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29 Sep 2025 17:47:29
Whispers are that there has been a meeting today in which the club have defined a style of play which they have told the head coach he is required to play. That is a formation 433.
Who knows if true but if true it's a watershed moment, the club setting a direction is one point but what does it mean if they replace RA? Will the new incumbent be told to play 433? Does it rule out Glasner? Will RA resign if told how to play? Is any of this true?
Rumour site so there you go.
1.) 29 Sep 2025 18:29:07
I can't imagine it's true, it would be a ridiculously dangerous and stupid thing to do.
It's one thing to say the team needs to play a front foot, attacking style of play. And completely another to dictate to a coach/ manager what formation the team have to play. What next which players have to start?
You hire a manager to manage the team, it is down to them how they set their team up, ultimately they will live and die by the results they get.
We have ended up in the almighty mess we find ourselves in by having unqualified people making decisions about which they know very little, certainly not their area of expertise. It would be a shame after all the good work rebuilding the club structure behind the scenes only to start repeating the mistakes of the past.
{Ed025's Note - "it would be a shame after all the good work rebuilding the club structure" ?...when did that good work actually happen Shappy...i must have missed that..
2.) 29 Sep 2025 19:07:41
Interview with Glasner where he speaks about playing the formation he thinks best suits his players. 4-4-2 is his favourite but that doesn’t suit his players at Palace. Speaks very well about formation.
3.) 29 Sep 2025 21:38:40
It sounds plausible.
INEOS came in very strong with Game Model and committing to the club having an identity and style down to youth teams. That went quite with Amorim and the youth have remained successful without 3421.
It makes a lot of sense and means the players signed are for the club not the coach.
Shappy you’re coming across like a contrarian. What Redman says makes aligns with how many clubs operate.
4.) 30 Sep 2025 06:42:03
they would be incompetent if they allow this to continue. amorim is a fraud with nice words. get rid.
5.) 30 Sep 2025 08:53:35
Guessing you’ve seen the post from IndyKaila News on X.
Let’s hope he changes to a 433 but, given Amorim said he wouldn’t even change for the Pope, seems highly unlikely.
Results must improve though, otherwise his exit will be inevitable.
6.) 30 Sep 2025 09:24:18
Personally it feels like the narrative surrounding Amorim has changed, and a new manager will be in place soon. I have a feeling Liverpool will be his last game with a new manager starting after that as there is a decent run of games until new year.
7.) 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.
8.) 30 Sep 2025 20:42:24
What I don’t understand is why are the youth teams still playing 433 and 4231 if the hierarchy hired Amorim to play this 3421.
Seems to me the structure isn’t aligned through the club which is another balls up.
9.) 30 Sep 2025 23:54:20
Or if that rumour is true could the club be trying to save £12m by getting RA to resign instead of being sacked?
10.) 01 Oct 2025 19:38:01
Why would anybody resign and walk away from £12m.
11.) 02 Oct 2025 22:08:49
Did RA not say he would just that, Eric? Or words to that effect at least.
12.) 03 Oct 2025 04:30:27
That’s his problem he is just words!
He says things and then blames it on emotion, in the heat of the moment crap
Great talk the talk man, but that’s all he got
Talks a good game.
06 Aug 2025 17:36:29
Baleba
One or two noises saying he is our next target. Will be interesting to see, certainly looks a powerful central midfield player.
1.) 06 Aug 2025 17:51:34
He'd be the ideal signing, but I cannot see how we could possibly afford him given Brighton will demand around 100m for him.
2.) 06 Aug 2025 18:05:17
Have to say Mainoo and Baleba in a double pivot midfield looks an excellent prospect, I know we are spreading payments a lot, but there cannot be enough left to get Baleba as well.
3.) 06 Aug 2025 18:19:00
Big big money there redman.
A lot of people would have him as their 1st choice. Super player. Would be a great signing but I just can't see it happening this summer.
Who can we get with our budget? Tough position to fill well on a budget just got to hope we get someone. Cas just slow and can't compete in epl.
Mainoo has a lot to prove.
Ugarte is very poor on the ball.
Collyer is miles off the pace and loan will do him good as I don't think he has a long term future.
Wharton would be a great option also but no interest shown in him by the club in don't think he is for sale.
4.) 06 Aug 2025 19:18:08
Fabrizio now confirm we have made an approach but it is a difficult deal.
Who lit a fire underneath our transfer department.
5.) 06 Aug 2025 19:26:12
Could we use any players in a potential deal? It would be a serious window if they pulled this off.
6.) 06 Aug 2025 19:30:50
Baleba is the real deal
Eats the ground for fun. Ideal player to set the attackers free.
7.) 06 Aug 2025 19:58:07
Even more reporting it now - even Ornstein and Romano. €100m asking price (£87m) so that suggests there’s a deal to be had around £80m.
For me, this is the ‘sales funding a further purchase deal’. Cunha’s initial payment went on the 24/ 25 accounts and I believe we had around £60m to spend this summer: £20m on the first down payment for Mbeumo and £40m on the first down payment on Sesko.
Let’s see if we can sell the likes of Malacia, Antony, Garnacho, Sancho and maybe even Casemiro and Hojlund.
Baleba on top of the others in so far gets us top 6 comfortably.
{Ed025's Note - really Downsie?, unless you address the keeper situation , the lack of quality defenders and the gaping hole in midfield i would say 10th would be the best you can accomplish this season mate..
8.) 06 Aug 2025 19:59:54
Just can't see it happening, suspect its laying the foundations for next summer window as statement of intent and get the player dreaming of turning out for us.
A couple of rumours he has said yes and hopes Brighton will open talks at least, possible loan and obligation to buy to meet FFP.
I am doubtful but you can't say Ineos are being shy of a challenge now in recruitment.
Possibly also a positioning strategy to see if Atlanta get realistic about Ederson or perhaps even Sporting and Hjolmund.
I still. expect us to settle for eother Ndidi as a stop gap or Luiz on loan. Gone very quiet on the Nmecha front but don't write that deal off either as Utd and Vivell really rate him as does Wllcox.
9.) 06 Aug 2025 20:23:32
Maybe if we sell Garnacho, Antony and Sancho. I hope we sign someone in the midfield and then get Baleba the next summer.
10.) 06 Aug 2025 20:43:08
Ed025 - lack of quality defenders? Yoro walks into any side in the PL bar perhaps Arsenal and De Ligt is criminally underrated. Add Licha and Heaven into the mix - only one game per week remember.
Yoro De Ligt Heaven
Amad Fernandes/ Mainoo Baleba Dorgu
Mbeumo Sesko Cunha
Is comfortably the best United side post-Fergie.
{Ed025's Note - bit early to tell with Yoro Downsie but he looks the best of a very bad bunch for me mate. De ligt is absolutely S**** and Heaven has hardly pulled up any trees but at least he does have scope to improve, Martinez is a joke and Harry is well...Harry, Bruno is your only decent Midfielder and the rest dont get in any top 10 team, Mbeumo looks very good and Cunha definitely improves you and if you do get Sesko..(big IF) your attack could look very impressive, the problem is though that you may have to score 4 to get a point with that defence and especially that guy you call a keeper, sorry to be so blunt and of course this is only my opinion but i do like United and respect them as a great club, but its no use me telling lies or even making outrageous statements like they could easily make top 6, thats just pie in the sky and i think we all know it my friend..
11.) 06 Aug 2025 21:17:53
Zero chance of this happening. Unfortunately. Brighton don’t want to sell, and will set a crazy high price.
The young lad at Middlesbrough could be a good buy. Around £20m.
12.) 06 Aug 2025 21:46:03
Baleba, I would need to huy a lot more tissues if we got him this summer.
13.) 06 Aug 2025 22:12:33
Ed025, you sound exactly like germansuppclub
could it be? .
{Ed025's Note - no rkc, i talk sense mate.. :)
14.) 07 Aug 2025 06:42:40
Yoro never walks in to any team in the top 4 that’s red tints on full blast…. Yes he is the best of our lot, but that don’t say much (but he could get better along the way being only young and got some pace) when most of them are very poor and not at the level required especially Deligt, Martinez, McGuire I would even add Dalot to the not good enough along with Shaw and only one I would keep is Maz, not because he is great but he can play a few positions so ideal in the squad. All GKs are waste of space, add our poor midfield to that, Ugarte diabolical Mainoo, no mobility or pace Cass now past it for the EPL, we have a dreadful Midfield and defence and GK, so top 4 is just not reality Top 6 is whilst not impossible it’s red tints viewing!
15.) 07 Aug 2025 10:29:14
You know what German, every fan wears their teams tinted glasses. And why not?! Football is about supporting a team against the world. Arsenal fans every year think they’ll win the league and are the best team in the league, Newcastle fans think they’re in with the big 6, Liverpool fans think they’re the biggest club in England having won 2 titles in 30+ years, we think we’re the best despite a decade without the title, City fans think they’re the greatest team ever to play football. Who cares?! It’s what supporting a team is. I genuinely don’t know what you get out of supporting United, if in deed you actually do?!
I don’t mind fans having an opinion but when they speak like their points are factually true, the arrogance of a nobody on a fans forum amazes me and makes it all a little less enjoyable.
16.) 07 Aug 2025 13:29:22
Relax Ports, he just has his black tints on all the time ?.
17.) 07 Aug 2025 14:29:43
Frankly some people just never seem satisfied. Its not FM, you can't change 18 years of incompetence in 2 years. We did great business last summer for defenders. We are doing great business this summer for attack. Next summer we will go big again on the midfield with proper attitude and ability to fit the team style of play which is now crystal clear.
Cup half empty is just a ridiculous mindset. Go back and look at all the negativity even after we signed cunha on we are still inept
, why so long for Mbuemo, you'd have killed at that point for 2 more top quality signings that are also long term buys, so why not see where we are at once the window closes. I do think we will bring in a Gk and a midfielder, just not the perfect ones unless we can shift all our flotsam and get another maybe like Hojlund or even Greenwood sell in clause come i to play. At least the front 3 are exciting and the defence is well stocked at least u til next window. Be happy with what we have done, its called progress and moving in the right direction. How are all posters not delighted with that. And sorry German, I've been reading your posts for a year now and if we won the treble i'm convinced you'd be moaning we didn't try winning the Stanley Cup or Wimbledon. Pure gaslighted with zero joy in theor soul. Even during the Fergie era we signed some utter donkeys. Transfers are always a risk, hence the most successful manager in our history was extremely fortunate we had 7 academy stars for a decade with one or two great buys. Even during his tenure we never had a GK come through and only Gary Neville, with possibly a good all round squad player in Phil as a top player, wes Brown, john o'shea good squad players but we had to buy Evra, Vidic, Bruce Pallister, Ferdinando, Schmeichel, Van Der Sar, its nowhere near as easy to deliver results as it is to criticise the lack of them.
We've been a shambles for years but the last window was okay despite the incompetence of ETH judgment on players and we backed him, now we are backing Amorim but surely anyone can see that Amorim has a very clear grasp on the ability, skills, player profiles and the mentality and cultural fits that make his system work. Finally, someone with clarity at manager level, who won't take any rubbish, and isn't afraid of confrontation or change of bad behaviours and is being careful who they buy along with a great approach to recruitment. Its never going to be perfect but if 2 out of 3 of these attackers come good, its a huge improvement.
18.) 07 Aug 2025 08:27:21
Actually seems the opposite of talking sense.
19.) 08 Aug 2025 01:11:39
Bollocks, German. Yoro walks into any team. Best defender I've seen since Rio.
20.) 08 Aug 2025 06:24:16
No need to make inflammatory remarks noucamp, but you are really making it up as you go along, if you really believe that Yoro walks into any team, that’s just laughable and deluded.
30 Jun 2025 13:08:18
Rumours say 14-year-old wonderkid JJ Gabriel has committed his future to us following a crucial intervention from Jason Wilcox and director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves
Great news if true.
1.) 30 Jun 2025 17:29:33
That is correct Redman, he has committed his future to us and as you rightly point out Jason Wilcox and Matt Hargreaves played a huge part in it.
I know someone at the academy and was told a little while back that the likelihood was he would leave this summer, with every major club in Europe desperately trying to sign him.
I saw his debut for U18s, just a kid, yet he scored his first goal within minutes of coming on. Indeed he has made 3 U18s appearances and played a total of 71 mins and scored 3 goals, one every 24 mins!
The club are very, very keen to try and keep him under the radar as much as possible as they, rightly, do not want to overload him with expectation levels at his age. Indeed, it was noticeable when he came on for his debut that the T. V. commentators did not big him up at all, in fact they just said his name, clearly they did this under order's from above!
One word of caution, he will have another option to leave upon his 16th birthday, so hopefully all goes well for him in the interim. Think he may well be in U18s squad on a regular basis from now on. Whilst he is a phenomenal prospect we all know the number's of youngster's who turn potential into achievement is pretty low so very much finger's crossed for the long term.
One other rated academy prospect 16 yr old Jayden Ngwashi has also agreed a 4 year contract, again despite numerous other offers.
Has to be recognised that the work from Ineos over last 12 mths is the reason he has stayed, the signings made and also the clear opportunities being given into the first team squad.
Not only Diego Leon arriving tomorrow, but also another very highly rated youngster Enzo Kana-Biyik an 18 year old centre forward whose contract with Le Havre is expiring today, again chose us despite others very keen to sign him. It's expected he will be going out on loan to FC Lausanne.
Finally, Jonny Evans has today been appointed as Head of Loans and Pathways, helping to progress the careers of the club's young player's.
The future is bright, it's not orange, it's most definitely RED.
2.) 01 Jul 2025 16:28:27
While it is good to see so many prospects, I doubt we will ever see the number come through like 92. If we get 1 or 2 that turn into regular first team players that is a great return on the investment.
3.) 01 Jul 2025 23:21:35
You may well be right Grim, but what made the CO92 so memorable was the fact they all came through at the same time. How many breakthroughs were there the previous 5 years? or the 10 years after after them?
With what we have building in the academy I can certainly see a fairly steady stream of prospects coming through. There is a very clear strategy of investment in top young talent, with the fingerprints of Jason Wilcox all over it.
It should also be remembered that a big objective of this strategy is to produce players who can be sold in the £15m-£20m range, obviously to provide additional funds for investment in the first team squad. Very effective if it can be achieved.
13 Jun 2025 06:36:56
The other day i saw that Munro, a youth centre half who impressed the one time I saw him, had signed his first pro deal. Add to that yesterday, United signed Harley Emsden-James, 16, from Southamptons academy.
We will pay Southampton a £1million compensation fee with a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Emsden-James is a centre-back said to have physical skills with technical ability on the ball, he could potentially develop into an all-round centre-back with leadership skills.
1.) 13 Jun 2025 07:56:31
Great to see us building from within. Personally think quite a few from the youth setup will get opportunity this season.
2.) 13 Jun 2025 09:20:19
Despite all the rubbish that has been going on at the club at senior football level, we certainly seem to be doing well in the youth area. If we can get one youth player regularly in the squad each year and give out a few debuts, we are doing well as a club and I do think it's important to keep the tradition and record of over 4000 games with a youth product in the first team match squad. Sadly they won't all make it at United, but if we can help them get good solid careers in the game then the academy is doing it's job.
I'd be delighted if in 5 years time we had a starting 11 with Heaven, Kukonki, and Emsden-James as defensive options alongside Yoro in the squad, Mantato, Lacey, Ibragimov, Martins in the squad too. Unheard of now but that would be brilliant.
05 Jan 2025 13:24:00
Make of it what you will, but Garnacho has deleted his Twitter account this morning.
1.) 05 Jan 2025 13:50:05
I would imagine he's been advised to do so to prevent him from digging his hole any deeper - he does have rather a dim bulb.
2.) 05 Jan 2025 19:35:49
And he stopped coloring his hair, he probably wants to become a footballer again ?.
3.) 05 Jan 2025 20:18:43
He’s also got an assist at Anfield more importantly.
4.) 05 Jan 2025 22:17:57
Garnacho has the talent, but it's whether he has the mentality to make it. He's made some poor decisions and shown his childish tendencies a little too often.
It's harsh, but when you play for Manchester United you have to grow up fast or you'll fade away.
I think he needs better people around him advising him, as many of his faux pas could have easily been avoided if he listened to some sound advice.
I've said previously that he doesn't have a natural spot in this Amorim system based on what he's shown himself to be as a footballer so far. He will need to get his head down (figuratively speaking, on the pitch however he needs to lift his head up) and round out his game. The only place for him is in one of those No.10 roles, but he needs to be more like Messi than Ronaldo I that position. He needs to be creative, hard working and a team player. He needs to learn to link with his team mates better, play for them.
If he does that then he'll become a top player, if not then he'll be gone within two years and risks becoming another Januzaj.
I thought he looked a better today against Liverpool, he played the assist to Amad rather than smash the ball at goal from a tight angle. That was a good decision and showed what he can do if he lifts his head and looks for his teammates.
5.) 06 Jan 2025 06:18:50
Good on him.
He looks a shadow of himself on the pitch at the moment. I hope it's a "full focus on football" type of choice.
If I were a professional footballer, i'd have no social media whatsoever.
6.) 07 Jan 2025 02:26:51
Liverpool fan in peace here and I think it is a good sign that Garnacho has deleted his social media accounts. I always found him to be a good prospect for you lot but he seems to have lost his way a bit since the start of the season. It didn't help that the fans and media were building him up to be the main man in the team, which understandably contributed to him developing a bit of a big head. Hopefully this is a sign that he is putting his head down and is working hard on himself again.
Red Man's banter posts with other poster's replies to Red Man's banter posts
23 Sep 2025 06:40:59
Well well, I was on here a few years ago saying we should buy Ousemane Dembele and not Jadon Sancho. I got the usual derision but made me both smile and be annoyed to see who won the Balon Dor.
1.) 23 Sep 2025 08:15:14
It's neither clever nor funny to gloat, Mr Red Man. :-)
2.) 23 Sep 2025 08:33:40
Red Man, in hindsight that looks an obvious call, at the time it was probably 50/ 50 considering the injuries that Dembele was dealing with. Either way well done.
Lets just hope that come the summer that phase of our past is done and the enigma that is Sancho can darken someone elses door.
3.) 23 Sep 2025 09:14:11
Whats he done to win balon’dor?
4.) 23 Sep 2025 09:21:01
It is questionable if he would be the same player for us, different league, coach, teammates. he was always a good player, no doubt.
5.) 23 Sep 2025 09:37:32
Ousmane Dembele would not have won the Ballon d'Or if he joined us Red Man. He would be a completely different player to what he is now.
6.) 23 Sep 2025 13:53:53
My son was all for Sancho. I was not. Looks like I was right. Yay me!
Maybe if Sancho had stayed where he was rather than being wrested out of Dortmund for a ridiculously excessive transfer fee and wage he would have become a better player than he now is. Being at Man Utd over the last dozen years or so has hardly improved any player's career.
7.) 23 Sep 2025 15:15:05
All he would've won with us is a fat paycheck on a long contract!
8.) 23 Sep 2025 18:57:55
Dembelle didn’t arrive at PSG the player he is now. It’s more a case that PSG have worked extremely hard to change the club’s culture, and Dembelle has responded by matching his talent with effort.
I’m glad that United didn’t sign him. Would be a shame for a player like that to wither in this club’s toxic culture, whereas Sancho fits right in.
9.) 24 Sep 2025 05:02:01
We’ll take a pat on the back Red man, I said we should have got Flick, Or Luis enqirue, was given loads of stick, said we should never have got ETH or signed Sancho, said Amad never a RWB, said our team will struggle defensively this season… but bully for you RedMan, you said we should sign Dembele that was actually what 140 million at the time and next breath you moan about over indulging on players…. LOL.
10.) 24 Sep 2025 05:16:47
Dembele had injury concerns and disciplinary issues at Barcelona when he left PSG. It's the culture there that changed him. If he had gone to United as he was back then, I reckon he would have been similar to how Sancho is now.
{Ed001's Note - also he was never going anywhere else, he had no interest in joining anyone but PSG.}
11.) 24 Sep 2025 08:45:47
He's a phenomenally gifted player, yet his injury record is awful. The reason he has been a serious Balon d'Or contender this year is because it's one of the few seasons he's been able to stay fit for most of it.
That is why Barcelona were happy to let him leave.
I'm 100% sure that if we signed him and he had the same injury record with us that he has had so far in his career then pretty much all United fans would be calling him a flop and a bad signing. You just need to look at the opinions of Mount to know that.
12.) 24 Sep 2025 11:23:47
I don't know about everyone else but with Messi and Ronaldo off the scene in terms of future winners of the Balon d'Or, I don't see there being an outright best player in Europe right now. I know those two were on a different planet, but there never felt like a third best player behind them, more like them then everyone else. Neymar liked to put himself in the same bracket but for me he never belonged in the same sentence. Closest for me until recent seasons would have been De Bruyne.
13.) 24 Sep 2025 13:13:13
AnotherUpset
At the time I suggested it Dembele price was circa £35m and Sancho £75m. I suggest you wind your neck in and get your numbers right.
14.) 24 Sep 2025 13:22:22
Shappy
Instead we signed Sancho and look how that worked out!
15.) 24 Sep 2025 13:37:54
As a new poster when did you post all this anotherupset?
16.) 24 Sep 2025 19:38:04
Ken ?
Crazy how easy it is now to spot the identity of this one troll.
17.) 24 Sep 2025 23:35:20
He makes it so obvious within 1 post every time. Will be blocked again and come back as another name. Like clockwork.
18.) 25 Sep 2025 05:24:02
Does it matter what name he uses, the facts are he is always right virtually every time… just sad you guys hate him for that, says more about you than him/ her…
BTW it’s not me…. but knock yourself out if you think it is.
19.) 25 Sep 2025 12:13:49
Ha! We're on to the denial stage. Enjoy this whilst it lasts folks, the impending full blown near fallout stage comes shortly where the posts become ever increasingly erratic and push the boundaries of.
20.) 25 Sep 2025 12:45:38
German was a dope. Glad to hear its not you.
21.) 25 Sep 2025 18:34:03
Have we ever considered that these are like different personalities for them? Like, they are all these different voices in the head united by the same persistently negative football opinions?
22.) 25 Sep 2025 19:01:35
Bit deep Danny…. Maybe he just thinks and is honest in his opinion… RA is not level required like many of the players, but he is willing to admit it others ain’t!
23.) 25 Sep 2025 21:29:11
Oh Christ the clown is talking in 3rd person. Back to the asylum.
24.) 26 Sep 2025 09:43:02
''the facts are he is always right virtually every time'' 60% of the time, it works, every time!
16 Sep 2025 02:48:17
Firstly. The club is partly to blame. Whilst Scholes said " I thought all summer the absolute priority was a centre midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game. Goalkeeper was [also] a major issue. Did they really need to get to the Grimsby game to realise [Andre] Onana is not good enough? ". I have heard Scholes and Rio chirping in the background before, usually to get behind their mate Ole. However, Wayne Rooney was critical and he is still in and around the club with his son.
From my perspective I felt we needed a CF as priority, but then a CM then a GK. shambolic by the club not to get a CM and still be scrambling on deadline day. Shambolic. Shambolic and indecisive to scramble to bring in GK so late. The Onana performance at Grimsby was a sackable one let alone loaned out one. Why buy two No10's and keep Bruno? I am not going to stop saying it was a terrible mistake not to take the £100m.
So RA didn't get the best tools at the start. That's on the club, on Wilcox, Berada and SJR. Shambles.
However, I am concerned at RA intransigence in relation to any change of approach whatsoever. There are rumours he is thinking of dropping Bruno for Mainoo in CM for the weekend. Why has it taken him so long to realise Bruno isn't a CM? It looked for the City game an ideal opportunity to move Bruno forward to Cunha's No10 position and bring Mainoo in behind. The decision he actually made was baffling. Despite rumours I can't really see him dropping his captain, so suspect it's just psychology to get in Bruno's head. It's not motivation Bruno needs, he can't just change what he fundamentally is and that is not a CM.
Adapt, be clever with tactics, positions is vital but rigidity means opponents are able to work on a plan pregame. The Premier League managers and coaches will be better at that than in Portugal. Ok that might have been a wake up call when RA arrived but surely over summer there should have been that lightbulb moment in his head. That worries me now. The intransigence with Bruno worries me. Him saying this is my way, don't like then sack me is daring the club to sack him. That is something I don't like. Think it don't say it.
I like RA, I like almost everything he says, his having a pattern and plan, his decisions on the players leaving and being firm with them. However if he continues to show total inflexibility and plays Bruno in CM against Chelsea, it would show he doesn't realise what the strength in midfield we are playing against and if we get overrun and thrashed, I think a change in coach may have to be considered.
Let us remember RA is Head Coach and not "Manager", to me that means the structure of the club should be set and the coach coaches. If it isn't going well, it isn't good enough they can change coach. This is a structure I suggested when SAF retired. I remain behind RA but I have a watershed moment feeling this weekend.
Last chance saloon RA I suspect.
1.) 16 Sep 2025 08:21:23
Difficult to disagree with any of that, Red Man.
2.) 16 Sep 2025 09:51:53
Im not sure the club ever received an offer for bruno.
As i understand it he was approached and dismissed a move to Saudi and as a result the club got no offer.
At 31 he won't improve and will decline in pretty much every aspect of his game over the next 18 months not many players improve or uphold their performances after they rurn 31.
But to keep him and play him out of position is daft imo i don't mind trying it but when its failing all the time then change it. You could play bruno in there with royal keane and he would do well because he is careless with the ball in deep positions and doesn't see danger.
Not having a proper partner compounds that situation.
My mentor once told me when i was a young exec that the least likely think I will ever hear him say is 'we do it that way because that's the way we always do it' stick to the strategy but don't be afraid to switch tactics in order to adapt and 'dont let perfection get in the way of progress'
If Amorim does have a mentor or an experienced confidant then I hope he listens and opens himself up to try something a little different.
3.) 16 Sep 2025 11:00:50
What’s frustrating is that Jason Wilcox’s arrival seemed to signal a shift toward building a proper footballing structure — one that could finally give us a consistent identity across all levels of the club. His background in youth development and technical direction suggested we were moving toward a model where the club sets the philosophy, and the head coach works within it.
But then we appoint a coach who appears to have full control over the style of play, even if it doesn’t align with the rest of the club. That undermines the whole point of having someone like Wilcox in place. If the youth teams aren’t being coached in a way that prepares them for the first team, then we’re not building a pathway — we’re just reacting to the preferences of whoever is in charge of the first team.
This is where the structure looks fragile. If RA is allowed to dictate everything tactically, then what exactly is Wilcox overseeing? A modern football setup should have a clear philosophy that runs from academy to senior level, with the head coach fitting into that — not overriding it.
4.) 17 Sep 2025 01:36:00
Kurtis
Agreed, before SAF retired I was suggesting a big change in the club, to modernise it completely, using the Barcelona model. The style is the desired United one as set by a Football Director as agreed in the club and the coach is in place to make it happen. Doesn’t do it then he moves on. However, we were far too hung up on appointing Moyes hoping for another 20 years of stability with someone who would not demand big money for transfers, reasonable success expectations leaving the owners with juicy dividends. They failed and still don’t see the opportunity completely, although at least RA is Head Coach not Manager.
Looks to me like they decided RA offered a new revolutionary style of football they could all get behind, someone with a good mentality who knew what he wanted. So far that’s what they have but missing is the little bit of flexibility to adjust, room for manoeuvre.
15 Sep 2025 01:46:30
I recall 1989 very well, a thrashing by City 5.1 and the mood was very dark indeed. SAF was in big trouble yet the owners stood by him. I was told at the time they saw what he was doing behind the scenes.
Forward to present day and yesterday's loss. I like what RA is saying, he has seen the issues and has made the right decisions on some of the problem players. He talks the talk.
Then I look at the results. It just isn't good enough. Zero scored after spending £200m on a new attack, drifting in the league and out of one of only two competitions we could win and that against Grimsby. This is not all on RA. Why did they wait until far too late to buy a GK so we have to put up with Altir too far into a season. Then RA played Onana in the cup, when it clearly appeared he wasn't trying, his efforts for penalties atrocious. Midfield is a shambles, a disjointed mess that has lacked proper investment for so many years. GK and CM are down to the owners.
Sorry but again I must repeat, we should have sold Bruno for £100m, even if it meant pushing him, whoever decided to keep him is deluded. If that was RA insistence then it should be a demerit against him. It should have been decisive and seen the arrival of one or more appropriately two young strong CM. Before yesterday's game I felt a Ugarte Bruno CM was very worrying, Bruno losing his man again was not a surprise to anyone except it seems RA.
I remain behind RA, but. It is clear Bruno is not a CM, good looking forward but terrible tracking runners, lost the Fulham run that cost two points. Yet RA keeps playing him there. Shaw, the question is why? Heaven looks a player, there are options, yet he goes for Shaw.
SAF survived 1989 and the 5.1 but am not sure the present regime will be so patient. It is clear this cannot go on. I don't think this is just a system issue but more the wrong players in the places like Shaw and Bruno, with a totally inadequate midfield and that is on the board. Still RA is now, I believe, on rocky ground whether we or I like it or not. Better selection is needed and sadly RA seems too enamoured with Bruno to see anything clearly. I sense RA needs to see improvement quickly. Chelsea is tough, but Bruno in CM against their CM. That may be RA's undoing.
1.) 15 Sep 2025 08:34:43
Luke Shaw was appealing yesterday. But he’s not a centre back I guess if and when he’s fit.
The Fergie comparisons are a bit of a red herring too I think. He’d had sustained league and incredible European success north of the border before he came here.
But in all honesty, I am genuinely at a loss as to what the best way forward is. Stick, twist, who knows?
2.) 15 Sep 2025 08:35:22
I also my have had a type in there. There is nothing appealing about Luke Shaw!
3.) 15 Sep 2025 09:22:37
Good post Red Man - I agree completely with Bruno. He should have been sold. Those funds given our financial position and what is needed for the squad were worth more than £100m. Again, do we point towards the owners and scream incompetence again?
My issue with Amorim, is it seems like all he does is talk the talk. I could get behind him as a coach if he was willing to break his stubbornness on his system. We can all see where the issues are, we know we are lacking in midfield and yet he continues to play a system where we know we are going to be dominated. We have signed two young talented PL proven players in Cunha and Mbuemo, and they look a shadow of themselves.
For me, its simple, if he can prove he can tactically adapt to suit the players we have, then I'll be happy to support him a bit longer. If he is unwilling to change his system, then I think we need to move on and look at someone who can get the best out of our players.
4.) 15 Sep 2025 11:05:49
Kurtis
I don’t think it is the system but the players used in the positions that means the system doesn’t function properly. Bruno is not a CM, by selecting him there it is causing a major problem.
5.) 15 Sep 2025 11:57:53
The fallacy of United fans comparing every manager to Fergie is a common one. I do agree managers need time, but they also need to buy themselves time by showing a glimmer of hope for the future.
Amorim has not done anything to show he has a future at the club. As you point out Red Man, Bruno might be the biggest issue at the club, but if he had of been sold and for instance Baleba came in, we'd still be all over the place.
Bruno still is our most effective player and he's been wasted in a 2 man midfield. Amad was one of our best players last year also and has been shoe horned as a full back at times. Shaw again being played out of his natural position.
We have a formation that isn't working with personel that don't fit it. We struggle to defend, we struggle to create and we struggle to score. Replacing the manager is always a sad day as a fan because it means we're not going in the right direction, but Amorim stating that he will not change his "philosophy" is telling every opposition manager how we'll set up in advance.
Chelsea next week will run through us in midfield and that's where the game will be lost. There is no tur ingredients this iteration of United around with Amorim at the wheel. The only games he's won have included a penalty for us, or a Red card for the opposition. His sharp tongue tell it like it is was refreshing at the start, now loss after loss he sounds disrespectful. Stating he will not change, maybe the club should change the manager is poor form.
Maybe it will click given time, but as I said before, Amorim hasn't shown a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I suspect because Wilcox and Barrada ran Ashworth out of the club to appoint Amorim, he'll get more time, but a loss to Chelsea and Brentford, we could see ourselves in the bottom 3, something that should be instantly addressed by sacking the manager.
6.) 15 Sep 2025 13:24:18
Up until yesterday, United were leading the attacking statistics in almost every area—except the one that truly matters: scoring goals. Yesterday, I felt that had we converted our chances, we could have earned a result. Mbueumo’s volley at 2-0 and Casemiro’s open goal were clear examples of opportunities missed.
I think people are focusing too much on the result rather than the performance. I understand that football is ultimately a results-driven business, but we aren’t as far off the mark as some would have you believe IMO. Performances aren’t as poor as we’ve been accustomed to; it’s often just fine margins and perspective.
Consider this: United scores a late penalty to beat Burnley, and pundits call the celebrations embarrassing. Liverpool scores a late penalty against ten-man Burnley, and it’s hailed as a mark of champions. Context matters.
I actually agree with Amorim: the issue seems psychological, ingrained in the club and players at present. The team needs is greater resilience and a few more leaders on and off the pitch.
{Ed001's Note - context matters - Liverpool scored a late penalty to go top, United scored a late penalty and it made little difference to the league table.}
7.) 15 Sep 2025 13:28:57
The biggest alarm bells that ring and have been ringing for me since he took over, is that the players have not reacted to his tactics/ formation/ instructions at all.
The bare minimum is a persons ability to work hard, to run himself into the ground for club and manager and I have never seen a bit of that at all.
I looked over the Moyes at Everton when he took over and there was an immediate lift, a basic structure, players working harder and results followed.
We, on paper, have better players but none of these so called better players have reacted to whatever Amorim has been saying in there.
A win rate of 25% and we are nearly 12 months into his tenure. I am absolutely astounded. I don't care too much about the system, the tactics and the rest of the ? that comes with it. I want to see a man give 100 percent, bare minimum and be can not get that out of the players.
That is the biggest alarm bell that rings.
And let's forget the fergie comparisons. A completely different man, with a different outlook and he had an incredible ability to get the best out of people.
8.) 15 Sep 2025 13:30:16
Back to the blame Bruno posts I see Redman. Like a broken record.
Still out most effective and best player when on the ball. How about play him in his best position, not shoehorn him into somewhere he has never played before.
9.) 15 Sep 2025 13:49:35
I am also big RA fan.
However by sticking with the same thing over and over when results keep failing is not good imo.
I agree with redman that playing bruno in midfield is not working.
Persistence is an admirable quality but so too is showing flexibility.
If the right people are not there then a tweak is required to more suit who is there.
It does not mean a full overhaul but his refusal to try even a tweak in the face of adversity does not bode well and is not good management imo.
10.) 15 Sep 2025 14:58:20
angel
I thought that’s what I said, he can’t play CM. Fact is he has lost two players to runs, City and Fulham and we lost goals. Selling at the right time is vital, Liverpool sold Coutinho as an example. The club should have taken the £100m. It was the right time.
Tumble
Yes agreed and I am worried, there is one thing having principles but any leader or manager needs to be pragmatic and listen. You learn that with experience and I sense the tide is turning above him because it is basically intransigence. A thrashing by Chelsea, which is on the cards given our midfield and see the same issues may put him in a very difficult spot.
11.) 15 Sep 2025 16:06:10
Red man, you want him sold instead of actually playing him in his correct system.
12.) 15 Sep 2025 17:01:00
What does everyone make of Dorgu?
By all accounts he's getting more touches than the rest of the team, notably in the opposition penalty area, and yet he seems utterly ineffective in end product. Good engine and he certainly has a go anyway.
13.) 15 Sep 2025 18:54:54
Don’t matter what 2 you have in midfield they will always be over run, it’s not rocket science but seeing that in every game which everybody does but RA is of real concern.
Moving the best player at the club out of best position is crazy. Buying 3 forwards and not an experienced midfield or GK and a proper striker is a joke.
We collect number 10s.
No player improved under RA, Rasmus goes to Napoli scores, is Sesko even any better than Rasmus was?
And the substitutions are beyond belief.
01 Sep 2025 21:30:08
A 6.5 window. We got the essential CF too late, three games in and he wasn't ready. We let the clown Onana put us out of a cup competition because we didn't buy a GK until the absolute last minute.
The Central Midfield position was vital, when and who was the last top level centre mid bought? Roy Keane in 94?
Centre mid is wide open, the insistence on Bruno and Cas is ridiculous. Yes we cleared out some of the ones we needed to, very welcome, but no CM has disappointed me notably.
Looks to me like they bought the GK because they had no choice but failed to get the CM because perhaps they are not so certain what is going to happen with RA. That is one reading of it. The ignoring of CM, not just this window but over many years of windows is nothing short of criminally bad management. The usual excuse will come out, couldn't get the one we wanted, but that excuse has been trotted out every window.
At a guess, all things considered we are looking about 8th with that midfield and that is disappointing with what seemed a determined, focussed start to the summer.
1.) 01 Sep 2025 22:26:51
8th from 15th is a solid improvement. I believe we are showing more cohesion than the last decade +. That's without the GK installed. Top 4 is still within reach IMO.
The clearout of players was a 9/ 10, the incomings were a solid 8/ 10.
{Ed025's Note - top 4 Jimbo? thats a massive ask imo mate..
2.) 01 Sep 2025 23:31:27
I think outside the top 1, it will be a lot more openly contested than most will lead you to believe.
3.) 02 Sep 2025 02:38:40
Is JBR really SJR? Wild over statement of how good our window was and our prospects.
If we get 4th or better Amorim (or his replacement) will deserve a statue.
4.) 02 Sep 2025 11:35:24
Think it’s the best window since way before Fergy left. Some folk want a Willy wonka golden ticket. We were never going to replace the whole team in one window and the club clearly have a plan now. If we’d added two 100m midfielders we’d have had to rely on Hoijland and Brno who scored around 10 goals excluding penalties in the league last season. Clever well thought recruitment within the constraints. What an exciting season we’ve got ahead.
5.) 02 Sep 2025 13:04:14
7.5 very happy with the outgoings for the 1st time in years.
Pleased with cunha and mbeumo, sesko Leon amd lammens I've hardly ever seen play so I'll reserve any opinion on them for a few months.
01 Sep 2025 10:59:34
ETH sacked after 2 games. So that's Ole, RVN and ETH fans going to be telling us they are available. 2 games it took them to suss ETH it took us £600m.
1.) 01 Sep 2025 11:30:46
They recognised he was a wrong un very early. But 2 league games is no time at all.
Like amorim at united he had to try and rebuild a squad with lots of established 1st team players leaving and lots coming in.
Angelred thought he would do a good job there and obviously the board did too to hire him initially.
I wonder if he will come back to the epl for redemption. I doubt it. Jobs going in Turkey.
2.) 01 Sep 2025 11:39:42
A Turkey in Turkey, how appropriate. 2 games isn’t really fair mind you.
3.) 01 Sep 2025 11:40:37
Dont forget Mourinho as well!
Odd one at Leverkusen as they have sold a lot of key players from last season and results other than a few odd ones have not been that bad. I can only imagine that behind the scenes he has not gelled with the hierachy! Will be on for another payout.
4.) 01 Sep 2025 12:25:01
I thought he would ken but I don't think you can legislate for the upheaval in players that the club and then deciding that after 2 games, enough is enough, strange stuff.
09 Oct 2025 13:49:50
Believe there was a clause in the Ratcliffe deal that after a certain period allowed the Glazers to sell and Ratcliffe would be forced to sell his holding for the price per share the Glazers agreed.
Anything that gets the Glazers out and debt paid off in full will mean popping Champagne corks
The next question is whether the prospective buyer has enough money or is it just the Glazers want to raise more money by selling more shares but not concede control. Not completely sure on the company structure but think if Ratcliffe were to buy more shares that took him over 30% he may be required to offer to all shareholders the same price per share in a full takeover. Hence why he sits at below 30%. Unless there is a clause saying they can’t, then as long as they retain overall 51% the Glazers may sell shares above that level to someone else and pocket the next load of cash. The club won’t benefit until they and the debt are gone completely. A happy day.
12 Sep 2025 08:32:32
I posted relentlessly on here about how good Alvaro could be and the ridiculous decision to let Alvaro leave when we had no left back. ETH should have been sacked just for that . Very few supported what I said about Alvaro. I watched him play for Preston a few times and you could see the potential. ETH was an utter disgrace on this and other decisions. I am pleased RA has been putting some right but the boy Alvaro was a shocking decision.
03 Sep 2025 08:07:31
Where we loan we need to ensure as much as possible they will be first choice and will play regularly. Apparently United are paying his salary and expenses. Wednesday are a historic club, been to Hillsbrough a number of times and it will be a good experience for Amass.
27 Aug 2025 18:02:17
Ole caused enough problems. Scored a goal in 99, not a manager for us, move on.
06 Aug 2025 06:55:12
New name
Yes, Yoro and Heaven plus the lad they have signed from Southampton who is likely a couple of years behind are young. We also have several young CB so experience is valuable. Harry has the right attitude, is that worth his salary?, management seem to think so. Johnny Evans offered experience and Harry may help.
16 Oct 2025 06:00:58
The ex players have earned a living criticising each manager, except of course Ole and Ruud. They, of course, understood the spirit of the club according to our ex players.
At a time when we get bland meaningless platitudes from managers, pundits and players, people want to read and hear louder noise. These ex players won’t be happy with anything until we win the league again, but they also know vanilla nonsense doesn’t earn money. Negative United comment will get more clicks, so never be surprised at pundits doing that.
As Tumble TW said, these ex players are sat in comfy chairs, paid to be critical, have little or no management or coaching ot tactical know how, yet think they know a player, yet don’t and attempts at management have failed. Occasionally they may make a good point but a broken clock is right twice a day. Managing any team can be tough, it became easier, as it does, for SAF when he had a squad of players he brought in, far easier to manage a team with those you selected and brought in and that’s true in business. Maybe that is a key point and not appreciated, all the managers since SAF have had Heinz 67 teams, mixes of previous managers, no one has built their own. When the team are the ones you as boss brought in, they are far easier to mould. You won’t hear that from the pundits.
05 Oct 2025 08:25:29
I was sat on a bus in the middle of nowhere during the game and of course the game at 3pm on a Saturday in England isn’t shown. Caught up with the highlights as much as there were. Good to get a win, difficult to comment on team set up etc on brief highlights. Let’s be honest, yes it was a newly promoted team but it became a must win high stake game so am always pleased to win. RA rightly deserved criticism for Brentford. Winning does make a difference to critique but I maintain that Bruno in CM will be a major issue even more so away from home. None more difficult than the next one.
On to crisis hit Liverpool next, not that the press will call it a crisis when losing games having spent godzillions of cash.
28 Sep 2025 05:34:44
Yes agree with East Stand Nick, the Glazer ownership. Direction comes from above, the day to day management may be Ratcliffe but the owners give direction. I have been in board meetings where MD’s cower to owners telling them what they want. The model Ratcliffe has given leaves us flawed, left Glazers who have bled the club dry, in charge, with a massive debt. It should have been a clean takeover Glazers gone, no debt, what we have now is a lack of direction and a part owner in Ratcliffe who doesn’t have a good history in football ownership. Sort the top ownership out so we move in one direction is vital.
28 Sep 2025 05:28:13
My comment was disappointingly dumped on discussion page, but yesterday’s management decisions were appalling. I will not hide from saying that.
26 Sep 2025 05:39:54
For Arteta read Southgate, similar mentality. First instinct don’t lose. What made SAF great was that risk for reward. Agree with Ed.