Manchester United Banter 4

10 Sep 2026 22:50:29.
Clearly we will face tougher games, but you can only beat what is in front of you. That was emphatically achieved, without having to put huge effort in and considering the upcoming game on Sunday, that was a pleasing aspect.

Some decent performers, Kobbie was excellent and I thought Yoro had a good game, some of his anticipation of danger was good.

Think this could be an important season for him, he needs to step up. He seems to be stronger, both he and Sesko (who also had a good game) have worked hard in the gym over the summer.

A clean sheet, yay!

Atleti away next up, a good result there will certainly put us in good stead for the tournament.

11 Sep 2026 07:21:33
My only comment would be that perhaps Bruno should have been given an early bath. Always a risk of injury when the tackles start flying.

11 Sep 2026 07:59:47
I thought Zirkzee looked very good when he came on. He always looks really good playing against weaker opposition. The problem is he goes missing in games against tougher opposition, but I think he is arguably the best player in the squad for link-up play.



He reminds me of Nani; he either plays really well and is a nightmare for the opposition, or does nothing for the whole game. There is no in-between.

11 Sep 2026 11:12:19
Kurtis, at one point I thought Zirkzee could do the job with Cunha and Mbeumo that Firmino did with Salah and Mane. But for some reason he just isn't up to it in the Premier League, or certainly hasn't shown this yet. He showed his class last night, and I mentioned a while ago, when the discussion was around him, that I think he is a great player, just better suited to Italian football! If we can get that performance last night into the Premier League, he's a great addition to the squad.

It's strange, because he has a good physical presence also.

11 Sep 2026 17:26:49
Silky, but imo, he needs a slower tempo than he gets in the EPL to make the most of his skills.

10 Sep 2026 22:19:44
That was as comfortable a game as Utd will ever get.

When they speed up the passes they look so much better.

Defensively the usual deficiencies weren't punished and City will obviously be a very different proposition. I like Amass but he really needs to fill out physically as he was easily knocked off the ball.


Thought Yoro and Martinez were OK.

My biggest conundrum is Zirksee. Clearly a talented player. Very nimble and high football intelligence but how do you accommodate him and at whose expense?

Overall good night and let's hope the team builds in confidence.

11 Sep 2026 13:40:52
Don't think we need to worry about Zirkzee. I like him as an option from the bench and pleased he's sticking around a little longer.

10 Sep 2026 14:57:20
Champions League back at OT tonight, that's a positive.

10 Sep 2026 17:04:25
Absolutely, can't wait.

We played them this afternoon in the EUFA Youth League. U19s play a mirror fixture of the first team games in ECL.

A good start. We beat Sabah 5-0. A certain 15yr old, JJ, scored a hat trick! We had 44 shots. They had none.

Hopefully a sign of things to come tonight.

10 Sep 2026 18:24:30
Back in the Champions League, but still playing on a Thursday night.
Only us. 😂😂

10 Sep 2026 18:55:22
Sesko starting. Yoro too. Rashford on the bench. Will be interesting to see how Cunha does on the left, because he hasn’t been playing well centrally. But surprised that Santos wasn’t given a start.

10 Sep 2026 19:52:13
The CL theme always sends shivers.

10 Sep 2026 22:45:29
Nice easy win. I doubt they will get a point, but what a story for them to qualify.

10 Sep 2026 13:44:31
From the Telegraph: Since SAF and Gill retired, City have generated almost £350m more in Champions League revenue (prize and TV rights) than us. That's 3 Elliot Anderson's.

It's really depressing how badly the club has been managed. Woodward's misguided arrogance fits the definition of hubris.

10 Sep 2026 15:54:11
Add to that, the interest we have paid on the leveraged debt to purchase the club, and you can see the impact that has been made on the success of the club over that period.

An average of £50-60m more a year available for player purchases, or even keeping the stadium up to date!

10 Sep 2026 16:57:31
Worst thing that ever happened to United was Woodward, not just for this appalling arrogance at the way he ran the club but also it was he that helped the Glazers snatch control.

Hopefully in a few years his stain will have been washed away.

In the meantime I just hope the penny pinching rat realises he will not win the bigger prizes shopping at Aldi and popping down to the market.

You need the best to compete at the top and we are still a fair way off that.

10 Sep 2026 19:53:20
Whilst Ratcliffe enables the Glazers and leaves the debt in place, we will not achieve the success most want.

10 Sep 2026 21:50:01
I'm always amazed at the pass SAF gets, he played ball with the Glazers every step of the way, and got 2 million a year in return, not to mention the fact that his greed over a racehorse was a large part of the reason we ended up with the Glazers in the first place.

10 Sep 2026 23:38:16
Red Man, what is it you're expecting Ratcliffe to do? The Glazers didn't want to sell out. They wanted an investor. At least he's wrested away day-to-day control.

The only way the debt can go down quickly is if the club is recapitalized. More shares would have to be issued, which would have the effect of further diluting the Glazers' control, which they seem reluctant to do.



It's probably going to take a total of £6bn to both buy out the current shareholders and then eliminate the debt. It beats me why anyone would invest that amount of money to buy a company that hasn't made a profit in 5 years, and is never likely to make more than £75m in the near future, even if things went perfectly. That's football for you.

11 Sep 2026 01:25:06
Redman wants a sugar daddy. An oil daddy, a tech daddy, to come in and buy the club, clear the debt, and do it all out of their own pocket.
Back in the early 2000s, that was possible. But three figures now are too much for that. It's hard to be patient, but until the right buyers or a restructure are in place to dilute them, then it's a case of make the most of what we have.
Step 1, page 1: get the house in order financially. Improve cash flow. Return to profit.
The difficulty with balancing that 1st short-term priority, and maintaining a competitive team in a market out of all control, is not easy at all.

It won't satisfy many; the spike in the market has made it near impossible. Their target this year is top 5, reduce substantial short-term debt, and be in a better financial position to push hard in key areas next summer.
It's not for the faint-hearted, and some would say gambles have been made; others will think compromises were made, but everyone should understand it is all in order to get the business's 1st short-term priority done, which is to get the house in order.

11 Sep 2026 05:50:17
Bilko,

Correct, all you said. No value in the market came from that acquiescence.

Newname, share sale money goes to the Glazers. It will not do anything for the debt.

TW, I knew you would defend them.
Yes, full sale, and it needs someone who doesn't want to rake profits out of it. The longer the disparity between our model and City's owners' model (without 115 charges exploding), the more they will disappear out of financial sight to us.

We have been over this, but again, you tell us to accept the status quo with the Glazers, and yet you don't want us to believe you are not on the payroll.

Overall, yes, full ownership with a City-type benevolent ownership, with no debt, has to be nirvana, and if that isn't your aim, I question why.

11 Sep 2026 08:45:58
Does anybody on here know of any person in the world ever who has bought a business for an amount of 6 billion pounds and not looked for a return on that investment?
Does anybody know anybody in the world that has 6 billion in cash to buy a business?
Elon Musk does not have 6 billion in cash.

His company, Tesla, may be able to raise financing, but they are a public company and will want returns to please their shareholders. I don't think you have thought this plan through with all your management experience.

11 Sep 2026 08:30:13
Redman i don't have an aim i'm not involved. You have an aim for things your not involved in? Your sim is irrelevant and I'm not defending i'm telling you what I believe their strategy to be.
Ill tell you what redman don't accept it.
Now what's your next move? What are you going to do Mr don't accept it?

11 Sep 2026 08:41:30
So let me get this right. You want someone to pay 6 billion for the club and not take any profit out. Your are delusional and you'll never be happy which is quite amusing actually it sort of pleases me that you'll never be happy, a fan like you doesn't deserve to be imo.


You think i'm on the pay roll 🤣🤣
Brilliant so funny.
So Mr redman does not accept our owners so Mr redman now that its official and you don't accept them what are you going to do about it?

11 Sep 2026 09:25:46
Tw

You had to do 3 replies because, clearly, you desperately don't want any fans to even consider a future without the parasites owning the club.

11 Sep 2026 12:00:21
You can absolutely criticise INEOS. They've made plenty of mistakes. The management structure, recruitment, some football decisions and the cost-cutting are all fair game. But saying they're basically the same as the Glazers ignores a pretty significant difference in what they're actually doing.

The Glazers bought United using enormous levels of debt, extracted money from the club through interest and dividends, and spent years treating United largely as an asset to generate returns while the stadium, training ground and wider football infrastructure were allowed to deteriorate.

INEOS, whether you agree with all their decisions or not, have actually invested their own money, taken a financial stake and are attempting to restructure a football operation that was already in a pretty poor state. You can argue they're going about parts of the rebuild badly, but that doesn't make them the same people who created the underlying problems.

And this is where I think the argument about INEOS "enabling" the Glazers gets a bit confused.

INEOS aren't the owners of United and they aren't responsible for continually funding the club on behalf of the Glazers. They've invested significant money already, and their responsibility is to protect and increase the value of their own investment.

If you think that INEOS should simply keep putting another £100m or £200m into the club whenever more money is needed, that isn't really a sustainable business model for INEOS, especially if the Glazers do decide to sell up and INEOS are forced to sell also due to the contract and agreement that is in place. The objective has to be to make United financially sustainable, improve the underlying operation and increase the value of the asset.

That doesn't mean INEOS should get a free pass. If INEOS can buy out the Glazers or keep hold of their shares and role but with the Glazers gone, then if in five years we're still making the same mistakes, the football structure is still dysfunctional, Old Trafford is still deteriorating or the new ground isn't up and running or in progress and the club has made no meaningful progress, then absolutely, hold them to account.

But they've inherited a club with an expensive squad, a bloated wage bill, outdated infrastructure and years of poor football management. That isn't something you completely fix overnight.

So I think there's a perfectly reasonable middle ground here, INEOS can be doing a poor job in certain areas without being the same as the Glazers.

You can criticise their decisions without expecting them to endlessly throw their own money at problems they didn't create. And saying they should invest more and more simply because supporters want greater spending isn't necessarily the same thing as saying they're enabling the Glazers.

There's a difference between investing in a business to improve it and continually subsidising it to cover its existing problems. That distinction is pretty important when looking at what INEOS are actually trying to do.

11 Sep 2026 13:56:18
Ports

I see no reason why any United fan wouldn't want a debt- and Glazer-free club. Unless paid to say otherwise.

On Ineos, it is just my thought that when they came in, the Glazers had issues with their other businesses and needed a cash injection. Handily, Ineos gave the Glazers the cash they needed and enabled them to stay longer and milk more from the club. To a lot of people, that is unforgivable; certainly for me, it is extremely frustrating. Ineos own less than 30%, so the Glazers still own the club. Saying Ineos enabled the Glazers, to me, refers to them giving the Glazers what was it, £1.5Bn, but the debt remained.

So the Glazers were not forced out.
Ratcliffe doesn't have a great record at the French club, Wilcox seems to have caused notable issues with Amorim, and this summer important work was not done. So the jury is out on Ineos.
There is no doubt Ratcliffe has business acumen, but his football acumen remains to be seen. A total fresh reset with no debt seems the best option. I can't see a buyer coming in and allowing Ratcliffe to do what he is doing. They would want their own people.
Nirvana is a fresh start with owners like City's and no debt.

11 Sep 2026 15:07:03
Redman, it's true that if the Glazers sell their stock the money goes to them. However, if the company issues new stock, then the money goes to the company. That's the only way to reduce the debt quickly. Both options will reduce their margin of control.

11 Sep 2026 15:58:22
But what was the other option, Red Man? Absolutely agree, we all want a debt-free, Glazer-free club (apart from Ken, who is on the payroll. 😂) But that offer wasn't on the table, unless you are to believe the offer from the Qatari. Fella was real, which is questionable. So I'll ask you, what is the solution for this outside the fans protesting and trying to force their hand, which I am a supporter of, but how long is a piece of string.

You want the solution now. You're no different to every United supporter, so you're not banging a different drum here, but your constant rants offer no solutions, just you want a full sale. If that's all it is, then we all agree. Constantly bringing it up on here, do you think a billionaire is reading and thinking, yeah, he's right, I'll buy United!

11 Sep 2026 17:22:50
Hi, Newname
They won't reduce their control, no reason to.


Hi, Ports

See above. I didn't start the chain, the first three posts were about the impact, so why shouldn't I respond?
When they allegedly needed money, they were enabled by Ratcliffe Ineos buying in.

Now, likely we will have to wait until they need more money again. It is not one shareholder but a number in the family, so consensus is needed, or enough at least. If they feel the squeeze, likely they will look again. Rumours were around in June that early 2027 may see that.

11 Sep 2026 17:38:26
You're right, RedMan. You didn't start the post, and obviously you have never brought this subject up before, or used posts to keep on about it, so it was silly of me to suggest you constantly do. I apologise.

11 Sep 2026 17:24:15
Redman would you like to make a clear statement online that I'm being paid by the gazers or ineos. I dare you.

10 Sep 2026 11:37:30.
Starting a new thread here. Down below Patrick told his story, including going to school with Tony Wilson. That was really nice, as were all the sentiments expressing the life time commitment we all share through the good times and the bad times, and through the changes in the game itself.

It triggered a few bells though. I went to Thailand one Xmas and my girlfriend at the time left me for Tony Wilson. Both of them are gone now.

My parents separated and then divorced when I was 4. My father was bankrupt, moved away, and my mother, who was just 23 with 2 small children moved back in with my grandparents who sent me off to boarding school before I was 5. It was a period of time completely divorced from family, community, and needless to say football. I do have a recollection of my father, a City fan, taking me to Maine Road once. But in the end it was a Utd friend who finally piqued my interest in the drama of it when we were sitting at his house one Saturday afternoon avidly awaiting the results on the teleprinter.

It was the winter of 1962/3, United and City were both flirting with relegation.

My stepfather was a foundryman. I worked for him at James H. Dennis on Trafford Park Road during my late 20s and very early 30s. The company, my stepfather and that part of Trafford Park Road are also gone.

Willie Satinoff, who died in the Munich disaster, was a distant relation. He was gone a long time ago before I knew anything about anything.

So things change. I'm about to be 75. The one constant through all the changes has been Man United. Like (I think) everyone on this site, I feel I've been let down and my commitment abused by the owners of the club. I may have chosen to protect myself from investing too much emotional energy, but underneath it all there's no escape! It's in the blood! And, unfortunately (?) for my son, who has just moved to Switzerland, it's in his too. He'll be bringing his 10 year old daughter with him to the match this Sunday. Let's hope they don't go home disappointed.

10 Sep 2026 15:23:49
I might be one of the younger supporters on these sites at 32, but I still remember my first United shirt. It was a hand-me-down grey Sharp kit from 1995-96, given to me when I was four years old in 1998.

From that point on, I was obsessed. I watched as many games as I could and vividly remember the 1999 Champions League Final, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær scoring the winner. As fate would have it, I share the same birthday as Ole, and as a child that naturally made him my hero. Every Christmas I wanted the latest Manchester United annual, and I would proudly take it into school just to show people Solskjær's profile and prove we shared a birthday. I have bought the shirt every season since that first one, and they're all still up in the attic today, in a range of sizes that chart my journey from child to adult.

Growing up in Coventry, and with my parents separating when I was young, getting to Old Trafford was never easy. Thankfully, I had family in Littleborough and whenever we visited, a trip to Old Trafford was almost guaranteed. Sometimes it was just the museum and stadium tour, but if I was lucky, it would be a matchday too. Those trips helped strengthen what was already becoming a lifelong bond with the club.

As I got older and became more independent, I made it a priority to get to games whenever I could. That wasn't always straightforward, as I played football at a decent level myself, which meant weekends were usually out of the question. Midweek European nights became my opportunity. One of my favourite memories is the 2016-17 Europa League run. I drove from Coventry to every home game from the group stage through to the semi-final, when Marcus Rashford scored that extra-time winner against Celta Vigo. After each game, it was a two-and-a-half-hour drive home before getting up for work the next morning, but it was worth every mile.

That luxury became harder once I became a dad. My daughter is three now and is being raised firmly as a United fan, despite being surrounded by Coventry supporters who are understandably enjoying themselves back in the Premier League. I have nothing against Coventry City, they're my hometown club and I like to see them do well, just not at United's expense.

It's fair to say I started supporting United during the glory years, and I was often labelled a glory supporter because of it. But football doesn't work like that. Once a club gets hold of you, it's yours for life. That's exactly how I feel about Manchester United. I've seen the highs, the trophies and the dominance, but I've also lived through the decline that followed. It's difficult to see where we are compared to those days, yet the hope never disappears. Like every United supporter, I still believe we'll get back there one day.

10 Sep 2026 16:17:09
Ajh, random new thread started, can you have a word. 😅

10 Sep 2026 16:46:49
Aye, Tumbleweed. Naughty of me, but sometimes the threads get so long no one's going to read what you're writing.

10 Sep 2026 17:15:02
Only kidding, Newname.

10 Sep 2026 17:32:52
Yeah, outrageous. Lovely stories though.

09 Sep 2026 11:54:06
An interesting debate down the page, kind of revolving around how much do you care?

A Manchester lad, I've supported United for 50 years since the Division 2 days, had a season ticket for some time, followed home and away at other times. I was there when we were pretty poor, and there through the SAF successful years.

Being completely honest, I don't care like I used to. Don't get me wrong, I want United to win every game and I am desperate for trophies, but it doesn't keep me awake. I see the coverage of grown men crying because their team is losing and I don't get it.

Maybe it's because I have been spoilt by 20 years of success.

Maybe I'm older and wiser, I have kids and a lot of life experience, and there are far bigger things in my life I need to focus on and worry about. Perhaps it is because the game has lost its soul, finishing in the top 4 is seen as success, for a lot of clubs simply staying in the EPL is success, it's all about the cash.

I don't get the same highs or the same lows any more, essentially it's just a game. When I get stick of friends who support other teams, I really can't be bothered with it.

I'm not judging anyone else, I just think it's a really interesting discussion.

09 Sep 2026 13:36:03
I've got a few years on you. Been supporting since 1962/3 but I've lived in the US since 1982, at which time the only news was the occasional publishing of the tables in The New York Times. Now one can watch every game.

The Glazers have pretty much destroyed the club, so that, despite still having good revenues, we don't have the financial wherewithal to compete with City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Debt and debt service are costing us 2 £30m-a-year players in wages and amortization costs. The stadium is outdated and in disrepair, and the cost of its replacement will add a whole new debt reality, and, no doubt, the end of the name "Old Trafford" when, desperate for income, they sell the naming rights. This summer's pusillanimous transfer window really rubbed in the quandary we're facing.


Ineos have bought decently, but hardly spectacularly. I don't think we're anywhere near mounting a serious challenge for any major trophy. We're so far behind City (however we do this weekend) that it's a joke. We're now the whimpering neighbours. Past glories have faded into the distance. It's sad, but there's no point in getting worked up over it. So, I'm like you. I'm not completely immune to feeling the pain of defeat, but it's simply not worth investing too much emotional energy into it. There are so many more important things going on in the world than football. That's what I worry about. Football's become a substantially meaningless distraction.

The jury's out still on Ineos, but the Glazers simply do not deserve our passion.

{Ed0666's Note - fabulous and nuanced read mate

09 Sep 2026 13:41:22
It is ajh.
I think once you're a supporter, you're a supporter for life.
It's great when you're winning, not so great when you're losing.
I used to have season tickets. I used to have a box (that was not a great decision and a bit of a vanity metric, tbh). My lads go over from Ireland every other week and have just been awarded season tickets.
We all love United. But it's a hobby for us. We have busy lives, and United results are not a barometer of our form or temperament.
There are many more important things in our lives, and whilst we try and make sure we are available to go to OT or watch games no matter where we are in the world, it's very important not to obsess on things you can't control or have any influence on.

It's not good for anybody's mental well being to obsess on things that they can't control.
Football is unique in some ways, whereby it's one of the only sports where fans feel they know better than the ref, the manager, the owners, and can't see past the nose on their own face.
Enjoy the ride, even if you end up on a roundabout circling continually or driving up the odd cul de sac.
We all want to win, but sadly when we don't, all the faux expertise comes out.
If you can't enjoy it, and consistently think you know better, then why are you on this forum and not out there putting your fully imagined expertise to good use.

09 Sep 2026 14:49:09
That's the other key thing, it's not the same club any more. Rival fans always hated us, but the club had values and an ethos. Now it seems it stands for nothing. It's hard to like the club (not the team), and it's been like that for some years.

09 Sep 2026 16:33:40
As a Manc whose family supported through Munich and told me all the stories about Edwards, Foulkes, Charlton and Gregg it is more than a hobby. Members of family were at the Sheffield Wednesday game after the tragedy. They also lined the streets to see the tragedy brought back to Manchester, they told me how they wept. I have known survivors personally so was very involved from being young. I don't have to tell you how much but the stories and living not that far from the ground meant the atmosphere, the connection was very different from today. I resent the implication it is just a hobby. My late sibling was involved with the club, I was ingrained in it from young.
It hurt as a kid when the club became a mess because I lived on Law Charlton and Best for years until Hill, Coppell and Pearson arrived.

To be honest I think it is insulting to be told it's a hobby like making toy planes, by people who clearly have different experiences to you and who look like they have an agenda to anaesthetise you to the present ownership.

I went down to OT about 1970 when Manchester was a smog ridden mess, people generally don't know what Manchester was like then, when the team represented the hopes and dream of us working people, we went to the old ground and the excitement to stand on the wooden bit at the top of the Paddock which rocked. Few people now have any idea how exciting it was when Gordon Hill scored in the 1976 FA Cup semi because of the years of dross. The first time and only time I cried about United was when Southampton won the final. I could tell you stories about meeting players who were not hidden in fancy houses in massively priced areas, they lived amongst us. It made them human and we went on those terraces and screamed our heads off for them. I was there in 1979 at a Semi final against Liverpool and never shouted so loud.

My passion is still there, I wouldn't be here writing this if it wasn't. There are differences and similarities. Louis Edwards was chairman at the start, and we didn't like it, he was the cause of not renewing the players for the team that brought relegation. That's a similarity but only so far, he didn't soak a Billion out of the club, but was openly derided. I can't tell you what they said about him at the time. Seen through all that. My old pence pocket money got me in the ground, and I once managed to get into the tunnel and walked out behind the team, I heard the roar. You don't know how inspiring that is.

My passion is there because there were people who died for the club, like I said I knew survivors and that makes it more than a hobby. It's what drives a passion about the parasites that are destroying the club. Yes I have tried switching off and in fact said to my wife a few weeks ago I wish I could. It's in my blood and even the parasitic owners can't stop it although I won't give them a penny of my money these days.

It is not the same club, it's all about screwing us for every cent, and it stinks. I don't live near the ground any more, I can't go down to see what is happening. But my passion for the principle of what the babes and Busby stood for will be there likely until the end.

09 Sep 2026 17:00:51
Well said, Mr Red Man.

09 Sep 2026 18:52:19
Lovely post, Red Man. I used to feel that way. I remember crying as a youngster reading about Munich, the pain of '76 followed by the europhoria of '77, only to be devastated again in '79, and then, for me, the ecstasy of the FA Cup semi-final in '83, all 3 goals scored at our end.

I was there against Blackburn in '93. I'm sure millions will claim they were there, but there were only 40,000 there; the joy of everyone was wonderful to see, particularly Sir Matt's wide-eyed grin.



I respect how you feel, and I wish I still felt the same way, particularly as a Manc, but, as time has passed, my passion has cooled, although I still draw the line at crying.

Great post.

09 Sep 2026 19:06:56
Newname, also an awesome post. The Glazers have ripped the soul out of the club.

09 Sep 2026 19:54:15
Come on youngsters, where are you?

09 Sep 2026 20:41:31
I think everything you've said there, Red Man, is because you've lived it, connected with the club, its players and what it means.

Speaking for myself, it's not so much a question of love for United, but for the game. When players are paid as much as they are, everything is so commercialised, tickets are prioritised for corporate viewers, FIFA is clearly corrupt, players are rolling around, VAR is taking the emotion out of every moment, and owners are in our game to do everything but care about the club - it's pretty hard to say you love the game.

Unfortunately, that rubs off on United for me because we are one of the biggest victims of most of those things.

09 Sep 2026 20:46:11
And I'm fairly young compared to most, it seems - 35. The nostalgia I have is still the thing I love most about United, but the broader state of football has taken the shine off somewhat.

09 Sep 2026 21:02:01
That's kind of how I feel, JD. It's not the same game any more. I used to live in Lymm, where a couple of players lived, but no more. Now they are all in walled properties in the wealthiest areas, living in their own bubbles.

Sky haven't helped, nor have broadcasters in general. The over hyping, presenting games as war or life and death, is just stupid. The England Norway game was a great example.

Dressing the England players up as warriors repelling the Viking invaders was stupid. For the love of God, it's just a game.

Add in the cost of tickets, the behaviour of FIFA, the weakness of the governing bodies when trying to deal with the big clubs, the foreign ownership, and, well, it's hard to still feel the same way about the game.

10 Sep 2026 00:57:34
Blimey, an adult conversation on here without trading insults.

10 Sep 2026 07:40:15
I am a 36 year old Welshman who has supported them since I was around 5 or 6. I only ended up supporting them as my older brother was a Liverpool fan. I asked him, who do they hate? He said Manchester United, and that's when I started to support them. I loved the club ever since, immersed myself into the club and its history, watching old games, reading books, and modeled my game after a couple players, Rvn in my earlier days, then Rooney in my later days.

But my love for football has cooled over the years. I'm not sure if that's because we became bad, or if it's because I don't like today's football. It's too systematic, and I feel the quality of players is at an all-time low.

10 Sep 2026 08:01:10
You see I wouldn't cross the road to greet any United player, past or present.
They are not special people, they play football for the club I support no more, and they mean no more to me than that.
I don't hold them as idols, and none of them, past or present, except the ones I've had personal relationships with, hold any interest for me.
They play football, they are not my heroes.
I've lived beside a member of possibly the biggest live band in the world for 35 years and in Ireland he can sit down in any bar or restaurant in the country without someone looking for a selfie.

It's a very Irish thing not to fawn over these very ordinary people that have a specific talent.
Players come and go, managers come and go, owners come and go. I've zero interest in any of them (with a few exceptions) when they've gone, retired, or died.
Thanks for the memory, and move on.

10 Sep 2026 08:30:08
Early 40s myself. Ireland based but was in UK for a decade. Grew up in a United supporting family. Follow every United game and have been to a fair few games in OT over the years. But if I were to watch a game as a neutral I'd pick Gaelic football or hurling every single time. Football is just so commercialised and accepts a lot of nonsense. Ed Woodward really put my love for United to the test.

The primadonna culture is the antithesis of all that sport should represent. It's a large part of the reason I'm so quick to defend RA as I feel he's done more than any manager since SAF to instill the right culture at the club. Mbeumo, Cunha and all these players give their best efforts. A United like that I'll always follow

10 Sep 2026 09:38:38
A lot of youngsters these days know nothing about Utd's past glories or players. Those who died in the Munich air disaster, etc. I grew up being told tales of Duncan Edwards, George Best, Dennis Law, etc.

How poor Ted Mcdougal was.

My Dad and Grandad knew Roger Hunt. He would even take them to Anfield to watch matches.

I'm early 40s now, Utd flows through my veins. I hope one day, they get to the very top.

10 Sep 2026 10:31:52
My first game was 1957. A one-all draw with Aston Villa. Tommy scored. I was born in Old Trafford in a two-up, two-down. The latter shook when the first goal against Sheffield Wednesday went in! I went to Saint Alphonsus Primary on Ayres Road. And De La Salle in Weaste. A school chum was Tony Wilson!
I attended all the home games in the 60s. That was the time of Law, Charlton and Best. If memory serves me correctly, the three didn’t play together that often. Law and Charlton, Best and Charlton, but rarely all three together. We used to mither Shay Brennan’s missus by knocking on his door asking for an autograph.

He lived on Kings Road, Stretford. Not Wimslow or Hale!
I live in Cork, Ireland now.
I agree with the consensus that the club is not what it used to be. The Glazers.
But I agree with Ken and others that despite all this we still fervently support the club. It is in our blood. On a daily basis!
By the way, Ken, we were very poor but a school chum of mine, or rather his family, had a box at Old Trafford! They were into tiles and had an Italian surname. Any clues?

10 Sep 2026 10:41:49
The company called Rocca Tiles had a box, Patrick, in the mid 2000s, but not sure if it's the same connection, mate.

10 Sep 2026 11:21:51
I saw my first game in 1957. It was a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at home. Tommy scored. I was born in Old Trafford, and I went to St Alphonsus on Ayres Road. Our two-up, two-down shook when the first goal against Sheffield Wednesday went in.

In the 60s, it was all about Law, Charlton and Best. But, if memory serves me correctly, they seldom played together. Law and Charlton, Charlton and Best was the norm. Denis was not the same after his knee injury. However, before that he was lethal. 62-65?

10 Sep 2026 11:25:24
Their name was Quilligotti, Ken. Think they sold out to Topps Tiles. Detail eludes after half a century. 😂

10 Sep 2026 11:54:11
You still remember your 1st game though. 👏

10 Sep 2026 12:03:25
Which player did you have a personal relationship with, Ken? Are you telling us you slept with Georgie Best in the 70s?

This is a very interesting debate and I am still a little unsure as to which side I stand on it. United is still huge to me. I still go to every home game and apply for every away game. I've been to every domestic final and was in Bilbao to see us be horrific against Spurs. I still feel gutted when we lost and delighted when we win, but I do agree that the club as a whole is difficult to like too much.

I also find a large number of the fan base pretty difficult to like as well, those on social media are a disgrace at times. Scammers trying to have a go at the club because they are trying to stop them from being touts is the latest one. If you haven't done anything wrong, the club wouldn't be banning you from games, it's as simple as that.

I don't mean the fans on here, I like the debates on here and, as much as we sometimes argue, I do find the discussions a lot more sensible and informative than anything you could read on X.



I do wonder whether if we were still good more people would still feel now they did about the club in the 90s / 00s. It is much easier to be less bothered about your team when they aren't winning every week. For example, I see a lot more City fans very interested in football these days when, back 20 years ago, they weren't really that bothered. The opposite for United fans. There is a reason why promoted teams get double the crowd in the Premier League than if they drop down a couple of leagues, people like to go and watch their team win, when you're losing it's not as fun and therefore it's easier to back away and find something more fun in your life.

I'd say I'm addicted / obsessed with the club and would love them to get back to how they were, but I'd say a loss ruins the next hour for me these days rather than the next full day or week, but that might be because I'm older and more used to the defeats.

10 Sep 2026 14:42:00
Gds2, Paul Scholes, Frank Stapleton, David Beckham in particular.
Schools and Stephen Gerrard flew over for my father's funeral in 2011.
I've had a few business dealings with Gary Neville, and played on a couple of United legends teams at matches in Ireland, so got to know Andy Ritchie, Albiston, Sammy Mc and Ray Wilkins (rip) quote well.

10 Sep 2026 20:15:22
Ken, I remember that first game because I was nearly crushed to death on the Warwick Road !!!. 😂

10 Sep 2026 22:52:29
Dropped some names there, Ken, my favourite one is Gds2 though, he was a great player back in the day.

11 Sep 2026 17:34:51
And survived to tell the tale, Patrick. Good thread, Ajh. 🙌

09 Sep 2026 07:28:04
Not blaming Senne Lammens but I bet David de Gea saves both those shots. This was his prowess.

09 Sep 2026 08:32:55
But not blaming Senne Lammens, though.

09 Sep 2026 08:57:44
Not sure either would have been saved by any keeper.
I think Lammens still has lots of improvement in him, and lots to learn.
He is not the finished article, but imo does quite well overall. Good, solid keeper, but not yet in the top tier of keepers in the EPL.


I certainly don't think he had a chance saving the 2nd goal. Not sure any keeper would have.
It's funny how when we stick one on the top corner it's a great goal, but when someone does it against us our keeper is suspect. 🤣

09 Sep 2026 10:18:54
See, Lammens is getting the stick now

First goal, he sees it late as Shaw is in the way, and is too slow to get across and close the angle down, and lets the man have a shot.

Think the pure power on the shot does him.

2nd is avoidable at least 3 times before the ball ends up in the top corner. Again, if you look at the players in front, the keeper doesn't have a great view, and regardless, if he did, no one is saving that.



Lammens is a good keeper. He made some great saves against Ipswich while being 1-0 down.

Also, he had no chance for either goal in that game or the Hull game.

Luckily we don't have Onana in net anymore, and we have a keeper who's actually solid, who comes for crosses and makes saves.

The defence is to blame for the two goals against Everton, not the keeper.

09 Sep 2026 10:53:57
And how many of the goals conceded by DDG (one of our true greats) would Lammens have saved?

How many times would Senne have come out to collect crosses DDG came nowhere near?

Ridiculous post.

It seems to sum up the way too many are. The attitude seems to be: if there is no actuality to criticise, let's just make something up as a reason to have a go.

09 Sep 2026 12:05:51
Add it to the list of ridiculous posts iwotb.

09 Sep 2026 12:31:18
Isn't the defense to blame for every goal a side concedes? At some point in every move the opposition makes, something could have been done better to prevent it.

09 Sep 2026 13:06:17
You actually emphasize my point that I am not blaming Lammens. People forget that DDG had that unique, almost inhuman shot stopping ability. Some of the stops he made were almost godly. Of course, he had his deficiencies. Lammens is a more complete GK in that respect. He is a good shot stopper (not DDG quality), but he is better in other aspects, like collecting the crosses, better with the ball at his feet and playing out from the back, and even better at organizing his defence.

All of which DDG lacked, but I haven't seen a GK with such agility at stopping shots. I still feel DDG saves those shots and may concede from other mistakes, like not coming out and collecting one of those crosses.

09 Sep 2026 13:22:25
Spenno, yeh, you could say that for every goal conceded there is a blame that can be apportioned.

It may well be a forward doing something foolish and losing the ball in a dangerous position. It could be a midfielder failing to make a tackle, or taking the wrong position up.

A defender could similarly make an error in the same way, but I am not sure I would blame the defence every time.

Remember, if no mistakes were made, there would be no goals scored! Is that what people want? I think not.

There was criticism levelled about the Everton equaliser. Yes, a better clearance could have been made, but I don't think you could legislate for a worldie of a strike as was scored. Sometimes you have to hold your hand up and say wow!

Ask yourself the question, do you want to see every game finish 0-0? If not, we have to accept mistakes being made. All you can do is hope your team makes fewer mistakes than the opposition.

09 Sep 2026 13:48:24
Was it Mazraoui who failed to clear effectively on the second one? And who was it that failed to clear effectively from the edge of the penalty area, which led to the pass out wide that Shaw couldn't get to.

An inability to clear one's lines effectively in the first place led to both goals. We panic in defense, we fail to clear, giving the ball back to the opposition in dangerous positions.

That's where the problem lies. Hopefully Baleba's physicality will improve that aspect of our game.

Both goals were belters that any goalie could not be faulted for failing to save. Both were in the perfect spot and hit with power.

09 Sep 2026 13:56:06
Bruno is rubbish. All his assists are down to mistakes by the opposition.

09 Sep 2026 12:32:55
The only ridiculous thing is that you are still able to reply on my posts even after i have put you on my blocked list. Ken i ignore all your posts why don't you do the same to mine. Oh by the way you were so sure we were signing players. didn't your paymasters brief you correctly?

09 Sep 2026 15:04:11
You can block me and still reply to me? That doesn't make sense.
I can still read your posts and reply to them even if you block me. I didn't think you could see mine if you blocked me, which you evidently have not.
Yes, they didn't sign more players. I hoped and thought they would. I was wrong. Sue me.

When I give an uneducated opinion or guess, it can be wrong, like most of yours. How would I know if they will sign more players for sure? I really thought they would, as we need a lb and striker, imo.

Big deal. They didn't sign more players. I think if you hadn't blocked me (and it appears you are unclear on that), you'll have seen my criticism on the day after the window closed on that matter.

I don't think you're telling the truth. You don't ignore my posts, you've just replied to me directly. Are you telling lies? I'm sure you have not ignored my posts on this thread. Don't be telling porky pies, Ua.
I'll reply to your posts if I feel like it. 👋

09 Sep 2026 15:07:52
And for the messi fellow. Useless! Mistakes by defenders led him to stealing a living and conning us for years.

09 Sep 2026 15:49:05
Shaw ran away from his man for the first goal, then didn't get back out to him. Why does he not trust his CBs to do their job? Including preseason, he has some fault in most goals conceded of any of our players, I would say.

He was great for the rest of the game though.

Bruno let his man walk off him and take a pot shot with the last kick of the game.

Don't blame Lammens for either.

09 Sep 2026 15:58:51
Db, I think Shaw is very slow to get out to his man. Maz usually a little wicket l wicket at tj day part of defending.
I thought Shaw had a decent game v Everton and I'm not a fan of his at all.
Best I've seen him attacking for a long time.


The funny thing is Hall has all the same defensive liabilities that Shaw has, but the positive with Hall is that he can improve and there is lots of room for improvement.

09 Sep 2026 16:37:30
If you watch the second goal for Everton, Bruno was running in an uncontrolled way after their keeper with no hope of getting the ball, then wasn’t in any sort of place to help. Dorgu pressed in the totally wrong way, and they got behind, and, if I saw correctly, had 7 players to our 6 in the box.

I am not looking at Lammens, but the pressing and structure of defending in the last minute, it was a shambles, led by Bruno, or not led by Bruno, to be more exact.

09 Sep 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 3 - Quick Round Up

08 Sep 2026 21:29:29
Lewis Hall signing a new 5-year deal with Newcastle….that's him out the window then! Yes he can still be sold but this contract protects his value and ensures Newcastle get top £ for him. Top money that I highly doubt we will pay…. Unfortunate as I think he could have been our lb for many years to come!

08 Sep 2026 22:50:12
The grand strategy of waiting until next season because Newcastle's valuation was too high doesn't seem that clever now.

I'm sure that the usual suspects will say that there are other left backs we could bring.

But we could have brought them in this summer too.

On one hand, the club is telling us that they'd rather wait to bring in their top targets.

Yet, on the other hand, they never seem to be willing to stump up the cash for their top targets, and plump for a cheaper alternative anyway.

Seems like a bit of smoke and mirrors to deflect from an unwillingness to spend what's needed to compete for titles.

08 Sep 2026 23:28:12
Newcastle had sold two players for a lot of money. He had a contract, so I'd say they didn't want to sell. End of. Move on.

09 Sep 2026 09:12:46
Don't you dare come on here and talk sense, Salford!

09 Sep 2026 09:26:31
Any clauses in that contract? I suppose that's something none of you know.
Is Hall worth a world record fee?
I don't think he is the best full back in the world, and I don't think he ever has a chance of being that.
I don't think he is the best lb in the league.
Lots who watched the Newcastle v Bournemouth match said Truffert was the best lb on the pitch.

I'd agree with that.
He is not a very good defender, but good on the ball and going forward. He has lots to learn and improve upon. A bit like Fernandes, he is badly overrated by the social media and emotional fans that cling on to every dream like it's the one that will provide the solution.

09 Sep 2026 10:48:20
Ken

I was impressed by Truffert when I saw him.

09 Sep 2026 12:00:42
He is a good player. Better than Hall at the moment imo.

09 Sep 2026 12:12:25
Williams at Forest is also currently better than Hall imo.

09 Sep 2026 14:50:37
I like Williams, he's a good shout.

08 Sep 2026 18:38:31
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 3 - Quick Round Up