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08 Jan 2023 17:47:43
Latest rumour I've seen is we want Weghorst and Felix, which makes more sense to me. Options, and more creativity.
1.) 08 Jan 2023 18:26:33
That would do for now. Though not sure how felix would fit in our new wage structure?!
2.) 08 Jan 2023 22:07:35
how many players are a club allowed to loan in the PL?
3.) 09 Jan 2023 07:18:06
I wouldn't want Weghorst, but you have to trust the manager if he has identified him.
Joan Felix I think could be a fantastic signing. He doesn't fit the type of football being played at Atletico but he has all the minerals.
4.) 09 Jan 2023 07:46:44
I'd take both in a heartbeat. I'd take one in a heartbeat actually.
Neither are the ideal candidate but we need bodies up front.
Garnacho is a bonus and has stood in well for sancho but he is just a kid and the Ronaldo gap needs filling too.
5.) 09 Jan 2023 20:48:33
You are only allowed 2 loan signings and we already have butland, so it was never going to be both.
We probably moved onto weghorst when Felix was no longer an option.
6.) 10 Jan 2023 19:51:59
Wouldn’t touch Felix with a barge pole. His style and physical make up won’t suit the Prem one bit.
22 Jul 2022 10:00:09
Jesse Lingard.
Could have gone to West Ham and been at the upper end of the table fighting for Europe.
Decided to go to Forest for what will likely be a relgation dog fight. Hmm, I wonder why.
1.) 22 Jul 2022 10:13:20
I'd imagine it's so he doesn't have to move his family to London.
2.) 22 Jul 2022 10:18:30
A one year contract too. His agent was talking about PSG, Milan and Juventus interested in him a couple of months ago. Maybe the teams that actually did want him didn't match his ego.
I'm sure he thinks why not get paid handsomely for a year, finish top scorer and then join Madrid next year.
3.) 22 Jul 2022 10:25:00
Surprised he’s not gone on that Love Island!
4.) 22 Jul 2022 10:32:08
And only on a one season deal in case it's straight back down to the Championship. That over the MLS or trying to nudge his way back into the England set-up with West Ham as he was starting to do when on loan there.
5.) 22 Jul 2022 10:35:58
1 year contract on £200K a week plus signing n fee. He'll be able to do the same next year. Seems like the lad has done a pretty decent deal for himself.
6.) 22 Jul 2022 11:13:33
It's all about the money money money.
At least he will get game time. So many players move for money and see their careers die, Sinclair, Drinkwater spring to mind as examples.
7.) 22 Jul 2022 12:31:04
So much on Lingard all the time. Good luck to him if he's getting more money.
So what?
8.) 22 Jul 2022 13:32:13
He's not united so I don't care.
9.) 22 Jul 2022 15:47:46
Shappy is right, he isn’t allowed out of the house without his babysitter. Last time he gave them the slip he spent all his pocket money on chocolate and fizzy sweets. Best to keep him away from that London or he’ll be onto those American Candy stores and spend his £200k weekly wage on milk duds.
10.) 22 Jul 2022 16:28:28
Danny, I think you'll find that he has had to assume the care of his two school aged children while his mum was unable to care for them. On top of having a daughter of his own who lives with her mother after they split up.
Living in Nottingham means he is still close to his family.
While a big wage packet certainly won't do him any harm.
I'd imagine he will see it as an opportunity to stay close to his family earn a big wage and potentially put himself in the shop window for a club like Everton, Leicester or Newcastle.
11.) 22 Jul 2022 17:24:31
Shappy, trains to Nottingham from Manchester take 2 hours, the same time it takes to drive. 2 hours also for Leicester, 3 hours for Newcastle.
Trains to London take 2 hours, and are far more regular. Nottingham is not close to his family, but its a lot more lucrative.
same as driving,
12.) 22 Jul 2022 17:26:17
That should be school aged siblings.
13.) 22 Jul 2022 18:23:06
Poor babysitter has their work cut out. Get two kids to school and then back to cut the crusts off Jessie’s sandwich and get him down for a quick nap before training.
14.) 22 Jul 2022 19:52:32
This is some mad post about why an ex United player has signed for a football team ?
Has anybody here spoke with him? How would any of ye know and who cares why or why he didn't sign for a club.
Got get that money Jesse, enjoy yourself and keep being you.
15.) 22 Jul 2022 21:04:28
Couldn’t give a damn about what Jesse Lingard is doing. When he was coming through I liked the lad, but the past 2 seasons at least I’ve thought he was a git.
Forget him.
16.) 22 Jul 2022 21:08:05
Indeed. It’s his business and his alone. He’ll play every week, it’s a great traditional club, and he’ll be handsomely paid.
As for logistics, I’m sure he’ll work it out by himself ???.
17.) 22 Jul 2022 18:59:50
Despite all this, Lingard’s going straight into my FPL Team!
18.) 23 Jul 2022 13:57:49
Shappy is so busy now googling travel times to uphold the most ridiculous argument of the day?? nice one ajh. Lots to be said b
For knowing your geography??.
14 Nov 2021 08:56:04
I was told last night that Ole has agreed to step aside once a replacement has been found.
Don't know where this rumour came from but hopefully it has legs.
1.) 14 Nov 2021 09:22:12
It does seem like the club have used the international break and particularly Ole and the players not being there to assess their options and hopefully through intermediaries reach out to potential candidates to test the waters.
2.) 14 Nov 2021 10:11:33
I think there’s zero chance of Ole agreeing to step aside. If the club replace him, he’ll be getting compensated handsomely.
3.) 14 Nov 2021 11:56:13
If this is true, at least the club aren't rushing around and are taking their time to make a decision.
4.) 14 Nov 2021 16:05:17
I don’t doubt it Danny, but if it is true, at least Woody can crack on without having to be too secretive.
5.) 14 Nov 2021 18:29:34
Maybe he doesn't know he agreed to step aside, just sayin.
6.) 15 Nov 2021 11:22:14
Any truth to the Zidane rumours?
7.) 17 Nov 2021 08:11:26
TOHoM, only that it is true that they are rumours ?.
03 Aug 2019 14:20:49
I’ve loved reading the posts this week and for what it’s worth, here’s my view.
Maguire is not necessarily the greatest defender but he seems like a big character and as has been said he is better than what we have. The price is irrelevant to me, fees are soon forgotten (unlike wages) . I think he will settle quickly and make a difference.
AWB looks a quality buy in a position where we have struggled so I’m confident that will look a steal as the season progresses.
James has huge potential, looking forward to seeing how he develops.
Dybala I don’t want. No idea where it came from and we really shouldn’t be entertaining it. Fancy name, not pulled up any trees for a couple of years, really don’t see where he fits in.
Fernandes look quality and would be a good signing and if we are interested then I have no idea why it is taking so long.
We need to ship Pogba out as quickly as possible, assuming anyone has made any sort of sensible offer. I don’t buy the line that he’s really popular. If he isn’t committed to the cause then he needs to leave.
Sanchez also needs to go. I’d even let him go on a free or nominal fee as it would free up at least £15M because of his ridiculous contract.
Lukaku also needs to go and again I’d take the best offer that is on the table. We may lose on the fees but the benefit to team spirit and morale of shipping out players who don’t want to be her is immense. There’s a bunch of other players we need to move on and again we should make it attractive to potential buyers. Darmian and Rojo for starters.
Imagine those 5 gone, 4 new signings (I’m assuming a CM is coming), and a few from the youth promoted. The feel and mood will be lifted and with the extra fitness and energy, with everyone committed and pulling in the same direction, who knows where we will get to.
I fear there is not enough time left to move players on but for me that is just as important on bringing new ones in.
1.) 03 Aug 2019 14:37:38
It would be foolish to let pogba leave so late in the window, no chance we have enough time to obtain a replacement.
Saul would fit the bill, but that would be a complicated deal and there are questions marks over whether he would even want to come.
Are SMS or fernandes as good as pogba? if looked at objectively you would say they were not on his level.
Dybala is probably the clearest route to getting rid of lukaku as inter milan are unable to source the funds to do a deal, so this swap deal is a pretty good compromise to get rid of a player who doesn't fit oles style and bring in a player who does.
25, 5 year contract means we have plenty of scope to get a resale value when he inevitably pines for a move to madrid or Barcelona like pogba. Could be a shrewd bit of business by the club.
2.) 03 Aug 2019 14:49:29
DSG, if you put my reservations aside, Ed002 has said Dybala doesn’t want to come. If he’s having to be convinced then we shouldn’t do it,
3.) 03 Aug 2019 15:15:18
Tony do you honestly expect Dybala to happily want to leave a team with Ronaldo and several stars which is guaranteed at least a major trophy and also UCL football every season and come over to us because we are Manchester United?
That ship has sailed!
No matter how attractive a team is, it still has to make an effort to appeal to a prospective player.
4.) 03 Aug 2019 15:18:42
I honestly think you will be surprised how many player would not want to join us this summer. No champions league is a big loss especially in a window where bayern, real, Barcelona and juve are all making big deals.
Look at sancho, he realised that coming to united this window would be not be ideal for his development when we are undergoing significant changes and his development was much better suited staying at dortmund.
Does that mean we shouldn't go in for him next summer when we will still need to convince him we are the right club with the right stability for him to continue his development?
Dybala is an oppurtune signing granted but if he does join it won't be against his will, quite a few player over the year have needed to be convinced/ persuaded to join clubs.
5.) 03 Aug 2019 15:23:18
I really don't get why people would wants Pogba to stay. Old may say all the right things about Pogba having a great attitude blah blah blah, but the player clearly wants out.
If we keep hold of him against his wishes we will just have the same circus every transfer window. It's unsettling for everyone, including Old, despite what he may say in public.
Pogba is obviously talented and is a match winner on his day. I understand that, but keeping an unhappy player is counter productive.
On the flip side, we shouldn't be forced to sell him on the cheap. But over inflating his price so that he is effectively priced out of a more is daft in my opinion.
Despite the fact that some fans 'hero worship' some players, Pogba is not worthy of that label. Talent is nothing without application, effort and desire and Mr Pogba is severely lacking in the later.
6.) 03 Aug 2019 15:35:43
Until last week his name hadn’t come up, nobody on here had suggested we try and buy him or he would add anything to our team. Now suddenly many are drooling over him and I don’t get it. We should have learned from Di Maria. He doesn’t want to come, allegedly he wants £350K a week, allegedly his agent wants £13M, it’s possibly taken our focus from Fernandes. The only positive I can see is we lose Lukaku, that’s about it.
I don’t really buy the Champions League argument. Actually I do buy it and it hacks me off. There’s only a few teams that will win it, and there seems to be a snobbishness that has materialised with players ‘not wanting to take a step down’. I’m not sure how we’ve allowed it to become so important, for me the domestic title is still the biggest trophy by far.
7.) 03 Aug 2019 15:37:47
Of course he needs convincing AJH. He is not a fan like is. He is at a top club where his life family and friends are and you think a good pitch and lots of reassurances are not required.
You don't seem to be the sort of chap to make knee jerk life changing decisions without due consultation and thought process and advice. Do you think dybala should?
8.) 03 Aug 2019 15:56:18
Is aguero not a good example why is it always di Maria.
Do people think aguero was a life long city fan desperate to move to a team that had won nothing for years?
Or did him and his agent need a bit of convincing and a bucket of cash .
I'm not saying we should or shouldn't sign him but there's a bit of a line in the sand starting with one or 2 players,
9.) 03 Aug 2019 16:02:27
Of course he's reluctant. We're not exactly known for stability are we. He enjoys life in Italy and is reluctant to leave. But Juve are forcing him out.
10.) 03 Aug 2019 16:03:54
Madrid have been making sensible offers for Pogba throughout this window.
UTD think they can get more with very little other clubs being able to afford him.
Only a few clubs or so at the over inflated fee and wages able to afford Pogba which sees UTD keeping a player who wants to leave *evil laugh*.
Barcelona not going to sign Pogba.
11.) 03 Aug 2019 16:09:33
What offers have real made?
12.) 03 Aug 2019 16:24:59
Guys AJH has a point. The problem is not there is a convincing required for Dybala. But why to convince a player who is not seen as much needed who is not willing to move to us who will demand monstrous wage who has stalled for the past year. If it is someone who we have identified as main target it's worth going through the trouble. Imagine we sign him and has not really worked out then we will have another player on 350k wages very difficult to move.
13.) 03 Aug 2019 16:35:27
I said the same to shappy last week jred.
People are saying don't sign him he doesn't want to be here. Yet those same purple are saying keep pogba even though he doesn't want to be here.
If dybala comes and he and the team are successful he will love it at United. Just like aguero has done.
Im not desperate for him to sign if he does it would be potentially a very good and exciting signing.
14.) 03 Aug 2019 17:00:59
My wider point is he hadn't been mentioned by anybody, the fans hadn't suggested him nor were the club pursuing him. Suddenly a swap is on, not exactly thought through is it?
15.) 03 Aug 2019 17:02:49
You could say the same with pogba, if go his and uniteds way he may have a change in heart .
Not sure why everything needs to be set in stone .
I'm far from convince dybala would be a good fit in the epl, who who knows.
16.) 03 Aug 2019 17:11:34
Is it possible for a player to come in, not really wanting to come in at first and then change his mind? If he is the consummate professional, he might also put in some decent performances.
Also, he could just say no right now?
17.) 03 Aug 2019 18:00:01
Ajh
He was mentioned a few month ago, don't know if the reports where true but he was linked a few months back.
But some times a player becomes available and you take a chance, any Cole, king Eric.
Angel
Is it possible that a player wants to leave then circumstances change and he changes his mind, Or do we hold it against him for the rest of his career.
18.) 03 Aug 2019 18:01:09
The club have had interest in dybala for 12 months according to ed002. i'm not convinced but he is a very talented player so if he settles it could work out.
Pogba is here and if he stays and does well he may well have a change of heart i agree but i'm not one for keeping unhappy players it usually doesn't work out. We can on my hope it does if he stays.
19.) 03 Aug 2019 19:33:15
Hi jred, not at all. I think if a player has a change of heart and wants to stay, put in the performances etc, he should most definitely get the chance. I think that's quite fair. But definitely no point keeping a player that is unhappy and wants to move. Does this answer work?
Is there a particular player you are talking about or just anyone in general?
20.) 03 Aug 2019 20:00:04
Angel
To many to mention to be honest once any one makes a mistake or reportedly does you want them out.
Lazy bad attitude said this said that.
21.) 03 Aug 2019 20:17:14
No, I'd like you to mention them. Very happy to give you my reasons behind everyone.
I'm quite sure that when I have shown my dissatisfaction in a player it is usually merited, justified.
I don't call for players to be bought and sold like in a game of FIFA.
I also am very happy to back good, hard working and loyal players when many dont. Again, when I feel its justified.
Feels like you're just having a pop though. It's something you like to do quite often. I hope I haven't upset you at any point. Or will you hold my opinions against me for the rest of my time posting on here? 😊.
22.) 03 Aug 2019 22:15:30
We have appointed Director of football - it's AJH
All sound decisions taken. 🤫.
23.) 04 Aug 2019 09:23:15
Reading the page the last day or two it’s clear we don’t need any insight from Ed002 as maxlfc knows absolutely everything about our club lol.
24.) 04 Aug 2019 20:42:32
Oh man :P
Wrote a post about how the youngsters are doing, and how you feel about them and this turned into Pogba/ Dybala debate.
25.) 05 Aug 2019 07:31:02
To be honest guys I don't care and the reason is we are focusing on players not playing for our club.
When the focus should be #GlazersOut.
24 Mar 2018 10:31:23
There are some that said Jesse wasn’t good enough and I guess there are still some that think he is at best a squad player but you have to give the lad credit. He keeps popping up scoring important goals and he plays with a smile on his face and seems to enjoy every moment. I’m so pleased for him and I hope he can take that final step and be consistent.
1.) 24 Mar 2018 16:25:04
He has always been highly thought off within the club. It was always accepted that he would take longer to find his feet due to his size. I read an interview with him where he said that Sir Alex always said he would become a real player when he's 25 like Tigana. I wonder how much of him really stepping up this season is down to him feeling that this year was going to be his year.
I did worry when we signed Sanchez as it was going to push either Lingard or Martial out of the side when arguably they we our best two forwards at that time. Maybe its time for Sanchez to be dropped for a game or two and make him fight for his place against players who are in form.
2.) 24 Mar 2018 16:40:40
Shaps, I don’t know why we bought Sanchez other than to stop City buying him. We had needs inother areas way before a left sided attacker was needed and even if he starts firing it just relegates Martial or Rashford. This smacks of Woodward and his marque signing obsession. I don’t want to upset you but if Bale is available you can bet your mortgage Ed will be there waving his chequebook.
3.) 24 Mar 2018 16:46:51
The thing with Jesse is you know he will work on the pitch and not hide. He has proven this year that he has more in the locker than people thought imo but he had the beginnings of a good season couple of years back when he got ani injury early on at Swansea I think. Change of personel and management has not deterred him and I think he has saved us a good few bob on bringing in a n other player.
4.) 24 Mar 2018 16:58:44
I was one of those thinking he wasn't going to be up to it and would be sold, at times I feel foolish, but then he can be anonymous far too often for me (like most of our attacking players) .
I still think in order for us to be competing at the very top we need better than Lingard. But if he improves again as much as he has over the past 18 months then he will deserve a regular berth in a top Utd team.
I love his energy and clever runs, maybe there is even more to come from him once we get back to playing proper attacking football and those runs will be picked out by players that currently refuse the pass and opt for 'safety' instead. I certainly would like him to impact games more consistently as well, 10 seconds of brilliance now and again is good, but we need more than that over a 90 minute match from an attacking midfielder.
5.) 24 Mar 2018 17:39:38
I agree Beastand that was my point about consistency. When he is good he is very good but often you can forget he is on the pitch, which is very frustrating when he gets himself in such good positions and scores such important goals. He needs to turn up for more games than he does, which I think he will if he continues to develop as he has done in the last year. And he is home grown which means a lot to me,
6.) 24 Mar 2018 17:52:11
Does he go missing or as mentioned above is it a case of him making good runs and his team mates not playing the creative pass to find him?
The best players score in the big games, which he does more consistently than those around him. H deserves his place in the team, he works hard, he offers movement and he can finish. I think he will thrive if we add more quality to the midfield. He is a bit of a social media whore, but as long as he performs on the pitch it’s not a problem. I wish pogba put half the effort in he does.
7.) 24 Mar 2018 18:33:58
Agree with all of the posts regarding jesse in some degree, better than dele alli in my opinion who plays a similar role especially this season.
8.) 25 Mar 2018 05:21:49
I must be the only one who doesn't yet rate him. He for me is going through his Smalling patch where player looks good for a season or 2 but with lingard it has only been 2 months rather than the whole season.
He was mostly anonymous until December and has been anonymous for most part since February. That is 2 good months in 3-4 years. Yes he scores some important goals from time to time but he going to have to perform much better to be more than a squad player.
9.) 25 Mar 2018 16:58:04
No MU player apart from De Gea has been sensational for long, playing good for some time and then playing poorly.
10.) 26 Mar 2018 14:14:47
CSM, that's not really fair, even if he's only started looking like a real top player this season, he's actually been doing well for the last couple of years. He was hardly "anonymous" before December anyway. 8 goals and assists in 17 games, 11 of which he played 30 minutes or less in, may not be setting the league on fire, but it's certainly not "anonymous".
Re: the consistency, I'm inclined to agree with Huggy. He's suffering from the way the team is playing, and would have a much more consistent impact if the runs he makes were picked out a bit more often by players behind him. Now, I'm not saying he's doing everything right, maybe he'd still be a bit inconsistent with players behind him looking for those runs and playing more positive football, but the point is that we don't really know, and I don't think it's fair to judge him too harshly when we don't really know how much of the inconsistency is down to him, and how much is down to the way the teamas a whole is playing.
I would really love to see Herrera used in a more advanced role, ahead of Matic rather than alongside him, where he can look to play the passes that someone like Lingard can feed on. It's too easy to see his great defensive performances last season and forget that he's a great passer of the ball, with an eye for getting team mates in behind the defence.
11.) 26 Mar 2018 14:23:10
That FA cup winning goal seemed to really kick him on and he’s improved a lot since then.
CSM,
How you can say he’s been anonymous is beyond me, he’s probably scored more important goals than any other player in the last 2 years.
12.) 26 Mar 2018 14:53:27
Gds important goals don't mean consistency. Yes he scored against Chelsea and in fa cup final but can you remember a run of games until December where you could say he was consistently good. A first team player needs to be consistently good and unlike rashford or martial lingard isn't exactly in the youngster category.
Thorne he has been good this season but last season he had 5 goals and 3 assists in 42 games in lvg's last season he had 7 goals and 4 assists in 41 games. Those are not good figures and he needs get similar to his current nos before we can be sure that he has improved rather than going through a purple patch.
Also where exactly will he play next season jose wants savic added to the team and jorginho as replacement for carrick, so we most likely will be switching to a mf 3.
13.) 30 Mar 2018 18:44:50
Good player, nice lad, silly dancer.
AJH's banter posts with other poster's replies to AJH's banter posts
18 Sep 2024
New image uploaded to the
Manchester United Player Sightings page entitled, Rashford is catching Ronaldo, a couple of good seasons and he will be top 5
Click picture for larger image
1.) 18 Sep 2024 16:58:13
Van Nistelrooy’s goals to games ? what a striker!
2.) 18 Sep 2024 17:33:39
Yep, and Rooney has a better strike rate for us than Ronaldo, who I guess left us as he peaked. And Bobby of course, who wasn't a striker.
3.) 18 Sep 2024 20:24:54
I look at that list and what stands out is where Taylor and Whelan would have ended up had tragedy not struck.
4.) 18 Sep 2024 20:49:45
You would think rashford will get into the top 4.
5.) 19 Sep 2024 20:09:11
Yes I do Ken, I don't think he leaves the club, he's 6 weeks shy of being 27, I think he makes top 3 or gets very close.
6.) 19 Sep 2024 22:10:16
He has had more ups and downs than ideal. Hopefully his application will come back and improve as we need all 11 on the pitch every week fighting for every inch.
03 Sep 2024 09:23:41
Now the dust has settled.
Let's be clear, it was a dreadful performance, many players were poor and pushing the full backs up so high left us continually exposed. Whether that is poor tactics or poor execution I don't know, but it clearly didn't work.
However, we are 3 games in and after so much activity in the window, combined with a couple of injuries, it will take time for the best team and approach to emerge.
I'm not trying to defend ETH, he is very spiky and difficult to warm to at the minute, and he keeps picking Rashford who continues to be awful, but we are 3 games in.
Someone on the chat was writing off Zirkzee after 30 minutes, which is plainly ridiculous.
The specific issues have been done to death so I am not going to repeat them, but I still think it is too early to be writing off the season.
1.) 03 Sep 2024 09:54:29
From what I’ve seen of Zirkzee so far I really like him, he's very unorthodox but has a good touch and is getting himself into some very dangerous positions, shame he missed the chances but I’d rather he missed them at 3-0 than in another game at 0-0. I think he will be a good player for us, seeing people writing him off, especially our own fans, after one start is just ridiculous.
2.) 03 Sep 2024 10:16:29
I'm not sure he is true No9, he looks pretty skilful and would suit a No10 role. He didn't have a great game on Sunday but so many didn't.
3.) 03 Sep 2024 10:52:24
I don't understand how the likes of Glasner and even Hürzeler (early days I know) can walk in and pretty much transform the side within weeks yet after 3 years Utd are still a very tough watch. I've defended this manager a lot but the excuses are getting pretty cringable at this stage. A decent manager should be able to inspire his side to put in a performance against superior opposition, as he did in the FA Cup final so fair play there, it's possible.
I hope it's all going to 'click' at some point, I really do. I think a very good striker and inspiring player in the middle are missing.
4.) 03 Sep 2024 11:47:34
Eth isn’t a managers uncle. We are horrible to watch after 2 hrs and 650m. It’s literally mass hypnosis that people still think he just needs a chance. To be the new Fergie? Struth.
5.) 03 Sep 2024 12:19:30
Lets look at the players ETH had in the lineup he started/ debuted
Onana, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Martinez, Mainoo, Casemiro, Garnacho, Zirkzee
Rashford, Dalot and Bruno are players he inherited.
Mainoo and Garnacho are young players he thought of a future for in our setup and sold others he didn't seem fit.
That is close to 80% of the players he's selected and yet his brand of football is not stable.
6.) 03 Sep 2024 12:27:03
Spenno. An inspiring player is exactly what we need.
I met a Hungarian guy at a party on Friday. He had an impressive resumé. I won't go into much of it, but besides being a nuclear physicist, he was a big football fan, and he'd coached at the highest youth levels here in the US. In 2001 he was part of a delegation that went to the UK and, amongst other teams, visited United's training ground. Roy Keane, who was his favorite United player (he supports Liverpool) was leading the training. SAF was on the sideline. Beckham turned up 15 minutes late for the second or third time in a row. Kid stuff was the excuse. SAF sent him home. We're missing those Roy Keane type players. In his first season I think Casemiro was close to it, but he's been less durable than they hoped. He's slowed down, been exposed, and at the end of season one was starting to consistently run into disciplinary problems. He's not really who the manager wanted, but it's who he got.
I think you're spot on. The team needs to break through what seems to be a psychological barrier. Teams like CP and Brighton are not burdened by the same weight of history and expectation, nor the intensity of media coverage that exists at United. I read the NYT which includes the Athletic. There are perhaps 3x more stories about United than there are about any other club including City: maybe more than all the other clubs combined. The scrutiny from both must surely affect the players. We should be further on than we are and our failures are meat for the vultures. It's hard to light the spark when there's no oxygen in the air.
7.) 03 Sep 2024 13:00:19
One of the issues faced is the 'one go - one stay' playbook for the FBs.
This approach works perfectly when the whole team understands what's going on and the players have the capacity/ ability to work it out.
For example:
When Garnacho is on the right wing, he tends to do the same thing - run at the defender, cutting to his right so he can be more effective.
Although this makes him relatively predictable, albeit still very difficult to stop, it means his RB has to adopt a more predictable approach too and, because your standard FB isn't likely the most dynamic due to the primary focus being drawn to defensive duties, is far easier to shut out for the opponent.
Instead of having Garnacho on the left where he's far less predictable and can be much more devastating, we see Rashford who is the most predictable player we have - run into easy space or stand around waiting to collect the ball, drive at the defender and be led into areas where his desperate reliance on his right foot results in little for the team. This means his FB is far more inclined to cut inside, rendering his advances rather predictable and easy to shut out.
So, when combined with a DM who's not mobile enough to cover spaces left in the defensive areas by the 'one go - one stay' approach, we are very weak at playing out from the back.
Another issue is the lack of rotational patterns in midfield.
Casemiro is not mobile enough, Fernandes is not disciplined enough, and Mainoo isn't experienced enough, which means our midfield setup is static and predictable.
The above does not in any way absolve ten Hag from responsibility for how predictable we are.
While the second issue is compounded more by the capabilities of the players he has available, the first is more his fault than anyone else's - he's selecting Rashford over Amad and he's selecting the slow Casemiro ahead of the, wet-behind-the-ears but bringing the grafting energy that the midfield otherwise lacks, young lad Collyer.
Experience is great, but if your bad games make you look as slow and flimsy as that, then you should be warming the bench.
Obviously, I'm not Erik, so what do I know? I know what I see and the above is glaring.
8.) 03 Sep 2024 13:40:50
Too early to sit the session off ajh and to write any player off.
I like bits of what I've seen from zirkzee but he is well off the pace and unsure of his surroundings and that's to be expected.
Not sure why we moaned about changing cbs every game last year and the manager has subbed cbs every game this year it crazy.
Still unbalanced on the left due to Shaw and the inactive rashford.
Things will improve somewhat as players settle down.
Buys have been OK, so far especially maz.
I still think we will struggle to make any major improvement with this manager. Just see him as a total mismatch with the club. He needs to keep his mouth shut or be more selective and careful with his comments as the make him look a total idiot and that is not at all helpful.
He has like us all 2 ears and one moth but he does twice as much talking as he does listening so has things in the wrong proportion. This situation needs less talking and more listening I'm not sure he wants to listen.
9.) 03 Sep 2024 17:14:02
Spikey? Have we forgotten some of Fergie's early interviews? He made Steve Clarke look like a cheery bugger ?.
10.) 03 Sep 2024 19:05:31
I don’t think he cares TW. He knows he’s not wanted he knows they were looking for a new manager and it’s probably why they couldn’t agree a new contract. He’s checked out and waiting for a payoff you can tell. Nothings his fault and he keeps blabbering about trophies (jose style) .
11.) 03 Sep 2024 20:24:15
The final three lines are spot on AJH. The main issues have been done to death, yet he still isn’t learning.
12 months of dross.
12.) 03 Sep 2024 23:37:33
So Garnacho on the right has to go right which is unpredictable but effective yet on the left is unpredictable and can go both ways? Don't buy it, don't see it.
His and any wingers standard movement should be to look at where his defender is, where he is facing and go the direction that makes him turn his hips because then you will have the advantage.
Once you have done that you can get cute.
18 Aug 2024 20:46:58
7th place, hardly an improvement on last year. Ten Hag out!
1.) 18 Aug 2024 23:13:18
Couldn't agree more.
For a club of our stature to drop from 1st to 7th in less than 48hrs is surely unheard of.
Out with Erik, let's get Rooney in.
2.) 19 Aug 2024 12:25:45
Goal difference of plus 1. A 200% increase on last season. Give Ten Haag a 5 year extension NOW!
3.) 19 Aug 2024 23:12:56
Was that Rooney ot Goofy in?
4.) 20 Aug 2024 10:36:11
Now that's good satire ??.
09 Aug 2024 12:59:30
I said it before, and I'll say it again. For all the fanfare around the new ownership, I have seen little to fill me with joy or optimism.
Transfer business has been meh, and if we do sign the Burnley chap, then that would an admission that things are no better. We've signed a couple with potential, seem to be struggling to get others done, and are also struggling to move players on. Yes, yes it's not easy, but I was hoping for more of an impact. Right now, it's not been impressive.
Talk of a new stadium, but we want public funds, alternatively we are going ro redevelop OT, or we aren't, take your pick.
I realise we have a new backroom team, not all of whom have got their feet under the table but even so, same old same old. If the rumour about Berge is true then God help us.
All this whilst we are cutting 250 jobs to save £10M a year. Not saying there aren't savings to be made but getting shut of some of the highest paid would have far more of an impact, I'm guessing Sancho is earning a lot more than £10M a year, likely Cas too.
The window remains open so we may see movement but right now, meh.
1.) 09 Aug 2024 13:36:00
To be fair most big clubs across Europe haven't been overly active this summer as new rules set in. I know a few like West Ham and Villa have but City/ Liverpool/ Arsenal haven't done any more than us.
2.) 09 Aug 2024 13:39:39
I think people are being critical AJH without knowing the constraints and rules that we need to adhere to.
We can't just fjord money at it even if the money is available.
Selling casimero for example will cost us a fortune same for others.
That will lead to a points deduction.
Thats not the fault of the new part owners.
Before you or others are critical it's probably ly best to understand what can and can't be done. To try and understand the constraints.
A little bit of educating ourselves to a reasonable level of understanding before handing out criticism is probably the order of the day.
Cost cutting was needed and will be ongoing g but you can't cost cut on legally binding contracts so again it's not fair to critique for that.
Understand the parameters then make informed posts.
If you broadly understand the parameters your post makes no sense.
3.) 09 Aug 2024 13:47:32
Wonder how many people would have been saying god help us when we signed our last defensive midfielder from a relegated side in 1993? Just wondering.
It’s really not easy, the players we’ve been left with are overpaid and we can’t get rid of them, that will take time to sort out, they have released players at the end of their contract and won’t be afraid to let others run down and get rid of them as well, it’s going to take 2-3 years to clear out the mess, not 2-3 weeks we’ve had so far, so I’m willing to sit back and see how it goes, don’t think anyone is expecting a great season, a few more signings before the end of the window could see us challenging for 4th but that’s about it, in 2-3 years I’d like to see us challenging for the title, things are that bad there is no quick fix as much as some fans want it.
4.) 09 Aug 2024 14:31:28
I don't disagree with any of that, but I'm still underehelmed.
And let's not suggest Berge is a Keane, he really isn't.
5.) 09 Aug 2024 15:34:54
I'm underwhelmed too ajh.
I thought they would have done better on the outs.
The fact they stuck with the manager killed this season before it started imo so I too feel like you but they stick with him so despite wanting to puke every time I see his face connected with the club they have made their choice so I need to support it.
6.) 09 Aug 2024 15:55:55
If we had such constraints financially why go and agree terms with Ugarte’s agent, if we then can’t complete it. Why talk the talk and not walk the walk. Turning up with Berge who they say Burnley want £30m for and refusing £51m for a top class player is no better than the previous management. They should know the positions and should not start talking if they can’t carry it through. Players will not take us seriously if they do that.
I am underwhelmed as well as AJH, but hope to see that change in the coming days.
7.) 09 Aug 2024 16:51:22
Forget Ineos trying to sign players. They should be going to Chelsea and getting whoever is negotiating their player sales and purchases.
They seem to be able to move players on and get very good figures. And then agree deals on new players almost straight away.
Could be argued they just pay whatever the asking price is. And surely PSR rules are going to come back and bit them at some point. Unless they do some more clever accounting like selling their hotels to themselves.
On the flip side, I’m not sure how they are going to manage their new squad of 78 players! LOL.
8.) 09 Aug 2024 17:11:22
Fall guy,
Chelsea are a mess, signed another player today in a position they’ve already signed about 3 players in, sure if they throw enough rubbish at the wall some will stick eventually though.
Wasn’t suggesting Berge is as good as Keane Tony but I doubt Keane was as good as the Keane we got when he got relegated with Forest and I’m sure people were complaining about us signing a relegation player because we are better than that.
We’ve all wanted the club to stop throwing money around and paying over the odds but now people are complaining we aren’t being held to ransom on signings, we need some windows showing clubs we won’t be bullied and just pay what they want. Also people have complained we’ve only signed players to sell shirts and big names rather than players that fit the system, but when we find a player that might be good value and fits the profile we need people don’t want him. I think we have to trust the new regime to get these things right, we don’t have much choice.
9.) 09 Aug 2024 17:13:28
We need to be patient and see what happens come the end of the window, we also need to be realistic that the new management team are having to deal with past decisions that is hampering what they would like to do.
Zirkzee and Yoro is a good start, I also think that the players that have left whether for a sale or end of contract were okay to leave.
We are now left with players either on big salary and will struggle to move unless we give a pay off, or players that we would like to get a good fee for that in reality other teams do not see as good value. We need to see what happens in clearing these out this year or next year when contracts are run down.
I believe that we will bring in another CB, 1-2 CM and a full back to cover both.
Also, this is not a one transfer window fix. It will take us this one, winter and next summer to sort this mess out and we need to be patient.
Sorry for being an optimist. and yes I might be blind optimist.
10.) 09 Aug 2024 18:08:12
Nothing wrong with being optimistic Brad all any of us have as fans is hope.
Now that eth is staying I hope I've been wrong about him.
I hope that we can gain a little momentum early this season we only play 2 teams that finished above us last year in our 1st 10 games so a fast start is possible.
Funnily zirkzee is the player I'm most excited about. I think he offers something competitive different.
I hope we are able to shift some players on and that we can get a few more in.
I. Hoping our new coaches and tech director make a big difference.
I hope eth can have a great season i hope garnacho and mainoo continue to improve and that rashford can have a better season.
I hope that when the window closes we get our squad playing in a way that makes the most of their abilities and not ask them to play in a way that they can't play.
11.) 09 Aug 2024 18:19:38
Berge is better than amrabat. It's an upgrade in that position.
12.) 09 Aug 2024 22:56:05
Spenno, to be fair, those three teams you mentioned didn't really need to do more than us.
13.) 10 Aug 2024 08:53:52
Has anyone looked at signing berg or someone else because the plan to move cas has not been successful.
We can't just get rid of players at whatever number as the financial losses would make other transfers even more unlikely. Maybe berg is good enough to be a squad player with cas this year and next summer we can afford to get rid of cas even at a loss and buy whoever is our main target for that role and still have someone like berg in the squad.
I think what would do many people a lot of good is to go print the financial results of the club for 2022/ 2023 and 2024 and then maybe people will understand why thing are being done a certain way. We are where we are and its a club issue that needs to untangle itself from its current financial restrictions. To completely disassociate things from the financial restraints and moan about lack of activity is living in a bubble.
We bought by many accounts the best young defender there is and another striker. Before the window everyone acknowledges we needed to do that. I agree we also need to buy more but things have obviously not gone to plan for other signing and exits to waht was expected and taking longer.
Unfortunately for us yoro gets injured and hoiland pulls a hamstring and it tends to sour things but we have done the right things if you ignore short term set backs.
20 Jul 2024 16:39:45
There is a lot of excitent and optimism on here, so where are we, and does it look good?
Positives
1. Greenwood has gone and Willy has also brought a fee in, as has Donny and Alvaro.
2. Wages have been reduced with a few leaving at the end of their contracts.
3. Yoro looks a real talent.
4. Our focus appears to be on young potential which is better than recent years when we brought ageing pros in.
5. Transfer business seems to be more efficient, a lot less drawn out deals and public haggling.
6. Sancho is back.
Negatives
1. We still need a proven goalscorer and haven't signed one.
2. Signing potential is all well and good, but potential doesn't always translate into quality.
3. We still have a lot of players to move out, particularly if we want to bring more in.
4. Personal view, not convinced about Zirkzree. (or Hojlund) .
5. Sancho is back.
Lots of activity, but still much to do. On the plus side, surely we can't have as many injuries next year which will have a real impact.
Potato, potarto, time will tell, but currently I am not sharing the excitement of others.
1.) 20 Jul 2024 19:31:35
Sancho is back, when did he arrive?
2.) 20 Jul 2024 20:07:16
A complete transition will not be accomplished in the first summer window. If we end up in the top 4 and win any cup we should all be delighted. We're looking for right direction and right attitude, rather than the finished article.
3.) 20 Jul 2024 20:46:32
I agree Shaw, I'd like to see progress, a better team culture and club approach.
4.) 20 Jul 2024 21:12:46
While I’m not getting my knickers in a twist about the signings (young and need time) I am very optimistic about the structure above EtH and his new coaching team.
Less injuries, a settled back line and some better coaching should see us competing for top 4.
Zirkzee and Hojlund will be getting coach by Ruud this season. Not many better to learn from.
5.) 20 Jul 2024 23:29:58
How many goals do you think a young rasmus should have scored in his first prem season? His chance to goal ratio is excellent. He needs to keep improving, and we desperately need to start looking for him is a1 position. Too often he was in the right place and our wingers ignored him, cut back to option 2 or 3, shot from stupid positions or lost the ball.
We had 1 striker. It is not enough. Now we will have 2 plus youth, that is a good start.
Looking forward to seeing this new squad come together.
6.) 21 Jul 2024 00:00:50
Totally agree Dodgy, his goal to chance record was second only to Haaland. Even with a supposedly proven goalscorer, how are are they going to score more goals unless the service dramatically improves.
If the service to a striker dramatically improves, given the high conversion rate of Rasmus, then by definition Rasmus will become a proven goalscorer!
It's not a proven goalscorer we need, it's just someone who can get the ball, consistently and accurately, into the striker.
7.) 21 Jul 2024 09:22:52
Exactly. Now he also has to make the movements to be in the right place, and later in the season he had been ignored so much he stopped making as many sharp movements - probably also tired from overplaying. Sure the new coaching set up will take him to a new level.
8.) 21 Jul 2024 09:33:11
Agree Dodgy.
Our lack of creativity and chances created is well documented. Common sense says our strikers won’t be scoring many.
I think Rasmus did very well last season under the circumstances, and also considering our spoiled brat hasn’t let him into his inner circle.
9.) 21 Jul 2024 10:04:27
Will bet my left nut Rasmus scores atleast 20 goals all comps this season barring any lengthy injury.
10.) 21 Jul 2024 10:18:54
We have two inexperienced strikers, but interesting Wheatley is now at an age where he may step up a level, some do some don’t, we will see. The club are actively and allegedly trying to sign the lad from Arsenal youth who seemed to be a goalscorer and that is a positive if it happens.
Two things for me. Not seen Zirkzee but he is untried when we already have little experience of goal scoring in the club. I would probably have looked for a more experienced striker. Secondly, we buy these tall strikers but don’t cross the ball. That’s a negative for me. Other teams cross it a lot, City create by manouvering fullbacks, overload and cross. We just pass it back. More emphasis needs to be using a crossed ball, then winning it back if not successful. We are playing chess on a football field. What’s the point in having strikers if they don’t get service. That must change this season.
11.) 21 Jul 2024 12:17:20
Ruud thrived on crosses. There is a reason eth was told the coaching needed changing.
I'm sure we will see a different approach. Eth's job depends on big improvement.
12.) 22 Jul 2024 11:15:03
Ken, to be fair football was played differently back then, while Ruud also had two of the best crossers in EPL history in Beckham and Giggs whipping inch perfect crosses for him.
Changes in the game mean crosses are less impactful in terms of creating a scoring chance then they used to be. That might well change in the future, football goes in circles as they say.
Personally I think the lack of crosses, cuts backs or even passes from our wide forwards has far more to do with their natural instincts as players and less to do with the tactics.
Rashford, Antony and Garnacho all prefer to play on the opposite side to their dominant foot. They naturally don't want to go round the outside and cross, but to cut back inside and shoot off their stronger foot.
When attacking in the final third instinct plays a much bigger role than in other areas of the pitch where you get a little more time and space to think about your options.
We saw the change in Garnacho's game when he switched from the left to the right. His game went from being one dimensional and predictable, to suddenly him seemingly having more options. Because his instincts to cut in were no longer the overriding decider in his actions.
I've said previously that I think Garnacho needs to play more regularly on the right while he's developing and growing as a player to help round out his development and make him a better player.
This natural instinct for most of our wide players to cut in and attack the space on the inside channels is one of the reasons I believe Zirkzee could be an inspired signing (if he adapts and steps up to the EPL) . His skillset to drop deep pulling a CB with him then to link up the play with the wide forwards could be transformational for our attack. It would both create more space for our wide forwards to attack centrally, creating both more and higher quality chances.
Potentially Zirkzee could see one or even both Rashford and Garnacho go up a level or two in their goalscoring output.
Looking at the skills of the players at our disposal, Zirkzee would work well with Rashford, Garnacho and Antony in those wide positions.
While Højlund probably needs one or Mount or Amad to be playing in those wide positions for him to thrive. Having someone whose natural instincts is to create for others rather than looking to score themselves.
Either way, I actually really like our current attacking options going into this season. In an ideal world we'd replace Antony with someone like Olise or similar. Obviously Olise isn't an option now, while finding someone to sign Antony probably requires a blind sporting director.
27 Aug 2024 10:57:16
This amount of activity demonstrates the serious restrucuring of the squad that is needed.
There are still a couple more that will be surplus and we continue to look light up front, but we can't do everything in one window. I don't see any more business unless we lose someone like Cas, which I am not sure is going to happen.
ETH may prove to be the right or wrong man, but this amount of change will need carful managing, those calling for his head to give their heads a wobble, the place has been a mess and this feels like the first step in trying to change that.
13 Aug 2024 15:30:15
Some players do well at some clubs, and badly at others. Cantona never settled anywhere and yet he was a super hero for us.
De Ligt had huge potential bit hasn't pushed on, hopefully he finds his mojo; he and Martinez as a partnership looks very interesting.
We need to look after Yoro and ensure he builds on what is clearly huge potential. As for Zirkzee, never really seen him.
11 Aug 2024 18:58:21
Shaw is not very good? ?.
11 Aug 2024 18:57:07
Ziko, utter tripe. he may not be sexy, he may not be exciting, but your description is ridiculous. He bleeds United, always gives 110% and has scored some very importent goals. I think he would be a great squad player but I understand if he leaves
Jeez, with fans like you.
06 Aug 2024 18:31:10
There's been some top banter on here lately ?.
02 Oct 2024 11:03:50
Players not training properly, jeez, where do you start with that?
27 Sep 2024 14:26:25
Good post shaw. I think other Managers were available but seemed to not want the job, for whatever reason.
It dies feel like we are in a rut that we will struggle to get out of, Eriksem saying Twente wanted it more than us is very worrying.
ETH may go, but we aslo need to address some key issues, 2 in particular jump out at me.
1. Rashford may be playing better but still seems to lack effort and motivation.
2. I know Bruno splits opinion, but for me he is a luxury who causes more problems than the solutions he provides.
The new ownership will likely encourage Managers to see this as a huge opportunity. There are plenty out there, but be prepared for Southgate or Potter, neither of whom does it for me.
22 Sep 2024 14:31:02
I will skweem, and skweeem, and skweem. (stamps feet loudly)
19 Sep 2024 12:06:52
Listen to you big girls' blouses. We are mighty Manchester United, Rashford is on fire, Garnacho is smokin', Ugarte is a saviour, Casemiro is back to his best, Bruno is a shoe in for the Balon D'Or, I predict a 4 nil win for us.
Im just off to take my medication.
18 Sep 2024 17:35:13
I was bring polite GDS, but yes, what you said. There's a few whose minds are not for changing.