Manchester Derby Debate Gets HEATED! United v City Predictions | Big Game Preview with Gary Neville
Big Game Preview is here, and it’s a Manchester derby special! Gary Neville is joined by Manchester United fans Adam McKola and Harrison from The Overlap Breakdown, alongside Manchester City fans Luke Stanley and Steven McInerney, for the first episode of our brand-new show, brought to you by Sky Bet. Ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, the panel assess both teams’ starts to the season, review their transfer windows, discuss Michael Carrick and Enzo Maresca, and predict how the game will play out. They also debate a number of hot takes, including whether Pep Guardiola has achieved more in the Premier League than Sir Alex Ferguson, before going head-to-head in the ultimate Manchester derby quiz. Who do you think will win the Manchester derby? 00:00 Intro 02:59 United Transfer Window Review 10:18 City Transfer Window Verdict 21:26 Is Mainoo Untouchable 27:37 Can Enzo and Andersen Coexist 28:35 Picking the Derby Midfield 30:43 United Best XI Debate 37:37 Yoro and Heaven Solution 41:31 Derby Prediction and Haaland Key 45:07 Maresca Manager Review 50:43 Derby Must Win 53:37 Old Trafford Atmosphere 59:02 Pep Vs Fergie 01:05:28 Bruno Vs De Bruyne 01:07:40 Bigger Club Debate 01:08:37 Derby Quiz Time 01:21:18 Results and Predictions SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/c/theoverlap STICK TO UNITED WITH WAYNE ROONEY ON THE UNITED STAND https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedStand/videos JOIN THE OVERLAP WHATSAPP CHANNEL HERE https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC3WQvAYlUCoCqZgA45 SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAP BREAKDOWN CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapBreakdown SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAP NEWSLETTER https://substack.com/@theoverlapnewsletter SUBSCRIBE TO IT WAS WHAT IT WAS PATREON Join here ➡️ www.patreon.com/itwas SUBSCRIBE TO STICK TO RUGBY HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapRugby SUBSCRIBE TO THE STICK TO CRICKET CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapCricket?subconfirmation=1 FOLLOW STICK TO CRICKET ON SOCIAL 👇🏏 Instagram -…
Transcript
Very good. I got more cue cards than Jesus Christ anything I've ever seen in my life. >> [sighs] >> All good? Very good. Very good. >> [laughter] [gasps] >> I thought they were nice. Yes, got your bath. Just something is this guy in London I went shopping I was down for what I was down for. What's the first week of the season? Yeah, Friday so stay down on Saturday before I went to Newcastle and so I went in this shop and this guy saw it and he said you have to start wearing wide leg pants. And I bought three or four and that was it. How are we how are we talking here? Like No, they're not No, a couple of them are wide. How wide were them in comparison to the other ones? Well, they're like boot cuts. The black ones? Cuz everything went skinny, didn't it? Yeah. Yeah. I couldn't I couldn't buy jeans like everything was just skinny fit. Or they're all ripped. Like a million holes in them. >> [laughter] >> I don't think you could wear them for football match like cuz in like watching them in the stands. I don't think you could But wide leg I'm not You're bringing the 70s back doing that, aren't you? City fans can't wear them, can they? You can't be wearing I can't I don't think you'd be wearing anything wide leg to the game, to be honest. >> [laughter] >> I'm not sure about [clears throat and snorts] that. I'm let's go. >> [music] >> But I just think there'll be that 10-minute period where it'll become ferocious and it'll become that quick and they'll be like, "What's going on?" I wouldn't Kobbie Mainoo for anybody. You won't swap him for Ousmane Dembélé? Nobody. To me, if he's not a Man United player, I I eat my hat. To me, I just He's just got balls. >> Last year, it'd have been the end of the world for me if we'd lost that derby, [music] but I want to win the game and I'd definitely not take a draw now. >> Well, a clean sheet, I'd I'd take I'd snap your hand off, to be [laughter] honest with you. >> If you go 1-0 down, 2-0 down, and the crowd are up for it, and Old Trafford's rocking, your head's feeling hot. >> Cannot talk about money, mate. Look at the amount of money United have spent when fans were there. >> city. We're not talking about Fergie. We're not talking about United right now. >> Sure, but they're not scared of the South Stand. >> [music] >> This episode of The Big Game Preview is brought to you by Sky Bet, and I'm joined by Luke, [music] Steven, Adam, and Harrison. And for this program on Manchester United and Manchester City, we needed a neutral facilitator, so they >> [laughter] >> invited me along. So, how are we going, lads? Where are we up to? So, let's start with United, if you don't mind. We're at home, so that's the only real reason. >> We'll go bottom-up, yeah. >> Harrison, Adam, going back a week or so, the transfer window closed. What are your reflections now when you sort of had a bit of time to think about it, about how United's window was? >> On edge. Um I think it was the first time we actually got a proper midfield rebuild, which I'll give I'll give them props for at least doing that. And I think United, obviously, we struggled to properly control games and take the game to teams. So, I think the idea of having Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat for me was the one that kind of stitched it all together. We have to see what obviously it looks like. Uh but I feel like the other three needed that type of player in there. So, I was quite optimistic about it. Uh but then I just thought I thought it was one of them situations where they rebuilt the midfield, but then you're missing now just I still think we're so flimsy in defense. I think there's just so many soft spots. Um it's mostly just when And got the ball and the ball comes your way. I just think the speed in the back line's not good enough. I don't think we've got um enough over over large patches of grass to just to control games and keep the ball up. Now, I think on the ball we've probably done quite well in terms of the additions we've made. Uh and I think Balogun will do some of the off-ball stuff, but I think I think it was really I think it was really worrying that we didn't nail down a left back this summer. >> Uh just the left back? >> Left back and center half, I think. I think that's where I'd have That's where I'd have edged me bets, I think. >> With the Just cuz I I I think if you're looking at the market and you think of Let's Let's forget like say £100 million signings. I know there haven't been any at center back and left back, but if you just said like, "Okay, we had 50 million or 60 million." What signings have you seen this summer that you wish or think United could have done at center back and left back? >> I like Diakhaby. I mean, for Liverpool, I think he was roughly around the same the same price. I think that looks like a proper modern center half, a proper ball player, imposing, leads, steps out on the ball, very calm in his actions, a little bit more composed. I think that's what United need. I think all the lads that are in there, I think you look at maybe maybe where Maguire's really good in terms of the defending and, you know, in both boxes and stuff like that, and being a little bit more of a like a leader or whatever, commanding back line. I think Diakhaby would obviously give him the balance. I think we've always lacked a genuine partnership in the center of defense. I think if you look at all the partnerships that have always come around, gone around, they just none of them gel well. I couldn't tell you the last time Man United had a good, you know, proper good center half partnership. Um so, center half would have been would have been the one for me. Um I mean, everyone raved about our left back, but I think it was only really one in there, which was Lewis Hall, which everyone wanted, and we obviously couldn't get that one done. Um but I think I'll give him I'll give him credit for sorting out the midfield, and I feel like for me it was almost the right balance, bit of more of an experienced player, someone who's got ridiculous amount of minutes in Tielemans, balanced out with a few more, you know, younger, more project maybe players to come with Mainoo. And I think you seen a better version of Mainoo already with Tielemans in there. >> We'll come back to the midfield when we talk about the game, but Adam, where are you at with the transfer window? >> I I'm pretty much agree with the central midfield. I was delighted that we bought players in there. I know Tielemans and Andre Santos probably weren't our first choice. >> Yeah. >> Um but you have to be able to maneuver in the market and we did it. Um Balogun was the one I really wanted. I wanted him last summer as well and >> Yeah. >> last season didn't change my mind on him. Um he's 22 years old. You're going to have peaks and troughs in your in your early stage of your career, but we needed a left-back and a backup striker. The center-back I was a little less eager on because I I looked at it and I thought we've just bought Lenny Aro. Just bought Aiden Heaven. You know, De Ligt is there and I keep seeing this thing where it's like we got the same backline since 2020, I think it is or something crazy like that. >> you lost to Brentford. >> And then it's like you look at De Ligt's supposed to be in there. >> Yeah. >> Lisandro Martinez, when fit and available, is a very, very good center-back. So, I don't think the plan has been to stay with that backline. It's just injuries haven't helped, I guess. But um I like De Ligt when he's fit. It's just, >> Well, who is that backline? So, when you when you talk about I mean, United's back four last two the last two games have been probably their best back four that they probably got that they're going to have available unless you unless you bring De Ligt into that. You say Lisandro Martinez is a very good center-back, but does does do they perform like good center-backs when they play for Manchester United is what I would ask. >> I think Licha does. He's just he's just not available all the time. Which is the which is a problem. Availability is an ability in and of itself. Um he's just not available. I think he's perfect for the way we want to play football, taking it out from the back. I spoke to Harry Maguire in preseason and he was like, "Everything's on us taking the ball out from the back now." and I kind of thought, "Well, that doesn't really suit your game." because you do ping great long balls into the into the flanks, but generally speaking coming out with it is nervous then wants to get out because there's big spaces behind him. But with the amount we had, I knew we were never going to get a center back. We've got five or six there. The left back for me I think Luke Shaw's improved in attack and he looks better with Marcus Rashford. But defensively, if you look at the three goals we conceded against Milan in preseason, one against Hull, the first against Ipswich, and then >> Everton. >> Everton where he kind of over covers. I get it he has to go and cover because he's he's been left a little bit in the lurch by the midfield and the center backs, but he over covers and then can't get back out to George and we concede and I just think we need someone to play in front front of Luke Shaw. >> Are you more confident or less confident after the transfer window that we'll finish in the Champions League places? I'm ignoring the title for now. Just >> I think everyone else I think everyone else combined. I mean, we couldn't we didn't have the privilege of spending, you know, 300 million on a brand new midfield and getting like premium >> Didn't sell any players really though, >> No, no, of course, but I'm just saying you look at what Spurs have done in the market. You look at what City have done in the market. But like we just didn't really have the the facilities to do that. >> It is a big point the selling part because obviously like Rashford, they wouldn't have expected Rashford to be back. >> He got he got injured. >> He got Icardi got injured. They would have expected probably Zirkzee to probably leave for even 10, 15, 20 million. So they would have expected to bring in probably that 50, 60 million, wouldn't they? They didn't bring any of that money in. >> But they've not got to be more proactive in the market in trying to sell players. It's like feels like we're too nice. With Zirkzee, I I like him as a footballer, but I see he's not suited to the Premier League. >> Yeah. >> But it felt like I will keep we don't mind keeping him around. He's kind of okay and he's a good lad. It's like if you go out from the start of the window and say this guy is up for sale. I know it decreases the value a bit, but you get a buyer for them and you get them off the books and you can bring someone in and we just you >> think you let the stocks kind of get too low but cuz you look at like Ryan Disney and Nico Gonzalez at City. They've been at City like a year or two each and we've they've had they've won trophies. They've not been like terrible signings but they've gone now. If you let them hang about for two, three more years, same with Marouane Chamakh, Savinho, if you let them hang around and then the sort of stock drops, you don't get any money from them. That's that's United's problem I think with selling them. >> as Zeki, he's not a Premier League player really and like the money is outside the Premier in the Premier League these days, isn't it? Like people spend 50, 60 million in the Premier League but if you want an Italian side to come in and get Zeki, no one's going to spend that money. No one's going to spend it's going to be a few million or a loan or whatever. That's the issue. I think a lot of the United players, they're not demanding big fees because there's no success attached to them which I think is going to be difficult for you guys. >> The big game preview [music] is brought to you by Let's go to City just on the transfer window. We were sat in actually in here about maybe three or four weeks ago now and I think it was at a point where you hadn't signed so you certainly hadn't signed Enzo Fernandez and you hadn't signed Boadu. I'm trying to think if there's >> Yeah. >> Ben. >> Yeah, and you hadn't signed Indiaye. >> We were sat there thinking oh City could be in a little bit of bother. In fact, it looked like they're struggling right now if you don't get a obviously a couple of midfielders. You just sold Rodri actually I think a few days before and I was like I just don't get that one at all when you're trying to embed a new manager. Um where are you at with your transfer window? >> I thought it was pretty good. I thought it took a while. There was a lot of question marks cuz we got like a vaguely new director of football, Hugo Viana. There's City fans saying what's he got for us basically. And it took a bit of time but we got we got the deals done. I think the the Enzo Fernandez one seemed to me like it was always going to happen late on. When it was left so late, people were saying is it going to fall through and the Chelsea thing kind of nearly messed us up as well with them, you know, lacking that that signing at the end but I think Anderson by the way has been unbelievable so far. I think we've had a couple of games maybe not on TV as well but I thought that game last weekend he was he was man of the match against Coventry. He was so good. The way he just cuts up the play as well. Definitely like that and then I think Enzo Fernandez has got a bit of a mean streak. Buadi as well, age 18, he's coming in the Champions League and was one of our best players midweek. So, I thought he's been I thought some of the signings in midfield have been class. >> Yeah, I think it was I think there was a quote from you that someone put to me before that you said that that you thought initially Anderson was expensive or seemed expensive, but you feel like it's a bargain. >> Yeah, I think essentially I mean there's there's no way to ever look at 116 million pounds and go it's a good Yeah, but then go wow, what a deal, you know, but I mean you know he's good beforehand, but I think he's one of those players that the more you watch him, you you realize just how good he is. Like he could do everything. And when you watching City you playing Forest, you don't fully pay attention to the opposition player and I've been remarkably impressed by him and it's not just because of his abilities. It's it's his responsibility too. You've obviously played with world-class players. You know what it's like when you've got a player who wants the ball, who wants to take control of the game. And I'm incredibly excited by the transfer window because you know, talking midfield rebuilds and we needed that. We lost Bernardo Silva. Um obviously Rodri in the summer before that De Bruyne, Gundogan, it's like legends of the game. >> is now as well, too. >> Exactly, yeah. Nico Rinders and moved on as well. And for a long time we've tried to rebuild the midfield. We bought a bunch of players, you know, Calvin Phillips many years ago, Nunes became a right back. Kovacic came in as a squad player, really good player, but not a nailed-on starter. I've been waiting to see the sure-fire signings in midfield for a while like Rinders and Mamush good good player, sorry, not Mamush. Nico Gonzalez. But when I watch these three that we've signed, they all have that maturity where they feel that they want the ball. Buadi, Anderson, Enzo Fernández, you look at them and immediately I'm genuinely excited because of it. Oh, they have that quality. When you can see that they they are players that they'll get the ball in any position, brave positions and take it. Enzo Fernández already could have had a a few assists already. And he gets the ball on the right-hand side channel where De Bruyne occupied or for the assist for Haaland the other day in the Champions League, the classic David Silva bit where he's on and of left inside of the area. And he's just taking chances and he's keeping the ball really nicely. And Buadi, I think he had the highest pass percentage complete of any player in the Champions League this game week, which is ridiculous for an 18-year-old. And Anderson, >> The thing is as well with Buadi, I think every time he gets it, Buadi, the guy behind me at the game said, "Every time he gets it, he looks like he actually wants to do something." Sometimes players are a little bit I don't know what the word is. >> Subtle and nuanced. I thought I thought he was very solid with the World Cup. In the World Cup, yeah. I mean, maybe he's playing there, you know, in a in a Morocco team where >> Yeah. >> a little bit >> Can I ask you Can I ask you about Talk about midfield re-rebuild. I've been thinking about this, especially when you signed Enzo Fernandez. So, what do you think is your best midfield on paper currently? >> It is hard. I mean, some people would just throw those three in. >> Yeah. >> So, so so if it's them three in there, your three new ones, who plays on the right? >> Well, then you could you could you could put Cherki there, Foden there. It's hard. I I'd personally like to see Cherki in that midfield. >> So, what So, what this The follow-up to the other question is this is, for me, I think um just I'm I know you don't like this, but the Foden, I think I think Foden could be out of it this year. I really do. >> He's played well so far. He's a squad essentially. >> No, I know. I know. I just I look at what you're recruiting for. Got two two players who can play deep. Cherki, Enzo Fernandez are best as 10s, best behind the number nine. Foden doesn't, in my opinion, not really a right-sided player, not really a right winger. >> Well, if you look If you look If you look at what we lost though, if you look at what we lost, we've lost Savinho, Marhious. They could both play wide. So, I think Foden can definitely be used out there. >> Also, that's where he works best for City. >> I think obviously his best season wasn't necessarily there, but I think the way Maresca plays with his wide players is a bit different to Pep he likes them quite direct. Foden's got that ability on the ball. Maybe he's going to be used a little bit more out wide. >> I just >> I'm not bothered. I mean, in the nicest possible way, he's been on the pitch so far, he's contributing. Like, we've the whole squad right now is stronger than last season. >> Yeah. >> And I want to see players come on and contribute. When I think about all of the the in-game management so far from Maresca, the subs are coming on and and working. Foden's starting. Palace poor first half, second half two assists. Really good in the first half of Porto the other day. Like Foden is talented, really talented as we all know that. And if if he's focused and happy, he'll play good football. And at some point he might be on the bench for a few games, but sometimes someone's got to get injured or suspended. He'll have a run of form that's good. Right now, I see a bunch of players that are useful, all of them. And last season there was there was times where we got to December and we had multiple players that had injured like 13, 14 on the bench just a bunch of kids that were never going to get used or Pep had given up on a few players because they weren't playing. >> bring McAtee and McAtee and back in and stuff like that. >> And right now it's quite quite desperate really in it. I don't know what the midfield is but I love it. I really genuinely like it because there's options and that is what we've lacked over the past couple of years. It is I think I'm not going to say it's the ultimate test cuz I don't think Manchester United are the best team in the league, but I do think Manchester United have got everything to cause your midfield problems on counter attacks and your defense problems on counter attacks on Sunday. Is it an acid test for this new midfield? Cuz you've obviously played games so far that h