. United are like a sieve. If Carrick went into the dressing room after an Everton game and broke a TV, like Amorim, I think that would come out. So I don't think Carrick is, in my opinion, going into the dressing room and reading the Riot Act. And I think they need that. I think they do need that. I also think that Ruben Amirim, again, got a lot of criticism for not being able to hold on to a lead.

27:21You go back to Tottenham, Forest away. There was a few games last season where we got in the front and we couldn't hold a lead. And Carrick changed that. He turned draws into wins. If you look at Amirim's last two months, there was a lot of games we should have won that we drew. Didn't lose, we drew. Carrick changed that. Also with Ten Hag, he would make strange substitutions towards the end of a game. Same as Amorim, try and hold on to a lead. Carrick, and I know it's only three games, but he's making these strange substitutes for all against Bournemouth. Yeah, jammy, that's another one. Carrick's doing the same thing as Amorim and Ten Hag.

28:05he's getting in front and then he's almost like trying to defend the lead out but the amazing thing is under Carrick

28:17Fulham last year a couple of the games it happened as well at the weekend when we can see the goal we look like we can go and score a goal really quickly like we literally did it with Sesco so I don't know I don't know I think there's something there's a lack of there's a lack of killer instinct. Like the Everton game, I don't want to think about it anymore because it pisses me off. And Bermos scored in the 47th minute. They didn't equalise till the 84th minute. That's what? 35 minutes? Where we didn't go and get the second goal, but then they equalise and we go and get one in two minutes. And I'm sort of like, why when we're 1-0 up, haven't we got the intensity to kill the game?

29:00But when it goes to 1-1, we're suddenly like, right, let's go and get it. It's like that worries me a little bit as well. But yeah, I've not answered the question. Where do I... Am I concerned? Oh, you're not going to like the answer. Am I concerned? No, I'm not concerned, right? I'm not concerned. I think it'd be really easy to sit here and say, you know what? This is going to get worse. Clearly, the defence isn't good enough. some of them are going to get injured at some point, whether it's Maguire, Deleuze, whoever. The midfield has got a lot of new players in it. Are they all going to be successful?

29:40If one of them flops, it's a problem. If two of them flops, we're in big shit. You know, we could be really reliant on moments from Cunha, Rashford, Embermo, Bruno, which, you know, might be okay, but it's unreliable. You know, the team will always outdo an individual. so there's plenty of ingredients to be worried but on the other hand we've only played three games it's a bad start to the season I don't care what anyone says that will hurt us later you know if you're running a marathon and in the first you know this is exactly what I would say if you're running a marathon and in the first minute you trip up and bang your knee and it hurts and you get up and by the time you've got up and dusted yourself down, everyone's ahead of you.

30:33So you sprint to catch up. Oh, it seems okay. But actually the energy you've used to catch up will hurt you later on. And this starts the season. It's not the end of the world. Carrick's right. But I think it will hurt us later on in the season because basically how many of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, maybe even Newcastle Spurs Villa how many of them are going to get four points from nine playing away to Hull home to Ipswich and away to Everton look hopefully all of them but I think that's where it hurts you later in the season however you beat Man City at the weekend and I think we have to beat Man City I don't think the draw is good enough I think five points from 12 is a really bad start you know that's not even two wins from four games is it so we have to beat them at the weekend But if we beat Man City at the weekend, this time next week, the whole mood changes completely.

31:29And then, you know, you beat Brighton in the Carabao Cup, you beat Fulham away, which is very doable. And suddenly you're not in a bad situation. So things can turn around very, very quickly. I'm not writing the season off. I think Ronan Keating FC, life is a roller coaster. You know, I think it's I think it's up and down, you know, I think it's up and down. But what I will call out is some of the articles I've seen this morning glazing a turd. You know, trying to, there's a lot of, I said it yesterday about the Michael Carrick post on X from United Socials. What's all that about at six o 'clock putting a picture out of Michael Carrick with no context?

32:11It's almost like, you know what I think United's tactic is at the moment. And there was an interesting piece. I think it was Samuel Luckhurst, actually. Basically saying that with Martinez, Masraoui, Deleuze and Amas all likely to have one year left on their deals, United could get rid of up to six defenders if they wish to drastically dismantle their defence next summer. But this summer, there was never any intention to sort out the defence because they've got loads of centre-backs. I think we're locked into this world now where United are spending a lot of time trying to distract us I think they are desperate you know, they should be sponsored by Mr Sheen because they really are putting a lot of effort into polishing a shit situation you know, polishing a turd absolutely they are and I was thinking about this and it's you know like imagine imagine Man United live on a road right you know like Home Alone there's all those houses nice houses so Man United are there living in the Home Alone house and across the road you've got Man City next door you've got Liverpool Arsenal's on the other side etc you're out washing your car and everyone else has got a bright shiny brand new car in fact they've got two or three on the drive Man City have got four lovely cars on their drive, right?

33:38You're out there with your car that you bought 10 years ago that was quite nice at that time. It's a bit run down, but you've been on Amazon. You've brought all the best cleaning kit. You know, you're trying to shine your alloys. You're spraying your tires to make them look new. You're washing the car. You're hoovering it out. I feel like that's what United are doing here. They're trying to make out something that wasn't fit for purpose maybe 10 years ago is still fit for purpose now. Yeah, it's a Mondeo as well. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's what United are doing. They're out there on the street pretending the car that they've got can match up to everybody else's.

34:15And everybody else's is top of the range and they probably bought two or three. And United are there with an old model trying to polish it and go, look, it looks brand new. No, it doesn't. It doesn't. But I think that's the tactic that we're going down at the moment. And look, the scary thing as well is I genuinely, having had a few conversations with people since the transfer window closed, you can't move away from the fact that when you break it down and look, we've had the nonsense about PSR and we've had the nonsense about all sorts of things that are not true. But I think the message from the club, correct me if I'm wrong, is, well, I don't think it's a good message.

34:56I think the message of we could have spent more money is better for the club than the one that I think is true. They couldn't spend any more money or they wouldn't spend any more money. because I think we have to be... The scary thing is they wouldn't spend any more money. Now, I disagree that they couldn't because that's factually incorrect. They literally could have spent more money, like the limits of what they could have spent, they could have done, but they wouldn't. And that seems to be the message that they're sort of putting out, that they wouldn't spend any more money and are very vague about whether they couldn't or wouldn't.

35:37They won't communicate. But that's a really scary message. We wouldn't slash couldn't spend any more money because that budget doesn't even match up to Ipswich. We won't get clarity on that situation, but that terrifies me that the message they're putting out there is that ultimately they think they had a good transfer window with the means that they had to spend. You won't get an interview with the CEO or the director of football, but if you had to and put them on a lying test, I think they would say that's the budget I had. I certainly don't think they've sat on£100 million and Sir Jim Radcliffe has said, why didn't you spend that£100 million?

36:14I think the budget they had got spent. And it's completely uncompetitive. And that's scary. And that's scary. And I think when you get stories like this morning saying United had no intention of spending anything on the defence and you look at that defence, I mean, I don't know whether they want a badge of honour for that, but that defence is not fit for purpose. Like, it's literally not fit for purpose. You've got De Ligt, who hasn't played in a year. You've got Martinez, who's had two slash three major injuries in the last two years. Harry Maguire will be 34 in a few months' time. Yoro and Heben are kids.

36:57That is not the sort of thing where you sit in a boardroom as a proper football club and go, we're going to be okay. Pep Guardiola, Maresca at Man City, Arteta at Arsenal, Alonso at Chelsea. Other managers sit there and go, I can't work with that five. I can't work with those five centre-backs. That's ridiculous. At least two of them are probably going to get injured for quite a considerable period of the season. Two of them are kids. It's not right. And what about the full-backs? So the fact that United are happy for it to be out there, that we weren't going to focus on our defence this season.

37:37It's just another statement of incompetence, isn't it? It really is. It is scary in that sense that we won't do this. We won't do that. Look, a football club for me should be run on ambition and ambition should be curtailed or held up by how big you are as a football club. If you're Man City, you're going to be ambitious. You're going to buy Elliot Anderson. You're going to buy Buwadi. you're going to buy NJ. Same with Arsenal, same with Chelsea. If you're Everton or Crystal Palace, you're going to be as ambitious as you can be within the limitations that you have. The problem with Man United is we should be being as ambitious as a Real Madrid or a PSG or a Manchester City.

38:21But our owners have got us down at the level of Everton and Crystal Palace.

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40:31Terrifying, terrifying Let me get into some of your comments anyway I feel like I've been bleating at you like a sheep for bloody ages here And that's not my intention So let me just get into the comments Make sure you smash the like on the video and subscribe everybody As always, you're very, very welcome Carrick press conference, I think, today. That'll be with Beth reacting to that and any other news. And we're a little bit early at 7 o 'clock tonight where I'll probably preview and have a bit of a, yeah, normal 8 o 'clock show at 7 o 'clock. Got some good comments coming in. I'm going to start right at the top.

41:09Mark, when are we going to finally realise Carrick does not fancy Sesco? The big games last season, he played Embermo down the middle. Great show last night, Laser. one of the best shows we've had in ages. We literally were talking about the false nine thing and I don't think you're wrong. I don't think you're wrong about that at all. Emily Derry says, how about the fact that the goals we've conceded have come about because of our full backs, namely the left backs, is Emily Derry.

41:35Look, you're not wrong, Emily.

41:40And defending is not just your back four. You defend as a team. If you look at the equaliser, that's not because the back four are at fault that's because the midfield and the attack have left the edge of the box for Maitland-Niles to shoot you know, I mentioned this last night Bruno Fernandes is dead on his feet if Mason Mount comes on for Bruno I think he's right where Maitland-Niles is and that shot doesn't happen it's lazy from United and that's not the back four that's the whole team the whole team the fullbacks need help you have attacking fullbacks now So Luke Shaw needs Rashford tracking back.

42:17Deleuwe needs Mbemo tracking back. If that doesn't happen, it means one of your midfielders has to come across, which leaves space on the other side. So, yeah. Diaz, welcome to the Members' Club. Thank you very much for joining. New video going up on the Members' section. It'll be already up, actually, our weekly Fancy Premier League video. That'll have gone up today. And there's a brand new one with Wazza tomorrow. I want the whole generation gone. Rashford, Bruno, Deleuwe, Maguire, Shaw. We're building around a generation of losers out of fear of the unknowns, says Kiel. Look, I think Rashford's done well this season so far.

42:49I think him and Luke Shaw have looked okay as a partnership. But in 2026, journalists cannot be writing PR articles about Rashford when we've got four points from nine, listing off where he is in the league for take-ons and dribbles and passes to Luke Shaw. and on the same morning, we're scrutinising a goalkeeper that's only 24, just, you could be our goalkeeper for the next 10 years. We've got to break that cycle as a fan base. Like, you've got to see it for what it is. Why are we getting glazing articles and attacking articles? And I know that they're different journalists, and I'm not calling the journalists out, whatever.

43:32And in fact, Freddie Mullinstein's not a journalist, and he made some good points. But as a fan, for me, it's not about the player or the journalist or the ex-coach or the player who's being criticised. It's the monotity and repetitive nature of certain players who get glazed and protected, who have been here for years and years, and then new signings and young players who get ridiculous scrutiny. Like, Dorgoo gets scrutinised way more than Luke Shaw. Way more than Luke Shaw. Lenny Yorre will get scrutinised way more than Harry Maguire and Deleuze. it's been going on for years. It's been going on for years.

44:14And we're Manchester United Football Club. There's too many moving parts in that football club protecting people. And that's why communities like this are great. And those people being called out won't like it, but I don't care. If you don't like it, pick up the phone. Let's do a video. Oh, you won't do that. You are not doing that.

44:34Michael says, Mullenstein comments were fair, not excessive, Mark. Mate, you haven't listened to a word I've said. What he said about Luke Shaw, what he said about Harry Maguire is fine. What he said about Le Mens, in a way, I understand what you're talking about. But for the last two days, I've seen this pile on of Le Mens, some in the media, some in the fan base. And that article, that podcast or whatever it was today, I was just like, it was like the straw that broke the camel's back for me because it's not one thing. It's been going on for the last two days. and talking about whether he's the right goalkeeper for Manchester United, you don't know, the mistake in the World Cup in the summer, is he De Gea or Schmeichel?

45:21Everybody's entitled to talk about football and there's a lot of people talking about football, but if someone talks about football like that, I'd have to sit there and go, well, in fairness, they make a good point, but no, I'm going to go the other way and go, hold on a minute, what are we even talking about Le Mens for? He's made some big saves this season. He made a lot of big saves last season. And I think I've got no problem with him at all. He will make mistakes, but he is our number one. And I believe he will be our number one for years and years to come. I think he's a really good goalkeeper.

45:46But now we're already this drip, drip, drip, drip, drip approach of, you know, breaking his confidence. You can see where it's coming from. And you either sit back and go, oh, I'm quite comfortable with people talking about him like that. Or you go, hold on a minute. There's half a team of shit that's been here for years. Oh, we'll leave them alone. let's go after the new guy who we want to be our goalkeeper for the next 10 years we're never going to build anything if the next wave of players are going to be over scrutinised more than the players that have been here for years and caused the problems you know I think there's never a fair balance to it that's what I'm saying I love the channel been watching for 7 years it's great to see how far you've come love from India says Diaz thank you very much pal hope you're doing well Patrick Lynch says incredible that senior players are constantly protected instead of holding them to a higher standard because of their experience It's younger players being scoped gated, experienced players being poor is why we are here now.

46:39What it is, Patrick, is the senior players have the relationship with the ex-players, the ex-coaches and the journalists. So they get protected by the mates thing. The new players that come in, predominantly foreign players, aren't mates with ex-players or ex-coaches or journalists. so look at the end of the day if you're down your local pub and a stranger walks in wearing a stupid you know a shirt you don't like you'll go ah look at him what a prat but if your best mate walks in you'd be nicer I mean you might you'd probably still take the piss out of them but you know what I mean familiarity people if people know somebody they tend to be nicer if they don't know somebody they don't it's why Bruno David De Gea Anthony Martial Paul Pogba over the years have had way more scrutiny than some of the English players.

47:30I mean, look at Mason Mount. If Mason Mount was French, it'd be a completely different story. Doesn't make it Mason Mount's fault, but it's true. If Mason Mount was Paul Pogba and hadn't played for basically three years on 250 grand a week, oh my God, the noise would be very different. Thank you very much, Patrick. Very good point. He says, incredible that they're constantly scapegoated. Experienced players being poor is why we are here now. Marlow says, seeing the level and quality of Enzo, Anderson and Boadi makes me angry. Also, the fact our board talks about defensive rebuild next season when we still haven't done a proper midfield rebuild, says Marleau.

48:05Yeah, I mean, look, I thought Boadi was fantastic last night. I think Anderson looks very good. Enzo Fernandes, I'd have took him at Man United. So, you know, I never get tired of explaining this. They're in the same league as us, in the same city as us, and it's become acceptable to look at them and go, that's how you behave ambitiously and look at what we do. With all due respect, Tillemans, Santos and Balaba are not Bawadi, Enzo and Anderson. And this is why we fail. Doesn't mean that what we've bought is shit, but it's not at the level it needs to be. If Lemans was English, there wouldn't be a single article like this.

48:39Rubbish. Also just to distract us from the mismanagement of the window, says Caleb. Every new player we bring in will suffer because we're still catering to players who have failed us. I fear for Kunja as we play him out of positions, says Kiel. Well, it's already started on Kunja, isn't it? and yet Kunja's got more assists this season than Rashford. And it's assists and goals that matter, isn't it? It's results that matter. And I don't think Kunja was very good at the weekend either, but I think you're right. I don't think it will be long keel before Kunja is the next target and I'll fight against that as well.

49:15I think we should fight against any player really being scrutinised ridiculously unless they're a player that, you know, has one or two.

49:29But we go on about Maguire and Casemiro and Bruno last season, but how much does Carrick owe to Sesco, Maino and Lemens? And we wonder why we struggle to develop talents as Emily. No talk from them about the mistake from Pickford, said Red Boss. Oh, mate, if Lemens makes that mistake, then I think there's more scrutiny. That was obviously a brilliant goal for Sesco, but it should have been saved. That should have been saved. If the club spent as much time actually working to make us successful as they try to convince us that the shit isn't about to hit the fan, we might actually get somewhere, says Emily Derry.

49:59Hi, Mark. Eric here. Please check my AI Man United news channel, The Red Man. Thank you for loving the extra content in the members area, says LearnKidsYoga. I'm not a big fan of AI. Got to be honest. I don't, you know, I... LearnKidsYoga, I've got to be honest, there was a little short the other day taking the piss out of me and I watched it and they were talking about and it was an AI voice and I thought, oh my God, if you're going to actually have a piss, take the piss out of me and want something I've said, don't do, don't do an AI voice. So, some AI stuff's fine but I can't be arsed with the AI talkover stuff.

50:38I mean, it's the ultimate. Who starts a football channel and then uses an AI voice every day? Come on. Bruno G and a defender. I've learned kids yoga. I've just realised. I'm not actually... I don't know what yours is. I am going to go and have a look now. But, you know, some AI is shit. Bruno G and a defender or the midfielders you bought? No. Neither is good enough, Harry. Neither. You know, Manchester United should be buying the midfielders, the left-back, the centre-back and the striker. Six players in a transfer window where the team needs investment isn't a lot to ask for. Sam says, As Mullinstein was a pundit on Danish TV for a short time, he always talks rubbish.

51:20I don't give his words any weight whatsoever. Look, some of what he said was good. And what he said about Lemens wasn't like he's a load of shit. But I just think after the last couple of days we've had, Lemens is not the player to be scrutinising. I think... In fact, I think Lemens should have been... I mean, he made big saves against Hull. He made big saves against Ipswich. I know you're basically Carrick Doubt and that's fine, but remember what he did last season. Changing managers doesn't do a thing, says Rory. Well, I don't want to change the manager. These aren't Carrick's players, though, says Rory.

52:00They weren't Amrim's players. They weren't Ten Hag's players. This is a great point, Rory. Every manager comes in and has to deal with other managers' players. I mean, even Sesko is not a Carrick player. Kunja is not a Carrick player. Mbumo is not a Carrick player. Yoro is not a Carrick player. every manager we have doesn't get backed so they end up being scrutinised on the signings of others it's a very very good point from Rory like we sack managers because they don't achieve things with other people's mistakes we sacked Amorim, he never had a midfielder I don't, who did Amorim, I don't think Amorim got a kid as a wing-back and two number 10s and a goalkeeper.

52:50He never got a centre-back. I don't think he ever got... Who did Amrim get? Amrim got Dorgu, Kunya, Mbermo and Lament. So he had no midfielders, no centre-backs and no experienced wing-backs and no striker.

53:11oh he got no he got Sesco didn't he he got Sesco as well

53:17I mean that's just whatever you think about Amrim if you're going to play a 3-4-3 and you don't buy him experienced wingbacks centre-backs and midfielders there's something wrong there isn't there there's something wrong there but you're right Rory about Carrick you know Carrick's not had a striker he's not had a fullback he's not had a centre-back he's been given midfielders. That's it. So I don't think there's a manager in world football that they come into a club that needs a lot of work that would be happy with, I've just bought you midfielders. Yeah. Yeah. But it's the same with Amrim. And I think with Ten Hag, he probably did get more varied backup.

53:57But I think the problem with Ten Hag is he probably got options C and D instead of options A and B. And if you don't give... Look, it's one thing backing managers. It's one thing not backing managers. It's one thing backing managers with options C and D. I mean, look, and also let me just say, Carrick's had no defenders, no wingers, no attackers, no full backs, and the midfielders he's been given are options C, D and E. There's no way Tillemans, Belaber and Santos were on his top list either. So you're right, Rory. I mean, Carrick's been given a shit transfer window, whether he says it or not.

54:29Thank you so much, everybody, for tuning in. Fantastic show this morning, as always. we've got the press conference reaction for you coming up at lunchtime and we've also got the evening show with me at 7 o 'clock stick to your night, it's doing really really well if you've not watched it, check it out brilliant episode funnily enough, I'm only 40 minutes into it myself because I'm watching it on Disney because there's a Man City preview bit on the Disney bit where Wayne gets the little tactics board out and picks his team so I want to watch that But I'm 40 minutes into it on YouTube. So I'll probably just finish it on YouTube and then go over there.

55:06You can also listen to it on Spotify or Apple if you want to listen to it in the car or something like that. Or listen to the Wes Brown episode again. So check it out. Thank you, everybody. Legends this morning. Thank you very much for your company. Have a great day. And I'll speak to you all in a bit. Take care.

55:26The youth mental health crisis is growing, and social media is a major driver. Kids are spending up to nine hours a day on screens, often unsupervised, and studies show a direct link to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. That's where Gab comes in. Gab offers safer phones and watches for kids with no social media, tailored to every age, offering the right tech at the right time, or Tech in Steps. From GPS-tracking-enabled watches for younger kids to phones with parent-enabled apps for teens, each device allows kids to more safely grow their independence. Visit gab.com slash getgab and use code getgab for an exclusive offer.

56:07That's g-a-b-b dot com forward slash getgab. Gab, Tech InSteps, independence for them, peace of mind for parents. AI was supposed to take over the parts of the job you hate. Turns out, it made your job even harder. Instead of doing the work, it gave you homework. ServiceNow's AI specialists get work done from start to finish. Cases get resolved, loops get closed. With ServiceNow, you can do the parts of your job you're best at and delegate the rest. To put AI to work for people, visit servicenow.com.