Manchester United banter 8

02 Sep 2026 12:41:55
Both injury to Urgarte and Barcelona failing to buy Rash, impacted everything. I would expect they thought these two would have been sold, and possibly Onana and Zirkzee. So they started in the back foot.

We really don't know the extent or limit on our purchasing abilities. The failure to get a LB might give Amass and maybe Leon a chance to step up. It's closed now, we get on with it.

02 Sep 2026 13:52:56
Regardless of our debt, etc. I can't see how, after getting back into the Champions League, we didn't have more than £100m available for transfers. Ipswich spent more, and they were in the Championship last season.

Look, I have no problem with the club making sensible additions if their top targets are too expensive. Anderson and Fernandes went for silly money, and I'm happy with the 3 mids we've brought in.

However, you'd expect the money saved by going for cheaper midfielders would have been used to plug the obvious holes in the squad.

Instead, we were begging City for a no strings loan with an hour to go on deadline day. Not to mention failing to move Zirkzee, despite him being available all summer.

The "keep calm" argument seems to be that the club is willing to wait for top targets. But there's nothing to suggest that they'll, for example, be willing to fork out upwards of £60m for Hall next summer, given what we've seen this summer.

As for Amass, the use seems to be that we were unable to find a suitable Championship loan for him. He's not ready to play at the top level.

02 Sep 2026 14:08:28
It does seem we haven't spent what we had available, which is odd, as a big worry is the rumour that Wilcox has gone rogue and is making decisions based on his view.

It also seems clear we now believe in value for money, rightly or wrongly.

02 Sep 2026 15:53:27
Given that we couldn't get rid of Rashford, Zirkzee and Ugarte, because of his injury, it's not surprising we didn't buy another striker. If Rashford comes good, which he well might, then we have plenty options/goalscoring threats: Rashford, Mbuemo, Cunha, Amad, Bruno, Tielemans, Amad and possible odd contributions from Zirkzee, Mainoo, Baleba and Mount if he's ever fit.

We'll see what happens in midfield, but on paper we seem to have at least provided more depth, and if Baleba becomes the player of the season before last then we will have undoubtedly strengthened too. There should be no reason to play Bruno as a DM ever again, and there should also be opportunities to give him a rest here and there.

Like everyone else, I'm disappointed and bemused that we didn't strengthen the full backs. I don't buy the story that we couldn't afford to do so. We had probably a further £200m available without threatening the squad cost cap. The only reasons for what seems like a tremendous oversight are either they couldn't find anyone better than who we have at a reasonable price, and/or they weren't interested in gambling on an unknown, and/or their plans were waylaid by other events, and/or they simply dropped the ball until it was too late, i.e.

they blew it. Whatever, it's a sad reminder of the decade + of managerial incompetence that led us to the point where the once by far the biggest club in England by revenues, can't afford to buy a top class full back or splash out £100m on any player when all our main rivals are doing so. It might be because they need to guarantee a profit in the coming year, not necessarily because they intend to start paying dividends immediately, but to satisfy banking conditions, and to set the table for getting the new stadium project going.

I sincerely hope that the rumours about discord are just that: rumours. As we all know, the media is always out to find stories about United. If there aren't any real ones, they'll make a mountain out of some mole hill in order to create traffic.

02 Sep 2026 16:24:17
AJH, I don't know if the rumours around Wilcox are true but there are some warning signs:
1. Whether you like RA or not, he undermined him.
2. He appears to have vetoed recommendations by scouts and Vivell in favour of his own viewpoint.



Depending on your viewpoint, isolated examples of this are fine and sometimes justified. But repeated instances of that sort of behaviour is not a good sign of upper management. But all this is very predicated on rumour right now.

02 Sep 2026 16:41:02
He's a control freak.

02 Sep 2026 20:18:53
Don

Heard similar with Wilcox and Vivell. Apparently Sangare was also a Vivell suggestion but Wilcox went Tielemans.

02 Sep 2026 11:54:59
The club say the mistakes we’ve made in the past regarding transfers as a reason for not spending more. In the past the structure was poor. Scouting was poor. They are saying they fixed that in the next breath. We have a structure apparently? So why the fear?

02 Sep 2026 12:01:32
They are basically saying they don't trust themselves. So we have a structure of people who can't do the job that is needed.

02 Sep 2026 12:37:24
Well, if rumours are true that are coming out about Wilcox not listening to the data team and Vivel, and going off what he sees with his own eyes instead, then we are still no better off, really, are we?

Ineos have not yet shown they are any better or more qualified to run the club than the Glazers in the time they have been here.

How many mistakes have they made? How many managers have we had since they came in?

You only have to look at what they have done with Nice in France.



To have a strategy of building each section each year is ridiculous.

There are players out there that are better than the likes of Maguire, Shaw, Maz Dalot, etc.

But time will tell. But we've still got a defence that for the past 8 seasons has gotten us nowhere.

02 Sep 2026 11:50:25
I read they should change the documentary from all or nothing to just nothing. ?

02 Sep 2026 11:24:02
Where to start

Tielemans ranked in the top 10% last year for

Tackes and interceptions
Tackles won
Through balls
Progessive passes
Passes into the final third

Yes he felt like an opportunistic purchase but he is class.

Carlos Baleba was rubbish last year apparenty, but he still ranked in the top 20% for interceptions, ball recoveries, and possession won in the final third, and we know he has a much higher ceiling.

Santos is seen as an unknown quantity, yet his stats have him in the top 5 for pretty much everything.

We didn't buy Anderson, or Tonali, or Fernandes, but we have done very sensible calm business.

For CF and LW, Rashford staying complicated that, and he can play in either position.

The LB situation is puzzling, that does feel like a dropped ball, but maybe we come back to it in January.

I like the calmness and lack of pazazz and that we are not prepared to enter auctions, I know that doesn't please everyone but there have been some stupid fees for players which I think teams may come to regret.

We have a wealth of attacking options, we have massively strengthened the midfield, and we remain challenged at the back. The world isn't ending.

02 Sep 2026 12:19:45
The weird thing is, we all knew the top targets and the prices they would command. United clearly had no idea, and when it became obvious that top midfielders were costing over £100m, they bulked and scrambled to find some players further down the list that they could get cheap. That is essentially the story of our transfer window.

02 Sep 2026 12:21:12
I agree, Tony. The massive overreaction on social media is crazy. Posts above saying that we've done nothing in the window when we have made some really good signings.

I'd have liked a left back, but only one that's good enough. Panicking is why you end up with Alex Telles etc.

Yoro needs game time and will now cover right back whilst Maz plays left back when Shaw is out, with Amass perhaps getting a chance. I'm ok with that. Glad the window is over and now we can get on with the season.

02 Sep 2026 13:11:14
We have made 2 good signings, GDS2, and one that none of us know about, with Santos, who looked good pre-season, and time will tell.

They have improved the middle of the pitch, great, it's been needing improving for years.

But we've got one senior left back who is known not to be able to compete a season when it's not 1 game a week, and the cbs are either injured or not good enough.



Maguire shouldn't be starting games. Yoro needs to develop, you pay big money for him, play him, and I don't mind if he's gna play and develop, he will make mistakes, part of learning the game.

I think, ultimately, that's where we will struggle is in defence, keeper aside.

02 Sep 2026 13:20:07
I think the midfield is improved, but not getting Hall early in the window was a massive mistake. We waited until Newcastle solved their PSR problems by selling their best players, then enquired for Hall. Next summer, if he has a great season, he will cost even more.

02 Sep 2026 13:32:04
Newcastle aren't in Europe, so they can spend up to 85% of their revenues on squad cost. Did they have a PSR problem?

02 Sep 2026 15:16:21
Be honest, if the window had just been about to open and you were told we were going to sign Tielemans and Santos, you can honestly say, hand on heart, you would have been happy with those?

Don't forget hand on heart in those replies.

02 Sep 2026 16:56:18
I think we did drop the ball at LB. It's a glaring weakness. But, Maz is a competent back up full back on either side. There was no point going to Balde if we had Dorgu, and let's see what Amass can actually do.

The fact we got desperate and went for Ait Noti though is a concern.

02 Sep 2026 09:23:40
Going to City to get a LB is a complete embarrassment with 2 hours of the window left.
Am I meant to believe these guys have a plan or are professionals?
Hopefully either Dorgu or Amass can do well when needed. An average window, hopefully it’s clicks with the new signings and we do well over the season.

02 Sep 2026 10:11:05
Absolutely embarrassing!!
This lot do not have a clue what they are doing.
For me, Carrick has been thrown under the bus to fail.
It's unforgivable that we haven't invested in a proper left back, even more worrying after watching Luke Shaw's pathetic performances in the first two games.


Scratching around an hour before the window shuts, trying to bring somebody in, it's pathetic, and trying to get a City player in as well. F*** me, it just doesn't get any lower than that, does it.
Shambles!

02 Sep 2026 11:03:37
If Newcastle and Lewis Hall have a good season, and he manages to break into the England squad, etc., you can see the top clubs making their move for him next season. Not only that, but the fee could increase as well.

This was a missed opportunity by United, and we may live to regret it. Hall could be playing for one of our rivals this time next year. He could have been our left back for the next 10 years.

02 Sep 2026 12:22:20
Wasn't it City that went to Utd about their player, as he was keen on the move? Not sure you can blame Utd for YouTube clickbaiters reporting misinformation, but a left-back should have been brought in a few weeks ago. Oh well.

02 Sep 2026 12:54:33
Who else is to blame, scratching around for a left back 1 hour before the deadline?

02 Sep 2026 22:41:50
Diego Leon can't be far off the reckoning, surely? He was involved initially, like Obi. Both have disappeared off the face of the earth.

02 Sep 2026 07:35:08
Unless anything happens in the countries with transfer window open, the team is set until at least January and the result should mean that we see some of the youth players getting game time even if just the cup games.

Left back was the next key area, but we will likely see a rotation of Mazouari, Dorgu, Amass covering.

Striker looks like the trial of either Cunha/Mbeumo covering for Sesko. Hopefully there is a plan for Zirkzee now he is staying, whether that is alongside Sesko in certain games or as a replacement with runners for him.



How this window is viewed will be decided at the end of the season, if we have success then it can be viewed and a positive window as part of the larger squad development towards 2028. If not, then will be seen as a missed opportunity whilst other clubs are in transition.

02 Sep 2026 06:08:34
Good Morning

Well, well, well. After many weeks of me flagging, they were prevaricating and failing to sign the LB and ST, it came to pass. All those who gave me some right stick for daring to question their paymasters and even those who were well meaning, are looking a bit daft. However, some, and we know who you are, will be out toeing the company line earning their 30 pieces of silver for the Glazer family and Ratcliffe.

We all know we utterly failed to buy two main players, yet I believe we also failed to buy Louis Page. Talks reached an advanced stage, with Leicester thought to be looking for £12m + £3m. But we decided it was too much. This is a young midfield player, a United fan, who I understand was very excited and attended the Ipswich game. That is hard to understand.

I know some people don't like being told it, but reality is that we have been had.

The Glazers want dividends. You don't really think we will spend big in January, do you? Then put the date in your diaries for February, when I believe it is the earliest time they can declare dividends. Have a look at the amount.

This is a methodology, financial structure that is driven to benefit the owners. They appointed yes man manager in Carrick who will not resign for not being supported. I suspect they knew what they were going to do and the next two years would see reduced spending so profits can return and dividends paid. There are very few top managers who would not have resigned this morning over this because they have a reputation to uphold. Anything Carrick does will only be better than Middlesbrough, so he will sit there. It also likely means they won't sack him, even if results are poor.

What a mess.

02 Sep 2026 10:07:52
Very poor and underwhelming window.

All the media interviews and pr bs of "we have a plan", yet they are contacting teams 2 hours before the deadline for a full back?

3 players brought in in the midfield, Baleba and Tielmens are good signings, Santos is a wait and see, not played much for Chelsea.

But we needed more players to push others and to increase standards. Do we want to be competitive in all comps, or are they just happy to get the money for qualifying for the Champs League? You get 2.8 million per win in the league stages, and then more each round you progress in.



How Maguire and Shaw are still starters in this team is ridiculous. They should be backup or backups. One senior left back in the team is not good enough. Relying still on the likes of Maguire, Shaw and Dalot after nearly 10 years of mediocre performances and finishes is poor.

Only time will tell, but they have themselves to blame if we do not qualify for top 5 this season.

Can see the club's ambition, and they are going to be fitting square pegs in round holes again.

It was a time to try and close the gap to Arsenal, with everyone having new managers, players moving and teams rebuilding.

02 Sep 2026 10:16:09
Jason Wilcox said, "Judge me at the end of the transfer window". Well, it's judgement day, and most appear unimpressed.

02 Sep 2026 10:35:02
Wilcox has made himself look even more stupid with that quote if that's possible.
They will already be trying to spin and PR their way out of this. Some will fall for it like they always do.

02 Sep 2026 11:29:45
It's fair to be disappointed with the transfer window. Most fans wanted more. What isn't fair is claiming the lack of activity means the Glazers are preparing to take dividends in February 2027. That's a prediction, not a fact. United haven't paid a dividend since 2022, and there is no publicly stated plan to resume them in February 2027.

United have continued to spend heavily in the transfer market, and have consistently prioritised squad investment over returning cash to shareholders. That doesn't make the ownership beyond criticism, but it does make it difficult to argue that every transfer decision is driven by an imminent dividend payout.

As for Louis Page, I don't find that difficult to understand either. Leicester reportedly wanted around £12m plus £3m for a League One midfielder with fewer than 30 senior appearances. The club may simply have decided that was too much for a player with limited senior experience.

What I find harder to understand is why we're two league games into the season, and you're already declaring it a mess.



You didn't get your way in the transfer window. Neither did Carrick, judging by his comments about wanting to strengthen the squad. The difference is that Carrick appears to be getting on with the job and working with the tools he has, rather than spending two months throwing a tantrum because he didn't get everything he wanted. You call him a yes man because he hasn't walked away? I see a manager taking responsibility for the squad in front of him and trying to make the best of it.

By all means criticise the ownership. By all means criticise the window. But stop presenting every opinion as an established fact and every prediction as a victory before the outcome is even known. If dividends are announced, you can claim your prediction was correct. If they aren't, will you be as quick to say you were wrong as quick as you are to always say you are right?

03 Sep 2026 05:52:25
Kurtis,

I won't "stop" doing anything. At the same time, you are telling me not to express an opinion, you are expressing one. When did I say "fact"? I just use the obvious indicators that are out there, looked back at how the Glazers have done this before, and pointed out the similarities. When we achieved Champions League it has been seen before they are reticent to spend, that's a fact, why they haven't done it this time is an opinion, my opinion. They haven't been able to take dividends since 2022 I think, so do you not think these parasites will be hungry to get income from their cash cow? All I have done is add 1 and 1 and flag my opinion on what will happen. The fact they have not spent big after achieving CL before and again this time shows they have not "consistently prioritised squad investment over returning cash to shareholders" as per your assertion.

The consistency is not spending big after achieving CL, and I would argue that shows their real aims, just to get the CL money.

Oh, I will hold my hands up if I am wrong, by all means flag it to me. I smell dividends incoming, suspect February. Why should I wait for an official announcement, I am speculating an opinion.

In terms of Carrick, I made my points about him before he was appointed and now, whilst I didn't agree, they have put him in charge, so we see what happens. I do think he is so attached to the club he won't rock the boat, the owners know that. That's a yes man.

Louis Page, they must have seen something exceptional in him, so if he has an excellent season others will now be alerted. If he does it may well be £30m next summer. It is what we pay scouts and experts to assess. See next January or summer now.

03 Sep 2026 08:58:28
Red Man, whilst I agree with a lot of that, what possible benefit is there in having a manager resign at the start of a season? It would just be a recipe for more chaos.

04 Sep 2026 07:46:50
Nou

If you love the club, then you want the best for it. If Carrick resigned on the basis of the ownership being poor and not supporting him, it would be the best thing for the club. The lack of spending was predictable. I am not a Carrick fan, but they have hung him out to dry.

He could have been the catalyst for change if he resigned. After Amorim agitating to get himself sacked, Carrick could have been the golden arrow to get the ownership changed. He hasn't, so just carry on.

02 Sep 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 2 - Quick Round Up

02 Sep 2026 00:22:09
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 2 - Quick Round Up

01 Sep 2026 23:40:03
Resigning Malacia looks like the best move now.

02 Sep 2026 00:05:45
Jeez, I hate transfer windows. Ridiculous drama.

02 Sep 2026 01:24:20
Wasn't good enough. Why go back to a player that didn't work out for us? Dorgu would be a better option.

02 Sep 2026 02:08:40
Get Sancho whilst we're at it.

02 Sep 2026 06:37:42
Martial on a free!

02 Sep 2026 06:50:54
Bring back Pogba!

02 Sep 2026 08:23:36
Absolutely ludicrous comments. Re sign Malacia, Sancho, Martial and Pogba... Really, guys? Absolutely ridiculous suggestions...

Seeing as someone at the club must have the phone numbers of Irwin, Kanchelskis, Cantona and Robson.. ?

02 Sep 2026 09:52:22
How is Arthur Albiston doing? Might still do a job and keep within the Poundland budget.