Manchester United Banter 3

29 May 2026 21:16:14
Dear oh dear, what a shame. Garnacho has not even made the Argentines' preliminary World Cup squad.

I hope for his sake he realises what a complete and utter pig's ear he is making of his career. His choices, decisions and actions have led him to where he is now!

If he had listened to the people at O.

T. who were trying to point him in the right direction and to do the right things, and not believe his own hype and bullsquat, then who knows how things would be today.

A classic tale of letting the idiots decide!

30 May 2026 05:44:14
Not sure of the point of the post.

He was clearly not good enough to play for us regularly. We made a great profit from him, and wish him well for his future career. He's at Chelsea, who are a top club.



Not a big fan of berating young men/kids for making mistakes in their lives. That being said, he'll still earn more in a week than many on these pages earn in a year.

30 May 2026 09:36:40
Was never good enough. Another player overhyped when not really doing anything special. Common theme these days. The press are the worst, every kid is a wonder kid according to them. Too much too soon as well, doesn't help.

30 May 2026 11:05:11
Pity for him. I'm not a fan of his, but I won't delight in his demise.
Hoping he gets a good move and he knuckles down and starts doing better.
I often follow ex United players, and generally hope they do well.

30 May 2026 13:30:22
I think he was good enough, but sadly he is massively immature and full of himself. If he'd been promoted to the first team in a similar environment to when Ronaldo was, he may have had it kicked out of him by the other players. Times change.



I always thought he was massively talented; he blew hot and cold, which is unsurprising for a youngster. But then the fame and ego seemed to take over. Just my opinion from afar.

A real shame. Not the first, not the last to go that way.

30 May 2026 17:05:01
For young players, it is always about the transition, physically and mentally, to senior football. Garnacho had a brilliant youth career. However, as happens around 19, they either take the step up or shrivel. Instead of learning, it looks like he had advice and felt he was better than he was showing. At that age, youth, in all forms of life, think the world owes them a living, that they should be the top dog, not the person with experience.

Garnacho went down the wrong path. I said last summer we did extremely well to get £40m.
Looks like his career is at a crossroads. I hope he finds the skills he showed, or we will see him at a Spanish 2nd Division team. Sad for the talent he had, but it happens all the time.

30 May 2026 18:26:18
Januzaj was one who burst onto the scene only to quickly fade. We were buzzing about him, but again, for whatever reason, he didn't make it to the very top. I remember Tuanzebe keeping Mbappe quiet; seems like a one-off performance. These are good players, but we expected more than we got.

31 May 2026 07:48:01
It must be incredibly hard in today's world for young, elite-level players to even understand what a normal life outside football is. When arriving at the big clubs, they are so insulated from the outside world.

It would be unnatural for most of us to remain level-headed if we were headhunted and paid the mind-boggling sums that these kids receive at such an early age.

The money and lifestyle on offer to mainly uneducated or poorly educated kids, often with their families desperate or greedy for it too, is beyond their wildest dreams if they make it to a club like Utd.



One of Fergie's greatest strengths was bringing his own background into the club. The hard life he experienced in Govan growing up, and the family discipline and work ethic instilled in him, propelled him forwards in his career.

Today's owners and managers are maybe too soft with young players and their agents. If Garnacho had been managed by Fergie, it's impossible to know how he would have reacted to the hair-drier treatment, but overall, I think he would have been more humble and more likely to stay and succeed at Utd and fulfill his potential.

29 May 2026 13:25:08
It's been suggested that revenues next year could be close to £800m assuming a fairly deep Champions League run.

The club has a £400m revolving credit facility of which £250m is currently unused.

Given the improved financial results for the current year there should be absolutely no problems with PSR as it comes to an end.

Current squad cost is less than 50% of next year's likely revenues compared to a maximum Uefa limit of 70% So, with the departures of Casemiro, Hojlund and Sancho at a minimum there's gong to be plenty leeway for the club to improve the squad. I would not be surprised to see us spending £300m.

Longer term there is the new stadium. Part of the reason Real Madrid's revenues are now £1bn is the development of the Bernabeu into a multifunctional entertainment complex. This is one of the areas where the Glazers intend to cash in having reportedly been steadily increasing their real estate holdings around OT.

Whether we like it, or them (the Glazers and Ratcliffe - and I don't), one does get the feeling that the club is now being run by professionals with ambition both on and off the field. The LBO was an abomination which drained the clubs resources and negatively impacted the ability to buy the best players, followed by the appointment and too long endured Ed Woodward, an utterly incompetent chief exec, but If the current management can consistently deliver entertaining football and titles, why should I/we care if they make money in the process? It's surely better for the club that they make it rather than lose it.

It's going to be a transformational decade.

29 May 2026 13:53:52
I will never ever forgive the Glazers, not least for the years of SAF, when we should have dominated Europe but didn’t because of Glazernomics. The LBO & subsequent borrowing cost over £1Bn, and the debt still sits there. £1Bn plus! They will never ever get a pass from me, even when they are finally expunged from the club. Disgusting leeches.

29 May 2026 14:37:09
Red Man, whilst their saddling of debt onto the club is something I really detest, i don't think most people would care if they had appointed competent people to look after the operations. Ultimately plenty of money has been spent - it's that it was spent terribly. Ed Woodward created a toxic culture and made so many inept decisions.

The relative stability we have now, and the clearer approach towards transfers, etc and on due diligence towards the new stadium is far more important than who owns the club and whether they make profit or not. I really don't like them but I'm far happier we owned by them than a Russian oligarch, or a human rights abusing state owned regime.

29 May 2026 15:03:19
They are not allowed anymore in the EPL, as far as I understand - says it all, really. The test for fit ownership clearly failed, and now we have leaches attached to our club that we will likely never shift.

Those in the know around the club have apparently purchased as much property as possible around the proposed site for the new stadium and entertainment area.

A lot of people stand to make a lot of money over the next 10 years.

29 May 2026 15:22:55
But that's exactly the point, DonRed - the Glazers are responsible for appointing those incompetent people in the first place. You can't separate Woodward from the ownership because he was their choice, repeatedly backed by them despite years of failure. A competent ownership structure would never have allowed someone with zero football expertise to run the biggest football club in the country for nearly a decade.

Yes, money was spent, but the reason United had to operate like a commercial machine obsessed with sponsorships and marketing growth was because the club was loaded with debt from a leveraged buyout that never should have been allowed and served as no benefit to the club. Hundreds of millions that could've gone into infrastructure, recruitment, scouting, or the stadium instead went into servicing debt, dividends, and interest payments. The Glazers created an environment where commercial performance mattered more than football performance.

Opposition fans, the media will always say "they spent money," but net spend without structure means nothing.

The ownership failed to put proper football people in place, failed to modernise the club, failed to renovate Old Trafford, failed to invest in the training ground for years, and tolerated mediocrity because top-four finishes and commercial revenue were enough for them.

Liverpool and City built elite football structures while United drifted because the owners didn't prioritise football excellence.

And even now, the "relative stability" only arrived after fan pressure became impossible to ignore and after INEOS effectively had to come in and clean up the football side. The clearer strategy you're praising exists because the Glazers finally had to hand over control after years of mismanagement - not because they suddenly became good owners.

As for other ownership options, although I agree with your sentiment about preferring them to a Russian oligarch or human rights abusing state owned regime, that's a very low bar and the club and fans deserve so much better.

29 May 2026 16:32:06
Who truly cares who the owners are, deep down. Ultimately you just want your tea to win, come what may.

29 May 2026 16:39:03
I also will never forgive the Glazers for the lost decade and a half, and, yes, they are entirely responsible for appointing Woodward, then keeping him in place, and for getting rid of competent managers when they started to tell the truth about what a soulless disaster they were.

My only point is that, had we actually continued to win top trophies with regularity, and somehow found value in the market place, I, and I think the majority of us, wouldn't care much about their dividends, the level of debt, and the interest payments.

Fact is, after the company went public in 2012 - which corresponds with the exit of both SAF and Gill - we were in pretty good shape. If we had replaced them with a halfway decent executive team, we would not have wasted £1bn, we would have continued to at least be in the Champions League with regularity, and we would not now have the level of debt we have.

29 May 2026 16:40:39
Oh dear Jimbobred. 🤦‍♂️

29 May 2026 16:59:06
Newname, We've won 5 major trophies since Sir Alex left in 2013, and not one league title.

29 May 2026 18:28:37
They basically bought the club by saddling us with debt, using club revenues to service the debt. Clever but appalling. All the while taking large dividends and letting the staff rust and rot. Of course we care who the owners are.

They then appointed a marketing man as CEO who was inept, meaning we overpaid for players who were not good enough. Complete incompetence.

29 May 2026 19:58:45
Ports, the way I look at it is that only the Premier League and European Championship are major titles. The rest are all secondary. Certainly better than nothing, particularly if you're a club that rarely, if ever, wins anything. For example, if you support Villa, a team that realistically is unlikely to ever win the EPL, you're going to be over the moon to win the Europa League.

But if you support Man Utd, it's no more than a consolation. The same for Crystal Palace and the Conference League. It's fantastic ------ for them.

29 May 2026 22:01:22
I read somewhere that around 200 million of transfer fee installments are due to be paid out over the next 12 months.

29 May 2026 22:36:47
Ports, the point is this: clubs are being bought up by all and sundry. Some saddle them with debt; very few will be buying them with cold hard cash.

I'm not saying I agree with their ownership, I'm merely saying if it isn't them, it will be a full SJR ownership (he is no saint), or the Saudis' oil, or Qatari money, or another Hollywood actor making it into a Netflix special revolving pantomime.

It is just the way football has progressed over the last few decades, and I'm not in favour of it.

But what is the alternative? Give up your season ticket in boycott, only for it to be sold the next day (not an option for people who have held them for generations), join the in-game protests (sure, all in), don't buy the merchandise for your kids and grandkids (let them go and support the latest glory team). Any other suggestions?

30 May 2026 09:47:13
Jimbo

I only care what owners do to the club.

The Glazers are disgusting and Ratcliffe enabled them to stay. I suspect the summer aims from the owners are to buy players but also to ensure financial profitability so dividends will be paid. The Glazers have used United like a cash machine, whilst seeing the asset value rise.

Great business from them, but a disgraceful way to treat a historic football club that grew from working class Manchester people.

You said "some saddle them with debt". Which other club has been bought by a LBO?

30 May 2026 13:14:13
Liverpool 2007, Gillett and Hicks.
Burnley 2020.
Portsmouth and Hull were both LBOs.

There's a few.

I respect the Liverpool fans, they successfully chased them out.

29 May 2026 12:56:51
People keep saying "United have spent loads" as if spending money automatically means spending well.

The reality is we've wasted hundreds of millions on players who were either bang average, mentally weak, lazy, didn't suit the system, or simply nowhere near the standard required for Manchester United.

José wasn't the first manager hung out to dry either. LVG openly said the club failed to get his main targets and kept handing him 3rd, 4th and 5th choice signings. Since Ferguson retired, managers have been expected to build title-winning sides with leftovers and commercial signings.

As MUFC fans we've had to sit through years of dreadful football watching managers force out-of-position players into systems they clearly can't play, while the board acts shocked when it all falls apart and sacks another manager.

Then the cycle repeats:
New manager.
Wrong players.
Massive wages.
No football IQ.
Manager blamed.
Huge payout.
Start again.

For over a decade we've been absolutely robbed in the transfer market and laughed at across Europe because clubs know United panic, overpay and reward failure.

29 May 2026 13:35:33
Last summer was much better.

2 proven EPL players at a reasonable price.
1 promising young striker who suits the league's physicality.
1 young keeper, bought for cheap and exceeded expectations.

If we stick with this transfer strategy, the club is on the right track.

A few proven players, if they can be got for a fair price, and a handful of prospects. That's how you build a squad that can be competitive now with the potential to get better without throwing away money on big names.

30 May 2026 09:53:30
Danny,

To take the next step, and for the club's 2028 aims to be met, we need to modify that strategy. It's not enough. We need at least one top-level diamond, if not two. It's not throwing money away on big names; it's about buying the right profile of player, and, if a top-level player that moves us to contenders is available, pay what it takes.



Arsenal paid, was it, £105m for Declan Rice? To compete, we need to up the strategy.

30 May 2026 15:39:33
Redman, I honestly think the club's arbitrary timeframe is nonsense. After watching a decade and a half of money being wasted on big name players, I'm more than happy to see a slow and steady approach to transfers.

The truth is that the only reason a £100m player would come to us right now is for money.

Despite our league position, we're still a long way from competing for titles. 2-3 years of this approach to squad building should get us a lot closer, and then we can start bringing in that level of player because.

29 May 2026 09:45:57
It's a tough question but if you had to name your 5 favourite players since starting to support United to would they be.
Born in the 60s so I've a wide enough choice.
Mine are
Robson
Scholes
Beckham
Stam
Hughes. Just ahead of RVN.
I'd have an honourable mentions for Duxberry Buchan Coppell and
Hill from the 70s.

There is not 1 signing over last 10 years that I'd even consider to be in my top 50.
Who are your all time fav players?

No Keane no Cantona no Rio Vidic etc in my list so I accept it is hard to pick 5.

29 May 2026 11:36:41
I started supporting in 1962/3, so hard to look beyond Law, Best and Charlton. Then there was relegation. Hard to pick any heroes during that period. I moved to the US in 1982, when it was a football black hole, so I didn't really start watching games regularly until they were being televised regularly. I largely missed the Robson and Cantona eras. Scholes and Beckham. I never much liked Ronaldo, as good as he was. I have a soft spot for Ole. Rooney, Giggs (notwithstanding his scurrilous behavior), and then the Glazers arrived and heralded in a new era.

The globalizing of the sport changed everything. Players came and went more frequently. Support and finances moved away from pure local generation.

I like some of the current players, but it will take something special for any of them to ever rise to the heights achieved by the holy triumvirate of my first years as a preteen and teenage fan in the 1960s. First loves are always special.

29 May 2026 12:19:53
Born n 1983

Robson
Keane
Cantona
Scholes
Vidic.

29 May 2026 12:45:13
Born 1981.
Irish.

Keane.
Rooney.
Beckham.
Scholes.
Vidic.

Unbiased view.
Robson.
Cantana.
Irwin.
Hughes.
Giggs.

29 May 2026 13:11:30
Great question, and difficult to answer.

Robson, an awesome player, one of a kind.

Cantona, found his spiritual home.

Schmeichel, best GK in the world for a time.

Giggs, People forget how good he was.

5th is hard, too many competing - Rvn, Scholes, Coppell, Rooney.

Can I also say Carrick was massively underrated.

29 May 2026 13:27:04
1971

Robson
Cantona
Keane
Irwin
Stam.

29 May 2026 13:41:06
Born in the 1980s.

Keane - just a phenomenal player and leader.
Giggs - longevity and reinvention.
Cantona - gave us the edge and flair to win a title.
Rooney - he frustrated me to no end because I think he should have got to the level of Messi and Ronaldo, but still the most naturally talented player I've seen at the club.


Van der Saar - most people would point to Vidic and Rio, but this guy was the foundational stability that got the team over the line in the 00s.

29 May 2026 13:43:10
Many different choices from everyone.
Rooney is number one for me.
Chicharito.
Schmeichel.
Carrick.
Giggs.

29 May 2026 13:45:12
Best was head and shoulders above everyone to play for Utd, but from whom I actually saw.

Schmeichel

Scholes

Robson

Beckham

Ruud.

29 May 2026 14:22:51
Born in the early 80's, so for me it's
Scholes
Rooney
Keane
Ronaldo
Cantona

If I had to pick my favourite, it would be Cantona. The flair, attitude, skill and aura he had was unmatched... all us playing in the park with the collars turned up. Those were the days.

29 May 2026 14:38:18
Born in 1949.
Attended a Home match against Aston Villa in 1957, a 1-1 draw. I think Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton played.
I would add Denis Law and George Best.
And, finally, I would add Eric Cantona.

29 May 2026 14:43:17
Born 1975.

Robson
Cantona
Beckham
Scholes
Rooney.

29 May 2026 15:22:42
Born in 1963.
Definitely George Best.
Then it's hard, it just shows how difficult it is to choose the other 4.
I love entertaining players, but have to put Roy Keane in there for his leadership and the example he set.

Next 3, Cantona. What a player.
Charlton, as above.
Hughes.
So difficult to choose, but, like others have said, I wouldn't have anybody in there from the last 15 years.

29 May 2026 17:38:39
I'll do two lists: one with my overall 5 favourite players, and one with my favourite 5 underrated/overlooked players.

Overall:

1. Keane
2. Cantona
3. RvN
4. Scholes
5. VdS

Underrated/overlooked:

1. Park Ji-Sung
2. Irwin
3. Evra
4. Nani
5. Carrick.

29 May 2026 20:00:42
Robson - Will always be my hero.

Cantona - Eric the King, because I didn't get to see the King.

Sharpe - For a few years, his combination with the lad below was rock and roll football, from an era where that's where the excitement came from.

Giggs - I think his footballing ability is overlooked due to subsequent events.



Rooney - Brilliant player and underappreciated.

I also grew up being told that Robson wasn't fit to lace Edwards' boots, and this was from people who loved Robbo. Even now, in my head I have the impression that Big Dunc was, or would have been, the greatest player ever, but for tragic events, and I was born 20 years after the tragedy.

29 May 2026 21:49:42
Born 1970

I've chosen captains who were true leaders.

In no particular order:

Buchan
Robson
Bruce
Cantona
Keane


To me, they all made other players better.

29 May 2026 22:05:42
Born in 70.

Robson
Whiteside
Cantona
Giggs
Rooney.

29 May 2026 23:03:29
Hill
Coppell
Whiteside
Hughes
Scholes.

29 May 2026 23:24:06
1989 - personal faves

Rooney
De Gea
Ronaldo
Berbatov
Nani.

30 May 2026 00:52:27
Good read that. So many great players. Over the years, interesting to see a few names repeated so often.

30 May 2026 04:21:36
Born late 80s, supporting since 2000.

No particular order.
- Vidic
- Scholes
- Giggs
- Vds
- Ronaldo

Last one is a bit of a question mark even as I typed it (left too soon, ego too big), but eff it, he was very very good.



Honorable mentions / soft spots.
- Rooney (was between him and Ronaldo in the first list)
- DDG
- Carrick
- Park
- Rio

Very weird that the second list names automatically started with caps but not the first.

30 May 2026 10:05:12
Early 60's

Georgie Best
Billy Foulkes
Keane
Cantona
Ronaldo.

30 May 2026 10:31:30
'86

- Cantona
- Scholes
- Berbatov
- Ronaldo
- Rooney.

30 May 2026 11:39:04
Born in the 80's.

Cantona - The reason I still wear my collar up on polo shirts.

Sharpe - Just something about him that made me love watching him play.

Vidic - Went into battle every game.

Schmeichel - As a kid I was a goalkeeper. Just made me want to be like him.

Rooney - Just an absolute beast.

30 May 2026 14:27:38
Just to add that growing up Andrei Kanchelskis was a player I really liked watching.

31 May 2026 11:48:51
1983

Keane
Scholes
Berbatov
Stam
Cantona.

01 Jun 2026 11:55:23
1. Cr7
2. Giggs
3. Scholes
4. Vidic
5. Keane.

28 May 2026 16:02:13
It's not before time that the club is prioritizing midfield acquisitions. The lack of focus in this critical area has been a hallmark of the Glazer era. Other than Bruno, what other longer term purchase of a top midfielder have we made in the last 15-20 years? Casemiro was a decent stop gap, not a long term solution.

The others all went to our competition. It's good that we finally seem to have a professional decision making team that actually gets it. Berada set his sights on 2027/8 to return to the top. Right now you can at least see a pathway to that end.

28 May 2026 16:35:55
I'm not really sure there are long-term solutions nowadays. Most players move on, like managers are doing now too. You can't fill your team with just young potential, as Chelsea just realised. You need those, what you call, stop-gaps for 3-4 years in their prime, as they bring the experience and know-how of how to win.

28 May 2026 21:02:08
Still, the way throughout Ferguson's tenure we had players who came in for 3, 4 or 5 seasons.
It's about having the right mix, and knowing when to shake it up and refresh.
City, Arsenal and Liverpool under Klopp had the luxury of doing that from strong bases.


We were like the gambler, chasing his losses with bad bet after a bigger bad bet.
I think now Carrick has to try and get a solid base and add bits to complement that as he goes. But, with the way it is now, he has to keep us in the cl and competitive while he builds.

28 May 2026 21:00:43
It isn't as simple as that. We have allowed our midfield to become dreadfully weak, and incredibly lacking in depth. But, whilst there have been several occasions that we have neglected our engine room to our detriment, arguably, it is less that we haven't signed young midfielders with the potential to be first team players for several years, and it is more that we haven't signed the right players.

Marouane Fellaini was 25 when we signed him in 2013. Unfortunately he simply didn't have the first touch, passing ability, shooting ability, vision, or defensive awareness to play as a holding midfielder at United.

Ander Herrera was 25 when we signed him in 2014, and although he was pretty solid and a great squad player that could be relied upon to perform a certain role, he wasn't technically gifted enough to take United to the top level. Also, we were very hesitant to offer him a new deal so he joined PSG for free when he probably had a few more decent years left.

Morgan Schneiderlin was 25 when we signed him in 2015, and although he had been a fantastic player for Southampton, he again wasn't technically gifted enough to allow United to control matches, and he struggled to adapt.

In 2016, we signed Paul Pogba, who was 23 years old and easily the most talented young central midfielder in the world at the time. We all have our opinions on Pogba, and whilst I believe he was consistently the best player on the pitch for United throughout his first three seasons, he was constantly shifted between different positions, and typically expected to play several different roles at once. In the right system, with the right players alongside him in midfield, I genuinely believe Pogba could've been the best midfielder in the world, he certainly had all the attributes. However, he clearly didn't work hard enough or have the tenacity to dominate matches, and he has somewhat admitted this himself.

We signed Nemanja Matic in 2017, who was 29 years old, but had never relied on pace, and seemed like the ideal player to sit deep and allow Pogba to roam. But we continued to play the wrong system at times and it never really worked, although we did manage 83 points and finished 2nd in the league.

In 2018, having finished 2nd in the league, we failed to back Mourinho, and failed to invest in the squad, only signing Fred and Dalot that summer. For my money, that was the single greatest error we have made since Ferguson left. With the right additions that summer, we could've progressed that season and potentially challenged City for the title, but instead it all fell apart.

There have been several other midfielders signed in the last 20 years that had the potential to make a significant impact over many years. Carrick in 2006, Hargreaves in 2007, Anderson in 2007, Kagawa in 2012, Van de Beek in 2020, Mount in 2023, Ugarte in 2024.

We've spent enough money on the midfield over the years that the current squad should be significantly better. Unfortunately we signed players that were not suited to the league, or simply not good enough on far too many occasions, and have wasted countless millions in the process. It is absolutely essential that we get it right this summer.

28 May 2026 23:53:38
Great summary, Gilly. I agree on backing Jose too. Fred and Dalot. 🤣🤣

29 May 2026 04:13:42
It was a travesty not backing Jose, our best manager since Fergie left. But many on here seem to not remember also barracking him because he chose to live in a hotel instead of buying a house in the area. Absolutely pathetic, what difference that made was beyond a joke, but it happened.
Jose was not liked by many because of strong opinions and strong leadership. Strange how people of 2026 don’t like opinions that differ from theirs.


I agree we have purchased many players over the years, just that they have been players who are just not good enough or just don’t realise their potential, or attitudes waver. Hopefully more due diligence is happening now too on players we purchase, and more suited to our needs at the time and of a level required. Yes, they all won’t turn out to be world beaters, but it would be nice if most don’t turn out as duds, like seems to have been happening.

29 May 2026 05:27:57
Jose wasn't the first not to be backed. LVG openly criticised the club for not backing his preferred signings and going for 3rd/4th/5th choices.

29 May 2026 07:34:45
Eric, that's been the problem over the years, not signing the best targets that were actually wanted. It's how we always ended up with a mixmash of players.

29 May 2026 17:45:46
I think the problem with signing midfielders over the past decade has been the constant chopping and changing of direction.

The style of play/tactics typically has less of a bearing when it comes to signing keepers, defenders and forwards than it does midfield.

Everyone wants a keeper who can command their box and make saves. Good with their feet is a bonus, and teams typically won't massively change how they want to play based on their keepers' talents.

Similarly, in defence, you want players who are quick, strong, good in the air, and who read the game well.



Forwards need to be either quick or strong, ideally both, and able to take their chances. You will see a bit more variation here due to tactical or stylistic reasons.

Yet it is midfield where the team's true identity comes through. If you take any great team, and you swap out their midfielders, then it will have a massive impact on the way that team plays football, far bigger than any other positions.

When we've been regularly chopping and changing, it has made it impossible to build a core of midfielders that suit a specific style of play.

28 May 2026 11:30:01
Anyone here think it's not over yet regarding Anderson? I mean, what if City get a transfer ban, massive point deduction or even relegation?

Would he still prioritise them? Does he still see them as the best option with Pep gone? What do you guys think? Also, given he is supposed to have flat out focused on City, do you want him anyway of he wasn't q00% committed to us?

28 May 2026 11:51:22
I actually don't care. If he is keen to play for us then great, let's buy him. If not, let's move on. One player, good as he is, is not the be all and end all. I can't help think the hype is overtaking the reality.

28 May 2026 12:40:32
They must surely know by now whether there's any actionable guilt. If so, whether or not a transfer ban or major point deduction is coming, they really ought to get the decision out well before the window officially opens. It doesn't just affect City. Clubs and players should not be forced into this period of uncertainty while negotiations are taking place. Maybe a player like Anderson, assuming anyone is prepared to stump up £100m+, would reject City if they're found guilty. There's a knock-on effect.

Personally, while I do check up on transfer news regularly (like 8x a day!) I don't really have any idea whether those we sign will end up being a hit or a miss.

So I tend not to get into any arguments about it. The proof of the pudding, etc. Liverpool spent £100m+ on 2 players last summer. How did that turn out? Of course they may do much better next season, but it's been a short-term bust. There are no guarantees... although having more money, maybe cheating and getting away with it, and having a great manager most assuredly stack the deck in your favour.

28 May 2026 13:33:54
Agree, newname.
I think we all check the sites, but you can't believe much if any of it at all.
I trust that they will do all they can to get whom they consider to be the right players. We won't always get our 1st choice, those days have gone, but hopefully they will return soon enough.

28 May 2026 13:43:32
His stats put him at the top in every area out of the handful of names we keep getting linked to. I'd like to think he has a tough choice to make, but feels like it's already made. Still, no harm in hoping.

28 May 2026 14:06:22
Anderson would be my preference, but if he chooses City, he chooses City. We can't go back to paying players over the odds to sign for us. Obviously, money is important, but the opportunity should matter just as much as any player that we sign.

28 May 2026 14:19:58
Anderson has a better pass completion than Tonali for last season, spenno.
Both won exact same% of trial deals, less than 50%.
Anderson made more dribbles and won ground deals, but had less possession.
Anderson lost possession 38 more times than Tonali, despite Tonali attempting over 200 more passes than Anderson.
I'd say one is as good as the other. They have slightly different core strengths.

28 May 2026 16:27:09
I really like Anderson as a player, but if he really is going to cost over 100 million, plus wages, I am not convinced it's the best use of that money, and that we couldn't spend the same amount better and have a greater impact on improving the squad for next season.

28 May 2026 16:24:03
lol 3rd world Google been at it again! Are just googling these stats and just picking what suits your narrative that given day . Maybe you should google about wage bills and fanbase as it seems to be your favoured method atm
Glad we can now just dismiss City according to the font of all knowledge, even a clock is right twice a day!

28 May 2026 18:43:17
Not at all. It was interesting to read how they both play in similar positions, but with very different styles, and carry out different jobs for their teams.
The explanations, rationale, and insights behind each stat gave good reasoning behind why Anderson topped some and Tonali others.
The headline stat only tells half the story.
Anderson plays much more of a mainoo role for Forest than a Casemiro type role, whereas Tonali plays more of a Casemiro role, as does Ederson for Atalanta.

I think both are very multifunctional.
I think either would prove to be a good buy, both are top players imo, and it also looks to me like they would be 2 characters that would embrace the pressure and not shrink in it. I accept that is completely subjective. Both would be expensive. I hope we get 1 of the 2, but id not be very positive that we will get either. But I suppose most of us will live in hope.

28 May 2026 17:13:31
JSU

Give it a rest mate. I have no idea why you come on here as you just wind people up. Some of us sometimes agree, sometimes we disagree, sometimes we argue, but we muddle through. You just seem to want to poke the bear continually, you seem very unhappy, with almost everything you post being negative. It's exhausting.

I know I can block posters and I really don't want to do that but my God, I can make an exception for you.

You remind me of a poster from about 13 years ago who eventually got himself banned for being so argumentative, take a chill pill, relax, try and find some joy.

28 May 2026 22:03:44
I reckon he was bullied at school and even perhaps still is. Bless him. Poor lad feels the need to compensate from behind a keyboard. I have blocked him so as not to have to read the pathetic dribble he comes up with on a daily basis and feel much the better for it.

Do it AJH. Use the block facility. It's refreshing!

29 May 2026 04:17:55
Yes, of course you can block, it's 2026, and you can choose to listen to only nice things and ignore opinions you don't like. Only listen to the fluffy nice stuff that blows smoke in a certain direction, that's what seems to be liked best of all nowadays, look where that's got the world now, but of course it's your individual choice.


Amazes me, posters say it's ok for people to preach opinions long as it's the same as there's..!

29 May 2026 05:45:45
You missed my point. Of course, it's OK to disagree, I've had plenty of arguments with many posters. I am suggesting that life is too short to be as continually negative as you are, you seem constantly unhappy.

29 May 2026 07:37:45
Only Anderson and United will know what he wants. The days of United trying to change minds to convince players are over. It's a good place to start, to have players who want to be here, deep down.

Anderson is a cracker of a player. Sure, his on-ball choices have to improve, but his engine, drive, and ability to make that pass are fantastic.

29 May 2026 22:10:30
Most of us can't see his reply lol.

28 May 2026 10:41:48
Some strange management goings on right now.

Iraola takes Bournemouth into the Europa League but is leaving. Glasner wins Palace's first 2 trophies including the European Conference but is leaving. There something pretty odd there, particularly as neither seems to have a new club lined up yet. Rumours are Iraola will go to Palace which does not seem like a big step up, whilst Glassner is taking a sabbatical.

Slot allegedly spends half his time back in the Netherlands and the Liverpool players have a lot more days off then they used to, you can see their standards have slipped yet he appears to be staying.

Maresca leaves Chelsea in a huff, appearing to engineer his own sacking, and surprise surprise, he surfaces at City, that smells awfully fishy.

Forest had 5 permanent Managers, finally finding a saviour in Pereira, Spurs had 3, same situation for De Zerbi.

The appointment of Rosenior at Chelsea seemed bizarre at the time and that's how it turned out.

And that's all before the end of season merry for round.

Bizarrely, we seem pretty stable compared to a lot of the others.

28 May 2026 12:53:56
100%, Carrick has cut a lot of the noise out of the club in his interim period. A lot of that is probably down to the fact he is genuinely boring (in a good way) in his press conferences. The media can hardly get a soundbite out of him compared to previous managers.

On the other managers, Chelsea have self imploded, Liverpool have recruited poorly and have injuries.

Glasner and Iraola hit their respective ceilings with Palace and Bournemouth, and, in order to finish any higher, they would have to spend serious money and not sell their best players every window.

28 May 2026 14:25:03
Delighted for Glasner. I think he was a bit hasty in not signing a new contract, based on the chairman selling his players.
It's probably why Iraola is leaving Bournemouth, but he can expect the dame at Palace if he goes there.
Chelsea have a very good coach now, and I expect them, with 1 game a week, to turn it round next season just like we did.


City, I don't see winning a league for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool, I'd expect to be better next season, but slot could be a busted flush.
It will be ingesting to see how all the new boys get on.
I think Arsenal, despite their stability, are not streets ahead, so I'm sorry of expecting a closer league again next season.
We'll have to wait and see.

28 May 2026 17:16:06
City will be interesting. He was there before, which brings some continuity, but Pep is pure class and will take some following.

Chelsea and Liverpool look all over the place; they have issues to resolve.



I fear Arsenal might relax now they've won one and play proper football, but Arteta may end up being his own worst enemy.

If we buy and sell well, we should be at the right end of things.

28 May 2026 20:44:30
I don't know, AJH thinks Alonso is a good coach. I think he will change them completely. I think they will show big improvement next season, and then kick on the following year. A year out of Europe, a good clearout of players, and a couple of astute signings will see them back up in a CL place.
Liverpool could go either way imo.
I don't think the new guys will do as well at Bournemouth and Palace as their predecessors. But it's not the club's fault both guys walked.

Sunderland will find it tough with Europe and the EPL, I think. Brighton are better equipped than those teams, I think.
Newcastle, I'm not sure what to expect. Could go either way, imo, depends on who leaves.
You could be right on Arsenal. Very complete squad, maybe light on goals at times.
They could do worse than sign Lewandowski for a season. I'd take him at United.
It will be as open as I can remember, really.

28 May 2026 09:56:58
Hi Eds and fellow fans, looking at EPL relegated teams;
Do you think any of Wolves' mfs would be a good addition to our squad even if just for depth - Andre and J. Gomes? Anyone else?
Westham's best player is Bowen, but I doubt we need another left footeb right winger.

Although someone mentioned Bowen as a backup Striker to sesko, its an idea but not one that thrills me. I think we will sign M. Fernandes.
Burnely: Esteve (another left footed CB), Flemming has also stood out for them but he reminds me of Weghourst.

{Ed001's Note - Andre has said he will stay but J Gomes is worth a look.}

28 May 2026 11:07:59
Hasn't Gomes already agreed a move to Atletico?

28 May 2026 10:04:06
Is he not madrid bound ed?

{Ed001's Note - most likely, yes. It is not done yet though.}

28 May 2026 21:24:56
Am I the only one whose mind said something else when mf's was said?

28 May 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 38 - Quick Round Up

28 May 2026 01:18:57
I read that Carrick is likely to retain Mason Mount. I'm pretty disappointed in that if true.

Even if he can stay fit, where does he slot in?

28 May 2026 07:19:52
Who's going to buy him realistically? He's on big wages and is hardly ever fit to play.

28 May 2026 07:40:58
Mount's last 2 performances have shown he is a good player. He just needs to stay fit for a period. Hopefully, over the summer, this can be worked on. With Europe next season, having him part of the squad will be good imo.

28 May 2026 08:54:23
He is a good player and there will be more games for him next season if fit.
He is a bit of a jack of all trades and master of none.
I think, if an unsolicited offer came in, it would be considered, but if not, they are not actively looking to sell.

Good guy around the place, apparently, so not a sulker if not in the team.
Every coach speaks highly of him.

28 May 2026 09:19:42
He's a very good footballer, and if he can stay fit, he can play in a number of positions, which is great when we will likely have a lot more games. Fitness is obviously his issue, and he can't stay fit, but that means nobody is likely to take a gamble signing him, so he will end up staying. Not sure it's 'Carrick retaining him', you can't force someone with a contract out of the club.



He is the only player in our squad that has won the Champions League as well, so some would say valuable experience. Zirkzee has won it as well, but he might not be in the squad and he certainly wasn't really in the squad that won it, so not counting him.

28 May 2026 13:45:09
Wish I could get a new job and have two or three paid sick days a week.

28 May 2026 15:55:17
Surely that depends on why he is "likely" to retain him.

Have the club got any acceptable offers, and is it the manager who is asking for them to be turned down?

If not, then you can rephrase "likely to retain" with "unable to find a buyer".

This, given his injury record, wages, and the fee we would need to receive to breakeven, is the far more likely situation.

28 May 2026 18:46:06
Mount is a good player, but a total waste of time, being that if you can't stay fit, I can't see anyone making an offer for him, so I would say he will be keeping the treatment room busy again next season.
Diabolical purchase, like many we done previously. But probably stuck with him.