Manchester United banter 5

26 Oct 2025 12:59:38
And to top off the weekend it would be nice for Arsenal or City (or both) to drop points.
Our positive momentum and swapping positions with Liverpool.
The wheels look to be coming off at Liverpool after the best part of half a billion spent and Slot telling everyone how to play against them over the past week.

26 Oct 2025 13:18:41
It's good timing to be playing forest next as well and thwn a rough test at Tottenham, Dyche will be owed one in the eye by Amorim after his arrogance saying we should hire him before the Sunderland match. Strange how also Sunderland are second but we got zero credit for beating tnem.

26 Oct 2025 16:27:53
City ?.

26 Oct 2025 12:31:18
We all come on here and offer ideas, views, opinions but I don’t think anyone said we should have been keeping Casemiro in the summer but fair play to him, he seems to be managing his game and is really important for us in there at the moment.

No Europe is probably helping with less games and travelling but all goes well, we’ll have this next season so he probably does need replacing. However, I am leaning towards keeping him for another season for his presence and what others can learn from him if we can get some younger legs in CM to allow Casemiro’s game time to be managed.

I have to say I had no idea of Baleba before we were linked with him but he was clearly rated so I’ve tried to follow him this season and it seems he’s not quite hitting the heights, I wasn’t impressed with him yesterday and I read his performances this season could be down to the failed transfer to us that he wanted.

My issue with this is that I would rather avoid someone who can be easily distracted and affected by something like this if this is the case. We need strong characters at United which we are starting to get back. He certainly has a lot of energy which is good and I’m sure he is being monitored closely by United but a player I do like is Elliott Anderson at Forest. I would like United to push for him, think he’s a cracking player. I also like Alex Scott from Bournemouth. Then obviously there is Wharton.

I think Ugarte does ok when he comes on but he doesn’t seem to cover as much ground as others Be interesting to see who United pursue in the summer. Who would others be looking at?

26 Oct 2025 13:04:52
I think the two English chaps, Anderson and Wharton, should be near the top of the list. Anderson in particular seems to be playing well atm. Baleba as you say not quite matching his previous levels currently but is clearly a very good player.

I dunno, I just remember the old Uniteds having a great British heart to them and I'd love to see that again some day.

26 Oct 2025 13:20:33
Great post Ports and I agree. Baleba was great for a season, and Wvan Ferguson is another than Brighton had down for massive sales amd has just fallen off a cliff.

27 Oct 2025 06:04:39
just buy good/ great pl players and don't complicate things. the two lads upfront prove that.

26 Oct 2025 12:05:24
That dummy from Bruno, though ?.

26 Oct 2025 13:40:35
Bruno spat his dummy? Again? ?.

26 Oct 2025 07:38:31
A great win yesterday, and true to my word, I’ll admit I’m eating humble pie after being so vocal against RA.

That said, the biggest improvement isn’t the system itself but the chemistry and fight among the players. They’re starting to gel and anticipate each other’s movements. One thing that really stood out was a subtle tactical tweak — Luke Shaw stepping into midfield out of possession. It stopped us from being overloaded there and made us much harder to play through, something that’s hurt us earlier in the season. It also gave Bruno and Casemiro more control in the middle. You could really see the drop-off once Casemiro went off, which just underlines how important he is to the balance of the side.

And the crowd reaction when Lammens claimed that corner — almost as loud as a goal

Maybe this system can work long term if RA keeps fine-tuning and ironing out the weak spots. Time will tell, but hopefully this is the start of a solid run.

Also, side note — McTominay’s goal was something else. He’s turning into a top player. I genuinely wish we’d kept him; he’d slot perfectly into that midfield two.

26 Oct 2025 08:56:07
The turning point so far imo has been nothing on the pitch although the mood is more upbeat now.

As soon as Ratcliffe came out and mentioned RA needing three years the blood thirsty media and pundits couldn't really say alot. Pressure remains but a lot less intense for RA now compared to previous managers/ coaches.

26 Oct 2025 09:41:13
Kurtis, this is a whole squad rebuild, we moved out 9 players this summer (Garnacho, Sancho, Rashford, Antony, Højlund, Onana, Lindelof, Evans, and Eriksen) . Along with Collyer and.

26 Oct 2025 09:59:00
Hit send to early?‍♂️

Amass on loan. That's a lot of first team players moved on in one summer.

We've also brought in a new keeper, and three new forwards. Along with some shuffling of the existing players, Bruno deeper into midfield, Shaw into CB, Amad into wingback and bringing Mount back into the team on a regular basis.

It was always going to take time for them to get to grips in what is essentially an entire new first 11 in terms of relationships and working together as a team in their new roles.

This is also only phase one of the rebuild, kicking out the biggest problem players, and bringing in key additions to solve the biggest issue from last season (a lack of goals) .

Phase two is likely to be to rebuild the midfield and add more quality in depth at CB and wingback, while also phasing out some of the older/ fringe players and introducing more youth to fill out the squad. I would expect to see another 5-6 first team players leave, maybe more. That'll be next summer, although if anything can be done in January I'm sure the club will consider it.

After phase two we should have a more consistent team able to play as the manager wants. There will still be a few areas of weakness (not every signing will work out) and depending on how some of the younger players are developing we might have new areas to improve or add to.

Phase three should be the cherry on top signings along with some high potential youth players to slowly start to bed in and develop (either from the academy or signed) . This should happen in the summer of 2027 if all things go to plan. Meaning the 2027/ 28 season we should have a fully new squad from what we started last season with. One that has grown and developed together and are ready to seriously challenge for the title.

It was always going to take 3 years to ship out the 15+ players we needed to move on, and replace them. For that entirely new team to bed in and develop together. Depending on how the signings do and how the youth develop it might even take longer. It's rare that every signing works out, or for every talented youth player to realise that potential. So it's likely that we will have to replace one or two of the signings we make, or the youth players we hope will make it. That could mean it takes 4 years rather than 3.

We need to temper our expectations this season, we are learning walk right now, we cannot expect us to be winning the race yet. let's master walking, then learn how to run, only then will we be ready to enter the race.

26 Oct 2025 11:47:38
Are we improving?
This time last year eth was sacked.
Wec we're in negative goal difference -4
We have won 46% more points than this time last season.
We have scored more goals and created more chances.
We have conceded less goals and have a positive goal difference for 1st time since God knows when.
We sit 4th not 14th where eth left us.
We are 3 maybe 6 pints of top spot not 14 pints off top spot.
We are in top 4 not 10 points off top 4.
The team are working harder covering more distance per game.
The team look united.
We are a long way short of the finished team but are making good strides.
Pity we have less posters on after a win.
I know lots of posters who want RA out out east stand nick fall guy angelred ajh Danny to name a few. Do you still think RA is a fraud nick and angel or do you think he deserves the time to continue to improve us?
Ajh didn't know 1 manchester united supporter that doesn't want RA sacked? i'd suggest a change of friend groups all this sounds a bit silly.
Thank God we have educated people in charge, subject matter experts who understand the game and leadership. And the loons were not allowed to take over the asylum.
Long ways to go but the progress we all wanted is being made.
If we can get through the next 2 away games with at least 1 win and no defeats I think we go into the intl break with about 30% of season gone in top 6 and within a couple of points of the cl spots. Ahead of most expectations.
Let's hope we keep it up.

It will take some time but we have the right man imo and he is doing a good job and imo is a little ahead of schedule and doing better than most expected at this point.

26 Oct 2025 12:38:53
When we were losing he even said it's not the system it's the players fighting for it. Maybe the professional coach knows more than fans ?.

26 Oct 2025 12:47:35
Let’s see where we are at the international break and then after Christmas.

Amorim has done well over the last few weeks, credit where it’s due.

26 Oct 2025 13:42:41
Good post Ken. ?.

26 Oct 2025 13:58:46
United should call me up then, Ken. In just one single evening I could easily make 14 pints disappear let alone a meagre 6! ??.

26 Oct 2025 14:08:50
The point about Shaw stepping up is a good tactical spot. All the more rrason why Amorim wants Martinez back as he can do that naturally and is a better passer of the ball too.

26 Oct 2025 14:41:24
Mb you can't have enough pints?.

26 Oct 2025 17:08:12
Well people know my position and continued support for Amorim. Some really good tactical tweaks in the last few games and you could see the confidence starting to flow through the team yesterday, very pleased to see it. There will be tough challenges ahead and we need to see reaction to adverse situations but there is something definitely building.

We really need that Centre Midfield player, plus Dorgu and Dalot have been poor, Dorgu terrible yesterday, so work to be done.

I think the SJR statement on Amorim having two years was helpful.

It was interesting to watch our pressing yesterday, it looks like the extra time Amorim has to coach them in the week is improving them.

Lastly don’t miss what Amorim is doing with young players, Kid Messi, JJ Gabriel called up to train with the first team. If you get a chance watch the videos of his training with a tennis ball.

26 Oct 2025 17:31:12
Kurtis, well done mate for holding your hands up. I owe you that after our little spat during those darks days ?.

27 Oct 2025 11:12:44
Looks like Ed 002 was right after all!

26 Oct 2025 07:29:51
Casimiro has been pure class the last two games.

26 Oct 2025 09:32:22
As they say, form is temporary, class is permanent.

26 Oct 2025 11:27:29
He’s been good all season. Probably our best player. Sadly, he just doesn’t have the legs to play the full ninety minutes anymore.

As I said in the live chat yesterday, I’ve no idea who we could get in to replace Cas come the summer, but it’s a signing that we need to get right.

26 Oct 2025 14:10:00
I actually think we need to sign two players to replace Cas. One to start, and a back up to mould into the role who can step in.

26 Oct 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Manchester United Overview So Far This Season

26 Oct 2025 03:56:12
Morning, Ed025. Just wanted to say thanks for the tip to visit specsavers as their red-tinted glasses were on sale.

I picked up a pair and everything looks BEAUTIFUL ? ? ? and long may it continue.

{Ed025's Note - you are doing very well at the moment MB, above Liverpool as well mate....whoda thunk it?..

25 Oct 2025 23:40:35
Glad we won and we gping to win next one by 2 goals or more too.

25 Oct 2025 20:22:19
Who would have predicted maximum points from Sunderland, the scousers and Brighton?! . credit where it's due to the manager and players, 3 good performances and 3 excellent results. Keep it up please ??.

25 Oct 2025 19:47:45
It looks like it's going to be an interesting season. City and Arsenal looking good but we can't discount Liverpool regaining their mojo. A big and deciding factor for us this year could well be our light schedule. The atmosphere feels very different.

No doubt the new front line is a big improvement. Mbuemo and Cunha are class players. I'm wary about expressing overconfidence, especially after letting Brighton back into the game after the subs, but 4th and a champions league spot should be very realizable.

25 Oct 2025 21:39:02
Desperately need a midfielder in January. We looked so fragile when Cas went off.

25 Oct 2025 23:43:41
Bruno and CAS to start.
If Cas is coming off, play Ugarte.
Mainoo comes off for Bruno, or one of the 10's and push Bruno to 10 position.

26 Oct 2025 01:41:28
we seem defensively all over the place when cas comes off for kobe. Great day.

26 Oct 2025 02:35:32
Brilliant win. A few old frailties still obviously remain, but we need time to develop strength in depth, which is what we currently don’t have beyond the starting 11.

26 Oct 2025 07:43:20
We didn’t look great once Cas came off, which begs the question what happens in the summer, we don’t look like we are extending his contract, his mooted €100m replacement looks nothing like a €100m player and Ugarte seems a squad player.

26 Oct 2025 11:02:45
I think we may need a LWB too and that's probably a bigger concern than CM. We're much better though and the front players are really starting to settle now.