Manchester United Transfer Banter

16 Apr 2024 23:46:29
So, Sancho and Sabitzer off to the ECL semis.

17 Apr 2024 04:48:37
Shoulda kept Sabitzer!

17 Apr 2024 08:46:12
Agree on sabitzer. Ambrabat has been very poor.

17 Apr 2024 09:36:41
More of our useless players.
Proving they can play and be effective in a well run team.

17 Apr 2024 09:55:54
I really liked Sabitzer. I had hoped that the club would have signed him last summer.

17 Apr 2024 10:00:54
Sabitzer was good. Not sure why we didn’t stump up the £15m for him. Sancho looked like he’d found a few yards of pace too.

17 Apr 2024 10:41:01
Our players are slower amd less dynamic than any other team I care to mention.
Funny when a lot of them move they do better look fitter and more dynamic
They understand their roles better and fit into a well structured team dynamic.
It's nice for sancho and sabitzer to be back in the big time.

17 Apr 2024 12:01:33
True Ken. For his career and personal well being, Sancho needs to push as hard as he can for a permanent switch back to Dortmund.

16 Apr 2024 19:26:15
There are hundreds of talented possible transfer targets. I wish for three things 1) a tactically astute manager who instills discipline into the squad and 2) who buys younger players who he can mould into a long term successful team and 3) gets rid of egotistical under performing current players.

16 Apr 2024 22:26:10
So say all of us Salford.

17 Apr 2024 01:08:49
The potential issue with no2 is that 90% of the players many want to leave are the most experienced of the Utd squad. Could potentially end up the same as Chelsea where there’s no leadership/ experience.

17 Apr 2024 06:15:33
Fuser

I don’t see any leadership now, on the pitch or in the dugout.

17 Apr 2024 11:32:56
ETH got rid of Ronaldo and Sancho so a tick in the box for point 3. Has brought through Garnacho, Mainoo, Big Willy, given Omari a chance and promotes youngsters from U18's to train with the first team including Shea Lacey and others which is a big tick for point 2. Disciplined Rashford, Ronaldo, Sancho, Garnacho incidents which is a tick for part of point 1 yet fans will moan at the handling of these players.

Now the fall down is he tactically astute? Last season beat Liverpool, beat Man City, beat Arsenal, beat Tottenham, beat Chelsea, beat Barcelona, won a trophy, got top 4, is on the verge of back to back FA Cup finals, not lost to Liverpool in 3 games this season. So has shown he is or can be, but there's a lack of consistency unfortunately. But then there has been a lack of consistency in player availability this season so potentially unfair to judge ETH on this. Last season United used 26 players in total throughout the premier league season, Manchester City used the least with 24 players, they won the league.

This season United have used 30 players, 4th highest in the league and guess which team have used the lowest? Manchester City with 25. Arsenal have also used 25. So there is an argument that consistency is an issue but how can you develop consistency when you have had to have 26 different back four combinations in one season?

Fans can absolutely have an opinion on the Managers position, I am still in favour of ETH above other options as are a number of others on here. There are a number who want ETH gone which is absolutely their right to feel this. However, I feel the judgement against ETH has to be done fairly with all situations and scenarios during his tenure taken into consideration. It seems to me that Ten Hag is having to satisfy contradicting expectations from fans. Fan's want in place a style and structure, build for the long term but at the same time, expected to deliver short term results to keep his job but carry out a rebuild whilst doing it. Ten Hag is absolutely open to criticism this season, not least about why United are so easy to play through, but what the past 10 years should have told us is that any manager at United pre SJR, has been set up to fail, SJR has identified and stated this himself.

So to Salford's 3 point wish list, when you look at the points, ETH is meeting most of them and shown the other area can be achieved to. But if it is to be a new manager, then fans need to be prepared for a further inconsistent short term future mixed with, hopefully some trophy success but also some terrible and questionable performances and disappointing seasons.

17 Apr 2024 13:11:21
Ports

he has introduced youngsters out of necessity not choice. Which youngsters did he actually buy? Yes he got rid of Ronaldo and Sancho but have we played better without them? Would Hoijlund not benefitted from learning off Ronaldo? Discipline takes many forms. Sancho is playing well again at Dortmund. maybe a better coach than ETH could have seen him playing well for us. He let Sabitzer go and brought in Amrabat. I bet Amrabat looks a decent player again when he is released and plays for his new team.

Meantime ETH has disciplined and kept Rashford but we have seen no improvement in Rashfords effort or form. Yes injuries of course disrupt a team but when we are conceding so many stupid goals and so many shots per game it is blindingly obvious that the team is either not listening to the managers instructions or his instructions are rubbish.

Either way the result is the same and something has to change or results will not get better. Liverpool have had a lot of injuries this season but are still playing decent football and challenging for the league.

Again as many have pointed out winning a few matches against so called bigger teams shows there is potential to be better but no structure implemented consistently. let's be honest several of our better performances we could and should have lost.

I want ETH to succeed but really am doubtful that he will. It infuriates me when he comes out after mtches when we have got a lucky draw or lost and says that we played well and that there is an improvement. The league table does not lie. We are an upper mid table team at best. The fans are not idiots. We know rubbish when we see it. We know a lack of effort when we see it. Its his very well paid job to fix things not moan about injuries or try to kid us. Look at how Villa, Spurs, Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle play. All with a definite way or ways to play. I defy anyone to say from week to week which way we will play or how well with any real conviction.

17 Apr 2024 14:09:19
Playing well? He scored 0 goals yesterday, 0 assists, lost possession 18 times, won 3/ 10 duels and made 1 defensive tackle last night. Here's the issue, Dortmund have got into the Semi final which equals Sancho is proving ETH wrong is some fans eyes because they just want a stick to beat ETH with. He's got 2 goals and 2 assists for them so far in 14 games. No one supported Sancho more than ETH, people forget the 3 months off he gave him and sent him abroad to help him, yet still not enough. He disciplined Garnacho in pre season and got a response from him, he's disciplined Rashford twice now and got a quick response but not maintained. This IMO speaks more about Rashford than ETH but players appear to be avoidant of criticism and personal responsibility. Why didn't he sell Rashford? Who knows, why haven't we sold Martial? Well reports were Joel Glazer loves him so maybe the decision not sell Rashford is not ETH's choice.

You'd rather he brought youngsters but personaly, if we have the potential why not promote from within? The outcome remains the same and you actually probably get more buy in from a kid who's come from the academy. He didn't need to bring in Mainoo, McTominay has been sitting there all along, he could have stuck with Rashford and Antony on the wings but he's stuck with Garnacho. He's played the most minutes for teenagers this season bar Forest I believe. He could have eaisily played Amrabat instead of Kambawala who has played CB before. He brought in a youngster in Hojlund and was hammered for it.

Of course he's made mistakes, I liked Sabitzer and wish he stayed but for whatever reason he didn't. Perhaps, ETH was promised they'd get someone else in but failed to? But if people are to criticise ETH, tell the whole story and if that's your feelings then so be it but don't cherry pick events.

17 Apr 2024 14:44:28
Ports I respect that's your perspective.
I don't agree obviously.
There is every possibility that eth will be in charge next season as you say let's see what sjr and the team decide and identify as the best option eth or A. N other.
None of us know the real dynamics I'm happy to admit that.
Nine of us know what it's like to work with him or for him.
My perception is that I would not like to work for or with him and I wouldn't like him working for me based on what I see and hear but that could be wrong as I'm not in possession of all the facts or details.
I see a team that is awful to watch and while we did beat those teams you mention last season we were also on the end of a few hideous defeats by them also.
We score less than most teams in the league now over 2 seasons not just this season.
Eth has lost about 1/ 3 of all his league matches over 2 seasons
Our worst ever cl campaign.
Our players are slower and less dynamic than any team I care to mention.
So for every ying there is a yang on the stats.
Rashford had his best season ever last season and his worst this season.
His signings loans or permanent
Amrabat requllion ericksen weggy malacia casimero Anthony have not worked out at all.
Mount and martinez can't stay available for selection
Onana and rasmus there are big question marks over according to ed002 particularly onana.
Bruno has gone backwards like rashford and casimero
Dalot has been put forward as a big success under eth. Really has he?
He has done well with the youth players he has introduced for sure but will he turn garnacho into ronaldo or Anthony (who has had his coaching for 4 years and eth deems him unplayable at times)
So our perceptions of the job he is doing are old apart.
We can agree that he has been unlucky with injuries but fergie and raniere won the league with worse players.
We are not a team and we are getting worse under eth that's my perception.
He has brought in lots of players.
The players don't respond to him.
Remember they are not the same players that didn't respond to Jose or lvg so it's not like they are guilty of throwing several managers under the bus which is what I often hear.
I don't think injuries are enough to excuse our totally inept performances. They don't explain the speed of our play and our tactics.
We did beat Liverpool this season once and drew twice but I'd argue we should have been beaten in at least 2 of the games and we won like the hopeful boxer with a couple of good punches.
I'll be shocked if he is not replaced in the summer in fact I think they're is a very good chance he will leave on amicable terms.
If he stays then I'm happy to acknowledge my opinion and perception is not what the experts are seeing behind the scenes.

17 Apr 2024 20:58:30
Tumbleweed I agree with nearly everything you say. I would venture to suggest that nearly all Utd fans do and pundits on the tv and newspaper reporters too.

17 Apr 2024 23:43:13
pundits on tv and newspaper reporters ?.

16 Apr 2024 12:25:47
Amazon Prime release trailer for '99'.

Official Trailer: ??

The story of Man Utd’s remarkable treble-winning season in 1998/99, told by those who were part of it.

Coming to Prime Video on 17 May ? pic.twitter.com/CN3fzP3oMd

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 16, 2024

16 Apr 2024 13:16:06
Hard to believe its 25 years ago. Funnily the older I get the less pleasure I get from looking backwards. I take little or no pleasure from reminiscing. I'm not sure why that is but I'd prefer if i got more pleasure out of it.
I still prefer making new memories rather than looking back on existing ones.
Never liked history at school either. Wiser now I realise that if you want to know what will happen in 50 years time you need to look back at what happened 50 years ago.
Very enjoyable time that for us united supporters around the turn of the millennium.

16 Apr 2024 15:01:55
I love a bit of nostalgia and I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever been through as rollercoaster of emotions as I did that night of the UCL final. Happy memories for sure.

16 Apr 2024 16:08:30
A bit like everybody (who was alive at the time) remembers exactly where they were at the time of the moon landing and when Kennedy was assassinated. United supporters also remember where we were the night we won the treble. Some folk have so many 'I' in a post that you might think life was all about them. ?.

16 Apr 2024 16:45:41
I or I's?

17 Apr 2024 06:24:02
Said before I was in the Nou Camp that night, great great experience, however it is history.

In the 70’s and 80’s, we were harking back to 1968, Charlton, Law, Best, weren’t they great, weren’t we great, while Liverpool hoovered up the trophies. Nice to look back on things like 99 but I look more at recent history now. Yes, learn from the past, that’s what we do but don’t live in it, otherwise we become what we were in the 70’s and 80’s and what the Scousers were from 1990 for 20 years.

17 Apr 2024 12:33:21
The irony that the 2 most vocal ETH out voices leading for another new manager on here are spouting on about learning from the past and if you want to know what will happen in 50 years time you need to look back at what happened 50 years ago. I imagine they were both leading the SAF out chants in the 89/ 90 season too!

17 Apr 2024 15:05:35
Yes ports.
Sack managers who decline like atkinson sexton moyes etc
If a manager is doing the right things and progressing then stick with them.
Eth has shown huge dis-improvement from a promising start.
I'm not sure if you were about in the 70s and 80s I suspect not but atkinson for example was a much loved coach who won a couple of cups but was never going to achieve long term. Much like houllier at Liverpool for example.
Fergie had a rough start and then a lot of people within the club could see he was doing great work behind the scenes.
If it turns out eth is doing great stuff we can't see it will be known by the people that make the decisions and he will have nothing to worry about will he? just like fergie and arteta for example.

17 Apr 2024 16:41:55
And what makes you come to that conclusion Ken that I wasn’t around in the 70’s/ 80’s?!

17 Apr 2024 17:59:22
I said I suspect not I didn't come to any conclusion at all.
You don't come across as one of the older posters.

17 Apr 2024 19:11:49
You could be any age it's was only relevant to the post regarding looking back 50 years as you only gave fergie as the example so either put the sexton era out of your mind like the rest of us try to ?. Or big Ron's fun house?
I enjoyed much of big Ron's time and we had some great wins but it wasn't a sustainable philosophy. He did sign my fav ever player so all is forgiven. BR7.
I just can't wait for the summer it's going to be carnage one way or the other.
I'm 100% in the camp of what we have and who we have on 31st Aug.
I hope we have a new manager and some players are gone and great new players are signed but if we don't it won't make any difference to me on going into every game hoping we win.
I still can't wait for all the carnage on here between now and then? it will be great craic.

16 Apr 2024 11:44:39
Donny back in June, sancho back in June. Their loan clubs aren't for activating the buy option. Wanting rid of these players is easy, actually doing it is another thing entirely.

16 Apr 2024 12:08:02
Tim I think at worst dvb will agree to cancel his final year and get himself a new club. Just a feeling I have.
Sancho will at worst be loaned out imo.
I think there is an appetite to bite the bullet financially on these. Understanding the dynamics surrounding srp would be helpful to you.

16 Apr 2024 12:17:57
Martial and VdB simply have to go.
Seems a bit of the unknown around Sancho and Greenwood. Can't see either getting a great reception if they return at this point but so much is up in the air.

16 Apr 2024 12:28:13
#spr sorry predictive typo.

16 Apr 2024 13:17:48
Again psr ? doh!

16 Apr 2024 14:49:16
We could maybe do like Chelsea and sell some of our property portfolio to ourselves. I can see big changes to psr as the complaints about it are getting louder, though the clubs did agree on them so not sure what they’re complaining about now.

{Ed002's Note - The changes have already been agreed.}

16 Apr 2024 16:42:38
Ed002 are the main changes to the rules around moving away from total club profit to a cap on costs for the players wages, transfer fees, agent fees and other associated costs.
I've read that clubs will be restricted to 70% of total income if you are competing in Europe while sides outside of European comps can spend 85%
Points deduction will remain in place for serious breaches I understand.
It was not from a hugely reliable source that I read it.
Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - It is broadly what has been agreed. There are broader penalties available aside from points deductions.}

16 Apr 2024 17:16:03
@ tim there are a few good articles to read up on if you fancy.
I just put 'psr rule changes in epl' and it came up with a few good articles. ?.

16 Apr 2024 17:10:06
Thanks ed002.
Looks a positive change from uniteds perspective.
Appreciate the confirmation.

17 Apr 2024 01:18:09
Don’t think much changes from a Utd perspective currently. Utd have the 2nd highest turnover but also the 2nd highest wage bill. Unlike city and others, Utd also have very high interest repayments based on the buyout and transfer funding from previous years. If Utd were debt free, the rule changes would be ideal but realistically even if Utd sold the 15 players most mentioned and saved 50% of their wage bill, it would only allow an extra 75m in transfers. Reducing as players and wage bill increases.

Definitely better for Utd et al long term though.

17 Apr 2024 08:57:10
Thanks Ken. I listen a lot to Simon Jordan and steffen borson (ffp expert) on talksport. They are very good at dumbing down the complexities of psr for dummies like me.

17 Apr 2024 10:00:52
Tim I would day you are no dummy.

16 Apr 2024 21:53:11
Thanks ed as always!

16 Apr 2024 22:52:30
Ken, I listen a lot to Steffen borson who is on talksport. He’s an ffp expert and he’s great at explaining things for simple folk like me. I’m not a huge Simon Jordan fan but when those 2 discuss this topic it’s engrossing and very informative!

16 Apr 2024 11:20:12
Could garnacho be as good and effective as palmer?
What do you think?

16 Apr 2024 11:59:02
If he starts taking penalties then yes.

16 Apr 2024 12:20:25
I wonder if Palmer goes to the Euros instead of Rash? Different positions yes and I suppose if one thing works in Rashford's favour it's because we've got fewer options on the left. But yeah, if I'm Palmer and Rashford goes ahead of me. tough to take.

16 Apr 2024 12:43:03
Rashfords opposition as I see it for a spot
Left foden, grealish, Gordon
Right saka palmer
Striker kane Watkins toney.
Personally I wouldn't select him over any of those players on current form and I don't think Southgate will either.
Ask wazza he knows the starting team for the euros.

16 Apr 2024 13:17:02
Palmer absolutely should be picked ahead of Rashford.

Rashford should be nowhere near the England squad on current form. We know he’ll be in there as it’s Southgate, but others are more deserving.

16 Apr 2024 13:21:29
Torn on Gordon over Rashford. At present, yes Gordon has hit form at the perfect time.

16 Apr 2024 13:51:05
What has you torn on that spenno?
I've doubts as well.
Experience might sway it in his rashfords favour.
Rashford has more versatility in a tournament squad should a lot injuries arise and that is also in his favour on top of the fact that Southgate is fairly risk adverse when it comes to rookies.

16 Apr 2024 20:56:37
Rashford would probably play well for England because he will be in a better team with bigger stars than him and his motivation to do well will be better.

16 Apr 2024 07:41:33


Tumbleweed! has written an article entitled, Player Assessment At Manchester United

16 Apr 2024 10:09:54
No idea who will leave, and I'm not sure it will be the exodus everyone wants. But an interesting name is Antony. Olise is frequently mentioned as a target and you'd assume there's not room (or budget) for both. Trouble is players are seldom moved on so quickly. we've barely paid the first Klarna installment on this guy lol. Not saying it's not possible and that no player has moved on so quickly, but there'll be a massive loss I imagine. Funnily enough he's been getting a little more praise recently, for effort and desire at least. I reckon same as with Ten Hag, the powers that be will give him a pass this season due to the troubles he's experienced this time round.

16 Apr 2024 10:46:40
The biggest concern with any mass exodus is that the new recruitment team is not in place. If we lose, which is not unlikely, upwards of 10 players in the first team squad, we’re still relying on the existing scouting and recruitment structures to replace them.

I think we’re in a tough place where the players need to go, but it will be better to wait a year before splashing a huge amount of cash to replace them. I’d rather spend a season in limbo relying on a small squad with youth players than waste more money on players that might not be good enough in the long term.

16 Apr 2024 12:10:02
Danny 10 player mentioned in our 1st team squad there with only varane and Evans played any mins this season.
Those 10 don't need replacing and they are costing 70m pa in wages.
You only need to replace players that played.

16 Apr 2024 12:22:24
Bit worried about the quality of the bench in that scenario though. When City/ Liverpool/ even Villa are chasing a game they can make rela influential changes. When we need options we'll be bringing on the tea lady and mascot.

16 Apr 2024 12:44:01
Where they on the bench this year?

16 Apr 2024 13:32:19
I meant as a response to Danny really, filling the bench with youth in the absence of being able to afford to replace all the players we let go in one hit.

16 Apr 2024 13:52:46
I get that spenno. I suppose it all depends on what strategy the new management team want to adopt.

16 Apr 2024 14:40:23
Can’t imagine anyone paying a big fee for Mctominay. Max £20m imo as he’s in the last year of his contract. AWB and Maguire perhaps £30m combined or around that given they’ve both also in their last year. Lindelof £10-15m max. Casemiro maybe £30m max from the ME. DVB less than 10m. Sancho 30m max and Greenwood maybe 25-30m. Then smaller fees for Pellestri and other youngsters.

Think overall if all 15 are sold, would be looking at around 150m, some sold at a loss. Even buying 5-6 players would be a stretch of the budget. Would be looking at 30m/ player which means trying to find those hidden gems out there.

16 Apr 2024 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Crystal Palace - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

16 Apr 2024 19:22:13
Jeez Ed. God knows what would happen if you review United!

16 Apr 2024 03:15:08
Interesting to see Liverpool fans starting to turn on Klopp after just a handful of bad performances. We've been terrible since last January, yet there are still people on here who'd rather blame everything but Ten Haag for our abysmal performances.

I'm not saying that the way that our club has been run since David Gill left hasn't been shambolic, but pretty much all of the issues that Ten Haag has had to deal with are ones that his predecessors also faced. If anything, I'd say he's been backed much better than any of our post-SAF managers when it comes to transfers. They were still able to implement their own styles of play, even if not all of those styles were effective or entertaining to watch.

16 Apr 2024 05:25:27
redseven

What clag you're chatting.
Ronaldo?
Sancho?
Greenwood?
Sale/ investment?

Not one of his predecessors has dealt with the current pressures relevant to any of that, not one.
While I have resigned myself to the reality that he won't be here next season, he has had a very rough ride.

There are some on here who blame the players and the coaching staff for how abysmal this season has become.

16 Apr 2024 06:42:24
Ork

Ten Hag has caused some of his own problems with his inflexibility, lack of leadership skills, poor ingame management, tactics and what he says.

If he got his tactics right and we could see a pattern emerging he would have had an easy ride. He pushed for players he knew Antony, Malacia, Amarabat, players that made no sense Mount, he was given money and in Antony’s case too much. I no longer have any sympathy for him and after throwing ac19 year old under the bus he should have been fired yesterday.

16 Apr 2024 08:00:18
He, like most of us, is paid to do a job. He isn’t.

He tried and I wanted him to succeed but he is lacking in flexibility, severely lacking tactically, delusional in his comments and has started chucking young kids under the bus.

Sorry but I am firmly in the OUT camp.

16 Apr 2024 08:13:28
Redman

I'm not defending any of that, I'm just answering the BS claim that ten Hag has faced issues that were mostly encountered by his predecessors.
The 4 situations I mentioned and all of their respective complexities have been faced by not one of his predecessors - not one.

He has made some mistakes and deserves the criticism for them, but let's not all talk clag.

16 Apr 2024 10:11:28
Ork. Greenwood was arrested during Rangnick’s tenure, not Ten Haag’s. The lad was never once available for the Dutch disaster, so not like he suddenly had to adapt his non-existent strategy because of the loss. Even if he did, Ragnick also had to deal with this issue.

Ronaldo came in under Ole, who was then forced to find a way to shoehorn him into the starting eleven. The discontent and disruption caused by Ronaldo’s arrival cost Ole his job, so it seems fair to say that he had to deal with this issue. Ten Haag actually had a chance to solve the problem right after he got started, but opted to block Ronaldo’s departure, thus creating an even bigger for himself further down the line.

The Sancho issue was another one caused by Ten Haag. None of his predecessors had to deal with Sancho specifically, but we’ve had our fair share of problematic players over the years. Pogba and Di Maria immediately spring to mind. The former was seemingly backed over Jose, so again Ten Haag actually had it easy when compared to some of those who came before him.

As for recruitment, Ten Haag has been backed more than any of our managers since SAF left. By all accounts, most of our signings have been his choices, and although we are currently dealing with financial constraints that have left us thin in certain parts of the pitch, that’s in large down to us overspending on Ten Haag’s terrible targets. Had he not been too stubborn to work with Ragnick (who had identified plenty of cheaper and better players than the dross we’ve signed under Ten Haag) we wouldn’t be in this mess.

The only one talking “clag” here is you, fella.

16 Apr 2024 10:19:14
Think many Liverpool fans are questioning the timing/ need to announce Klopp's departure so quickly rather than anything else, which I can understand.

16 Apr 2024 10:27:19
Yeah I'm qu6ote sure when klopp leaves nobody will turn up.
Nonsense to say Liverpool fans are turning on him. The man is adored and rightly so after what he's done for the club.
If they only win the league cup fans will be a little discounted I'm sure but imo they are the 3rd best team.
I don't believe that they are turning on him at all. You will always get the odd idiot but klopps Liverpool legacy is very firmly intact as it should be.

16 Apr 2024 10:33:12
There will always be noise around the United manager. Always.
Eth has not had I think either than anybody else.
He created the ronaldo and sancho situations himself and had nobody else to blame for either imo.
I'm mot saying he necessarily did the wrong thing but he created and put oil on those fires imo.
The takeover was difficult for him I'm sure.
The Greenwood issue happened before he arrived
Eth has had the same issues and noise all united managers face.
He did OK with some and bits so OK with others imo.
Imo eth does not use the power of silence enough.

16 Apr 2024 10:41:39
Ken. A lot of people over on the Liverpool page are now saying that Klopp isn’t good enough tactically and that it’s time for a new manager. His substitutions are bad and it’s his fault that the strikers aren’t putting their chances away.

I think a big part of this is down to them trying to take the sting out of his departure and agree that his legacy will remain intact regardless of how the rest of the season goes, but the general tone over there is pretty negative considering they’re only two points off first place and still have a chance of winning a treble (I don’t think they’ll turn things around in Italy, but wouldn’t bet against it) .

16 Apr 2024 12:01:09
The booked stops with the manager, why so many apologists and clag chattery. The lack of accountability and responsibility in modern discourse is saddening. It’s ok to accept someone has failed, it’s not personal. ❄️

So many well put points highlighting EtHs shortcomings above. The man’s not done it, end of story.

16 Apr 2024 13:13:32
Tumble
The power of silence is apt. If ETH hadn’t commented on Sancho it would likely have not escalated and then throwing Garnacho under the bus just was uncalled for. I think he is under pressure and is throwing out excuses and blaming players. To do it to a 19 yr old who has run his bloody socks off for him has really annoyed me. ETH should have kept it shut and that outburst should have been the end of him or hopefully will be.

16 Apr 2024 13:35:56
Not too clever of garnacho either though redman.

I agree on eth it should be another nail in his coffin.

16 Apr 2024 13:50:00
Tumble

Agreed Garnacho should not have liked the tweets. Young angry and frustrated but should not have done it
If ETH drops him for the next game that will be a nail in his coffin as well. You wonder if ETH will just be tough and lack finesse in leadership after it. Needs to handle it carefully and sensitively and not with size 11 boots like he has, except for those that are his favourites of course. We shall see.

16 Apr 2024 14:50:15
Redman I read a theory that eth is looking for a row with garnacho that would enable him to play Anthony.
I don't buy into that at all but nothing would surprise me.
I can't imagine he will be dropped for the semi final so that eth can turn to Anthony.
I think that theory will be well and truly put to bed as BS at the weekend.

16 Apr 2024 18:40:46
Tumble

That would be extreme, can’t see that as such, however, maybe he can use the argument, look at Antony, so stable and reliable, does what I ask him.

I think we don’t know what ETH will do, he reacts aggressively so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Garnacho on the bench, with an excuse he is tired, the opposition are physical. Garnacho has been our out ball, he is being asked to get at the opposition defence, not have any cover whilst doing it, then has to make 80 yard runs to cover others that jog back.

I think on balance Garnacho will start, but if ETH takes him off again like he did last weekend, I suspect we may see the lad start thinking of Real Madrid, who will welcome him with open arms.

16 Apr 2024 20:15:05
redseven

Mate, understand what I'm saying about dynamics.

Greenwood was arrested during Rangnick's tenure and was swiftly suspended. The situation was, for the club, a set condition.
When the charges were dropped, ten Hag was in situ and has since had indecision from upstairs regarding the player - a dynamic that makes this situation unique to ten Hag.

Ronaldo, irrespective of what was said or promised before, decided to conduct that pathetic interview during ten Hag's tenure.
That situation is one that is unique to ten Hag.

You've avoided conceding how unique the Sancho situation is because you're instead conceding no leg to stand on.

Pogba had an argument with Mourinho on the training ground being filmed by a sneaky peeker - that's not a public fallout and therefore a very weak comparison.

Di Maria?
Mate, really? I'm not even going there.

At no point have I said he's not made mistakes, there's a litany of poor decisions, but there are incredibly pertinent dynamics being ignored.

No other manager in our history has had to deal with severe indecision at board level, plus all the subsequent complications, regarding a player who's had serious allegations of a violent nature dropped - not Rangnick or anyone else.

No other manager in our history has had a player dig out their manager and employers on a TV interview - not Ole or Rangnick or anyone else.

No other manager in our history has had their authority publicly challenged on a prime social media platform in the manner displayed by Sancho.

I'm not saying he didn't make things worse for himself, but he has had a rather unique set of complications to deal with.

Perhaps my suggestion that you're chatting clag was a bit bitey, but I 100% stand by what I've just written now - he's had a rough ride that categorically is not all his own doing.
I'm chatting facts - straight up, irrefutable facts.

I think the overarching point being missed is that there are all these managers - some with vast and glorious experience - who have found cliques of players who are perfectly happy to scorch the reputations of anyone who dares stand up to them.
That's not to say the managers have been faultless, but the common denominator is blatantly obvious - precious little runts who probably couldn't spell the word 'professional' throwing every toy they can to get their way.

The significant changes needed at the club do not end at the dugout.
Until the player-power culture has been eradicated there is no hope for any manager of Manchester United - there's another straight up fact.

Where we certainly do agree is on ten Hag's future at season's end - it won't be at OT.

16 Apr 2024 21:01:58
Difference between criticising ETH and Garnacho is that the former is a mature guy with decades of experoand the latter a young guy learning his trade. ETH should have censured Garnacho in private.

17 Apr 2024 09:59:19
Not true on a few of those points ork.
Your second paragraph sums you up. 'Understand what I'm saying'
Perhaps you are being understood but simply disagreed with.
Your not stating facts your staying your opinion.
Fergie had to deal with the abandoned takeover by Knight the the the plc move then the glazer takeover.
Fergie and ron atkinson had to deal with sexual assault allegations against their players Atkinson more than once and other domestic violence situations.
Arrest off the captain on the eve of a cup final and the Cantona debacle.
Fergie had to deal with a player undermining him in a tv interview.
No doubting Eric had a few tricky ones but that's life at united.
No leg to stand on ??? what in a simple post of an opinion??? you have no idea what cliques he has faced no idea at all not the foggiest clue. Fact.
Perhaps the players think your a runt for making too many assumptions that you have no idea about.
Who knows?
Eth has made his own bed on some issues and made it very well others he in my opinion had handled badly.
Like all managers of all clubs.
Ronaldo accused the club of slavery in fergies time. He was wrong then I think a lot of what he said about eth has come out as true.
You have opinions And you sate a couple of facts.
You are very steadfast on your opinion which is fine but they are not all facts and your linings are based on a lot of assumptions like all our opinions looking from the outside in.
Sancho situation was let get out of hand and escalated. That's as much the mangers fault as sanchos.

17 Apr 2024 10:04:55
Back in the day Busby had to deal with prison sexual and domestic violence issues too. Just like many am employer in any walk of life.
Just sayimg.

15 Apr 2024 12:53:35
I don't think the garnacho situation liking posts criticising eth is comparable to the sancho debacle.
I am not sure if he removed his 'likes' or left them up and we also don't know if he apologised to his manager for doing so or indeed if his manager asked him to.
I hope this is kept under control and not let escalate like the sancho episode.
We have a cup semi final at the weekend and that surely is the only thing that matters at the moment so I'm sure it won't derail preparations for that.
Looking forward to the Coventry game I'm sure we will see a positive reaction from at least some of the players.

15 Apr 2024 13:58:49
Regardless of the similarities I can't see for the life of me why players get involved on social media in this way. More often than not it's going to end in drama. In an unlikely alternative world where I'm an elite professional footballer, there are no newspapers or social media accounts anywhere near me. I guess it's down to the strength of the individual but I can't help but feel the mental state of half the population would be healthier without social accounts.

Looking forward to the semi final too. Some of my favourite memories of watching Utd in my youth were of Mark Robbins' breakthrough season, in particular an FA Cup semi-final I believe (inc replay) against Oldham on their infamous plastic pitch on which they were imperious. Classic times.

We're still heavy favourites but it's definitely a banana-skin and we're an accident waiting to happen.

15 Apr 2024 14:15:26
It seems like a non-story to me. A 19 year old lad has probably in the heat of the moment let his frustration get the better of him, and committed the grievous crime of "liking" a tweet or two that criticised the manager he was frustrated with.

He's then calmed down, probably had someone have a word with him and removed the likes.

Has he apologised? I dunno, I expect he probably has. But frankly that's between him and the manager.

It's typical media making a mountain out of a mole hill. Unfortunately I expect we'll have to endure plenty of these kinds of reports over the next month or two. The media smell blood in the water and know any stories about United are a sure fire hit. Making them their money, regardless of whether the story has any truth in it at all.

The Sancho situation was completely different. Sancho publicly criticised the manager and called him a lair, refused to remove the posted message, and refused to apologise.

Not only was Sancho's initially digression far worse as it was a public statement made with intent and in his own words, as opposed to simply liking something someone else posted. It was his subsequent actions that made the situation untenable. While Sancho was also a 24 year old man with far more life experience and should be far more grown up than the 19 year old Garnacho.

Expect these rumours to be a near daily thing, certainly after every game we fail to win, between now and when the decision to remove EtH is made official.

15 Apr 2024 14:25:14
Yeah spenno my 1st every live match was the 77 final.
Spenno a lot of the high profile players make more money off their social media accounts than they do playing football. It's the world we live in. It's how a lot of that generation communicate. Bizarre to you and me
Old dogs and new tricks springs to mind.
If you only knew how much some of them make for a few posts it would make your hair curl.

15 Apr 2024 15:41:16
Love the rumour mill, not difficult to keep us in the news at all.

15 Apr 2024 15:59:11
Don't get me wrong Tumble, I'm not quite in the senile bracket (yet! ) and have my own social accounts, but the thought of players playing a big game or finishing a long training session then immediately whipping out their phones to see where they've been mentioned baffles me.
By all accounts the latest suggestion is that it wasn't even the player himself but one of his 'team' who manages it. Dunno if any of that is true but I'd like to think if I was in a position of authority at a top club I'd be making sure all players and their entourages were a little more savvy on what to be doing under the club's name.

15 Apr 2024 16:36:37
Wondering if Sancho comes back once ETH moves on?

15 Apr 2024 17:33:39
I doubt it Eric that's from a footballing point of view only.

15 Apr 2024 19:37:56
You may be right Ken. That being said, all depends on the new style of football the DoF and coach want to follow. He may suit it…as might some of the other outcasts.

I have absolutely zero doubts in my mind anymore that ten Hag will be moved on in the summer.

15 Apr 2024 21:27:33
I don't see a way back for eth Eric. No doubting he has not had it easy but its never easy at United. I am totally putting my eggs in the sjr basket along with the new management team. It's all we can do in my opinion.

I won't like or agree with some of what they decide but that's OK imo.
That includes if they want to keep eth, sancho, Greenwood, rashford whomever.
The coach next year will have a very difficult job.

I've no idea what can and can't be done in terms of selling and buying players whilst taking SPR regulations into account. Costs have spiralled out of control and the need to reign them in is paramount.

Alonso took leverkusen from bottom of the league when he took over to champions in 2 years overtaking bayern and red bull spending less than 50% of what they did. More than 60% of his squad were bottom 2 years ago now they are invincibles.

The right coach can inspire and improve what we have until he can build his ideal squad in conjunction with the dof over 4 or 5 windows like klopp and arteta did.
I hear the argument that eth has not had the opportunity to work with them. 12 months earlier and he would have been in a better spot buy imo he has very badly fluffed his audition and seems to be making it worse at every opportunity.

15 Apr 2024 22:30:27
Tumbleweed, there’s too much to do in terms of player sales for us to turnaround that quickly. That dressing room has seen off multiple managers, it needs tearing up and rebuilding.

16 Apr 2024 00:09:27
Rewz I'm not suggesting we will become champions in 2 years if you think it will take more than 4 or 5 windows to clear out I'd be surprised. There is no doubt that between the next 3 windows 15 or 18 of the current squad will be gone with maybe 12 coming in.

16 Apr 2024 06:46:09
Rewz

The new DOF etc should deal with players deciding who should be playing for the club, the manager is a transitory employee, who has had ultimate power for too long. The club failed to change or realise when SAF retired, just thought it would continue and the manager would have power like SAF. Time for a head coach who will be judged on performance and not the mythical five years time when magically it all comes right.

16 Apr 2024 11:29:26
So much non sense being posted. no DOF decides who plays and who gets selected or who get subbed. Garnacho is out of order and should be benched. he has been poor for a few games since his return form the internationals and not tracking back. end of it. manager has every right to pull a player off. listen to yourselves. ridiculous stuff constantly posted here.

16 Apr 2024 13:24:13
Ah. af who has suggested the dof is in charge of substitutions or would have any role to play in them?
The manager has full right to take any player off or select them. Not sure who is disputing that?

16 Apr 2024 18:51:20
Ahmad

What? The coach will decide the team and substitutions etc, of course they will, no one said any different except allegedly one of the Glazers about martial. However, the DOF should and will have a say in the players bought and sold, made available to the coach a lot more than before. Yes they will coordinate with the coach, but it looks like they are moving away from an all powerful manager, and about time. We should judge the coach on how they perform coaching the team and players provided, as part of a long term plan, not changed at a managers whim.

As for Garnacho, I could not disagree more. Shambolic tactics, leaving midfield open, no player covering whilst the attacking player is forward. Casemiro is allowed to dawdle back, Rashford not even get a sweat and no one moves over to cover, Dalot asked to step up and inside, leaving Garnacho to run back 80 yards every time. Farce.

As to benched, no wonder there is clearly no team spirit whatsoever. No one will trust ETH to get anything right, and every game they see it more and more.

14 Apr 2024 22:58:56
It's been said before but unai emery really is a fantastic coach. There's no chance we could get him but he should be on any list we have. Everywhere he goes he has success (other than an unlucky stint at Arsenal), and his teams have a clear style and substance to them. I'm sure he's having a very good ebening tonight ?.

15 Apr 2024 07:09:32
But according to many on here, only months ago we have already got a fantastic coach, yes appears now many have changed there minds! Over a year ago I named the players who were not good enough that included AWB McT McG etc etc, I was given pelters again many have changed there mind. nice you finally woken up and smelled the coffee that ETH is out of his depth.

I was also given stick for questioning ETH demeanour also ability to fall out with everyone, you all said he was a disciplinarian and doing great at it. How’s that looking now?

These players are not as bad as you all say, they are just being told to play with a terrible game plan and tactics and awful coaching. A decent manager would get a lot more from them.

Bruno and Rashford are probably our best two players but you all fallen under this spell that they are rubbish, they are not rubbish it’s what they're being ask to do, same with Casermiro, he is hardly rubbish. but of course the lambs follow.

15 Apr 2024 07:38:45
I'll take Ross county's manager at this point.

15 Apr 2024 08:45:48
Romanian what nonsense about Rashford

He ain’t rubbish he’s absolutely useless and lazy and spineless

Yes ETH isn’t blameless.

15 Apr 2024 12:43:32
Brilliant post Romanian Maverick. On behalf of all of the posters on this forum, thank you for sharing your valuable insights with us, oh wise one.

It’s good to know that none of this is the players fault. I will take back anything I’ve said about Rashford’s work ethic and Martial’s laziness. Rangnick, Ole, Jose and LVG are all to blame. Damn those managers, it’s a miracle that they’ve managed to win league titles and champions leagues before they came to United.

Also thanks for the heads up on “McG”. I haven’t heard of him before, but will surely check him out.

15 Apr 2024 13:03:46
Wazza I think we got a couple of those managers a little past their sell by date in Jose and lvg.
None of our managers let go since fergie have won anything of note since they left and been fired from their subsequent jobs too. Of course only some of them even got another job.
I think it was right they were fired.
Jose did an OK job apart from that eth had a good 1st season.
Lots of our players that were deemed useless and toxic and sold have gone on to win titles and plenty of them.
I'd say the coaches were a bigger problem than the players. Their winning pedigree since their various departures would uphold that view somewhat imo.
I'm not suggesting that all the players are right for united but neither is the manager we have imo.

15 Apr 2024 17:40:42
Its a shame that sarcasm doesn't come through in a different colour font Ken.

15 Apr 2024 17:57:18
If you seriously think that ETH is this such a strong character and full of discipline, don’t you think for one minute he would drop Rashford if he was not doing exactly as ETH is telling him to do… maybe use some more brain power on thinking why he is picked for every game, I’m told he is the best trainer at the club, so hardly lazy!

BTW I said Sancho was an awful waste of money because his attitude…got that right too, even though one big poster on here told me time and time again I did not know what I was talking about he he is great and you even backed him up…. How that turn out!

15 Apr 2024 23:26:42
Wazza, sarcasm is in black text on this site.

16 Apr 2024 18:55:56
Romanian maverick

I didn’t want Sancho and said so on here, I suggested Ousmane Dembele, to much derision.