Stick to Football
Mainoo’s Comeback, United on Fire & Is Saka World Class? | Stick to Football EP 114
29 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is discussed at the start of this section?
Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing. We hope you enjoy the show. How are we? How are we? Howard. It was a sore one, that, wasn't it? It happens. It's football. We pick ourselves up. That was a sore one, though.
Chapter 2: What went wrong for Arsenal in their recent match?
I thought we played well. Second half. I know. But you don't take your chances and then you get a little bit of a punch. That's what football does to you. Brings you back down to earth with a bump. We've had two good weeks and then you get carried away and you think... Is that what United might do?
Two good weeks and get carried away.
I hope not. I hope not, Kieran. I don't think it's a time to get carried away, but it's a time to be happy again. And your lot, by the way. Oh, don't start. Your lot. They're not in the running order, are they? And you're all turning on your manager. I see. Is that harsh?
I don't think it's harsh, giving the money. The signings.
But you've got to let him work it out on you, surely. He deserves that. I really like him.
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Chapter 3: How has Michael Carrick impacted Manchester United's performance?
I don't dislike him. He won a league in his first season. Honestly, see, you don't get it, though. I think they're painful to watch. You don't agree?
I don't think they are painful to watch. I mean, look, I thought Leeds at home.
All of them, Fulham away, even Arsenal away, it was a good result. Oh, Arsenal, I thought you played really well. We've got Carabao this week, yeah, ideally we need to win that, but why is Eketike on the bench then against Bournemouth when we start Gakpo again? Brighton, isn't it?
Eh?
Bright. Bright?
Yeah.
Thank you. Do you want to keep that or do you want me to give you... I was just supposed to say, where's Jamie?
You and Roy have got matching jumpers.
I know. Do you know how long he's had that jumper? No, honestly, guess.
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Chapter 4: What are the expectations for Arsenal this season?
Have a guess.
Eight years. That's Salford, that. Oh, Chil's getting a buzz. That's Salford, isn't it?
How long? The same colour.
That's Salford, isn't it? We're the same colour, aren't we? Yeah. 23 years. It's a bit darker. It's a bit darker. It's green. 2002. You were wearing that while you were playing for Man United. You can't wear that as a Man United player.
Under his strip.
Thank you. A bit of quality. Oh, funny. Do you know how long she's had that jumper?
I literally got this for Christmas.
Roy, what make is that jumper? Not that it matters. Don't know.
It's a make, isn't it?
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Chapter 5: What tactical changes have improved Manchester United's performance?
The courage is going, give me the ball or a striker showing for it or somebody getting on a half turn. That's my point about Odegaard. He can do it in them deep areas. Yeah, brilliant. Great. You've got to do it where it matters. You've got to hurt teams. You've got to get it next to the centre-half. You've got to receive it there.
David Silva, Phil Foden, I said before, they win games of football by doing that. And that kills your centre-forward when he's up fucking there. The centre-forward's been brought in to get a bit of help from your number 10. He's not giving him. And not just your centre-forward, your wide players as well. He brings them into the game. That's what's got him.
Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. We know there's a change in attitude and we know there's a change in results and performances, but what I've been surprised by with United is actually it's very difficult to get combinations. It isn't just a team sat behind the ball counter-attacking.
So we've seen United over the years go back into a really deep shape, counter-attack with Rashford and Marseille at games, beat City away or win games like that. The way in which they're combining through the midfield, the way in which they're actually... They're on the same wavelength.
Yeah, and to get that in three and eight days, that's the shock for me in terms of just the actual... He hasn't done that. The players have done that. That's the question. The players... The players, like Paul's saying, in the right positions. They know what each other wants. It is as simple as that sometimes. Football in general, not just with the United situation.
And good players like playing... And they know when there's something in the air. In the last few months, we're like, there's something... But we've also had to listen to it last year when the manager came in talking about, I need a pre-season with everybody. The good players go, I need three or four days. We'll be fine.
You don't need three or four months to build up a relationship with a footballer. When I played with Scorsese, people said, what did you work on? We didn't really work on anything. When he went forward, when I sat in... I'm surprised by the combination.
I'm surprised by the, to be fair, not the defensive compactness, because I think that's something that a manager would be able to put into a group of players, but the way in which the two, the full-back and the wide player on each side are working together to try and nullify threats and then spring in from that.
The way in which Bermo and Bruno are defending in terms of how they're doing, and then it looks... In the two games, are you talking about the weekend? I'm talking about the two games. Steve Holland you're talking about. No, no, no. But the conceded... LAUGHTER They're continuing two games against Arsenal, so let's not make it a defensive masterclass. But their attacking players turned up.
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Chapter 6: What are the implications of Michael Carrick's potential permanent appointment?
at City against Old Trafford they did to be fair they were 20 yards 30 yards outside the box that's not always been the case they were for large periods they still had 70% possession or something no they did my point is I just feel like there's been a great look the players have taken it on board I get that you're giving
However, there's definitely been an organisation defensively and in attack that I think they've picked up very quickly that I'm surprised.
But Gary, they're good players. Shouldn't you just be able to go in any system?
Obviously, the communication of the manager, Gary, is very clear for them.
Chapter 7: How do the panelists evaluate Arsenal's chances in the league?
Let me throw this back at you then. Those good players have been with a manager for 18 months and he's not been able to get a system into them. They've not picked up that. That's on the coach. So hang on, why have good players not been able to pick up with him? Because that's how he's coaching them. Well, you said that as well, Gary. You said the best. You said it's about players.
You can't just say it's about... Yeah, but Gary, we've seen after... You're the one who just said it. Three days and we're seeing a difference. You're talking 18 months he's not been able to give us anything. What was the value of that? It's on our moral system. No, so I'm saying... I'm saying that you... Basically, how in three days have they got that defensive and attacking organisation?
You're saying it's down to good players. Good players and communication. He's obviously... Why have those same good players not been able to pick up a system for 18 months?
But is this one more a system that they used to play in? Right, OK.
We all played three at the back under Glenn Hoddle with England, right? I used to play three at the back with Glenn Hoddle in England, 4-4-2 at United. But under Glenn, we picked up the system pretty quickly in terms of how to play differently. Good players. Oh my God. I knew. But Nev, I agree. But it's still only two games. I get that. United beat Liverpool earlier in the season. Yes.
I get that. And they're fun ways. So they have fun ways to win games of football before and they're fun ways over the last week. Not playing like that. No, it's been definitely better to watch. I'm agreeing with you. But let's see over the next few months and the next year or two. How it goes. So let's not get too carried away with the two games. I'm not getting carried away.
And I think the attacking play certainly has been excellent. But again, you're right about the way they're set up. They gave up two goals at Arsenal. I think they've defended excellently in the two games, by the way. They gave up two goals against Arsenal. But if set-piece... All right, that doesn't count, then. United won the Champions League. It does count, Roy.
But my point is, Arsenal, to be fair, are a freak. Arsenal are a freak from set-pieces. They just are. I mean, they are a freak. They are. As you mentioned a minute ago, you've got to have players to suit systems.
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Chapter 8: Who are the best players without international caps?
So if you went to England and you said you played three at the back, probably suited them. Your players might have done. These players have shown that they haven't fitted into the system. Luke Sharpe, I said, he's a left-back.
Yeah.
And what's been better than last Monday too? Big position at United, the goalkeeper. Thank you, Clive. It's been the last year or two. The gores have been given away. Look how close you lot were to losing Kami Mainu. Where are you at on Michael Carrick? Let's move around the table. Quite an emotional thing around. Don't you tap away.
Gary's got to throw something in. Go on, go on, Gary.
I've got my answer. There is a debate that obviously will, to be fair, start to emerge now over Michael Carrick. Should he be the next England manager?
LAUGHTER
And this idea of should Michael Carrick be considered and should he be given the job at the end of the season if this continues? I suppose that's the question. So I think, like you said, what we've seen after three days, if he could do that in three days, Gal, then surely if he carries on for the rest of the season winning games like that and looking good in the games, What are you going to do?
What are you going to say? Right, let's find someone else. Let's find the next hammering because, you know, he's somewhere else and we've got someone right in our midst and we're not going to give it to him. Give it to him if he's doing this, like Roy said, continually, if it still happens. Give it to Michael Carrick. Why not? I hope they give it to him. I hope they give to him in the summer.
You said the other day, Roy... I don't think it's the right decision, but good luck with it. I'm sticking to my guns. I've said my piece. I think he's got the job. And if he gets it in the summer, you go, listen, good luck to him.
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