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Gilly's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To Gilly's Posts

 

 

To Gilly's last 5 rumours posts

 

To Gilly's last 5 banter posts

 

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To Gilly's last 5 banter replies

 

Gilly's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Gilly's rumours posts

 

29 Jan 2023 01:30:59
Hi Eds, do you know if United are interested at all in Kolo Muani? He has all the attributes to be a top centre forward and he wouldn't cost half what some other options would cost.

Gilly

{Ed002's Note - Randal Kolo Muani (S/F) Eintracht Frankfurt have said they rejected an approach from Spurs for the player they only signed in the summer. Representatives are trying to set up a deal with Bayern Munich but it is being suggested that if EF were to sell they could look for as much as €75M - which they won't play. Offered to Manchester United and Milan by his representatives who see a potentially huge payment to themselves. Having a good season and did well at Nantes although Germany is a step up. High risk at that price.}


1.) 31 Jan 2023 19:04:39
Cheers Ed, makes sense. He’s certainly got potential but that is a lot more money than I was expecting actually.


 

 

22 Jul 2020 05:54:17
Quick question for Ed002. Are Bayern looking to sell Kingsley Coman this summer? He's not likely to be first choice ahead of Sane or Gnabry on either wing and he's not likely to be ahead of Müller either, so he might look to move. What would we think about Coman as an alternative to Sancho? Personally I'd prefer Neres or Chiesa since I'd prefer a left footed winger, but we have a few French players so I don't think it would be difficult to persuade him, and I doubt he would cost a huge amount.

Gilly

{Ed002's Note - Kingsley Coman (LW/RW) not getting as much game time as he wants and could consider options from other Champions League clubs. Manchester City could be an option but he won't be first choice to replace Sane but the player would need to force the move. Manchester UNited have shown no interest.}


 

 

 

Gilly's banter posts with other poster's replies to Gilly's banter posts

 

09 Sep 2020 20:27:15
I imagine I'm reading far too much into this, but both United's and Dortmund's share prices have increased sharply today. And in fact United's has increased by the highest percentage since we signed Pogba. Probably nothing, but perhaps interesting nonetheless.

Gilly

1.) 09 Sep 2020 21:16:46
Its not a coincidence.


2.) 09 Sep 2020 21:58:48
Deal nearly done seemingly.


3.) 09 Sep 2020 22:28:18
I have no idea about how shares can increase. I thought first you make the transfer and then the share increase. As Gilly says shares increased before the transfer. Can someone explain to me the situation?


4.) 09 Sep 2020 22:38:07
Perhaps I’m looking in the wrong place, but the share price doesn’t seem to have risen at all. It’s actually still down quite considerably (around 35%) since January.


5.) 10 Sep 2020 09:43:46
Herrera, buys will get front-run just like sells. This can often come from insider knowledge. That could be the case here if the share price has increased prior to an event (the Sancho signing) . It could also be purely speculative, investors will get FOMO and the price will rise only.

This leads to latecomers longing the stock at the time the event is announced only to be dumps on by the investors who bought prior. A lot of it is manipulation and you can often see stocks driven down despite positive news. Or vice versa with stocks trending up against bad news, for example with Hertz during March/ April.

Long story short, big events can often be secondary to fear and greed so it’s quite normal for prices to become volatile based on a rumour.


 

 

21 Aug 2020 00:59:52
Question for the eds. If a player and two clubs really wanted to complete a transfer but the agent demanded an extortionate fee, could the player and those two clubs remove the agent from the equation? If the player sacked their agent, and the clubs negotiated directly, would that remove the agent and therefore the agent fee from the negotiation?

If Dortmund want €120 million for Sancho, and the agent demands €40 million to facilitate the transfer, and United don't want to spend €120 million, surely by removing the agent and removing the agent fee, United could simply stump up the cash for player and give Sancho a whopping great contract and still save some money. In my head it just makes sense, but I imagine there are so many intricacies it wouldn't work. I was wondering if you could shed any light on perhaps why clubs and players that clearly want to complete certain transfers for the right price, don't look to do this to get the deal done.

Gilly

{Ed002's Note - A player can change agents but in the example you have given there would be a legal obligation to pay the agent for the work done. That could end up having to be settled by a court. Manchester United continue to deal with transfers on the amateur basis.}


1.) 21 Aug 2020 11:47:13
Was wondering this myself Gilly.

I get the impression that Sancho isn’t too desperate on a move, but I can certainly see a situation where the play does and the agent’s unreasonable fee ends up costing them their move.

The sooner FIFA cap agents fees the better.


2.) 21 Aug 2020 14:34:08
I'm sure agents would have some kind of contract or security themselves, preventing them being cast aside in such scenarios?


 

 

18 Aug 2020 04:56:28
So I've had a read of quite a lot of posts over the last few days and there appears to be a pretty obvious divide. But I don't know which side of that divide I stand. We finished in the top 4 and we qualified for Champions League football, which is fantastic. However, we only scored 66 points and we failed to win 20 games across the season, which is decidedly average.

But it really was a season of two halves. The first half, we were pretty awful, but Rashford, Martial, and of course Pogba all missed large parts of that first half. And we didn't have Fernandes. So after 19 games, we had 28 points, and we looked dead and buried. Then in the second half, after a further 2 wins and 3 losses, which left us on 34 points from 24, once we signed Fernandes, we were much better. In the next 14 games we won 9 and and drew 5, we were unbeaten and took 32 points, more than any other team in that period I believe. We benefited massively from the break, which allowed Pogba and Rashford to return to full fitness for the rest of the season, but that can't be used as a stick with which to beat the team or the manager.

Perhaps unexpected, the recovery was emphatic, the improvement enormous, albeit partly because we had set the bar so low in the first half of the season. We are a completely different side now with Fernandes and the emergence of Greenwood, not to mention the improvement of Martial. For a little perspective, we took almost 2.3 points per game in that 14 game period, which would total 87 points over a full season. And we played Everton away, Leicester away, Tottenham away, Chelsea away, and Man City and Wolves home in those 14 games.

My doubts however linger over our ability to win the games that really count and our consistency. We reached 2 cup semi finals and a European semi final in one season, which is fantastic. But we lost all 3. And whilst that might be unlucky, certainly we were unlucky against Sevilla, it suggests that we have an issue, possibly tactical, possibly mental, at that stage of competitions. It also suggests that we would have trouble under pressure in the league if we managed to maintain our challenge for the title into the final weeks of the season. Regards our consistency, we had a fantastic run in the league, which we nearly bottled, but the club must question why we were in such a poor position in January in the first place.

Overall, I think this is the time to stick with Ole, but only just. The summer break is almost non existence this year, so it would be incredibly difficult for a new manager to assess the players and the coaches and then try and sign the reinforcements that they believe are required, as well as implement their playing style, their training methods and build their team in time for the start of the season. And if we stick with Ole, we must back him financially. If Ole wants Sancho then I'm not fussed about the transfer fee, though the agent fees are criminal from what Ed002 has suggested. If we back Ole and we sign the players he wants, them we can make a very informed decision next summer. If we finish below the top 4 then we will have to change, unless we win the Champions League, after all the league is always the bread and butter. But if we finish in the top 4 and close the gap significantly then we will stick with Ole once more. We have a young team and with the right signings we will only get better.

Gilly

{Ed0666's Note - superb post Gilly. Thoroughly good read that.


1.) 18 Aug 2020 08:40:34
Completely agree with everything you’ve said here pal. Nice to read a balanced and nuanced argument, avoiding ‘picking sides’ or a ‘burn the witch’ approach.


2.) 18 Aug 2020 09:55:21
Gilly,

Very similar to my analysis of the season but put a lot more succinctly, very good post.

I agree that we must stick with Ole for now, and we will be doing so there’s not really much point of suggesting otherwise as he did reach the minimum target said and perhaps slightly surpassed it, definitely since the restart hit there are obvious failings that need to be addressed.

The squad isn’t strong enough, there are still too many passengers that are unable to change a game or add anything from the start and as Red Man points out 33 times a day his in game management has to be questioned, he doesn’t seem to quite have the tactical awareness in game to make big decisions, but is that because he turns round and sees players who he knows aren’t good enough? I think it’s possibly a bit of both. He will be looking himself to improve that part of he skill set I’m sure.

Overall I enjoyed the season much more than last, especially since lockdown but even before lockdown we lost a few games but had some great performances, 4-0 against chelsea, beating Chelsea home and away for the first time in the premier league, something even Fergie never achieved, doing the double over city, being the only club for a long time that had taken any points off Liverpool (and only losing that lead after 87 minutes) . I think the D- that some people were giving the season is unfair when you look at these results.

Post more Gilly, enjoyed reading that.


3.) 18 Aug 2020 09:56:38
Great summary, I will say though the one game we really needed to win (Leciester), we did comfortably (although they were poor) .


4.) 18 Aug 2020 10:36:05
Gds2 are we to ignore the 20 league games we didn't win?
Your like Boris you only want to predict grades on the good parts. 😂
I believe you are an accountant?
Tell me the last time you put a balance sheet together without taking into account all the figures😂
There is context to every set of numbers as you well know. There is context to apply to our finishing position. You may choose to ignore that context or see that context differently to some but that doesn't make you right or anybody else wrong.


5.) 18 Aug 2020 21:32:24
Ken,

I certainly didn’t say anybody else was wrong or that I was right, perhaps read my post, it was my opinion on the season and also pretty balanced on Ole.


 

 

22 Jun 2020 16:10:04
Looking at the signings that Chelsea have made, and Liverpool's lack of squad depth, along with the fact they will lose Salah and Mane for at least a month due to the African Cup of Nations, can anyone else see Chelsea potentially finishing higher than Liverpool next season? Chelsea are possibly only 1 or 2 signings away from being as strong as City in terms of their squad depth, and if they sign Chilwell and perhaps Ake then I don't think there would be very much between them at all. Especially given that City will likely lose Leroy Sane and David Silva this summer, and probably need to sign two centre backs as a priority before they replace either, and in any case, I can't see them replacing either Sane or Silva with anyone better.

Essentially I think both City and Liverpool might be weaker next season, so with 2 or 3 really good signings, and a new contract for Pogba provided he performs over the next two months, and we could really compete at the very top of the table next season. I certainly think we should comfortably finish top 4 next season, as I don't think Spurs or Arsenal are near competing, and I doubt Leicester will maintain their form from this season.

Wishful thinking perhaps, but it is fast approaching that time of the year when football fans start to dream of what might be in the new season, so hopefully my optimism can be excused.

Gilly

1.) 22 Jun 2020 16:52:00
Chelsea still have issue relating to their defence and no one knows how Ziyech and Werner will adapt to the PL. Also I think African nation most likely will be moved to next summer as qualifiers still haven't been completed.


2.) 22 Jun 2020 17:19:04
Gilly, I think that a lot can change between now and next season. There are rumours that the Afcon could be moved, while City, Chelsea and Liverpool will all likely sign at least a couple of new players. While several of their key younger players will be a year older and more experienced. They don't have too many "key" older players who we might see a decline from next season.

I think it's best to just focus on ourselves.


3.) 22 Jun 2020 17:23:49
Good post Gilly. Agree Chelsea look to be on the up whereas Liverpool look to be stagnating at the top with seemingly no money for new faces and City needing some key positions replaced. I think a world class RW transforms us. I still remain to be convinced by Martial tbh but with the creativity of Bruno and Pogba behind and the wing/ forward play of Rashford and either Sancho or Chiesa as new RW and he’d definitely have no excuses. Especially with Greenwood waiting in the wings and Ighalo providing some experienced back up and greater physical threat when needed.

We look miles behind Liverpool and City now but agree the Top 4 next season should include those 2, ourselves and Chelsea. The order we finish, depending if we buy a class RW, is anyone’s guess.

Interesting to see how City react to next season given their obvious need to invest but FFP problems in the past.


4.) 22 Jun 2020 17:34:29
The way I see it is we can buy what players we want but if the back 4 isn't solid we will win nothing.
And Harry mcguire doesn't fill me with confidence and it's not because of the spurs game. i remember lacazette turning him a few times when we played arsenal and I said to myself this boy is going to get us in trouble. I've seen him getting caught with the offside line a few times. Getting turned inside out.
The other cbs we have aren't anything better.
So for me next season will be pretty much the same a fight for top 4.


5.) 22 Jun 2020 18:04:40
Maguire didn't have a great game against Spurs, but it was the first game back.

For me all players have weaknesses to their game, however defenders weaknesses are often exploited so are more obvious.

For example if a winger doesn't track back, or has poor off the ball movement it's much harder to spot, especially when watching on TV. Yet if a defender is slow on the turn you will see it probably most times your team concede a goal.

Vidic wasn't the quickest and could be had on toast by quick players, Torres for example used to cause him nightmares.

Rio often lost concentration, while until he was 28/ 29 his positioning was suspect, often relying on his pace to cover himself.

Maguire can be a very good defender for us, but he needs the right partner. A great defence is always greater than the sum of its parts and by working as a unit they over come the players individual weaknesses.

You can have a slow defender play in a high pressing side. Hummels was a key defender along side Subotic for Klopps Dortmund side, neither were quick defenders. If you're well organised, and everyone knows their role then there shouldn't be any problems.


6.) 22 Jun 2020 18:09:43
That’s very true that they might struggle to adapt, but they are both fantastically talented players and I think they will both perform well at Chelsea. I think Chelsea will also address their defensive issues this summer, with Ake, and either Chilwell or Tagliafico the likely options. Even with the Africa CoN moved, Liverpool have a thin squad, in pretty much every position. An injury to Van Dijk, Salah, Mane, or Firmino would seriously hamper them, and I think even with 2 or 3 signings, they would still have a thinner squad than United, City, and Chelsea. City will obviously make signings but I can’t see them improving greatly without spending greatly, and they might not be able to do that, especially with their potential champions league ban, as presumably that will affect their spending power for one or two seasons if it stands. If United can make the right signings this summer, perhaps Sancho and either Partey or Ndidi, and keep Pogba provides he wants to stay, I think we will be very strong next season.


7.) 22 Jun 2020 18:22:43
I think you can be a very good CB with or without the right partner. Maguire has been poor enough at times and continues to get caught out time and time again.

Maguire will look better with a world class CB beside him as any of our centre halves.

I hope he improves because he has not filled me with great confidence since his move.


8.) 22 Jun 2020 18:35:02
Interesting reading the above, we have the 4th best defensive record in the EPL this season.


9.) 22 Jun 2020 18:52:52
4th jred that's top class.


10.) 22 Jun 2020 18:56:07
I think maguire has done ok. Sure he had been exposed a few times but that is an occupational hazard. He is no rio or stam but its his 1st season and he has been ok and he does appear to galvanise others.
Im not sure who his best partner is. Lindelof is more vulnerable than maguire in many ways. Bailly i dunno he looks great then awful then great then gets injured. Tuanzebe is a long way off jones and rojo are simply not an option and smalling looks to be off.
Bailly i still hold out hope for but he is not one to depend on. Maybe axel will stand up but its been 12 months since he played really and never at epl level so i don't see it being him next season.


11.) 22 Jun 2020 19:01:47
Leahy the negativity is impressive .
4th not bad 2 of the tesms ahead of us have conceded 2 and 3 goals less over 30 games not z big difference strsnge when you read all the post on here about maguire lindelif shaw and DDG.


12.) 22 Jun 2020 19:33:46
I wouldn't call it negativity jred.
We have the 4th best defence and the 5th or 6th best attack.
So we sit 5th so just on where we deserve to be.
I don't think that's very good. Its not good enough to compete to win a league.
We have not competed to win a league for 7 years. that's not very good.
We struggle to qualify for CL through league position consistently for 7 years. that's not very good.
Its not being negative. You may be happy not competing. You may be happy being 4th 5th or 6th best and not even competing . Its not being negative to say being 4th 5th 6th is poor if you set higher standards.
I don't think being 4th or 5th best in the league is anything to be happy about. Particularly when we have not watched goods football in any of the last 7 years.
Yes we are building a new team but we still should be remaining competitive. We have no divine right that's for sure but the players and coaches have not earned the right either.
Top be fair the issue for me is scoring goals not letting them in.


13.) 22 Jun 2020 19:35:45
Probably the reason why are where we are. Not enough quality throughout our team. Maguire is good but be is not in that top bracket which is what we need if we ever want to be winning titles again. But I mean you can be happy with 5th and 4th best defensive record.


14.) 22 Jun 2020 19:40:31
Everyone has their own standards ken and that's okay.


15.) 22 Jun 2020 19:42:39
Yes as I said. Imo our big problem going forward is defence. Cbs for me.
I'm on about winning leagues. And I'm not negative. I think Bruno is top class.
Now look at it from another side. Look what happened to Liverpool when the got vvd. Top class defender then their keeper. Then the 2 wing backs top class players. The game they played against Everton. People say they missed salah. For me Robertson was the one they missed. Coleman got motm cause he kept mane quite. Would have been different if Robertson had played. So yes for me a title winning side needs a top back 4 or 5 whatever. We don't have that.
I say what I see.


16.) 22 Jun 2020 20:07:33
I agree angel and leahy.
Jred you watch the football the fans being there are not makes no difference to you. Your happy enough plodding along at 4th 5th 6th as long as you can watch football on your telly that suits you. Good on you everybody gets what they want from being a football supporter.
I prefer the competitive edge, being in the hunt for honours, i never mind losing because nobody wins all the time. Some enjoy the atmosphere coming through some enjoy the build up to big games some enjoy analysing formations.
Being critical of being 4th 5th or 6th is not being negative people comment on what they see.


17.) 22 Jun 2020 20:32:03
Actual i think the issue has been attack .
Out of the top 6 only Leicester with 2 less and Liverpool have conceded less than us .
Yet all of them have scored more with the exception of Wolves who are obvious below us . both City and the scouse have scored 20 odd goals more .
So i'm not sure
1. Its why we are where we are
2. Its a big problem going forward.
The last 5 teams to win the league have conceded on average 31 goals I don't think we will be far away from that .

That said pogba rash and martial have all missed big parts of the season and bruno only come in in Jan.
Them 4 will imo make a big difference, scoring goals, creating and keeping possession all of which will help the defence.

So looking at the bigger having the 4th best defensive record isn't as bad as some would like to make out imo.

You defend as a team, and as the physical aspect has been more and more removed from the game defending through possession and restricting the opposing teams ball time has be come more important.
Simply by controlling the ball in CM which I believe we will with pogba and bruno plus a fully fit martial rash will allow us to defend better as a team .

You need to look at the bigger picture, and in my opinion having the 4th best defensive record when you look at the bigger picture isn't as bad or as simple as many would like to make out.

At no point have I ever said I am happy plodding along in 4 5 or 6.


18.) 22 Jun 2020 20:46:14
I would half agree with you jred if we had at the other end of the pitch a proper number 9.martial another who won't win you a league. Bags of talent but frustrates me cause no consistency. Rash for me again better coming in from the left.
Me I would have bought werner and sold martial. Haaland another who we should have went all out for. Don't know what went on there. I don't think he wanted to come to us in the end. But what will he cost next season.


19.) 22 Jun 2020 20:54:37
Leahy
Imo martial needs to stay fit and get a run of games but while discussing the supposed issue with our back 4 I think he is only a small part of it .
If he can stay fit I personally don't think he will be an issue .


20.) 22 Jun 2020 21:05:22
I'd sell him in the morning. I'd have more faith in greenwood. But right now I'd start greenwood on the right ahead of James all day long.


21.) 22 Jun 2020 21:07:28
I'm going to go and watch the second half of the city match but I have just looked at the dreaded stats .
City have a similar degensive record to us this season .
3.0 up at half time against Burnley who haven't had a shot .
I don't think the city back 4 tonight is anything special player wise.
But as a team they have scored 3 and had 65 % of the ball . Restricting Burnley to 0 shots.


22.) 22 Jun 2020 21:16:52
Leahy
Each to there own, and that's maybe a slightly different convo to the back 4 holding us back .
Or what having the 4th best defensive record really means .
Now hopefully city's back 4 have a mare and they conced 4.


23.) 22 Jun 2020 21:41:29
I'm with you there jred. c'mon burnley.


24.) 22 Jun 2020 22:38:54
Attack is the problem for sure.
We have spent 130m on our defence and uts letting inn more goals than previously.
But as jred says our defence is solid enough but when your not scoring and concede soft goals at times it hurts more. City have conceded just as many and probably even more soft goals by bad defending but that's ok when your scoring as many as they do.

Martial would be suited to a different style of play perhaps but i don't see him as an epl no9.
Ighalo would get more chances i think. He is not as good a player technically but would be more effective in this team imo.
Bruno is a big plus he was set to come in the summer but it got delayed. He is having a good impact as will pogba to seasons end.
I think we will win the EL we have the strongest squad in that comp if its played over 10 days.


25.) 22 Jun 2020 23:04:32
130 mil I'm not sure why people get so obsessed with the price of a player? So many variables why a player cost what he does .
54 gosls conceded last season 31 so far this season .

But its a team game not as simple as plodding around in 4th what ever that means. Because 3 teams have conceded less only tells part of the story .


26.) 22 Jun 2020 23:38:57
80 mil. You expect a lot for that.
Now if we went back at Leicester for the Turkish cb. Can't spell his name.
Would we get a good deal off them. Because he is going to be one of the best around imo.


27.) 23 Jun 2020 00:11:28
When the whistle goes it doesn't matter how much they cost.
Lot of different factors in whst a player cost.
And the price of any thing is relevant to the amount you have.


28.) 23 Jun 2020 00:43:45
Bobby Moore wasn't the quickest in terms of physicality and nor was Teddy Sheringham but they were half a yard ahead of other players mentally. So much of the game is about positional awareness which is why Klopp and especially Pep drill their teams so that they are always aware of where team mates and opposing players are on the pitch and can react accordingly both with and without the ball.

That said both the above managers as did Sir Alex recognise how difficult it is to defend against fast attacking players. A fast attacker should always have the advantage over a defender purely because of the attacker is fouled anywhere near the penalty area the consequent free kick can be very damaging to the defenders team.


29.) 23 Jun 2020 08:13:20
Personally I would try AWB at CB alongside Maguire and put Dalot at RB if there is an opportunity to try it before the end of the season.


30.) 23 Jun 2020 09:17:50
Agree with Ken on the debate on 4th, 5th,6th best attack an defence, that's not what any United fan should be happy with tbh, we should be aiming to be the best amd winning the top honours. We are a work in progress tho but frustratingly have been since Fergie however something feels a bit different atm but we need a few more signings of the quality of Bruno.
We need a top class centre back alongside Maguire to make up for Maguires shortcomings, we need a real roght sided forward, Dan James works hard but we need bettwr quality in the starting XI, James would be a real threat coming off the bench when the game is stretched and then I guess it depends on Pogba staying or going.


31.) 23 Jun 2020 09:47:06
We are on a 13 game unbeating run .
During that time we have conceded 3 goals.


32.) 23 Jun 2020 10:53:57
I don't think anyone is happy with the club being where it is at the moment, and suggesting people are is just a deflection tactic.

Could our defence be better? Yes of course, but I don't think our defence is a million miles away from where we need it to be. In AWB, Dalot, Laird, Shaw and Williams we have hugely talented full backs. I feel the issue is finding the right balance with our centre backs, Maguire isn't the CB I would have chosen to bring in last summer, but he is the one we got and on balance is probably our CB. We need to find the right partner for him, whether that's someone at the club or someone we need to bring in.

I've often wondered with Maguire whether it would be good to switch him from LCB to RCB, normally I wouldn't switch a player from the side they are most comfortable, I just feel that having AWB along side Maguire to cover him would be better than having Shaw or Williams.

I think jred is right in that the real issue is our attack and not our defence. We have drawn too many games because we couldn't break teams down. Only twice this season have we conceded 3 goals or more, once was the 3-1 loss to City in the league cup, the other was the 3-3 draw with Sheffield United in the league. The issue is we don't score enough. If we can add 20-30 more goals to our team then we would be challenging up in second place this season. Spurs in 8th place have scored more goals than we have this season.

If we can bring in someone who is a genuine threat on the RW such as Sancho or Chiesa along with a whole season of Bruno and Pogba then I think we can easily score a further 20-30 goals next season which will put us right in the mix.

The fact is we have conceded 10 goal more than the best defence in the league, but we have scored 31 goals fewer than the best attack. Simply put 25 goals more would probably have a greater effect on our position than conceding 10 goals less.


33.) 24 Jun 2020 10:02:48
We don't have a partner for Maguire of the quality that is needed and Shaw seems to get in the team ahead of Williams why I don't know so we do have issues in defence, we have conceded only 10 less than the least but we look shaky when under attack, that's because we have 2 positions needs strengthening, left back is already at the club thankfully it just needs Shaw out, Brandon in permanently and a top class centre back bought.
Right wing is our other issue as stated above, James for all hos endeavour is not first team material but could wreak havoc off the bench, Chiesa pr Sancho I've not seen play but its nice to see we are looking at that position.
As I said if we add 2 or 3 more of the quality of Bruno we will be cooking.


 

 

04 Jun 2020 20:32:05
Slight change of topic perhaps from all things United, but what are the big transfers you guys see happening this summer, and which big clubs will be strongest or make most progress next season.

Personally I can see Bayern being incredibly strong next year, but they're arguably favourites for the Champions League this year. Barcelona I think have a lot of rebuilding to do, what with Messi, Busquets, Pique, and even Alba getting on somewhat, combined with their poor spending in recent years.

City I suspect will spend big on a centre back whatever happens with their ban, maybe another centre mid, and a winger perhaps if Sane goes to Bayern as he quite possibly will.

Gilly

1.) 05 Jun 2020 11:33:52
I'm not sure we will see many "big" transfers this summer. Chelsea if they sign Werner along with Ziyech who was signed in January are a decent left back away from being a much stronger side.

Bayern if they sign Sane will be a strong side, although Muller and Lewandowski has been key players for them this year and both are getting older. They need a striker to replace Lewandowski.

Barcelona are in a financial mess, their side is ageing, and due to high wages they will struggle to bring in many high earners.

Real Madrid will be interesting to see what they do, they have some excellent young players, so the don't need to spend too much.

How much PSG spend will depend on whether Neymar or Mbappe leave which looks unlikely.

City have a strong side, they could do with a defensive partner for Laporte, but many of City's signings will depend on the outcome of the court case I would imagine.

Liverpool don't have a desperate need, just one or two squad players refreshed to keep players on their toes next season.

Spurs and Arsenal will be shopping in the bargain bucket.

Dortmund have a very strong young team, much depends on whether Sancho leaves this summer or not.

{Ed002's Note - Bayern Munich are not looking to replace Lewandowski this year and Muller has just agreed a new contract.}


2.) 05 Jun 2020 15:07:58
Ed002, I'm aware they want to keep him next year. But I do think they need some quality competition/ rotation option in the striker position. If Lewandowski picks up a serious injury next season the options to stand in for him aren't great. Either push Muller forward or play young Zirkzee.
However, I think Bayern are in the same position as Spurs where they have a clear and obvious first choice striker and they are looking for someone to come in and sit on the bench most weeks. That makes it hard to find players of the right quality happy to do that.

{Ed002's Note - Bayern Munich already have two very good youngsters in Fiete Arp and Joshua Zirkzee who has been promoted to the first team squad.}


3.) 05 Jun 2020 18:09:11
I have a feeling Coutinho might go to Chelsea, but if they sign Werner then I suppose that would be unlikely. Either way, they probably only need a left back and another centre back to really challenge. I suspect Barcelona will try negotiate a deal for Neymar involving Dembele, though it would probably see them still paying for him long after he retires. Pjanic is also wanted at Barcelona which makes me wonder whether Juventus might allow him to leave for the right price, and try to sign Jorginho to replace him.

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea have had no discussions about Coutinho.}


4.) 06 Jun 2020 11:32:24
I always feel Bayern almost shop at tier below most over teams.


5.) 06 Jun 2020 13:33:55
Utd Road, Bayern have a very clear structure and strategy when it comes to recruitment. They rarely get involved in bidding wars for top established players.

They look for players with world class potential and bring them into an already established side. Often choosing to shop in the Bundesliga as that means that players adapt easier while they also weaken their opponents.

Many people point to Barcelona or Real Madrid as a model we should adopt, but for me what Bayern do is far better. Bringing players through their academy, purchasing the best players from their league and looking to bring in players who they can lift into the world class category rather than bringing in players already considered world class.


 

 

 

Gilly's rumour replies

 

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23 Feb 2023 02:25:59
Rumour has it Davy he was turned down since chauffeurs are required to drive forwards not sideways.

Gilly

 

 

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31 Jan 2023 19:04:39
Cheers Ed, makes sense. He’s certainly got potential but that is a lot more money than I was expecting actually.

Gilly

 

 

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18 Jan 2022 22:29:39
Zakaria is available for free in the summer, Kessie is available for free in the summer, and they are both very good players that could play in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2. Given the cost involved they would both be fantastic options to play alongside McTominay in the midfield. Kessie is a more progressive player on and off the ball whereas Zakaria is a more genuine defensive midfielder so they could easily play together. If we persist with the current system, options of Zakaria, Kessie, McTominay, and Donny would be miles better than what we currently have.

Gilly

{Ed002's Note - It is rather more complicated than “free”.}


 

 

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22 Jul 2020 08:16:55
Shappy, Your comment in this thread suggests you don’t think Wan-Bissaka is very good, which is immediately questionable, yet your comment in another thread states you think Wan-Bissaka is the best defensive right back in the league, and only behind Trent overall. Have you inadvertently contradicted yourself or were you being facetious in the above comment?

Gilly

 

 

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22 Jul 2020 06:28:02
He does have potential, if he stays fit and committed. We certainly haven’t seen the absolute best of Pogba at United, partly because we haven’t surrounded him with top quality players like Juventus did, and like Madrid did with Ronaldo, which allowed him to develop into one of the best ever. I think we will see far more consistency from Pogba now we have Bruno, and I think he will be more committed and intelligent in his football.

Gilly

 

 

 

Gilly's banter replies

 

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14 Feb 2023 15:54:42
I think it would worthwhile trialling fans not being separated in games in lower leagues, at least between teams with zero historical rivalry, perhaps with larger allocations for away fans. It might be a complete bust but there is a chance it reduce the mob mentality that promotes such behaviour.

I also think that managers and players have a responsibility to speak out about such issues because there is at least a small chances that fans might listen to some senior figures at the club they support every week.

Gilly

 

 

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03 Mar 2021 23:54:28
Anyone being realistic can see the huge flaws at the heart of the team and tactics, or lack thereof. Maguire isn’t good enough, Wan Bissaka isn’t good enough going forward and his positioning is suspect. Matic isn’t good enough and plays so deep we almost have one in midfield at times. Martial is talented but he isn’t good enough to play centre forward in a team that wants and needs to win titles. Rashford is talented but inconsistent and plays far too wide for an inverted winger. Likewise Greenwood is talented but inconsistent and again plays far too wide for an inverted winger. That similarity suggests that they are being coached to play that way, which suggests the coaches are clueless because it isn’t working now and it wasn’t working before we signed Bruno. Bruno is a fantastic player but he can’t do it all.

Perhaps we are having a good season, but we are only just the best of the rest, and that is simply because the rest are all so poor. City are already miles clear, with another 12 games to play, having had an awful start to the season, despite being without Aguero. There is an enormous gulf between Man United and the like of Man City and Bayern Munich, and I don’t think Solskjaer is capable of taking United to that level. That is no disrespect to Ole, he has done a good job, he has improved the culture and the results at the club, but I think he has done as much as he can.

Gilly

 

 

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30 Nov 2020 10:32:23
There’s a huge difference between the words they used, one is affectionate, one is an insult. And when you consider the context, it is even more clear that there is a gaping chasm between what Cavani said and what Suarez said. With that said, I suspect he’ll be banned nonetheless, and whilst Cavani is new to the Premier League, and probably English as a language, it was a bit daft.

Gilly

 

 

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21 Oct 2020 01:23:04
MancMan, what are you on about? When PSG scored, they were the team on top, and as soon as Pogba came on, that changed and United were on top again from then on. He wasn’t spectacular but he was pretty sharp, and he used the ball very effectively.

Gilly

 

 

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20 Oct 2020 22:20:25
He’d be great with Lindelof, after all he was great with Lindelof tonight. Personally I’d love to see United move towards a back 4 of Wan Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, and Telles.

Gilly