Manchester United banter 8

06 Jul 2026 08:13:14
Think we can discount Tchouameni too, Jose talking building team around him. Never really thought it was an option, big price big wages. Very clear we are looking at cheaper players with low wages. Need to uneath another Gem. Still think we will only get Ederson and Babela. We will need a lot of the young lads to step up, hopefully they can.

06 Jul 2026 11:33:03
Redcon, what do you mean, time to unearth another gem? Have we already unearthed a gem, then? If so, please share the names of the gems we have unearthed. I'm looking at this squad and can't find any. Am I missing something?

06 Jul 2026 16:20:39
I'd say Heaven is a gem based on what he cost and how good he could be in the future.

07 Jul 2026 17:24:33
I'd add Lammens too.

05 Jul 2026 22:53:07
Haaland is absolutely deadly isn't he. Barely touched the ball all game and scored 2 great goals.

05 Jul 2026 23:13:55
Monster. He is simply brilliant in and around the box. One of the best finishers I've ever seen.

05 Jul 2026 23:24:38
Was thinking that, Ken, I think he's the most clinical finisher I have ever seen tbh.

05 Jul 2026 23:37:20
Prob the best ever, but Norway didn't really have anyone else who would threaten, so to allow him the time and space that Brazil did was criminal.

05 Jul 2026 23:59:07
He's like Thanos from the Avengers movies. He is inevitable.

06 Jul 2026 11:36:02
He does absolutely nothing in a game, and, bang, he is deadly in front of goal. A great finisher, probably one of, if not the best.

06 Jul 2026 10:53:58
I hope Guehi and co aim for the head on Saturday.
Norway look exactly like the kind of banana-skin that has tripped England in recent world cups. Thought they looked pretty tidy and they looked useful down the left which is ominous given our problems down that side.

Hopefully James is back. If we can cut the supply to the god of thunder we've got a great chance of progressing.

06 Jul 2026 18:23:53
Remember Pippo Inzaghi? Used to do the same. Never touched the ball, offside 8 times in a game. But he only needed 1 chance and he was deadly.

06 Jul 2026 19:18:53
Ole in another life (or his dreams) signed: Haaland, Bellingham and Rice.

Haaland is something else.

05 Jul 2026 17:49:19
The Andrey Santos thing is very simple, to me. Him or Ederson = fine. Him and Ederson = the kind of midfield rebuild expected at a Palace, Forest or Everton. If we are genuinely thinking that a midfield roster of Mainoo, Santos, Ederson and Fletcher/Thwaites/Oroczo/Kone is OK for a season in which we play Champions League football, then be prepared to come closer to 15th than 3rd next season.

05 Jul 2026 18:35:14
We are going to need 2 more CMs so if we got him and Tchouameni, would you be happy with that?

05 Jul 2026 19:02:27
Angel, no. That's not good enough. Tchouameni and Scott, and that is better still. We are talking about a midfield rebuild, and looking at scrap.

05 Jul 2026 19:16:49
Angel, no, not really.

Mainoo isn't elite, as much as some on here think that he is.

Santos isn't elite.

Ederson certainly isn't elite.

Even if we did go and get Tchouameni, we'd be looking at one elite, one very good (KM), one decent (AS) and one average (E) midfielder in our first-team squad.

If the unthinkable happens and we get Scott, Santos and Ederson, then it'll be one very good (KM), two decent (ASx2!) and one average (E).

Mainoo is absolutely not the man to be our no.1 midfielder. And yet I think he's going to be come September 1st.

All of this whilst City have Rodri and Anderson, Arsenal could well have Rice and Guimaraes, Liverpool have Szoboszlai and Gravenberch, Chelsea have Enzo and Caicedo, Spurs have Fernandes and Tonali, Villa have Kamara and Tielemans...

Need I go on? I'd even take Palace's midfield of Wharton and Kamada over Mainoo and one of Scott/Santos/Ederson.

This summer needed two elite midfielders. Two of Tchouameni, Anderson, Guimaraes, Tonali or Fernandes. Mainoo should have been the rotational option, not the one to completely pin our hopes upon. Unless two midfielders at least on a par with Mainoo come in, we'll come bottom half this season, with Champions League.

05 Jul 2026 19:31:57
Sounds like you have it all sorted, Downsie. You clearly know better than the boys at United. ?

I'm very happy with the window last year, and I believe they know what they're doing. Happy to wait and see regarding the targets. They will have far superior knowledge regarding these targets than anyone on here.

05 Jul 2026 19:35:42
Downsie, your list has 1 elite player in Tchouameni. Anderson looks like he could be. Guimaraes and Tonali have ability, but if they were both elite then Newcastle would have bossed most of their games, and that has not been the case. Mateus Fernandes is mostly about potential. And Santos has at least as much potential as him.
We need balance in our midfield. We need a midfield duo that can press, can progress the ball through the lines, and screen the defence.

Ederson and Mainoo are actually a decent combination. I'm hugely surprised Santos is available. He'd work with either of those. If we get him and someone like Joao Gomes, I'd be thrilled. Players with EPL experience, that are on the way up rather than on the way down, with their best years ahead. And, mostly, players that have complementary skill sets.

05 Jul 2026 21:35:37
I rememper Ed001 rated him highly. Or maybe i am wrong

05 Jul 2026 23:13:47
Scott - decent. ??
Behave. We need to be looking at better than him. Might as well bring back McFred if we go for Scott.

06 Jul 2026 19:09:33
Stop Mr Lee, I had flashbacks there. ?

07 Jul 2026 09:32:02
Scott is an exceptional player. He would improve us massively.

05 Jul 2026 16:42:21
So it now transpires we lost out on Fernandes due to a guarantee of £5m!

Having realised we were not in the race for Anderson due to his wish to go to City and also the cost, we made Fernandes our priority target.

Clearly we also have other midfield targets, but he was our priority as obviously the club felt he was the best of the prospects.

It now transpires we were prepared to pay the fee of £85m, only as £80m guaranteed and £5m in extras.

Spurs guaranteed the full £85m and that won them the race.

Whilst I am all for changing our way of doing things with transfers and ending the foolish amounts paid, along with excessive wages. This instance does seem to me a case of questionable judgement. Just over a guarantee of £5m on a deal this size! Not worth losing a priority target for.

05 Jul 2026 18:26:04
Maybe that's true and maybe it isn't. Maybe the player wanted to stay in London. Get over it.

05 Jul 2026 22:00:59
I'll decide what or if I get over, all right, fella.

05 Jul 2026 23:15:03
No better than what we have, in my opinion. Not a big loss, certainly overpriced.

05 Jul 2026 23:25:59
Essentially, United were prepared to offer £80 million, but not all guaranteed. They also believed that if they offered £85 million, Spurs would offer £90 million. And, whilst I am disappointed we missed out on Fernandes, you have to draw the line somewhere.

06 Jul 2026 00:03:50
Move on. He's at Spurs, they paid over the odds. We didn't want our pants pulled down, simple. I will have a bet that Ederson has a better season than Fernandes and cost less than half. If they can't choose between us and another team, let them go.

If you fancied some bird, but she wasn't sure you were the one and had her eye on another guy, you wouldn't marry her. Let the other guy deal with it, not your problem anymore.

06 Jul 2026 16:08:15
Maybe the wage demands also played a part.

06 Jul 2026 19:21:49
B*******.
There's been articles saying United enquired but never made an offer.
Also, for £5M, he could easily have held his ground.

05 Jul 2026 16:18:16
Down to scrapping the barrel now. Santos, really? Back to competing with the 13th place next season. ??? But yes, obviously Chelsea might ask for an extra box of cookies and we might bring out the "player wasn't committed to coming to us". ??

05 Jul 2026 20:13:28
Is Fernandes any better than Santos? Wait. See who we sign, give them a dozen games or so, and see who looks like they are going to be good value and play well, and who doesn't.
Newcastle spent 240m last summer for bottom half, with Tonali and Bruno.
Forest spent the season fighting relegation with Anderson, and West Ham were relegated with Fernandes.
Nothing in any of their form from last season suggested they are tier 1 midfielders. Anderson, being the best of those 4 last season, is a good age and looks a cut above the others, imo.


Let's see who we sign and how they play, rather than how much they cost.
I think a lot of people will be surprised by Ederson too.
UA, there is a lot of work to be done. Nobody disagrees, but I'm sure they are working to get the best results. Try not to overreact to sensationalist click bait reports. 99% are nonsense.
We do need the right blend, and need some experience, imo. I know others have mentioned it. Hopefully they make good calls.

05 Jul 2026 15:40:38.
Ornstein linking us to Andrey Santos from Chelsea, had interest previously when the club sold Garnacho to Chelsea previously.

Think we have a decent club-to-club relationship with Chelsea after the Mount and Garnacho deals so could have some credence to it.

The more this window goes on, I think people are underestimating the Ederson signing from Atalanta, 26 years old with a few years of Champions League experience.

The fee is only low because he had a year left on his contract, otherwise he would have been a 60-80m signing.

Is he the Casemiro starting replacement and then a couple more signings like Santos and Baleba/Berge as back-ups?

05 Jul 2026 17:35:42
From linked to Anderson, Tonali, Fernandes, to now settling for Ederson and Santos, this window looks underwhelming. Of course, it's all conjecture at the moment, and we don't know who we sign, but I don't see us competing in the league, let alone the CL, if this comes to fruition. Mount in midfield, is it? Can't get excited for the next season with this.

05 Jul 2026 05:26:57.
I just heard a rumour that Mazraoui could retire after the World Cup to study and memorize the Quran with the intent of becoming an imam. Do we think this is initially just from international football? If it also included club football would he be liable to pay United back the unexpired portion of his transfer cost?

05 Jul 2026 08:44:31
If he decides to retire and study to become an Imam, then I wish him all the best. It is his life, and he can do whatever he wants.

Perhaps he sees that there is more of life than football, and it is his way of giving something back.

05 Jul 2026 11:22:42
Shame he couldn't combine both. Hopefully, he is going to spread a message of mutual respect, tolerance and love, and help others less fortunate than him.

Having the platform of being a current Utd player would be more impactful than as an ex player.

How practical that would be in real life is moot.

That apart, I agree with you, Mad Hatter. His life and football isn't the be all and end all (though sometimes it feels like it).

05 Jul 2026 15:54:40
I have no problem with him following a spiritual path, but it doesn't answer my question about how the club would be compensated for its investment loss. Mazraoui needs to honour his contract first and then he can do exactly what he wants.

05 Jul 2026 21:37:56
He won't retire, guys. I think it was a misunderstanding.

05 Jul 2026 22:37:56
Is he a big loss if he does retire? Jesus, our standards have slipped if we are even concerned either way.

06 Jul 2026 16:41:27
From the first 15-18 players, whoever leaves is a big loss. Yes, Je suis.

05 Jul 2026 00:08:11
Just watched France win. Are Paraguay the new Uruguay? Such relentless fouling not punished by a weak ref.

05 Jul 2026 16:03:17
I only watched the second half. I found myself shouting at the ref to bring out his yellow card to stop the constant fouling and endless talking back like when the obvious penalty was awarded thanks only to VAR's intervention. It was ironic that the only card I saw was against a French player.

I'm glad they beat Paraguay. They and the ref were a disgrace. Now I can go back to hating France!! I say this as someone raised in the era of Chopper Harris, Norman Bite Your Legs Hunter, Billy Bremner etc.

04 Jul 2026 17:25:37
And still people doubt Mainoo. He was our best player in the end part of the season, operating in a midfield 2 with Cas who has no legs. Cas was a fine player for us but his age was clearly showing so even more credit to Mainoo who was having to cover more ground.

Scott and Mainoo couldn't operate as a 2 apparently, what poppycock. Scott is no Cas and likely never will be, but he has energy and legs.

Mainoo isn't good enough to operate in a 2 with anyone, also poppycock. He managed it with an ageing Cas, of course he can manage it with a more energetic younger partner.

It's all about opinions, I happen to have different ones on this.

04 Jul 2026 21:25:46
Ajh, I think Kobbie is a superb player. I also believe that as brilliant as Cas was for us in the end, he lacked energy and, at times, struggled in a 2. I think Kobbie is going to seriously benefit from having an intelligent, strong, athletic midfielder beside him. He will look even better.



Also, watching England, I think Kobbie would be superb in a 2 with either Rice or Anderson. I think he is completely different to those two, and in tighter games, we have seen he is a clutch player.

I do not understand how he doesn't get into this England side.

05 Jul 2026 01:20:13
Did I miss something in Mainoo?
I just don't understand why some of his coaches rate him so highly, like Carrick and Eth and Southgate and Amorim and Tuchel. Others don't seem to have been impressed or trust him at all.
It's weird to me, as they seem to be all in on him or all out.
Tuchel was obviously impressed with his play for United, but since he has spent time with him, he has not played him.


I'm not seeing what Amorim or Tuchel see.
But if they don't think he has the attributes to what they want, you have to respect that.
Coaches pick the teams. You either support the coach or you don't. When you support the manager, you can't complain when he doesn't pick the team you want imo.
England have a great chance to progress in this game. I don't like Tuchel's approach personally. But he's the boss.

05 Jul 2026 04:32:09
Mainoo just didn't get a chance to show what he can do.

Anderson and Rice are unlikely to be dropped, especially now, as the games get tighter and defense is key. I think he likes the solidity. Anderson was brilliant for the second Kane goal. He drove forwards and basically forced Bellingham to run in behind, and the pass was then perfect for Bellingham to run onto.



Mainoo is unlucky for England, and may still get his chance. Earlier in the season and last season, he was not playing well. He finished the season playing very well and was a major difference for us.

05 Jul 2026 08:48:12
Ajh,

Hopefully that happens. It would be nice to have two young English players in midfield. They could forge the spine of this team for years to come. It would also help with the HG quota as well, although Utd could just promote youth players, which isn't ideal as Utd currently lack the strength and depth at this moment in time.

05 Jul 2026 10:59:07
Just my observation on Mainoo. He moves well with the ball, breaks through a press, runs at difficult defences, and creates. Something we could have done with against Ghana.
He lacks recovery pace, so when he gets in front of the ball, he isn't able to recover quick enough, and he gets in front because his positioning seems to get him too far forward, and not closely or tightly enough in conjunction with the relevant teammate.

He tends to be slightly out of position when trying to press, and they get through a touch easily. I suspect that would concern Tuchel, especially against the better teams trying to sit deep and spring fast counter attacks. So, he is good going forward, but in a two, centrally, there are questions.
For me, he is in between a CM and a 10. Played with the solidity of a central three, he could be really good.

05 Jul 2026 11:30:32
Cas told us all exactly everything you need to know about Mainoo. No more needs saying on it really. It even explains why some coaches just don't put him in. Hard to see why you don't get that!

Scott and Mainoo as 2 midfielders would be a disaster, imo.

Yes, Scott got legs, but if you think that makes up for Cas's experience, even with no legs, you are deluded. If Mainoo doesn't get experience next to him, he will struggle, like he does with Ugarte, who does have legs if nothing else.

05 Jul 2026 13:03:09
Jsu,

So not Scott, not Cas, not Ugarte. At what point does it dawn that Mainoo in a central midfield two is the issue rather than the partner being inadequate?

05 Jul 2026 13:03:52
Ken. It's the most German, England side I've ever seen. ?

Just pure athletes everywhere, and I think that's where Rice and Anderson win over Kobbie. They are machines.

I don't believe they are more intelligent, wise, but they are relentless, and that's why I actually think Kobbie with one of them would be perfect.

I would actually believe that Declan Rice would be a better CB option than anyone they have right now. I feel it's the most shaky part of this England team, and having someone like him back there would solidify the back 4.

Remember, Rice is also a CB.

But anyway, Tuchel has what he wants in his head, and Kobbie isn't it. Had he played Kobbie in the group games, I'm in no doubt Kobbie would have made a positive difference, and that would have meant a clamouring for him to play. I don't think that would have helped Tuchel's idea of how he wants this team set up.

05 Jul 2026 12:40:08
I accept he lacks pace Redman.

JSU, poppycock, to pick one thing Cas said, and ignore everything else he said, which was very complimentary, is childish. I don't think in the 14 years I have been on here I have struggled to agree with a poster less often than you, you seem to revel in being negative.

05 Jul 2026 13:21:51
Red man, JSU, don't know what you're watching.

05 Jul 2026 14:14:53
angel

Forgot you cannot make any observations about players you think are untouchable.

05 Jul 2026 14:33:47
AJH, that hurts me. You and I go a long way back wrt Rashford. ? ? ? ?

05 Jul 2026 14:31:15
Jsu cas has an opinion it doesn't make it necessarily so.
You are so narrow minded its dumb

05 Jul 2026 18:36:51
Red Man, the irony. ?

I don't think he is untouchable, I just don't know what you are watching to have that opinion, that's all.

05 Jul 2026 22:43:19
Cas was very complimentary about him. He actually said he was brilliant and could be anything he wants to be, but he needs to be pushed all the time. In training and in games, clearly that's what coaches see. He is just too laid back, and needs a rocket up his ...

Clearly talented but lacks that motivation. Can you ever learn that drive?

Clearly not just Cas' opinion, but Ken, Tuchel, Amorim too, and they have seen more of him than you or I.

04 Jul 2026 16:00:50
United players at the World Cup:

Bruno: As has been apparent, he does not play well with Ronaldo on the field.

Dalot: Is Dalot.

Amad: Very +ve with a couple of nice goals in limited playing time.

Cunha: Again largely +ve in an unconvincing Brazil team.

Mazraoui: Very +ve, playing mainly on the left. Maybe what we need is another RB rather than a LB.



Rashford: I actually think he's been trying hard. Some good positions but his end product has been poor.

Kobbie: Unfortunately hasn't had a look in.

Lemmans: Can't dislodge Courtois.

Martinez: Excellent pass, important goal, nutmegged for CV goal. Not convinced yet, but could he play in midfield?

04 Jul 2026 21:01:37
Amad and Maz always seem to play well for their countries. Rashford is Rashford, very frustrating to watch.

As for Ronaldo, I don't think he deserves a starting berth, but his fame is such that the Manager appears terrified of dropping him.



As for Kobe, no idea why Tuchel took him, as he has no intention of putting him on the pitch, despite the midfield looking very dodgy so far.

05 Jul 2026 09:12:38
Rashford tries hard when his future is on the line.

05 Jul 2026 11:07:15
Peter

Have to wonder what happened at Barca then, when they turned down the opportunity to buy at under 30m. Surely he was trying hard at Barca, given he wanted to be there. Why would Barca pay £70m for Gordon when they had Rashford at less than half?
Rashford had a very long interview, and they declined.

It doesn't add up unless there is an attitude issue or something else we don't know about. Surely there should be a big queue for him?
He must not be allowed to stay at Utd, no matter what. If Carrick allows it, then he is a very weak manager.

05 Jul 2026 11:34:16
Perhaps Carrick likes Rashford. Why on earth would that make him a weak manager? Do you not understand football is about opinions... If he thinks he can get what he wants from him, that does not make him weak.

05 Jul 2026 11:41:44
Rashford only wants Barcelona at this point. If he doesn't want to go elsewhere, he doesn't have to, Red Man.
I wouldn't want him if I was Carrick. It's a tough spot, the club finds itself in, but the only person who can sanction a move is Rashford.

If he won't move, then it's trouble, whether he is integrated into the team or expelled to the reserves.
My guess is he will be gone by the end of the window.

05 Jul 2026 13:05:12
It's all about money, Red Man. His salary is massive, and he is not going to take a massive cut in order to go to a club, and he is well within his rights to do so. He's waiting it out.

Don't be surprised if Barca come back with another loan or United bite down and get him to stay.

05 Jul 2026 13:17:17
Jsu

If Carrick likes Rashford, then we should all be very concerned. As Tw says, if he stays, it is trouble. For me, a disruptive influence.

Weak because he needs to make tough calls. Rashford must never play for the club again after how he disrespected the shirt.

If Carrick lets him, then it is weak management. Amorim had it right.

Tw, hope you are right, hope he is gone by end of the window.

05 Jul 2026 17:10:08
It is very odd that there isn't a queue for him at what is a bargain price, particularly given the amount Barca paid for Gordon. I think he will leave, and we will get at least what Barca were supposed to pay.

05 Jul 2026 22:46:05
Yes, he will leave, but if Carrick decided to keep him, how on earth does that make Carrick weak?

He is cheap, given today's market, so clearly a problem, but still, to say a manager is weak if he wants to keep him is ridiculous, so that means any manager or club that buys him is weak too, then going by that!