Manchester United Banter

15 Mar 2026 18:53:13
This does feel like a poor league this year with a lot of teams being very inconsistent. Liverpool and Chelsea have been erratic, City look unconvincing, and even Arsenal have flattered to deceive.

Our teams looked good in the Champions League initial league, but are getting found out now they are facing knockout games against big teams.

That has presented an opportunity, one Carrick has seized pretty well. This weekend's results strengthen our position and we are now looking up and chasing City, instead of panicking who might be catching us.

So back to the continuing question about the new Manager. I have not heard a name that excites me, and we currently have Carrick delivering League winning form, 7 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat. I know many are not convinced, but tell me who you think would do better? I'm struggling to think of anyone.

Managing United is a unique role, and character is key. Carrick is not fazed by it and understands the club, he is an inexperienced Manager but right now he's delivering.

Glassner and Iraola, think Frank going from Brentford to Spurs, a whole different ball game. Emery, good with underdog teams but one where he is expected to win things? I'm not so sure.

De Zerbi, really? I think he would be out of his depth. And Nagelsmann, he intrigues me but brief success in one role brimgs great risk, and Bayern dumped him.

Martinez, not for me, failed with Belgium with an amazing team, and aamcelotto. Is well. Pastnhis best, in both ability and moti action.

The one manager I would get excited by is Klopp, but we all know that isn't going to happen.

Let's assume Carrick continues to deliver, so tell me, who would be a better fit than Carrick?

15 Mar 2026 19:10:32
Hoeness, Pochettino, and Nagelsmann, to name 3. Carrick has done well but there are plenty of amber flags. Those were ignored with Ole, and we cannot afford to do that again. Results are great, and I know plenty just want to focus on that, but it would be foolish to ignore the other metrics, especially those that have better long term predictive value.

15 Mar 2026 19:26:19
Ole, it's always Ole.

Poch, I used to like that idea, but again, what has he achieved?

Hoeness, never managed a big club, huge risk. I know you and I might disagree here, but I think Amorim struggled with the scale and size of our club, the same way Frank struggled going to Spurs, and, in my view, how Rosenior will be found out at Chelsea.



Nagelsmann, I think, is an option, Bayern dumped him, but he wasn't the first they've dumped, so perhaps it was them, not him.

I get the amber flags with Carrick. We have had a few lethargic games, but the 9 games overall have been, at worst, solid, and a massive step up from what we were seeing before.

15 Mar 2026 19:26:42
Not convinced by Poch at all. Hoeness is getting a lot of praise, but is it too soon for a manager who has never managed in the prem? Luis Enrique would be the obvious choice, but not sure he wants the move.

I like Iraola, and he has prem experience, but would the step up be too much?
Massive decision the club needs to get right. Not an easy one to make. Interesting months ahead.

15 Mar 2026 22:27:35
For goodness sake, are we really going down the Ole route again? I despair. A couple of games, and some are willing to throw everything up in the air.
Carrick was Boro manager, judge him on that. Stop being enticed into this dreamy nonsense.
I really can't be doing with another year of give it Carrick, he has the DNA.

16 Mar 2026 04:08:20
Enrique, Flick, Xavi, Zidane, Nagelsmann, the list is endless, but it will probably be Martinez; he is high on the list of the powers that be, the plan is with Carrick being his number 2.
Does it thrill me? No, a bit foolish to say, cos he's done nothing with Belgium.

If you're going by that route, virtually every manager everywhere fails somewhere. It's a matter of finding the right fit, same with players.

16 Mar 2026 05:54:25
By the way, in answer to Ajh, who would be better than Carrick? Quite a few. Understand the club is not a requirement. Nagelsmann, Enrique. I agree with Keane, he said it a few times. Simeone has done wonders year after year, and broken up the big two in Spain. Time for a new challenge.

16 Mar 2026 08:15:29
I'm finding it difficult to name a preference, but I'm very much with DonRed and Red Man re the amber flags and the Boro experience.

16 Mar 2026 08:25:23
I also don't have anyone I see as exciting and a strong choice. I would include Carrick in that bracket. So, in summary, I think we have a problem. The bigger question I would ask is whether we think the club has a plan, a shortlist, a timeline, and where they should be, and where they are in that process?

16 Mar 2026 09:44:03
If Martinez gets the job, I give up. Biggest fraud in football.

16 Mar 2026 10:18:31
He's thrown his name into the hat, but I think overall we need a strong manager with a proven track record. Luis Enrique is my 1st choice. I'd have Simeone over him, and possibly even Iriola, or maybe even Nagelsmann. All more experienced managers who are probably ahead of Carrick.

16 Mar 2026 14:04:03
Nagelsmann has just signed a contract till 2028 with Germany, so he isn't an option. Enrique is signing a three year extension with PSG, so expect lots of United rumours until he gets the money he wants.

Poch is going back to Spurs, hopefully.

Martinez, er, no. Iraola is in talks about extending his contract. Zidane will take over from Deschamp in the summer. Flick is at Barca, not likely to move, and Xavi is just the Spanish version of Carrick.

The pool of potentials isn't that big.

16 Mar 2026 14:33:23
Grim, that's not a new contract. His existing one runs till 28.

15 Mar 2026 13:01:39
Hey Jimbobred, hope you are around.

I have just come on to site for first time since Thurs pm, have been unable to visit since then.

First thing to say is sorry, but we were both talking about different things with my post about Schlotterbeck! Having read the responses it seems you were actually referring to Licha when you commented about being injury prone. As I meant my post as principally about Schlotterbeck, my assumption upon reading your response was that it was he you were referring to!

I thought it was a wrong thing to say so my follow up post, detailing an injury record, was therefore not about Licha but Schlotterbeck. Hence the ensuing confusion.

Anyway, just wanted to clarify, it was not meant to be having a go at you and sorry if you thought so.

Finally, I agree that, sadly, it might be the time to move Licha on, although it will be a huge disappointment as like with many others he is one of my favourite players. Oh, and how anyone could think the injury profile I posted related to Licha is surprising, it bears no similarities.

15 Mar 2026 18:02:49
All good, mate, no need to apologise, I was more concerned you were having some kind of medical episode, it made that little sense what you were saying across them both. 👍

12 Mar 2026 17:54:58
Oh dear, Licha has picked up an injury in training and is out of Villa match.

It's getting concerning all these knocks, we really miss him playing the ball out so well and instigating attacks.

Don't care what anyone says. The absolute necessity for a title challenging side is a top, top class Goalkeeper and a quality Centre Back. We are on the way with the keeper but not so with a centre back.

You won't do as well with top class strikers and poor keeper/centre back as you will the other way around. Look at our teams of the last 30 years. When did we win league titles without them. Look at when we did NOT win leagues and the keepers we had.

I do think both Yoro and Heaven are very, very promising. We must remember that Yoro is not long turned 20 and although over recent times he has struggled he made his debut at 18 and for the majority of the time, until recently, looked good. Longer term, I would be hopeful of both players coming good, but the concern is now.



A player I think who could come in and succeed would be Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, 26 years old, 6'3'' excellent in the air and very quick, also strong and very aggressive in the tackle. A left footer who has top quality passing skills. He is also known to have a strong ''warrior'' mentality.

He ticks all the boxes and I would love us to do all possible to sign him this summer, his contract expires next year (Dortmund very keen on getting him to renew but not achieved yet). Despite this, I would be prepared to make a significant offer to try and sign him.
Real Madrid are also very keen but as is their way they want a cheap deal, so we need to blow them out of the water. Only my view but I think he would be very much worth it.

The foregoing all sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but sadly, I have just remembered I am not the one making the decisions, so I hope someone there agrees with me!

12 Mar 2026 18:24:56
He is too injury prone to be relied upon for the first team, same as MDL, really. It does change things in the CB if this is a longer term injury or just a niggle.

12 Mar 2026 21:11:19
Jbr, you have not backed that up in any way. Let's have a look at the facts, shall we?

2025.
He had a meniscus injury last year that kept him out from 7th April until 17th October, obviously a major injury, apart from that, excluding cold/flu, he had 5 days of injury.
2024.
He missed 14 days in total from 3 small injuries.
2023.
A total of 70 days from 6 injuries (3 injuries accounting for 60 days).
2022.
12 days in total from 2 small injuries.
2021.
22 days in total from 3 injuries.


2020.
Hamstring injury from 3rd October to 14th January, obviously a more serious issue; apart from that, 6 days in total.

So, over a 6 year period, apart from the 2 significant injuries, this is a history that could hardly be described as ''too injury prone'' and the ''same as Mdl''. There are many, many players who could match and even exceed that record. I have no doubt you would welcome them to the club.

I do not accept your assertion as valid.

12 Mar 2026 22:17:08
Time to get rid of Martinez and de Ligt, both always injured.

13 Mar 2026 07:43:59
It is valid he had missed 50% of the games we have had since he signed.
Whether you accept it or not, iwotb, which is irrelevant, he has been unavailable for selection for over half of our games.
Get rid, he is too small and will always pick up injuries; he is batting above his weight physically, and in this league gets exposed.


Pity, I really like both his character and ability, but he has to go due to his availability.

13 Mar 2026 07:46:17
Strange response, that IWOTB.
Licha spent a lot of last season out, and Mdl has been out since November.
You have listed 14 minor injuries in 5 years and one major one in that same time.

Make your mind up, fella, either the injuries are a concern or they are not.....



IMO, his injuries are a concern, as are Mdl's and Mount's. As are Shaw's, whose injuries will come back post WC. Get rid of them all would be the correct way forward.

13 Mar 2026 08:10:32
In his 2 seasons in Argentine top division, he played 21 and 24 games respectively.
In the Dutch top division, in 2 seasons he played 24 and 24 games per season.
Here: 27, 11, 20; this season: 14.
Of those appearances, 13 as a sub coming back from injury.


Really poor availability, mystery less than 50% fully fit.
Not available enough.
I'm still laughing at "he's all good injuries but he is not injured much". 🤣🤣🤣🤣

13 Mar 2026 09:08:08
I mean, apart from his first season with us, Martinez has missed more games than he has played. Obviously a quality player, but relying on him over a full season is foolish.

You only have to go back two seasons, and Jonny Evans was our starting centre back.

He was originally brought back in to train with the team and spend more time with his wife. That is not how a top football club should be run, imo.

13 Mar 2026 09:13:51
I think we need to prioritise our resources over the next 2 summer transfer windows. This may mean we need to make do in certain areas, or bring in some cheap/free transfers as other positions take priority.

If we could have kept Casemiro, the midfield would not have been as pressing; however, we would still have needed at least 1 top player, but likely 2. Now we are looking for at least 2 top players, maybe 3. Then what do you do with Ugarte: keep him as a reserve player and develop him, or sell and replace him? Can we bring in anyone from the youth to take a position?

So, with all that in mind, I think we will be looking at Mdl/Yoro (RCB), Martinez/Heaven (LCB).

Heaven covers both, and can Shaw do a job? We can hope that injuries will be better for us next year. Schlotterbeck would be perfect, but I can't see the money being available. So, is there a free agent that could be brought in, Antonio Rudiger for a year? The following window will then be looking at defense/full backs.

We need to be realistic and pick where the biggest upside is.

13 Mar 2026 09:20:57
He's one of my favourite players and characters, but he misses far too many games and, sadly, it's always been the case.

13 Mar 2026 12:16:57
I am sadly coming to the same conclusion re Martinez. I love the player when fit, but that's the catch, unfortunately.

We have too many injury prone players in the squad. I would look to offload at least 2 of MdL (like him too), Martinez, Mount, and Shaw this window, depending on what we can get for them and the price of replacements.

My own preference would be Shaw and Martinez first.

13 Mar 2026 14:46:22
I think he is a lot of people's favourite. Amen, he does play. But he will always be injured in this league. He is only a little chap, and he writes cheques his body can't cash.

13 Mar 2026 17:27:33
The midfield should be the priority over everything else.
We have been lacking in that department for years. It needs sorting out in the summer urgently.

14 Mar 2026 12:12:10
The problem we have is that we have several key positions that all need work.

Midfield has to be the priority, as we lack numbers as well as quality in that area.

Yet, just like last summer, we spent big on one area (attack) and massively upgraded it. Yet there still remain other parts of the side that are holding us back. We could solve midfield this summer and still have several areas that need attention.

CBs are one of them. We are in a weird position where, on paper, it does not look like we have an issue at CB. MdL and Martinez are a really good starting duo; in fact, there probably are not many better starting CB duos in the league. We then have Maguire as a veteran (and someone who has gotten better with age), along with two top-quality young lads in Yoro and Heaven.

On paper, that looks like a very solid selection. But, on the pitch, we struggle to keep MdL and Martinez fit, while even Maguire, as he ages, picks up more knocks, potentially leaving just the two young lads as starting options.

We need to invest in another CB this summer, whether we keep Maguire or not.

The problem will be that we will need to spend heavily in midfield, along with at least a LW or a LB depending on where we think Dorgu will play; ideally, though, we need both given Shaw's age and injury history. Yes, he's been fit most of this season, but he's also played most of this season in a less physically demanding LCB position of a back three.

Personally, I'd be looking to do a deal for Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth. He's been one of the best and most consistent CBs in the league this season, and is available on a free. While at 28 years old, he's in his peak years and wouldn't be a long-term road block to Yoro and Heaven. Are there better CBs potentially available this summer? Absolutely. Are there any better options available for free or fairly cheaply? Absolutely not.

We could go and spend 70m on MvdV from Spurs, and then have the very real question of whether he even starts if both MdL and Martinez are fully fit, while that's also ignoring his own iffy injury record.

14 Mar 2026 18:34:46
Agree, Happy! Senesi had been outstanding this year.

15 Mar 2026 04:22:31
I don't get the love-in with Martinez even when he is fit. I think he is about an average CB in the Premier League. Yes, great win-at-all-costs attitude, but that doesn't make him a great CB. He is very rash, dives into ridiculous tackles, gets caught out of position too often, and just needs a physical battle, that's about what he is best at. Like I have said for some time, we have not got a decent top CB at the club.

I got shot down when I said de Ligt is an injury-prone player all his career, and the stats guys come up with the usual, but my eyes come over all those stats and look how that's turned out.
de Ligt, decent CB but always injured.
Yoro, too weak, needs much more time.
Heaven, our best potential.
Martinez, not for me unless we're happy mid-table team.
Maguire probably our best CB, but lacks pace, something chronic.

11 Mar 2026 18:21:08
Number 6
Casemiro is going to be a massive loss.
Ugarte has to go.
Kone is not quite ready.

We need two in here with Kone as understudy, I feel he is the standout from the youth section.

Do we go all out for a prime target and retain Collyer as back up?

So maybe a Baleba, Collyer and Kone setup.

Is Collyer good enough and should we cash in on him and use the funds for a Gomes?

Baleba, Gomes, Kone.

Thoughts?

11 Mar 2026 18:39:42
Baleba and Gomes aren't good enough for where we want to be, Jimbob. They would be great as a second or third signing, but not the star name.

11 Mar 2026 19:05:29
Then who, JR?

11 Mar 2026 20:41:35
Manu Kone, Elliot Anderson, Nmecha, Ederson. Lots of players I'd be very happy with. Gomes is a good shout for squad depth to replace Ugarte, but I agree with John that he's not got enough to be a regular starter for us if we have league title aspirations.

11 Mar 2026 22:20:28
I agree, guys. Gomes is backup to a long-scouted Baleba.
To be clear, we are talking about the holding midfielder here, not the number 8. Some of those names are not a Cas/Ugarte replacement.

11 Mar 2026 23:22:30
Anderson and Nmecha are very much 8's.

Ederson and Manu Kone are definitely options versus Baleba. I suppose it is whether we are going the prem proven route or not....

I'll do #8 last. Anderson and Nmecha are in with a shout for sure.

12 Mar 2026 11:45:57
We need a 6 and an 8. If we are going to play Mainoo as one of the 8's, we need a left-footed 6. Also, we are heavily linked to Anderson, another right-footed 8. Baleba, Wharton, and Stiller are all left-footed 6's.

You ideally want two of each, so potentially we need 3 midfielders in the summer. Anderson & Wharton would be my first choices, as they like to pass forward, and, most importantly, they cover a lot of ground, which would stop our biggest issue over the last few seasons, which is midfield runners.

The backline would get a lot more protection from those two.

If we were to let Ugarte go, we would need a third midfielder. If we were to sign Wharton and Anderson as starters, that would give Mainoo as Anderson's backup. Wharton would need a backup. I'd suggest a younger player, such as Jorthy Mokio at Ajax. He's a left-footed CDM, with quite a lot of potential, and he'd be fairly cheap in terms of cost.

12 Mar 2026 14:09:19
Jimbo, I wouldn't get caught up in the 6 vs 8 split. If we've two box-to-box midfielders, they'll work it out. Elliot Anderson, for instance, reminds me very much of Roy Keane in his Forest days. We'd have regarded Keane as an 8 at that stage. But the main characteristic was that he's a box-to-box midfielder who can do everything.

12 Mar 2026 14:10:32
There's no way we sign both Wharton and Anderson.

I think we need to be savvy, pick one of them and go all out. Move Ugarte too, and bring in a cheaper option for back up.

Personally, I think Anderson is a better fit because he's able to move the ball forward quicker than Wharton.

For me, this is the key position, because Casemiro, despite not having the legs anymore, has been key in getting our attacks started.

12 Mar 2026 15:50:46
I like Wharton and Anderson, 2 big, strong lads who get up and down the field, great engines, and can really play football. That's from what I've seen. Baleba also looks good and athletic, but he hasn't impressed me when I've watched him.

Outside of that, I would be guessing, as I haven't watched the others closely enough.



I think the scouting and recruitment department has done a pretty decent job so far when bringing in new talent, so I'm very positive about who they choose to bring in.

13 Mar 2026 09:08:42
If we could pull in 3 centre mids, who would people's top 3 be, bearing in mind they probably can't all be starters.

13 Mar 2026 12:22:15
Jbr, really like your idea of doing a position by position set of posts!

My three would be, in this order of priority (with caveats that some I have not seen much).
- Anderson
- Gomes
- Sadiki.

13 Mar 2026 18:54:29
Cheers, AM2. It has been great to get the general views. I'll try to summarise all the posts in time. I've allowed the 8 position to merge into this post!

I like those 3 choices.
Where does Mainoo sit in your choices?

Personally, I'd like us to get Tonali and Anderson as first teamers, then add Gomes.


Have Mainoo, Gomes, and some youth.

However... I am not sure they will go for Tonali, so I swapped him for Baleba.

14 Mar 2026 13:02:20
Mainoo is backup for me. I am still not convinced, and think RA was right to give him the rocket up his arse.

He has quality, but doesn't make the effort. His problem is he doesn't yet have that level of intelligence that he can look graceful and still be effective, which means the effort needs to be put in, but he is intent on stuff that will look flashy as opposed to helping the team.



Also, him allowing his brother to put up that t shirt is a black mark in my book.

11 Mar 2026 03:34:11
Front 3

Personally, until we have sorted other areas, I wouldn't be bothered if we left this alone, apart from departures.

LW: Cunha, Dorgu, Mantato
RW: Mbeumo, Amad, Lacey
SK: Sesko, Obi-Martin, Biancheri and JJ Gabriel

IF, and a big one at that, we sort out midfield and portions of defence, I can see us making a play for Diomande, with the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo able to shuffle across the line to a degree. But more me, a luxury signing that we only make it funds permit after sorting the rest out.

Thoughts?

I've saved the favourite positions to last of course, midfield tomorrow!

11 Mar 2026 05:58:35
Well we have virtually those players now and it's not exactly pulling up trees..... Both of those wings already have trouble supplying decent crosses into the box, or even a constant supply for strikers to feed off.
Sesko still has lots to learn, Obi even more so, so you now have Obi trying to learn from a player who's still learning his trade. Nah, not for me.
I still think we need a very experienced striker, one with pace & quality, and a decent winger who can supply quick, incisive crosses, not more of this slow, pedestrian build up.
To me Cunha is no left winger, he holds the ball far too long.
Dorgu, yes, gives energy and pace, but his crossing and final ball are poor, but of course, if that's the standard we're happy with, he can do a job.
Mantato... have no idea.
Not sure the right wing is much better. We have that now and it's not doing so well.

Guess we stick with these if that's the level we are now looking at.

11 Mar 2026 10:00:14
We are definitely going to be signing a left winger. We sold/loaned all of them because of the shift in system with Amorim. Now we are shifting back, we need to bring someone in.

Cunha is not a left winger. He spends most of his time drifting to the middle, and it gets way too congested.

We are going to need to see more than 3 games of Dorgu at left winger before he can be banked on to play there.



I know it's going to be unpopular, but I don't think we should have let Garnacho go, especially for the small fee we received. Rumours that someone like Diomande is going to cost 80-100m, and I'm not sure he is twice the player.

11 Mar 2026 12:31:57
We sold them, DSG, because they were either disruptive or not good enough. Sancho, Garnacho, Rashford and Antony went. Cunha, Mbeumo, Dorgu in, with Amad now playing. We could do with another, but your point about the playing system, I don't think is correct.

11 Mar 2026 13:51:12
What about bringing Hoijland back to compete with Sesko?

11 Mar 2026 14:36:11
Garnacho struggles to get a game for Chelsea. They have been underwhelmed with him. He is another Billy Big Boots who thinks he is better than he is. We have shipped out the bad attitudes, Scott aside, and it was needed.

11 Mar 2026 15:34:04
JBR, not sure if you have seen much of JJ Gabriel, but we need to remember he has only just turned 15 and physically he has a long way to go. Don't think he will be a regular in the first-team squad, he needs to be playing regularly.

Have watched quite a few U18 games this season, and, whilst he clearly is a phenomenal prospect and very, very talented, we need to avoid heaping too much expectation upon him too soon.

Next season I can see him training with the first team on occasions and getting a few minutes as a late substitute. This would mainly be to let him know how highly rated he is by the club, let's not forget, when he turns sixteen this October, he has the option of leaving on a free transfer.

There is massive interest in him from most of the major European clubs, especially Barcelona. It is not going to be straightforward keeping him.

Before we get the 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' comments, whilst he may be skilful enough, his physicality is not ready for the Premier League.

Anyone not really seen him, if you want to get an idea, go to YouTube and search for his highlights against Nottm Forest U18s last Saturday, 7/3/26. He scored 2 goals.

11 Mar 2026 17:46:09
Nice comments, everyone. I almost agree and disagree with them all. The reason I haven't changed personnel is that, at times, even since the managerial change (Arsenal and City), the front three have been electric. Dorgu being injured seemed to change the dynamic; we lost his unpredictability (sometimes it felt he didn't know what he was going to do next!).

I agree JJ is young, hence 4th choice. I wouldn't be against signing someone, but equally I felt that Sesko is finding his feet, and I agree with Ken that he will score 25+ goals next season.

Also the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo can sit there if absolutely necessary.

I guess I wouldn't be too concerned if we didn't sign someone there. Amongst all of these posts, I'm trying to ascertain the general feeling of the fans.

If we sign Diomande, for instance, what happens to Dorgu and Cunha?

11 Mar 2026 18:05:50
Simo, that is not the worst decision, and I assume not off the table. He hasn't exactly found his previous form whilst being away, but he could play understudy.

I'll say this, I would love us to go and sign Kane, but that ain't happening for a multitude of reasons, so I haven't composed these posts to suggest my dream team.

It is a measured assessment, factoring in where we are as a team and financially.