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DonRed's rumours posts with other poster's replies to DonRed's rumours posts
08 Oct 2025 22:35:14
It seems the club are in talks with Maguire for a new deal. He did better last year but he isn't good enough I'm afraid. We need to be improving on him if we're to get anywhere. Just on monetary grounds I'm perplexed by this as surely he'd have to accept well under 50% of his current contract for this to even be a discussion.
1.) 09 Oct 2025 08:57:38
Good squad player, experienced head and leader in the dressing room. What’s the problem?
2.) 09 Oct 2025 09:20:25
I imagine a wage cut will be part of it as his on field time will likely drop but a solid professional to have around.
3.) 09 Oct 2025 09:24:26
He is a squad player, not a good one. Too old, slow, ponderous and he will sit on bench with little or no return for the investment.
Time to move on and not end up with another old player taking up space.
But then it ain’t no secret what I think about slabhead.
4.) 09 Oct 2025 10:44:32
Culpable for many goals conceded. He has never been at the required level for a top CB.
As per Keefy T, he is slow and ponderous. Utd need to continue to add quality and not mediocre players to challenge for the top 4, even top 6.
I think it was down to Southgate picking him for England that has kept Maguire at Utd for so long.
5.) 09 Oct 2025 11:02:37
Eric79 I listed the problems! I don't get the idea of having someone in the dressing room that is unlikely to play. That either blocks a young kid coming through or it means we don't get in a replacement. And paying someone at least 100k/ week to have the privilege of having them sit beside the players that are on the pitch definitely doesn't make sense to me.
6.) 09 Oct 2025 11:15:13
Get rid, he is beyond crap and has been one of the constants over the last few years as we have slowly descended into the abyss we currently find ourselves trying to pull ourselves out from.
19 Oct 2023 13:04:37
I was reading today that Sancho has been "put up for sale". I was wondering if any of the Eds could clarify how such a thing occurs. Does a club actually create a list of those players they are looking to sell. Obviously I'd expect there to be a list of players whose contracts are expiring, but, is there a formal process that clubs undertake. I'd always assumed what happened is that the club tells the agent of the player that they should start looking for a new club and that clubs learn of availability that way, but that seems like a really poor way to do things.
{Ed002's Note - They will inform his agent or place an ad in the Manchester Evening News "Donkeys for Sale Call ...".}
1.) 19 Oct 2023 17:16:12
We'll be lucky if we get any interest at the sale cost and his salary cost. Another sterling piece of business coming back to bite us
Presumably also Ed he would be entitled to a considerable payout from us as he has not requested this transfer?
It will end up costing us money to get rid of him.
2.) 19 Oct 2023 18:21:56
We're not very good at selling, I imagine he'll go on loan for the remainder of the season and he'll spend that on his best behaviour to secure a move unless it's a commitment to buy.
3.) 20 Oct 2023 08:53:26
Strong rumours that Nice are going to be putting in a £100 million bid in!
4.) 19 Oct 2023 16:37:33
Bit harsh on the donkeys ed, they turn up everyday on time and ready to work at Blackpool beach.
5.) 19 Oct 2023 17:00:06
It’s where we buy ours players from too Ed.
6.) 21 Oct 2023 20:58:16
Going by Amrabat performance and most of the team, does Manchester evening news have a lost and found section, because can’t believe we actually spent money on this shower!
7.) 22 Oct 2023 19:50:48
Amrabat is on loan and has started pretty well considering he had to play some games at left back
to begin with.
8.) 25 Oct 2023 07:55:20
Oh yeah GDS. Arambat was so great again tonight he only lasted 44 mins, even the ref had enough by then!
He is far too slow and ponderous just 5 yard passes back and forth, just not at the level required but then of the new acquisitions who is! But your happy with mid table I forgot.
9.) 25 Oct 2023 15:00:47
The problem is fitting in Eriksen who can only do half a game. He has made an impact every times he's come in on this way all season. Amrabat was the one to give way, no biggie.
More interested in what we'll go with on Sunday, but you can bet your bottom dollar Eriksen wil come on anytime after half time. Hopefully we'll still be in it at that point.
10.) 26 Oct 2023 11:16:38
No wonder Sancho fired back so would i if my boss slated me in public how bad is Sancho when Antony 1 of the worst players iv seen at UTD plays ahead of him mind boggling you spent 160 mill on that pair no wonder youve the ffp at the door. The Glazers get slated but boy do they spend money just on some terrible players who spots them stevie wonder.
11.) 28 Oct 2023 00:57:29
I'll start the bidding at £3.50.
04 Dec 2018 16:54:34
Ed002 if you're not doing a sharkopod then can I ask if there looks to be several ins-and-outs (2 or 3, say) this winter. I know it's usually not a time for major movements but there are serious leaks to plug - mainly in central defence and midfield - that left alone could leave us well out of the top 6, nevermind top 4 very soon.
{Ed002's Note - I really don'tr want to get involved too much on this page for a while. Too much grief.}
1.) 04 Dec 2018 23:38:31
Ed 02
Sorry to see your voice of insight and sanity disappear yet again.
I understand and respect your decision but am disappointed - not in you but in the fact you will be greatly missed.
I will say thanks and Au revoir in the hope you will return.
2.) 05 Dec 2018 00:02:13
Ed will return just let the situation with Mourinho clear up.
14 Apr 2016 12:30:51
Ed001, I saw you mentioning that we're looking at loads of players and that centre backs are being prioritised along with a marquee/ vanity signing. Which positions do you think we should be looking at.
From my perspective, I think there are lots of deadwood in the squad but for the first team picture we could have
de Gea/ suitable replacement; Fosu-Mensah, Smalling, New Signing 1, Shaw; New Signing 2, Schneiderlin/ Herrera; New Signing 3, Mata/ Herrera, Martial; New Signing 4
with Romero, CBJ, Darmian, Varela, Blind, Pereira, Lingard, Rashford being the key squad players to rotate in and out to this side. Most of the rest of the squad could be sold to fund the new signings. Is there any solid rumours on which players are being moved on?
{Ed001's Note - thinking about it, I have not heard anything regarding outs, other than De Gea. I will have to ask, as there must be at least one or two on the move, other than him.}
1.) 15 Apr 2016 01:02:40
Ed001 is de gea off from what you hear? I think we need to keep him. how many other keepers make the saves as consistently as save? He's our best player week in week out we need to build a decent defence for him.
{Ed001's Note - it is the most likely scenario. Not 100%, well nothing is, but they are not expected to make a mere token gesture this summer.}
DonRed's banter posts with other poster's replies to DonRed's banter posts
10 May 2026 16:14:59
Yesterday highlighted continuing performance issues with Carrick. I think there is sufficient evidence now to suggest that Carrick shouldn't be top of the second tier of coaches considered. The top tier is small - Nagelsman, Enrique, Pochettino are amongst this group. Second tier has Carrick, Iraola, Glasner, etc. And I think there are too many unanswered questions around Carrick to not push for top tier. And Iraola must be regarded above Carrick too imo.
If we can't get those then Carrick has shown he can get results. As described ad nauseum we need a coach that can play more than just counter attack and can show an ability to set up systems of play that demonstrate a control in games.
It's a big summer ahead. If Ederson rumours are true, that's a good start. Huge upgrade on Ugarte. Good enough to start, but we need two more CMs.
1.) 10 May 2026 17:47:28
I am not convinced. How can you be sure that Poch is in the top tier? Based on what exactly?
2.) 10 May 2026 18:17:31
A lot of people do, but you are focusing on a minor detail. You're just raising a straw man there.
3.) 10 May 2026 18:36:04
Like focusing on the detail of 'he won nothing', I guess that’s where I am going wrong. Yeah, let’s have another who won sweet FA, like Ten and Amorim, Moyes to name a few. Surely, if it’s the like of Poch, we might as well stick with Carrick.
To mention Poch in the same breath as Enrique is a step far, far too far. It’s like stating Yoro is world class, or Ugarte is a supreme midfielder. It’s just utterly ridiculous on a global scale.
4.) 10 May 2026 18:41:29
It's all a bit odd, Don. He's smashed the points pwr game, but the football has often been pretty dire and uninspiring. I also wish he'd show a bit more emotion. I'm all for calm and considered, but he takes it to extremes in the desire not to say anything controversial.
Enrique, I get. Nagelsmann much less so; the players at Bayern basically laughed at him.
I used to like Poch, but his career took a strange turn. Iraola is interesting, I worry about the step up, but he could get Bournemouth into the Champions League, which would be mad.
I struggle to see great candidates, but that doesn't mean I think Carrick would be a good appointment. ?
5.) 10 May 2026 19:14:55
Your argument collapsed when you mentioned Nagelsmann and Poch as top-tier coaches.
The best three coaches in the world at the moment are Pep, Ancelotti and Enrique. Unless we are signing one of them, which we aren't, everyone else, including Carrick, is a risk.
6.) 10 May 2026 19:32:21
Ok then, Grim, read what I said with those names. Top tier merely means those coaches that would be in contention for any major job that comes available. If you don't agree those names aren't mentioned in that context, I think you are mistaken. It's clearly not the main point. Wood from the trees, lads.
7.) 11 May 2026 03:42:44
Poch has not been named for a top job for ages, in fact he is like the forgotten man. Nagelsmann only ever gets mentioned on these pages, so hardly top-drawer coaches either of them. I would say I would prefer Carrick, as he is less of a risk than either of them, but he is not a great choice.
17 Mar 2026 22:18:46
Mazraoui now an AFCON champion! Others may disagree but I think CAF have made the right call eventually. Senegal walked off the pitch. That's a forfeit. Simple as that really.
1.) 17 Mar 2026 22:32:21
Did you watch the tournament? The number of dodgy decisions that went Morocco's way was ridiculous, the most obviously fraudulent excuse of a tournament in history.
There was absolutely no need for all the players to travel, train, and spend so much time away from their clubs, as Morocco's name was on the trophy from before the first ball was kicked.
2.) 17 Mar 2026 22:38:11
I did, Shappy. But they walked off the pitch. That's an abandonment. You are conflating that with a separate issue. One does not excuse the other. And one is the suspicion of corruption, which we cannot be sure of.
Senegal walked off due to a correctly disallowed goal, followed by a correctly allowed penalty to the opposition. At least that was my judgement of those incidents, which I did watch, fwiw. Did you?
3.) 18 Mar 2026 06:32:04
It's a joke of a tournament. It's even more corrupt than FIFA.
4.) 18 Mar 2026 06:33:58
I agree, they should be stripped of the title. It sets a dangerous precedent if they aren't. Teams can just walk off before a penalty is taken and leave the player 15 minutes before he has to take it otherwise.
Whether the decisions were correct or not (I think they were soft but not exactly the worst decisions you'll ever see), you can't just walk off. If you suspect cheating, don't play the game.
5.) 18 Mar 2026 07:21:00
Brahim Diaz for Ballon d'Or!
Make them play again, I say.
6.) 18 Mar 2026 10:04:56
They should have been stripped the day after.
7.) 18 Mar 2026 12:09:15
It was almost as corrupt as the 2022 World Cup.
8.) 18 Mar 2026 13:42:25
Wait till you see how Donald messes with the next WC.
9.) 18 Mar 2026 16:47:42
CAS will overturn this. Ridiculous decision, so many months after.
10.) 19 Mar 2026 01:17:31
The delay, whilst ridiculous, isn't relevant. Any appeal will hinge on one thing - is it discretionary for the referee to decide if Senegal abandoned the game. If it is, then clearly, as he didn't do so at the time, Senegal will win the appeal; if, on the other hand, walking off the pitch automatically means an abandoned game, then they won't.
02 Nov 2025 16:31:58
Eds my posts seem to still be blocked on the Banter page. If there is a reason for this let me know but otherwise can you stop doing this.
{Ed033's Note - Ok, you're no longer on jankers.
22 Sep 2025 18:22:07
Really good to see De Ligt get some praise. Several posters here I think really underrate him. I get why Amorim played him at RCB as he's more aggressive than Yoro but Maguire in the central position is worrying given his lack of pace. However until Licha is back I think we'll see this again. As the season goes on I expect our first choice back three will be Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez.
1.) 22 Sep 2025 18:35:38
Always rates him. Think he’s our best defender on his day followed by Martinez and then yoro.
2.) 22 Sep 2025 21:18:54
Delighted when we signed him, and delighted he is beginning to show what a good player he is.
3.) 23 Sep 2025 08:39:18
I really like De Ligt and think he is growing into the team a lot more and will likely see more time over the next couple of seasons with Maguire likely to leave next season.
Will be interesting to see where Amorim lands him long term whether as the centre CB or the right sided CB and in turn where Yoro lands. Expect some rotation over the next few weeks.
4.) 23 Sep 2025 12:10:58
The thing with De Ligt that has always set him apart from many of his peers is his brain.
Since he left Ajax, his capacity to grow as a player has been somewhat stymied by injury gremlins and the pressure brought by the intense spotlight and scrutiny after big fees are thrown about.
What we are now seeing is:
A. A more mature player who can handle the pressure better, and,
B. A player who has had the time and platform to assess and adapt his game to accommodate the EPL style of football.
I've questioned his pace and acceleration, but I've never doubted his IQ - he is fast becoming our defensive rock and is now among the very first names on the teamsheet.
This 'Leadership Group' thing has merit, but out on the pitch, commitment and trust present the real group that matters, and De Ligt is right up there in that one.
5.) 24 Sep 2025 08:54:17
He's been a very underrated player. I think because he's played for both Juventus and Bayern before joining us many were under the impression that he had "failed" at both other clubs. Which just isn't the case.
Juventus only sold him due to FFP and Bayern made a huge offer for him. Logically something they wouldn't have done if he had flopped at Juventus.
Bayern only sold him due to them having bought several other CB's to cover for injuries, then had too many and were looking to sell one of them. Apparently only Kim Min-Jae if the CB's was not available at the time. We made a good offer and he was prepared to move to play with his former manager.
6.) 24 Sep 2025 19:38:56
I like what you did there Eric ??.
29 Jun 2024 22:26:23
It's going to be interesting to see if Chelsea, Aston Villa and others get punished for these swap deals. Little doubt the fees are inflated. As I understand it the EPL wrote to the 20 clubs to explain this type of deal wasn't allowed. Chelsea have already taken advantage of some loopholes in their abnormally long contract amortisation (being closed thankfully) but they may have stretched it too far this time.
1.) 29 Jun 2024 22:49:57
‘Acting in good faith’ is supposedly what’s being looked at.
I’ve never heard anything so open to interpretation.
2.) 30 Jun 2024 00:29:12
Not sure how Chelsea have inflated any fees. Maatsen had a £35m clause in his contract that only BD could activate as part of the loan deal. Burnley offered £30-32m last summer which Chelsea had accepted but Maatsen turned down. An extra £5-7.5m given he’s had a year more experience + his performances in the CL at Dortmund make the £37.5m fee seem reasonable.
If talking about the Kellyman deal, Chelsea paid Aston Villa £20m for Carney Chukwemeka 2 years ago and he had a similar amount of PL experience. Given the way transfer fees have risen even over the last 2 years, it would be a struggle to prove it was artificially inflated.
3.) 30 Jun 2024 08:24:45
Fsuser I wasn't aware of that Burnley bid. My only recollection of that was a bid in the 15-20M range. This fee puts Maasten in the top few fees ever paid by Villa. The Kellyman fee at 17M for a player with so little experience can also be explained at a stretch but both fees sit at the extreme upper ends for what could be expected for these players. What seems fair is the difference in value between the two players. Ultimately I expect you are right and they'll escape sanction.
4.) 30 Jun 2024 09:00:40
It's just a way of getting funds in before the end of the season. A sale registers into the accounts straight away, whereas a purchase can be spread across the length of the contract.
5.) 30 Jun 2024 11:30:05
At worst they've exploited a loophole, immoral maybe, but they haven't broken any rules. As such they can't be punished for it.
The authorities might look to try and close the loophole for next year if possible. But they can't back date sanctions for those who used it prior to it being closed.
We just need to tip our hat to them, well played. But let's keep the focus on our own lane and not what others are doing.
6.) 30 Jun 2024 13:05:12
Exploiting a loophole isn't something I'm inclined to tip my hat towards. We've a bunch to do this year but having teams like Chelsea try exploit gaps in the law and go outside their intent makes the whole effort unequal and I think that's a clear concern for everyone.
7.) 30 Jun 2024 13:08:04
--------------Move on from finances---------------
{Ed002's Note -The PL did not write to "the 20 clubs to explain this type of deal wasn't allowed". There have been no "loopholes" exploited by Chelsea. You need to stop with all of these posts sharing misinformation.}
8.) 30 Jun 2024 14:38:38
DonRed, I fail to see how both are at their extreme upper ends of what’s to be expected. A quick google search shows that Burnley (a promoted team) had a bid of £31.5m accepted last summer. The fact that BD accepted a £35m clause in the loan sets his value for this summer. On top of all that Home Grown players always have a premium on them. United paid £30m for an 18 year old Luke Shaw 10 years ago. Given the way transfer fees have gone over the last 10 years, if you were to be buying a 18 y/ o LS today he’d probably cost £50-60m. In fact United paid £50m for AWB 5 years ago. So if taken into context, a 22 y/ o HG LB for less than £40m is actually quite a fair deal.
Again when Chelsea paid £20m for Carney 2 years ago there was no one crying foul and saying they were manipulating the market. And Chelsea actually enquired about buying Kellyman at the same time as they bought Carney, so their interest in him has been long term.
What does the difference in values between Maatsen and Kellyman have to do with anything? If United buy Branthwaite for £60m and sell Everton either AWB or Lindelof for £15m should they be investigated? Not sure what’s being clutched more; straws or your pearls.
9.) 30 Jun 2024 20:44:05
United are probably the worst for overpaying, perhaps rather than being useless we spent the last decade helping out teams in trouble, footballs good Samaritan, it would explain our plethora of crap choices anyway.
10.) 30 Jun 2024 20:07:55
-----------Stop all of the bullshit and misinformation--------------------
11.) 30 Jun 2024 20:11:15
-------------You simply don't undertand any of this and are being embarrassing----------------
13 May 2026 14:38:19
You know my thoughts already, Angel. I think our performances have greatly lagged our results under Carrick, and we've seen no evidence he can set up in anything other than a counter attacking style. There are numerous amber flags from his time in Middlesbrough that we have seen here, e.g., poor rotation of the squad members, and so on.
The counterpoint is that there are obvious flaws in our squad and that his results have been good. In close game scenarios, i.e., the start of the game at 0-0 or when a goal behind, we've seen the xG performance is consistent with Amorim, which suggests that he hasn't caused a performance regression, so it may be a conservative approach towards protecting a lead, which has worked.
The players also seem to like him, and getting a coach appointed now gives good clarity.
So, despite my reservations, I'll support the guy, and hopefully he pushes on and those amber flags are lowered.
01 May 2026 09:49:17
Nagelsman (obviously Enrique is the utopian answer but I'll assume he's not available).
30 Apr 2026 16:41:03
Very impressive coach. Obviously, the questions will surround as to whether he can build a title-winning squad, but he has to be top of the second tier of managers being considered - a tier in which I see Carrick also, fwiw.
30 Apr 2026 07:22:00
Angel, of course I don't, but inference is a thing! Rashford most obviously wasn't putting in the effort for a long time. He didn't track back, and it was very clear he wasn't following the coaches' instructions. That's part of the toxicity I'm referring to. And, many at the club took that view, which is why he was loaned out.
29 Apr 2026 20:41:21
God almighty, Eric. We have to move on. If there's one thing everyone should agree on, it's that the squad is much better after Amorim than before. That's because the toxic players were shipped out. Why take one back in? Just baffling.
19 May 2026 15:06:54
I'd expect it to be something like a 25 point deduction and 2 years of a transfer ban. It should relate to a deduction that is severe enough to relegate them, but the precedence set with the Chelsea punishment has lowered the bar significantly. I think something like that would probably ensure less of a chance of appeal, since, on appeal, they could threaten to increase the punishment.
The failure to cooperate with the EPL investigations should be dealt with most severely, but it is there that I'd expect them to be most lenient. There are about a dozen charges related to FFP and PSR, and it is those ones that I think will carry the bulk of the punishment. It's all guesswork, of course, at this stage.
18 May 2026 15:02:29
Fwiw, we give up a lot of chances because we play counter attack. It can be exciting when done right, like PSG and Bayern do, but we do so in an uncontrolled way, where we just play a low block and surrender possession.
It works great when we get the first goal, but it comes a cropper when we have to chase a game. It's the argument several of us have made about Carrick's style, but hopefully good recruitment will allow a style he hasn't shown this far.
18 May 2026 14:54:08
I'd love to see us get someone like Murillo. But raiding Forest for both him and Anderson might be too much!
I'd classify it as Musts, Shoulds and Coulds.
Absolute musts are a right back and a centre midfielder.
Shoulds are a left back, centre back, another CM.
Coulds are another forward player, a third CM.
Those move depending on sales. Selling Zirkzee, for instance, makes that forward player move up the priority list.
17 May 2026 10:21:19
Caicedo and James, absolutely. I steer miles away from Enzo. Too many issues surround him. Gusto, I like too. Hato and Andrey Santos. Basically, Chelsea's midfield is excellent, the rest is very hit and miss.
15 May 2026 09:37:53
A Right Sodding Epithet.