Manchester United banter 9

31 Mar 2024 23:14:25
Bruno has created more chances than most in the league this season. Yes he can be infuriating with his moaning but we need his creativity. He is not the reason we are struggling.

01 Apr 2024 00:42:45
Yes he is Salford. He gives the ball away and we get broken on. He is a big part of the problem. Also his stats are padded because he passes to rashford, or garnacho, or Anthony and then they have a stupid shot.

Hoylund has pretty much the least amount of chances of any striker j the league who has played any decent game time. So how is bruno creating all these chances yet we have awful xG and our main striker is getting know chances. It is a rubbish stat that does not pass the eye test.

01 Apr 2024 07:09:46
Bruno flatters to deceive. I hope the club sells him this summer if they receive an adequate offer for him.

He has failed as a Captain. He is far too petulant and his play acting is embarrassing.

If the club are to move forward, players like Bruno are a luxury that the club simply can't afford to carry.

The guy is 29 now. In my opinion it would be best to sell him whilst he still has some value left in him.

01 Apr 2024 11:41:45
I’ve always thought Bruno’s stats are a bit misleading. He does create chances and assists, but also does so by trying to play an audacious pass far too often conceding possession. Bit like if a striker took a shot every time a slight chance opened up regardless of distance from goal. May get a decent amount of goals and shots on target but at detriment to team.

01 Apr 2024 12:06:59
I can't remember too many world class players that have never won the league/ cl
Don't like him as a player never did never will.
The sort of team mate you give a slap to at least once a week for being a pain in the ass.
He has great ability imo but not the type of guy i'd ever want in my team or in my dressing room.

01 Apr 2024 13:12:07
Neither Fabio Cannovaro nor Patrick Viera won the champions league TW, ask Martin O’Neil ?.

01 Apr 2024 15:02:51
Both managed a world cup though.

Both won leagues.

01 Apr 2024 15:06:57
Love Bruno but there’s something Spammy about his numbers similar to Trent.

Throw enough and something sticks.

01 Apr 2024 17:27:16
Bruno isn't the problem, but he isn't the answer either. With the right players around him in the right tactical set up he would be able to produce genuine world class output in terms of goals and assists. The fact that since joining United he has managed close to that level highlights the quality he has.

All that said, he is 29, 30 in September and he isn't the guy to be building the next team around. Personally I'd like to see a fully fit Mount get a run of games this season as I think he has the qualities to replace Bruno in the side. I doubt Mount will ever manage to match the number of goals and assist that Bruno has in his United career, but I think he might be better suited to play as part of a unit that performs better overall. His intelligent pressing and pass selection might be useful to the team performance.

31 Mar 2024 22:53:57
Anyone want to see mount at 10 instead of Bruno and hopefully Casemiro instead of mctominay. I'd also play diallo in place of rashford. Might not make a difference but we couldn't be any worse.

01 Apr 2024 07:11:06
I'd definitely try that. Rashford offers nothing. Diallo can go RW and Garnacho LW.

EtH seems to have hair favourites. He is stubborn as a mule.

01 Apr 2024 09:43:25
Garnacho is making the RW his own, I wouldn’t move him.

I’m all for dropping Rashford, his attitude stinks and he needs to go. Unfortunately the replacements are Antony and Diallo who are worse, so it makes sense that we are stuck with Rashford, for the rest of the season at least.

01 Apr 2024 09:53:49
I find this "manager has his favourites" line pretty funny to be honest.

Anyone noticed that Jose's favourites, pretty much became Ole's favourites, while the same players were Ralf's favourites, and now those same players who were the favourites of the previous managers are the current managers favourites.

It's almost like multiple different managers have spent hundreds of hours on the training pitches with these players and all come to the same conclusion about which ones are the best players ??‍♂️

The argument that they only play the players they sign doesn't even hold up. Garnacho is naturally a LW player, but has been starting ahead of the current managers biggest purchase Antony for nearly two months now on the right.

EtH has literally moved a kid out of position to try and find a solution to drop Antony. That doesn't sound particularly stubborn to me.

People complained that Antony got picked because he was the managers favourite. But completely overlooked the fact that at the time Greenwood and Sancho were unavailable, while Amad was injured meaning the only other option was Pellistri who underwhelmed every time he has played either with us or on either of his previous loans.

Reality was that Antony was the best available player at that time. Since then Garnacho has improved and stepped up, shown he can be relied upon and has taken Antony's place as a result of that.

The only thing I'd criticise the manager for is that tactically I think we need to change our shape in possession from a 3133 to 3223 we need an extra midfielder deeper to protect against the counter.

Tactically the issue we have had all season is the gap between the defence and the forward line is too big. But I'm sure the manager has his reasons for not changing things, and it's more likely due to the players he has available rather than an unwillingness to change his tactics as he has shown himself to be a pragmatic manager and more than willing to alter his tactics to suit the game/ players he has available.

01 Apr 2024 10:40:00
Shappy,

All managers have their favourites.

01 Apr 2024 11:37:51
They’re called the best players.

01 Apr 2024 11:43:58
Correct mad hatter.
Rashford was not a Jose favourite shappy what are you talking about?
Managers favourites under ole were
Rash martial Bruno maguire awb Shaw mctom
Ralph's were not obvious
Eth
Onana martinez Bruno rashford Antony (until it became untenable)
Jose's favs matic I'd say that's it.

01 Apr 2024 12:06:41
Exactly Shappy, it’s no coincidence. The manager has to select from average players with poor attitudes. It doesn’t take much to stand out in the current squad.

31 Mar 2024 14:58:20
Season petering out now, can see some effort at home games for the fans and full effort in the FA Cup. The uncertainty around the manager and many players is a big issue. Not making Europe has such big consequences financially and in attracting players, its essential, but many of these players don't care, its shocking really. EtH needs to grow a pair now a drop the lazy ones, l can see why there is division in the squad, some players appear untouchable, must be so frustrating for others.

31 Mar 2024 15:38:30
We still have a cup to play for top 4 was gone long ago to be honest.
Let's hope we can find a way to beat Coventry so we have a cup final to look forward to.
We will be big favourites against Coventry but I'll be going to the game in hope rather than in expectation.

31 Mar 2024 15:47:43
Even if we beat Coventry the likelihood of us beating City is virtually zero

Bottle job blaggers.

31 Mar 2024 17:59:40
You always have a punchers chance in a final. If go in with hope??.

31 Mar 2024 20:01:39
The think is Tumbleweed you at least have to throw a punch
Rashford is scared of his own shadow.

01 Apr 2024 09:44:16
BR the thought of watching Rashford up against Walker again is worrying.

01 Apr 2024 13:55:28
Wazza
It doesn’t matter who Rashford is up against it seems they all get the better of him
I think he is my least ever favourite player at Utd
I can’t stand him and have never rated him but we’ll be stuck with him.

31 Mar 2024 14:10:04
Two questions:

1.) Has anyone been able to make sense of our tactic of letting the opponent have 30 shots on our goal every game? Has Ten Haag even been asked about it at a press conference lol.

2.) Ten Haag pushed for us to loan Andrew Tate from Fiorentina for a huge loan fee but never plays him, another odd signing.

31 Mar 2024 14:41:54
1 Eth says he does not mind us conceeding so many chances as long as we win. So he has perfected making us porous we just have to wait for him to get the hang of the winning part of his philosophy.
2. Eth got his man. Same as Anthony and weggy and erikson etc.

31 Mar 2024 15:33:23
Yesterday we still have to play with wan Bissaka, lindelof, mcguire, mctominay. Bruno, rashford. We need to realise what we are and move all these players out and rebuild. It is shocking how little value our players put in possession. No effort or energy to win the ball through pressure, no commitment in 50 50s, when we have the ball we simply hoof it away. If we are not dealing with the terrible playing staff we still have at the club, then we are not moving forward. With these players jn the team we are where we deserve to be in the league. If we had martinez, cassemiro, shaw, varane fit all season, I suspect we would be challenging for top 4. But it is still not good enough, and Fernandes and rashford, our two stars, are synonymous with how poor we are compared to other top 6 teams.

31 Mar 2024 16:41:50
I fully agree DB.

However, where I do sympathise with some of the EtH outers is his team selections, although it would be remiss of me to just dismiss the injuries he’s had to contend with, I just can’t fathom the over reliance on some players.

If he continues to play Rashford and Bruno he’ll almost certainly lose his job, if he hasn’t already.

Hoijlund up front, Mount at No10, Garnacho left, Ahmed right, Mainoo and Casemiro in midfield. Hopefully Varane and Martinez at CB but he might just have to rely on whoever is fit and available at CB.

We simply can’t get any worse than what happened last night so EtH might as well roll the dice and reward young Ahmed with a run in the team for not only his impact and performance against Liverpool but his work rate and intensity. Now Mount is fit again, he might as well give him at run at No10. He might at least try and look after the ball a bit better.

What’s the worse that can happen now?

I’m not suggesting that team will suddenly start playing fantastic football but at least it has more players aligned with how EtH wants to play and to be honest I just can’t stand the same underperforming players being selected all the time.

Wishful thinking but do we really want to see another game of Rashford not trying, Bruno giving the ball away and Mctominay playing hide and seek?

31 Mar 2024 17:24:58
All those players did quite well last season. 2 Cup finals and 3rd. They are hopefully going to have another cup final this season.
They are consistently inconsistent.
To my amateur eye they're is no obvious game plan. That is not the players fault imo. A man leading that nobody knows how to follow is just a man going on a walk on his own. If he can't get everybody follow him every week then you get what we have.
No doubting we have players not up to following anybody and they need to be weeded out too.
There is no quick fix no magic wand.
If anybody has any doubt about eth then now is the time to change imo.
For me it's not a case of whether he has been a failure it's more the question do I think he will be much better or a success?
I genuinely can't point to 1 thing that leads me to believe that no matter what the circumstances he will get things right.

31 Mar 2024 18:28:01
Last season we sat deep and played long ball (counter attack) all season.

If everyone wants better with these players then we can do that, get ole back. We might get UCL some seasons.

You don't challenge playing like that. And these players can't play any other way.

Could rash and bruno be better if the back four could squeeze up and play a high line? Maybe. But I think we all know that they can't play like that. We have always been poor against a low block with those two I the team.

Mctominay is terrible as a midfielder. He is plan d, when chasing a game in the 80th minute.

31 Mar 2024 20:28:44
Ken, do you think that perhaps the players are incapable of sticking to a game plan?

Jose had a game plan.
Van Gaal had a game plan.

Both, at various points, said the players weren’t doing what they were asked to do on the pitch.

ETH looked like he had a plan during the first few months at the club. There was more pressing, a higher line, and evidence of the team moving in the right direction. Since then it has reverted to the style these players seem to like to play. Sit deep, break fast, and hopefully win by nicking a goal.

I’m far from convinced by ETH. He has made some dubious decisions in regard to transfers and keeps picking underperforming players. But. I think he came into the club with a plan and is now in a position of abandoning it in the hope that it panders to the players and saves his job. There is obviously something rotten in the culture at the club and in the dressing room that results in successive managers being unable to implement any sustained footballing approach. Every time the team reverts to sit and break. Not sure if ETH can solve it, but somebody in the new footballing directorate needs to.

As for Arambat. A few clubs were looking at him as someone who could be a good fit in the EPL. It hasn’t worked out. At least we didn’t sign him permanently.

31 Mar 2024 21:55:43
Sack ETH and bring in Roy Keane. At least the run in would be entertaining?.

01 Apr 2024 14:31:24
A couple of wins will quite the crowd and we will be well in for a top4/ 5 finish. It will not be easy but doable. Chelsea away game harder to win than Scousers at home imo.

Finally watched the game yesterday and Mainoo, Garnacho, rash, Hoiland, Bruno, mc and plenty more had either poor or stinkers. Personally thought Bruno and awb had stinkers and both defensively Just awful and offensively nothing.

Team looked slow, gassed early and no legs and if I am not mistaken we have done this after every break.

Onana is starting to show he is a top keeper and must be a nightmare to be a keeper with this bunch in front of him.

I might not be popular opinion but playing any combination of midfielders with Bruno is a defensive weakness, he does nothing defensively and makes everyone else look awful whether its cas or mc or mount or name whatever combination you put out there. dilemma is what you lose offensively if you don't play him and maybe mount can do a better job playing as a 10 but he has hardly played with this team and this group of players this year and not match fit and it takes time to play that role properly.

31 Mar 2024 13:38:38
I think rashford has shown more disdain for his manager and teammates and more disrespect for the fans and club than sancho ever did.

31 Mar 2024 14:34:53
Im tired of him Ken, and fed up with all the excuses made for him. There’s plenty of people around the world dealing with personal issues but they have to show up to work every day and give their best, something rashford hasn’t done in a long time. Be interesting to see if he makes the euros, if I was Southgate I’d be leaving him at home.

31 Mar 2024 14:44:19
Guess we will have to wait and see on that one Tim. I hope he is not selected.

31 Mar 2024 14:44:22
Yet ETH keeps selecting him.

31 Mar 2024 15:37:21
I'm guessing that is not optional Redman.

If I'm EtH I'm subbing him off before half time at this stage, just to make a point. He may as well go out on his sword as continue to stand on this player who has done nothing but disrespect the club for more than 12 months.

I would also be subbing bruno off too. He is also disrespectful in a different way. Just hoofing the ball about trying to play an impossible pass rather than helping the team to build an attack properly.

31 Mar 2024 17:27:59
How do you mean not optional DB?
Surely it's not contractual your suggesting?

31 Mar 2024 20:02:14
Subbing him off before half time will also give the fans chance to make known what they think about him.

What an small human being he is. A total embarrassment to himself.

Up until now I've been thinking eth should have another season but I've changed my mind. That he keeps selecting Rashford, Bruno, McTominany and utd have 30+ shots against them wvery game tells me he hasn't a clue what he is doing.

31 Mar 2024 21:46:46
I can't understand why rashford is not being dropped ever. Or subbed before about i0 mins ever. Bruno not dropped ever. Not subbed ever.

I am clinging onto some hope that EtH is not gutless and is being told by the club, maybe due to players contracts, that they have to play.

If that is not the case then my thoughts on EtH drop a long way.

Would like to see mount in the team, he at least tries to pass to a teammate once in a while. Would also like to see a more solid set up with players who will press from the front. But fully expect to see Rashad and bruno again all next game.

31 Mar 2024 23:04:50
Just not really working this season for some reason. I’m inclined to agree with Ed about Erik likely moving on in the summer.

I think the new team running football matters will want to make sweeping changes all round and bring in their own people; and that includes all footballing matters such as coaches, manager, players, recruitment, medical and data teams.

30 Mar 2024 22:55:09
Utterly dreadful, don't let the win over Liverpool fool you, we are a very poor team, facing nearly 200 shots in 2024 keeping company with relegation teams, no style of play, no midfield to speak of, players with no idea what they're doing, terrible and this is a common there now. Does ten hag know what he's doing? What is his style? A lot of these players are levels below what we need so the truth somewhere in the middle but I don't feel like the players play for him or that he knew what he's doing. Embarrassing performances on a consistent basis, I'd be looking at who's out there now before Liverpool nab the best one.

31 Mar 2024 08:15:09
Champions League? You're having a laugh. It's bad enough to be so embarrassing at home but to become the laughing stock of Europe as well is too much to handle!

31 Mar 2024 08:19:57
All that being said, Brentford were a breath of fresh air. Energy, ambition, played on the front foot and caused us lots of problems. Very impressed by them last night.

We were utter dross. Didn’t match their energy, work rate or ambition. But we say that most weeks about this team now.

31 Mar 2024 09:07:45
I can’t wait for this season to be over

Sick to death of these players.

31 Mar 2024 09:09:14
There's been far too many performances like this across the season, hence the awful stats we have. I've been very much of the opinion that the best thing to do is keep Ten Hag next season and continue to think long term. However, I cannot think of a side who has gotten less from as much as we have. We've had injuries that have not helped, but you simply have to produce better performances with who we have had available compared to other sides. We've been outplayed by Brentford, Bournemouth, Copenhagen, Luton, Everton and plenty of others. All of those sides would be over the moon to have most of our players.

There's no intensity in the majority of our performances, no movement off the ball and almost everyone just playing it safe. We look like a side who have had a new manager for 2 weeks, not almost 2 years. Results are one thing but producing good performances regularly brings good results. Playing the horrendous football we do, doesn't lend itself to winning games.

Players haven't performed and that is a problem going back over many managers but we also don't seem set up to make the most of the players we actually do have. Hojlund is isolated, centre backs are too often left in 2v2 situations, whoever is playing holding midfield is effectively covering the entire width of the pitch on their own.

I've no idea what the answer is and while I'm not in the Ten Hag out camp, it's getting more and more difficult to justify him staying on with the level of performance we're producing regularly.

31 Mar 2024 09:49:27
The chaotic defensive line and huge spaces in midfield are so obvious to everyone, even Jamie Carragher. It has been the same all season.

So why isn’t it being fixed?

Is ETH gambling on throwing players forward on transition to it outscore an opposition who will then flood through the spaces in midfield? (Hence insistence on playing McTominay)

Or doesn’t he have the players to do anything else?

Just cannot wait for the end of the season now and all the changes that will bring.

31 Mar 2024 10:35:43
Not yet in the ETH out camp although if he was sacked today I wouldn't care but i'd love to be a fly on the wall when SJR / Brailsford / Ashworth get in a room with ETH and say, 'Erik, what was that Brentford performance about? and BTW why have we seen this time and time again in the last 2 years and how can we fix it?' Cannot imagine they would leave that meeting with a lot of confidence.

31 Mar 2024 10:45:02
The only shock for me is that some of you seem a little surprised.
Dead men walking rarely do well.
He will be fired and the sooner he is gone the better. Let the professionals in and weed out some players over next 12 months and start to rebuild with a coach or their choosing.
Eth out.

31 Mar 2024 11:01:21
The number of shots we face is alarming and it’s not going to change until we get the right players in of sufficient quality.

I like McTominay the person, but as a footballer he’s a very poor CM. I don’t even remember him touching the ball last night. We are much better when he’s on the bench, and he’s much better playing higher up the pitch as an impact sub. McTominay is today’s Fellaini.

Players such as AWB can’t control the football and we’ll be much better when Shaw is back.

We need Martinez on the pitch. I thought things would get a little better when Cas and Mount came on, and they did, marginally.

It would be nice to see our first choice XI on the pitch before the season is out. Things did get a bit better for about 1.5 games earlier in the season before Martinez limped off again.

31 Mar 2024 11:50:45
Have to agree with Ken. The players are massively at fault but the manager must take the blame too. If we all can see it then he must too. I just hope his after match analysis is just bravado and misdirection because I’d hate to think he’s that delusional. Only 9 games left?.

31 Mar 2024 12:12:31
Yet again Rashford wandered around the pitch completely disinterested. I'm starting to think he's Martial in disguise.

31 Mar 2024 12:13:37
I listened to Poch describe Chelsea performance and they're the words ETH should also use. Instead he said "we give up chances but not goals" after Brentford it the woodwork 4 times. I don't think I can take much more of whatever it is he's trying to achieve.

31 Mar 2024 12:33:01
It's all ANOTHER managers fault ??

Saw a great analogy about being married 5 times, each time the husband dumps the wife. At one point does the husband become the problem ?

ETH in, back him, give him the proper structure and give him a bit more time.

Ken would sack every manager if he had his way ?.

31 Mar 2024 12:57:25
He is being fired and he knows it. He is finished you need to accept the inevitable angel. Eth is a goner and rightly so
I didn't call for Jose or lvg sack Angel don't be talking nonsense.

31 Mar 2024 14:38:40
Angel, a number of the players he requested he’s got and they either haven’t been good enough or he isn’t using them correctly. I don’t think anyone on here is solely blaming the manager but he’s culpable too. If we are cleaning house and trying to start with a new plan and culture then eth has to go too.

31 Mar 2024 15:39:16
But there is no scenario where both go.

So, players first then see what the manager does next season.

31 Mar 2024 15:42:45
Tim, you think that's it? A number of his players?

He's still got Varane there, Dalot, AWB, Maguire, McT, No left back, Casemeiro (not a player he really wanted, panic buy) Rashford, Bruno etc. Lots of players that are not his, and IMO players unable to do the job required.

Ken, mistake IMO if he is sacked, as I stated above, they have always sacked managers without actually addressing the underlying problems.

Inevitable? Well the journalists closest to the club, Mitten, Whitwell etc who knows a lot more than you or I don't seem to think so. So who's talking nonsense?

31 Mar 2024 15:53:44
Angel it’s Be easier to just say what’s right at the club, it’s going to be a long road back.

31 Mar 2024 16:00:18
Let's see angel who is talking the nonsense.
Eth has control over transfers who said cas was not his signing more nonsense from you. Because you have no idea.
Your entitled to your opinion. You will have the chance to talk about the mistake next season. He is gone he knows it the players know it and the most fans realise it.
Pity I thought he would have been much better than he turned out.
Can't wait to see who the choose to replace him. Hope he does a better job.

31 Mar 2024 16:02:41
Angel what about the players he did choose.
Anthony
Onana
Ericksen
Casimero
Malacia
Amrabat
Mount
Weggy.

31 Mar 2024 16:24:56
Ken did ETH ask for Weghorst or was he another loan due to poor planning and backing?

31 Mar 2024 16:28:26
What makes you so certain Mr Tumble, that the manager will be sacked. We all see the reports but I've not read anything that I would be sure that he's gone.

31 Mar 2024 17:54:58
Banjoe I don't know anything for sure of course.
But I'm very confident that will be the outcome.
If the new management team see something in eth I don't and he is kept ill 100% trust their judgement.
I've been wrong a million times. Make lots of mistakes but thankfully I get a lot more right than wrong. My opinions on this are just an opinion of 1.
My honest opinion is that there will be a very amicable parting.
We have what we all wanted structure wise those new appointments will need to have 100% alignment with the coach. I'm not sure eth is flexible enough to compromise on his ideals and I don't think he has been convincing enough for them to compromise on theirs.
He lacks charisma imo. He is poor with the press and creates too much noise with his comments I feel.
I don't see an efinity from the manager through the players to the fans. It's the managers job to create that imo.
I don't identify with this team and manager and I don't think sjr and team will either.
I said on another post it's not a question of if he was a failure it a question of do I believe he will be a success? I don't think so and I believe that the management team will align with my thought process or me with theirs.
The team sjr is assembling are all singing from one hymn sheet, for example I don't think for one second sancho would have been eating alone from a lunchbox if this team had been in place for that episode.
Let's see what happens.
If I'm wrong I'll add it to the wrong box all in going for now is a cup win that would be a nice end to a disappointing season.

31 Mar 2024 17:57:56
I don't know wazza but eth demanded control over incoming players so I'm sure he had a hand in it.
We have been told martinez was his 2nd choice behind timber Antony preferred of kudos.

31 Mar 2024 23:08:29
Jesus ken, what a list. I think if you go down through each one, and why they were picked, you end up scratching your head even more.

Amrabat and Weghorst? Desperation as there was no one else.

Onana, well I can't remember the last time he has a bad game.

Mount, just back from injury, never a bad player. someone I think will play well in time.

Eriksen, a free, didn't do too bad last season, needed to be moved on this year.

Casemeiro, again, according to people who know, panic buy put upon ETH. Didn't do bad last year either.

Malacia, looked good until whatever has happened has happened.

Antony, a poor signing thus far.

He also signed Hojlund, brought through both Mainoo and Garnacho.

Again, the club has been a shambles from top to bottom, no structure, balance, or ability to actually pay the right price for a player. hence the reason why we have such a mixmash or talent both on and off field. A shambles.

Good that INEOS are in, and looking to put the right people in place. But once again, looking to maybe replace the manager. Whatever happened to giving the man time.

01 Apr 2024 12:12:53
Angel he has had 2 seasons and brought us backwards.
He has lost a 33% of our games this season.
Bottom of cl group.
He has had time.
Nobody was along him to win a league just to show progression and signs that he might if given longer.
No sign of that at all.
He will be gone in the summer.
Who replaces him is the only question we need answered.
We will find out in due course.

30 Mar 2024 22:03:05
ETH and McClaren celebrating Mount’s goal when Klopp and Pep would have been organising from the touchline. Pathetic in game management. Stop cracking out the champagne and do your job Eric.

30 Mar 2024 22:06:15
Incoming…………….

31 Mar 2024 00:25:10
How dare they celebrate what should have been the winner in the final minuites of the game

How dare they have passion to celebrate

Maybe if the players had the same passion they wouldn’t have concede yet another shocking defensive goal

Would have been robbery coming away with 3 points anyway

Another boring football performance and in the end the manager and the coaching staff need to take a look at themselves

But that’s what will get them sacked the dross were having to watch

It is starting to resemble lvg football

Boring.

31 Mar 2024 08:17:36
Last night was very poor. I’m not one for knee jerk reactions, and there is a style of play, but it’s just very negative football which I don’t understand. Erik’s teams at Ajax were awesome with far lesser players than we have. Something is still very rotten in this club and needs sorting.

31 Mar 2024 08:22:44
@Bolger. Their job is to manage the team. The performance. The tactics. The situation. They can celebrate in the changing room. On the pitch after the game. On social media. They thought it was all over. I look forward to when it is.

31 Mar 2024 08:33:36
@Eric79 ETH’s success was based on the stellar youth development system at Ajax. He didn’t build a team. He didn’t have to develop a philosophy, club culture or style of play. He was fortunate enough to be given some great players at the right time who knew the blueprint for Ajax football. He also had a great CEO and DoF (off field behaviour aside) who invested well. None of that exists at United. He’s out of his depth with no clue on a philosophy or style of play and apparent inability to motivate. His success last season appears to be based on Rashford’s (outlier) form and goals. Take that away and this is what we are left with. I saw nothing to suggest it would have been any different last season without Rashford’s form.

31 Mar 2024 11:10:37
BRD what about having the best defensive record last season as well?

This season has been an utter shambles from top to bottom.

You’re looking for someone to blame. You were probably also lamenting McFred two years ago. We still have 50% of that midfield. We still have to rely on non-technical players such as AWB and Maguire. Ole signings who are never going to have a team challenging for titles.

31 Mar 2024 13:50:35
Wazza what about losing a third of our league games and finishing bottom if cl group for 1st time?

31 Mar 2024 15:03:12
@wazza then he shouldn’t have blown £80on Antony. Maybe he should have consulted Rangnick more instead of discarding him so quickly. I don’t look for people to blame. I look for those responsible and accountable.

30 Mar 2024 13:48:42
Difficult game today hoping we get a win. Very encouraged hearing martinez and cas are back they will need 3/ 4 games to be match fit and find their legs. Would be great to get a proper starting eleven for the final stretch of the season and go on a run.

30 Mar 2024 12:23:47
Loads of talk recently surrounding Mainoo, especially about his best position, is he a No6 or No8? Where is he most effective etc?

I personally love him a bit deeper, the way he's able to take the ball off the back 4 and progress it forward through the lines is his strongest attribute in my opinion. The way he positions his body to receive the ball is fantastic and he has the strength and footwork to wriggle out of difficult situations. I really like him on the ball, in possession, dictating play.

As I watched him for England on Tuesday night, I thought he became particularly effective when Foden came more centrally and Mainoo was able to progress the ball vertically into the Foden and Bellingham on the half turn.

I just wonder if EtH see's the future of Utd's midfield as Mainoo, Mount and Bruno? Or if he would have at least liked to try this combination more often?

I think we all viewed the Mount signing with raised eyebrows and speculated where he'd fit in? Personally I think he was signed as an No8, comfortable on the ball, able to keep possession, good in tight areas, a progress and incisive passer, intelligent runner and also provides a goal threat. Defensively he's a hard worker and very good presser, for a side that wants to press the ball and defend on the front foot.

All three (Mainoo, Mount, Bruno) are mobile, hard working and effective pressers. We've seen EtH often deploy his midfielders man for man this season, especially in the oppositions first phase of play and the signing of Hoijland has also provided the team with another brilliant presser.

EtH has been unable to really execute this more aggressive pressing system largely due to injuries to Hoijlund, Mount, Martinez and Shaw all being injured for most of the season and certainly not all being available at the same time.

When everyone is fit does EtH see a team of Onana, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Mount, Bruno, Garnacho, Rashford, Hoijlund. At least for some games and especially at home against some lower placed opposition where he can afford to be more aggressive and take more risk.

I could envisage this team aggressively pressing the ball and playing a much higher line. In possession, the likes of Martinez and Mainoo progressing the ball centrally into Mount and Bruno on the half turn, then looking for runs in behind by Rashford or Hoijlund or into Garnacho to run at defenders.

With Martinez and Mount returning watch this space.

30 Mar 2024 14:00:51
I'd love Mount to work as a No8, but he's never excelled in that position in his career so I'd be surprised if ten Hag really did want him for that position.

Personally, I think Mainoo would be best in a double pivot with a player with equal defensive qualities.
I think because Kobbie and Martinez are each some way off 6ft, a big and physical partner for Kobbie might be the best option.
For me, only two players tick the box - Amadou Onana and Kephren Thuram.

30 Mar 2024 14:36:03
Ork - I tend to agree, I also think we lack a ball winner in midfield, ideally I’d like someone with energy, mobility, physicality, a really good tackler but also someone who’s very comfortable on the ball to partner Mainoo in midfield.

Personally I’m not convinced about Mount and if he wasn’t bought as a No8 it was a strange decision to invest over £50m in another No10 especially considering Bruno is the captain and hardly misses a game. Is Mount a more expensive VdB. Good player but where does he really fit in?

I was just speculating where EtH might deploy Mount and the evolution of our midfield with the emergence of Mainoo?

Does anyone think Mainoo is EtH’s new FdJ and will look to use him in a similar way in Utd’s midfield?

30 Mar 2024 14:55:20
Personally think a midfield 2 with and 10 in front is the way to go.
Not saying mainoo can't excel as a 6 but leaving him in there on his own would take aspects away from his game. A partner to play next to him is a must this summer.
As for Mount, I rate him as a player but do think it should be him or Bruno. Under ten hag I do feel Mount would fit in the 10 position more so than Bruno just because his ball retention and his ability to press better. Will never happen but just my opinion.

30 Mar 2024 10:40:29
Happy Easter, Eds and all.
Mark Ogden has reported that United are interested in bringing Gary O'Neil into the coaching setup at United.

Any truth in this?

30 Mar 2024 11:53:11
Scholesy, look on the wolves page, ed002 has answered your question there.

30 Mar 2024 12:05:47
O'Neill has come out and said himself there is no truth in the rumours.

Sly Sports have also recently reported that ETH is now in Ineos summer plans.

Topic has been covered to death but I'm sure Ed002 would update us if things changed. He's the only source I trust.