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Team: Manchester United Where from: Bristol Favourite player: Ole Gunner Solskjear Best team moment: Champions league final 1999 Interests: Manchester United duh. lol Timezone: (GMT) Western Europe Time, London, Lisbon, Casablanca |
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Shappy's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's rumours posts
30 Aug 2021 18:56:06
Rumour is that we will get £25m PLUS add-ons for Dan James to move to Leeds.
If that is the case then I think we've pulled their pants down on that one.
His fee before extras would cover all of the Ronaldo fee including the extras.
Effectively we have swapped Dan James for Ronaldo an a few million.
1.) 30 Aug 2021 19:04:04
Good luck to him. Always frustrated me with his decision making but always admired his work ethic. If only all our players with natural talent would work as hard as him.
All the best Dan James.
2.) 30 Aug 2021 19:16:13
Shappy, so now you are happy with the accountants handling Manchester United transfers?
3.) 30 Aug 2021 19:28:34
Personally think we will see the best of James now at Leeds, think he suits their play.
Think this is a good deal all round and hope it is the start of being able to bring a DM in.
4.) 30 Aug 2021 19:49:47
Honestly thought it would be around 16-18 mill. Good luck to him nice lad but not good enough for Utd.
5.) 30 Aug 2021 19:49:09
I think I have said this this before but it's by far the best move for James, he will get to work with an excellent manager who will help improve him, it's the move he should have made instead of coming here originally.
6.) 30 Aug 2021 20:13:47
Nice to see all these compliments to James now after everyone slaughtering him.
7.) 30 Aug 2021 20:20:46
Good deal all round for all parties.
8.) 30 Aug 2021 20:52:51
United Addict, surely common sense demands you look at things in a case by case way.
If the club massively over pay for a player then they should be rightly criticised.
I understand that selling players is slightly different as we tend to sell players who are not good enough for the level we need but are often on inflated wages. Which often means we would need to take lower more realistic fees for the players.
In this case they are selling a player way down the pecking order for a fee greater than we paid for them, and doing so with the minimal fuss.
I like Dan James, he's an honest hard-working lad, I think he's more talented than he is often given credit for. That said I don't think he is good enough to be first choice for a UCL side in the EPL.
Leeds I think will be a good move for him, his hard working and pressing style will fit well with Bielsa. I also think his skillset works better in a team that isn't expected to dominate possession and dictate play. I think he'll get 5-10 goals and 5-10 assists per season playing for Leeds. Which is a solid return.
I wish him the best of luck and hope he had a great career.
9.) 30 Aug 2021 21:51:20
Think everyone has been honest Chris, Dan always comes across well and gave his all but simply his ability is not at the level United require at the moment. Let's see what Biesla cane do with him, hopefully improve his end product.
10.) 31 Aug 2021 02:10:25
I think it’s the few subtle digs at our manager again that I dislike! James will now get to work with a top manager and really improve……. is that the same top manager that has been absolutely thumped twice against our lot you mean! Some people can’t help themselves having a pop at our own club or manager drives me mad! Yesterday it was we’ll probably reward James with a new contract, mediocrity bla bla and now that’s fallen on deaf ears it’s good move to work with bialsa a proper top coach who’ll work wonders with him . 🤣.
11.) 31 Aug 2021 06:21:39
Ole is division 2 manager, unlike you i don't have my head in the sand.
12.) 31 Aug 2021 07:12:42
Football is all about opinions and emotions. People get frustrated with Ole when you see performances like on Sunday, it comes with the territory of being a football manager.
Personally I think he has done very well, improved the playing squad, qualified back to back for the CL, goes on record breaking unbeaten runs, and yet he doesn't seem to be able to get over the final hurdle and win a trophy. The fact everyone is a little unsettled after a few bad performances is a hang-over from the EL final which we really should have won.
This is now a make a break year for Ole, I think he has to win something or like Dan James he would be seen as a nice guy, tried hard but isn't at the level United required.
13.) 31 Aug 2021 07:22:14
Chris
Bielsa plays a different and more entertaining brand of football to Ole. Bielsa is not a negative don’t lose merchant and his style means they are absolutely open to what Ole plays. Dan James will likely be better in a Leeds team that plays that way, instead of a run so far pass inside one. When we bought James we could see that had pace and could run but that isn’t enough if you want to win leagues. Along with James the club are starting to doubt the players Ole has bought, is AWB next given the lack of ability to go forward and the pursuit of Trippier?
Good luck to Dan James at Leeds, will be interesting to see what a good coach like Bielsa does with him, in fact it would be interesting to see what one of the top coaches could do with our team.
14.) 31 Aug 2021 07:28:36
Never have I said Ole is this or that, what I have said is while he’s the manager of my club I’ll support him! Yes I’ll question decisions, get annoyed with decisions he makes like everyone but I’ll also give him credit where and when it’s due!
06 Aug 2021 22:25:48
Rumour that Inter Milan might look at signing Pogba if they receive a large fee for Lukaku.
No idea if it's true, if Pogba would consider Inter or whether United would accept any bid.
But it would be good if we had more than one side interested in him.
1.) 06 Aug 2021 23:15:12
With PSG seemingly on the cusp of signing Messi, I really can’t see them moving for Pogba this summer, especially if they plan on keeping Mbappe as Poch suggested earlier. At this point, it’s starting to look all but certain that Pogba will be leaving on a free again next summer.
Why would he go to Inter when he could have his pick of the best sides in Europe in six months time while also picking up a hefty signing on bonus? I can’t see it happening, myself. We should have sold him last summer or locked him down to a new contract to protect his value.
The real kicker isn’t that he’ll be leaving for free, but that his high wages may well prevent us from signing a more defensive minded midfielder this summer. We can only hope that he’ll give it his all this season; if not for the club, but for the clubs he’ll be interested in signing him come January. Sadly, one suspects that after he’s signed a pre-contract he’ll offer very little.
2.) 07 Aug 2021 07:20:49
We can all hope shappy but reading ed002's comments on how poor we are at dealing with players who want to leave it doesn't fill me with any confidence we will do what is needed. To know the club in a laughing stock is a sorry state. Looks like we will be going with what we have now for next season.
3.) 07 Aug 2021 09:21:01
@Shappy re:Pogba to Inter.
Highly unlikely. Inter just signed Cahlanoglu who joins Barella, Brozovic and others in midfield. They have other priorities like both wingbacks and a Lukaku replacement, should he leave.
Moreover if they sell Lukaku a considerable part of the transfer fee will go to pay pending debts on the Lukaku transfer from us to them. Some reporters are expecting Intee to spend just about 40m from the Lukaku money.
As a sidenote, inter s owners are financially in trouble and an investment fund was brought in. (Oak tree) .
One of the conditions set by the new agreement with Oaktree is that during this transfer window Inter have to generate €80million net income from transfers in and out.
4.) 07 Aug 2021 09:55:08
Can't see it. They are desperate to lose more players along with Lukaku, and lost a brilliant coach over it. Even if Pogba was available at a cut-down fee I imagine the wages and signing on fee would negate everything they are trying to do. They might take James though, on loan :D.
5.) 07 Aug 2021 21:48:18
If Messi truely loved Barca, he'd play the next two years for free for them.
6.) 08 Aug 2021 01:43:09
Grim,
Why would he do that? I love my wife but I wouldn’t stay with her if she was shagging her boss.
7.) 09 Aug 2021 20:01:40
That's nonsense grim why would he do that?
Work for free?
15 Jul 2021 15:32:46
So seeing as this is a rumour site I thought I'd pass on an interesting rumour that I have heard today.
Apparently an issue has come up in Sancho's medical which is making United think twice about signing him. They are awaiting the results of further tests.
He was due to be announced today along with the new kit launch but this detail is holding things up.
The club have enquired about Federico Chiesa as a possible alternative if these other tests on Sancho highlight a bigger issue.
Not sure how true this all is, it comes from a friend who is in with a crowd of people in London that includes some players and agents. Sometimes he's on the money, other times not. So like anything take it with a pinch or salt.
1.) 15 Jul 2021 16:19:16
Sancho and Rashford were on a plane together last night heading off for a break. If there was an issue with the medical I think they wouldn't let him go abroad.
2.) 15 Jul 2021 17:08:45
I've got a bridge to sell you Shappy.
3.) 15 Jul 2021 17:12:46
Rosie, I'm not interested in a bridge, but if you've got some magic beans I'm keen 😂.
4.) 15 Jul 2021 18:11:19
I think chiesa is a better player, should have bought him last year, a much cheaper alternative too.
5.) 15 Jul 2021 20:28:56
Hard to buy a player if he doesn't want to leave Italy mind.
{Ed0666's Note - You do what most rich clubs do bribe the player.
6.) 15 Jul 2021 21:18:15
Great rumour about Kalvin Phillips on Leeds page.
7.) 16 Jul 2021 07:40:59
Absolute tosh shappy.
8.) 16 Jul 2021 08:22:34
Shappy you must be the only bloke alive that requires five paragraphs for that limited tosh 😂 😂.
{Ed014's Note - to be fair you got away lightly!
9.) 16 Jul 2021 10:47:13
It's a rumour, probably like 99% of rumours it's probably is a load of tosh. I did say take it with a pinch of salt. But seeing as this is a rumours page, it seemed an appropriate place to talk about a rumour.
as for Kalvin Phillips, to be honest I'd probably prefer him over Rice due to him being a better passer of the ball. I just don't see a Leeds lad through and through moving to United.
10.) 16 Jul 2021 11:13:44
Alan Smith?
11.) 16 Jul 2021 12:11:46
Patrick, I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's very rare.
12.) 16 Jul 2021 13:20:24
Eric Cantona.
13.) 16 Jul 2021 13:24:11
Joe Jordon
Gordon McQueen
Denis Irwin
Rio Ferdinand
To name a few. Yep, extremely rare 😂.
14.) 16 Jul 2021 14:42:16
Cantona has done a great job in masking that Leeds accent of his, likewise for the others, I mean Irwin gets that Irish accent down to a T.
15.) 16 Jul 2021 15:05:08
Scooby,
Aren’t the first 2 Scottish?
16.) 16 Jul 2021 18:20:27
GDS2. Yes they are. Your point is?
They came from Leeds to United. 🤔.
17.) 16 Jul 2021 19:01:33
Scooby, I said "I just don't see a Leeds lad through and through moving to United".
Meaning a lad born in Leeds/ Yorkshire who has grown up supporting Leeds United.
Jordan and McQueen are Scottish, Cantona French, Irwin Irish and Ferdinand from London.
Signing Kalvin Phillips who was born in Leeds, grew up there and is a boyhood supporter would be like Alan Smith signing. Which went down like a lead balloon with the Leeds fans. Phillips has even spoken about how he felt seeing Smith sign for United when he was a boy and how much he hated it.
It's not an impossible deal, I just think signing Messi for a packet of Quavers would be more realistic and easier to complete.
18.) 16 Jul 2021 19:35:33
Read his post Scrappy Doo. He pointed out that Phiilips was a Leeds lad.
19.) 17 Jul 2021 10:12:28
As Patrick said, Smudge was known as Mr. Leeds United, born and bred in the town when asked once if there was any club he would never play for, he said Man Utd. Then in 2004 he moved to Manchester.
20.) 17 Jul 2021 17:12:34
Scooby,
My point? That they aren’t from Leeds 😂.
27 Jun 2021 13:37:50
Ed002, is there any truth to the United being interested in Camavinga rumours?
Cheers.
{Ed002's Note - Yes - this has been explained may times. I would not hold your breath.}
1.) 27 Jun 2021 15:39:32
What a super young player. But I can’t see it. Has Real/ PSG all over him.
2.) 28 Jun 2021 07:28:34
I definitely won't be holding my breath, United seem to take somewhere between 6 to 12 months to complete transfers once a target has been decided. As seen with Maguire, Bruno and Sancho😂.
3.) 28 Jun 2021 11:32:09
We can dream I suppose. Camavinga, Varane and Sancho would be an incredible summer window and improve the squad significantly.
21 Jun 2021 15:52:03
Ed002, Do United hold any interest in Sander Berge? Cheers.
{Ed002's Note - Lots from elsewhere but not MU.}
Shappy's banter posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's banter posts
15 Oct 2021 10:46:29
Jesse Lingard, should he be getting more minutes.
He has 2 goals in 117 minutes of football for us this season.
Which means he has the best goals per minute ratio in the squad.
He had been bright and positive when he had played. It's easy to argue that so far he has played better than Sancho.
He had a great season last season with West Ham as well.
So does Jesse deserve more game time and if so which position should he be playing in?
1.) 15 Oct 2021 11:10:42
That's for Ole to decide. He's the one who promised him more playing time if he stayed.
2.) 15 Oct 2021 11:19:58
He's also cost a goal in that time too and was terrible against West Ham in the league cup. Not a good enough player, still can't believe he was credited with an assist for Ronaldo, really struggle to believe Jessie failing to control the ball while slipping is an intended pass.
3.) 15 Oct 2021 11:33:04
Iv been his harshest critic in the past. I think he's done well off the bench But he shouldn't be starting for us. You don't spend £70 million on winger and bench him because a mediocre player has a better goal per minute ratio.
He could be part of the squad as a player coming off the bench but he's not and has never been good enough to start.
4.) 15 Oct 2021 12:37:43
He suits the let's be selfish and try to score the goal alone and pull something out of nothing.
A perfect Ole player. One moment magic strategy player.
5.) 15 Oct 2021 12:47:15
It's getting really stale keep repeating the same old same old but this is really another problem created by Solksjaer.
Every member of the squad should have a defined role. To my mind there should be two players share each position and they rotate in and out without any real loss of quality. The players should all have a complete understanding of their role within the team and complete understanding of how to play their position within the system; it should be seamless.
Looking at Lingard through this lens, what is he in the squad to do? What's his role? I bet he doesn't even know himself what he is doing at Man Utd anymore.
With Utd's squad it's not hard; Ronaldo/ Cavani, Rashford/ Pogba, Sancho/ Greenwood, DvB/ Fred, McTominay/ Matic, Dalot/ AWB, Varane/ Lindelof, Maguire/ Bailly, Bruno/ Lingard? and then the youngsters should be played as and when it is prudent or injuries require cover, OR they are looking better than the regular first teamers.
Lingard is also one of these players where we don't know whether there is any point in keeping them because they hardly ever play so they can't develop any consistency and they can't be rated.
So it's impossible to answer your question Shappy. I think like DVB, he should be given a run of games and then we know if he's worth keeping and playing. There's only any point in him being at Utd if he's good enough and if he's good enough then he should be getting games.
6.) 15 Oct 2021 13:31:13
MancMan Lingard is 28 going on 29 in Dec, I really do not think we need to be giving him games to see if he is good enough, I would say we already know he is not good enough for Utd.
Not saying he is totally useless, he could still have a good career, just not at the top level, not at Utd. Too weak in possession imo, like taking candy from a child.
Now if we could give DvB a decent run of games, say 5-6 at least, then we maybe able to assess his abilities and his effectiveness for Utd but Fred seems to be keeping him out of any chance of playing. Not sure what Fred has got on Ole but it must be good!
7.) 15 Oct 2021 14:57:32
LLV,
Think you need to watch that goal again, he deliberately passes to Ronaldo before being tripped by the defender, it was a fantastic and important assist.
8.) 15 Oct 2021 15:54:46
We need 11 Jesse's on the pitch.
9.) 15 Oct 2021 17:43:58
I disagree GDS, I do not believe for a second it was intentional.
Also Mancman, wasn't Jesse outpriced out of a move? Hardly Ole's fault if the players he is willing to sell are not sold by the board because they believe a squad player in the last year of his contract is worth two Ronaldos.
10.) 15 Oct 2021 18:35:23
He should be put with reserves along with pogba unless they sign a contract. Simple as that for me. Do a bastion on them both. No sign no play no train no nothing.
11.) 15 Oct 2021 18:46:35
Don't worry Grim you are and look like a bunch of Jessie's this season!
Give DVB a chance and send Fred back where he came from :)
12.) 15 Oct 2021 23:31:28
Jrred, we all love a good come back and I think its worth a look to see if Lingard can play for Utd like he did for West Ham.
There's always been a player in there and it may just have clicked with him. i'd like to give him another chance.
13.) 16 Oct 2021 01:14:28
Who would play Jesse over Bruno? Hence he doesn’t ‘deserve’ more time. He plays in a position he has competition that is much better than him.
14.) 16 Oct 2021 06:12:00
Lingard offers something different to Bruno and Bruno can't plsy every minute of every game.
All i'm saying is that he earned another chance with the way he played for West Ham. Its the job of the manager to find that player and that can't be done while he's sitting on the bench.
It may be that the games he played at West Ham were a false dawn, probably!
I thought Solksjaer encouraged him tbat he had a future at Utd. I tbink if he'd told him he wasn't in ghis plans tben he would have moved.
I think Lingard wants to play so he has a chance of making the England squad.
15.) 16 Oct 2021 06:20:38
How does Fred get games for Brazil as well as us?
What are the coaches seeing honestly?
16.) 16 Oct 2021 07:49:39
Confused and bewildering strategy. Ole said “We want to prolong his contract, we see him as an important player for us. It's up to him and maybe up to me to give him more playing time because he deserves to. Hopefully, we can get a deal sorted for Jesse because we really rate him. ”
Can someone tell me what the idiot of a manager is doing? We buy Pellestri, Amad and Sancho for well over £100m, have Bruno and Pogba who play in a particular way, have youth like Mejbri not getting a chance, yet the managerial dunce is pushing Jesse to sign a new deal.
Looks to me like Ole can’t let go, likes Lingards DNA. If I were Lingard I would leave, I would look at how DvB has been treated, it appears he was lied to so why would you trust this manager if you sign a new contract?
The thing is Ole will likely feel for Jesse and want to persuade him to sign, so rather than have a strategic plan, could now give him playing time. It’s so amateur it’s frightening.
17.) 16 Oct 2021 08:17:34
Eric79, probably they like the Fred that's always smiling and enjoying his own bad performances ?.
It's time Brazil appoint Ole as the manager and it would be a great fit for the duo. All smiles and fun no matter what ?.
18.) 16 Oct 2021 09:47:45
Red Man, who is this "we"? "We want him to prolong his contact", "we see him as an important player", "we really rate him".
Does Ole have split personality disorder? Or is he referring to other people at the club?
I'd imagine this mad attempt to get him and Pogba to sign new deals comes from the accounts fear that an "asset" will leave for nothing.
That's why Jones got a new deal while we didn't even have an official manager. That's why Mata got a new deal. It there is a pattern at the club the goes back well beyond Ole's time at the club with the club throwing contracts at players who barely play just because their contact is going to run out.
Ole is a club man, and all press conferences are more or less scripted. To me this sounds like a charm offensive to try and stop an "asset" leaving for nothing.
We know the club were prepared to sell Lingard in the summer, just no one would pay the asking price. We know the club will look to sell him in January at a cut price if he hasn't signed a new deal by then.
It's clear the club have little plan for him beyond the spreadsheet. This is simply the club scrabbling to come up with a satisfactory financial solution. Either push up his price by publicly suggesting that they want to keep him, or to tie him down to a new deal.
I'd suggest that every player who is out of contract next summer SHOULD leave. If the club have allowed your contact to run down then they probably don't value you as a player, just an asset.
Apparently a new deal for Bruno is the priority. He has over 3 years left on his deal and the are pushing to give him a new deal. That shows the club value him. If you are a few months away from being able to sign a pre-contract with another side and the club haven't been seriously negotiating a new deal for you then they don't really want you, they just don't want to lose you for free.
14 Oct 2021 14:37:51
Just for something a little different I wondered outside of Manchester United signings, which signing do you think has been the best so far in the EPL and which signing has suprised you most?
For me Lukaku has been the best signing so far, he has really given Chelsea a new dimension and taken them from very good side to genuine title challengers.
While most surprising signing is Tino Livermento. I must admit I hadn't seen much of him bar a couple of appearances for Chelsea's youth side against us (in which he was very good) . So when he moved to Southampton who had Kyle Walker-Peters who looked good for them I didn't expect him to get much game time. But he has been excellent and deserving of first choice. He looks like he could be the next exciting young English RB.
Although with TAA, Trippier, Walker, James, AWB, Aarons, Lamptey etc all looking good it's not like there is much competition there.
1.) 14 Oct 2021 15:42:08
Awb is looking good at what exactly?
2.) 14 Oct 2021 15:52:07
Defending mostly Ken. Which given he is technically a defender is a bit of a boon.
He is a weak link in our side from an attacking perspective, he has the attributes to be an excellent player. Unfortunately we don't seem to have the coaching staff to get the most out of him.
3.) 14 Oct 2021 16:03:24
I don't think he has been good lat 12 months.
Better player at Palace defending and attacking.
4.) 14 Oct 2021 18:08:42
His defending has still been very good, a few very important blocks, attacking he just hasn’t kicked on at all and Trippier should have been signed.
Lukaku looked good in his first few games Shappy but he has regressed back to the player he was for united recently, hardly touching the ball all game and not scoring goals, against city he was woeful. He scores goals against the poor teams and always has but I’m not convinced about him in the big games.
Andros Townsend has started brilliantly for Everton and Conor Gallagher has been a great signing for Palace. Weirdly Ramsdale at Arsenal may have been the best ‘big money’ signing but also a surprise for me.
5.) 14 Oct 2021 18:48:11
Maybe let wan-bissaka do what he's good at and defend free up a midfilder to get forward into the right channel and teach awb to cross from deep or am i just crazy playing to peoples strengths rather than weaknesses.
6.) 14 Oct 2021 19:33:47
Lukaku has been Lukaku of old. Scores against lower sides, but struggled badly against City and Juventus.
7.) 14 Oct 2021 20:15:54
From the sound of it Lukaku has been carrying an injury for the last few weeks. Maybe he is just a flat track bully, or maybe he wasn't fully fit.
8.) 14 Oct 2021 20:31:26
Perhaps Shappy, will be interesting to find out, the stories about him in Italy were that he had adapted his game but I’ve not seen it so far.
9.) 15 Oct 2021 06:52:53
Been really impressed with gray for Everton and what a steal, just over £1million!
Tamiyasu for arsenal looks good too.
14 Oct 2021 09:58:34
I'd just like to wish David Brooks a full and speedy recovery. Cancer is a horrific sickness and sadly I'd imagine all of us on here have felt its effects either personally or via a loved one.
1.) 14 Oct 2021 11:59:16
Echo that shappy, wishing him a speedy and full recovery. I’ve had numerous close family members get cancer diagnosis over the last few weeks, with the prognosis better for some than others. It’s an awful thing that effects the whole family so I wish them all the very best.
12 Oct 2021 16:49:39
So the club confirm that Varane is out for "a few weeks" with a muscle injury.
That means Leicester, Atalanta, Liverpool and Spurs he'll almost certainly miss. While he could either be out or have to make his come back in the second game against Atalanta or against City.
Less than ideal and injured playing for France in what is a glorified "friendly" tournament.
When everyone is pushing for more and more games what is the point of the "Nations cup"?
1.) 12 Oct 2021 17:21:03
Big squad no point moaning injuries happen. Far from ideal timing but that's life.
Its about money no other reason really.
2.) 12 Oct 2021 17:49:23
With Varane out, atleast it provides an excuse if/ when we struggle during this time. We had to play a second string defence bullcrap.
3.) 12 Oct 2021 19:22:26
We spent a whole season without our regular back 2 or 3 so I'm sure you'll be fine :)
4.) 12 Oct 2021 20:09:41
Jonsey i'm not one for moaning unless it's about it manager ?.
5.) 12 Oct 2021 20:40:56
Jonesy are you a closet United fan or have you been shunted out of the Liverpool page?
6.) 12 Oct 2021 20:43:07
Jonesy it's your namesakes time to shine ;)
7.) 12 Oct 2021 20:51:38
5 first team centre backs at the club, injuries can happen at any time, just have to deal with it.
We were quite fortunate with injuries last season when other teams were not.
8.) 12 Oct 2021 20:51:41
Gets boring on LFC page when posts are just people whinging about lack of signings. Much more going on over here :)
9.) 12 Oct 2021 21:10:15
Plus I feel its my purpose in life to build bridges.
10.) 12 Oct 2021 21:29:52
Well jonsey your better company and have better banter than mighty reds.
11.) 12 Oct 2021 21:54:50
You are welcomed here Jonesy mate. Feel free to have a chat whenever you want. After all it's football and football build bridges.
12.) 12 Oct 2021 23:55:29
High praise, better banter than mighty reds. Think it might be time to stop posting if it was worse ?.
13.) 13 Oct 2021 06:55:28
Time for Bailly and Lindelof. Break out the popcorn.
14.) 13 Oct 2021 07:50:40
McFred given a lease by Varane through his injury.
15.) 13 Oct 2021 08:10:21
My best mate is a Utd fan so have grown up with the rivalry and banter and I've taken some stick for many years. There are some great posters on here :)
16.) 13 Oct 2021 10:18:02
Let’s see if others can step up and take their chance, sometimes adversity brings out the best.
17.) 13 Oct 2021 14:39:33
Are their any young centre backs who might be ready to be given a chance?
18.) 13 Oct 2021 14:49:06
well what's the bet he's fit for the next international break in 4 weeks time.
19.) 13 Oct 2021 15:17:09
Mendi would be the alternative youth choice after Bailly, Victor and Jones. Or Shaw or Bissaka moving into back 2 or 3.
Lots of options, but it is crap timing.
20.) 14 Oct 2021 15:13:24
What are people's feelings on Menji? Is he ready for the first team and would he provide a better option than Bailly or Lindelof?
I've not seen him. What are his strengths?
10 Oct 2021 21:02:03
Varane off injured. That's less than ideal
1.) 10 Oct 2021 21:53:54
We get to watch the renaissance of Big Phil Jones now, he will fulfil his destiny.
2.) 10 Oct 2021 22:01:19
Hope it's nothing serious. Good game to watch other than that.
Pogba had a good game in midfield.
3.) 10 Oct 2021 22:01:51
Oh god, we'll see the slabhead and gurner double act.
4.) 11 Oct 2021 11:04:33
Surprised your not happy at that shaps. Sure are happy with the current slop we play so ?♂️.
5.) 11 Oct 2021 12:20:35
Have I ever said I'm happy with how we play? Have I said it's great football?
Pretty sure all I've said is that I find it better than what we saw under the past two managers, and that I expected it to improve as the team got better.
6.) 11 Oct 2021 14:16:15
Shappy,
Pointless mate, people read what they want to read and it’s black or white, if you make one positive comment you like everything the club ever does and love the manager.
7.) 11 Oct 2021 15:13:25
Sort of shappy. You said that there is no other manager in the whole world that can do better at united than ole.
8.) 11 Oct 2021 17:38:56
Almost Ken, I said given the circumstances at the time there probably wasn't another manager that could achieve more.
Out of interest which manager that was available at the time with the squad we had do you think could have amassed over 82 points to finish above City or 100 points to finish above Liverpool in the 2019/ 20 season.
Or 87 points last season to finish above City.
I'm not sure given the competition we have been up against and the state the club found itself in I don't believe there is a manager who was available to us that would have improved on the 3rd place finish in 2019/ 20 or the 2nd place finish last season (2020/ 21).
I stand by that.
How the team play and the results the team achieve aren't actually mutually exclusive. I think we have had spells of decent (not scintillating) football, spells of poor football but mostly average football under Ole. On the whole it was better than what I saw under Mourinho who would park the bus at home to Burnley, and the mindless possession for the sake of possession under LvG. That's my opinion anyway.
Maybe (probably) with a different manager we might have played more "entertaining" football, but I don't think it would have impacted the results all that much, certainly not enough to elevate our final league positions.
I felt that with better players the team would come together and perform better. 10 games into this season it is clear now that the manager isn't able to elevate the club any higher than where we are regardless of which players we sign. He has peaked and it isn't good enough for where we (as fans) want to be. So it's time for him to go.
Now we will find out whether my view that the owners value stability and top four over glory and titles is true or not. We will see the level of their ambitions laid bare before us. Sadly I'm fairly confident that after 16 years of viewing the Glazer ownership that I will be proven right. I certainly don't want to be. I just have no faith that they are prepared to put their money where their mouth is in terms of going for glory. The ESL proves what they are about, not that anyone paying attention would have needed that proof at this point.
I have no faith in them wanting the same things for our club as the fans do.
9.) 11 Oct 2021 19:13:08
Shappy, I think that if anything the ESL debacle may make the Glazers get rid of Ole even if they wouldn't have previously. They appear to be on a charm offensive with the fans - we saw this with the players signed in the summer. I feel that they may see a change of manager as another way to appease the fans, especially if we limp in to top 4 come the end of the season. I just hope if Ole is replaced it's not with another negative manager like Conte. Will they understand that United fans want to be entertained and fo for an attacking, progressive manager? Or after so long without a major trophy would fans be happy with a more defensive manager if it meant bringing the league/ champions league back home?
10.) 11 Oct 2021 19:45:13
AA80, do you think the people who make these decisions know the difference between an attacking manager or a defensive one? Do you think they understand football, tactics, styles etc?
Or do you think they are investment bankers who only recognise "big" names and reputations.
11.) 11 Oct 2021 20:53:56
No, I think the people who own the club are very astute business people - after all they managed to buy the club with it's own money! They have maximised profits so far by increasing sponsorships etc but must be aware of the unrest caused by the ESL statements.
I expect that they will be more willing to change manager, even if top 4 is achieved, to try and placate the fans. I also expect them to go for the biggest name possible as they have in the past, rather than finding the best fit for the club and developing a system that will build the foundations for lasting success.
15 Oct 2021 19:35:42
Ed002, would I be right in thinking Chelsea are the club who will make an offer in January?
{Ed002's Note - No.}
13 Oct 2021 09:09:23
Clam down, Tarkowski and Longstaff were mentioned with tongue clearly in cheek.
Wallace, I agree that we need to slim down the squad. We have far too many players who just aren't contributing to our side. They are blocking the pathway for the youngsters as well.
12 Oct 2021 14:00:03
If we are interested in potential free agents then there are some good options. Kessie obviously, but Zakaria, Boubacar Kamara, Fati and Pedri at Barcelona, Romagnoli, Belotti, Insigne, Cantwell, Isco, Onana, Bernardeschi, Luiz Felipe and Zagadou are all potentially available next summer on a Bosman. Although I expect several of them to agree and sign new deals before then.
As well as players like Januzaj, Mkhitaryan, and Di Maria if people feel like they slipped the net and people would want to see them brought back.
Of course we could also look at Sean Longstaff who has been a target in the past. Or James Tarkowski if we want EPL proven.
Personally any of Kessie, Zakaria or Kamara would dramatically improve our midfield options.
While Romagnoli, Zagadou or Luiz Felipe would add some top class competition in defence.
Best ignore Fati and Pedri who will almost certainly sign new deals with Barcelona.
11 Oct 2021 12:13:09
I remember reading it in the Athletic, at the time I dismissed it. But in truth until we signed Varane Maguire was our best CB. Sure we could do better and we have in signing Varane.
But if we think about it logically of course not having your best CB in a final is going to negatively impact your chances. Maybe we wouldn't have conceded with Maguire maybe we still would have. Maybe Maguire might have made a telling difference, maybe he wouldn't.
Yet if you ask any manager what they want heading into a a final all of them will say they want their best players fit and available.
10 Oct 2021 14:12:14
Good, while individually he has his faults we keep significantly higher percentage of clean sheets with him in the team than with him out of it.
It was even suggested his absence from the Europa League final may have impacted the result.
16 Oct 2021 18:20:21
He'll probably get Ole's job.
16 Oct 2021 10:12:16
Red Man I only go as far back as Sir Alex, with me being born around the time he took over.
Yet from what I have witnessed LvG has been by far the worst manager in my lifetime.
The football was just awful, I turned off several matches at half time as I just couldn't inflict it on myself anymore.
While his signings were pretty much terrible and I feel he sold/ let go several players that in hindsight we should have kept. Jonny Evans for example.
After that I don't think much separates the other three. None providing great football, Jose's United were a tough watch, but at least until he had his meltdown you knew that we had a chance to win something even if we were playing anti-United football.
Moyes was not here long enough, was a solid manager but a lamb to the slaughter following Sir Alex.
Ole has done some things well, but lacks the ability to raise us back to where we want to be. The football on the whole is better to watch than under LvG and Jose (although not great to watch), but there seems less chance of winning something with him.
16 Oct 2021 10:02:06
Ken, he united a very split dressing room. I'd argue that the team is all pulling in the same direction for the first time since Sir Alex left.
He has also bought well for the most part, and dramatically improved the squad from the one he took over.
He has also got career best season's out of a few of our players. Not just good form, but them playing the best they have ever managed.
He has also managed a level of stability that we haven't had under previous managers. To consistently finish in the top 3 let alone top 4 is an improvement on what we have managed previously.
That needs to be balanced against the indifferent form of the side as a whole. With great "moments" rather than great performances as a team.
The average to poor performances of some players, as well as a perceived lack on development in some players.
The inability to convert good chances to win things into trophies.
As well as the general feeling that he has peaked and is struggling to get this side playing at its full potential.
Is he the worst manager? No, he's a fairly average Joe, he can get a team playing to a certain level but lacks the ability to make them into a genuine top side that can challenge for the biggest honours.
16 Oct 2021 09:47:45
Red Man, who is this "we"? "We want him to prolong his contact", "we see him as an important player", "we really rate him".
Does Ole have split personality disorder? Or is he referring to other people at the club?
I'd imagine this mad attempt to get him and Pogba to sign new deals comes from the accounts fear that an "asset" will leave for nothing.
That's why Jones got a new deal while we didn't even have an official manager. That's why Mata got a new deal. It there is a pattern at the club the goes back well beyond Ole's time at the club with the club throwing contracts at players who barely play just because their contact is going to run out.
Ole is a club man, and all press conferences are more or less scripted. To me this sounds like a charm offensive to try and stop an "asset" leaving for nothing.
We know the club were prepared to sell Lingard in the summer, just no one would pay the asking price. We know the club will look to sell him in January at a cut price if he hasn't signed a new deal by then.
It's clear the club have little plan for him beyond the spreadsheet. This is simply the club scrabbling to come up with a satisfactory financial solution. Either push up his price by publicly suggesting that they want to keep him, or to tie him down to a new deal.
I'd suggest that every player who is out of contract next summer SHOULD leave. If the club have allowed your contact to run down then they probably don't value you as a player, just an asset.
Apparently a new deal for Bruno is the priority. He has over 3 years left on his deal and the are pushing to give him a new deal. That shows the club value him. If you are a few months away from being able to sign a pre-contract with another side and the club haven't been seriously negotiating a new deal for you then they don't really want you, they just don't want to lose you for free.
16 Oct 2021 08:53:53
AWB is an interesting player. He isn't my ideal kind of full back, but he is much better than many people give him credit for.
He often bares the brunt for a lot of our lackluster attacking play. While he isn't an offensive full back by any stretch of the imagination, it is not his fault that we struggle to move the ball quickly enough through the the transitions. While we often create chances but have poor finishing, again this isn't AWB's fault.
He's a solid 6 out of 10 player every week, he rarely let's us down, he just isn't TAA. He's a steady eddy, that stability is actually a good thing for a defender.
I do feel that our coaching staff may not be working as well with him as we would like. There seems to be little improvement in his offensive output, and he plays the safe option too often. He also has the occasional positioning error, although he often has the pace and the 1v1 ability to correct and overcome these errors. While I feel the coaching staff could maybe do more, we have to appreciate that for a player to improve it takes BOTH good coaching AND hard work and dedication from the player. Is AWB doing enough to improve himself? That isn't a criticism, just a genuine question as to why we don't seem to be seeing much improvement from him.
There is definitely a top level player in him, it's about coaxing it out of him one way or another. While an arm around Shaw's shoulder has got the best out of him, maybe AWB needs a different approach to challenge him to improve. Players are individuals after all and a blanket approach won't work for everyone.
Personally I think it makes more sense to coach him to play as an inverted full back that could free up a midfielder to push further forward. Then get our RW to stay wider to keep the width. While on the other side I'd have Shaw push up high and wide to allow Rashford to drift in.
It's a more nuanced slightly lopsided system which would require a more structured coaching approach.
Symmetrical systems are much easier to understand and to coach, both full backs do the same thing, both wingers do the same thing. Rather than coaching individual roles to individual players. However, making the system to suit the players rather than asking the players to adjust to the system will almost certainly get better performances from the players as they will be playing to their strengths.