Manchester United Banter

02 May 2024 07:39:09
{Ed's Note - Dillinger has posted a new article entitled, POTENTIAL EPL SIGNINGS FOR LEEDS UNITED

02 May 2024 05:57:47
It seems there's a lot of discussion about players that some people want to retain and others want to sell. Personally, I believe that selling Rashford should be our top priority. My disillusionment with him dates back to the Europa League final, where his lackadaisical performance stood in stark contrast to Cavani's tireless efforts. Despite being much younger, Rashford seemed content to jog around the field, showing little urgency or commitment to the team's cause. Even when substituted, he displayed an attitude of disappointment, as if he had given his all, which was far from the truth.

My issue with Rashford goes beyond his recent dip in form; it's his apparent lack of desire to put in the hard work required for success. Any player who fails to give their all will struggle to thrive in any team, especially in one as beleaguered as Manchester United. Moreover, Rashford often seems to adopt a victim mentality, blaming external factors for his shortcomings rather than taking responsibility.

Even if we decide to retain him, I fear that he may only deliver one more good season, conveniently timed to coincide with his contract negotiations. Despite having eight years of senior football under his belt at just 26 years old, Rashford has only truly excelled in one season and has yet to score 20 league goals in one season. His negative influence on young players is another concern, and he should not be part of SJR's envisioned revolution at the club.

Another player which people might not want to see sold but i would like to see sold is Luke Shaw. Good when injury free but is rarely available. Beside, he is our longest serving player and how many seasons has he really played well. He has also missed almost half of the games due to injury which is huge issue.

For me, if we buy a player, 2 seasons is the max we should give any player to prove their worth. If they can't prove then get rid of them. Similar to what City do. They bought Bravo, Mangala, Philips and when it didn't work out, sold them. They didn't waited on them to realise their potential but looked to other players who are more consistent.

Hence, i believe time is up for Martial, Antony, Sancho etc. If they can't deliver in 2 years, they cannot deliver in any other year. If somehow they comeout good in the the third year then i am pretty sure they will drop off to their rubbishty form. This is all because players like this are not consistent enough to pull it off.

02 May 2024 06:18:36
Spot on Srestha

I’m afraid we’ll be stuck with Mardy arse Rashford

For me the moment I knew he had to go was a few seasons ago against Villa in the cup at Old Trafford where he made no attempt to get the ball in the Villa penalty area turned his back and walked away nonchalantly

I’ve never felt as hostile to any Utd player as I do for him

If the club are serious then he has to go at all costs

Another typical modern day footballer who has all the riches and yes people around him to stroke his ego.

02 May 2024 06:44:17
I heard something the other day that really just supports my opinion that it's not a good idea to judge a player's personality or character based off of very limited information and without knowing that individual personally.

I've read so much about Rashford's lack of desire, drive, determination and work ethic.

All this is based off of recent performances that have lacked energy.

The thing is that this view doesn't really stack up when we consider all the evidence.

Rashford has often been the first player into training and has regularly stayed late to train further. That doesn't sound like a player lacking effort.

He has taken a personal trainer with him on holiday EVERY summer of his career, continued to train and keep himself fit during his down time. He has always finished top in our squad in fitness tests when coming back for pre-season. That doesn't sound like a player lacking desire.

He has also always made himself available and has regularly played through injury. Hell the kid played with a broken bone in his back for three months with pain killing injections two seasons ago. And yet people still question his determination and drive to play for our club.

His poor performances and lack of tracking back on the pitch stands out because it's not something we are used to with him. Typically he has always worked hard off the ball and for the team. Do you really think he would have been one of the the first names on Jose Mourinho's team sheet if he didn't work hard for the team?

While his charity work shows that he is not completely out of touch with society and his roots, that he seems to have at least a certain amount of humility and desire to help those less fortunate than himself.

Is Rashford's form poor this season? Absolutely, but I don't think we can put it down to his character as there is a mountain of evidence to the contrary, and none of us know him personally to be able to accurately judge his character.

I said that maybe there is something going on with him personally that he might need some support with as a possible suggestion for why his form has dropped off. Yet I've heard recently that he has been carry multiple injuries all season and hasn't been fully fit at any point this season.

Despite those injuries he has made himself available to play and tried to push through for the team, for the manager, and for the club.

Unfortunately he's 26 now, and as you age it becomes much harder to play through injuries, especially to do so without it having any impact on your form or ability to play at your peak at the highest level.

This would bgo a long way to explaining his own pitch struggles this season, and while not officially confirmed, does fit in line with what Rashford has done in the past. His peak form coming when he's injury free, while he continues to play through injury which sees a dip in his form. Is the dip bigger this time? Or is it just more obvious due to the poor form of the rest of the team.

02 May 2024 06:44:53
Absolutely BR,

it boils my blood when players such as him adopt the victim mentality to get away with reckless performances.

The main task of SJR is to change the culture at this club and it should start with players such as Rashford who have no desire to work for the team.

02 May 2024 07:39:55
Well done Shappy. I applaud your exercise in glossing over the fact that Rashford is a lazy, useless, careless, waste of a team place that is a liability to the team as a whole. I could go on but that is probably pointless.

02 May 2024 08:23:55
Interesting point Shappy. The reality is, that no player makes it to the pro levels, and stays there if they don’t work and train hard every day. Not a single one.

I tried, I worked hard, but it’s brutal every day and ultimately I was distracted by life and didn’t have the discipline, and that was just lower league stuff.

02 May 2024 09:15:29
I doubt he will leave. He has given up on eth like many of us have. I don't blame him for that. I wouldn't want to work for him.
However he should continue to give his best.
I admit that is difficult to do but he has stooped to new lows lows.
I'm guessing it's all to do with the way sancho was treated.

02 May 2024 09:44:22
The dedication required Eric is off the charts.
I don't think that is the issue.
It's too common a theme. Players don't enjoy their job at united.
I blame 1 man for that and that's ETH.
Some people have really low emotional intelligence. Some really old school principles on show really really old.
There has to Some sort of rationale and to dismiss all reasoning and put it down to just being lazy is daft.
Rashford is unhappy in his job. His relationship with the manager has broken down.
Imo rashford has not dealt well with the situation.
Sancho didn't deal with his situation the best way.
Ronaldo didn't deal with it the best way.
What's the root cause?
If eth stays Garnacho will be next one with a problem.

02 May 2024 10:22:28
That is simply wrong Tumble.

He doesn't work (play) for ETH, he plays for the club and for the fans.

And that goes for every player out there, who starts undermining the manager.

Every fan can live with having a worse team than rivals, having worse season, being tactically outsmarted etc. But what every fan wants to see is players fighting for the club. That is the bare minimum.

If they do give their best, and it still doesn't work, the board will see that and manager will walk anyway.

In your view, there is nothing wrong with him (or others), who stopped playing for every manager since Ferguson, and threw them under the bus.

Obviously (and thankfully) people at the club see it differently than you, which is why the whole team is up for sale.

02 May 2024 10:41:40
Trololo. Yes he is paid by the club but his immediate boss is eth. His line manager so to speak.
Let's see how many are sold.
We can't sell them all and I agree that players are sold.
Rashford is unhappy I'm not sure how I'm wrong about that.
What am I wrong about trololo?
I suspect and it's an opinion without any intimate knowledge that he does not get on well with his boss.
Nobody performs at their best when that issue is there in any walk of life.
I think rashford should move for his own happiness. He has crossed a line that has cost him the respect of the fans. He has not handled his situation well. He could possibly come back from that but a lot in his demeanor would need to change
I don't think he will move which is his perogative.
So again which part is simply wrong?
I also think eth should be fired. He is doing a very bad job.
Where have I said rashfords behaviour is right?
I said there is a rationale for it and to dismiss that and to put it down simply to laziness is daft and shows a complete lack of emotional intelligence.
I don't like the way rash ronaldo and sancho dealt with their issues but under eth it will always be someone.

02 May 2024 10:45:30
Trololo don't lie about my views please.
If you can give me one example where I have excused playes for a lack of effort I'll be surprised.
Never once have I done that.
Just because I can understand why a player doesn't do well for a manager he doesn't like does not mean I condone the behaviour.
But in order to solve any dispute or issue you need to understand the root cause.

02 May 2024 11:37:39
How on earth are people blaming ETH for Rashford’s failure? His best season was last season under ETH. This season he has been horrible but should the drop off should be this visible?

Dont forget that Rashford had similar lack of effort when playing under Mourinho and Ole as well. He played well under LvG most probably because he was young and wanted to show the world what he can do. Unfortunately, once he cemented his name in the team, he does not have any motivation. Had glimpse of quality under Mourinho and Ole but never realised his potential.

To blame ETH for a player who has never proven himself for other managers is laughable. He has himself to blame.

Shappy defending Rashford is funny. Defending a player who clearly looks uninterested in the filed is laughable. Regardless of his problems with manager, he needs to perform well. I understand players cannot play well every game but definitely can work hard fir the team in every game. Rashford at times simply gives up and provides nothing. And it is not only under ETH but under ole and Mourinho as well. Should we blame Ole and Mourinho as well?

To be honest fans are also the reason club is such a mess. Defending a player who does not give a crap about the club. Wow. A player shows his commitment to the club on the pitch, not on twitter.

02 May 2024 12:01:27
For crying out loud. Who is blaming eth?
Rashford does not seem happy. No player or very rarely do players play well when they are unhappy.
Rasford and sancho have crossed a line with fans that will be hard to come back from even under a new manager.
There is reasons and rationale for their behaviour and form
The truth is very rarely far left or far right it's usually somewhere closer to the middle.

01 May 2024 18:23:22
I know it's probably old news but other than moving the dugouts which is common knowledge. I learnt the other day that ETH changed the side the players line up on. Now I admit I am an old traditionalist but they lined up next to Stretford end "to be near the heart of the club" and Erik changed that. Why? To me that's just change for change sake and achieves nothing other than to remove a long tradition. Well as least as long as the new tunnel has been in use.

01 May 2024 14:16:37
Do we want Dortmund to win the ECL, possibly allowing them to purchase Sancho, who is clearly happier there than he will ever be at OT?

Despite his improvement and his participation in the semis, this comment rang true:

"He lacks the ease and confidence of his first spell at BVB, " says Gebhardt. "He doesn't dribble as often and he also lacks pace and loses the ball too often. " These attributes make him unsuitable for top flight football in the EPL.

What did we pay for him? £73m? which will now be written down to around £30m. Along with his salary, he'll be costing us c. £30m a year for 2 years if he comes back (assuming ETH is gone) . If I were Sancho I'd be prepared to reduce my salary somewhat in order to play football where I'm wanted and can contribute. It would put this unpleasant saga behind us all. Hopefully the new management group will be inclined to just cut their losses as best they can on this one.

01 May 2024 14:40:54
Shaw this is one of the things I’m most intrigued about with SJR coming in. He’s a minority shareholder, what will his views be on moving players on and how much weight will he hold on any decisions? Clearly we’ve held onto very average players for far too long, likely because we’re not able to find a buyer at anywhere near what we initially paid. Lessons need to be learned from that.

My thoughts on Sancho is that he should be told to find a new club. He disrespected the badge and clearly is a very poor example to youngsters given his attitude stinks.

01 May 2024 15:03:37
Couldn't care less who wins the cl and it will have no bearing on the purchase of sancho if BD win it imo.
Agree with wazza he should be sold.
But it's not that simple.
Let's hope we can find a creative way of doing a deal even if it means paying him for another couple of years.
Sancho and casimero are the 2 most costly in terms of losses that we will incur most others we should be able to turn a profit.
It might be another loan but either way I don't see him returning to play.
But if a new manager comes in and wants him he'll get a clean slate and support from me. As that will be a club decision.

01 May 2024 15:22:35
To be honest Wazza, he maybe a minority holder but he's seems to be clearing the executives out and getting his own guys in with Bell coming in as CFO and Blanc sitting in as CEO until Berrada comes in. Sure an Ed can offer more insight but seems like he has more control to do things than his actual shares suggest.

{Ed002's Note - It is not the case of the person with the most shares gets to control everything. What is happening is Jim Ratcliffe putting a new structure in place. With one exception it seems to be the right people to take the club forward. But there is going to be a significant streamlining of staff with a lot of redundancies and fans won't be happy about that.}

01 May 2024 15:59:56
Ed002 I think the business has required some streamlining and cost focus for some time.
I think redundancies are inevitable and necessary I'd like to think the fans can see that and the long term benefits. Reigning in and getting costs under control will lead to greater efficiency and investment where its required within the business.
Tough calls to be made all over the business but I'm sure they are designed to make the business more sustainable. Hopefully the fans realise that.

{Ed002's Note - I think 200 people will go.}

01 May 2024 16:46:21
Hi Ed, you say that the club is getting the right people in place with one exception. Is that someone who is already at the club or someone they’re looking at?

{Ed002's Note - Someone who has joined.}

01 May 2024 16:54:33
One exception Ed 👀 do tell.

{Ed002's Note - It is unimportant.}

01 May 2024 17:15:44
Big number but if that's what's required then so be it.

01 May 2024 17:36:35
I was surprised to look on the internet and see the club had around 1,100 employees. What on earth are they all doing?

If the club can be run with 200 people less than one wonders just how incompetent the outgoing administration must have been. Thank goodness the Glazers have finally ceded the running of the club to Ratcliffe's team --- not that there's any guarantee it will do any better.

01 May 2024 18:18:25
Have you seen how many people are behind each counter? 9 people to serve beers. Crazy! Streamlining that alone would save silly money.

01 May 2024 18:33:54
Ed002, do utd have significantly more employees than other major clubs - Chelsea, Liverpool, Madrid, Barca, City, Arsenal?

1100 seems an incredible number of employees for a football club. Are they all "working from home?! "

{Ed002's Note - it is not a matter of comparison but I understand that the ongoing review has identified that perhaps a reduction of ~200 staff is appropriate.}

01 May 2024 21:25:52
We have far more staff than any of the top six clubs, a reduction is probably overdue.

SJR has also stopped all chauffeur driven private cars which were being hired by all and sundry. All business and operational costs are being reviewed closely as surprise, surprise, there is deemed to be quite a bit of wastage!

I may be being presumptuous but I suspect the person ED02 feels is the one exception, is hiring Dan Ashworth over Paul Mitchell.

{Ed002's Note - No.}

01 May 2024 21:55:08
That is a huge layoff. It will hurt a lot of people. Even more hurtful when you look at what the players earn.

01 May 2024 22:20:02
O. K. ED02, sorry about that then.

01 May 2024 00:42:17
I'm going to stick my neck on the block and try to name 15 snr players who will be here next season on sep 1st.
Onana.
Dalot Shaw malacia.
Martinez lindelof big willy,
Mainoo mount
Garnacho rasmus rashford.
So that's 12 plus 3 from whomever we can't sell. Plus hopefully a few youth promotions.
You could perhaps see maguire stay instead of lindelof.
I've not included Bruno and included rashford as that's what I think will happen.
So of that's what we are left with some crazy stuff has to happen.
Find buyers and homes for those on loan
Fernandez looks done
Hannibal vdb sancho and Greenwood. pellistri
A few promises there.
We then need to find buyers and homes for
Maguire / lindelof mctom casimero awb ericksen amad Anthony
More than a few problems there also.
Then there is the job of filling that painfully thin squad.
2 x gk
2xcb
1xrb
3x cm
1xcf
1 x winger l/ r
Imo all bar 1 of the keepers all need to be capable of starting weekly.
If all of that takes place over the next 3 windows I'd be delighted.
It's totally impractical to expect it over 1 window given the restrictions and total restructuring of the management team.
So it will be a case of having to do what they can when they can but somehow improve what we have also.
It's a really cool project. It's not for the fainthearted and a wonderful opportunity for whomever they choose to coach. Be that eth or whomever.
It's a dream job.
Not without plenty of pitfalls and challenges but uts the opportunity of a lifetime imo for all concerned not just the coach. Wilcox and Ashworth too.

01 May 2024 07:21:44
Would have to take quite a few “hits” for most of that to happen Ken. But such a reality is needed.

01 May 2024 08:28:10
only guessing- maguire newcastle
awb palace in deal for elise
erikson brentford in deal for toney
casimiro saudi
varane saudi
antony struggling to get rid
as with rashford
bruno psg
lindelhof everton amad out on loan.
would be happy with that personally and i really think we will see a change in transfer policy with regard to getting shafted big prices as in the past.

01 May 2024 09:14:59
Let's hope the new negotiating team can be more ruthless than their predecessors. We've a history of overpaying and underselling (usually admittedly salary related to help the buying club) . If indeed Rashy and Greenwood are sold there's 2 x £100m players a couple of years ago now looking like £50-60m players. Sure there'd be much interest in both although all the top Prem sides look sorted on the left side in terms of Rashford. Chelsea?
Maguire similar. A decade ago he epitomised all a CB needed to be and Fergie would have had him. Jump forward to the version of football Guardiola has brought to the Prem and now everyone plays this high line. Villa would have been a shout but their line is higher than anyone's. Probably West Ham will come in again, although not all these CBs are going to leave.

01 May 2024 10:25:07
Spenno
Evans is out of contract
Varane is out of contract
I'm suggesting we will sell one of maguire or lindelof.
So which ones do you not see leaving?
Are we giving new contracts to varane or Evans?
Do you think we will keep maguire and lindelof?

01 May 2024 10:56:57
I think the writing is on the wall for Varane and Evans, who may even be retiring last I read.
5 CBs seems a solid pool to choose from with Martinez and a new signing (Todibo? Branthwaite? ) with Maguire, Lindelof and Big Willy duking it out but I'm sure all will play plenty. As we've seen it only takes an injury or two and all a sudden the first choice pairing is out.

01 May 2024 11:20:44
So you don't think we will sell any cb. Interesting.
Thank God you won't be in charge 🤣🤣.

01 May 2024 11:26:36
I think Jonny is retiring. Talk of him being considered for a coaching role at the club. He's a good, experienced professional, and a personable fella, so could be a good shout to work with our younger defenders.

01 May 2024 11:27:17
I think there is so much up in the air as to Manager, potential playing style/ ethos that the new structure will want to play, money available for transfers etc.
It could be that players we like are not going to fit and vice versa which makes it difficult to say who will be sold.
Personally I would like to see us retain Martinez, Kambawala and let the rest go. realistically we will need to retain at least one more unless we see another young player ready to step up.
We could be clever and look to bring in 2 CB's that be first team players with Martinez, then look at an older out of contract player that we could bring in as cover for a year (as we did with Evans) .

It could be we just retain Lindelof or Maguire as this cover player but I would like to think they have more desire at this stage of there career to go somewhere to play more.

01 May 2024 11:28:42
If two leave without being sold. what are you talking about, are you this obtuse?

01 May 2024 11:47:07
100% agree.
He would be a good influence around the club no doubt.

01 May 2024 11:50:24
Nothing to do with being obtuse spenno
You think we will not sell any of our cb that was a surprise to me.
I don't think we will retain all 4 still in contract. I'm surprised you do.
Perhaps it j it still your eagerness to disagree with everything with out thinking. 🤦🤷.

01 May 2024 12:07:25
You're a difficult one Tumble. I don't come here just to be difficult and try to be a pain in the rear end like you seem to. I won't bother having an opinion on anything you bring up.

01 May 2024 12:15:50
Think Maguire stays til the end of his contract. On massive wages which I doubt he’ll reduce, ruling out most of European clubs. If Moyes departs WH in the summer their interest will likely go with him. Maybe Saudi but doubt he’ll want to go there.

01 May 2024 13:22:48
Fuser he may well do. Its up to him really. He may want to play more.
Let's be honest if it were not for injuries he probably would have played a lot less this season.
The new manager might rate him higher who knows.
Either way I'd say one of maguire or lindelof will leave.
Maguire has 1 more year and we have an option to extend by a year so there are lots of options.
I think maguire will make his mind up based on likely playing time. If he feels he will get it he will stay I agree with you.
He has good character even if he is not Fleet footed🤣.

01 May 2024 13:27:45
Spenno if that's the way you feel that's suits perfectly. I won't be doing likewise.
I don't consider people not agreeing with me to be a pain in the arse, you won't agree with most people on most things. That's OK in my book.
If you put up arguments or opinions that folk disagree with have your say debate your corner.

01 May 2024 13:51:06
Spenno, I agree. He can start a row in an empty room. Obtuse is his middle name. PITA.

01 May 2024 14:35:33
Agree with Spenno and Fizz. Pain in the arse is right. Spenno don’t stop posting because Ken has nothing better to do than cause arguments. It’s like trying to have a conversation with the left-curved class clown who would start an argument in an empty box. Every thread ends up the same way.

01 May 2024 15:05:29
Wazza it's very simple you don't like people who disagree with you. Too bad.

01 May 2024 15:19:54
Keep it coming I love it😍.

01 May 2024 17:49:38
It’s nothing to do with that Ken, nobody is bothered if you have a different opinion. Every thread ends with you belittling someone. There’s no need for it.

01 May 2024 18:39:45
Well said Spenno, Fizz and Wazza.

Ken 'obtuse' Tumbleweed, take some time out buddy.

01 May 2024 18:37:43
Like calling someone a pain in the arse, great to see you at your hypocritical best.
Don't be offended there is no need for it.

01 May 2024 20:20:10
I'd rather not jimbob. I really do appreciate your touching advise. I'm happy out. Looking forward to a good summer some good footie on going to 6 or 7 games at the euros all is sunny in my garden. Little or no worries thankfully.