Manchester United Banter 4

25 Oct 2026 15:09:52
Conte and Keane.

25 Oct 2026 14:56:53
Whose fault was that then? Brunos? Martinez? Non existent set up again, did nothing the entire half.

Also found it funny how we've got a full stadium singing glazers out within 10 seconds like the leeches give a f about a chant, after they'vepaid for the tickets and merchandise😂😂😂😂.

25 Oct 2026 14:53:23
If carrick and Wilcox aren't gone first thing in the morning then this club is finished and we r heading for the championship. Say it hyperbolic, say it'll never happen but watch us play and tell me we don't look like a relegation candidate.

Woeful. Yes players must go too but it starts with the manager and DOF. Sort the rest in January and the summer. Woeful.

25 Oct 2026 17:01:35
I've been on the match chats but off here for a while because I have no faith in Carrick and Wilcox. Whilst the players in the past have shown issues, this is largely a different set of players. I've worked in excellent working environments and in toxic ones. In a toxic environment people cannot complain through the correct channels so they complain outside it, in a way that appears unprofessional to those outside. I believe that's the situation we are in.

Carrick seems a good man but rode the coattails of the good coaching before he arrived and we've seen a very clear degradation in standards since he came in. The current form is not a blip, it is a continuation. And Wilcox above him has gotten too many of the big decisions wrong and appears to have undermined both Amorim and Carrick now. It is blatantly obvious that the first and most immediate steps are to remove both. There are plenty of good alternatives to both.

25 Oct 2026 14:49:34
Unless a new manager has some miracles he can work i seriously think we could be relegated this season. There is no team playing worse in the league.

25 Oct 2026 14:53:59
Absolutely pathetic again. and yes United are getting relegated. Its an absolute horror show. glazers fully deserve relegation.

25 Oct 2026 14:56:38

New manager bounce no doubt would save us and finish 16th again but don’t worry lads we’ll have a shiny new stadium to play s*** football in

25 Oct 2026 14:35:09
30 minutes in and this is terrible. It's like watching a league one team against a prem team in the cup.

Fair play for dropping bruno, I agree with that. But then plays Mount?? This team has zero width. No idea what Amad is doing, seems to be playing right back with Yoro.

And I've never seen a player get caught on the ball more than Tielmans.

25 Oct 2026 13:01:10
So Carrick has shown bottle and dropped Bruno and Martinez
So fair enough on that. How is Dalot still starting though? Honestly he's awful, I'd have played amass but oh well. What's the predictions then? I'd say 3-1 Bournemouth.

25 Oct 2026 13:28:09
Good news but Dalot and Maguire still start.

25 Oct 2026 13:28:42
I would credit Carrick with having bottle if he dropped Bruno and didn't revert to playing 4 central mids.

My assumption is the formation will be 5-4-1, with Amad and Dalot playing wing backs. Tielemans and Mount offer zero pace. This looks like a cowardly continuation of the past few weeks. Keeping everyone behind the ball, and swapping Bruno for Mount.

Carrick had the opportunity to come out fighting, but again is playing without any clear attacking intent.

25 Oct 2026 13:41:34
Bruno has never come out against any manager and he's had a few! yet he does against carrick I think it tells you everything about his methods. Hopefully the fans sing his name throughout the game. Carrick hopefully gone by the morning.

25 Oct 2026 13:43:54
We've been lacking in workrate and energy which everyone has mentioned but we also want to see a clear tactical plan and a style of play. The written media etc seem to ignore that tactics matter, can't help but think that if carrick wasn't English the media would be harsher on him. Let's see what happens today, I'm not hopeful.

25 Oct 2026 12:54:15
Many of us definitely expected a big drop in performance if defensively we didn't address the glaring deficiencies and sign a striker too. Perhaps not as big a drop but it's was a definite possibility.

Foolhardy to expect Bruno to repeat his form of last year especially after a World Cup. The loss of Casemeiro was also pointed out last season as being huge because of his experience and knack of scoring goals too.

What's baffling to most of us fans is that if we could see the obvious pitfalls ahead why didn't the United management team and properly address the issues.

25 Oct 2026 12:08:54
Looking at the upcoming fixtures fills me with some dread. There are a few where in present form we might pick up a point or two, but right now relegation is a distinct possibility, especially if we lose to a handy Bournemouth side today.

I'm still amazed by the drop off from the end of last season. We're clearly missing Casemiro whose enthusiasm and reading of the game, plus his goals, were possibly as important as was Bruno. However, there's no excuse for what's going on, whether it's the players, the head coach, the DOF or the club's limited resources, or all of the above. I'm not here to defend anyone.

25 Oct 2026 12:19:23
Newname,

I expected problems when they appointed Carrick permanently, more when he integrated Rashford and pushed Cunha to one side, even more when we didn't bother with a LB and Striker. Thought we would be about 6th but didn't expect we would be down at the bottom like this.

To me the result today either way will not affect my thoughts on Carrick. Hope we win but that would only put back what has to happen.

24 Oct 2026 21:55:47
I watched all our pre-season games, and while it was quite underwhelming, there were some very good passages of play, where our players were beating the press, one-touch stuff getting us out of some tricky positions, good first touches and accurate passing.

It was clear we were trying to hold on to the ball more, and a lot of the time, especially with Mount and Santos in the middle, we succeeded in doing that.

Fast forward, and the same group of players look like startled rabbits in the headlights, once any sort of pressure is on them. Miscontrols, wayward passing, panicking when pressed for the ball.

Which is down to mentality. I obviously don't know the players individually, but as a collective, for years now, we've shown such a weak mentality when the pressure cranks up a bit. The shirt weighs heavily on a lot of players. Always has. Some very good players never made it here because of that expectation.

One of Fergie's many strengths was putting as much emphasis on a player's character when he was thinking of signing a player. We need to get back to that. Looking for players who'll stride onto OT for their first game, and know they belong.

I don't see that in any of our players. Maybe Cunha, and there's obviously something up there.

Sorry for the long post. Just retired yesterday, so I've a lot of time on my hands just now.

24 Oct 2026 22:51:49
Or it could be they're simply not good enough.

Pre season has zero correlation to playing in competitive matches where there is less time, better and fitter opposition and the result means something.

24 Oct 2026 23:19:17
They might not be good enough to play for Utd, Eric, but they're professional footballers. They obviously have ability or they wouldn't have made a career out of it, either at United or somewhere else before.

25 Oct 2026 00:17:22
Don't apologise. Retirement is awesome!

25 Oct 2026 01:33:30
If we are really honest how many of our players would get into the first teams of City Arsenal Villa Chelsea Liverpool? The answer is none or just a few. Why do we get so little back in player sales? Because they aren't good enough

Then add that to a patently wrong way of operating in the transfer market and we end up with a mess.

In terms of character I think Martinez Cunha Mbwuemo Amad Mainoo Lammens Baleba Bruno and Sesko all have good character in terms of wanting to do well and fight. Shaw and Maguire too but those two are past their best. Mount is just too fragile. Mazraoui not good enough and Dalot too.

It's too early for me to comment on Santos and Heaven and Yoro are youngsters who shouldn't be relied on in such critical positions and wpukd benefit from a proper experienced centre half alongside them.

We will only start to see sustained progress when the defence is sorted and we get a striker to aid Sesko.

Interesting rumour that Rashford might be of interest to Everton. Talking on Talksport this week an exbCity and England defender said he is a friend of Rashford and that Rashford really does love the club and wants to do well with Utd. If that's the case and I know it's not his fav position but why not play him in the number 9 role whilst Sesko is out.

25 Oct 2026 07:40:50
Salford
I would be looking at Left Back for Rashford, Left Back at Carrington

Nou
Happy Retirement
Pre season games do not have intensity and are nothing really to judge on. I agree on Character in players, but that throws shade on Carrick for the way he has treated Cunha, who you picked out. For me we are being coached as if this was the 1990's and can't get away from that. World football has developed and individual skill in beating players has diminished. Movement, pressing and off the ball running is vital, look at the best team PSG. Carrick is out of his depth with no clear vision, no modern approach.

25 Oct 2026 08:23:26
Good post and on the money Noucamp. TJF. Welcome to retirement and the 6th OTM club. ;)

25 Oct 2026 08:29:36
There needs to be a massive reaction from the team after the midweek debacle. If not, then this bunch of bluffers should be sacked for failing to comply with their contracts in terms of effort and caring for the club, badge and supporters.

25 Oct 2026 09:29:39
Happy retirement Noucamp, i've got another 25 years to go. I thought United looked really good pre-season until they played AC Milan, then it went down hill after then.

The Leeds pre season game was a warning as well. The first game of the season against Hull, showed exactly why you can't play a high line with Maguire in defence. He is a hinderence.

Today, will either see Carrick sacked or in charge for at least another game. Regardless of my feelings on Carricks reign, I'd like him to grow a pair and assert his authority on the teqm, and drop the likes of Dalot, Maz Bruno and Martinez.

25 Oct 2026 09:44:28
Sounds daft to say but he's got nothing to lose by doing this and dropping Bruno today.

Going form game to game surviving is no way for a manager or a club to operate. If he wants to make a long term success
If this he has to control the dressing room now. And that has to start today. He's a dead man walking, so why not make a stand and see where it gets him. A 2-1 win or whatever doing the same things is not going to make any difference to his future. A defeat and he's gone.

But a defeat showing some character might save him.

25 Oct 2026 09:58:42
Happy retirement Nou.

25 Oct 2026 10:13:16
Suspect the club are trying to get to the International break in terms of the manager situation.

25 Oct 2026 10:25:28
To go through this endless cycle of sacking managers, only to eventually arrive at Eddie Howe as Wilcox's preferred choice, would be an extraordinary admission of just how little direction there is at Manchester United.

25 Oct 2026 10:47:08
Congrats, bud. Now you can really put the time into being frustrated by United.

25 Oct 2026 12:35:45
Fizz,

Howe is a decent manager but how is he best in class? Looks more like who would accept restrictions from above.

25 Oct 2026 12:59:37
Red Man,
'Decent' is about the best one can say about him. He won't have the nuts to call the anchors in the squad to heel.

25 Oct 2026 13:05:54
Congrats on the retirement, use all the time you will have as foolishly and self indulgently as possible.

As regards to the mentality side, you are quite right in that it is a hugely important aspect that needs to be a part of the recruitment process.

In fairness, a policy was introduced in summer 2025 whereby all potential signings were assessed on:

a) Personality
b) Mentality
c) Character

There also had to be a clear and stated desire by the player to play for Man Utd. No more of players like Pogba, Sancho and Sanchez whose motives were highly questionable. ££££s?

That desire was certainly shown with Mbuemo and Cunha when they made it very clear they had no wish to go anywhere else, even when they were offered higher wages. The same applied to Sesko later that window when other offers came to him. Again, he made his wishes clear.

This summer, well Baleba could not of been more obvious. As to Santos, Chelsea did say that they did not wish to lose him, but agreed to the sale only when he made it very clear he wanted to leave.

I am not sure these recent buys are the problem, it does seem to be more the old lags who are causing the problems.

Finally, don't get an allotment Stevie, there's always a pub somewhere nearby!

25 Oct 2026 10:06:44
Cheers, lads. I thought I might get a few weeks to put my feet up, but the wife already has one of her lists made. Women love a list, don't they?
Fizz, it well and truly is.

Mad Hatter, if you're in the same line of work as I was, good luck! It could be 30 more years the way things are going! 😁
Anyway, it'll be interesting to see the line up, today.

I'd love to see a few changes, but I suspect it'll be more of the same.

24 Oct 2026 20:47:16
A little ray of light amongst the gloom. The U18s played Liverpool earlier today and we beat them 6-3.

A 16 year old playing at centre forward absolutely worked his socks off and pressed relentlessly. Although he did not score, he put one on a plate for a teammate. A strong looking lad, young Kai Rooney seems to have inherited some of selfless attitude of his father. He certainly will not be looking to be released!

We have a young Spanish lad, an attacking midfielder (can also play at right back) just a few days ago turned 17, by the name of Jaume Camacho. He scored 4 of the goals against Liverpool, remember the name, an exciting prospect.

25 Oct 2026 08:35:10
I just watched the highlights on YouTube IWOTB and have to agree on Camacho, scored with both feet and also hit the bar with a right foot curler from outside the box. Looks a good prospect.