"HE'S UPSET THE BALANCE!" Alex Crook DOUBTS Marcus Rashford can RETURN to his old form at Man Utd!

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Alex Crook doubts Rashford can return to old form at Man Utd

talkSPORT reviews the weekend: Crook discusses Arsenal's win at Forest, Man United's draw at Leeds, Rashford's future, and pressure at Crystal Palace. He argues Rashford is past his peak and has upset United's attacking balance, while the host backs Michael Carrick.

Alex Crook joined Jeff Stelling and Stuart Pearcs on Breakfast to discuss the weekend's Premier League results. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague manchesterunited

Transcript

dropping points at Leeds, a 1-1 away draw though, not the worst result in the world is it? One win from seven though for Michael Carrick, Brighton 3-0 up in 10 minutes against arch rivals Crystal Palace, the second goal from Diego Gomez was a thing of joy, a thing of beauty from the halfway line, absolutely pure strike. Bournemouth dominated Sutherland in the battle of two Europa League sides. First win for Marco Reza in the Premier League. Sunderland could go bottom of the table this evening. And Champions Arsenal won 1-0 at Forest to stay three points behind the leaders of Man City thanks to a goal from substitute Noni Maduweke. Talksports Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook was across all the games during game day live with Sam Matterface, which came to you live from the city ground, and Crookie joins us now. Morning, Good morning, Crookie. Good morning. So, Crookie, lots to talk about. Let's start with Arsenal getting a bit of stick for their performance at Nottingham Forest. What was your view? Is that flak fair or unfair um listen it wasn't the best game in the world certainly not the best game even yesterday in fact probably one of the worst games i've watched all season but a 1-0 win away from home at not even forest it is never a bad result I never really felt like they weren't going to win the game Arsenal even though Forest had a couple of decent openings still haven't scored a home goal which is a big concern I think for Oliver Glasner's side and Liam de Lappe in particular looks like a striker, a little bit devoid of confidence at this moment in time maybe taking that extra touch where if he got the shot away earlier perhaps he could have got his goal but defensively very solid Arsenal I thought Esri Konsa was excellent another real shift in midfield from Declan Bryce and those impact players that Mikel Arteta talks about came off the bench and did their job Madu Ekie with the goal I thought Jokka has actually played really well and stretched the forest defence when he came on so overall if you're an Arsenal fan and they were celebrating wildly at the end quite a satisfactory afternoon but for a neutral not a game that will live long in the memory no Stuart bring you in this as well just touch on Forrest I thought Liam Dillap was absolutely outstanding he certainly he causes problems he was up for the battle with gabrielle and concert there's no doubt he likes the physicality of the game for me he's just got to work out when to be physical and when not to be physical. You can't be physical all the time, you've got to play with your head in some ways. I agree with Krookie, I think the chance you're Talking about He got played in Didn't he On the sort of Inside left Cut into the box And concert got back That should have been finished Or you cut back inside Concert You know what I mean It should have been finished With two touch He took three so it's just those little finite moments you know but he gives them a focal point that's for sure and same thing at the end Chris Wood had a glorious chance didn't he but just wanted to cut back inside took too long what What about your beloved Manchester United, then Crookley 1-1 draw against Leeds? People keep saying, you know, when's Michael Carrick going to get it right? But I wonder if this is as right as it gets for Manchester United. You know, is this about their level, bearing in mind the players they've got? Yeah, I've got to say I was a nervous wreck watching this game at Ellen Road because it felt like a horrible fixture for Michael Carrick. Obviously on the back of that defeat in the Champions League in midweek and all the fallout from Lissandro Martinez, his comments. In isolation, this is a decent point away from home. Leeds have made a really good start to the season. United obviously not in the best place so to come away with a draw I think is a step in the right direction. The goal they conceded is annoying um you know because it came from a set piece they had an opportunity to deal with the first ball didn't take it i'm not sure what brian and boomer was doing not even looking at the play um and obviously dominic calvert lewin has taken and his finish as you would expect based on what we've seen from the start of last season but there was a bit more energy I thought about United, there was a bit more commitment in terms of putting their bodies on the line and winning those tackles but there is a lack of quality Jeff as you're alluding to and it's hard to see where the goals are coming from Bruno Fernandes played in that false number nine position he's not having his best run of form at the moment obviously no Benjamin Szczewsko due to injury and I think it's a game that exposed the flaws in the the squad that Martinez was talking about because obviously he had to go off at half-time. Masraoui came on, not really up to it as far as I'm concerned and the fact they didn't sign a back-up striker I think has left Michael Carrick really short of goals. But as I say, 1-1 away from home at Leeds is decent enough. Let's see what they can do at Como live on TalkSport 2 in midweek. Crookie, that throws up the question for me. Marcus Rashford on the bench, not used. You You know, do we think we've seen the best of Rashford at United? What's going to be his future at the club? Well, I think he's probably Peekstra. It answers your question. You know, that season when he scored so many goals under Eric Ten Hag that convinced them to give him this huge big money contract, which has been a real problem, I think, for the football club. And since he came back in, I was hoping that maybe his spell away at Barcelona would have sparked a new lease of life out of Marcus Rashford but we haven't seen it in all honesty and I think Michael Carrick was absolutely right to put him on the bench yesterday and the fact he didn't bring him on at the end of the game when United are short of goals and chasing a winner probably tells you that he He doesn't trust him at this moment in time. And I think his return has been a problem. I think there's probably some unhappy players in that dressing room that he's earning so much money. I think also it's been an issue for Matthias Cunha because it's his place that he took Marcus Rashford and you can see that Cunha is sulking a little bit and there was such a good balance at the top end of the pitch last season with Cunha and Mbumo and Bruno Fernandes, Ahmed Diallo, Sheshko when he was fit but Marcus Rashford I think you know not on a personal level but just because those players feel aggrieved I think he's upset the balance of the attack and isn't putting the numbers on the board at the moment to justify that huge salary. Yeah and Ahmed being back gives you better balance you feel. Yeah definitely that was a real problem at the start of the season I also think Michael Carrick made a mistake because Brian and Bumo played as the false number nine for much of pre-season did it really well scored goals and we turn up at the first game of the season at Hull suddenly and Bumo's not in the false number nine I think it was Bruno that day Cunha's played there and finally now that Bumo's spending a bit more time through the middle there is at least a goal for it he missed a good chance in the first half he obviously scored his goal but yeah Ahmad does bring a bit of balance even if he's not quite fully fit at this moment in time. Crookie very very briefly we know that Palace are never afraid to take decisive action Frank de Boer of course lasted four games in charge there should Roy Hodgson be getting ready for a call quite possibly jeff as you say steve parish if he sees it going in the wrong direction he will make that big decision and that was a shocking performance and result wasn't it you can't be three nil down away from home against your arch rivals inside ten minutes obviously losing five in the end there high profile examples where palace managers have lost their jobs after recent defeats to Brighton I don't think he'll go before the weekend because there's such a quick turnaround in games they've got Besiktas away in the Europa League which looks potentially tricky and then I'm at Southurst Park next Sunday for the visit of an out-of-sorts Newcastle side so I think these next couple of games are going to be pivotal there are definitely concerns from within the camp about Pierre Sarge's tactics and his training sessions as well I think Steve Parrish had reservations even before the last international break so it's very much watch this space at this moment in time. Crookie thanks very much indeed. Thanks guys. Talk Sports Chief football correspondent Alex Crook there. For more of his thoughts check out Premier League All Access podcast which is available right now. Josh you the Man United fan says good to have you back Jeff. Suppose Man United would be better off with your mate Amorim still at the helm as right as it gets sounds like you don't really rate Carrick. Joshy that wasn't the point I was making. I think that getting a 1-1 draw at Leeds is a pretty decent result with what Michael Carrick has at his disposal and trust me I'm a big Michael Carrick fan I think that Manchester United should certainly stick with him it shouldn't even be a topic for discussion at the moment. Coming up should 71 year olds who are we talking about here really be snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef? I'll tell you why they should