Manchester United banter 9

16 Feb 2026 12:59:48
The signing of McTominay would in no way improve the team. He was sold at the right time. He has done well in Italy and seems to suit playing for Napoli in Italian football.

16 Feb 2026 15:11:41
Player of the year in Italy, but he wouldn't improve our team? Only because he is excelling as an attacking midfielder and we are well stocked there.

We should never have sold him.

16 Feb 2026 15:52:44
We don't play in Italy.
We should have sold him for good money.
Where would he play now?
I don't think anybody here would have thought he would do that well in italy.
Brilliant for him i would not be buying him back not do i think they will consider it.

16 Feb 2026 15:53:50
Many players play well in Italy and struggle in epl. Let the boy be, he was a good player for us who suffered no end of abuse from some sections of the fan base. He was better further forward, but like many, we thought better and tried to turn him into a six. The Alan Smith of this generation. Or fellani even.

Why we can't just buy a world class 6 is beyond me. Carrick transformed our team when he came in. That foundation and structure allows the CBs to be left as a 2 and the two fullback to be attacking and push on. It is the utd way for me that can work in the modern era.

16 Feb 2026 16:09:23
How is this even a discussion? Has the topic been published elsewhere? I've seen no mention of it.

16 Feb 2026 16:30:29
Unless he is playing the 10 role, let him play his best football at a club that understands his best position. We don't.

16 Feb 2026 17:18:49
He was played out of position for us. The McFred partnership simply wasn't good enough. In his final season he played attacking midfield more where he did well and scored important goals with some consistency. At the time he was sold it didn't seem it was that bad an idea, and we needed the dosh. If we'd kept him we could probably have avoided buying Zikzee.

{Ed025's Note - and what a bonus that would of been mate..

17 Feb 2026 00:53:20
I don't think he is good enough for us, I think people have short memorie. He did play for us and he was average or below average, didn't ask for the ball because he knew he was limited, didn't drive with the ball either and his passing was inconsistent. He was only good going forward and he had very good timing with his runs in the box.


I understand he is a better player now and I can see he is even stronger and bullies opponents, that's an advantage he won't have in Premier League. He is not good for us. No team can afford a "midfield" who is so limited only because he scores 15 goals, he must do anything else and scores on top of that.

17 Feb 2026 13:45:25
He'd 100% improve us, if you don't think he's a better option in the double pivot than Ugarte or in the No.10 position than Zirkzee then I'd seriously question your football knowledge.

McTominay was a good solid player when he was here, and he's gone to Italy and done very well for himself. He is also a model professional and a leader on and off the pitch, something that we lack enough of in our current squad.

Would he come back and be first choice? Arguably depending on who else we signed this summer. With Casemiro leaving, if you're choices for the midfield pivot was two of Mainoo, Ugarte and McTominay then yeah, 100% he's first choice.

Should we resign him? Probably not, I think there are better options out there for us who suit what we want/need better.

17 Feb 2026 15:52:19
Onana was player of the year in Milan ?.

17 Feb 2026 16:11:11
But the question isn't if he would improve us Shappy. He is a very good option especially from the bench if you want a goal. Would you pay 80 millions for such option? Would he want to be a super sub?
The only question is if he is good enough for us to throw 70-80 millions for him, definetely not.

18 Feb 2026 13:10:20
He is definitely good enough for us and was good enough for us when he was here. Like a poster said above, keep him, you don't sign zirkzee, and he is most definitely a better option that Ugarte. I reckon I'd be a better option that Ugarte ??

We didn't get enough money for him but at the time that's the call that they made, money was required to buy Ugarte ?.

18 Feb 2026 17:38:11
Rooney. Because he's a Scouser ?.

15 Feb 2026 11:37:29
The managers job will continue to draw media attention until we appoint a new manager. Every time a manager is sacked or signs a new deal they will report it as a potential candidate or scratching another name off the list.

I actually think that under this new regime the managers position is less important than it has been. That doesn't mean it's unimportant, just that it's less vital to our progress than over the past decade.

The problem we have had since SAF is that we have constantly been looking for the next SAF. A manager to fix everything and get us moving in the right direction. This sort of manager is even rarer in the current football landscape than it has ever been before. In fact they probably don't exist at all.

We looked to hire the biggest name manager we could, regardless of their fit to the club and the squad. Every time we did so we forced the rebuild of the team in a totally new direction, effectively restarting it from the ground up.

If we do this properly then the recruitment and the overall style of play shouldn't change with each new manager. The game to game tactics will alter with a new manager, but the way the team intends to play shouldn't.

As such who that manager is becomes less important, we aren't looking for a big name, or even a great CV. We are looking for someone who shares the same core values as the club (youth development, risk-taking front foot football) and whose tactical preferences best suit the current squad and more importantly the squad we are aiming to build.

15 Feb 2026 12:08:37
Probably why they changed the title to head coach.

15 Feb 2026 12:24:49
This ?

I think fit is essential, I know some don't agree but for me is it very important. That's why some of the names being suggested worry me, and why someone like Mourinho, amd dare I say Amorim were never right for us. And as we have seen so often, being successful with one club doesn't guarantee success with another.

I'm not wedded to some romantic idea, but we play on the front foot, we promote youth where we can, these things are part of our identity.

Some will say they'd don' care how we pmay as long as we win, bit if winning means defensive turgid football, endless 1-0 wins, then you can keep it.

Simeone doesn't look a good fir for me but would likely be hugely entertaining.

Glasner and Iraola also worry me, the United job is huge and a massive step up in terms of what is expected.

I like Tuchel, albeit he didn't tick all the boxes, I like the way he talks but that ship has sailed.

Ancelotti was not for me, a great Manager clearly but I worry he peaked a while ago.

Enrique would be awesome, but reports suggest he is staying at PSG

Nagelsmann is another interesting one but he was sacked by Bayern, who fails at Bayen?

Carrick gets the club and would not be phased, but he's a novice and has no track record of success.

I also like Poch but he hasn't set the world on fire lately either.

Its a doozy.

15 Feb 2026 13:11:38
Let's see where we are at the end of the season, I'm not pro or anti Carrick, at the moment he has done well, actually very well but will he improve on his in-game management, such as against West Ham, will he come up with a way to play against teams who are going to pack the defence and look for breaks when we make mistakes? I suppose we will see, he will certainly get plenty of chances to do so.

One thing I am against is not waiting until the end of the season, it would be crazy not to, as we all know what happened when we gave the gig to Ole.

There are quite a few managers I would not like to see, obvs Southgate is one, I'd love to see him at Liverpool, although I'd probably die laughing. Others include Poch, I feel that ship has sailed and Simeone.

15 Feb 2026 13:30:55
I think we need to show the ambition that city have showed the last 10 years and buy quality no manger will succeed without it city bought guehi and semenyo in January but it's been going longer than that.
Stones walker nunes ait nouri just some of the other names.


We done it under sir Alex with Ferdinand Keane berbatov Carrick we are slowly getting back there with cunha and mbeumo no manger will succeed if we don't back them.

15 Feb 2026 14:28:14
Key, to be honest that is what it should be in the modern game. Managers have an average shelf life of 22 months in the EPL. Very few last longer, only the successful ones.

If a manager is highly likely to be gone in less than two years then you can't be building around that manager, you need to build your club around an identity then hire a manager who fits that.

AJH, I can go through the list of potential managers with my preferences but it's probably not worth a lot. I'm basing it off of personal opinions of what limited information I know about them, often with a dollop of bias thrown in. I can't honestly say whether they did a good or bad job at previous clubs as I don't know the context of that job. Also we tend to make these judgements in a vacuum, forgetting that failure is the best way to learn. Only an idiot fails the same way twice, I'd like to think that most managers have a level of intelligence that allows them to learn from their mistakes.

For me I have a few basic criteria that I'd like to see from our manager:

1. Playing aggressive, front foot football that will play with a level of risk, rather than pragmatic percentage football. Team shape, or the exact tactics we deploy to do so I'm less concerned about. But what I want to see is us trying to win every game, and being willing to risk losing the game to try and win it rather than settle for a draw.

2. Give youth a chance, and this sort of ties in with the first one. If you aren't willing to take risks then you will be more reluctant to give young players a chance as they are more likely to make a mistake.

3. Be media savvy, this one is necessary due to the media attention that our club garners. We need someone whose good at saying the right things, in the right way, at the right time. They should be calming things down when we are struggling and taking the heat off of us. While ideally they will know what to say and when to put our opponents under pressure.

That's it, a good CV or a proven track record elsewhere are nice bonuses, but are not essential for me.

Jrred, I agree to an extent, there is no need to make snap decisions right now. Ideally we will wait until the end of the season. But you never know, what will happen down the road. What if Alonso turns out the be the right guy and he wants to start before the end of the season to start to get to grips with the squad? Or if it becomes obvious that Carrick is the right guy?

Getting it sorted sooner can have huge benefits for the summer planning and next season.

John, we need to improve the squad with quality over quantity, but we still need 10-12 new players to have a quality squad that is deep enough to challenge on all fronts, but I'd rather wait an extra year to get there with quality players, than to gamble of riskier options sooner to try and speed up the process.

15 Feb 2026 19:01:52
McKenna.?

15 Feb 2026 19:58:36
He's done wonders with Ipswich Jimbob. Two promotions and whilst they got relegated, he has them right up there again despite selling their best players. However, its a massive step up.

15 Feb 2026 22:48:58
100% Shappy, I was agreeing. Need to build a squad around a long term plan and not jump at signings for each manager/system. Which is why the Amorim appointment was odd, and telling they they didn't roll his system down through the youth teams.
Question is, would any external potential head coach want that rather than bringing their own way/methods.

16 Feb 2026 08:21:52
Jimbob, I certainly wouldn't rule out McKenna.

16 Feb 2026 08:28:40
AJH absolutely agree with your assessment of the likely candidates, for every positive there is a negative so it will likely come down to a case of pick the poison that you feel is less of a problem.

Following Shappy's logic, and I agree with this. I think we can build as a club whilst having multiple managers so long as the philosophy of recruitment and managers they choose is similar. For this to be true going forward we likely have to see the Amorim period as a trial as I don't see them looking at another predominantly 3 at the back manager.

For me if you can get Enrique then you do it, after that I think you take a punt and for me currently I would be happy if that is Carrick and give him next year. Assuming we see further progress this year.

18 Feb 2026 17:43:18
If Enrique's not available, then why take a punt on a risk we don't need to take, assuming Carrick carries on this good form until the end of the season.

I do like Iraola, for the same reason I like Howe. Notwithstanding the job they've done in keeping a seaside town of 200,000 in the EPL.

Both of them seem to be quiet, calm, reflective coaches, that drain every ounce of ability out of their teams.

Other than that, I haven't a clue.

14 Feb 2026 15:24:41
As we hear more and more of our options being ruled out of the running for the job I'm finding it really hard to see anyone bit Carrick being appointed in the summer.
My question to everyone is would you rather Carrick than
De zebri a fiery character and poor tactically
Glasner same as de zebri
Iraola plays good football.


Southgate less said the better
Marco Silva plays good football but was found out at Everton.

14 Feb 2026 16:14:49
Dont need to have an opinion right now. Carrick, Steve et al are stabilizing the club. Just wait a little longer and see how it goes.

14 Feb 2026 19:40:34
Panic panic must appoint Carrick. Have we learnt nothing?
What I saw from West Ham game was no real innovation to change the game.
Without harking back too much, what does the club want? They appointed a change manager in RA, so what is the overall strategy going forward on the next manager? We don’t know but Carrick isn’t that change guy, doesn’t seem dynamic like say Pep was or Conte. We can’t just go with the comfy slippers of Carrick because it is easy.

I don’t trust either lot in power that Carrick would be the easy option, wouldn’t scream about a lack of signings and the gravy train would carry on.

Said a number of years ago Diego Simeone and he would shake things up. I see his boring team stuffed Barcelona the other day. We have to see what they want to do but please let's not sit and say the only option is Carrick.

14 Feb 2026 21:30:08
I couldn't agree more.
13 games left that's the only thing I'm interested in at the moment.

13 Feb 2026 19:21:48
Looks like Ancelotti will be unavailable too.

14 Feb 2026 08:48:49
I genuinely thought it would be Tuchel. So I’m stumped now about who they’re thinking of beyond Carrick if he continues this strong start.

14 Feb 2026 11:43:04
I read somewhere that Diego Simeone representatives would be considering options in summer. I mentioned him years ago on here but was told he was too defensive minded. I am not sure on his English.

14 Feb 2026 12:05:15
Glad its not Tuchel, his football is horrific. Would hope we go all out for Enrique but can't see him wanting to come here. Maybe Iraola seems the best, realistic option?

14 Feb 2026 12:39:25
Don't think simeone speaks English red man as far as I'm aware.

14 Feb 2026 17:51:16
Don't think Jim will go for someone who can't even speak the language.

14 Feb 2026 19:42:17
You can learn a language and we don’t know if he has started. If his representatives are saying there could be movement in summer then we shall see. Who knows but would t dismiss anything right now.

14 Feb 2026 21:41:05
He was the best paid manager in the world and had been for some time i believe. Maybe stadium changed that.
Always the underdog in spain and has been top dog. Beating the other 2 to a title is very rare.
Id love to see some of the madness the likes of him or de zerbi can bring and passion they show and generate.


Simione can be accused of being very pragmatic but I think he is very tactically astute .
Of all the club managers in Europe he would be my 1st choice.
I don't think he will leave Madrid but stranger thinks have happened.

15 Feb 2026 07:31:18
Same Eric. Not sure who gets the gig now.

15 Feb 2026 12:47:39
Even if carrick gets it I’m not against it. Best football we have played in seasons and scoring goals. I’m just enjoying it.

13 Feb 2026 12:54:29
I was down the local pub recently chatting with a few Middlesbrough fans who had come over for a pint, and naturally the conversation turned to Michael Carrick — which feels even more relevant now that he’s back at Manchester United as head coach until the end of the season.
What stood out was how respectful they were about him. Every one of them said Carrick is a top professional and a genuinely good football man. Players like him, trust him, and buy into what he wants to do. But they also shared a concern that might now become the big talking point at United — adaptability.
Their view was that when Carrick’s system works, it works really well. His teams can look organised, calm in possession, and tactically clear. The problem comes when games drift away. They felt he can be slow to change things, sometimes sticking with Plan A a little too long and hesitating with substitutions when momentum shifts.
Now that he’s in charge at United, that learning curve becomes much steeper. Managing Middlesbrough is pressure — managing United is scrutiny every three days. Having a philosophy is important, but at the top level you also need Plan B and sometimes Plan C when matches turn chaotic.
What makes this appointment interesting is that Carrick understands the club better than most. He knows the expectations, the dressing room, and what supporters want to see. The question isn’t whether he understands football — nobody doubts that — it’s whether he can evolve quickly enough in-game to handle elite-level pressure.
These next few months almost feel like an audition. If he shows flexibility and growth, he gives the club a real decision to make in the summer. If not, he may still be remembered as the steady hand who helped reset things and rolled back the years of proper MUFC Football

GGMU.

13 Feb 2026 17:50:14
Good post. Nice to hear their perspective. I don't care who they select really. I have a couple of names i'd rather it not be but there is no stand out candidate for me at the moment.
I like the kind of crazy the likes of simione or di zerbi would bring but they have negatives also.
Im up for any suggestion really.

{Ed025's Note - Sean Dyche?..

13 Feb 2026 18:31:25
He is one of the couple of names ed025 I know your still different from some PTSD from his time start Everton but steady on.
Im not sure Jim would go for a ginge anyway?.

{Ed025's Note - i think those two would just about deserve each other Ken.. :)

13 Feb 2026 19:30:44
Its a bit unusual for me to be so indifferent at this stage. I think when it comes down to a few definite candidates ill choose who would be my preference from that bunch.

14 Feb 2026 08:44:45
I'm indifferent because this has happened so many times before. Whoever it is will be gone in 18 months whether we think they're the right choice or not.

14 Feb 2026 08:50:52
Good posts. I guess Carrick didn’t have Steve Holland supporting him at Boro.

Much of Fergie’s success was driven by his No2 he had in place at different parts of our evolution.

14 Feb 2026 10:30:28
We saw how slow to change to a different plan he was vs West Ham. We were critical of Amorim for being so rigid - and whilst I don’t think Carrick is as rigid I think he definitely needs to make in game play changes sooner when it’s clear vs low block teams our plan A or B isn’t working.

14 Feb 2026 11:55:30
It’s gone quiet but I can’t help but have nightmares about someone else coming in now tuchel is unavailable. The dreaded…. Southgate. I hope not.

13 Feb 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 25 - Quick Round Up

12 Feb 2026 16:57:26
The Evolution of Old Trafford. Survived the world war ? and all.

The Evolution of Old Trafford. Survived the world war ? and all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Iv4bAwFqas

— United & Everything Football (@UEF_Podcast) February 12, 2026

12 Feb 2026 21:55:13
I don't think the surrounding area is right. We used to have a foundry and engineering shop on Trafford Park Road. I was there every working day for 7-8 years, albeit I'm now a senile old geyser whose memory may be shot. Something looks back to front.

13 Feb 2026 05:07:20
I think it's AI generated, newname. So it wouldn't be accurate.

13 Feb 2026 07:47:30
It is AI-generated.

13 Feb 2026 11:49:15
Who is Al and what does he know!?

12 Feb 2026 15:42:18
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 25 - Quick Round Up

12 Feb 2026 14:39:34
{Ed's Note - Toffebwoy1 has posted a new article entitled, Everton’s Midtable Reality and the Need for Change

12 Feb 2026 09:39:36
Seems Tommy Tuchel is about to sign an extension with England so we can rule him out as next head coach.

So who’s it going to be?

12 Feb 2026 10:04:52
Seems a bit prudent. I'd wait until after the penalties at least.

12 Feb 2026 10:12:24
I think that come the summer the real top names will be off the table, Tuchel gone, Enrique talking with PSG about extending. Depending on how Nagelsman does with Germany he could be available but would have to wait deep into the summer which is not ideal.

Likely we will be looking at the next level of managers who all come with an element of risk.

12 Feb 2026 11:05:24
It's going to be Carrick if he does a good job.

12 Feb 2026 12:10:32
Yh with each manager that gets ruled out over the next couple of months, all roads will point to carrick, unless we implode this season and end up 6/7th.

Side note on Tuchel, that interview he had in 2024 must have been a car crash from the clubs side, he seems actively not interested in joining us, Ineos/British Cycling must have come across really poorly.

12 Feb 2026 13:55:16
Come June I think ancelloti and naglesman could be off the table aswell nothing suggests there going to leave there jobs with Germany and Brazil.
Tuchel has signed a new deal so he off
Luis Enrique I can either see him staying at PSG or going to city.
Xabi Alonso is most likely going to Liverpool
I think our options could be very limited and leave a pool of
Glasner
Carrick
De zebri
Iraola
While they are all decent managers none of them inspire confidence for me
Glasner and de zebri create problems every where they go with the board and players we've sacked or last 2 managers who had these problems.


So what's that leave
Carrick and iraola maybe and outside shout for conte although he seems happy back in Italy at napoli.

12 Feb 2026 15:51:03
Deschamp will be returning to club football as well, but I suspect Carrick will get us into the CL and will get the gig for a few years, hopefully if he does then the current coaching set up also stays.

If/ when it falls apart I think Southgate will eventually happen.

12 Feb 2026 20:55:26
It’s a decent point Grim. Can’t discount Southgate at this stage.