Manchester United Banter Mobile

22 Mar 2026 17:02:54
As we head for squeaky bum time, things seem to be getting clearer.

Arsenal and City will battle it out for the title, I think us and Villa will finish 3rd and 4th, or 4th and 3rd, with Chelsea and Liverpool fighting for 5th. Villa have Tielemans back, which will pick them up, whilst both Chelsea and Liverpool are wildly inconsistent. I'm calling it.

22 Mar 2026 17:25:49
Villa to finish top 5 and win Europa League, so all teams in top 6 end up with Champions League.

22 Mar 2026 18:13:49
I don't think it works like that, DSG. If Villa finish in top 5 and win the Europa League, then 5 teams go to the Champions League, not 6. Unless Liverpool wins it and doesn't finish in top 5.

22 Mar 2026 18:39:59
Isn't that how Spurs plus 5 teams ended up in this year's Champions League?

22 Mar 2026 19:04:05
I agree with that ajh, although I'd argue that the return of McGinn is more vital to Villa than Tielemans. We still have to play both Liverpool and Chelsea, though, so it will depend on how those go.

22 Mar 2026 19:47:08
It was because Tottenham finished outside of top 5, DSG.

22 Mar 2026 20:48:27
From the Mirror:

"If Villa were to finish fifth in the Premier League and win the Europa League, then another spot could be awarded to English clubs for the Champions League."

"Villa finishing fifth would see all of the top five qualify for the Champions League, whilst sixth could also earn a spot in the competition thanks to the extra place being given to England for their coefficient ranking."

22 Mar 2026 07:26:47
I am concerned by what was clearly something very wrong with the refereeing on Friday night.

Referee Stuart Attwell and VAR Craig Pawson were the same referee and VAR who wrongfully disallowed Martinez's equaliser against Burnley, another 2.2. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel said that Martinez's goal should not have been ruled out by Stuart Attwell.

I understand Friday was Attwell's first game since he disallowed Martinez’ goal at Burnley. (Please correct me on that if I am wrong).

Attwell has officiated 24 matches involving United across all competitions. In those games:
1. He has issued 2 red cards to United players, compared to 0 for opposition players.
2. He has shown 46 yellow cards to United players, against just 8 for opposition players.

The glaring error of not awarding the penalty on Amad cost us the win.

I was sat with an opposition fan who does not like us and he gives us nothing, yet he said it was an absolute stone wall penalty and that we had been done. This looks like incompetence to the point where I actually think we should be worried there is real systemic anti United bias. A letter from the club complaining is a start but on this occasion the decision was so bad in that it should have been a penalty, could have been 2.0 but because of that error became 1.1

I actually believe we should ask for the game to be replayed and Attwell never to referee our games again. Yes it sounds extreme and some if not most will dismiss it, yet the only way we are going to force a change in referring is by addressing such huge errors with drastic action.

22 Mar 2026 09:02:23
Red Man, he also missed/ignored Walker's stamp on Dorgu in the Burnley game too. I feel like you. You can accept mistakes by refs, but now we have VAR and they still make the same mistake. It's really hard to feel like it's not cheating.

He was so quick to get the red card out as well for Maguire. No time for thought, no discussion with the "assistant referees". Ultimately, I'm not livid with that decision, but the speed of it and ignoring the Amad one just makes zero sense IMO.



I think teams should be allowed to name 3 refs at the start of the season they do not want refereeing their games. I have said for years now that refs should be made to stand in front of the camera after the game and explain their decisions. They're full time, well paid professionals now.

22 Mar 2026 09:38:56
I might add, I'm not sure about the game being replayed, although I get your point, but I am glad Carrick came out and questioned it. It feels like our last few managers have just accepted poor decisions by refs and let it slide.

We need a manager who's prepared to take a fine, but call it out and put pressure back on refs. Klopp and Guardiola have both done it, and it does make a difference. SAF was the best at it.

22 Mar 2026 10:42:05
Ports

If you look at the reaction by some commentators and ex Ref Mike Dean, there is a clear bias. It is almost like, you got the decision under SAF, when you get done now, ha, you deserve it. How many referees feel like that?

With Attwell, it has to be said he was poor more than once to the level where you have to ask, are there underlying reasons? On Friday there was clear error, that surely VAR should have corrected, a decision where you can 100% bet if it had been Liverpool or City they would have got the penalty. So there were two errors, the referee and the coward on VAR.

It cost two points. Don't even mention asking where 9 minutes came from!

I rarely rage about referees in posts as much as this, but Friday was unacceptable and I am concerned there is an underlying systemic bias against Utd, highlighted by the 'it's finally retribution' attitude shown afterwards, that needs to be stamped out. We should not have to sacrifice any manager for a fine. Maybe we should take a lead from others and threaten legal recovery action against the PGMOL, especially if we miss Champions League by a point.

22 Mar 2026 12:16:46
In the Amad one, I think the ref cannot see the contact from his position, Ahmad's body blocking his view. However, for VAR not to intervene is criminal.
The PGMOL need to look into these stats for officials, when dubious decisions and cards lie far outside their norms.
I think most teams have at least one ref who fits this criteria.

22 Mar 2026 12:21:40
The biggest issue from Friday was the fact VAR said the Amad one was not a penalty, but the Maguire one was. I suspect it was because they scored, but there is really no excuse for such blatant inconsistency.

22 Mar 2026 15:46:37
I can't agree with replaying games. That would open up a whole can of worms and be farcical.
Yes, crazy decision, and standards are getting worse, but replaying games is nonsense and unrealistic. Where would it end... So do we now go back to the AFCON and replay that farce too?
Sadly, we have to grin and bear it.

That is the reality. I think conspiracy theories are a bit childish, too... they are just not that good a standard, refs are far better in the Champions League. But they also get it wrong, and you would expect VAR to get it right most of the time!

22 Mar 2026 23:02:30
I think it was as simple as the ref not having the cojones to give two penalties to the away team.
Bottle job.

23 Mar 2026 07:02:51
Nou,

"The ref"? No, both refs? On-field and VAR?
I think the PGMOL needs to give Utd assurances that the clear anti Utd bias is not going to continue. By that, I am talking about the reaction comments showing clearly what too many are thinking. It's underlying and underpinning the situation. It has to be stamped out. Friday was a disgrace for the referees' body.

21 Mar 2026 22:50:35
Given the way teams are struggling to achieve peak performances after European games, it would seem that if we make it into Europe, which is almost certain one way or another, the club is going to have to invest quite substantially in not only improving quality and replacing key players like Casemiro, but also increasing squad depth.

21 Mar 2026 23:36:47
It's mission impossible, Newname. To have a good team and squad depth, we need 10 players and we are not going to buy them. We have a lot of players that can't play 50 matches per year, such as de Ligt, Mazraoui, Shaw, and even Sesko; we don't know if he is capable of that. Then we have Casemiro, who will leave; Bruno, if he stays, we don't know if he can play 2 matches per week without dropping a level; Ugarte probably will leave.


Even if we buy 5-6 players, we will not be perfect. Actually, we must be very careful and lucky: first, all the new players to bed in well, and second, to find 1-2 gems from the academy for (at least) squad depth.

22 Mar 2026 02:55:45
Was just thinking the same. In addition to the academy, I hope we can utilise the free agent market well. Even players who come in for a couple of years to add depth and help youngsters.

I would go all out for Senesi at the very least (Rudiger, Goretzka and Vlahovic were other names I thought of, but all seem to have questions re fitness and injury prone-ness).

22 Mar 2026 06:14:36
The academy will be key to any short term success, and the potential for sustained success. We need too much churn with not enough cash in our pockets to do it in one season via the transfer market.

21 Mar 2026 19:59:02
I don't see why the ref can't simply say to VAR, this is my decision from my on-field view; can you show me something to change that, like rugby. It really seems that VAR are afraid to go against the ref in case it makes the ref look bad for making a mistake, instead of being humble and asking for assistance to either support or change a decision.

Even corners, VAR can very quickly tell the ref, corner or not, Jesus. Basic stuff.

21 Mar 2026 20:54:30
VAR is the bigger issue. They looked at the 2 penalty shouts and decided differently for them. The ref makes a decision in real time, VAR gets to review it several times. VAR was shocking last night.

21 Mar 2026 13:54:42
Few points from the game yesterday excluding the controversial refereeing decisions:

1.) Carrick disappointing with the subs again, Casemiro looked off it all game, so leggy and Bournemouth are such an energetic team, he was bound to be exposed. Mbuemo has been poor for a while now, don't see any good reason why Sesko or even Zirkzee should not play in front of him.



2.) Evanilson yesterday was quality, a real good all round striker performance. If we do sell Zirkzee in the summer, would definitely love to see him signed to compete with Sesko. His overall game looks quality.

21 Mar 2026 15:23:09
The ramblings of a frustrated mind.

Amad was poor in the last few games. He should be dropped, Mbeumo right wing, Sesko up front. The team lacks a focal point. Sesko has done enough to get the start and be pushed to make a difference from the beginning.

Carrick has definitely not shown himself in a good light these past few games. Looks like he is sticking to defensive solidity above all else, and these are games we should be more controlling and getting into a solid lead.

Passing success rate was terrible. Dalot is a big part of that, he loses the ball a lot. We have Mas on the bench, but not playing him.

Noticeable that Dalot is stepping up into midfield in an attacking position quite a bit, making a 3-2-4-1. Is it working? Other teams don't bother to mark Dalot, he is not a threat.

Refs decisions were poor, but nothing we haven't seen in almost every other game this season. EPL refs are simply inconsistent. VAR is a gong show as well. How many times do we hear that they would have agreed if the ref had given it. We can't rely on good refs in games like these, we should be able to win regardless. Lucky that Liverpool dropped points again. Hopefully the same fate awaits Chelsea.

21 Mar 2026 16:33:08
Be careful stating the obvious, because the usual bunch will say you don't know what you're talking about and we played great.
I'm with you, Mbeumo is really off it since AFCON.

And we are getting really predictable and need something new in games!

21 Mar 2026 19:29:47
Doesn't look a bad point, just now.

21 Mar 2026 23:02:48
We have been relatively flat since the Arsenal and City games, and somewhat fortunate to have accumulated points whilst others have faltered.
Agree, Mbeumo and Amad have been bad. Sesko needs to start. It is killing the team.
Dalot and Shaw are both terrible.

22 Mar 2026 04:39:06
Carrick is clearly not sold 100% on Sesko, so at least try Obi, or even another false 9. If Mbeumo must play, put him back to his favoured position to try to get some form back.

We could easily drop Mbeumo or Amad, they are both in such poor form.

We will make top 4, let alone 5, but that is not solely because of us, but because the teams around are so erratic too.