Manchester United banter 8

09 Mar 2026 17:53:26
Rather than write a full script on the future direction of the squad, I thought I'd break it down starting with an easy one. Goalkeeper.

Lammens has been a revelation for our team, IMO.
Vitek is doing well out on loan at Bristol and is very much capable of being understudy/competition to Lammens.

Bayindir, even as third choice, I am not sure he is worth keeping.
Onana just has to go.
Heaton is of course retiring. His experience is vital for the dressing room.


Suggestions of Pope or even Ortega on a free at the end of the window. Either would be smart business and I'd probably lean more towards Ortega at the moment.
We also have the likes of Mee and Harrison in youth, but they probably need loans before any consideration is given to them stepping up.
So would everyone be happy with a stock of Lammens/Vitek/cheap third choice like the aforementioned Pope or Ortega. Or do people feel this is an area we need to invest in over the summer?

09 Mar 2026 19:42:48
I think that is fine, to be honest. Lammens has been great and should only get better.

Goalkeeper isn't a position you want to rotate much, and is probably the last position we should be looking to spend significantly on improving right now.

09 Mar 2026 19:44:58
Jimbo, I agree with the first choice, obviously. I can't see Pope wanting to be a third choice, so I'd take him as backup if he was happy with that. Vitek needs game time at his age, so I'd get him out again on a good loan.

I do think he could be a good keeper, but no point in him sitting on the bench week after week. Young goalies need as much playing experience as possible, imo.

09 Mar 2026 21:38:19
Talking about goalies. Has anyone seen our u18s keeper? I'm not sure I've ever seen a range of passing like that from a GK in my life. ?

09 Mar 2026 22:46:10
So, general consensus is the GK position is not in need of any major surgery.
Noucamp, fair point on Vitek. Maybe he sits in the #2 spot until Xmas, and is then on loan for the second half after early rounds of the EFL, etc., have been played. My issue with, say, Pope as #2 is that he isn't going to offer much competition for Lammens, whereas Vitek is literally going to do exactly that.

It could be an interesting tussle between the two. Providing we have competent coaching staff, I think it could work well.
I'll do a separate thread next for full backs.... to see what the general consensus is.

10 Mar 2026 04:27:59
100% we need a GK who is capable of playing regularly and challenging for the starting position. That way, it keeps pushing Lammens; there is nothing worse for any player than knowing there is no competition for their place. I don't care who it is, just as long as they are of the quality to be a number 1.

10 Mar 2026 16:40:12
Would you be happy with Vitek JSU?

08 Mar 2026 22:31:22
Hayden Hackney is a player known to Carrick. Looks quality. Should we be looking to sign him. Wonder if there is any Utd interest.

09 Mar 2026 05:08:35
Is this really the quality of players United should be looking at?

09 Mar 2026 09:03:49
I think, as a backup to the first team, sure, get him in.

09 Mar 2026 10:12:15
I thought he'd have been a good, cheap January signing to freshen up the squad and the midfield options for the remainder of the season. It would have given him half a season to get to grips with the expectations, and, hopefully, he would have developed well enough to be a useful squad player next season.



However, going into the summer, I think other, dare I say, better options need to be targeted, and maybe he's a later signing in the window depending on budget and player outs.

09 Mar 2026 10:55:40
I think he looks a very classy player, but you only really find out when you ask them to play the highest level.

09 Mar 2026 19:46:09
He looks a great young player, and there are lots of recent examples of players getting a good grounding in the Championship, then stepping up and playing well in the EPL. Even our own Amad did well on loan at Sunderland before coming back and stepping up with us.



Hackney looks like the best midfielder in the Championship. That said, given the need we have, he probably shouldn't be the marquee signing this summer. But, as a second or third midfield signing (if Ugarte leaves), I think he could be a shrewd bit of business.

10 Mar 2026 04:30:54
Let's be honest, as Amad has really stepped up to what's required at United. Yes, he's been ok if you're comparing him to what we have and had, but he is no world beater, if we are being honest.



If he was at another club, would we be looking to purchase him? I would 100% say no. That's no disrespect to him, he did ok here, but is he at the level we really need?

08 Mar 2026 09:54:12.
Patrice telling it how it is, good man. Whether or not Carrick is the right man, and I think probably not, the constant sniping by ex United players is tiresome. As Evra says, they've all tried management and none of them were particularly good at it, and in Neville's case, he was awful. Yet here they are pontoficating endlessly.

Scholes thinks Ancelotti would be perfect, I think it's 10 years too late.

Keane and Neville don't offer names other than not Carrick, which feels like a personal agenda.

Yes, yes, I know they are paid to be provocative and it generates headlines and clicks, but they just come across as sour. Neville was quite refreshing when he started but now he's just gobby for the sake of it. Keane is usually good value but he is clearly carrying a grudge, and Scholes generally talks tripe. But here we are.

08 Mar 2026 10:16:16
You're not wrong, Ajh.

08 Mar 2026 12:13:57
It's frustrating, but they are successful at what they do. And that is giving opinions. I'd prefer if actual data backed up their points, but I do find Neville's podcast very interesting. The pity for me is that, when Neville started off, he was a breath of fresh air because he spoke about tactics and gave some great insight into what goes on at the top level. The more air time they have, the less content we're getting.


Nonetheless, those who are lauding Carrick and those who are slating him are guilty of the exact same thing - neither are taking a holistic view of where we are and whether there is anything beyond raw results that demonstrate a clear progression. Ultimately, we just don't have enough information right now to gauge him.

08 Mar 2026 18:56:20
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You pay your money, you take your choice. Just because you don't agree with it, don't make it right or wrong. It's an opinion, and hardly worth losing sleep over. I never understand the people who threaten and curse over others' opinions.

08 Mar 2026 20:49:35
The biggest thing for whoever we have as a manager is the ability to motivate the players by whatever means necessary. I can't imagine Pep or Klopp allowing their teams to start off so sluggish, game after game.

This has been an issue for years.

A good man manager should have the ability to work out what is needed to get a team to perform. This applies to all walks of life. A manager needs to lead, and make and take the hard decisions necessary for success.

09 Mar 2026 05:12:16
Sadly, the world seems to have moved on from this breed of management nowadays. In a world where people are more like little sheep following influencers, social media rules the waves, so the days of the Harry Redknapp type, short on tactical nous but big on geeing up the players, are long gone.

The manager who gives the hairdryer treatment will no longer get a reaction from pampered stars.

09 Mar 2026 07:23:37
Agreed, Red Man. They all seem to have some personal thing going on.

Whatever the issues at the club, I'm not sure how you can lay any blame at Carrick.

09 Mar 2026 09:27:19
Sorry Ajh, not Red Man! It was an early post, I was half asleep.

Apologies Ajh.

08 Mar 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United Need A Savvy Summer To Build Depth

08 Mar 2026 12:05:25
Good post, Shappy.
Artetadyce and his London Stoke side. ???

08 Mar 2026 12:16:41
I agree there's value in the market, and I like your suggestions.

I'm hoping we get Enrique as the new coach, so I could see him bringing a player or two from France. If Vini Jr goes to PSG, Kavra would be nice, but Diomande looks promising, and I'd expect JJ Gabriel to be pushing next season.



I quite like Mateta over Vahlovic. I'm not convinced by him at all. Lautaro Martinez or Alvarez would be a dream.

Exciting times ahead, but UCL is key. 21 might be on.

08 Mar 2026 15:03:51
Sorry, Lautaro Martinez is dreadful. Definitely take Alvarez.

08 Mar 2026 17:25:43
Utd Road, I prefer Mateta over Vlahovic personally as well, and with one year left on his deal he might be available for a reasonable fee. If he is available for around 25-30m, then great. But I'd be reluctant to go much north of 30m for a player who will be 29 by the start of the season, had a move to AC Milan collapse over issues found in his medical, and who is ultimately being bought for squad depth rather than as first choice.



I think, with the money we spent on Sesko, along with his promising performances, I doubt the club will want to block his development, but he does need at least someone who he can rotate with, especially if we will play closer to 60 games next season rather than 40 this season.

08 Mar 2026 18:59:56
I suggested Mateta before, but he recently failed a medical for a move last window, surely we don't need another crock!

Sesko has got a lot to learn, and needs an experienced striker with pace to learn from, but it would also be nice to get a winger who could actually cross a first-time ball.



We need lots of players for most positions, so it is a matter of what we can get and what level they are. We have not bought a world class player for years.

08 Mar 2026 19:27:08
What about Obi Martin? Let's not forget him, guys. I know JJ is the talk of the town, but he is 15. Sure, give him some time next season, for sure.
We also have Wheatley and Biancheri. The latter scores goals for fun.



I have said before we need to spend big on midfield and defense before we restock the frontline. Diomande being an exception, I guess, but again we do have stock there already.

09 Mar 2026 05:21:45
I am not sure Latauro Martinez is dreadful; he is probably better than anything we currently have!
Seems like Obi is well out of favour for something or other that happened under the RA reign. He doesn't seem to have been given a proper chance, and I'm not sure he will now.
I agree we need a defence, that's for sure. I said for years we need an experienced CB with pace and got shouted down when I said de Ligt was a waste of time because he has been injured for most of his career. How's that going? We need CBs, full backs, midfielders, and certainly an experienced striker with pace, and someone who can cross a ball first time would not be too much to ask.


Of course we then need an experienced manager to gel this together.
Atm, all we have is mediocrity all over the pitch, the manager, and above.
Yes, it's a bit better than it's been, but it's still nowhere near the level United should be aspiring to.
Our players that get injured disappear for months on end.
It's all a bit of a mess...
Sjr has even gone very quiet since the last statement he made went down so well. It's quite embarrassing how United, all round, has sunk to this level, and now we have fans saying anyone above 25 is too old and we should be looking at players from the Championship...

09 Mar 2026 17:44:36
Mateta is decent, but my goodness he misses some sitters as well.

07 Mar 2026 18:43:49
Not going to lie but JJ Gabriel will be the next biggest thing and will be competing with Yamal and co for years! He is that good!

07 Mar 2026 19:52:21
We just have to bring him down at the appropriate time.

07 Mar 2026 20:07:32
The kid is going to be special if he steps up to the men's game. He has so much talent, but it's not just talent that determines success.

07 Mar 2026 23:38:33
Shappy, you are so right. Physicality, mentality, off-field influences have all derailed the next great player.

08 Mar 2026 07:53:25
Sadly he'll be in Spain within 2-3 years. It's just the way it goes.

08 Mar 2026 12:22:34
I'm not sure he'll be in Spain, but I can see his father being the key to keeping him long term. They just need to throw money at him, and provide a pathway to the 1st team. I get Bellingham family energy.

The numbers don't lie. He's very special and, at a minimum, on par with Dowman. Giving him minutes in preseason and sub appearances in cups next season, and more time in the EPL after December, would be a fair plan to let him show what he can do.



We need to be careful in summer transfer plans not to block him. Perhaps he's the long-term Bruno replacement. We need to give him opportunities to win titles too.

I'm sure there's a plan.

08 Mar 2026 15:47:52
I hope you're right, Ur.

08 Mar 2026 19:01:27
Well, if he got the same as the Bellingham family, he might as well be gone now, cos they just chase the glory and the money and he gets neither with us.

09 Mar 2026 00:45:35
I'd suggest he gets both with us.

09 Mar 2026 05:25:25
Blinkered or what... Oh right, so under SJR, we are going to pay what the likes of Real Madrid will...
And I guess we will be winning the Champions League and our league before Madrid do too, or Barca come to that, or even Munich, or, closer to home, City or Arsenal, maybe even Liverpool... Strange how some can't see the wood for the trees.

09 Mar 2026 05:37:52
There we are then.

12 Mar 2026 21:22:25
So, hold on, Jsu. You constantly complain about the level of the players we have and the ones we're looking at, but you don't think we can buy top ones either? Who do you want?

07 Mar 2026 14:10:19
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United Need A Savvy Summer To Build Depth

07 Mar 2026 19:58:20
Agree with all those except Vlahovic, although on a free, I wouldn't say no, but he smacks of the old guard and the silly signings of the past.
I still think we need more of a churn of those players. With that squad, next year's problem will 100% be the defence.

07 Mar 2026 20:13:46
I'm not Vlahovic's biggest fan, but on a free maybe give him a 3 years plus one deal, and he would probably be a more natural fit at CF in the EPL than Zirkzee is, unfortunately.

Really, it's about finding someone who can take the pressure off of Sesko but who won't block his development. Then, on top of that, making sure we don't spend a load of money for a player who'll sit on the bench.



There are better strikers out there. Absolutely, on paper someone like Ollie Watkins is ideal, homegrown, EPL-proven, and at 30 still has a few good years in the bank, but won't block Sesko. The problem is that he'd probably cost 50m plus, which is madness for a player to add squad depth. Which is why I'm suggesting someone like Vlahovic.

07 Mar 2026 20:48:18
Juventus have offered a new contract to him in the last few days, and, seemingly, the expectations are that an extension will be agreed.

07 Mar 2026 23:39:05
He is a good player. Good squad addition.

08 Mar 2026 03:13:16
I think Sesko has done enough this year to prove he can lead the line next year, so perhaps we need an understudy.
I don't think Vlahovic would do well with a rotation role at this stage of his career.
I know he's a free, but that's the only appeal to him.
I think he would be too slow for the EPL.

08 Mar 2026 10:24:36
Good post, Shappy.
Artetadyce and his London Stoke side. ???

06 Mar 2026 14:34:47
What more does Mbeumo need to do to get benched? He is already doing nothing, is there a phrase "more of nothing" that he can do? His poor form has sort of coincided with some of our poorest outings under Carrick (which by the way are quite a few).

The problem with Amorim supposedly was that he was stuck on the formation. Similar problem with Carrick is that he is stuck on the style which is counter attack.

Unfortunately it becomes slow and ponderous against teams that sit in a low to mid block which is I think 90% of the teams in PL. All the United DNA and understands United is trash unless you win majority of the games by playing well and playing bad and winning should only be a blemish rather than a norm. The question is who gets us doing that?

06 Mar 2026 16:39:40
United Addict, totally agree. Mbeumo has been absolutely awful the past 3-4 games. He's even struggling to control the ball at the moment. The problem is that he pops up with important goals.

06 Mar 2026 19:51:05
And play whom... Sesko has got a lot to learn, miles away from being United's permanent number 9. Cunha holds the ball too long, so who else do you play? I would say Mbeumo is best out of the 3, ok he had a few poor games, but what is the alternative?

Only two games, ok, everyone was waxing lyrical about our 4 summer buys.

06 Mar 2026 20:28:35
Lammens is still the standout from the signings; the rest have not been consistent enough. Lammens is making the same defence look good compared to last year, when they were truly exposed as to the level they are at.

07 Mar 2026 05:32:38
We seriously lack real quality. We basically have 2 quality players, and both are now in their 30s, Casemiro & Bruno. After that we have average players and a few with potential.
Lammens has been good, but we still need another very good keeper to push Lammens on.
Cunha is a good player, but lacks pace, and has got to realise he is not at Wolves any longer.
Sesko has potential, but is nowhere near ready.
Mbeumo is probably our best buy.
When I first said Ugarte was useless, not many agreed, like when I said de Ligt spends most of his career in the treatment room; I got shouted down.
Yoro has got potential, but atm he is average at best. The rest of the CBs are barely average, same at full-backs, barely average.


Mainoo, I never rated him, another average player.
Couple that with an average manager, so I am not sure what people expect, but, yep, average. It’s much better than Ra was doing, which, TBH, was not hard. But if we get through to the end of the season and manage top 4, we should be ecstatic because we have served up some crap this season and last. Luckily, no one else in the league has been flying either; hence us being in 3rd.
I would take 4th all day long, and would consider that a masterstroke by Carrick. Should it get him the job? Nope. But he is doing as well as can be expected. Igor Tudor could always come in!

07 Mar 2026 05:41:10
I rate Heaven Jsu, but he seems to have been dropped from consideration by Carrick. Not sure why, in fairness.

07 Mar 2026 07:35:13
Je suis unite, surely Amad is a good enough option, no? Sure, he can play there, and obviously Mbeumo is an option off the bench later. No harm in taking some pressure off Mbeumo when he is struggling. I don't expect Carrick to make that call though.

07 Mar 2026 07:58:16
I think Mbeumo works best when he has space to run into, when teams sit deep against us it limits what he can do. At Brentford I doubt many teams when into games against them with that sit deep, low block game plan so he rarely had to deal with it. I'm sure with time he'll learn to develop his game to find ways to still hurt teams that play that way.

Amad is stylistically a better option against low blocks, his dribbling style doesn't require there to be lots of space to drive into, and his game is more about quick give and go passes that help pull the opposition out of a low block.

Sesko on paper is also a better starting option against low blocks as his physicality and aerial ability means we can look to play in more early crosses giving the opposition less time to set up in their defensive shape. Also if we start to score a few goals from that then it'll force players in their defence to have to step out to try and stop the cross which will open up more space centrally. The issue with Sesko is that he is still young and developing which means his consistency isn't always there yet.

Cunha and Bruno I think can equally be useful players against low blocks for different reasons. Bruno's vision and ability to just find a way to create something. While Cunha's more maverick, off the cuff playing style brings a sense of unpredictability that can unsettle teams intent on sitting deep and defending.

Mbeumo for me is a better impact sub against teams that play this way. A quick, direct runner who is also a goal threat coming on against tiring legs and when players start to have lapses in concentration.

The problem is that we lack the squad depth, what we really need against these teams is probably Paddy Dorgu. His ability to play wide left and get around teams will stretch the pitch and open up space centrally by dragging a full back out. But with him injured we don't have anyone else who naturally is a wide winger. All of Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad want to play in the inside channels and come centrally. That makes us much easier to defend against.

We need another winger who is not only happy, but thrives going around the outside and this pulling teams out of a defensive shape. That sort of player will enable the other attackers we have to find more space and for us to create more higher quality chances for them.

Mbeumo isn't the problem, he just isn't the answer all on his own.

07 Mar 2026 11:56:37
I'm surprised that Lacey hasn't been on the bench. His 2 cameo appearances this season were good. He isn't afraid to take on his man or shoot.

Hopefully, Dorgu returns soon. He has been missed on the LW.

07 Mar 2026 17:34:45
MH, Lacey has not been involved with any of our teams since 2nd Feb, also he has not been seen training during this period. The club have made no official statement as to his circumstances but there is concern regarding a possible calf complaint.

Some time back I posted a profile of Lacey and mentioned that he had suffered numerous injury issues so there is concern at the club whenever he has a problem, extra care will be taken.

Also, his older brother Paddy, has, a couple of weeks back, been charged with attempted murder in Liverpool. So this may also be having an effect on him. They are a very close family apparently.

08 Mar 2026 12:15:07
He had a groin injury. I think he's back training now.

06 Mar 2026 11:22:27
It feels like a bit of an over reaction to us losing to Newcastle. Fans turning on Carrick and Mainoo and revisiting past negative points.

It was really frustrating losing to Newcastle. Honestly, if I was a Newcastle fan I'd be asking why the team hasn't applied that much effort in their previous 6/7 home games, but United is their biggest game of the season and they are desperate to create a rivalry with United, so it was always going to be a tough game.



As for United, the next game will tell us what we need to know about Carrick and also the players and whether they have mentally turned a corner. I was gutted after Wednesday but on reflection, first game lost in 2026, been on a good run to get to 3rd and we've lost but still in 3rd place. We've certainly had darker days in recent times so just need to take a deep breath and look forward to the Villa game.

06 Mar 2026 11:45:48
I don't necessarily think the reaction was to the result, but to the performance. Let's not forget we were playing against 10 men.

Since beating City and Arsenal, we have been stumbling through games and snatching things last minute or against the run of play. Carrick talks a lot about 'the United way', but I'm certainly not seeing it.

If we were attacking, urgent, energetic, and taking hold of games, and we lost, that would be one thing. The reality is that we are not any of those things, and positive results have carried more than a slice of luck.

06 Mar 2026 12:40:24
Think most of the criticism is legitimate. Obviously, the people using it as some sort of stick to beat Carrick and reference Amorim are ludicrous. I mean, Carrick could lose every game for the rest of the season and have a better win rate lol.

But the last 3 or 4 performances have been underwhelming, no width, little tempo, and some poor substitutions.

We keep letting the game drift, which for a team playing once a week barely is inexcusable.

For the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, against 10 men Newcastle, we didn't have a shot, it was bizarre.

Best case scenario is we limp into the Champions League places, performing well enough to get results but not too well so that Carrick gets the job permanently and we can find a top manager for next season.

06 Mar 2026 12:56:11
Criticism of both is fair, so long as it is balanced, and we should also praise as well.

Carrick has done really well, steadied the ship, and brought results where we were not getting them. Performances started off well but have definitely dropped. Is this him, the players, or purely a case of getting the results being the only importance?

Mainoo has had good and bad moments, but the bad can look really bad. At times it looks like Amorim was right and he needs to develop physically, and other times he links play and is really good. Is he in the right position for him, does he need a certain type of player to allow his best attributes (a Kante-type, energetic holding midfielder who frees him to roam).



This season feels like an odd anomaly, we have few games yet do not look like we are hugely benefitting fitness-wise from this. We certainly have periods, but over the past few games we have not hit the ground running and maintained this. Whether there is an argument that we are lacking match fitness and have too few games.... who knows.

Let's hope that Newcastle was a blip, a reality check, and we go on another run.

06 Mar 2026 13:24:55
My reaction was due to lack of urgency, effort and energy. Not the result itself. I am frustrated that we put no crosses into the box for Sesko, particularly that, against 10 men, our fullbacks continued to pass sideways and backwards instead of overlapping, driving forwards and crossing.

Also, our midfield was tapping the ball around like they had no ideas. We should have been laying siege to their goal.

06 Mar 2026 17:05:44
Exactly, Dodgy.

06 Mar 2026 19:55:52
It's an average team with an average manager. Not sure what you all expect. We've got no real number 9, not one good CB at the club, poor full backs, and not the greatest midfield, and you're all moaning cos we lost one game. I would say we've been damn lucky it's only the one, but still a vast improvement over the RA debacle, so I will take that.

If we can finish 4th it's a masterstroke by Carrick.
After the World Cup, a new manager comes in and, looking like Martinez, Carrick will be offered number 2. Not sure Carrick accepts that though, but we need a more experienced manager, and certainly need some better players.

07 Mar 2026 08:12:55
The Newcastle game just gave us a reminder of the real issues with our squad. The lack of quality in depth. It's no coincidence that the two worst performances we have had under Carrick have been in midweek games, games where we are playing our second game within 3 or 4 days.

People have mentioned Carrick's lack of rotation as an issue, which is a recurring theme from our time under Amorim. But no one is pointing out that against Newcastle our bench was:
Bayindir, Malacia, Heaven, Dalot, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee, Fletcher and Kukonki.

If we are honest, only Amad and maybe Dalot are good enough to be starters, and there are plenty of fans who don't think Dalot is good enough.

Bayindir has categorically proven he isn't good enough. So have Malacia and Ugarte.
Zirkzee is a player with a lot of ability, but who doesn't seem suited to the EPL.


Leaving just Heaven, Kukonki and Fletcher, three teenagers.

We are missing options like MdL, Martinez, and Mount due to injury, all three would give us great options. Yet let's be honest, all of them have a well earned reputation for being injury prone.

This squad desperately needs another 5 players of first team quality to give us the ability to just maintain our performances when playing twice a week.

Carrick, just like Amorim before him, has his hands tied when we have two games a week, and his lack of options means he has to stick with the same players over and over again, unable to give them a rest, to rotate, or to drop them when their form dips.

These recent performances are less a criticism of Carrick and more just further evidence of how much further we have to go with rebuilding this squad.

08 Mar 2026 03:15:10
2 mids is the bare minimum we need, imo.
If it were me setting the plan and targets...

Gomes (Wolves) 6.
Anderson 8.
Branthwaite CB.
Robinson LB.
Livramento/Munoz RB.

I'd be targeting those to be starters for next year.





Further to those I'd be looking at Wilson from Fulham and Senesi from Bournemouth on free transfers to bolster the squad.

You all already know who to get rid of.

05 Mar 2026 22:10:40
Archie Gray was immense for Spurs tonight. Really tried. Had everything our lot missed yesterday.

Was watching Wharton too as much as I could from the TV coverage. Two excellent passes for their goals but I was left feeling underwhelmed. Obv a good player but is he good enough to take us to the next level? Maybe he will be better in a better team.

06 Mar 2026 00:48:37
We need 3 new midfielders. We will get linked with many. I hope they pick the right ones. Please buy 2 decent fullbacks too. Pretty please.

06 Mar 2026 02:28:11
Agreed, Dodgy, and 2 centre backs.

06 Mar 2026 05:16:48
Oh dear, you now agree we need CBs! At last.

06 Mar 2026 07:12:14
Ha, I have always said we need centre backs. God, you're boring, by the way.

06 Mar 2026 14:22:35
We always tend to do less than required, lol, so I doubt we'll be buying 3 midfielders. I hope Tonali is in the mix. He was incredible against us. He might be easier to snare than their captain, too.

07 Mar 2026 02:43:14
We have 3 midfielders, Casemiro is leaving.

So now we have 2.

So 2 is an absolute must.

Now, consider that we will be in UCL or Europe minimum. That is a long season, with possibly double the games we will play this year.

Mainoo is young, and should not be overplayed (and does not deserve to be a nailed-on starter imo.

He should be fighting for a starting spot).

Ugarte is poor. Now, he could be kept as backup, 4th CM. So what if we get an injury? One of 3 could be a youth player who is ready (Kone, I thought, would come through, but is anyone ready?). I would get 2 CM starters and 1 prospect from Favel's secret Rolodex.

07 Mar 2026 04:32:30
2 mids is the bare minimum we need, imo.
If it were me setting the plan and targets...

Gomes (Wolves) 6
Anderson 8
Branthwaite CB
Robinson LB
Livramento/Munoz RB

I'd be targeting those to be starters for next year.



Further to those I'd be looking at Wilson from Fulham and Senesi from Bournemouth on free transfers to bolster the squad.

You all already know who to get rid of.

05 Mar 2026 21:15:24
Two games in two days.
Two teams reduced to ten men
Two outcomes

Watch how Wharton changes the game, and what do we have.

Look at the players for the solution to the problem.

Our midfield needs a serious overhaul.

05 Mar 2026 22:11:39
Just sent in a post about him. Def agree about our midfield.

06 Mar 2026 09:59:37
Is Wharton really that good?
Not for me.

06 Mar 2026 17:09:19
On the evidence presented, he would be a vast improvement on Mainoo.
All Mainoo has to do is get in the gym, and build his stamina and fitness up to a level befitting the Premier League.
He would absolutely destroy it in Italy, or maybe Spain, but not the Premier League, unless he improves his fitness.


An amazing player, I have said that before, but he needs to do what Casemiro did when he was overweight and going downhill. Hit the gym, and the world's your oyster, Kobbie.

09 Mar 2026 15:49:04
We have an expert on Fitness and Stamina.
Do you work at Man United?