Long version of the ManchesterWorld Q&A
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00:00 So Michael, starting with Man United, their next Premier League game spurs away.
00:05 Now, we saw Tottenham, we sort of know they're going to be a high-scoring team this season
00:09 and probably high-leaking goals as well.
00:11 So maybe United can capitalise on that.
00:14 They started with a win against Wolves, albeit quite controversial in the end.
00:19 What are your thoughts going into this game?
00:21 Do you think Man United are clear favourites or can you see there being a really good Premier League game on the cards?
00:28 Yeah, I mean, it's an interesting one that you say that Spurs, like I said, are going to score a lot and concede a lot.
00:33 It's kind of the opposite for United a little bit, that they're keeping a lot of clean sheets.
00:38 It's certainly kind of based on the back end of last season, keeping a lot of clean sheets but not scoring a huge amount.
00:43 I think there's a concern that how difficult it was to get Marcus Rashford involved the other night against Wolves.
00:49 And I think there'll be a concern how easily they were overrun in midfield,
00:53 particularly considering that James Madison and Yves Bissouma both played so well in Spurs opening games.
00:59 So yeah, I think it'll be a difficult game for United.
01:01 I mean, look, at this stage of the season, it's very difficult to know what to expect from sides.
01:05 We haven't got a huge amount to go off, really.
01:07 Certainly haven't got much to go off in terms of Posta Koglu and his experience in England.
01:11 But yeah, I think Spurs are obviously...
01:14 There's going to be a little bit of a hangover from Harry Kane and him leaving, him departing.
01:18 And it is impossible for anyone to come in and fill those boots.
01:22 I mean, Richard Lawson will give it a good go.
01:24 I think we all know he's not at the same level, to be totally honest.
01:27 Listen, there's not many strikers in Europe who are.
01:29 So yeah, I think that'll be a couple of interesting dynamics going into the game.
01:34 I think it'll be interesting as well to see if they take the same approach of kind of pushing Emerson Royale into the middle
01:40 as they did against Brentford last week.
01:43 So yeah, that's another interesting aspect.
01:45 I think United just need to, from their end, need to put in a better performance,
01:49 need to get on the ball and dictate a little bit more.
01:52 I felt they were kind of too reactive against Wolves.
01:54 I was a bit concerned about their fitness levels in some senses as well.
01:58 United, I thought Wolves looked stronger, fitter, a bit more hungry.
02:01 So they need to address that.
02:02 They need to put that right.
02:03 So I think it'll be a tough game.
02:05 I actually think it'll be a draw.
02:06 I'm not tipping either side to win.
02:08 I just think that, you know, sometimes you go into these games and you look and think it's the type of match,
02:12 actually United might be happy enough with the point from Spurs to the same.
02:16 So yeah, that's my tentative prediction ahead of this one.
02:19 Michael, deadline approaching now, not long left of the window.
02:24 How much more do you think United need or what can you see them doing from now until the deadline?
02:29 Is business done or do you see any late sort of surprises coming out of the window for them?
02:35 I certainly don't think the business is done at Old Trafford now.
02:38 I think there'll be plenty more happening in the coming weeks.
02:41 I think the concerning thing for United is that they are keen to move on to many players and are just struggling to do so.
02:47 I mean, the big one at the moment is Harry Maguire.
02:48 Of course, it was very close to the deal to West Ham.
02:50 That one looks like it's broken down and isn't going to happen.
02:53 That's where there's real frustration, I think, from probably both clubs perspective, really.
02:57 And especially considering that a lot of the talk is essentially due to money.
03:01 I think there'll be real frustration from both clubs in that regard.
03:04 They want to move on Maguire.
03:05 They want to move on Danny van de Beek.
03:08 They want to move on Dean Henderson, Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams.
03:13 You can probably list off the names.
03:14 I've said them all summer, really, in terms of United trying to get rid of these players.
03:18 I think Scott McTominay is another one they would be willing to sell.
03:20 I don't think there's maybe perhaps quite the same level of desire to move him on.
03:27 But I think they definitely would be interested in that.
03:29 And then after that, if they move players on, I think that they will then look for Sophie Namrabath to try and come in.
03:35 But again, there's now talk of other midfielders coming into it.
03:38 Amadou Anana, that's all Ryan Gravenbosch of Bayern Munich being linked as well.
03:44 So plenty of midfielders being talked about.
03:45 Namrabath is still the one that I'm kind of hearing that United would like to sign.
03:49 And then I think there is still more growing talk about trying to bring in a defender.
03:54 I think that would be very dependent on Harry Maguire going, to be honest.
03:57 I know there is interest in Benjamin Pavard, but how concrete that is and how much they'll push it, I'm not totally sure, to be honest.
04:04 And yeah, so I do think there'll be plenty that will happen in the coming weeks.
04:06 It's just whether I think the big thing for the moment for United is, can they shift on the players that they need to move on?
04:13 And I think that while it's a good team going into the season, if you were to press pause now in this squad,
04:20 I think there would be for real frustration that United haven't moved the players on.
04:23 And I do think that there are a couple of areas they're lacking in and that they could still do the strengthening in my eyes.
04:28 Michael, you've recently written an article regarding Man Utd's youngsters and their policy regarding selling them and how they're going about it,
04:37 sort of copying the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, how they've sort of gone about it over the last few years.
04:44 This is the sort of modern way of doing things now. What can you sort of tell us about that?
04:50 Yeah, well, I think for years there's been a thought that, I don't know, at United,
04:54 let's say that if you stockpile your ten best young players, one, two,
05:01 potentially are going to push on and go and be really good players, but you might lose out on eight who don't.
05:06 And I think for years, United weren't alone in this, that this was a thought that this is basically the best way to conduct your policy in terms of youth players.
05:13 But there's been a real shift in that in the last couple of years.
05:15 I think Chelsea and Manchester City have been at the forefront of that in terms of selling youngsters.
05:21 I mean, Manchester City made just over 10 million last summer on Romelu Lavia.
05:26 They're probably going to make another 12 million on them this summer.
05:29 This is a player who didn't, I don't think, has actually played a single Premier League minute for Manchester City,
05:34 but they're going to earn about, you know, they got to 25 million in him.
05:37 And it's that type of model.
05:38 Then, you know, City put that money into, you know, senior transfers and, you know, that basically covers Mateo Kovacic's transfer from Chelsea.
05:45 So when you think about it in that regard, they almost see it as a, I don't really like to talk about human beings in this way,
05:52 but they're almost viewed as business assets rather than, you know, other than potential players who are going to come through.
05:57 I think both United and City, you know, if there's a real top class talent,
06:01 they're not just going to sell them if they really feel that this player has the potential to come in and add value to the first team.
06:06 United aren't going to consider selling the same as Chelsea or the same as City.
06:10 I mean, Rico Lewis is an example from City.
06:12 I mean, Kobe Mane is an example from United.
06:14 So it's an interesting one because I think for a long time, United have lagged behind the top clubs in terms of their selling at senior level and at youth level.
06:21 I think they still do lag behind, if I'm totally honest.
06:24 But there is an indication and an understanding, I think, from United that they haven't always handled things brilliantly in the past.
06:31 And that needs to change.
06:32 And I think that there has been signs of that.
06:35 I think it was sort of last summer, a little bit with James Garner moving on to Heathrow, moving on.
06:39 Both players had a buyback clause and a sell on attached into the deals to Everton and Birmingham.
06:45 And then I was really surprised at the start of this summer that United decided to let Zidane Iqbal go.
06:49 I was told there was a very good chance he was going to go on loan.
06:51 There was a small chance of him going out permanently.
06:54 And then within a week of me covering that story, he'd gone permanently, which I think is, as I say, a real change from United in that sense.
07:00 And they view him as a player who was a very good player.
07:04 And I mean, he's a player, I should mention Iqbal, who trained with United's first team all season, was in the squad I think 17 times.
07:10 We all thought he's on the verge of making a step up, being involved in the first team.
07:14 And I think in five years ago, United would have kept this player.
07:16 Instead, now they decide, no, we're going to sell for not a huge price now, but they're hoping to kind of reap the rewards of that further down the line.
07:23 So that's a really interesting transfer in my eyes, a really kind of change from previous years.
07:29 And I think the same happened with Charlie Savage this summer.
07:34 I think Ethan Laird as well. There's a couple of players, Kovar, who joined Bayern Leverkusen.
07:39 So, yeah, it's a really interesting approach from United.
07:41 And I think that we won't see the benefits of this immediately, but I think further down the line, it could be a really interesting shift from them.
07:47 And I'm interested to see how it goes in the next couple of years.
07:50 Michael, Newcastle are home up next for Manchester City.
07:54 They started off their campaign in fine fashion, Erling Haaland with two goals already to his name, which is quite scary to imagine.
08:03 What can you see going into this game against Newcastle?
08:06 Because Newcastle, they started off fantastically as well with 5-1 over Aston Villa at home.
08:12 Can they sort of continue that away form that they sort of lacked at times last season?
08:18 If they sort of fix that, they could be really, really up there this season, you feel?
08:23 How do Man City approach this? Do they go strongest 11 and just try and get the three points?
08:28 Yeah, I think they'll definitely do this as a game.
08:30 They'll put out the strongest 11.
08:32 I think the concern from City's perspective is they had a really draining game in midweek.
08:37 Obviously, went 90 minutes against Sevilla. Penalties, I mean, obviously, I know there's no kind of physical element to that.
08:44 But I think heat, humidity, you could see the sweat off the players.
08:49 Kyle Walker mentioned it after the match.
08:50 So I think there will be a little bit of a concern already at this very early stage of the season about fitness.
08:55 I mean, when you consider Newcastle and City, you know, City have already played three games.
08:59 Newcastle played one game this season.
09:00 You know, that's already City just played so many matches and there will be a bit of a concern for that.
09:04 I mean, obviously, the big concern really surrounding City at the moment is the fact that Kevin De Bruyne has picked up this long-term injury.
09:10 I think that is just a huge blow.
09:12 I think we even saw it on Wednesday against Sevilla that De Bruyne is the man to unlock defences.
09:18 And for all the talent in City's squad, they do slightly lack that player without De Bruyne.
09:23 Foden's got a bit of it, Grady's got a bit of it and Silva, but none of them to the same extent as De Bruyne,
09:28 who also developed a real link with Erling Haaland last season.
09:32 So I think that'll be a big talking point going into the game.
09:35 I think, as I say, the fitness levels as well.
09:37 It's also worth remembering that City do start the season slowly.
09:40 The last two seasons, they've really not been at their best in the early months of the campaign.
09:43 Drop points at home, actually, in both seasons as well.
09:46 So I wouldn't be surprised, actually, if Newcastle can go there.
09:49 Especially on the high of last week, I thought Newcastle were probably the best side in the opening weekend of the Premier League.
09:54 And it wouldn't surprise me if Newcastle come away from the Eddie Haddon with something, actually, be at a point.
09:59 I think unlikely three points, just given how strong City are at home.
10:01 But I think I am tentatively going to tip Newcastle to come away with a point, and that'd be a huge result for them.
10:08 And I mean, I know we're not really talking about Newcastle, but I was just thinking after the Villa game last week,
10:11 how, you know, I think 10 of the 11 who started that, started last season, or were there players from last season for Newcastle.
10:18 Big changes at United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs going into the summer.
10:23 Actually, if anyone from the top four, other than Arsenal and City maybe,
10:26 who are ruling with a bit of continuity from last season is Newcastle.
10:29 And listen, I ruled them off a little bit ahead of the season.
10:32 I think a lot of people did, but it's quite interesting to see how they go.
10:34 But yeah, I'm looking forward to the game on Saturday.
10:36 I'm attending and covering it for Manchester World.
10:39 I think it'd be really, yeah, I think Newcastle will try to take advantage of City's high line, as they did against Villa.
10:44 And yeah, it could be a really entertaining game, actually.
10:48 And Michael, just looking ahead to the deadline, obviously, it's ticking now on the transfers.
10:53 How much more business can you see Manchester City conducting until that final day?
11:00 Well, it's music to my ears that the transfer deadline is coming, as it is for all football journalists out there, I can assure you.
11:07 Yeah, I think there could be a bit of work from City.
11:08 I mean, obviously, a lot of it's, the dynamics changed a little bit with De Bruyne's injury, I think,
11:13 and the fact that he's going to be out for so long.
11:15 Obviously, there's a lot of reported interest in Lucas Paqueta from West Ham.
11:20 Could they go in for him in the last couple of weeks of the window?
11:23 The other one being linked very strongly is Doku, the Belgian winger.
11:26 So I wouldn't be surprised if those two get across the line.
11:28 Obviously, City in need of a winger, given Mahrez moved on in the summer.
11:32 But then you see Cole Palmer's impressive performances in your Wonderwell.
11:36 Could City stick with him and potentially not move for Doku?
11:41 So I think that's the interesting aspect in terms of incomings.
11:44 I think in terms of outgoings, I think Emre Klopport will definitely move on.
11:48 I think we thought all summer that he would. Reports of a lot of interest, some from Saudi Arabia, some from Real Madrid.
11:54 So I'd be interested to see if that one happens.
11:57 And then who else? Joe Cancello. I think he'll definitely move on.
12:00 I mean, I don't have to read too much between the lines to tell that Pep Guardiola wants him to leave.
12:07 I think Bernardo Silva's going to stay. Looks like Kyle Walker's going to stay.
12:10 So, yeah, not a huge amount of business at the top end from City.
12:14 You know, just talking about United and all the work they need to do.
12:16 Not quite the same level of urgency, but I do think that we could see potentially in terms of the senior team, two in, two out potentially.
12:23 And we'll have to wait and see, obviously, two weeks until the window closes. And happy days.
12:30 Michael, Kevin De Bruyne obviously took that knock in the Champions League final and then hasn't really, obviously clearly hasn't recovered fully yet.
12:38 How much of an impact blow is that to Man City?
12:41 Because we saw how important he was in the big games, you know, Real Madrid away.
12:45 He was unlocking things, Arsenal at home, Arsenal away.
12:48 It was the big games. They really needed him.
12:50 He stepped up. He was their man.
12:52 And obviously you touched on as well the fact he's built that relationship with Erling Haal.
12:56 And that came alive, that came to fruition and really helped City push on and, you know, win the treble in the end as well.
13:02 So how important is he to City and how much of a loss will he be in these opening weeks/maybe even months?
13:10 Yeah, I think it definitely will be months.
13:12 I think Paco de Ola said three to four months, which is huge for City.
13:15 I mean, that is obviously half the season, almost.
13:19 So it's a massive blow for them.
13:21 I think that, I mean, you touched on it there, some of the major points.
13:24 But listen, City have got a fantastic group of footballers.
13:27 But, you know, quite a few of them are very, they're in the same mode in terms of keeping possession, doing things neat and tidy.
13:36 Kevin Abruina is a bit unique in that regard in that he, you know, his passing percentage is very often the lowest in the team because he tries the risky pass.
13:47 He tries the difficult pass.
13:48 He tries to run the opposition, tries to make things happen that perhaps some of his teammates don't always.
13:55 And he is, you know, probably in my opinion, potentially the best player in the Premier League, certainly him and Erling Haaland.
14:04 And it's going to be a huge blow for City.
14:05 And they need to replace those assists.
14:08 We just had a conversation about whether City will bring in an attacking midfielder, Lucas Paquetta, linked.
14:14 I think they probably need another option in that role or it's going to need someone to step up.
14:17 I mean, the two obvious ones in the attacking midfield role are three, I suppose, in terms of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva.
14:24 Julian Alvarez is the third.
14:26 Alvarez is more of a goal scorer than providing assists in my eyes.
14:29 So I do see it more as Silva and Foden.
14:31 So it's a huge blow for City.
14:33 There's no way around it.
14:35 And they will just hope to get him back as quickly as possible.
14:38 My other concern with the hamstring injury is that you can't rush a player back after that because if it goes again, that would be a nightmare.
14:45 So I do wonder actually how long term this injury is going to be for De Bruyne.
14:49 And actually, you know, De Bruyne is 31 maybe.
14:53 I can't remember off the top of my head.
14:54 I really hope that this injury doesn't have a long term impact on him.
14:57 I hope we're not talking in two or three years that he didn't fully come back from this injury,
15:01 that we still see this incredibly talented player still at his best in the coming years.
15:06 And yeah, it'd just be interesting to see, I suppose, what moves City make in the market in the next couple of weeks to potentially replace him
15:13 and how they deal with his absence in the team.