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MancMan's rumours posts with other poster's replies to MancMan's rumours posts
02 Feb 2025 12:06:03
Dorgu deal complete. £30 million seems reasonable.
What strikes me most is he has scored 5 times in 57 games for a team that is 15th in serie A and have only scored 18 goals this season.
1.) 02 Feb 2025 19:37:53
Remember when we got another leftback in Telles… Porto’s top scorer at the time. What a shower of dross he was. Let’s hope the kid can settle quickly and add some balance to our shape.
2.) 02 Feb 2025 20:02:07
Telles might actually be decent in Amorim’s for action ?.
14 Oct 2024 16:34:28
Hello Ed002, do you know how how much it would cost Utd to buy back Angel Gomes?
I think a midfield of Ugarte, Gomes and Mainoo would be well balanced and could grow nicely together.
{Ed002's Note - Nothing, he is a Free Agent in the summer.}
1.) 14 Oct 2024 19:07:09
Nowhere near good enough.
2.) 14 Oct 2024 20:50:58
Thanks Ed002.
Utd need a passer in midfield. A metronome who keeps the ball and starts the play.
Utd have limited funds
Gomes is young and free. He might not be top tier but he's good enough to play for England and he is only going to get better.
{Ed002's Note - Angel Gomes (CM) Newcastle will push Lille for a January deal before he can leave as a Free Agent in the summer. Spurs and Manchester United may also show an interest.}
14 Oct 2024 16:34:28
Hello Ed002, do you know how how much it would cost Utd to buy back Angel Gomes?
I think a midfield of Ugarte, Gomes and Mainoo would be well balanced and could grow nicely together.
{Ed002's Note - Nothing. He will be a Free Agent in the summer.}
10 Sep 2024 09:06:27
Ed002, if you don't mind please.
Do you know if Utd have a buy back clause for Angel Gomes?
{Ed002's Note - No, but hw is out of contract in the summer.}
1.) 10 Sep 2024 09:33:42
Hi Ed002, is he of interest to United by any chance?
{Ed002's Note - Not that I am aware.}
2.) 10 Sep 2024 18:28:04
Should be of interest as he is a very talented player and seemingly matured a lot playing abroad.
3.) 11 Sep 2024 04:13:32
Him, Ugarte, Mainoo, great depth for MF.
4.) 11 Sep 2024 09:24:17
Home grown aswell.
5.) 11 Sep 2024 13:35:23
Despite some on here claiming he isn't built for the EPL. I think he would be ideal for us. Would be a great replacement for Eriksen. Another academy graduate too, but that's just a plus. He has to be good enough, which I believe he clearly is.
6.) 11 Sep 2024 13:55:37
Depends on if he's willing to play the eriksen role, i.e cover/ the bench.
7.) 11 Sep 2024 20:16:47
One saw Gomes as am attacking midfielder. Nicky Butt, head of the academy saw him in the pivot, Butt left because he didn't feel he fitted in with the people running the show.
Games left United went to Lille who used him in the role Butt saw for him. Meanwhile United haven't been able to properly solve that position at all in the intervening years.
I haven't seen enough of Gomes to comment with any great authority on how good he eally is but he looks like he is good enough in that position to have been better than some of the players we have had playing their over the last 2 years at least.
Hindsight may well decide United made a mess of this.
8.) 12 Sep 2024 08:14:11
Oakbark, he wasn't ready at the time for any particular role. Going out and playing in a different league, playing himself into the English side was the right thing for him to do at the time.
But now he will be a free transfer. So I think it would make sense to try and re sign him.
9.) 12 Sep 2024 09:29:22
While not on the same level he has grown into a similar player to Luka Modric. Very slight, but uses that to his advantage to make space for himself in tight and congested areas in midfield. Modric needed a little time playing wide in the EPL before he moved back into the heart of midfield as he got into his mid-twenties. Gomes looks like he's needed to take a similar pathway.
He has great technical ability, vision and passing range.
Lots of hype around him atm due to his England call up and performances. Yet as a homegrown player who knows the club, plays in a position we need more depth, and has skills we need, there is a lot to like, especially available on a free transfer.
Definitely one to keep an eye on and I hope he's being scouted. On paper his skills and ability would pair really well with Ugarte in a double pivot. With the Uruguayan adding the steel to Gomes's silk.
It would also free Mainoo to roam higher up the pitch, where he can influence the game in an attacking sense. Which to me looks like the best use of Kobbie's skills. Roaming link player who can defend from the front, play those little bounce passes to release a forward, or skip past a tackle and open up space himself either for a shot or to play the killer ball.
Angel is certainly a player I'll be trying to watch a bit more over this season for Lille.
10.) 12 Sep 2024 11:19:05
He'd be a brilliant free signing, but one imagines there'll be a very long queue of the top sides in England. We might be among the more appealing with the likes of Eriksen/ Cas likely to depart sooner rather than later.
11.) 12 Sep 2024 11:56:02
We seriously lack a player that can hold onto the ball in that no 6 position. If we can get him on a free, fantastic.
12.) 12 Sep 2024 15:26:41
Shappy,
Great post mate.
13.) 12 Sep 2024 16:31:44
Very good post Shappy, agree with everything you said.
He has said, when asked about returning a while back, OT was his home, mind you, they all say thing's like that.
He is Nani's godson so maybe he will give him some good advice!
14.) 12 Sep 2024 18:24:45
He's actually cousins with or a nephew to Nani I think.
15.) 12 Sep 2024 22:39:07
I agree Angel Red. I think Carrick was the last player utd had of that type and his last game was 6 years ago.
Utd are lacking any control in Midfield so a player who can retain possession, progress the ball and dictate play is desperately needed.
If this allows Mainoo to play further forward and displace Fernandez then Utd will have even more possession and control as a result.
16.) 13 Sep 2024 00:06:09
Unruly, afraid you are wrong, Angel Gomes is the godson of Nani.
17.) 13 Sep 2024 14:59:06
You are right IWOTB. Just saw an article about it.
18.) 16 Sep 2024 13:23:51
Fair one Shappy, I actually read that post ??.
19.) 18 Sep 2024 20:19:03
I like Gomes but the PL is a different proposition than French and international football. I’m not sure he is the answer to the high press and high paced midfields dominating the league right now. I think to be successful now you need a good engine, physically, mobility and technique- Gomes has some of these traits but not all of them. I think he’s this will make replacing Casimero and Eriksen a headache for the United recruitment team.
Does anyone know the people we are targeting for next summer?
21 Aug 2024 15:38:37
Hi ed002, hope you're well.
Anything in the Sancho to Chelsea rumours?
Is it dependent on whether Sterling leaves for Juventus?
{Ed002's Note - Jadon Sancho (W) Borussia Dortmund would take the player back but will not pay more than half of what they sold him for and will step back unless the demands of the player and club are more reasonable, or a further loan is offered. Newcastle may have provided an option but signed an alternative. Agent approached Spurs but they can be discounted. Perhaps a loan to buy for Barcelona or Juventus, but they will not accept an obligation to buy. RBL may be open to a discussion.}
1.) 21 Aug 2024 16:56:12
Thanks for all these updates Ed002, it's been really insightful.
2.) 21 Aug 2024 18:09:51
I suppose sitting around on the bench for the next 2 years while making £15m a year could be appealing, but having already made more money in the last 3 years than most will make in a lifetime, I for one would be more than delighted to renegotiate my pay package for an opportunity to play regularly. IF BD were prepared to pay half of his transfer cost wouldn't that leave a small book profit?
3.) 21 Aug 2024 19:06:25
I saw the links to Chelsea over last few days, its nonsense surely, they wouldn't would they?
They really need to reduce their squad not bring in United's problem child.
4.) 21 Aug 2024 19:53:05
Thanks Ed002
Shawthing, I'm not he's bothered about playing. It didn't look like it even when he was on the pitch.
MancMan's banter posts with other poster's replies to MancMan's banter posts
01 Apr 2025 23:27:25
Is Anorim Portuguese for Allerdyce? Get the big lad up front. Ugh.
1.) 02 Apr 2025 00:48:49
Almost worked didn’t it? They had 5 at the back including 3 centre backs, they used their spoiling tactics faking injuries and taking 2-3 minutes to take every goal kick, they cleared everything, Maguire almost got the equaliser, people complain Amorim only has one way of playing so can’t complain when he tries something different. I can’t believe we lost that game to be honest, had more than enough chances to win 3 games, but sums up both teams this season.
2.) 02 Apr 2025 06:35:02
I honestly thought that’s the best we had played for ages, but having a toothless attack is always going to be a problem.
Ugarte was very poor as was Mazzouri, Dorgu was not great either, but our strikers/ goal scorers are abysmal, anyone who still thinks Garnacho is a work in progress …. well as for Rasmus just as useless
The only one of the above you can cut some slack is Dorgu, being new signing and missed games, the others just get rid, nowhere near good enough.
3.) 02 Apr 2025 06:56:18
Having to put Harry up top is something SAF would also have done, but it’s a damning indictment of our forwards. Zirkzee and Hojland are not goal scoring forwards and it’s ridiculous we were left in this position. A club that once had four top strikers now has none.
I thought we actually played some really nice football and dominated the game. The stats are very one sided. Garnacho was awful until switched to the left, improved but still not good on the night.
I still saw a good structure and hope, but it needs someone to put the ball in the net. Harry looked more likely in ten minutes than H and J have all season.
4.) 02 Apr 2025 07:44:45
Can’t say the writing wasn’t on the wall, a side that struggles to score vs statistically the best defensive unit in the league with most clean sheets. But saying that, one half decent striker and we’d win that three times over.
5.) 02 Apr 2025 09:53:05
We had chances GDS but Garnacho had 6 (0 on target), Dorgu 4 (1 on target), Casimiro 3 and Hoijland 1. Of course Harry had the best chance. But the point is I guess that our strikers had 1 shot on target between them. I'm not sure if the problem is them or the service but it needs to improve.
6.) 02 Apr 2025 11:13:49
Banjos
I won’t excuse Garnacho last night but the two strikers movement and danger in the box is non existent. Seen some good and great strikers down the many years and our present two don’t create danger in the box. It’s poor.
7.) 02 Apr 2025 12:11:53
If we had Harry Kane up front he would have scored 20 goals this season, the service isn’t great but the movement and finishing is horrific so they never look like scoring.
8.) 02 Apr 2025 12:48:25
I hate that I'm even asking this but should Maguire play up front for the rest of the season?
He can't be any less effective.
9.) 02 Apr 2025 13:44:56
Haha mancman I was laughing with the lads on the way home from Nottingham last night saying it would be funny if we started the derby with Maguire up top.
10.) 02 Apr 2025 13:51:47
Guys it’s basic maths, Hoijland‘s shot accuracy is good, it’s greater than 50%, in his first season his shot conversion % stats were the best in the league. He gets approx 1 shot per game, which is terrible. We had 24 shots on goal yesterday most of which were outside the box. We do not have a striker issue, we have a chance creation issue. Salah and Haaland get over 3.5 shots per game, go and look at the French league the two highest scorers, Dembele and Greenwood have the highest shots per game at around 3.5.
Let’s look at Amourims striker at sporting, Gyökeres, 4 shots per game. Trincoa is the next highest in the league on 3 HOWEVER he also has the top assist stats in the league with 11.
We have greedy players who shoot from distance rather than look to play the attacker in. A shot from distance is a very low probability shot. You could put prime Brazilian Ranaldo up front, he’s getting 1 shot a game and will score chuff all, its basic maths.
This isn’t new, we’ve had this for years, literally probably 10 years of the wide players cutting in and shooting outside the box, Bruno shooting outside the box.
Defensively we look much better, Dorgu looks like a player, considering he’s new that’s some achievement. We need to get more penetration on the right, which Amad did a great job of. Changing the two 10 positions to players that look to play in rather than shoot will transform this team.
11.) 02 Apr 2025 14:48:24
Not sure how Yates didn't even get a booking last night, acting a complete c**t the whole game. Pushing Bruno then falling over as if he'd been hit, taking out Bruno on a counter, why does he not get booked? It would have been looked at.
The keeper who took an age everytime was able to just continue doing the same, small steps. place the ball down, pick it up again, put it down . Some of the throw ins, freekicks were mind boggling for those given and those not given. The referee as I see more often just submits or plays up to the crowd.
12.) 02 Apr 2025 15:40:32
Rewz
Why does Hojland only get one shot? Look at his presence, his movement, his positioning in the box, not good enough. I watched more action from the young Obi to get himself away from defenders in our sub appearance than a season of Hojland.
Try getting to the game early and watch Hojland warm up. Unless improved from last season, it was not impressive.
Maybe he is young and inexperienced but he isn’t getting himself into positions, forcing errors. He isn’t showing he is good enough as yet.
13.) 02 Apr 2025 16:24:21
That's an interesting take on things Rewz and I don't disagree.
Utd have spent £73 million on Hojlund so I'm not sure he can or should be easily discarded.
It's true that he needs more opportunities to score. He needs more coaching to make sure he makes the right runs and he definitely needs more supply from the players around him.
I think Hojlund deserves some credit for keeping going when he must be frustrated and his confidence must be shot.
In my view Fernandez shouldn't be playing at 10 and I'm running out of patience with Garnacho. He's great at getting himself into good positions with the ball but his shooting is terrible and his decision making is poor. I don't know if improvements in those areas can be coached into him. If a decent offer comes for him I say Utd should sell.
14.) 02 Apr 2025 16:35:59
Today's interesting fact doing the rounds, that had it appeared yesterday one would assume was an April Fool: Harry Maguire accumulated more xG in added time against Nottingham Forest than Rasmus Hojlund has in his last 15 appearances.
15.) 03 Apr 2025 23:19:47
Although I don't necessarily disagree that Garnacho needs to look up more, I'm not convinced greed is the sole cause of the players more often than than not opting for a long shot. They don't have the eye for the clever pass, and they don't trust the option waiting for them if they do find someone. I'd probably take a punt myself if I looked up and Hojlund was unmarked in the 6 yard box!
23 Mar 2025 03:45:16
I feel like I've seen it all now.
Newspaper headline "Rashford could be more important to Tuchel’s England than Palmer or Saka"
It's a weird choice of player for Tuchel. Mainly because Rashford isn't very good and hasn't set the world alive at Villa.
Either Tuchel or Amorim is wrong about Rashford. My feeling is it's Tuchel who will drop him in a few matches.
1.) 23 Mar 2025 08:21:29
Mancman
In terms of what you posted, that’s not what I read. 'We hope for more impact in these positions, ' Tuchel said after the match about wide players. 'More dribbling and more aggressive runs towards the box. In general, that was missing. The chances come from the little runs behind the line. They were not as decisive as they can be. It was a little bit too much passing, not enough dribbling, not aggressive enough towards goal. '
That was aimed apparently at Foden and Rashford. It depends on where you read it, don’t forget Rashford seems to have a PR department.
I still hope we get good money for Rashford in summer.
2.) 23 Mar 2025 10:19:28
I think Rashford has the potential to be an important impact player for England.
England are blessed with a lot of attacking midfielders/ wide players who want to ball to feet. Saka, Foden, Grealish, Palmer, Gordon, Bellingham, Rodgers, Eze, Bowen etc all want the ball to feet.
Rashford along with Sterling are one of only a few who are happy to have the ball played in front of them for them to run onto. Making Rashford a fairly unique profile of player available to the England manager.
This is exasperated further when you think about the striker options as well, Kane and Watkins are players who prefer to drop deep and link play rather than play on the shoulder of the last man and look to run in behind.
Rashford is nowhere near England's best player, but due to his fairly unique profile amongst the England squad he could be one of the most important players as simply there just aren't many other options to offer the team what he offers.
As United fans I feel we are all jaded with Rashford, but he is a far better player than he has shown at United for the past 18 months. If he can get back to somewhere close to his best he is a top player, and certainly someone who can offer something important at international level.
{Ed077's Note - but first he needs to start playing well, find form and stay fit
3.) 23 Mar 2025 10:38:38
I don’t understand how anyone would play him ahead of Gordon. Rashford is talented, but even at his best, Gordon offers more.
4.) 23 Mar 2025 12:30:25
Redman, the article was by Jonathan Wilson in the Guardian. It makes pretty much the same argument as Shappy.
Regardless of how Rashford plays football, the fact remains that he is largely ineffectual as a player. Like you say Shappy, we've seen this at Utd over many games.
Tuchel. has already critised Rashford (and Foden) and that's just after one game.
The concept of having a runner into space is sound, but it needs to be a decent player which Rashford has proved not be be.
Also, if you're saying that Rashford will prove to be a good pick for England, then you're also saying that Anorim got him all wrong and should have managed him better.
5.) 23 Mar 2025 12:35:23
Poor first touch. Not good when in a tight corner. Often wasteful in his passing. How defense is quite poor. He's a player who needs wide open spaces. Even then he's lost a step compared to many of the modern defenders.
6.) 23 Mar 2025 18:10:26
Mancman
Ah the Guardian, say no more.
No thought I was very clear. I don’t think Rashford will suddenly prove to be a good pick for United or England. Lost his way. Needs space to run into with a team pushed up.
7.) 24 Mar 2025 08:25:01
His 0 goals in 9 games for Villa have somehow made the press think he’s ‘back’, the amount he must pay his PR team must be crazy.
8.) 24 Mar 2025 08:30:37
What’s wrong with the Guardian?
9.) 24 Mar 2025 10:29:23
Jesus, Rashford really rattles people on here ?.
10.) 24 Mar 2025 11:43:06
Angel, I'm not rattled about Rashford. I'm just surprised Tuchel has selected him for England given how Anorim went out of his way to get rid of him.
11.) 24 Mar 2025 13:47:41
Yesterday's man thankfully. Not playing for us so he is irrelevant imo. Some he is gone the better.
The hype surrounding him for a guy who produces pretty poor results is not justified.
Hope to never see him at OT again. But I wish him well like the vast majority of our ex employees when he is eventually sold this summer.
12.) 25 Mar 2025 13:17:46
I loved rashford, but I've seen much better players leave the club than him.
Couldn't care less what's being said about him tbh.
13.) 25 Mar 2025 14:58:02
The king is dead long live the new king deano.
If he doesn't play for us I couldn't give a damn what he is up to elsewhere.
15 Feb 2025 21:22:28
I've just read that Utd are making big cuts to their scouting network.
For a club that now needs to be extra good at scouting that sounds like a pretty stupid move.
1.) 15 Feb 2025 22:03:34
To be fair, our recent scouting outcomes haven’t exactly proved successful ?.
2.) 15 Feb 2025 22:40:00
Lots of stories of scouts recommending world class players and the club deciding not to go for them.
3.) 16 Feb 2025 02:25:00
Apparently we had 200! Do we really need so many? Does anyone on this site know how many other top clubs employ?
4.) 16 Feb 2025 10:26:11
Salford
No mate, we apparently have an 80-strong scouting network, the figure of 200 applies to the maximum total of the next redundancies phase which will certainly include a good chunk of the scouting group.
I believe, from what I've read, that the strategy is to focus the domestic youth scouting on more data-driven principles while doing away with many of the 'lesser' scouts who seem not to be meeting the targets.
While not a comprehensive gauge, Transfermarkt has us as having a principle contingent of 41 scouts, whereas Liverpool have 24, City have 25, Arsenal have 24, Chelsea have 30, and Spurs have 9?
I would conclude that this might suggest the other 'Top 6' clubs are focusing less on the traditional, in-person, core principle of scouting and using the available technology better with perhaps better data people looking at it.
The suggestion is that there's too many cooks in the kitchen and the decent cooks might need better equipment.
SJR isn't getting everything right, but I think our scouting network has let us down badly on many occasions over the last decade and, imo, it's very much time to trim the fat.
5.) 16 Feb 2025 10:51:03
Salford,
No of course they don’t but don’t let that get in the way of the bad press and complaining about everything. People hated the way the Glazers were running the club, wasting money all over the place, yes someone has come in to try and run it differently and more sustainably and people are complaining about that too.
6.) 16 Feb 2025 11:31:33
By all accounts the scouts themselves haven’t been to blame - there have been a few instances where they highlighted potential gems (Caicedo springs to mind) but were ignored. It’s the decision making above them that needs to change. But yeah, 80 scouts or whatever it is sounds pretty OTT tbf.
7.) 16 Feb 2025 14:08:39
Spenno
Agreed but, since the executive incompetents have been replaced, it's now time to look at those not performing further down.
Vivell's would be the head to roll if the scouting network doesn't step up, but I think the capture of Diego Leon via the work conducted by Guiseppe Antonaccio suggests that, at least somewhere in the structure, improvements have been found.
8.) 16 Feb 2025 15:09:51
Let’s revisit that when we see how good Leon is :D
But yeah, there definitely seems to have been a shift in terms of the recent youths coming in. Looking forward to seeing the latest ‘fledglings’!
04 Feb 2025 11:19:36
I'm quite happy with the way things are going under Amorim:
Some encouraging new signings of young players with excellent potential.
Improvements in some existing players like Bruno, Amad and Ugarte.
Rashford and Antony moved on.
I'll remind everyone that RA has been the coach for just 85 days.
As long as Utd avoid relegation then I think the team is moving in the right direction.
There are already some excellent players in the squad. I think with the continued clear out of the players we know aren't up to it (and never have been), a few shrewd signings and a few youngsters stepping up, Utd will be well on their way.
1.) 04 Feb 2025 12:32:38
I think you are correct MancMan but I think we needed to get a forward in this window. Even if a short term loan, we had to get someone. I'm talking the likes of Callum Wilson. A pro that will help Hojlund. We were already struggling for goals and the only way we'll improve is if Dorgu at LWB means we are significantly better attacking wise. That, to my mind, is far too much expectation to put on him.
However, on the positives: the only chance for the club to be successful in a meaningful way again is to move on some of the extremely poor purchases and those that haven't shown the required work ethic. We currently have Rashford, Antony and Sancho on loan. The combined cost was around 150M. We will recoup 65M + Antony fee in the summer - hopefully that'll mean around 100M total. So it's no wonder we're weak in the forward division, but financially we should be in a decent position this summer, especially when accounting for the salaries. I just hope we get there without too much damage being done.
2.) 04 Feb 2025 13:49:33
How far we have fallen if we are having to use phrases like "as long we avoid relegation"
3.) 04 Feb 2025 14:18:35
As long as Utd avoid relegation then I think the team is moving in the right direction.
The club works on numbers and not on daft statements like this. It needs revenue which moslty comes from qualifying into Europe. without CL the club will struggle to attract top players.
4.) 04 Feb 2025 14:31:11
You see us getting £65m+ for Antony?
5.) 04 Feb 2025 14:48:36
Mancman, can you give me the name of your dealer?
6.) 04 Feb 2025 18:11:17
I totally agree with a lot of that.
I'm quite surprised our fans are a ignorant as some of them appear to be regarding our ability to spend this window.
We can afford to buy players the funds are there.
We cannot afford to do so this window due to adherence to psr and other financial rules.
The new part owner and team have made some mistakes as we knew they would.
I think we will see 4 starting 11 players come in next summer.
A rwb cm 10 striker and bodily a keeper if we can.
We will be in a much better position to shift players in the summer with their book value reduced by a year like casimero and onana both of whom will not produce a loss on the books if we sell them next summer but if we had this winter they would have produced a loss. Even giving ericksen and lindelof away this winter would have produced a loss whereas them leaving for free in the summer won't be a loss.
Before we throw our toys out of the prem look at the reasons and rationale.
All I know for sure is that we did sign 2 players very highly coveted by people that should know.
This season will be painful unless we get 2 decent cup runs but pertains while I'm disappointed that we are not doing better right now I'm very confidant that RA will get it right. He took over a horrible squad and a horrible culture.
You all wanted half's open heart surgery. No heart transplant patient recovers in days or weeks. It takes time. It's often wise before it's better.
We have a leader that I'd follow over the hill without asking questions. Those that stop and ask too many questions should get thrown out of the trench.
In 18 months time we will start the season with the hope and possibility of competing to win.
I'm quite comfortable being uncomfortable at this moment in time. While recognising that we should be doing better than we are particularly at home.
7.) 04 Feb 2025 18:24:27
I’m with Mancman on this one.
We have been dogsh*t for a decade or more. We have all known for years that this squad needs a manager with a vision, a style of play and the backing of footballing people in the positions above him. Player power, thinking they are better than they are and being massively overpaid has lead us to this point.
I will happily back Amorim over any of the players not brought in during his tenure. He is a young, successful and well thought of manager. He has a style which he is unwilling to change for the useless players he currently has to fill the various positions which is the correct decision.
If he changes things, results may improve slightly short term but longer term we won’t be any better off. We need to see who can and can’t adapt to his system and get rid of anyone who can’t, not paper over it for now and learn nothing.
We won’t be relegated playing the formation we are, but neither will we get close to top four if he changes his formation so there is no real point in doing so if he has the backing from above. It is short term pain with the hope of long term gains.
Getting Antony, Rashford etc out of the club is a start. Hopefully permanently in the summer. Follow those with Casemiro, Lindelof, Shaw, Evans, Malacia, Dalot, Eriksen, Mount and maybe Onana over the next few windows and get some improved young and experienced replacements in and this time next year we should be on the up rather than feeling the pain we currently are.
Give in to pressure again and again and we will continue this spiral until we do actually get relegated one day.
8.) 04 Feb 2025 18:47:07
Spenno I think if you re-read it you'll see I'm imagining we can get up to 35M for Antony. The 65M was made up of the Sancho + Rashford fees.
9.) 04 Feb 2025 19:01:45
AJH, ask for Dave ;-)
Donred, I agree but if the right player isn't available then the club just have to wait. I don't think Callum Wilson is the answer.
Equalizer; what are you talking about Europe for? With all the changes taking place, this team just needs to keep it's head above water until everything settles down. I don't think you appreciate how hard it is to achieve excellence in an ever changing environment.
Plus Utd have tried signing 'top' players and it didn't work. Going forward the club needs to sign the right players who will engage with what Amorim and the club are trying to achieve and want to be part of it. And besides, this is MANCHESTER UNITED we are talking about even though the team is 13th in the table.
10.) 04 Feb 2025 19:07:24
Tumbleweed, Eriksen came in on a free and has zero book value, Lindelof is on a one year extension and also has no book value. If someone had been interested in them and the club was interested, any sale or loan could have yielded a profit or reduced our expenditure by saving their wages. Casemiro will cost us a year's amortization and his wages, about £30m combined in his final year. A sale could produce a loss, but at least it would reduce our expenses. No one semi interested in taking him off our hands. We can but hope. Onana's contract still has 3 years to run after this and his unamortized cost will £28m. There's no guarantee we can make. profit or even over the costs on either.
I'm also prepared to give RA some time to acquire the players to implement the style of football he wants to play. There's no point in failing to train every player in the team towards that end now. This season is a right off. Finish 15th or 9th what's the difference. The preparations must go on.
11.) 04 Feb 2025 19:35:35
Double raid on Sporting in summer for Gyo and Quenda and we’ll look much better.
Only position I am drawing blanks on is a CM to steer this ship. Maybe Arsenal have a kid we can nick for the hat trick :D.
12.) 04 Feb 2025 20:08:48
Spenno I agree.
Shawthing if we gave them away we would have had to pay them off hence the loss on both ericksen and lindelof. They're is also the associated costs which could have gone over the 3m bracket for each total loss.
Cas will only have a year left you don't amortise wages as i suspect you know so if sold for 13.5m we break even and onana likewise the figure i have us 19m book value at end of season. The facts are we couldn't just get rid.
We are sailing so close to a points deduction. We could not buy much or pay loan fees this winter.
13.) 04 Feb 2025 20:09:43
With Tumble. This is the manager to get behind, we have needed the open heart surgery since before SAF announced his retirement. There was no vision or planning at the club, just stick Moyes in the hope it would just continue. Sheer incompetence and yes I did say it at the time.
Ralf told us what was needed but they got rid of him.
No one dared take on Rashford, the emotional nonsense put out there. Until now.
Now you can see the culture is changing and RA will set it, demand it.
This is the manager to stand behind for me.
14.) 04 Feb 2025 20:23:59
I think we have to be prepared that it's going to take a long time to turn us around, we have to get our spending back under control, stop blowing huge fees and wages on crap, start picking up pieces for Amorims team.
It's going to take a couple of years on the finances alone simply because of our performance over the last three years in terms of PSR.
We won't like it but this isn't a quick fix. We aren't going to be bringing in many finished products we are going to be chasing players with room to grow into the players Amorims needs.
We spent financially in the position to rebuild quick with finished articles in each position we need.
I know some people won't like it. I think we will see some of the young players we bought in begin tonstepbupnover the next 18 mo the as Amorim bloods them because we don't have a lot of choice.
I am not even expecting a big summer because I think the finances meed properly getting on top of and the poor squad building over the last few years hasn't given us a solid foundation at all. I don't think we are in a position to add a few pieces and step up, I think it's closer to largely ripping up this squad and starting over. I believe e Berrada's 2028 for a challenge target will be closer to 2030.
15.) 04 Feb 2025 21:11:33
The aim is the Europa League, end of story. The league and the FA cup are a distraction, for this season.
16.) 04 Feb 2025 22:26:34
Agree with Jim, while we have looked like crap in the league, Europe we have been fairly decent and has to be our priority for the remainder of the season.
While we all hope that performances would have improved under Amorim in the league, it just shows that the issues lie deep at United and will take time to fix.
17.) 05 Feb 2025 00:32:58
It's all that really matters this season. I'm not sure we've been good in Europe but we've found a way to win. There are some good teams left least if all gala who we could face in the round of 16.
Winning it would be huge for us at this stage of our rebuild and could accelerate our process dramatically.
An fa cup run is always good fun and provides a route into Europe so not to be sniffed at but there are better teams in the fa cup than the europa league.
18.) 05 Feb 2025 05:09:15
our season will most likely be over by end of march unless we get a luck of a draw in the cup competitions given how we are playing. Personally was not too bothered we did not do more in the window and kind of expected it.
We are clearing the deck and going to change a ton of things. People are blaming the players for our poor showing and some of it is true and getting their wish of seeing players go now and a lot more come summer.
On current form players like Mainoo, Garna, Hoiland, Zirksee should all get sold, For every one decent game they have then they have 4 or 5 poor games, there is something clearly not working. Its not even that they are not trying its more like teams know exactly what to do to nullify what we are trying to do and hence they all look lost and incompetent and very average and losing market value.
We will probably add 5 players this summer at the minimum, a full preseason, almost a year on the job and then no scapegoating and need to see results. I am personally a skeptic and don't think he will make it. Not because he is bad guy or a bad manager, I actually like his honesty and how he talks but because the pl and his lack of experience, flexibility and ability to make adjustments will cost him his job.
The club is clearly banking on buying young players from anywhere but the pl at a reasonable cost with the exception of a few that can be moved on if they are a bust without losing your shirt.
It remains to be seen if it will be a successful strategy. I am a big believer in what Fergie used to do buy some of the the best players from the league and sprinkle a few squad players in there from outside.
19.) 05 Feb 2025 06:22:38
We have long been treated to the joy of the rebuild narrative, but I suspect many have been happy to leave our heads in the sand when the initial stages trigger the inevitable and wholly unavoidable dearth.
Like any restructuring process, the breakdown must always be followed by the shakedown which will almost certainly bring about a short-term kerfuffle.
We are in the midst of the shakedown - this is our bitter, but absolutely essential, kerfuffle.
20.) 05 Feb 2025 07:31:21
It’s just Operation Flotsam for summer for me. Don’t see the younger players going just because they’re not in form right now, maybe Zirkzee as it’s obviously a bad fit. But once Eriksen, Casemiro, Evans, Linelof have gone, and hopefully Chelsea/ Villa sign Sancho and Rashford, that’s a massive upheaval without really touching the current first team.
21.) 05 Feb 2025 13:47:50
Spenno
Chelsea have an obligation to sign sancho. There is no grey area in that loan. The higher they finish the higher the obligation.
22.) 05 Feb 2025 15:54:55
That's not true ahmad.
There is no obligation to buy if they finish below a certain position.
That's very unlikely but it's the grey area.
Devil is in the detail.
23.) 05 Feb 2025 17:18:43
Tumble. we are contractually committed to paying Casmiro his wages until the end of next year. Let's say £15m. If we bought him for £60m over 4 years., we're writing that off at £15m per year. Hence we are committed to £30m expense next year. Of course, that will be reduced by anything we can get for him. If someone gave us £15m and this summer we will basically break even on the deal. If they don;t pay al of his wages we may still have to eat some cost.
24.) 05 Feb 2025 17:19:36
Let’s face it, they won’t finish below 14th. They’re not United ?.
Therefore, that’s one problem/ expensive wage player gone. Rashford, Antony and Casemiro next!
25.) 06 Feb 2025 04:58:18
I knew that and dismissed it as its not plausible at this stage anymore. it really about whether they get top 4/ 5/ 6 imo. Can't see forrest staying where they are and chelsea are cl bound imo.
28 Jan 2025 17:23:07
Bruno Fernandez. Historically I’ve not been a fan due to his positional ill discipline, his carelessness with the ball, his tendency to give away stupid fouls in dangerous areas and his general on-field histrionics.
But all this seems to have drastically changed with the arrival of Ruben Anorim. What I’m seeing is someone who seems to be enjoying his football more and is leading by example with his application. His work rate is phenomenal and I think it’s rubbing off on the other players.
I like him more in central midfield, especially when he has Collyer or Ugarte alongside him playing a more disciplined role. This gives him freedom to roam and I think having two no 10s ahead of him takes away the pressure for him to create so he is less likely to try something speculative and give the ball away cheaply.
He’s also calmed down with referees and play acting which I like to see. Previously he was just looking like a fool with all the stupid arm waving and feigning injury.
If he carries on this way I’ll be very happy to see him stay at Utd and hopefully be a central part of the new team that Anorim builds.
1.) 28 Jan 2025 18:59:10
Mancman I'm not a fan. His personal stats are very good in creativity and goal contributions including assists that's undeniable. However I have not liked him as a player.
I tend to agree with most of your post he has been better recently and cut out a lot of the antics. I'm guessing the manager has told him to clean up his act and he's responded. So long may that continue. He has always been convinced by amorim so he is giving it everything and I admire that. I'm not sure I'll ever be a huge fan of Bruno that said I hope he scores every week and continues to play and act like a leader should because he has done both of those things much better recently. Good post of yours manc man.
2.) 28 Jan 2025 19:32:15
I like this post very much. Bruno deeper seems to suit him well. But we do sacrifice creativity in front of him.
Mount is an obvious fill when he finally gets fit. I do wonder if Mainoo could plug the gap further up too?
3.) 28 Jan 2025 22:51:12
Best player we have had in years by a million miles.
4.) 29 Jan 2025 07:26:56
Eric, Mount and Mainoo ahead of Bruno is an interesting option. I do sometimes wonder if Mainoo is a bit lightweight for central midfield in the Premier League but his calmness on the ball and excellent close control in tight spaces could be excellent further forward as a 10.
But then, where does Amad play? Wingback?
5.) 29 Jan 2025 08:12:58
I think he can play wing back against the “weaker” teams for sure but it does feel like a waste him being there. Amad also can’t play every game.
It’s a decent option to rotate the team around a bit though. Let’s not forget on Mainoo that he is still a very young lad and has a lot to learn and a lot of development ahead of him in this new formation. Putting him in a midfield 2 that is being overrun must be a tough challenge for him.
6.) 29 Jan 2025 10:31:22
Good post Mancman and Tumble
Tactical ill-discipline from Bruno has been a bug bear of mine for a while. I saw the comment from RA that said about players losing position tactically could not continue to happen and suspect that could easily be aimed at Bruno. Seems better and doesn’t seem to be chasing back as much from being out of position. Does still give the ball away, often putting us under extreme pressure. The head coach RA will look to improve him and he must improve to stay.
7.) 29 Jan 2025 16:37:43
RM, you see it how you want to see it re Bruno.
8.) 29 Jan 2025 17:54:15
Redman, I think as a central midfielder Bruno's positional discipline is much better because he isn't the first line of the press, but also he has license to roam knowing that Ugarte or Collyer is minding the shop.
I think as a box to box midfielder that is his remit. I also think that's what gets the most out of him and makes best use of his incredible engine. He can be an influence anywhere on the pitch offensively and in a deeper role he offers more defensively.
I was at OT for the Rangers game and watching Bruno off the ball, he really impressed me.
9.) 29 Jan 2025 20:57:35
Angelred so do you.
10.) 30 Jan 2025 05:47:15
Mancman
Yes he spends a lot of energy. Previously he would be caught out and be seen running back chasing an opposition player because he was out of position, I haven’t seen as much of that recently. Having the excellent Ugarte and impressive Collyer there rather than Casemiro helps. Bruno has to work on not giving the ball away, cracked record I know but we come under terrible pressure at times, give goals away because of it.
Angelred, I see what I see on the football pitch. Some can be blinkered by their favourite player. Fact is we have been terrible at a time when Bruno has been our leader on the pitch or supposed to be and he has been part of the problem at times.
11.) 30 Jan 2025 10:59:36
Ken, difference is, Bruno has assists and goals to boot and always shows up, never shies away. Facts back up my assertions.
12.) 30 Jan 2025 14:40:00
Angel do you think the list possession stats don't back up redmans assertions? Because they do.
13.) 30 Jan 2025 15:32:31
Tumble/ Redman, part of what I'm saying about Bruno is that to my eye in a central midfield role he seems to be looking after the ball better and giving it away less.
I think he might also be winning it back more as well.
Giving the ball away so much is the the thing that has driven me crazy about him as well so I'm quite well attuned to it.
Unfortunately I have no idea where (and probably not much inclination lol) to find stats to either support or refute my feeling on this.
14.) 30 Jan 2025 19:18:51
The stats are there. As I said his personal stats are very good.
I agree mncman he looks better deeper. But more importantly he is acting like a leader for the 1st time during his united career and has cut out a lot of what makes a lot of people dislike him so that bodes well.
02 Feb 2025 11:58:37
Who cares where he goes. £365k a week off the wages.
Ta ra Marcus.
31 Jan 2025 07:41:54
Fair enough GDS2. it is a rumour though and this is a rumour site.
Now I'm wondering what other gossip is being held back ?.
30 Jan 2025 15:36:26
Bloody brilliant rumour by the way. Just what this site was created for. Can't believe you didn't share it GDS2 if you heard it before.
30 Jan 2025 15:35:32
Rashford stoned on sleeping pills would explain his performances for the last two seasons.
30 Jan 2025 15:33:28
Can he put the ball in the onion bag?
21 Apr 2025 09:30:32
Obviously it helps having a centre forward who can score, but goals need to come from the whole team.
Very few Utd players look capable of scoring a goal even when it's on a plate.
Mount missed a couple of sitters yesterday. Garnacho fluffed 1 on 1 with the keeper against Lyon. Dorgu seems incapable of getting a shot on target. I don't think Yoro knows the opposition can also concede. I could go on.
18 Apr 2025 08:57:59
Grim, whatever faults Maguire has as a footballer, lack of mental fortitude is not one of them.
That guy has always stood up to be counted, he has never hidden or shirked from a set back.
I for one respect that.
18 Apr 2025 08:55:05
I don't mean to be rude, but blah blah blah blah blah.
That match was exactly why I love football.
Screw the analysis, who cares? Just ride the emotion and appreciate the drama.
{Ed025's Note - it was certainly entertaining MM..
10 Apr 2025 17:53:58
Well said GDS2, I have also enjoyed what has been a robust discussion.
It's easy to get entrenched in one's own views and not listen to others'. My takeaway is maybe I'm a bit too sensitive and most people truly aren't bothered about the insults and the abuse.
I'll finish by saying one of my all time favourite chants is from the Spurs fans - "taxi for Maicon" when Bale gave him an absolute torrid time back in 2010.
I also used to find it really funny when fans behind Wenger imitated him en-masse him when he used to wave his arms around.
They're both pretty lame but that's the kind of humour/ banter I want to see and hear at a football match.
09 Apr 2025 20:02:19
First of all GDS2;no. Like you say, I don't know you so I'm not accusing you of any 'isms'.
This is obviously an emotive subject so I'd like to take it down a notch and perhaps make the discussion less personal.
I do however think tribalism is a bad thing because like the other isms it accentuates differences between us and encourages ill feeling. At the end of the day people just support different football teams.
Like you say, I think we just have to accept we disagree on what should and shouldn't be chanted at a game. My opinion is that nasty personal attacks cross the line.