Manchester United other posts

23 Dec 2025 11:05:06
I'm interested to see if Amorim gives Martinez more games in midfield over the next few games.

We are light of midfield options at the best of times, but with Bruno out for a while, and Mainoo having a mysterious injury just after his brother stirred the pot, that leaves us with just Casemiro once he's back from suspension and Ugarte as genuine midfield options. While we could also drop Mount into midfield if needed.

I've been dismissive of playing Martinez in midfield, I think he lacks a little in mobility which is why he was dropped back into defence while playing in the Netherlands. It also gives him a little more time to get his head up and pick his passes. He won't get that same amount of time and space in midfield, especially in the EPL.

Yet against Villa he was promising, good at times and not particularly exposed or caught out. Which given he is still coming back from injury and won't be fully match sharp yet was another positive to take out of the game.

Long term I don't think he's a great fit for Amorim's midfield which tends to need to be pretty physical and athletic to enable them to cover the ground and fill in the gaps that enables the wingbacks and forwards to rotate and play higher up the pitch.

However, in the short term he is positionally disciplined and understands how to read the game well from a defensive point of view. He knows when to dive in and when to hold his ground. He should be good at picking up midfield runners (which has been our Achilles heel this season) .

Ugarte has struggled as he is a mad dog midfielder, he runs around like a dog chasing a carrier bag in the wind. Which is great in a 3 man midfield as you have two others to cover the spaces he leaves behind, but in a 2 man midfield it often leads the other midfielder with far too much space to cover. Bruno Fernandes has the same issue, his desire to press and win the ball back means he often jumps when he should hold his position. If he wins it then problem solved, but when he doesn't it leaves big gaps centrally to be attacked.

Amorim has tried to counter that issue this season by asking MdL to push higher into midfield alongside Casemiro to make sure we still have that duo to cover the space, or by inverting Dalot more centrally to cover that space. However, both "solutions" also create new problems either by asking the two remaining CB's to cover half the pitch each defensively, or by opening up space to attack down the flank when Dalot has tucked in. That tends to pull the CB on that side out wide and means one of the midfield players needs to drop in, which leaves the space in front of our defence for an opposing midfield runner and with no one to track them.

Our midfield shape keeps getting exposed because our midfielders have a tendency to chase the ball and to step out of midfield to try and press without consideration for the space they leave behind. Even Casemiro has more of a tendency to step out, although he does it less often unless he knows there is cover behind him.

Maybe Martinez could provide that balance we have been missing, a player who can both win the ball back and distribute it effectively, but understands team shape and when to step out and when to hold his position.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to try him there for a couple of games while we are so short of options. At the very least it'll give us a better idea of how this system should work when you have the right profile of players in the right positions.

Interesting to see what the manager does over the next few games.

27 Dec 2025 06:27:51
Strangely, Ugarte, overall, did well against Newcastle after a typical start with bad touches etc. he kind of grew into the game.

27 Dec 2025 23:52:49
I hope he never plays in midfield because if he does we will be desperate like we were against villa.
He can step in to do a job if we are shorthanded but won't play there when we have midfielders available i suspect.

17 Dec 2025 05:24:33
We are almost at the half way stage of the season, 26 points from 16 games, lying 6th in the table, joint second highest scorers, but shocking in defence at times.

So is the season panning out as we expected, should we be doing better, or is some of the progress we have seen enough at this stage?

17 Dec 2025 12:26:14
I would say, yes, as far as the number of goals we're scoring which I predicted would be much higher with proven EPL goal scorers like Cunha and Mbuemo coming into the squad. The defense is shakier than I expected but we've had injuries to de Ligt and Maguire which is leaving a very young group to succeed behind an unreinforced midfield. I had hoped Ugarte would step up, but he's clearly not suited.

Mainoo is still struggling but maybe gets his chance against Villa with Cas suspended. However, in this set up, partnering Bruno, I think we'll get beaten comfortably. So, from a defensive point of view we're worse than I expected. But we all knew that midfield was going to be a problem. it's not a surprise that we're struggling.

17 Dec 2025 18:48:48
Grim a little frustrated.
I can think of a few games West ham Everton Bournemouth at home and Fulham away in particular where we have thrown points away.
Its very fine margins when you consider that 3 more points would see is 4th.
Our squad is just not good enough or deep enough and unbalanced but i think we all knew it would take a few windows so expectations have to be realistic.

Hopes never have to be realistic.
We have improved our attacking play but due to lack of particular skill sets in our midfield options our improved attacking output is being undermined by bad defencive play particularly vrunners from midfield and consequently our defenders get pulled all over the place.
We've brought in pace and better technical ability in attack we need to do the same in midfield.

18 Dec 2025 18:23:19
I think we have progressed, but I'm also conscious that most teams have been very inconsistent. The Liverpool game was the highlight for me.

We're scoring a lot more, which is great, but we have rarely looked convincing. Cunha and Mbuemo look ike very good buys and Sesko clearly has potential.

Lack of energy and urgency has been an issue as has conceding some silly goals, ut myngib concern has been RA's obsession with his formation. Against Grimsby and 10 man Everton we stayed with the same formation when some balls and creativity were required. Only in the last game did we seem to change it up a little, hopefully a sign of some flexibility.

We are also more resilient, we don't panic when we concede and have weathered some storms in games and come through them.

I remain unconvinced by RA but we have made progress so fair play, let's hope it can continue.

19 Dec 2025 07:23:15
Ajh how many teams that play 433 change their shape when losing?

19 Dec 2025 08:43:46
At home, against 10 men, or away against a League 2 team, most Managers would have shaken it up. Look, I see progress, but he is wedded to a formation, whatever the circumstances. He's young, maybe he will evolve.

19 Dec 2025 09:56:44
He did shake it up just didn't work. Its not like he didn't make changes. You didn't like his changes and they didn't work on the night so it gives everybody a reason to know better in hindsight.

20 Dec 2025 15:37:14
Yeah RA is great at changing like for like, let’s take of 3 defenders every game and replace them with oh wait 3 defenders! RA is far too robotic and stubborn for his own good, very naive and in game management is a disaster.

21 Dec 2025 12:13:45
Overall I'd say it's going pretty much as I expected it to. I think we have slightly benefitted from an overall slight downturn from the majority of sides that finished in the top half last season.

That's lead to a very compacted mid-table up to 3rd place, where a single weekend of results going your way could see you jump from 7th or 8th up to 4th place potentially.

The key this season looks to be consistency, the teams that can smooth out the peaks and troughs will be the ones to get UCL football. They might not play the most entertaining or dominant football, but they will also not lose when they play poorly.

I think the majority of fans are easily caught up in the excitement, bravado, and media chatter at the end of the transfer window.

Look at Liverpool fans this summer, they're club did a madness this summer, and the fans and many others thought they'd walk the league after winning it last time and spending a record 446m over the summer signing some top players in the process.

Yet as the season has panned out it's becoming clear that signing that number of big signings has upset the apple cart, while they clearly haven't signed players in other key positions of need. Did they for example need to spend the 125m to sign Isak while Ekitike was doing so well having just signed for them? Or would that money have been better spent on a CB or a defensive midfielder? Was Frimpong the right profile of player to replace TAA? Was signing Wirtz the right thing to do while Salah was given a new deal and was obviously going to be the main man still?

Spending huge sums of money, even on what on paper looks like good signings doesn't always pan out the way you hope or expect. I do think if Liverpool ride this out end make the right moves going forward then in time most of this summer's deals will look like good business when looking back. The problem seems to be that many of their signings look far better suited to a 343 team shape, Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike would all benefit from it, as would both Frimpong and Kerkez. The issue seems to be that they don't have enough CB's to play with a back three, and they lack a true defensive midfielder to shield the back four.

If they have a player like Caicedo to play alongside any of Gravenberch, Mac Alister, or Szboszalai in midfield, along with someone like Schlotterbeck along with Guehi. Then suddenly that team looks really well balanced and could be a real force. Obviously Caicedo isn't going to be available, but Baleba would be the next best signing for them. He has everything to be as good as Caicedo.

But this is the point, the spending has to be on the right players and work with what you have and are trying to build on.

Like Liverpool with Salah this summer I think we made a mistake not moving on Bruno. Both clubs should have sold their best player and reinvested that money to help the team transition towards the next team it's trying to become. Both players are too good to bench without a backlash, but both will hold back the current side when they play.

Looking at us this summer it was clear we needed a full rebuild. Now I know some people will say "what again? " But I'd argue that we haven't ever committed to a full rebuild, we've spent big on sticking plasters to try and cheat our way back into challenging for titles. But a true rebuild means knocking down what currently exists. It means shipping out players, and not just the obvious ones who haven't made it with us, but the ones who have been successful but aren't part of the long term future.

We did a good job this summer, I'm pleased with all the business we did. If I was being greedy selling Bruno and bringing in Baleba would have moved us further along in this rebuild. But I understand why the club were reluctant to sever ties with our best player, the main source of our goals and chances creation. Especially when the club also moved on Garnacho and our goal scoring and chance creation would have largely fallen on the three new forward signings, none of which were guaranteed to work out.

However, despite the good moves in our forward line there was still much work to be done. The defence needs an overhaul, we have some quality there, but we lack depth and the profiles of the players isn't ideal for the style of play we want to use. Yoro and Heaven look like good long term options, but lack experience and consistency. MdL looks like the only top level long term option. Shaw, Martinez, Maguire and Mazraoui all offer some quality, but none are long term options either due to age, injury, or simply because they aren't the right profile of player we need.

In midfield we need a total rebuild, at least two most likely three new players needed. Casemiro is the best of the bunch, but is in decline and still isn't the ideal profile of player. Bruno is a square peg in a round hole, forced in because he's too good not to have in the team and is still the best option in the squad alongside Casemiro even with his flaws in this position. Ugarte just hasn't adapted to the EPL, and Mainoo could grow into the role, but he seems to lack the patience required. He needs to look at Amad as the example, he moved here as a 19 year old, didn't get his chances right away, had to go on two loan spells and sit on the bench and watch a much worse player in Antony get games ahead of him. Yet he kept his head down, worked hard in training to improve what he needed to develop with his game and he is now reaping the rewards. He is still only just turned 23, three years Mainoo's senior, yet still considered a young player. Mainoo's lack of patience will be his undoing at United and instead of us signing two new players to replace Bruno, Casemiro and Ugarte this summer it looks like we will need 3 new midfielders as Mainoo will also join the list of those leaving.

Finally there is debate about our wingbacks, Amad has nailed down the role in the right, but Dorgu still has some developing to do on the left. Although we do have both Amass and Leon as young options coming through, there is an arguement that we could do with another senior player who is top tier right now to give us balance and give the younger lads time and space to develop out of the spotlight.

So to expect more from the team than we are seeing when it's clear we still need a total rebuild in midfield and at CB, with at least 4 maybe 5 new signings needed in those areas as well as a top level wingback, would be foolish to the extreme.

We are doing well and on course, but there is a still a lot of work to do, and a lot of growth and development needed with this squad. They need the two things the vast majority of fans are unable or unwilling to give them, time and patience.

25 Nov 2025 07:22:40
What is found concerning last night was RA reluctance to change formation to a more attacking one. It was Southgate esque football last night.

1-0 down, at OT and we played into Evertons hands. The extra man was never utilised. It really showed that RA doesn't have a plan B or C.

I really can't see Utd getting a result at Palace on Sunday.

The joys of supporting Utd!

25 Nov 2025 10:29:46
The good news is that Palace play away in Europe on Thursday. If we manage to have less energy than them I think it’s time to move Amorim on.

25 Nov 2025 11:16:02
GSD2,

I think December will become a critical month for RA. He is clearly obstinate. His tactics cost Utd last night.

I don't think we could actually find a fan who would defend RA tactics last night. They were woefully wrong.

25 Nov 2025 20:11:11
Totally agree. Let’s not sugar coat it. Last night was dreadful.

26 Nov 2025 22:18:16
I'm still surprised by the pure lack of tactical understanding by most casual fans.

To be fair it doesn't help when the commentators and pundits are so clueless.

They keep saying 343 is a defensive shape/style, yet they clearly can't count.

343 is a shape that has THREE defenders, four midfielders and three forwards.

442/4231/433 is a shape that has FOUR defenders.

Now I might not be the sharpest tool in the box, but even I can understand that four is a bigger number than three.

So exactly how does playing one LESS defender make a team more defensive.

27 Nov 2025 05:58:17
Got nothing to do with initial numbers. Typically 343 is more defensive because the two wingbacks drop back (or should! ) to form a 5 man defence in defensive phase.

This has its own issues in that it depends entirely on the wingbacks dropping back with discipline.

Similarly they need to advance quickly in their own attacking phase as it could potentially leave the midfield low on numbers.

27 Nov 2025 06:40:52
Keefy, there is no typically about it. Every team regardless of formation does things differently.

There is no set way of playing a formation.

When we play 343 it works fine when we have the right players to do what the manager wants, i. e. Amad playing in the wingback role meaning we have a wingback whose natural tendency is to attack.

We struggle more when either Dalot or Mazraoui play as their natural instincts are to stay deeper and defend. Which pulls our team out of shape and makes things difficult for us.

Every team regardless of team shape/formation will look to make sure they have a man advantage both when defending and ideally when attacking. In that regard football is just a numbers game.

But there is nothing inherently defensive about the 343 shape despite the dumbass pundits insistence there is.

27 Nov 2025 09:50:18
Isn’t that what I said?

Typically - usually or normally, not exclusively.

Teams (not all) will use the 343 formation with the right cattle on the park to provide a better defensive structure with the ability to transition to an offensive structure. Of course there will be exceptions and team execute it differently.

Either way thanks for essentially agreeing!

Thanks also for pointing out that football is a numbers game. 40 years of playing and coaching and I never knew that! See you can teach an old dog new tricks!

20 Nov 2025 19:08:11
Noooooooooo!

Mani. RIP PAL!


Legend of two legendary bands. Devastated To say the least.

20 Nov 2025 19:34:47
The Stone Roses were and still are my favourite ever band, and Mani was the beating heart of it.

When the bass kicks in at the start of I want to Be Adored. Goosebumps ❤️

Genuinely gutted. RIP, Mani. 😔.

13 Nov 2025 20:38:55
Dalots defensive ability being thoroughly exposed by Ireland here, long balls being pinged into the right every chance they can get. COYBIG!

14 Nov 2025 10:50:03
Utd really do need to upgrade Dalot. Selling g him woukd be pure profit aswell.

14 Nov 2025 11:29:52
Ireland played the ball every chance they got and more often than not he was ball watching like he does every week for us great for me as an Ireland fan but as a united one he was appalling.