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12 Aug 2024 21:24:10
Sander Berge left out of Burnley's squad for their first game of the season this evening.
Seems to suggest that there is something in the rumours of him leaving. Will it be to ourselves, or to someone else?
1.) 12 Aug 2024 22:06:16
He’s also missed most of pre season with the same injury that kept him out of tonight. Nice try Shappy!
2.) 13 Aug 2024 07:53:27
Romanoesque!
3.) 13 Aug 2024 08:58:48
Be a shame to not keep the trend of signing injury prone players going!
4.) 13 Aug 2024 11:45:59
Wazza, where did you hear he is injured, I've scoured the internet and not found any mention of him being injured. The Burnley manager didn't mention him as being out injured.
5.) 13 Aug 2024 12:47:50
He has not played any pre season due to injury so was not considered last night and it was reported at the match last night that he was left out due to that reasoning.
6.) 13 Aug 2024 12:50:09
Shappy, Parker said so, and confirmed it's what has kept him out of some pre-season fixtures.
You can't have Googled too long as it's the first thing that comes up when searching Sander Berge injury.
"He picked up an injury in Spain. He had a bit of discomfort in his quad. It's not a big injury, it's quite a small injury to be honest with you. "
Nice clickbait though!
7.) 13 Aug 2024 13:33:59
Wazza to be fair I searched last night and that article you've quoted was published at midday today, 15 minutes AFTER I posted saying I hadn't seen anything to say he was injured.
From what I read he was expected to be in the squad and wasn't, which seemed suspicious. As it was he is injured, so that's that then.
12 Jul 2024 18:16:32
Sancho back at the club and training with the first team.
Apparently talks between Sancho and EtH have taken place and they've agreed to draw a line under the situation.
He will now be available to take part in pre-season games.
Is this a case that Sancho has realised his options weren't as good as he thought?
Or is this the player and the club doing what is needed to push up the offers to facilitate his move away.
I guess we'll see what happens over the next couple of months.
1.) 12 Jul 2024 19:28:08
If true, my opinion of ETH has gone up a little. Sancho still has a long way to go.
2.) 12 Jul 2024 19:55:26
Or sancho has realised this board ain’t getting rid of another manager for players and he’s having to knuckle down
Still hope he’s gone tho.
3.) 12 Jul 2024 20:02:32
2 adults in a room, having a chat.
It's surely a bit of both, no offers and ETH drawing a line, giving a clean slate to align with the current mood of the club. Everything is new.
I hope he can put his head down and make the best of his second chance at the club.
4.) 12 Jul 2024 20:08:07
Hopefully just the club strengthening their position, and Sancho isn’t smart enough to be any the wiser.
5.) 12 Jul 2024 21:17:13
Well this is interesting. People can and do have the right to change their minds. He’s better than Antony who Ed said was available for transfer, and with Greenwood on the way out and likely Pellestri too, makes sense for him and Amad to compete.
Plus he can play 10. Why not let bygones be bygones. If he wants to come back and show the form he shows in Dortimund then awesome for both parties.
6.) 12 Jul 2024 21:41:06
I’m in the get rid camp. Glad they’ve come to an amicable cease fire, but a Leopard doesn’t change its spots and he’s still the petulant kid that fell out with the boss in the first place.
7.) 12 Jul 2024 23:45:46
I would suspect that the big boys “suggested” that ETH needed to sort it out between them both as well as Sancho realising he was damaging his chances.
I am also in the out basket.
8.) 13 Jul 2024 06:24:10
I don't really care about the detail of what has happened and him being back and no issues with it. The realty is he has been poor for us even before the spat under previous managers barring the odd game and not sure he can cut it at united and hence selling him would be ideal.
9.) 13 Jul 2024 06:54:52
Agreed Ahmad.
Beyond what happened, he’s not very good and needs to be moved on.
The laziness and ego are part of his personality, people don’t change.
10.) 13 Jul 2024 07:10:46
As Ahmad said he has been at the club three years now, hasn't set the world alight has he?
Maybe the wages are putting people off, clearly he has the ability and mentality as we saw at Dortmund, unfortunately the consistency might never be there and he is destined to sit the last few years of his contract out at United.
I guess this doesn't help our PSR and getting some of the big wage earners out.
{Ed001's Note - when was this fabled Sancho ability shown at Dortmund? If people had actually watched him play, instead of reading his PR bull, they would have known he was terrible there except when coming on very late as a sub. Even then, it was more down to rank amateur defending that he got decent stats. He is so far up his own backside that he can lick his own tonsils and will not achieve anything until he grows up.}
11.) 13 Jul 2024 09:20:52
Absolutely spot on Ed001. People saw highlights of that game against PSG and couldn’t see past it. He was no good for Dortmund, couldn’t hold down a starting place, and his G&A numbers were as poor there as they’ve been for us. That’s without mentioning his attitude and mentality.
The last headline I read started “England International Jadon Sancho…”. PR nonsense.
12.) 13 Jul 2024 09:44:51
I will still be surprised to see Sanchi still with the club once the window shuts.
However this allows for him to show what he can do in pre season, see whether he can reintegrate with the new coaching structure.
Would not be surprised if he still moves late in the window.
13.) 13 Jul 2024 10:11:47
We dropped a bomb buying him, and now we are paying for it, no one will pay the money we want or the wages either so to get rid we are still going to end up subsidising his wages.
Not surprised they made up, there wasn't really a choice, it doesn't look good on Sancho but neither does it on United. I rather suspect that's all parties are working together to find a solution that will involve him playing elsewhere next year.
14.) 13 Jul 2024 10:19:39
Absolutely bang on the money Ed001. Bang on it. Get rid asap.
15.) 13 Jul 2024 21:34:15
Get rid. Bad attitude and not good enough anyway. Not worth the hassle.
16.) 14 Jul 2024 07:25:17
Ed 1 is totally correct here. It’s total PR spin, because even though I know he’s not a great player, and all my Cory fan mates say the same, my mind still thinks he should get a (yet another) chance. It’s brainwashing. He’s done nothing positive of note since he joined the club, and Italian and German leagues are far more suitable for him than the rigours of the Premier League.
Being him back, get him training and fit, sell him for maximum value. Smart move by the club.
If he does stay, he now has to win back over the fans too who frankly want rid.
03 Dec 2023 12:53:13
Heard a rumour today that United and Barcelona are exploring the possibility of swapping Sancho and Raphinha initially on loan, but with a possible view to it becoming a permanent deal if it works out.
If there is any truth to this then I think its a possible deal that could work out for all parties.
United and Sancho need to part ways, while Sancho probably doesn't want to take a step down/ backwards.
United really need someone who can lock down the RW spot, and Raphinha was one of the best RW players while at Leeds.
Unfortunately for him it seems Xavi doesn't quite rate him, despite him playing well when called upon.
Stylistically I tend to think that Sancho does fit better in a side like Barcelona and Raphinha in a side like United.
I'd be pretty happy if the club managed to pull something like this off, what is everyone else's view?
1.) 03 Dec 2023 15:28:02
I mean I’d be delighted if we can pull that off. But I can’t see it.
2.) 03 Dec 2023 21:44:52
Sounds like a computer game transfer to me.
3.) 03 Dec 2023 21:52:43
Would rip your arm off for that deal but it’s all pie in the sky.
4.) 05 Dec 2023 01:58:03
We could do with new negotiators, or they might come back from Spain with a bunch of Rapini.
5.) 05 Dec 2023 09:07:03
Shappy
Wishful thinking. Why would Barcelona do that. He will end up somewhere in Italy as that's generally the league players end up when they don't work out in PL. He is not good enough for any of the top 3/ 4 teams in Spain and unaffordable for any in the next tier.
Its one of those players who will be hard to shift unless we take a bath on the transfer.
6.) 05 Dec 2023 21:09:51
Rumours today it’s Rashford ??♂️.
7.) 09 Dec 2023 20:22:57
I’d be happy if Rashford went tbh along with Sancho. The pair of ‘em aren’t bad players, as long as they get their own way. We aren’t currently in a place where we can carry talented babies though, so I’d get radical and get rid of the pair.
08 Jul 2023 14:41:19
DDG is gone, club just wished him well and said goodbye on Twatter.
1.) 08 Jul 2023 14:49:36
Great servant, but right time for MU and himself to move on, some of the replies made my blood boil though, clearly not fans but even still. he's got my respect and wish him well in his next venture.
2.) 08 Jul 2023 15:22:56
He's big, he's brave he's Spanish Dave
He makes great saves, he never shaves,
Flying through the air
Come and have a shot if you dare!
He indeed has been a great servant as well as a true professional in his behaviors. He will inevitably divide some on opinions, but no one can doubt some of the class saves over the years (Mata's freekick)
Ed002, what teams would be interested? Roma? Saudi clubs?
3.) 08 Jul 2023 15:43:50
Our best player over the last 12 years, gutted he is going but it is the right time for him and the club.
4.) 08 Jul 2023 15:22:56
He's big, he's brave he's Spanish Dave
He makes great saves, he never shaves,
Flying through the air
Come and have a shot if you dare!
He indeed has been a great servant as well as a true professional in his behaviors. He will inevitably divide some on opinions, but no one can doubt some of the class saves over the years (Mata's freekick)
Ed002, what teams would be interested? Roma? Saudi clubs?
{Ed002's Note - David De Gea (G) If Mr Mourinho stays at Roma, then perhaps interest. Perhaps someone in Spain or the Middle East. Manchester United have a list of potential replacements but want a new contract.}
5.) 09 Jul 2023 07:07:25
Good time for both parties to move on. Clearly looked very uncomfortable under ETH’s system. That being said, a brilliant keeper for us over the years. Wish him all the best. Italy seems an obvious move in the absence of decent Spanish interest - or of course Saudi!
28 May 2023 09:30:51
Heard a rumour this morning that United might look at Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich, as well as closely monitoring the situation with Ryan Gravenberch.
Bayern yesterday sacked their CEO Oliver Kahn and their Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic, possibly opening the door for some players to leave who might have been intending to stay under the previous regime.
Pavard would be an interesting option, capable of playing both CB and RB he'd be a very good option.
Gravenberch too has great potential but just can't get the game time he needs with players like Kimmich and Goretzka ahead of him.
1.) 28 May 2023 09:50:18
Think Ed002 said that Pavard is reluctant to consider us because he wants to play primarily as a cb.
2.) 28 May 2023 11:30:14
A RB who can also chip in at CB is a good shout, as is Frimpong.
I think Bayern have a number of players who should be of interest. I assume the Mount thing has legs and if so that would probably kill off any interest in Gravenberch and De Jong, and what of Sabitzer.
3.) 28 May 2023 12:13:02
Interesting thread this and might have legs as we know Erik likes players who can play multiple positions to limit the impact of injuries in the squad.
4.) 28 May 2023 13:25:20
Back in February, it was reported that his expected fee this summer could be £26.8m because his contract is up next year - that would amount to a bargain.
That said, it's likely that Bayern would still want more than that for a versatile defender approaching his prime.
The problem is that he wants to play CB and there can be no assurances offered by United that he'll be first-choice ahead of Varane.
He can play RB, but he might be reluctant about coming to a club where that could be his only consistent option.
That does also render Barcelona as a questionable option given that the superior Kounde is already playing RB to accommodate other players.
Personally, I'd expect him to move to a Serie A club.
5.) 28 May 2023 22:50:42
We really need to be looking at Gravenberch. I’m not sure if he’s even available but if he is and a a low price it’s a no brainier. Le fee is another player I hope we take a look at.
6.) 30 May 2023 10:44:36
varane missed 14 league games, went off 6 times, efl only played 90 mins in the final missed 4 games and subbed off once. Class act but never been consistantly fit for games throughout his career. Any cb coming in would get a minimum of 25 games a season if fit/ available.
Shappy's banter posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's banter posts
03 Oct 2025 10:59:31
Shappy has written an article entitled, Is Bruno Fernandes Holding Manchester United Back?
1.) 03 Oct 2025 11:48:02
I don't think I've seen a more passionate player towards his club in recent years, and he's probably the best post-Fergie signing. His impact in his first season was sensational.
BUT. at some point the manager/ coaching team/ player have concocted this scenario where it was ok to sign two brilliant no.10s with Bruno moving back. With the estimate £100m+ we could have got for him, we could have bought a transformative player for that position. He can't do it. I'd rather see him in his no.10 role with Sesko dropped and one of the other pair moved forward.
I think he goes either in the winter window if things don't improve dramatically by then, if not certainly summer. Whether Amorim will be around to see it happen is unclear. Seems unlikely.
2.) 03 Oct 2025 11:51:29
Good article, Shappy. I have to agree with it. Well, I don't have to, but I do agree sadly.
3.) 03 Oct 2025 13:24:42
If he could be sold this January and use the money to buy Wharton? Play him alongside Mainoo? Buy a top goalie in the summer if Sienne doesn’t work out?
Wing backs?
Wharton would be a fantastic purchase.
4.) 03 Oct 2025 14:52:36
Playing with a 4-2-3-1 could get us into 5th or 6th place.
Then do it.
It isn’t sustainable.
Well, neither is hovering above the relegation zone.
This is exactly why Amorim’s lack of pragmatism is toxic. With the players the club has at present, they have more chance of winning games by playing a different system. Yet, Amorim thinks that being pragmatic is worse than continuing to play losing football.
At this point, Amorim isn’t building for the future, he should be fighting to save his job. If that necessitates playing a 4-2-3-1 for the rest of the season, any competent coach would do it. Bruno can be addressed next summer, for now, all that matters is winning games and climbing out of the bottom half of the table.
5.) 03 Oct 2025 15:12:27
Totally agree with Bruno being our best buy for a long time, unfortunately for him it came at a point when we struggled for consistency and a set manager that would have taken us to greater heights.
It would appear from the outside that the club let there hearts lead and with all the negative press around the decisions being made did not want to force Bruno out and gave him the choice, as a fan of the club he did what we all would probably do but that in the long run (or short as it turns out) is not the best for the club.
I think we need to push him forward into one of the attacking roles even if that means he is in a rotation with Cunha/ Mbeumo/ Mount and even starts from the bench in games. He would definitely add value but best to use him maybe more sparingly. This would also give the opportunity to see what Mainoo can do over the next few months either alongside Casimero, Ugarte or new HM
Going forward we need be planning for January (if funds available) and definitely next summer to bring in 2 new midfielders for these positions. unless Mainoo can show significant growth in this area.
If Amorim lasts then I definitely think Wharton/ Baleba would be the ideal. If he does not then it throws up the best suited players.
6.) 03 Oct 2025 15:25:24
I think the issue is Bruno doesn’t fit in Amorim’s system.
If I’m picking between the two I’m with Bruno.
But I see the argument in selling Bruno to fund new players.
7.) 03 Oct 2025 17:42:46
How many more players need to get get sold because they don't fit the system.
8.) 03 Oct 2025 18:31:06
Five.
9.) 03 Oct 2025 19:13:36
I love the argument that only if we sold bruno things will get fixed as he is the problem for this wonderful system not working. First of all amorim plays him every week so he does not seem to agree.
Trust me we can sell bruno tomm and nothing will change with amorim and then its blaming the next player and only if we could get rid of this one or that one. soon there will be no one left but the kitman.
10.) 03 Oct 2025 19:19:23
These players, the majority, don't win games, no matter the system.
Think tail end of Eth, same players
Start of Amorim, same players
Currently, same players
We are a year away from our fortunes changing, no matter the coach/ system or otherwise. Deal with it how you will.
11.) 03 Oct 2025 19:20:05
Banjoe, it's not just a out fitting the system though is it.
To get the best out of Bruno you need to give him a free role, yet no top club who will seriously challenge for major honours can afford to give a player a free role and build around them.
So if we want to be serious title contenders then we either have find a role for Bruno that doesn't mean building around him (which will require him to adapt his game in some way), or we move him on and build a team without him.
The problem is that we have pretty much cleared out all of the players who either weren't performing and rarely have, or who were a problem in some other way. We are now at the point where to move forward we have to start cutting away players who haven't been an off the field issue, or have shown at times that they can be good/ useful players for us.
12.) 03 Oct 2025 22:06:28
Just play our best player in his best position. Can't hurt.
13.) 04 Oct 2025 05:38:42
Noucamp99
That would be too much to ask and the next question is why did we buy two more 10s and can argue amad can play there too.
The next guy who is going to get the blame and sold is probably Amad after Bruno. I say keep the players and sell the manager and get someone in who knows how to set up a team and win games.
The fact that poeple are rightfully nervous with Sunderland coming to OT is just ridiculous and how low have we fallen.
We will huff and puff and win this game imo. After the break he will have his ass handed to him in quite a few a games imo and that's the end of him unless he does a massive u turn on how we are set up.
22 Sep 2025 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Onwards And Upwards For Manchester United
21 Sep 2025 13:18:55
Shappy has written an article entitled, Onwards And Upwards For Manchester United
1.) 21 Sep 2025 15:59:21
Good result.
If we can head to Anfield with 3x wins, by hook or by crook. I’d be delighted and give us a chance.
The team needs confidence.
20 Sep 2025 12:31:32
Shappy has written an article entitled, Amorim Does Change Tactics With The Manchester United Team
1.) 20 Sep 2025 15:06:57
Whatever we are playing and even with adaptations is failing.
Any changes made are intrinsically linked to the formation. 3 at the back weakens midfield and attack.
2.) 20 Sep 2025 16:31:07
Utd Road, by that logic playing with two CB's instead of three weakens our defence.
The reality is that many teams that play with a back four on paper will have either a midfielder drop deeper between the CB's or have one full back stay deeper making it a defacto back three.
Likewise our three at the back has a defender move forward at times to have an extra man in midfield.
Is there a massive difference between having a CB step into midfield or having a midfielder drop into defence? Not really.
The problem we have is we have a weak set of options in midfield. It's that simple.
Name me one side that will challenge for top 5 where any of our midfielders start for them?
Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainoo and Bruno as a deep midfielder. None of them start at City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Villa, or Newcastle.
I'm not sure any of them start regularly for Spurs, Brighton, or even Forest.
We played with a midfield three of Casemiro, Mainoo and Bruno under EtH and we were absolutely awful.
3.) 20 Sep 2025 22:59:35
I do wonder a fit Martiez can help Amorim in the sense as he’s happy to step up and pass out of the defence. This then allows Shaw and Dogu to trate at LWB?
4.) 21 Sep 2025 14:56:19
Yes there’s difference in CB stepping up or CDM stepping back.
Only perhaps Scalvini or Rice can do both.
3 at the back is more defensive so 4 at the back does weaken defence in exchange for a more bodies up field. Risks are offset with pressing etc.
I think it’s a weak argument to compare EtH’s tactics. How a three is set up is unique to the coach.
As shown yesterday and in 3 of Amorims other wins 3421 works fine against 10 men.
07 Sep 2025 07:39:04
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Thoughts on the Manchester United Transfer Window
11 Oct 2025 11:16:09
I'll be very happy to see the back of the Glasers. They have offered nothing to our club but have taken plenty from us.
That said I am cautious over who it is who eventually buys them out. I'm overall pleased with how INEOS have managed things since they bought into the club. I wouldn't want any new ownership to rock the boat with that. Ideally a change in ownership would either see a total buyout by INEOS, or they at least own the controlling stake in the club so as to not complicate the running of the club.
We have to remember that anyone prepared to pay the eye watering costs of buying us will be doing so with their own agenda, and that may or may not be in our best interests.
Be that sports washing or merely for financial gain. The last thing we need is a power struggle with billionaires squaring off against eachother across the board room.
Personally, what would be my ideal situation is for INEOS to increase their stake to around 70% or more, then maybe a minority stakeholder comes in with around 30% stake. Meaning we are shot of the Glasers, but there isn't going to be a power struggle, or change in how the club is currently being run. INEOS owning a significant majority over anyone else makes things far more secure.
I have a feeling that Sir Jim might set things up and in place for some kind of partial fan ownership held in trust for after he dies. Meaning his legacy will be rebuilding the club and then giving it back to the fans. INEOS is suspect will still own a majority and controlling stake, but the rest being fan owned.
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..
27 Sep 2025 09:53:15
Some transfer rumours are like a boomerang, quickly thrown out there but will soon return.
With the position our clubs holds in the world we get linked to far more than most clubs as it garners more attention. Often linked to a player who is negotiating a new deal, no doubt the media have found this information via the players agent or intermediaries. While other times our name is linked to a player who is looking for a move and they want to broadcast that to as many clubs as possible, so being linked to Manchester United makes more people sit up and pay attention to them. Then there are the quiet news week links, when there isn't much to report so the same name gets dragged up and reprinted as being of "interest" to Manchester United. It's just a throw away article designed as click bait.
Be that Strootman, Sneijder, Gaitan, or now Frenkie de Jong. Apparently we have something for Dutch players ?.
27 Sep 2025 09:46:14
Over the last decade we have spent over a billion on players most of which haven't even come close to being value for money. Huge fees, huge wages and underwhelming performances.
Many of these players we have ended up stuck with after they've flopped as no other clubs are willing to match their wages.
I'm not saying we shouldn't spend big on some signings, but we need a more balanced approach.
I really like the idea of scouting the world for the best young talent at academy level and looking to bring them into the club.
The signings of Sekou Kone, Ayyden Heaven, Chido Obi, Diego Leon, and Enzo Kana-Biyik have all happened under the new ownership. If even one of them becomes a regular first team player then that represents the best investment in players our club have made in over a decade. With the club having spent only a few million in total to bring them ALL into the club. While their low wages and high potential means even the ones who ultimately don't make it, we will still be able to sell them for a profit.
We have actually seen this model used at our club before the INEOS take over. We signed young players like Hannibal, Kambwala, Alvaro Fernandez, Harry Amass, Toby Collyer, the Fletcher twins, and Garnacho from other academies both in England and abroad, with us selling Hannibal, Kambwala, Fernandez, and Garnacho all for a profit. If Amass and Collyer don't make it to the level we need, then no doubt they will also sell for far more than we paid to bring them in.
With the tighter financial regulations in football this has to be seen as a sensible way to run the club both from a financial perspective and a footballing one.
It allows us to bring in some of the best young talents from around the world, players who maybe initially flit between the under 21's and the first team while they settle, they may even go out on a loan or two (look at the new role for Jonny Evans), or provide squad depth for the first team. Quality depth, who aren't being paid a fortune, and who are happier to be a rotation option.
If they take their chances then they become first team regulars, if not then after a 2-3 years we sell them at a profit and reinvest that money into the first team squad.
If every year we spend 3-5m on a handful of young academy players, but we sell 3-5 ex-academy players for 20-50m then we are making huge profits. Occasionally we will get a first team regular out of it, or maybe a player like Garnacho who has talent but isn't the right fit for us who we can sell for a huge fee on their own.
Over the past decade our best value for money transfers haven't been brought into the club through the front door with the big fanfare, but quietly slipped in through the backdoor into the academy before flourishing into the first team.
It's not the only approach we should look to do, but definitely an important one that we can and should be exploiting far more.
29 Aug 2025 09:28:53
Redseven, if we still had EtH as manager then Ederson might make some sense. Or if we had a manager who puts a lot of focus on playing out from the back with the keeper.
Yet that's not really Amorim's style, he doesn't need a playmaker keeper. He needs a good shot stopper who is strong in the air and commands his box.
The 343 shape should force teams to attack the wide areas with the middle of the pitch congested. That tends to lead to his team's facing more crosses than teams that play with a back four.
The problems we have with Onana and Bayindir is that both are weak in the air and tend to flap at crosses, and neither command their box well or communicate with their defence. Both can be reasonable shop stoppers (although Onana makes a lot of saves he had a tendency to push the ball back into danger, but does at least make the initial save) .
Ederson doesn't solve any of our problems with the keeper while adding a strength that isn't needed and wouldn't be made the most of.
11 Oct 2025 10:08:59
Ahmad, it's a process. For the first time in over a decade we have a structure in place to actually support the manager. Yet fans still want to flip flop and chuck the baby out with the bathwater the moment things don't go the way they want.
We are actually for the first time rebuilding this squad. We haven't ever done a proper rebuild, we've just signed a couple of fancy expensive plasters to stick over the gapping wound and hoped that would fix everything. It didn't, in fact it only allowed everything to fester and get worse.
Before you can rebuild you have to knockdown what already exists, that often means taking a backwards step first. That was what happened last season. The new manager kicked out a load of players who were causing problems in January, and again over the summer, the club actually allowed the manager the freedom to do that and backed him. We are in the process of bringing in the new players we need, but the squad was such mishmash that we were never going to be able to fix everything in one summer and therefore there will be holes in the squad that just cannot be covered adequately and that will impact both performances and results.
We need at least two new midfielders, we need first choice LCB, we need another wingback all for the first 11. We also need a better back up/ competition keeper, another midfielder and striker for squad depth, possibly another CB for squad depth as well.
That's four new players for the first 11, and another four to give us adequate squad depth to avoid a big drop in performances when we are forced to rotate.
When you still need that many players of course there will be fluctuations in performances and results.
Yet this season we have about par for points for what we could have reasonably expected before the season kicked off. We actually have more points this season than we did at this point last season despite the harder fixture list. We also have more points this season when compared to the corresponding fixtures from last season.
Which highlights clear progress. There are also a whole bunch of stats that highlight that we are playing much better than many give us credit for.
All we can ask is for progress, unfortunately progress isn't linear. Sometimes it's small steps forward, other times it'll be big leaps forward.
Let's just do our job and support the club, the team and the manager. Maybe then we might actually be able to climb out of this lethargy.
11 Oct 2025 09:34:32
I want all the players who leave us to do well, it only helps us get better deals in the future. If every player who leaves us flops at their next club it's hardly going to create a line of clubs queuing up to buy the players we want to move on.
11 Oct 2025 09:33:03
Bellingham isn't fully fit, and it doesn't hurt to bring other options in and see how they do.
The problem with always calling up the same players is that it means others get very limited chances and how often has an international team had to go to a major tournament without a key player due to injury? If that happens you want to know that whoever else gets called up in their place is good enough and fits well with the rest of the team.
Maybe Bellingham has an ego, and maybe Tuchel is sending him a message. But I expect it's more to do with fitness. No point calling him up if he isn't fully fit, better for the player, his club and his national side for him to stay with his club and work on his fitness. How often do we moan when a key player gets injured that we make them play too many games.
10 Oct 2025 23:15:30
We do have some masochistic United fans, they only seem to be happy when we do badly as it gives them the freedom to wallow in the misery of failure.
09 Oct 2025 18:39:22
Considering who we have played during these first 7 games as well puts our points in to much needed context.
Arsenal, Fulham, Burnley, City, Chelsea, Brentford and Sunderland. We've played 3 of last season's top four in our first 7 games. With our next game being against the only other top four team that we haven't played yet.
After we play Liverpool it will be 50% of our first 8 games will have been against last season's top four.
No team in the league has had as tough a fixture list as we have.
We've played those teams with less than ideal circumstances, our keeper situation wasn't able to get sorted until late in the window meaning our new keeper only made his debut in our last game.
We had a similar issue with Sesko, not being able to join until after pre-season, then subsequently not being fully settled and up to speed until the last couple of weeks.
We've had a few injuries as well, which given the nature of our squad will always disproportionately impact us compared to other more settled sides.
All things considered we are probably on about par with where most people would have reasonably expected. Most would have expected loses to Arsenal, City and Chelsea, with wins against Burnley, Sunderland and Fulham and a draw against Brentford (always a tricky team) . Giving us 10 points, which is what we have, the difference is that we beat Chelsea, lost to Brentford and drew with Fulham.
We are actually exactly where we probably should be, we just got here slightly differently to what most of us expected.