Manchester United Banter Mobile

08 May 2024 09:25:31
I mentioned in the match chat that I couldn't take my eyes off Steve McClaren in the dugout. Head in hands staring at his monitor, frustrated hands up in the air, shaking his head constantly at what he was seeing.
This morning Michael Owen and Paul Scholes have both come out and said the same thing.
McClaren doesn't seem to have any input to current coaching.
Owen.
“We’ve played under Steve McClaren. There’s no way his fingerprints are anywhere near that team. He is a brilliant coach and that team is not being coached at all. No way. "
“Steve McClaren is a top operator and I can only think other people are coaching the first team and he’s a bystander. ”
Scholes.
“He’s not touching that team, the manager [Ten Hag] is not letting him touch that team.
“Everyone thinks we were a great team that attacked everybody and beat people, sometimes we played against better teams, and Steve McClaren put sessions on to make sure you stopped other teams, getting your distances right, getting your angles right, especially in midfield. He's the best coach I ever had”.
Owen suggests sacking ETH now and giving SM the last four games.
“They are going to get smashed out the ball park playing like that. City are going to embarrass them at Wembley in front of millions of people. ”
What happens happens, but I would hate to see SM be part of the SJR clearout when he could provide a lot of knowledge going forward.
Hopefully this has been picked up by SDB's background visits and one to ones with players and staff.
Come to think of it, wasn't ETH Steve McClarens assistant when he was manager of Twente?
Looking on the bright side, football is a game of ups and downs, but it's disheartening to see us getting all the downs out of the way first.

08 May 2024 10:29:35
I mean, ten Hag personally picked him to be on the coaching team so I doubt it's anything about him not letter McClaren get involved which seems pretty infantile.
You could see both of them gesticulating angrily throughout and afterwards ten Hag (several times) said the players knew what to do in all situations, but didn't carry the instructions out, and couldn't adapt to anything on the fly when Palace did improvise. What can you do?
They lack the ability, desire and mentality to do follow instructions. You can argue that it could be equal parts the communication from the management or the players not having the skills to carry them out, or, at this point, the desire. The fact that this has happened with every manager post-Fergie suggests the latter. They're different players in each era, whether Moyes/ van Gaal/ Ole or whoever, but something fundamental links the failures of each iteration of this team.
I concur we are probably going to lose all four remaining games. I think Ineos have had a huge sympathy and understanding of everything the manager has had to go through this season, but with each loss it's harder to keep him, particularly when the basics are lacking.
We are, currently, a mid-table team - at best.

08 May 2024 11:41:24
We are playing worse football than the teams in the bottom 3.

08 May 2024 11:53:08
It's been awful Jim.

08 May 2024 12:18:53
Ken

What gets me is you have a midfielder at CB that you know can't stay in position and CB that's just come back from injury, would you not make your midfield sit a lot deeper as cover and just try and hit them on the break, you know you have been shipping goals all season.

It isn't rocket science.

08 May 2024 12:31:38
I see all that Jim.
Look some fans boycott their support when it's not going their way, just throwing their toys out of the pram if they don't get what they want.
I will support the team but not the manager. He knows he is leaving the players know it. He is not up to the job and is delusional.
Very hard to get players to set up when they don't respect you.
Klopp learnt this lesson about playing midfielders at cb.
It cost them a terrible season 2 seasons ago.
Once klopp put midfielders back in midfield hendo and fabhino and introduced youth and reserve cbs the team picked up again and made the cl.
I'm sure ed001 would testify to that.
You can't play cm at cb it's a dumb move. They will get caught out only very rarely does it work.
No adjustment made to tactics either Jim eth is delusional and unusually arrogant for a coach that has very limited and unsuccessful experience in the epl.

08 May 2024 12:46:17
totally agree - couple of ocassions where possibly necessary due to injuries but then to counter look at newcastle, main 2 out, rb out schar carrying injuries and dan burn: wtf
it is simple ;our coach is not getting his message through and/ or the players aren't listening, I think its a mix of both but even so the gaps in midfield are laughable- played through, round or over all season then jogging (at best) back.
Keep on hearing about garnacho but tbf his form hasn't been great, hojland a brief spell and as much as bruno has assisted/ scored he gives the ball away far too much in dangerous areas. a lot of the latter is lack of confidense and the players around as complacencey and apathy are contagious. Sooner the seasons over the better, flash sale and hopefully recruit some people who want to play for mufc would be like a lottery win.

07 May 2024 22:28:10
I have a lot of time for Rene Meulensteen as a coach, very knowledgeable.

These are his comments
"It is really incomprehensible what is happening now. There is simply no progress whatsoever. You know as a new trainer you always have to deal with a selection that you have not put together yourself. I always say a trainer needs 18 months to get it right, to get on track. But now there is none of that optimism left. There is no playing style, club culture or philosophy. If you look at the statistics it doesn't make any sense. Manchester United had a goal difference of minus three. " Then when asked about ETH banning the press he said "That is really not smart. The media of course have the right to ask questions"

My opinion not Rene, managers spend ages telling everyone not to listen to the press so why ban them when their opinion doesn't matter, it tells the players it does matter and they will read and wonder if it's true. Doubt grows.

Scholes and now Rene.

07 May 2024 23:10:24
Apparently Jose wants the job if the press are to be believed …. I mean I can’t see it happening in a million years, but I quite liked him at Utd….

07 May 2024 23:33:19
There are a lot of highly qualified and respected people all saying the same thing.

Regardless of injuries we should be playing better and with more heart. We are not adapting to the situation well and using the injuries as an excuse.

It has been said 1000’s of times. There are managers out there that would get a better tune out of this team. There are teams out there with worse players (on paper) who have shown us a clean pair of heels.

Something is wrong. Do I know who or where? Hell no! But there are people who do and need to get this ridiculous situation under control quickly.

08 May 2024 01:18:54
Stop it, Eric 😁.

08 May 2024 03:43:31
I’d prefer Jose to Ten Haag.

As Ten Haag apologists love to point out, it’s difficult for a manager to succeed without a proper structure in place above them. Despite this, Jose won us a European trophy and finished second in the league (two things that by his own admission, Ten Haag will not be able to achieve next season) . Image what he could do if properly supported.

08 May 2024 05:34:53
might as well read Ashley Youngs take on Jose too. Too defensive minded and the players did not like his tactics and some did not put in all the effort. Mourinho is not a good choice imo.

08 May 2024 07:07:04
This isn’t the first time that Rene Meulensteen has come out with something to say at this stage of the cycle. He’s a hindsight genius trying to stay relevant.

08 May 2024 07:09:53
It was at the home game v Seville, with Jose in charge, that I decided not to come back to OT until he’s gone.

Jose played the worse football I’ve ever seen at Old Trafford. I rank it lower than anything we’ve seen recently, or even under Ole.

08 May 2024 07:12:26
Player power is the problem and has been for quite some time.

They can down tools and stop trying and just sit back, get paid and wait until the manager gets sacked.

08 May 2024 08:49:24
But my question is, why under different managers and different players for the last decade plus, has our club seem to impacted the most by players downing tools, being tactically inept, playing poor football? What is it about our whole culture that’s so wrong?

Would love to hear some opinion on that from posters and Eds alike.

08 May 2024 09:22:22
I’d take Jose back in a heartbeat, didn’t want him to leave last time.

08 May 2024 10:04:52
Moyes is free too.

08 May 2024 11:08:25
Rene, this brilliant coach, what's he at these days? Take no notice.

Worse thing that happened to ETH was how well he did last year.

This club is a cesspit.

08 May 2024 11:19:55
It will be a lot better when eth is gone thankfully angel.
You do know he is going and won't be manager next season so then the hope can return.

08 May 2024 12:21:43
Angel

Are you also going to say Scholes is wrong too?

07 May 2024 20:24:21
Watching Dortmund tonight, Sancho looks so comfortable and confident in that side.
What would be peoples preferance, bring him back or stick with Antony on the right?
I can't see us selling Sancho, Antony and Greenwood in one window so we're going to be using at least one of them next season.

07 May 2024 21:36:51
Greenwood is by far the best, for me.
We’ll drag all three out until the penultimate day of the window and keep just Antony.

07 May 2024 21:38:31
Greenwood to lead the RW.
Sell the rest, prote from within thereafter.

07 May 2024 22:14:44
Have niether at the club

The guy doesn’t deserve to be here he’s had chances

Was sent away to go find himself then thrown a tantrum when all the manager said was “he’s not been picked based on training”

Then decides to post all over socials

Get him gone.

07 May 2024 22:22:13
Dortmund play to his strengths, he’s not a traditional direct pacey one vs one winger. He plays best with runners from midfield offering passing options, with him tucking in slightly.

08 May 2024 07:14:32
18 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, poor trainer, big time Charlie, stinking attitude.

Time to move on.

08 May 2024 08:47:47
Greenwood - we have done this to death with very differing opinions. Just sell him to the highest bidder and move on
Sancho - multiple managers have had issues with him (even at Dortmund previously) . I do not believe he is right for the premier league even though he is obviously a very good player. Sell to the highest bidder or do a deal with Dortmund but let's not get our pants pulled down.
Anthony - 2 seasons in and we have not seen the player that was very good at Ajax. Another that is obviously a good player but not cut out for the premier league. Sell for whatever we can get and have to take a loss.

Biggest fear on all the above is we end up having to loan them out and have an asset that is diminishing in value. I hope the new leadership group make quick decisions and get some deals done.

08 May 2024 08:52:32
Samcho’s days are numbered, and great to see that he is perceived to be having a good loan spell at Dortmund, which will help us maximise his value when we sell him.

Greenwood is a totally different conversation we’ve had multiple times. I’m not qualified to say what he’s like in the dressing room though or what his personality is likely to have an impact on the squad there.

08 May 2024 12:39:36
By all accounts Getafe have been told by Utd (according to club president) that Utd will be trying to sell Greenwood. His loan may well end and he'll still be a Utd player at that point but he won't be stepping foot back at the club again. They may push for another loan, which I hope isn't the case as we need to raise some spending money. Shame, a player wno can play in any forward position and has done so for them. Just what we could do with.

07 May 2024 13:53:57
I'm not sure why, but I really want the rumor about Antony facing suspension for calling Ten Haag "Bald Egg Head" in a players only WhatsApp group to be true.

07 May 2024 17:31:52
Ha ha.
It's one of the mad rumours. Funny but can't be true surely.
It's mad stuff to make up though. Very funny.

07 May 2024 18:37:50
Shame. Would have been the most entertaining thing Antony had done since we signed him.

07 May 2024 18:55:23
If true he’s slotted in with his team mates very well.

07 May 2024 21:13:37
Yes let's hope it's true so we can celebrate the toxicity of our players. Just what we're looking for.

07 May 2024 21:15:49
I read that Scholes highlighted Antony holding up three fingers to Mount and felt he was criticising ETH tactics. That’s Scholes not me saying it. It looks to be unraveling badly.

07 May 2024 10:19:39
I know my last post was about onana but the more I watch him the more I don't want to watch him. He is red useless.
And if we sell him we will be lucky to get half the 47 million we paid for him. More millions wasted on a keeper to play with his feet. The only place he can play with his feet is in the bath kicking a rubber Duckie.

07 May 2024 10:34:19
Useless keeper leahy.
For this league and this level he is totally wrong.
A bit like Anthony
A bit like ericksen at this stage of his career .
He is a clown keeper. Miles and Miles short of what we need.
How he has kept his place is beyond me. Idiot manager has not dropped him once condoning his garbage performances.

07 May 2024 12:53:08
I'd say the manager now will be on his way with him and Anthony.

07 May 2024 14:08:35
I must admit I had some sympathy for Onana. Having a different defence every week that is clearly below average hasn't helped his cause. But its quite clear to see he is just not a good enough goalkeeper for the Premier League. He keeps making the same mistakes and his distribution doesn't make up for it.

I think its fair to say if he is not progressing under the current coaching he probably won't improve any further. He doesn't have time on his side like DDG did. Onana arguably should be approaching his prime.

07 May 2024 16:39:52
We will not get half what we paid for any Eth ✍️ .
And I include Holland in that.

08 May 2024 02:26:28
Varane is leaving because we can't afford him. Plus we are desperately trying to bring in anyone who is a competent Cb. He is an automatic starter with this squad. If we signed kim min jae, we could talk about him not being number one. But we begrudgingly signed Evan's on a free.