Manchester United banter 8

30 Jan 2026 17:46:26
Where to you begin to understand some of the transfer fees.
If wolves get 40/50 m for strand Larsen I think I'll go to the garage and get my old boots out ?
Im sure there are half a dozen players in the championship that could offer more for a while lot less.
On top of that the he cost of buying potential now is just insane.
50m plus on players that have not matured or developed yet is common place.
I understand the 'epl tax' but it really is bonkers.


Another thing I would like to understand is why centre forwards that do well in seria A rarely replicate their numbers in the premiership?
All through the history of the epl cf's coming from italy have not been as successful as those from France Spain or south America, i'm just not sure why that is.
Henry Bergkamp and zola i think are the major anomalies and had real longevity and none were strictly cf's and were not doing great in italy when they left.

30 Jan 2026 18:45:37
In addition to the epl tax, there is also a man utd tax, where the price mysteriously goes up 10-30 million as soon as we get involved. Almost impossible for us to pull a cheap gem from the Portuguese ligue 2. Suddenly they will be the most promising player in Europe and the club won't even listen to offers below $80m.

31 Jan 2026 11:42:21
EPL clubs are the most financially secure and have the least need to sell players, add the January tax and it starts to make sense.

Wolves didn't want to lose Strand Larsen, but they are almost certainly getting relegated, if they kept him until the summer then they'd be lucky to get 35m for him as a relegated team, maybe less if he has a relegation clause in his deal.

While for Palace they will definitely lose Mateta this summer if not sooner by the looks of it. They will also lose Glasner in the summer and they need to steady the ship.

Strand Larsen is a very good EPL striker, as seen last season. Unfortunately this season he has been feeding on literal scraps. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get 8-10 goals or more between now and the summer for Palace.

While I'm disappointed as a fan not seeing United spend in January to bring in a quality player who could be the difference between us getting UCL or not this year. I also understand why the club aren't prepared to pay over the odds for player who might not be their first choice this January. Keeping the powder dry for the summer and the next permanent manager.

30 Jan 2026 15:29:41
Lots of debate about how good or not so good the team has been so what are your predictions for Sunday.

30 Jan 2026 15:48:59
Always predict a win Salford.
So nothing new from me.
Im very hopeful we can stay in the european places till the season end. I really hoping that can be 4th ir 5th but after such a poor league campaign last season any european spot would be good news.
Although I think the squad would need quite a lot of work if we are to cope with 2 games a week and compete in both comps.


Fulham are not a a great side but they are no pushover.
A 2 1 win for us would see us gain a bit of ground on a few of those around us i think at home we can snatch a win.

30 Jan 2026 16:53:19
I'll go for a 3-1 United win.

30 Jan 2026 16:54:55
I will always predict a win. I wonder if Dorgu’s injury may help in this game. You can’t drop him on form but he’s all action, not the most pleasant on the eye and I wonder with teams coming up likely to drop a bit deeper, a bit more craft and guile will be needed to break through.

Mbuemo, Fernandes and Diallo behind Cunha could and should cause Fulham a few problems, hopefully. 3-1 United only cause I just can’t see us keeping a clean sheet ?.

30 Jan 2026 19:52:46
I wonder which way he will go with that ports.

30 Jan 2026 20:26:43
Don’t know about you Ken but I really like Sesko. Seems an honest, hard working player with ability. Love for him to get a run but just wondering with the “need” for wins, will it be tried and tested options?! What I can take from last 2 games is that carrick and team will have thought their decision through meticulously.

31 Jan 2026 01:46:13
Yeah for sure ports. i'm very much with you on sesko. I think it might be a straight swap for cunha coming in. He deserves a start after 2 good sub showings and will bust a gut to hold that place.

31 Jan 2026 02:36:23
Fulham are in decent form just now, and I like the Robb signing. But we should be winning these games at home. Even fancy us to keep a clean sheet for a change. 2-0.

31 Jan 2026 04:50:31
UTD 4-2.

31 Jan 2026 07:57:21
I think we’ll win 1-0.

31 Jan 2026 08:22:55
2-0 Home win.

This is a massive test. We have seen them motivated against the 2 best teams in the league, sitting in and playing very good counter attacking football, also getting 2 worldies of goals in the process.

But the performances in both games makes me very optimistic. There's a different feeling in the air and I think we can really play or best with the home crowd right behind us, making it 3 wins in a row.

As to who he starts, I think we see Cunha and Sesko both in. Obviously Dorgu is not in but I can also see him switching out Amad. There will be a couple of changes I'm sure.

31 Jan 2026 11:51:29
While I never like to over predict (lots of egg on face), I've got a sneaky suspicion that we will actually smash Fulham by a large margin, 3 or more goals. While I've been hugely impressed with our defence over the last couple of games. Shut City out completely and conceded a couple of bulls**t goals against Arsenal who actually created very little in terms of clear cut chances against us. So I'm fairly confident that we can and will keep a clean sheet against them.

My confidence comes from both how we have played so far under Carrick and running narrative. Football does tend to come up with these repeating narratives, and the idea of a former player managing us as an interim manager, getting some good wins and the emotion that rides with that, then the media shift to give him the job permanently just seems far too likely to me.

If he follows up two great and convincing wins against the top two teams in the league with a big win against a side like Fulham this weekend the Carrick train will truly start rolling and unless it all falls apart it might be difficult to stop once in motion.

31 Jan 2026 13:34:32
Shappy, it will just be interesting to see how we set up against a team that will most likely sit in a bit more conceding possession to us.

If we can overcome this hurdle, clean, there's no stopping us over the next few games. Confidence will be sky high.

29 Jan 2026 10:08:54
We were told that this team was not equipped for the champions league but looking at how Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea have done, was that another load of waffle sold to us?

I think we would've gotten on very well in it. What's everyone think? Could we have competed in it this year?

29 Jan 2026 10:45:42
No. Our squad is poor. We have a core group of 7 or 8 really good players, but the standard drops off massively after that. All of those teams have better support players than we do. If we'd played CL we'd likely have lost a couple of those core players to injury.

29 Jan 2026 11:12:24
I think we'd have done ok considering we have beaten 4 of the top 8 this season!

29 Jan 2026 11:41:59
I'm in agreeance ports.

Donred, I disagree. I believed it at the time, but a lot of fans swallowed and took it as gospel what they were told.

Looking at it now. I think we would have been absolutely fine.

29 Jan 2026 12:09:51
I agree with Don. Mr 32%, your view is an absolute contradiction to how bad you have considered us this and last season. Our squad is weak, too weak to play in a major competition alongside the EPL. We couldn't even compete in the FA and League Cup competitions, so how could we have possibly been good in the Champions League? Beggars belief.

29 Jan 2026 12:11:10
angel we were really struggling a lot without the AFCON players. Without that core group our squad is what ETH had but actually even worse. That squad was trending terribly for a significant period of time. Honestly I think Ports is correct only because we've had so few injuries this year.

I don't think we could cope with even 2 or 3 of those missing for considerable periods of time. I'm actually concerned if we get one or two injuries in key positions between now and the end of the season.

29 Jan 2026 12:59:55
DonRed, we have just lost Dorgu for an estimated 10 weeks, and he was really coming on strong for us. I think we will miss him big time.

29 Jan 2026 15:26:06
Angelred everyone knows your agenda. Amorim said this last season when we did not have Cunha, Mbeumo, Lammens etc. Remember a couple of seasons ago when that squad was in the Champions League. Do you need me to list out the results? He is gone now and you were one of the "I told you so" folks who wanted the other lot to move on.

So perhaps you can stop with your agenda as well. We did beat Liverpool and Chelsea earlier in the season and beat a few last season as well. So its not like we weren't beating the big teams. Its the chasing pack and relegation battlers that will truly tell us where we are. let's hope we go on a run now given that 32% win rate isn't here anymore.

29 Jan 2026 15:31:21
Agreed Fizz, though with Bruno further up we have more options in attack now. Maybe Amad will go left. Such a pity as he was absolutely flying. And he does appear so much better with the reduced defensive responsibility.

29 Jan 2026 16:28:23
Our squad is poor. We have a decent not top class starting 11.
We are barely coping with a 40 game season.
Nothing like a bit of knee jerk here and now tripe. Sing when your winning stuff.
The squad depth is very poor Imo.
But if we keep our best 11 or close to it fit I think Carrick can keep us in the cl places and at worst a el place.


If we had a 60 game seadon with our squad we would be on our knees right now.
Remind me how eth got on in Europe when trying to play in all comps.

29 Jan 2026 16:41:02
Who told you that? Not the club for sure. They really could have done with the additional revenues an ECL berth would have provided. Maybe they then would have been able to afford a top DM last summer. That dire performance in the Europa final cost us big. Let's face it though, every game under Amorim was an ordeal, particularly agains the weaker teams.

So I think with the injuries, AFCON and the dubious coaching and system, it would have been a struggle and we may well not have qualified for the later rounds. but even that would have been better than no midweek football.

29 Jan 2026 17:58:26
Our best 11 on their best day and with a gale force wind behind them could beat any team in its day
So yes we could win against any team in the cl and would probably have been in the top 16 maybe not the 8 but I think we could have got it if the league phase.
But I don't think we would be 4th in the league at the same time.
Something would have to give imo. The top 8 players are never going to play 50 to 60 games each.
Lammens and bruno possibly due to brunos unbelievable engine and fitness/availability.
Shaw maguire deligt martinez casimero amad mbeumo cunha maz have never done it and then you have freak injuries like dorgou's.
Ww know what happens when you have to play 2 teenage cbs ugarte zirkzee etc
So we could compete in cl with our squad with a fair wrong behind us and luck but not strong enough to do both cl and epl and compete to win either.


That's just my opinion and I suppose you only have to look at eth's european record in the season we started in the cl his win% was 16.6%. With a loss % of 65% we have less players in the squad now. Our league form suffered really badly too.
The squad is not strong enough for both.
Spurs squad is not strong enough for both.
Arsenal's is
Liverpool 50/50 lots of injuries at the moment.
City as per Liverpool
Chelsea have enough bodies and look to be improving slightly. They could cope if all are fit imo.

29 Jan 2026 18:25:31
I would add Newcastle are struggling in the epl amd came 11th in the league phase of cl.

29 Jan 2026 18:43:14
Ken please don't be sensible

Make up some statistics which prove how we would have walked the champions league

It's ridiculous. We have won two or threegames against competitors who are nowhere near as good as they can be and people think we are back.

Arsenal City and Liverpool still have miles better squads than ours and they have been struggling.

Apart from Bruno I don't think any of our players gets into the above mentioned teams.

29 Jan 2026 18:46:28
I think we are woefully short in center midfield. The most demanding area of the pitch. Casemiro is a 1 game a week 70 min a game player now. If we can a clone of him then maybe.

When we rested him for the cup games we lost. Pretty crazy for everyone to think we would do well when we struggled in the two midweek cup games.

29 Jan 2026 19:02:37
This not engaging fizz? Good job ?

Everyone, just an opinion, I think we would have been fine given what how we have seen other squads perform in both competitions.

UA, no agenda at all - just astounded how a lot of us were taken, hook, line and sinker by a manager that said we weren't good enough, how we were the worst united team in history, how players like Mainoo couldn't handle it. The stats backed it up. Or just look at how we have performed in the last 2 games.

I don't mind reminding those on here, the ones that were quick to throw names at the Amorim sceptics, how we didn't have a clue etc. that maybe it's those name callers that didn't have a clue at all.

I think we would have performed fine in the champions league, not saying we would have won it, but we definitely have a squad capable of competing in it along with the Premier League.

29 Jan 2026 19:03:37
UA - absolutely agree, 32% was shocking and I think we can go on a run now that that is gone. incredible that it was accepted.

29 Jan 2026 19:23:30
Salford, i'm all for being positive. i'm all for talking us up and riding the wave.
I generally don't like this sorry of hypothetical because its futile.
All we can do is win our next game.
We are not anywhere near strong enough as a squad to cope with playing twice a week and to win games.
We caught city and arsenal in their worst runs of the season right in middle of epl league cup semi and cl games.

Not diminishing our performance at all which were great.
We've done great and just need to continue to stay in those European places and playing one a week that huge advantage is kicking in let's hope Carrick can keep it going and take full advantage.

29 Jan 2026 22:39:42
Angel can you just stop with this. You obviously are getting some sort of kick out of it, but it's getting incredibly annoying how you are rewriting history to serve whatever agenda you have.

29 Jan 2026 23:27:57
Donred, no.

I can have my opinion things and speak about them how I want. Like I said, there was plenty of names thrown out to people like me who questioned Ruben Amorim being manager of this club.

Feel free not to engage if you don't want to.

29 Jan 2026 23:35:41
I reckon Mbeumo and Cunha get in pretty much any 'better' team mentioned here. Arsenal would love the former right now and I think he'd have been a perfect natural replacement for Salah. Only City have real strength in depth IMO. They all have far superior youth prospects.

30 Jan 2026 09:30:43
Sometimes, not 'engaging' is impossible, even with the best will in the world, when somebody spouts utter bolloxology that's completely at odds with what he's been spouting for a couple of seasons. Bolloxology on such a grand scale has to be challenged. Read back on your posts for this and the previous season to see the absolute contradiction in your attitude.

30 Jan 2026 09:37:38
Liverpool fan here and I wouldn't mind Mbuemo and Cunha in our team. And maybe Mainoo too although the shenanigans his brother did is making me think twice.

30 Jan 2026 09:51:12
We don't have the strength in depth to challenge in both the league and Champions League right now. We might have performed reasonably well in certain fixtures, and I think we would've finished in the play off spaces, but equally I think we would've seriously struggled in league matches following European fixtures.

30 Jan 2026 09:51:22
Just a note, my post was a bit tongue in cheek and a little dig at the English clubs we beat. Who knows how we would have faired? Under this current set up, I'd be very hopeful we would have done well. Under Amorim, there is a strong argument we wouldn't have but also an argument that we maybe were better set up for European football under Amorim, look at Tottenham. Lots of if's, but's and maybe's.

Incidentally, someone mentioned their concern if we get an injury with our squad, I feel like this shape now gives us more depth despite no change in player personel. Dorgu injured is a stinker but options of Cunha or Diallo across and Mbuemo to the right with Cunha or Sesko up top gives us good options. We are fortunate we have players back from AFCON and injuries. Our bench looks a lot stronger now and people will argue the players aren't good enough but a bench of Heaven, Yoro, Mazraoui (I'd start personally) Mount, Ugarte, Sesko is a lot healthier than previously and sets up to finish the season strongly IMO.

30 Jan 2026 00:02:45
Like the local gobrubbish, ignore them and they stop talking.

30 Jan 2026 01:29:02
Don everyone is entitled to their opinion. My gran watched coronation Street for 50 years and she thinks she could write the script but in reality she hasn't got a clue how to go about it.
My mum watched loads of football and she knew how to pick a team better than Busby and fergie but in reality she hasn't a clue.
Id have my opinions on how our minister for transport could solve our traffic issues but in reality I haven't a clue.
Angel has new clues following his last ones, he had a clue when he told us eth was the man and he had a clue when he said eth would do great at leverkusen.


Opinions can prove to be right or wrong overtime it doesn't mean the holder of those onions have a clue.
You know the type who'd be apologist after taking his kids to the zoo.
I wouldn't ask a guy who watches casualty every Saturday night to give me a few stitches. i'd be happy to listen to his opinion on how it should be done but I'd be safe in the knowledge he wouldn't have clue in reality.
Im sort of assuming he will lose this bee in his bonnet overtime but you never know. i'd say there is a better chance of us competing in the cl with this squad??.

30 Jan 2026 10:52:24
Ports a lot to agree with there.
Nobody knows how we would have done. Its futile discussion and Nobody has a clue how we would have done
Your right on amorim In Europe a 73% winning percentage for his 11 games in Europe only list the one defeat in the final which was a shocking performance.
With the same squad in the same competition in the same season eth had a 0% winning percentage not winning any of his el ties.
Nobody knows how we would have done in fact
Its ok to think we would have done well but that's a guess/opinion based on zero knowledge so frankly nobody has an clue how we would have done.

A person that thinks they have a clue clearly doesn't. Its a bit weird that someone with no clue gets offended when that's pointed out. I wonder do certain people actual think they do have a clue.
Fizz completely agree with your post. But you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.

30 Jan 2026 10:53:17
Gilly of course we don't good post.

30 Jan 2026 12:33:30
It's far too early for anyone to be getting excited over the last two wins. Under Amorim we had some good results against the big teams. Let's see how we play on Sunday and go from there. I don't think Amorim was as bad, or Carrick as much of a messiah that some on here seem to have decided.

The buck starts and stops with the players. We've seen this all before (multiple times) .

30 Jan 2026 15:48:28
Ken I've no issues with anyone having an opinion, but that opinion needs to be based on facts. This isn't another interpretation of facts - i. e. opinion - but in a lot of cases stating falsehoods as facts. Anyway you've defended my right to opinion before and I've had the benefit of that. It's better to look forward anyway. I take your point.

30 Jan 2026 16:15:09
Agree, Ports. I liked Amorim, but his intransigence left us in trouble. A bit of flexibility means an injury isn't the end of the world.

30 Jan 2026 16:49:41
Don you can consol yourself that his opinion is unique to him and is not an educated or informed one.
His opinion does not have to be backed with fact he can think what he likes but don't get mouthy when its pointed out the opinion is just in his head and if another opinion is that he is talking nonsense he should except their right to that opinion instead of getting ratty.
Not everybody thinks the same and not everybody is capable of big picture thinking or observation. Some folk are very singular and granular.

Looking at situations through a very narrow lense. Here and now is all they see and understand. People do gain more perspective as they mature and gain more life experience.
The contradictions go on and on from him.
But i'm sure your aware of the empty vessel proverb. They tend to make a lot of noise.
Angel is like the young bull when he sees a field full of cows, he just gets excited shaps imo used to be more like that's but he now shows a lot more decorum and maturity.

31 Jan 2026 08:30:54
Good posts, Ken. You're on form. ???
Oh, and on the nail. ?
Mr 32% has a master's degree in bolloxology. ?.

31 Jan 2026 11:55:19
Arsenal's invincible season came when they were knocked out of all the cups early allowing them to focus more on the league.

That is where we are right now. We are 4 or 5 players short of a title challenging first 11, and we are another 4 or 5 players short of a title challenging squad capable of sustaining a title challenging and deep runs in 3 different cup competitions.

On our day capable of beating anybody, but lacking the squad depth to stay at that peak long enough to truly challenge for a league title.

29 Jan 2026 07:39:05
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Planning for the Championship: Wolves' Financial Rebuild

28 Jan 2026 17:22:23
Just looking at what's happening at Napoli. If they lose v Chelsea today they're out of the ECL for the season. They're experiencing a major slump in form with half the team out with injuries and are down to 4th in serie A. If they don't qualify for next year's ECL is Højlund's "formality" transfer all of a sudden in jeopardy? Then we have the possibility that Barcelona can't afford Rashford. And then there's Onana. Trabzonspor have no obligation to buy. 2 years left on his contract, maybe £20m in unamortized cost at the end of the season plus (like Rashford at £300k pw), he's seriously overpaid at £140k a week. Is he sellable? I would imagine the club would prefer Vitek back from Bristol City, and be able to offload Onana and Bayindir.

It's going to be a busy summer. Hopefully business gets done early. I would love to see all 3 gone and the club use its resources to build upon what looks like it could be very competitive squad. Yes, we need to out the last 2 weeks in perspective. Until we consistently beat "lesser" opponents we shouldn't get too excited.

28 Jan 2026 23:13:56
I would welcome Hoijlund back if we hadn't already got sesko. Rashford might still be good for the left of attack but I can see Barcelona pleading poverty and us selling him for peanuts.

29 Jan 2026 15:56:56
yh the OP is right, will be following Napolis results closely in the second half of the season, hopefully KDB and Lukaku can come back soon for them.

Watching them yesterday, it looks like a squad running on fumes and needs some players back asap.

29 Jan 2026 22:19:04
I’d take Hojlund back and he can fight it out with out only striker Sesko for the No9 slot.

As for Rash, not sure what he or we will do if the Barcelona move falls through. Has he done enough for them to want to keep him? They’re pretty blessed with attacking talent.

30 Jan 2026 09:53:42
Eric, I think Barcelona would prefer to sign Rashford, especially given Lewandowski won't be around for much longer. But there are still some serious financial constraints at the club, which.

30 Jan 2026 11:03:30
Barcelona will plead poverty in an attempt to get Rashford on another loan or lower price. they will then go and buy another player for more that they will struggle to register.

Rashford will likely try and apply pressure on us to make whatever deal they can do so he can stay there and I understand from his perspective. however it should be fair for us to generate a decent return on a player we have paid heavily for in salary.

I can imagine PSG having a look at him if it gets that far. so long as he does not come back.

31 Jan 2026 12:00:04
If they don't sign Højlund permanently then we will either sell him to someone else or keep him for another season to see how he can do as a rotation option/challenger to Sesko.

For me there were two problems with Højlund at United, the first being that he lacked experience, the second being that we changed managers whose style of play and demands he had for him didn't suit his skill set.

If he came back with another years experience of playing regularly for a top side in a top league then he'd bring that experience with him. While we have no idea who our manager will be or how he will want us to set up and play. Maybe Højlund is the ideal striker for him? Who knows.

27 Jan 2026 23:45:25
Here's a question.
Do Shaw maguire and mainoo make the next England squad?
I found it incredible that united have had no English player in the squad a few times.
I hope they all make the wc squad.
I do wonder will maguire keep his united place due to his speed of play and choice of pass. But he has his strengths too.


It will be interesting to see what tuchel does in bit sure when the next round of games are on.
It will be possibly tougher for mainoo with Anderson Rice Palmer Rodgers bellendingham wharton. But if he turns it on over next few months with fresh legs he could break into the squad.

28 Jan 2026 02:29:52
I would say the only one should be Maguire.

28 Jan 2026 09:57:51
I'd have gone the opposite to you Jimbo. Mainoo, if he plays the rest of our games as he did the last two, would have to be in contention. Shaw has played a lot of games this year and he is England's best left back by far. He goes straight back into their starting XI imo.

Maguire might make it based on lack of good English CBs. He's done well in last couple of games but he's not a regular starter here and I'd imagine De Ligt if he gets fit goes back into the starting team for us, so I think Maguire is the least likely of the three.

28 Jan 2026 11:23:06
I can't see Tuchel making too many changes from the group of players who played the qualifiers to get the team into the tournament.

I can see Mainoo maybe getting into the squad on pure quality over someone like Wharton but i can't see Shaw getting in over O’Reily/Spence/MLS or Maguire getting in over Konsa/Burn/Stones/Guehi.

28 Jan 2026 11:40:37
I wouldn’t be shocked if all 3 get in Ken, LB is a problem area and shaw does well for England. Mainoo played well in the Euros so if he keeps up his current form then I think he goes and as for Maguire.

He plays well for England, has experience, is a leader in the group and also he scores goals and takes pens. Honestly wouldn’t surprise me if they are all on the plane.

28 Jan 2026 15:38:04
If Shaw and Maguire are starting for England they’re not beating any decent team.

28 Jan 2026 17:32:32
All 3 aren't good enough for England at the minute mainoo might be in the squad if his form keeps up don't think tuchel fancies Wharton fodens dropped off a cliff and Palmer probably won't be fit.

28 Jan 2026 23:18:17
Shaw has been playing very well and can play as a left back or one of three central defenders.

Mainoo has to be good for a long run of games but the door should be open for him.

Maguire should def be there. Underrated and been very good this season. Is an attacking threat for corners and free kicks too. He also has a positive effect on a squad being mature and experienced.

29 Jan 2026 00:22:38
Isn't MLS about 4th choice LB for Arsenal?

29 Jan 2026 00:27:58
Maguire so good this season everyone on here wants him to sign an extension for next season? Shaw so good, the majority of fans on here don’t want him sold come the summer? I must have been reading some other site ?.

29 Jan 2026 06:32:33
I think Kobbie has a great chance if he continues to perform at a really high level over the next 4 months. Rice, Anderson, and Wharton are certainties, but other than that, he's competing with Gallagher, Henderson (God forbid), and maybe James Garner. I know I would rather have Kobbie in the England squad.

I think Shaw will probably make the squad if he manages to stay fit and perform between now and then, but I think Lewis Hall has got to be starting for England at the World Cup. Nico O'Reilly might make the squad over Shaw.

I expect Maguire will make the squad, he has been fantastic the last couple games, and generally pretty good for a few months, but it will depend on whether there are injuries to other players. At the moment there several better centre backs, namely Guehi, Stones, and Konsa, plus Colwill might make the squad if he manages to prove his fitness in time. But Colwill is a huge doubt, and Stones is injured as often as Luke Shaw, although he always seems to be fit for major tournaments for England.

30 Jan 2026 11:04:37
I would be surprised if any made the world cup however injuries could open the door. If any I can see Tuchel liking Maguire as an option.

27 Jan 2026 22:05:23
I'll start by saying that I don't think this will happen before I get the usual naysayers.

Right, Carrick has on paper at least won (and fairly convincingly) the two toughest fixtures of the 17 he was given.

If he went on an amazing run and won the remaining 15 games (not impossible given our lessened fixture list and that on paper at least the other games are easier than his first two), where in the league do you think we would finish?

That would put us on 83 points. For reference if Arsenal maintain the exact same form over the remaining 15 games that they have managed over the first 23 then they'd get another 32 points finishing with 82 in total.

In what is probably the weakest league since Leicester won the title, is it totally unfathomable that we could still technically be in with an outside chance of a title challenge at least?

27 Jan 2026 22:50:17
I've been unwavering all season, we are title contenders.
All season people have laughed at that position.
We are still in the race as it is Arsenal at the summit.

27 Jan 2026 23:35:14
Nothing is impossible yet. However as you say not probable.
A top 6 fight will ensue imo. Possibly 7 if Newcastle can get one of their front players scoring.
I don't see the top 3 falling back too much although villa don't always convince me and they don't have city's know how, although city have lots of defenders out .
In all likelihood 5th will get a cl place so again imo its will be a straight fight for 4th and 5th between ourselves Chelsea and Liverpool.
If they begin to click again it will be tight.
We have momentum and fixtures in our favour and until dorgou a fit squad .
A win v Fulham is a great place to start.


Then stay again the next week.
If we can ride this wave and become more solid that will breed confidence. A 5 or 6 game winning run catapulted villa and I don't think Chelsea or Liverpool could match that right now.
If we did win 6 on the spin those above would be closer somewhat imo and those below would be well back.
#ridethewave
With teams finding it hard this season to win more than 3 on the bounce if we won 6 then we're gaining significant ground on everybody.
The only title rave we are in now is a mathematical one.
If we still have a mathematical chance with 6 games to go that will do me as a target for now.

28 Jan 2026 00:20:41
Let's walk before we run. We need to beat a team convincingly that sets up defensively against us. Then we can talk.

28 Jan 2026 07:05:14
The most important thing is getting another 3 wins so that lad can cut his hair. Carrick would go down as a hero.

28 Jan 2026 08:41:14
That bet at 50 / 1 might start to look not so crazy Jimbo!
Hope you had it each way? 10 / 1 for coming second ain't bad!

{Ed025's Note - bookies just love Man Utd supporters Paddy.. :)

28 Jan 2026 08:57:01
In one Dodgy.

28 Jan 2026 09:01:48
There is a reason there is a bookies on every street corner ed025.

{Ed025's Note - absolutely Ken..

28 Jan 2026 09:11:46
All them drawn games that we really should have won would have put us in a really good position.

28 Jan 2026 10:01:25
On pure recent-form maths:
• City ?
• Arsenal ?
• Villa ? top 4
• United ? outside CL spots

This is ChatGPT results based on the seasons results. Much more likely than United winning the PL. could argue we will finish top 4.

28 Jan 2026 10:10:55
I also put a wager on them when they were at 500/1.
All bets covered by a start of season bet that has them at top 4, that's a shoe in. like every bet placed ?.

28 Jan 2026 11:23:49
I know a couple of lads on the board of one if the biggest bookies in uk and Ireland.
Their commercial director told me that they take in over 200m on what they describe as novelty bets every year.
Bets on outsiders odds of 33/1 or more and novelty bets like my son will play for England and pay out less than 3m per year.


It is their most profitable core activity.
3rd most profitable was profitable profit from football accumalters and bet builders taking 97% contribution to profit on weekly income in this specific revenue channel.
Millions of lost 2 3 tand 10 pound bets every week.

28 Jan 2026 12:25:42
Crikey! What a lot of know alls! Of course the bookies are on to a good thing. All “winnings” are given back to them anyway! No punter keeps it. It’s just just the next bet!
I was just giving a heads up to Jimbo!
And it’s Patrick not paddy.

28 Jan 2026 14:18:31
Who got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning ??? and its jimbob not jimbo Mr touchy.

28 Jan 2026 14:54:14
I think we'll finish 3rd about 8 points behind City as Champions. Arsenal have a very strong squad but i think the wheels will come off over the next couple of months and once City go ahead, they won't be caught.

Low 80 points winning the league isn't something I'd think I'd seen again for awhile but it shows you how quick football can change.

Hopefully we're looking up and not over our shoulders come March, April. It will be very telling over the next 5 games how we'll finish. If we can get that lad a haircut we'll be flying into the champions league.

28 Jan 2026 15:43:36
Lets see how we fair against Fulham, it's far too early.
Being realistic i think 5th place.

28 Jan 2026 16:10:19
He’ll always be Jimbo to me Ken!

{Ed025's Note - and thats fair enough Paddy.. :)

28 Jan 2026 18:00:55
It's actually Colin.

28 Jan 2026 20:50:46
And mine’s not Patrick! ?.

29 Jan 2026 09:37:57
Is Dave just a nickname, Rodney?

29 Jan 2026 14:30:16
Fizz ????.

27 Jan 2026 21:58:25
Looking forward to how we setup for the next two games, we will have more possession and can't just play on the break. Very interested in what team Carrick puts out, Dorgu is out, so easy change is Cunha in, and play further up the pitch, but this doesn't suit Maguires lack of pace. can't waot for it, really enjoying watchi g us lately.

27 Jan 2026 22:51:48
Cunha in, no brainer.
I do wonder if it suits us more to have another ball playing CB in lieu of Maguire to cover any counters against us. Yoro or heaven, probably the latter getting the nod.

27 Jan 2026 16:52:39
What's the opinion on the links to ilyman ndiaye.

27 Jan 2026 18:30:10
Do we need a right winger?
Do we need another AFCON player?

27 Jan 2026 18:55:06
We must be playing Everton soon.

27 Jan 2026 21:47:45
Probably don't need a other winger or afcon player TBF but people would happily have taken semenyo who plays for Ghana or diomande.

28 Jan 2026 11:58:52
He's naturally a left winger but got moved to the right because of jack grealishs arrival.
We are also missing a natural right footed wide left winger.

27 Jan 2026 16:22:08
How was the game Ed001? Did Firmino start?

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, great game except for the result. First half was good but second half Firmino turned it on and scored 2, including the winner with the last kick to make it 3-2. I seen something similar happened in the Prem that day too....

I did miss a lot of the first half being interviewed by various TV stations in the region. This season so far I have been interviewed by TV from 5 different countries. I really should figure out a way to advertise the sites while doing them!}

27 Jan 2026 17:52:34
ED001,

Just wear a football transfers rumours T - Shirt, Hat ?.

{Ed001's Note - good idea, I should get some stuff printed up!}

27 Jan 2026 20:12:48
A beautiful 'RTFP' t-shirt would be amazing.

{Ed001's Note - yeah we always said we should make them to sell, but after Ed2 passed away I didn't want to profit off his passing. It would be good to have one to wear myself though. Great idea. I will have to take a trip to Dragon Mart I think, you can get anything made there cheap.}

27 Jan 2026 21:46:05
Maybe you could get a lead to a charity that he may have supported. I'd get one for a start.

28 Jan 2026 09:20:40
Sounds amazing Ed, plus got 2 goals. Yes, I preferred the last minute winner on Saturday though?. It was the wind.

{Ed001's Note - that was embarrassing. Slot really has completely lost the plot this season and Virgil has gone along for the ride.}

29 Jan 2026 10:11:23
Yh i'm surprised how bad youve been, you had really winnable fixtures in the last games too. Can see you missing out on the CL spots too if he stays.

{Ed001's Note - I agree, he is taking the club backwards, but he will just have a dig at Klopp for not getting in the Champions League a couple of years ago, like he did in the post-match presser last night. Deflect, deflect, deflect.}

29 Jan 2026 12:36:46
Sounds like Ten Hag at times, think he'll be gone by the summer though. Hope you get Glasner.