Manchester United Banter 3

30 Mar 2026 13:25:45
Looks like De Zerbi will be off the list come the summer as talks ongoing with Spurs about taking over now, possibly with an exit option if they go down.

Not sure how high he was on our list, I am imagining not otherwise discussions would have already happened with him out of work. Personally think he is a good manager given the right parameters but would be very demanding of things done a certain way (potentially similar to Enrique) which may not fit with our current model.

30 Mar 2026 19:10:00
I would be happy to have Conte, especially if he brought Scott back.

30 Mar 2026 22:11:52
Conte yes, Scott no.

31 Mar 2026 01:35:01
Ken, yes. Jamie Carragher, no.

Have you ever seen the two in the room together?

Twilight zone. This s*** should get posted on the talk sense pages, as they... talk sense.

29 Mar 2026 15:59:07
With a 24 day gap between fixtures, will United need another pre-season before they're ready to play at the top level again? I think that's the biggest mid-season gap since the late 1800s.

30 Mar 2026 06:06:16
Absolutely ridiculous, then they will all be moaning, no break before we go into World Cup.

30 Mar 2026 13:28:53
Whole season feels like a ridiculous one. The lack of overall matches, and the amount of non 3pm Saturday games we have had, has given it an odd feel.

Hopefully, back to normal next year.

28 Mar 2026 16:12:21
Just looking for opinions on the following question.
When Tuchel names his 23-man squad for the WC.
Do you think he could win the EPL with that squad next season?

28 Mar 2026 19:51:06
Not a chance.

28 Mar 2026 20:55:01
Poor squad. Only one truly great player who is coming to the end, Kane. A few half decent players, with the rest average at best.

28 Mar 2026 21:58:49
In fairness, Blackpool Red, if only Harry Kane is a 'truly great player', which is probably not unfair, albeit a high standard, then how many 'truly great players' do Arsenal currently have? Also, I'm pretty sure it will be 26 man squads for the World Cup this summer.

I would argue that, compared to the Arsenal squad that is probably going to win the league this year, England are stronger across the forwards and the midfield, especially with regard to strength in depth, reasonably even at left back and right back, and only slightly weaker at centre back.

Gabriel and Saliba and the rest are clearly a level above Guehi, Konsa, Stones, and perhaps Tomori, but there isn't that much in it. Raya beats Pickford, but again not by much.

I think this England squad would give the Premier League a damn good crack, especially given how many big clubs have performed in the league this season.

28 Mar 2026 22:14:27
On paper it should be a solid squad. Pickford is amongst the top 4 or 5 keepers in the league, with Henderson and Trafford as back up.
The fullback positions should be very strong, with the likes of James, Livramento, Hall, and O'Reilly. That's without even considering Trent Alexander-Arnold, Shaw, Spence, and Lewis-Skelly.
Centre back is probably the weakest area of the team. Guehi is solid, but beyond him, with Stones being constantly injured, the rest are not at league winners level.

Konsa, Burn, Maguire, Tarkowski, etc.
Midfield is looking pretty strong with Rice, Anderson, Wharton, Mainoo, Garner, Scott, and Henderson.
In attack you've got some really great players: Kane, Saka, Palmer, Rodgers, Bellingham, Rashford, Bowen, Foden, Gordon, and Barnes. Maybe the cover at CF behind Kane is a little weak.

On paper it's a good squad who should be able to be challenging for the title. It's the CB's and the cover at CF that are the areas of weakness.

29 Mar 2026 04:32:06
Could probably challenge but not win EPL... Defence pretty poor.

Shappy, how many players you have in a 23 man squad then??

29 Mar 2026 08:19:00
This is more pointless a discussion than prospective transfers. Just saying. 😁

29 Mar 2026 09:00:53
Yes, but looking for opinions, not trying to pick a squad. I've zero influence and knowledge of them, and I will not claim a consensus despite dumb options like offering Livramento as a lb option. Nor will it go on for a week with no conclusion. 😅😅

29 Mar 2026 11:30:45
Je Suis, I was merely naming options in each position as we don't know what the final squad will be, but we do know who Tuchel will have to choose from and who he might be considering from the squads he has named.

Personally I think with how this season has gone that you could pick a 24-26 man squad of English players to play in the EPL for one team that could challenge for the title at least.

If we are looking at past seasons where you've needed 95+ points to challenge for the title then I think it they would fall short of being able to truly challenge.

All that said this is entirely hypothetical and subjective. For example when you consider the quality of that England squad and their ability to challenge, have you considered that in making it you weaken your rivals. Saka and Rice for example cannot play for this England side in the EPL and Arsenal at the same time. So if they are part of the England side then it weakens the potential title winners of this season. Would Arsenal be able to challenge as they have done without Rice and Saka? If they joined this hypothetical England team to compete in the EPL then you'd expect Arsenal to buy replacements, how well those replacements settle will determine if Arsenal improve, stay at the same level or decline.

On paper you can create an entirely English squad of players who should be able to seriously challenge for the title based on their ability and performances for their current club sides. But then would they be able to play to that same standard without some of the skills and abilities of the foreign players they currently play with?

The foreign players also bring more than just technical skills to their club sides, they also bring different experiences, personalities, and soft skills that are intangible to football fans.

It's and interesting discussion, especially as there are many England international players that as Manchester United fans we would be happy to see our club sign this summer.

Players like Kane, Anderson, Wharton, Hall, Livramento, Spence, Rodgers, Gordon, Lewis-Skelley, Palmer, Garner, and even Scott have all been linked to us either this summer or in the past, and all play in positions of need for us this summer.

It's hard to argue that any of them wouldn't improve us. If our aim is to challenge for the title and we would be happy to sign a large majority of the potential England squad then by extension then we must feel these players are good enough to play for a title challenging side.

29 Mar 2026 11:52:36
The reason I asked was no English manager had ever won the league, and only 30% of medals won since the Premier League inception have been won by English players; 70% won by non-English players.
I don't think English players would be capable on their own without the help of the talent, insights, and tactical ability of players from abroad.

29 Mar 2026 13:37:02
The goalkeeper, midfielders, and attackers are good enough, but the defence is nowhere near good enough, I think.

29 Mar 2026 15:02:36
Ken, it's an interesting point and certainly the influx of non-English talent has helped mould the EPL into what it is today.

I think we have to consider that the inception of the EPL was really an attempt to make the top league in England the biggest league in the world. As such, a fundamental part of that plan involved importing top talent from around the world. While historically few other countries have the same kind of international connections as England (both good and bad), making England one of (if not the most) multicultural countries in the world.

English history is littered with conquest, Anglo-Saxons, Normans, Vikings, all long before the British Empire. The Royal Family is German. Being English is really just a question of time, how many generations do you have to go back before you have a non-English ancestor.

Realistically speaking, the Welsh/Celts are the oldest natives of this country, but even they originally travelled here from mainland Europe.



That ultimately is British culture, we are a melting pot of ideas and cultures from around the world.

Much like when France won the World Cup in 1998, nearly half the squad were not born in mainland France, several born in Africa and some even born on the other side of the Atlantic.

It'd be an interesting experiment to see if you could win the EPL with just English players and an English manager. Ultimately, I suspect it'll be nearly impossible to do so, but then the same would be true in most other countries where the other 19 teams have the means and are allowed to hire the best players and managers from the entire world, while one team is limited to only the best from one nation. A bigger pool of talent to hire from will nearly always lead to better recruitment and performance.

29 Mar 2026 16:14:35
Nawwww, resorting to name calling. Tut tut tut.

29 Mar 2026 16:36:09
In fairness, Ken, I simply took people's suggestions and popped them in a poll without vetting them.
No conclusions drawn, because every time there was an inkling of one, trolls would come on and shoot down the posts, so I figured it was a waste of my time.

29 Mar 2026 16:53:02
How dare people come on a forum and attempt to get engagement from the other users!!!

Ridiculous!

29 Mar 2026 17:58:36
A little precious, Jimbob. Nobody called anybody any names. Just because you give 1 dumb option doesn't mean you're dumb, and you certainly were not called any name.
If you let trolls affect your inputs on here, then you'd never post.
If someone thinks a thread is silly, they are entitled to say so, no skin off my nose. When people disagree or suggest something is stupid, if that's their opinion, then that's ok.


Join in if you want, ignore if you want, call it stupid if you want. If it's stupid to you, then I respect your right to that opinion, and, more importantly, their right to voice that opinion.
I hope when you were charging people back in the day you were more accurate with your accusations. 😂😂😂

29 Mar 2026 19:04:50
You lost me at Norman and Anglo-Saxon conquests, Shappy. 😆

30 Mar 2026 00:30:51
I really want England to do well, but am not convinced our defence and midfield are elite-level good enough to win the World Cup. We don't have a replacement for Lane if he is injured.

More pertinent is the fact that our players play in the hardest physical league in the world, don't get enough breaks between matches, and are going to have to deal with high humidity and high temperatures, which will also affect their ability to play a high energy pressing game.

If they can get to the semi-final, I think it will be a really good effort.

30 Mar 2026 05:21:43
Maybe lay off the derogatory words and don't double down when called out.

30 Mar 2026 13:26:16
I think a semi-final would be a very good achievement, Salford.

27 Mar 2026 12:55:33
Lots of mainstream media reporting interest in Lewis-Skelley. What does everyone think? I know he came through as a midfielder and obviously transitioned into left back more recently so perhaps he would bring some utility.

27 Mar 2026 13:40:59
Can't imagine he will be cheap, and there are enough midfielders available this summer that we don't need to risk converting a left back into a midfield player.

27 Mar 2026 16:30:14
Yes, I would take him 100% for the left-back position. I'm not so sure about him in midfield; we need much better in there.

27 Mar 2026 16:41:21
Not seen much of him at lb, but if he can't get in ahead of who Arsenal have at lb, then it's not a great sign.
Another, imo, played intl football too early.
I would suggest there are better lb's and midfielders available.


However, if they think he is the right player, I don't know enough to argue otherwise.
If he comes, we can judge how he does, as it's impossible to say otherwise now.

27 Mar 2026 22:30:48
I think he'd be a good signing as a LB who could cover in midfield if we needed him to.

However, personally, if we are going to sign a LB, then we probably should sign one with a little more experience, as we have Dorgu and Amass who are fairly inexperienced options who could play there.

28 Mar 2026 09:55:58
We need to make decisions on Amass, Dorgu, Diego Leon, Malacia, Shaw. Personally, Hall at Newcastle looks good in that position for me, but there is no point spending a load on a player who isn't first choice at Arsenal.

28 Mar 2026 12:03:52
I think Dorgu will be deployed as a LW. He has been influential on the LW and has been missed.

28 Mar 2026 13:11:42
Califiori is a pretty good player imo, so no disgrace for Lewis-Skelley not to be struggling to get in ahead of him. However, last season he looked great, so I'd have expected much more game time from him.

28 Mar 2026 14:21:53
Hatter, I think where Dorgu plays very much depends on who our manager will be.

Personally, I think he should split time between lb and lw depending on the game/opposition.

I think we need to sign both a lb and a lw though, so that we have quality in depth and the ability to rest/rotate the squad.

If we want to play in 4 competitions next season, that's 50-60 games, and realistically very few players should be starting more than 40-45 games.

Shaw won't be fit next season.

28 Mar 2026 16:23:41
Lewis Skelly against Real Madrid last year looked fantastic for an 18-year-old kid, so 100% he has the ability and confidence at that level, and to be fair, it is no shame for a now 19-year-old to be struggling to get game time at Arsenal at left back. Their 3rd choice full back played for England last night!

If we only buy potential nowadays, as some suggest that 27/28 is too old, we might as well sign a 19-year-old who has shown he has the ability at the highest level.

If we can even get him, that is!
Arsenal did not rate Heaven; he could get nowhere near their team, yet many rave about him on here.

29 Mar 2026 15:30:05
I'm sure they rated him, but, at that point, they were well-stocked at CB. They were powerless to prevent him leaving.

26 Mar 2026 23:20:12
Incredibly proud of the Norn Iron lads tonight. Young team with lots more to come I hope. The World Cup dream is over this time, maybe in 4 years time. 🤞🙏

26 Mar 2026 21:48:59
Watching the ireland game, and what a blast from the past it was to see Robbie Brady coming on. Wasnt even aware he was still playing!

27 Mar 2026 16:43:06
Blast from the past is right. It was like watching a team from the 80s and 90s, lumping the ball as high as you can as often as you can.
Sadly, it's a very poor selection to be choosing from. Not good enough despite all the effort.

26 Mar 2026 15:47:30
With Ramus Hojlund's comments today, I was just having a look at Hojlund and Sesko's shots and goal numbers. It's a shame he's so adamant on leaving as we're going to need at least 2 strikers next season and he would be a great and also cheap option.

Sesko - 147.2 mins per goal in the league and 202.6 across all comps

Hojlund - 218.5 mins per goal in the league, 160 across all comps

As an example, Igor Thiago has 141.3 mins per goal in the league and 122.2 across all comps.



I think the fee for Hojlund is somewhere around the £35m which isn't going to go very far in the current market.

26 Mar 2026 17:59:21
Goodbye and good riddance, imo.
I don't dislike the guy, he tried hard, but it's time to move on, imo. A non-loss-making fee has been agreed, in fact marginally profitable if they take up their option, which they will, by all reports.
In fact, Rewz, if they take up their option, the club have no choice.

26 Mar 2026 18:23:57
Rasmus is just not good enough for the EPL. I'm not sold on Sesko either, if I am honest. I think we desperately need an experienced striker with pace, but more importantly I would say Carrick is not exactly sold on Sesko either...



Not even sure the players are sold on Sesko. They don't seem to look for him, that's for sure.

Ok, he has potential, but you need someone for that potential to learn from.

26 Mar 2026 18:48:59
Sesko is doing OK. When he gets a team playing to his strengths, he will do even better. Yes, it would be good to have another more experienced player alongside /to interchange with him.

26 Mar 2026 19:43:26
I think Sesko is far better than Rasmus. Tough 1st season for him, he is improving, and we do need another striker. Playing Mbeumo out of position is not working for him or the team.

26 Mar 2026 20:28:12
I think Premier League football doesn't suit Rasmus. I would say he isn't top class in Italy, too. A decent player and a decent guy, but not what we need. Sesko, I think, is better, although he needs improving if he is to make it here.

26 Mar 2026 21:10:55
I have Sesko to be Golden Boot next year if we fix our midfield!

26 Mar 2026 22:07:31
I must be watching a different Sesko to some. Under Carrick, he's been brilliant when called upon. 5 goals in 280 minutes, almost 2 goals per game.

27 Mar 2026 00:18:20
Striker position needs players to play to their strengths. Very difficult to play J. A team that is struggling a bit. Fergy told his players to find the striker or they wouldn't play. Sesko is doing alright. He is scoring goals and growing into this new high-pressure role.

I like how he is progressing, and, slowly, J producing him has worked better than Rasmus being played as the only option, with Noone behind him.

Sure, Sesko will be better again next year. Fast, good control, good in the air, scores with both feet. What is not to like?

27 Mar 2026 04:12:22
I have to admire your optimism, Jimbo, but one thinks that might be about as safe a bet as your United to win the Premier this season.

Might be better just giving the money to a charity, because the chances of you cashing in are very, very slim. Did you get about 10,000 -1?

27 Mar 2026 05:45:14
I haven't put it on yet, but I will, and will drop United to win the league in there also for a third leg.

27 Mar 2026 12:05:08
Why is Sesko better than Rasmus?
Rasmus scored 16 goals in his first season, and flopped in his second season. It's far too early to say that.
Sesko hasn't exactly set the Premier League on fire. He's had a run of games where he has come off the bench and scored.

27 Mar 2026 11:44:52
Well you were sure Liverpool would win the league at the outset.
Nobody knows anything for sure despite pointing out everyone everybody is wrong why don't you go through your many predictions.
Delusional you called people for thinking we would get a cl spot now you think its likely welcome to delusion yourself

27 Mar 2026 14:58:31
My eyes told me Rasmus was not good enough. They tell me Sesko has far more potential; he just needs to realise that potential.

27 Mar 2026 16:07:40
We need 2 strikers, and, going forward, stop playing people out of position.
Simone, like Watkins, wouldn't be a bad shout.

28 Mar 2026 13:20:49
I don't see us going in for a 'better' player than Sesko. An alternative, older but not elite, player maybe, or a younger player like Kroupi or King, for example.

26 Mar 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Everton Still Need a New Starting Centre-Back

25 Mar 2026 16:14:06
A lot of hype around Jim Twaites and his dead ball abilities. If anyone has any knowledge about the lad can you tell me is he far off the 1st team?

Thanks.

25 Mar 2026 17:12:30
Yes, he is a long way from the 1st team.

25 Mar 2026 17:42:07
He's a good player but very slight. Plays a bit like Scholes and Beckham, Ward Prose. Good player, and a good striker of the ball.

He might get minutes in 27/28, but an excellent prospect either way.

25 Mar 2026 18:58:24
He is Bruno's replacement understudy.

25 Mar 2026 19:24:35
He's a very good player, tidy on the ball, but has only recently turned 18. He stands out in pretty much every match he plays as being ready for a step up. I'd expect him to go on tour in the summer, train with the first team next year with the idea to get minutes in 27/28.

Investing in the academy is hopefully going to work wonders.

If we can get 2 or 3 first team players coming out of the academy and then some very good players that we can make money on, we will be in a great position to be able to spend on the top class experienced players we need. Looking at the kids coming through, they feel like some of the best we have had in a long time; it's exciting.

25 Mar 2026 19:35:05
Rdf, he is technically gifted and has excellent dead ball skills, he has scored a few terrific goals.

Having watched him play a good few few times I think the following scouting report I came across sums things up pretty well!

''Jim Thwaites is patiently waiting for his chance in Manchester United's academy, so is it a matter of time before he breaks through?

Manchester United producing talented midfielders is something most of us have known for decades.

Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Nicky Butt are just three names who spring to mind, but there is a new kid on the block who is beginning to catch the attention of those attending some of United's academy games this season.

Arise, Jim Thwaites, a diminutive number six who can operate in tight spaces and has the dead ball specialities much like Becks did across his career. Want to know more about him? Read on as FourFourTwo delves deeper in our latest scout report.

Having progressed through the ranks at Carrington, Ruben Amorim acted with haste to call up young Thwaites to first-team training within weeks of being in the building back in November 2024, proving that it isn't only fans who are taking note of a wonderfully gifted footballer, with Erik ten Hag also a big fan of the youngster. Having been troubled with injury so far this season, it would be a crying shame if the Red Devils' academy side does not go on to claim FA Youth Cup glory, with the 18-year-old expected to play a huge part in those aims.

Yet to make his senior bow, Thwaites is having to wait patiently for his chance, but continues to impress onlookers who are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of his footballing credentials. A wonderful number six, the teenager is press-resistant and has dead ball capabilities beyond his years, having whizzed a catalogue of free-kicks into the top corners for Manchester United youth teams over the last few seasons.

Press resistance: Given his small frame, Thwaites is more than happy to receive the ball under pressure and jink one way and dart into a space of green. Almost eerily similar to how Pedri does so, the 18-year-old has already mastered the art of beginning the move and transitioning the ball through the offensive lines.

Line-breaking verticality: Academy football often can be scrappy, but Thwaites is always looking to belt a long pass into a wide man to help get the game moving forward for the Red Devils. Having the likes of Goodwill Kukonki, Noah Ajayi and often Shea Lacey to aim for is handy, but Jim does so with ease and it is a staple of his midfield game he has already seemingly mastered.

Dead-ball specialist: Against Manchester City in the U18 Premier League recently, Thwaites had been on the pitch for only a matter of minutes before he found the top corner with precision from a free-kick. Almost like Beckham was in his youth, Thwaites is able to generate a ridiculous amount of power and precision from tight angles, and Darren Fletcher's side has benefited no end from his special abilities this term.

Tenacity and turn of pace: Again, we expect Thwaites to still have another growth spurt, and this will be crucial if he is to make it at the very top level. What cannot be understated already is his tenacity in midfield when nipping in to win the ball back as soon as half an opportunity arises. A serial 'pocket-picker' if you will, the teenager then also possesses the right amount of acceleration to get away from his man in tight spaces and get the game moving in his favour.

Thwaites's areas of development
Senior experience: Manchester United produce players consistently, and as Kobbie Mainoo did, when you get your chance, you have to take it. Tyler Fletcher, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse and are all names currently ahead of him, and Thwaites will have to do well in order to make an impression if he is to be given an opportunity.

Bulking up in size: Thwaites needs to bulk up in terms of stature, and I would say this is his biggest task in order to make it at the very top of the professional game.

Aerial ability: Standing at only 5ft 7, Thwaites could be hindered if he is to come up against a big, powerhouse central midfielder who can bully his way past him in the middle of the pitch. Time will tell whether he does have another growth spurt, but again, you feel it may need to come sooner rather than later.

Thwaites has to make an impression over the summer, you feel, and not get stuck into poor loan moves like Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams and even Joe Hugill have done over recent periods. He has all the qualities to make it, but the competition is so high at Manchester United that he will have to excel when he gets his chance to even be considered in the conversation moving forward.''

Hope you find useful Rdf, he will definitely have to bulk up physically to move forward but he has only just turned 18 so, for his sake, fingers crossed.

25 Mar 2026 21:51:06
I think he'd need either a change in the current meta or a sudden growth spurt to ultimately make it with us, unfortunately.

He's hugely talented and an intelligent footballer, but he's tiny for a midfielder in the modern game. He doesn't have the size, pace, or power that pretty much every side in the league has in their team.



Unless we see a shift away from teams looking to dominate physically to a more technical style that becomes the predominant style within the league, smaller players like Thwaites, and like Angel Gomes before him, will struggle to really make it in the EPL at a club looking to be challenging at the top of the table.

26 Mar 2026 12:43:09
All the attributes, but needs to work on the physical side of the game.

A good prospect.

25 Mar 2026 13:17:03
To commemorate Mo Salah's departure from Liverpool at season's end, the club will be retiring the penalty spot at Anfield. 😂🤣.

25 Mar 2026 14:06:04
We'll have to retire both penalty spots when Bruno retires, so.

25 Mar 2026 19:25:00
No jokes allowed, Fizz. Fun police is here.

25 Mar 2026 21:53:04
Announcing it mid-season, and potentially de-railing Liverpool's title defence, really lacks class. If Liverpool don't retain the title this year, I suspect a lot of fans will place a lot of the blame on Salah announcing his exit mid-season.

{Ed025's Note - i think Liverpool,s title defence was derailed about 4 months ago Shappy, they are hopeless at the moment mate..

25 Mar 2026 23:01:05
Only the small-minded ones will.
I think it's a good move by the club. 2 horrible cup ties coming up, the league is over, it's derailing nothing, and it might have a real positive effect.
I doubt any proper Liverpool fan would blame anything negative on this announcement.

26 Mar 2026 07:44:52
I saw that GDS2 lol.

26 Mar 2026 12:43:41
Fizz, that was funny for you. 😂