Manchester United banter 2

08 May 2024 07:39:14
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

07 May 2024 22:28:10
I have a lot of time for Rene Meulensteen as a coach, very knowledgeable.

These are his comments
"It is really incomprehensible what is happening now. There is simply no progress whatsoever. You know as a new trainer you always have to deal with a selection that you have not put together yourself. I always say a trainer needs 18 months to get it right, to get on track. But now there is none of that optimism left. There is no playing style, club culture or philosophy. If you look at the statistics it doesn't make any sense. Manchester United had a goal difference of minus three. " Then when asked about ETH banning the press he said "That is really not smart. The media of course have the right to ask questions"

My opinion not Rene, managers spend ages telling everyone not to listen to the press so why ban them when their opinion doesn't matter, it tells the players it does matter and they will read and wonder if it's true. Doubt grows.

Scholes and now Rene.

07 May 2024 23:10:24
Apparently Jose wants the job if the press are to be believed …. I mean I can’t see it happening in a million years, but I quite liked him at Utd….

07 May 2024 23:33:19
There are a lot of highly qualified and respected people all saying the same thing.

Regardless of injuries we should be playing better and with more heart. We are not adapting to the situation well and using the injuries as an excuse.

It has been said 1000’s of times. There are managers out there that would get a better tune out of this team. There are teams out there with worse players (on paper) who have shown us a clean pair of heels.

Something is wrong. Do I know who or where? Hell no! But there are people who do and need to get this ridiculous situation under control quickly.

08 May 2024 01:18:54
Stop it, Eric 😁.

08 May 2024 03:43:31
I’d prefer Jose to Ten Haag.

As Ten Haag apologists love to point out, it’s difficult for a manager to succeed without a proper structure in place above them. Despite this, Jose won us a European trophy and finished second in the league (two things that by his own admission, Ten Haag will not be able to achieve next season) . Image what he could do if properly supported.

08 May 2024 05:34:53
might as well read Ashley Youngs take on Jose too. Too defensive minded and the players did not like his tactics and some did not put in all the effort. Mourinho is not a good choice imo.

08 May 2024 07:07:04
This isn’t the first time that Rene Meulensteen has come out with something to say at this stage of the cycle. He’s a hindsight genius trying to stay relevant.

08 May 2024 07:09:53
It was at the home game v Seville, with Jose in charge, that I decided not to come back to OT until he’s gone.

Jose played the worse football I’ve ever seen at Old Trafford. I rank it lower than anything we’ve seen recently, or even under Ole.

08 May 2024 07:12:26
Player power is the problem and has been for quite some time.

They can down tools and stop trying and just sit back, get paid and wait until the manager gets sacked.

08 May 2024 08:49:24
But my question is, why under different managers and different players for the last decade plus, has our club seem to impacted the most by players downing tools, being tactically inept, playing poor football? What is it about our whole culture that’s so wrong?

Would love to hear some opinion on that from posters and Eds alike.

08 May 2024 09:22:22
I’d take Jose back in a heartbeat, didn’t want him to leave last time.

08 May 2024 10:04:52
Moyes is free too.

08 May 2024 11:08:25
Rene, this brilliant coach, what's he at these days? Take no notice.

Worse thing that happened to ETH was how well he did last year.

This club is a cesspit.

08 May 2024 11:19:55
It will be a lot better when eth is gone thankfully angel.
You do know he is going and won't be manager next season so then the hope can return.

08 May 2024 12:21:43
Angel

Are you also going to say Scholes is wrong too?

08 May 2024 13:20:03
I was disappointed that Jose didn’t make more of an effort to adapt his style of play to better fit the attacking ethos of the club, but there will still plenty of entertaining games during his tenure. It’s a similar story with Ole, really. Not a great fit, but still a hell of a lot better than Ten Haag will ever be. And yeah, with a better structure, I dare say that either could get us competing again, even if there are better candidates out there.

08 May 2024 13:41:51
I agree on Jose.
I was disappointed he didn't embrace uniteds traditions more than he did redseven.
But he should also have resigned (I think he did mentally) the day the window shut and they kept pogba and martial and Shaw against his wishes. ( but I can totally understand him waiting for his big pay off)
I think he has been by far our best manager since fergie.
We probably got him just past his best, he has achieved very little since he left here either at spurs and roma.
Not sure he has 1 more top job in him at club level. If I was the FA I'd be looking to make him England Manager.

08 May 2024 14:12:37
Sadly, Ken, I think you may be right. The game has moved on quite a bit since his glory days, but his tactics remain stuck in the past.

Part of me would love to see him get another shot at the big time just to see if he has it in to adapt, and I wouldn’t be against him being given that shot with us (as per my last post, I’d take just about anybody over Ten Haag) . Realistically, though, I expect he’ll probably end up in the Saudi league rather than at another big club.

Would love to see him take the England job. His football may be negative at times, but unlike Southgate, he at least knows how to win trophies.

08 May 2024 14:30:36
Mourinho was a master of the dark arts. I always remember him gouging the eye of an opposition assistant manager whilst at Madrid more than anything. Not the kind of style I'd like at my team. But hey when it works why not lol. Just don't think he's got it in him any more.

08 May 2024 16:19:38
Agree spenno. I think an intl team would benefit greatly from his know how and experience.
But the rigours of everyday with this generation are too much now I think.

08 May 2024 18:14:51
Scholes is almost always correct isn't he redman? What a pundit haha.

08 May 2024 18:16:22
You got insight on that ken yeah? 😂

Lads have fully lost the plot on here. Every post ken 😂.

08 May 2024 19:30:31
Was Jose good? 6th and 2nd in his two full seasons, Ole managed 3rd and 2nd in his two full seasons.

Did Jose embrace the club and our traditions? Did he play offensive/ entertaining football? No.

Did he work to develop our youth players? No.

07 May 2024 21:54:37
Dortmund are everything Utd are not. Well organised professional tactically astute and willing to run themselves into the ground. Not the best but showed how a good manager can mould a team into more than the sum of its parts.

08 May 2024 03:46:43
Bet Sancho is having a good old chuckle at Ten Haag’s expense. Thrown under the bus only to find himself dragged into a Champions League final. Meanwhile, it’s looking like Ten Haag’s season (and hopefully his Manchester United career) is going to end with five embarrassing defeats in a row. How the turns have tabled.

08 May 2024 06:53:48
Thrown under the bus, Sancho did nothing at United regardless of who managed him. Clearly he can only succeed at one club.

08 May 2024 07:13:39
Redseven why would you hope for the team you support to lose 5 games in a row?

Sancho has 3 goals and 1 assist in 18 games for Dortmund, that’s less than Rashford who is having his worse season. Anyone would think Sancho is prime Messi reading what some people say on here.

He also disrespected the club which should hold him below the current manager in any fans eyes.

08 May 2024 10:36:32
Any fan that boycotts going to support the team because they don't like the manager is disrespecting the club. It would be the most hypocritical thing any fan could do then to jump on others for not thinking a coach is a good one and leave them with zero credibility at all.
🤣🤣🤣 jimbob this could be another national disgrace🤣🤣.

08 May 2024 12:48:56
I refer to your last paragraph in the post above wazza.
It very much depends on the fans you refer to. If it's proper fans or ones that withdraw their support when they don't like a coach. Fans imo should always support the team and not boycott because they don't like the manager.

Fans that boycott and their their toys out of the pram because they don't like the manager imo are anti fans and are not worthy of any respect at all from the proper fans who support the team come what may.
Not every transient employee get our respect and support but the team as a whole should always have our support.

08 May 2024 13:23:51
Wazza. I didn’t say that I hoped we’d lose our last five games (though I fully expect that to happen the way things are going) . I said that I hoped Ten Haag’s time with us would be coming to an end after those five games, just as the vast majority of supporters now do. Most of the rest want him gone before then.

08 May 2024 13:54:34
That's how I read your post redseven and that's actually what it said.
Folk were saying the same thing about Jose back in the day. 🤣🤣.

07 May 2024 20:24:21
Watching Dortmund tonight, Sancho looks so comfortable and confident in that side.
What would be peoples preferance, bring him back or stick with Antony on the right?
I can't see us selling Sancho, Antony and Greenwood in one window so we're going to be using at least one of them next season.

07 May 2024 21:36:51
Greenwood is by far the best, for me.
We’ll drag all three out until the penultimate day of the window and keep just Antony.

07 May 2024 21:38:31
Greenwood to lead the RW.
Sell the rest, prote from within thereafter.

07 May 2024 22:14:44
Have niether at the club

The guy doesn’t deserve to be here he’s had chances

Was sent away to go find himself then thrown a tantrum when all the manager said was “he’s not been picked based on training”

Then decides to post all over socials

Get him gone.

07 May 2024 22:22:13
Dortmund play to his strengths, he’s not a traditional direct pacey one vs one winger. He plays best with runners from midfield offering passing options, with him tucking in slightly.

08 May 2024 07:14:32
18 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, poor trainer, big time Charlie, stinking attitude.

Time to move on.

08 May 2024 08:47:47
Greenwood - we have done this to death with very differing opinions. Just sell him to the highest bidder and move on
Sancho - multiple managers have had issues with him (even at Dortmund previously) . I do not believe he is right for the premier league even though he is obviously a very good player. Sell to the highest bidder or do a deal with Dortmund but let's not get our pants pulled down.
Anthony - 2 seasons in and we have not seen the player that was very good at Ajax. Another that is obviously a good player but not cut out for the premier league. Sell for whatever we can get and have to take a loss.

Biggest fear on all the above is we end up having to loan them out and have an asset that is diminishing in value. I hope the new leadership group make quick decisions and get some deals done.

08 May 2024 08:52:32
Samcho’s days are numbered, and great to see that he is perceived to be having a good loan spell at Dortmund, which will help us maximise his value when we sell him.

Greenwood is a totally different conversation we’ve had multiple times. I’m not qualified to say what he’s like in the dressing room though or what his personality is likely to have an impact on the squad there.

08 May 2024 12:39:36
By all accounts Getafe have been told by Utd (according to club president) that Utd will be trying to sell Greenwood. His loan may well end and he'll still be a Utd player at that point but he won't be stepping foot back at the club again. They may push for another loan, which I hope isn't the case as we need to raise some spending money. Shame, a player wno can play in any forward position and has done so for them. Just what we could do with.

08 May 2024 14:13:58
It's a source of terrible frustration spenno.
He is a better player imo than any of our forwards but it just seems likely that he will be sold.
It's such a shame that things turned out the way they did.
I hope he finds a great move and that he fulfills his potential.
I'd like to see him swith intl allegiance too so he can experience intl football too.
I really do wish him and his young family a great future and hope they gain the strength to get over all their personal history.

07 May 2024 16:27:09
This is beyond a joke.

What was eTh even thinking with that lineup. And granted we have some injuries but we also have some youth players that should be getting a look.

First off, Palace are big and fast up front, so what does he do he puts in Casse and Evans (the only two players in the Premier that I can outrun.

Second let's put Ericksen in with Mainoo, watching on tv I couldn't see him most matches leaving Koobie in the middle to defend for himself.

Third I know they announced and listed Anthony as a starter but I don't remember seeing him at all.

Sorry but this is getting unwatchable for me. ETH has to go. You can see the players aren't putting in any effort for the manager. And the players he has signed and brought in are not very good at all.

07 May 2024 17:10:25
Just out of interest, what team would you have started?

07 May 2024 18:23:53
For me it's not necessarily down the the line up more the setup of them. ETH likes to complain recently there's lots of injuries we're even missing a entire first choice back 4 as he likes to point out, so why aren't you supporting the players your being forced into playing.

You've got a DM at CB the only other "fit" CB is 36 and didn't expect to play much this season, not only that he supposedly failed a fitness test for the game, so naturally you tell your midfield to drop a little deeper and support the defence help.

Not united 2 high 8s 1 cm to cover.

Ok but at least you tell your full backs to sit a bit more don't push them on, don't commit too early, focus on defending first.

Not united push them up high or invert then into midfield.

Ok but you keep your wingers wide give the defence out balls again encourage them to focus on helping the fullbacks and defending.

Nope not with ten hag stay high and come inside.

Wait into that area we've already commited those 2 high 8s? I'm sure there's plenty of space there right? better to leave the full back and winger to our full back. but wait who's that besides you. the midfielder will help. wait he's on the other side. Don't worry we have fast mobile center backs. wait it's Casemiro and evans or maybe at best Maguire.

You can't complain about injuries if you aren't going to change the tactics to cover for those issues. unwillingness to change is what is costing ten hag this season, he refuses to adapt to any issues either in the system or altering it based on injuries to cover shortfalls.

07 May 2024 18:52:29
Ports, you beat me to asking the exact same question. Everyone is an expert after a loss.

07 May 2024 20:06:15
He could not tell you because half the side is pretty much in the physio room. 5 academy players, two goalies and ambrabat and amad on the bench. It picked itself, they were pretty poor across the board with a few exeptions.

07 May 2024 22:05:30
Since you asked Ports, I'll give it a go. Although I'll start by saying I don't follow the youth side at United, also who exactly was available.

First I would not let Anthony near the pitch, Ahmad should have started imo.

Second I wouldn't have paired Evans and Cassie in the rear. Would have put in either Big Willy or one of the starting CB on the U23's or even the U21 squad.

Third I would be looking at the Egyptian keeper, Onana isn't helping.

Basically my honest opinion is that by now eTh should be looking at some of the youth players. Give them a shot, it's obvious the experienced players have given up, let the young guns have a run. Could it get worse?

08 May 2024 11:55:53
Think Big Willy was also out Coachy. Evans was the only senior CB available.
As for the next game, hopefully someone returns. Think Maguire is out for the season.
Sunday probably isn't a game to give a kid a debut in as a high profile error won't do them any favours, but I agree our top youth defender (again I don't follow the youths but Louis Jackson? ) surely couldn't do worse than Casemiro, who has single-handedly been responsible for quite a few goals whilst covering at CB.

07 May 2024 13:53:57
I'm not sure why, but I really want the rumor about Antony facing suspension for calling Ten Haag "Bald Egg Head" in a players only WhatsApp group to be true.

07 May 2024 17:31:52
Ha ha.
It's one of the mad rumours. Funny but can't be true surely.
It's mad stuff to make up though. Very funny.

07 May 2024 18:37:50
Shame. Would have been the most entertaining thing Antony had done since we signed him.

07 May 2024 18:55:23
If true he’s slotted in with his team mates very well.

07 May 2024 21:13:37
Yes let's hope it's true so we can celebrate the toxicity of our players. Just what we're looking for.

07 May 2024 21:15:49
I read that Scholes highlighted Antony holding up three fingers to Mount and felt he was criticising ETH tactics. That’s Scholes not me saying it. It looks to be unraveling badly.

07 May 2024 13:51:58
Did anyone really expect anything better last night? We have one semi retired CB. In midfield we have a kid of whom too much is being asked and a player who has been out injured all year and would take time to get back to top form even in a settled team. Up front we have 2 youngsters and an inadequate right winger. Under such circumstances any manager would be struggling to avoid relegation if the situation were to persist for a whole season.

The big question is why are we so beset by injuries, so many of which seem to occur in training. Clearly something is very wrong. Whatever it is ETH is at the heart of it, so even though he really cannot be blamed for failing to win games with the resources he now has at his disposal, I really don't see how he survives. Given that he may as well go now. It won't change the cup final outcome.

07 May 2024 14:14:08
Yes. I expected better tactics. ETH's are beyond fathomable. They never seem to change regardless of opposition, competition, state of the game, or injuries. I don't care who is playing DM. It could be a goalkeeper for all I care. It takes next to nothing to tell whoever it is to protect the back four. Nobody did that last night. We are so open. So wide and stretched vertically. Good teams stay compact and move as a unit around the pitch. They press as one or block deep as one. I have never, ever seen this United side do that. It's football 101. ETH is still on page 23.

07 May 2024 14:21:26
We were crap in the opening games with a full team. Well without Hojlund, but being honest in this system there’s zero point having a striker when we don’t even try and create chances for him.

I expect the manager to change his tactics and play with some form of a structure that’ll help defensively. If he can only play football with Martinez at centre back, then he’s incredibly limited as a manager.

07 May 2024 14:47:04
Yes I expected better with 9 of eth's players starting only 2 players playing out of position.
If we had everyone available there would have been 2 or 3 player changes and 1 positional change.

07 May 2024 15:42:41
Not true tumble.

Fernandes, rashford, shaw, martinez, varane would all start.

Cassemiro would play CDM.

Mainoo would play 8.

07 May 2024 16:00:22
Varane is leaving he would be starting.
I dispute rashford as an automatic. You yourself have said he shouldn't start.
So 3 changes Shaw martinez mount
1 position change casimero to midfield.
Mainoo did not play as a 6 last night.

07 May 2024 16:44:36
He also gave the players an out by using the injuries as an excuse. I don't think utd should ever be hiding behind injuries or any other excuse.

07 May 2024 20:11:44
Side is missing 5 starters and even the next in line in some positions are not healthy. its a hospital pass of a lineup atm.

Shaw, martinez, varrane, fernandes, rashford. malacia, maguire, Mc out too as second options. slim pickings atm. Sad state of affairs when a 36 year old who was not fit had to play.

07 May 2024 23:28:42
Ding ding, “All aboard the injury bus”.

07 May 2024 10:19:39
I know my last post was about onana but the more I watch him the more I don't want to watch him. He is red useless.
And if we sell him we will be lucky to get half the 47 million we paid for him. More millions wasted on a keeper to play with his feet. The only place he can play with his feet is in the bath kicking a rubber Duckie.

07 May 2024 10:34:19
Useless keeper leahy.
For this league and this level he is totally wrong.
A bit like Anthony
A bit like ericksen at this stage of his career .
He is a clown keeper. Miles and Miles short of what we need.
How he has kept his place is beyond me. Idiot manager has not dropped him once condoning his garbage performances.

07 May 2024 12:53:08
I'd say the manager now will be on his way with him and Anthony.

07 May 2024 14:08:35
I must admit I had some sympathy for Onana. Having a different defence every week that is clearly below average hasn't helped his cause. But its quite clear to see he is just not a good enough goalkeeper for the Premier League. He keeps making the same mistakes and his distribution doesn't make up for it.

I think its fair to say if he is not progressing under the current coaching he probably won't improve any further. He doesn't have time on his side like DDG did. Onana arguably should be approaching his prime.

07 May 2024 16:39:52
We will not get half what we paid for any Eth ✍️ .
And I include Holland in that.

08 May 2024 02:26:28
Varane is leaving because we can't afford him. Plus we are desperately trying to bring in anyone who is a competent Cb. He is an automatic starter with this squad. If we signed kim min jae, we could talk about him not being number one. But we begrudgingly signed Evan's on a free.

07 May 2024 07:48:49
I'm not saying he should be sacked but does anyone seriously know how the training is conducted. I mean he wants to play a system but hasn't had players available to him to play it, so what does training look like. Is he training a system with players who can't play it hoping it will click and then the injured slotting back in when available. Its just that his "preferred" players have been out a long time now so how do they train for this system with players that clearly don't get it or can't play it.

07 May 2024 09:52:48
Banjoe it didn't matter whether people want him sacked or not.
Eth will not be here next season. He knows it and he has for some time.

07 May 2024 09:54:09
He should get the sack Banjoe. The dross that’s being served up week in week out is indefensible. The players have downed tools, no doubt about that. The injury list is like nothing we’ve seen in a long time but ultimately it comes down to the coaches and how the team is set up.
Up until last night I thought Ten Hag might just escape the boot by the skin of his teeth but last night was the final straw for me.

07 May 2024 10:11:35
Who's told him that ken? How does he know?

07 May 2024 10:16:38
The players haven't downed tools they don't have the tools in the first place.

07 May 2024 10:29:50
They have a tool of a manager🤣.

07 May 2024 10:36:28
Last night was Watford all over again. If INEOS and SJR are serious about getting this club moving forward, I personally feel like they need to come out with a statement on the manager now, he stays or he leaves. Don't see how all the uncertainty is helping.

07 May 2024 10:49:15
Ports they can't at this time. Just need to be patient.

07 May 2024 11:17:16
Why can’t they Ken? Finances?

07 May 2024 11:28:50
Yeah, I’m not sure why they can’t? Bayern did with Tuchel?

07 May 2024 11:30:34
Would they sack a manager before a cup final? If that's the route they go down it will be after the final whistle, van Gaal style.
Anyone else spit their drink out when Carragher suggested bringing in Ole for the final three games?

07 May 2024 11:35:18
Yes Tim that's a large part of the reason I'm sure.
I'm not privy to his contact details but a new financial year starts 1st July they can't take the financial hit on this year's books due to psr.
4 games to go. It's not too long to wait.

07 May 2024 12:05:24
Feels like an eternity. It’s going to a painful 4 games I’m sure.

07 May 2024 18:17:05
Just as I thought ken 😄 😄.

07 May 2024 07:45:22
While l agree with most posters in here, we do have very good young players coming through, l don't see Sir Jim buying lots of players, he will push the youth, and maybe bring 3 if he can shift 7or 8, we they should be able to do.

07 May 2024 08:26:37
I’d rather finish 8th with a team full of kids than that nonsense last night. I have no words left to describe what I saw last night. Battered again, and a fair scoreline this time to reflect it.

Despite great interviews recently and some mitigating circumstances, ten Hag’s position is untenable, and the sooner Tuchel comes in the better.

07 May 2024 09:45:44
Tuchel, who like Mourinho, likes a ready-made team with little opportunities given to youth before falling out with everyone within 3 seasons?
I don't know who it will be, but it needs to be the opposite of that.

07 May 2024 09:55:54
Eric what great interviews.
He is delusional.
My fav quote from last night is.
'We have only list 4 games this vagueness years that is not too bad we have proven many times how good we are' 🤣
He is a complete spanner.

07 May 2024 10:15:44
Sorry lost 4 games this calendar year.

07 May 2024 11:46:13
The assumption is that we will finish 8th even if we just played youngsters. It's never a given. No one has a right - even Man Utd - to stay up.

The manager is gone, probably now so that the FA cup game can be actually a competition.

07 May 2024 12:22:07
What are the options (care-taker wise) should he go before the end of the season? Fletcher? Wilcox? Someone else?

07 May 2024 19:04:35
Give it Giggsy until the end do the season.

07 May 2024 20:29:32
Eric I thought you were stronger than this, but you have succumbed to the rhetoric of Ken and his cronies.
Stay true, don't follow the abusive crowd.

07 May 2024 21:07:22
Yeah great PR, let’s get Giggsy and Greenwood back :D.