Who will start the season in Man United’s midfield?
episode
Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show
50 min
4 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 1 month ago
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What does United’s midfield look like after the PSG friendly?
The Athletic FC.
This is Talker Devils, the Athletic Show dedicated to Manchester United. Coming up today, what will United's midfield look like to begin the new Premier League season? Bruno is back. We've had our first sight of Yuri Tielemans in red. We've had an injury scare for Mason Mount. Cobbie Mainu's even back around as well. And could there be yet more to add to that midfield mix? We'll also have the latest from the PSG friendly transfer updates, of course, at this time of year. And there's a live stream on the horizon. More on that later. I talk the devil's live stream, obviously. The very first one. Anyway, introductions. Andy is fresh from his trip to Gothenburg, just got off a flight actually. Laurie and Carl are also here.
Laurie's fresh from the beach. Away in a caravan in Wales, hey?
A cottage actually Ian, just to speak.
A cottage, sorry. It's me who does caravans.
Yeah.
Uh Andy feeling fresh, good trip.
Fresh at all, mate. I that that plane from Gothenburg to Manchester was full of United fans, and more than one of them said to me, Well, they they commented on my appearance and it was not complimentary, but I don't feel fresh. Gothenburg is a fantastic city with an active nightlife, it comes alive in the summer, it was full of football fans. Manchester United fans outnumbering PSG by six or seven to one, and um lovely to spend a bit. bit of time with not just Reds but former players like Ronnie Johnson and um and Jesper Blonquist, who's the world's nicest man. He's just won the
Yeah, we've had him on the podcast before, haven't we? Lovely, lovely guy. Right, let's jump straight into it then, Carl. We we talked a little bit about this on the last show, but I think getting a first sight of Tielemans, also Bruno Fernandez being back, the s the injury scare for Mason Mount, it's maybe sort of complicated the the idea that we had for the whole game. What do you think United's first choice midfield is actually going to look like with these options now for Michael Carrick?
I am gonna stick my neck out and I'm gonna think United's midfield three would be Bruno Fernandes as your number ten, Yuri Tielemans as your box to box player, uh Andre Santos as your holding number six. Oh. On match day one. I think Mainu's gonna be on the bench.
How long until we start wearing T shirts with a slogan on about Cubby Mainu needing to play games then?
Oh they'll alternate, don't worry. I think it's all gonna be nice until at least the October international break. The long international break that I hope everyone already listening to this podcast needs to start getting ready for.
It's a long one. Um it's a lot longer than usual. Do you agree, Andy, from what you've seen on the on the preseason so far?
Yeah, I just can't see like Andre Santos playing all the games and then just stopping. I think that given who the opponents are in the first couple of matches, if you're a manager you're thinking, You've got a chance, you deserve your chance, you've been playing well. Tielemans really impressed me when he came on. As I said, I sat next to Blomquist and he knows far more about football than me and he was just kept saying he always looks to pass forward. That's his first reaction, pass forward. So I'd be saying Santos and Mount you know, when he went off, everyone was like, Oof, oof. Off. But then Someone said to me at half time, I just think he was st someone stood on his foot, which isn't nice for any human.
And then uh afterwards he walked through the mix zone and he looked absolutely fine. Not that I'm a doctor saying that he is absolutely fine, just saying it
He looked absolutely fine. Even though it was only minor, even though it was just a knock, it was still that sort of feeling that everyone had straight away um when he went down. And and that's exactly the concern that was shown when uh you said on the podcast last week that his performances deeper in midfield might mean that there isn't a third midfielder coming.
That was the response from a lot of people that would have concerns about that and perhaps more strong feelings on that topic.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What does United’s midfield look like after the PSG friendly?
0:02–6:17
2
Which players are likely to start in United’s opening Premier League match?
6:17–11:58
3
How have injuries to Mason Mount and others affected midfield options?
11:58–18:35
4
What impact could new signings like André Santos and Tielemans have on United’s midfield balance?
18:35–24:28
5
Is Lewis Hall a realistic target for United or is he off the market?
24:28–30:44
6
Which left‑back alternatives could replace Luke Shaw if needed?
30:44–37:58
7
How are United’s transfer dealings (e.g., Radek Vitek, Luis Hall) shaping the squad for the new season?
37:58–44:52
8
When and where can fans watch the live stream and upcoming preseason matches?
44:52–50:42