1. Executive Overview: Core Theses & Key Revelations
The opening weekend of the Premier League season delivered a series of seismic tactical shocks that dismantled preseason assumptions across the English top flight. On the inaugural episode of The Athletic FC Podcast for the new campaign, host Emma Payton alongside analysts Karris Jones and Jay Harris—supplemented by on-the-ground dispatches from Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell and Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell—provided an exhaustive forensic audit of three major footballing crises unfolding in real time. Rather than treating these matchday outcomes as mere early-season anomalies, the panel established a compelling macro-thesis: structural misalignment, incoherent squad assembly, and tactical debt have immediately punished teams that entered the campaign under-prepared or structurally fractured.
The most alarming narrative emerged from the MKM Stadium, where newly promoted Hull City registered a dominant 2-0 victory over Michael Carrick’s Manchester United. It marked Hull’s first top-flight league victory over United since 1974, but the result was far from an accidental underdog heist. Under the charismatic guidance of manager Sergej Jakirović, Hull systematically exposed United's long-standing structural vulnerabilities against low-block, five-at-the-back systems. Despite Carrick deploying a formidable array of attacking talent—including Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Šeško, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo—United produced anemic, congested possession play while exhibiting staggering defensive fragility down their left flank.
Concurrently, Aston Villa’s 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium signaled an abrupt end to their post-European euphoria. Barely fifteen months after lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy following a victory over Freiburg, Villa fielded a starting lineup containing only five members of that championship-winning squad. The departures of core figures such as Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Lucas Digne have left Unai Emery’s tactical framework severely compromised. Compounding this structural erosion is an unprecedented internal revolt: star striker Ollie Watkins, offered a lucrative contract extension through 2030, has formally expressed his desire to leave and is currently training in isolation alongside Emiliano Martínez and Leon Bailey. With Watkins and Rogers accounting for 46 percent of Villa’s Premier League goals last term, Emery faces an operational catastrophe on the eve of the transfer deadline.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur’s heavy defeat to Brentford revealed significant operational issues in North London. Despite substantial summer investment, Spurs’ midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Conor Gallagher, and Lucas Bergvall was physically dominated and tactically overrun by Thomas Frank’s side. The performance exposed lingering psychological vulnerabilities, reminiscent of the mental blocks that derailed Spurs' prior campaigns, while highlighting an extraordinary leadership vacuum that resulted in 20-year-old Archie Gray wearing the captain's armband by default as the fifth choice in a depleted hierarchy.
| Club |
Matchday Result |
Primary Structural Breakdown |
Key Analytical Finding |
| Manchester United |
0–2 vs Hull City (A) |
Inability to break down 5-back low block; left-flank structural exposure |
Carrick's system leaves Luke Shaw isolated and 19-year-old Aidan Heaven exposed to direct vertical transitions. |
| Aston Villa |
0–4 vs Brighton (A) |
Total core squad turnover; star player isolation; rushed debutants |
Only 5 Europa League final starters remain; Watkins training separately; 46% of goal output in jeopardy. |
| Tottenham Hotspur |
1–3 vs Brentford (A) |
Midfield physical subjugation; leadership hierarchy vacuum |
Tonali-Gallagher-Bergvall engine room completely overrun; Gray captained as 5th choice by default. |
2. Context & Background: The Landscape Leading to This Conversation
To fully understand the gravity of the analysis presented on The Athletic FC Podcast, one must examine the specific historical and strategic contexts preceding this opening weekend. Each of the three clubs under scrutiny entered the season navigating delicate structural transitions, where summer recruitment decisions collided directly with tactical realities on the pitch.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United arrived at the opening fixture following a turbulent summer tactical pivot. Having previously operated under Ruben Amorim’s rigid 3-4-2-1 formation, the club transitioned to Michael Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 setup. However, the squad composition retained deep scars from the previous regime. The acquisition of Patrick Dorgu—originally brought to Old Trafford as a specialized left wing-back under Amorim—became an immediate tactical complication. Under Carrick, Dorgu has been re-profiled as a conventional left winger, a role in which his final-third penetration and decision-making remain raw and unrefined. Furthermore, United’s defensive line entered the season with lingering structural questions. With Lisandro Martínez still working his way back to full match fitness, Carrick was forced to hand a start to 19-year-old center-back Aidan Heaven alongside Luke Shaw. This left-sided pairing was immediately targeted by opponents aware of Shaw's aggressive forward runs and Heaven’s operational inexperience.
Aston Villa’s predicament represents a textbook study in the financial and sporting friction caused by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) paired with rapid squad turnover. Unai Emery’s remarkable tenure had reached its zenith with Europa League silverware, but maintaining that competitive peak required severe financial sacrifices. The club was forced into a fire sale of vital assets during the off-season, dismantling the very spine that had provided tactical consistency for three years. When Villa took the pitch at the Amex, the absence of Konsa, Tielemans, Rogers, and Digne was starkly evident. Furthermore, the decision to start summer signing Tiago Gomes—who was rushed back from a calf injury after only two weeks of recovery instead of the prescribed four—highlighted the desperation within Villa’s paper-thin squad depth.
For Tottenham Hotspur, the summer transfer window was characterized by aggressive midfield restacking designed to instill technical dominance and physical resilience. The high-profile arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Conor Gallagher, alongside the integration of young talent Lucas Bergvall, were intended to elevate Spurs into continuous Champions League contention. However, integration requires tactical synergy and emotional stability. Facing a Brentford side honed by Thomas Frank’s direct physical pressing and set-piece mastery, Spurs looked like a collection of talented individuals rather than a cohesive unit. The pre-match reveal of Spurs’ five-man captaincy group—consisting of Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison, and Archie Gray—underscored the fluid nature of their squad leadership, which collapsed into absurdity when injuries and selection choices left young Gray as the team's matchday skipper.
3. Deep-Dive Thematic Breakdown
3.1 Manchester United’s Systemic Vulnerabilities: The Carrick Blueprint and the Back-Five Trap
The tactical autopsy of Manchester United’s collapse at Hull City began with an analysis of Sergej Jakirović’s game plan. As Karris Jones noted during the broadcast, Hull’s coaching staff executed a meticulous opposition analysis, identifying systemic flaws in Carrick’s side that had previously been masked by individual brilliant moments or set-piece conversions from senior figures like Casemiro. Jakirović deliberately deployed a flexible five-at-the-back defensive structure (shifting between a 5-3-2 and a 5-4-1 off the ball) designed to compress the central channels and deny space between the lines.
Carrick opted to start Matheus Cunha as a floating false nine, expecting the Brazilian to drop deep, link play, and pull Hull’s central defenders out of position. However, against a disciplined low block with three central defenders, Cunha’s movement merely congested the middle of the pitch. Without a central focal point to pin Hull's center-backs, United’s possession became horizontal, predictable, and lacking in vertical penetration. The final third became an impenetrable wall of yellow shirts, neutralising United's creative midfielders.
"They identified United's weaknesses. They put them on the back foot straight away. They were direct. They were physical. I think it exposed problems that United have had under Carrick... they just didn't have that edge. United looked a bit undercooked, they lacked urgency." — Karris Jones
When United fell behind, Carrick attempted to alter the outcome through raw talent insertion, introducing Benjamin Šeško, Marcus Rashford (making his first competitive appearance for United in 20 months), Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo. Yet, as Laurie Whitwell observed from the press box at the MKM Stadium, throwing goalscoring figures onto the pitch without structural adjustments only exacerbated the congestion. United accumulated attacking names but lacked a coherent offensive geometry to dismantle Jakirović's well-drilled unit.
Following the final whistle, Carrick delivered a spiky press conference performance, defending his emotional investment and tactical authority. While Carrick asserted that his calm exterior belies an internal fire forged over winning years at Old Trafford, the empirical evidence on the pitch showed a manager struggling to solve a recurrent tactical dilemma: breaking down organized, physical five-back formations.
3.2 The Structural Asymmetry of United’s Left Flank: Shaw, Dorgu, and the Heaven Dilemma
A major tactical highlight of the podcast was the detailed analysis of Manchester United’s left-sided defensive mechanics. Laurie Whitwell and Jay Harris focused on the severe spatial imbalance caused by the combination of Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, and young Aidan Heaven. Jakirović specifically instructed Hull’s wide players and direct attackers, notably Oli McBurnie, to target the space behind Shaw whenever the England international advanced into attacking positions.
Shaw’s natural tendency to overlap high up the pitch created a massive spatial void in transition. Normally, a left-sided center-back must slide wide to cover this zone; however, 19-year-old Aidan Heaven struggled with the physical demands and positional requirements of this coverage responsibility. Heaven was repeatedly forced into isolated duels against McBurnie and direct runners, leading to rapid defensive disorientation across United's back line.
This structural flaw was compounded by Patrick Dorgu’s tactical confusion. Having been recruited specifically as a left wing-back suited to Ruben Amorim’s system, Dorgu was tasked by Carrick with playing as an outright left winger. As Jay Harris emphasized, Dorgu’s decision-making in central areas was noticeably hesitant. Off the ball, Dorgu lacked the defensive instincts to track opposition wide overloads, failing to provide double-coverage for Shaw or drop into line when Shaw was caught upfield. The second-ball battle in the buildup to Hull’s opening goal illustrated this flaw: as Regan Slater’s delivery floated into the box, Hull attackers showed greater sharpness to win second balls, while United’s left-sided defenders looked stationary.
The conversation concluded with a sobering assessment of United’s squad depth. With Luke Shaw’s historical injury profile and Dorgu’s clear discomfort in a conventional full-back role, United remain dangerously thin at left-back. Unless the board secures a dependable defensive competitor before the transfer deadline, United's left flank will remain an inviting target for opposition managers throughout the campaign.
3.3 Aston Villa’s PSR Hangover and Squad Disintegration: Post-Freiburg Anarchy
The analysis then shifted to the situation unfolding at Villa Park, characterized by Jacob Tanswell as a complete structural collapse following their European triumph. Villa’s 4-0 defeat to Brighton was not merely a poor performance; it was the direct outcome of severe financial constraints and massive roster turnover. Tanswell revealed that Villa’s internal planning had always anticipated a transitional season, as the club scrambled to satisfy strict PSR regulations following years of heavy expenditure.
However, the sheer speed of the roster tear-down caught even manager Unai Emery off guard. The core squad that secured Europa League glory over Freiburg has been virtually dismantled. Key leaders and tactical pillars—Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Lucas Digne—were sold or departed during the summer window to rebalance the club's balance sheet. Against Brighton, only five starters from that European final victory were present in the opening lineup.
The consequences of this disruption were vividly illustrated by the performance of debutant Tiago Gomes. Suffering from squad depletion, Emery made the risky decision to start Gomes despite the player having completed only two weeks of rehabilitation for a calf injury that originally required four weeks. Gomes appeared physically compromised and emotionally volatile from the opening whistle. Within four minutes, he received a yellow card after recklessly demanding that the referee book an opponent. Unable to regulate his temperament, Gomes continued to commit rash fouls until he was shown a second yellow card before half-time, leaving a ten-man Villa team to be systematically dismantled by Brighton.
3.4 The Ollie Watkins Saga: Leadership Vacuum, Contract Standoffs, and the Jackson Contingency
Deepening Aston Villa’s crisis is the high-stakes standoff surrounding star striker Ollie Watkins. As Jacob Tanswell detailed on the podcast, Watkins has formally communicated his desire to depart Villa Park, turning down a contract extension that would have tied him to the club through 2030. Watkins is currently training away from the main group alongside goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and winger Leon Bailey, both of whom are also seeking exits.
"Ollie Watkins is probably the biggest loss if he wants to go because they see him as a player that can bridge the years who can lead this new team almost into the new era... When your core, when your spine of the team's gone, things just collapse." — Jacob Tanswell
The loss of Watkins represents a devastating sporting blow. Together with Morgan Rogers, Watkins accounted for 46 percent of Aston Villa’s Premier League goal contributions last season. Beyond his goal-scoring output, Watkins served as the team's primary pressing trigger and tactical focal point. Over six years of dedicated service since arriving from Brentford, Watkins developed a reputation as a consummate professional; his current refusal to participate in team sessions underscores the depth of discontent behind the scenes.
In response, Villa’s recruitment team has begun exploring emergency replacement options. Chief among them is Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, whom Unai Emery previously managed during their shared tenure at Villarreal. While Jackson remains a preferred target, acquiring him would require significant financial structuring at a time when Villa’s capital flexibility is tightly constrained. Other targets are under consideration, but as Jay Harris noted, replacing a 20-goal-per-season striker who provided pressing intelligence and leadership late in the window is an exceptionally difficult task.
3.5 Tottenham’s Midfield Overrun: The Tonali-Gallagher-Bergvall Dynamic & Positional Anarchy
The conversation moved to North London, where Tottenham Hotspur suffered a humbling 3-1 defeat at Brentford. Jay Harris provided a detailed breakdown of Spurs’ structural frailties, focusing on the complete collapse of their high-priced midfield engine room. Spurs lined up with a central trio of Sandro Tonali, Conor Gallagher, and Lucas Bergvall—a combination that appeared balanced on paper but proved completely dysfunctional in practice.
Thomas Frank’s Brentford exploited Spurs' lack of positional discipline through aggressive central pressing and rapid vertical passing. Sandro Tonali delivered an anonymous performance, failing to control the tempo of play or provide adequate defensive screening in front of the back line. Gallagher’s energetic pressing was frequently bypassed, leaving young Lucas Bergvall isolated and overwhelmed by Brentford’s physical duels. The trio exhibited little spatial cohesion, leaving massive gaps in the central half-spaces that Brentford exploited continuously.
"Sandro Tonali was pretty anonymous and the concern for Spurs was that they just completely overrun that Spurs midfield of Tonali, Gallagher, and Bergvall, made them look extremely ordinary." — Jay Harris
Karris Jones highlighted the psychological implications of the defeat, warning that Spurs are in danger of reverting to bad habits. When faced with physical adversity, Tottenham’s structural discipline dissolved rapidly, recalling the late-season collapses of prior campaigns. This fragility was further illustrated by the captaincy situation on the day: with Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, and James Maddison all unavailable due to injuries or tactical decisions, 20-year-old Archie Gray was forced to wear the captain's armband as the fifth-choice leader. While Gray’s versatility and work ethic are highly regarded, placing such leadership responsibility on a young player underscores the current absence of senior authority within the squad.
3.6 The Culture of Promotion Underdogs: Jakirović’s Blueprint and Hull City’s Verticality
To conclude the thematic review, the panel analyzed the rising tactical quality among newly promoted sides, taking Hull City’s triumphant return as a primary case study. Karris Jones and Jay Harris referenced an insightful interview conducted by The Athletic’s Phil Buckingham with Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı, who outlined the core philosophy driving Hull's top-flight campaign.
Ilıcalı identified three foundational pillars for Hull’s survival and success: embracing their role as absolute underdogs, leveraging external underestimation as motivation, and fostering an intense emotional commitment across the playing staff. Sergej Jakirović translated this mindset into a sharp tactical strategy against Manchester United. Hull abandoned passive low-block tactics in favor of a dynamic, vertical system. They transitioned rapidly upon winning possession, utilizing wide width to stretch United’s narrow defensive block and deploying direct aerial deliveries toward forward Oli McBurnie.
Furthermore, Hull’s execution on dead-ball scenarios was exemplary. Regan Slater’s corner and free-kick deliveries consistently destabilized United’s zonal marking scheme, yielding both goals in their 2-0 victory. Hull demonstrated that modern promotion sides can overcome budgetary gaps by pairing physical intensity with data-driven tactical targeting.
4. Speaker Perspectives & Analytical Contrast
The narrative strength of this episode derived from the distinct analytical perspectives brought by each participant. Rather than delivering a uniform consensus, the panel featured nuanced differences in emphasis, operational priorities, and tactical evaluation.
Emma Payton (Host): Payton functioned as the structural anchor, steering the discussion from immediate match results to broader institutional questions. Her framing focused heavily on fan sentiment, emotional momentum, and the stark reality of opening weekend results against preseason expectations.
Karris Jones (Tactical & Performance Analyst): Jones brought a strictly technical lens to the conversation. Her analysis prioritized structural mechanics, set-piece execution, and tactical adjustments. Jones was particularly critical of Manchester United’s build-up play, pointing out that Carrick’s reliance on individual offensive talent failed to address their systemic difficulties against five-back low blocks. Furthermore, Jones expressed skepticism regarding Aston Villa’s long-term prospects, arguing that Emery’s target of Champions League qualification appears increasingly unrealistic given their severe roster depletion.
Jay Harris (Recruitment & Institutional Specialist): Harris offered a macro-level evaluation centered on squad construction, transfer policy incoherence, and market economics. He provided sharp criticism of Manchester United’s historical transfer strategy, arguing that sudden managerial shifts leave behind mismatched roster profiles (such as Patrick Dorgu). On Tottenham, Harris focused on the lack of central midfield cohesion, pointing out that spending heavily on individual names like Tonali and Gallagher guarantees little without a clear tactical framework.
Laurie Whitwell (Manchester United Correspondent - Audio Dispatch): Reporting directly from the MKM Stadium, Whitwell provided valuable insider context regarding Carrick’s post-match mood and locker room dynamics. Whitwell highlighted Carrick’s unusual press conference demeanor, providing context for the manager's defensive remarks. He also offered detailed observations on Aidan Heaven’s physical struggles against McBurnie and the tactical congestion caused by adding Šeško and Rashford into an already crowded final third.
Jacob Tanswell (Aston Villa Correspondent - Audio Dispatch): Tanswell provided comprehensive coverage of the crisis at Villa Park. He broke down the precise details of Ollie Watkins’ training isolation, the financial drivers behind Villa’s summer fire sale, and Unai Emery’s internal frustration. Tanswell highlighted the stark contrast between Watkins’ historic professionalism and his current transfer demand, framing it as an alarming indicator of institutional instability.
5. Strategic & Industry Implications
The analytical revelations shared on The Athletic FC Podcast carry broad strategic implications for modern football governance, squad assembly, and tactical evolution across the Premier League.
First, the situation at Aston Villa illustrates the structural challenges imposed by Profit and Sustainability Rules on mid-tier clubs aspiring to break into the elite hierarchy. Winning major silverware, such as the UEFA Europa League, traditionally serves as a foundation for sustained growth. However, under the current financial regulatory framework, Villa were forced to liquidate their core spine—Konsa, Tielemans, Rogers, and Digne—simply to comply with financial yield requirements. This dynamic threatens to create a system where non-traditional contenders are periodically forced to dismantle successful teams, reinforcing the advantages held by established commercial giants.
Second, Manchester United’s struggles highlight the high operational cost of frequent tactical re-profiling. Transitioning from Ruben Amorim’s three-back formation to Michael Carrick’s four-back system created immediate squad redundancies and positional mismatches. Players recruited for highly specific roles, such as Patrick Dorgu at left wing-back, become tactical square pegs in round holes when a new manager alters the system. This ongoing cycle of recruitment misalignment underscores the necessity of establishing an overarching sporting directorate that maintains structural continuity regardless of dugout turnover.
Finally, the success of Hull City under Sergej Jakirović demonstrates an evolving meta among newly promoted teams. The traditional approach of deploying a passive, defensive low-block for 90 minutes is increasingly being replaced by data-informed, direct vertical systems. By identifying opposition structural flaws—such as United’s left-sided defensive gap—and committing fully to physical set-piece execution, promoted teams can effectively neutralize superior technical budgets through targeted tactical aggression.
6. Looking Ahead: Unresolved Questions & Next Milestones
As the Premier League season moves past its opening weekend, several critical operational questions remain unresolved for Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur. The coming weeks before the transfer deadline and international break will provide definitive answers regarding their long-term trajectories.
Key Operational Milestones & Metrics to Monitor:
- Manchester United’s Left-Back Resolution: Will the United board secure a specialized left-back before deadline day to provide competition for Luke Shaw, or will Carrick be forced to continue relying on Patrick Dorgu and Aidan Heaven in out-of-position roles?
- The Ollie Watkins Transfer Resolution: Will Aston Villa yield to Watkins’ trade demand and finalize an agreement with interested suitors, or can Unai Emery successfully reintegrate his star striker into the squad?
- Villa’s Emergency Replacement Execution: If Watkins departs, can Villa secure Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea or an equivalent target in time to prevent a prolonged goal-scoring drought?
- Spurs' Midfield Alignment: How quickly can Thomas Frank or Tottenham's coaching staff establish tactical discipline within the Tonali-Gallagher-Bergvall midfield trio ahead of their upcoming fixtures against top-six opposition?
- Hull City’s Sustainability: Can Sergej Jakirović maintain Hull’s high-intensity vertical blueprint against non-traditional top-six sides, or will opposition scouting rapidly adapt to their direct set-piece strategies?
The opening matchday provided a stern reminder that reputation and summer spending guarantees nothing on the pitch. For Carrick, Emery, and the decision-makers across these Premier League institutions, the time for tactical experimentation has passed; immediate structural adjustments are required before early-season stumbles solidify into full-blown campaigns of crisis.
📜 View Full Episode Verbatim Transcript
41,177 characters
Hello and welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Emma Payton. The Premier League returned with surprises, up and down the country, spurs were thrashed by Brentford, while Hull got the better of Manchester United for the first time in the league since 1974, we'll be getting into what went wrong. So here with me in the studio today, we have Karris Jones and Jay Harris. I mean, stories all over the place, how good was it having Premier League football back on the weekend? It was nice. It was not despite some of the results. It wasn't, I wasn't going to get it that straight away, yeah. And watch like five games football backs back, but I think my flatmate got home on Friday night and saw me with the Arsenal game on, and she was like, other footballs back, I was like, yeah. Back to the back. Back to the back. It's just nice to have a routine back, which might sound crazy to some people, but just knowing that there's a game on a Wednesday, there's a game on a Saturday, it gives my life order. There's three months in the summer, and nothing's going on. I don't know. We're all over the shop. I don't know what to do with myself. Right. Let's start with Hull then, who shocked Manchester United. In the early kickoff on Saturday, they were comfortable winners in a 2-0 victory. We all sort of didn't really give Hull a chance when we were here in the studio last week, but you just couldn't write it, could you? And they were deserved winners on the day, Keras. Oh, yeah, absolutely. I think you have to give Hull massive credit. They had a game plan. They identified United's weaknesses. They put them on the back foot straight away. They were direct. They were physical. I think it exposed problems that United have had undercarric, but that they sort of would get away with by being like clinical from set pieces and things like that with Casamero, but they just didn't have that edge. United looked a bit undercooked. They looked a little bit sort of, they lacked urgency, was my main concern, but I think you have to give huge credit to Hull. Their game plan worked really well. I think the manager, Jekirovich, explained sort of how vertical they tried to be, how they'd watch Shinai a couple of times, including one live and had identified these weaknesses. They'd switched between a back four and five, realised the back five was the way to go, and yeah, it worked wonders. We'll get onto that, but they just started with such an intensity, didn't they? I mean, their first game back in the Premier League, they were at home. They joined the dogs. They were so up for it. Yeah, I really like an interview that the owner, Akin and the Carly's done, in the athletic with our colleague Phil Buckingham, and he said there are three reasons why they're going to, you know, surprise people this season. One of them was that they were the underdog. The second was that everyone thinks that they're weak. I thought they're sort of the same thing, but the third one was that they were playing from the heart that these guys know what they have to achieve this year, it's to finish 17th and above anything better than that is amazing, but this was, you know, a huge moment for them. It was only a couple of years ago, well, about 14, 15 months ago, they nearly went down to league one. So the fans were always going to be well up for it. We've seen the stories so many times. I was there famously when Brentford B. Arsenal at the GTEC five years ago, it always is a little bit of a banana skin, and I think in the case of Manchester United, if you're not prepared for it, if you're not going to win those second balls, then you're going to lose. And probably the best example of that is in the buildup to the first goal, when Brian and Boomer's waiting for Mizrahi's header to drop to him, the whole player gets ahead of him. At least to the goal is just you have to be willing and ready to fight for every single ball, every single duel, and they just won up for it. Well, the athletics Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell was in hole for it, let's hear what he made of it. Hi, guys. Yes, an abrupt landing for Manchester United in Hall, not the start to season they wanted at all. They knew that Hall would be up for it, pro side first game back in the Premier League in a decade at home, but they just did not compete in the way that they should have done. Quite concerning, I suppose, some of the energy that was being showed after a preseason, which you hope would prepare them, but let's see how they can develop from that point. But yeah, the game itself, Hall rats it, they got the ball in the field, they attacked directly. Alamette Bernie was a thorn for United throughout, Regan Slater's delivery, obviously he's corner for the first goal, he's free kick for the second goal was brilliant. United's defending at those set pieces, quite troubling, and then United didn't really have any answers. They were quite blunt in attack, actually. Obviously, Britain at the back, as I've said, just then, Carrick tried to change things, he put Cesco on, he put Marcus Rashadon for his first competitive appearance for United in 20 months, had him boomerone, he had Fernandez on, he had all the players that scored league goals last season, double figures for Cesco, Cunya, Ann and boomerone, nine for Bruno Fernandez, eight for Rashad and LaLiga, says a lot of goals there, but they just couldn't really create anything to trouble Hall after the game, Carrick was quite, you know, quite interesting, actually, quite a spiky moment, he sort of said that just because I'm calm doesn't mean that I'm not emotional, doesn't mean that I'm showing that behind the scenes, you don't get to play for this club for so many years as he did do one of everything that he did as a player, if you don't have some bite about you, so that's interesting to say. Sir Gait Eukirovich was interested in his whole manager, very charismatic guy, he said that they'd spotted some details with United, have to watch in them, and they adjusted their game plan to, I mean the back five system, I think they trouble United, they lost to AC Milan, Rubin Amarins, back five system in the final preseason game, the width that Hall had, that was something Eukirovich spoke about, quick switch to play, that did trouble United, yeah, big result for Hall 2-0 at the stadium, United disastrous start to the season really. Is that a fair assessment from Laurie there and you've touched it already, this sort of struggle against teams playing with the back five, it's not a new issue for Manchester United, is it? No, I think flashing back to Leeds, Old Trafford in April, sort of time is the one that I immediately think of, that 2-1 defeat was one where they really struggled, but there's also, there was times on the caric last season where United struggled more against sort of like, if you like teams that focus more on perhaps physicality than the non-passing and it could be a real slog in those games and they got over the line, but that doesn't mean the issues weren't there, I think they particularly struggled in attack against Hall because they had their final third so congested and they were playing with Matthias Kunier as kind of a false nine, Benjamin Cheshire, not featured in preseason, we saw him come on late but presumably he wasn't fit to start and you could see he wasn't like fully firing, so having Kunier sort of like drifting along the line and dropping off wasn't as effective in that sort of setup, so they really struggled in their final third but also the defensive issues with just like, how vertical, how direct, whole were, they were so open down the flanks, there's been a lot of chatter about left back, but I think it was an issue on the other side on the right as well and it's not necessarily an issue that you can just throw personnel at, these are a system problems that Carrick should be able to coach the squad into coping with and I think that's his priority now going into it which you have now been given a blueprint for how the attack united, right? I mean, you're obviously going to be working on United this season but you talk about the defensive issues in terms of their fallbacks but you could look at it and say, do they need to bring in a new centre back as well? How do you look at what they're going to do in this transfer window now? I mean, there isn't long left, is there? We've got just over a week. Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily be looking at centre back as a priority. I thought Aiden heaven who started on the left of the centre back pairing, I did think he struggled. I thought he needed to settle his head a bit after they conceded and I don't think he quite did that, but they've also got Lissandro Martin as coming back who's a flawed player that adds like more experience and potentially more kind of forward thinking on the ball as well. I wouldn't be as concerned at their depth at centre back left back is still the one for me where I just look at Luke Shaw and then this massive question mark behind him. It'll be sod's law if they sign a player to kind of play back up to him then he'll stay fit all season if they don't he will be injured by November. It's sort of the way that it really feels so that would still be the priority as I look at it. I guess the thing is having, you know, agreed this deal for Carlos Ballet but where do the finances come from for that? Is that something they've still got the headroom to do or might they look at sort of a less expensive signing in that position, maybe revisit it next summer? Does it feel vital that they still bring in certainly a left back at least? Yeah, definitely because I also think there's a massive question mark around Dorgu, right? Like he was brought in to play left wing back under Amarin. He would have been perfect if he was playing on the other team at the weekend, but from my limited time viewing him further forward up the pitch, he's not really he's not really good enough to play as a wing or weak in weak out and there are a couple of times where his decision-making needed to be much better in the final third. He's not really apparently trusted to play at left back. So you have a little bit of an issue there with him and you're clear of it should say that Hollard targeted Luke Shaw because he bombs on so much that there's huge space behind him. And I'll to throw that in with a young is Aidan heaven still 19 or 20? 19 or 20? A very young centre back and Luke Shaw's yeah I'm just going to fly out of the pitch. It's a system issue, but it's also the person now are just not perfect and that's how these issues happen. Dorgu is a really interesting one because as you say he was very much the like specialist left back signing for Amarin and then Carrick had a decision to make over how he uses him. He was injured for a lot of character time in charge last season, but the signs that we've seen are very much that he views him in that left wing role more than a left back role. And as you say I think you can see that he's still adjusting to it like that penetration in the final third isn't quite there. I saw him drifting into central areas where I thought he really struggled to have that much of an impact and then as you say it really creates a stretch because Luke Shaw likes to get so high up as well. But then they also have Marcus Rashford on that left wing who I thought you know he looked slightly off his best as you'd expect but the effort with the sort of runs in behind he he brought something to the team when he came on I think he came on at half time. But then there are always kind of questions about Rashford's tracking back. That's not something that a lot of people view as a strength of his. So that how they balance that left side with having Luke Shaw who likes to bomb on an attack so much and that's something that he's so good at they don't want to lose that attribute. How do they balance that with the player ahead of him? I think that's a question that Carrick should be able to address with the personnel that he's got at left wing but is definitely one for him to be thinking about and his stuff to be thinking about. And just one more thing quickly the the signing of Dorgio I'm not saying it's it's it's not his fault that he prefers to play as a left wing back. And now he finds himself caught in this mix between left wing or left back. But a couple of years ago a man United senior executives including Ratcliffe were talking about when we hire a manager we want them to play in a man United way we're not going to adapt to a manager when you then adapt to a manager like Amarim get rid of him it doesn't work out. That's the mistake that you make because you now have players you don't fit that profile you're trying to put square pegs in round and now Carrick has to work out what to do. So something a signing that was made 18 months to years ago and ever it was it's now having repercussions for every now and then again I'm not trying to dig out of Dorgio it's not his fault but it shows you that when your transfer recruitment strategy is not coherent and you're not thinking long term that these things can come back and bite you. Well Manchester United's new look midfield of Yuri Teleman's and Andre Santos struggled as well on Friday the athletic reported how the deal for Carlos Belayba has now been agreed. Jay when we were chatting last week we were talking about the signings of Santos and Teleman's and you were saying maybe this actually takes the pressure of Carlos Belayba you know compared to if he signed 12 months ago last summer but I mean does this add the pressure now the fact that he almost needs to hit the ground running doesn't it? Yeah yeah yeah he does and look I saw some evil memes about the the Teleman's and Santos a combination of over the weekend but I think we should also point out Teleman's strength has never been his athleticism so sort of being surprised that he got over on I don't think we should be surprised that you got over on to the extent that he did yet is concerning but it also suggests that firstly that's a midfield combination that needs time and if it comes and if everybody comes to the conclusion that that midfield combination doesn't work well then it's a good thing that Belayba is coming in right you have to play these players together to see if it's going to work but yeah of course it massively increases the pressure on Belayba especially because he's not he's injured right now so if results and performances over the next couple of months are not particularly smooth under Carrick especially when they're juggling champions league as well Belayba returns in I don't know after the next international break of course people are going to think that he's some sort of golden signing hero who's going to solve all their problems but it's not as it's not as simple as that. What did you make of Teleman's and Santos? Yeah I was disappointed with kind of how much Teleman's got over running the midfield and Santos as well I thought although in in fairness to sort of if we're talking about Belayba Santos is the player who kind of he would share that number six role with so if you compare the two I think we've always known that Santos's game is kind of more technical more focused on passing than like driving with the ball progressing the ball that way I think Belayba is obviously more used to kind of Premier League physicality intensity athleticism so he would have been a player fully fit who would be better suited to that game against whole whereas I do think in games where more spaces open up for Santos to kind of really make the most of his his passing ability there's still a role for him but it's having different profiles for different game states right and that's that's a positive situation for Man United to be in just obviously right now it's not clicked as quickly as they would wanted to and that's really disappointing especially considering that they brought in Santos and Teleman's pretty early in the window obviously Teleman's didn't join up with them till a bit later on had Mason mount been fit I imagine he would have been starting in the eight and that's a partnership that they that's a partnership that they had a bit more time to develop so yeah it's not clicked straight away and that'll be a real concern for them Belayba coming in will be a real positive I think that patience is needed patience was needed anyway and now it's going to be an even shorter supply which is obviously not the the situation that they want to be in now what does Michael Carrick need to fix then ahead of Ipswich coming to to Old Trafford on Sunday bearing in mind Ipswich as well with a brilliant return to the Premier League and beating Sunderland on Saturday yeah I mean ideally Shesco will return to full fitness as quickly as possible because there were so many times in that game and I think couldn't use a fantastic footballer but there were lots of times in that game where no one was in the box for Man United and either in Bumo or Dorgu had it on the left or the right wing and there was just no one to aim for in the box so that's one of the the biggest issues that I think he needs to solve as quickly as possible but like Carrick said Spurs, Aston Villa, Man United, we can't help but overreact to these things sometimes it's so hard to make judgments on what teams are going to look like after the transfer windows closed so many things could happen in this final two weeks or whatever it is and it was always going to take time for new signings to integrate and settle in etc so there is also an element of yes there are some very obvious sticks is but don't panic too much because you could almost make things worse. Yeah I mean Lauren is much peace described that the performance as alarming but did also point out how Man United won both their games last season after the feet under Michael Carrick so I think both of you the words patience. Yeah well the words patience long term I think the word for it which is actually urgency I think that was what they really liked like against toll was that sort of in loose balls in like second balls jewels they just they didn't match the aggression they didn't match the physicality and yes it's the first game of the season and yes some of them were at the World Cup and they might be getting up to full speed but I think in front of a home crowd against tips which that's where they really need to kind of put their foot down and you know that make it clear that that lack of urgency can't be repeated because they played a pace that was so short of what was required and they looked so much less sharp than what was required I think that's the in theory quick fix that should be you know a conversation in the dressing room and on the training ground about okay that's something that we can correct with the quality of players that we have that's something we can certainly make a large step towards correcting in the next game. Now before we get back to the show the Formula One season return from its summer break with a dramatic race in the Netherlands on Sunday if you're after unrivaled coverage and analysis make sure to check out our stable mates at the athletic the race F1 podcast they're on site in the thick of the action within the F1 race paddock across the Grand Prix calendar covering all the stories that matter as this gripping season restarts for the second half of the year. Okay let's talk about which debutants made the biggest splash on the opening weekend Carrot who stood out for you? I think Christopher Solis I've been really I was impressed with him in the community shield and again against Coventry I think you know Arsenal as a whole made Coventry that very ordinary on Friday it was a strong team performance it wasn't the start that Frank Lampard would have been hoping for but I remember watching like a little video that he did with Arsenal's social media team just after signings Oles Cindy was asked for one word to describe his game he said direct obviously like club social media content you always got to take with kind of like a shaker of salt but that is what we've seen so far like he was really really direct he was very intentional about driving into the box about looking to take shots as soon as he could he had a sort of half volley from the edge that was straight at rush worth but had a lot of power on it and could have could have caught a different keeper out so I was really impressed with him so far. Does he answer that need for a star left-winger for Arsenal? I think you know they especially if Martinelli is going to be on the move they would ideally have another signing on that left-wing I know that Madoucci and Sucker can play there but obviously prefer the right I think the good thing about solace though is he has played Champions League with club bruised last two seasons so he's used to dealing with those double game weeks and was pretty much constant starter for them but you know they will need more depth there if Martinelli leaves otherwise they leave themselves open to kind of an injury to him or something like that but what we've seen from him so far I think is really promising. I know there's certainly a player who would have caught your eye over the weekend. The only answer to this question is Mamadou Zangar. Obviously. It's the only answer. It was an exceptional performance and I know we're going to come on to Spurs Brentford in a minute so I'll talk about him in a little more depth there but one thing which stood out to me which people want to appreciate is that Brentford's record signings over the last couple of years have not always hit the ground running. Igor Thiago was injured for most of his debut season with a knee issue. Michael Dams got barely played his first couple of years. Keen Lewis Potter no one knew where to play him and now he's emerged as a left back free for years forever down the line so when I saw they'd signed Tengari I thought okay yeah he seems good but you know it probably won't be till next season where he's actually flying and even before he set up that opening goal he was just absolutely running the midfield and I thought wow what a signing and then by the end of the day I think everybody was talking about everybody we did ask our YouTube community so thanks for those that did get in touch but who stood out on their debut and a whole load of you saying Sengari also like he seems like such a humble guy even when he was given the player of the match award at the end it was almost like he didn't want to accept it he was like no this is this is a team effort I'm just really happy about the team win. Yeah so I spoke to a few Brentford players after the game including Keen Lewis Potter and also head coach Keith Andrews and they all said how humble he was I think Keith Andrews just described him as a humble young man Keen Lewis Potter said he's a joy to play with like from that first training session he looked like he was going to be an exception talent so I do think Brentford are probably already wondering how much longer are we going to be able to hold on to him but they will enjoy him for as long as they can. Let's stay with Brentford's three-year win over spurs then you were obviously at the G Tech J just how significant was it as well the fact that he he cost what 39 million pounds. They're about yeah but but up staging this you know you look midfield of Sandra Tanali and Matthias Fernandez who cost well I don't know how many times times that money. 185 million so yeah I think let's put Fernandez in a box over here because he came on in the second half and I actually think he did play quite well but yeah Sandra Tanali was pretty anonymous and the concern for for spurs was that yes Angaree Jensen they just completely overrun that spurs in field of Tanali Gallagher and Bergval made them look extremely ordinary but just Brentford's play throughout I think I think sometimes people have the impression that all Brentford do over the last couple of years is lumped the ball to either Ivan Tony or Igor Tiago, Shada or Boomo whoever it is runs in and then they score but go back and watch the full video of that opening goal it's a beautiful piece of play which starts out from the back and it progresses forward and it ends with that brilliant one to his Angaree and Dango Otara but spurs just didn't know how to deal with them contextually it's important to point out that spurs have had a lot of changes this summer that was a back fall that's never played with each other before last season under deserving the back fall would have been I think a doggie, van de Ven, Romero and Gray on Saturday it was Robertson, Van Hecker, Cineci and Archie Gray so completely different it's a midfield pairing that's completely different of Tanali and Bergval I don't think anybody has ever thought that Gallagher is a number 10 but because other players are injured he's got a player there 19 year old Mikey Moore who's very highly rated is probably going to go on loan to Germany for the rest of the season so he has fifth Premier League start he's thrown in at the deep end and he's expected to perform so it was a concerning performance from spurs but I'm not I'm not panicking personally no is that it where it's it's been a big summer of change and it's still very much working progress isn't it yeah it is and that makes sense you know like Jay's pointed out kind of Mikey Moore spent last season on loan at Rangers if I'm not mistaken it's like it's not even like he is someone who would have kind of been in and around the first team environment last year we said three at the back four were different and Ali coming in with all that said though I do think that part of the idea of deserving joining kind of towards the end of last season having those extra like whatever it was seven games at the end of the season and having a full preseason was was so that they could hit the ground running and they just really blatantly have struggled to do that the the concerning thing for them I think is that they need to not get back into the habit of losing so quickly because that felt like you know that they hit that mental block last season and that's what they need to to avoid they will obviously have you know we're expecting reinforcements in the form of of Savino for one there will be kind of players coming back from injury as well so it's not it's not panic stations but I think it is well short it's it's fair to criticize it for being well short of what they would have expected after so much money and having a full preseason under the head coach I think they'll be question marks around some players in that starting 11 and what their long-term future looks like you know I'm a big fan of Lucas Bergval but you know a deserving was was pretty critical of him in the post match press conference saying what he did in the build up to the second goal he will never do again like he'll learn that lesson but that ball roll was that that attempted ball roll is going to go down in history I think Alan she recalled it pathetic on match a day which felt harsh but you know he was hooked at half time and and so was Gallagher Rachelison everybody's always known he's not good at holding the ball up and he is the one who loses the ball Bergval attempts to win the loose ball that goal happens so we know that Rachelison only has a year left on his contract deserve he said sometimes he wants to leave we know about the interest in Bergval if Savino and my Moosh come over the line will spurs then say well actually Rachelison thanks but no thanks it's time for you to move on I think maybe just because it was at the GTEC but I did really see the parallels with that defeat the Arsenal suffered five years ago in the sense that that day Arsenal were missing a Bamiangan Lakerset because of covid Balagan started up front I think it was his first ever game in the Premier League so almost fulfilling that young academy Mikey Moral and Arsenal went on I think to lose their first three games that season end up finishing fifth and I sort of wonder if that's exactly what's going to happen with spurs like they're trying to sign so many players integrate them still a little bit of uncertainty around the squad that starting 11 will probably never play each other ever again this season if not for the rest of of history it will look so different come the end of May and that's why I'm not panicking too much if that was the team to get spurs through the season would be having a different and half conversation right now but it's so clearly not going to be obviously they've got players that aren't fully fit haven't they the lights of Pedro poro destiny a doggy Mickey van the van Dominic's a lanky as well when you look at the front three that played then on the weekend we've already touched on the fact that Savigno my moushe as well coming into the club did they go straight into the starting 11 yeah definitely I think tell us the only one who might hold his play star and he's blown hot and cold over the last 18 months since he joined spurs but also feel a bit bad for him because he arrived at a time when spurs needed a more senior attacker but he was sort of the only player available he's been shunted from left wing to striker Thomas Frank left him out of the champions league squad you know as that game against I think it was leads race courses cracking free kick everyone thinks he's going to win them the game then he attempts an overhead kick hits amp are doing the face leads get a penalty and they equalize and nearly lose so his time at spurs has been so up and down but I think he does warrant a little more time a little bit more investment and if it ends up with you know tell on the left my moushe through the middle on Savigno on the right for the first few weeks of the season as a lanky kudus etc come back to full fitness I think that's fine just just before we move on what what did you read into archie gray being named captain as well well he's been captain throughout preseason and deserving named his leadership squad over I think it was on friday or thursday and gray is fifth captain I didn't know you can have five captains I think it's van van de Ven and poro captain and vice bendavis James Madison archie gray so as none of the four above him were available by default by the four captain captain he got it just a guy like I think it's a situation to keep an eye on though because he's not going to be first choice right back long term he'd prefer to play in midfield they've got to niley flanders bentenko maybe burglow gallega there part of me wonders if it was a bit of a token gesture to say we really value you your flexibility etc maybe you're not going to play that much this season but this is our way of of showing you how much you mean to us well we've chatted debutants but one debutant who made a splash for all the wrong reasons was aston villa's jago ma's sent off after 40 minutes with villa four nil down a way to brighten the athletics aston villa correspondent jacob tanswell joins us now jacob really good to see you I mean gomas's debut just couldn't have couldn't have really gone much worse could it but I think maybe more concerning will be how aston villa just just collapse I mean what what on earth did you make of it all in some ways i'm not actually that surprised on gel gomas he wasn't actually supposed to play he was had a calf injury the initial scans suggested two to four weeks this would have been on the cut of two weeks I think they rushed him back as a consequence of the the fact that villa is so light in in other areas and after about three or four minutes you know he gets a yellow card for for wanting a yellow card on another player he then picks up one himself he's then going through the back of players and he doesn't seem to calm down that he's just just charged bustling around the pitch but then more broadly aston villa were a team that just looked like they weren't ready for the season this this team aren't going to be isn't going to be the team that place really is Arsenal next Monday or and certainly not later on in the season they just looks like they weren't ready for it and probably buy products off the uncertainty of the pitch yeah I mean even last season obviously villas campaign didn't get off the best start I think they were out without a win in their first five Premier League games took them a while to find the back of the net as well but but how different does this feel this time around too fair they don't start playing till September because always that they're impacted by the initial of before the international break by the transfer window because the way villa around they're very unpredictable their best low plans quickly change going into a summer but this year's different to last year I think last year was the fact that they were quite stagnant quite stale they had the same core same nucleus of squad for for really three or four years this is now flip tights head it's just complete change I think villa will always hoping there'll be a transitional phase this year Europa League win felt like the end of an era but no one and Henry even admitted it on Friday expected this amount of change and when your call when your spine of the team's gone things just collapse and you saw that in the first half against Brighton and you've probably seen that throughout preseason and in their preparations I mean only five of the players who started that Europa League final win over Fryberg started for villa at the amix on the weekend you've already alluded to it there the fact that there's just been such a turnover this summer concert Telemann's Rogers Dignia all gone but now does it look like Ollie Watkins could be on the way as well yeah that's just another issue for for villa to deal with you've got obviously Emmy Martin as he's currently trained on his own Leon Bailey who's training on his own those two players are players I've been expected to leave for at Ollie Watkins he's probably the biggest loss if he wants to go because they see him as a player that can bridge the years who can lead this new team almost into the new era that's why they've offered him a new contract until 2030 so the fact that Ollie Watkins comes back from World Cup duty and he makes clear that he wants to leave he's currently not training with the team Henry refused to confirm or deny whether he'd refuse to play on Sunday that's just another issue for villa to deal with and when you're replacing Rogers when you're having to base Watkins as well that's 46% of primary goals last season potentially gone so it's a big hole and a big error for for Emory to try and fill yeah silence was the word from everybody wasn't it Jay what have you made of this hole you know Ollie Watkins it's so as a saga it feels like it's turning into now yeah quite surprised by actually but as Jacob has mentioned Watkins has just been such a reliable servant for Aston Villa over the last six years I think it was since he joined from Brentford and what's always what I've always found quite remarkable about Watkins is that he goes through period of time where it looks like his former stroked off completely and it looks like he's really struggling and then you always find a way to sort of rediscover that goal scoring spark and there have been so many times over the years he's come up clutch for Aston Villa in really big games I can remember some famous victories over Arsenal where he was always a thorn in their side and he is I think Watkins is 3031 now so he's one more senior players in the team as Jacob said the idea was that Emory wanted him to lead a new era so if he goes I sort of wonder is just another another leader has has gone I'm sure many years ago Joran was supposed to be the succession plan for Watkins that didn't work out Madjo's injured so I just wonder if he does go how on earth would Villa replace him oh this is this is the issue right they're they're currently and this podcast will probably be outtaken for the time it goes up because Villa changed our by our currently they're saying that he's not close to his move to out allow that the first one for choice and priority is to keep him but they have to make contingency plans Nicholas Jackson's a player that Emory's loves remains in dialogue with they work together at Villarreal he would be one of the leading targets to replace Watkins but there's others of a there's about three or four names that have been mentioned to me that Villa are looking at it if Watkins leaves but unlike concert unlike Rogers where Villa after okay we accept that they they might leave this is a player they they just feel they can't they can't leave let go and they feel that if he does go he will have a considerable impact Watkins wasn't actually great for a lot of long stretch of the last season but when like Jason in the defining moments towards the end of last season in the Europa League semi-final he came up with it and Watkins is the guy that's usually so professional everyone loves him he was described to me as this British gentleman last last summer because of the way he behaved even if he did want to go to Arsenal if you remember 80 months ago it came back reintegrated was fantastic so the fact that he's not playing he's not training has shocked a lot of people obviously the fans but obviously people at the club it just feels like this summer it's really chaotic and you probably don't need one of your star players your star striker kicking up a fuss no I just wonder as well where this all leaves Unai Emory what what what what's you thinking right now for long periods of preseason he's been quite excited he he did feel like he needs a new squad a new call and a lot of the players actually he's happy about you know Johan and Zambi see on Suzuki these are players that actually they they'll quite be coosful but if you look through Emory's time at Asinville he's been brilliant and getting the best out of the existing players but it's recruitment policy has been hitting miss it's been very patchy so the fact that now going to have to replace the spiraling team with probably six or seven players in your best 11 given that is track record with signing players that it's going to be uncertain and it's going to be a risk going into the season I think Emory's always a manager that wants to get Chappell's league he he's targeting Chappell's equalification this year but from the results of yesterday I imagine that will be an anomaly a longer term it's going to be it's going to be difficult to match last season's excessive and better it certainly looking at where the moment isn't it and Kerry's just asked you on about Nicholas Jackson who Jacob mentioned potentially being you know coming in for for early walkings obviously someone you would have followed at Chelsea he seemed surplus to requirements doesn't he in West London yeah I think so we've just seen Charles Pedro signed a new long-term contract and obviously they will need backup for him but they've also brought in a manual omega from Strasbourg Liam Delap is another one who they're they're very happy for him to find the exit I think that you know Chelsea had I think it was like five or six senior center forwards on the books so if they can kind of get a healthy fee for Jackson who had a decent loan spell it by a minute last year I imagine that's that's one that they will be very happy to part with that's something that we've reported consistently in the deal sheet over the summer Jacob it feels like you might have a busy week before transfer deadline day next Tuesday but also before before next Monday is it's it's it's Arsenal next week. Every day's felt like try to deadline there for the last 10 days it's just always something going on but yeah they've got they've got Arsenal next and you could see Esri Conzer make his debut at Villa Park would you be another intrigue in storyline yeah blind me and well good luck for the next week I'm sure we'll be having you on the show plenty over the next sort of seven eight days but thanks for jumping on thanks guys well thanks for your company this morning guys good to be back isn't after a weekend of Premier League definitely yes yes do this every Monday every Monday every Monday so buckle up thanks as well to Jacob and to Laurie for coming on and a reminder you can keep across all the fallout to the opening weekend of the Premier League over on the athletic I'll be back with you tomorrow catch you then
