Podcast Summary: The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Ask Ornstein: Nwaneri, Guehi and Glasner's Future
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Ayo Akimolere
Guests: David Ornstein, Jack Pitt-Brooke

Overview

This episode delves into the latest developments in the January transfer window, focusing on key player moves, managerial uncertainty at major clubs, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that shape decision-making at top football teams. The hosts analyze player transfers like Ethan Nwaneri’s potential loan, Marc Guehi’s switch, Crystal Palace’s managerial conundrums, and Manchester United’s head coach future—all while unpacking how clubs deal with recruitment amid instability. A highlight is the discussion of Brentford’s remarkable recruitment strategy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ethan Nwaneri's Prospective Loan Move

[01:37 – 05:51]

• Main Insight: Arsenal’s highly-rated youngster Ethan Nwaneri could be loaned to Marseille, with no option to buy, as Arsenal see him as crucial for their future.
• Details: Marseille, coached by Roberto De Zerbi, is in a good position to secure Nwaneri. The loan would give the player invaluable experience in the Champions League and Ligue 1, under a progressive manager with an exciting style.
• Club’s Stance: Arsenal wants Nwaneri to develop by playing regularly, planning for him to rejoin in the summer and stake his claim.
• Quote:

  "The idea would be a straight loan, or dry loan as they call it in Europe, with no option to buy. That’s because Arsenal see him as a huge part of their future."
  —David Ornstein [02:45]

2. Tottenham Hotspur's Managerial Turmoil

[05:51 – 13:04]

• Focus: Thomas Frank’s job is under intense scrutiny after a poor run and fan dissatisfaction.
• Insights:
  • Ownership supports Frank, but unrest is brewing within the squad and stands.
  • Spurs’ new decision-making structure (post-Levy) is less centralized, possibly less decisive.
  • Frank's unpopularity after recent performances has reached "almost untenable" levels.
• Quote:

  "I do not remember a Tottenham manager being as unpopular with the fans as he is right now. Not even Nuno or Jose Mourinho or Antonio Conte..."
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [09:59]

• Debate: Would Daniel Levy have acted faster to sack Frank? Consensus is yes, Levy was known for swift, decisive action.
• Quote:

  "I don’t think Tottenham have the capacity to act as quickly and as ruthlessly and as decisively now as they did back then."
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [12:30]

3. Crystal Palace & Oliver Glasner’s Friction

[13:04 – 21:36]

• Context: Manager Oliver Glasner aired frustrations over losing captain Marc Guehi before a game, escalating rumors about his position.
• Clarification: Palace’s preference is to stick with Glasner until season’s end—he isn’t being sacked, but tension is high.
• Player Sales: Palace management felt Guehi’s sale (and earlier Eze’s departure) were justified; Glasner was kept in the loop, but was emotional about the timing.
• Quote:

  "We feel that we are being abandoned completely and selling our captain one day before a game... no understanding for this."
  —Oliver Glasner [13:16]

• Future Outlook: Club is already contingency planning for Glasner’s succession, aware of his history of short tenures.
• Managerial Reputation: Glasner’s public outbursts may harm his career prospects with bigger clubs.
• Quote:

  “If you’re a club who’s thinking of appointing a new manager, you don’t really want to bring in a guy who is likely to air your dirty laundry in public like this.”
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [18:52]

4. Crystal Palace’s Transfer Market Dilemmas

[20:11 – 21:36]

• Topic: The future of Jean-Philippe Mateta and complications of recruiting players for a manager set to depart.
• Details: Mateta is on Palace’s sale list if the right offer comes (around €40m), but with the team destabilized, potential buyers like Juventus have retreated.

5. Manchester United Head Coach Uncertainty

[22:03 – 24:55]

• Focus: Will Michael Carrick get the job full-time if results improve?
• Insight: Club is already running a process to explore all options, as done previously. Even a successful interim will not preclude them from looking elsewhere.
• Quote:

  “Of course they’ve got to go on the market and look at options and do their due diligence... it should be thorough and diligent.”
  —David Ornstein [22:17]

• Reflection:

  “If Carrick does really well and if he develops momentum then… well, why not?”
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [24:18]

6. Oscar Bobb Transfer Speculation

[27:58 – 28:52]

• News: Manchester City expected to sell Oscar Bobb this window, fielding interest from multiple clubs; cited price is around £30m.
• Strategy: City receptive to offers, confident in selling for profit.

7. Manchester City and Liverpool: Rebuilds and Market Moves

[28:52 – 34:09]

• City: Undergoing significant squad turnover, seen in their mixed results and hasty rebuild (approx. £480m spent in 12–18 months).
• Liverpool: Not expected to act in January, focusing on a defensive revamp in summer. Mark Guehi was never a likely acquisition in this window for financial/practical reasons.
• Transfer Reflections: Some Liverpool signings have shone (Wirtz, Ekitike), others are still under scrutiny.
• Quote:

  "On an individual level some of the signings have been good, but as a collective... the jury is still very much out."
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [34:01]

8. The Impact of Managerial Instability on Recruitment

[36:09 – 42:11]

• Question: Do clubs sign players regardless of a coach’s future?
• Analysis: Well-structured clubs (with strong sporting directors) often recruit players irrespective of coach, though input varies. In clubs with coach power, this becomes tricky.
• Quote:

  “A club that is really well structured… will often be working on recruitment targets irrespective of the head coach... always with input, but not necessarily a casting vote.”
  —David Ornstein [36:33]

• Dynamics: Political breakdown, not results, often drives sackings; power struggles remain pivotal.

9. Brentford’s Scouting Genius

[42:11 – 47:41]

• Context: Brentford excel at identifying and developing attacking talent, consistently selling for large profits (e.g., Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Yoane Wissa).
• Method: Data-driven, intelligent recruitment under Matthew Benham and a tight-knit, visionary leadership team.
• Quote:

  "They're clearly ahead of the game in what they're doing... unless you're an enemy of Brentford, you can't help but say chapeau."
  —David Ornstein [45:56]

• Acknowledgment:

  "So many Premier League clubs would be so jealous of their ability to identify the best young players."
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [46:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David Ornstein on Thomas Frank at Spurs:
  "He is under intense pressure. His job is in the balance. You could say… it’s a matter of when, not if, he will go." [06:32]
• Oliver Glasner’s Outburst:
  "We feel that we’re being abandoned… selling our captain one day before a game…" [13:16]
• Jack Pitt-Brooke on Managerial Unpopularity:
  "Not even Nuno or Jose Mourinho or Antonio Conte or AVB were as unpopular nearly as Thomas Frank is at the moment." [09:59]
• On Brentford’s ‘Magic’:
  "That is such an important skill in modern football… and they deserve an awful lot of credit and respect."
  —Jack Pitt-Brooke [47:18]

Important Timestamps

• [02:13] — Ornstein: The latest on Nwaneri to Marseille
• [05:06] — Pitt-Brooke: De Zerbi’s style suits Nwaneri’s development
• [07:50] — Ornstein: Admits Frank may not be the right fit at Spurs
• [09:30] — Pitt-Brooke: Fan unrest puts Frank's job in peril
• [13:16] — Glasner’s impassioned complaint after Guehi sale
• [18:52] — Pitt-Brooke: Glasner’s public approach may alarm clubs
• [22:17] — Ornstein: Manchester United’s coach search method
• [24:18] — Pitt-Brooke: "Why not" Carrick if results impress?
• [27:58] — Ornstein: Oscar Bobb expected to leave City
• [34:01] — Pitt-Brooke: Mixed results for Liverpool’s new signings
• [36:33] — Ornstein: Recruitment increasingly led by club hierarchy
• [45:56] — Ornstein: Brentford’s model is a must-watch

Episode Tone and Style

The atmosphere is analytical yet conversational, offering sharp insights but maintaining levity and occasional humor, especially during discussions about managerial nervousness and the intricacies of modern football-club politics. Both hosts and guests emphasize transparency, often referencing their own reporting and lifting the curtain on how stories develop.

Conclusion

This episode provides an in-depth look into current transfer window narratives, the complexity of club management, the challenges around maintaining stability during periods of change, and celebrates stand-out stories of recruitment strategy—most notably, Brentford’s data-driven rise. Listeners gain perspective on how top clubs are navigating short-term pressures and long-term succession, both on and off the field.