Manchester United rumours 2

01 Sep 2025 10:29:34
Antony and Sancho gone too. Relief i am sure within the dressing room and fanbase alike. Hopefully a GK and MF come along today.

01 Sep 2025 11:34:26
Sadly, Sancho will be back again next season, and we’ll be faced with the exact same problem. Better than keeping him here for the next twelve months though.

01 Sep 2025 11:44:53
It’s the last year of his contract, we have the option to extend a year to try and get some money back, but is it worth it?

01 Sep 2025 11:46:08
His contract is up next summer, with a club option to extend. Thankfully, this will be the end of the whole silly business with him.

01 Sep 2025 11:56:38
Apparently, we will extend his contract as part of the deal to loan him out in the hopes of recouping some of our losses next year. I have a feeling it will just end up costing us more when we have to pay half of his wages again the following season when he buggers off on loan again on deadline day.

01 Sep 2025 12:07:57
This is the best result we could get given they're paying a decent loan fee for the year and we don't have his wages to pay.

The option to trigger a contract extension runs until the end of January 26, by which time we will be able to see if he is pulling trees up. If he's doing great, then we can say to Villa and Snatcho (our pet name from the vile clown) okay well, we could extend of a year and complicated things so how about you pay us a fee now to sign the player permanently, otherwise as he's having a renaissance we will extend for a year and flog him elsewhere.

The important thing is he is gone. And we have 10m float in wages and a few million loan fee. Whilst notnincurring a PSR loss either.

01 Sep 2025 12:29:52
Whatever happens, him not being at the club this season can only be a good thing. One of our worst ever signings.

03 Sep 2025 07:40:28
worst player in 50 years. absolute winker.

01 Sep 2025 06:45:00
Ornstein reporting Betis have agreed to sign Antony for £22m plus 50% sell on. No payoff on wages. Well done to the club for not caving on this after the stunt they pulled. Another Pratt gone. sancho please!

01 Sep 2025 07:47:54
Celebrations galore as it turns out Betis did have the money but were trying it on.

Is this the most satisfying deal of the transfer window, or will it be Sancho going to Villa for a something similar

And then Malacia, not heard much but I suspect he will go, then if we sign a GK, which of our GK will move on?

Busy day of outgoings.

01 Sep 2025 12:30:14
Glad we stood our ground.

01 Sep 2025 15:13:50
Tim why is he a prat.

I don't think he was good enough, but I never seen him not trying or giving his best.

Not his fault to be honest.

31 Aug 2025 17:43:57
Apparently we have a delegation in Germany to complete the signing of Angel Stiller.

31 Aug 2025 18:40:48
He nose his way around a football pitch. Too soon?

31 Aug 2025 18:56:00
They might have to Rush to get it done ;)

31 Aug 2025 18:58:34
Stiller and Martinez on deadline day sounds okay.

31 Aug 2025 19:44:43
We don't need another goalkeeper who's a moron and thinks he's better than he is. I think Martinez is better than what we currently have but I'm not keen on the deal especially when villa's replacements are people we've looked at/ have looked at in Senne Lammens and Diogo Costa.

31 Aug 2025 20:20:07
Diogo Costa for me villa would be getting a far better deal if we take Martinez and they get Costa.

31 Aug 2025 23:32:54
We are desperate for a keeper that can come in immediately and improve us, if we signed Lammens and his first 2 games are city away and Chelsea at home the press will kill him before he’s even started. I’d like to see both signed but seems unlikely as we can’t get rid of the 2 clowns.

01 Sep 2025 06:23:26
Dbrooks being a character doesn't make him a moron. A World Cup winner and FIFA keeper of the year means he can think of himself as he likes. The fact is he is streets ahead of what we have and having a character like him in the dressing room and in the defence will only help us.

01 Sep 2025 07:51:55
Yes, he can be annoying, a fool and makes stupid mistakes which will now be amplified in the media beyond any other goalkeeper, but I think he can deal with that.

But he has the experience and will improve the position. Not ideal but a decent stop gap for a couple of years.

29 Aug 2025 21:50:05
Looks like a deal for Antony is done for £21m + 50% sell on clause.
Maybe the best we could get with him adamant that he only wanted Betis.

Not sure whether we are at risk PSR wise but assume we take a hit for selling below the amount still on the books.

With this deal, Garnacho and Hojlund I wonder if we are trying to get in as much as possible to make a late midfielder push on top of the keeper Lemmens.

29 Aug 2025 22:24:22
Brad, there has to be a push for a cm.

29 Aug 2025 22:26:13
Deal being reported to collapse due to Anthony's demands can't make this up spent all summer saying only wants betis to then potentially collapse the move.

30 Aug 2025 01:58:16
Let him rot. This was clearly their plan all along.

30 Aug 2025 06:54:52
Looks like he waited till the last minute then demanded United pay the remainder of his salary, United refused and Betis decided to walk away.

Someone said we set a precedent with this on AWB contract, not sure if that is true.

30 Aug 2025 09:21:20
Let him rot in the reserves. Anthony only wanted Betis. Now he decides to play hardball. I'd tell him that the club will no longer negotiate a sale for the player and that he will have to wait until next summer.

It's a WC year, if you were serious about playing football you'd want to move to a club to fight for a place the the WC squad.

30 Aug 2025 09:40:16
That’s what happens when you have idiots on changed that give big contracts to average players

Just like with sancho and rashfird

These players will run their contracts down unless it’s a loan move

More problems at the club than just what’s being delivered on the pitch still.

30 Aug 2025 09:44:56
Turkey on loan or Saudi beckons if he doesn't lower his demands.
These players are taking bback control and are refusing what they don't want.
Its a real conundrum.
Easy to stay stick him in the reserves but there are unintended consequences by doing that. Such as buying a keeper or midfielder.

30 Aug 2025 10:20:41
Looks like another year of trying to reverse the reputation we have got as a club when it comes to selling. I genuinely believe we need to be strong on this one and all transfers out otherwise the cycle continues. Betis are chancers, Anthony is a chancer (which I’m surprised at actually as he’s appeared to have been quiet and not rocking the boat) . The fact it’s World Cup year gives us some leverage, Anthony isn’t in the next Brazil squad, Garnacho wasn’t in the Argentinian squad. I read yesterday United have supposedly said to Sancho they’d activate his year extension if he doesn’t accept some of these offers. Yes he’s on a big contract so may not be fussed but if he has an ounce of pride in his football he’ll want out and playing. I like the hardball approach, I thought maybe we were past this but if it takes another season and prevents us buying a CM or GK in next couple of days then let’s ride it out for longer term success in the market and set the market down for players and future buying clubs.

30 Aug 2025 11:38:00
I mean, it's a complete mess, a mess started by the predecessors at the club and carried on by the incumbents. It only really changes when players bought are not on such ridiculous wages. The problem was caused by the club and has to be fixed by the club.

As much as I don't want Sancho, Antony etc around, they are well within their rights to protect their earnings whatever we think about them personally.

They were given terms, signed them, and now they want what they signed. It's very admirable that Rashford has significantly lowered his demands to play but not everyone has to do that.

I certainly would not do it for my employers.

30 Aug 2025 12:51:29
Sancho? Pride? The lad would sell his own mother for a bag of cheesy Doritos and a chance to play the next FIFA game a few days early.

30 Aug 2025 12:54:13
That's not the point angelred. Antony tried to engineer a move that was completely unfavourable to the club. He did so by gambling that the club would be financially constrained into accepting anything for him. It's dishonest and it has eroded any goodwill there was for him.

30 Aug 2025 12:58:07
"The Player agrees to conduct themselves at all times in a professional and responsible manner, adhering to the club’s Code of Conduct, both during and outside of official match times, training sessions, and public events. "

This would also be a typical clause if you like in any players contract so yes they maybe entitled to what they believe they’re owed but they also have a responsibility when contracted to the club so the club are well within their rights to now bow down to the players demands to leave or the buying clubs wants. If Anthony wants to leave for Betis, put in a transfer request, same with Sancho, but we all know why they won’t.

30 Aug 2025 20:17:17
Sancho clearly has mental health challenges, so not sure we’ll see a logical outcome for him.

As for Antony, he needs to go. Not good enough for the Premier League, but a decent player in the right team and league. Just leave and be happy. Sadly, players like him will be bitter and blame the club Esther than themselves, as most pro footballers are nothing more than overgrown children, so will seeking his pot of good before leaving.

31 Aug 2025 16:30:06
So Antony tried to engineer a move? Or he was told he wasn't needed by the club?

Because if it's the latter (which it is by the way) he is more than entitled to get what is owed to him.

Ports, both players were told they haven't a future at the club, not training with the team etc. so you just want them to say, thanks very much, I'll leave you with the millions you owe me 😂 do ye lads live in the real world or what? 😂

Eric? Mental health challenges? What sort of 💩 is that? Leave off.

31 Aug 2025 19:08:27
Owe him? How come? He can get that money, if he stays at the club. But then, he might miss on the WC and also he will lose out on his next contract, since he won't be playing. It is not that easy angelred.

28 Aug 2025 17:59:12
Some stories floating around the Internet that Burnley will be Amorims last game in charge. He's walking away apparently.

Just passing on what I read. Likely a load of made up rubbish.

28 Aug 2025 18:59:27
It has come from his post match interview when he basically said that himself, not sure if it was just emotion talking though.

28 Aug 2025 21:01:56
No, it was Ruben Amorim, GDS. It was on tv and all, unless this emotion was impersonating him, and, as we all know, identity theft is not a joke.

28 Aug 2025 23:10:56
I thought Amorim was calling out his players for their attitude for not following their instructions.

I thought in the second half he bought on those he does trust to save the game.

I have heard/ read a lot of different takes on those words.

I think he's done because he's realised that we still need that open heart surgery and what he thought would happen this summer hasn't.

I didn't think we would go into this season with no midfield.

28 Aug 2025 23:19:34
Why is Amorim calling out his players? He selects them. It’s kind of obvious that several players believe that they are better than what they really are. Leave them out.

29 Aug 2025 00:15:27
Becsuse i dint think he expected to have the squad he did. We have clearly been after a DM and GK as well but we didn't think we would shift no one on.

He can only select from what he has i dknt think anyone thought qe would think this GK options and rhis midfield would be acceptable.

29 Aug 2025 09:10:22
Mourinho, Ruud, and Ole are now all available. I’d actually have Jose back, although would prefer to stick with Amorim, assuming he hasn’t lost all faith in the project.

29 Aug 2025 09:22:33
I think he's the kind of person who would walk away if he felt that the players weren't with him.

However, I don't think that will happen this weekend. I feel like his interviews after the Grimsby game had a lot of emotion in them, which will happen after a bad performance and result, at least it does if you care.

While Amorim's display of emotion was different, it's the same thing as when SAF would come out after a game angry (which often ended with a fine/ ban from the FA) . It's the emotions that hit immediately after and during games.

I suspect once that immediate spike in emotions has subsided and the brain starts to take back the wheel with logic I imagine Amorim's response will be very different.

What we need to do now is decide are we fans or are we supporters. We play a big role at our club, we can either get behind the team and the manager, try and be that 12th man on the pitch, help carry them when they are struggling so that the club can move forward. Or we can turn toxic, snipe and tear them down, dragging our club backwards.

We know how the latter turns out, we've seen it enough times over the past decade. Hopefully we've learned from our mistakes and we choose a different path now.

29 Aug 2025 11:43:00
‘He picks them’ is hilarious how quick we forget we had to fill the bench with kids last season or how bad we were, there is no one else to pick from. 3 windows turns into 3 matches ….
The top 4 could put out a 2nd team to challenge us, we can’t fill a first 11 with half decent players, never mind a bench. Bar 2 players the squad needed changing. It does highlight how Eth decimated the club though (they couldn’t play 4-3-3 either) . Give the new boys achance despite them senior management has failed miserably this window. (So far) i honestly believe we are only a couple of players away from a good side. We just have to get our heads down till we get there and get rid of those who aren’t bothered. it’s clear that every manager can see how weak our players are they get after us in the first half it’s piss easy. Having said that he should strengthen midfield in the first half. Once we go behind even Arsenal had eight men behind the ball. But are the players capable of that? A pub team would be able to play his formation by now which raises all types of questions.

28 Aug 2025 17:39:51
Galatasary sniffing round lammens and had talks with him today. If we lose out on him then who? because we simply cannot continue with Onana and bayindir.

28 Aug 2025 17:56:19
You’re putting a lot of faith in a young, untested keeper. No guarantee he’s any good or ready to be first choice.

There are some videos around of good saves he's made. But have a look for the videos on his mistakes. In some clips he looks no better than Onana.

28 Aug 2025 18:06:03
Why haven’t we gone all in for Donnarumma? The last thing we need is an untested GK. Yes Donnarumma hasn’t played in the PL but surely if available we got to rival City after the rubbish show yesterday.

28 Aug 2025 18:10:58
Fall guy I’m not saying he’s the messiah just that he’s the only credible gk link we have so if we don’t get him do we have any other options. Continuing with what we have just can’t be an idea, I’d honestly start heaton if we don’t sign anyone.

28 Aug 2025 19:00:04
Singh,

Because he wants £300k a week and would be coming for the money, have we not learnt?

28 Aug 2025 20:40:35
Donnarumma isn’t the answer in my opinion. I don’t think he’s any better at crosses into the box. Although he is a better shop stopper. But he will want a ridiculous salary.

I’d look at Costa from Porto. Or just go and get Emi Martinez.

29 Aug 2025 08:25:51
We should sign Ederson from City. €15-20m for a keeper of his caliber is a steal. Can’t think of too many players who are better with their feet.

29 Aug 2025 09:28:53
Redseven, if we still had EtH as manager then Ederson might make some sense. Or if we had a manager who puts a lot of focus on playing out from the back with the keeper.

Yet that's not really Amorim's style, he doesn't need a playmaker keeper. He needs a good shot stopper who is strong in the air and commands his box.
The 343 shape should force teams to attack the wide areas with the middle of the pitch congested. That tends to lead to his team's facing more crosses than teams that play with a back four.

The problems we have with Onana and Bayindir is that both are weak in the air and tend to flap at crosses, and neither command their box well or communicate with their defence. Both can be reasonable shop stoppers (although Onana makes a lot of saves he had a tendency to push the ball back into danger, but does at least make the initial save) .

Ederson doesn't solve any of our problems with the keeper while adding a strength that isn't needed and wouldn't be made the most of.

29 Aug 2025 14:24:31
Maybe on paper, Shappy, but in reality, our current formation just leads to teams running straight through our midfield and attacking us head on. Our vulnerability from corners comes more from the poor positioning of our defenders than our keeper (although, dgmr, our keepers do suck) .

Ederson is a better shot stopper than any of current keepers and could walk right into the starting 11. Maybe Lammens will become an elite keeper, but Ederson is already at that level, and would cost around the same.

27 Aug 2025 17:02:42
I’d have Ole Gunnar back for 2.5 seasons now.

I genuinely think he’d get more out of this team.

27 Aug 2025 17:54:17
Time for Ken I think 🍿.

27 Aug 2025 18:02:17
Ole caused enough problems. Scored a goal in 99, not a manager for us, move on.

27 Aug 2025 18:34:13
As a certain J P McEnroe said "you cannot be serious"

27 Aug 2025 20:41:43
I’m with IUtd Road. Our best football in 13 years was under him.

This is utter tripe. Ruben out of his league. He’s confirmed what I’ve thought all along.

27 Aug 2025 20:54:31
can’t see what amorim is excited about, but a good goalkeeper would be worth getting excited about. 3 of our last four goals have been absolute goalkeeping errors.
Ian wright spoke of the effect it has on a team after the arsenal match and i can’t help but think Amorim hasn’t been backed on this end…. yet.

27 Aug 2025 20:55:21
Mainoo wouldn’t make it into the grimsby team on this performance, never mind real and atletico!

27 Aug 2025 23:03:11
Mainoo played fairly well. Onana was horrific. The confidence in the team is being eroded by all these individual mistakes. Bayindir, Dalot, Onana, Onana, Onana. We should be much better but we're 3 games into the season. This doom and gloom won't help anything.

27 Aug 2025 23:07:55
Mainoo was ok. It was a no win match for him. His team mates hardly covered themselves in glory and he was coming in from having played barely any minutes I thought he did ok.

28 Aug 2025 01:05:52
He did OK first half hour or was all to fat for him and he was or but found his feet. To be expected not played for a while.
Awful team performance needless to say i would expect a lot better.
Keeper is a joke.
Midfield and wing backs were shocking.

28 Aug 2025 02:55:49
Cunha, Dorgu, Amad were flat.
Sesko was non existent.
Ugarte was non existent.
Fredrickson was a lost puppy, and needed Maguire to guide him, where was the leadership through the spine?
Onana. FMD, never let him near the teamsheet again.

I thought Mainoo did ok, given the above, and paired with Bruno was also, okay. I thought the dynamics really changed when Zirkzee came on, the link up when he is involved is key to this system actually being successful.
MdL was solid, Mbeumo needs games but made a difference.

However, we desperately need a keeper in. Above anything else.

28 Aug 2025 06:31:37
Mainoo did okay? I have seen him misplacing a number of passes. The manager is good, its the players that are letting him down time and again.

And Ruben is not learning from his mistakes, he has a very good starting eleven, why field players like Onana, Ugarte, Dalot.

These three players alone are responsible for our 2 losses and a draw. Onana can't make saves, the shots that they were taking were ending up in goals and similar shots that we were taking were getting saved by opposition goalkeeper.

Dalot, he was responsible for the goal we conceded against Fulham, when he had the chance to play the ball, he chose some godforsaken skill and lost the ball.

Ugarte, I still thinks he needs understand what his role is and needs a good run as a substitute.

Its actually about players, Onana should never start again, leave the goal open and play an extra attacker instead. :P

Dalot and Ugarte should be subs at the max.

And I say I trust Amorin, is becasue when you see all the matches we have lost, we were better

Arsenal, we should have won by 3 goals, again a goalkeeping error and team's morale goes down and we lost, we fought though.

Fulham, we were electric and should have been atleast 2-0 up within 20 minutes. I have seen other teams hitting the inside of the post and somehow they are able to get ball inside the goal. With the luck we have, we hit the post, it comes out, keepers make herioc saves.

This team is missing luck, I have played football professional level here in my country and I know how morales go down when we were playing well but were not able to score. It feels like giving 110% and still not getting wins.

I believe Amorin could turn this around, we can't again go on changing coaches. He just need a hint of luck. A hint of luck is what Manchester United needs.

28 Aug 2025 06:55:22
It was Grimsby guys. Grimsby. They deserved to win in normal time, and they were more composed than us at penalties too,

Plenty of fish related puns coming our way. But Man U get battered, everywhere they go seems fitting.

28 Aug 2025 09:06:04
The manager is responsible for putting a team onto the pitch, for the structure of the team and for the tactics. He has been found wanting, limited in tactical nous. Almost half of the team are simply not good enough - Onana, Dalot, Ugarte, Amad, Dorgu. I’m not sure what differentiates these players from lower league players. Honestly. They are not Manchester United players. To salvage his season, Amorim needs to players for two positions - goalkeeper and centre mid. If he doesn’t manage to get these players in, he’ll lose his job.

28 Aug 2025 16:42:01
massive over reaction. itas seriously grim to watch, but we were failed fora simple reason, last night and also against fulham and arsenal. our keepers are utter rubbish andwe don't have a right wing back or cometent midfielders.

we knew tyhat, and we also know that's the previous manager, by far thw biggest idiot ever to manage united, with his delusional approach to only ever signing players who have played for him before, and the leadership who couldn't negotiate a BJ in a brothel.

These massive flaws will take time. That said, Amorim needs to get very quickly unwed to his inssitence of playing to a system that still has 2 major holes in midfield and defence. the keeper issue is ludicrous and how we are payng 20m for lammens when donnarumma is availbel for 26 is nothing short of negligence by INEOS and UTD. a real misstep for me.

I would be ruthless here. Ferguson would have been. Get i'd of Dalot and Mainoo and bring in Baleba or Wharton and a top class RWB along with Donnarumma, NOW, no around, get it done.

we knew it would take 3 summer windows, and we are literally 3 games in. The feelng after week 1 was we were unlucky to beat arsenal. we drew with fulham thanks to rubbish performance yet again from Dalot, and yeah yesterday Amroim was deeply naive not playing his best 11 from the outset and ensuring the narerative didn't even begin. They guys still learning his craft and the Uk leagues. This is NOT his fault, but he does need to be repsoibsle for cutting his cloth acoridng to the resources he has got. Blind faith in any system is a form of extremeism. Flex, and make good decisions. having 5 at the back against a low block until the last 10 minutes was ridiculous.

28 Aug 2025 18:01:00
Utd are just plain crap. accept that abd you feel better. There's simply no words left to describe how hofforic a performance that was. but the most angry with it all, was after getting 2-2 and winning the shoit out was cunhas penalty. man just smack it in. that it itself sums up utd now. Just pure tripe.

28 Aug 2025 20:53:36
LFC fan here in peace . I can not understand why he did not play the team he started the league off with . Yes you did not win but drew the next game so to me that says they needed more time to blend more games together so changing the team in the cup did not help .

You're not in Europe so nothing to stop him playing the first team and now your out of the cup which means two cups to go for one the premier and other fa cup and let's be honest can not see you winning premier league no disrespect so you have one cup to go for it is Manchester United .

Your manager is not up to your clubs standards .
good luck for the rest of the season .

26 Aug 2025 22:31:49
Real and Atletico keeping tabs on Mainoo over a potential loan deal. Personally hoping its just media clickbait!

27 Aug 2025 05:56:42
A Real midfield containing Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Guler, Bellingham and Valverde and a Athetico team who have just spent €30m on Cardoso from Betis to partner Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo De Paul.

If he wants minutes on the pitch then these are probably not the best two teams to be linked with, that is why it’s either idle paper talk because United generate clicks, or an agent stirring.

{Ed077's Note - should I point out that De Paul has joined Inter Miami earlier this window ?

27 Aug 2025 08:05:21
Interesting discussion on Muppetiers about what’s really going on with Mainoo.

Fuelled by agent who wants new contract / more game time

Mainoo being gradually prepared to take over Bruno when he leaves for Saudi next summer and will hopefully partner Baleba.

27 Aug 2025 08:31:33
I am not worried about Mainoo going. We have not managed to complete a sale in 2 months of negotiating.

Cant see us suddenly completing one in under 5 days.

27 Aug 2025 06:20:59
Sorry Ed, early in the morning, thought he was still there.

{Ed077's Note - NW

27 Aug 2025 12:45:02
Listen to mitten. Muppeteers is an aggregator.

28 Aug 2025 10:37:18
Lets be honest about Mainoo, he's a talented young player with potential. He isn't a top level player right now. Maybe his first season and his run the Euros final with England has made him think he's further along in his career than he actually is.

Right now he's a talent young player who had a purple patch for the first 8 months in the first team while he benefitted from having the surprise element over his opposition. He then had an injury hit season where he struggled to match his first season performances.

Yes he has a lot of potential, and if he works hard and develops his game then I'm sure he can be a regular first choice player for us.

But right now he isn't that player no matter how much us fans want him to be the Messiah.

He struggles in a midfield two and to be completely frank while he looked good individually when he played in a midfield three with Casemiro and Bruno, it didn't improve our performances as a team. Games still reassembled a basketball match with teams running right through the heart of midfield where we left far too many large gaps.

The reality is that the midfield issue cannot be solved by any of our current midfielders. In fact it's not even entirely a midfield issue.

Yes we need a more athletic and positionally intelligent defensive player in there than we currently have in the squad.

However, half the problem is still that the team overall loses it's compactness as the game wears on. Our defence later in games stops pressing as high and drops deeper which increases the amount of space the tiring legs in midfield need to cover. Which is why Amorim has subbed a couple of CB's in the games this season, to try and get the defence to push higher up and close those gaps.

While the new No.10's are yet to fully adapt to the role they need to play. They need to both offer attacking creativity, but they also need to drop deeper when we don't have the ball to help form a 4 man box midfield. The issue we have had so far is Cunha has had to play as the false 9 in games due to Zirkzee being injured and Sesko still settling in. Which means he hasn't managed to get to grips with the role fully yet. Then Mbeumo joined later and is still clearly trying to get back to full fitness to the level needed, as well as having very little time to be coached the role.

The two man midfield is not the real problem, lots of teams line up with a double pivot. The real problem is that we haven't got the right blend of skill sets and quality amongst the midfield options, along with the rest of the team struggling to implement the tactics successfully for the entire 90 minutes.

If the defence can push high for the whole game and the No.10's can drop deep when we don't have the ball then we actually have 5 players in the middle of the pitch (CCB who steps up, both midfielders, and both No.10's) when the opposition have the ball.

This issue is more about how the team play together as a team and move together as a unit. Once they get that the performances and results will start to improve.

We saw it against Arsenal where we did it so well that Arsenal retreated into their shell and hung on. We started doing it against Fulham, but the confidence of the players wobbled and the defence started to drop deep along with Bruno pushing further forward trying to force the goal which totally opened us up in the middle of the park allowing Fulham to take control of the game.

The strength of a clear structured system is it can allow a team to play greater than the sum of its parts. The weakness of it is that it only takes one player to not do their job properly and it starts to break down,

28 Aug 2025 14:02:58
I'd say probably a year ago Mainoo was one of our better players, and more England too. His best position is difficult to pin down. I thought he wasn't quite right for those no.10 roles but still managed to contribute a lot in an attacking sense.
Past 6 months I have no idea what's happened. All seems to have changed since he cut his hair!
As a Utd follower for about 4 decades I've been treated to and always associated Utd with some of the best centre forwards in the world and always a great pulse or cog in the middle the whole team evolved around. Sadly we've had neither since Fergie left.

28 Aug 2025 16:34:29
A lot of players burst onto the scene then get found out. Their habits, the preferences, even their tells get noticed and leant and the more the play the more game film there is the more that everyone understands how they play and how to play them. Its up then for the player to add more strings to his bow find ways to hurt you thst cpunter your counter to what he is good at.

With Mainoo you don't press because his great at recieving and turning into space and taking one or two players out of the game whilst he isn't strong he has a low centre of gravity and uses his body well here.

Mainoo for example bevomes a totally different player if people start dropping off allowing him turn and he starts hitting 40 or 50 yard passes. Suddenly you have a massive headache in how to deal with him.
Hjulmand certainly did a bit of this at Sporting. The big thing with Hjulmand though is defensively his reading was exceptional which covered for his lack pace. Mainoo isn't at that point yet by a long way.

Mainoo needs to develop his game like all players. I think that's at least in part why he has seemi gly regressed. He hasn't so much as others have adjusted how they deal with him.

A lot of players have difficult years 2 and 3 whilst they work out what got them through a decade of youth and reserve football isn't going to carry them through EPL.

25 Aug 2025 11:01:27
It's being reported that Kobbie Mainoo will consider leaving if a suitable offer comes in for him!

25 Aug 2025 12:20:22
I've read the same. He's fed up with his lack of game time, apparently.

25 Aug 2025 12:23:36
Don’t blame him. Clearly not getting a game anytime soon under RA.

25 Aug 2025 13:25:52
If mainoo is sold its a sackable offense. how he's not playing is ridiculous. At least he's a midfielder. as the weeks go on the less I think of ruben. Yesterday was dreadful management all round. Worrying is that us supporters can see it but he cant. feels like last season.

25 Aug 2025 15:48:13
Mainoo should have been given minutes against Fulham. RA went defensive instead.

25 Aug 2025 17:28:47
If that’s his attitude then sell him,

Why should a player dictate how much game time they are getting you perform in training and earn your spot if that’s not what you want then sell him

He was garbage last year aswell wouldn’t warrant a starting spot and then the games he has played, like the rest of them last year he was poor

Mard kids who think they deserve the world,

Last week we played well so why did the manager need to change his team?

We didn’t exactly get played off the park yesterday we had 2/ 3 chances in the first half and a missed pen other than some dodgy corners and dalot not doing his job we would have got the points

We lost the battle in the centre of the park but mainoo isn’t the answer either he isn’t a good central midfielder we’ve seen it plenty of times when he’s played there.

Dont see an issue it’s 2 games in he needs to get a grip and stop being so entitled.

25 Aug 2025 17:54:30
He had an awesome breakthrough year, and was hindered by injuries last year, as well as the manager criticising him publicly.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say thise criticising Mainoo don't come from Manchester.

25 Aug 2025 18:08:20
But I will add he has a lot of potential so hopefully gets a chance and shows why he should be in the team because I like mainoo.

25 Aug 2025 20:36:48
I wonder why he isn't being picked. Is he showing so little in training? Is there something specific he neded to work on to prove himself worthy to Amorim.

I also think Amorim must want hin or he would have been sold this summer as he would have generated a lot of profit.

26 Aug 2025 08:20:34
Amorim is taking a longer term view with players (as seen with Sesko yet to start/ Zirkzee still being eased in) . I expect Mainoo to be a key player for us as the season goes on getting more and more minutes either alongside or in place of Bruno.

We are 2 games into the season. good game poor result against Arsenal, good start then ultimately poor second half. not what we wanted result but point on the board against Fulham.

I expect us to win the next 2 games and then be competitive against City and Chelsea with maybe a surprise win against one of them. Optimism.

26 Aug 2025 09:04:30
Oak… Amorim is on record saying that Mainoo needs to increase the rhythm, the pace … he can be better.

Stamina and sustained intensity are currently viewed as key developmental gaps in Mainoo’s game if he is to fill that double pivot midfield.

Mainoo had a stand out first year, but spent most of last season out injured because he was over relied on by Ten Hag. Amorim isn’t going to make the same mistake, and will take some of the pressure off by managing his appearances so he will have a proper career and not burn out in his mid twenties.

Mainoo’s eagerness to play every minute is understandable, but given his muscle issues, a head not heart approach is more appropriate at this point.

26 Aug 2025 09:35:37
For gods sake stop saying “I expect us to win the next two games” - have a look at the last time we won b2b games. Granted it’s Grimsby and if we lose then genuinely think RA is under massive pressure before august is out. Until CM is sorted then it’s going to have more troughs than peaks imo. I really like RA so don’t want him sacked but we need midfield sorted.

26 Aug 2025 10:29:45
I said this a month ago and was abused for saying such a thing as RA don’t rate him, it’s clear as hell…
But RA with only a 24% win rate, not sure is best to make decisions based on that atrocious record…he won’t make Christmas.

26 Aug 2025 11:06:49
Amorim rates the player, he's pretty much played in every game that he has been available for under Amorim.

The problem this season is that he is most suitable for the No.8 position, meaning he is in direct competition with Bruno for a a starting position. That is a difficult challenge for Kobbie given that Bruno is the club captain, is never injured and rarely subbed in games.

The other positions Kobbie could in theory play is the No.6 position, but he isn't really suited to that role, especially if paired with a more creative No.8 such as Bruno. Which if Bruno isn't playing for some reason in the No.8 then that is where Kobbie will play. He could also potentially play as one of the No.10's, but then we;ve just spent 135m on Cunha and Mbeumo for those positions, with players like Mount, Amad and Bruno offering competition and probably better suited to that role than Kobbie.

Personally I've seen enough to know for sure that Bruno isn't suited to the No.8 position. He either needs to be a rotation option with Cunha for the left 10, or needs to be sold. With a new more athletic natural No.6 being singed and with Kobbie playing more regularly, with players like Mount and Ugarte rotating with him to play alongside the new No.6 or Casemiro.

26 Aug 2025 14:44:45
That’s wrong he not played a minute this season and did not play once back from injury at back of last season either….
But it don’t matter you can’t be United manger with 24% win rate it’s just not acceptable no matter what the excuses are
You rave about need players with EPL experience why do we not need a manager with epl experience? Explain that in not an essay please or why we have a manager with such little experience full stop? Apart from Portugal weak league that’s it, how on earth is that what’s required at united.

26 Aug 2025 15:39:05
I don't often agree with what German writes, but I would like to see Shappy answering in "not an essay" way 😁.

26 Aug 2025 16:00:34
German, I'd imagine standing on the sideline, running training, and football tactics are the exact same in every country in the world.

How to manage a team doesn't change when you move countries. What does change is the style of football, which will have a big impact on the players actually playing the game, but not so much on the manager.

The fact the ball is played faster, or players are more physical doesn't impact the manager on the sidelines, just the players on the pitch.

It is good you ask such questions as educating you is good practice ahead of my return to work next week 😂.

26 Aug 2025 15:10:37
Sounds like you're making excuses for Amorim re Mainoo, Shappy.

Also, rotate our best player or sell. These points almost making every essay redundant. What a take.

26 Aug 2025 16:29:17
Amorim said himself Mainoo is competing with Bruno for that same position. He's not going to play them both together and he obviously values Bruno higher. Maybe we'll get a look at a 'Bruno-less' XI against Grimsby but who knows.

26 Aug 2025 17:14:05
LOL…. what a load of ……you come up with some classics in your time but this might top the lot… how ridiculous that you say just because your manager in one country means you can transfer that to another country, another league another level…. which clearly you can and look at the outcome… management like playing is all about experience.
There are a few Sunday league managers who will like your view and may apply for United job.
RA nativity shown already over and over…because he lack of experience
Even ex professionals and ex managers are now doubting him, which is warranted
Forgiven me if I don’t accept you teaching me anything, ( ___deleted___ )
Your main problem is you think you know everything and always right…May i just remind you, Sancho, Onana, ETH, Ole and the latest will be RA.

{Ed077's Note - cool off bud

26 Aug 2025 17:34:56
Mainoo competing with Bruno, what poppycock.

26 Aug 2025 17:47:16
“Your main problem is you think you know everything and always right…”

I guess everyone see’s the irony of Germans comment here!

26 Aug 2025 19:12:24
So play Mainoo at 8, and push Bruno forward to 10 where he is super effective. Drop Mount.

Simples.

26 Aug 2025 19:28:07
I think the whole Mainoo story would have been avoided if Amorim had been a bit cuter with his post match comments.

Something along the lines of its a long season and he's going to play a lot of games and be a valuable part of the team would have quitened that story down.

The mwdia already had all the headlines they needed with United losing and drawing one to start the season they didn't need another one that Mainoo is stuck behine the captain who we all know never misses a game.

27 Aug 2025 05:40:28
More pots and kettles than a kitchen warehouse!

27 Aug 2025 11:34:49
The Mainoo situation is starting to feel like Rashford put on a pedestal as our new youth superstar (thanks 92) but with very little football to back it up. He looked lost last season and not just that you couldn’t find him on the pitch. Needs to make a much bigger impact which starts by doing enough to get picked.
The more you look at Bruno the worse it gets. He really flatters to deceive. He scored 5 non penalty goals last season (league) as a WC no10 and the team was built around him. How many times did he lose the ball that lead to an opposition attack/ goal. Was he minus goal difference. Shockingly poor value if he’s worth 100m. No one in this league would pay serious money for him.

24 Aug 2025 14:08:39
Manchester United transfer target Senne Lammens has not been named in the Royal Antwerp team to face Mechelen today.

24 Aug 2025 14:17:26
Beat me to it by a minute there Fizz!

24 Aug 2025 15:43:27
6 Minutes ;)

25 Aug 2025 18:57:39
Thankfully, this is not a mathematics site otherwise it would clearly be doom and gloom.