12 Aug 2021 19:30:09
I'm afraid Martial isn't going anywhere until Jan. Rashford's injury is the main reason.

Ole won't listen to me but I'm going to advise him anyway.

McFred isn't working.

Play Donnie more this year, you have a gem right under your nose and you can't see it.

Do what you want with Pogba, but until he gives you any indication he wants to be here sit his arse down .

Sign Neves as quick as you can.

McFred isn't working.

Give some youngsters playing time in the EPL, if not we're going to lose them to other teams that will.

Try to stay awake during the first half so you can make some adjustments in the second.

Pick Henderson or DDG then sell the other.

McFred isn't working.

Finally read some of Shappy's posts, it couldn't hurt your football IQ.


1.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 20:00:22
Great post, I agree with pretty much all of that, although I’m not convinced on Neves. We’ve made 2 great signings, a ton DM would be the icing on the cake.


2.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 20:09:32
Not many top class DM’s about. The majority now play in a deep two. Fabinho and Ndidi are probably the best for me, and neither are possible unfortunately.


3.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 20:21:04
Donny could be like a new signing…clichèd I know but there’s a talent there if we can harness it. I really liked DVB at Ajax and was stoked when we signed him, get that Donny back please 🙏.


4.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 20:40:06
Godd post coachusa.
I'm also not 100% convinced by neves but he is a lot better than anyone we have in that position.
On the youngsters I think they won't get played so it's imperative we get them good loans so that don't stagnate. SPL at rangers or celtic and good championship coaches and teams would be ideal .


5.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 20:42:22
Good post but Ole will be managing Norway by the time he has finished reading Shappy's contributions.


6.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 20:45:37
Cheers Coachusa. My sentiments exactly 😂.


7.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 22:29:04
I think Neves has more than just a touch of the "Carrick's" about him.

I'm just not convinced that the sort of CDM we need is a pure destroyer like Ndidi.

When you look at the top sides they tend to play with someone who can do the dirty work, but is also good on the ball with the intelligence and game reading ability to control the tempo.

For me the perfect balance of a midfield is what AC Milan had with Pirlo, Gattuso and Kaka.

Pirlo playing deepest and controlling the tempo of the game. Shielding the back four and starting the attacks.

Gattuso is your box to box disruptive player. Making tackles, pressing the opposition and doing the "water carrying" for the team.

Kaka is the architect on the edge of the penalty box, playing those key passes and scoring a few goals himself. They can also press from the front ideally.

When I look at what we have, what we are missing is that Pirlo type player. In Fred or McTominay we have a Gattuso type. While Bruno is our Kaka.

Neves is the type of midfielder we need.


8.) 12 Aug 2021
12 Aug 2021 23:20:09
Shappy for your penance 10 hail Mary's and 2 our fathers. Its a sin to suggest Fred or mctom are a Gatusso type player. For actual of seasons he was the best in the world at what he did.
I get what you mean about the blend ours is not ideal. But neves is not ideal for oleball. He is not a back 4 shielding type player he vacates that area constantly. Ndidi suits the rest of our players better if we want to play 1 behind 2 ndidi behind pogba/ vdb bruno for example looks better than neves fred/ mctom Bruno to me.


9.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 00:50:19
Don't be afraid Coach, martial might even score a few goals and make a few assists for us this year.

Also, Mctominay and Fred were excellent for many games last year. It is like they have become the reason all man utd fans are unhappy, them and Ole. I hope they prove a lot of doubters wrong, when they get it right they can be very effective. Better balance in the team and form from the front 4 and we might be in with shout this year. Cue shappy with epiccly long post about Milan's midfield)


10.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 03:10:14
Utd Road, being too generous? Ole would be retired by the time he grasps all of Shappy's wisdom.

coachusa, agreed and glad you kept short with your advice. There's certainly a lot more Ole can improve upon.


11.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 04:00:49
@Shappy - While I appreciate the point that you’re making but AC Milan never played that way, they either played a flat four with Kaka coming in off the left side and Seedorf from the right or a diamond with Pirlo sitting, Gattuso and Seedorf in the middle and Kaka as the 10.

Hence, I’m not sure if that system works with 8 being the work horse and having no destroyer type player, especially since these days teams are very big on counter pressing.


12.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 09:16:10
They played like that in his head Japs.
I told ye before shappy lives in his own bubble where he makes up scenarios and then convinces himself he is right and then writes tens of thousands of words trying to convince everyone else.


13.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 09:18:49
Ken, obviously Fred and McTominay aren't anywhere near the level of Gattuso. But they play in a similar style as energetic box to box players whose primary job is winning the ball and disrupting the opposition. Once the ball is won they need to offload it to a more technical expansive passer.

I actually think Neves would suit the way Ole wants to play down to the ground. He's second in the league amoungst midfielders for passes over 50 yards into the attacking third. Perfect for quick counter attacking football. While he also has the ability to switch the play quickly which will help in breaking down low blocks. Also last season no midfielder other than Neves managed over 60 tackles AND over 60 interceptions. So clearly he is putting in the defensive numbers. He just isn't mobile or quick. He isn't going to charge around like a headless chicken diving in to a tackle every 30 seconds. But then that's kind of the point. If we want a mad dog midfielder then we have either of McFred.


14.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 10:25:47
Japs, I use those AC Milan players more due to the obviousness of the roles they play in a midfield.

Everyone knows what kind of players they were and what they excelled at.

Seedorf was one of my favourite players, one of the few genuine all round midfielders, just as comfortable sitting and spraying passes as he was pressing and tackling, while he was equally as good when on the edge of the opposition penalty area comfortable playing those key passes or shooting. He's the kind of player everyone wants in their side as he offers tactical flexibility in game without needing to make subs.

What I'm really talking about is what I consider the three key roles within midfield.

1, dictating the play by moving the ball, a player who is the hub and always available for a pass to relieve pressure or play out around a press. (A classic No.6)

2, the water carrier, the work horse of the midfield, someone who'll press and Harry the opposition and win the ball back for the side. (A classic No.8)

3, the final third creator, a technical player who can twist and turn, find pockets of space, play through balls and shoot. (A classic No.10)

I used AC Milan players as each embody those roles perfectly.

Obviously the nuances of how a midfield will function will depend very much on the options available and the tactics and style of football at the time.

At the moment a classic No.10 is more rare, and you tend to see something more with two 8's with pressing being a big part of the modern game. As such you tend to see hybrid wingers/ No.10's, creative final third players who start wide but tend to operate in the inside half spaces.

Occasionally you see hybrid 8/ 10's players who have the technical ability and skills of a No.10 but the work rate and pressing mentality of a No.8.

Most players now tend to be more tactically flexible. They don't strictly stick to one role or one interpretation of that role.

Yet those are the roles needed to have a fully functioning and balanced midfield. How and who does them is more open to interpretation now.

At United we have Fred and McTominay who can play as No.8's.

Donny could play as a more technical less defensive more ball retention/ rotation oriented No.8 which could be interesting, especially against sides that will let us have the ball and we have less need for a tenacious tackler to win it back.

While Bruno can play as a more modern No.10, he needs to be nearer goal to make the most of his skills, yet he works hard off the ball and presses and wins the ball back. So has a few traits of a No.8.

What we don't have though other than Matic is a No.6, that ball playing retention hub of the side. Someone who can dictate the tempo of the game.

Last season we lost the league because we dropped points against teams we should be beating. We often lost or drew the games where we had the highest amount of possession. We didn't lose because we didn't have an Ndidi type player winning the ball for us, we lost because we didn't have a player in midfield with the technical ability to switch play and control the tempo of the game.

McFred worked fine when we didn't have the majority of the ball, when we were playing counter attack against technically superior sides.

But give them the ball and they don't know what to do with it.

That's why I feel we need a Pirlo/ Carrick/ Xabi Alonso type player who can be that for us. Ruben Neves fits that criteria, while his long passing ability would still be useful if we did look to play counter attacking football.


15.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 10:44:53
McFred was pretty much our go to midfield in quite a lot of matches that we won last season, they aren’t good enough to win the league but the disrespect they get is a little harsh, both work hard for the team and it’s not like we lost every game they play, there is a reason Ole stuck with them, they are pretty reliable.


16.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 13:47:53
You feel we need a Pirlo/ Xabi, why not add iniesta too, no club in the world would not take any of them, then you mention Neves in the same breath! Oh please

Fred McT comparing with Gattuso are you sure

I have a pint of what your on Shappy

Getting worse by the day.


17.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 13:55:17
They are pretty boring.
Like having lunch with 2 jnr auditors.


18.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 14:45:13
Skyliner, I might have to open a Sunday school to tutor you a little about football.

Either you can't read my posts or you fail to understand basic football principles.

If it's the former I'll have a bash at giving you English lessons 😂

Did you ever see Pirlo and Iniesta play the same role on the pitch? No because they are very different players.

We have a player called Bruno who plays the same role as Iniesta. Seeing as he is our best player we probably don't need to buy someone to play that role.

We don't have someone who can consistently play the role Pirlo played so expertly. So we do need to bring someone in for that role.

{Ed001's Note - actually Pirlo started out playing the same role as Iniesta, he moved deeper as his career went on.}


19.) 13 Aug 2021
13 Aug 2021 15:59:04
Ed001, That happens a lot with "controlling" No.6's. Carrick started out as a No.10, I think Xabi Alonso might have as well.

There is a lot of overlap in the skill set needed between No.10 and No.6. Technical ability, vision, reading of the game, being press resistant/ ability to hold up the ball, always making yourself a passing option to your teammates.

Players who settle more as a No.6 tend to be stronger physically, and have a better long range pass, maybe a tendency to favour the safer option more often than not.
Whereas those who tend to gravitate to the No.10 are often quicker and nimbler, slightly better shot, or at least more likely to shoot, maybe a little more skilful in tighter spaces, maybe a little more flair or tendency to play riskier passes/ moves.


20.) 14 Aug 2021
14 Aug 2021 02:01:14
He’s obsessed with you Shappy I think he would enjoy a lesson from you.