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MancMan's rumours posts with other poster's replies to MancMan's rumours posts
16 Feb 2024 07:09:47
I read Utd want Jason Wilcox from Southampton as the new DoF.
Is he a good choice for Utd Ed002?
{Ed002's Note - Not as Director of Football but to head recruitment and focus on younger players. This will be the direct choice of Omar Berrada. He did well with the kids at Manchester City.}
1.) 16 Feb 2024 09:33:34
ED002,
Will Murtough remain as a DOF or will he be moved into a new role?
{Ed002's Note - Murtough is being replaced.}
2.) 16 Feb 2024 09:43:42
Thanks ED002.
3.) 16 Feb 2024 15:49:23
Let's hope Wilcox improved after his career change from a player.
4.) 16 Feb 2024 16:06:14
I’d assume ed this means moving forward there will be a greater emphasis on signing younger players?
Very interesting appiointment imo.
5.) 16 Feb 2024 16:17:47
Spenno. He did win the Premier league so he couldn't have been that bad.
6.) 16 Feb 2024 19:22:42
Bolton lad.
7.) 16 Feb 2024 20:21:42
Thought he was a quality player, and he did a great job at City. Southampton are also now a very young and exciting side.
Smart moves by smart people.
8.) 17 Feb 2024 12:18:33
The rumours are that the club are looking at Wilcox as a head of youth development and recruitment.
Supposedly this is the same role they considered Paul Mitchell for but he wanted a bigger role (DoF) .
What excites me most about his is that the club are seemingly wanted someone who will effectively be tasked with helping provide players for the first team from BOTH the academy and from recruitment.
Having someone whose role includes youth development seems to suggest that the new way the club will be run is to closely include and look to promote from the academy. This providing pathways for young players. Looking at the academy and the players within it, when they might be ready and if they will be good enough and to factor that in when recruiting players.
Things like looking at young players who might be a season or two away from breaking into the first team so actively choosing not to sign a long term player in that position that would only block that youth player.
For example if they coaches think Shea Lacey will be ready to push into the first team squad towards the end of next season/ the start of 2025/ 26 season then do they spend 60-80m on a new RW player in their early 20's like Olise or Neto?
Having someone in a role whose job includes promoting young academy players alongside signing players seems a great way forward if the club want to continue our proud tradition of giving youth a chance and developing young players.
{Ed002's Note - A kick in the gonads for Nick Cox I am told.}
9.) 17 Feb 2024 14:59:01
Hope they keep Nick Cox on - always comes across as a really genuine football man passionate about the careers of the youngsters he’s in charge of.
10.) 19 Feb 2024 08:59:38
Me too Wallace. I've no idea if this new role will merge the head of the academy or work alongside it.
11.) 21 Feb 2024 09:19:16
I listened to Nick Cox on Talk of the Devils the other day. Sounded like a great fella.
I really loved his outlook and how he marks success. Not in trophies but about how many of the kids go on to have careers be it at Manchester United or another club.
Shame is this is a kick in the gonads. It looked as though he was doing a good job from the outside looking in.
Any knowledge of Nick Cox ed?
25 Jan 2024 13:23:02
Hi Ed002, any truth in the Callum Wilson to Utd for £18 million rumours I'm reading?
Apparently he has 86 goals and 23 assists in 215 appearances which is a pretty decent record especially considering he played for Bournemouth and a very poor Newcastle pre-Howe.
{Ed002's Note - Not that I am aware.}
1.) 25 Jan 2024 14:06:09
He is very injury prone aswell. Avoid.
2.) 25 Jan 2024 14:57:49
Good point that Mad Hatter. I was wondering why so few appearances for a 31 year old.
3.) 25 Jan 2024 16:14:15
It doesn’t make sense replacing an injury prone player with another injury prone one.
4.) 25 Jan 2024 17:21:59
Plus he’s a to€€er that falls over more easily than Bruno ?.
5.) 25 Jan 2024 16:15:27
Thanks for the response Ed002.
6.) 25 Jan 2024 17:59:22
I think the club should have a policy of not signing full time podcasters who play football in their spare time.
7.) 25 Jan 2024 19:38:38
I’m hoping with the new structure we might start seeing some sensible due diligence in signing new players moving forward. The above is not a smart signing in the slightest.
8.) 25 Jan 2024 20:01:59
Wow, I never thought I’d see a rumour that would make Shappy’s Solanke suggestion not look that silly but here it is! ?.
9.) 27 Jan 2024 00:43:17
Recall Greenwood?
10.) 27 Jan 2024 09:28:18
Greenwood will be sold for several reasons.
11.) 27 Jan 2024 09:56:42
He ain’t coming back to the club Utd Road.
12.) 27 Jan 2024 11:29:13
Spot on Eric. By all accounts he's loving life in Spain, why would he want to come back to the media scrutiny and backlash he and his young family would get in England when playing for Manchester United. Why would INEOS and SJR want to potentially create a negative media storm right at the start of their involvement with the club. Finally, selling Greenwood for a good fee makes a massive difference to what we can do in terms of transfers with regard to FFP as all of his fee would be considered as "profit" on the accounts as there is no remaining transfer fee to offset.
We could see players like Greenwood, McTominay, Hannibal and Alvaro Fernandez leave this summer as all technically count as academy players and all of the fee received counts as profit in the eyes of FFP.
Much like we will see several high earners like Varane, Casemiro, Sancho, Maguire and Martial leave as getting their wages off the balance sheets also make a big difference and frees up space for the club to make moves to bring players in this summer.
While we will likely see the likes of Donny, Pellistri and AWB leave on permanent deals, the fact that whatever fees are still to be amortised from their signings would be deducted from any fees we receive for FFP.
FFP will make a big impact on what we do this summer, as we need to shift players to be able to make signings and stay within the rules. Which when we see punishments being dished out to Everton and Forest and City's 118 charges hanging over them, it's probably wise to make sure we don't fall foul of these rules.
17 Jan 2024 07:14:24
Hi Ed002, do you know if there is anything to the rumour of Óscar Zambrano to Utd?
{Ed002's Note - Oscar Zambrano (DM) Work Permit will be an issue in England unless paying over the odds. Luton have held discussions with Frieburg, Eintract Frankfurt and Troyes declared an interest. Ajax interest has gone. Wildcard may be Bournemouth who are well placed to overcome the Work Permit concern.}
1.) 17 Jan 2024 12:38:43
Thanks Ed002.
15 Jan 2024 21:21:50
Hi Ed 002, any truth to the Benzema to Utd rumours?
{Ed002's Note - Benzema is being offered around obut he is 36 and the wages are huge. His club may block any move.}
1.) 16 Jan 2024 10:43:43
Its an absolute Crazy rumour in my opinion. He is on some crazy wage and imo would massively struggle in the pl and way past playing in this league. No way we would do anything as stupid as this. I can see a loan for a striker but not Benzema.
2.) 16 Jan 2024 12:38:24
Thanks Ed002.
Ahmad, I admire your optimism but Utd have lots of form for doing plenty of things just as stupid; Schweinsteiger, Falcao to name two.
Hopefully Sir Jim's arrival will change that going forward.
3.) 16 Jan 2024 14:55:01
Mancman
Here is to hoping we have learnt from the past. Its exactly that stuff and why we are where we are. We should be buying the exceptional 20 to 23 year old and not after they have played for real or Barcelona or Bayern not their late 20's early thirties and bringing them over and giving them a retirement contract.
4.) 16 Jan 2024 20:13:29
There are worse options to be honest. I'm not advocating for the move, but if any sort of short term loan where we don't pay all his wages would give us a proven elite striker who is also very capable of bringing others into play and being a creative focal point not just a tap in merchant.
Personally I wouldn't look to do this deal. I think the problem is that we don't create enough chances for our forwards, bringing in better finishers is at best half an attempt at putting a plaster over a gaping wound.
We'd likely just have a bigger name player on massive wages feeding on scarps and having 1 or 2 half chances a game.
Personally the area we need to fix is the midfield. We don't have any control or ball progression in the heart of the team. Fix the midfield and suddenly our defence isn't as exposed and over worked, almost certainly leading to a better defensive record. While we might also be able to get a foothold in games and actually start creating some chances. Or at least have enough of the ball in the middle and final thirds to start working on some better patterns of play.
Currently our total inability to control the game is leaving us exposed defensively and blunt in attack.
Someone posted further down the page that the 18 year old Kobbie Mainoo is statistically our best midfielder. When that is the case you don't have to look any further than that to know what is wrong with our team right now.
5.) 17 Jan 2024 19:04:29
If we sign Benzema, even on loan……we’ve learned absolutely nothing from the last 5-10 years.
6.) 18 Jan 2024 15:49:15
I don't think you can tar every player of this ilk (ie just past their prime, mid-thirties), or all of our experiences, with the same brush. Zlatan was ok, wasn't he? Yes, it would be expensive, probably (ok, definitely) money we don't have. But even though I love Hojland, we need more up front, even on loan for a few months while he settles in. Two prem goals since May for our main striker, come on.
If Benzema was available for a few months I'd love to see it.
03 Jan 2024 15:55:26
Hi Ed002, anything in the rumours of Olise or Kimmich to Utd?
Many thanks.
{Ed002's Note - Joshua Kimmich (DM) Bayern Munich will now make him available, a signifificant fee of €90M plus would be sought - well beyond what interested sides Barcelona or Manchester City would pay for a 28 year old on €400k per week although Manchester City may well look to find a solution that suits everybody. However, talks have already been held with Al Ahli over a move. A wildcard option would be Manchester United.
Michael Olise (RW/AM) PSG and Manchester City want him as cover although the departure of Mahrez will mean more opportunities now, but the position is effectively Foden's. If de Bruyne or Silva were to depart, he becomes an option again. Crystal Palace has no real interest in selling but know that Chelsea want to take Olise back to Stamford Bridge and Olise has made clear that one day he wants to be playing with his brother. Down the list of AM players Chelsea want but they will perhaps push for him. His representative has said no other clubs have made an approach for Olise - but maybe Klopp's obsession with Chelsea Academy players will continue.}
1.) 04 Jan 2024 03:02:39
I've heard they're planning to bring the former world No 226 men's tennis player Marc Kimmich into the fold to help show some players what needs to happen for there to be a productive burst of energy.
Also, I've heard we're looking at Richard Olise to come in as backup to Hojlund. I know he's a RB, but that's still an upgrade on Martial.
2.) 04 Jan 2024 07:03:35
I think pure madness for us to go anywhere near a Kimich given the numbers and never in a million years worth it. It will be a very very bad deal and make the Pogba deal look great. Hope Liverpool or city spill their guts and buy him :)
3.) 03 Jan 2024 21:43:46
Thanks Ed002, great info as always.
4.) 04 Jan 2024 09:06:00
Ahmad,
Kimmich is a top player and a winner. I’d have him in the morning.
5.) 04 Jan 2024 10:02:43
Outstanding player. going to take a huge wedge to land him though.
6.) 04 Jan 2024 10:42:40
Next year he is 29 I believe, 90 mill and 400k a week on 4 or 5 years no thanks for me, back to the past stuff we have done.
7.) 04 Jan 2024 12:16:49
And twice in the evening Caolan?
8.) 04 Jan 2024 14:05:48
Maybe thrice Wazza.
MancMan's banter posts with other poster's replies to MancMan's banter posts
09 Apr 2024 09:36:03
Question: why do other teams get so many shots against Utd?
1.) 09 Apr 2024 09:49:54
Because we empty the midfield and man mark.
2.) 09 Apr 2024 10:25:39
I’m not defending this as it looks damning but you need to add some context to it. Below are the shots on targets in these games compared to shots taken. You can interpret stats however you want but I think teams put question marks on Onana, know we are a team that can be got at and probably not the most resilient when we concede and therefore it’s the shoot on sight idea.
Liverpool - 28 shots, 7 on Target.
Chelsea - 28 shots, 10 on Target.
Brentford - 31 shots, 5 on Target
Everton - 23 shots, 6 on Target.
Man City - 27 shots, 8 on target.
Compared to our shots on target, there’s not a great difference in the matches bar the city game and the Chelsea game really: Everton 8 on target, Brentford 5 on target, Chelsea 5 on target, Liverpool 5 on target.
We certainly need to address this but I do think the media want to make it seem more damning that what it is. Liverpool conceded with our first attempt on goal on Sunday! But that statement makes it appear worse than actually the context of how it happened.
3.) 09 Apr 2024 10:45:30
Good post ports.
The epl is the quickest in the world particularly when moving the ball forward.
The amount of turnovers we concede is huge and allows teams into our final 3rd a lot more because of our inability to keep the ball.
Again epl nature is that most teams try to score or get a shot away as quickly as possible when is possession.
We give possession away so cheaply and consistently that it allows teams 'pot shots ' in a quick transition phase.
That's the reason in a nut shell imo.
Time and time again we lose possession and offer up half chances.
4.) 09 Apr 2024 11:01:04
So basically it's down to deliberate tactics and team selection from ETH?
5.) 09 Apr 2024 11:52:17
Ken, precisely that, we give away the ball so cheaply. Sometimes the opposition don't have to do anything.
I read that casemiro gave away the ball 16 times, I mean that's inexcusable.
Of course a different level, but I play CM in Sunday league, and I go made if I give it up once, but 16 at his level, Jesus. I don't mind giving the ball away up high as much when we are trying to do something but Case was giving the ball away do much in his own half.
Again, I know maguire had a good game defensively but on the ball, with no pressure he also was susceptible to giving the ball away. It just invites pressure. If we can cut that out, opposition chances will be less.
6.) 09 Apr 2024 13:04:37
In part its due to the tactical set up, and in part its due to a lack of personnel to play the tactics to an elite level.
The idea is that we have a in possession shape of a 3133. This should give us more passing options centrally, while also in theory making us strong defensively in central areas with the only space being wide. It allows for us to have more players further forward, which supports the implementation of a high press. Essentially football tactics is about creating numerical overloads.
Most teams in the EPL currently play in a 3223 type shape or variation of, with a box midfield made popular by De Zerbi. Essentially they have 5 players in the defensive half and 5 in the offensive half.
The 3133 should give us an extra player higher up the pitch giving us a numerical advantage and allowing us to control the game in the opposition half. This comes at a cost of having one less player in our defensive half. Which is why EtH wants to play a quick build up play out from the back with vertical passes to move the ball into the opponents half as quickly as possible where we should have the numerical advantage.
If you can get this system to work then we will be able to dominate games in this league as it would force the opposition to either change shape or to allow us to have control.
There are three reasons why this isn't working perfectly with our current team and what is leading to a lot of shots.
In the first instance our defenders lack pace and mobility so have a tendency to drop 10-15 yards deeper than they should be playing. This creates space in front of them that the midfield has to deal with.
For us the one midfielder we have shielding the defence is Casemiro, and there really isn't another player in our squad who has the skill set or understanding to play this role. Unfortunately he is in decline and no longer has the mobility, pace or stamina to cover this space on his own, especially when that space is made bigger by the defence dropping deeper.
So with a deeper defence and a declining CDM there is a lot of space for the opposition to attack in front of our defence. The more space there is to attack the more frequently the opposition can attack, which will inevitably lead to conceding more shots.
This defensive weaknesses has been exasperated by a forward line that while presses well, often makes poor decisions in possession leading to turning over the ball more often, giving the opposition the opportunity to attack that space in midfield with greater regularity.
This has been helped somewhat by playing Garnacho on the right as we are less predictable down that side now, as such we lose the ball less often down that flank. Ultimately we have too many players in attack who are looking to shoot rather than to create chances. That makes us to predictable, and when the opposition know what you will do it becomes easier to step in and win the ball back.
While Bruno is a chief culprit for losing the ball, he is also (until Garnacho started playing on the right) the only forward player who was looking to pass the ball rather than shoot all the time. Which means that if we drop him then we lose a lot of creativity and would probably score even less than we currently are.
What we are doing well though is that while we concede a lot of shots, they tend to be low chance shots either from distance or from a wide angle. While our defenders are poor at marking the space in behind them, they are very good at marking the space in front of them. Meaning that while the opposition regularly get to run at our defenders they rarely dribble past them. Meaning the shots tend to be low quality chances. which is why we might concede 26 shots in a game, but only 6 or 7 are on target. While the majority of those on target shots are ones the keeper can save without too much trouble.
The vast majority of the goals we concede actually come from set plays rather than open play. Where the chaos and decision making of our defenders is put under more scrutiny. We don't react quickly enough or we fail to pick up a player who finds a yard or so of space in a good position.
So while we concede a lot of shots from open play, they tend to be poor chances with very few goals actually conceded. If we can get better at defending set-plays then we would probably have a similar goals conceded record as the top three sides.
Our real issue this season has been less about goals conceded (only four teams have conceded less), and more about our in ability to score goals ourselves (8 sides BELOW us in the table have scored the same amount or more than us, as well as the 6 sides above us) .
Its an inability to create and score goals that is the major issue.
As to what we can do to fix it this season? Well there is nothing we can do defensively without changing shape, but then that would just create new problems.
This is the issue with our squad, there are no tactics that will negate all of our weaknesses and take advantage of our strengths. Whatever we change while negating one weakness will expose another. That is the problem with a poorly constructed squad, there are too many holes for a tactical set up to try and mitigate.
What I would look to do is drop Rashford and bring in Mount. For me Garncaho has to stay on the right hand side as that has been the only thing in attack this season that has worked. While Hojlund needs to continue at CF as he is the only option.
Bruno and Mount should be the other two as both are hard working creators who should be able to help us have more control and create better chances in the final third. This should also lead to us losing the ball as often meaning the defence gets worked less. Which should lead to less set plays conceded, which as said is how we concede the majority of our goals. I'm not sure if its better to play Mount LW and Bruno in the No.10 or the other way around. Mount has more experience playing wide, yet he is less likely to give away the ball. While Bruno losing the ball wide can actually lead to our pressing trigger to press when the opposition have the ball near the touchline. So I'd be tempted to try Bruno LW and Mount in the No.10 for a game or two and see how that works, if its not working then switch them.
For me that is the only really change we could make that might make a difference without totally changing the structure and tactics (which will only present new problems to solve) .
7.) 09 Apr 2024 15:21:07
Great explanation Shappy.
However, I'd make some different changes. I'd play Antony on the left wing and mount at no 10.
Id put Bruno on the bench and tell Rashford to find a new club.
8.) 09 Apr 2024 16:29:29
MancMan, I don't think Antony would be any good on the left unfortunately.
His problem is he is one-dimensional due to him being very one footed. On the right as a defender you know he will cut in on to his left foot. You just need to deny him that space. While on the left he will tend to try and go on the outside most of the time to also stay on his left foot. So you just deny him that space as a defender.
Also to go around the outside you need to have significantly more pace as its a longer route which you need to cover in less time than the shorter route the defender needs to take to cut you off. Antony has quick acceleration, but not great top end speed. Which makes it hard for him to sprint past defenders on the outside, as they can often catch him up.
He would be just as if not more ineffective on the left than he is on the right.
As for Bruno, while its frustrating watching him lose the ball as often as he does, I think if he had less responsibility to be the creative player due to other creative players being there to share the burden then he might give it away less. While adding a really good presser and hard worker like Mount in place of Rashford means that even when we do lose the ball in the final third we would be better able to win it back.
Like I said, its not a perfect solution, but its probably the best we have given the players we have available.
9.) 09 Apr 2024 16:55:38
Shappy, you see Anthony v Cucerella? He rinsed him on the outside every time. I think he’s quicker than you are giving him credit for. Yes it’s just one game but if the penny has dropped for him, I don’t think he’s as one dimensional as you think.
10.) 09 Apr 2024 17:28:13
Ports, by no means am I saying he's slow. But to regularly beat a fullback on the outside you have to be significantly quicker than them. Antony has great acceleration, but he doesn't have that elite top speed.
Cucurella isn't the quickest of full backs, and he kept making the same mistake of getting too tight to Antony. Which once Antony used his acceleration to get away from him he was never going to catch him.
Ultimately it doesn't really matter if Antony has or doesn't have the qualities to play on the left if he doesn't want to play there. He body language and demeanour showed he was not happy to be on the left, and unless that changes he will not be able to be successful playing in that position.
11.) 09 Apr 2024 20:11:40
But Shappy, utd need to work on getting service to Hojland and if Anthony is deprived of the option to cut inside and shoot then he has to change his focus.
Plus there's nothing to stop him coming inside and laying the ball off to a runner from midfield.
Thirdly, I'd like to see him play some games on the left just to see what it looks like
Also, if it pushes Rashford out the team then it's definitely a good idea.
Finally, it make him work on his right foot so he has the option of coming inside to take a shot.
23 Feb 2024 14:23:55
Hojlund injured for 2-3 weeks due to intensive training.
You've got to wonder whether intensive training is the right thing to be doing at this stage of the season.
1.) 23 Feb 2024 15:23:42
How do you know it’s due to intensive training?
2.) 23 Feb 2024 16:03:52
Ten hag said it.
3.) 23 Feb 2024 16:05:25
Eth said so.
4.) 23 Feb 2024 18:15:58
No problem with that. Pretty much 1 game per week for the rest of the season. A good time to improve the overall fitness of the squad for the long term. Injuries and niggles will happen while bodies adjust, it’s normal.
5.) 23 Feb 2024 19:43:57
He must be gutted. Just getting into a dream run as a striker.
It's not ideal but it gives someone else an opportunity to step up.
I'm not sure eth helps himself with some of his explanations.
6.) 24 Feb 2024 00:17:07
I can see the lad putting 100% into everything he does regardless of the training regime. He will train as he plays and that's not the coaches fault and a positive reflection on him. These things happen unfortunately.
7.) 24 Feb 2024 14:27:48
Eth said its a physical league and with training injuries happen. it happens guys. why is everyone looking to blame something. its part of football. some players are more durable some not, its their genetics dna whatever you want to call it.
Look at reece james, when healthy top top right back imo but can't seem to stay injury free. looks fit and strong but unfortunately always gets injured.
16 Nov 2022 09:30:11
Beckham doubles down; trousering £10 million to support the Qatari world cup followed by moves to sign CR37.
Stay classy Becks.
1.) 16 Nov 2022 10:10:18
Be fair mancman.
Getting ronaldo over to inter miami would be a great coup.
Unlikely I'd suggest at least this winter but it would be great for them and us.
No matter what we think of him he is still box office. The most would suit him at this stage of his career.
As for him promoting the wc i'm ok with that.
Players are playing in it coaches are coaching TV companies are televising it sponsors are sponsoring. Life goes on.
You don't have to condone their human rights record to work there.
I'd also be surprised if it is a fee as low as 10m tbh.
2.) 16 Nov 2022 15:37:27
Ken, you employ people and I don't but do you really want toxic narcissists like CR37 in your workplace representing your company? Maybe they have a role but they don't reflect well on the organisation. Also, I'm not sure Ronwho? is box office any more; he's just a sad has been.
On the second point; condoning Qatar's human rights record is exactly what Beckham is doing. Simple as that.
It amazes me that people with the sort of money that Beckham or Ronaldo have feel the need to behave so shoddily for the sake of a few extra quid.
What Beckham and Ronaldo have chosen to do because of the money and their egos has trashed their reputations and standing. Is it really worth it when you already have $450 million (Beckham) and $500 million (Ronwho? )?
3.) 16 Nov 2022 16:35:31
Trump gets a lot of media attention too. So does Putin. I could do without both. and Reinaldo too. All of them are narcissists with destructive egos, and I for one, would be happy for them all to slip quietly away (along with Harry and Meghan) .
4.) 16 Nov 2022 17:00:43
Mancman.
So all the players playing in wc are guilty if condoning their human rights record. All the TV companies all the sponsors all the fans? Your being ridiculous imo.
Do you put their petrol in your car? Do you fly? Do you use any type of product derived from their resources?
Next time your on a flight going on holiday think about how your putting money in their coffers. At least becks is taking money off them not giving it to them indirectly.
But you put all that to the back of your mind because it would be very inconvenient for you to not use their products. But it's possible so do you practise what you preach?
5.) 16 Nov 2022 17:03:18
lol shawthing, i forgot about the other world class attention seekers; me-again and mr markle. what a pair of losers.
6.) 16 Nov 2022 19:10:39
Ken, since you ask the question; Yes! They are all complicit in that respect.
I don't have a choice as to where the petrol in my car comes from. If I did I would try to buy my petrol from a country which had a decent human rights record (although it's hard to actually think of one! ) . If I had a choice other than petrol such as eFuel then I would use it.
The players are entering a sporting competition and it's not their fault the location has been chosen simply because it paid the biggest bribes. Yes, they could make a statement by deciding not to participate but that's a heck of an ask of these young people who on the whole are just interested playing football.
It's a different matter when it comes to broadcasters and sponsors. These organisations have a choice and I would argue they actually do their brands harm by being associated with any world cup and the corruption that surrounds them (FIFA), never mind this one and the horrors perpetrated by the host dictators.
Then there is Beckham who is taking money from these vile people to try and make it look like Qatar and what they do is somehow normal and acceptable. And here you are suggesting that is all OK when it is definitely not.
7.) 16 Nov 2022 19:55:50
Mancman.
Beckham reputation is not thrashed at all. You might think so but he has lost no followers no sponsors and no money by advertorial this role. Your letting your emotions dictate your thought process.
Ronaldos rep maybe for the moment under pressure but all this will be yesterday's news in no time and if he scores goals and did well at inter he will be revered.
Yes I employ people and yes I would employ Beckham in the morning or approach him to help one of my brands. (I could not afford him)
Hiring ronaldo next will be a good move depending on who you are and I think it would be a great move for inter.
There is little room in business for emotion.
Numbers do the talking and the numbers ronaldo would bring to miami are to big to ignore.
Yes you would do a risk assessment and look at context etc but I think he would be a great signing for inter.
I would never let my emotions dictate business decisions.
8.) 16 Nov 2022 20:40:27
Mancman I'm not suggesting they're human rights record is OK so let's be clear on that.
But I am suggesting it's OK to work there and do business there and to have friends from there.
I know a gay people who do business there.
9.) 17 Nov 2022 08:45:14
There's perhaps a difference Ken between who Beckham is doing business with and perhaps who you might be doing business with.
On the one hand I expect you do business with your Qatari peers or non Qataris who live in Qatar and are all perfectly respectable decent human beings as I am sure you are.
Beckham on the other hand is receiving money to promote a despotic regime of slavers who commit human rights abuses.
You see the difference right?
If Beckham was representing Hitler or a child sex grooming gang would that be OK as far as you're concerned because it's just business and emotions shouldn't get in the way?
10.) 17 Nov 2022 12:08:10
No he is not manman he is being paid to promote a football tournament in quasar not to promote any individual or family.
Get your facts right.
Do you know who is paying him?
You've no idea don't jump to conclusions just to back up your ridicules argument.
When Beckham promotes an individual and tries to justify their human rights record let me know mancman.
11.) 17 Nov 2022 15:13:58
Ken, I think you re splitting hairs and being rather disingenuous.
You know as well as I do that hosting/ bank rolling the world cup and other sporting tournaments plus owning football clubs is an attempt at sportwashing.
You know perfectly well that regimes such as Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia use sportwashing to try and make themselves acceptable to the rest of the world in an attempt to distract and cover up the appalling activities they carry out to maintain power including slavery and genocide.
Beckham is taking money from the Qatari Government to help with exactly this process. He is being paid to pretend that Qatar is a modern, progressive society when we all know it is very much the opposite.
You don't need me to explain this to you, you know it already so I don't understand why you are pretending to be so naive by suggesting he is "just promoting a football tournament".
12.) 18 Nov 2022 13:47:33
I don't believe that that's their objective manman when buying into football clubs.
They are not trying to improve or hide their way of running the country or countries.
If you think that's their objective I feel your mistaken.
If they wanted people to believe they were more inclusive and progressive then they need to change their laws not buy football clubs or host tournaments.
You can see by the drink ban today that they are not for bending on that so it's not a problem exercise at all.
Your mad If you think that's their objective.
Have you ever been there?
08 Aug 2022 11:47:40
After yesterday I am now starting to think that Utd are more a mid table team at best rather than top four or top six.
Traditionally they have spent lots of money on players but I don't think those levels of funds are available anymore.
Utd need to start thinking like a mid table team and recruit accordingly. They need to stop fantasising about players like FdJ for mega money because the whole squad needs replacing and Utd can't afford to pay top dollar for every new player. Plus as they are finding with FdJ, these top level players don't want to come to Utd and why would they? FdJ won't move to Wolves or Villa so why on earth do Utd think he wants to join them?
Utd now need to get creative and start thinking like clubs such as Brighton and Southampton for their recruitment. Even Newcastle with new cash have been very astute with their additions so far in this window.
If Utd are going to get to the top again it's going to be a long climb. The first step is to improve on what there is. The perfect is the enemy of the good enough and unfortunately the pursuit of FDJ is really getting in the way of signing two new midfielders who are good enough to massively improve Utd's midfield straightaway. They might not be the players required to compete at the very top level but I believe Utd can bring in some players who will do an excellent job for a few seasons. The same is true all over the pitch.
Having said this, Utd have to be smart as well as creative which means more players like Erikson rather than Arnautovic. These gems are out there but finding and acquiring them requires the right structures for scouting and then negotiating the purchase. More importantly it requires a more humble and realistic attitude as to where the club is at and what it needs right now.
If Utd don't make any real changes before the end of the transfer window then I estimate they will finish somewhere between 10th and 13th because there are at least 10 better teams/ squads in the division.
1.) 08 Aug 2022 12:13:04
We got beat by a team that lost their 2 best players so effectively fielded a weaker team than the one that beat us 4-0. there are more than 10 team better than us.
If this is it for incomings, and we now rely on players no one else wants, a top half finish looks like a pipe dream.
2.) 08 Aug 2022 12:40:31
Are funds limited?
We've spent best part of 70m on Martinez and Malacia. Given Eriksen a well paid contract.
We have an offer of £64-72m accepted by Barcelona for Frankie De Jong, if that deal goes through we will have spent over 140m.
While we reportedly offered 60m for Antony from Ajax which was rejected, but again if that deal was accepted that could have potentially taken our summer spending to around 200m mark.
I think the money is there to spend on the right players, but the club are trying to learn from past mistakes and refuse to over pay for the wrong players/ our 3rd,4th or 5th choice.
3.) 08 Aug 2022 13:10:28
I think the board has belatedly recognized the depths to which we have sunk under Woodward's misguided leadership and are now in the process of dealing with that reality, which is to say the dilution of the club's financial strength. We have very little value in the squad itself, an elevated debt, no champions league football, and one 37 year old marquee clickbait player who no one else wants. If things don't improve the most lucrative sponsorship deals will go elsewhere as the best players and managers have already done.
The signs have been there since before SAF retired. The spat with Rooney when he put in a transfer request when he realized the club's lack of ambition in the transfer market. the "no value" excuse. He was bribed out of moving. The need to overpay to get any top players to join us, and then the surprise when these reluctant mercenaries failed to impress. And why did they jump at the chance of hiring OGS? Because the job was regarded as toxic and no top manager wanted it. His brief period of success was jumped upon despite having said he was just a caretaker.
So, how as businessmen do they move forward? Basically what they have done: hire a manager who can maximize potential and instill a system and discipline while cutting the fat out of the payroll, intending to restore profitability at mid table level. The owners have taken a lot of hits recently. C.V. No ECL. And, ironically - something we all most likely opposed - the failure to move the European Super League forward. It would have provided United with guaranteed participation at the top table and the income that comes with it.
Yesterday's performance was dire, particularly the first half capitulation. But there were a couple of signs of potential. At least Rashford got into scoring position a couple of times. Eriksen provided some accuracy and threat. Despite the size differentials - Malacia marking Dunk was comical - we did not concede against any set pieces. We're not going to be champions. Top 4 looks beyond us. We're not splashing out on top players who don't want to come to us anyway. There will be no ground improvements. The best we can hope for is a setting of the table for the future. or a white knight.
4.) 08 Aug 2022 13:54:55
weve spent about 50 million net shappy. you expect not to spend much if you have just won the title but we finished on our lowest ever total, our worst ever season in prem history
saved over a million a week on wages.
more sales will most likely happen and if Ronaldo goes that's another massive chunk of money saved
but never mind ay we have had bids rejected for players knowing the fee was well below there asking price
getting a fee accepted for a player that doesn't want to join, its all very clever by the powers at be, they can swing the "we tried to sign players" quote.
5.) 08 Aug 2022 14:05:21
The proof is in the pudding of what we’ve actually spent. We’ve invested in Martinez and Malacia which has been offset slightly by sales. That’s it.
Judging by the calibre of player we are looking at, I insist that there are limited funds available. The club has been bled dry by the Glazers.
Please buy these idiots out Mr Ratcliffe.
6.) 08 Aug 2022 14:52:48
Shappy, of course funds are limited. Why do think Utd have tried to sign a striker for £10 million and not £50 million.
Utd need 20 new players. They can't spend £50 million on each one.
Time to get creative and unearth some bargains.
7.) 08 Aug 2022 18:06:34
Funds are only limited because we have blown so much on trash. United will earn big piles more money though and sadly I am not confident we don't blow that too.
United aren't a Mid Table club at all. They are a massive club being run extremely badly thus ending up mid table in terms of results.
United will keep wasting huge amounts of money, more than teams above them until they luck upon a good DoF and Manager combination at which point they might begin to sort things out.
United are right where we deserve to be at the moment but it's not lack of funds that put us there, it's spending those funds on dross.
8.) 08 Aug 2022 18:11:54
I also meant to add that we have have become extremely unattractive to players due to the aforementioned incompetence.
19 Jul 2022 16:23:18
Whats' you're views on booing players? I'm all for it for lazy so and sos like Pogba because they need to be told.
I'm dead against it with players such as Fellaini and Maguire who try hard but aren't good enough.
1.) 19 Jul 2022 17:06:45
You shouldn't boo any player for your own team ever you can dislike them not like their performance but were called supporters for a reason.
2.) 19 Jul 2022 17:15:35
Why would you support someone who doesn’t want to put the effort in, who can’t be arsed and isn’t giving everything?
3.) 19 Jul 2022 18:29:11
I think it's pretty shocking to be honest. Don't get it at all. If he's done something out of order and is in the spotlight (Zouma, for example) I could completely get it. But Utd fans booing one of their own because they don't deem him good enough, which seems to be the only explanation? He was overpriced, and isn't good enough to be our captain, but the manager seems happy enough and he's the best judge right now.
4.) 19 Jul 2022 18:35:42
I personally wouldn't do it, but I have no problem with others doing it. Each to their own.
5.) 19 Jul 2022 18:40:27
Because you support the club, not a player. You support your team have your opinion but we are supportors we support and encourage our team its that damn simple.
Biggest reason we have such lazy selfish players now is because we have "fans" of players, who only see the good the highlight reels, the off field dramatics, meaning sponsors aren't after the best player just the biggest star.
Rather than having supporters of teams who support their team no matter what and encourage their players to do better for the team and play better for the team.
6.) 19 Jul 2022 19:26:06
Doesn't bother me either way to be honest. You only need to look in here to see how diverse fan opinions are.
7.) 19 Jul 2022 19:44:55
It's definitely not ok to boo our own players. They are human beings. Some of them may be going through personal difficulties. We're fans. We should support them, and that includes if they are playing terribly. In fact I would say that it is exactly when they are playing terribly that it matters the most. I have a big problem with people doing it. By all means get on here and air it out. That's what forums are great for. But to do it in person is never ok.
8.) 19 Jul 2022 20:41:58
Don if people didn't boo and stand up for the club over transient employees like pogba or ole who dragged standards and expectations well below minimum requirement we would still be having to put up with it.
It's OK to boo people if they don't represent us as fans and it's OK to boo them if they are falling below our beliefs and expectations on how employees should represent the club.
I'm not a fan of any transient employee of the club in a fan of the club.
Players who earn my respect as a fan will get all the support they earn. I agree that this is a better place to vent emotional frustrations but a manager like ole was not boo'd early enough and ended up taking the club for millions and as fans nobody bats an eye when him and his coaching team cost more than the glazers dividend.
9.) 19 Jul 2022 21:36:26
Fans in the ground shouldn’t boo their own, there were times in the Stretford End last season where it was cringe worthy. We are there to support and create an atmosphere that’s an advantage for US, not the opposition.
In relation to booing players who don’t try etc etc…. we shouldn’t have to boo if the management were doing their jobs properly and in full control of the club. Hopefully we’ve got that right now.
10.) 20 Jul 2022 07:17:09
Didn't see the game but read he for booed every touch for first half hour. It seems as if EtH is going to be playing Harry this year though, so we need the best version of HM there is.
I wouldn't be booing him and certainly wouldn't be getting on one of our players back like that from kick off. I don't think it helps the team in any way to get a result which at every game is actually what I want.
11.) 20 Jul 2022 07:38:42
Ken you're one of the most level headed lads here so I'm genuinely surprised you take that viewpoint. In any walk of life people will sometimes not do as well as others want, but showing support can change things. It is simply ludicrous to suggest that the sound of boos is the metric by which a club should judge satisfaction with performance.
12.) 20 Jul 2022 17:28:28
Thanks Don.
I'm afraid that we differ slightly on this one but only slightly.
I believe that a player or anybody as you say when going through a tough time needs to be shown empathy and support but that caveat to that is they must be deserving of our respect and empathy and support.
A player, and we have had many over the last 10 years that is giving his all and is not up to standard then I would not be in favour of him being ridiculed in any way.
But if a player is a cheat and then cheats again and then again. If a player publicly shames the club and allows his agent (rip) to do so without a word in the clubs defence. Then the decision makers should be made aware and the player should be made aware that he does not represent us as fans and booing like it or not is a way of fans telling the club and player you've lost us and our respect.
14 Apr 2024 18:58:37
You would think after 2 years at the club he should be able to remember where the dressing room is.
Perhaps this explains why he keeps picking Rashford. He keeps forgetting how bloody awful he was in the previous game.
09 Apr 2024 09:16:14
Steve Holland.
07 Apr 2024 21:27:53
Mmm ed0025, that sounds like another club we know.
{Ed025's Note - that will change when you get a DOF MM..
07 Apr 2024 14:02:17
Im not saying he is a bad coach ed025 and i can understand him wanting a rest, but it's over a year since he was sacked by Chelsea and you'd think he would be back in the saddle by now both to show that Chelsea was an aboration and to put himself in contention for another top job.
He certainly had something to prove so the idea that he just walks straight into the Utd job is ridiculous.
{Ed025's Note - to be fair to him MM I don’t think he stood a chance at Chelsea mate. He probably got players he didn’t even want and ended up with a bunch of individuals who have got no team ethic..
07 Apr 2024 09:32:29
Another worrying thing about Potter is he hasn't worked since leaving Chelsea.
You would have thought that he would have taken another job to re-establish himself and his credentials.
Going from complete failure at Chelsea to somehow the saviour of Man Utd just isn't credible.
{Ed025's Note - he may be just taking time out to recharge the old batteries MM?, i think he is a top coach myself mate..
15 Apr 2024 12:01:06
I forgot to include Shaw although his injuries are becoming concerning.
15 Apr 2024 11:20:02
Funny how we all disagree on certain players. For now I'd keep the following. The rest can all do one as far as I'm concerned:
Onana
Bayindir
Dalot
Kambwala (send on loan)
Martinez
Mount
Mainoo
Garnacho
Hoijland.
12 Apr 2024 12:41:19
What's that spenno? Give the ball away and whinge another ref?
11 Apr 2024 18:44:46
No chance of that Ken, it requires a bit of effort.
10 Apr 2024 18:10:22
Definitely get rid of most of the squad.
But ETH has to adapt his tactics to suit the reality of what he has available.