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- [00:00]
Paige from Giggly Squad
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- [00:47]
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- [01:51]
Ayo Akimolere
The Athletic FC welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayo Akimura. It's less than a month until the January transfer window opens. So with Wharton Anderson and B on Manchester United's radar, will they finally fix their midfield in 2026? All right, in for this one we've got Laurie Whitwell. We've also got Mark Critchley as well. Gents, 13 games into the season and we're already talking January transfers. Look, I'm trying to gauge this one. Is this going to be a big window for clubs, do you reckon? Are we looking forward to it? Are we excited?
- [02:28]
Laurie Whitwell
This is the business we're in, right? Eyo, you know we write about football and it has a funny way of bringing interesting stories to us via the transfer market. And yeah, it feels very, very early to be getting into the weeds of this. But then again, you know, I suppose these are kind of weeks and days where clubs will be making those kind of calls ahead of January. Personally, from a Manchester United point of view, clearly they could do a strengthening, but I don't think they see January as an ideal opportunity to do that. Then again, if something comes onto the, you know, onto the landscape and then they could act quickly, I suppose. But yeah, from my understanding it was kind of be, you know, loan in or loan out, that kind of thing. And I wonder if that's the kind of case for most clubs across the Premier League. I suppose it just depends on each individual objective for the end of the season. If they can do something in January that helps them get there, you know, avoid relegation, for example, or, you know, really push on to try and win the title or, you know, qualify for the Champions League places, I think that's, you know, maybe where we will see some action. But yeah, I don't, I don't go into this one thinking that it's going to be be loads of huge amount of spend going on and loads of incredible stories happening.
- [03:37]
Ayo Akimolere
Teams like Liverpool who are going through a bit of a weird patch at the moment, could we see a team like that maybe put in their hands in their pocket in January?
- [03:44]
Mark Critchley
They already put their hands in the pocket over and over again during the summer, so I don't know how deep those pockets go would be my answer on Liverpool. But clearly things haven't gone to plan at Anfield. There's been links with players like Antoine Semenyo. When opportunities like that arise for a player who's obviously started really well this season and impressed everybody, and when there are release clauses and just ways that you can bring in talent like that, not necessarily on the cheap, but for a price perhaps less than the regular going market value, then ears prick up and clubs see what they can do. I think historically we're used to January being a little bit quieter and a little bit slower than the summer window simply because it's shorter, simply because there aren't so many of those same opportunities, contracts aren't entering, etc, etc. But we usually get surprised once or twice, don't we? And as that deadline draws near and clubs start to think, well, what can we achieve this season? What is on the current horizon? What is possible? Then you find that deals get done. And so I'm sure there'll be plenty of work going in already. There will have been for months now, the transfer, we talk about these windows. The work never really stops in terms of identifying players and seeing what's possible and having conversations. But yeah, I expect we will see a little bit of action, definitely.
- [05:01]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, well, let's move on because we need to talk about Manchester United. Laurie, you've written in today's deal sheet on the Athletic that a midfielder is high on the club's wish list. Now you've also said that they might probably not pay big money in January, but tell us more about that.
- [05:16]
Laurie Whitwell
Yeah, I mean, it's something that clearly they looked at in the summer. It's a real issue at United since, I mean, I say Michael Carrick left the club in 2018, although he was at the tail end of his career then, so perhaps even before that. And you obviously go back to Roy Keane. Absolutely, boss in Manchester United midfield. And they haven't really ever had, you know, a midfield that you would say expresses strength and you know, is the real heart of the team since that point because, you know, you had Bruno Fernandes as the number 10 and now he's sort of being co opted into a deeper position. We've had the change of formation to Ruben Amarin Casemiro they spent big money on, but that was a kind of late window arrival after the failed pursuit of Frenkie De Jong, who was intended to be that player that they could bring in and, you know, be the heartbeat of the club for several seasons. So yeah, it's been an issue for many, many campaigns and they even looked at it in the summer, didn't they? You know, Carlos Bilaba, they had talks over whether they could sign him. I think Ruben Amarin was, you know, very on board with that kind of signing. In the end they went for Benjamin Sesko up top, they went for a striker instead. And I think they thought that adding goals to the was what they needed to do. Now clearly then the midfield comes even higher on the agenda as we go into January and then into the summer market in 2026 and they've got some options. It feels like, you know, there's quite a few players that are showing themselves to be worthy of maybe making that step up. Obviously, no disrespect to the clubs they're currently at and particularly Nottingham Forest when we get on to Elliot Anderson there in Europe and United aren't so, you know, who are United to say come and join us immediately, but I certainly think that, you know, United would present A very appealing proposition to these players that we're talking about. Although Adam Wharton as well, you know, Crystal palace there in Europe and United aren't. And it's been interesting that you've had Baleba, Wharton, Anderson all play against United in recent weeks and kind of, you know, make their cases to different degrees. It's funny that Balaba was the player that United obviously, you know, progressed to a degree with. I mean, in the end, what happened was they had agents sort of acting on behalf of the player, looking at the. And the clubs, to be fair, and looking at the potential cost of a deal. You know, personal terms weren't a problem. I think Belieber was certainly up for the move, but in the end, Brighton were resolute in their demand for, or at least their insistence. I don't think they've set a price, but they wanted in the region of a Moises Caicedo type transfer. And United had kind of entered those discussions on the basis that maybe it would be a Joao Pedro type transfer fee. 60, 70 million, not in excess of 100 million. And when it became clear, they withdrew from the conversation and made a direct to communicate that. Now, Bilaba's form since that point hasn't been great, hasn't it? Yeah. Taken off at halftime, I think, in four Premier League matches, which is quite striking, really. Now, does that dissuade United from still going for him again, or does that actually mean to Brighton, well, the price perhaps won't be as high as what we thought it would be. It's a really fascinating one. That was certainly one of the points that somebody made to me during the summer that for all that Brighton are saying, well, he's 21, he's had two really successful seasons, he'll have a load of clubs in for him next summer. His trajectory is upwards. He's got a long contract. So all those aspects that would protect a player's value, that might have still been the best time to sell him because he was on that upward curve and you don't know what's going to happen in future. So that's an interesting sort of dynamic to sort of throw into the mix on it. But yeah, I mean, I certainly think Elliot Anderson really impressed when he played for Forest against United. He's had a brilliant start to season playing for England as well. He looks the kind of primary focus, it seems to me at the moment. But then you've got Adam Wharton who is a different kind of midfielder and yeah, so, I don't know, I just think it's going to be one of the fascinating stories this year. Okay, maybe not January, but as I say, you had that caveat in to sort of say, you know, if something does arise, you know, teams, certainly United have shown under Sir Jim Ratcliffe a desire to act quicker than perhaps previous regimes. But I think it's certainly going to be. United's midfield pursuit is going to be one of the intriguing stories in 2026.
- [09:13]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, I mean, big names there. Wharton, Believer, Anderson, Mark. I mean, in your dream world, who do United need out of that list?
- [09:22]
Mark Critchley
But look, I think each of them from a United perspective have been flavour of the month at one time or another over the past year of the past 18 months. If you remember, when Wharton came in and really adapted to the Premier League brilliantly at the start of last season, people were talking about him as being the next potential midfield target. Obviously there was the interest with Bilaba over the summer and so he was getting attention then, as Laurie says. I think since Elliot Anderson had his England call up this year, everyone sat up and taken notice at exactly the sort of player that he is as well. Again, they're three very different players. Wharton, he likes to pop passes in between the lines. He perhaps, if you're going to criticize him for one thing, he perhaps doesn't have the engine of somebody like Anderson, but he can still be quite devastating as he was in the first half against United at Sellers park on Sunday. The labor is more of your typical number six. Maybe not necessarily going to create a ton, but he's going to give you that solidity and that security in the middle of the park and then Anderson, I mean personally, I just. If you're asking me to pick one, if you're asking for my personal preference, I just.
- [10:18]
Laurie Whitwell
We are, Chris.
- [10:18]
Mark Critchley
So here it is.
- [10:19]
Workday/Shopify/Ambetter Health Advertiser
Here it is.
- [10:21]
Mark Critchley
Actually it was this before Billaber and Wharton and all them. I love Elliot Anderson last season.
- [10:27]
Laurie Whitwell
You're saying you're a day one or on Elliot Anderson day one?
- [10:29]
Mark Critchley
Day one before.
- [10:30]
Ayo Akimolere
It's easy to say that.
- [10:31]
Mark Critchley
I saw everyone got the England like your favorite band.
- [10:34]
Laurie Whitwell
We're all catching up now, are we? Okay.
- [10:36]
Mark Critchley
I bought Elliot Anderson's first album, guys, so don't. And I didn't see you there. I didn't see you in line for it. No, but I think like Forest last season, obviously. Look, it's not like he was an unknown quantity. He was playing regularly for Forest last season and they were challenging for a Champions League place. But I thought he was excellent then and he was showing everything that he's shown this season. And obviously we've seen it with players before. Once you get a little bit of international recognition, particularly in England call, then there's a lot more attention and focus on your name. And it was the same case with Wharton right, when he went to the Euros in 2024. So I don't think you could any one of them would improve United's midfield options at the minute. And also they're all so young that you would be looking at them to be a mainstay in that midfield for 5, 6, 7, 8 years time as well. And that's the thing about them. But that is why they're going to cost so much money. It's also why all three of them are highly admired by Premier League rivals. I think that it's, it's, you know, United still has this huge draw for players. The stature of the club, the history of it. We're still of a generation, I think, where a lot of these players would have grown up watching, if not the 99 team, as perhaps my generation did, then certainly the 08 team and Ronaldo and Rooney and Tevez, etc. So there's still a lot of affinity that the players have and a lot of respect players have for the club. But you know, it hasn't been the best of times over the past 10 years and that sort of weighs in the factor as well. And you'd look at the team at the moment and you say, yes, maybe, perhaps there's progress there, but it's still. The future is very uncertain. So there'll be a lot of suitors for them. I don't think United could go wrong with whichever they ultimately landed on as their preferred target. And all of them would improve it, certainly.
- [12:12]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, who's in charge of recruitment now? Laurie? Because, you know, this is something that has been a bit weird for Manchester United over the last few years. You think about the money spent on players like Anthony, Jadon, Sancho, those players who aren't even at Manchester, Manchester United anymore, are they thinking about this moving forward? Because it's super, super crucial as the team is trying to change its fortunes.
- [12:31]
Laurie Whitwell
You make a great point on those two players, for example, you know, came in for a lot of money, you know, 86 million, I think. Anthony, 70 odd million for Sancho. And you just think if you could sign a midfielder for that kind of money, you'd be getting a very good midfielder and they could really transform the club, the team. So, yeah, I think if they can get this right, it could be Crucial. And so, yeah, who are the people that are actually making that call? You know, clearly, Reuben Amron will have a say as head coach, but he works sort of. You tune with Jason Wilcox, who's the director of football, who is the guy who watches training. He kind of, I guess, guides the whole sporting direction of the club and he will certainly have an influential voice on this. But also chief executive Omar Berarda. He gets involved in this kind of thing and then you've got, in terms of the recruitment team, actually a bit of a change. It's been going through a lot of change, the recruitment department, since Sir Jim Ratcliffe made his investment. Basically everybody that was there before in this kind of area has gone, apart from Director of Negotiations Matt Hargreaves. He's the guy that he was appointed a few years ago and he will go and speak to the sporting director, speak to the agents and kind of assess the landscape, the market value for things and make these more finer negotiations as they go on. But you've got Christopher Vervell, who is the director of recruitment and then they've made an appointment, or they're making an appointment just below him. So the head of scouting, senior scouting, is going to be a guy called Kyle McCauley. Now, this is a role that they've been looking for since the summer, really. It's quite competitive process, I'm told. And Macaulay basically as follow Graham Potter. He's got around, he's got a close relationship with him. So he was with him at Austersund's when they had that incredible run from the fourth tier of Swedish football into Europa League last 32, I think it was losing to Arsenal and then he's gone to Swansea and Brighton and Chelsea and West Ham and he's had different roles at these clubs, but all in terms of analyst kind of type roles and sort of scouting roles. So I think he comes with a good pedigree from people that I've spoken to. They think he does a good blend of data and sort of networking. So, yeah, they're making this appointment. So I think he's to be kind of overseeing the scouts and making recommendations himself. So he's going to have a voice on this. But yeah, Vel is an important figure as well above him. And then ultimately you've got the. The co owners at the top of the club. You got Ratcliffe, who certainly has, you know, he's kept abreast of these kind of things. He's across it, you know, in terms of the spending, you know, he will have These kind of conversations we've seen in public, you know, he'll make his opinions on certain players. And then the Glazers as well, you know, they have, you know, they're still the majority owners. So if it gets to a price point that that is something that they have to consider on a financial terms in terms of where they can afford it, or PSR calculations. And certainly the Glazers will be involved in that. So a lot of voices. Can they get to the point of picking the right player? They obviously made some pretty bold moves in the summer. They spent pretty big in the summer. But they did sell better than I guess they have been doing. So that's going to be an important factor as well. And I do wonder, with the uncertainty around the midfielders that United have got at the moment, whether ultimately do they try and look at two? I mean, it'd be a big push financially to get two of those three because they are going to be costing a significant amount of money. But you've got Casemiro, whose contract is up at the end of the season. They've got that plus one, but they're not going to trigger that. Do they come to some kind of agreement on a new deal? I don't know. Given how much he is actually playing at the team at the moment. You've got the uncertainty over Kobbie Mainoo and that might be the only one that in January, if he really does push to leave and get regular minutes, they would then have to, if they do sanction that, they'd have to get somebody in to replace him. Manuel Agarte is not really featuring at the moment. I mean, he only signed, you know, last summer, but, you know, and he has a working relationship with Ruben Amarin from his Sporting days. But, you know, that doesn't feel like a particularly, you know, satisfactory situation for those guys. And obviously Bruno Fernandes is. Is that deep midfielder now. He had, you know, serious interest from Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia. He's spoken to us about having interest from European clubs as well. So you've got all those kind of question marks maybe over some of United's midfielders. So that. That, I guess means that this pursuit of a midfielder might then broaden to two. And therefore you do need a complimentary set of characteristics in your team.
- [16:32]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, I mean, Kobe, Mainoo, one is the one, Crich. And I do wonder what this young man has to do to break into this squad and what this young man has to think if Manchester United are on the hunt for a midfielder. I mean, what is going on there, man.
- [16:45]
Mark Critchley
It's been a consistent theme for almost a whole year now, to be honest. You know, when Reuben Ambroon first came in, Kobbie Mainoo, he was injured at the very start, but once he got fit again, he was starting regularly. He was playing as one of those two in midfield in the 3, 4, 3, usually alongside Manuel Ugarte. But I always remember, and it's a game we talk about a lot, but I always remember the defeat against Brighton back in January where he was. He started that day up against Bilaba, as it so happens, but after that, that we just didn't really see him there again. Now, we did have an injury short about a month or so afterwards, but it was after that Brighton game in January where Amarim started trying him as a number 10. I remember being in Bucharest against FCSB, I should say, actually, and he was trying him in that position then again against Crystal palace the following week. He hasn't really started a Premier League game in midfield since then, or at least a Premier League game of much importance, apart from when they were rotating between the Europa League the very important Europa League games at the end of last season. So that since then, and then you're talking since the start of this season, he hasn't started a Premier League game whatsoever, whether it's a number 10 or in midfield or wherever it is now. This was clearly, it was a hot topic coming into the season. And once it became clear after the first couple of games that he wasn't in this starting 11, then questions were being asked. You might remember that we reported on the Athletic towards the end of the summer window that he'd. He'd asked for a loan move because I think Mainoo knew himself that he wasn't going to get the minutes that he needed if he wants to be part of the World cup squad, obviously, and regain his place for England, having played in the Euro 2024 final. But he didn't. He didn't get that loan move and he hasn't. He hasn't had the opportunity since then either, really. He has come on in games, but it. He hasn't had those regular minutes. Now, when you ask Amarim about this, he says that he's fighting for a position like anybody else's, much like Casemiro was at the very start of Amruen's reign when he wasn't getting a look and he was behind even Toby Collier in the pecking order. But he worked hard on the training ground at Carrington, impressed, and got back into the team. And now it feels like he's one of the first names on the team sheet. Now, maybe that goes to show that you can turn things around and you can work your way back into this manager's thoughts. Clearly you can. But Mainoo hasn't been able to do that just yet. And I think that does. You know, there's been concerns about his athleticism, I think, about his mobility. These positions in Amarim's system, they require you to cover so much ground because you're two in midfield off and up against three in midfield. You need to do the work both at the back of the pitch in possession and then at the top of the pitch as well, pressing. You need to do everything. And I think there's just a little bit of a. I don't know if it's a concern, but there's a little bit of a question mark over whether Mainoo's got that to his game and maybe that's held him back a little bit. You're at the point now where you're going into a January transfer window again. He hasn't started in the league this season. It was only at Grimsby that he started in the League Cup. He needs minutes. And so I think Laurie's right that it's going to be a hot topic going into the January window. Could they revisit alone again? We'll see. It would perhaps work best for all parties, because then at least you're coming out of the situation, perhaps in summer where he's got some minutes under his belt, maybe he's improved as a player and maybe there's a future for him, but his whole situation at the moment is very uncertain simply because he doesn't get the minutes that he needs.
- [19:58]
Ayo Akimolere
Something Laurie was also right on is that Manchester United have been looking for a solid midfielder since the Michael Carrick days. And I'm going to test you on it. It now, both of you actually here. We got time for a little quiz. Yeah, time for a little quiz.
- [20:09]
Laurie Whitwell
Oh, no.
- [20:10]
Ayo Akimolere
Can you name Manchester United's last 10 midfield signings? So that's defensive and attacking and also central midfielders, including loans as well. So off you go.
- [20:22]
Mark Critchley
Ugate.
- [20:23]
LinkedIn Jobs Advertiser
Yes.
- [20:24]
Ayo Akimolere
Get in there.
- [20:27]
Laurie Whitwell
I'd even forgotten about him.
- [20:30]
Ayo Akimolere
You already mentioned him.
- [20:32]
Laurie Whitwell
I fall at the first hurdle. Casemiro.
- [20:35]
Mark Critchley
Yeah. Is that. Are we going chronologically here? Because I don't think that's chronological.
- [20:38]
Ayo Akimolere
No, no, no, no. It can't be harsh.
- [20:42]
Laurie Whitwell
Who have you got? Chritch. You've already thought of one that I've missed. Then, have You.
- [20:45]
Mark Critchley
So Amrabat would count, I imagine. Yes, that's a really good one.
- [20:48]
Laurie Whitwell
Amrabat's a good one.
- [20:50]
Mark Critchley
So. Okay, well, over to you, Laurie. So we've got Casabira.
- [20:55]
Laurie Whitwell
Well, I'm now thinking like, I can't get my head off Ander Herrera, but is that like way beyond last 10?
- [21:02]
Ayo Akimolere
No, that's way beyond. That's way beyond.
- [21:04]
Mark Critchley
Carrick was still at the club, right? So.
- [21:06]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, exactly, exactly. Come on. One from Chelsea. Come on.
- [21:09]
Mark Critchley
He played recently.
- [21:11]
Paige from Giggly Squad
Yeah.
- [21:12]
Laurie Whitwell
Is he just in?
- [21:13]
Ayo Akimolere
There's another Chelsea one in there as well. So obvious.
- [21:15]
Mark Critchley
Okay. Bruno Fernandes.
- [21:17]
Ayo Akimolere
Yes, Go on in.
- [21:18]
Laurie Whitwell
Yeah, in.
- [21:21]
Mark Critchley
Paul Pogba.
- [21:22]
Laurie Whitwell
No, another.
- [21:24]
Mark Critchley
Oh, guess.
- [21:24]
Laurie Whitwell
Midfielder from Chelsea. Not Mata. He was before.
- [21:28]
Mark Critchley
No, he wasn't.
- [21:29]
Laurie Whitwell
He.
- [21:29]
Mark Critchley
Yeah, he was before he scored a free kick it.
- [21:33]
Laurie Whitwell
Oh. Oh. Mason Mount. Oh, my God.
- [21:36]
Ayo Akimolere
Oh, my God. He's in the front three.
- [21:39]
Mark Critchley
He's in the front three. This shouldn't be allowed.
- [21:42]
Ayo Akimolere
Is that because he's been playing in a different position? Okay, that's good. I tell you what.
- [21:46]
Mark Critchley
One from Brentford, one Christian Erikson.
- [21:48]
Laurie Whitwell
Fred.
- [21:49]
Ayo Akimolere
There we.
- [21:49]
Laurie Whitwell
Oh, Fred.
- [21:50]
Mark Critchley
Fred.
- [21:52]
Ayo Akimolere
One from Bayern Munich. Loan from Bayern Munich. At Dortmund. There we go, another one.
- [21:58]
Mark Critchley
Donny Van der Be.
- [22:00]
Laurie Whitwell
There we go, Donnie.
- [22:01]
Ayo Akimolere
There we go. It took you a while.
- [22:03]
Mark Critchley
We didn't need any help.
- [22:04]
Laurie Whitwell
I can't believe I didn't go straight to Mason Mount.
- [22:10]
Podcast Producer/Host
This is the Athletic FC podcast with IO Akimolere.
- [22:14]
LinkedIn Jobs Advertiser
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- [23:38]
Podcast Producer/Host
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- [24:45]
Paige from Giggly Squad
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- [25:31]
Laurie Whitwell
Go.
- [25:38]
Ayo Akimolere
Right, let's move on because both of you were on the podcast after the win at Anfield a few weeks ago and we spoke about the need for consistency and actually since then Manchester United have beaten Brighton and Palace and also drawn against Forest and Spurs. They lost to Tman Everton, but let's say that's a bit of a blip. But you know, how do you both cope with the ups and downs of talking about Manchester United? I think about it from a fan's perspective but from a journalistic perspective. I know it gives the juice but I mean what is it like watching this team being so inconsistent?
- [26:08]
Laurie Whitwell
It does make you just consider your opinions carefully before expressing them, you know. So I certainly have had strong feelings whilst watching the football matches, particularly if I'm with my friends and I'm kind of not quite in the journalistic mode. But it does mean if you know that they could, you know, kind of spring surprise next week, you kind of have to make sure that you're not going too hard, I think. And maybe people don't like that. They'll think that, okay, you're sitting on the fence there and listen and I do have splinters on my bum from numerous cases of not quite committing myself. But yeah, I think that it just shows that you've got to kind of try and take a long term view and appreciate there's going to be ups and downs with this system, with this manager, with these players. That being said, there's going to come a point right where it has to be better, it has to be more consistent because of the scale of the club, because of the money they've spent and will continue to do so. I mean the Jekyll and Hyde nature, I mean okay, palace wasn't even better really certainly the first half. It's just that then I think palace tired and United were, were good with those two set pieces. So yeah, it's not like this was then suddenly a total reversal. Although they showed resilience and they showed some combative spirit in that second half. But yeah, the Evan was Everton result was just so bad considering they were against 10 men. They just had to win that game, you know, but it is. I don't know about you Chris. I do feel, you know, there's some kind of emotional drain that goes on throughout the weeks, throughout the turbulence.
- [27:32]
Mark Critchley
There's definitely an emotional drain. I can empathize with that. 100 say that the past two and a half years have been different from the rest of my experiences in the club, particularly last season. And the season before it, I think it felt like the, the team just wasn't performing at a level that it, it should be. And there was a lot of other noise and a lot of other things going on off the pitch that weren't even that related to whether it was the takeover or whether it was the situation with certain players. There was a lot of noise around the club and that made it, it difficult at the same time. But just on, in terms of the on the pitch stuff, having come out of those two seasons into this one, I find this season slightly more difficult to cover because I feel like, or certainly in terms of analyzing the performances, I think because you look at this United team now, they're four points off second place at the minute in the table before this round of midweek games, they're four points off 15th. So. So any two games, any two results that go the wrong way or the right way, they could be soaring. And everyone thinks our Champions League title challenge maybe, or it's back to the depths that they were at last season. They're almost slap bang in the middle of these two positions. And you don't know what United side was going to turn up on any given weekend, sometimes any given half. But I also feel at the same time, and this is maybe the strongest thing that they've got going for him, is that you can say that about just about every of the team in the league, apart from the ones that we think are pretty certain to be in a relegation battle and Arsenal who look like likely champions at the moment. Everybody else, it's all a much of a muchness and United are right bang in the middle of that. So I think you've got to bear that in mind just after every single result. You know they can lose to 10 man Everton one night and then go to somewhere like Sellers park where Crystal palace haven't lost in 12 games and win. And to draw any hard and fast conclusions feels difficult at the moment. And it's even more difficult because it's United and we expect there to be definitive takes on are they good? Are they not? People demand them every week and are they back or have they turned a corner and they turned so many corners they've just gone in circles at the minute. But that is this season. It's this team at this minute. They're inconsistent. They'll be inconsistent until they prove otherwise, until they can win. Not just five games in a row so that lad can have a haircut, but like 6, 7, 8, 9. That's the only time I'm going to be convinced, convinced about this United team and it's really challenging to analyze and write about the performances at the minute because you don't know what the next one's going to be like. But at least I think it is a little bit more. There are more positive signs, I think, than there have been at times over the past two years. And I think that is, that is small progress. I would say if we accept that this United team is probably going to finish somewhere between 6th, 7th and 8th and everybody, if expectations, I think, have been lowered to that level this season, given how much turmoil there has been over the past two years and given the way that last season finished, if we accept that the team is going to finish at that, around that level, then they're going to lose games and they're going to be on the wrong end. The results like 1 nil at home to Everton. The thing about that performance I think was the manner in which they lost it. To be up against 10 men, to look like you could have played all night without scoring, to not score whatsoever. One thing that Amarim has, has continually come back to is intensity. It seems to be his, the word that his go to to explain any performance that isn't quite at the level that he wants. That was the case that night. It was the case also on Sunday when he was talking about how they were playing in the first half, he was saying they just lacked that intensity. And it can feel like a little bit of an easy explanation. It's certainly not one of these hyper specific tactical explanations, right? But if United aren't operating at that level of intensity, that should be a prerequisite, that should be what's expected. They should go out there and have that level of drive and intensity to get the result over the line. And if they're failing at that, then I think there's some serious questions that have to be answered. Now they responded on Sunday by totally turning things around in the second half and it was a much better performance, more controlled performance as well. But the display against Everton, it just lacked any of that. So it felt like a night where you had to be critical of the performance. You had to call it insipid, you had to call it abject, you had to use those kinds of words, words for it. At the same time you're trying to remind yourself that they can play like that one week and then they can actually pull a decent result out the bag the other. So you don't want to be too hard at the same time. But I think of Any performance this season maybe saved Brentford, but then I thought it was worse than Brentford, to be honest, given the circumstances.
- [31:59]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, Laurie, away from tactics and away from the way this team plays, you think about being a coach or a manager of a team. It's more than just that. It's about bringing a group of men together. It's about how you connect with those men. What do you think Amarim as a coach, away from the tactics, brings to this Manchester United squad?
- [32:19]
Laurie Whitwell
It's a real interesting point because with us in the media, he is, you know, very charming, charismatic. He definitely gives us answers to questions that we ask him, even some questions that we don't ask. I mean, I think there was one answer about Patrick Dogu at a press conference. I wasn't actually at the press conference, but the question was a pretty open one and it kind of went quite specific on, you know, the anxiety that he feels that Dorgu feels whilst playing for United, which was, you know, very pointed and you can, you could have easily just, you know, not answered it in that way. So I think he kind of has this urge to be honest, you know, to kind of, you know, fight fire with fire. You know, certainly his emotional state on the, on the touchlines, you can see interestingly though, with the players, he doesn't really have one on one conversations with them. It's more kind of group setting. So I mean, the kind of famous one that I've reported on is the end of the season chat that they had after the Aston. So before the Aston Villa game, after Europa League final. And you know, he told Garnacho to, you know, he better have a good agent for the summer and. But within that sort of setting as well, he also had pointed criticism for Manuel Legate. He said his work rate wasn't what was required and sort of didn't remind him of their time together at Sporting because, you know, they have worked together. So that kind of colors my answer earlier, you know, to when you're asking about United's midfield targets, the agarte question kind of comes up there and that touches on Critch's point there. In terms of the intensity, I think that's certainly what Amarin just feels has to happen every single day at training, every single game. He shouldn't have to instill that in the players. I think this is a really interesting part of football. How much comes from the players, how much should be a self governing dressing room and how much should be from the head coach to instill that in you. You can only say it so many Times, right. And this group of players, they're only playing one time a week. They absolutely should be be emptying the tank every single time because they've got nothing else to play for. It's the. It's the Premier League and it's trying to get back into the Champions League, which is where they all want to play, you know, not only for the prestige, but also for their bank balances, no doubt. So, you know, there should. There shouldn't be anything left on the pitch. And that's why the Everton game, I mean, maybe they were playing too quick at times, but I don't know, I just. I felt that there wasn't the intensity from. From the get go in that game. There wasn't the kind of desire, there wasn't the purpose about them. And that's what happened really at Grimsby Town. You know, I think they went into that game thinking it was going to be an easy game and they weren't prepared for it and Grimsby were. Grimsby were at it. And so that's something that I'm kind of struggling to comprehend, you know, where does the responsibility for that ultimately lie? It's probably a mix, right? It's probably a mix of the coaching environment, the standards at Carrington, then the players themselves individually in terms of the profiles of them, but also the mentality of the them.
- [34:59]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, crit. We do talk about the manager a lot and I guess he's there to be scrutinized as a Manchester United manager, but she would be talking about players more as well because there are still a lot of those players that were there before he got there. And as Laurie says, they're not playing much more football than that once a week at the moment. The intensity, the passion, playing for the badge, Manchester United, all those things together, should they be putting that on the field?
- [35:24]
Mark Critchley
Well, they should be. And that should be. Like I said before, it should be a prerequisite. I think I am mindful at the same time that there's coming. One thing people say about playing for United is that the shirt hangs heavy on a lot of players. And I think we've seen that it isn't the easiest club to play for even when things are going well. I mean, the most immediate example that springs to mind is just from Sunday. And Lenny Yoro, who's a young defender, very highly rated, has come with a lot of excitement, a big reputation, huge potential, clearly. And I think he's been a good signing for United so far. And even I'm almost reticent to say that because I don't think you can really judge it yet because it's a signing for many years down the line. But he's had a couple difficult weeks. He gives away the penalty on Sunday, sorry. Then comes out for the second half and he's replaced pretty soon afterwards. And he looks absolutely distraught on the bench. And it is a club that brings a level of scrutiny. I don't know if I would say like no other, but I'm struggling to think of many of us that do what Real Madrid, Barcelona, this is it like. But in this country, is there really any? I don't know. I mean, how many podcasts do we do talking about at these players performances and analyzing them and scrutinizing them. It can be a real hard school to come up through, especially if you're a young player and it hasn't worked out for others who have left the club over the last few years. But you do, you know, at the same time there is that expectation that you do come to every game with that level of intensity and that you are performing to your absolute best ability because United is still seen as the pinnacle by many within football and within English football. So there is that expectation. I feel that there's always a bit of a split between who's this on? Is it on the players, Is it on the manager? In the end, people go to the Glazers, for example, the ownership. You could point fingers in many different directions for the reason why United haven't met expectations over the last 10 years. I think probably you could share the blame around and that's fair enough.
- [37:25]
Laurie Whitwell
Foreign.
- [37:29]
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- [38:16]
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- [39:39]
Podcast Producer/Host
You're listening to the Athletic FC podcast with Ayo Akimolere.
- [39:44]
Ayo Akimolere
Let's mop up because there's some big matches actually midweek coming up. Some of the highlights. Fulham vs Manchester City. Haaland man, just to score the hundredth goal. Oh, for goodness sake. Hasn't happened yet, but maybe this is the game. What you think, Laurie?
- [39:58]
Laurie Whitwell
Well, you sound like a man that might have triple captained Harland in his last match.
- [40:01]
Ayo Akimolere
I ain't saying anything. I ain't saying anything.
- [40:03]
Laurie Whitwell
Listen, I only know because, you know, game recognizes game and I, you know, really, really banked on those, those six points. Thanks very much. Yeah, I hear you. Yeah. So it's funny one though, isn't it? I just thought home, he's been a different beast to. He has a way. So I mean, yeah, it's a good test for them, right? I mean that they went to Tottenham, didn't they, and played well for them. So I wonder, you know, if, if they can keep, keep that, keep that up at Crim Cottage. Yeah, I mean City, to Critch's point, you're kind of thinking have they emerged from their early season or kind of even after the early season, wasn't it they started quite hot but their kind of tribulations really. They do look sort of fragile still. And so you know, if you were kind of astute team against them. I mean Leeds certainly had a really strong second half against them when it looked like City were going to cruise to it at the Etihad. So. And yeah, fair play. Phil Foden had a really good game and made the difference in stoppage time. Really lovely strike. But it wasn't like it was a comfortable afternoon for City. So I think Fulham will certainly feel that they've got opportunities there to hurt them. And yeah. Whether that then means that Arsenal just Eek. A little bit further at the top. Aao. What do you reckon?
- [41:09]
Ayo Akimolere
Leave me alone. Leave me alone. I'm not talking about Arsenal. Just leave me be. I want to move on perfectly to Newcastle versus Spurs. I just don't want to curse it. I don't want to curse anything. Just let's see what happens. Let it all work out as they say.
- [41:21]
Laurie Whitwell
Yes. And Declan Rice. Pfa FWA Player of the year. I saw it last night. It said to be. And the fsa. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
- [41:29]
Ayo Akimolere
All right. Let's talk about Newcastle versus Spurs. Because Crit. I mean these are two teams that are technically at the same objective really for this season. You know the team's trying to break in to that sort of top tier of team in the Premier League. How do you think this one might go?
- [41:43]
Mark Critchley
I think Tottenham aren't a good team at the minute. I know that's not the most insightful analysis. But they feel like. They feel like. It feels like there's just a gap in the middle of the park where they can't play through midfield. And then everything that they try and do on top of that is so limited that I expect Newcastle at St James's park are just. They've got a great record. They're very difficult place to go. Beat City a couple of weeks ago as well. They bring. We're talking about intensity. If there's one team, there's one intense place to go. It's St. James's park to play Newcastle. They will be physical. They'll be aggressive. I do think, you know, Thomas Frank style. It sort of built to contain that and to at least try and match that. But we haven't seen enough of that style so far. We haven't really seen that style work yet at Tottenham. I should say. I think we have seen that style. It's the question of whether they can really do anything else. This Tottenham team, it doesn't feel like it's got enough about it. In big games to actually get over the line against top class opponents, you only have to think of the North London Derby. So to bring up Arsenal again, I know you wanted to avoid it, but they were absolutely outclassed in that game as well. Well, so I can only really see it going one way and the Newcastle win, I would say.
- [42:52]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, fair. Well, also coming up we've got Leeds versus Chelsea and also Liverpool versus Sunder. Anfield isn't quite the fortress at the moment either. But we have to finish on this really. West Ham come to Old Trafford on Thursday, gents. Should we expect a bit more chaos, Laurie, or we are we going to see the Manchester United we've been waiting for? This is a great opportunity.
- [43:09]
Laurie Whitwell
Great opportunity and just a small sort of footnote to all this actually. When you, when I, when I mentioned Declan Rice earlier, you know, obviously West Ham connection and United, that's who Eric Tenag wanted to sign. And you just sort of think what a sliding doors moment. They kind of had the opportunity a couple of years, you know, and Oli.
- [43:24]
Mark Critchley
Oli wanted him as well.
- [43:25]
Laurie Whitwell
Oli, didn't he grow up a Man United fan? Declan Rice? Anyway, we'll leave that there. But you look at the 100 million that they invest. I'm sure he's got the crest on his, on his calf tattoo. But yeah, you look at 100 million pound investment there and you know that this bargain really, when you think about what he could go and achieve for Arsenal. But yeah, I mean West Ham, they've kind of, you know, they picked up, didn't they, under Nuno and you sort of thought, okay, they're kind of getting themselves together again. They're a bit more coherent with what they're trying to do as a team. But yeah, Liverpool, you know, went there certainly a fragile Liverpool and did okay, didn't they? They sort of were, it was, it was a good response by them. And how much is that to do with what they're about and how much does that to do with West Ham's limitations? So I kind of feel like, I mean Bowen's an excellent player. I think he's the one that I would be wary of from a United point of view. I know he's not, you know, it kind of feels like he's the talisman for this West Ham team and he, even for all their struggles, he still was scoring goals. He had a good chance against Liverpool that he kind of skied a little bit. But I think him on that sort of right hand side is going to be an issue for United's, you know, I mean, Luke Shaw is probably going to play there as left side of center half and who's going to play on the, you know, left wing back role? Perhaps Diego Dalo again. So you probably won't see too many changes from United. To be honest, I think Amarin, even though Matthias Kunya might be fit for the game, they're hoping that he is. I think I wouldn't be surprised if he kind of starts on the bench and is a, an option off it. But like I said, this is the kind of game that United just have to, Manchester United have to win because otherwise, you know, the kind of questions come back again, don't they? So it's a big opportunity for them and West Ham did the double over Man United last season, so they certainly want some vengeance on that.
- [45:00]
Mark Critchley
Yeah, I think Laurie's right when he says that it's an opportunity because from United's perspective, I think this little run that really was supposed to start after the November international break, but actually started with a defeat to ten man Everton when they were slapping each other at home. But if you took, if you took all those games names from there up through Christmas to New Year, I think it's one of the more favorable runs of any team in the league. Now I say that within the context of everything I was talking about before, where it looks like much of this league is much of a muchness and that just about anyone can beat anybody in that middle order. But United really ain't need to press home the advantage now because, you know, for as much as they're only four points off 15th, they're four points off second. And it does feel like, it does feel like they've got a lot of the more, some of the more difficult games out of the way this season. This is the point at which you're looking to kick on. Because as soon as a result goes the wrong way, then all these statistics start coming out about Amarin's record, about his year in charge, including results from last season that don't, that aren't very favorable, let's face it. But I think there has been a break since the summer. I do think that you can look at changes that have been made this season in terms of the style of play, if not the formation, where there it's adapting to a more direct, a more intense, more physical league. United have done okay in that regard, but it's time to put the results on the board to show that improvement and you know, have hard evidence in the table because As I say, it just takes one defeat and then we're back to talking about 12 wins in in 12 months or whatever it was before the weekend. So it's an opportunity and I think it's one that United have to look to take.
- [46:35]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, I mean if you're not a United fan, many of them are enjoying this moment and I know that for a fact. Anyway, gents, let's leave it there. Craig, Rich, Laurie, appreciate your time and also thank you guys for listening as well. We'll be back tomorrow.
- [46:51]
Podcast Producer/Host
You've been listening to the Athletic FC Podcast. The producers are Guy Clark, Mike Stabro and Jay Beal. Executive producers are Abby Patterson and Avi Moorhead. To listen to other great athletic podcasts for free, including our dedicated club shows, search for the Athletic and all the usual places. You'll also find us on YouTube at the Athletic FC Podcast, so make sure you subscribe the Athletic FC Podcast is an athletic media company production.
- [47:27]
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- [48:44]
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