Manchester United banter 5

07 Jan 2026
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07 Jan 2026 21:21:02
I think I’d rather gauge Amorim on this season 5th in the league. Last season he was brought in half way through the season to play a 343 with a squad that wasnt equipped to play that way. Still this season he wasn’t really given the players he needed nor any attempt in January. Set up to fail which sounds familiar to every manager we’ve had. Some ‘fans’ think if you can go from a mediocre team to world class in 14 months it doesn’t work like that.

We were sold a project and now we are in no mans land for another 6 months. We may be run by a new name but trust me it’s just the name that’s changed.
Don’t worry we will get in a failed club legend again and everyone will forget about the mess. I really hope we go in free fall to 17th, what I’ve learnt now in 10+ years is that’s the only way things change and owners forced out.

07 Jan 2026 22:20:17
Completely agree. One step forwards, 3 steps back every time.

07 Jan 2026 22:21:49
Yeah, last season doesn't really count for me. By his own admission, they put the league to one side to keep players fit for Europe.

This season is all that matters to me, and we were in the European places, with our best players still to come back.

Should have been given to the end of the season.

Also, any transfer business is up in the air, now, with no permanent manager. Who will come when they don't know who the manager will be? Could cost us.

07 Jan 2026 23:13:21
There is a type of fan nowadays that follow players and not teams. They run with the hares and chase with the hounds. Seeking instant gratification and stamp their feet when its not going as well a they would like.
I am and was a big amorim supporter. 2 defeats since September and not yet good enough to turn draws into wins. Because the team is short quality and experience.
What do we expect from. 2 teenage cb's with no midfielddefending in front of them? Perfection? No slip ups?
Building a team a business a home from the ground up is a journey. Its never easy and there will be difficulty along the way. We have lots of fans who criticise players who are not up for the fight. Imo its those fans who have not got the stomach for the fight. Imo a lot of our fanbase are Weak entitled and not up for the fight. A huge lack of tolerance.
Hopefully are next guy will prove to be a success but with the here and now empty vesselsmaking so much noise it won't be easy.

As fans all we can do is hope.

07 Jan 2026 23:37:24
Yeah sure let's just ignore half a year of turgid football followed by another half a year of turgid football. Fantastic progress. He's gone and it was the right decision for everyone involved.

08 Jan 2026 06:42:53
To change the club, to solve underlying issues in attitude, mentality needed someone who understood the importance of that. Someone who would stand up and deal with it. We got that in Amorim but the short sighted fans looking at stats didn’t get it.

The club may appoint, even temporarily, in Ole one of the main causes in that lackadaisical attitude.
It means a longer road, if anyone is even going to be able to do it, but it saves spending money, nice increased profits will please someone.

08 Jan 2026 08:15:11
Respect to Twenty, Tumbleweed, Noucamp and Red Man. Posts that hit the nail on the head. I'm still reeling from recent events.

08 Jan 2026 08:40:29
I love how anyone who wasn't 100% behind Amorim, is a toxic, weak, clueless fan and those who support him are the real fans who "understand" football. You guys like what he was doing and that's fine. I didn't like the style of football he was bringing and I didn't enjoy watching Utd since he came here.

08 Jan 2026 09:59:54
Banjoe, it's all about opinion, but I agree, when posters are on their high horse, there is no knocking them off of it despite what they have said. Like, all we needed was to get rid of ETH and get a proper coach in with this bunch of players, or how the board have a greater plan with Amorim that we don't know about. When challenged, we are not knowledgeable enough or they don't expect 'us' to understand. The condescending tone is incredibly laughable and people like that rarely know anything about what is really going on, like the rest of us.

For me, I like to see what's right Infront of me, staring me in the face. Lethargic, defensive football that conceded more goals than we scored and lost the same amount as we won. I saw players not playing for the manager and a manager that said the most bizarre things in press conferences and interviews. An experiment gone wrong at the club. Many of us on here just didn't buy it, doesn't make us any more or less knowledgeable than the Amorim supporters.

I actually believe that the people in charge, Berrada, Wilcox, Vivell etc. will get it right. I'm not writing them off after one bad managerial appointment. They are restructuring nearly everything on the footballing side of the club and that is going to take time. They just have to ensure that the right person is on the pitch over seeing the football and that is aligned with their vision for the club going forward.

08 Jan 2026 10:05:45
Banjoe

Through many years of experience we recognise there was an underlying change needed, not just tweaks to team selection. Pretty football doesn’t just arrive by click of fingers.
Rangnick and Amorim were brought in to do the difficult change process, it is difficult to change the direction of any business, it will give a bumpy ride. I know from business experience.
So it may not be pretty but is tough, needs patience and time.
The club failed both Rangnick and Amorim, badly.

Now as a joke they may appoint Ole to give that lovely warm glow to some utterly gullible fans to quieten the discontent, whilst setting us back again.
Maybe having managed change it gives me a greater appreciation of what it takes, but the club seems incapable of sorting itself out.
Frankly Wilcox should not be there now. Get him out. Berada has to be on borrowed time.
Who on earth will they bring in on a perm basis now they failed the ones who were brought in to do the difficult change process?
Utter disgrace of a management.

08 Jan 2026 13:09:24
Banjoe it’s like having half the ingredients of a recipe and expecting it to still taste great. It’s a process. I’m sure if Amorim stayed 2 + years and was backed we wouldn’t have a Casemiro and Fernandes midfield. Most united fans problems are they are impatient.

08 Jan 2026 15:35:08
I'm not a complete idiot lads, I understand what a process is and don't need it explained to me but this change of our identity was never going to be something that I would enjoy. Redman you have been banging on about Bruno being an issue so long that I don't take anything you say seriously.

08 Jan 2026 15:37:16
I also think it's wrong and insulting to say the appointment of Ole would be a joke but I expect nothing less at this point.

08 Jan 2026 17:26:12
Angel, I'm with you on the upper management (possibly with the exception of Wilcox, IMO we part ways and get Mitchell), that aside I think in time they will get this right and the overarching plan will remain on course.

My feelings on the Amorim situation are documented but I'll get past it, much like I got past it when the likes of RR and JM were dismissed.

It comes back to the squad, and they simply aren't good enough as a collective, I think we can almost all agree upon that? There's probably still at least 7 players that need selling asap and replacing across the next 3 windows for us to really be where we want to be. But those 7 transfers need to be nailed as we are so far behind.

Yes we might scrape UCL this year, I genuinely hope we do, but we equally might drop down the league a few places over the coming weeks. Does the squad have what it takes to battle its way back up the table. Time will tell if course.

07 Jan 2026 19:31:55
So Mainoo’s back.

07 Jan 2026 20:02:10
A miracle recovery ?.

08 Jan 2026 08:21:50
and he showed why he hasn't been playing much this season.

08 Jan 2026 13:10:22
Delusions of grandeur.

08 Jan 2026 17:27:43
dio1989 - that's maybe due to the stats below:-

Premier League Starts: 0
Total Appearances: 11 (in PL) + 1 (in League Cup) = 12
Minutes Played: 212 (PL) + 121 (League Cup) = 333 minutes

What do you expect from the lad?

07 Jan 2026 18:13:36
It won't be long befoe Mike Phelan returns.

07 Jan 2026 19:07:36
Getting the band back together.

07 Jan 2026 14:27:34
It’s going to be OGS and Carrick again isn’t it?!

07 Jan 2026 14:55:17
It seems so, ken has his fingers crossed it's Ole.

07 Jan 2026 15:13:25
they will get a lot more out of this squad and we might actually qualify for cl. no advocating appointing either long term but both capable.

07 Jan 2026 15:13:51
Looks like it. As long as it’s not permanent then I can live with it.

07 Jan 2026 15:37:14
Has it been OGS and Carrick before?

07 Jan 2026 16:15:18
Carrick was on Ole’s coaching staff first time around mbd.

07 Jan 2026 17:54:16
Id put Ian rush and Stephen gerard in charge before i'd let ole loose on them.

07 Jan 2026 19:08:16
You don’t rate Ole Ken? ?.

07 Jan 2026 19:40:11
If the club put Ole in charge they are an utter joke.

07 Jan 2026 22:41:05
TY eric.

08 Jan 2026 08:41:03
I do rate him. I rate him lower than a snakes belly. Should have been charged for treasonous acts against the club. A complete bufoon. Let's hope we don't have to listen to him choking on his own puke trying to get his clichéd remarks out.


Imo one of the people most responsible for the mess on the playing and mentality side of the squad that's we have today.

07 Jan 2026 13:57:11
Do I think Amorim’s tactics and intractability were right for Utd? No. But do I think he was put in an awful position? Yes. The United squad were far from suited to his system both in terms of players, numbers and style. Wilcox bought him 5 players and Cunha and Mbuemo are bright sparks but they were arguably not needed. Amad, Mount, Fernandez even Zirkzee could have all fulfilled the number 10 slots to a decent enough standard. What was needed were 1 if not 2 CM/DM’s and RWB/LWB.

The attacking stats show Utd had improved but win % was appalling. A lot of posters say it’s down to the system (which is a factor) but arguably it’s simply down to the quality of players. Out of the 25 man squad 1 maybe 2 would start in the 5 teams above Utd. 3 or 4 would maybe get in their squads. From the last matchday squad against Leeds only Cunha would start in any of the 5 teams above United.

Sacking Amorim might see some improvement but overall major investment is still required.

07 Jan 2026 14:26:58
Simply down to the quality of the players? Let's see between now and the end of the season.

07 Jan 2026 14:33:25
I’m still not sure I’m happy or sad about Amorim being shown the door. I wasn’t one if his biggest supporters clearly, after 63 largely forgettable games in charge barring1-2 matches.

But what was appalling is appointing him, and then not backing him. Absolutely pointless.

07 Jan 2026 14:57:43
I think the time to make the change was after the Europa final. It seems the club had to persuade him not to leave after 3 months, and last year was utterly dreadful, culminating in meekly losing to Spurs.

It should have been clear then to everyone that a mistake had been made.

07 Jan 2026 15:19:02
I am actually sad for the man, club, supporters it did not work out. Its never a nice thing when people lose their jobs. It did not really matter what I thought of him as a manager and was hoping i was wrong. reality is he engineered his sacking imo and what he did at that press conference was wild and unprofessional.

07 Jan 2026 17:45:45
I hate when any of our managers lose their jobs. Even Jose! They're all trying their best.

And if they've lost their job it usually means the club hasn't been doing well, which is the most important thing.

I liked the guy a lot, and I was fairly optimistic for the rest of the season, but I think his arrogance and intractability haven't helped him here.

07 Jan 2026 18:44:28
Justa quick question.
How long do you guys think current management would have give sir alex if he was appointed in Nov 2024? Seeing it took him from Nov 86 to May 90 to win anything.
Makes me wonder where the real trouble lies.

08 Jan 2026 07:33:52
Great question zanred and the answer is he would have been gone by 1988, the leadership is an oxymoron. Worst decision ever to get rid of Amorim. The guy took us to 5th without a midfield and we had 8 first teamers out.

They didn't back him in Jan, full stop. Appalling. We just set ourselves back another 3 years, absolutely embarrassing and incompetent leaders. We make Daniel levy, Watford, Wolves ook like they knew how to choose managers.

07 Jan 2026 13:21:08
Short memories on here. When Ole took over from Jose we were 6th and finished 6th.

We finished 3rd the following season, largely because Bruno Fernandes arrived in January and transformed the team, we were struggling before then.

The season after that we finished 2nd, but team performances were already declining, and we relied on individual moments from Bruno. By 2021–22 it fell apart which led to Ole being sacked.

Bruno covered over a lot of the cracks in Ole’s managerial tenure which explains why he currently doesn’t have a club.

07 Jan 2026 14:21:35
Just so I'm clear, we finished 3rd and then 2nd?

07 Jan 2026 14:29:42
He won 14 out of 19 games as interim. I didn't want him as full time manager but that's some run.

Also, that's one massive crack that Bruno covered, 3rd and 2nd placed finishes in 2 full years in charge.

Again, I'm not advocating for him to be full time manager, far far from it. But it's like night and day to what I've just been watching for the last 14 months.

07 Jan 2026 15:45:49
LOL Grim, Bruno arrived bit cracks me up! Not even Bruno was signed but he arrived? Some credit at least to who signed him?
Just like angelred said, I am also not advocating for ole, in my case just reacting to your comment.

07 Jan 2026 15:55:44
Nobody's calling for him as a permanent choice.

07 Jan 2026 16:18:30
Always love this one way bruno love in, when we come 2nd or 3rd its because bruno covered all the cracks and dragged us their almost single handedly.

When we come 15th its only because of Bruno that we didn't get relegated.

Maybe just maybe, the overall team has something to do with it.

07 Jan 2026 10:50:12
Kobe Mainoo

When he made 61 appearances for United and 10 for England, I don't recall anyone saying he didn't have the legs, or he was too slow, or any other negative. What indo remember is everyone raving about this new talent we had found, who scored the winner in the FA Cup final and starred foe England.

Perhaps he lost his way, perhaps his fitness and application dropped, maybe he developed an attitude. Maybe, maybe not.

What I observed was a player being completely disregarded and ignored. That doesn't excuse any poor behaviour on his, or his family's part, his family in particular are acting like children.

Even if he did lose his edge for some reason, surely we incest and nurture him to get him back to the standard we previously saw.

This narrative that he isn't up to it [blah blah blah] has taken hold because RA banged on about it. People have short memories and to want to discard him so easily is madness.

Whatever, I guess he will play now and we will see whether he is up to it.

07 Jan 2026 11:11:50
I feel like I am missing something about Mainoo. I am reading a lot of criticism of him but personally, I haven't seen or read anything that suggests he's a problem? Pictures of him in training look like he's in the best shape of his life, he asked to go on loan to get game time, not requested to leave the club permanently and all this because it is a world cup year and he wants to play football and to achieve this it was basically suggested that he needs to oust the club captain and best player to get in the team?

He's a young lad who I agree needs to work hard and earn his position but I don't think he has a bad attitude? Genuine question because I feel like I have missed something here. I'm not worried about his wally brother and the t-shirt, don't think Mainoo can be judged on that.

07 Jan 2026 11:26:54
No need for incest at any time.

07 Jan 2026 11:29:56
AJH

Incest

I do feel feel that RA just disliked him. I think he is a terrific player who suffered from too much football in his first season, which in turn hampered his development from the consequent injuries he has suffered.

However, it has been noted that he doesn't try as hard as he should do in training. But young players need the senior players to give them a boot up the arse and not just from the manager.

07 Jan 2026 11:33:39
Be interesting to see how quickly he returns and how he plays when he does. All the noise around him, family members gobbing off etc has put the pressure on. If he plays well then you have to wonder why he wasn’t given a chance, if he doesn’t then his United career could well be over.

07 Jan 2026 11:58:57
Noted by who mad hatter?

07 Jan 2026 12:03:46
Top player with a great talent.
He was not ideal for ra's preferred system. Nothing wrong with that.
If the system changes then he will have more opportunities.
Its not rocket science.
The manager didn't see eye to eye with him. Happens in every walk of life.
Another manager will have a different opinion.
Fergie thought he had to get rid of stam and rvn. he had his reasons.

The rationale was not that they were bad players just that their didn't bri g what he wanted to the group anymore. Of course both went on to do great elsewhere.
Since football was invented managers have had differing opinions on players.
Everybody here has different opinions on players and managers so why would you expect different managers to have same opinions on the same players?

07 Jan 2026 12:17:35
Mainoo mount and Bruno all back in training and could get some game time tonight.

07 Jan 2026 12:20:29
Welcome back, TW. A Liverpool fan was asking after you in live chat. Can't remember his full name, but something baller. Referred to you as ken and asked you to make contact.

07 Jan 2026 12:32:47
My biggest gripe is how many people have bought into the narrative that he isn't actually very good, when the evidence we have suggests otherwise.

RA makes random statements about him and then fans start repeating them. Hey ho, we shall see.

07 Jan 2026 13:39:25
A bit like the English people believed and quoted what Boris told them about brexit? sometimes there is no accounting for people stupidity.

07 Jan 2026 14:19:28
We got a manager in who plays a system and mainoo didn’t fit it I’m sure he was asked to tactically and fitness wise improve with the coaching staff. They obviously didn’t see enough and also clearly by his reaction to not playing tells me a lot about his personality. Do I want a personality like that in my club definitely not, we’ve already got a few out the club with exactly the same mentality.
I love it when I see a homegrown player come through and was happy to see him playing, he seemed very level headed but clearly that isn’t the case.

As a 20 year old and you aren’t being picked you try your best to prove everyone in the club what you are about. A lot of 20 yr olds aren’t regulars in the first team. He was fully aware about his brother antics with the tshirt. I hope he leaves and soon. If I was making the decisions I would be trying to get as much as I could for him and reinvest to someone athletic who can play the role we need.

07 Jan 2026 14:32:10
Alright ken. Nice to see you!

I'd love to know the master plan the board had re Amorim. Thought it was all sorted with him and us poor fans with no football knowledge wouldn't understand?.

07 Jan 2026 14:39:46
Thanks Fizz. mad stuff. I was out of contract with the modern world for 9 days or so and I can really recommend that.
Probably Benny. Thanks for passing on.
So RA fired I see.
From what i can see it was a press conference he did begging to be fired. Good clear thinking to get out with a pay off if you feel let down.


So king is dead long live a new king.
I see ole being touted for a short term fix. i'd rather it be Stephen Gerrard than have that waste of space back but its not my decision to make obviously. But 1 bad or several bad employees won't stop me supporting. Happy new year BTW fizz.

07 Jan 2026 14:39:46
Ajh, a part of why he's not here anymore. So much random stuff was said.

07 Jan 2026 17:23:17
I haven't questioned his footballing ability, more so his attitude towards not playing etc. That stinks. If he can put his phone down and actually just play ball, sure I'll forgive him, in time. But let's not pretend he didn't down tools to a degree.

08 Jan 2026 07:41:23
Amorim for me was totally right the way he was switching the culture of the club with academy it's not a right of passage or entitlement. As for the poster who said the seniors should set example for the youngsters to make an effort, smh.

You're kidding right? So we should not expect a youngster to be fighting to outperform the seniors in every training session.

07 Jan 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Fulham v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

06 Jan 2026 21:48:31
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Fulham v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

06 Jan 2026 20:22:29
There seems to be a lot of disagreement on here after amorims dismissal. Some think he was doing a good job and going in the right direction and others who thought he was out of his depth and tactically poor. I’m more aligned with the latter but honestly I was ecstatic when we brought him in and excited about what he would bring. Sadly results changed my mind, but they did the same for eth, ole, Jose, lvg etc. we have tried all sorts, all styles and all experience levels with some limited success.

There’s clearly more to the story than just the manager and I can’t tell u where we go next as I don’t think Ineos know. We need a clear vision, strong leadership and a manager who can handle the lot. It’s depressing repeating this cycle, but here we are…Will I hope again? No doubt, will I believe again? For sure. Will I end up disappointed again? I really hope not…. surely we have to get it right some time. ?‍♂️.

07 Jan 2026 09:42:50
I think he brought discipline and focus off the pitch. I think he did ok with his line ups when he had a full squad.

What i never understood was is insane management and lack of tactical awareness to get the best out of dynamic changes on the pitch.

We need a strong character for sure, but with some openness to adjust when needed.

Lets not forget, we are near top of chances created, touches in opposition boxes etc. if we have a striker full of confidence then the picture is different.

I didn't like what he was doing with Manoo but also, Manoo looks like he is pulling a trailer with flat tyres. Maybe that's what he did like in him.

Either way, things had to change . onto the next poor sod!

08 Jan 2026 07:52:29
Think this is spot on. He made some stupid decisions the worst of which was switching a cm to a 3 for wolves. That was a poor decision in my humble opinion. But he was a strong character and a stubborn man, with a passion and a belief in his approach. BUT. he was young, REALTIVELY inexperienced and it's clear the players loved him and trusted him.

He Had changed and he had played different systems. He was learning. Yes he wasn't the finished article, but I am certain he was becoming the finished article. Over time he would have continued to learn not to be so wedded.

I my view Wilco and the club fscked him over. They deliberately took him out instead of backing him. They're rubbish, total rubbish. He had 8 players missing. We seemed to have blamed him for Semenyo deciding to go to City instead of United, seems we quickly forgot that Semenyo met Amorim privately in the summer, said he would sign, and we didn't go for him. Despite Ruben wanting him as well as Cunha and MBUEMO. And why could we not afford him? Because we had over a billion taken out the club and were so badly run we had almost a hundred million a year taken out of our costs model and still function with growth. But far too late. People forget pep first 3 years with City. He bought so many players, his budget was limitless. Chelsea have done the same. I've never been more disappointed in a decade of dross. We learned nothing, Ratcliffe is an idiot. He himself said Ruben needed 3 years not just I build a team in my view but to learn the league and to become a better manager by learning by his mistakes. This is a dreadful dreadful decision. I'm so gutted.