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Shappy's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's rumours posts

27 Oct 2019 12:08:45
What do people make of the link this morning with Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United?

I think he could be another shrewd signing from the Championship.

We've also been linked with Dier and Rice, Phillips is more mobile than Dier and has a potentially more creative passing range than Rice. Obviously never tested at the highest level but if Marcelo Biesla is prepared to build his team around him then you know he is a good player. The role as the deepest midfielder is a key role in all of Biesla systems.

He might be more attainable from Leeds than Rice or Dier might be, and he would certainly cost less than Rice (upward 80m) or Dier (upward of 50m) would be. It really depends on how Ole wants to play and whether he would suit that better.

1.) 27 Oct 2019 14:02:57
Dier is not costing upwards of 50m, his stock has fallen dramatically since we were in for him under mourinho. That being said i don't think we should sign him even at a cut price fee.

I am more than happy to take punts on a couple of young players from the championship as long as they are shown patience and persevered with and at least have a base level of technical ability.

2.) 27 Oct 2019 14:03:13
I said this at the end of last season. he's a very good player, gets stuck in.

3.) 27 Oct 2019 14:54:19
Last Summer Leeds refused a 27m bid from Spurs. So Philips won't come cheap, especially if we try to get deal done in January.
If we wait till Summer and Leeds get promoted then it s highly unlikely.

4.) 27 Oct 2019 15:11:44
Do we need to sign another midfielder?

Ole said we got a new premier league quality midfielder on Thursday night, so perhaps we should see how this new guy works out first.

5.) 27 Oct 2019 15:48:11
DSG, maybe so, but we would still have to negotiate with Levy. Plus he will be trying to recoup the money they will lose by Eriksen going on a free in the summer.

Dev1l, they did as Bielsa said he wouldn't stay if they sold Phillips. Which goes to show you how highly he rates him. However, things change. Bielsa falls out with football club owners and chairman like no other manager in world football. If they get a good offer in January, especially if we maybe include a loan back option until the summer then maybe they will bite.

Personally I think signing Kalvin Phillips even for 40m in the summer might be a better deal than spending 80m+ on Rice next summer.

6.) 27 Oct 2019 15:52:22
Danny, I'd love nothing more than to see Garner become a regular for us. Sadly, even for a lad if his ability I think he is a season or two away from being ready. If we can bring someone in during January I would try and find a good loan club for Garner in the Championship until the end of the season to give him a run of games at a higher level than the under 23's.

7.) 27 Oct 2019 15:53:19
That one who he prefers The great Brazilian Fred over.

8.) 27 Oct 2019 18:47:39
i haven't seen much of him, but remember us being linked to sean longstaff as well. his brother doesn't look too shabby either. we may get sean for 40m or matty for much less. big decision on who we pick - ideally i would love saul and maddison in the next 2 windows for a midfield squad of McTominay, saul, maddison, garner, fred, perriera, but don't see that happening.

9.) 27 Oct 2019 20:30:34
I’d rather we continue developing mctominay and garner. Phillips is a decent player, but I think those two have a much higher ceiling and they’re our own lads too.

10.) 27 Oct 2019 20:46:58
Realistically we need 4 midfielders to fill 2 central midfield positions. In those 2 positions, you need two workhorses and this may mean more injuries.
Mc Tominay, Fred and Garner can be 3 of those (though Fred is inconsistent and Garner is inexperienced. I also consider Matic good as gone) .
Seems the Options are: Dier 40 m, Philips 35m, Longstaff 50m, Rice 70m and Zakaria 45m.
(figures I put in are highly speculative)

11.) 28 Oct 2019 06:58:28
Dier isn't an improvement on what we already have at the club.
I would avoid him like the plague.

12.) 28 Oct 2019 09:53:25
Caolan, McTominay is a great young player who is improving game by game. However, he is at his best when given license to roam around, yesterday Fred sat which allowed McTominay to do that. Garner may grow into that role in the first team, yet his best performances for the under 23's this season have come as a box to box player rather than a holding player.

The only player we have who you can say is a true holding midfielder, i.e a player who'll patrols in front of the defence and acts as an out ball for defenders or midfielders under pressure, is Matic.

The problem is his legs have gone. So we do need a player who can slot straight in to that role. My preference was for one of Rice of Florentino Luis. However, Kalvin Phillips could be an equally as good option, and one we might not have to break the bank for.

13.) 28 Oct 2019 09:54:29
Don't know the player well enough to be honest, would be a great player profile.

I saw him a bit on the Amazon documentary, looks a good character.

The reservation I have is we: we are on our backside at the moment and shopping in the Championship is a gamble. Dan James has been great but too many signings like that and we become Bournemouth.


Philips + someone like: SMS, Bruno Fernandes, Erikson, Saul etc is the way forward. If Garner is better (which he already appears) than Fred he will get games (he needs 3-4yrs to make a place for himself) .

12 Aug 2019 20:23:08
Why is the narrative that we were "lucky" because Chelsea hit the post/ bar twice?

If we hit the post those same people would be call us unlucky. They would say it was a poor shot.

Why is a shot that hits the woodwork called unlucky while a shot that whistles just past the post is considered a shot off target therefore a poor shot?

If your shot isn't saved by the keeper and it doesn't go in then you missed. It doesn't matter if you missed by a yard or by a kick of paint. A miss is a miss.

We hit the woodwork 14 times last season, had all those shots gone in we would have won and extra 7 points and qualified for the UCL.

So we're we unlucky to not finish fourth or did we miss vital chances? It can't be one rule for us and another for our opponents.

1.) 12 Aug 2019 20:35:04
Don’t try to apply logic to a Chelsea fan. Climate change is happening and it’s starting to effect the plastic fans.

2.) 12 Aug 2019 21:30:43
I'm just wondering what you had to do to get the stats on how many times we hit the woodwork and where we would've finished if they'd gone in.

3.) 12 Aug 2019 21:35:15
Technically snappy a shot that hits the Woodward is classed as off target.


Chelsea saying they were unlucky to mask the fact that they were easily beaten.

Get over it.

4.) 13 Aug 2019 00:09:09
According to some any shot that hits the Woodward is a pretty good shot Bolger.

5.) 13 Aug 2019 06:04:12
Pogba hit the post 7 times in his first season.

6.) 13 Aug 2019 07:08:34
Not saying you were lucky you won. I think most people would agree with me on that.
What I am saying is that the 4-0 flatters United as you struggled to create much of note, and with better finishing from us the match could've been a lot different. We didn't take our chances, and you guys did. That was the difference.

The unlucky part for us fans is that for all of our inexperience on (and off) the pitch, we were ultimately let down by our most experienced guy on the pitch. Azpi switched off twice, for your 2nd and 3rd goals. That was the real shame, for me at least.

You deserved to win as you took the chances you got. We didn't as we didn't finish ours. Simple as.

7.) 13 Aug 2019 08:28:56
Spot on that Shappy.

Jackson, "with better finishing from us the match could've been a lot different" and in other news if my Mum was male she'd be my Dad.


We were clinical, we took the chances that came our way. It's that simple. You can be lucky in the odd game winning by 1-0 but if you win 4-0 you fully deserve it, which I know you have already stated but some of the posts on the Chelsea page are laughable mate.

{Ed0333's Note - I don’t concur mate I thought Chelsea were wasteful and should of been 2 up before you scored. That wasn’t anywhere near a vintage performance from you’re lot and if you'd have played City, Liverpool, Spurs on that form you’d have been soundly dealt with. I didn’t see anything from United that worried me but I agree you did make the most of you’re chances.

8.) 13 Aug 2019 09:09:12
Okay, so I don't speak for most other Chelsea fans on these pages at least :p

But on other platforms most echo my sentiments. We were wasteful and defensive transition was bad. You were clinical indeed. That's mostly story of the match.

9.) 13 Aug 2019 12:23:13
@Jackson

I pretty much agree with your assessment. I think we were lucky to lead at Halftime. But the 2nd half i think tactically we were spot on and deserved to win based on converting our chances.

Good Luck for rest of the season mate.

10.) 13 Aug 2019 12:26:27
Shappy, given the scoreline we can't say that we were lucky to win it but you can't deny that we were certainly lucky not to concede. De Gea was beaten twice and had to rely on prayers that the ball not deviate inside of the post.

11.) 13 Aug 2019 12:36:29
Thanks, SH :) getting top 6 should be possible. Good luck to you, too. If you play up to your talent level it should be a good one for you guys!

12.) 13 Aug 2019 13:43:07
Last season, away at Barca, Rashford went through on goal in the opening minutes and hit the bar.

I genuinely believe that had that gone in we would have beat Barca. We had them on the ropes in the first leg, we were all over them and their defence was in bits.

But that didn't happen, we made silly mistakes at the back and Barcelona were clinical. After the game we were pummelled by the press.

The main difference being, Barcelona were applauded for their performance in winning 3-0, whereas we apparently got lucky against Chelsea winning 4-0.

13.) 13 Aug 2019 16:39:36
Dont put the ball in the net you don't score nothing to do with luck.

14.) 13 Aug 2019 16:42:04
If so, if that. If it was against Liverpool/ Spurs we would struggle, if Chelsea scored from their changes, then we would struggle. We would never know. The fact is, it was Chelsea, we scored from the chances we got, and won the game.

We didn't stop after 2-0 or 3-0 and kept going for more. There were a lot of positives about the way the team went about it in the 2nd half.

15.) 13 Aug 2019 19:51:17
My point is we scored 4, luck doesn't come into it when you score 4 unanswered goals. Yes Chelsea were wasteful and yes Dave saved a few but Chelsea not finishing isn't our problem and isn't your keeper supposed to make saves?


I thought Pogba was poor all game but then there are glimpses of the player you know he is, the ball for Rash over the top and the drive through midfield to set up DJ typifies him. For me he will worry teams and cause problems.


In Rash, Martial and Jesse we have players with pace who can run in behind and run the channels, this will also cause teams problems. I actually think we will be better suited to play against teams Like City, Liverpool and Spurs etc. Teams that will have a go and press high giving the pacey front 3 chance to stretch them at the other end, that's where Pogba will be very important for us with his vision, It's imperative he is motivated and he stays until replaced if we want to be top 4.


As for teams that will defend in compact blocks (that's where we will struggle) I think Maguire will become essential in bringing the ball out from the back and creating an overload in the middle. Can we break them down?

I thought we were poor at the back, great individually but we didn't defend well as a team, partly because Shaw was doubled up on for most of the game with Rash not really tracking back but I do think that will come.

City- I thought were phenomenal and are the team to beat again.

Liverpool- While good I thought Norwich created a few good chances, I have a feeling they can be got at this year. It's whether or not teams can outscore them.

Spurs- I thought ran out of ideas until Eriksen came on, he's important for them.

Arsenal- I really didn't see anything much from them, I thought Newcastle were always in the game (who looked very poor themselves) Auba is excellent and does what he always does.


All in all I'm excited, I'm enjoying watching us again which is amazing. I even got my Mrs cheering us on! I think we will surprise a few this year. I don't think we will be as far away as last year :)

16.) 13 Aug 2019 12:40:58
Ed I did reply to you mate, not sure if it's been lost somewhere.

{Ed0333's Note - not sure mate.

17.) 14 Aug 2019 09:27:04
Chelsea got done. Simple as that. Looking for ‘what ifs’ is just a waste of time. Going into a game against Liverpool tonight they need to think about team selection rather than hitting woodwork. Quick tip: play Kante in CDM. Simple. That centre back pairing was not up to it.

18.) 17 Aug 2019 20:49:48
this game reminded me of when we lost 3 nil to spurs having had 3 great chances to be 3 up, it happens from what i saw a 1nil utd would of been fair, but that's football chelsea were naive pushing for an equaliser and got caught out simple as.
I agree a city etc would of punished us but we will hopefully play better as the season goes on.

17 Jun 2019 19:34:47
Ed002, Just wondering if the recent media reports of United having an interest in Issa Diop has any substance or if it's just media fantasy?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - West Ham implied there has been some interest.}

1.) 17 Jun 2019 20:19:03
Ed, has anything changed on the CB interest front aside from this?
Are the club in contact with any clubs regarding specific players?

{Ed002's Note - The club will have been talking to agents and to some clubs. If they persist with Diop them I think you can scratch KK from the list. And I gave an update recently.}

2.) 17 Jun 2019 21:34:44
Am I being thick, who's KK?

{Ed004's Note - Kalidou Koulibaly?}

3.) 17 Jun 2019 22:11:42
Yeah, I was being thick😂.

4.) 17 Jun 2019 22:13:25
From looking at Diop he looks like the player you wish Smalling was. He has all the defensive attributes but is good on the ball. Not elite on the ball yet but very solid. I think Tuanzebe needs the year long loan to a Premier League team like Villa to see if he's able to cut it then can be an exciting addition to our backline next season. Would be a lot happier with the club spending £60m on Diop than £80-90m on Maguire. Hard to pick between the two right now ability wise, then think of where Maguire was at when he was Diop's age (22yo) . A backline of Shaw, Diop, Lindelof (Capt, hopefully) and AWB is alright a little inexperienced but hella exciting! All very good at actual defending while being confident and comfortable on the ball. We live in hope.

5.) 17 Jun 2019 22:16:35
Thank god for that i was thinking kevin Keegan.

6.) 17 Jun 2019 22:35:22
Thanks, Ed.

7.) 17 Jun 2019 23:09:09
Dont know how good Diop is but i just hope we don't spend 60 mil plus on Maguire. He will be another Jones and Smalling but a expensive version.

8.) 18 Jun 2019 01:40:06
Quoted from sky. so believe what you will.

“West Ham want a player in return in any potential deal that would see Diop depart for Old Trafford but United are not willing to give the Hammers the player they want”

Any clue on who the player they want is?

9.) 18 Jun 2019 07:18:22
Ken, my first thought was Kevin Kilbane 😂.

10.) 18 Jun 2019 07:45:28
Lukaku.

11.) 18 Jun 2019 10:07:11
Apparently the player they want is Martial.

12.) 18 Jun 2019 10:48:12
How about Diop and Declan Rice for Martial plus cash?
I would definitely take it.

18 Mar 2019 22:19:22
Ed002, are United still interested in Carlos Soler? You mentioned him as a possible target a while back and I've kept a close eye on him since. Looks like he will be some player.

{Ed002's Note - No, but there is interest from another EPL side in Carlos Soler.}

1.) 19 Mar 2019 06:32:16
Thanks, that's a shame he looks like he will become a top player.

26 Jan 2019 08:49:10
Do the Ed's or any fellow posters know anything about the young 17 year old African midfielder Hanson MBopp we have been linked to this morning?

1.) 26 Jan 2019 09:15:01
One hit wonder.

2.) 26 Jan 2019 09:21:46
DDG 1, bravo, take the rest of the month off. You win the site. :)

3.) 26 Jan 2019 09:30:05
Shappy you ok lectured us a couple of weeks ago telling and urging us not to read these types of rumours. are you bi-polar 😂😂😂😂.

4.) 26 Jan 2019 10:17:53
DDG1, comment of the month, bravo 👏🏻.

5.) 26 Jan 2019 10:30:30
Saturday morning fishing Shappy?
DDG1 one for the archives that answer is!

6.) 26 Jan 2019 10:46:46
Duwudada doowapp.

7.) 26 Jan 2019 11:53:42
DDG1, I'll have to get up a little earlier if I want to catch you. lol. I was hoping everyone had been out celebrating last night, hoped I'd catch a few. lol.

8.) 26 Jan 2019 12:33:45
We're looking at quote a lot of young players. Hearing a lot of things about young Swiss midfielder Toby Le Rone.

9.) 26 Jan 2019 13:04:21
Mort, I've heard he's quite tasty. Lol.

10.) 26 Jan 2019 13:52:10
Good with triangles too.

11.) 26 Jan 2019 13:53:55
A bit up and down.

12.) 26 Jan 2019 14:17:42
Probably still be better than floppy keita.

13.) 26 Jan 2019 15:15:55
I hear he’s a nougat’y young Midfielder.
Gets stuck in.

14.) 26 Jan 2019 15:54:06
A good run and this site is a joy to visit. Top work boys.

15.) 26 Jan 2019 18:49:05
I wonder what's happened to our cheerful friend Beast.

16.) 26 Jan 2019 23:02:49
I do miss beast he had some good input most of the time.

Shappy's banter posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's banter posts

11 Nov 2019 10:42:49
No fan of an EPL team have seen their side score more goals than Manchester United this last week (6, 3-0 Europa League, 3-1 Vs Brighton) .

Of the other EPL teams Chelsea also scored 6 but conceded 4.

Liverpool scored 5, as did Spurs.

Meaning United fans celebrated more goals last week than any other EPL side.

Things are looking up now we are starting to get players back from injury and others are starting to find form.

1.) 11 Nov 2019 11:16:02
We must be wary of our youngsters Shappy.
The main problem with young players is consistency.

However, this week we saw an identity in our play.
High press, energy, fantastic transition of play from defence to attack.

2.) 11 Nov 2019 11:46:47
Youngsters will be inconsistent, yet they will never learn to be consistent by sitting on the bench or playing in the reserves.

If they are to reach their potential and learn to be consistent they need to play games regularly in the first team. We might just have to suck up the occasional poor performance.

People have short memories of they think Ronaldo was world class in every game from 18-24 with us. He had poor games, he made mistakes.

We need to have some faith in our young players and let them grow.

3.) 11 Nov 2019 12:13:41
I agree with Shappy here, if they are good enough they need go play its as simple as that. I want to see OLe giving Williams a run of games, he looks the part as does greenwood and Axel, they need to have a run of gamed to get the confidence and start getting the experience of premier league footy. We have a good future but we still lacking in midfield, Fred had a decent game yesterday but he isn't good enough not is Pereira we need to replace those 2 and we will have a good side IMO.

4.) 11 Nov 2019 12:36:11
RemanUtd,

You have to be careful that you don't burn out the youngsters. Slowly, slowly with them. Fortunately when we get a few more players back, it will ease the pressure on OGS to play them.
Tuanzebe is older than Wiliams and Greenwood. He has a lot more experience. I think that I'd he can stay fit he will have a very good season and may end up with an England call up.

5.) 11 Nov 2019 13:43:52
Mad Hatter's right, you need to be careful with youngsters. Its great that they are doing well, but you also need to be careful not to over exert them while their bodies are still developing.

There is a big difference from having the talent to be involved every week and being physically ready to play 40+ games a season.

If they all navigate the treacherous waters of the first team to grow, develop and become the players their talent suggests they can be then we will have an excellent team in a few years.

Not all will make it sadly, but even if half of them do then they will form the core of the team for the next ten years much like Fergie's Fledglings and Busby's babes did before them. Although they are a long way from that yet.

6.) 11 Nov 2019 13:55:07
Another important thing is that as supporters we must accept that young players will make mistakes.
We must support them if they suffer a rough patch.
Sadly, the social media now a days bashes and throws insults at players which can destroy a youth prodigy.

7.) 11 Nov 2019 16:01:07
Shappy, you can upvote your own comments all you want, but it was some fans wanted to release the DVD of us beating Norwich only for us to be brought right back to earth by Bournemouth.

We played well. Beat an incredibly naive Brighton at home. We didn't send ripples through Europe. We are along way from the promise land with a manager and a squad that fold quicker than Superman on laundry day.

It was very good performance. But i wouldn't be on here preaching about a new dawn just yet. We're a long way from Kansas yet Toto.

8.) 11 Nov 2019 17:54:17
we played partazan and brighton shappy.


im all for being in a better mood but the 2 teams we played are garbage mate.

9.) 11 Nov 2019 18:40:54
I don't think, 'things are looking up', means quite the same as heralding a new dawn. I'd hate some of you lads to be giving the pre match team talks 😁.

{Ed047's Note - ahh another new dawn! how many’s that now? 😉

10.) 11 Nov 2019 19:37:36
Ah come on 47 at least we have a dawn your lot are sinking towards s big black hole😁 yet still sit above us in the table. Top 4 aside louts been a topsy turvy start to the seadon.
Even of the top 4 Chelsea and Leicester are somewhat of a surprise and city suddenly look vulnerable.
It's going to take a massive collapse from Liverpool at this stage to lose the title.

11.) 11 Nov 2019 21:10:47
and he as the gall for getting on at redman for mindless stats.

12.) 11 Nov 2019 21:26:36
There's 365 new dawns per year.

13.) 12 Nov 2019 12:34:00
I'm not saying its a new dawn, just a clear uplift in both performance and results.

Yes the teams we played aren't European giants, yet if you look at our record this season of the top three teams in the league we have beaten two of them (Chelsea twice) and are the only EPL side to have taken points off of Liverpool. So clearly, we aren't in this position because we can't get results against to the top sides. We have struggled against the smaller sides that don't give us the kind of space in behind that the top sides do. So I don't think dismissing the results because of the opposition in this case really holds much water.

If people are allowed to come on here and rant endlessly every time we lose then it's only fair play that more optimistic fans can come on here and be cheerful when we are playing well and getting results. It cuts both ways.

Also as has been said to me countless times when I've challenged overly negative posts, if you don't like them, don't read them.

I've never gone on at Red man about mindless stats, I've mentioned the pointlessness of articles 5 years out of date to try and prove a point in the present. I've also taken exception at calling our manager petty and derogatory names, which is frankly pretty sad considering that he is a beloved former player. To resort to name calling is pretty low.

As for whether those stats are pointless? Well that's down to the reader. Many people were complaining about the lack of goals a few weeks ago. These stats state that last week we scored more than any other EPL side. So again just adding balance. If people can moan when we play badly, then others can boast when we play well.

10 Nov 2019 18:33:58
Great result and a very good performance. We could have easily won 4 or 5-1.

Takeaways from today's game:

1, Brandon Williams looks ready to play at this level. He's still young and will be rash at times and make mistakes. But he is more than ready to learn on the job.

2, Fred probably had one of if not his best game in a United shirt. He has generally been better in European games, but he seems to be growing into the EPL.

3, Rashford looks more comfortable and dangerous playing from the left. Yes he missed a couple he should have scored but he got into positions to have the chances. Something we weren't seeing when he was playing centrally.

4, AWB is growing in an attacking sense. It wasn't a vintage performance, but he is showing enough to suggest he could offer a threat down the right hand side.

5, Martial is showing his ability as a out and out centre forward. He didn't get the clear chances today, yet his performance in making runs, occupying defenders, and linking with his teammates was excellent. If he can stay fit he could be an excellent striker for us.

1.) 10 Nov 2019 18:57:31
I agree with all points.

I really like the way the front three are linking together. Martial's role in this, can't be stated enough. He is developing into a top number nine.

2.) 10 Nov 2019 20:03:06
Pretty much agree Shappy but I had to check Martial was on the pitch in the first half, he didn’t really get involved. However, great play, great result so nothing to complain about.

3.) 10 Nov 2019 20:39:16
Totally agree Shappy and let's hope this continues for a while.

4.) 11 Nov 2019 08:21:59
Tony, in the first half Martial didn't seem to be involved much because he was making the important runs away from the ball. Dragging players with him and creating space in behind him. It was that space that gave players like Andreas Pereira and McTominay space to run into or work in.

Like I said an all-round centre forward performance just lacking the goal his performance probably deserved.

5.) 11 Nov 2019 08:52:58
The front 3 of Rash, Martial and James are developing a good understanding between each other.
DJ with proper wing play at RW. Some excellent take-ons and crosses.
A top class no 10 to provide supply to these trio would be awesome.

6.) 11 Nov 2019 10:23:03
TrueRedDevil, I've been impressed with James adapting on the RW. Has given some very good performances recently from the right. He has clearly been working on his delivery from the right. He might not get as many goals but he will stretch the opposition which will make more space for Martial and Rashford.

He could be the solution to the RW issue if he keeps improving on the right.

08 Nov 2019 15:15:01
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Panic is one of the reasons the Manchester United squad is so poor

1.) 08 Nov 2019 17:03:23
Midfield is the priority agreed. Then a right sided forward. I think a striker isn't as important if martial can stay fit and rashford gets a little more consistent

The defence still needs work. Smalling looks to be gone permanently and none of jones, rojo or bailly can stay fit. Lindelof looks to have gone backwards. Tuanzebe is the long term solution but given the faults of the others we're light.

Regards left back Williams looks to be the long term solution but I would replace Shaw as again he just can't stay fit.

2.) 08 Nov 2019 17:32:57
This type of post has been done multiple times before every transfer window going back years. We're always a decent transfer window or two away from getting back to challenging but what makes you think we will get the job done?

We all make our list of players to improve our squad like kids writing to Santy, but inevitably we end up with disappointed hoping next Christmas we will get what we want.

I agree we shouldn't buy flr the sake of it. No one is expecting a one window turn around especially not in January. My hope for the rest of the season is to see an improvement on the pitch. If we can start getting a few results, climb up the table, let's see where we can go.

{Ed047's Note - shappy only said the other day that you needed 2 players to transform your team, now I see it’s 7 and 4 immediately. 🤔

3.) 08 Nov 2019 17:57:51
I think you're under cooking it Shappy. We have a 29 man squad and the only players in the squad I would like to keep for sure are DDG and Romero.

I would also keep AWB, Dalot, Williams, Tuanzebe, Maguire, Gomes, Lindelof, McTominay, James, Greenwood, Rashford and Maguire for the time being. That's not because I'm convinced they are really good but because they have shown some promise and at least they have the potential to be the standard required at Manchester Utd.

A 29 man squad is probably a bit bloated but with a squad of 24/ 25 we still need 10 or 11 players in the short term and possibly more in a year or two if some of these unproven players don't push on to become good enough.

City have set the benchmark with two top quality players for each position. It's no longer good enough to have a first team and some half decent squad players. Liverpool have been lucky because their best players are very durable and don't often pick up injuries. Even then they have better strength in depth than we do.

4.) 08 Nov 2019 18:25:28
Ed047, two players if all of our players are fit and on form would transform this side. We do okay against the bigger sides but come unstuck playing against sides that don't set up to play football.

I said we need 7 new players to challenge on all fronts, 4 to challenge for top four/ title push.
Two new players though would put us in contention for top four.

{Ed047's Note - I think they have to be two pretty special players Shappy as in my opinion maybe 56 at most of your squad are what I’d consider as genuine 1st team material.

It’s hard to see beyond De Gea, AWB, McGuire, McTominay and Rashford and 3 of those still have to show consistency at this level.

You have some young guys with what looks to be potential including DJ.

5.) 08 Nov 2019 18:32:27
Lol Ed 😂😂👍👍

I think we might need to approach Arsenal again and try and buy Ozil and Lacazette/ Aubamayeng from them and we should be sorted for AM/ ST.

We should try and get Sancho from Dortmund or else we should get Dembele.

In the perfect world i would go for Sancho, Havertz and Lewandowski for RW/ AM/ ST position.

CM - Sell Matic and Pogba and buy SMS and Niguez (most likely one is possible) .

CB - Ruben Dias.

6.) 08 Nov 2019 19:50:55
Mbappe, Saul, Sancho, Maddison and Ruben Dias well I can dream can’t i.

7.) 09 Nov 2019 10:41:07
Ha Singh.

8.) 09 Nov 2019 10:55:01
Ed047, two first team quality players would bump this side right up the league not because it's a great side, but because bar City and Liverpool every other side has clear an obvious issues.

Arsenal and Spurs seem to have decent sides but can't string some performances together. Chelsea and Leicester are doing well, but they don't have the squad depth, a few injuries over Christmas will see them drop points.

Historically, teams that have a good defence finish higher in the table.

With DDG, AWB, Lindelof, Maguire and Shaw with youngsters like Dalot, Williams and Tuanzebe we have a solid enough defence. Which the stats back up. Most goals we concede are from silly mistakes, if we can cut those out, maybe by shielding the back four more so they have less to do we could have one of the best defensive records in the league. Don't concede means your at least gaining a point every game.

Whilst are record against the better teams is good. A draw against Liverpool, beat Chelsea twice and Leicester. It is the smaller teams that sit deep where we struggle. We haven't got that creative player in the No.10 area of the pitch who can do a little magic to open up a side and create a goal when teams are sitting deep compact and in numbers.

Add Rice and Maddison to this side, while getting Pogba back to full fitness and in form and suddenly we will have a side that is difficult to score against, has serious pace on the counter plus can break down teams when they sit deep.

Not a world beating team, but a team good enough to to pick up 9 points against the likes of Bournemouth, Newcastle and West Ham, and turn 1 point against Southampton into 3. Then we would be 11 points better off.

Where in the table would we be if we were 11 points better off?

{Ed047's Note - I’m yet to be convinced by Lindelof or Shaw but AWB and McGuire (I’m not totally sold on him) are a solid enough foundation and clearly your defence is doing ok now.

We all seem so far off from the top two, our squad is being wasted on Emery, Chelsea are a little up and down, much like Spurs but they could at any time get their act together and be back up there.

Leicester I think I’m right in saying don’t have European football, so is squad depth a major issue, they didn’t have squad depth when they won it but they do have that confidence about them again.

We 100% need to offload Emery if we want any hope of top four and a decent January window could like you say help you but Pogba for me is an issue as is Ollie.

If I was to put money on it now I’d see Spurs and Leicester filling the top four spots, Chelsea 5th and us two after that somewhere.

9.) 09 Nov 2019 11:26:15
ED047,

I'm not convinced my Maguire too. I find him rather flat footed. I think that when he played at Leicester, he wasnt under pressure from the media etc like he is at UTD.

I'd prefer UTD had signed Dias. It would be nice for Bailly to return and find form again but he is so injury prone I can't see it happening.

{Ed047's Note - He does get turned easily and has very little pace for me, the kind of player who’ll get found out in the really big games.

Trouble is top quality defenders are like the proverbial rocking horse..

10.) 09 Nov 2019 11:36:07
Ed047, I agree our defence could still do with a couple of upgrades. Lindelof was very good last year, as was Shaw for most of the season. Both were contenders for our player of the season (not that it means much considering the season we had) . However, a good defence is better than the sum of its parts. Plus Tuanzebe and Williams have looked very good when given a chance so the upgrades we might need could be closer to hand than we think.

Leicester don't have European football and that could be to their advantage. Yet, take three or four players out of the first 11 and they don't have the quality in depth to replace them. Ndidi and Maddison are vital to them. As is Vardy in attack and Evans in defence both are 32.

Spurs have deeper issues, half the squad wants to leave and the manager doesn't look fully committed. That will make it hard to turn around.

{Ed047's Note - I think the same about our defence in relation to the sum of its parts, they are so badly organised it’s impossible to know whose, good, bad or atrocious! At the moment they all look atrocious. 😩

Too finally have a pretty decent DM in Torriera and not even play him there is for me a hanging offence!

Leicester with injuries is an unknown but without the constant turn around of that European football for me they’re far less likely to get injured.

11.) 09 Nov 2019 12:13:09
Ed047, true. I just think that two of their four key players are in their 30's, still expected to play 90 minutes in every game for what is still likely to be 50 games a season with cups. That would still be 4500 minutes, while on average most players clock up between 3000-3500 a season.

It depends whether Brendan goes all out in the cups as well.

Emery strikes me as a manager trying to be too clever. That's fair enough in the big teams where your either evenly matched or out gunned (excuse the pun😁) . But not against teams where you are clearly better. Just play players in their best position and let them do what they do best.

Torreira at DM, Ozil in the No.10 etc.

{Ed047's Note - Emery just isn’t good enough fullstop Shappy, even if he did play them in the right positions 18 months down the line he’s shown nothing to indicate he’s the right man.

We for me are worse than Wengers final years, I don’t think it will be long before he’s off.

As that more in hope re Leicester? 😉

12.) 09 Nov 2019 12:50:37
ED047,

Maguire is an improvement o what UTD had, but there again most defenders would have been.

I have high hopes for Tuanzebe. Even Rojo has surprised me this season. He does owe UTD a great season or two of football.

{Ed047's Note - definitely an improvement mate and you’ve got enough defenders to hope someone else comes good.

29 Oct 2019 10:28:50
So today's rumour is that Napoli have pulled out of the race for Erling Haaland as they feel he will sign for United due to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer connection.

With Ole having managed him at Molde and having played a role in helping him develop and trusting in him as a young player.

He looks a very good player in the games I've seen, albeit only a couple, he looks a natural and plays beyond his young years.

But do we need a more experienced striker. The big issue many people have is that we have a lack of experience up front a d we can't rely on inexperienced strikers to score 25-30 goals a season for us.

Haaland is only a year older than Greenwood, while he is two years younger than Rashford and four years younger than Martial.

There is an argument that he has scored a lot of goals in a weaker league, yet he has 6 goals in the UCL while playing for a team that wouldn't be expected to get many results in the competition.

So is he a flash in the pan or the real deal, and could the club afford to wait a year or two and see how he develops or do we need to get him now if we can?

1.) 29 Oct 2019 10:45:02
Interesting one this Shappy. If you are going with a young first team, bringing in a load of seasoned older pros may also imbalance the squad. Would Lukaku have been a good squad member this year when younger players were getting minutes ahead of him? I'm not so sure.

I've not seen enough of Harland to comment on him, but Ole seems very keen and I think he offers a bit more heading ability than we currently have in the team?

Problem with promoting all your youth players is that you might not have too much more behind them in the club. I would expect some new young recruits to be added over next two windows as well as a couple for the first team squad.

2.) 29 Oct 2019 11:24:16
I think there's enough interest from leading clubs to say the kid is going to be decent. And we need support now.

My question is, is another potential star what we need or a 30+ experienced player.

3.) 29 Oct 2019 11:37:52
It's always difficult knowing how a player will fit in if will actually fit in and e suite to the EPL aswell.

Ideally we would sign someone who is 24/ 25/ 26 who has the experience to lead the front line.

Having said that, other than Dembele ( I wouldn't sign mandzukic) I don't know who the club should sign.

January signings will come at a premium. Also our league position and Europa league qualification will play a factor into who would be I interested in joining.

4.) 29 Oct 2019 11:39:35
Can never have enough 'potential'. But it has to be balanced. G Neville has often said 'The Class' would have gone under had the likes of Keane and Cantona not been there for them.

5.) 29 Oct 2019 12:12:04
It's tricky with young players, the club have been burned both when signing young players and when not signing them.

We bought Anderson who was a future star at 19, and he struggled, as did Depay while he was at the club.
Yet the club also choose not to sign Ousemane Dembele while he was at Rennes and Mbappe while he was at Monaco.

The problem with signing young players is they not only have to adapt to a new club, league and country. But they also need to develop and grow and reach their potential, which might not be expected of a player who is 26-28 who is being signed as a player who has already achieved their potential. Mentally how do they cope, do they feel like they've "made it" and start to coast? Or do they knuckle down and work on becoming the best they can be like Ronaldo?

Generally I think we need to target younger players, ideally those between 20-24 so they have some experience, but still have enough growing room to adapt and grow into the role we need them for in the team.

However, you do need a certain amount of experience through the spine of the side. With DDG, Maguire and Young we have three more experienced players who can play in defence. In Matic, Fred and Pogba we have some experience in midfield, with Mata and Lingard being more experienced at the top of midfield. Yet, we seriously lack that experience in the final third.

We are desperately lacking that experience in the final third. So Ideally it would be good if we can sign a player between the ages of 26-29 as a striker, someone who has a proven record and someone who can add a little experience to our youthful forward line.

6.) 29 Oct 2019 12:18:35
The problem shappy with those experienced players is less than half of them are any good at football anymore.

7.) 29 Oct 2019 12:28:00
DSG, its tricky, and there may need to be a compromise. There used to be loads of decent back up strikers who could do a job without kicking up a fuss when not playing every week.

Maybe we could sign someone in their peak with a slightly different playing style to Martial and rotate them?

Andrea Belotti perhaps, or maybe even Callum Wilson wouldn't be such a bad shout.

8.) 29 Oct 2019 12:37:20
I'd be tempted with Krzysztof Piatek.

9.) 29 Oct 2019 13:06:10
Sign Lewandowski and we will be sorted for a few years until. Martial. and Rashford are fully ready.

10.) 29 Oct 2019 14:14:04
I still think a right sided forward is more important than a striker.

Martial deserves his chance to lead the line and Rashford is more than capable of playing upfront if needed. They are undoubtedly the future of our Club and they just need to find more consistency and stay clear of injury in the coming months and years.

It looks like James will now play from the right when everyone is fit and he has provided two brilliant assists for Rashford to score against Liverpool and Norwich which is promising but I think the general consensus is he's more comfortable and perhaps more effective from the left. We have real quality and depth on the left but a worrying lack of options at No10 and on the right. When one of either Martial, Rashford or James is injured Ole is forced into playing two from either Pereria, Mata and Lingard. They all want to play centrally, congesting the centre of the pitch and making us very easy to play against. None are particularly effective from the right and when two of the three play together in the same team we lack balance and penetration.

A quality right sided forward would give us more options and bring more balance to the team. I just wonder if Gareth Bale might be an option in January under the right circumstances on a pay as you play type contract.

I think upfront Ole is probably looking for different type of striker. Somebody that comes alive in the penalty area, somebody with excellent movement and instinct. Somebody that scores the tap ins and gets on the end of crosses and balls into the box and can make an make a impact from the bench. Maybe somebody like Edinson Cavani although I'm not convinced he'd be happy playing second fiddle to Martial but that type of player.

I know we've been burnt from buying ageing players in the past and the new transfer policy is to target younger players with the potential to grow and develop but our squad lacks experience and winners. I'm totally against signing older players for big fees and rewarding them with obscene long term contracts; those days are over but under the right circumstances I wouldn't rule them out completely or underestimate their value.

11.) 29 Oct 2019 14:16:06
Lewandowski turns 32 soon, and has never played at the intensity of the EPL. He would be good for a season or two. Yet we have had our fingers burned signing older players from top sides before.

Would he want Sanchez level money and how long a contract would he want?

Also wasn't that supposed to be what Zlatan was going to do? The problem is Rashford and Martial will only develop so much with limited minutes. They need to be playing week in week out to develop to their full potential.

12.) 29 Oct 2019 14:38:46
DLIB, I wouldn't touch Bale with a barge poll. The guy is a crock and uninterested in playing football.

RW is an interesting one, we clearly lack quality from that side of the pitch and although AWB has made the right hand side defensively solid he does lack something in the final third.

However, I feel there is a real lack of quality players who play on the RW in modern football. The idea of playing inverted wingers and inside forwards have led most right footed players to play on the left. While there is significantly less left footed players to play on the right.

For me the solution is under our noses. Either play Dalot as a RW, he is rapid, with a dangerous cross and is happy to play with chalk on his boots. Or have Greenwood play on the right cutting in on his stronger left foot.

The best option outside of the club might be someone like Bernardeschi who is very good from the right hand side.

13.) 29 Oct 2019 15:13:38
Shappy - Your probably right about Bale I was merely hypothesising more than anything. I doubt he'd come without the insurance of a long term contract anyway.

I agree about Dalot I'd love to see him given a chance playing higher up the pitch. Whilst he was very highly regarded as a right back at youth level I'm just not convinced by his positioning or defending. Of course he could improve, he's still very young but now finds himself well behind AWB and I believe Ethan Laird is very highly rated at the Club as well. Maybe he needs to reinvent himself slightly and there are clearly opportunities for him on that right hand side.

I've read Federico Chiesa at Fiorentina is very highly regarded. Could he be an option from the right?

I've not seen enough of Greenwood to judge if he'd be a viable option from the right. I'm not sure he has that pace or directness in his running and I wouldn't really want him covering in defensive areas or running back towards his own goal. From the games I've seen he appears to be more of a box type player. He's very dangerous in around the box where he possesses quick feet and can shoot quickly and accurately from either foot. His movement, ability to lose defenders and instinct for goal looks very promising and I just think if you get the ball to this kid in the box he'll score goals. I think coming off the bench or playing in the Cup competitions as a CF will do his development the world of good. I'd continue to play him upfront where he's scored all his goals at youth level. I accept It's very hard physically to lead the line at such a young age and maybe he'd benefit from a strike partner in maybe the 3-4-1-2 formation Ole has used on a couple of occasions recently.

14.) 29 Oct 2019 15:49:42
DLIB, I think Dalot could become a throw back type winger, all things come around again. So it is only a matter of time until clubs want wingers who can beat a man on the outside and cross accurately.

From what I've seen of Chiesa he likes to cut in a lot, which isn't a problem, yet if AWB isn't going to overlap with intent then we still end up narrow on the right.

I agree that Greenwood probably would be better with a strike partner in a two man system. I really like the 3412 system, my concern with that system is where you play AWB. If he is wide right then he will need to attack more than he defends which isn't playing to his strengths. The other option is to play him at RCB, its a role I think he can play. But why would you choose him ahead of Lindelof or Tuanzebe for a more central position?

15.) 29 Oct 2019 16:07:30
Jadon Sancho as RW would lift us to the next level.
He has pace, 2 footed, big goal threat and an excellent dribbler in tight spaces.

16.) 29 Oct 2019 16:28:10
Gotta be sancho or chiesa for me. Or out of the blue. what about Leon Bailey?

17.) 29 Oct 2019 16:41:00
TrueRedDevil, he would be the dream signing. Yet he is likely to cost close to 150m, especially when you consider what Dortmund sold Ousmane Dembele for. Sancho looks a better player. Plus he will cost more because of the "English tax".

However, I can't see him joining a side not in the UCL. Not while he is almost guaranteed to be playing every week competing for league titles and playing in the UCL every year with Dortmund.

So unless we have a massive turn around I don't think we will be able to offer him UCL football next season. Which means he might be off the cards.

We could look towards a player like Dani Olmo, more of a No.10 come winger who likes to drift. But has pace is direct can score and create goals. Plus might be able to sign him in January. He would be a good option wide right in a front three or in the No.10 role.

I think he would excel in the free role behind the split strikers in the 3412 formation we have played a few times.

18.) 29 Oct 2019 17:01:36
TrueRed/ RedWhiskey - Sancho would be perfect but cost may be prohibitive and I would imagine we'd have to finish in the top 4 to stand any chance.

A summer of Sancho, Maddison and Saul Niguez would be fantastic but I suspect I'm living in dream land to be honest. If you could add Chilwell to the list then we really would be in dream land.

Shappy - I think AWB can play wing back; Ok he perhaps lacks a bit of quality in the final third but this is an aspect of his game that he can work on. To be honest he has to improve offensively even if he remains at right back. The key for me is that the wing backs provide the width stretching the opposition and creating space. In my opinion our attacking has been so toothless because whilst Martial has been injured Ole has been forced to play Mata and Pereria at No10 and RW heavily congesting the middle of the pitch and taking the pace and forward runners from the attack. Maybe if one of James, Rashford or Martial is injured Ole could revert to 3-4-1-2. This would allow us to play 2 upfront, whilst keeping the width in the team without leaving us short in midfield.

19.) 29 Oct 2019 17:01:46
Good read, lads. Refreshing change from the usual.

20.) 29 Oct 2019 17:40:37
DLIB. Sancho, Maddison and Saul will be like best transfers in the history.
Midfield and attack will be sorted out instantly.

21.) 29 Oct 2019 21:11:37
Sancho or Dembele will be a top top signing but if we want to go for quick fix and get back up the table then i would go for Lewandowski.

25 Oct 2019 09:26:03
At what point to we accept the squads not good enough?

The football was poor under Moyes, we blamed the manager.
Sacked him and hired LvG, a man with a wealth of knowledge and had managed at the highest level with top club's. The football was even worse.
Sacked him and hired Jose, a man with a great CV and had done it more recently than LvG. The football was poor, eventually he turned the situation toxic and we sacked him.
We then hired Ole, on the back of an unbelievable run of results better than anything we had seen in over 10 years. Yet the football is still poor.

So when do we accept that it is the quality of players we have at our disposal rather than the manager being unable to make a silk purse out of a sows ear?

1.) 25 Oct 2019 09:51:21
Some of us have been saying it since Louis. Some still prefer to blame managers.

2.) 25 Oct 2019 09:57:52
You finally realised the squad is crap. Well done but your a bit too late to realise. 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

3.) 25 Oct 2019 10:02:59
Shappy - I think we are all still looking for some kind of progression. Some evidence that the team is evolving and heading in the right direction.

Perhaps the biggest concern moving forward is a lack of clarity and cohesion in our play. There is no doubt we are a team built to counter attack. We undoubtedly play our best football on the break yet against poorer teams we play possession based football littered with backwards and sideways passes, completely devoid of ideas and imagination and incapable of breaking down well organised and resolute defences.

The persistent use of Mata and Pereria in forward areas merely congests the centre of the pitch and restricts us of the pace and forward runners needed to break quickly and counter attack. This clouded thinking manifests itself on the pitch with players not really understanding their roles, responsibilities or what the team is trying to achieve.

From an attacking perspective we must use the pace and penetration of Rashford and James in the wide areas, allow them to receive the ball and attack the full back, either cutting inside and shooting or crossing the ball into the box. They must be direct and play with clarity. I accept both are better from the left but I think James proved against Liverpool he is able to put good deliveries into the box and be a threat from the right hand side. In the absence of Martial, Greenwood should have been given his chance upfront. Putting pressure on the shoulders of a 17 year old is not ideal but that is the situation which was created by Ole when he didn't replace Lukaku. Without pace and players able to run and dribble with the ball this Utd team is blunt and easy to stop.

In midfield Pogba and Mctominay should play as box to box midfielders, driving us forward and making runs into the box. Behind them either Matic or Fred should anchor the midfield.

Ole must bring some clarity and purpose to our play. Our next 5 league fixtures include Norwich, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sheffield Utd and Aston Villa. With Martial back from injury maybe a front 3 of Rashford, Martial and James can provide the necessary pace and penetration to kick start our season and save Ole his job.

4.) 25 Oct 2019 10:07:35
Or maybe it's a combination of both. A poor squad and poor managerial appointments?
I think that's what a lot of people have been saying for ages, only to be told we are wrong by the 'more positive ones' like yourself Shappy.

Let's not start yet another tedious thread going over the same thing (on that basis I should not have replied myself! ), but we just have to accept the situation for what it is until we can actually do anything about it.

For now we all just have to go with it and hope for some improvement.

5.) 25 Oct 2019 10:22:22
Our midfieild is basically poor. There are nobody with technical quality.
Unless, that is not improved, the forwards will struggle to get chances.

My main worry is the lack of pattern in play.
We play like 11 strangers in the team. There is lack of connection between the players.

6.) 25 Oct 2019 10:48:10
Ddg, Awb, Maguire, McTominay, James, Martial, Rashford

Is about all we can say.

Need second centre back, left back, x2 midfielders, a right sided forward, a centre forward.

So that's 6 players at least. Ole signed 3 players we all like, will need another 2 most likely summer windows to sign the above of the same profile and add a mix of experience with the younger ones.

It's all well and good saying sack the manager, and then what, anoted style manager with new ideas with new backroom staff with new playing style with other players in mind.

So in other words another rebuild from scratch, not sure that's what we need, the club have gone part way with Ole now surely they stick with him and not bail like they have on the previous 3 that has led to this mess.

Forget all previous managers, Ole is our manager, needs to he allowed to complete his job and build a squad otherwise we will be stuck in this cycle.

I think I've posted this a dozen times and obvs is just my opinion but for me we need stability.

7.) 25 Oct 2019 11:02:12
Is our squad worse than Norwich’s?

Ole said we’ll have to be at our best to get anything. So either our squad is worse, or Ole’s coaching and tactics are so bad that the players need to perform at their very best to compete against weaker teams with better management.

8.) 25 Oct 2019 11:05:41
Shappy why exactly do players get blamed for losses and poor performance but not for the good runs?

We go on a winning run, its because of ole but we are 4 points from relagation it's the players who are poor.

The squad has obvious holes which you weren't ready to accept when it suited you but now magically the squad is rubbish not to mention you completely ignore that the holes got much bigger as ole created decided to further weaken a poor squad letting hererra, lukaku etc leave with no replacement.

9.) 25 Oct 2019 12:18:04
Danny Norwich play good football.

They best the best team in England a few weeks ago and gave liverpool a better game than the scoreline was.


Dont take norwich for mugs we will have to show the same passion and intensity as the liverpool game or we will get beat.

10.) 25 Oct 2019 12:31:21
What's déjà vu in french?

11.) 25 Oct 2019 12:48:43
I don’t take them for mugs. But we should be capable of beating the second worst team in the league.

I want a manager who thinks that anything less than 3 points from team with 6 defeats from 9 games and 21 goals against is a failure. Not one who’s already building up excuses before a ball has been kicked.

12.) 25 Oct 2019 14:52:16
Our midfield and lack of goals was my biggest fear before the season started. I always thought we needed 2 cms and a cf last summer and we got neither. We have a lack of bodies and a lack of quality in both those areas.

13.) 25 Oct 2019 17:50:30
Shappy have you accepted the squad is not good enough?
Is that not a conversation we have been having for 2 years now?

14.) 25 Oct 2019 22:38:51
or this is a manager that took us on our best run in how many years. he now has 3 better players and has us probably playing the worst football i have seen. for me ole has taken us backwards.

15.) 25 Oct 2019 23:52:50
So far i think he has taken us backwards. Mctom is the only player playing better now than hee was when ole took over.
The next 4 or games are against fellow bottom half strugglers if we lose a couple of them we are going to be in and around the bottom 6 after 13 games.
If we win them we will be in and around the top 6.
Sunday is a must win game or else we are in an awful position after 10 games. A loss leaves us on 10 points from 10 games. That is relegation form make no mistake about it. Compounded by the scandalous finish to last season.
The next 4 or 5 games gives the opportunity to ole to pull is it if this tail spin.

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17 Nov 2019 11:11:12
Definitely a player we should be looking at. Would add strength, depth and quality to our forward line.

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16 Nov 2019 22:09:02
If no one else is prepared to pay as much for Sancho as we are then we stand a chance of signing him.

However, if he has the choice is signing for us or for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus or PSG then it's likely he will go elsewhere, and if we are honest who could blame him at the moment?

The club doesn't have a clear plan and is several years away from competing at the top level at least.

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13 Nov 2019 18:25:43
To be honest I thought he looked better on the left than he has on the right. Which is a problem as we have Rashford, James and even Martial all comfortable from the left. He won't be getting minutes ahead of them.

I think he is a talent, but he needs a loan and to play regularly at a higher level than he has to kick on. He could be a great player, but he is one who needs a loan.

However, I can't see the club sending him out on loan without a new contract signed. They wouldn't agree Dean Henderson's loan until he renewed.

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12 Nov 2019 16:57:46
Mort, the issue he has is he is on huge wages, has a potentially difficult agent, will command a huge fee and yet he has never really shone in any side as the star player.

He has been the occasional good performance for us, he has been out shone when playing for France by Kante, Matuidi, Griezmann and Mbappe, while at Juventis he was back up to many great players.

I would imagine of the big sides who could afford him there is little appetite to spend that much time, money and effort on a player who is clearly talented, but yet to make a sustained impact on the teams he plays for.

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12 Nov 2019 16:47:27
Caolan, That's interesting to hear. I wouldn't be surprised, he has had approaches from Barcelona among others in the past.

If based on talent alone then he probably should be playing more, yet as we have seen when he has played he has struggled to really make an impact. Also physically he needs to be able to ride the tackles he will receive in the professional game. If he takes his chances he will get games, same with Chong, Greenwood, Garner and Williams.

It's tough to make the jump from under 23's to the first team, you go from being the star to just another player. Some struggle with that, Pogba did as a 17/ 18 year old. One minute you're the star of the team the next you're not even making the bench. These lads love playing, they need to learn how to channel that into making the most of their chances and fulfilling their potential.

I want all the lads to make it, but sadly that will never be the case. Tuanzebe, Rashford and McTominay will make it (by make it I mean make the most of their talent) . Of the next group of youngsters I'm fairly confident that Greenwood, Garner and Williams will make it as well. I'm not so sure on Chong and Gomes. Gomes is one of the most talented, yet I feel he will struggle to impose himself on the game until he is in his early twenties, he will need to stay on track if he is to make it. Chong I feel isn't making the most of the chances he has got. At one point he had played more than any of the other youngsters. He is the same age as Rice, Sancho, Haaland, Guendouzi, Mount and even Dalot. I think he needs a loan to get regular football.

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17 Nov 2019 11:17:19
Cavani could be a good option, but would he be happy with a rotation role?

It's great to have a truly top class striker with bags of experience, but we have seen with Zlatan. It can come at a cost. Martial et al need to be getting miuntes every week. Otherwise they will stagnate and not progress.

Will someone like Cavani be happy to play 60 minutes every week so that others can have 30 minutes a game?

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17 Nov 2019 11:14:11
What about the latest rumour that Mourinho vetoed Maguire for 60m as he didn't feel he was worth anymore than 50m.
Well the club ultimately paid 80m for him, so did Mourinho cost the club an extra 20m and a year without Harry Maguire?
What do people make of it?

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16 Nov 2019 22:15:11
Maybe because the club are moving away from one man making all the transfer decisions.

I would imagine the club would be looking to compete some form of due diligence with a scouting procedure that is a little more than just asking a current employee if he thinks he's good enough.

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14 Nov 2019 12:27:45
Caolan, if you don't think he has the temperament for one of the elite clubs then is he the type of player we should be targeting if we are aiming to get back to being an elite club?

I think he is a very good player, who does very well for Lyon and the Netherlands.

Yet, we have several players who play in the same positions as he does.

Personally if we are going to sign a Dutch forward I would sign Steven Bergwijn who has shown great ability across the front line including coming from the right hand side which is where we are weakest.

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14 Nov 2019 09:55:47
I like Depay, and I'm glad he has been a success at Lyon. However, I don't think it's in anyone's best interests for him to return to United.

He plays best either on the left or as a striker. We have James, Rashford and Martial at the club already. I would say he is probably at a similar level to them currently, while they are 2-3 years younger than him. He gets a few more goals and assists but is doing so in a weaker league, also playing for a team that generally does very well in the league, and last year could be considered as best of the rest behind PSG.

I wonder if a move to a bigger club would benefit him all that much. I'm not sure he gets in either Real Madrid or Barcelona's first team. He problem doesn't play as regularly at somewhere like Juventus or Bayern Munich.

So most other clubs he could move to would only be a slight step up, club's like Dortmund, Spurs, Atletico or Napoli. Club's that will likely be best of the rest in a slightly better league.

So for me the risk of the move not working out Vs what you gain from moving to such a club probably doesn't make it worth it.