01 Sep 2021 00:29:19
Not going to post for a while now the window is done. But just a few observations and comments after I have seen a wide variety of views, opinions and perspectives. Everyone as a fan is entitled to their view, whatever your preferences, though I do actually believe personally that there are time when one or two should recall the dictionary definition of supporter.

1. A phenomenal window. I wonder how many posters would genuinely be bemoaning what was not achieved if at the end of last season you were told you can have Ronaldo, Sancho and Varane to strengthen 3 of 4 positions we wanted to.

2. The DM target list was essentially Rice, Rice or Rice, given we had 3 other prospects, Bissouma, who needs another season to prove himself beyond a one season wonder, or backtrack on his assertions he was not going to play for Mali which would be a negative in joining the ACON mid season, Camavinga who was a genuine 2nd choice but quickly made clear he wanted only Madrid and Saul who sadly, simply did not want the role Utd were looking for. We are committed to resolving this next summer, or, unlikely as it is, in January.

3. Ole after 100 games in charge is the second most successful manager in Utd history and the most successful since the second World War. In respect of wins and points scored. I do recall 2 years ago despite his successful half season fans were stating he could never attract world class talent in the same way as world class renowned managers like Mourinho and Van Gaal. I wonder about that view as of this summer also

4. Is anyone else concerned about changes at board level after 8 years having any impact on our stability and success or is Ed Woodward still a glazer puppet and a fool?

5. Where do you think we will finish this season and why when compared to other clubs? We have built a team which currently is going to be set up largely on the premise of gung ho attacking football where we will score one or two more than you might. This was an apparent demand for several years now but is still not for some, satisfactory, as we didn't fill the CM and DM requirements. It does feel a little like speaking to lottery winners who are disappointed they didn't win on a triple rollover week.

6. Most importantly for me, please, whatever your particular opinion relating to leadership, managers coaching or players, find a way to support your club rather than simply being a fan. It is infinitely more enjoyable when you are being positive. This site, it seems to me has come a long way in 4 years from the point where the fanbase were accused of being toxic, which to my interpretation meant short term, demanding, spoilt irrational and living in the past. It does seem to me that there is little reason in the present to remain of that view given the huge progress made in building a top quality squad, with 2 more windows before Ole was due to be judged in earnest, who doesn't seem to be shirking the challenge, looking for excuses or ducking responsibility and lacking ambition. So, as a fan, . what matters more to you? Remaining negative no matter what success and Improvements happen, or holding your hands up and saying you know what, I am excited at the future we have and a little more patience and positivity may well be the additional ingredients that get us over the line.

I seriously hope the announcers spot this missing ingredient that was still lacking after finishing behind Leeds in 92. The next year, after finishing second for the 2nd time in 3 years, our team announcements were preceded by Eric Idle- Always look on the bright side of life, genius in my opinion that went further than anyone might be aware was absorbed into the psychy of the club to finally break the chain of near misses

So to finish, would you return to that tune, and if not, what should the anthem be to lift the crowd and players this season to create that positive winning mind-set?


1.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 00:44:09
Really nice post. Be invested in the club, not just in the results (they are not exclusive of each other either) . Not everything will ever go as well as we all imagine and we all want Man Utd to be winning everything - however don’t lose the reality of where we are and how we are moving. There is significant improvement to our trajectory as a club.


2.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 02:21:57
Have enjoyed reading your posts all window Cheshire, be great if you could keep up posting occasionally through the season.

I think we are in for a gung ho season. We have to use this attacking talent to frighten teams. Surely we are a good bet for 1 or 2 cups, we should have lots of hungry players of top quality getting some minutes to try and win a game. (Insert hungry player joke about Anderson or Rooney here) .

I just watched all of Ronaldos goals for us (so far) . Now I'm really excited for the season!

Great window, and I much prefer not to bring in the wrong player, we have many to move on and we don't need to compound that problem.

Goals at both ends change matches, counties and seasons. We are very good at both ends. Can't wait to watch the carnage!


3.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 02:27:01
Thank you for the logical post Cheshire. It sounds like Rice and Haaland are viewed as completing the team. Of course with Ronaldo here for 2 years, Mason kicking on, and the young lads in the academy maybe we don’t need him!

No team is perfect, and most title winners have been lacking a player here or there in a key spot. I expect us to surprise.


4.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 03:37:50
CheshireRed, there can be no arguments that the recruitment has been a lot better especially this window and the squad is in a much better shape than ever before.

Building a squad is only going to get you so far and is only part of the equation. As a manager you need to be able to manage the squad and get the best out of them on the pitch which involves proper coaching, tactics and game management. Ole has pretty much failed in those aspects time and again.

It's not about who you support they just need to be the right ones. I guess most would gladly replace Ole with someone better than him.

You don't back someone just because you are forced to or sold the idea that no one is interested/ available. Is Ole the answer?

He's done his bit with the squad but I have no confidence in him getting us to that next level even with a better squad around. Let's see.

By the way seeing and saying only good things doesn't make anyone 'positive' nor does criticizing someone for what they are make anyone 'negative'.


5.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 04:22:39
You missed the point about second best wins and points after 100 games of any utd manager Let's play. And best post war.


6.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 04:32:50
DodgyBanter, so does that count more than the dozens of trophies won till now?


7.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 06:32:35
What a laughable post, a division one coach at best the second best coach?
Lay off pot mate.


8.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 07:29:07
No fear of what will happen at board level at all.
I hope ole is fired ASAP
I think we will finish in top 4 if we can pick up our home form
1 great signing in varane Ronaldo the jury is out but there should be at least 1 good season in him. Sancho has potential but we have to wait and see. Funnily the Ronaldo signing will provide mean he sancho will spend more time on the bench as it pushes Mason wide right instead of backup to cavani.
Ronaldo was not part of the plan when they spent 70m on sancho.
I don't know how you can declare it a great window until you see how they do. When we look back at the end of the season that's when we can determine if it was a great window or if we would have been better getting oleball style signings if he is going to remain as manager.


9.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 08:26:07
I agree Cheshire there is far too much negativity on here. However, there is reason to be frustrated. Of the 4 problem areas in the first team, the most urgent had to be DM, followed by CB. Sancho has potential, but was he truly needed when Greenwood looks a better player already and Amad shows plenty of potential himself, especially considering Mata and Lingard, as well as Rashford, can all fill in on the RW when needed.

Ronaldo is a fantastic signing and I genuinely cannnot wait until Newcastle to see him in action. But again it wasn’t the most urgent position with Cavani, Greenwood, Martial and Elanga able to play there.

It was obvious by the end of last season that Lindelof and Fred were the two players in dire need of upgrading, Lindelof has been, with arguably the best French CB since Laurent Blanc. Varane would have been my first choice, but I would not have imagined it possible. Yet, Fred is still here.

Will Ronaldo get chances, if he does not, how will he react? Last season Martial barely got a chance, Cavani struggled too. It was only when Pogba was played on the left wing that more chances were created, and Cavani eventually went on a good run of form. This is because of a reliance on Fred and McTominay, a partnership that disconnects defense and attack. The previous season with Matic as the main midfielder, Martial managed 17 goals and 6 assists in 32 games, which is not a bad return. However, Matic has struggled for a while now as he is clearly passed his best. Which leaves Fred and McTominay as the main choices, creating a problem with lack of chances created.

You speak of gung ho tactics, which I personally would prefer (imagine VdB or McTominay sitting a little deeper with Pogba and Bruno pushed higher to apply pressure) but where is the evidence of this? Definitely not in the performances against Southampton and Wolves.

Ole has done well, he has got a solid record and has improved the team and general management. He still makes some naive decisions, but he is young and can learn fro those. The record is more impressive when one considers the competition he faces in the league. Liverpool, City and Chelsea are arguably the three best teams in the world currently (alongside PSG and Bayern), and he’s trying to break into that elite circle, and has done fairly well at it. He does manage to pull great players to the club, which many believed he wouldn’t, and that should not be neglected.

All that being said, I do not believe we will win the league this season simply because that midfield issue will prove too substantial. It is possible the team goes on a good run in Europe, where results can be grinded out over two legs, but over a 38 game campaign it will likely be a different story. This is where frustration can seep in, it really feels the team is a good DM away from potentially becoming one of those elite clubs, capable of winning anything. I’m sure some would still find ways to demand Ole’s head if that did happen however.

PS: I wanted to add that I’ve noticed opposition do not put a player on Fred, this essentially means the other CMs are targeted by an additional midfielder. Which contributes to players like Bruno and Pogba have a much harder time being expressive and creating chances as they often have two players pressing them.


10.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 08:34:13
Cheshire red

So many things to answer but as I am away so little time.

Who are you to define how to support? I support the club and have done unwaveringly for over 50 years, vast majority on home and away terraces, Season Tickets, LMTB, stood by the club through ultimate highs and lows. Not rating the manager does not mean you are not a supporter and seems just another way to try to cajole support for Ole. There have been managers before Ole that I didn’t rate, probably the nearest would be Sexton, maybe O’Farrell, as to Sexton, there is a similar brand of football. I don’t “remain negative no matter what” but will continue to say it as I see it and will not be bounced into seeing Ole as something he is not. I don’t believe he will win the league for us and that is the yardstick of any United manager. Happy to be proved wrong but is it £420m so far so the excuse window has dramatically narrowed. In Ronaldo there is a leader, a winner, pure winner and I doubt he will accept mediocrity.

My reading of the signings is they suit the “try to create a piece of magic style” rather than control a game, so we should expect more of the same football.

A song you want? How about “remember the time” Michael Jackson. Remembering when we used to be a football club under SAF, a true leader who led us to and created 99, rather than gets emotional kudos from it for scoring a goal. Ole has a lot to prove now we have spent over £400m for him.


11.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 08:51:19
The most successful manager post Sir Alex? Why, because after 100 games he has won 52% of games? Funny that two years ago he had the worst win rate of any manager since WW2 but we weren't allowed use that stat. He hasn't done anything to quantify being "successful"

There's no doubt you have contacts at the club Chesire but you're drinking the kool-aid man. Even Moyes got his hands on some silverware as manager. If Ole can't get us over the line with this squad then he'll be an unmitigated disaster.

Your point about us playing Gung Ho football is way wide of the mark. We don't have a manager that has the balls to play attacking football. As for supporting the club, we're all supporters. Don't need to blindly support though. If we can get some momentum and with the quality signings it could be a really interesting season. If we start dropping silly points and fall away from the pack, you can't blame people for being upset.

All the best and thanks for the updates!


12.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 09:00:06
Great post Cheshire!
United regardless 👍🏻.


13.) 01 Sep 2021
01 Sep 2021 21:15:33
Useless stats Mumbles. I mean they mean next to nothing. SAF had 45% in his first 100 league games, is he a worst manager?