Current Avatar:
No Avatar image uploaded
No Avatar image uploaded
Manchester United Rumours Member Posts
DonRed's Profile
DonRed's Posts and Other Poster's Replies To DonRed's Posts
To DonRed's last 5 rumours posts
To DonRed's last 5 banter posts
To DonRed's last 5 rumour replies
To DonRed's last 5 banter replies
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
04 Jun 2026 15:01:47
I messaged some time ago saying that I thought Van Hecke of Brighton would be worth looking at this summer. Others disagreed. But if Spurs bid of 70M is true, that is certainly way too high. The rationale is that he's the centre of a lot of their progressive plays like Lisandro Martinez is for us.
But either way if Spurs are setting the bar that high, I hope we do our business quickly before it goes any higher!
1.) 04 Jun 2026 16:55:56
Don't think Spurs have bid £70m for Van Hecke; that is the supposed valuation Brighton have put on him.
One thing we have seen over recent seasons is that, when it comes to negotiations, Brighton are very hard to deal with.
They still want a lot for Baleba, despite his form this season.
Mind you, Van Hecke is a very good player. We shall see what happens there.
2.) 04 Jun 2026 17:27:34
Absolutely crazy money, if it turns out to be true. He is a quality player, but 70 million for a centre back is crazy.
3.) 04 Jun 2026 17:41:21
Would you not pay £70m for another Rio or Vidic? I would.
4.) 04 Jun 2026 17:54:43
I believe he has one year left, so the price is ridiculous, as he could leave on a free in a year.
5.) 04 Jun 2026 18:25:12
Vidic and Rio are hard to find. Salford, look what we paid for Maguire and how that worked out, but definitely, if we could find one, it'd be a no brainer.
6.) 04 Jun 2026 19:17:56
I've said before on here that I would love to sign Nico Schlotterbeck, think he is that type of player, tall, strong, athletic, very quick, very strong in the air, good tackler and good on the ball.
I would happily pay £80m for him. He has recently signed a new contract with Borussia Dortmund, but there is a release clause of approx.
EUR60m for certain clubs. Don't think we are on the list of 'chosen ones' though.
Worth trying a big bid and see what happens, although don't expect anything to come of it. What the hell!
7.) 04 Jun 2026 19:19:27
The BBC article has since been edited. It erroneously said the initial bid was 70m, and now just states that Brighton value him at 70m. I think he's good enough, even if only one year on his contract, to pay up to 40-50m on, but that 70m figure floored me!
8.) 04 Jun 2026 23:31:30
Maguire has actually proved to be a good buy. Went through a difficult time, but worked his way back into the team, and overall has been pretty solid. Scored lots of important goals too. Overpriced at £80m, but that's not his fault.
{Ed077's Note - he's not a good buy because as you said, he was overpriced ( massively in my view ). But, he's dealt with the situation really well in the past couple of years.
9.) 06 Jun 2026 09:52:30
Awful buy.
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 ??.
21 Jun 2026 00:26:41
Dunno, Fallguy. I think 60M + add-ons is value for him. Does 10M more mean it's awful value?
I don't think we can get Wharton, Scott, or any of those others for under 60M either, so that's just what the market is. 70M is high, but it's not ridiculous either.
24 May 2026 15:12:00
Shappy, we have options at RB, but not good ones. My point is that our priority is not the squad, but the first XI. Your post pretty much just says you think the squad is the priority. We disagree.
Fwiw, I'm far happier with LB if Shaw is the starter and backup is Mazraoui.
Dorgu can also cover there, as you said. That's far stronger than what we have at RB. I'm perplexed that this is even a conversation, tbh. Do you really think Dalot is good enough?
22 May 2026 23:51:08
The priorities have to be the first XI.
So that's CM and RB.
Then it's improving our options in areas we're lacking depth:
CM, LB and ST (assuming Zirkzee is sold).
Only then comes LW, another CM and another CB come in.
The one I'm least sure of there is CB, but that depends on whether there is a doubt on De Ligt returning at all.
20 May 2026 20:45:05
We are going nowhere with Dalot as a regular starter. Mazraoui is a really good footballer, but lacks pace. We definitely need a right back.
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.
21 Jun 2026 00:23:53
Nicely done, Eric.
18 Jun 2026 22:34:19
We sell him. A loan isn't an option. We might well pay him off if we get 35-40M to the tune of up to 10M, I'd imagine. Then he'll accept a lower salary (because it'll be same overall) and he'll go. That's the worst case, most drawn out version of this.
18 Jun 2026 20:21:27
Or use the money to invest. Lots of businesses and countries grow via debt. If your earnings increase more than your debt, then that is the aim. Ineos were clear on day one that they want to make the operation leaner, but invest in the playing side. They have kept to that. Our debt has increased in the time they've been here, but it has resulted in CL qualification and a much improved playing squad, along with a reduced squad payroll.
Just paying off debts is not always the right approach. Austerity hasn't worked as well for most countries as an investment-based approach that took on more debt did. So I disagree that your point is more logical. It's far more nuanced than that.
18 Jun 2026 16:45:23
He scored a good goal. He is what he is. Excellent at some things, poor at the things that just need effort. Nothing has changed in that respect, but I'm glad for him scoring in the World Cup. Any player that played for United at any stage, I like to see do well - just not against us.
14 Jun 2026 13:41:49
Extending it to more teams is good, I think, but the lack of jeopardy at the group stage is a terrible decision. That three can progress from a group makes it almost pointless to tune in.
And the ticket pricing is a separate issue.
That's a stain on FIFA that is a disgrace. The organisation cannot say they are trying to make the game more inclusive whilst charging thousands for a match ticket.