Manchester United Banter

15 May 2024 21:23:51
I hold my hand up to maybe doing Diallo a disservice this season when considering our options going forward. Useful little player with an air of unpredictability to his game. Keep.

15 May 2024 23:45:48
Sunderland fans rave about him. Looks to make things happen and to create.
Can play himself into the cup final team and secure his place in the squad next season and would give city something to think about.
Onana said in an interview a few weeks ago he was the most skillful player at the club. Nice to see him doing well.

16 May 2024 06:20:37
Cut in and tried to find a team mate. Antony, rash and garnacho 💯 would have shot. Always looking to do little give and go's. Also works really hard. Definitely keep.

16 May 2024 06:38:43
I don’t like saying this but how many times did I say give Amad a chance early season, for the wise sages on here to tell me I was talking rubbish

The Amad question, is why we allowed £85m to be spent on the useless Antony when they must have had scouting reports and seen Amads potential?

16 May 2024 07:31:13
What do you mean you don't like saying this? You say things like that a lot so you do like saying it 🤣🤣 I'd say you said it half a dozen times last night on live chat I've just read🤣🤣
Not sure who said not to give him a chance. Most have been championing that for a long time.
No point questioning the scouting it was the old regime we know how useless they were.

16 May 2024 07:47:26
lol Red Man, you said it in the chat too. But looks like you were right.

16 May 2024 08:37:11
Frustration Ken,
A few told me and one I think said glad I wasn’t selecting the team over it.

16 May 2024 08:41:24
Also, can we give the man in charge a small amount of credit for his team set up last night and putting Rasmus on the bench and playing Diallo, (however long Redman has been calling for it) . I think it was the right thing. He gets plenty of slack but he think he done right last night.

16 May 2024 08:58:09
Formation worked well last night to a certain extent, but Gordon looked excellent for Newcastle and was a constant thorn in our side. He’s really developing into a fine player.

Still like watching basketball, but made for a very entertaining game of football. Beats watching Moyes ball and Jose parking the bus.

Shout out to Amad, tireless running, always looking to make something happen, looked really exciting. So good to see Licha back, and Bruno was excellent. He’s our best player by far still.

Note on Hojlund’s goal, I loved it. He finally committed a defender, took a chance and slotted it in nicely.

Nice touch from Erik to address the crowd - kind of felt like a goodbye. Weirdly I am still in the stay camp for another season to see what he can really do with. l the right backing.

16 May 2024 09:27:55
I think Rasmus needed that break and him coming on and scoring like he did will do him the world of good.

16 May 2024 09:39:45
And dare I say Amrabat has looked a little better in recent games, a bit more energetic and mobile. Still hope he is returned in a few weeks and it doesn't become permanent but fair play.

16 May 2024 10:20:45
amrabat was decent last nite and roughed em up a bit - nice to see: even played where he is naturally better at midfield. Amad is a demi god to the sunderland fans and they still wax lyrical about his loan period- very dissappointed they weren't able to seal him permanently- loved his celebration in the east corner - thought we played much better last nit than at most point of the season -good to see bruno back, and licha - still out on rashford ;think the lad needs a move/ therapy or both tbh.

16 May 2024 10:23:35
We are finally seeing what Amrabat can do, albeit a little too late.

Diallo deserves a run next season at RW and for the next two games. It has been really surprising that since the Liverpool game and upon completion of his suspension, that he hasn't played more at RW.

Garnacho is playing similarly to Rashford. It is frustrating, but he is still young.

It was great seeing Martinez come on, he really is great CB. Along with Bruno, whom I have being calling out for his petulance, that we really miss when they don't play.

16 May 2024 12:22:22
Crazy isn't it how the last 2 games have shown completely abandoning midfield was a bad idea.

16 May 2024 12:36:17
I don’t understand why Amrabat hasn’t been given a decent run in the team when fit. He’s an average player but undoubtedly offers a lot more protection to the defence than anyone else we have.

Amad definitely has something about him. Plays with his head up which is a rarity for our wingers.

In the cup final I would play that midfield/ attack with Bruno as a false 9. Only change I’d make is Martinez in for Casemiro in defence. Even though we didn’t play brilliantly last night, and the keeper is pretty poor on the ball for a player brought in to be a sweeper keeper, but there was at least some intensity in defensive pressing, and we’ll need that against City.

16 May 2024 12:45:09
Diallo didn't seem ready for the rigours of the PL earlier in the season but looks so now. Tbf he was out injured. What he does is try to pick the right pass each time. His decision making is good and technique is top notch. This he has in common with Mainoo. Whether it's better loaning him to a PL club next year where he'll play every game or stay is a hard one to gauge now, as we're going to need to bring in at least one forward player.

16 May 2024 12:59:27
Banjoe I have him credit on the match posts page.
I always give credit where its due. Shape was much better.
Sane players same injuries so it can be done. Begs the question why we have been playing like we have for weeks. Perhaps wilcox has had an input into the team shape also who knows. I've seen people saying they thought his address to the crowd was a bit 'cringy' but I thought it was appropriate given the cup final coming up.

16 May 2024 13:38:01
I said on the live chat out shape was much better. Where it suddenly came from is another discussion.

15 May 2024 12:27:23
Everyone knows ETH is done. But the new back room team hasn't been given a chance to formulate a long term strategy.

Crazy idea. How about giving Rangnik a year contract. He gets to come back and revenge cut all the players from the squad. The club gets a year to plan. Everyone's happy!

15 May 2024 13:16:35
Or just give ten hag more time think he deserves that, he’s only a year left on his contract

New footballing structure above he deserves a chance, won our first cup in 6 years got to 3 finals in 2 years

Yh he’s made errors himself but those players are the main issue

What’s another season we’ve had 10 years of dross takes more than 2 seasons

Give the man a chance pep would struggle with that back line we have had a shed load of injuries and certain players have dropped well off

In my opinion we should stick with ten hag.

15 May 2024 13:20:40
I don't know it.
Rangnick back isn't a runner. He turned down Bayern. Don't think it'd be a good idea to have another interim coach either. Better to keep ETH if that's the thought process.

15 May 2024 13:40:03
Not everyone.

15 May 2024 14:26:22
Just you and ken Danny, although I'm not sure about ken.

15 May 2024 15:40:08
I’d be happy to keep ETH for the last year of his contract. It’s better than singing the wrong manager now. But I think he’s done. I just can’t see the club keeping him given the finish to season.

Rangnik is obviously a joke post. But I don’t see any way ETH is still here by August.

15 May 2024 16:14:11
I'd like to see how McKenna and Carrick get on this year. Let ETH have a go under the new structure for his last year, then reassess then.

15 May 2024 16:39:10
If Ineos have doubts about ten hag, then it makes no sense to start their project with him.

15 May 2024 18:15:49
Or Caolan, if they don’t think they can turn the squad over into a great place this summer, why saddle their new manager with an awful squad?

15 May 2024 18:17:57
Unfortunately Caolan, apart from Pep, there's not a manager out there that a football leadership team wouldn't have doubts about.

15 May 2024 18:25:32
We can't get the best we've single manager out there is a compromise on pep. That's not to say we can't compete and beat him but they're is no other manager close to him in my opinion at the moment.
His teams ooze class his teams win leagues and cups, score lots of goals and attack. Everybody seems to know what their role is and they are all technically proficient.
We need the next pep a lot more than we need the next keane stam or Scholes or frenki de jong.

15 May 2024 18:26:12
But there is doubt and DOUBT 🤣.

15 May 2024 18:54:57
So we write another season off then?

Sounds like a plan.

15 May 2024 20:05:04
Sounds like a man not putting his own money in🤣🤣🤣.

15 May 2024 22:05:06
Caolan, no-one knows if it will be a write-off. If SJR decides to keep him, what does that say about SJR and his leadership team?

15 May 2024 22:10:58
Well would you want to come in and stake your reputation managing this group of players? With maybe 3-4 new ones? Unable to offload say Maguire or Casemiro/ Anthony/ etc if they don’t want to leave, so even less new players in (1-2), or having to settle for 4th/ 5th choice cheap options as the club doesn’t have the money due to players not leaving?

15 May 2024 23:35:24
Remember peps first season at city.

He bought a gk then replaced him 12 months later
Bought defenders then spent money replacing those defenders


Not saying money is the way forward but we need to right signings to play in a way that the manager and the club want to play

There is a reason why the Ajax style has not been seen yet that ten hag had them playing. the players cannot play that way (the majority)

I hope they keep him and I hope he gets the chance and he turns it around, he deserves to with all the crap he’s had to put up with.

Hopefully the team show up against city and with some luck we get the job done.

16 May 2024 00:29:24
If sjr decides he is the man then I'm on board simple as that.

16 May 2024 11:19:10
EtH will be delighted and thankful Ken 😄.

14 May 2024 22:08:58
ED001,

What are your thoughts son Tosin Adarabioyo?

Obviously a free transfer this summer, but do you think he could be a shrews acquisition for Utd if they were interested in signing him?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - he is raw but an improve,ent on the options you have for the style you want to play. So he should be a good option so long as the wages are right. Physically good, but can be rash and loses concentration at times.}

15 May 2024 02:38:29
Thanks ED001,

I haven't really seen him play. Perhaps he wouldn't be a bad signing on a free transfer, whilst he may improve further given the right coaching.

{Ed001's Note - good coaching could transform him into a very good player. He is decent on the ball but not top end level but comfortable enough to do as a long term option. You wouldn't have to rush to replace him, so it would allow you to concentrate on the other gaping holes in the team and maybe he can grow into the player you need anyway. If I was looking from a Liverpool/Arsenal/Man City perspective, then he is not what is needed. But they all need just finishing pieces for a team. United need an almost complete rebuild, there are very few players there that you would say are good enough long term, Mainoo being the standout exception. So players like Tosin make absolutely perfect sense to fill gaps and allow a quicker rebuild.}

15 May 2024 07:37:31
And that's a huge problem at United at the moment -Coaching and the lack of it . Not far behind poor recruitment as the cause of many of our problems long and short term.

15 May 2024 08:42:38
ED001,

The challenge the club face this summer is actually getting rid of the deadwood.

I'm hoping for some astute signings aswell.

{Ed001's Note - that is a problem all clubs face now with Europe's PSR in force.}

15 May 2024 09:48:38
I think if we are looking to bring in 2 CB's he would be an excellent option at a reasonable price. We are going to have to be innovative with the window so this fits for me and allows us to look at another CB.

If we went into next season with Martinez, Todibo (or similar), Tosin, Kambawala, Lindelof then we should be good for next year with Lindelof replaced the following year.

{Ed077's Note - he'd be homegrown too.

15 May 2024 10:40:22
Think Tosin becomes an option of we are bringing in 3 CBs he would signal lindelof is also leaving.

Martinez, Branthwaite, Tosin and Silva?

Think they are all happier defending higher up the field than Maguire and lindelof and from what I know (touch wood) they aren't as injury prone as Varane, also you might get all 3 covered under varanes wage alone.

15 May 2024 10:51:42
Silva and Branthwaite would cost towards £150m so I don't see both. Of course depends on who leaves. Seems like exits could be more influenced by contract length/ expiry than ability or suitability suggesting Varane and Evans to go this time round.

{Ed077's Note - Varane is leaving. Evans is out of contract too so a decision needs to be made. I guess one of Maguire and Lindelof may leave dependant on the suitors for them. That's a big turnover in one ho if it happens like that.

15 May 2024 12:11:11
I think silva and Branthwaite may just be available for under 100m. Everton need the money, and the Portuguese papers seem to say benfica would rather lose Silva than neves so a deal can be done. The question then becomes do they want Silva or Neves more and which player do we have the best quality attainable back up for at a decent price etc. lots to think about.

{Ed002's Note - Silva and Branthwaite will not be avilable for £100M - it would cost considerably more to buy them both.

15 May 2024 12:44:55
We’re going to need a new RB as well.

15 May 2024 14:02:12
I imagine silva and branthwaite together would be more than £150m.

15 May 2024 14:35:41
Maybe my sneaky feeling is a little off then.

15 May 2024 15:55:25
In - Todibo, Frimpong and Tosin
Out - Varane, Evans, AWB.

15 May 2024 19:47:26
We’re going to need a new back 4.

{Ed077's Note - Dalot doesn't need replacing this summer.

16 May 2024 11:38:13
Surely need a RB to replace AWB tho?

14 May 2024 22:07:46
I read somewhere that Sesko was at the United v Arsenal game as a guest of united - do we think we would go for another inexperienced striker?

And do we see him as a step up from Hojland or cover for him?
I personally think we need a proven goal scorer and then players who will pass to him.

14 May 2024 22:41:04
Sesko was not at the game his agent was.

14 May 2024 22:50:31
No he wasn't Jacko, it was his agent, I would however be very pleased to see Sesko at O. T. he is a player of great skill and promise.

Do not think he is a step up from Hojlund more a case of competition. Whatever the case until players start putting the ball in the box more it does not matter who we have.

Have to say I really noticed it on Sunday against Arsenal, the number of times both Garnacho and Amad (who I thought was good and deserves more game time) were in good position to get the ball in the box and just played back and sideways. I found myself shouting at TV in annoyance. You won't score every time getting the ball in the box but you will NEVER score keeping it out wide. If I was annoyed god knows how Rasmus feels, I am quite sure he would score if he gets any kind of service.

14 May 2024 23:13:49
Rasmus made good runs into the channels as well, just to be ignored by the whole team. It really is ridiculous.

15 May 2024 01:32:36
Every time it happens I keep thinking of the golf analogy that 100% of short puts never go in! got to get it there to have a chance.

15 May 2024 05:13:23
Would be very happy with Sesko. Still raw, but has improved a lot this season and has a fairly high ceiling. Price will be key though. If we can get him for £40m-£60m, I’d see that as pretty good business in the current market. If not, we’d be better off spending the money on somebody who’s a bit more polished and reinforcing elsewhere.

15 May 2024 06:54:32
The latest leak is that team mates don’t pass to Hojlund because of his inability to finish.

The article cited a number of public spats with Rashford.

If I was Hojlund I’d be tearing into my team mates on the pitch for not picking out his runs. This is what I want to see from him. Less air guitar, more demanding the ball.

15 May 2024 09:13:23
Wazza surely you don't believe that load of bullocks from Luckhurst. He's been known to make up stuff about Utd and banned by the club because of it.

15 May 2024 10:56:21
I like Sesko and aside from being another young raw striker his profile is quite different to Hojlund, so it would be nice to mix it up with a different option.
But I don't see it, his value has rocketed since the £20m we turned him down for two years ago.
I'd like to see a player who fits in between the raw upcoming talent and the finished article who demands to start every week. Not a superstar, but a shrewd more experienced player good enough for Hojlund to learn from.

15 May 2024 11:40:40
No Unruly I generally don't read the nonsense in newspapers. That article just caught my attention and I found it to be an interesting claim. What caught my attention the most was the mention of a rift with Rashford, who has famously struggled to get on with other team mates but is best pals with Sancho. It furthered my theory that Rashford might be at the centre of dressing room cliques.

15 May 2024 12:05:47
That rubbish about players not giving the ball to Rasmus is utter nonsense, totally made up bollox.

As a more direct rebuttal of that nonsense, is the fact that Rasmus Hodjlund has the second best conversion rate of goals to chances in the premier league, he is only behind Haaland who has a conversion rate of 23%, while Rasmus has a conversion rate of 22%. Clearly Rasmus has had far fewer opportunities.

Here's a radical idea, give him the ball much, much more. I am quite sure he would be a 20+ league goals scorer.

On the subject of Sesko, don't know if true, but I have seen a number of reports saying he is available for 50m euros. If true, that makes him even more of an appealing target.

{Ed002's Note - Benjamin Sesko (S/F) RBL could be offered a quick profit. His agent has not stopped offering the player around since his move to RBL. Described by a well known ex-Premier League player and high-end scout as "raw but improving". Was on the list for Spurs as a potential Kane replacement but their interest has likely gone. Newcastle enquired as they are concerned they will lose Isak - but continue to struggle to sell their project to players. Chelsea spoke with his agent but have a preferred option who looks likely to join. Milan offer an option as a potential Giroud replacement and they are looking at adding two strikers this coming summer. Arsenal have met with his agent but he appears to only be second choice for them. A wildcard may be Manchester United who need to replace Anthony Martial this summer - but Sesko will not move to simply be cover.}

15 May 2024 13:59:33
Thanks for info Ed02, is that 50m euros figure in the right ball park?

{Ed002's Note - No.}

15 May 2024 14:37:36
Thanks Ed.

14 May 2024 16:46:55
Been thinking could spurs do the unthinkable contrary to everyone's expectations and ruin city's season. I know its a lot to ask but anything is possible.

14 May 2024 16:57:29
I couldn't really care less who wins it but for entertainment purposes I'm hoping spurs/ city is a draw then Sunday will be a goal difference shoot out with arsenal having a 3 goal head start, city are quite capable of putting 7 or 8 past west ham, not sure arsenal will put that many past everton, could be entertaining.

14 May 2024 17:04:52
I think it'll be a corker, with Spurs technically still in the hunt for top 4. Had Villa won last night I think it would be a different scenario.

14 May 2024 17:25:41
I would like to see Wiggy's suggestion come true so we have a straight shootout on Sunday, with both teams having to go for it. If goal difference is a draw does it next go on goals scored? Currently Arsenal are on 89, City on 91.

That won't be enough for Spurs in terms of top 4, but it's likely they'll roll over and have their belly tickled when it really matters.

14 May 2024 18:41:31
wazza

That last sentence made me really laugh.

14 May 2024 18:53:40
Spurs will likely do a Spursy.

14 May 2024 20:23:47
Ahmad they never fail do they. This season has been no exception.

I know we shouldn’t be throwing stones, but it’s Spurs.

14 May 2024 21:55:04
Up the hammers. Bow out with a win Moyesy.

14 May 2024 21:56:14
I’m hoping for a final day vs West Ham the same as ours in 1995. Still one of the most frustrating games I’ve ever watched :- (.