Manchester United Banter 4

18 Apr 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Anonymous Woolback has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool Fear a Collapse After Klopp's Departure

18 Apr 2026 22:37:36
Yes. Liverpool this year remind me of the season when Erik ten Hag decided to play basketball end to end football, without a functioning midfield or structure, and we were totally overrun. There's no substitute for effort or team pattern in the Premiership. Also, while not a good defender, this season is making the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold look a big mistake.

17 Apr 2026 23:48:50
Apparently Anderson and Wharton are both locked in for transfers elsewhere. This will be an ongoing situation for the next few months until we lock in some transfers in/out.

One name I want us to all remember is that our own, Kone.

By all accounts, he is returning high level performances at Lausanne under the watchful eye of our own technical directors team.



I would love for him to be integrated for next season and I would argue he is closer than any of our youth defensive mids.

Some will say he is too young. Just remember, Max Dowman is 16 and playing UCL QTR finals and chasing a Premier League winners medal.

I think Kone is class, and the best I've seen in our youth mids for a long time.

18 Apr 2026 01:31:15
Manu Kone. Our own Kone, beside him, would be great if he's up to it, but the Roma player is fantastic now.

18 Apr 2026 03:31:29
Playing on the wing is probably the most forgiving position a young player can play.

We've had a few over the years that have done well in patches, like Januzaj, even Garnacho looked good there. Dowman looks decent in cameos, but the game he started against Southampton in the cup, he didn't play well. Coming on off the bench and running at full backs is a dream for a kid.

I'm not knocking Dowman at all, he's gonna have a career at the top it seems, but because one team puts a 15 year old in, doesn't mean everyone should, and centre midfield in the Premier League is tough for the best.

Let the lad grow and play men's football at a lower level for a couple of years before we chuck him in the deep end.

Though we're looking like there are a few younglings that could potentially get some minutes next year, maybe Kone could be one of them.

18 Apr 2026 05:30:32
Take your point, Mumbles, I feel from what I've seen, he is ahead of, say, the Fletcher twins in ability.

He is more athletic than our own Mainoo, who is only a couple of years older, but is a great example of not throwing them in early.

18 Apr 2026 12:09:51
I think if Dowman were more central, we'd see why youngsters are probably not quite ready for the battlefield that is the middle of a Premier League football pitch.

18 Apr 2026 15:55:36
I think we'll see a few of that class get minutes, Jimbo. Definitely a few talents in there, just whether or not they take their chance.

The stars need to line up just right.

18 Apr 2026 16:15:03
Jimbo, are you talking about Dowman or Kone?

18 Apr 2026 16:38:41
I want to see Kone do well, but let's be honest, he's played 134 minutes across 5 appearances while on loan.

He's hardly tearing up the Swiss League, is he.

It's much harder for youth players to break into the first team of a top side if they are playing down the spine of the team.

Sekou Kone might be fine next season as the 5th choice option in midfield.

Although, from what I'm hearing, Christian Orozco, who'll be joining in the summer, is far more likely to be the midfield player who bounces between the Academy and the first team next season. With the club feeling like Kone could do with another loan first.

18 Apr 2026 17:04:42
Shappy, if we get UCL we are gonna be playing multiple times a week, we need to be integrating youth and none better, at this time, than Kone to integrate for cup games against lower league teams. We are drastically thin in midfield with Cas and Ugarte probably leaving.

We may very well end up signing two midfielders for the first team, but that still isnt a very well rounded depth to push on in cups, UCL and the league.

18 Apr 2026 17:53:24
I had high hopes for kone when I fist saw snippets. But his loan spell has been pretty disastrous.
Just the one league start and subbed at half time and a couple of 10 min sub appearances. He was omitted from their Europa league squad he did start a league cup game but again subbed at 45 mins.

He has played less than 90 mins in the league he just can't get into the team.
Maybe the bad injury he got for our u21s has shook his confidence. I suspect another loan unless he comes back strong in pre season. This experience will hopefully help him in the long term. Still very young and raw.
Its a pity he hasn't got many minutes to prove himself as the door is open for a young squad filler next season.

18 Apr 2026 18:18:57
Angel, Kone.

18 Apr 2026 19:05:05
Jimbo, if it is Kone you're talking about, you do know he is a few months older than Mainoo.

He is also getting barely any game time in the Swiss league at Servette.

I like him, but to say he is more athletic than Mainoo, and then say he is younger, is just so bizarre.

18 Apr 2026 19:33:35
Sorry they're same age.

19 Apr 2026 02:04:12
The coach there doesn't fancy him at all. 55 mins in the league since he signed. I don't think they are doing well, so putting a young guy into a poor team, obviously, is maybe not what the coach sees as a good move.
I hope he gets a chance to prove himself.

19 Apr 2026 07:42:52
Shame Ken, and it's a poor league too, so it does worry me a bit that he hasn't really done much there.

19 Apr 2026 08:50:35
Have you seen him play? He covers way more ground than Mainoo. I actually think they would work really well together, and would welcome seeing that more next season.

Mainoo is 21
Kone is 20

Last time I checked, 21 came after 20......

19 Apr 2026 14:19:56
When did you last see him play a game, Jim, against adults in a professional game?
I'm struggling to get any coverage on him for last 12 months and I'm not sure he ever played in anything other than our u21 team.

19 Apr 2026 14:31:39
Jimbo, you said a couple of years. They were literally 20 years old at the same time until a couple of days ago. 😂 21 comes after 20, but it's not even a year, let alone a couple. 😂

I've seen a couple of games, and he looks okay. He's gone on loan to a team in a poor league, and barely played.



I just watched Mainoo boss midfield v Chelsea at 21, but here you are telling me Kone is more athletic and a better academy product.

"He is returning high level performances at Lausanne under the watchful eye of our own technical directors team", what rubbish.

He's been crap in Switzerland.

19 Apr 2026 15:07:19
He just made that bit up, Angel.

19 Apr 2026 18:48:44
Mainoo, 19th April 2005
Kone, 2nd Feb 2006

Not 2 days or whatever you state.

He joined Lausanne in Feb guys, Lausanne have played 10 games since he started, of which Kone has played 50%.

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

As for the made up comment, this was from an overview from the web of the reports made by coaches at both United and Lausanne, both part of the ineos set-up.

Angel, don't follow Ken down his dark path, it will make you look like a fool.

I am sure you would be more of a man than Ken though and hold your hands up when wrong, not asking in this instance at all, just know you would if you had too.

Ken is pathetic and holds grudges, and can't apologise even when clearly in the wrong as per the other day, and here tries to chime in because he is pathetic.

17 Apr 2026 22:45:13
U18s were playing Crystal Palace this evening in Semi Final of FA Youth Cup at O. T.

Yay, we have just won the game 2-1 following extra time, goals from JJ Gabriel and the winner scored by Chido Obi.

Final is against City, at Etihad, will be quite a match, we are top 2 team's in U18s Premier League.

We are due to play Palace again on Wed, this will be the final of U18s Premier League Cup. Clearly they will be looking for revenge.

Hopefully the end of the season brings success with 2 trophies, nothing better than having a winning mentality instilled as early as possible. Ultimately, mental strength will play a significant role in achievement in the professional game.

17 Apr 2026 22:25:43
Maguire and Martinez suspended, and now Yoro injured… It never rains but it pours! If we escape with anything tomorrow night, it’s a huge bonus. Chelsea haven’t been great lately, but they’ll be out for a performance after their City humbling and Stamford Bridge has never been kind to us! Attack may very well be the best form of defense lol.

18 Apr 2026 00:18:37
Heaven alongside Shaw is the likeliest combination. Dalot and Mazraoui are full backs. It's obviously not ideal, but I'd be more worried if we have to play Ugarte in midfield again.

18 Apr 2026 01:08:21
How about Heaven in the middle with Shaw and Maz either side as a back 3...

Dalot and Amad providing some width.

Mainoo and Cas in the centre.

Front 3 of Bruno Cunha and Mbeumo.

Sesko, Lacey, Zirkzee to come on second half if we are still in the game.

18 Apr 2026 09:25:45
That formation is intriguing. It does seem to suit our squad better. Mmmm.

18 Apr 2026 09:57:11
Will introduce some intensity back into our game, rather than trundling through games with sideways pass master Carrick at the wheel....

18 Apr 2026 11:38:03
Did somebody mention 3 at the back? 😱

17 Apr 2026 18:24:10
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new player profile about, Mo Salah

17 Apr 2026 21:11:38
Fantastic review Ed001. I always rated Slah and i always was of the opoinion that he is the special player and not Mane, althought Mane was also top class. I thought (and i know some people would disagree) that for a period of around 2-3 years he was the best player in the world or thereabout. He was one of the two players that can do everything and do it good (the other is Messi).

I mean he can be creator, dribbler, playmaker and scorer at the same time.
And one question. Mbuemos form dicreased with Carrick and i think he suffers with slow build up, just like Salah, because his skillset is similar to Salah. Would you say that's the case?

{Ed001's Note - very much so. He likes the ball over the top nice and early to run onto, in a similar way to Salah.}

17 Apr 2026 22:51:00
Excellent review Ed001 and even handed, not always easy for a fan to be.

Have to say most impressive aspect was you being able to superimpose his face over one of my holiday snaps!

{Ed001's Note - it did take a while to do, having to fudge out the rolls around the waist etc....}

18 Apr 2026 00:26:15
Know what you mean Ed001, you know what they say about pinching an inch, well you know it's trouble when you can yank a yard!

{Ed001's Note - I really hope that isn't a euphemism!}

18 Apr 2026 12:11:31
Every game from now is either Carrick for the fulltime job or Carrick out lol. Win and we cement 3rd a bit more, lose and we likely drop to fourth and Chelsea gain ground.

17 Apr 2026 01:12:57
A top team needs an elite level centre back and preferably a pair of them. None of those mentioned are that level. Look at the difference Van Djick made to Liverpool when he signed.

17 Apr 2026 11:53:52
Good thing Harry Maguire signed that one-year extension!

17 Apr 2026 13:29:25
Agreed, but we have three problems, which prevent us levelling up in this position:

1.) Two of our three experienced centre backs have availability issues, so we would struggle to shift them for a reasonable fee and bring in the elite centre-backs that you mention.

2.) The club invested a lot of money in Yoro, who is never going to be the finished article, but I think the club thought he would have developed quickly in a similar vein to Saliba at Arsenal.

At the moment he looks way off it, and it's only really his price tag and the sunk cost fallacy which is keeping him in the team over Ayden Heaven, who has performed admirably this season.

3.) We potentially need 3 first-team midfielders, which will probably take up 70/80% of our budget this summer. I don't think we have the resources to also strengthen centre-back, left-back and left wing.

17 Apr 2026 14:02:10
Yoro is an interesting one. If we were offered a decent fee, should we accept it?

17 Apr 2026 17:34:48
He's young and clearly talented, he needs coaching and development, there's a very good player in there.

17 Apr 2026 18:05:10
Saliba spent 2 1/2 seasons on loan in France after joining Arsenal, and at one point they were willing to sell him. That's not exactly a rapid progression; he's been at Arsenal since 2019, with a steady manager.

So let's not totally write off Yoro just yet; he's already had multiple managers and several different defensive formations and partners.
I think there may well be a good player there.

17 Apr 2026 18:33:35
How many 20yo cb's excel in the epl? Not too many. Imo a crazy fee was paid for sick a young player in that position. Most don't really mature there till mid 20s. So his initial contract was due to expire before he reached his prime years as a cb.
It didn't make sense to me at the time and still doesn't.
I do think he has good attributes and i'm sure he will have a really good career at the highest level.
Unless we can sell him for what we paid which is unlikely then I think he should be kept to see if he continues to improve amd show that he is capable of maturing into the player we hoped.
Cb imo maybe the most difficult position to play until you have physically matured and gained plenty of match experience.

18 Apr 2026 09:20:07
We invested in Yoro's potential, we should at least see it develop. Ken is correct, maturity and experience, CB is a lot about reading what is in front of you. Steve Bruce wasn't quick but read the game and made good decisions. If you have ever played CB, it is different to what is needed as a FB for example. There is talent in Yoro, so prepared to give him time in years to develop, I don't think we should sell him.

Heaven looked class to me whenever I saw him. Amorim trusted and gave him chances, Carrick, to my surprise and disappointment hasn't. The fact he impressed Tuchel didn't surprise me either. It also wouldn't surprise me if the useless Carrick doesn't start him on the bench tonight, trusting instead Cas and Shaw as CB's.

18 Apr 2026 15:34:45
The useless Carrick. 😂 Come on, Red Man.

18 Apr 2026 15:39:10
Here we are saying Yoro needs time and needs more maturity to be a CB (Agreed by the way), but the same lads will write off Mainoo already, even though I believe you need more experience and maturity to play CM than at CB. It's a much more difficult position.

19 Apr 2026 15:10:06
You might believe that, Angel, and you're entitled to your opinion, but all the stats say different.
U23 midfielders have played nearly 25 times as many minutes as U23 CBs in the EPL since its conception. It's much more difficult to get time as a young CB.

16 Apr 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - The Chicken Staff has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool’s Recruitment Myths Under the Microscope

15 Apr 2026 22:58:44
Watching Bayern play Madrid, it showed what we miss. Attacking football from the off. Seeing Bayern with Diaz and Olise reminded me of Utd with Giggs and Becks. We so need a left sided attacking player and I want to see Shea Lacy getting a chance to shine.

16 Apr 2026 11:29:06
100% agree. The tempo of the game, the work rate of all the players, top class.

16 Apr 2026 13:30:47
I disagree with your reasoning, Salford. We have good attacking players now. What we lack is the ability to progress the ball forward. With Licha not fit, we don't have a centre back that releases the ball quickly enough. De Ligt, in fairness, gives a decent go of it, but is more limited in his range, and none of the rest do so. In central midfield, we are sorely lacking in any tempo players. For all the complaints about Amorim playing Bruno there, it should be painfully obvious why he felt the need to do so.

So, it is not the attackers that are the problem now. It'd be a bonus if we get another attacker this summer, but I wouldn't have it particularly high in the priority list.
1 (maybe 2) CBs, 2 FBs, 2 CMs. Those all are higher priorities. And we'll have a much better attack if we target those positions imo.

16 Apr 2026 14:58:04
The main priorities remain the same, but whether we need a cb/st as next priority all depends on whether we can get players fit and the style we want to play.

For me, I would get Anderson first, assuming we can beat City. For me, he would be like Declan Rice, and we will look back, thinking we got a good deal, no matter what. Then get our second midfielder, one that will compete with/replace Mainoo. Between the 2 of them, I would expect it to cost £130/150m.



Next, I would look at an overlapping lb, which will benefit Cunha and allow him to move into the middle when he has the ball.

After that, it is a toss up between second striker or cb.

Sales will be key this window, and maybe we will be able to fund more players by replacing those that are currently seeing no game time. Then again, a new manager may mean second chances, but I doubt it.

16 Apr 2026 19:10:41
Sales are key because this squad is dog poo. It folds like a cheap wet suit.
We need to churn. A minimum 14 players, fast.

From the back...
Heaton
Onana
Bayindir
Shaw
Dalot
Mazraoui
Martinez
de Ligt
Malacia
Maguire (not this season)
Casemiro
Ugarte
Mount
Zirkzee
Sancho
Rashford
Hoiljund.

I haven't injured some of the youth who won't make it.
Gore
Collyer
Amass
etc.

Thankfully, some of those are departing already, but selling well for the rest is crucial.



In order of importance for incoming, agree with your sentiments.

Anderson - if we fail there, get Alex Scott. He will eclipse Anderson's level within 2 years.
Baleba
Fernandes (West Ham)
Diouf (West Ham)
Senesi
Livramento
Rayan - he will be class.
Thiago, if he doesn't fit the profile, Kroupi would be useful rotating with Sesko.

Add some fillers if you want. That's what I'd be planning for, and asap.

17 Apr 2026 07:05:35
Totally agree, Jimbo, on all the outs.
Not good enough.
All average or below average for me.

17 Apr 2026 08:25:17
Let me make sense of this, Jim. You have abandoned your list from a month ago, in the main, and added a few new names without a consensus.
You want Anderson, even though Scott will be better.
The problem with trotting out name after name is that you change like the wind, and then criticise the club for a scattergun policy.


The last squad you said we should go with had different full backs, different midfielders. And you thought that was the squad we should go with, and you felt you had a consensus. I know you didn't, but you felt you had.

17 Apr 2026 08:45:52
Anderson will go to City if the rumours that he agreed a deal with them months ago are true. Given his choice of working with one of the greatest ever coaches or the so far unknown Utd manager, it's a no brainer.

Scott seems a good player, but at the moment, he is nowhere near as good as Rice or Anderson.

Rayan has had one good season, but next year, defenders will have had more time to work him out. Let's see how good he is then.

Kroupi, ditto.

More fundamental is the need to get rid of dead wood to free up funds, but most of those Utd players who should leave won't bring in big money and may be happy to stay on their inflated wages rather than take a pay cut to join a lesser team.



If we fail to qualify for the Champions League, the transfer budget will be massively affected.

Then factor in Chelsea, City, Liverpool all having to buy players, and it won't be easy for whoever takes the full-time job at Utd, and, as fans, we have to temper our expectations as to how much the team can improve next season.

17 Apr 2026 09:47:24
Ken, over the last 2 decades or so, your approach is numb to me.
Alas, let's kick on.
The process I went through a month or so ago, was to gain, where possible, a general consensus, on who we should keep, sell and buy.
It wasn't explicitly my thoughts, more so a collection of comments. There were comments suggesting that what we went through in the process was welcomed with positivity, bar a few, you being one of them.

Rather than not comment you feel the need to have someone in your crosshairs all the time. Pretty pathetic to be honest.

Trawl back through them again if they bother you that much, but I am sure the main instance where 'consensus' was used, was the reference to Anderson and Tonali.

Tonali as I understand it, is not an option for us anymore. Should we sit still because of fear of moving forward because we cannot possibly face the wrath of poor old Ken on the internet.

You might not like discussing options, others do.

If you don't enjoy it, sit it out, or comment. Your choice.

But if you want to try and make an example of people, expect to get a return serve. It will again ruin the site, but crack on all the same.

17 Apr 2026 12:51:12
All lads, go easy. I'm one of the worst here for putting people in the crosshairs. I enjoy the debate. In fairness to Ken, he's one of the most even tempered people here. I get that he doesn't particularly like speculation.

I liked that squad analysis you did, Jimbo, but I'd probably agree with Ken that a consensus on targets is probably not all that useful. But that's sort of what a forum is about.

17 Apr 2026 13:30:16
I find the mute option most effective...

17 Apr 2026 13:21:16
Ken is one of the most even tempered people here? Can you give me the name of your dealer?

17 Apr 2026 14:30:41
Ajh. 😂😂😂

17 Apr 2026 16:45:34
Very even tempered, always badly. 😂😂
Jim, debate means you will get differing views. So offering my view on your list of today is that it's just another list of random names.
When you post, expect a post back that has different views. Suppress the challenges to what I consider to be silly posts, then that will ruin the site.
You don't like being disagreed with or challenged.


If you keep trotting out lists that differ from your view a month ago, then I'd say posters will post how they feel about that.
@spenno, keep muting those that you disagree with, and it will leave you living in a bubble like the algorithms social media work on, and you'll get no differing views.
Defend your opinions, that's what debate is about.

{Ed001's Note - or you could stop being an arsehole and thinking you run the site and scroll past stuff you think is silly or pointless? Have a day off.}

17 Apr 2026 17:54:19
Time for the popcorn. 🤣

17 Apr 2026 18:09:18
DonRed, if "he doesn't particularly like speculation", as you say, then a site with rumours and speculations is not the place to be. He can go to Sky or BBC etc and search about done deals and facts. Here we speculate, among others.

17 Apr 2026 19:44:15
Ken, not once, but twice, you have referred to the list a month ago as 'my' list, even after correcting you.
As the eds state, have a day off son, and accept when you have gone down the wrong rabbit hole.

I openly welcome debate, but will correct anyone who throws mud, especially when they are incorrect.

Just accept in this instance your crosshairs are wildly out of centre and we can all move on.

17 Apr 2026 18:42:55
Ed001, you just didn't.🍿

15 Apr 2026 15:56:19
All the criticism of Keane when he won't back Carrick getting the job full-time a few months ago, have, looking at the recent performances now, been right again. Carrick will be thanked for his great work but a new manager will come in for next season. The question now is who?

15 Apr 2026 16:14:35
Roy Keane also said he would recommend Eddie Howe for the full time job tbf.

Would people be on board with that?

15 Apr 2026 16:16:21
Keane also suggested Eddie Howe should be the manager we go for so let's not get carried away by his views!

15 Apr 2026 18:45:34
Giving the job to Carrick, as much as I like him, and he's done us proud, sounds too much like an Ole risk appointment.
The only way I see him at OT next season is as a playing replacement for Ugarte.

15 Apr 2026 20:10:51
I don't think even the most ardent Carrick supporters have ever suggested that he is the perfect person for the job.

He's done as well as can be expected, but has fallen into the biggest pitfall that has befallen all recent managers, which is ultimately the squad isn't good enough.

We lack quality and depth in midfield, have limited options at fullback, don't have a natural wide left winger, and our CB's are made of glass.

The squad is extremely limited, and when you are missing a couple of players the level drops quite dramatically.

This was the same issue under Ole, under Rangnick, under Eddie Howe, and under Amorim.

With the best players fit and available, we could put in decent performances/results, but the moment you took a couple out of the line up and the level dropped off.

Long term, I have my doubts that Carrick is the right man for the job, but he might be the right man for the next 18 months or so.

For all the fanfare and debate about managers, ultimately it's the best group of players that tends to win the major honours.

Pep and Klopp are lauded as great managers, and rightfully so, yet both changed 18+ first team players within three summers at City and Liverpool.



They became dominant only once they had the right players.

We will need at least two summer windows, at least, to have a squad capable of challenging.

What we need until that point is a steady hand who won't kick off, cause trouble, or try to get too hands on with recruitment while the squad is rebuilt.

Only when we have a squad capable of actually challenging do we need a manager who gets that extra 10% out of the players to carry you over the line.

Sure, if that absolute top class manager is available and willing to join this summer then, by all means, snap him up. But if the options are an unproven but talented young manager who might be able to step up, or stick with Carrick, then this summer I'd stick with Carrick.

Amorim was a talented young manager who was ready to step up, but he was stepping into a team that wasn't ready to challenge, and that's ultimately where it all went wrong.

I really rate Iraola and Hoeness, yet I suspect they will face much the same issue as Amorim. They will be expected to make this side take the next step before they are ready to, and that will be the undoing of them.

15 Apr 2026 20:31:42
Nailed on happy.
Terminating Amorim's contract was his own fault. He had won the race vs Wilcox but imploded, so, whilst his vision was bang on what we needed, his execution was lacking. (Done to death on all components of this argument).

For me, prem proven manager Iraola is the way to go.
No severance package to be paid.
He can bring with him a swathe of players that instantly upgrade our shower of the proverbial.


Senesi on a free
Kroupi
Scott
Rayan

I think we need to accept that Enrique ain't coming.

Whoever it is, though, if the board/upper management are not churning this squad (14-17) players through the next 2-3 windows, it doesn't matter who the manager is. The players will pull rank and do as they always do!

15 Apr 2026 21:39:14
Shappy,

We have a team capable of beating Leeds. You are just making excuses for Carrick. 18 months you say, so you think we will find out in 18 months what we know already, and be sat in Oct 27 looking for another manager.



Carrick is the wrong choice, end. Not for any period.

Time to go for a manager suitable for the stature of the club, not the emotion of some supporters.

16 Apr 2026 02:47:11
Why, oh why, would you have Carrick for 18 months and then go again?

Beggars belief.

16 Apr 2026 07:09:56
I missed that bit, happy. It is a no for Carrick, not for another 18 seconds, let alone months.

16 Apr 2026 08:11:27
Is that for me, Jimbob? If so, I mean, why would you keep Carrick for 18 months only to sack him and bring in someone else?

That would mean yet another reset period.

Either move on now and let the "right" person step in and play his style, or let Carrick have a run at it.

Personally, I have no axe to grind either way at this stage.

16 Apr 2026 08:13:18
Ignore that, Jimbob. Got "it is" and "is it" about face! Sorry!

16 Apr 2026 09:52:04
I love Carrick as a bloke and a player, but he does seem uninspiring as a manager. However, other than Enrique, I am not sold on anyone really. It does feel like here we go again.

16 Apr 2026 19:20:31
No worries, Keefy. 👍
They were both for Shappy, but, more so, actually a general reply to Shappy's post. My autocorrect took 'Shappy' to 'happy'.

For clarity, as per Solskjaer, Carrick is, game by game, killing his United legacy, in my opinion.
I feel that the past player experiment has long since fallen flat on its face.

16 Apr 2026 20:04:02
Carrick can't be the choice, surely. If the board spend months looking for a manager and come back with Carrick as the best choice, then some serious questions need to be asked.

Leeds game was terrible, but the last few games have all been pretty poor, rescued by some individual brilliance or a bit of luck.

Carrick comes across as a great guy, and I'm sure the players love him. But he's not a top level coach. United need a top level coach and can't waste another 18 months hoping he turns into one.

The team has no energy or intensity. So lethargic. And that has nothing to do with the quality of the squad.

Doesn't take world class skill to put some effort in.

Unlikely to be Iraola. I think he's heading back to Spain from what I've heard.

Ideal choice is Enrique, but not very likely.

Thankfully not my job to find the next manager. But I'm hoping the highly paid top brass at United do their job properly and don't go with the easy choice of Carrick. He can't be the only person in the world capable of managing this club.

I don't buy into the "he knows the club" rubbish. Has nothing to do with being a good manager. Pep had never played or coached in this country before, but he's done alright. Same with Klopp.

16 Apr 2026 20:12:40
I'd take McKenna over Carrick based on accomplishment.

I think the right thing to do is wait.
Carrick's results have been fine so far, but he seems to lack something.

Personally, I'd try for Ancelotti and plan long-term for Enrique.

Iraola is fantastic, and his football is good, but I just have a feeling it might be too soon for him.

16 Apr 2026 20:50:52
I'd have Howe as manager. Experienced, intelligent coach. Gets the best out of the players he's had. At Bournemouth and Newcastle. Don't see why he gets so much dislike.
I like Iraola for the same reasons.

{Ed025's Note - im a Howe fan as well Noucamp..

16 Apr 2026 21:05:22
What about Emery?

{Ed025's Note - Unai or Dick?.. :)

17 Apr 2026 06:50:59
Dick for sure.

15 Apr 2026 13:36:47
Our recent form is worrying but it has been decreasing ever since our 2 big wins early on against City and Arsenal. Excuses Monday, players rusty, no game in 3 weeks, total rubbish. If they play more, they say they're tired/burnt out. It's very simple, down to attitude for me. Big games they work hard, put teams under some pressure and capitalise on mistakes. The high tempo works, but this slow lazy tempo is not working.

So for me it's players on the pitch setting standards. If a plyers needs a bollocking, he gets it on the pitch from other players. Monday night at home v Leeds, big chance to really cement top 3. 3 weeks rest. We should have been firing from the first second, high tempo, high work rate, get the home crowd up too. This season could end in disaster yet.

15 Apr 2026 15:57:03
We've seen this for years. The team can get up for the big games, but slip back. Personally I would, as a club, bin anyone who has been here since Ole. The dressing room needs a cultural reset. For his flaws, Amorim was clearing players out. A new culture is hard to build when your leaders are ingrained in, and responsible for, the previous culture. Nothing will really change until Shaw, Dalot, Maguire, even, dare I say, Bruno, are gone, as they set the levels as the seniors in the dressing room.

This squad is crying out for two or three massive personalities who will come into the dressing room, take it by the scruff of the neck, set the standards, and lead it.

Probably a central defender and a central midfielder. Players like Mbeumo, Cunha, and Sesko come from teams and systems where they were expected to work really hard and run. We need players like that, but leaders who can be the manager's voice in the dressing room and on the pitch.

I remember, years ago, Sir Alex saying the club should buy John McGinn. I think it was around 2018. At the time I thought it a bit odd, as he was never a player that stood out technically. However, in hindsight, Sir Alex could obviously see McGinn's qualities as a leader and fighter.

15 Apr 2026 16:02:40
Be careful lest you be accused of overreacting.

15 Apr 2026 18:28:14
Redcon

I don’t accept it is the players on this. It was clear there was no plan to move the ball with any pace, angles, or patterns to create opportunities, or to move Leeds players out of position with pass & move with any pace at all. It looked like keep ball across the back, waiting for an error. It’s very Southgate, and I point the finger at Steve Holland being too strong an influence. Ugarte set the message alongside Cas, but no one wanted to move.

I can’t understand why there is no method, no energy, or intent. There is no excuse for the lack of intent. That comes from a set method and motivation. There were no obvious patterns or push to get behind their midfield. It is numbing that Mbeumo wasn’t selected, and that Ugarte stayed on at the back when he had Heaven on the bench.

Shambles, utter shambles.

It should have been coached. The 'get at them' intent should have been there from the first minute, yet they get on the pitch and look like they have been told to stay in certain areas and keep moving the ball from side to side.

Watch the players. They don’t move well off the ball. Carrick had to see it all, but did absolutely nothing, seemingly happy with what he was seeing.

Lastly, I talked today to a Leeds fan who couldn’t understand why Carrick made no change at half time. They expected it, and thought they would lose when we threw the kitchen sink at them. It was more of the same, terrible, and only Carrick to blame.

15 Apr 2026 18:53:28
I love Bruno, but they all rely on him to create something. They need others to step up creativity.

16 Apr 2026 09:53:27
Surely the players don't need to be coached to run more, have some energy and urgency, show some effort? I'm not excusing Carrick, but the players were all dreadful in that first half.

16 Apr 2026 19:02:52
I think they need to, AJH. It is the coach that motivates the players, he is the one who gets that extra 10-20% out of players, and if they love him and buy into his philosophy, they run through walls for him. Most importantly, he is the one who sets the tone about training, and if the reports about days off and less training are true, then that's the problem.

To be fair, the gap between the games is a big problem for match sharpness, of course.

18 Apr 2026 09:26:17
AJH,
If you think the players were all dreadful in the first half, why do you think Carrick didn't make any substitutions at half time?