Manchester United Banter Archive January 19 2020

19 Jan 2020 23:10:45
Totally disagree with the comments regarding Fernandes. Time to stop being held to ransom by deluded and greedy selling clubs.

Sports have to raise £40m, that's a matter of fact. They're in desperate financial trouble and abusing UTDs interest and current position.

Very glad we haven't caved and expect us to walk away if the stand off continues. Its were drawn into negotiations by sporting at around £50m plus add ons then started taking the piss.

Sick of seeing them flagged off no matter what approach they take.

As for the fans on here. I would want you to be fans of mine. None of you have any trust or loyalty. No patience or empathy. You slagged them off when there was no long term plan. Now they're getting lambasted for having one, by Ed's as well as posters. Try being positive and supportive of people with plans and see what results they get before you share your 'expert's opinions.

19 Jan 2020 23:31:01
I agree you can't have it both ways, if you were complaining about the club paying preposterous money for players then this change of tact to not be held to ransom is fair enough.

The things that worries me more is that the club leaked last summer that they didn't want bruno fernandes because he gave the ball away too much.

What has changed in six months? Has he completely changed his game? I doubt that. Are we more comfortable having players who give the ball away a lot? I doubt. It just signals more random decision making from the club.

19 Jan 2020 23:33:20
That's interesting post Cheshire but completely laughable and without base or fact. So, as ed02 mentioned, the club asked for a certain price, we've gone in with a lower price. So that's business, they know we want him, we know we need him, and eventually we'll all settle on a price that's acceptable. That's business.
What long term plan did we have when Fergie retired? What plan do we have now to improve OT, Carrington, or genuinely improve the playing staff. What plan have we got to appoint a Dof, when it's been blatantly obvious that we've needed one for years.
What plan did we have when we destroyed our pay structure by offering Mr Sanchez £500k a week? Or spending silly money on Pogba, di Maria, when their hearts were clearly not at United.
What plan did we have when we allowed City to buy Aguero and Silva while we sat there doing nothing and fergie telling us "there's no value in the market".
Do me a favour, if people can't see what's been going on for the past 10 years, then we might as well give up.

19 Jan 2020 23:37:04
tell us o mighty one what plan do you see. seven years down the line and we are still no better . probably worse. so sporting should bow down because we are supposedly a bigger ciub and loose there best player. get real it is not fifa or whatever game you play on your ps4.

19 Jan 2020 23:58:06
Other clubs manage to get deals across the line without overspending. Additionally they seem to target attainable players which they can get across the line.

Uniteds new transfer policy is target plan A and if he isn't available so there is no value in the market. It's a ridiculous transfer policy as the club have got rid of fellaini, sanchez, Lukaku and Herrera without replacing them.

Numerous times the board has sold Solsjkaer down the river (I'm not his biggest fan btw but think he's been given a rough ride with this board) . They said they eouldnt get rid of Lukaku without a replacement, then there was no value in the market. They said they wouldn't sell ashley young as that would make the squad weaker and they want to get stronger. Both went, no replacements in.

Our forward line consists of rashford, martial, james and greenwood. One injury and they have no rotation. We knew that at the start of the year and did nothing about it.

Dont try justify board actions as supporting the club, they have been inept and left the squad in a mess. The club hasn't had a right winger in three seasons, the DOF promised 2 years ago is still yet to arrive and now in the last 3 transfer windows the club has brought in 3 players whilst getting rid of young, smalling, fellaini, Herrera and Sanchezjust off the top of my head.

20 Jan 2020 00:08:00
Oh man give it a rest, who are we just to turn up and demand a player for less than what the clubs value. Get real.

Put the money on the wood or shut up, all this posturing is embarrassing. The up to date time table of events has to stop.

Business needs to be done behind closed doors quietly, then the same scenarios don't keep getting played out over and over.

20 Jan 2020 00:29:43
as regards sporting taking the piss. if you looked on the rumours page ed02 tells you what is going on.

20 Jan 2020 08:55:30
I must admitt there's something about the Fernandes negotiations I don't understand.

If we paid £80mill for Maguire, £45 mill for AWB and £50 Mill for Fred, why o why is the club bulking at paying £60-£70 mill for Fernandes if he's exactly what we need?

For a 25 year old, top quality midfielder that sounds like a reasonable price. If Utd value him at just £40-£50 Mill then he can't be that good so why are we interested?

I imagine utd would want £75 mill + for Pogba and he's rubbish so what's the problem for paying the going rate for his replacement who would hopefully be an upgrade?

19 Jan 2020 19:56:58
One player stood up today and looked the best player on the park. And that was Fred. He was outstanding again, like he has been nearly all season. If we had 11 Freds we wouldn’t be where we are. He works so hard and doesn’t hide. So happy to see him prove his doubters wrong.

19 Jan 2020 20:14:13
Williams?

19 Jan 2020 20:45:17
Now park i get the sentiments but i think 3 4 or 5 Fred's would be enough for anyone😂😂
But you got to say In terms of energy and effort he would but the Duracell bunny to shame.
Lots to like about fred.

19 Jan 2020 21:04:15
Haha yeh fair point ken 😂. I just love his commitment to the cause. Something we’ve lacked for years. Unfortunately we are severely lacking in quality both in terms of coaching staff and players. Hence why we are seeing what we are seeing.

19 Jan 2020 21:18:24
Best utd player definitely still wouldn't make the liverpool match day squad me thinks.

19 Jan 2020 21:30:16
Some people in particular didn't see a footballer in him at all ken if you recall.

19 Jan 2020 22:21:43
Angel in fairness he was tripe for a while😂😂 opinions change with form.
With rash out now we are really light up front on numbers. Pogba should be fit in a month or so
Its going to be an interesting last week of the window. Top 4 somehow is still achievable. I just don't think ole can lead us there unless he pullss a few rabbits out of the hat before the end of the month.

19 Jan 2020 23:11:24
Fred was quite poor, he made some good tackles and interceptions and worked hard, but he lost possessions all too easy and was unable to feed any quality balls to the forwards. Better of the three midfielders though, but I don't think I've seen a worse midfield for United, I'm not sure Perreira is even Middlesbrough level.

20 Jan 2020 01:40:59
Fred was poor? I must have watched a different game.

20 Jan 2020 11:21:10
What did Fred do? He and Matic were totally overrun in the midfield until late in the second half after Liverpool made their changes. He made a few interceptions and a couple of tackles, but failed to create anything. He made a couple of runs with the ball that led to a shot that lacked both precision and power. The commentators were constantly bemoaning the lack of any pass towards the front three who were creating space and making runs, and Fred and Matic were the culprits there. Fred works hard, but lacks in technical ability, he's very easily dispossessed and misplaces far too many passes. If I'd have to rank Fred in comparison to other United midfielders of recent years, he'd be somewhere in the Fellaini/ Anderson level, although Fellaini could score and assist as well as intercept and tackle, so that comparison maybe isn't fair.

It was dire yesterday, the forwards were starved of service. The tactics of stretching their defence to create space in the middle worked, but Perreira was unable to do anything with the ball. The central defence was shocking, the amount of times Shaw was having to cover for Lindelof and Maguire who were out of caught position just isn't right. Until the midfield is sorted and a strong centre back provided, nothing will really improve.

19 Jan 2020 18:30:17
Not the result we wanted, but was kinda to be expected.
Congratulations and Well done to Liverpool 👏.

19 Jan 2020 14:29:46
It may be too much alcohol, but is Jamie Vardy stepptoes dad 😂.

19 Jan 2020 13:55:23
Appreciate your reply Ed. Do I infer from your reply thst they are lot the ones whoakimf the final decision about who is or is not the manager of the club? Being the owners I woukd have thought they would have the final say and have an interest (if only because of any effect on their investment) . If it is not their decision whose is it?

{Ed002's Note - They are businessmen and not football people.}

19 Jan 2020 15:02:34
That's the problem. Its all business people in positions of power. They are making decisions with no knowledge of what they are doing.

{Ed002's Note - No, you don't understand the structure at all.}

19 Jan 2020 18:20:05
I realise that this is business for the Glazers but surely they want to protect their business and the playing staff are valuable assets (some not sure valuable) . If they do not have any input into which assets ( ie players) are bought and sold who does make the final decision on buying and selling.

{Ed002's Note - It is unimportant.}

19 Jan 2020 20:57:09
With respect Ed it is important who actually is making the final decisions on buying and selling of players. If they get it right then they deserve credit but if they get it wrong (and let's be honest much of the time it has been poor) then they should be criticised.

Obviously having a top coach/ manager is crucial to any chance of the team succeeding but they cannot be blamed if they do not get the players they feel are necessary to bring that success (obviously that means reasonably attainable players) . By the same token if they are given those players and fail then they deserve the blame.
Woodward is clearly good at the commercial side of growing the brand. If he is not involved in selecting which players are bought or sold then it is unfair for us fans to blame him exclusively for lack of success on the pitch. If he is not to blame. the Glazers are not to blame and the manager is not to blame then who is?

{Ed002's Note - It will just lead to Koranic abuse of people the fans know nothing about. The fans of Manchester United are largely ignorant about the workings of the club.}

20 Jan 2020 05:57:18
As I understood it Ole gets the final say on who we go for based on the scouting networks recommendations, then negotiations are handled by our Head of Corporate Development with our CEO signing off the deal once the directors have agreed.

19 Jan 2020 23:43:43
That is something I agree with you. I hoping you would enlighten me and the others who would like to be more informed so that we get a better understanding of how things are decided and by whom so that we do not make rash/ stupid/ incoorecf assumptions.

I know the tabloid press and other media have an agenda which does not necessarily bear any relation to the truth about how clubs run/ do transfers and so I tend to take what wrote or say with a pinch of salt. That said it would be nice to have a much better informed view about how the club is run so that we can be fair fans not just toxic ones.

{Ed002's Note - It is not worth the grief.}

19 Jan 2020 23:45:07
Ps Ed your time in answering my questions are really appreciated and thanks. Know you get irritated at times but this is a genuine attempt to get a proper feel for what goes on.

19 Jan 2020 12:48:19
I really hope we do well today but if we get thrashed which is quite possible given our weak midfield and possibility of no Rashford too do you think that the clubs owners would then tho k about changing managers now? ED 02 do you have any insights as to the current thinking of the owners and board?

{Ed002's Note - It is not a matter for the club owners.}

19 Jan 2020 10:59:28
Seeing a few self pitying posts about Haaland following his performance in his first game for Dortmund.

Yes the club wanted to sign him, but the lad didn't want to move to us.

Hardly surprising as he was born in Leeds while his dad played from them, his dad then moved to City.

So he is unlikely to be a childhood United supporter. Then consider one of our most revered captains and a player still held in high regard by most United fans was responsible for ending his fathers career.

So its hardly surprising that for him we aren't his first choice.

We miss out on players all the time.

According to Ed Woodward we are monitoring over 900 players, with a realistic maximum of around 25 players in our first team squad then a bare minimum of 875 will never play for United.

Let's not moan every time a player who was linked with us scores a goal or has a good game elsewhere.

{Ed007's Note - Roy Keane did not end Alf-Inge Haaland's career, he had nothing at all to do with it. Haaland finished that particular match and then played a midweek friendly for Norway and played in City's next league game as well.
His ongoing problems with were with his left knee - if you watch the video you'll notice the Norwegian's left knee is strapped up - while Keane clipped him on the right one.
Both City and Haaland dropped their legal action against Keane following his autobiography because the medical & video evidence showed Keane wasn't at fault and that Haaland had admitted that he had been playing with an injured left knee and that it hadn't taken a knock in the game.}

19 Jan 2020 11:44:06
Well said ed047.
Shappy i said the same. Players turning united down for years. Alaways have always will. You win some you lose some.

19 Jan 2020 12:07:58
I was just about to say this but Ed you cleared everything up for me. Also I've heard the club pulled out of the deal because Raiola wanted a release clause in his contract so he had full control of his next move aswell. I believe Haaland has a 50 million clause in his dortmund contract. If he has two sensational seasons then 50 million is an absolute steal so if that is the case I don't blame the club at all for not going ahead with it.

19 Jan 2020 12:11:53
Shouldn't let the facts get in the way if a good story though Ed 😀

I thought that nonsense about Keane ending Haalands career was put to rest long ago!

{Ed007's Note - As long as I have breath in my body I won't stand by and allow the great man to be dissed, Betty 😁

19 Jan 2020 12:51:25
People ignore that Haaland played for OGS at Molde did he not? What does it say about Haalands thoughts about our manager? Maybe he just wanted Dortmund, maybe his agent aimed him elsewhere, maybe he couldn’t see United competing for years under present management and maybe he doesn’t have the emotional twaddle about OGS. Whatever he thinks, he went elsewhere, so did Shearer, move on and see what happens with the lad, we can always try again.

19 Jan 2020 13:17:28
Too true bond.

Keane made a bad decision and put in a bad challenge, but it’s been blown completely out of proportion.

Young Haaland made the best decision for his career, and anyone looking at United for the last few years couldn’t blame him.

19 Jan 2020 10:09:21
I've seen a few rumours today that United are close to appointing Luis Campos as DoF.

Not sure I believe it right enough but that'd be another target we are after from when Mourinho was in charge.

19 Jan 2020 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Top 10 Centre-Backs

19 Jan 2020 09:28:36
Ed just a thought
Would you not take chiellini and koulibaly over spurs duo?

{Ed001's Note - no, Chiellini is well past his best and Koulibaly is all about physicality and he has as many terrible days as the great ones we see on TV. Though it must be said Vertonghen is looking like he is on the downward slope the last few weeks.}

19 Jan 2020 09:57:27
No Phil Jones, what are you thinking?

{Ed001's Note - I knew I had forgotten someone.....}

19 Jan 2020 13:55:55
Nice to see Ramos missing out Ed, incredibly overrated, everytime you watch Madrid he seems to be out of position at the back, all over the place. His goals in big games have massively glossed over his lack of defensive ability over the last few years. Surprised to see Maguire miss out. 😂. Also, what do you think of Romagnoli at Milan?

{Ed001's Note - Milan have been awful at the back when I watch them and he has not impressed. I completely agree on Ramos. Terrible player which is why he has such a dreadful disciplinary record, trying to make up for his own stupidity.}

19 Jan 2020 18:39:32
If you had to compare Rio at his peak against Vvd, who would you choose Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - Virgil. Rio switched off at times and is not quite as strong, particularly in the air, as Virgil. That is the difference between the two, as they are (or were in Rio's case) fantastic defenders.}