Manchester United Rumours Member Posts
Rjmanutd's Profile
Current Avatar:
Rjmanutd's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To Rjmanutd's Posts
To Rjmanutd's last 5 rumours posts
To Rjmanutd's last 5 banter posts
To Rjmanutd's last 5 rumour replies
To Rjmanutd's last 5 banter replies
Rjmanutd's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Rjmanutd's rumours posts
31 Aug 2023 18:53:32
Hi Ed, hope you are well? Good luck ahead of the deadline day barrage of questions. Thought I'd ask this one early.
With United looking relatively likely to have Bayindir, Reguilon and Amrabat deals in the works over the next 24 hours, I'm guessing there's next to no chance of another forward coming in as well?
{Ed002's Note - Ok.}
1.) 31 Aug 2023 20:48:25
Such a tease isn't he RJ?
Question is who? ?.
2.) 31 Aug 2023 20:56:24
Matty smith from Salford. ?.
3.) 31 Aug 2023 20:56:57
It’s me, I am within MU financial parameters and willing to accept the wages.
4.) 31 Aug 2023 20:59:43
If its someone off the original list then I think it's only Jonathan David left!
5.) 31 Aug 2023 21:24:59
Amrabat ain't coming the clowns have royally messed that up. if united can't even compete with Fulham there's no hope.
6.) 31 Aug 2023 21:37:11
I doubt it'll materialise. We will end up being forced to pile funds into another target like Amrabat, due to rival interest and then miss out of a forward.
7.) 31 Aug 2023 22:11:52
East stand,
Let’s not believe everything bad and not believe anything good, Amrabat wants to sign for us, the deal should hopefully get done tomorrow.
8.) 31 Aug 2023 23:47:28
I still have a feeling we could be in for Felix.
9.) 01 Sep 2023 00:23:35
A Rabat was always only as a replacement for van de beek and no one is willing to over a good enough offer for vdb. Most journalists have said the Amrabat interest has been over stated and it looks like it's his agent that has promised him things that can't be delivered.
10.) 01 Sep 2023 09:50:28
I think Amrabat will sign today no matter who we sell. Might be a loan with buy option.
11.) 01 Sep 2023 13:40:34
All done, great news.
16 Jun 2023 16:09:28
Hi Ed, hope you are enjoying the fantastic weather?
Appreciate you don't want to provide blow by blow accounts and this sort of is that so understandable if you don't want to answer.
You've said previously we've looked at Caicedo and that interest remains, do you see United looking to bid for him soon or is it expected he's going to join Chelsea?
Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - Moises Caicedo (DM/CM) Arsenal have enquired after his availability and been told he is not for sale. Prior interest of Manchester United, dating back before he joined Brighton, remains. Liverpool have not made any approach to Brighton although they may have an interest in taking the player. West Ham and Newcastle have an interest - but with the departure of Potter Chelsea will take their interest to Kone and Ugarte but will return if they cannot both be signed - don't lose sight of them as they won't be signing either and are looking for two DM/CM players. A representative of the player says Brighton will demand a very significant fee after the player signed a new contract. Expect Arsenal to return in the summer - but I expect MU to focus on other players. Player wants to move to Real Madrid but they have no interest.}
1.) 17 Jun 2023 11:24:28
Caicedo would be my dream midfield signing, he has everything and a ridiculously high ceiling. Could come in and play alongside Casemiro in big games where we need to lock down the midfield, or rotate around with him and as the No.6. keeping them both fresh across a busy season.
If we got Mount as well then we'd have in my opinion one of the strongest midfield selections in the league (Casemiro, Caicedo, Eriksen, Mount and Bruno) . Three to start with two on the bench to come on if/ when needed. Suddenly we'd have depth in midfield to challenge for major honours.
2.) 17 Jun 2023 16:00:53
Gotta agree. Caicedo would be brilliant. So would Rice. But can’t see past a window of Hojlund, Rabiot, Mount and maybe a CB and a GK. could have been so much more if the take over had been sorted in time.
Struggle for top4 again next season is on the cards.
3.) 17 Jun 2023 17:17:30
Ed can we gt a quick run down of targets for this summer pls.
{Ed002's Note - I don’t think I have failed to mention anybody so far.}
03 Mar 2023 11:28:01
Hi Ed, hope you are well? Appreciate it's a bit early for summer transfers and there will be a lot of things up in the air with the takeover talks, however, do you expect United to try to sign Sabitzer and Weghorst permanently?
From the outside, they seem like they'd be available at decent fees and both have made good contributions to the run of form we are currently on.
{Ed002's Note - Marcel Sabitzer (CM) If all goes to plan, Manchester United will look to have the player join on a permanent basis. His agent has also been approached by Juventus.
Wout Weghorst (S) Burnley will not want to sell but the player may force an exit. Manchester United have clear targets to add a striker in the summer which would make any move for WW doubtful.}
1.) 03 Mar 2023 13:40:02
Cheers Ed, happy to see Sabitzer as a likely addition in the summer, very solid option for our squad.
2.) 03 Mar 2023 17:24:12
Is ramoa still our number one target for strikers position.
3.) 03 Mar 2023 16:26:30
Hi Ed, is Sabitzer expected to be made permanent as its likely McTominay would be made available?
{Ed002's Note - RTP.}
4.) 04 Mar 2023 04:12:02
Thanks for the info Ed, do you think united would be looking to another midfielder after that this summer? Or will other positions take more priority.
10 Jan 2023 09:32:46
Morning Ed, hope you are well? Is there any interest in Anthony Martial for the summer? I remember there was interest from Italy a year or two ago, might have been Inter?
You'd have to think there's a good chance we will try to move him on if we sign a starting striker in the summer like Kane, Osimhen, Ramos or Lautaro.
Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - Anthony Martial (W) Has to go but there is no clear interest.}
1.) 10 Jan 2023 10:50:54
I hope to god that there is no one year option on his contract. i'd imagine Martial will leave on a free at the end of his contract.
2.) 10 Jan 2023 18:52:22
I'm shocked there is little interest in a player who is on 250k per week and hasn't played well in 8 years and constantly keeps the medical staff busy. Real head scratcher that one ???♂️?.
29 Nov 2022 18:45:46
Hi Ed, hope you are well and enjoying the World Cup?
Quick question about two players who have been heavily linked to United in recent weeks, Diogo Costa and Jeremie Frimpong. Both are apparently summer targets but there's talk we've already started speaking with their clubs.
Is this true and is there any interest in them?
Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - Diogo Costa (G) Manchester United need to make a decision over their goalkeepers moving forward, and if they decide not to extend De Gea or to replace him with Dean Henderson, they will be looking for a first choice replacement. Costa is a player they have been looking at, but so have Spurs, Chelsea and Roma. Porto will resist a sale.
Jeremie Frimpong (RB/RWB/LB) Bayer Leverkusen would not be open to offers unless someone is paying over the odds. Being versatile has made him attractive to Chelsea. 10 years at Manchester City might be against a move to Manchester United, but they have looked.}
1.) 01 Dec 2022 11:04:42
I’d not be surprised if we made a bid for Max Aarons this window. Think his contract is up and Norwich May wish to cash in.
2.) 01 Dec 2022 12:32:17
Personally rather give laird a chance than Aaron’s.
3.) 01 Dec 2022 12:58:05
May well happen Caolan. If the Club is up for sale I can’t see the owners sanctioning too much spending.
Rjmanutd's banter posts with other poster's replies to Rjmanutd's banter posts
24 Jun 2023 20:18:54
Looks like we've shifted targets and now we're looking at Caicedo. Strange to go from Mount to Caicedo considering they play totally different positions. Still Caicedo is a very good player.
Maybe we have a look at bringing back Sabitzer as well as Caicedo to give us a more attack minded option? Probably looking at 70m plus for Caicedo, Sabitzer I'd guess would be around 20m or so?
1.) 24 Jun 2023 21:07:37
I can't really see the logic in not being in for caicedo in the first place, his age profile combined with his immense defensive and technical ability is clear for all to see.
Everytime we play Brighton he is one of the best players on the pitch.
The only reason I can assume is that we missed out on him for such a small fee from Independiente Del Valle and can't stomach paying such a big fee for him.
2.) 24 Jun 2023 21:39:15
Dont see the 2 being linked. Its like since we are in for Onana, we must have moved on from Mount. Both Caicedo and Mount play different positions if i am not mistaken. Its more likely that we have Mount in the bag and now we shift focus to Caicedo.
3.) 24 Jun 2023 21:41:52
In my opinion Caicedo is the player we should have been after in the first place. I think we need more steel in midfield especially away from home and Caicedo would form a formidable midfield pivot with Casemiro.
To be honest I’ll believe it when I see it. Arsenal had a bid of £70m rejected in the winter so he’ll be considerably more expensive than Mount. It doesn’t make much sense that we’d now move for a more expensive player. Maybe a shot across Chelsea’s bow linking us to a player their interested in but we’ll never win that battle anyway.
I’d love Caicedo, I hope it’s true but if Utd have moved away from Mount I think they’ll be looking at cheaper options.
It’s frustrating that having worked on a deal for over a month, with the player keen to move and in the last year of their contract they can’t get it done but if it means we now get Caicedo I’d be over the moon. After missing out on Rabiot last summer we got Casemiro so miracles can happen.
4.) 24 Jun 2023 22:54:35
I won’t believe anything until I see a club official giving a statement re any player making a statement. Otherwise, clickbait.
5.) 24 Jun 2023 23:30:35
Caicedo is more 80-100m mark which is Rice territory, and the club apparently won’t sanction a move for him so don’t see Caicedo as possible.
6.) 24 Jun 2023 23:38:08
If it’s a choice between us and Chelsea he chooses us every time as he’s already stated Utd is his dream club.
7.) 25 Jun 2023 10:02:41
People think its weird, but I see similarities to failing to sign FDJ and then switching it up and go for Casemiro.
8.) 25 Jun 2023 10:16:35
Would absolutely love us to sign Caicedo.
Casemiro, Caicedo, Bruno is a far better all-round midfield than Casemiro, Mount, Bruno would be.
Onana, Caicedo, a centre forward and a centre half would be the perfect summer, but we need to get selling the deadwood to boost the transfer kitty ASAP.
9.) 25 Jun 2023 11:09:38
Brighton looking for at least 75 mill so i'm sure we are getting ready to submit our 52 mill + 3 mill add on any day now.
10.) 25 Jun 2023 12:58:03
We need to be signing the player Brighton will buy for £10m when they spend their Caicedo money!
{Ed002's Note - Too late - they have their replacement already.}
11.) 25 Jun 2023 13:43:51
Didn't we have the chance to sign Caicedo for something like 4 or 5 million a couple of years ago?
When you look at some of the gambles on younger players we've taken in the last few seasons like Amad, Dan James, Pellistri, Dalot etc, we could have signed this guy for cheaper than any of them.
12.) 25 Jun 2023 13:53:03
I think we tend to look at some players as not good enough or ready to play for us where other pl teams think they are and give them plenty of time to play. on a look back basis it turns out our assessment was wrong in some cases and they go on to be pretty good players.
I was told we have one of the most expensive and wide scouting networks and have hundreds/ thousands of players we track or look at and that's why we get linked to so many.
Brighton having secured a replacement for Calcedo as ed002 says does not surprise me. The ed woodward era brought in a bunch of incompetent, incoherent transfer business and it will take some time to change that.
13.) 25 Jun 2023 18:05:14
Ahmad, the thing is players like Caicedo have flourished at Brighton and made himself a real top class EPL player.
Yet there is no telling whether the same would have happened had he joined United at that time.
It's a totally different environment and pressure to play for Brighton than it is for Manchester United.
Harder to break into the team, far more scrutiny, far less patience, less chances to make mistakes and grow from them, and far more pressure to perform.
Some young and inexperienced players take to it like a duck to water others need to earn their stripes at the next rung down and build themselves up to it.
Hindsight is 20/ 20 after all.
14.) 25 Jun 2023 18:19:26
Both Caicedo and Mount would be nice.
15.) 26 Jun 2023 06:56:46
Shappy
Kind of saying the same thing. There seems to be a higher bar whether right or wrong in terms who is good enough for United and along the way we miss out on some bargains but also avoid a lot of overhyped players.
What we need to change is overpaying for players which has made it difficult to move on once they are at the club.
I am all for walking away from the mount deal. The numbers no longer make any sense and its not a matter of what's another 5 to 10 million pounds, its the principle of having the discipline to stick to a budget and valuation which I assume a lot of work goes into.
If it takes another window or two to get there properly so be it but this overcharging of United whenever we knock on someone's door has to stop.
16.) 26 Jun 2023 07:00:16
We can bang on till we are blue in the face about who is the best buy but we will go nowhere fast with very little budget. And unless the Sheik comes in and ousts the leeches we are, and will continue to be, on the back foot.
More worrying for me, unless its happening without any real exposure, is that nobody seems to have come in for any of our players with any conviction.
Poor signings have left us with commodities nobody wants. Not even Greenwood who is surely ripe for picking has attracted any interest.
I fear a poor window, when I initially was buoyed by takeover talks.
Sigh!
17.) 26 Jun 2023 07:17:50
Keefy
I fear none of that and we will have a good window. The biggest signing for me is having greenwood back. comparative to the players out there and the numbers being thrown around he is by far better if he comes back somewhere close to his old form. His old form and what people are asking for current players he is worth over 100 mill. I realize there is luggage with him.
if we want to loan him out there will be plenty of takers and interest.
Some of the other I agree in terms of moving them will not be easy given age, wage and form and we will take big losses on some of them.
18.) 26 Jun 2023 08:49:59
Mount and Caicedo are completely different players, I don't think it's as black and white as one midfielder not working out and moving onto the next.
That being said. I still expect us to get Mount early this week. I get that a striker is seen as the critical area but the weak midfield and need to play either/ or McFred has been slated on here week after week. Sure there are priorities but let's face it, arguably most positions need attention.
19.) 26 Jun 2023 09:27:27
Both players would have a role/ position if we had the money to bring them in which in all reality we do not. Similar to the FdJ/ Cassimero situation last year it could be that we have money for one midfielder and the second that EtH wants will be a free or young/ cheap.
If it is Mount then I can see us looking at Rabiot on free, if it is Caicedo then we will likely look at a more attack minded player on the cheap.
I am sure all options are possible but the likely one for me remains Mount to us, Caicedo to Chelsea.
20.) 28 Jun 2023 16:49:44
Ahmad…. I can’t get on board with your notion that having Greenwood back is the best thing since sliced bread, which is what you are implying. My fear is that he will return because of the financial restraints. However, we all know what we heard, he should have been out the door way before now.
Shappy and others make good points regarding the differences between us and someone like Brighton. It’s simply down to expectation. At United you can’t afford to fail or carry passengers, the expectation of that top 4 is too great. Players have to basically hit the ground running or they are under pressure straightaway. With all respect to Brighton you can afford to have a few shockers there and still be trusted for the following week or rest of the season.
21 Apr 2023 08:01:49
Last night's performance was like the greatest hits of our player errors from the last few seasons. Maguire costing us easily avoidable goals as he has for years, De Gea with a couple of Sunday league clangers, Martial facing slight adversity so he of course gets injured immediately. Sancho looked lost, our midfield looked pedestrian and played well below their usual standard.
We have played that badly with the likes of Martinez, Varane, Bruno etc in the side as well so it's not just a personnel issue even though we clearly need to upgrade in a few positions. The squad have this ability to completely crumble at times and it generally comes out of the blue. We had played relatively well prior to losing 6-3 to City, 7-0 to Liverpool, 2-0 to Newcastle and last night. Ten Hag needs to find out what is causing this if we are to be successful in coming seasons.
While I completely back Ten Hag and think he has and is doing a great job, asking Maguire and De Gea to play out from the back is asking for trouble so he has to take some blame in this even though you can't legislate for daft mistakes. It is his style of play and I agree with the concept but we need to have the players to do it. Maguire and De Gea have shown over a number of years they are incapable of doing it without making too many errors. Not all of these cost goals but the amount of Maguire misplaced passes or De Gea miskicks meant this was always going to happen eventually. We need to go longer until the end of the season in my opinion.
1.) 21 Apr 2023 08:19:53
Rj
Agreed, ETH trying to play from the back with DDG and HM is verging on incompetent coaching. We lack a spine in more ways than one, GK, CB, CM and CF but also the attitude amongst circa half the team last night insulted the spirit of the club. Watching them fall apart like that is disgusting.
2.) 21 Apr 2023 08:38:45
There wasnt anything surprising about us last night, its something we observed many times and we all knew.
I have a different take slightly, i think Ten Hag has over achieved with this squad in spit o many many limitations.
It may well be an exoensively assembled squad but its been done rather poorly. Its goi g to take another 2 to 3 yesrs to properly sort out with 10 to 15 players needed to be replaced (some may come through academy) to have the starters and depth required to mount a proper challenge. This may sounf a lot but there are a number of positions were starters need upgrading and then how man positions in the squad do we have backup of sufficient ability to do a job to the required level or have a ypu gster coming through with the potential to one day start at the required standard.
There has been talk of being 2 or 3 players away but we aren't there at all. In the same way we now realise that Mourinho delivered with that team he got to second so Ten Hag is actually doing better than his squad is in terms of talent.
3.) 21 Apr 2023 08:49:17
Eth is trying but has simply not got the players to do it. Martial= scholes stated clearly it could be 6 months out or training tomorrow, maguire, asking for the ball costing a goal then shouting at ddg for not talking to him. DDg, why is it he either makes a worldie, but stays static if he even thinks he can't get to it? These 3 should be gone asap along with a few other pretenders last night, but didn't see that level of performance coming! . I thought we couldve gotten a result last nite, but if we play like that against brighton we will get trounced. Apart from "easier opposition" everton and forest, we haven't seen a game out comfortably since the liverpool drama; really need some big performances between now and the end of the season.
4.) 21 Apr 2023 08:59:36
Agreed Oak, I think we have overachieved this season. At no point have we blown anyone away or been particularly great to watch, IMO. No yet.
The less said about de Get the better last night - responsible for two of the goals, arguably three. Not sure what's going to happen there. I'll be surprised if he leaves.
So flat up front. Sancho still yet to show any of that Dortmund form. Martial injured in his second comeback game. Fair enough he probably shouldn't have started after being out so long but there weren't many options. Weghorst full of desire as usual but no end product.
Only bright spark I thought was Antony, taken me a while to warm to him but at least in the first half he was a box of tricks.
5.) 21 Apr 2023 09:30:47
There were 2 distinct reasons for our midfield being so weak yesterday - attack and defence.
Sancho and Martial are a terrible combination because they're both lazy. Then, on the rare occasions that either will venture into midfield, they don't know what to do. They don't run the channels like forwards should and, Sancho especially, never wants to pass when in the box.
The ineptitude in front of him led to Sabitzer pushing up, leaving Eriksen and Casemiro a little exposed.
Then, we must consider the defence.
Nobody in that midfield would have had faith in the combination of Lindelof, Maguire and AWB.
Additionally, Dalot was barely helped at all by that lazy fool ahead of him.
On top of all that, De Gea showed precisely why he does not deserve more money and should be replaced ASAP by a composed keeper who can read situations and actually play football.
He's an incredible shot-stopper, but he's an absolute liability with ball at feet.
Yesterday was a game of calamity, one that, at different stages, displayed particular mistakes akin to every other post-Fergie manager.
Don't get me wrong, Sevilla played well. Turned up, exposed us, beat us comfortably, and thoroughly deserve to go through.
United need a massive overhaul before they've a prayer of winning the big things.
Shambles.
6.) 21 Apr 2023 09:37:20
Redman, although I agree with you about playing out from the back with De Gea and Maguire, there has to be a longer vision for the development of the team and other players that will be in the squad further down the line.
The simple thing to do is say to De Gea to lace it every time the ball is played back to him and to Maguire just to kick and head the ball but this will not help long term as players like Dalot and Wan-Bissaka, Anthony, Casemiro, Fernandes, Eriksen, Rashford have to know their role in the style of Football that ETH wants to play and they would have been working on what happens when the CB gets it from the GK, where do they move etc. Route 1 football would probably cause us even more problems as we wouldn't be controlling the game like ETH is trying to implement.
The issue is we have been spoilt since we got that win v Liverpool at Old Trafford with the football we went on and played and won a cup and put ourselves in contention to win the UEFA cup and in a position to get to the final of the FA Cup as well as achieve top 4.
But unfortunately, games appear to be catching up on the squad and what is clear is that the quality of the squad is not at the level that our starting 11 is at and we can't afford for key players in key positions like Martinez at CB to be missing. But at the same time, looking forward to next season, we must persist with the style of football ETH wants and hope the owners, current or new back ETH to bring in the right players to play in the system he wants and the strength in depth comes in quality rather than quantity.
7.) 21 Apr 2023 12:26:28
It doesn't come out of the blue. It comes in noisy away games when the crowd get a bit loud. Lots of spineless players and total lack of leadership on the pitch without Fernandes, martinez and varane on the pitch.
We were told that Anfield couldn't happen again. But it has happened twice at newcastle and yesterday. More changes needed. Need players with heart and fight in them.
8.) 21 Apr 2023 13:32:47
ETH does not tell them to play out the back like that if you think he does your stupid! ETH will give players plenty of responsibility and last night he would have been livid at their decision making! Keep the ball and play as much as they can of course, if anyone thinks that first goal is on him then you’re on a different planet! Decision making I’d expect off a child goalkeeper!
9.) 21 Apr 2023 14:07:30
Maguire was calling for the ball, either he was just totally unaware that Sevilla had him surrounded and were ready to spring that trap, or he is a total idiot and believes he is Franz Beckenbaur good, he isnt.
Secondly De Gea has to see those players and not make that pass.
There is no way that any coach is telling them to do that, that is on the players, their awareness and their decision making and none of our current staff were the decisiin makers to buy thise two to play this style, and one of them has been relegated to 4th or 5th choice under this coaching staff. The other is our best choice of the current squaf to play that position. A man who has saved us many times this season but who aoso hampers us in other ways.
10.) 21 Apr 2023 16:06:51
I've been saying it for years - when the ball is at de Gea's feet he sends shivers down my spine. He is unauthoritive and indecisive once he can't use his hands. He should blitz it if unclear. Bizarrely a few big name GKs are unconvincing in these situations, Loris and Allison spring to mind.
20 Feb 2023 08:14:57
Another good win yesterday and we had the luxury of being able to rest a few players in the 2nd half.
I can't overstate just how good a job I think Ten Hag is doing. The standards he has set are night and day compared to previous managers. Most would be happy with the win and focus on all the positives yesterday, but Ten Hag is unwavering in his expectation that the players adhere to his instructions. Describing the first half as "rubbish" and being unhappy with the performance despite being a goal up shows how important performance is to Ten Hag, not just the result.
Another thing he has done which is good to see, is try to bring some versatility to our squad. We've seen Dalot at LB, Malacia at RB, Lindelof at CDM, Sancho as a 10, Weghorst as 10, Bruno out wide, Casemiro at CB and Shaw at CB. It gives us options both in game and if we have players missing. It may not be the most important thing he does but we are more flexible tactically than we have been in a long time.
Looking at the team yesterday and who we were missing / not starting, if we can add 3 top signings in the summer we will be a very good team next season.
Whoever the new owners are, they need to back Ten Hag as much as they possibly can.
20 Oct 2022 08:12:07
Yesterday's performance was the best I've seen from a United side in a very long time. Spurs are a good side and Conte is an excellent manager who sets his teams up to be solid defensively.
Despite the above, we played Spurs off the park, should have scored a few more and were rarely troubled. We've beaten bad teams like that in the recent past but never anyone more than half decent. Felt like the sort of performance Ten Hag wants from the side.
Bruno was in much better form, Dalot, Casemiro and Shaw were also outstanding. Not going to sit and pick holes, if you can't be happy with that performance based on some of the guff we've produced in the last couple of years then I don't know what to say to you.
1.) 20 Oct 2022 08:26:15
Thought we were excellent throughout whole game; now to sustain it.
Thought Fred, Casameiro and Bruno particularly impressive as well as the whole defensive back 5, especially Martinez.
Ronaldo did himself no favours.
2.) 20 Oct 2022 08:30:14
Best performance under EtH by a long way. Yet the headlines are all about Ronaldo having a sulk, taking the gloss off the night.
3.) 20 Oct 2022 09:02:48
Best game in nigh on a decade! However I do wish Bruno would stop being a nob. He proved last night that he's a player so please stop gobbing off, whingeing and lobbing yourself to the floor in agony.
4.) 20 Oct 2022 09:08:28
Send ronaldo home and don’t bring him back.
He wants to leave, him and his agent need to find a move, not the club. He’s well paid and hasn’t delivered this year despite numerous chances. Get him away from that group, give McNeill a spot on the bench and plan for the future of the club, rather than pandering to a petulant child.
5.) 20 Oct 2022 09:17:59
Belting performance from the whole team from front to back.
Bruno looked like the Bruno from the first 18 months.
Kept it simple and when that killer pass was on he took it.
Never stopped running and tackling and scored an absolute beauty.
Casameiro was brilliant, never gets flustered, always stays calm and finds a pass. He put a real shift in last night.
Fred never stopped all game, harassing and closing down from the word go.
The two full back were excellent going forward and defensively.
The two centre backs were solid, Martinez did a great job marking Kane out of the game.
Special mention to Rashford who isn't my favourite player at the moment but i thought he was excellent last night.
Pressed from the front and made some great runs. The only thing he didn't do was score a goal which would of put the icing on the cake.
The only downside on last night was mardi arse walking down the tunnel before full time. What an absolute attention seeking baby that man is! The sooner we get shut of him the better.
That's the most enjoyable United game i have watched in a long time. let's hope we get that level of performance on Saturday against Chelsea.
6.) 20 Oct 2022 09:26:57
He'll know all the cameras were on him alright, probably choosing his moment to leave just before the whistle. Or maybe he just wanted to avoid the hustle after the game. Who knows, but it seems off.
He should be allowed to leave in Jan, but we're very light up top in that scenario, with only Rash and Martial, two players with dubious injury histories. Maybe we can bring someone in in Jan, probably on loan to to cover ourselves. Be a nightmare going into crunch top 4 fixtures or later Europa games with only one or two options up front and a shame to lose out just because we didn't cover ourselves. Fortunately I think Erik knows all that better than anyone.
7.) 20 Oct 2022 09:30:34
It was without a doubt our best performance and we were excellent.
However, I'm not convinced Spurs are a great side. They've beaten Southampton, Wolves, Forest, Fulham, Leicester, Everton and Brighton.
Drew with Chelsea (before Potter took over, when things were going south for Tuchel) and West Ham.
Lost to Arsenal and United.
Brighton (8th) are the highest placed team they have beaten, in a narrow and lucky 1-0 win. Brighton literally played them off the park, having more of the ball, more shots, better passing. If Brighton had a decent striker they'd have beaten Spurs comfortably.
I don't think Spurs have the players to play the way Conte wants to a high enough standard and I don't think he is flexible enough to change how he wants them to play.
They sit deep and invite pressure on to what is a very average defence. Romero looks good, but Dier, Davies, Sanchez and Lenglet all look average at best and all have a mistake in them.
The midfield looks fairly solid defensively but I don't see someone who is likely to open a team up with a great pass.
Which leaves all the creativity needing to come from the wing backs. Emerson, Spence, Sessegnon and Perisic.
Again a fairly average bunch, with only Perisic as someone you'd say is likely to get more than 5 assists a season.
Son and Kane are the best front duo in the league, but they are being starved of service. Without Kulusevski playing they have no creative spark at all.
This Spurs side looks mostly average and ill-equipped to play a defensive style of football.
I don't expect Spurs to finish in the top four and think their current position is false based on playing the weakest teams in the league.
8.) 20 Oct 2022 09:37:45
Spenno - he knew exactly what he was doing.
I think ETH would get rid of him tomorrow if he could.
Two problems. the first problem in my opinion nobody wants him and the baggage he brings with him. Not to mention the astronomical wages that he earns.
Secondly the owners probably don't want to get shut because of the amount revenue he generates for the club.
I can't wait to see the back of him. I was in the minority from the start when i said it's a big mistake getting him back.
9.) 20 Oct 2022 09:42:17
Shappy, they certainly didn't look like a side who could have gone second with a win. Our 4ft6in def handled one of the best centre-forwards in the world pretty well too, I'd say :p
On their day Spurs can beat anyone IMO but are lacking that creative midfielder they've had such a rich history of producing over the years. I will still back them for top 4, personally.
10.) 20 Oct 2022 10:58:26
Spenno, I don't think they will. They don't create enough chances, relying heavily on Kane to score half chances a lot of the time. Plus defensively they aren't great. They don't excel at anything particularly and are still over reliant on a player who is known to pick up injuries every season. Plus I'm still expecting Conte to have an implosion.
I think Liverpool will click into gear after the world cup. They are in an odd position where there results are worse than their performances.
Pretty much the exact opposite of Spurs whose results are better than their performances.
In Liverpool's case it's probably caused by injuries and a slight lack of cohesion.
With Spurs it's because they have played the "easier" opposition.
For me I'd say City and Arsenal are the only "guaranteed" teams to finish in the top four.
I'd then say Liverpool are the most likely of the chasing pack to also get a top four place. They have the experience and the quality that the other sides lack somewhat in.
I'd then say the final place in the top four is a close run thing between ourselves, Chelsea and Newcastle.
Newcastle are currently probably playing the best of the three. Chelsea have the experience, but are right at the start of a rejig under Potter. While United seem to be slowly clicking into gear. Our chances depend on injuries band suspensions in my opinion. Unless we bring in a couple more players in January.
11.) 20 Oct 2022 11:38:41
Shappy,
Newcastle have the added bonus of no European football aswell. That will help to keep their squad refreshed whislt potentially succumbing to less injuries. I think the January transfer window may actually decide whether or not thye achieve a top 4 position as I expect them to buy a couple more players should they still be in the chase for CL football.
12.) 20 Oct 2022 11:43:57
We'll disagree on this one Shappy, I don't see Arsenal holding out for a whole season as much as I'd like to see it. Every player beyond their XI weakens them considerably in my opinion whereas the usual two can make considerable changes and pick up results. The only two sure-fire teams for top 4 are the status quo as I see it.
13.) 20 Oct 2022 12:21:06
Unfortunately I can see Liverpool and Chelsea maintaining and even improving their form. If Haarland is injured City may very well falter. Injuries and post world Cup blues may play a huge part in who wins out.
14.) 20 Oct 2022 13:15:10
Spenno, I agree that Arsenal lack quality in depth, and that injuries could cause them problems.
However, I think the same could be said for every side bar City that the options on the bench aren't as good as the ones on the field.
I think Arsenal won't be as good in the second half of the season, but I still think they will be more than good enough to get top four.
Salford, as much as I'd like to think City would be significantly weaker without Haaland, sadly I don't think he weakens them that much. Alvarez would come in for him, whose been excellent when given minutes. Others will also likely step up, their defence will still be pretty water tight, their midfield the best in the league.
29 Aug 2022 07:08:41
If you had said to me at the start of the transfer window that we would have signed up to 5 starters and a back up goalkeeper (Dubravka dependent), I would never have believed you. We still have gaps to fill and everyone may not think we have targeted the right areas but the squad is considerably better now than it was 2 months ago.
Compared to the side that started in the first game of last season we could have up to 9 different players in what I'd consider our strongest 11 with an entirely different back 4 and new midfield. On top of this we've let the likes of Pogba, Lingard, Cavani etc go as we should have and managed to get rid of players like Henderson, Bailly, Telles and Pereira though most of these are loans.
Away from the protests against the owners, the overpaying for players and delay in getting targets, the awful first 2 games and the De Jong shambles, this has actually been a really good transfer window for United.
1.) 29 Aug 2022 07:52:16
RJ. We're moving in the right direction, but we have had to do it. City, Chelsea, Liverpool, spurs and Arsenal have all strengthened massively.
We're still looking very short in central defence, central midfield and attack. As we keep saying, we have no reliable centre forward who can score goals, lead the line, press and stay fit. Basically, we need more firepower, otherwise we're going to struggle in games.
All teams above us seem to score goals in abundance, we don't, and that's the biggest problem I see in our team at present.
2.) 29 Aug 2022 08:12:58
If Casemiro gets injured and we are back to McFred, as the defensive pivot, then we can forget about 4th.
3.) 29 Aug 2022 08:23:47
The delayed transfers cost us 6 points.
Apart from Malacia, none of the new signings had pre season with us.
4.) 29 Aug 2022 10:21:15
Alex,
But Fred and Mctominay are hard working squad players, we all said last season the players in the first team could be squad players and that would be ok, that’s where we are now. They can play in europa and certain cup games, they can come on as rotation options. You could say about most teams if a player gets injured they are struggling, if Kane gets injured for Spurs, if De Bruyne or Haaland get injured city are weaker etc.
5.) 29 Aug 2022 11:12:35
What has transpired this summer is not how to run a competent football Club. We should never forget that instead of Casemiro and Anthony we could be lining up with Rabiot and Arnautovic instead.
The Club made FdJ its No1 transfer priority this summer, delayed all other transfer business and once that deal inevitably dragged on the Club embarked on a panic ridden, scattergun approach across Europe.
I’m glad we’ve signed Casemiro and Anthony but a lack of strategy and competence means we have paid well over the market value for both players, they have both missed preseason and we have dropped at least 6 points already.
Let’s not forget the Club hasn’t sold a single player (Pereria apart) and let at least £60m walk out of the door this summer for absolutely nothing. Henderson, Telles, Bailly sent out on loan, Jones, Tuanzebe, Williams, Chong, Amad, Pellestri et al all still at the Club without any obvious future or plan for any of them. Cheshire Red proclaimed some weeks ago that the Club were actively prioritising outs and this was when summer additions only amounted to Malacia, Eriksen and Martinez.
No competent football Club operates in this way.
6.) 29 Aug 2022 11:14:19
Eriksen had pre-season, only Martinez and Casemiro didn't and that was because we spent too long on the DeJong deal. We should have been smarter and realised that he wasn't interested. Lesson hopefully learned.
7.) 29 Aug 2022 11:22:00
We absolutely need more to be amongst the contenders again but it was very unrealistic to expect everything to be solved this window.
If we had allocated more funds to pay for a centre forward or another midfielder on top of the 2 we have signed, we may well have left a gap at CB by sticking with Maguire or made do with Sancho or Elanga on the right when all of our attackers seem to prefer the left. Who knows where that would have left us but we are definitely moving in the right direction.
16 Mar 2024 14:53:23
Ed, not sure if you've answered this before but I've not been on the site much recently and can't see anything recent in the search.
Do we still have Antonio Silva as first choice for CB or has that moved on to the likes of Bremer and Branthwaite?
Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - He remains of interest but there is now serious interest from elsewhere.}
31 Aug 2023 17:29:09
If it means Reguilon is coming in because we also have the flexibility to get Amrabat too, I'm fine with that. Reguilon and Amrabat is much better than Cucurella on his own.
30 Aug 2023 21:50:21
Have to agree Eric. If you jave to put someone on the right side, it should surely be Mount instead of Bruno? Mount had his best statistical season at Chelsea when he played off the right quite often, albeit in a 343. He also has excellent delivery, which we'd see more of if he played there.
Bruno has his flaws, but he's our best player, and when he plays well, we generally do too. We should look to get him in his best position at all times, and that's as a 10.
29 Aug 2023 12:58:11
The media are doing some nonsensical reporting about some of the players we're linked with having some connection with Ten Hag.
Cucurella is apparently wanted because he had a good game against Ajax 3 years ago and Ten Hag has fond memories of this. Absolute rubbish.
10 Aug 2023 09:13:10
I'm hoping we revive our previous interest in Bella-Kotchap from Southampton. He's had a year in the league, is only 21 and he has good physical attributes. He's still a bit raw but considering we're effectively signing a centre back to provide cover and we already have Lindelof, Shaw and Evans there, I think he could develop into a very good player for us.
{Ed002's Note - I very much doubt it.}
09 Apr 2024 07:20:12
I'd keep Kambwala where he is personally. Let him continue to develop as a CB. He did well at the weekend.
Martinez I'd happily play as a holding midfielder though. Mainoo offers too much further up the pitch to just be a sitting midfielder, McTominay can't play as a 6 and for as great a career as Casemiro has had, he looks like he has aged an extra 10 years and now needs glasses due to how often he misplaces passes. Martinez may not have the stamina to play in midfield in fairness, but at the same time, it's not like we've had much energy in there all season.
31 Mar 2024 09:09:14
There's been far too many performances like this across the season, hence the awful stats we have. I've been very much of the opinion that the best thing to do is keep Ten Hag next season and continue to think long term. However, I cannot think of a side who has gotten less from as much as we have. We've had injuries that have not helped, but you simply have to produce better performances with who we have had available compared to other sides. We've been outplayed by Brentford, Bournemouth, Copenhagen, Luton, Everton and plenty of others. All of those sides would be over the moon to have most of our players.
There's no intensity in the majority of our performances, no movement off the ball and almost everyone just playing it safe. We look like a side who have had a new manager for 2 weeks, not almost 2 years. Results are one thing but producing good performances regularly brings good results. Playing the horrendous football we do, doesn't lend itself to winning games.
Players haven't performed and that is a problem going back over many managers but we also don't seem set up to make the most of the players we actually do have. Hojlund is isolated, centre backs are too often left in 2v2 situations, whoever is playing holding midfield is effectively covering the entire width of the pitch on their own.
I've no idea what the answer is and while I'm not in the Ten Hag out camp, it's getting more and more difficult to justify him staying on with the level of performance we're producing regularly.
23 Dec 2023 07:11:57
Knowing United, the club probably think Salmonella is some Italian wonderkid and will be discussing a 70m bid for January.
12 Aug 2023 11:42:33
City will be absolutely fine. They played a decent side last night, played well within themselves and could have won by even more. They will bring a couple of players in and no doubt integrate them into the system.
People said they'd struggle to replace David Silva, Kompany, Aguero and they didn't. Gundogan and Mahrez are fantastic players but they're not as impactful as Silva, Kompany and Aguero were for City throughout their time there.
10 Aug 2023 09:45:35
I'd say Maguire is right at the top of that list. At least Pogba, Falcao, Di Maria, Sanchez etc were all very good players before joining us. We massively overpaid for a very average centre back who is only suited to having a defensive line on the edge of his own box and midfielders protecting anything in front of him.
Of course it's not his fault he has been asked to play in systems that don't suit him but his individual mistakes across the last 4 years have probably cost us at least 20 goals on there own, never mind goals he is partially responsible for with poor positioning or losing his man.