Manchester United banter 8

04 Jan 2026 20:07:59
The closer we are to awards the top of the league the more people seem to forget the owners running of this club. I don't know any manager who would improve the team with the way
The people above run the club.
Jim, berrada, wilcox, what have they done to help improve the squad in the
Last 2 years, and the glazers in the last 20? Vivell scouting youth isn't a massive help right now either.


So amorim or not doesn't really change anything until we get people in charge who aren't just in it for personal profit.
Research the old Trafford regeneration project and you can see the glazers plan from as far back as 2017,
They, (and it seems sir jim) are not too bothered about success on the pitch.

05 Jan 2026 00:01:12
After 19 games last season we were 14th with 22 points. We're currently 6th.

The new management team has made at least 3 good purchases in Mbuemo, Cunha and Lammens. Sesko (who many people tapped on this site) may not make it, but then what CF has made it at United since RVP? They got rid of ETH and might have done it sooner had they not been concerned that the cost of doing so at the end of the season would put them in breach of PSR.

The current management team is not responsible for the enormous debt which, including amounts owed on transfers, is >£1bn and they're not responsible for the PSR dilemma the club has been in which has forced them to limit the speed with which they can acquire new players. They've also made the best of a bad job offloading Hojlund (who will be bought in the summer), Sancho (whose disastrous contract will end), Rashford (who hopefully will be bought) and Onana (Keeping fingers crossed he'll be sold) on loan and selling Anthony. Quite frankly they've been operating with their hands tied behind their back.

Do you really think other owners are not in it for profit? Of course they are. Football clubs are businesses. And the plain fact is that success on the pitch, getting into the Champions League etc boosts income and profits, so of course they're interested in winning, even if it's for the wrong reasons.

Have they made mistakes? Yes. Is Amorim the right man? It remains to be seen. But to my mind they've accomplish a hell of a lot in a quite a short time including having to deal with the unpleasant task of dealing with the ridiculously bloated payroll. Give it another summer transfer window and let's see where we are in 12 months time.

05 Jan 2026 04:46:36
We are also closer to 16th than 3rd.

04 Jan 2026 18:41:53
While l completely understand RAs point of view on his system, he doesn't have the midfield required to make it work and in that system everyone has a job to do, you cannot carry luxury players. The club are slowly rebuilding the squad and it will take time What we as fans and maybe the board are frustrated with, the current team can play much better in a different system.

RA as manager should be able to adapt until he has the squad needed to fully implement his system, he is being stubborn. No matter what the system if the team wins games no one will care because wining bring champions League and trophies which brings the money and on you go. RA just needs to adapt slightly until he has the players he needs, otherwise he won't be around to implement it.

04 Jan 2026 19:23:41
Redcon, he should've been able to get the best out of what he had when he came in. He has been unable to do so.

04 Jan 2026 19:35:49
You say that so definitively. How do you know we'd be better in a different formation? You don't. Before Amorim we constantly turned in performances where we were beaten by several goals.

We aren't doing that now. Instead we are drawing too often. By changing in the way so many are calling for, it seems so many are convinced we'd be winning those games. It could be we lose instead.

04 Jan 2026 20:32:07
We are joint 5th at Christmas guys, Amorim is doing a good enough job, with the tools at his disposal.
Take the most recent game against Leeds. He had Ugarte and Casemiro available to stop Leeds playing the way they played all season, and it worked for large parts of the game. Even Ugarte stepped up and played well enough for that game.

There was a piece on here about metrics on his success, and it is clear, since RA has come in, we and on and upwards trajectory, there can be no debate about that.

There are of course, and always will be, areas that need addressing.

I still suspect this is a tussle about where any assigned funds are placed in the January window. RA wants them in a specific area, the club perhaps see other targets or longer term targets potentially available, that will solve a future problem.

I sit in the middle, as the centre mids, whilst not the greatest, have performed enough to get us to joint 5th, and perhaps that is the point of the board. But make no mistake, we are in dire need of some reinforcement in that department as a priority, that's why the potential signings of a Gallagher, Neves, Sangare make a lot of sense as it gives us options and cattle for next year, when we will hopefully be in UCL and competitive in all 4 comps, we would need 6 heads of cattle in there.
Who are the 6 centre mids for next year? One of (Anderson, Wharton, Baleba), Bruno, Mainoo, Kone? Not convinced yet by the Fletcher's.
Signing a relatively low cost player like Sangare fixes a now problem and a next season problem for little cost.
As I said in another post, if you wanted to be brutal, you could sell Ugarte for the suggested 30m euro and replace him with both Sangare and Gallagher.

Maybe the club are planning on drop 200m on 2 of Anderson Wharton Baleba in the summer, like they did with the front line this summer?

The point is there is a middle ground to be achieved without the turmoil of switching management again, afterall, he is getting us playing better football than the last 15yrs, metrics aside, just watching with my own eyes, I am enjoying watching them more now under Amorim than anyone else since Fergie.

04 Jan 2026 21:29:48
Jimbo and Don Red how dare you talk sense.

04 Jan 2026 23:24:38
They knew they were getting a manager who plays a 3-4-3

What’s laughable is if he’s being told to change how he’s setting up. you don’t signed a manager known for playing one way and expect any different

And if they are telling him to change it then it’s pointless him being here

Either get the players to play it or sack him and move on

But let’s be honest for the last 5 games we’ve had kids on the bench

Our squad is rubbish and if anything we are overachieving

But as always the noise outside will determain the noise inside that club bec non of them have a backbone to ride something out.

04 Jan 2026 23:38:09
I want to add. it is clear to me having watched the presser a few times now.

The message from RA is that he is not influenced by the external noise from the likes of Neville, and he is advising the board to also not be so reactionary to external noise and to stick to what was agreed when they moved heaven and earth to sign him mid season from Sporting.

They need to back him now, not in the summer. If that means churning the squad again mid season, so be it, get it done. Support the manager, be ruthless with the squad.

05 Jan 2026 00:49:03
We are also closer to 16th than 3rd despite sitting 6th, so I think the league table position is an irrelevant argument at this stage. RA should be judged on his performances and results. Neither has been good enough.

Some will say we've improved, but if they're measuring against last season, it's hardly a benchmark.

05 Jan 2026 02:27:28
The target is 4th though, not 3rd, 2nd or 1st, so deliberately pulling that from nowhere is irrelevant Kurtis.
Use the same approach but with 4th and not 3rd.

05 Jan 2026 08:21:02
Jimbo and Don, as alluded to above, talking sense here simply gets you shot at.

05 Jan 2026 09:31:16
Apart from the commercial benefit of CL football. The prospect terrifies me based on our current performances. RA cannot get any consistency out of the team with only one game a week. Would playing two games a week with - let's be realistic - probably two new midfielders change anything?

I would have a different view if we were sat in 6th, competing in games and only dropping points in games we deserved to win. But that hasn't been the case this year.

I'm not calling for RA to be sacked, but he's not getting a free pass either. Players are not that one dimensional they cannot adapt to change or a formation, and we have hardly got a team of Championship players. There are international players in the squad.

The Karate Kid springs to mind - There are no such things as bad students, only bad teachers.

04 Jan 2026 18:22:19
Whats wrong? We are 5th (if City Chelsea score holds) and 3 points off 4th. What am i missing? Were we expecting to win the league or anything? I thought almost everyone here was in agreement that if we finish in the European places it would be a good season. What changed?

04 Jan 2026 19:18:25
Nothing changed for me and completely agree. I've mentioned a few times that some on here seem to believe we have a divine right to win even though we are clearly in a multi-year process.

04 Jan 2026 19:38:53
It’s a season where nobody is shining apart from Arsenal. We are at the beginning of another transitional period, removed a lot of surplus players and now trying to build a new team with a new system.

Some people still think the Fergie era is still ongoing, but that ended 12 years ago, we have reverted to what we always have been, a decent league team that has had three sustained periods of success in 148 years, outside of that we are a cup team. This is what we have seen over the last 12 years and will continue to see.

04 Jan 2026 19:40:06
We are 6th now.

City and Arsenal coming up in January, could very well end up in the bottom half by Feb.

04 Jan 2026 19:56:33
Yeah we have had ups and downs more downs than up but 3 points off champions league I'd take that every day of the week. I had us finishing between 8-10th so exceeding what I thought we would. Although we have had the opportunity to do better this season.

05 Jan 2026 01:10:42
DSG,

I remember posts on here saying the same before the Liverpool game and the run of fixtures we had then. Instead we won that one and navigated the next few quite well. We are difficult to beat now, we don’t keep clean sheets but we control games better and we are scoring a lot more goals. There will be ups and downs, there is no reason why we can’t beat city and arsenal or at least get a point in each. Also, all the teams below us will drop points, they have all season, so even a couple of defeats doesn’t move you down that much. It’s going to be an exciting end to the season.

04 Jan 2026 16:10:49
Saw supposed amorim quotes after the game today, all is clearly not well. Did anyone see his interview because what I’ve seen is on talksport so I’m very skeptical that they are accurate. Talking about being the manager not head coach and that he won’t be here beyond his contract (if he makes it that long) .

04 Jan 2026 16:48:53
Tim

See my post below, but this has the hallmarks of end game. This happened to Mourinho when they didn’t support him in a summer window. It looks like they want Amorim to walk away, save them money. I clearly remember the “Head Coach” appointment but Amorim was very clear, I suspect he is telling the club,
1) He wants the decision making and they don’t want to do it
2) He is not walking away for free

This doesn’t usually work out well for a manager.

04 Jan 2026 16:49:51
Amorim has always been a heart on your sleeve type of manager, and the question about former players criticism seemed to hit a nerve, so maybe something has been said behind the scenes, which has annoyed him.

Personally I think he hates the media side of the job and the constant spotlight, and would quite happily walk away for a quieter coaching role.

If you don’t win every match, then life as United manager I can imagine is hell, and you have to have thick skin to deal with the constant criticism from the media, former players and armchair managers who always think they know better and usually don’t.

04 Jan 2026 16:53:45
I’ve just seen the video. He said he’s here to be the manager, not the coach. He will do that for the next 18 months and then everybody will move on. Unless they replace him.

He also said that the sporting director needs to do his job and I’ll do my job.

Starting to sound like it’s coming to a head. All is not well behind the scenes.

04 Jan 2026 17:22:16
Seems that way red man, looks like it’s coming to a boiling point behind the scenes. Might end up going the same way as maresca. Not a good look for the club in any way, but we’ve been here b4 so I’m sure none of us are surprised, regardless of our opinions on the manager.

04 Jan 2026 17:23:52
Hope he takes a few directors down as they've been a disgrace. so much for supporting the main man eh?

04 Jan 2026 17:52:36
Never ends well when other people at the club are called out, whatever the justification. Obviously using the media to send a message, ie I'm not going until you pay me off lol.

04 Jan 2026 20:22:23
East Stand Nick

Yes, I think it has now come to the point where something has to change up above. It needs seismic change.

The need for improvement of players is beyond doubt and yet something has clearly changed in the last couple of weeks. Amorim is clearly clearly annoyed and strongly appears to feel let down.

His message seems also to suggest I have a contract and I won’t be staying longer (after how you have treated me)

Shambles management from above, it looks like someone has pulled the plug, possibly the Glazers.

Appalling treatment of the manager and for calling them out well done Amorim.

04 Jan 2026 11:06:46
Looks to me like Amorim is being forced or pushed to adapt his system or he can leave if he doesn’t like it.

The youth through to first team have not changed system to what the first team are playing. That suggests they are not supporting the manager fully and most importantly there is no belief it will work. The club is not as one.

Then we have his recent comments on the window. It appears there are differences and they are not going to buy what he wants to make the system work. Again how can they not see the gaping holes in midfield and only have one striker.

The club brought him in knowing he was totally invested in a way of playing, either that or the interview process was inept to the point of incompetence. Surely they should have been adapting and streamlining the whole club to work together. There hasn’t been that change and performances are not up there, now it looks like he is being told to change his style.

Amorims recent interviews look like those of a man who doesn’t want to resign on principle but is being ushered down that road. The impression is they don’t want to sack him if they can avoid it, likely because management made him their choice and don’t like embarrassment.

It feels like we have been here before.

I have some trepidation for today’s game, bear pit of hate and they will be at us from kick off, pressing high and hard with energy. Lose today and I would not be surprised at him being gone tomorrow. Thing is it’s same old, same mess, same lack of coordinated approach. I also wonder if there is division in ownership, SJR and Glazers, driven by different agendas, Glazers clearly money orientated.

Fingers crossed today.

04 Jan 2026 11:43:37
He's brought this on himself red man. Had he been more flexible in his approach from the start, I am sure we would have won more matches and been in a stronger position. Instead, he was stubborn in his approach, has been unable to get the best out of the squads available and has a terrible record overall. That's on him IMO.

I was told on here that ETH was a terrible coach and a decent coach would be able to get more out of the players available. Well, how wrong they were.

Now the board are in a position where they have chosen their man, and I think they know that they got it wrong. I'm sure he has done some good things and said good things that they like, but it is not good enough at a club of this stature. 38% win record over a year at the club. Any other serious club and this does not fly.

I've never seen a manager backed so much at this club, he really has a unique opportunity and due to his inability to be flexible, he has really shot himself on the foot. I find it difficult to sympathise with him in this instance.

I'd love to be so wrong about him, but nothing he has done has been able to convince me otherwise barring the odd fleeting moment here and there.

04 Jan 2026 12:00:32
Thinking what one thinks that others are thinking is, I think, a somewhat pointless exercise, don't you think?
It appears that some here think the deed is all but done and that RA is about to be sacked or resign.

04 Jan 2026 12:20:51
It’s fairly simple. He has to go. People don’t like sacking manager after manager. But that doesn’t mean you should stick with one that is clearly wrong and not working. He regularly fieds teams with 5/6 defenders and still can’t keep a clean sheet.

There’s a very good reason no top teams play with this system. It doesn’t work at a high level. Might work in a poor Portuguese league where you have much better players than the opposition, but it won’t work consistently in this league.

It won’t surprise anybody if Leeds turn us over today. I’m not expecting a United win. There are only two attacking players on the pitch! If it is a loss, how bad a loss might lead to them having to make a decision.

Time will tell.

04 Jan 2026 13:21:42
If and when he gets a decent midfield judge him. Ridiculous to expect a Ferrari to have great performance with a Mini engine in.

04 Jan 2026 13:49:05
Redman - totally agree, the pressure is here and there’s probably a reluctance to buy system players for a mystical system that’s failed to produce result.

Angel is spot on, Amorim has created this mess.

Salford- Why can’t we judge Amorim on midfield, Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainno, Fernandes, Mount aren’t dreadful players… he picks the system that fails to get the best out what he has.

Ultimately Amorim is over 12 months in, there’s been positives but a number of concerns. Like anyone in a senior leadership role there will be more expectations and less patience.

04 Jan 2026 15:12:31
There's a need to bring in two midfielders no matter what the formation is. It's a bit confusing that the board and manager are possibly not agreeing on this.

04 Jan 2026 17:31:48
The board might see it that way but Amorim may want another left footed inverted wing back or another CB, and they have misaligned priorities.

I’d suspect the management are pushing him to a traditional formation/system that is easier to recruit for or transition academy player too.

For example would you want Amorim anywhere near JJ Gabriel after the way he’s treated Collyer, Garncho, Rashford, Mainno, Amass, Obi Mikel.

Amorim has devalued club generated players. I suspect he doesn’t like the challenge of respect or favour of youth/club players.

04 Jan 2026 20:09:22
Utd road we need two midfielders because Casemeiro has lost his pace and younger players run past him and we also need another creative player to take the burden off Bruno and ultimately replace him when he leaves.

04 Jan 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 19 - Quick Round Up

03 Jan 2026 18:46:26
What is frustrating fans is when RA went to the back 4 v Newcastle we looked much better, Dorgu looked great on the right. We were struggling against Wolves, he could have reverted to this even in the second half, RA is very stubborn, we have had numerous opportunities to move into the top 4 or 5 with very winnable games at home in the last few weeks.

I understand the missing players but the Newcastle game showd we can be very solid in another system, but he just refuses, is it because all pundits and fans are asking for it and it goes against his rigid system. Yet another big game Sunday, it will be fast and physical and if we aren't at it from the start we will lose.

03 Jan 2026 19:33:18
We looked good for half a match. When Mount went off we struggled. The Wolves lineup was the same as second half Newcastle. What lineup could he have played that you'd have been happy with? Dalot further back would be it.
We have a poor squad and can't afford to miss even a couple from our first choice side. We're missing 6.

03 Jan 2026 20:18:43
We are a much better team with Mount.

03 Jan 2026 21:48:40
Mount can't stay fit for more than 2 games in a row and is on 250k pw.
Mount is the exact type of signing that got us into the mess we are in.
Regardless of how good we are when he plays, he is out most unreliable player, so we need to move on from him.
There's a reason we signed two 10's in the summer.

This opinion will likely ruffle a few feathers but I personally can't see a way forward for the club until we rid it if the past mistakes.

03 Jan 2026 23:17:27
I completely agree with you Jimbo. My comment still stands though.

03 Jan 2026 23:46:35
Concur PG.
I just hope he stays fit enough for us to flog him in the summer.

04 Jan 2026 04:18:58
I think the club are making a mistake if they have no ins or outs this January. The club is desperate for a change, a spark to shake us out of our slumber.

The season has been very strange and the epl gave us lots if chances to secure top 4. I suspect that is gone now, the cream is rising to the top as you would expect, and we are not in the club. Sell zirkzee and bring in a plan B striker. Bring in a Connor Gallagher who would improve us as a squad and is home grown. Do something. The noises seem to be for no value, difficult window. If our owners can solve problems I January, maybe they are the wrong owners.

04 Jan 2026 08:02:41
I was discussing how better off we would be if we sold Casemiro and Ugarte, and reached them with Neves, Gallagher and Sangare (Lens not NFFC) .
The salary structure would be a step closer to being iine and I think the outgoings would balance the incomings financially. We would also have an extra player, 2 if you count the fact Ugarte is crap.

Thoughts?

04 Jan 2026 08:59:20
Gallagher plays the box 2 box role that Bruno currently occupies, so it’s unlikely we are looking to replace him mid season.

Neves has been playing in the Saudi league for a few years, so not the intensity of the premier league, it’s a big ask for him to come in mid season and be up to speed, he will be on decent wages and long term is likely only to be a squad player. We already have a squad players in Ugarte and Collyer once he is fit again.

Cas isn’t going anywhere until the end of the season, I haven’t heard anything about an extension to his contract although rumours are there has been discussions, but he will have to take a large pay cut, will he prefer one last pay day in the ME.

I think our midfield main targets are well known, they are also wanted by a number of others clubs so we will have to wait and see who turns up come the summer.

03 Jan 2026 16:23:00
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 19 - Quick Round Up

03 Jan 2026 09:23:33
Sounds like all is not well, there seems to be some misalignment with the January transfer window between Manager and above. It doesn’t sound like Amorim will get what is desperately needed.

Our Centre Mid is dire, we only have one striker. We are desperate but you half expect them to come up with a cheapskate option.

Three things come to mind

1) This doesn’t bode well for Amorims long term future.
2) Are the owners cutting back on spending to make a profit and get their hands on dividends?
3) This is so short sighted, we surely will struggle to stay in 6th with that midfield

Get the Glazers out.

03 Jan 2026 09:50:08
Is this information reliable, Red Man, or just clickbait in the media?

03 Jan 2026 10:14:29
Fizz

As reported

“Amorim was far more definitive and downbeat:
• “The transfer window is not going to change. ”
• “We have no conversations in this moment to have any change in the squad. ”
• “There is a process, there is an idea that is going to continue. ”.

03 Jan 2026 10:24:58
We will see come the end of the window Red Man. Right now, I've only seen some piece from a daily mail columnist. Maybe you can share some more information.

But the proof will be in the pudding come the end of the window.

But we have invested heavily over the last 2 summers, and we also have AFCON players to come back as well as injured players.

IMO he has more than enough but it's about getting the best out of the current squad which I believe he has struggled to do.

03 Jan 2026 10:44:31
Angel

Midfield has not been properly strengthened since Keane left, Hargreaves was unfit. We are left totally exposed in that area so I don’t think Amorim has anywhere near enough.

Yes I read the Mail article about the concerns in the upper echelons about the formation and how the youth formations have not been changed to match the first team. The concern the system is too easily read and countered particularly after the Fulham managers comments.

Another mess and a feeling the manager, another manager is being hung out to dry. Hope I am wrong.

03 Jan 2026 11:23:15
Perhaps a smokescreen to allow us to get done the deals we need to get done without media buzzing around.
Fergie used to pull this stunt and then we ended up with players regardless.
If that is the case, I like it.

03 Jan 2026 11:45:37
It could be many things, including the manager just tempering expectations.

Typically managers tend to think more short term (as they don't tend to have a long shelf life at clubs) while the club should be thinking more long term. Sometimes things align that work ideally for both the club and the manager, but more often they don't.

Amorim will be thinking about the aims and objectives he has for this season. With the injuries and the AFCON we are at a real risk of being cut adrift in the pursuit of top 4.

The club have aims far beyond this season, and they need to take a slightly longer term view of things. They won't want to make the same mistakes of the previous management team, thinking too short term. Panicking and wasting money on short term fixes to long term problems. Ultimately that always ends up with problems piling up and loads of issues end up needing to be dealt with at the same time, while the money is no longer available as it's tied up or already spent.

The mess we are in right now is due to the previous management team thinking too short term, leading to us having to rebuild the entire squad almost in one go, but having limited money to do so.

100% for the short term aims bringing in one or two players in January would be massive and if they work out they could be the difference between getting UCL or not this year.

But that's the gamble, if they don't work out, or are unable to make the difference and we don't get UCL football then we not only lose the money from that, but we also have less money to spend in the summer on long term targets.

Ultimately signing 1 or 2 of the wrong players in January to try and boost our chances this season, could ultimately put us one or two years back on the project overall.

The only players we should be signing in January should be genuine long term targets. Players we have extensively scouted, and are highly confident that they will work out and how they fit into our long term plan. If those players aren't available then we should keep our powder dry and stick to plan.

Much like managers fans tend to only consider the short term, we want to win the next game. That is why fans should never actually run their football club. It's the equivalent of allowing your young children to do all the meal planning. They'll pick the same few meals, and nearly all of it bad for them. They do this because they are chasing what they want, not what they need.

03 Jan 2026 11:48:56
Red Man, "As reported" does not equate to 'not clickbait'. We shall see come the end of the window, but it's obvious that strength is needed in midfield.

03 Jan 2026 13:45:45
I'd imagine much will depend on outgoings for our January window
Zirkzee
Mainoo
Ugarte
Are 3 players who we might try and find a move for if any of these 3 go I'd imagine we might see a singing coming in in place of them
Baleba also seems like one who a deal could be done for hasn't really been great this season in and out of the Brighton team they might let him go for a decent sum for them to strengthen and he wants to come as we all know.

03 Jan 2026 14:18:14
We have midfield targets, if they aren’t available in January, why would we go for a short term solution.
January is well known as a difficult time to do business, I would rather we not waste money go for our targets come the summer.

03 Jan 2026 15:14:10
I think January is about opportunity.

I think we will buy 2x players.

03 Jan 2026 18:24:35
Shipping out Ugarte to Galatasaray and putting in a £90m bid for Anderson or Wharton would be good business in January.
Both short and long term fix.

Baleba is not the answer for our current midfield woes I don’t think.

Despite what anyone thinks, the board will surely be wondering whether they want to give Amorim any more money other than for a CM.

If that position is addressed to a degree in January then he has to show he’s the man for the job for the remainder of the season.

03 Jan 2026 18:35:39
We all know midfield is a priority. The manager and club must do too. I really don't think we should be thinking about a champions league place as being realistic this season.

Collyer is back and he adds numbers to the midfield. Bruno will have had his enforced rest and should be better for it. Hopefully Mainoo gets more game time. I would take Garner if available but prefer Utd wait and get the best players they can in the summer if not possible now. If we miss out on Europe again so be it. We should be building for long term success.

03 Jan 2026 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Svkick has posted a new article entitled, Is Arne Slot's Time At Liverpool Running Out?

03 Jan 2026 09:12:46
Hope not. He's doing a fine job.