14 Jul 2018 23:07:14
Sean Cox the liverpool fan has regained consciousness, best bit of football news I heard all summer. I hope he makes a full recovery.
14 Jul 2018 23:14:22
Fantastic news. Hope he makes a full recovery.
Use our rumours form to send us manchester united transfer rumours.
14 Jul 2018 23:07:14
Sean Cox the liverpool fan has regained consciousness, best bit of football news I heard all summer. I hope he makes a full recovery.
14 Jul 2018 23:14:22
Fantastic news. Hope he makes a full recovery.
14 Jul 2018 20:45:36
Coming back to this site after 2 years. Was a regular poster before that.
Looking forward to becoming a regular again and hopefully some of the older posters and eds are still around :-)
{Ed001's Note - good to see you back M B.}
14 Jul 2018 21:03:35
Welcome back bhai.
14 Jul 2018 21:10:50
Welcome back mate.
14 Jul 2018 21:21:42
Welcome mumbai ke launde.
14 Jul 2018 23:44:55
Delighted to see you back mate.
15 Jul 2018 02:15:32
Welcome back mate.
15 Jul 2018 02:28:40
Thanks guys :)
15 Jul 2018 07:49:00
Welcome home mb š.
15 Jul 2018 10:16:24
Good to hear from you mate!
14 Jul 2018 20:07:46
These golden boots in all competitions should they bring in something like the goals have to be scored from open play or free kicks but penaltys not included.
14 Jul 2018 20:33:49
Or not against Panama š.
14 Jul 2018 21:04:08
Penalties not included sounds like documentary.
14 Jul 2018 21:37:56
Or a good film mort.
14 Jul 2018 23:11:38
Scoring penalties is a skill and a vital part of the game. Should we also discount in off the shin goals? Poacher goals don't count either? If your granny could have scored it it doesn't count? Only goals that you would bother to replay on FIFA allowed? Nonsense.
14 Jul 2018 23:42:31
I didn't say take penaltys out of the game, I'm talking about golden boot from open play. Shin goals count granny goals count
Read the post.
15 Jul 2018 00:06:27
Definitely off your heel shouldn't count. Cheering on England, but Kane would be the worst Golden Boot winner I can remember.
15 Jul 2018 08:49:21
Should be called the 'Wooden Boot' this year!
15 Jul 2018 10:04:48
I like it Beast.
15 Jul 2018 10:45:56
I didn't say you said they should be taken out of the game, didn't even imply it. Maybe read my post again.
15 Jul 2018 12:55:17
No read my post againš.
14 Jul 2018 15:49:52
I've been watching lukkaku closely these last few games, people who think he is world class are deluded. He will never be exceptional in any key areas, I've seen him 3 or 4 times these last 3 games when he gets in the box he can't sort his feet out.
Big strong boy can hold up the ball and all that but he will never be a world beater.
14 Jul 2018 16:17:22
Your bang on target.
If we are in a crucial game and we need that match winning goal, i don't think Lukaku is that man.
14 Jul 2018 16:26:59
He is a big lumbering donkey if we are being honest, but he does work hard and can be effective at certain times. I like his attitude and he'll guarantee 20-30 goals a season, but we need more than that - it's a lottery whether he will make the pass or even control the ball, brute power only gets you so far.
People will argue that a striker just needs to score, but that is wrong, because you could have a striker scoring less, but laying on twice as many very easily. That said I think we have 5-6 positions we need to look at more urgently. Next manager will sell him for a profit imo and we will sign somebody with technical skills which get the best out of the players around them.
14 Jul 2018 16:29:10
Disagree massively. Yes he needs to improve his touch but he has come on leaps and bounds in his work rate, positional awareness and hold up play. When given proper service he is usually prolific. He has all the attributes to be a world class player. Unfair you are judging him on the World Cup because lots of players have looked below par. Kane is a key example. He has been a complete shadow of the player we are used to seeing at spurs, doesnāt mean he is not world class. But Iām sure there are football fans who are prisoners of the moment and judge a player on 2-3 games.
14 Jul 2018 16:34:42
Park 7ve watched him close for 12 months. In the crucial games you need to score those goals turn loses in to wins.
14 Jul 2018 16:42:18
Same could be said of Kane, who has contributed nothing in the last three games.
Rashford, playing very well though.
A big shout for Munier, who has played well for psg and playing exceptionally well today.
Jones just showing us why he should never put a United shirt on again, he is useless.
14 Jul 2018 16:46:33
Totally agree on lukaku, but to be honest there arenāt many world class players about. Far to much hype with some.
14 Jul 2018 16:50:44
Leahy we hardly create any chances but when we do he does often score. You give the service and chances the city, Liverpool and spurs create and he will be on 35+ goals a season. Yes he needs to improve against the big teams but we simply do not create enough or are not set up correctly to get the best out of him. He is world class and he will get better.
14 Jul 2018 17:08:13
Rashfords been horrible? What are you watching?
14 Jul 2018 17:15:26
Fzz, Rashford was the best front player we had today, what are you watching?
14 Jul 2018 17:15:45
The man got 28 goals last season and we donāt really play to his strengths? Look how he played against Brazil. Today he was poor, but heās always a threat and heās a goal scorer. Iād like to see him in a pair to take away the burden of being involved in the attacks. I think heād link well with Sanchez or martial in a pair.
14 Jul 2018 17:26:10
16 league goals is not good. He scored 9 or 10 more league goals for Everton the year before.
14 Jul 2018 17:28:14
Today? a meaningless game Rashford turns up, sounds about right.
14 Jul 2018 17:39:00
Beast you say 16 league goals isnāt good. I remember before Ronaldo and Messi took goalscoring to a different level, reaching 20 plus in a season in all competitions was considered a very good accomplishment. If we play to Romās strengths, eg better crossing and playing the ball infront of him rather Ham him having to come deep and be involved he will score a lot more.
We knew when we signed him that his main assists are his pace, power and putting the ball in the net. His overall game is improving and improving fast. About a week ago we were talking about building a side around him, now heās not high level?
Heās been much better than Kane in this World Cup.
14 Jul 2018 17:44:52
The boy will score bags loads.
14 Jul 2018 18:19:03
When you get in the box you need a bit of close control. He can not sort his feet out, he will score goals but when it counts against the big teams you don't get many chances and you have to put them ones away if you want to play at the highest level, now he has a good attitude big and strong but will never be and out and out goalscorer.
14 Jul 2018 19:05:32
At the age of 25 lukaku has 40 goals in 71 games for Belgium.
Ronaldo had 22 in 70 games Messi had 26 in 71 at the same age .
Lukaku scored 27 goals in a team that struggled to create chances.
But he will never be an out and out goalscorer? ,
14 Jul 2018 19:32:22
How many goals did Ronaldo score every year for the last ten years.
{Ed002's Note - More than 8.}
14 Jul 2018 19:39:27
I can't believe the madness! Who in world football would you want to bring in instead? He's world class compared to others of his age.
14 Jul 2018 19:52:05
He will always score goals, but the way Jose plays you'll never get the best out of him. But that's the case for all our attacking players. Rom will keep scoring, but is he enough? Nope, is he a big clumsy mess a lot of the time. Yep. Good player, but not world class by a long shot. I preferred him when he was slimmer and quicker. God knows why he thought he needed to baulk out more. he was big enough.
14 Jul 2018 19:50:11
Hes a great goal scorer but not for the big games. He might win us the league but he needs to work on his ability to score crucialgoals when it matters moet . For e. g. champuons league final or the fa cup final.
He missed good chances versus France as well in the world cup.
14 Jul 2018 19:57:15
Spot on caolan and jred. Lukakuās number speak for himself. Already top scorer for Belgium. The guy is a goal machine if he played to his strengths. Top player.
14 Jul 2018 20:16:50
Lukaku's touch does tend to desert him and unless he improves in this area he will most likely never be regarded as great. However his game is more than just scoring. The ball he played behind the defence that led to Belgium's first was perfection. He's proved himself an adept crosser of the ball for United too. If he continues to score 20-30 goals a season and provide 5-10 assists one can hardly complain about his productivity, notwithstanding some skill deficiencies.
14 Jul 2018 20:35:14
Agree jred. he will score more this year.
14 Jul 2018 21:03:01
Angel 27 goals this season and we all know United didn't play that much attacking football .
14 Jul 2018 21:29:10
Lads Iām sorry but if he is striker who garunteeās 20-30 goals (as some are admitting on here) what else do you want? Van Nistelroy averaged 30 a season. Would you rather morata who is decent on the ball or a goal scorer? Rom is only getting better and scoring goals. What more do we expect, if we played to his strengths heād get 40 at least.
14 Jul 2018 23:16:18
He's a decent striker for sure, but we need more than just Rom. Completely understand why Jose wants another striker. At times we had Fellaini playing as a striker up with Rom. Be good to see Rom and another in the opposition box. Fellaini doesn't really work as the striker, Sanchez was used in that role too, albeit not a target man like Fellaini, that didn't work well either. Maybe another striker is what we need. Keep Sanchez in his preferred position. That being said we know Jose won't be getting everything he wants, so may prioritise other areas and not focus on another striker. Time will tell.
15 Jul 2018 00:09:44
I'm still not convinced. I want to be, but I'm really not sure.
15 Jul 2018 01:30:50
27 goals in a side that didnāt play attacking football. Iām not couting assists, where Iām sure he got near double figures as he is our best crosser. What more can you want. We knew when we signed him he didnāt have the technical ability that Van Persie had. But heās got a killer instinct infront of goal and we need to play to it.
14 Jul 2018 15:11:04
As long as we don't buy Danny Rose. He hasn't played much but from what I've seen he's a very poor defender. This morning's goal was assisted by his complete unawareness. His body position against Januzaj was completely wrong, which also cost us a goal.
14 Jul 2018 15:40:12
People slate youngy but he didn't really put a foot wrong.
14 Jul 2018 16:17:31
Oh he did Mort - Did you watch him get skinned all game against Croatia, giving the ball away all tournament, caught on his heels constantly. What did he bring to the team going forward?
He made a great last ditch tackle in the semi-final but it was only because he was sleeping before that - commentators didn't point it out at all just praised his 'awareness'. We were only tested defensively a few times all tournament and he was found wanting whenever it happened.
He was vulnerable defensively and offered nothing going forward in open play, it's like playing with 10 men when we have the ball if he is on. Aside from being a body, and putting in a couple of decent balls from set-plays he really did nothing productive. Full backs nowadays need to do a lot more and it meant midfield/ strikers were isolated and the ball needed to go backwards. There were many poor performers for me, and Young was up there. Just turning up does not a player worthy of starting for Utd or England make.
14 Jul 2018 16:31:51
Absolutely spot on beast. Mort we must have been watching a different player because young was such a defensive liability this World Cup. Rebic and perisic had him on toast the whole game. I actually think Young deserves a lot of credit for reinventing himself as a full back. He has done a decent job but it is clear he is such a liability defensively. Then he offers very little going forward. Occasionally he will put a lovely ball in but occasionally does not quite cut it. We need to be replacing him otherwise this season will be very tough. I expect Ryan sessegnon to be starting in his place come the euros in two years time.
14 Jul 2018 16:40:15
Was he directly responsible for conceding 2 goals like Rose? He did play a part in England scoring from dead balls?
Id like to see him replaced but it ain't going to be by luke Shaw. And until we can shift on the squad fillers we ain't going to be signing anyone.
14 Jul 2018 16:48:10
As I said park he didn't do too bad. He's a 33 year old winger. Says a lot for the likes of Shaw an rose that their behind him in the pecking order. Rose has looked worse when he's played. It is a problem position for club and country but he's not been as bad as made out. Others have been worse for England this tournament. What did sterling do? All pace no product. Dele alli? Might as well not been on the pitch how anonymous he was most games. Walker looked lost most games an his pace bailed him out. Ok young didn't do well against Croatia but most of the team didn't either.
14 Jul 2018 17:00:24
I agree about rose mort. He has looked poor. I think shaw should be looking at the situation at both England and united and should be thinking that he Should make those positions his own for years to come. Shame that his attitude has hindered him. Like I said, I expect sessegnon to be playing in the euros.
14 Jul 2018 17:46:19
Rose was flavour of the month not that long back?
14 Jul 2018 18:00:55
Not my flavour Jred.
14 Jul 2018 19:55:15
He was JosƩ's flavour.
14 Jul 2018 09:21:07
I have a bad feeling we will all be disappointed this year with our summer transfer window, there only a few weeks left and so many positions to improve. I thought we would have 90% done by now. Even departures are slow. Are we in for a frenzy in the last few weeks?
14 Jul 2018 09:45:54
Mourinho in April:
"We are not going to spend more than we can. We are not going to do anything crazy, " Mourinho said. "We are just trying to improve a little bit more. That's what we are going to try.
Reality is if we didn't pack in the latter stage of the season after city won the league we most likely would have finished on 85-90 points. Enough to win the league in a plethora of previous seasons.
We have a very good team/ squad and a very good manager (when he is unneccesarily bickering with his players) and don't need to make too many additions. Most likely need either a centre back or a left back and to ship out those who won't get much game time.
14 Jul 2018 10:23:11
I'm not one to panic about other deals being made typically, but we have several key areas of the squad that need strengthening, at the moment our opponents are strengthening more than we are - so I'm a little concerned that we are unprepared and maybe desperate deals will be made to paper over the cracks as usual. Deals that will bite us in 2 years time. Everyone has their own ideas on where we need to strengthen, but if we do not sign a RW, LB and RB of top quality we will not win the league or CL, we are not good enough elsewhere to carry those positions as it currently stands!
Also - the quotes from Jose above should finally stop all those comments which state "it's not my money so why should I care how much we spend", the answer is because we need a lot of TLC on this over-paid squad and not an end.
City also have one of the best LB's coming back, which lifts them a level from last year, if we still have Young starting out there then it's over before it begins and I'm not being dramatic - he is the ultimate passenger now. We literally can't afford to have so many 7/ 10 or 6/ 10 players in the starting 11 as we have had in recent years.
14 Jul 2018 11:52:35
"We literally can't afford to have so many 7/ 10 or 6/ 10 players in the starting 11 as we have had in recent years. "
Totally agree but in the same context, chucking money like maddogs surely ain't the answer?
I reckon there's plenty of work being done that we aren't privvy to and players will go and some additions at what the club considers to be the right price/ terms. I really believe Pogba could move on and a n other 3/ 4 -blind, darmian, one of the current centre backs and martial if the moneys right. Sincerely hope that we stick to the rumour bandied about that we don't start buying 30+ year olds as sticking plasters or we will be in the same position next year and so on.
14 Jul 2018 13:41:59
The problem is we have too many squad players on too high wages we can't shift. Ed2 has said we can only add players if we move some on. Largely because of ffp warnings on wages. But we're struggling to sell because of the wages. Blind looks like going. But we re-signed Fellaini and there's no interest in jones, Smalling, Shaw, rojo and Mata who all should be moved on.
14 Jul 2018 15:42:10
DSG, do you honestly think our team and squad have what it takes to win the league or even challenge City next year? Valencia and Young as first choice fullbacks, jones or smalling partnering Bailly, midfield that still needs improving and no width up front. If Lukaku gets injured, then we're gone.
I'm afraid if mourinho really does what he said, then we might as well give the title to City. If we don't invest massively, then 4th place will not be guaranteed.
14 Jul 2018 17:13:21
O well we might as well not bother this season. Maybe Woodward can fax the FA an tell them we won't be taking part. Never mind 2 teams have new managers who need to adapt to the league. Never mind spurs have hit a glass ceiling they can't break. Never mind Liverpool haven't sorted their weaknesses. Never mind Peps teams are knackered by season. 3.
14 Jul 2018 06:41:17
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 14th July 2018
14 Jul 2018 08:04:02
Shaqiri is an interesting one. Heās talented but has never delivered consistently anywhere, and it seems a strange one to me given how well Liverpool have been building. Still canāt understand why they havenāt bought a GK, a position they are in real need of strengthening.
As for Chelsea, itās an interesting model they have where they swap Managers every year or two. It makes me uncomfortable but they keep winning things so somehow it is working, to a degree. It does feel like the players hold the power though, I can see a situation developing somewhere akin to the Argentinian fiasco where the Manager gets overruled by the players.
{Ed002's Note - It is really no different if players don't work out - if it is not going well nthen they are moved on. And the players don't hold the power, the board does. The players are consulted and they do have an input if things are not going well - and that is how it has been done at many continental clubs, which are generally run very differently to English sides with the coaches often doing no more than coaching and having little influence over transfers.}
14 Jul 2018 08:53:19
Tony, i think we'll come to regret not signing Shaqiri, he was available very cheaply and he is a good player and plays on the right wing. He's got a good delivery and is very quick, so he'll stretch defences. We will see come Christmas, but I'm not part if the get Bale brigade, he's expensive and prone to injury. Shaqiri would have made more sense, leaving funds to sign another midfielder, left back and centre back.
14 Jul 2018 10:56:53
Aaa are you serious. Shaqiri quick get real. Wouldnāt take him if they were paying us. We need top drawer players not more average dross.
14 Jul 2018 12:19:26
Just under Ā£14m you can't go wrong I don't think. Would have been a decent squad filler.
14 Jul 2018 13:43:36
Did none of you read ed1s rather excellent player profile? I wouldn't have him if he was free.
{Ed001's Note - Shaqiri player profile
14 Jul 2018 13:05:48
Yeah FZZ we need more of those squad fillers.
14 Jul 2018 15:44:30
He's better than any of our wide players. We'll see what happens, but i shall be reminding you come xmas.
14 Jul 2018 13:05:48
Yeah FZZ we need more of those squad fillers.
14 Jul 2018 16:25:15
For 13m Shaqiri would have been a steal. And great for squad depth. His issue has never been his ability but his effort. Think Liverpool have done some very shrewd business by signing him up. Their issue was that when salah went off injured against Real they had no one of real quality to step in and make things happen for them. Shaqiri can do that.
14 Jul 2018 16:52:12
Id rather promote a youth player. Isn't that the united way.
14 Jul 2018 17:22:30
True mort. Chong or Gomes.
15 Jul 2018 07:53:17
I'd have stopped watching football if we'd have bought shaq dreadful player.
14 Jul 2018 01:48:44
Looks like Blind is heading back to Ajax. Seeing reports of a few of around 16 million with add ons taking it to 21.
{Ed0333's Note - your robbing them Blind. You see what I did there? Iām available for weddings and Bahmitzvahs.
14 Jul 2018 05:49:31
Noooooo. He may not be the greatest player but his rugged good looks will be sorely missed. He has been played out of position all over the place, never moaned and rarely let us down. Iām not saying he is world class by any means but I think heās had a bum deal. Goodbye Mr Tumnus, I shall miss you.
14 Jul 2018 09:40:59
I always liked him at centre back because he woiodbread the game very well. But I think this is probably a decent deal for both parties.
14 Jul 2018 10:50:54
No idea what the spelling is. was meant to say he would read the game very well.
14 Jul 2018 11:17:43
Ed I bet if we check him out on you tube he will look world classš.
{Ed001's Note - not even sure youareatube could make him look world class. Maybe if you are AJH and it is a video of him shaking his hair out in slow mo?}
14 Jul 2018 13:43:29
His lack of pace let's him down badly -even with him reading the game very well he still isn't top drawer enough to overcome it.
But he is certainly a decent squad player and has always acted liked he loved being a United player and has acted like a gentleman when being overlooked.
Good luck to him and his stunning Mrs at Ajax.
14 Jul 2018 13:46:52
Technically very good player, just doesn't suit the english game. Good luck to him.
14 Jul 2018 16:08:03
Tris, if you could post the link to that video Iād be very grateful š.
{Ed001's Note - believe me, if I see it I will waste no time at all linking it for you....}
13 Jul 2018 23:59:30
Mourinho has said often enough that he likes a small squad with two players for every position. If thatās the case how many centre backs do we need?
We have Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Bailly, Lindeloff, then Tuanzebe and RoShaun Williams both coming through - and we want another one
I guess one will be sold but does this mean Jose is considering 3 at the back again?
I Matic sat in front of the CBās and slotted in between them when we had possession a lot of last season too.
Also if we buy another midfielder- then Matic dropping into a 3, with a 5 of 2 wing backs and 3 in the middle let's us play with 2 upfront. Lukaku and Rashford, or Martial or Sanchez.
The 3 in midfield of Fred, Pogba and Herrera - or another signing
Wingbacks Dallot Young Valencia or Shaw or TFM
Anyone thoughts?
14 Jul 2018 00:32:37
I agree that we should sell one or more of the center backs. I would rank them Bailly, Lindelof, Jones, Smalling, Rojo. Jones is a good player, but too injury prone to be counted on. Smalling is shaky on the ball and I'm always afraid of a major error in a big game. Rojo has a good battling mentality but he simply is not that good of a defender. I would love to Tuanzebe come through. Admittedly I have not seen Williams but I have heard good things about him.
No matter how the pecking order plays out, there still is not a natural leader among them right now. Lindelof seems like a good organizer, but he may be not be ready just yet. If he can put together a good string of games this year, especially partnering Bailly, that will be enough to ask of him. A proven leader like a Bonucci would make a lot of sense.
14 Jul 2018 13:46:34
Rojo isn't good enough to be in a top six teams squad. He has to go. Jones will never be injury free and Smalling has peaked.
The future has to be Bailly and Lindleof and one another top CB.