26 Jul 2026 10:24:11
It's 3 weeks to the first game of the season. It's becoming clear now that we did not go into the summer transfer window with any sort of a plan. It's a knee-jerk sort of a strategy with who becomes available. We obviously didn't have any achievable targets.

Now before Shappy goes below the belt again and talks ill about my wife or mother again or few of the more respectful optimists quickly jump on this post that we got 5/5 last season, I would say I disagree to an extent on that as I do think besides Lammens everyone else had a more of a 6-7 out of 10 season.

Also I do think that last season we went in the window with clear targets. But this time round I am not understanding what the plan or the problem is. It's ot like we don't have the cash. We don't have PSR problem and we have extra CL money as well. Why are we penny punching? What are we waiting for? Do we not know which areas we need addressing?

1.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 11:14:30
History shows Glazers don't spend once United are qualified in the CL.

2.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 11:30:12
UA, I don't always agree with you, but I'm pretty much with you on this, albeit I like the 3 we have bought so far.

We are clearly not prepared to enter an auction, which I support, but that means the most desirable targets may go elsewhere. We were prepared to go high for Fernandes, but not as high as Spurs. We still need a beast in MF. If Tchou is available, we can only hope Cas has been telling him what a great club we are.

Perhaps we are holding back, waiting for the right big name, we shall see.

Just as big an issue is our lack of sales. We clearly have a few available but seem unable to shift them. Rashford has to go, I would far rather promote Lacey than reintegrate Rash.

I remain positive with a small p. Sometimes accidental signings turn out just fine. Andy Cole was 3rd choice and happened by accident, and he worked out pretty well.

3.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 11:40:54
It's the exact opposite. We went in with a really strong plan and were able to pivot quickly. This binary view of things and dealing with absolutes is just a really unhealthy way to view things. I'm delighted with how we're going about things. We've signed two really good midfielders with one better and the other comparable in quality to an 85M player for same total cost.

We had a price + salary offer the negotiating team were happy with and when it went beyond that they had another approach to execute. I honestly don't get how myopic you can be

4.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 13:14:46
Maybe the plan is different to the one you had in your head. You know the one you've imagined.
Maybe they needed to pivot.
Time to tell will be Christmas, or thereabouts, on who has had a good summer window.

5.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 14:11:37
I think this has been blown well out of proportion. Shappy wasn't insulting your wife, he was using an analogy. It wasn't about her personally, it was about how people judge value. There's a massive difference.
To now frame it as "my ill wife was insulted" feels like creating outrage where there wasn't any. Nobody knew or mentioned your wife's health, and nobody was mocking her.
The irony is that you're one of the most confrontational posters on here.

You rarely miss an opportunity to shoot down transfers, the manager, the club or other posters. That's your prerogative, but if you're going to debate that aggressively, you also need to recognise when someone is making a tongue-in-cheek analogy rather than looking for a reason to take offence.
Let's keep the discussion about football instead of manufacturing personal grievances.

6.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 16:06:56
Oh, so now Shappy has advocates on this page as well. What else does he have here? Butler? Driver? Who is he to tell me how my wife is to be valued?

Redevilfan, when have I ever mentioned a member of a family of any of the posters?

Anyway.

Perhaps, Ken, the plan isn't what we all thought. I bet no one had either of the 3 we have till now in their transfer list, wished or thought or logically. Why are we having to pivot? If we are entering a tournament, do we enter on a condition that we only play if we are guaranteed a win or if we only play lowly ranked teams, right? From the outside, it seems we are not even competing for the best, and that's what is pinching.

Look around us, what the teams already have and what they are buying. It's not like we have a top notch manager at the helm that will get us the win with his charisma either.

I am hoping for the best, but I am not very hopeful of us being competitive unless we do get some game changers in, someone who is going to step up on the days Bruno is not up to it. A winner in every sense.

7.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 16:49:53
UA.
Let's look at what those around us have done.
Villa lost Teilmans, a huge influence for them, read the stats.
Oh, the list, Rodgers.
Oh, then lost Onana for the season.
Signed a Swiss lad from Germany and Garnacho.
Villa look worse off to me so far.
Liverpool have lost Salah, Robertson, Gomes out for a while, and got in a Spanish winger I've never heard of.
Their players from lazy dragon should do better, you'd think. New manager, let's see how they do, but not improved on last season's squad.
City will lose Rodri and have signed Anderson, so imo are miles worse off.
Oh, and they lost the best manager.


City are worse off, yoy, by a long way.
Arsenal signed a winger I'm not familiar with, so doing well and will be strong again.
Chelsea are doing what they do, but I think they have a good manager now; they have bought well on paper.
United have lost Casimero, no harm; Ugarte, no harm; and got Tell man's and Santos, so imo look stronger than last season, when we finished 3rd.
It's obvious we need to get more, but a team is a sum of its parts, so I'm not concerned who we sign, more looking forward to how they do.
If you're not optimistic or looking forward to it, then that's a shame.

8.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 17:43:51
It really is amazing how much people know about what the transfer plan is/was and how effectively it's been employed, and how absolutely sure they are that a) we won't acquire anyone of quality in the next 5 weeks, and b) whoever we get, it still won't be enough, and will demonstrate our management's incompetence.



The team that I think has probably improved the most over this window is Spurs, but then they had a more scope to do so.

9.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:26:56
Newname, I think you are right about Spurs, but I think Chelsea have also bought well and got a manager who should be able to bring out the best of his squad, especially as they aren't in Europe.

I think it's hard to judge until the very end of the transfer window who has done the best. Even then, injuries at the start of, or during, the season can derail the best plans. Look at Isak and Liverpool.

I am sure the club had a plan of who they wanted to sign, which positions, and a strategy to implement their plans. Unlike previous regimes, I think they know the importance of building slowly and making incremental gains.

They are also surely more aware than us of just how much other teams possess the financial muscle to outbid Utd.

I applaud the fact they are not spending stupid amounts and paying out the "Utd premium" which has become the norm for selling clubs to add on.
Rodgers, £117m??? Never in a million years.
Tonali too, way, way overpriced.

I hear you say, "but that's the market rate." Only if people pay it. I prefer Utd to sign players who want to play for the shirt and not put the club in any more debt than it already is. This season will be vvv competitive, and it's quite possible that Utd miss out on a European place, especially the Champions League. If that happens, their income drops hugely next year, so right now the club has to be sensible, not flash.

All that said, I do think there will be one affordable bigger statement signing to come.

10.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:28:02
It's accepted we wanted Anderson and Fernandes, but we didn't get them. We also have strong interest in Baleba and Scott, but no activity so far.

Both Santos and Tielemans were left-field signings and had not been spoken of at all. I'm happy with them, but I don't believe they were anywhere near first choice.

The guys at The Athletic, who seem to have links to the club, were taken by surprise, reinforcing that view.

Whatever we do, we need a few more bodies with so many extra games.

11.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:53:25
They tried to sign Santos last summer, so I'm surprised you're surprised.
Are you surprised that the boys from The Athletic are not being consulted?
We didn't want Anderson; he wanted City.
We had interest in Fernandes to a point; when the money got ludicrous, we stepped back.
The club have stepped back from Scott as he wants to stay down south.

It appears he's not fussy, Arsenal or Chelsea.
Baleba again, we will sign at what we deem to be a fair price; if not, we move on.
We do need a few more in. I'm of the opinion we will pay for the right player, both wages and fee. I wouldn't be getting too anxious; all seems fine to me.

12.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:43:29
Eds Poll please.
UA's Wife vs Shappy's manservant.

{Ed033's Note - What?

13.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 19:41:33
I think getting Santos and Tielemans for less than the cost of Fernandes is awesome business. I still think we need another physical MF, and also more depth at FB and out wide. Plenty of time, but, as I said, we really need to shift some out too.

14.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 20:03:22
There should be no panic yet, but people are right to have concern. The more recent transfer history has been mixed. The Glazers have got top four before, then not invested.
It is a little disconcerting when other clubs are being aggressive, whilst we look frankly cautious and unwilling to fix the gaping holes.

Yes, there is time, but with our history of owners who clearly care more about finances, I can understand some irritation growing.

15.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 20:03:57
Sorry Ajh should have said we did want Anderson but he wanted city. I think it's very fair to say we have interest in lots of players but only at a mutually agreeable price. I saw a list today of the 20 biggest transfer fees paid by clubs for players. 5 of the 20 were deemed a success with the jury still out on Anderson, Tonali, Isak, Wirtz.

Even when you buy top quality there are no guarantees never mind potential but unproven top quality like Anderson or fernandes. Getting the right players in under the right coach and creating a team is what matters.

Winning teams create star players. Over the years our record breaking signings have been hit and miss. Robson, Keane, Stam, Rooney, Ferdinand being brilliant. Brazil, Davenport, Barthez, Veron, Di Maria, Martial, Schneiderlin, Lindelof, Anthony, Maguire all huge signings for big money at the time not so great. The left field opportunistic signing people are moaning about in our history include Ronaldo, Cantona, Irwin, Murhen, Law, Teves they have yielded us plenty in the past.

I'm a firm believer in going on what you do know not what you don't. Fans get pictures in their head of what they think the club plans are because they want to believe all the crap they read and listen to. Then when it doesn't turn out that way they think the club has no plan. But quite simply its not that the club have no plan it just that its not matching the plan fans imagined or dreamt up in their own head.

The club can't win. You know the people in charge with the experience education and detailed knowledge. They can't win because every butcher, baker and candlestick maker on here knows more about what we need to do than the subject matter experts. We can't judge the window until we see how we are at Christmas. I swear people fret more over united than they do over real problems and concerns.

I wish folk would just wait and see what happens. Less than 10% on here thought we would finish 3rd last season. Even on these pages Liverpool were seen as most likely champions based on their window and previous season. I tend to be very pragmatic most of the time and look to find the best and positives in every situation. Then be cold in decision making and rarely look back. Hopeful always but i'd rather be that way than pessimistic and negative.

16.) 27 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 22:40:49
I think people need to realise we are not a top club anymore. The top players would rather go elsewhere and win things. We are not there yet. We currently have probably a D grade squad, and going out and blowing 200million on Anderson and Fernandez wouldn't help at all.


We are not going to go from D to A grades straight away. Unfortunately, we are looking at grade B and C players to bridge the gap before we go blow silly money again.
Under Fergie we could spend big on one player because we had a decent squad and didn't need a complete rebuild.

17.) 27 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 23:30:45
Mrlee,

We very much are a 'top club' and to say otherwise is nonsense, but certainly there are other top clubs that we now have to battle with.

18.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 00:17:58
Ken, you are speaking far too much good sense. In the fullness of time we shall probably learn who were the initial and then second-tier choices and why we did or didn't get them.

19.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 06:41:25
Mrlee

Saf stopped the big spend after the Glazers arrived and he had to declare no value in the market to cover them.

Right now we appear to be doing what the Glazers do when they get top four, become circumspect with spending. We are bargain hunting.

Let's hope that isn't the case at the end of the window.

20.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 08:32:59
Our issue has not been lack of spending under the Glazers. It's a lack of any semblance of a plan, or of targeting the right profiles. In fact, the issue has been overspending on ordinary players - giving too high salaries and creating a toxic culture of entitlement. Thankfully, we seem past that now, but some of you just don't seem to get that at all.

21.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 11:58:00
The OP feels like a whine more than anything else. But, this is the banter page, so we are all allowed to rant, vent and express ourselves. I think there is no reason to Panic UA.

22.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 12:03:15
That's ridiculous to say. That Arsenal have not bought much; they were far above us to start with, and are now looking at adding Vinicius Jnr.
Yes, City might lose Rodri, but have signed someone we all wanted, and they're way ahead of us anyway.
Now you are comparing us with Villa. I guess that's the level we are at, so that alone tells its own story, but you fail to mention Villa have a far more experienced manager, with a much better CV than us too.
To say Cass is no loss is probably one of the most crazy remarks you made, and you make quite enough.

Guess you start backtracking again.
The window for us thus far has been underwhelming. Let's hope it gets better. We seem to be excited by middle of road signings now, like Tielmans and Santos; hell, we even got a middle of road manager, so it looks like we don't want to dine at the top table no more!
Oh, and Liverpool got Isaak and Wirtz, both who would walk into our team.

23.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 12:04:56
Don,

Those lovely Glazers.
2018 Summer Window: Fred (from Shakhtar Donetsk), Diogo Dalot (from Porto), and Lee Grant (from Stoke City).

What did they do after pocketing £80m from Ronaldo?

I agree on a lack of plan, but no way can the Glazers be seen as giving enough money.

Don't get me started on the debt and dividends.

24.) 28 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 23:05:45
GDS - no. People thinking we are still a top club is nonsense. Am I happy with the signings so far? Meh, but top players are not interested in us anymore.
We never stood a chance with Anderson, etc. If Vini Jr leaves Madrid, even if we put up the cash, he wouldn't be interested in us.


We are basically Liverpool 15 years ago.
People are harping on about previous triumphs and thinking we are still a draw for players.
It hurts to say it, obviously, but Arsenal, Liverpool and City are clearly more desirable than us right now, and that's just in England.

25.) 28 Jul 2026
28 Jul 2026 08:52:49
Red Man, I really despise the Glazers, but your narrative is all wrong. I believe we're the highest net spenders in the league since they came. (I don't have up to date for this summer, but if we're not most we're pretty close to it). You highlighted players there that we overspent on, which is more the point I made than yours. You appear to be more annoyed that we haven't splashed out on an individual, which I find odd to be honest.

The main criticism of the Glazers I have is their lack of investment in the stadium, on our training ground, on any sort of a strategic plan to improve the club. That's what I'm happier to see occurring now. The Glazers are negligent and incompetent owners, but it doesn't make sense to criticise them for not spending on the first team. The facts simply don't support that.

26.) 28 Jul 2026
28 Jul 2026 09:38:22
Spot on, Don. Bias and false preconceptions drive many an agenda.

27.) 28 Jul 2026
28 Jul 2026 19:14:39
Don,

We were behind City and Chelsea on net spend, behind or very close behind. The early Glazers SAF years spending was constrained by the Glazers, as an example, Aguero, roughly £20m per season. Post SAF, we were amongst the highest, yet the pattern showed United spent more aggressively after missing top four. The largest spikes were not always in the summers that followed better league campaigns.


The pattern interprets that being the best was not the aim. If either of you are happy with the Glazers in terms of ambition, that is up to you.

Don, I do agree on the lack of investment in infrastructure and have said that, but the facts do not support everything you said on spending, especially in their early years with SAF.