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23 Jun 2023 17:49:20
I find it disingenuous to those that suggest the sale of the Club will have no bearing on this summers transfer window.
Had the takeover of the Club been completed in April or May as many commentators had predicated I don't think there is any doubt that this summers transfer window would have looked remarkably different. New owners would be keen to show intent and make an immediate impression.
Whilst it may be true to suggest that the sale of the Club won't necessarily divert from a usual Glazer summer of indecision, delay and protracted negotiations had new owners been in place maybe we could have been spared such frustration and drama.
In relation to this summers transfer window a lack of leadership and indecision reigns again.
Mount may arrive if a fee can be agreed with Chelsea and Rabiot seems a cheaper alternative to the likes of Rice and Caicedo however his wages could still present a problem.
The GK situation is bizarre. Surely if there was uncertainty surrounding De Gea this should have been treated as a priority with many supporters labelling a new keeper as essential summer business. If De Gea leaves then obviously a new GK will arrive, however as it stands the situation remains unclear. Will the club move for a cheaper GK to provide competition for De Gea or someone more established and replace him as No1?! The fact this decision has not yet been made is scary.
A new CB is probably dependant on selling Maguire so I don't expect that to be resolved anytime soon.
With Kane and Osimhen seemingly both unavailable the CF situation is complex. I get the impression the Club are reluctant to splash the cash on a younger, inexperienced prospect just yet. I have a suspicion that some at the Club still believe that Harry Kane may become available later in the window especially if he agitates for a move therefore in my opinion I don't think the CF position will be resolved until the end of the window.
I get the impression there is a lot of indecision within the Club not fully decided if they want to invest heavily in new GK or the what kind of CF they want to move for. Considering many supporters believed both positions were key summer priority's it's alarming that the Club doesn't seem to have a clear and coherent plan.
We could fall lucky like we did last year but if that happens I expect more panic, drama and no doubt a big overspend on someone because they've left it late.
1.) 23 Jun 2023 18:04:18
Clear and coherent plan and Manchester United don’t go together and hasn’t for years. We can only hope that new ownership and a new structure can change that…. if we get new owners that is.
2.) 23 Jun 2023 18:11:51
Good post DLIB. 10Hag must be incredibly frustrated.
3.) 23 Jun 2023 18:55:07
I don't think even this leadership will fail to get an acceptable striker, but we do really need a backup too, unless Rashford is being moved up front full time (which I don't think he should be, at least not now, maybe in the future) .
Well, worst case we can use McT as backup striker, he offers everything Weghorst did, but with more goal threat! (Sadly I'm only half joking here)
4.) 23 Jun 2023 18:56:25
Maybe if the club had been sold by April/ May then things might have been different.
Yet I think its disingenuous to place all blame at the Glazers door for that.
The saying goes it takes two to tango. The fact that we ended up with three rounds of bidding and that the rumoured fee being paid is north of 6bn, up over 3.2bn on anything offered in the first round of bids just shows that this is a process.
Being angry at people for refusing a lower deal when they have gone on to secure a much better one seems daft and pointless.
I think a lot of of fans got a little carried away when the first rumours of the club being potentially up for sale. They let their imagination run away with itself. We'd get a new owner, someone who understands the club, who is a fan, who has a clear plan and will invest. Clear the debt, build a new stadium, build a new training ground, and of course bankroll a luxury summer of expensive signings.
It's best not to look at things in the short term view. We will have new owners and it's probably better for them to really get their feet under the table over the summer and over the course of next season.
The last thing the club needs is kneejerk reactions. Sack this person and that person and try and hire someone to come in and implement a plan that they have literally had to pull out of their derrière with absolutely no understanding of the club. Owners more concerned with making a fancy entrance than making sensible well thought-out moves. Buying big name, fancy players to try and woo the fans.
The signings the club have wanted to make after scouting throughout the season, players who suit the managers profile and fit into his plans.
Having new owners who can have a chance to see what is working and what isn't, while also having the common sense to plan out how and when to make those changes. Is vital.
5.) 23 Jun 2023 20:01:38
Dlib, we have ffp to deal with. Owners can't just come in and spend what they want. Unless we sell some the kitty is looking low.
6.) 23 Jun 2023 22:00:34
FFP is definitely a factor for us, we have to face facts that for now we can’t compete on the mega deal front in respect of transfer fees.
7.) 23 Jun 2023 22:28:09
FiremanC - Not without sales. The issue is we must raise £100m sales to be able to spend say £400m. But we cannot spend £400m without knowing for sure we can raise £100m. And you cannot guarantee you will raise £100m. We don't have a crystal ball. That's why we cannot rush into buying everyone. It was always going to be about outgoings, I'm not convinced we will do anything different than other seasons, therefore it'll be tough this summer. We have already priced Fred out of a Fulham move. He's 30. We need to be more flexible with sales and not penny pinch so much. We will miss out on EtH's targets. That's why for me it was super important that we were taken over by the Qataris asap, as they would allow for small loses on outgoing players to allow them to move on. IE freeing up money for the benefit of FFP. I have no faith in the current team to get players out the door.
8.) 23 Jun 2023 23:20:52
According to the Athletic we do not have particularly pressing FFP concerns. I think the existing combined debt of £1.1bn is more problematic. We don't have the cash on hand to make any big up front cash purchases.
21 Jul 2020 08:15:50
There has been some fierce debate since the Chelsea defeat but maybe some perspective is needed.
Only a couple of weeks ago Chelsea lost to West Ham and Sheffield Utd and looked anything like convincing in a narrow victory over Crystal Palace. They have their own problems in defence and with another Spanish goalkeeper coincidentally so they have not suddenly become world beaters again overnight.
Utd now need to show some resilience and mental strength. We look a team showing signs of fatigue and some parallels can be drawn to last season when Ole went on a magnificent run only for it to fall apart once we'd dragged ourselves back into contention. The same excuses were rolled out then. Injury and fatigue bore the blame but this time history cannot repeat itself.
We need to exhibit a steely reserve, to win our next two fixtures and complete a remarkable turn around. There will be no trophy or even celebration for finishing 4th. It will still represent a poor season where we have finished over 30 points behind the leaders but maybe the seeds of recovery have been sown over the last few weeks. A return to Europe's elite competition will see us welcome Europe's best back to Old Trafford and hopefully the extra revenue generated will be reinvested back into the playing squad.
As for next season expectations should be tempered. Any talk of a title challenge is dangerously premature and once again we'll be in a fight for a top 4 finish with the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester, Wolves etc
Progress has been made, the team is now capable of scoring more goals, is becoming more consistent, whilst the style and brand of football is slowly evolving. I think we've been treated to some fantastic, attacking football since the re start, scoring some memorable goals and perhaps we have seen the birth of our next academy superstar.
We've seen ourselves the difference that just one player can make to a team so with the right recruitment we do have cause for optimism. The prospect of seeing Rashford, Martial, Fernandes and Sancho not matter how unlikely is exciting and with Greenwood continuing to develop we have a core of good players capable of competing with the best.
We must now finish the job and look forwards not back. The Chelsea defeat is consigned to history and in some ways we have bigger business to take care of. It's a big week ahead for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the direction of his Man Utd team.
1.) 21 Jul 2020 10:27:48
Dlib
Nice to see there are still some people on the site with a modicum of common sense and knowledge. ðŸ‘ðŸ‘.
2.) 21 Jul 2020 10:28:57
Sensible post. I think the issue is most of us have become entrenched in our views either pro or against the manager. Them the most recent results become the basis of either proving your opinion right or wrong.
The reality is the unless Ole massively improves them he isn't the right long term manager for us. Yet in the short term he has shipped out the right players, brought in players with the right mentality, he has given youth a chance, improved most players in the squad and given the club back some of its identity. As a result whoever takes over will take over a club and a side in much better shape than it was when Ole took over.
Whether this summer, next summer or beyond is the right time to replace Ole remains to be seen and until he is will remain a hypothetical opinion only.
My view is we have a young side that is benefitting from having a manger who trusts them, regardless of who we sign we are too far off of Liverpool and City who have sides at their peak currently to realistically catch them next season.
They say a squad peaks with an average age between 26-29. That is where Liverpool and City are now. Our average age is 23/ 24 so we need more experience before we hit our peak.
For me next season would be a success if we are comfortably 3rd with a much smaller gap between us and 1st, anything below a 10 point gap would be a great improvement. I think we need to win a cup either the Europa League this season or a cup next season. Winning breeds a winning mentality and with so many young players in the squad winning a cup would be a huge growth experience for them.
Onwards and upwards. We need to refocus on the next game, forget Leicester. Win at West Ham, and try and win by a good margin. That would show a good bounce back mentality and would go some way to maintaining confidence levels. While also putting us in the best possible place ahead of the final day showdown.
3.) 21 Jul 2020 10:58:29
Agreed. If Ole can get us back into the top 4, playing some good football, maybe Europa League as a bonus, you have to after he’s done a sterling job and deserves another transfer window to continue his project. The atmosphere around our club is chalk and cheese to Jose’s reign. I for one am not complaining - yes he makes a few mistakes, but he’s learning all the time.
4.) 21 Jul 2020 11:20:01
Top post DLIB.
5.) 21 Jul 2020 12:07:37
Top post and well said DLIB.
6.) 21 Jul 2020 12:52:37
Good post dlib. City have lost a host of league games this year and are 20 points worse off than last year and have just been outplayed by arsenal. Do we see mass hysteria? Sack pep? players not good enough? No we don't. If I had said after the Burnley defeat that with 2 league games to go CL qualification would be in our hands I would have been laughed off this site. We are looking a little fatigued which is why the team and the manager need all our support not relentless criticism for losing a game which wasn't in the grand scheme of things particularly important.
7.) 21 Jul 2020 13:31:30
our inability to finish teams off is one of the issues we had early in the season which has cost us points.
we have drew 11 games.
lost the 2nd least amount of games and have conceded the joint second least.
i think with a few more players, especially a right winger, and another central midfielder regardless if pogba stays or not you will see a difference.
8.) 21 Jul 2020 14:02:34
Good post DLIB.
But I remain unconvinced that Ole has what it takes to take us forward next season and beyond. Still too many question marks hang over him and what he has achieved so far. I do hope I am wrong.
DLIB's banter posts with other poster's replies to DLIB's banter posts
06 Apr 2024 07:39:07
{Ed's Note - DLIB has posted a new article entitled, Cool heads must prevail at Manchester United
1.) 06 Apr 2024 08:48:52
Excellent post DLIB. Agree, including the part regarding Rashford. In answer to question, "How do you solve a problem called Marcus Rashford? " Getting rid is the only option in my view. He is infecting the squad with his attitude and letting the team down with his lack of effort.
2.) 06 Apr 2024 09:04:54
Yeah, the only way for Rashford is out. There's no place for him at Utd. He's the worst kind of footballer and quite rightly the fans can't stand him.
The problem is on £375k a week the only place he could feasibly go is PSG.
If it was up to me I'd have him working in the car park.
3.) 06 Apr 2024 09:16:36
good article DLIB-
what I would say that hasn't been considered as much, is not a question of getting rid of eth, but what if he simply engineers a move or resigns his post? After all he hasn't had an easy ride during his tenure and with more than a year of uncertainty re buyout and the player issues ronaldo, sancho and rashford as well as a lot of stuff we don't fully know; he might just take time out .
Regarding rashford, this isn't his only season of mediocrity and apart from last year hasn't been the superstar since C.V. hit. last season he had a purple patch in the league 27/ 12 until the game before 7-0 to them. after that 3 in 12 games and 4 before his run . 17 league goals is not a world class return ;new challenge for him and fee and wage saving would be the best thing.
4.) 06 Apr 2024 10:20:35
Funky pigeon, as Laurie Whitwell has said, ajaz, Bayern and Barcelona will all consider him. Seen as overachieving at United given the tools at this disposal.
I really hope they stick with him.
5.) 06 Apr 2024 17:09:19
angel must admit I am leaning more towards him staying as I think he has had some crap to wade through :at least for another season but can see why the clubs you mention could consider him- after the other results today hope he conjers something up tomorrow as well as the team:)
6.) 06 Apr 2024 18:25:57
Some crap is an understatement.
We those clubs must know something about him ?
But I'm glad to read Whitwells article about the planning for next year.
I think, also, ETH is some what lucky that Ashworth and Berrada are not technically in place yet.
7.) 06 Apr 2024 19:24:13
Angel, genuine question here.
Have you watched the football on offer this season? If so what from it has made you think this manager deserves another £2/ 300 million to spend?
If this is question was 12 months ago I’d have said back him, after what I’ve saw this season, no chance.
8.) 06 Apr 2024 20:17:43
Yes I've watched Caolan, I see a team that hasn't the players capable of playing the football that ETH requires.
I used this analogy some days ago. A man has married 5 times, each time divorcing the wife. At what point does the husband look at himself and see that he is the problem.
We have had Moyes, LVG, Jose, Rangnick and ETH. Managers that have forgotten more about football than we will ever know. Each time, the same thing has happened, they have all been sacked without any deep dive into the club structure or why so many knowledgeable managers have gone and gone.
Now we have a manager that has achieved, 3rd place, and 2 cup finals (hopefully 3) in two seasons against a myriad of issues both on and off the field. Did he overachieve, is he underachieving?
Whether he is the right or wrong man for the future, he deserves the opportunity to work within a structure that should give him the platform to succeed. If, next season, more of the same issues on the field are taking place, I will be the first one to say thank and time to move on. But right now, there is so much uncertainty of what can be achieved with this man and I don't believe it's the right time to call it a day with him. Plus, Southgate or Potter, really? Because that's what we will get.
I also look to Arteta as a great example of what can happen when you back a manager and give him the time. 8th, 8th, 5th, losing 36 league games in the process. 90% of Arsenal fans wanted him gone, but the board and the powers that be believed, and trusted him. I think Erik has also earned that right. Let's get behind him, for now.
9.) 06 Apr 2024 20:34:36
I am not really so bothered with tha manager position as I am who we appoint in the DoF position.
If the route we are going is to put someone in total charge this has to be the right person and they need to get the right people in for their plan.
10.) 06 Apr 2024 23:08:41
Sorry but I’m sick of seeing this rubbish that we don’t have the players to play his style. What is his style? Last season was pragmatic, and much much better than the dross we have seen this season. We played with much more control at times and were far more secure defensively.
Now it’s all changed and the style of play has completely flipped. Did we chase Frenkie De Jong to try and play this style we have seen this season? The answer is no. Again, I’ve saw zero from him this season to suggest he deserves to be in the job. We are lucky to be in 6th and I would suggest we will be lucky to finish in Europe if we continue playing this absolutely ludicrous football.
Who does ten hag need to be able to play the system we’ve employed all season? What midfielders out there can cover 60m of space running a bleep test all game? I’ve nothing personal against ten hag, but after what was a promising first season, we’ve totally regressed and I don't think he has a clue how to fix the consistent problems we have seen in nearly every single match this season. Mainly, cut back goals and leaving huge spaces in midfield due to whatever the bloody pressing system is.
Also, the night before a Liverpool match you don’t want the managers mouthpiece (mullock from the daily mail) putting out he feels he has no support from the new regime either. Not much of a look imo.
11.) 07 Apr 2024 01:36:43
Caolan, you not been watching the games to know what he wants to do and realize that we really don't have the players in the right positions?
Near on 60 injuries too, I mean come on, what's supposed to be done?
Do you think Arsenal did the right thing in giving Arteta time, even though he lost 36 league games in 3 years?
If you can't see why he should be given the chance to stay after the last 2 years, then there's no convincing you.
Keep wishing for him to get sacked, because we will end up with Potter or Southgate. ETH will move and be a success elsewhere whilst we will be wondering how we ended up with Southgate.
12.) 07 Apr 2024 03:08:11
I’m going to put it out there that ETH will be a middle of the road manager and never really a huge success to the level of Fergie, Wenger, Klopp, Pep, Jose et al.
13.) 07 Apr 2024 09:39:31
Keefy, how many managers in the world have reached those levels?
14.) 07 Apr 2024 09:41:09
angel
You are saying we don’t have the players in the right positions. It is well reported that ETH was contractually given significant say over who was bought and loaned in. Was it £400m spent, loans on top and you say we still don’t have players in the right positions? Why. ETH must take significant blame for that. Why do we have no left back? Why only one functioning CF? Why does Rashford play? When we all knew what we needed, why buy Mount for Bruno’s position? Why Onana? Why Amrabat? Why players ETH had a connection with? There are many more questions, but we needed to see a coordinated coached team and haven’t seen anything that resembles coaching. The continued selection of Rashford, the damage that did to the team on Thursday is baffling. Said many times ETH needed to show coaching and leadership and hasn’t.
As to Potter and Southgate, I would despair at Southgate as I did with Moyes and Ole. Potter has potential in the right circumstances. I would rather have ETH for another season than Southgate. It’s a pity we can’t get Pep from City when his contract runs out, if the owners want the best, that’s what they should do. But Southgate would make me doubt the part owners immediately.
Let’s hope today is not painful, because the pressure will ramp if it is.
15.) 07 Apr 2024 10:11:28
Angel……agreed, not many.
But it was more a point that ETH is sadly never, in my very humble opinion, going to be at the level required by UTD and will go on to be an average manager.
I had hoped that he would prevail but he is way out of his depth at this level.
16.) 07 Apr 2024 11:39:02
I’d call it a day on Rashford too. He just needs a change, and his attitude doesn’t correlate with his ability/ consistency (in a good way that is) on the pitch.
Martial, Rashford, Varane, Cas, Maguire, Lindleof, AWB, Donny, Pellestri and Sancho all need to leave as a good start, and replace them with the right profile of player and personality in the summer from the transfer market and academy if suitable. I know that is a lot of change, but it’s time to rip the band aid off and do that open heart surgery we’ve been talking a lot about.
17.) 07 Apr 2024 18:25:40
It’s not wishing him sacked, because it means we are doing poorly.
But I have seen zero in his performances this season as manager to warrant more time. If he doesn’t have the players available like you keep saying, perhaps he should’ve pushed for players to do so. Or perhaps he should find a way to play with the players at his disposal.
Yet again today, we should’ve conceded 5/ 6.
05 Apr 2024 22:00:08
DLIB has written a new article entitled, Cool heads must prevail at Manchester United
1.) 06 Apr 2024 00:31:05
Great read that DLIB
You are bang on, as much as I think ETH may not be the right man it would be foolish to make any sort of decision until CEO, DOF and TD are all in place as it is there job to come up with the right replacement.
02 Apr 2024 07:39:07
{Ed's Note - DLIB has posted a new article entitled, Sacking Erik ten Hag from Manchester United is not the answer
1.) 02 Apr 2024 09:35:38
How many times has he said in his interviews after a loss that 'the other team wanted it more'? If that's the case on so many occasions then he is not doing his job! Either he instills that eagerness in them or plays those who want it that much.
2.) 02 Apr 2024 14:49:18
Onana intl player
Lindelof intl captain
Maguire intl player
Varane retired won the lot
Dalot intl player
Cas intl captain
Mainoo intl player
Mctom intl player
Rash intl player
Bruno intl captain
Garnacho intl player
Rasmus intl player
Let me stress none of these are any good and it's nothing to do with their club manager that they are playing awful for their club.
Nothing to do with his set up or tactics. He motivates the players brilliantly it's not his fault we have list 33% of our league games
It's not his fault that we have a negative league goal difference since he came to the club (perhaps +3 over nearly 2 seasons) .
Nothing g to do with him that we finished bottom of our cl group for the 1st time ever.
Not his fault we won't make top 5 for cl next season
Not his fault for anything negative.
Eth needs more time to get us into the bottom half of the league. He needs more time to turn garnacho into Anthony. He needs more time to sign more duds.
He just needs time.
3.) 02 Apr 2024 15:36:06
Lolll Kennn you seriously don't like ETH and we get that and I was like that with ole but this guy ETH needs timee with quality players he didn't get his first choice players so he is struggling right now and the injuries hasn't helped either.
4.) 02 Apr 2024 15:36:56
Anyways being a internwtional player means nothing lolll. Even Kalvin Phillips plays for England sometimes and that says it all.
5.) 02 Apr 2024 16:30:00
I actually don't dislike him. Nor do I think he has failed in a lot respects. I just don't think he has shown any more than Ron Atkinson dave sexton ole or even Jose.
Do I think under eth we will continue to win the odd cup and have some good moments every season yes I do think that's exactly what we would see.
I don't see any hope of us getting much closer to the dominant teams consistently under him, no matter what the curmudgeon above him or playerwise that's the reason I want to change now.
I see traits in him that I don't like or identify with I don't see them aligning with the club and too many players, current or new.
If there were more green shoots I would be delighted but I don't see any reason at all to give him more time I honestly can't think of 1 redeeming feature of this team 2 years into his leadership.
In my opinion he lacks charisma and does little to endear himself to anybody externally and according to apparently is a difficult man to get along with and work with.
I agree Singh being an intl player doesn't guarantee that you are great but more often than not it means you are not useless.
Philips showed enough for city to buy him. A few on here would have wanted him. Its not easy to adapt to peps game I'm sure, but he will do better next season wherever he goes, decent player in the right set up.
6.) 02 Apr 2024 16:47:06
Ken Klopps gone and guardiola won't be here long. I am sure Eth cn deal with arteta and Totts manager as they r the next best and I think Eth cn beat those two teams.
7.) 02 Apr 2024 17:30:08
Its the measure now, being an international player. That's it, rest your case Ken ?
What was it Keane said to Jamie Redknapp about getting an international cap.
"Playing for your country doesn’t make you a good player. If you can trap a ball you can play for your country these days. It doesn’t make you a top player. " ? ? ?.
8.) 02 Apr 2024 17:32:44
Singh - what a ridiculios thing to say!
We are currrently clinging on to 6th position with a zero goal difference.
We are nowhere near City, Liverpool and Arsenal and you can add Villa to that at the moment.
Barry Fry could manage those 4 teams and still finish miles ahead of United.
It's a shambles, we are a laughing stocck, the butt of everyones jokes.
It's embarrassing toi watch now.
9.) 02 Apr 2024 19:56:42
Angel what's keano shouting there in your avatar?
TIME ????.
10.) 03 Apr 2024 06:54:32
Ah the arguments are getting weaker Mr. Tumble ? ?.
11.) 03 Apr 2024 10:56:06
We'll see angel we'll see.
01 Apr 2024 13:54:18
DLIB has written an article entitled, Sacking EtH From Utd Is Not The Answer
1.) 01 Apr 2024 14:46:24
Agree DLIB. There is a consistent theme here, notwithstanding injuries, in terms of the playing staff and their commitment to the cause. Rashford isn't showing a dip in form in my view, last season was an exception for him. I don't believe him to be the world class player some seem to including himself. He has become a passenger and a liability the team cannot afford. Strolling around the pitch, failing to challenge anything approaching a 50/ 50 nor any aerial challenge just isn't on. He constantly exposes his LB by failing to offer any defence. Bruno has become a petulant embarrassment always looking for the worldy pass and giving up possession and then not defending. He is giving away silly free kicks in dangerous areas far too often. I will have to stop ranting but it's difficult to stomach some of the appalling performances we endure over and over again.
Like you, I think sacking ETH now will simply be a rinse and repeat exercise.
I shall now sit back with a tub of popcorn and watch the fight.
2.) 01 Apr 2024 15:05:48
ETH has had a hard time with injuries, recruitment and operating in Glazer Woodward leadership.
I like him but I’m far from convinced.
Game management has been a recurring issues.
Performances against smaller clubs has been consistently poor.
People management has been horrific ETH has devalued players with his management.
Injuries seem more than coincidental and indicate there’s an issue with training.
Recruitment hasn’t been perfect but Amrabat, Antony, Malacia, Weghorst and Martinez are all seem to be his players and one has been a success.
I’m like Zidane, De Zerbi, Amorin but don’t think they would do any better than ETH but have an intuitive belief that someone like Postecoglu or McKenna would be a better fit.
3.) 01 Apr 2024 15:09:05
Very good article DLIB, totally agree. I think we know what the follow up will be, from who and what will be said.
All opinions are valid, but I see absolutely no value in removing ETH to bring in another episode of exactly the same thing.
4.) 01 Apr 2024 15:11:16
Dlib I completely agree will the last few lines.
Let the ineos team get their appointments in place and let them decide what's best going forward. You are right they are appointing experts to make these decisions. We have to trust their judgement. We all wanted a new footballing structure. Now we have one incoming. They are the best people to decide
A great statement you made, and the last few lines are really well written imo, I don't agree on any of the eth stuff as you know but great that you are calling for support for the new appointees incoming.
5.) 01 Apr 2024 15:41:34
Fizz - Nobody has been more critical of Rashford than me and whilst I don’t think he’s anywhere near World Class he did score 30 goals in all competitions last season. If you look around Europe’s top leagues there isn’t that many players capable of scoring 30 plus goals. Haaland, Kane, Mbappe, Salah, Lewanddoski, Martinez, Oshimen immediately spring to mind but beyond the obvious, not many players are capable of hitting those numbers and if you take into consideration Rashford predominantly plays on the wing that number is whittled down even further.
Im not defending Rashford, but I can kind of understand why EtH has persisted with him because he’s more than capable and I’m assuming EtH has been waiting for him to burst into form. Let’s not forget Sancho has been expelled, Antony has been just as bad and Ahmed injured for most of the season. EtH’s options have been limited. The loss of Shaw hasn’t helped either and the new, more aggressive style doesn’t suit him.
I think if EtH had put another body in midfield, sat a touch deeper, employed more of a mid block and allowed Rashford to operate higher, in the left side half spaces we’d have seen a much better Rashford.
In my opinion this team just cannot accommodate Rashford’s poor pressing, Bruno’s seemingly free role and lack of positional discipline and Mctominay in this more advanced midfield role making continual runs ahead of the ball into the box.
Unfortunately we just don’t have the balance in the squad. I’m surprised EtH hasn’t used Amrabat more in midfield instead of Mctominay and deployed Mainoo more as a No8 in the absence of Casemiro. He’s much better on the ball and more positionally disciplined than Mctominay. Ill accept he hasn’t been great however a lot of his games have been at LB, he’s also been injured, although I think we’ve seen glimpses of what he can do with decent games against Chelsea and Liverpool this season.
I think EtH has got the structure of the team wrong this season and he just hasn’t been able to cope with injuries to key players but I don’t think that means he should be sacked. I think he should be afforded a bit more time to put things right.
IWOTB - Cheers pal
Tumble - As you know I wanted a full sale but now Ineos are in charge I will support what they are trying to do. No point in banging that drum anymore.
My concern is that the new CEO doesn’t arrive until the summer and the DoF is not yet in place.
My preference would be to get these people in place first, give them
time to assess the Club and then make a decision about the manager.
Like I said I’m pretty sure that if Martinez, Varane, Shaw and Casemiro had been able to play the majority of games together along with Mainoo, Rashford, Bruno and Hoijljnd we’d have made top 4 comfortably. Of course we should be able to cope better with injuries but long term injuries to key players will adversely affect most Clubs. Even City have struggled when they lose Rodri for a few games.
6.) 01 Apr 2024 15:52:55
Martinez, Shaw, Varane and Casemiro are never all going to stay fit.
7.) 01 Apr 2024 16:05:20
very good article Dlib. agree with everything you said.
8.) 01 Apr 2024 16:26:11
Great article DLIB
Yes Ken, 100 percent, trust the people when they ARE in place. but they aren't yet and won't be for months. Meaning they won't be able to properly assess ETH.
So, in agreement, get the football structure in place, and let them judge ETH fairly.
9.) 01 Apr 2024 16:35:22
Porsche - I accept that mate and it’s a big problem, but to replace them with players of an equal standard will be expensive. I’d personally keep them all and be looking to offload the likes of Maguire, Lindelof and Mctominay before Casemiro and Varane. Could we not offer Varane a one year extension on the same terms? He’s only 30 and if he’s stays fit and plays well, offer the same next year as well. I’m sure under SAF older players were on rolling one year contracts. We could look to sign a younger CB, possibly Tobido and integrate him into the team . I still think a Varane/ Martinez CB pairing is one of the best in the league.
Ed001 can probably put me straight, but when Liverpool were at their best Allison, VVD, Robertson, Trent, Fabinho, Salah, Mane and Firminho all seemed to be fit and play the majority of the games. I think it’s far to say they lacked a bit of squad depth, which is to be expected when you don’t have the finances on offer at City, but they struggled on occasions when they suffered long term injuries to key players.
Its been a bad season ravaged by long term injuries to some of our key players, I’d say give him another season, let Ineos put the structure in place and let the experts make the decision once they’ve had time to assess the situation. Anyway I’ve said enough, enjoy the rest of the bank holiday guys!
10.) 01 Apr 2024 17:08:05
Whilst I am reticent about sacking or replacing ten hag there are 2 things I look at.
1 ed002 has said a conversation needs to happen will ten hag even want to work in the new set up, undoubtedly it looks like the managers role will be scaled back to focus on coaching with less say over transfers, would ten hag be happy working under whatever set up this is?
2. Let's say you keep ten hag you make all the changes new dog new technical directors all the new back room staff, you make your desired player changes along with ten hag in the summer. These transfers should be heard towards a longer term view which is good. You start the season and there's no improvement 3 months in were still having games like Fulham and Brentford and it looks like another difficult season your then forced to make a change and although decisions have been made with longer term ideas it's a wasted 5 months (including preseason) .
Yes the same could happen with a new manager but a new manager having a difficult first few months is easier to explain and doesn't lead to a reset of coaching staff and having to find a new manager at a much more difficult time.
For me I make the change based on both of these I think even if ten hag did agree to the new set up he wouldn't necessarily be happy with it, and having a new manager gives that set up a little more time to get adjusted and have their own man.
There also seems to be a number of players who aren't exactly happy with ten hag and while I expect the majority of these to leave, ten hag seems to have issues with favouritism and conflict resolution.
11.) 01 Apr 2024 18:01:45
Ken
I think where you think some EtH inners differ is exactly where we actually agree.
I want the new competent manager structure to make the decisions, why else bother bringing them in? I just don't trust that the management structure is in place yet, so I question who is making the decisions. The new CEO is not in place yet I believe, but will be shortly. Ashworth is obviously not yet part if the decision.
I don't want EtH hounded out by the press. I would rather the management team was in place and then they start to make some of these big decisions. After the year of injuries I am happy to give more time and feel far more frustration towards the players than EtH. But EtH has also made some questionable decisions, like playing rashford and bruno almost every minute of every game.
Good article DLIB.
12.) 01 Apr 2024 21:40:29
I have said for some time ETH needed to show he has what it takes. It’s an audition for Ratcliffe and ETH is failing it. If he has a great plan, wants to stay and Ratcliffe buys it, then he will be here next season but that plan is not in front of us. However, the Brentford game was an utter shambles in terms of teamwork and organisation, ETH should have to explain that to his bosses. If after nearly two years, a managers team in any type of business fails and continues to fail that badly it would put anyones position in jeopardy.
After the Liverpool game we should have been on a high, come out organised, ready tactically, yet it was a shambles. We were not prepared and that is the managers job, had nearly two years to set a team up and we were not prepared, there can be no excuses for that utter shambles.
That finally made me feel a change was needed. I suspect ETH will not fancy being a coach rather than the manager, he took the role on that basis and may resign let alone get sacked. It is clear change in role parameters is coming. We cannot lurch from one design to another with some shouting give x more time, because none of us know whether giving him more time will work, we are all guessing, just basing those calls on SAF, whilst ignoring Sexton and Atkinson examples.
The question is where we are going, where is ETH showing the supporters and bosses what a great future we have with him showing what he is doing is going to give us all what we want? We just see performances like Brentford and similar without any semblance of design, plan or structure so we are bound to crack.
I can take losing, but Brentford showed a lack of planning, tactical set up and poor selection, that’s down to the manager.
30 Mar 2024 12:23:47
Loads of talk recently surrounding Mainoo, especially about his best position, is he a No6 or No8? Where is he most effective etc?
I personally love him a bit deeper, the way he's able to take the ball off the back 4 and progress it forward through the lines is his strongest attribute in my opinion. The way he positions his body to receive the ball is fantastic and he has the strength and footwork to wriggle out of difficult situations. I really like him on the ball, in possession, dictating play.
As I watched him for England on Tuesday night, I thought he became particularly effective when Foden came more centrally and Mainoo was able to progress the ball vertically into the Foden and Bellingham on the half turn.
I just wonder if EtH see's the future of Utd's midfield as Mainoo, Mount and Bruno? Or if he would have at least liked to try this combination more often?
I think we all viewed the Mount signing with raised eyebrows and speculated where he'd fit in? Personally I think he was signed as an No8, comfortable on the ball, able to keep possession, good in tight areas, a progress and incisive passer, intelligent runner and also provides a goal threat. Defensively he's a hard worker and very good presser, for a side that wants to press the ball and defend on the front foot.
All three (Mainoo, Mount, Bruno) are mobile, hard working and effective pressers. We've seen EtH often deploy his midfielders man for man this season, especially in the oppositions first phase of play and the signing of Hoijland has also provided the team with another brilliant presser.
EtH has been unable to really execute this more aggressive pressing system largely due to injuries to Hoijlund, Mount, Martinez and Shaw all being injured for most of the season and certainly not all being available at the same time.
When everyone is fit does EtH see a team of Onana, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Mount, Bruno, Garnacho, Rashford, Hoijlund. At least for some games and especially at home against some lower placed opposition where he can afford to be more aggressive and take more risk.
I could envisage this team aggressively pressing the ball and playing a much higher line. In possession, the likes of Martinez and Mainoo progressing the ball centrally into Mount and Bruno on the half turn, then looking for runs in behind by Rashford or Hoijlund or into Garnacho to run at defenders.
With Martinez and Mount returning watch this space.
1.) 30 Mar 2024 14:00:51
I'd love Mount to work as a No8, but he's never excelled in that position in his career so I'd be surprised if ten Hag really did want him for that position.
Personally, I think Mainoo would be best in a double pivot with a player with equal defensive qualities.
I think because Kobbie and Martinez are each some way off 6ft, a big and physical partner for Kobbie might be the best option.
For me, only two players tick the box - Amadou Onana and Kephren Thuram.
2.) 30 Mar 2024 14:36:03
Ork - I tend to agree, I also think we lack a ball winner in midfield, ideally I’d like someone with energy, mobility, physicality, a really good tackler but also someone who’s very comfortable on the ball to partner Mainoo in midfield.
Personally I’m not convinced about Mount and if he wasn’t bought as a No8 it was a strange decision to invest over £50m in another No10 especially considering Bruno is the captain and hardly misses a game. Is Mount a more expensive VdB. Good player but where does he really fit in?
I was just speculating where EtH might deploy Mount and the evolution of our midfield with the emergence of Mainoo?
Does anyone think Mainoo is EtH’s new FdJ and will look to use him in a similar way in Utd’s midfield?
3.) 30 Mar 2024 14:55:20
Personally think a midfield 2 with and 10 in front is the way to go.
Not saying mainoo can't excel as a 6 but leaving him in there on his own would take aspects away from his game. A partner to play next to him is a must this summer.
As for Mount, I rate him as a player but do think it should be him or Bruno. Under ten hag I do feel Mount would fit in the 10 position more so than Bruno just because his ball retention and his ability to press better. Will never happen but just my opinion.
19 Aug 2023 14:38:33
Shappy - He’s 5th choice CB, the manager doesn’t want him and he’s booed by his own fans.
So being Man Utd’s 5th choice CB is still better than playing for West Ham in your opinion?! ! Is that what you’re saying? He won’t win anything at Man Utd because he won’t play. He will contribute nothing and if Utd win anything it will be despite him rather than because of him.
The Club is in a mess because it’s badly run and also it has players like Maguire that prefer to sit on the bench and cash their pay cheque rather than play elsewhere.
Maguire earns an absolute fortune, he’s rich beyond belief, he probably wouldn’t even notice the reduction in salary. West Ham are also willing to pay him a fortune and he’ll probably earn more at West Ham over the four or five years than the next two years at Man Utd sitting on the bench. Like I said earlier who wants a 33 year old Harry Maguire that hasn’t kicked a ball for two years. When does he go from there? if I took a 50% pay cut I’d be homeless mate and I bet that applies for most other posters, you can’t compare the two, you’re so out of touch it’s unreal. Maguire would probably still earn around £5m a year at West Ham, around £20-25m over a four or 5 year contract. This is about ego and a player who clearly thinks he’s better than he is.
I suppose you also have sympathy for the Glazers and feel sorry for them that they’ve only been offered £5b and as they wait for more the Club stagnates.
You can’t seem to grasp that he’s not wanted yet he won’t leave. He’s rich beyond 99% of most peoples wildest dreams yet he demands more and you support him. He doesn’t need the money. His performances have been terrible yet he believes the Club owes him something after making him one of the best paid players in the world and delivering nothing in return.
What does it say about someone’s character when they have an over inflated ego, think they’ve achieved something they’ve not, are stinking rich yet demand money after delivering nothing and think being Man Utd’s 5th choice CB is better than playing for a Club like West Ham. We simply can’t be successful whilst the likes of Maguire linger at the Club and stagnate the re building process. We need rid of him so we can improve. I’d pay him off and kick him out, embrace the lesson, take the medicine and support the manager but then we have the Glazers who like Maguire enjoy all the esteem of Man Utd’s illustrious history and success to promote their own self interest and wealth whilst delivering nothing in return.
19 Aug 2023 13:13:07
Defo mate let’s see what happens.
19 Aug 2023 11:25:31
Eric - What are his options? Please enlighten us? Who in their right mind is going to pay him north of £200k per week?
The truth is Maguire was being vastly over paid at Man Utd and while he hangs around the Club can’t improve.
He’s been the worst Man Utd captain in living memory and one of the Clubs worst signings in it’s history.
If you have sympathy for Maguire, then I can admit this is a mess entirely of the Clubs own making. A proper football Club recognises it’s mistakes and takes it’s medicine, no matter how bad it might taste. It understands it’s the only way to get better.
When Harry Maguire was a little boy, he probably went to bed dreaming of winning the World Cup not how much money he would make. Football was his passion not a vehicle to make himself rich. A football career is short and precious. He’s made more money than his wildest dreams. He’s been the Man Utd captain but it’s over now. He’s not won anything in his career. England will be one of the favourites for the Euros next summer and considering his age maybe his last international tournament. He’s Southgate’s darling but he’ll lose his place if he’s sat on the bench at Man Utd. Imagine how he’ll feel if he’s not part of that historic occasion. Maybe counting his money will help.
He’s being badly advised in my opinion, he’s become a meme, booed by his own fans and not wanted by his manager. He should listen to the little boy inside, go and play football, prolong his career, dream of scoring that winning goal.
Shappy - I’ve not demonised him, this isn’t personal. This is about football. I don’t care if he’s the nicest bloke in the world, when did that become a criteria to play for Man Utd? I don’t get what some people don’t understand, the manager doesn’t want him. He wants a replacement which he can’t get whilst Maguire hangs around. How can EtH succeed when he’s forced to keep players he doesn’t think are good enough? He’s become like the Glazers, hanging around for a payday he doesn’t deserve. The arrogance of believing West Ham to be a downwards step is astonishing. They are premier league club, watched by over 50 000 supporters every week and have just won a European trophy. Going to West Ham is not a downwards step. It’s an opportunity to play professional football, the very thing he dreamed about doing as a kid.
I don’t care about Harry Maguire, in fact if this was Pogba, Sanchez, Di Maria or some other foreign player refusing to leave and demanding their contract be paid in full there would be uproar.
I care about Man Utd being successful which won’t happen whilst the manager is forced to keep players he doesn’t think are good enough. Just let that sink in, the manager doesn’t think he’s good enough, he wants a replacement and you don’t care if he leaves.
I want Utd to be successful, that can’t happen whilst the manager is forced to keep players that he doesn’t think are good enough and whether you think West Ham is a step down or Maguire deserves a full payout surely we can all agree on that.
19 Aug 2023 01:15:47
Harry Maguire typifies the selfish, self righteous attitude forged under the Woodward regime. An over paid, over hyped, primadonna who cups his ears after scoring a goal for England against Albania and by his own admission has nothing to prove despite never winning a single trophy and being relegated 4 times in his career. This is the ex captain of Man Utd.
He’s a player that thinks he’s owned something for nothing. Despite being rewarded with an outrageous contract that his talent didn’t deserve, being paid more in a single month than most people earn in a lifetime, a contract he wouldn’t have been given by any other Club, he now blocks the progress of this once great football club all because of a sense of entitlement and self loathing.
He’s not interested in wining trophies, he doesn’t want the Club to succeed, he doesn’t care about the Club or the fans, he wants to continue to enjoy all the trappings of being a Man Utd player and if he’s not playing, he’s not being criticised, all whilst earning nearly £1m per month, football panacea for the likes of Maguire.
Is it any wonder the Club is in disarray and has hardly won a notable trophy in over a decade. The ex captain of Man Utd is happy to sit on the bench and potentially lose his England place because of an over inflated ego and sense of entitlement.
Some might argue he deserves his payout, maybe he does and that’s fine but let’s not forget the real losers are EtH and the fans.
There can be no progress when the likes of Maguire are allowed to fester at the football Club. The tail is wagging the dog. EtH has benched him, stripped him of the captaincy, tried to sell him yet Maguire lingers around, like a bad smell, a player not wanted but prepared to stay and sacrifice his career only for the money he knows only too well he could never earn anywhere else.
These players are so short sighted, he might get a 4-5 year contact at West Ham probably north of £100k per week, hardly on the bread line despite the cost of living crisis. He won’t play for Utd, he can sit on the bench for another two years and count his money but who’s going to want a 33 year old Harry Maguire that’s hardly kicked a football for two years when his contract expires in 2025!
A serious Club would pay him off and kick him out. Sadly Utd haven’t been a serious football Club for sometime now.
18 Jul 2023 16:01:29
Shaw - On what basis are Arnold and Murtough doing a decent job?! Where’s the evidence?!
We shifted two players last summer for modest fees namely Pereria and Garner.
As we near the end of July we still haven’t sold anyone yet. It’s likely the acquisition of any more players above Mount and Onana will have to be funded by player sales!
We still don’t have a CF, with Martial injured and Weghorst departed we are actually weaker than last season. Let that sink in for a moment and now consider how ineffective Weghorst actually was and we are now actually weaker as it stands.
We are playing catch up, it’s inconceivable to me that we fly away on tour without a CF and even if one does eventually arrive it’s likely to be a young, unproven prospect and the season may have already started. Is it fair to expect a young, inexperienced player to carry the goal scoring burden for one of the biggest Clubs in the world? Even if someone like Hojlund does arrive I don’t expect him to be first choice which probably means Rashford will start the season as our CF.
We can’t move for a new CDM or CB until players are sold meaning possible targets could move to other Clubs in the meantime.
I don’t think they are doing a good job. There is still evidence of instability and indecision. Negotiations are still painfully slow and whilst some players have been linked with moves away until they are eventually sold for reasonable fees I think it’s right that the spotlight and pressure is kept on Murtough and Arnold.
Arsenal finished above us last season, they’ve just signed Havertz, Timber and Rice, three first choice players that improve their starting 11 and in time for their pre season tour. Of course there are no guarantees, buts that’s evidence of ambition and a Club wanting to push forward and challenge rather than resting of their laurels and patting themselves on the back which I think is happening at Old Trafford.
Mount and Onana we’re relatively easy deals to complete. Both players wanted to move, both Clubs were willing sellers and let’s not pretend we got them on the cheap. We payed market value for both at best.
We are playing catch up and if we want to finish higher than 3rd Mount and Onana is not enough. Both are deals I would expect the Club to be able to complete without fuss or fanfare.
10 Apr 2024 14:18:02
Ed001 - Fair assessment and even though Liverpool are an infinitely better team this season Utd do have individuals capable of moments of class if you don’t put them away!
it’s ridiculous to me that a Liverpool fan can diagnose our problems more clearly than some of our own supporters.
Many claim EtH doesn’t have a style of play but it’s obvious he wants to play a higher defensive line and press aggressively from the front. He wants to transition quickly, winning the ball high up the pitch. He also wants to try and dominate the ball in the final third that’s why he pushes so many players forward, trying to create overloads in attacking areas.
He bought a ball playing GK during the summer and whilst not perfect, Varane and Martinez can push that defensive line further forward. Martinez is also fantastic on the ball. He wanted KMJ in the summer, he probably knew Varane would get injured at some point but couldn’t have predicted he’d lose Martinez and Shaw for most of the season.
We obviously have a huge problem because none of the CB’s have the courage or pace to push that line higher, they drop deeper as the forwards press leaving a massive hole in midfield. Casemiro doesn’t have the fitness, mobility or pace to plug the gaps. In addition Rashford is a terrible presser and Bruno is often positionally indisciplined and has a tendency to jump out of position and press on his own making it incredibly easy for the opposition to progress the ball forward.
EtH has been left exposed by incompetent decision makers and negotiators that have outrageously overspent on several deals and failed to move players out. He’s also missed out on several key targets paramount to his philosophy.
Supporters must decide what they want. If they want to see more adventurous, modern football, this cannot be achieved over night especially with the majority of these players.
EtH could stop the team conceding shots over night. It’s not difficult and doesn’t take a tactical genius. Abort the high press, allow the opposition possession in their half, drop the team deeper and get players behind the ball.
The only way to implement a new style is to expose the players that can’t play the system and move them on. This is a process.
If Ineos don’t have the appetite to move most of these players on maybe a more pragmatic manager like Southgate makes sense. Drop deeper, with two holding midfielders and play percentage football. That would certainly suit the likes of Maguire, Lindelof, Evans, AWB, Casemiro, Mctominay, Bruno and Rashford but is that went we really want?
How do we want to play? Maybe that’s the most important decision Ineos have to make.
{Ed001's Note - thank you DLIB.}
09 Apr 2024 18:04:03
Shappy - Some supporters often talked about a ball playing GK being transformative last summer but I’ve always been of the opinion we needed at least two new CB’s.
I was absolutely gutted when we lost out on Kim Min-Jae. How you can go from him to Evans is mind blowing, two completely different types of CB. I’m not having a go at Evans, he’s done very well, but hardly the type of CB the Club needed if you want to play a higher defensive line.
If we want to play modern football we’ve simply got to get that defensive line higher. That’s a non negotiable. We need two physical, aggressive, mobile, fast CB’s that will allow us to push that defensive line 10-15 meters further forward and condense the space in midfield. They must also be comfortable on the ball.
The type of CB’s at the Club must change. Maguire, Evans and Lindelof just aren’t mobile or quick enough. It’s time they were all moved on.
We need a new No6, a mobile, aggressive, ball winner also comfortable on the ball and press resistant.
We obviously need a new CF. I often wonder if Hoijlund was the right choice of CF considering the way we play. Would a false 9 type be a better choice. Someone to drop off the front, a good dribble and passer, someone that could look to feed our wingers making runs in behind, whilst also allowing us to keep the ball better? We don’t really create chances for our No9, I expect Rashford, Anthony and obviously Garnacho to all be here next season so I don’t really see that changing. Maybe something a bit different to Hoijlund might give more options to the team.
Two new CB’s, a new No6, new CF, then a new LB.
08 Apr 2024 21:56:24
Shappy - I didn’t mention being more pragmatic. I tend to agree with Spenno, we need to see evidence this style of play can work.
If not Bruno then Mainoo needs to drop deeper and Mount come into the midfield. Little point in persisting with Casemiro now in my opinion. He just doesn’t have the fitness, speed or mobility and will likely leave in the summer anyway.
I say let’s see what a more energetic and mobile midfield can do, plus he needs to justify why he spent £60m on Mount.
If EtH he can string a few performances together in the remaining fixtures and evidence this system can work it might just buy him more time.
08 Apr 2024 21:46:17
Red Man - I’m not scaremongering, it’s not me that has linked Southgate to the job, I’m absolutely appalled by the idea.
If you want EtH sacked then you must accept that Southgate is a very likely replacement.
I have posited at length why I would stick with EtH. Not once have I said because it might mean that Southgate will get the job, however the EtH detractors must accept that it’s a real possibility. Its seems EtH outers want him sacked but are not prepared to face the reality of his replacement. Let’s see what happens!
08 Apr 2024 20:20:51
What if it’s Southgate?