Manchester United banter 7

07 Apr 2026 17:14:04
I wonder will potential penalties / sanctions against City will impact players going there if they were deducted 12 or 20 points for next season or refused entry to Champions League?

08 Apr 2026 07:50:56
It would depend on what the exact sanction was. Refused entry to next year's Champions League, and then a 20-point deduction in next year's Premier League. You would see players questioning going there, as that is likely 2 years out of the Champions League.

For one year, it would likely not impact them too much, but for the top players, Champions League seems to be a huge driver for club choice.



Could they actually receive a transfer ban as part of it?

I am yet to be convinced they will receive anything, although so-called people in the know do seem to be discussing it more as possible.

08 Apr 2026 15:15:29
There's a lot potentially at risk for players going to City. There are fairly strong rumours Pep will be leaving in the summer. In addition, there are reports today that the rulings could be finalised in weeks, which you would assume will coincide with the end of the season. Players will wait to see what Pep does, and what the sanctions are, if any, before they commit.

However, if the sanctions are light, and Pep gets replaced really quickly, they still offer massive wages and a huge opportunity to win titles. So let's hope they have the book thrown at them, and all their titles revoked.

08 Apr 2026 15:40:43
Didn't seem to bother Guehi or Semenyo, Rewz.
Why we try and 2nd and 3rd guess what other people we don't know will do is beyond me.
We don't know if they have clauses in their contracts which would give them comfort if the worst happens to City. There are endless possibilities.

08 Apr 2026 18:14:05
I've said this for a while now, Ken. Any player signing for City, post charges being laid, and not having a clause in their contract that allows for immediate release from said contract, should those charges stick. They need a new agent, like yesterday. I would be gobsmacked if Guehi and Semenyo don't have that at the very least.

08 Apr 2026 18:31:05
Anybody who would offer that contract under any circumstance for the money in question would be a fool. City won't have offered that at all. Nor would it be asked for with any credibility.
They won't have an instant release from the contract, but I'd imagine a release clause if someone meets a certain fee.

08 Apr 2026 20:59:12
Nothing will happen to City or it would have happened already, Everton, etc.

08 Apr 2026 22:28:38
City seem to stick piling young players. I can see them getting a transfer ban, and they are already aware that it will happen.

Obviously, that is just my suspicion.

08 Apr 2026 23:10:57
I couldn't care less about if they get sanctioned.
If they do, then great, it will set them back a bit. If they don't, we just have to get on with it. Rise to the challenge. Life is full of what appear to be injustices, I hope this isn't one, but if it is, victory when it comes will be sweeter.


Life she Pep will be tough enough for them, so anything on top of that will see them take a few steps back, I think.

09 Apr 2026 10:51:04
City can also appeal any sanctions, which would then delay them being imposed. My gut feeling is that they will get a fine and a suspended transfer ban for 2 years.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if City managed to sign players before a ban was imposed. They could spend big and receive a year's ban. It wouldn't be too harmful for them either.

09 Apr 2026 12:07:19
I would love to see them get hammered and expelled from the league to start over from non-league football. However, I feel that if any punishment is likely, it would have been done ages ago as per Everton etc.
Cheating.

10 Apr 2026 08:19:07
One of the main charges and allegations against City, as I understand it, relates to what may have been alleged as fraudulent recognition of revenue from sponsors that happened over multiple financial years. In business, if found guilty, companies may be asked to reconstitute each financial year's accounts to what they should have been by correcting the revenue numbers. By doing that, each season could be reviewed to see whether they were compliant with that season's regulations, and what impact that would have been on spending on players, purchases, and wages. The decision, which is more fluffy, is whether they would have won what they did in those years.
Punishment could then be decided by looking at the impact on each season.

Therefore, a large one-off points deduction doesn't seem to match the alleged offences if they are proven. A large one-off points deduction is easier to administer, however, and I suspect one that relegates them might be seen as appropriate punishment, plus I would imagine a very large financial penalty. We have no idea if they will be found guilty, but if they should be, it points more towards huge financial fines and removal of whatever silverware in each of those years that was gained because of the financial activity.
That is a huge amount to consider, and would take a long time to review, which is what we are seeing.

13 Apr 2026 17:27:08
40-60 points will do it. Relegation, then minimum 2 years in the wilderness. Also reimbursing all clubs that missed out by being placed one place higher in the league, and compensating for lost earnings and European places for each qualifying year.

07 Apr 2026 10:49:25
Harry Maguire signs new one-year contract at Old Trafford.

He has been solid for Carrick recently and is a good character in the dressing room. He certainly has his critics here but I don't think this is a bad move.

07 Apr 2026 11:23:02
One more year is acceptable, but this is the last one.

07 Apr 2026 12:24:41
Booooo!

07 Apr 2026 14:01:16
Deserves the contract, dropped and hammered by the fans. Didn't let it get to him, got his head down and got back into the team. That is the mentality every United player should have.

{Ed025's Note - to be fair Grim he is the best centre back you have mate..

07 Apr 2026 14:07:31
Don't have any issues as long as we aren't making him our no1 choice and have to rely on him for most of the season.

07 Apr 2026 14:48:40
Absolutely the right decision. We have too many gaps to cover in one window, and this will allow for the CB position to not be an urgent need, dependent on what happens with Martinez/De Ligt.

I would expect to see Yoro get more minutes next year, and more games to go around for everyone. We will definitely need a solid 4/5 for this position.

07 Apr 2026 14:59:44
Considering the wild range of possibilities for when de Ligt is going to play again, and if he even comes back anywhere near his previous level, and then on top of that, Licha Martinez hasn't played a full season since he joined the club.

This feels like a no brainer.

07 Apr 2026 17:02:37
We needed to retain him for his experience and his character.
Not least, because we should be parting ways with at least 3 of the back line this summer, so we will need some stability.
He is a worthy backup CB.

3/4/5 choice.
I note the contract extension is for at least one more year, so I suspect a rolling one-year extension, providing both parties are happy to continue each season. He will know when his time is up.

07 Apr 2026 19:30:45
It is a 12 month contract with the option for a further 12 months.

07 Apr 2026 23:25:44
I admire Maguire's resolve, but we're not winning a league with him as a regular starter. As a squad player, he does have a role. When fit, de Ligt and Martinez are guaranteed starters, but I think we need another given their injury records, and basically that's because I don't see Maguire as a good enough replacement.

08 Apr 2026 01:48:11
With de Ligt and Martinez's injury problems, that leaves us with Yoro Heaven and Maguire. So keeping Harry was a must, we can't rely on others.

08 Apr 2026 06:51:37
Maybe, when his career ends, he can step sideways. He's made a living out of going that direction. ?

08 Apr 2026 08:49:26
No brainer. We'll need some depth if we're in the Champions League, and a replacement top new CB will cost us £50m+ and the same sort of wages. We have more important priorities this summer. Hopefully Yoro, who has looked better in a back 4, and Heaven will benefit and improve from another year of experience, and De Ligt will get back to fitness.

With Martinez being unreliable, we can't afford to let any of the other 4 leave. We'll still probably need a supplemental one.

08 Apr 2026 11:40:25
Whilst I haven't been a Maguire fan, he has shown the right attitude and mentality to succeed at Utd, which will bode well for the youngsters at the club.

They can't afford to buy 2-3 CM, a LW, 1 xCB, and a LB all in one summer transfer window.

09 Apr 2026 09:35:31
Terrible day of circumstances that we have to give this average Joe a new contract.
Slow and getting slower, not always available.
I agree that it's probably better to err on the side of caution, but it's not ideal at all, imo.


Good attitude, but I won't throw bouquets at him for that.
Ok, been up. Let's hope we don't have to rely on him too much to play, as he won't improve and his best is very average.

09 Apr 2026 10:18:45
Right there with you Tumble.

09 Apr 2026 17:24:31
It's a good deal and Harry is a fine backup. But that was always his level at a club like United.

His attitude is spot on, but his ability isn't anywhere near the standard of previous 1st-choice centre-backs.

Not his fault, and he has taken unfair criticism over the years, but for me, he epitomises all that's been wrong over the years.



Overpaid on inadequate players for the first team and kept them too long. Wasting money and time.

09 Apr 2026 22:14:01
How long into the new season before the usual suspects start banging on about getting his inflated wages off the books?

Gotta admire his self belief, though. He truly thinks he is one of the world's best!

Bless him.

10 Apr 2026 17:13:24
I think he said in both boxes, Keefy, and I think he is right. I was never a big fan of his, never wanted and never rated. But, given the need for midfielders this year, and the injuries to de Ligt and Martinez, renewing Maguire would push the need for two defenders to the next year. Maybe, and I wish it, we can buy one this year and one next.

Without Maguire we are left with Yoro and Heaven as non injury prone defenders.
I am glad he stayed. I also will be glad if there is no need to overplay him because that means Yoro, Heaven, etc. have stepped up. Maguire is for certain matches in which we defend deep because of his lack of speed.

06 Apr 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - LFC-S MANGO has posted a new article entitled, Slot Cannot Be the Only One Blamed

07 Apr 2026 16:28:20
It's Liverpool mango, so no doubt you'll find someone to blame.

07 Apr 2026 16:37:41
Ken. ???

05 Apr 2026 09:57:11
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Why United Should Consider Bringing Back James Garner

05 Apr 2026 13:46:07
He was available on a free this summer if we had approached him, but we didn't, so he signed a new contract 6 weeks ago and will stay at Everton.

05 Apr 2026 16:02:01
Maybe Ken, or maybe he signed a deal to make sure Everton get a fee for him.

He is from Merseyside, so could well have family connections to Everton. They also gave him his chance, and he might be one of the few players who has some moral fibre.

His deal that ran out this summer, I believe (according to press reports at least), had a one-year extension that the club could trigger.

So they could have unilaterally extended his deal. Maybe a new deal, with a gentleman's agreement or even a buy-out clause, was agreed. Who knows.

Ultimately, my post wasn't really tied into the likelihood of him signing, just that I think he'd be a very shrewd signing given his skillset and our need this summer.

05 Apr 2026 20:03:59
Agree, Shappy, that he could be a shrewd signing. Always rated him as a younger player, and now has matured.

05 Apr 2026 22:00:51
His contract was expiring in full end of June. He signed a new deal to stay there.
I think he has turned into a very good player and is versatile, plays rb a bit too. But he was not viewed as a potential free. A couple of England caps won't change that to a 40m plus buy. Let's be realistic.

06 Apr 2026 07:56:23
Shappy,
If he signed a contract to enable Everton to get a good fee, yet wants to return to us, then frankly I don't want that in a Utd player. Decent player, having a good spell, but fawning over someone who is probably a long way down the line of quality midfielders isn't the best way.

Available on a free, and not wanting him then, but willing to pay a big fee is very Fellaini-like decision making. Leave well alone.

06 Apr 2026 12:17:12
I thought we were right to sell him and he's obviously improved a great deal. I like his versatility and workrate. We need a bit of that. Pretty sure his impressive single cap will double his fee.

06 Apr 2026 11:32:13
Red Man, I agree that there are definitely more talented players.

Veron was a far more talented player than Nicky Butt, but he wasn't half as effective for us.

Sometimes the best player for a club isn't the most talented player, but the right player to enable the whole team to click and work to their maximum efficiency.

My concern is that a lot of the players we are being linked with are naturally more inclined to play the box to box No.8 role be that as a destructive ball winning No.8 or as a creative on the ball No.8.

The only one who we have been consistently linked with who fits the mould as a natural sitting and shielding No.6 is Baleba, and I'm not even completely sure that is his best position either. He is a comfortable passer, but lacks imagination, and he has an aggressive tendency to jump and try and win the ball (but that could just be the enthusiasm of youth).

Successful sides do not just stick the biggest name players together ala Galactico style. The best sides recruit players who complement eachother and bring out the best in eachother, which makes sense as football is a team game.

Casemiro is the only player we currently have who can comfortably play that sitting No.6 role, which is why we look so much worse when he isn't playing.

Mainoo isn't a player who'll naturally sit and shield the back four, neither is Bruno, or Ugarte (who is often mistaken as a holding player due to the perception that players who make a lot of tackles are the defensive lynchpin).

We see it all the time when Casemiro isn't playing, we suddenly have big gaps open up centrally which nearly always leads to us conceding goals. We say it's a lack of legs in midfield as we see players struggling to sprint back to cover, but the issue isn't their lack of legs, but the fact they were in the wrong place which opened up the space.

Casemiro last season was trying to play too much as a box to box driving player which meant he was occasionally out of position and without a more natural sitting player like Kroos alongside him it left big spaces. This season he appears that his legs aren't as gone as we thought, when in reality he has just learned to adapt his game and sit more often, meaning the space never opens up.

We need to bring in at least one player who is more about defending the space than winning the ball. They will tend to win the ball a lot due to them playing as that shield in front of the back four, but they won't go chasing the ball and leave gaps open behind them.

James Garner fits that role well, is EPL proven, homegrown, and a former academy player to boot (meaning he is less likely to be overwhelmed or struggle to adapt to our club).

There are other options out there, Eduardo Camavinga would be another that I would have high up on my list. He's certainly the bigger name, more naturally talented and shiny option, but he does come with a bigger risk of whether he could adapt to the EPL or playing for United (although you'd hope having played for Real Madrid he'd be able to cope with the pressure, although that isn't a given).

We need a natural sitting No.6 type player, of those we have been linked with Wharton and Anderson are the two who could probably adapt to that role best, but it isn't their natural role and playing them in it will not get the best out of them. Which seems silly to spend such a huge amount on a player to then play them as a square peg in a round hole, even if they can do an adequate job there.

06 Apr 2026 14:01:26
Garner signed a new contract 6 weeks ago. He is not moving from Everton. He is not an option. Simple.

06 Apr 2026 20:51:26
Garner would've made for an upgrade on Ugarte, but for his own sake, it made sense to stay at Everton, where he's a regular starter.

06 Apr 2026 22:50:39
Manuel Fernandes, Garner and Anderson. Greedy.

07 Apr 2026 04:45:00
Garner probably doesn't want to come and be a 4th choice back up. Yes, he would be incredible to have that depth on the bench. But, that is not what he wants, I imagine.

Question is, when are we going to see someone from the youth team step up into that role? Has anyone looked ready?

{Ed025's Note - 4th choice back up DB?, he walks into the united side mate and the only player you have that is a better midfielder is Bruno..

07 Apr 2026 12:54:26
Yeah, because Garner's better than Casemiro, right? Absolute nonsense 025.

{Ed025's Note - he replaces Cas for me WR, hes been decent but hes a bit of an old turnip now and he strolls rather than runs these days mate, he still gets in your midfield though because lets be honest the likes of Mainoo and Ugarte are championship players at best and thats before you throw in Mason out for the count Mount..

07 Apr 2026 13:08:02
Whiskey, Casemiro is leaving! Breaking news. ?

07 Apr 2026 13:32:58
That's hardly the point I'm making, is it, Fizz? I stated that he is not better than Casemiro.

I'm well aware he's leaving.

08 Apr 2026 02:06:22
Fantastic post, Shappy, one of the very best.
Just my opinion, but I think Garner is a very tough guy. He did renew his contract so he can see who really wants him and has him as a priority.

Because, if he was free, a lot of clubs would take him for third or fourth option for their rotation. But who wants him badly and is going to pay 70 millions?

08 Apr 2026 10:22:56
The answer to that heaven is nobody. He renewed his contract because its the only or at least the best offer he had on the table at the time. He did not renew it to see who wanted him that's one of the thickest things I've ever read on here?

08 Apr 2026 12:59:45
No, not exactly. But he did think, my personal opinion, that if he is good, and if someone really wants him come summer or next, someone can pay and buy him. And that's a win win situation with Everton pocketing money too.


It was the only offer on the table because you can't offer a contract to a player who plays for a team in the same football association before his contract expires. So, you are right, he hadn't another choice.

08 Apr 2026 13:22:00
Heaven you are very poorly informed.
Any club club can speak to a players agents/representatives and make a contract offer while he is employed elsewhere. Use your head.
If he could have got a free move in the summer he would have pocketed an extra 5-10m personally, i don't think getting a fee for Everton entered his thought process or his representatives. Do me a favour

08 Apr 2026 15:33:23
He had an option of an extra year extension, Tumble. I don't think he could leave for free.

08 Apr 2026 15:41:41
There was no option, Heaven. His contract was expiring in full in June.

08 Apr 2026 15:43:43
Also, Heaven, that option is not the player's option. When it does exist, it's the club's option; the player is powerless to stop a club enforcing it and has no option to force it on the club. If they don't want him to stay, they just don't take up the option, like we did in Sancho's case.

08 Apr 2026 15:56:20
That's what I say, or, I mean, if you prefer, it's the club's option. So, at the very least, Everton would trigger it in order to not lose him for free. Ideally, Everton would extend his contract by 4-5 years, as they did.


That's what Moyes, more or less, said, if I remember correctly, and more or less confirmed that they had the choice of +1. I, of course, believe him.

08 Apr 2026 17:12:03
Everton didn't have an extra year option. His contract was up in June.

08 Apr 2026 17:25:12
If you say so, Tumble. If you have inside information, or better information, that's fine. I go by what I read. Moyes hid that there was a year extension for James Garner, and I do believe him.

08 Apr 2026 18:32:57
Yes, cos his current contract had expired, so he got a 3 year extension on increased terms. The details are in the public forum, it's not difficult to check.

08 Apr 2026 19:11:52
Yes, it was going to expire because Everton didn't trigger the one year extension yet. But they had this option, you must search what Moyes said, it's public and it's not difficult to check. Anyway, move on.

05 Apr 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, What a Manchester City Punishment Could Change

05 Apr 2026 19:46:25
A few things that I might be wide of the mark with, but.... I understand the following.

1. City have exhausted all avenues of appeal, hence the delay, and the talk of the decision being final.

2. Newcastle, Villa, and I suspect Chelsea, to a lesser degree, have issues with Financial Fair Play currently.

I think the first two will fall off a cliff as the squads get decimated by the bigger boys.

3. Spurs are not coming back.

05 Apr 2026 22:02:40
I think Spurs will be in the mix for top6/7 next season if they stay up. Lots of work to be done. They have a good coach and will do fine, I think.

06 Apr 2026 08:51:38
As I understand it, for teams in Europe next season, squad cost (the total of wages and amortization) cannot exceed 70% of revenues. Villa's revenues last season were £378m, Newcastle's £335m, Chelsea's £490m. We have an enormous revenue advantage going into the transfer window, particularly if we do make it into the Champions League.

If one of the punishments meted out to City is a transfer ban, then we would be in an even better position to secure the midfield improvements we're going to need. Our revenues should exceed £700m, leaving us with a permissible transfer budget in excess of £300m, limited more by our ongoing debt and cash/credit facilities.

06 Apr 2026 11:40:58
New name, I doubt they will give City a transfer ban, as the majority of the charges are related to effectively fudging their accounts to make it look like they are more profitable than they are.

They will get a points deduction, maybe even a big enough one to relegate them.

They will also be forced to adjust their accounts to more accurately reflect their true income, which means their cost/expenditure percentages change, and means they won't meet certain criteria to pass the FFP/affordability rules.

That in itself will likely force them to have to sell players and bring in cheaper replacements on lower wages (definitely if they are relegated).

To then give them a transfer ban on top of effectively forcing them to sell many of their players would be to hamstring them, and I don't imagine any governing body would uphold such a ruling.



Our best chance to beat them to key signings such as Elliot Anderson is if they get relegated or at least are forced out of European football.

That would make them less attractive as an option, especially if it causes Pep to jump ship.

A Man City side without Pep and European football, along with them likely losing several key players, marks them down as a side in serious decline. Their old advantage of offering to pay higher wages (either officially or off the books) would also no longer be available to them.

06 Apr 2026 12:51:41
Hopefully this uncertainty is the only thing we have in our favour against City in the Anderson race.

06 Apr 2026 21:28:16
Just gonna put this Utd out there.

How about we make ourselves an attractive club to come to, and not worry about City, or indeed rely on them to be suitably punished to make them unattractive to prospective players.



We can only compete with whoever is out there, and if it ain't City, then someone else will step up.

Get back to where we should be, and then we will be able to pick and choose.

07 Apr 2026 11:24:11
That would be nice, Keefy. It has been too long between drinks for this club.

07 Apr 2026 12:26:11
No argument from me, Jimbob. But the sentiment remains.

04 Apr 2026 19:39:14
Must be so much fun on the Liverpool page ???. The tables have definitley turned. Slott forever ???.

04 Apr 2026 21:29:57
Everyone writing them off against PSG, be like them to get a result! That lot in Europe are a different animal! Hope not, mind u, a nice hiding would be lovely by PSG. ?

04 Apr 2026 22:51:59
Liverpool had several chances to score against City and failed to take one. Salah has lost that edge which made him a great player. Offensively, overall, though, I think they are OK.
In defence they are not settled at all, and that's where their problems lie.

City have been rebuilding and will be the team to beat next year if Pep stays.

They are playing with confidence again, and Cherki and Semenyo have really boosted their creativity and attack. Guehi is taking his time to bed in, but is a solid performer and a very good defender.

04 Apr 2026 17:44:10
Further to the thread the other day, I've read this week that there are rumours regarding Simeone's situation at AM.
14 years there and he has done a terrific job breaking the strangle hold of the big 2 and been very competitive.

But a new leader of the club is rumoured to want to move in a new direction and new ideas.
His contract expires in 2027.
I wonder if we made an approach to him, would he be interested?

04 Apr 2026 18:56:00
I do like the idea of a Simeone team, but the fact he can't speak English is probably too big a hurdle?

04 Apr 2026 20:10:37
Simeone has been great at Atletico, transforming them into a consistent powerhouse behind Barca/Real. However, it does feel like his style has been found out, and is not getting the results it did a few years back.

That being said, with the way Arsenal are winning, and the lack of real flair/attack this year in the Premier League, he could come in and do a good job, with a new team and league invigorating him.

That being said, he is not for me, and I would sooner us look elsewhere, and not sure his want to control everything fits with the leadership structure.

04 Apr 2026 21:32:21
The fact he would wind up opposition managers, players and fans regularly makes me interested to see him in the OT dugout... Could you imagine. ???

04 Apr 2026 21:41:45
If he leaves Madrid he will end up at Inter Milan imo.

05 Apr 2026 00:09:38
He definitely wouldn't take any crap from any prima donna players.
Question is whether some or all of Utds players are mentally strong enough to play for such a manager.

05 Apr 2026 11:05:00
Salford, I think we know the answer to your question.

05 Apr 2026 11:21:40
I'm completely open on the next United manager.
We've tried everything in the years since Fergie. Massively experienced (Van Gaal, Mourinho), up-and-coming next big things (Amorim, Ten Hag), former players (Solksjaer, Carrick), Moyes (don't actually know what category to put him in, but it was a disaster). They've all had differing levels of success. Mourinho was the 'biggest' success with a 58% win ratio.
Can't say any of them created a team that was anywhere near as exciting to watch as the United we know, but to be fair we weren't stylistically great in Fergie's final few seasons.


I've got hugely excited by Eric and Ruben's United and both were awful for whatever reason you want to put on it. In every case, poor transfer strategies and over expectation has foiled each of them.
I do feel Carrick will 'deserve' it if he gets us CL, but worry what will happen the first time a massive European giant comes to OT and turns us over due to his inexperience.
Nagelsmann is intriguing, but a few red flags - he's with Germany, so again won't be hands on to get a pre-season, and maybe he's just another hip manager like the last few.

05 Apr 2026 12:12:04
I'm not sure Simeone is a good fit for United. For me, he just feels like a Chelsea manager if he came to the Premier League. Someone may be able to tell me, but I don't think he was ever on the list of contenders for Bayern when they changed manager, or Liverpool when Klopp moved on, or even to replace Slot? Like someone has said, he would seem ideal to go to Inter after Atletico.



The structure of United is changing now, with recruitment etc. Vivell and Wilcox are being very active in this area, so we need an individual who could work effectively in this structure. I just can't see Simeone being that person personally, but that will be what the club will explore with him if conversations happen, I guess.

05 Apr 2026 13:49:45
Jd123, really? They got on all right with Fergy. ???

05 Apr 2026 13:49:46
That's the stitches structure he works under in Madrid. They hand 2 people the roles Wilcox and Vivell have at United.
I don't know enough of either dynamic to say they are exactly the same, but in terms of positions, both are identical.

05 Apr 2026 14:44:11
Oh right, I didn't realise, Ken. I thought I read somewhere that he has quite a big say in transfers, etc. Would certainly be an interesting appointment if it came off.

05 Apr 2026 14:58:49
I don't think England and the EPL would be his 1st choice. I agree with those that tip him to go to Italy. Taking over the intl team, I think, is also a possible option for him.

05 Apr 2026 16:23:04
I'm a fan of Simeone in the same way that I'm a fan of Mourinho. They have a dogged, aggressive style about them, they also tend to play well (upto) being the underdog which definitely plays towards the British psyhe of supporting the underdog.

Their teams will run through brick walls, battle for every ball and play with an infectious aggression.

That said I don't think either are well suited to being the Manchester United manager, just as I don't think either would be a good fit for Barcelona either.

There are some clubs where winning is not enough, but you need to win in style, within a club identity.

Both Simeone and Mourinho are pragmatists, they spend more time training their players on how to disrupt the opposition than they spend on trying to create a front foot style to outscore the opposition.

Some managers approach coaching and tactics with the mentality "if we can stop the opposition from scoring then we have a great chance of getting something from the game", while other managers approach football with the mentality "how can we score more goals than the opposition".

I'm not saying one approach is better than the other, but I am saying as a fan I prefer to watch football played with the latter approach over the former.

I'd rather watch a game where my team is trying to score and play on the front foot, that is what I find entertaining. Rather than watching my team try and defend and disrupt the opposition, eking out a 1-0 win from a set piece.

For my money Simeone would have us playing like Arsenal under Arteta, and maybe he'd win a trophy or two doing that. But I watch football to be entertained, and the only thing I find entertaining about this Arsenal side is watching them bottle trophies.

Not all great managers are a great fit for every club. We need to move away from chasing the biggest brightest name available and instead focus on the best suited candidates, both on and off the pitch.

Just last summer it looked like there was a straight choice between Emi Martinez and Senne Lammens as a new keeper.

Martinez on paper is the big name, world cup winning option. But he is also prone to a clanger, while his antics can be disruptive, he is also potentially (or soon to be) on the decline.

The club instead scouted a young player who had all the attributes we needed for our team, his skills, demeanour, and personality all fitted what we needed better than Martinez.

We chose to go with the option that met our specific needs over the big name proven option (who in hindsight also had a few potential issues for our team).

Personally I think Simeone has spent a few years too long at Atletico Madrid, he got comfortable and comfort is death of progress. I think he needs a new challenge and for me I think his style is perfect for Serie A. Somewhere like Inter Milan, Napoli or Roma and I think he'd be a legend with them.

06 Apr 2026 08:00:06
Simeone has expressed a desire in the past to join Inter Milan. If he wants to enhance his chances of a big job, then he would have been learning English, he might, and we have no idea. I suspect it's now or never for a move. Strong character, and at his age, he has to be looking at his options.

04 Apr 2026 13:26:21{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, What a Manchester City Punishment Could Change

04 Apr 2026 15:22:57
Agree.

City are also proposing the largest ever shirt sponsorship £1B over 10 years with Etihad.

Apparently it's being reviewed to benchmark against the going marker rate.

Common sense should prevail, and this will be more drag and friction for them.

Price of football, fellas, predict 40-60 point deduction for City.

04 Apr 2026 18:04:05
Embarrassing that football has not dealt with this swiftly and strongly. Everyone knows they are at fault. How can it possibly take this long? Dish out the penalty and let them serve their punishment and move on. It is a complete joke that we have one of the top teams in world football still competing at the top table, with this hanging over them.

Is it a footnote to every victory and trophy? It is better for City to clean the slate. Maybe they just want to wait till Guardiola has gone and then deal with it as quick as possible.

04 Apr 2026 21:06:38
That being said, he doesn't speak English.

05 Apr 2026 16:40:59
Who, Ajh?

Simeone? Daglish? Guardiola?. ?

05 Apr 2026 16:43:24
Yeah, I replied to the wrong post, Simeone.

04 Apr 2026 10:28:58
I know we have had lots of discussions over the next manager, whether Carrick should stay or bring in someone new; however, maybe we should just accept that Bruno is the de facto manager who makes all the decisions at this club, both on and off field, so let’s stop messing around and install him as the player/coach.

04 Apr 2026 15:27:53
90s are back in fashion. Why not? Gullit and Vialli did better as player-coaches than full-time managers.

If we're talking hypothetically, and considering the way football has changed, it could be a genuine innovation.

The Director of Football signs the players and sets the play style.

Coaches coach, and perhaps the captain could work more like cricket, making on-field tactical, reactionary changes.

Who's the best player-coach ever?
What current players in the EPL could be a player-coach/manager?

04 Apr 2026 16:11:29
Kenny Dalglish was very successful as a player coach.
I don't see that set up happening in football Ur.
In general, I prefer the players play, coaches coach, and managers manage approach.

05 Apr 2026 16:55:55
Kenny Dalgliesh is the best one, accepted.

04 Apr 2026 00:14:53
Bold prediction but I think over the next 3 years it will be Arsenal and two of Liverpool, Utd and Villa.

It’s not bitterness at all but I think Man City are going to have some challenges ahead of them. Pep will leave in the 12 months or so. That alone is huge. Haaland looks to be making noises plus the 115 issues. It’s going to be tough.

Spurs are out of the equation for a while.



Chelsea will do what they do, come and go as they change managers and players. At best I think City will land here, at worst they’ll be rebuilding after relegation.

Utd and Liverpool will depend on transfers and mangers, Villa look like a steady ship.

Anyone else got any predictions for the next few years?

04 Apr 2026 09:49:15
There doesn't seem any obvious team that will dominate over the next few years, as we have seen in the past.

Maybe a period of several different clubs all winning the league, which I think is a good thing for everyone.

If you want an outlier, go for Wrexham getting a European place within two years of being promoted.

04 Apr 2026 10:07:25
As much as I hate to say it, Arsenal have a very strong squad, and having been admirably patient sticking with Arteta and the program, now look like they will be around for some time. They also have some excellent young players coming through, including, obviously, Dowman. However, we might have said the same about Liverpool last season, but after spending £400m+ they are a pale imitation.

As far as City is concerned, they will likely avoid any serious penalties. They also have wads of money behind them, so if they choose well, they will remain contenders for the foreseeable future. Villa are over performing for their resources. With decent management, we should become a perennial contender again, but I don't see us ever getting back to becoming serial league winners again.

04 Apr 2026 10:26:24
Given that it's currently set to be the 5th of 6 preseason games planned this summer then I would expect us to play most of the first team squad we have available for at least half the match.

We might be missing some players who played in the latter stages of the World cup if they are given extra time off to recover, but I would expect with it being 10 days before the opening EPL game that we will want to play the majority of the first team and make sure they are up to speed.

Depending on who are manager is they might also want to play their strongest available 11 as they start to try and set their style/tactics into the team.

I'm actually really pleased to see the club make a sensible choice to play their preseason in Europe this summer, rather than going on a money spinning trip to the US or Asia.

From the outside at least it looks like our preseason plans are being focused on our footballing objectives rather than our financial ones.

We don't have a deep squad, and we will probably have to play as much as 50% more games next season. Along with a lot of our squad probably playing at the world cup for at least part of the summer break.
Potentially as many as 17 of our squad could go to the world cup (Mount, Shaw, Yoro, and MdL are the ones where their country has qualified, but for one reason or another they might miss out). Of our first team squad who won't play a part in the world cup we have Sesko, Mbeumo, Dorgu, and Heaven (who could be but has never been called up even for a friendly as of yet).
While players like Cunha, Dalot, Bruno, Maguire, Mainoo, and Martinez are all playing for teams that will likely make the quarter finals at least. With Zirkzee, Lammens, Amad and Mazraoui playing for sides that could also make the latter rounds depending on the draw.

Maybe with it being in the US they could have chosen to have preseason there it could save most of the squad from having to travel back and forth. Yet with it being played across all of North America and Mexico there will potentially be more travelling at the world cup than usual.

I applaud the club for choosing to be practical this summer and have a tour around Europe, both reducing the amount of travelling, and allowing the new manager time to settle in with training at Carrington, while also preparing the players for a season where will be travelling around Europe mid-week. It seems like the club is being run by football men and not accountants for the first time in over a decade. While it's still a long way back to the top, I do feel that we are at least on the right path now.

05 Apr 2026 16:19:14
Arsenal's biggest issue will be player retention.
The likes of Saliba and Gabriel, for instance, are a level above Arsenal and will head to Spain.