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Danny Pughnited's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Danny Pughnited's rumours posts
05 Jul 2018 09:34:57
Papers now linking us with Shaqiri.
Him and Shaw would be unstoppable in the cafeteria.
1.) 05 Jul 2018 11:33:52
If Shaw got in first. There would nothing left in the cafeteria.
2.) 05 Jul 2018 11:49:42
I’d say they both try to go through at the same time, and just get stuck.
3.) 05 Jul 2018 12:29:46
Leave the jokes, guys. For 12mln tell me a better quality right winger who happily will be a squad player. And do not forget that we are playing without right wing for years.
{Ed001's Note - happily be a squad player? He left Bayern because he refused to be a squad player.}
4.) 05 Jul 2018 13:09:07
I mean his career has been a litany of failed auditions at big clubs. He ended up at Stoke where he put in no effort. That’s about his level - struggling EPL club where he can get by on natural ability without having to work.
5.) 05 Jul 2018 13:22:55
Not sure he wanted to leave, more like Bayern wanted to sell.
{Ed001's Note - yes, because he refused to knuckle down and be a squad player.}
6.) 05 Jul 2018 13:55:28
A simple question. what if a gamble clicked?
7.) 05 Jul 2018 15:38:35
Always tried to back jose and give him the benefit of the doubt but if the rumours about Shaqiri are true I’ll have lost all faith, don’t care if its 12 million or 12 bob he’s not worth it, i watched him against the swedes and i bet he didn’t run a bloody mile all game and that's at the World Cup.
8.) 05 Jul 2018 17:32:01
Absolute no to shaq IMO. Wont be happy with what we probably wpuld offer and he'd be leaving again next season.
9.) 05 Jul 2018 19:54:58
He’s failed everywhere, why on Earth would we sign him?
10.) 05 Jul 2018 20:02:26
Make a good door stop?
11.) 05 Jul 2018 20:51:35
Last week some folk on here were saying shaqiri is better than mata and jessie. 😂😂😂😂😂😊.
12.) 06 Jul 2018 01:06:08
Talented player but needs a team to be built around him, and he's not talented or applied enough to get that at a top club. Plus, he personifies the opposite of a "Jose player"! I wouldn't pick him ahead of Lingard, Alexis, Mata, Rashford, or the pre-slump Martial. I'd also rather Pogba play further forward with another midfielder in behind him than in a 2 with Shaqiri as 1 of the attacking 4. A big fat no from me. He'll probably end up joining a smaller club. Liverpool perhaps?
14 Jul 2017 11:22:42
Reported in Spain that Madrid are back in for De Gea, and he wants to leave. Price being mooted is £50m. Take it with a pinch of salt.
But if it is true, then this should be fun. If they wanted £70m for their backup striker, then how much is one of the top keepers in the world worth?
1.) 14 Jul 2017 11:24:47
£100m thanks Real.
2.) 14 Jul 2017 11:41:18
Pickford 30 mil for an upcoming keeper. De gea the best in the world needs to be 100 mil +.
3.) 14 Jul 2017 11:46:08
Minimum 100 million.
4.) 14 Jul 2017 12:00:42
All depends for all we know there might have been a gentleman's agreement for him to leave made last summer and a figure agreed. That figure then would look cheap by today's prices. Time will tell.
5.) 14 Jul 2017 12:02:45
£60mill+Kroos please thank you.
6.) 14 Jul 2017 12:03:17
Toni Kroos and £60m.
7.) 14 Jul 2017 12:26:33
with no prior agreement in place between us and RM i would say £95mil and make him the most expensive player in the world - for the short term anyway.
8.) 14 Jul 2017 12:30:08
If he wants out it will be hard to stop. But it must be on our terms. Perhaps we could get the opportunity to talk to bale or kroos if jose wants them.
A question i asked on another thread would we need to sign a keeper or would be go work romero and Perriera?
9.) 14 Jul 2017 12:35:17
Easily worth £100m today. Kroos and 60 would be a good return but this isn't footy manager. I'd love us to just stick 2 fingers up to Madrid and tell Mendes he needs to be loyal to us given the recent business we've done with him.
10.) 14 Jul 2017 13:54:08
Haven't we already rejected a 60 million bid.
11.) 14 Jul 2017 14:31:41
Don't think so bolger.
12.) 14 Jul 2017 14:31:43
Let's be realistic with the valuation, whilst the money at the minute for outfield players is crazy we are not going to get more than £60/ 70m for DDG. Keepers are important but not valued as highly as strikers.
At the end of last year I thought Mourinho for all his talk would have been happy with DDG going at a good price and starting season with Romero and the pereira who he thinks will be world class in a few years.
If DDG goes Hopefully we start conversations about Bale coming the other way.
13.) 14 Jul 2017 14:42:21
Unfortunately I think it's inevitable that De Gea will end up at Madrid. I've said before that it has the feel of the Fabregas to Barcelona to it and will eventually happen. I just hope we get the maximum amount for him. Jose seems to be getting decent fees for all the outgoings so far. I'd say between £80-90 million and he's yours. Then go after Jack Butland.
14.) 14 Jul 2017 14:46:48
Brad, historically goal scorers command the big fees. But with Liverpool rumoured to be happy to pay £70m million for Keita who's had one season in the bundesliga, why not stick for £100m for the worlds best goal keeper?
15.) 14 Jul 2017 15:09:35
Even if the player wants to go, we don't have to do the deal. It is feasible to hold the player to his contract. DDG seems like a good professional and he's already at one of the biggest clubs in the world with Champions League football.
However, I really rate Romero. I was at OT when he made his debut and I thought then he looked like an accomplished keeper. I have no doubt he would be an excellent number one for us.
If DDG is sold that leaves an interesting conundrum with Perriera. If I was Jose I would be asking myself, if Romero got injured is Perriera ready to step up straight away?
I think as that we need to reset the balance of our relationship with Real Madrid. They need to understand that they cannot just help themselves to any of our players and that if they are not prepared to be reasonable with players we want to buy from them, we are prepared to walk away and find an alternative.
Danny Pughnited's banter posts with other poster's replies to Danny Pughnited's banter posts
27 Sep 2025 18:09:07
As I said a few weeks ago, if every other coach can see what our weaknesses are and Amorim is unwilling to fix them, they will be exploited.
The first goal today was the most blatant illustration. With the two wider centre backs pressed up, the wing backs pressed up, and the two midfielders pressed up, all it takes is one hopeful ball over the top and we're exposed.
People can talk about Amorim tinkering with things all they like, but the basic foundations of formation, shape, and tactical approach never change, and they are not working.
One of the things that really sticks out to me is the lack of threat coming from the two number 10s. The club spent over £100m on Chunha and Mbeumo. They were supposed to give us attacking threat and creativity. However, they often seem completely anonymous. Chunha in particular looks lost. This is a player that can score and create, but the space he's being asked to play in really limits his ability to impact the game. Today he seemed to be drifting all over the field trying to get on the ball. The system puts creative players in congested areas of the pitch, and this results in the wingbacks being the ones with the space to create. It's just not working for the players, the team, or the coach.
I can't see a situation where Amorim keeps his job because he isn't willing to change something that is fundamentally broken.
1.) 27 Sep 2025 18:49:41
See my post below Danny.
2.) 27 Sep 2025 19:03:28
Exactly, AJH. The coach’s job is to get the best out of the players, and if the players can play better in a different system, then do it. Amorim’s style of play is not getting the best out of anyone, including players he bought specifically to play in it.
3.) 27 Sep 2025 20:35:16
Said it about the Chelsea game, we didn't look any better; we were just lucky they went down to 10 men after 5 minutes.
We are poor, not even statistically; we are just poor under RA. This "system" isn't a system and certainly isn't good enough for the Premier League. Whatever it is meant to be doesn't work. I would argue this is the worst football to watch under any of our other managers. Previous managers have been sacked for less.
Its not just RA fault. Ineos incompetence also to blame. Not listening to the people appointed. Not getting a centre midfielder in the window.
Despite the best in class structure, we are far from it. Ineos couldn't run a bath.
4.) 27 Sep 2025 21:00:37
Didn't palace just beat Liverpool with a 343 system.
5.) 27 Sep 2025 22:23:15
It all boils down to the coach. Not good enough.
6.) 28 Sep 2025 04:43:24
Palace got proper CBs to play the system decent wing backs and a midfield that’s the difference, plus a coach who plays to his strengths.
7.) 28 Sep 2025 07:29:04
Ironic if Amorim is sacked, Glasner comes in plays 3-4-3 and makes it work.
16 Sep 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Danny Pughnited has posted a new article entitled, If It's Broke At Manchester United - Fix It
1.) 16 Sep 2025 08:55:07
Good post Danny.
2.) 16 Sep 2025 11:08:55
The real question we should be asking Amorim is why he’s sticking to his guns?
Is it because he’s stubborn and wants to, or is it because him and his coaching staff don’t know how to play and set up a team any other way. My fear is it’s the latter, which makes him a very limited coach at elite level.
3.) 16 Sep 2025 14:20:06
I agree, Eric. But the thing for me is that he is young enough to learn. That’s what I find so frustrating. He’s 40 years old and is essentially saying that one formation and one tactical approach is all he thinks he needs to be a top class coach.
Amorim obviously has a lot of the qualities to succeed, but seems totally blinkered by one way of playing football, even when it clearly isn’t working.
One of the main reasons Fergie was successfully for so long is that he brought in coaches to help the team adapt to new styles of playing. Because if your team can only play one way, other teams will figure out how to beat you.
4.) 16 Sep 2025 14:51:15
The purpose of the sport is to win. The system employed should be in service to that end. To hold rigidly to a system that isn't producing winning football when one has the resources to do better, is either arrogant and/ or amateurish, particularly when there's no guarantee that even with all the right players in place it would produce a superior outcome.
5.) 16 Sep 2025 19:25:08
There is no guarantee that 4-3-3 will help either although the players should be able to manage that. It’s the lack of effort/ attitude that is worse. Give my hind teeth for half of Burnley’s defensive desire against Liverpool.
6.) 16 Sep 2025 20:43:07
It’s not simply about a change from one system to another. It’s more a case of Amorim needing to be willing to adapt.
The formation should be designed to give your side the best chance of winning in a specific game. In one game a 3-4-2-1 might work. In another a 4-3-3 might be the better option. Every manager who is successful at the top level changes their side’s formation and shape depending on what they think will help them win.
Pep last weekend is a perfect example. He looked at United’s weaknesses and adjusted City’s shape accordingly. For instance, Doku was clearly told to play a bit more centrally because his pace could be used to exploit the space United leave in that area of the pitch.
Amorim’s cardinal sin is tactical rigidity. He sets his team up in the same way for every game, and refuses to consider changing this. Tactical rigidity can sometimes work if the team is set up to be compact and hard to break down. However, Amorim’s tactics are the opposite of this. The team is set up to spread players as wide as possible throughout the pitch. There is no compactness, and one mistake can leave the defence completely exposed.
The point is that United under Amorim have glaring weakness that every opponent can target and exploit because the coaching team refuse to try anything different. It’s not rocket science. By this point, it’s basic common sense. The system is not helping this team win, and the coaching team need to try something different. They need to do their jobs and find a way to get the side playing winning football.
7.) 16 Sep 2025 21:02:47
Nail on head Danny. My point exactly.
15 Sep 2025 11:27:40
Danny Pughnited has written an article entitled, If It's Broke At Manchester United - Fix It
1.) 15 Sep 2025 13:01:28
He said it himself. He won’t change his philosophy until he’s ready to. They may need to change the man.
See ya then!
2.) 15 Sep 2025 13:32:29
The clamour for Iraola or Glasner is odd. Regardless of whether they too favour this formation they'll still have the same square pegs won't they?
Until at least one, if not two, outstanding midfielders come in, plus 2 more effective wingbacks, we're not going to see what Amorim or this formation can really be.
{Ed001's Note - but the formation is making the lack of midfielders more of a problem as it puts stress on that area of the pitch by using just two, usually up against three. So it is not odd, it is odd that you think that Iraola, for example, would allow the midfield to be overrun in the same way Amorim continues to do.}
3.) 15 Sep 2025 13:47:13
Ed, if Iraola came in tomorrow, what would his strongest line-up / formation be do you think? What would he do differently?
{Ed001's Note - he plays a press, a very aggressive press. Something which would make a massive change on its own. Added to that, he would not play just 2 in the centre, I am sure he would still keep Bruno in there, but would have 2 other bodies in there to help him out. Most importantly of all, he would coach them to actually be able to play his system properly, something Amorim is clearly failing at. Iraola's teams are always well-organised and coached - you can see how heavily he has been influenced by Bielsa.}
4.) 15 Sep 2025 13:55:07
The odd thing, for me, is that the coach is refusing to learn from his mistakes. Two in midfield is a problem, exacerbated by having Bruno as one of the two.
But the bigger problem is that the wing backs are push up like traditional wingers, and the left and right centre backs push up alongside them. This creates a situation where it’s often just the central defender and one midfielder protecting half the pitch. If any of the other players misplaces a pass, the opposition have a clear path to goal.
After nearly a full season in the EPL, Amorim hasn’t addressed this despite it being exploited in every game. At some point you’d expect the penny to drop. For the coach to recognise that it isn’t working, and to try something different. But he hasn’t. If anything, Amorim is clinging more rigidly to his system.
That’s the issue for me. He will never succeed at the top level if he doesn’t adapt. Because no matter how many players he brings in, or how well his team drill them to play this system, its flaws are too obvious not to be exploited by a half decent side. United are playing with both hands tied behind their backs because everyone already knows how they are going to play, and how to win against them.
It’s a tipping point for me. Either Amorim is humble enough to learn and adapt, or the club will have to bring in a manager who is capable of doing this.
5.) 15 Sep 2025 14:00:50
Bruno had played in a 3 and has looked exactly the same defensively…
We have also played with a 3 and 2 holding and looked just as bad
We just haven’t got the midfield able to control games or play up against good teams
That’s is the area we are lacking in and when coming up against the teams in the top 6 that’s where we will lose games
As I have said previously 8-14 is about where we are at and if you finish 8th that’s progression on where we are at
Forget about Europa and champs football
We are miles away.
We finished 15th for a reason that isn’t going to suddenly change with 3 different forward signings.
This is the same team as last year other than sesko and mbuembo yesterday was the same team.
Why did anyone expect a different outcome.
{Ed001's Note - you have never played the way Iraola does, so there is no comparison with just saying it looks the same. Bruno would not need to play defensively, Iraola uses the defensive press as an aggressive attacking tactic, similar to how Klopp did initially.}
6.) 15 Sep 2025 14:15:53
Good post Danny.
7.) 15 Sep 2025 20:10:45
Our wingbacks are a major problem (not good enough) but our midfield isn’t as bad tactically as some make out. Plenty of teams get run through in midfield a lot of clubs use this as a tactic and it won’t be stopped every time. I think our biggest issue is temperament. Every team charges us in every position at the start of every game because our players can’t handle it. Starts with the captain who was diabolical again in a big match head dropping almost straight away what a dead weight for a struggling team to have to carry. He’s lost it.
29 Aug 2025 07:39:05
{Ed's Note - Danny Pughnited has posted a new article entitled, We are here because the Manchester United Board changed its strategy
1.) 29 Aug 2025 12:33:13
Good read, Danny. Can't disagree with any of it.
28 Aug 2025 13:51:26
Danny Pughnited has written an article entitled, We are where we are because the board changed its strategy
1.) 28 Aug 2025 16:56:48
Wow, actually a well written article on here that makes sense and is simple and straight to the point.
Agreed on Ashworth had a proven record of football administration across England, Brighton and Newcastle.
Testament to him that a lot of the players who were signed under his watch at Newcastle are still there with a manager he picked and will be playing champions league football this season, something we can only dream of doing at the moment under Amorim/ Berrada/ Wilcox triumvurate.
Danny Pughnited's rumour replies
30 Sep 2025 14:33:17
It feels like there is growing downward pressure on Amorim. While the directors will be reluctant to sack him, and admit they made a huge mistake, they also realise that things can’t continue like this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see interference with coaching decisions, or strong nudges towards a different play style.
However, if Amorim has proven anything, it’s that he’s stubbornly committed to playing his way. It might be a case that he would rather resign than change. But being a head coach, there is also scope for the directors to force his hand. Will be interesting to see how this eventually plays out. Regardless, I can’t see him still in the job by the end of the year.
01 Sep 2025 13:32:20
I think Onana stays because nobody would take him on loan, even if we paid all his wages, and gave them a few million.
01 Sep 2025 11:46:08
His contract is up next summer, with a club option to extend. Thankfully, this will be the end of the whole silly business with him.
31 Aug 2025 18:56:00
They might have to Rush to get it done ;)
28 Aug 2025 21:01:56
No, it was Ruben Amorim, GDS. It was on tv and all, unless this emotion was impersonating him, and, as we all know, identity theft is not a joke.
Danny Pughnited's banter replies
15 Oct 2025 21:27:24
In fairness, it is very easy to mistake Scholes and Schmeichel. Practically twins.
14 Oct 2025 12:22:46
We’re going to lose. Liverpool need a performance, similar to when City played us, and will adopt the same approach.
They will sit deep, and punish us on the counter.
Any team with quality in attack can get at us that way. I don’t see any other outcome.
07 Oct 2025 15:41:26
For me, a player should want to play, whatever the position.
John O’Shea didn’t see himself as a left back, but took his opportunity there when he got the chance. The reality he’s facing is that Amorim has decided that Bruno is a central midfielder. He’s the captain and is never injured. That means Manioo won’t get a lot of opportunities, for better or worse.
The other midfield role is completely up for grabs. Cas doesn’t have the legs to do it, and Ugarte looks poor. A young player like Manioo should see this as an opportunity. He has the attributes to play in a deeper role, and the only thing stopping him is his desire to play there.
I’d just prefer young players to do everything to get into the starting 11, rather than look for a transfer if they don’t get exactly what they want.
07 Oct 2025 15:34:55
That’s where his power comes from Ken.
07 Oct 2025 14:05:27
I think with Manioo it’s a question of the player he needs to become to get back into the starting 11. For me, he’s a young lad with a lot of pieces to his game that don’t fully fit together into a unified whole. Like, he’s good at lots of things, but needs to focus on being great at a few things.
The issue is that Amorim has decided that he’s in competition with Bruno, and that makes it very difficult for Manioo. I would love to see him focusing on becoming a top quality holding player. Neither Cas or Ugarte have proven themselves fit for that role. If Manioo can work hard on breaking up play, and developing his positional awareness, there should be nothing stopping him making that position his.