- 06/03/2024
Michael Plant and Charles Hague Jones talk all things Manchester City and Manchester United.
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00:00 I'm joined by Michael Plant of Manchester World to discuss everything Manchester United
00:06 and Manchester City. Let's start with United as we usually do, Michael, a bit of a club
00:11 update. I mean, there's a lot going on. There's a lot of headlines surrounding Ashworth and
00:15 just many names that people who aren't involved with United might not know. What's the latest
00:21 you can give us? Is there any sort of a brief update you can issue?
00:28 Brief is difficult. Yeah, listen, there's a lot going on with everything to do behind
00:33 the scenes at Manchester United. Obviously, Ineos and Sir Jim Radcliffe completed the
00:37 purchase, what was it, three weeks ago now, two or three weeks ago. They're in there now.
00:42 They're starting to make changes, stamp their authority. And key in all of that is the new
00:47 sporting director who, listen, I think we all think it is going to be Dan Ashworth eventually,
00:52 but it's just how long it takes them to sort those negotiations. Newcastle want, I don't
00:58 know the exact figure, but quite a significant fee, quite a significant price. Manchester
01:03 United are saying that they're not, Manchester United I don't think would pay anywhere near
01:06 10 million that has been bonded around. I think that from a United perspective, they
01:11 would point to the fact that when Ashworth left Brighton, Newcastle paid a fee of around
01:17 4 million. So I think they see that as more of a realistic figure. And the fact that Ashworth
01:22 is now just sitting on gardening leave, it's benefiting no one in this situation. So I
01:26 think United are pretty hopeful that that will be sorted soon because he is obviously
01:31 the main figure that they want. And listen, I think there's going to be a lot of changes
01:35 in the backroom going forward. I think that in a year's time, it will look completely
01:39 different to how it is now. Dougie Freeman is a name that's been mentioned a lot in the
01:44 last couple of days. He's not one that, as I understand that he is actually kind of top
01:49 of the list for United. Those reports may be just a little bit wider than Mark from
01:54 what I've heard, but who knows. And then the other name that has been mentioned is Julian
01:59 Ward, of course, was at Liverpool for a bit. I think he is definitely someone they're interested
02:02 in. And look, there's lots of, Ineos and Radcliffe and Omar Baradat, they are speaking to people,
02:08 they are reaching out to people to just try and ascertain interest at this stage. And
02:13 as I say, I think there'll be lots of changes further down the line. And I think the big
02:17 question then is, well, what happens with the manager's position? Because as time goes
02:22 on more and more, I think more and more questions are being asked of his position. And I think
02:26 if you watch the football this season, it's very difficult to make a case that Eric Tenhague
02:30 should be the manager next season going forward. I think there is a sense that there's more
02:36 and more faith is being eroded in him from Ineos' perspective. Listen, I don't think
02:41 we're going to have a decision in the next couple of weeks, but there are more and more
02:45 names who are being linked to who are United are considering if there was to be a managerial
02:51 change. And at the moment, as I understand it, it is Graham Potter who's top of that
02:56 list. Listen, a lot can happen. We're still a couple of months away from things. I think
02:59 Zidane is someone that they might be interested in, whether he himself is interested in that,
03:04 I'm not totally sure. Deservey's a name they like. Tuchel as well. I mean, I think Tuchel
03:09 will be a great appointment. I think he's an absolutely top quality manager, just my
03:12 own personal opinion. But yeah, there's a lot going on with United. And you asked me
03:16 in a week's time and there'll be a new update and new news. But at the moment, that's kind
03:21 of the latest I'm hearing from all the background on United.
03:24 And looking at their next Premier League game, the host Everton, I mean, we've spoken about
03:30 if the derby didn't go their way, there would be mounting pressure. It didn't go their way.
03:35 You know, this is suddenly quite a big game, early kick off on a Saturday with the Old
03:40 Trafford crowd. What's the feelings going into this, especially for the United boss?
03:45 Well, yeah, you mentioned it. I mean, the derby didn't go well. Although, I mean, look,
03:51 it didn't go well. I don't think anyone would say it did go well, but it could have been
03:54 a lot worse is the other way of looking at it. And I actually think the big positive
03:58 from that game was that there was some level of discipline and some level of organisation,
04:02 which at times you just haven't seen with United. So that was one positive aspect, even
04:06 though it was obviously in the end quite devastating. The staff were pretty damning in the end.
04:12 But anyway, Everton we're talking about. Yeah, big game because, I mean, they've fallen 11
04:17 points behind the top four. That's a really concerning gap, a gap that they might struggle
04:22 to catch up. They play Everton, a team who, if they don't win at the weekend, Everton,
04:27 they will go three months without a win in the Premier League. That is just awful at
04:32 any stage of the season. They are more and more looking over their shoulders towards
04:36 the relegation zone. I think in any other season they would be particularly worried,
04:40 but I think two out of those three are going to go anyway, aren't they? It's just whether
04:44 Luton can kind of claw themselves out. But listen, from a United perspective, a home
04:48 defeat to Everton would be just terrible. It would really ramp up the pressure on Tenhague.
04:54 It would really just ask more questions about his tactical setup. And Everton have a terrible
04:58 record at Old Trafford. They haven't won there in over a decade. So listen, I think that
05:03 United will probably have enough to get through this game and will, yeah, should win. They
05:10 do have a number of injuries, but I think they'll have enough to beat Everton. But as
05:14 I've said a lot this season, it's the performance. They can really do with a good performance
05:18 and that I'm definitely not confident in them having.
05:22 Michael, you spoke about the 11-point gap to that top four race. It's probably their
05:27 goals at the start of the season. Do you think they can catch that up? Man United's time's
05:34 ticking now, really, and they've got to start getting the points on the board.
05:38 Yeah, it's going to be tough. It's going to be really, really tough for them. I think
05:42 that Villa are looking good again, are winning matches again. And it's incredible how quickly
05:47 it switches because when they won at Villa Park, you felt like the momentum was with
05:50 United. Villa were suddenly in free fall and it's just in the space of a couple of weeks,
05:54 they've switched back around. 11 points is a big gap with 11 games. They've also got
05:59 to overtake Tottenham as well. Tottenham are at six points, but Spurs have a game in hand,
06:03 so that's really, really difficult. But I think the big interesting thing from United's
06:07 perspective is that Villa and Spurs play each other this weekend. So I think United will
06:11 be watching on with all their fingers crossed, hoping for a draw in that game. I think that's
06:15 probably the result they want and then they can start trying to claw that gap back. But
06:18 we're at a stage now with United where they just really can't afford many more slip-ups
06:22 and they just need to hope that... I think they'll hope the Villa's European campaign,
06:26 which starts back this week, will have an impact. Spurs are obviously not in Europe.
06:30 It's going to be difficult. I think it's probably too much for them to catch up, if I'm honest.
06:35 Michael, moving on to Manchester City, the big one is coming there. They haven't got
06:40 an incredible record at Anfield against Jurgen Klopp's sides, but they do have a man in firing
06:47 form. So just let's combine them all together. We've got Liverpool away, title charge and
06:53 that Man Phil Foden. It's all sort of coming together. Could it come together at the right
06:58 time if they are to go to Anfield and get a stunning victory? And maybe it sort of increases
07:02 their grip on getting their trophy back.
07:06 Yes, it would be... Well, it's going to be a huge game, I think, either way, because
07:11 it's just so significant. If there's a winner, it's just so significant in terms of momentum.
07:17 Whoever, if there is a winner, it will feel like they're in prime position now to go on
07:22 and claim the title. I think that there's always the thought with City that you need
07:26 a bit of a gap ahead of them because they're just going to go in incredible form to the
07:31 end of the season. And Arsenal had a huge gap last season, still, well, I was going
07:35 to say blew it, that might be a bit harsh, but still surrendered that lead and let City
07:39 overtake them. And I think this is a game that, in different ways, it's a real kind
07:46 of hurdle for them to overcome. I mean, mentally, I think there's a bit of a challenge for both
07:52 them. I mean, Liverpool have, in general, not tended to beat City all that often, albeit
07:58 they obviously have this very good home record against Guardiola, who's only won there once
08:03 that was during COVID when there was no fans. He's never won there away from home. He's
08:07 spoken about Anfield a lot, about the impact that the Anfield crowd has. And actually,
08:12 he's been very, well, some backhanded compliments, but a lot of praise for Liverpool in that
08:18 atmosphere as well. But from a, so that, I just think that both of them in their own
08:22 way have got real barriers to overcome and a real kind of mental block about this. I
08:26 think that they'll hope that Liverpool's injury situation doesn't clear up. I think they will
08:32 hope that the fact they've got an extra day to prepare for this game will be a factor.
08:37 Obviously, City played Copenhagen on Wednesday, Liverpool play the Sport of Prague on Thursday.
08:42 So I think City will also hope to get that Copenhagen game wrapped up, but perhaps, you
08:47 know, a few of them off by 30 minutes left or 20 minutes left, like said the Bruin at
08:53 Haaland, you know, as they say, wrap them in cotton wool, but huge game in the title
08:57 race. Obviously, Liverpool are point clear at the moment. I don't think it needs to be
09:02 built up any more, just how significant it is, especially with Arsenal there as well.
09:06 And of the three sides, Arsenal probably at the moment look in the best form, look the
09:11 most dangerous. So both sides know they just can't afford to keep dropping, well not keep
09:17 because they haven't been, but to drop any points going forward in the title race. So
09:20 yeah, really, really huge game.
09:22 And obviously, Phil Foden, let's just give him another mention this season. I mean, we
09:30 could reach the back end of the season and think back that has there actually been a
09:34 better player in the league this season. He's definitely in the top three or four, surely,
09:41 you'd think. Just a bit about him and how important he's been for Guardiola's side,
09:46 how much he's actually progressed over this last season to become that main character
09:51 in the City squad. That's quite an achievement.
09:53 Yeah, I mean, he has been a joy to watch this season. He is just so much in want in a footballer.
10:01 It's just his turn of pace, his vision on the ball, his ability to produce game-changing
10:07 moments and the numbers of goals and assists he has. It's been fantastic to watch. In the
10:11 derby, I mean, that first goal was just outrageous. We had a great view of it from the press box
10:16 as well. It's just like an arrow into that top corner. And listen, I think Phil Foden,
10:23 as a fantastic player, he's been, has always played second fiddle, hasn't he, in his career
10:26 to De Bruyne, to David Silva, to Sergio Aguero, Erling Haaland, all these players. But now
10:33 he is trying to stump a claim to say, "No, no, I am the main man. Move aside, guys. This
10:38 is my team. He wants to be the first name on the team sheet." I think the reality is
10:43 he is still second fiddle behind De Bruyne and Haaland. I mean, it was only a week ago
10:48 we were talking about that Luton game and they won 6-2. That was certainly the narrative
10:52 coming away from the game that night that City have had a lot of players with these
10:56 tiers still being guys. But I just think Foden has, I mean, if he's the third most important
11:04 player in this team, and I mean, Rodger would have something to say about that, as would
11:07 John Stones actually as well. But what an asset to have as kind of the number three
11:14 attacking player. It's just incredible, the quality that City have in that team. And I
11:21 think for Foden as well, he is just reaching a point that as De Bruyne is slowly starting
11:26 to slow down, although probably not a huge amount of evidence of that in the last couple
11:29 of weeks, but De Bruyne will only naturally start to slow down in the next couple of years
11:33 and City have their man to just step into that void. And the way he's playing at the
11:38 moment is fantastic. He probably is the player of the season in my eyes. I think Olly Watkins
11:41 would have something to say about that maybe. I think Arling Haaland as well, that you would
11:46 kind of forget how incredible his numbers actually are. I know it's not quite the same
11:50 as last season, but he's not far off a goal of game, is he? So, yeah, it's been an interesting
11:55 one. I think in the next couple of weeks we'll obviously decide who is the player of the
11:58 season, but probably for me at the moment, Foden would just nick it.
12:02 And to finish off, obviously we did our combined 11 for the Manchester derby. It was fairly
12:07 one-sided for City. In terms of Liverpool and City, a combined 11 is probably quite
12:14 more even. Michael, who have you gone for?
12:17 Well, I've gone for Split that has 6-5 in favour of City. So I've gone Allison Nett,
12:25 obviously not going to be available this weekend for Liverpool. Now there's Trent Alexander-Arnold
12:28 who I've put in at right back. I've gone Van Dijk, don't think I'm going to argue with
12:32 that one. John Stones is the first City player. Robertson, I mean City don't really have a
12:37 left back, so I think that one kind of picks itself. I think the midfield has got to be
12:42 all City, hasn't it? I've gone Rodri Silva and De Bruyne. I think the attacking players
12:47 you have to have Salah and Haaland, there's no argument with that. And then, you know,
12:52 just spent the last couple of minutes waxing lyrical about Phil Foden, so I can leave him
12:57 right after that. So yeah, Foden in the left flank. So pretty even split there. And that
13:02 would be some team if you put that out on paper. What about your team, Charles? I know
13:07 you've got at least one difference from me.
13:09 Yeah, the only difference from you is Karl Walker over Trent. I am a big advocate of
13:15 Trent and his deliveries into the box. I feel like Southgate has got to look at that for
13:20 the Euros coming up and he can play a midfield role. But currently at right back, I don't
13:25 think there's anyone better in the world, in my opinion. The pace, the aggression and
13:30 the way he's adapted to Pep's football as well. Karl Walker, I think has been fantastic
13:35 and he's been quite underrated really as a whole in this fantastic team. So yeah, it's
13:41 a very good team I think. Something a dream fantasy match might be good for. But yeah,
13:48 that's my combined 11.
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