Manchester United banter 3

13 May 2024 07:39:07
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Hidden Gem Players Manchester United Could Sign

13 May 2024 05:24:59
Remember when breaking records that had stood for 50 years was a good thing?

13 May 2024 06:40:42
14 Premier League defeats this season and 19 overall, eighth in the table, with a -4 goal difference, worst defensive record since 1978-79. The midweek fixtures could confirm the lowest finish since 1990.

Still some want to keep ETH, make excuses, try to make out there are no other suitable managers, whilst watching turgid, sideways passing rubbish.

13 May 2024 07:54:22
I suspect a record FA Cup final defeat could be added to the list too sadly.

13 May 2024 09:05:13
On that topic red man. I see Neville wants the club to keep eth to show some stability. Granted that’s a lovely idea and constantly sacking managers isn't a great idea, but neither is keeping the wrong guy in there for another 12 months. If there was evidence to suggest we are on an upturn then fine but it’s more heading the other direction. If we have another season anywhere near as bad as this one then we are in big trouble, with the majority of those players probably still here, then keeping the coaching staff is a recipe for further disaster.

13 May 2024 09:32:41
Hang in there BRD, most here predicted a record defeat yesterday and in all honesty if you'd have told me afterwards that Arsenal could lift the title in a week's time I'd have spat my drink out after watching them.

13 May 2024 10:02:53
RedMan I think you're mischaracterising the position of most of those here suggesting ETH not be sacked. I think I'm in the majority that believe that doing so is a distraction from the main issue that we have an awfully constructed squad, with a bunch of mid- to lower- table players, and a scattering of genuine quality players. With only really the former category available this year, we are going to end up in mid-table. The play has been awful but it was really good last year when he had a consistent and fit squad. So I do not know how to judge him. The players, on the other hand, it is abundantly clear. ETH has brought through Garnacho and Mainoo, has won the Carabao Cup and brought us to the FA Cup final.

13 May 2024 09:36:48
Who are the other suitable managers Red Man? That are realistically available? Don't make the point that Pro EtH fans say there are no suitable managers, and then not name any yourself.

Its the same old boring anti-ETH propaganda and choosing not to point out any of the other variables affecting the club.

13 May 2024 12:48:02
Good post DonRed. The world is not as black and white as people would like it to be.

Make that two FA Cup finals and a European semi final, as well as CL qualification after being exactly where we are now two years ago.

Someone posted last week that it would be 4 years until we got into the top 4 again. Well ETH took us from the exact position we are in now, to top 4, in his first season.

Right now we are exactly where I’d expect us to be in the league given that our back 4 currently consists of a past-it DM, a 36 year old CB, and a left back who can’t even play his preferred position of right back effectively.

I’m not saying ETH has been perfect. But it doesn’t require more than half a brain to see that the circumstances he’s worked under have been extremely difficult.

13 May 2024 13:02:35
Agreed wazza. Quite a few brains missing on here though ?.

13 May 2024 18:52:12
Ah the brain is missing because you don’t agree on ETH.

Tim99 Gary Neville saying don’t sack managers whilst having a conveyer belt out of Salford is rather funny.

13 May 2024 20:35:05
No Red Man that’s not the case at all.

Failure to see the circumstances the manager works under, saying that 90% of the squad needs selling, and then blaming it on the manager. That’s where the brain is missing.

Nobody cares if you have a different opinion ?.

13 May 2024 21:16:37
Wazza
Said many times that I understand the circumstances, I have been saying since before SAF retired that changes were needed, so don’t need telling that. However, the manager should not be doing as anywhere near as badly as this, there should be far more signs of a structure, pattern.

13 May 2024 22:13:57
I agree Red Man there has been no style of play but I blame that on a considerable number of injuries including to players who are key to how ETH wants to play, countless off field issues, and a toxic football club. The feeling right now is the same as it was two years ago. This manager wasn’t at the club the.

12 May 2024 14:21:48
There is a very important game today, just about to kick off.
Our women are in the F. A. Cup Final for a second successive year.
Come on you ladies, best of luck and let's have something to shout about.

12 May 2024 14:54:37
Bring it home ladies…show em how’s it’s done!

12 May 2024 15:20:07
Wot a goal!

12 May 2024 16:02:54
Glad they have brought Malard on, she won't duck out of any challenges!

12 May 2024 16:26:41
Very dominant display by much the better team, ultimately spurred by a world class finish after some great opportunities were squandered.

12 May 2024 16:40:17
4-0 win United ???.

13 May 2024 07:04:40
Atmosphere at Wembley was incredible. Was great to see the team enjoying every moment, and fighting/ chasing at every opportunity.

13 May 2024 08:05:16
There was a moment, when 4-0 up in added time, one of players gave the ball away high up on the left and despite looking knackered worked really hard to win it back. That's a winners mentality there, and what most of us miss seeing regularly!

12 May 2024 13:52:38


Shappy has written an article entitled, Hidden Gem Players Manchester United Could Sign

12 May 2024 14:06:28
Bardghji is out with a long term knee injury, expected to return in Feb 2025.

12 May 2024 14:40:39
Surprised you didn’t suggest Luca Netz or Bradley Locko for LB tbf.

12 May 2024 07:39:11
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Evaluating Potential Manchester United Managers

12 May 2024 11:19:58
Very good summary Shappy. I agree with your choice’s. I do also think the Crystal Palace manager has come in and done a great job as well, maybe a consideration. We are not the attractive proposition we one were but with a much better setup, fingers crossed it all comes together. We definitely need patience but if we can what see a clear plan, it will make a lot of difference.

12 May 2024 11:32:51
Glasner has had a great start to life at Palace, I'd want to see him over a whole season at Palace before judging him to be honest.

12 May 2024 11:57:15
I've said it from the start the best 2 options are Amorim and Potter they can both implement a style that the club can work to over time.

This is something I just don't see with people like Tuchel, Southgate, even Zidane.

I agree mostly with your review of de zerbi except I don't see any tactical nous, he has a tactic/ style which either works or it doesn't a little bit like ETH there's 1 way and it's never really adjusted for issues.

I've heard more about Amorim and the state of sporting when he came in to make him even more my first choice, ed has said not to get our hopes up but with other clubs not taking him we might have a chance still, I also think based on some of our transfer targets from eds list he's a good choice.

I do think the new set up are making a slight mistake not making it clear either way on the manager. If he's going at the end of the season just say that, make it clear to the players they're performances and attitudes are being monitored by Wilcox, fletcher, brailsford. If he's staying even more so it's better to say it as everything's falling apart and the questions are constantly about the manager you look daft saying it in 2/ 3 weeks time when there's no football.

Maybe there's a contractual or cash or a mix of both reason that's all I can think.

12 May 2024 13:31:19
They probably are DBrooks, just not airing their laundry in pubkic quite rightly. They all know they’re on trial by now surely?

12 May 2024 13:56:48
Eric just don't see the benefit anymore in not clearing up the manager situation he's not going before the end of the season that's clear.

If your keeping him you probably should have said a few weeks back saying it now or later looks a bit daft, if he's going stop the questions and let things settle a bit before the FA Cup final.

12 May 2024 18:28:30
Possibly. But maybe their first choice is no longer available for the time being, so making a wrong move and appointing a ten Hag replacement they didn’t really want would be a disaster. We’ve seen that with our squad when we sign our 3/ 4th choice.

Maybe it’s better off keeping him for now. Maybe they’ve just changed their minds which is also ok to do.

12 May 2024 00:28:56
One of the biggest games of the season tomorrow for me.

Never have I gone into a game with less optimism.

Injuries have killed us but I fully expect the team to fight and make it competitive. If we grab an early goal anything could happen.

If it gets messy I Ten Hag could be gone.

There are excuses but also some glaring mistakes.

Tomorrow will tell us a lot.

12 May 2024 03:20:45
Why tomorrow? The only important game left this season is the cup final, tomorrow we will most likely lose as Arsenal are a lot better than us and our players have already given up.

12 May 2024 06:58:19
If its Evans and cas as CB's it will be a long day. Might as well play the young guys from the academy, if they get turned over no shame. Rather play Mc as a CB than those two.

12 May 2024 08:08:15
Let's be honest, if we come away from this with anything better than a 3-0 loss then we can probably count ourselves lucky.

We are in terrible form, can hardly create a chance, let alone score a goal. While we have an injury crisis meaning we will at best be able to name one half fit CB in the starting lineup.

Palace just smashed us 4-0, and we are playing Arsenal. A team fighting for the title, who are in great form, have the best defensive records, play a style that controls the game, and are scoring pretty freely.

I think there is a genuine chance that we suffer a record defeat today. It feels like we are at the centre of the perfect storm right now. It'll take something special from the players to avoid us being embarrassed today.

12 May 2024 08:44:59
I can't see beyond us getting mullered, a record score against and Arsenal enhancing their good by a phenomenal figure. The guys who got us into this sh*t should face that humiliation, not up and coming youngsters.

12 May 2024 08:51:46
I’m more optmistic we might get something ??.

12 May 2024 09:10:06
We are woeful given the sheer number of injuries and patchwork back four. But we haven’t seen Arsenal wobble yet. Have they really shaken the tag of ‘bottle jobs’?

If we frustrate Arsenal I can see a cagey 1-1, but if Casemiro of in the back 4 it could be a cricket score.

In better news Martinez is said to be desperate to play. He is such a breath of fresh air in this side and his fitness will be critical to improving next season.

12 May 2024 09:42:04
Totally agree with fizz and gds, only game I give a shiny sh#t about is the final and also I wouldn't give any of these grifters the opportunity to hide . Sick of these players and sick to death of being in this position every 2 years.

12 May 2024 10:21:35
Exactly Deano. Going to be interesting inside OT today and Wednesday. Two very tough fixtures that we should be relishing, but I’m not expecting anything from either given the state of our injuries, and the complete contrast in desire between our players and their Arsenal and Newcastle counterparts.

This feels like a carbon copy of two years ago, and two years before that. And so on….

12 May 2024 10:26:06
Wazza, Martinez is the only player who isn't a youngster that I care about in our current squad.

I can see the benefits players like Bruno, Rashford, Onana, Mount, Dalot and Shaw bring to the squad. And I wouldn't be pushing to sell any of them this summer.

Yet I also wouldn't care that much if a good offer came in for them and we accepted it.

Beyond Garnacho, Mainoo and Højlund, Martinez is the only non-sellable player we have. He's a leader, a warrior and actually good enough to be first choice. I don't care who wears the armband, Martinez is the real captain of this side.

You see it when he plays, he encourages and inspires those around him and he makes them better players when he's alongside them.

His desperate desire to get back on the pitch even for a game that effectively doesn't matter now shows he has the character that so many of our squad is missing.

Hopefully he can come back next season injury free and be a regular starter next season, because while we have missed his talent, it is his infectious mentality that we are in dire need of.

12 May 2024 11:05:40
Fact wazza ? going weds and dreading it tbh . Why I would keep the manager for another season ?‍♂️ we need to know what happens in the 3rd year . We can't just keep sacking managers after 2 years and starting again, it's counter productive imo.

Ten hag has a lot to answer for this season, some of decisions and set ups have beggared belief, but we are still looking at the same players hiding and downing tools knowing that they can get rid of the bloke they don't like and start the whole sorry saga again.

Imo, if we don't stick now we will be in the sh#t for decades .

12 May 2024 14:12:16
My concern with Martinez is that he is not at all careful with his body. The most recent injury he picked up was most likely as a result of his excessively and unnecessarily aggressive protection of a ball going out of play for a goal kick. Being very small for a CB he quite possibly overcompensates. He needs to find the correct balance in his game. Otherwise he could end up with injury after injury.

11 May 2024 21:22:37
Potential free agents for us to seriously consider.

Tosin Adarabioyo CB
Wilfred Ndidi DM
Alex Meret GK
Juan Miranda LB
Luka Jovic CF

Does this provide a bolster to our squad, whilst we navigate any financial restrictions/ implications of not achieving Europe and shipping out all the dross.

Not saying they are the answer, just opening the discussion.

11 May 2024 22:40:11
Not convinced by any of them.

12 May 2024 00:19:20
The most sensible thing I've read in here was ed001 saying no point in suggesting a ying or anybody until the footballing strategy is clear.
I'm sure wilcox and ashworth will be aligned.
All players need to fit that agenda.
Once that's defined and clear and once we know which coach they want to carry that through then we will have at least semi informed opinions on which players we fell will fit the bill.
Too many unknowns at this stage.
I expect things will become clearer at the end of the season and euros and going into the window.
Who's stays who goes who comes in. Have to say I've not looked forward to a summer quite as much for a long time. Should be great craic.

12 May 2024 08:32:08
Of those I think Adarabioyo is the most likely to actually be pursued. He was at City's academy while Jason Wilcox was running it, so our new technical director knows him personally. We also will likely need to sign multiple CB's this summer, and Tosin on a free, at a good age and with EPL experience could be a no brainer.

Ndidi and Miranda are both a solid no for me. Neither good enough even as squad players.

Meret as a back up keeper would be a decent signing, although I'd expect he'll want to go somewhere to be first choice. While I'm not convinced he is at the level we would need for him to be first choice.

Jovic is the interesting one on that list, he has the talent, but has too often struggled to turn that into performances on the pitch when at a top club. Maybe he can't take the pressure. Considering that AC Milan have an option to extend his contract then I think we can rule him out. Either Milan extend and he isn't available for free or Milan choose not to which kind of tells us everything we need to know about him.

There is a name you've left off which I would definitely be considering this summer. Danny Welbeck. He could have a similar impact to Evans this season. A solid EPL professional, who knows the club and our values and who can play 12-18 games across all competitions next season to give others a break. Stylistically he's the right sort of striker that we need and he has the experience that he used to can help develop and improve a player like Højlund.

Others we maybe should look at would be Iheanacho from Leicester, Rabiot from Juventus and Marten De Roon from Atalanta.

Iheanacho is a creative forward who could be solid back up for Højlund.

Rabiot based on ability is surely a player we should sign, the only issue is his mum. He could be a smart signing though, he adds physically and technical ability to our midfield, while at 29 he'd be great for 2-3 years while Mainoo develops. Personally I think we need a couple of signings in midfield and someone like Rabiot alongside another midfield signing makes sense.

De Roon could be an alternative, but at 33 he'd likely be a one season option only.

If we signed Adarabioyo, Rabiot and Welbeck on free transfers, Meret too if he'd be happy to sign as back up, that would give us some better squad options and might allow us to focus more of the spending on aop quality CB, a top class CDM and maybe a winger and full back. Then great.

12 May 2024 09:17:59
Following Fiorentina closely I’ve seen a lot of Jovic including in the flesh. He struggled to pin down the starting role there, barely scoring any goals in a season that led to a European final.

He barely starts for Milan with most appearances coming from the bench. In fact he’s only had 1 good season in his entire career and that was for Eintracht Frankfurt. That was a one-off that put him on the map.

I said Amrabat would be an unspectacular signing, I think Jovic would be worse. Even as a backup to Hojlund.

12 May 2024 09:30:17
Shappy,

You’ve lost the plot, how in the world would Danny Welbeck improve us? I can just imagine the reaction.

Tosin looks a good player every time I see him, would be a good signing I think.

12 May 2024 09:37:42
Re Spurs. Graham Potter was watching Spurs vs Burnley yesterday.

12 May 2024 10:41:13
GtS, Welbeck has 20 league starts and 7 sub appearances for a Brighton side that boast João Pedro (17 starts, 12 subs) and Evan Ferguson (15 starts and 12 subs) as striker options.

He's a very complete forward who can run the channels, or drop deep and link play. He's very good at creating space and chances for his teammates. He's also a local lad and former academy player, someone who knows the club and the league and could come in and make 15-20 starts next season to allow Højlund time to rest. While he can also pass that experience on to the young lad. While not being a player who will block the development of the 70m, 21 year old Dane.

If we are looking to sign a player with a similar skillset and profile who is 5-6 years younger then we'd be looking to pay between 30-50m in today's market. While they are unlikely to be EPL proven, which increase their likelihood of flopping.

If we are looking bat signing a back up striker to rotate with Højlund (which given how much we have spent on him and the need to spend elsewhere in the squad seems the best course of action) then we want to make sure we aren't committing a large proportion of our budget to buying someone to sit on the bench, especially when that means there will be players not good enough in our starting line up in other positions.

Signing Welbeck would only be a short term solution for the next season or two at most. But it means we can delay spending a large sum of money on a player to sit on the bench at a time where we need to make sure we get the absolute most out of every pound we spend.

As for how does Welbeck improve us? He's better than any current back up options we have to Højlund at centre forward. Ergo he improves us.

12 May 2024 10:41:27
Tosin for me is a no brainer.

12 May 2024 13:37:45
Hang on… Wellbeck?

12 May 2024 18:46:36
I always liked Ndidi. Surprised he didn't get a move when Leicester went down. Maybe that says something ?‍♂️.

12 May 2024 20:32:43
Not saying any of them are the specific answer, but we will likely need a few stop gap players as we continue the process. A lot of what we have currently is not fit for purpose, some of these can't be any worse, and on a free.

11 May 2024 17:41:46
I suppose winning never gets boring - for winners that is - at least not by the look of Noel Gallagher in the crowd at Fulham today. For the rest of us? Well, I don't want to see any team win the title every year, including us. So I really don't mind if we lose tomorrow if, somehow, Spurs can then find it within themselves to draw or beat City on Tuesday, with Arsenal pipping them to the post next weekend.

12 May 2024 06:45:44
Spurs are poor when it matters. city should put them to sword the way they play and defend.

12 May 2024 08:36:37
Spurs have hit the wall, like most teams that have a new manager who increases the intensity of the style of play they have started to run into injuries and fatigue.

Lots of people were praising Ange earlier in the season, yet is Spurs style of play really any different to ours right now. They look to press high winning the ball. But injuries and fatigue have seen them start to struggle, they are now too open in the middle and are making mistakes in defence.

I wonder if they'll stick with him for next season.

11 May 2024 17:34:30
A CB to consider, Murillo from Forest. I always forget about him until Forest are on TV but from what I’ve seen, I think he’s a decent player. Might be a good addition.

{Ed001's Note - excellent player, except that he is very poor in the air.}

11 May 2024 18:27:59
I think he'd be phenomenal on the left of a back three. Quick, great on the ball, excellent at carrying the ball forward, good defensive instincts, fantastic technique. As Ed says his only real weakness is aerially he is poor. A back three would cover that somewhat, while making the most of his other considerable talents.

He should be top of any EPL teams list if they are looking to play a three at the back system.

{Ed001's Note - I think he would be a perfect fit for Man City and their way of playing, though that is nominally a back four.}

11 May 2024 22:44:18
He would be an excellent addition and maybe a good coach would help him with aerial challenges.

12 May 2024 08:38:55
Ed001, I agree I think he looks a Pep player. Although with Gvardiol and Ake I'm not sure they need him right now.

I think in a side that dominates the game like City do, that Murillo's weakness in the air wouldn't be exposed very often at all.

12 May 2024 10:42:10
You're right ed, he will do well down in League 2 with city ?.

11 May 2024 11:49:27
Just read that Spurs have been told Toney's available at £50m.

Chew down to the wrist I would.

11 May 2024 12:21:45
Would be a good signing if we could get him at that price.

11 May 2024 14:09:23
Add on the United tax to that.

11 May 2024 15:20:56
One of the laziest players you will ever see imo and will upset many fans if you think rash does not work hard enough. does nothing defensively all game.

{Ed077's Note - He'll have more goal contributions than Rashy this season, YOU CAN BET ON THAT ??

11 May 2024 16:06:13
Ahmad. So, apart from 20+ goals a season. ?.

11 May 2024 16:09:11
Ahmad

Toney is a Centre-Forward, and would be expected to apply more of his tracking and working into midfield.

Whereas, Rashford is primarily a Wide-Forward, and would be expected to apply more of his tracking and working down the flanks.

Don't give me the high-intensity sprints blither, Toney does far more grafting in midfield than Rashford does to support his Fullback.

If Toney's lazy, then Rashford is absent.

11 May 2024 18:33:54
Toney would be a good signing for anywhere between 40-50m. EPL proven 20 goal a season striker who can play across the front three and is very good at bringing others into play and creating chances for his teammates. While he's at an age where he's hitting his peak, but isn't such a big name that he'd push Hojlund out completely. He'd carry the attacking burden for a 2-3 years until Hojlund was ready to be our clear first choice and carry that scoring responsibility.

Any more than 50m and it just becomes unviable due to the need we have in other areas. While I also suspect there could be better value found in the market if we are looking foe a clear back up to Hojlund.

I'd even consider Welbeck on a free for a year to support Hojlund if it means we can get top quality first choice options in defence and midfield, rather than compromise in those positions to buy a more expensive back up striker.

11 May 2024 18:45:22
He’d expect to start and be the big cheese. I don’t mind having a main striker and there’d be plenty of opportunities for Rasmus, but I don’t think we’ll sign such a high profile player. Whether a younger Sesko type or older player happy to rotate I’m not sure. Don’t believe he’ll be that cheap for anyone though.

11 May 2024 22:45:44
He is a better all round player than Rashford and I have watched him many times tracking back.

12 May 2024 09:11:10
Spenno, I tend to agree with much of that, and given his age and pedigree in the EPL I don't think he'd be a big issue for Højlund. Toney would probably be first choice for the next couple of years, while Højlund would still get plenty of game time to develop. I. Two years time Højlund will be 22/ 23 and ready to step up and become our undisputed first choice, while Toney will be 30/ 31 and ready to take a step back and become the back up.

As for price like I said 50m is the maximum I think anyone should spend on him. He has one year left on his deal, so this is Brentford's last chance to make sure they don't lose him for nothing. While he's had half the season out banned and hasn't come back in great form. Maybe with a good pre-season he'll be back to his best next season. Yet for buying clubs why would you spend more than 50m on a 28 year old striker who has had a 6 month ban and isn't in the best form with only a year left on his deal.

I genuinely think it could be closer to 40m that he goes for in the end. Which would represent a bargain in the current market.

12 May 2024 10:43:08
Id only question his attitude. We need the right players with the right attitudes going forward. coachable people.