Manchester United Banter Mobile

28 Feb 2026 22:51:04
Hope your all safe out in Dubai ED001.

{Ed001's Note - all good mate, thanks for asking. It is just eerily quiet now with the airport shut down.}

28 Feb 2026 14:12:24
Jesus saw an article from David Moyes giving out about Arsenal's"Dark Arts", from set pieces, pushing, blocking, holding etc. A bit hypocritical after their game against us. He wants it all stopped by the referees saying its ruining the game 🤣🤣🤣 Pot Kettle comes to mind.

28 Feb 2026 14:45:04
Would you like the goals we've scored doing the same discounted? No team other than Arsenal has scored more from set pieces than United, and if you review footage, there are offences in nearly all our set piece goals. Stop your whining.

28 Feb 2026 15:33:13
Stop sitting on the fence, Ken. You'll get splinters. 🤣🤣🤣

28 Feb 2026 17:14:52
It would be silly for any team not to try to use the interpretation of the rules to their advantage. It can simultaneously be true that your team does well from those rules, and not like them because they make the game worse.

I do think that in Arsenal's case they were the first to exploit it, and others have followed suit since it was not being punished.

28 Feb 2026 18:01:14
Agree, Don, they are all at it. It's gone way too far. On most corners, you can give multiple pens and free outs on every corner. In most cases, in fact, it's the defenders going 'hands on' before a ball is kicked. I hear a lot of calls to punish the attacking teams, but if you watch every corner closely, it's the defenders doing most of the initial fouling, so keep giving pens.

If the refs don't deal with it, coaches will have to be inventive, maybe start leaving 4 attackers on the halfway line. There have to be some clever solutions.

28 Feb 2026 21:16:39
Disagree. Attacking players instigate, usually. They have less to lose and more to gain, so it is natural for that to happen. Yes, defenders try to keep players away from keepers, but attacking players are just shoving into the keeper, or pushing a defender into the keeper.

27 Feb 2026 21:58:17
Massive opportunity now for us on Sunday. Beat palace and we go 3rd. We have a real chance now to push on and cement our UCL place, let's hope we take it. Make no mistake villa are now 100% involved in the top 4-5 scramble.

28 Feb 2026 00:08:05
Massive few weeks. Villa vs Chelsea and United vs Villa coming up. We need a win tomorrow to take advantage of results around us. Hold on, we've been here before!

28 Feb 2026 01:55:17
I agree, Villa are, and always have been, in the fight for the 3/4/5 places. We will continue our push towards the title.

28 Feb 2026 11:58:29
Like I said last week, we need to ignore results elsewhere and focus on our performances and our results. It doesn't matter when or if other teams drop points, that is beyond our control. We should only be worrying about how we play, that is the only thing we can control.

The league is a marathon. You don't win the race by adjusting your pace to what everyone else is doing. In order to win, you have to run your race your way.

28 Feb 2026 17:59:18
I agree, Shappy. This group of players have shown that their heads fall off when this type of situation occurs, though.

27 Feb 2026 12:16:52
Vis a vis buying Elliot Anderson or other top midfielders this summer with the £300m + we will have available how do we compete wages wise? We have a structure in place. So we offer £180k a week and City offer £280k a week! Then what? Over to you Elliot!

27 Feb 2026 13:10:09
Then he goes to City. Rather have players who want to be here, like Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko. Can see them genuinely playing for the shirt too. But we really need to kick on, especially if we get top 4. 4/5 top quality players and added depth will also be needed with more games next season. Just want to see us kick on and say, right, we've got CL football, now we actually need to be competitive, challenge for the league and CL, or it'll just feel like the same cycle we've stuck in for years, regression after progression.

No point qualifying for the CL if we say we don't have a squad capable of winning it.

27 Feb 2026 13:11:10
Whatever structure we have in place this season will be 25% higher next season if we make Champions League, which will allow us to be competitive. Will that mean players would choose us over City in a straight decision, probably not, but there are only so many players City can sign, and there are plenty of midfielders available with the right scouting.

27 Feb 2026 13:36:11
Can't see him picking City over United when City will be in the Conference North!

27 Feb 2026 13:51:00
I fear a dodgy deal will be arrived at. The Premier League are terrified of being locked in a costly, expensive battle forever.

27 Feb 2026 15:18:00
Since when have we had 300+ million pounds to spend?

27 Feb 2026 15:21:25
We're going to lose Casemiro and Sancho, and hopefully Rashford off the wage structure. That's nearly a million a week. Take into account Malacia leaving and Hojlund. I wouldn't be too worried about wages, there's enough saved there to give 4 quality players 250 a week.

27 Feb 2026 15:54:29
It said it in the Daily Sport, Simo. It must be true.

27 Feb 2026 16:18:24
There may well be savings of nearly a million a week in wages, but that certainly does not mean we will pay 250k a week to four players. A wage structure is now in place and will be kept to. If we get Champions League football, that will see increases, but I like the fact high wages now have to be deserved and justified by performances. As has been mentioned, we want the players to come to us because we are the club they want to be at, such as Cunha and Mbeumo, who made it clear to numerous other suitors they would only join us. Also Matthijs De Ligt made a significant salary loss of approx 70/80k a week to join us, now that is a hefty wedge.

I know he has had a number of injury issues, but compare that attitude to Sancho and Rashford, who were not prepared to make any such sacrifice. I realise they have valid contracts, but it should be a two-way street whereby continual poor performance is reflected in earnings. Let's face it, years of mega high salaries given by Woodward to players, just to show how he was Billy big b*******, have hardly been a proven success, have they? Pay them well, but make them earn it.

27 Feb 2026 17:03:46
Tumbleweed, must be true then lol.

27 Feb 2026 17:41:33
The point being, how do we compete on wages with the likes of Man City or Liverpool, et cetera? I assume the draw of Manchester United will be enough? Bit out of date with buying the Daily Sport, aren't you, Ken? It closed down years ago! I heard it from Ben Jacobs. What he knows is anybody's guess. 🤷🏼‍♂️

27 Feb 2026 18:50:13
The European rules regarding squad cost allow for 70% of revenues, which will be the same in the EPL for teams qualifying for European competition. I can't speak to the extent to which our transfer capacity will be affected by the £1.3bn total debt, but in theory, I believe we should be able to spend round £350m and remain within the UEFA and FA limits.

The exact capacity will depend on what happens with Hojlund, Rashford, and Onana, and other potential outgoing transfers (Mount, Ugarte, Malacia, Zirkzee, and perhaps some younger prospects etc), but we do know we'll save around £45m a year on Casemiro's pay and amortization and Sancho's amortization.

27 Feb 2026 19:09:34
Don't mean to say for a minute SJR will want to spend it all. He is cutting back everywhere, as Ineos are struggling big time.

27 Feb 2026 20:27:41
We will offer competitive wages that are within our new wage structure. After that, it's down to the player. Ultimately, if they only want to join us because we'll pay more than anyone else, then they aren't the right player for us. No player joining Manchester United will be poorly paid. But if money is the deciding factor in your decision and someone else is offering you more, then I'd shake your hand and wish you well with your move elsewhere. No hard feelings. We need players who want to be Manchester United players, who want to run out onto the Old Trafford pitch every other weekend, who feel like this is the place to play football, because ultimately getting paid good wages typically only gets about 70% effort out of people. That extra 30% comes from intrinsic motivation, which only happens when you are connected by something else to a club. Money is a form of extrinsic motivation, which is the first thing to go out the window when things get difficult.

Think about your own experiences when life is getting challenging, when you keep taking a kicking and everything seems to be going wrong. Is it the wages that get you out of bed and into work that morning, or is it something else, something more meaningful, like being able to provide for your kids or be that role model for them, because you can't give up on them. That intrinsic motivation is what drives you to overcome those challenges. Players who choose United for the paycheck will fold the moment it gets hard, and at Manchester United the one thing you can guarantee is that at some point it'll get hard. I think Anderson is the best available option for us in midfield, but if he would rather go somewhere else because they'll pay him more money, then he is no longer the best available option.

28 Feb 2026 01:45:49
Who says that if Anderson chooses City or anyone else, it will be for the money? I'm not saying, for one second, that it will happen, but if United signed Vini Jr, they would pay him 400k plus per week. There can be exceptions to a general wage structure. People who work for money first, Shappy, can often be the people who are least likely to fold when the going gets tough, Shappy.

People motivated by money, firstly, know that they need to be successful to maximise their earning power. Drop your levels and your earning power decreases substantially.

28 Feb 2026 08:29:13
Ken, we've seen so many examples in football of players playing really well during contract negotiations, and then their form starts to dip before the ink is dry on their new contract. Luke Shaw only stays fit in the last 18 months of his contract. Then, as soon as a new deal is signed, he's back to dating the physio. Rashford was pushing Bruno as our best (most important) player right up until he signed his last contract.

Then, his form dropped off a cliff. This highlights that money is only a short term motivator for the vast majority of people. Also, footballers have short careers, and sign long term contracts that guarantee their wages regardless of how much effort they put in.

28 Feb 2026 10:56:13
Shappy, how many people have you employed on a money basis only? They are often the last to fold. So you bringing up 2 examples of players you think with no evidence stopped due to being only motivated by money.

Rashford is taking a wage cut, he is so motivated to join Barcelona which negates your argument. You have an opinion which is formed with no experience or knowledge and you think this highlights the fact (no less) that money is a short term motivator for the vast majority of people.

I'd imagine you have very little experience of employing people on secure contracts. Shaws on less wages this year riddance last as is every player in the squad that list European football, but they are all doing better than last year. Funny that.

25 Feb 2026 18:07:44
Just like it soon became common knowledge that De Gea was suspect at crosses in the early days, and opposition teams targeted him as a result, word will soon get round that Lammens is very good in the air.

Hopefully, that helps with situation where players crowd round our keeper in the box at corners.

As an ex-keeper, I really like what I see with him, just as I had my doubts about Obama from day one.

Real cool customer for a young lad.

{Ed025's Note - im not sure the ex-president of the USA was much of a keeper Noucamp.. :)

25 Feb 2026 18:36:53
I shouldn't probably be typing while I'm cooking, Ed. Mind you, I'd fancy Obama between the sticks over the other one. 😁

{Ed025's Note - absolutely Noucamp, enjoy your dinner mate..

25 Feb 2026 18:45:33
I'd back Michelle over him too.

{Ed025's Note - but he did get Barack,d a bit Key.. :)

26 Feb 2026 01:49:35
Remember watching Stoke assaulting DDG on crosses, and he got no bloody calls at all. They would just plough into him, and then people would say he was rubbish on crosses. Crazy. I've been impressed with Lammens. What Everton were doing was anti-football.

I can't believe the ref doesn't just blow up for the foul and grab control of the game. Who wants to watch that nonsense. The stupid thing is that they have big players who would probably score if they just attacked a decent old-school corner.

26 Feb 2026 06:13:03
Of their 10 corners, 5 should have been blown for a free out for us. It's the only way to stop it; favour the goalkeeper and defending team. It would stop the silly battles. The Yoro push should have been a yellow for Tarkowski and a free out.

26 Feb 2026 07:35:25
It's all getting a bit silly, as is the time taken to take throw-ins, what with drying the ball. The authorities are useless. The laws are there today, but referees seem not to want to use them.

26 Feb 2026 08:13:45
The corners - it's clear obstruction on the keeper every time. This isn't American football, where you can block players; even in rugby, I don't think they can block players, yet the utterly useless authorities are letting GK be blocked.

They are not leading on this. (Like they are not on VAR.) Are they worried it might upset Arsenal? Simply instruct the referees: blocking the keeper is obstruction; give a free kick to the defending team every time.

26 Feb 2026 12:18:56
We do it too, Redman, and Jane only scored 2 less than Arsenal at set pieces, so we are just as guilty.

26 Feb 2026 13:45:24
Tumble, because it's allowed and has been successful, everyone is doing it. The pushing, shoving and holding is ridiculous. It's really impossible to determine who's at fault, the attackers or the defenders. It's the complete antithesis of the beautiful game.

It will continue until the authorities find a way to stop it. A rule change at the end of the season should be regarded as a priority. No attackers on the goal line, and a limit of, say, 3, in the goal area before a corner or throw in is taken.

26 Feb 2026 15:30:03
Arsenal have been getting away with crowding the goalkeeper and blocking them too. Hopefully, after the Everton game, officials will start to punish those offenders from now on.

26 Feb 2026 16:07:48
It's gone crazy, but I don't agree with that suggestion at all in terms of a limit on people in the goal area. You'd swear some never saw Joe Jordan play. It's been happening since football started, but it's not to a crazy level.

I'm not sure how to stop it, but it starts with refs. Keepers are over protected, imo, it's a bit of a conundrum. You could award 3 pens and 3 free outs for offences at every corner kick.

26 Feb 2026 18:25:48
It's totally crazy how refs are letting it go. It's become a total joke, even if we do it. Refs should just blow the whistle and award a free kick, book the offender with a straight yellow, and on the 2nd time send them off. It needs to be stamped out. It's like tuning into wrestling, and it's been getting worse.

It has got to be stopped! Refs need to be told to deal with it. They are looking straight at it most of the time, but VAR is just as bad; they watch it too. Love to see the excuses for why they're letting this go on.

26 Feb 2026 20:36:57
Scrap corners. Fixed.

26 Feb 2026 21:20:59
Chelsea had a tactic that seemed to work against Arsenal for corners. They had several of their players sprint out of the box as the corner was about to be taken. It forced several Arsenal players to go with them, as they couldn't risk the ball breaking to them, since they would have had 5 vs 3.

The other advantage is that, with fewer defenders in the box, the ref has less to observe and will see the fouling of the keeper much more easily.

27 Feb 2026 00:47:44
What if the attacking team surrounds the keeper in a circle and links arms? Is it a foul? At some point, common sense has to take over and say that these anti-football tactics are bad for the game. No one has been shouting about 1 player standing with the keeper unless they push into them and foul them. Standing and fighting for your own space is fine. Jumping and challenging the keeper without wiping them out is fine (and often keepers are overprotected). I think the issue is when the attacking team builds a wall of players around a keeper in a box, and then they all push under them to affect their jumping, coupled with inswinging corners.

I quite like limiting the number of attacking players allowed in the 6-yard box before the kick is taken. 1 would be fine. Once taken, the players can run in if needed, but the space is already there and the keeper has room to breathe. We might see a few more towering headers from 10 yards out, which seem a rarity these days.

28 Feb 2026 13:37:39
Dodgy, common sense would be that any attempt to block or impede the keeper without a clear attempt at winning the ball is a foul.

To be completely honest it can still be a foul even when you are attempting to win the ball.

I think the biggest problem this tactic creates and ultimately relies on is that it's always been hard for officials to see every single infringement of the rules in the melee that often happens at corners and freekicks from wide areas. The Ref only has one set of eyes and he can't be watching 14 different players at the same time.

This tactic of swamping the keeper makes it almost impossible for a Ref to see what is happening amongst the flurry of bodies.

In terms of how the FA deal with it, I could see a rule coming into force next season that attempts to deal with it. Whether it's a redrafting of existing rules with greater emphasis placed on protecting keepers, or whether it's an entirely new rule (something like only one opposition player is allowed within 2 yards of the keeper when a corner is taken) who knows. But something will be changed ahead of next season.

Until then managers will have to find ways to deal with it.

Whether that is allowing crosses into the box rather than blocking them and giving away the corner.

Pushing more of your players out of the box when defending corners, forcing the opposition to react and making it easier for officials to see infractions against the keeper.

Using your defenders to act as blockers and clear a path for the keeper.

Instruct your keeper to be theatrical and go down with every touch (knowing that if the keeper goes down 99% of the time the Ref will give the foul).

Or resulting to the dark arts, "accidentally" stepping on Gabriel's achilles tendon with your studs as you follow him in for the corner, a sly elbow, or Vinnie Jones greeting. Sure you might give away a penalty, but if they are going to score from a corner anyway you might as well make sure they don't want to use the same tactic again.

If two or three teams ends up injuring key players for teams using these tactics then it both reduces their ability to use those tactics while the player is out injured, and makes teams less inclined to keep using tactics that are getting their players injured. Also as we get closer to the end of the season and with a World cup just months away players will be less inclined to put themselves at risk of an injury.

I'm certainly not a fan or the dark arts or over exaggerating contact to win the foul. But if that is the only way to overcome this awful tactic (at least until the authorities can adapt the rules) then so be it.