Manchester United banter 4

13 Apr 2024 11:36:03
Our final 3 fixtures are tough although 2 are at home.
The next 4 games are very winnable against Bournemouth Burnley Palace and Sheffield utd. We need to win all 4 of those imo to get a European place.
A win this evening would see us up nicely for the semi final too.
Will be interesting to see who he picks.
Hoping big willy will play in the last 7 league games and that he keeps his spot for a probable fa cup final.
9 games to endure ? let's hope we can get a little bit of momentum going before the cup semi final.

13 Apr 2024 12:13:18
Hope so Tumble. Let’s try and get a bit of momentum although as we’ve seen this season even the easy games on paper can go the other way.
Big Willy has gone up a notch already in my book, above Lindelof/ Evans and I have no problem with him starting any game. Maybe Mount is close to a start too.

13 Apr 2024 12:50:44
Big willy has gone up a notch?! ?.

13 Apr 2024 12:53:01
I'd like to see Kambwala get a run of games, and given our injuries in defence, he probably will get a few.

He looks to have all the qualities needed to be a top CB, now we just need to see if he has the mentality. Lots of young players do well on their debut or in their first few appearances. They are riding on adrenaline which can carry them through. It's when they make their 10th - 20th appearances and the adrenaline has eased and you see how they handle the pressure and the game in that situation do you see if they have the mentality to realise their potential.

13 Apr 2024 13:41:16
Shappy. where do you get this crud from :D.

13 Apr 2024 14:55:50
We need to be talking to him about a new contract, his expires in 2025.

Think he may well play quite a few of the games left this season. One really good quality is his terrific pace, need to be careful with him though as he has had frequent fitness issues in the past.

Seemingly he frequently turns up for training about 2.5 hours before due time to do extensive injury prevention work. As a result this season he has been fit most of the the time.

Word is he is relentlessly positive and is one of the most enthusiastic players at Utd, he is buzzing to be around the training ground every day. This is very much what you want to see in a player as it is most certainly not just talent that will get you to the top.

Go Willy, go.

13 Apr 2024 15:22:33
Its time for players like Rashford, Casemiro and Anthony to hit some form, all 3 have been below average all season, Kambwala should get another start today.

Need a good away performance today but you just don't know which United will turn up.

13 Apr 2024 07:39:07
{Ed's Note - Anonymous Woolback has posted a new article entitled, Is Jurgen Klopp Burnt Out At Liverpool FC?

13 Apr 2024 13:25:56
Hardly surprising if he is. His style and personality is full throttle, he holds nothing back. That can be draining, especially under the glare of the media.

He burnt out at Dortmund and he is showing signs of it again now. He knows he needs a break and I would expect him to take at least a year off. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him return to Liverpool at some point down the line (although I doubt a second spell will be as successful as the first, they rarely are) .

I think the issue is Liverpool's squad isn't as good as it previously was, meaning there is a drop off in ability when changes are made. While some of the key performers of the previous side either haven't been replaced to the same standard or have declined a little.

Mane and Firmino where phenomenal and while players like Diaz, Nunez and Jota have potential and some great traits, they do not offer the same level or consistency as the former players. While Salah looks like he's starting to drop a level (still a great player, but not at his unplayable best) . This has lead to Liverpool not taking their chances and leaving themselves open to dropping points due to not being out of sight when they concede.

which brings us to the other problem. The defence. VvD looks pretty close to his best form again this season. But then he's had to be as he's constantly covering for his teammates. Robertson looks to have declined a little and has suffered injuries, while TAA has been out injured a lot, as has Konate. Bradley and Quansah have done brilliantly as stand ins, but they cannot match the same standards or consistency of those they are covering for. Nothing against them, they are just young, inexperienced and are making the mistakes they need to make to grow and develop. When half of your regular back four are that inexperienced you will concede goals to silly mistakes. Gomez has done a good job covering at LB, but again this isn't his best position and he cannot be expected to play that position perfectly. He does make the occasional positional error, as should be expected when playing out of his natural position.

When you have forwards who are wasteful and a defence that will likely concede then you will drop points and find it hard to play at the consistently high level needed to compete on all fronts.

I actually think Liverpool's downfall this season may be that they didn't go out of a couple of the cups sooner. The extra games for an injury hit squad that are relying on young players meant the squad was always liable to run out of steam.

Klopp rotated the team for the Atalanta game, but it was probably too much disruption against a very well drilled Italian outfit. Unfortunately he will have to rotate the squad and rest players where he can, as they simply don't have the legs to play at the intensity his style demands for the number of games they have left to play.

Finally we shouldn't discount the mental and emotional strain on this group of players. The media have created a Klopp farewell tour narrative since he said he was stepping aside at the end of the season. The media have made this "win it for Klopp" story, which puts huge pressure on the players, added with the idea of a quadruple for Klopp's final season.

They've now seen their lead at the top of the table disappear, while the quadruple dream was derailed by the clubs biggest rival, all in the space of a couple of weeks. That pressure and disappointment will be weighing heavily on the minds and tired legs of the squad. A squad that doesn't have the same kind of "mentality monsters" that they could previously lean on to drag them over the line. This team looks like they could do with their best EPL captain (Jordan Henderson) to keep them going and get them across the line this season.

Sadly for Klopp, and less so for the Liverpool fans, I think the EFL cup will be the only silverware Liverpool win this season. I don't expect Liverpool will travel to Italy and over turn a 3-0 deficit. Which would leave just the league left. Yet Arsenal seem to have picked up steam since the turn of the year and are in incredible form. They are swatting aside potentially tricky games at a canter, seemingly in second gear. Much like the 3-0 win against Brighton. I wouldn't be surprised if they went the rest of the season unbeaten.
While City are City. They aren't at their best and a combination of a few key players either leaving last summer, being injured or just having a little drop off in form from last season. Yet they are a machine and will still grind out results right up until the final whistle on the last day.

All this as Liverpool seem to be running out of steam, and cracking under the pressure and expectation. Unfortunately for Klopp it seems his tenure at Liverpool will fizzle out rather than ending with a bang. For all the talk of this title race going to the wire, I don't think Liverpool will be in contention to win it on the final day of the season.

13 Apr 2024 00:18:05
ETH saying he definitely needs another striker next season, not new news I know but who do you think we will go for, Ivan toney would me guess.

13 Apr 2024 01:15:46
Does not matter a hoot if we are not providing service to them. First thing we need is someone who can and will cross the ball. Not someone who gets there and then turns and plays it back because he is on the wrong flank!

I don’t disagree we need a striker but there has to be a plan to utilise them properly.

13 Apr 2024 06:19:22
I think it’s a great idea. When he gets to his new club whenever that may be.

13 Apr 2024 08:46:11
KeefyT143

I agree we need someone who will cross the ball, too predictable with the inverted wingers.

13 Apr 2024 09:18:43
We do need another striker and people talking about service, Hoiland is very raw and some the runs he makes are poor so its not just about service and finding him, its also about clever runs into space where wingers can find you with a cross or a pass. He is work in progress imo and we need another striker to provide competition and something different as an option.

13 Apr 2024 10:02:26
Hojland is very raw, needs to be coached on his runs, finishing and controlling hold up play. He looked quick when he came but hasn’t looked it more recently.

We have people who can cross the ball, we have got rid of people who could cross a ball. It is tactics that are at fault. I saw against Chelsea, for probably the first time, Antony running the full back and not stopping turning inside passing back. We just don’t cross and it looks an instruction. We don’t move the ball through the lines back to front, we don’t cross, so it will be tough for any forward until the tactics change.

13 Apr 2024 10:39:58
Højlund will be our starting CF long term, but he is still very raw in some parts of his game. He can't be expected to start every game as he will need rest both physically and mentally. Sometimes with a young player you just need to take them out of the spotlight every now and again.

I think we aren't set up to create enough goal scoring chances, which is why Højlund hasn't scored as many as his talent and ability suggest he should. He just isn't getting a the ball enough. He actually makes some great runs, but most of our forwards play with their head down looking to shoot themselves. Only when that option is ruled out do they look to pass to a teammate. By which time Højlund is marked and not an option. Personally I'd scrap bonuses for goals scored and increase the bonus for assists. It might make a few of the financially motivated players play with their head up a bit more.

That said next season if we can solve the issues with our defence and midfield then we should have greater control in games and hopefully that will lead to creating more chances, and hopefully better chances. Currently it's very much a case of win the ball and attack, lose it, then try and win it back again. Rinse and repeat.

Ideally he needs someone with experience to come in and rotate round with him, take the heat off of him and guide and help him improve in those key areas.

The problem is finding someone who ticks all or at least as many of the boxes as possible without costing a fortune.

In the last few days I've mentioned on here that there is a lack of quality forwards available, and that even fairly average strikers are costing a kings ransom due to the lack of options on the market. Leading me to suggest looking for a flexible forward capable of playing across the front line so as to make sure we are getting better value for money. Maybe someone who has some experience and proven ability, but still with potential to be better and improve.

However, yesterday rumours surfaced that Ivan Toney might be available this summer for around 40m. If true then we absolutely have to be front and centre for that deal. Toney for 50m or less would absolutely be as near to a perfect signing as we could make. EPL proven, perfect age (just turned 28 and in his prime, would be looking to be replaced in 2-3 years time when Højlund would be 23 and ready to be first choice), stylistically a great fit, and would count towards our homegrown quota.

The real challenge is can we get him for less than 50m, as we really can't afford to be spending more than that. Not when we need a couple of CB's, at least one midfielder, and probably a LB as well.

13 Apr 2024 11:11:31
Won't be a concern for eth he won't be our manager hopefully.

13 Apr 2024 11:27:18
Ahmad.

It wouldn’t matter if Hoijlund was making good runs. Our wingers would not get the ball to him.

We would make a lot of top strikers look rubbish with current tactics.

The only way Hoijlund will improve is with service. Until he starts to get it can he improve his timing.

Yes he is raw but we ain’t helping him at all.

13 Apr 2024 15:39:39
Tumbleweed

If ETH is there or isn't next season we still need a striker, would also like to see Mitoma on our left wing and cash in on Rashford.

For me Toney and Mitoma are the types of player we need to be getting in both will run for ever and close down.

14 Apr 2024 00:17:08
No value in the market, reinstate Mason ?.

12 Apr 2024 07:39:11
{Ed's Note - BarnetNige81 has posted a new article entitled, Current thoughts on Chelsea FC

12 Apr 2024 20:55:15
Enjoyable read. Cheers.

13 Apr 2024 13:48:50
Chelsea feel like they are on the edge of dropping away from the top of the table for a while.

The turmoil and change since Abramovich left leaves a club that seemingly doesn't know who it is or have a clear identity.

This hasn't been helped by the massive squad turnover, highlighting the potential pitfalls of revolution over evolution of a football team.

The team lacks leaders, identity or style. Pochettino hasn't been able to create a clear team identity, and I'm not sure he even knows his best 11.

Literally it feels like that without Cole Palmer then Chelsea may have actually been in a relegation battle this season. He has 16 goals and 9 assists in the EPL this season, meaning he's played a big hand in 25 of Chelsea's 55 goals this season. Where would they be without him?

The thing is there is no one else who has even had a half decent season for them. Maybe at a stretch Malo Gusto, yet if Reece James was fit he wouldn't get near the team.

There are some very talented players in that squad, but I'm not sure how they can be pieced together to create a coherent team. It feels like you are still missing 5-6 key players, which after the amount of money spent and the number of players signed is utterly ridiculous.

It very much feels similar to what has happened at United, but on steroids and done in a fraction of the time.

I think the remedy is similar as well. Chelsea need footballing expertise in key roles and given the power to make real change. The internal appointment of the Director of Footballing operations, smacks of the same kind of poor thinking that led to United hiring John Murtough to be our first DoF.

They need someone to come in and work with the club to devise a clear plan and start actioning it. I'm not sure that is going to happen, at least not any time soon. Which probably means a few years in midtable at least.

While the way they spent the massive figures they have spent, hamstrings them from being able to easily spend their way out of trouble. They will need to sell players for similarly big fees to which they bought them. I expect to see Cole Palmer sold within three years, probably moving back north for a big fee to help Chelsea balance the books/ rebuild the team.

As a Manchester United supporter, I'd love to see us make a big move for Palmer in a year or two's time. He could slot in on the right-hand side while a well developed Garnacho switches back to the left with Hojlund though the middle. Those three players all between the ages of 21-23 hitting their peak together would be phenomenal.

13 Apr 2024 22:02:29
Shappy, there’s no one apart from Palmer who’s had a decent season and yet they could still finish above Utd sort of just speaks volumes as to how badly Utd are rn.

Pretty much only Garnacho and maybe Martinez gets into their team ? then onto Chelsea being unable to spend money to get out of trouble: they’ve indicated to Napoli they’re willing to pay Osimhen’s €130m buy out clause this summer. Have been heavily linked with paying Diomande’s €70m buy out clause too. That’s 200m at a minimum they’re apparently willing and capable of paying this summer. Also linked with Diogo Costa GK or the Valencia keeper for €50m and a host of wingers including Vini Jr or Rodyrgo etc. Pretty sure we can expect them to spend another big wedge this summer.

11 Apr 2024 22:14:24
Sorry sent too early.
As saying watched Atalanta, what a terrific team (were playing Liverpool) they went in 1 goal up, at half time, and should really have been 2 or 3 ahead, they scored again in second half for
0-3 and it could of been more.
They play very high energy and did to Lpool what they do to others, of players linked to us Ederson at defensive midfield looked very good, very skilful as well as aware defensively and Koopmeiners also looked very good.
A small town team with low budgets can do very well with right set up, their wages are about one third of Juventus. Second leg next week should be a good game.

11 Apr 2024 22:42:30
Gasperini is an excellent coach and has been working wonders with Atalanta for a few years now.

11 Apr 2024 23:44:59
He is indeed Tim and plays a pressing game with an extraordinary man marking system. It worked well tonight and they beat Liverpool convincingly.
Indeed they have won something like their last 9 or 10 away games in Europe, their last loss was at Old Trafford over 2 years ago.

12 Apr 2024 09:31:24
I watched the Westham game vs leverkusen and the score was flattering for westham. They are really good to watch and wirtz is such a good player. I would replace bruno with him in a heart beat, proper 10.

Tapsoda is also a top defender and palacios is very very good. Lots of quality in that team. They should win it.

12 Apr 2024 10:37:28
Can we poach that coach?
Eth is a fraud.

12 Apr 2024 10:37:48
Wonder if they'll remain undefeated this season? Getting close to that Arsenal invincibles record.
I wonder if another captaincy change next season might relieve Bruno of some pressure and help him do what he does best.

12 Apr 2024 11:08:28
They should have beaten us too if I recall…they should have been out of sight by HT but we rallied and got a result maybe more by luck than judgement. I just like Atalanta and their approach, they make the best of their resources and are a pleasure to watch.

12 Apr 2024 11:22:55
I'll get my coat. Was mixing up Atalanta with Leverkusen.

12 Apr 2024 12:41:19
What's that spenno? Give the ball away and whinge another ref?

12 Apr 2024 17:06:12
Wirtz was one of the players Ed002 told us Rangnick had recommended for the club to sign. As was Szoboszlai.

12 Apr 2024 19:35:18
We would be in a different place if we had appointed Ragnik as DF and had a competent coach working under him.

13 Apr 2024 07:55:49
Dodgy, yep, another one we cocked up. And not the only person we had in the building who we let slip through our hands due to incompetence.

13 Apr 2024 10:08:11
We brought RR in to be a consultant. One of the key points, vital for a consultant, is the support from the very top in wanting to bring change. Often a consultant will tell painful truths and look to make notable change to improve. The club felt they needed a consultant, but totally failed to understand what they brought in, or to support him. That tells you RR did not have support from the very top and was a shocking way to run a business. Shambolic.

Thing is RR shouldn’t have been made manager, not even interim, another awful decision. The club should have listened to him, but failed and it shows why there has been such a mess.

13 Apr 2024 12:56:20
Exactly redman, he was hung out by the club in a role with zero support and the press went for him. They have done the same with every other manager tbf. It is good for the senior teams and owners if a sacrificial lamb gets blamed every few years. The problems run much deeper.

Tony martial will leave for free this summer after Joel insisted he must stay. We have no ide how much j terfering has been going on behind the scenes.

Cant wait to have a dir football in place who is a football guy, not a banker.

11 Apr 2024 22:01:48
Decided to watch Atalanta tonight, thought would take a look at some of the players we have been linked with.

11 Apr 2024 22:13:10
Whats your verdict? The suspense is killing me.

11 Apr 2024 22:21:25
Didn't see it. I've heard a fair amount about Ederson, how'd he look?

11 Apr 2024 16:49:34
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new player profile about, Alexander Isak

12 Apr 2024 12:17:47
Good article Ed001, I like Isak but he does seem to pick up a lot of niggling injuries. Nothing that will keep him out for months, but he seems to play a few games, get back into form then picks up a muscle tear or he pulls something and misses the next 2-4 games.

I said this last summer but there really does seem to be a real lack of elite strikers around right now. At the time we were looking for a top striker and beyond Kane there were few others available, Osimhen was mentioned, but I'm not convinced by him. I don't think he'd make it in the EPL, he seems to pick up a fair few injuries in Series A. Not sure he'd handle the rough and tumble of the EPL. In the end we signed Højlund, a very talented youngster, but then there wasn't anyone else with the same potential who was more proven available last summer.

A few years ago you had scores of top strikers all plying their trade at the same time. But now there are only a few that you'd bank on scoring 20 league goals a season. Maybe the rise of goalscoring wide players has dampened or hindered the progression of strikers. Seeing Rashford, Antony and Garnacho playing with Højlund and constantly looking to cut in and shoot rather than create a better chance for the young Dane almost certainly isn't doing his development any good. Although Garnacho looks much better on the right, plays with his head up more and is less predictable as a result.

What's your take on the current striker market? Do you see many good options, and if not why do you think that is? Cheers.

{Ed001's Note - I agree with you, there is a real lack of top quality players. Even those at the top end, the Kanes and Haalands, have real problems with their way of playing. None of them seem to enhance the teams they play for, despite scoring huge amounts. I think it is because of the huge obsession with keeping possession at youth academy level, that is why the few standouts mostly come from outside European academies. Barca, for example, has never produced a top class striker through La Masia because of the way they train their entire group.

The only one I see that looks to have real potential is Boniface. I am sure there are others, but he is the only one I have seen play.}

12 Apr 2024 20:38:07
Is boniface that good?

12 Apr 2024 20:46:49
I really like Isak, he scores nice goals, good with his feet, and a finisher. What’s going on at Newcastle is interesting and I wonder what will happen with some of their players. I think Isak would score goals anywhere, but as mentioned he needs to be available for selection more than he has been.

Agree with the comments above that there are no complete strikers these days. Haaland is a goal machine and that is his job, but as an all round footballer he’s quite poor - of course I’d take him in a heart beat, but that’s not what this is about. I’ve always thought I’d rather have Kane than Haaland. I think Kane scores just as many goals in that City side, but offers them more in footballing terms.

13 Apr 2024 09:22:46
Isaak is a brilliant striker and very clever with his runs and bringing other players into theri attack. Newcastle have done really well with that transfer when you consider the numbers being quoted for the likes of toney.

11 Apr 2024 06:47:52
Apologies if this has already been done, but could I request one of the Eds for an article on Graham Potter as a manager/ coach. Thanks in advance.

{Ed001's Note - there is this from when he was in charge of Swansea: Graham Potter profile. Bit old now I know, but still might be useful until I get a chance to produce an update.}

11 Apr 2024 11:39:14
much appreciated Ed.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}

11 Apr 2024 15:01:02
Does it count as a trophy if rashford wins strictly come dancing?.

11 Apr 2024 16:13:41
???.

11 Apr 2024 18:44:46
No chance of that Ken, it requires a bit of effort.

10 Apr 2024 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Manchester United v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

10 Apr 2024 14:18:02
Ed001 - Fair assessment and even though Liverpool are an infinitely better team this season Utd do have individuals capable of moments of class if you don’t put them away!

it’s ridiculous to me that a Liverpool fan can diagnose our problems more clearly than some of our own supporters.

Many claim EtH doesn’t have a style of play but it’s obvious he wants to play a higher defensive line and press aggressively from the front. He wants to transition quickly, winning the ball high up the pitch. He also wants to try and dominate the ball in the final third that’s why he pushes so many players forward, trying to create overloads in attacking areas.

He bought a ball playing GK during the summer and whilst not perfect, Varane and Martinez can push that defensive line further forward. Martinez is also fantastic on the ball. He wanted KMJ in the summer, he probably knew Varane would get injured at some point but couldn’t have predicted he’d lose Martinez and Shaw for most of the season.

We obviously have a huge problem because none of the CB’s have the courage or pace to push that line higher, they drop deeper as the forwards press leaving a massive hole in midfield. Casemiro doesn’t have the fitness, mobility or pace to plug the gaps. In addition Rashford is a terrible presser and Bruno is often positionally indisciplined and has a tendency to jump out of position and press on his own making it incredibly easy for the opposition to progress the ball forward.

EtH has been left exposed by incompetent decision makers and negotiators that have outrageously overspent on several deals and failed to move players out. He’s also missed out on several key targets paramount to his philosophy.

Supporters must decide what they want. If they want to see more adventurous, modern football, this cannot be achieved over night especially with the majority of these players.

EtH could stop the team conceding shots over night. It’s not difficult and doesn’t take a tactical genius. Abort the high press, allow the opposition possession in their half, drop the team deeper and get players behind the ball.

The only way to implement a new style is to expose the players that can’t play the system and move them on. This is a process.

If Ineos don’t have the appetite to move most of these players on maybe a more pragmatic manager like Southgate makes sense. Drop deeper, with two holding midfielders and play percentage football. That would certainly suit the likes of Maguire, Lindelof, Evans, AWB, Casemiro, Mctominay, Bruno and Rashford but is that went we really want?

How do we want to play? Maybe that’s the most important decision Ineos have to make.

{Ed001's Note - thank you DLIB.}

10 Apr 2024 15:52:09
Good posts both and spot on IMO.

10 Apr 2024 16:15:49
Ed001 be interested in your view on Elliott's pen, whilst in full speed I 100% thought it was a pen when you watch the replay it seems Elliot wasn't contacted then initiated contact. a lot more subtly then sake. For me incidents like that and the dalot incident against Chelsea are exactly what var is for something that looked a certain pen but when looked at properly it isn't. I agree on Casemiro think he got away with it as it was so late in the game and he got some of the ball.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know on the Elliott one. At first I thought it wasn't, but then it depends on the angle it is viewed from as to what you see. But I would say at most it is soft, so wouldn't have complained if it wasn't given. It does look from some angles like Elliott initiated contact but in others it looks like he just got caught with a follow through. It really is impossible to know what is or isn't a pen these days. Look at the Mac Allister incident with the high boot as he was bursting into the box. If that is not a pen then I have no idea what is. So I just give up on trying to understand the laws of the game now as it seems the referees just makes it up as they go along.}

10 Apr 2024 17:12:31
Ed1 and DLIB - absolutely spot on. Great posts.

I know which camp I’m in for style of play. If I’m INEOS, rip it all up and get rid of the squad. I’d give ETH a chance, but don’t think he’ll get it.

10 Apr 2024 18:07:33
Great Post DLIB. I give credit to ETH for sticking with the high press when he is under such pressure to shore up and get results. I know not everyone will agree with that though.

10 Apr 2024 18:10:22
Definitely get rid of most of the squad.

But ETH has to adapt his tactics to suit the reality of what he has available.

10 Apr 2024 18:30:11
Interesting read. ETh was berating the defense when i was at the FA cup games againt liverpool to move up.

When you watch us all it takes is one dropping off the rest of the line has no choice to but drop back. Its nothing new and we have not played high up the pitch with our cb since vidic legs went.

When we decide to defend we defend in a low block, which brings its won issues and hard to do for prolonged periods without someone making a mistake.

10 Apr 2024 21:00:24
Great post Ed and equally good points DLIB. It's refreshing to see constructive discussion regarding the style of play and tactics rather than the usual ETH bash and debate we see.

I agree Ahmad, I think ETH wants us to play high but the defence always seems to drop off. Maybe it's to compensate for a lack of pace. But it's clear to see we aren't compact between defence and the midfield which is why teams have been able to play through us so easily. There is so much space.

10 Apr 2024 21:15:14
One additional thing that concerns me though is how bad we are at set pieces and in the air. We are so vulnerable at corners and free kicks. Why?

{Ed001's Note - maybe a lack of specialist coaching? Though a lot of it can simply be down to a lack of players actually attacking a ball played in.}

10 Apr 2024 22:00:07
Whilst I agree with a lot of what has been said I still think that Erik is culpable for a lot of what is happening.

If he is implementing a style of play and players are not conforming to that then why is he picking them? Why does he say we played well if they are not conforming to his style of play?

Plus he still rewards mediocrity by picking certain players who continually underperform and show little or no desire.

I spent a long time on the pro ETH bandwagon until recently when I have concerns over his ability to succeed and he is not doing a lot to pull me back onto it.

I would be happy if he stays but equally not too bothered if he goes. That’s kinda where a lot of people are I suspect.

10 Apr 2024 23:08:28
How do you think the senior team at utd would respond to rashford being dropped due to poor performance? Do you think EtH can drop bruno for mount? I wonder sometimes if he is free to make these decisions or not.

11 Apr 2024 08:59:16
Surely during the interview stage these are the things that any coach worth their salt are going to insist on. Will I have complete control over team selection? You read these stories on clubs where the president of the club gets to choose the team, like his plaything. Surely no club can run like that.

09 Apr 2024 16:25:02
Think Willy Kambala can be just as good if not better that Bratwaith, him and Licha have speed and bit of aggression about them. Hopefully Maguire, Lindelof, Varane will be sold, Evans released, so another young CB, maybe the lad from Nice. More money for a top midfielder, when Casemero, Ericsen Sancho, DVB are sold on. Then we had
Get rid of Martial too, plenty to leave, freeing lots of wages.

{Ed025's Note - i may be biased Recon but i dont think Kambala is anywhere near the standard of Branthwaite at this point but he certainly has potential mate..

09 Apr 2024 17:22:26
Kambwala looked assured and cleanly has all the tools to be a great CB, but it's far too soon to be measuring him up against someone like Branthwaite who has spent a year abroad and was one of the best CB's in the Eredivisie last season. He then came back to Everton this season and has been one of the best CB's in the EPL this season, certainly the best CB aged 21 or younger.

He has everything you'd want in a CB and he's putting it together and performing every week. Strong, quick, mobile, intelligent, great reading of the game, technically sound, great in the air.

I'd genuinely struggle to find a significant weakness in his game, obviously there is room for improvement, but there is nothing he really struggles with.

Give him a couple of years and he'll easily be the best English CB around. He's also left footed, which is a rare commodity for a CB.

I'd easily have him as our top CB target this summer, he'd nail down a starting spot with us probably for the next decade.

I think Kambwala will be a very good CB, and I'd either keep him as our 4th choice option next season or send him out on loan to play regularly.

For me Branthwaite and another (probably Todibo) should be the first two signings we make this summer. Sort the defence out and have something to build on for the next 3-5 years at least.

{Ed025's Note - he would be a great signing for Utd Shappy, the guy is class mate and with us having to sell before the 30th of June because of our commitment to PSR he may be a bit cheaper than you think..

09 Apr 2024 18:53:21
Ed025, you have a real gem of a player in Branthwaite, it's a shame you probably won't be able to keep hold of him for as long as most Toffees would like. Also that he'll probably go for less than he should given Everton's financial issues.

I think he should be United's first signing this summer, I can see a deal for something like 45m originally with 10-15m in add-ons. It won't be anywhere near the 70m being banded about in the press as I don't think there will be a massive amount of competition for him.

Liverpool can't really buy a player from Everton. Arsenal have no need with Saliba and Gabriel clearly first choice. City have the funds, but don't really have a need to spend big on a left footed CB having bought Gvardiol and Ake over the last few summers. Chelsea have bought Badiashile, Fofana and Disasi over the past couple of years, while also having Colwill and Chalobah. Which really just leaves us and Newcastle. Newcastle also have a few PSR issues and might need to sell to buy anyone for a significant fee. Which barring City just going crazy and buying a third left footed CB (which I wouldn't totally rule out) means United will have a fairly clear run at Branthwaite.

Which is utterly crazy given the talent and the potential of the lad.

Him, Mainoo and Højlund would give United a solid spine for the next decade. Get another CB and a top class CDM (both in their early to mid twenties with a few years top level experience) and United will have the base of a potentially great side.

We also have some really talented young academy lads who if nurtured well could become really top class players. It's been a pretty tough decade as a United supporter, but green shoots are starting to spring up. We aren't back yet, but we do seem to be starting to put the building blocks in place for a return to the top.

{Ed025's Note - i think he will go Shappy and possibly to United, but i feel it will be around £60m mate, we need to get £80-90m in sales before the end of june to satisfy PSR but i hope we dont get railroaded to sell on the cheap, you do have some fine young players and Jarrad would certainly enhance the United side but i still think you need to get rid of some dross you have before you can become competitive i feel..

09 Apr 2024 19:09:42
I'm really struggling to see what others are seeing in Branthwaite. Each time I've watched him I've seen a defender constantly on the floor. The last time being the fixture against Newcastle when he made a feeble attempt to tackle Isak, ended up on the floor again, and at fault for the goal.

I think he's had a poor season. Likely I'm in the minority here, and happy to be proved wrong, I just haven't caught him on a good day and Everton fans are far better positioned then me to pass judgement.

As for being one of the best CBs in the PL this season, not from what I've seen. Struggling to find a weakness? Going to ground too easily is certainly one.

{Ed025's Note - maybe you have not seen the best of him Wazza, yes he got done by Isak but hes young and bound to make the odd mistake, but let me tell you this mate the guy is excellent and whoever gets him will be getting a top top player who will improve even further and become a top international imo..

09 Apr 2024 19:42:48
Fair enough Ed like I say I haven't seen much of him, but when I have, he spent too much time on the floor for my liking. I'm sure I'm in the minority and will come round eventually, perhaps I've caught him on a couple of off days.

I'm not sure if the figures in the newspapers are true as they rarely are, but it sounds like there's a deal to be done for interested parties. I would assume if he's got that much potential we won't be the only club after his signature either.

{Ed025's Note - you certainly wont Wazza, but as Shappy pointed out you seem the right fit because most of the teams who can afford him already have decent options already on their books mate..

09 Apr 2024 20:35:16
One game. I remember Tuanzebe having a stormer against PSG and looked what happened to him. Willy had a great game, but it's just 1 game.

09 Apr 2024 21:10:54
He may well turn out to be a top top player but he is some way off that right now. Positional awareness not always that good and can be turned fairly easily. He is young and playing in a position where traditionally late 20s and early 30s is when defenders are really mature. Can Utd afford to wait for two or three years whilst he progresses?

09 Apr 2024 23:29:51
Salford I think that's exactly the sort of player we need to be looking at. Players that can peak in 2 years time.
Of course we can't ignore the here and now but when you look back at our cb signing over the years lots of huge fees at the time but very rarely the finished article.
Pallister stam Ronnie Johnson, rio vidic. We did spend big money on some flops too I'll grant you.
But in the main I would like to see younger hungry players that can grow together and a cb like him could be a regular fot the next 10 years.

10 Apr 2024 00:10:33
Not seeing the Branthwaite love-in myself. I admit I haven't watched Everton a huge amount but on a few occasions I have he's been well done more than once. But I get that his profile ie age, nationality make him appealing to a side looking to the future.
Common sense suggests we are not going to go nuts and simply clear out all of Maguire, Varane, Evans and Lindelof. We need at least 5 CBs. The debate for me should be which of Maguire or Varane go. There's this misconception that Varane is always injured, yet he's started more Prem games than any of those names. But he'll be earning more too and command a reasonable fee, and would be in demand.
I still get the shivers from SFA waxing lyrical over Phil Jones upon signing him from Blackburn. A future England and Utd captain, he said.

10 Apr 2024 02:10:41
Branthwaite would be decent. He poses the qualities of Maguire and Stone without their weaknesses.

{Ed001's Note - that is not quite true, he does have some weaknesses. He can be rash, his positioning can be suspect at times and he lacks a burst of pace to keep up with quick forwards. I don't mean he is slow, he is no slouch, but he can't accelerate as quickly as the forwards he faces most weeks. Very good player, but he needs a guiding hand alongside him still.}

10 Apr 2024 02:31:38
Is varane put of contract at the end of the year? If so I think we have option to extend, but not for a sale value, only to use him. So if he goes I think we get no fee, but save $300k a week in wages. McGuire is on over $200k a week, but would have a sales value. McGuire also doesn't fit the style of football we want to play. Maybe everton could take McGuire and give us braithwait?! ?.

10 Apr 2024 08:22:18
Where and why has this fashion come from? "Top top player". It's nonsense speak. Much like starting a sentence with, "So". Or ordering in a bar or restaurant, "Can I get. ".
Meh. I'm old, leave me alone. ?.

10 Apr 2024 08:22:22
Braithwaite has a really high ceiling he is really highly regarded by a lot of people and I totally agree that his season abroad accelerated his development. Still not the finished article but well ahead of the curve for a young cb.

@ ajh,
I'd like to see willy play from now till the end of the season. Varane is on his way so use if we need to but I'd like to see will given the opportunity to play his way into next season squad as cb no 3 or 4 or a game or 2 at rb to see how he gets on. I liked a lot of what I've seen so far from him. Strong in the tackle, brave on the ball, quick and eager to give everything he has in the tank. Confidence is not lacking in him either. Tuanzebe your right never quite made it always injured and perhaps struggled to deal with the mental side of the game.

Martinez is one of my favourite players out of the current squad but he can't stay fit for one reason or another and with the way he plays he and be missing games so it's essential that we have better cover at cb. 2 in 3 (varane Evans maguire) out ideally for me . Lindelof might hang around as we have taken the option of next season so he will leave for free at the end of next season. Martinez 2 new guys willy and lindelof would be deep enough.

New guys? I see names linked all the time and I know little about most of them but Braithwaite is one I'd love to see come in. Hard to see where the money will come from to get the fixes done.
Outside of mainoo we have no midfield at all. Cas erikson vdb hannibal amrabat all likely to leave. Leaving mainoo mount Bruno and mctom. 2 cm needed there.
200m for 2 cb and 2 cm that's brie you get to the attack or address the full back spots.

If Greenwood maguire cas vdb fernandez ericksen hannibal pellistri bring in 100m between them all be doing well. AWB mctom Bruno rashford are all players that could be sold generating profit on their book values (Greenwood and maguire fall into that category too) I would not be surprised to see one or more of those 4 sold.

Varane Evans amrabat Heaton all out of contract 500k pw saved on wages there it will take some time to get the hideous costs under control. I see credit cards and chauffeur cars withdrawn from the execs in 18 months time the running of the football side of the club will be unrecognisable and I mean that in a good way.
The holiday camp is closing down we are starting on the road to excellence we are at the bottom of the hill however with some really good youth players coming through I feel very confident for the future. Immediate term will be rocky perhaps but that's OK as long as we are making ground. I'm very confident that once we build some good momentum we will make big strides.

10 Apr 2024 13:03:59
I would love to see Kambwala get a proper run of games until the end of the season. We won't know just how good he is until he's given a chance, just like Braithwaite got at Everton.
Just look how Mainoo has evolved just because he was given a chance due to our injuries in midfield. Now he's the first name on the team sheet every week.
He's exactly what we need at the moment, fast, aggressive, 100% commitment in every thing he does and so what if he makes the odd mistake. Your learn from your mistakes.
On his last performance he should start at Bournemouth on Saturday.

10 Apr 2024 17:29:12
Fizz, I feel you, mate. Especially the 'so' thing ?.

11 Apr 2024 08:03:46
It is very irritating Noucamp.

11 Apr 2024 12:07:59
Nonsense speak? What does that mean I think there is a grammatical error there in that phrase. Particularly when referring to a written word.
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