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Funkypigeon's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Funkypigeon's rumours posts
16 Jul 2021 16:13:50
Question for the eds please: in light of man utd liking an aging megastar, ie. ibrahimovic, cavani and previously falcao, larson - do you know if we have any solid interest in lewandowski at all?
tia.
{Ed002's Note - Robert Lewandowski (S) Bayern Munich may look to an early agreement with Borussia Dortmund for Erling Braut Haaland to replace Lewandowski in 2022 - Dortmund won't be keen but his agent is happy to follow this route to do what is best for the player. With two years left on his contract Bayern Munich may even be willing to let RL leave this summer but potential interest from Manchester United went with Cavani signing a new deal. PSG may see the player as a short-term solution if they lose Mbappe to Real Madrid this summer - but they are trying hard to keep him.
1.) 17 Jul 2021 12:21:08
Thanks for the info Ed.
Who would be interested in RL?
Doesn't he have some ambition to play for Real Madrid? I remember reading something about that once.
{Ed002's Note - There is no firm interest just general enquiries. Pini wants an extension for him.}
2.) 18 Jul 2021 05:18:40
No lolsss. As soon as Haaland moved to BVB, it was 70% certain that he may join Bayern. BvB is thier biggest feeders. 3 domestic titles gurantte every year with UCL spot on confirmation.
04 Jun 2021 13:41:57
Afternoon folks
just read a number of (clickbait? ) articles that we have put a €45m bid on the table to atalanta for a guy Romero? Any substance? can't say I've much except he is an option to buy cb from juve .
1.) 04 Jun 2021 14:13:27
He is one we are supposedly looking at long with Varane, Pau Torres, Kounde, Botman and Ben White.
He has been arguably the best CB is Serie A this season. He would be a difficult one to judge. Atalanta are far and away the most offensive side in Serie A. Which means the majority of the time his team are on the front foot, which means he is tested less often defensively. Conversely though because Atalanta are so attacking when he is tested he often had less support or protection.
{Ed077's Note - If I'm not mistaken Juventus own him right now..}
2.) 04 Jun 2021 14:23:54
Tom Heaton
Kieran Trippier
Pau Torres
Jadon Sancho
Another goalie if DdG or Deano leave. Pogba to stay.
My tips for the summer, so no doubt I will be completely wrong on all counts lol.
3.) 04 Jun 2021 14:59:01
I don't get the hype with Trippier.
{Ed077's Note - me neither.
4.) 04 Jun 2021 16:13:26
Re:Romero. Atalanta just exercised their option and bought player from Juventus for 16m euro.
So he s now an Atalanta player.
5.) 04 Jun 2021 18:04:54
Cheers guys- was a new name to me so thought I'd ask on here. Cheers Shappy for the insight. Good bit of business if it comes off for atalanta= buy at 16 almost triple your money and don't even have to get his name plate for car parking space!
6.) 04 Jun 2021 19:51:51
I don't think we will buy a central defender. I knows that's going against all the rumours but my gut is Sancho, Trippier, Midfielder.
7.) 04 Jun 2021 20:49:53
Could we be looking at 2 new CBs or is this just spreading out net wide and see who bites.
8.) 04 Jun 2021 21:49:22
I think a defensive midfielder is the position we need to fill the most. Fred, McT, Donny and Pogba are all more suited to a number 8 role alongside a defensive partner and are all being held back by having to cover those defensive duties between them.
A striker would be nice this season, but we at least have Cavani, so not signing one now isn’t the end of the world.
Similarly, we could really benefit from adding a RW, especially a creative one who offers something different from the paces inside-forward types we currently have out wide. However, if we have to make do with Greenwood as first choice on the right again… not the worst thing in the world.
CB and CDM though, are absolutely essential IMO.
9.) 05 Jun 2021 02:09:49
The hype about Trippier is he’s just won La Liga and might be happy to be a rotation RB for a minimal fee. He’s a very solid player who would help our squad without busting the bank. Not every signing can be a worldie. Although of course we need a couple of worldies as well.
10.) 06 Jun 2021 12:20:38
Yh tripper is being brought in as a squad player to rotate with AWB.
There doesn't need to be any hype, just needs to be better than williams and dalot, which he is.
11.) 06 Jun 2021 13:14:40
Seems a bit if a waste to me this. Get Dalit back, and make it clear he has to improve and challenge AWB for a startling spot. Units he’s so far behind quality wise? Not sure as not seen him play much being in Italy.
12.) 06 Jun 2021 14:31:46
Why isn’t Laird being considered as cover/ competition for Wan-Bissaka? especially if the reason for trippier isn’t he’s more attacking then Wan-Bissaka. I get Trippier is more experienced but I’d be promoting Laird and giving him a few games over preseason and then throughout the season. Don’t see why we’d pay money for a RB. That money would be better off else where.
13.) 06 Jun 2021 14:54:21
Ports, ordinarily I'd advocate promoting a youth player over signing an older player. While Laird looks to have the ability to be a genuinely top class player. However, I do think Laird needs at least another year on loan, probably in the Championship. The lad has 24 League 1 games under his belt. While he has had a few injury issues previously.
While you could also argue that our squad lacks a little experience. AWB is a talent but still has lots to learn. Having a player who has played at the top level both domestically and internationally, as well as having just won a league title against the odds. He will have loads of knowledge and experience he can impart on our defence.
With potentially a couple of older more experienced players leaving having an old head who also won't block the pathway long term could be a good deal.
14.) 06 Jun 2021 22:59:59
Wouldn't Tripper transfer depends on what happens with Dalot. Feel like it goes hand in hand. Think we should sell Dalot. He a wing back that more suited aboard. I can see Milan buying him or a Spanish team picking him up.
15 May 2021 10:36:37
Question for the eds- we were apparently linked with hakan c at ac milan - do we still retain an interest or has it gone -thanks in advance.
{Ed002's Note - There is no interest from MU - he will be moving elsewhere.}
Funkypigeon's banter posts with other poster's replies to Funkypigeon's banter posts
17 Nov 2021 08:53:05
Getting away from the OGS situation guys, the (expected) clickbait rumours are starting to come in regarding jan transfer window.
Obviously loads of verbal diarhea but the henderson, lingard martial and Donny to go rumours reappear from the summer and seem to have a little more to them than before. Just my interpretation but lingard, definate newcastle or west ham, martial italy loan, donny loan to buy and henderson, may have a number of clubs after him but 4 years left on his dal so would command a decent return, Spurs? Welcome any thoughts or info.
enjoy your day guys.
1.) 17 Nov 2021 10:24:44
DVB seems to be a level headed guy i'm sure he wants to be a success at UTD so I imagine he will be keen to see who the manager is in January before looking to move.
Martial hasn't got any fight in him and has had his time at O. T. Let him go. Prefer to see Elanga -Sancho -Greenwood-Diallo get more time
Lingard can see he has no future at O. T. and the club can get 10 mill for him so I can see him moving.
Henderson - huge decision for him, will he go on loan again or finally want to be no 1 at Newcastle or possibly Spurs 50/ 50 call for me.
2.) 17 Nov 2021 10:40:24
Maybe Lingard will also wait to see if Ole is moved on in January.
It's a disgrace that he's been overlooked this season considering the fantastic half season he had at West Ham.
It just goes to show that Ole has his favourites the he plays week in week out no matter how badly they perform.
Lingard and VDB have been treated like sh*t by Ole.
12 Nov 2021 09:03:30
It has been said that one of the only positives of OGS reign so far is the clearing of several players that were deemed not needed at the club but seriously wth is he doing? If correct- sancho is training as a 73m wingback, Van de Beek is a lost soul, ronnie is miffed at the levels shown, henderson is looking to go as is lingard and cavani. He has destroyed rashford playing through injuries, never rested bruno when he could have and stuck with AWB fred and matic who are simply not good enough. He has put the club back 30 years and has failed to bring on the younguns as much as we were led to believe! Worse man management than JM and tactically so far gone he makes allardyce look good: all with a cheesy smile on his face. He has to go and asap or I think we as a club will plunder to new depths that we would struggle to come out of for decade or more.
1.) 12 Nov 2021 09:40:00
He is embarrassing the great club.
His position should be untenable.
2.) 12 Nov 2021 09:44:22
I'm not sure if you could have fit more hyperbole in that post even if you tried?
Put the club back 30 years?
We are 2-3 (depending on how the new manager wants to set up) players away from having a team that can genuinely win the league.
Rashford isn't a busted flush, he picked up injuries and played more than he probably should have done. But he has now had the time needed to recover and will continue to be a key player for us.
Bruno being rested every now and then would probably be good, but it hasn't really impacted his form too much. While it's tricky to rest your best player. Fine if you get the win, but becomes a stick to beat you with if the team draws or loses.
Sancho and possibly even Donny will be fine once a new manager comes in. Both top players with great potential.
Lingard looking to leave is not a problem. At best he is a decent squad player in either wide positions or at No.10. However, if Lingard leaving creates space for the likes of Amad, Hannibal, Shoretire and Elanga. Then surely that isn't the worst thing.
Henderson leaving would be a shame, but you can only play one keeper and on current form DDG deserves to play. Henderson isn't a teenager anymore though and needs to be playing every week to continue to develop. We have seen from his spell at Sheffield United that he is more than good enough to be first choice in the EPL. If he leaves hopefully the club insert a buyback clause as he might be the right man in a couple of years to take over from DDG.
Cavani when fit is excellent, but realistically he isn't going to play ahead of Ronaldo. Cavani's deal ends next summer, while Ronaldo has another year with an option for a third. I would consider Cavani leaving in the summer as making space for Greenwood.
AWB isn't a terrible player, just one that needs better coaching to make the most of his talents. A talent going to waste rather than a player lacking talent.
Fred is a solid squad player, while Matic was good enough but his legs have gone and he can't keep up with the pace of the league anymore. He does however offer great experience and is one of the few players in the squad with EPL winning experience. He probably does need to move on though.
Worse man manager than Jose? Well that's subjective. One management style works well for a certain player, but not for another. Some people need the stick others the carrot. Ask Shaw or Pogba which manager they prefer to work with and I suspect they'll say the Norwegian and not the Portuguese.
Some players praise Jose and back him to the hilt, maybe not so many recently. Which does suggest that Jose might need to adapt his style to the modern footballer.
Sadly Jose left a toxic dressing room behind where players openly celebrated his sacking. Something I hadn't seen before at any club with any manager. Ole is nowhere near that currently. Maybe the players are losing faith in him, but they don't despise him.
Ole has run his course, we tried and he was given the chance to step up and prove himself. Sadly his best isn't good enough for where we want to be. He'll be sacked in good time, hopefully not before the club have some sort of plan. Whatever that may be.
That said he has overseen an overall improvement in the quality of players we have in our first team. To the point that we are a couple of players away from going toe to toe with any side in the world.
I get that it's frustrating that the club haven't acted yet, but let's not let that make arses of ourselves.
3.) 12 Nov 2021 09:57:23
Thats a really accuarate summary Shappy - Ole will be gone soon enough for all the failings that have been well documented, let's hope its before he does drag us down further and he can move on with a bit of dignity.
4.) 12 Nov 2021 10:50:41
Shappy although I agree with most of what you said I can't look passed your opening line of "I'm not sure if you could have fit more hyperbole in that post even if you tried? "
then you go on and agree with a lot of what funky pigeon said except the management part and the back 30 years part? its quite confusing calling a post out then agreeing with it.
5.) 12 Nov 2021 12:00:03
dio- you put exactly my thoughts on shappys post .
Shappy - not only do you sit on the fence, you build it knock it down and so on and so on everyday. One minute you agree then totally disagree the next!
Your posts are frequent, elegantly put but always start off on one side and flip 180 toward the end.
Only a few on here have valid insight to what really goes on the rest is opinion and feeling/ belief: the guy is forever smiling embarrasingly after lack lustre performances by the team he is paid to coach- that is fact.
I never said rashford was a busted flush as you state but that he was overplayed whilst injured, fred agreat squad player/ / matic legs have gone but experienced= what benefit is that at the moment? Lingard leaving isn't a problem- he can run his contract down as can pp? Cavani -one of our most hard working players when on the pitch who again has 6 months as you rightly say left on his extension - but look at the club fgs, our main thret is one player ronaldo - he cannot do it on his own. Awb started out as a winger in youth football and he can tackle one on one but positionally needs to because e wanders all over trotting back and when ging forward he's like bambi on ice! Watch him - very few pass to him in a forward position because they don't trust him. Yes shappy my expanded views that explain my op that you agree with quite a lot but justify it by making excuses and hoping they can get better. We all want the best for our club but this clown must go and quickly as not only has he failed but he is also dragging anything that is / was good, down.
6.) 12 Nov 2021 12:36:59
Funky pigeon it really confuses the conversation for me when he does it (granted its often) as for me all he done was reword your post and made it twice as long but it didn't add anything to the conversation that wasn't said in your post and I could understand if he carried on from his hyperbole part and disagreed but he says it then goes on to agree with 90% of what you said or the hyperbole part wasnt in there as you can't all it hyperbole then agree with the comment. Sometimes I feel he just needs or wants to be the centre of every conversation on the page which isn't always a bad thing either.
7.) 12 Nov 2021 13:20:48
Shappy weren't we 2 to 3 players short of winning the title prior to this season starting?
We got 2 to 3 players and I see no title challenge and we are still 2 to 3 players short.
Stop making excuses it's getting silly now.
we will always be 2 to 3 players short under the Glazers.
8.) 12 Nov 2021 13:29:15
He has put the club back years no hyperbole about it.
9.) 12 Nov 2021 13:51:50
Okay let's break down the hyperbole into easy to manage chunks.
Sancho training as wingback? No evidence for it. Over the top hyperbole.
Donny as a "lost soul", over the top hyperbole. He's not playing much. Neither is Dalot, Lingard, Mata etc. Are they "lost souls" as well?
Ronnie miffed? No evidence for it. Hyperbole.
Bemoans players looking to leave, then names two squad players who everyone expects to leave and a 34 year old injury prone striker with less than 6 months left on his deal. Hardly big news, just thrown in to make it sound like the place is falling apart.
Destroyed Rashford, massive hyperbole. The kid is fine. He played when he probably should have rested. Yet everyone ignores the fact that in order to play both the player AND the medical department need to declare him fit to play. The manager can't just dangerously send out a multimillion pound asset out to be injured because he feels like it.
Put the club back 30 years? Hyperbole. I doubt he's put the club 12 months let alone 30 years.
Worst man management. Hyperbolic opinion, nothing more, while little actual evidence more than hearsay.
Tactically makes Allerdyce look good. Again hyperbole, pick a name of an unfancied manager and say Ole makes him look good. Allerdyce may be a better manager, but nothing will make his football look good.
Then contradicts themselves in their own post after saying the club has been put back 30 years, then says the club will struggle to come out of Ole's management for a decade or more. Still hyperbole, but at least knocked 20 years off their original statement.
The entire thing is just hyperbolic over the top screaming to such an extent that I first wondered if it was an attempt at satire.
All of it opinion, most of it over the top and unreasonable.
All you had to say was Ole has proven himself to not be good enough for where we want to be. Now the club is potentially creating further issues by not moving to correct that mistake.
If the club hire a top manager who is the right fit for the club and they back him, making 2-3 good key signings then we have a squad more than capable of not just winning the league but winning any tournament we enter as well.
We have a top class keeper in DDG and a potentially top class keeper in Henderson. While Heaton is an excellent back up to either. The next manager will have the choice between two excellent options.
There is enough quality in defence that if properly organised that we should be defensively one of the best sides in the league. AWB if coached and developed has potential. Varane is top class. Shaw is top class. Maguire has his faults, but in the right set up will be fine. While the likes of Telles, Lindelof, Bailly and Dalot offer good squad options. With players like Laird and Mengi in the youth set up who look like potential future stars.
In our forward line we have Ronaldo, Cavani, Bruno, Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood. Six great options. We have depth in Martial, Lingard and Mata. Maybe all three need to go, but they at least offer some depth.
Look over at Liverpool, after Salah, Mane, Firmino and Jota what depth do they have? Origi and Minimino. Maybe Elliot if you want to include kids.
If you look at our kids on the cusp of the first team squad you have Amad, Pellistri, Elanga, Shoretire, Hannibal, McNeil and Hugill.
The area we need actual work is in midfield. McFred aren't good enough. While Pogba and Matic are likely to go soon. We have Garner coming through who's talented. While Donny does have the skills to make an impact, it's about getting the right balance for him to be able to do so.
Bring in 1 or 2 midfielders and better coaching then suddenly we have a top side, easily a match for Liverpool, Chelsea and City.
In no way is this side set back 30 years, or even 10 years. Hire the right manager and make a few good signings next summer and next season we can challenge on all fronts.
10.) 12 Nov 2021 14:54:03
GFM, it depends on whether you get the right 2-3 players. Swap Ronaldo with a top class CDM and suddenly our line up could change from:
DDG, AWB, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Sancho, Bruno, Rashford, Ronaldo.
To:
DDG, AWB, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, DvdB, Sancho, Bruno, Rashford, Cavani.
Similar quality in attack and defence, but a much better more balanced midfield capable of going toe to toe with most sides if coached properly.
That's just changing one of last summer's signings with another. The
If we hire the wrong manager and they decide to sign a CB, RB and a ST no matter who they are we will struggle to compete with the best as we will still have our main weakness in McFred.
However, if we hire the right manager and they sign one or two midfielders and a RB say then our main weakness has been fixed in midfield. Then we have a side capable of challenging on all fronts.
That's not making excuses but simple understanding of football. To improve you need to bring in the right players in the right positions. Hardly rocket science so I'm sure you can keep up.
I agree under our current ownership and with how the club is currently set up whether we are capable of making simple decisions correctly might mean we are forever chasing the next manager as the right one who'll fix everything.
However, based on the squad we have now, the potential of the players in that squad then we are only a couple of players away from having a side that can really go to any stadium anywhere and win any game.
If people really think that Ole has put the club back years then they won't be expecting the next manager to even get us close to top four or challenging for any tournaments.
This club should always be aiming to win things, if the next manager has a realistic chance of doing that next season then we aren't years away from where we should be. Simple as that.
11.) 12 Nov 2021 15:20:05
shappy- youve just repeated your earlier post!
Furthermore contradicted it and then used Liverpool as a comparative yardstick.
You doubt, your opinion, no evidence, cavani is a one of six great options, rashford is fine (maybe but he still isn't performing as well as he can, walking to the halfway line when losing the ball v liverpool), Donny has had very few minutes after he was signed FACT, changed agent FACT but he's fine
Contradicts themselves 30 year bavck- yes the football is poor to watch as it was early fergie years and we won nowt then- knock knock, doesn't mean it would take 30 year to put it right though, shappy not AKA carol vorderman!
Then we have your opinion in the club according to shappy; varane top class, agree but up until now phil jones is carrying less injuries this season, shaw class but off form, maguire and Awb - howay shappy it was the verve who said the drugs don't work fella, you're proving they do! Then we have good squad options when they are mooted to be either surplus or available- but FACT they aren't that good as they get slated regularly But you may care to ignore those posts eh? finally the youth- I will agree they have potential but that's all . If they don't get minutes what use are they really? They gather experience and odd cup minutes in a cup by the way we are already out of, and then blank. You earlier state fred was a good squad player and matic adds experience, then above you say mcfred isn't good enough and matic likely to go!
We do need players in mid- the right ones but that isn't the only area to be a top side competing against pool and chelsea- possibly city, leicester city that is. How long can we keep on a fEw more signings then now and when? Seriously.
When players are walking off the pitch moaning, punching tunnel roof and starting to argue on it then its a sign that not all is well in the camp. Youll probably twist it to plan c as per usual and I can't be arsed with yer ramblings today mate, I'm too disappointed with my club and the direction its been driven.
12.) 12 Nov 2021 16:06:33
Funky, so let me get this right. The club has been taken backwards 30 years, to a point where we didn't have a squad that could challenge, was devoid of quality, and needed rebuilding top to bottom. Yet in 6 months time we could have a side ready to challenge on all fronts but without having to do all the work of rebuilding the side top to bottom. Or at least that seems the long and short of it after decifering your ramblings.
Either we have a side that is nowhere near challenging like it was 30 years ago.
Or we have a side that with minor adjustments could challenge on ALL fronts.
It can't be both.
I didn't contradict myself anywhere. If you think I did then I'm sure you can post what I said and what I said that contradicts that. If not I'll just assume it's simple deflection.
It's fairly simple, we have a squad that with a couple of good signings and a capable manager will have us challenging on all fronts.
If you want a contradiction then you can't turn around and say that Ole has destroyed this team, made the squad worse, and has them a million miles away from competing. Then in your next breath say that Ole should be sacked because we have a team capable of challenging and the reason they aren't is because he has them underperforming.
Forget the manager, with the squad we have we should be challenging for most trophies but probably just falling short due to the lack of quality in midfield.
The fact that we aren't is proof that the manager is underperforming and cannot get the best out of the players he has.
Bring in a manager who can, plus adding that quality in midfield and suddenly we are not just capable of challenging but of actually winning things.
13.) 12 Nov 2021 17:20:19
typical shappy- i never said the things you post its your deluded interpretation. I never said we were 2/ 3 players and a good/ better coach from competing on all fronts RTFP. At no point did I say "If you want a contradiction then you can't turn around and say that Ole has destroyed this team, made the squad worse, and has them a million miles away from competing. Then in your next breath say that Ole should be sacked because we have a team capable of challenging and the reason they aren't is because he has them underperforming. " FORget the manager- you're a joke - you were running your lips all over him not long back now you say he is under performing!
And its as simple as adding quality and a decent coach you say? Really? I hope you are right but a0 never said it was B0 don't believe its that simple. Ole should go because he cannot coach- simply put and yes it is demoralising for pros but yet again shappy you see what you want to see and interpret what you want to. You have your opinion and that is proven to change on a regular basis, fine but don't try and point score by being a liar stating things have been written when they havent. The club and ole have declined and the longer the results continue to be poor, we don't promote youth as many seem to think we are in a positon to do so and the football is dismal to watch, then we at best will be static but certainly not improving. Time takes time and the longer we fail to address issues, then players who are ok/ in form will certainly get older and then their positions need to be addressed. We all (mostly ) understand that players are transient employees of a club but the manager doesn't have to be if they are capable.
{Ed001's Note - I am struggling with his assertion that 30 years ago United didn't have a squad to challenge for a title. Surely 30 years ago would be the 1991/92 season, where United were only just beaten by Leeds to the league title?}
14.) 12 Nov 2021 17:57:47
Shappy if you don't think Donny is a lost soul under Ole then there is no point discussing stuff with you. Ronaldo is miffed and there's ton of evidence if you want to look at it. You watch the games i assume. Did you not see Ronaldo mocking Oles actions? Ole has just one action that he makes with his arms. Ronaldo mocked that a couple of times during the game as if to say what nonsense do you keep doing all the time.
15.) 12 Nov 2021 17:49:14
ed001 - you're correct i later stated the early fergie years my bad maths. My op was my opinion that OGS hasn't got a clear direction or the skill set to coach the club and that is having a knock on effect with the players. Every few months its said we need 1/ 2 players to chalenge etc we are just a dm short but that wears thin and the longer we go on treading water the players who do or are capable of a performance are frustrated and get older which inevitably leads to the need to recruit more. I know this is the same at all clubs but given the money spent, the expectations the fans have and the lack of progress over the past 8 seasons, imo we should be at a better level.
16.) 12 Nov 2021 19:19:31
Funky, wow your knickers are twisted.
If you can't see that saying Ole has set the club back 30 years is hyperbole then there probably isn't much point carrying on a discussion as you don't know what it is.
17.) 13 Nov 2021 00:08:20
What daft thread.
05 Aug 2021 17:00:02
On a sadder note- just read that michael ballacks 18 yo son has tragically passed in a quad accident. Condolences to all.
1.) 05 Aug 2021 17:41:23
Awful tragedy. Your heart goes out to the family.
2.) 05 Aug 2021 18:05:53
Terrible news and will be devastating for the family. 18 years old is no age at all.
3.) 05 Aug 2021 19:01:01
Terrible and very unfortunate. Condolences to the family.
05 Aug 2021 17:00:02
On a sadder note- just read that michael ballacks 18 yo son has tragically passed in a quad accident. Condolences to all.
05 Aug 2021 13:41:10
Appreciate all your thoughts guys:
Obviously we have made progress with top signings so far and could make more, but its widely mentioned that sales outof the club will be the main factor in our futher business. Pogba features highly, so would you risk playing him before the window ends to avoid injury and therefore possibly hinder getting rid, take a lower offer than mooted just to get rid of him and his wages or run the risk of him signing pre agreement on a free in january?
Personally If he didn't sign I wouldn't play him irregardless of the wages- its world cup year and letting him away on a free once was bad enough but twice, I feel is taking the p**s out of the club.
1.) 05 Aug 2021 14:18:28
Has he messed the club around?
As a kid he thought he was ready to play more regularly and wouldn't sign a deal unless there was a more obvious pathway into the first team.
Maybe he was guilty of a little arrogance, but he was 17/ 18 years old. I think we were all a little arrogant at that age.
He then moved back to the club. We have no idea how the club was sold to him, but we can probably all agree that if they said the club would be run as it has the past 4-5 years it's probably safe to say he wouldn't have signed that contract.
As fans we support the club our entire lives, while ten years without winning something is heart breaking we can at least continue to support the club until our next success. Whereas the career of a player is maybe 15 years. Spending half that time stuck at a club that isn't matching your ambition to win the biggest trophies has got to be difficult. Especially if you have such confidence in yourself that you think you are good enough to be winning the top honours.
All Pogba wanted to do was move on to a club with a similar level of ambition to win things. If the club wants to keep the best and most ambitious players (who are highly marketable) then the club needs to match those players ambitions.
As it was the club tried to bully and force Pogba to stay. In doing so they burned bridges with one of the biggest agents in world football, probably caused a certain amount of disharmony in the dressing room, got the club in this ridiculous situation, probably put off other players, and they will now lose their record signing on a free and look like a laughing stock to the rest of world football.
Their own greed, arrogance and stupidity has caused this.
From everything I have heard Pogba has been the perfect professional. Continuing to treat him poorly will only reflect badly on the club.
If we can sell him then sell him and try and start rebuilding our reputation. If not then he'll leave for free next summer. If he is best used in the team then he should be in it.
If we lose him on a free then we have already cut our nose off to spite our faces, refusing to play him is akin to following that up by gouging an eye out to further spite our face.
2.) 05 Aug 2021 14:31:39
I imagine he knows exactly what he wants by now and is playing the game. Soon enough January will be here and he can do what he likes.
Until they sign another solid midfielder, for me he is still in Utds strongest XI, whether in the middle or on the left, so I would play him. As you say he is only one dodgy tackle (cue Fofana) away from 6 months out and probably never playing for the club again and leaving on a free next summer. Can't account for that kind of thing though.
It's just a shame that every club seems to be blighted by so-called mega stars winding down contracts and sulking in the stands. Even the so-called players who seemingly respect their contracts even if they'd like to move on like Kane and Mbappe start pulling the strings eventually.
There was none of this a few decades back. It was a genuine shock when Inter Milan bid for Paul Ince, and when Cantona retired suddenly. Now you'd sniff it all a mile off.
3.) 05 Aug 2021 14:50:19
The club took the pi$$ out of him and his agent by triggering the extention without engaging with them. Untrustworthy and unprofessional.
Who wants him? Anyone make a bid?
Not yet.
4.) 05 Aug 2021 15:02:44
Shappy I wasnt saying he has been unprofessional in that he turns up for promo, training matches etc etc.
The whole issue has become problem that couldve been handled a whole lot better from all sides but alleged quotes from dubious sources and innuendo from riaola hasn't helped the debacle. PP is 28 and not a boy- he could have reined in raiola and likewise united couldve been more professional.
PP holds all the cards at this time and playing him against leeds, southampton and wolves could (hopefullynot) cause an injury that hinders a transfer if that was the route agreed. If and we don't know all of the facts he isconsidering or being advised to run his contract down and sign or negotiate a deal from january, then although it is not contractually illegal, I find it professionally immoral and in my opinion, he is not worthy of being picked to wear the jersey. As spenno said there was none of this years back, or at least publicly, and again in my opinion it can upset and imbalance the dressing room. When a man earns in excess of 10m a year+ at the very least he should aside from footballing matters take on a role without pressing of ambassador and influencer to his younger more influenced teamates. I would willingly sacrifice his 1 in 5 good games and pick a player who wears the jersey with pride- we have plenty.
5.) 05 Aug 2021 15:40:33
Shappy,
The player himself first needs to be ambitious on the pitch before questioning a club's ambition. I have seen far more ambitious players on the pitch than Pogba over the years.
Being professional in the dressing room or off the pitch is really good but has he been a true professional and doing his job on the pitch consistently?
The club certainly hasn't dealt with this properly for sure but even if he goes on a free it's not going to make any difference to United's reputation because Pogba himself has not lived up to his own past reputation at Juve.
Don't give a damn whether he is sold or leaves for free to be honest.
6.) 05 Aug 2021 16:06:07
Guys won the world cup, pretty ambitious in my opinion.
7.) 05 Aug 2021 16:09:42
DSG, so past glories are enough to assess a player's long term ambition?
8.) 05 Aug 2021 16:45:37
Dsg I won the county championship at golf many moons back but I ain't frickin tiger woods!
9.) 05 Aug 2021 16:59:45
LPU to quote you, "I have seen far more ambitious players on the pitch than Pogba over the years. " So bring up his past glories of being involved in winning the biggest football trophy in the world seems appropriate.
Funkypigeon, all you have to do is cheat on your other half and drive your car into a tree and youll be halfway there.
10.) 05 Aug 2021 17:08:35
Bet your wife is pleased your not funky🤣🤣.
11.) 05 Aug 2021 17:14:16
LPU, how is Pogba not ambitious on the pitch?
I think he is one of the most ambitious players we have on the pitch. He always makes himself available for a pass even if he is being marked. He makes dangerous and ambitious progressive forward passes, he takes shots when in range. He backs himself to make those difficult passes and shots. He tries to win and is prepared to risk losing the ball in an attempt to score goals and win games.
If by ambitious you mean run around and a lot then that isn't really his game.
Kante gets lots of praise for his hard work, but why isn't he making defence splitting passes, grabbing loads of assists and hitting 35 yard goals. Does that make him unambitious? Of course not, he's just playing his game.
12.) 05 Aug 2021 16:59:45
LPU to quote you, "I have seen far more ambitious players on the pitch than Pogba over the years. " So bring up his past glories of being involved in winning the biggest football trophy in the world seems appropriate.
Funkypigeon, all you have to do is cheat on your other half and drive your car into a tree and youll be halfway there.
13.) 05 Aug 2021 17:08:35
Bet your wife is pleased your not funky🤣🤣.
14.) 05 Aug 2021 17:14:16
LPU, how is Pogba not ambitious on the pitch?
I think he is one of the most ambitious players we have on the pitch. He always makes himself available for a pass even if he is being marked. He makes dangerous and ambitious progressive forward passes, he takes shots when in range. He backs himself to make those difficult passes and shots. He tries to win and is prepared to risk losing the ball in an attempt to score goals and win games.
If by ambitious you mean run around and a lot then that isn't really his game.
Kante gets lots of praise for his hard work, but why isn't he making defence splitting passes, grabbing loads of assists and hitting 35 yard goals. Does that make him unambitious? Of course not, he's just playing his game.
15.) 05 Aug 2021 17:35:23
We all know the club has been managed poorly, but that does not exonerate Pogba and his agent who have both acted extremely unprofessionally with one goal in mind to "sell" brand Pogba. That would be okay, if the player had performed up to the hype and his opinion of himself.
Because he lacks commitment the club, it is he who is responsible for the negativity in the dressing room. His blatant preening and self-promotion also renders him devoid of leadership qualities. He's a great luxury player for a superior team in a less competitive league, but his lack of defensive quality, which too often borders on liability, makes him unsuitable for the EPL, unless he's delivering week in week out.
Overall, a very disappointing player. If the top teams of Europe regarded Pogba as anywhere near as good as a Messi or Ronaldo there would be a line out the door to sign him at a decent price. but apparently there isn't. He's shown himself to be not worth it. So it seems both the club and the player will get their just desserts this upcoming season.
16.) 05 Aug 2021 18:29:11
Shaw, I think without being in the dressing room it is very hard to make informed opinions of his impact on the other players. Everything I have hard has been positive, he is well liked and well respected by his fellow players. He trains hard, he doesn't have any vices that negatively impact his body.
That's not to say he hasn't had a negative impact in the dressing room, like I said without being in that environment it is impossible to judge. Just that everything that has leaked out is he is a positive player to have in the dressing room.
This idea of commitment to the club, how commited are you to your employer? Players are employees, not fans. Obviously it's great if a player is also a fan. But as Grealish is proving right now that there is little loyalty in football these days. Footballer's are interested in two things money and glory. The issue with both is that neither are long lasting and you will always want more.
Pogba is a world cup winner, I can't imagine he would be happy with not competing for the title every season. In his five seasons at the club has he even been in one genuine title challenge? How many UCL campaigns has he been involved in? Three in five years, and not once with a genuine chance of winning it. How many domestic cup finals?
At club level in 5 years he has won the league cup and the Europa League. While at international level he has won the world cup. The second tier European competition and the second rate domestic cup are hardly the things world cup winners will be happy with over a 5 year period.
Can you blame him for wanting to be part of a Real Madrid side that won back to back to back UCL? Or a Barcelona side that contains Messi? Or back to Juventus where he will win the league title at least every other year?
Can you really argue that we have been as successful as Leicester over the past 5 years?
His agent only became a problem when the club refused to sell Pogba. Mino's tactics are unsavoury, but his job isn't to please United fans but to follow out his clients wishes.
Mino wasn't a problem when we signed Zlatan, Lukaku, Mkhitaryan, Romero etc. And he wasn't a problem when we sold them either.
Mino was only an issue when our club refused to work with him to fulfill his clients wishes.
If Mino is so bad then why does he have loads of players wanting him as their agent? Players think highly of him. All the other clubs deal well enough with him.
The club intentionally tried to cut Mino out of a deal for Haaland. That is hugely unprofessional and only done because the club refuse to talk to him. They are pouting and throwing their toys out the pram and acting in spite because they couldn't bully Mino and Pogba to do what they wanted.
This was entirely avoidable by the club, as proven by none of the other clubs having such issues with Mino.
17.) 05 Aug 2021 18:56:48
Shappy, you are right he is ambitious "on his day".
Why is that when it comes to Pogba, it's all about everything else around him seen as a problem rather than just focusing on his performances on the pitch?
If Pogba was really interested in winning something he wouldn't have come back to us in the first place knowing the quality of our squad at that time. He and his agent rather saw United as a big opportunity to make more money and nothing else.
DSG, I am talking about players playing club football over an entire season to be precise.
There would had been no conversation on who the GOAT is if Ronaldo and Messi had relied on their past glories and stopped performing, not to mention the handful of Ballon d'Ors they won.
18.) 05 Aug 2021 19:09:19
There seems to be an opinion that United have held Pogba against his will - how so? We extended a contract that he signed I think as a 5+1. Common practice for parties to use such an extension. If the issue is that United enforced the extension without consultation then that's kinda not an issue - Pogba knew it was a 5+1 when he signed it presumably. Or was he just focused on the £300k pw bit?
I'd understood by entering into this extension United can't in essence profiteer from it, i. e. if we'd agreed to sell him now to PSG for example we wouldn't just bank whatever fee PSG paid as we'd have to agree a payment, multi-million £ I'm sure, to Pogba and Raiola.
I am missing how any of that constitutes United handling this unprofessionally.
Perhaps its time clubs fought back a little in this whole player power dynamic. Look at Kane now throwing his dummy out of the pram as he wants to leave. City or anyone else meet Spurs valuation and off he can pop. If they don't he stays. Seemingly for another 3 years. I don't see that any different to Pogba. Having paid £90m for him I'm quite sure United would've sold to Real or Juve or whomever a few years back for £120m+ - just nobody has ever been that interested in signing him for such a valuation. Hence he has stayed.
Presumably if United have mismanaged the situation with Pogba that's exactly what Spurs are doing with Kane.
Premier League players are all millionaires. They have limited lifespan careers I grant you but that just makes it more incumbent on them to make the right career choices. I get it that certain promises around other player purchases may have been made at a point in time - though nobody can say whether a player will be a hit or miss at a club and the amount you pay for them certainly doesn't guarantee success. Bottom line is all players sign a contract at a point in time based on what they know at that point and not on what they think may happen or wish to happen. Grealish is signing a contract with City thinking he will be challenging for silverware regularly and a great chance of winning the Premier League and the Champions League. That's what he thinks. But all he knows is he will get a 5 year contract on £300k pw etc. Pep could go on another sabbatical and City's owners sell up tomorrow. There are no guarantees. But the thing he can hold onto is his contract. Just like if he broke both legs and never played again tomorrow he could hold onto that contract.
So why is an issue when a club holds their player to same contract?
19.) 05 Aug 2021 19:24:38
Halesini, probably because it's the brand 'Pogba'.
20.) 05 Aug 2021 19:27:22
LPU, I don't think it is a case of it being "on his day" he plays that way every game, its just that it doesn't always come off.
On the good days the passes make it to their target and the shots go in, on his off days he still tries the passes and shots so sit still being ambitious, they just don't come off.
I don't think its a case of everything else being the problem, I just think most people have expectations beyond his ability.
Technically and physically he has all the tools to be one of the best players, but I don't think he has the mentality to be one.
Similar to Nani really. I don't think its as easy as just changing your mentality, your mentality is a part of your personality.
Ronaldo for example isn't as gifted as Messi, but he has the best mentality I have ever seen in a footballer, which has elevated him to the same level as Messi.
I also don't see it as Pogba's fault, I see it much the same way as you can't blame a player for being short or slow etc. Things far beyond his control moulded his personality and mentality from infanthood. He just doesn't have the focus, drive and fire in his belly. Things come easy for him so he has never had to push himself beyond his comfort zone to achieve. He hasn't had to fight for it, and it shows in how he plays.
That's the player he is, you need to scout and understand the players mentality as much as what they can do on the pitch. That is why Sir Alex used to meet the family of prospective signings so he can see how they grew up, what motivated them and what their life away from football was like. That might have been the reason he didn't give Pogba more chances.
21.) 05 Aug 2021 19:47:27
Shappy, moving on from World cup to his infanthood to prove a point. What next?
For a moment I thought you were on autopilot mode where you sort of posed a question and answered it yourself.
22.) 05 Aug 2021 16:27:40
Funky, Paul Pogba wants to leave and he pays his agent to work in his interests. To that end why would he question what Mino is doing?
Mino has spoken to the club and expressed his clients wishes, he tried to get the club to work toward what his client wanted. The club tried to bully him and Pogba to stay. If you can't get what you want though the traditional channels then you try other methods, such as public interviews to put pressure on the club to play ball. It was the club that cut Mino off and stopped talking to him and not the other way around.
I don't like hearing the stories in the press and would prefer these sort of things were kept in house. But the fact they are not and they keep spilling out is due to how poorly the club is run. I can't blame Mino or Pogba for that.
If you want to talk about immoral then what is refusing to allow someone to work elsewhere? You can't do that in any other form of work anywhere in the world. Unilaterally extending his contract to force him to stay an extra year.
As for his role in the team. On the pitch he has in my opinion played more often than not to the best of his ability. He just isn't the player many of us expect, and as such we feel disappointed when he doesn't perform the way we think he should.
I don't think he is capable of giving 9 out of 10 performances most weeks, I place him in the same category as Nani, on his day unplayable, but it might only be his day once or twice a month. A players mentality is as much apart of them and their ability as a footballer as their skillset is. Pogba is lacking in that, that isn't his fault and blaming him for not having that mentality is as daft as blame Scholes for being asthmatic, or Beckham for not being lighting quick, or Neville for not being 6ft.
His role in the squad seems pretty clear, he laughs, he jokes and he brings players together with an infectious personality. He isn't Keane scowling and scaring people left right and centre. To be honest I don't think that would work in the modern game anyway.
His wages are irrelevant, what the club deem appropriate to pay him is down to the club. I don't know many people who'd say to their employer that they aren't worth what they are being offered and they want a lower wage.
For me the real issue with Pogba is that our side has grown and changed and evolved and I'm not sure where he fits in our side with his skillset. Forget the fact he wants to leave, or all the other circus around him. Where does he fit in the side?
Is he the best No.10 we have? No, he isn't anywhere near as good or consistent as Bruno.
Can he work in a double pivot? Personally I don't think so. He just isn't good enough at reading the game to be in the right places at the right time to do the defensive work and he doesn't have the desire to rush back into place or to work hard enough off the ball pressing. the only thing he offers from a defensive point of view is occasionally (more by luck than design) he is a big lump in the way that someone has to run or pass around. He might get away with that in international football which is played at a slower pace and with Kante alongside him doing the work of two people.
But in the real world of the EPL without the most industrious midfielder in the world alongside him he just leave the centre of the part too open and easy to by-pass. Even if we signed Rice or Ndidi I don't think it would work well enough and consistent enough to make us title challengers.
I think considering his skillset and the way we play he is best suited to playing in one of the wider roles. That said when fit and on form both Rashford and Sancho are better wide players than Pogba.
It would be madness to offer him a big contract when he doesn't even have a defined role in the side. If we had a proper DoF over the past few years this is something that could have easily been avoided. The club would have moved him on, and bought players to replace him that suit the side and fit in as first choice without having to adjust the entire side to fit them in.
That's on the club and not on Pogba or his agent.
23.) 05 Aug 2021 20:21:44
LPU, Pogba is an ambitious player and wants to play in the biggest games and win titles. Winning the world cup will just act to highlight how little he is winning at club level. While he was a good part of the France team that won the world cup he was probably only one or two of the first choice players in that tournament that hadn't won the league title in the past two years.
That probably confirmed to him that he wanted to move on to win titles at club level.
Discussing his infanthood was explaining that there are factors that have moulded him as a player. In this case they may explain why he doesn't have the mentality needed to be a world class player. Simply have the physicality or technical skills are not enough. He lacks that fighting mentality. The person he is starting forming as a child.
24.) 06 Aug 2021 06:29:23
Shappy, an ambitious player who doesn't work hard enough on the pitch, isn't that contradictory.
If you really have ambition it means you are willing to put in the effort to achieve what you want. Pogba hasn't done that enough at United.
If Pogba is ambitious but lacks the fighting mentality then him winning the world cup and the medals he won with Juve, was he lucky then?
No matter what his infanthood might have been if you are ambitious and are serious about a profession, you will find ways to grow and adapt your personality to be a success.
You will find many examples in professional sports where a person looks so intimidating while involved in their sport but are very gentle in their personal life.
25.) 06 Aug 2021 08:58:08
Shappy- in all of your replies to the majority of posts, you give the impression that you are "in the know" as you seem to state facts about the issues. If indeed you are, fine, but I'd wager your inside info on the truth of PP and his agent are supersition and indeed not factual at all.
You state that PP wants to leave and that the club tried to bully him:until he makes a statement to confirm that, then its opinion based on clickbait material. The facts are he signed a contract and whether on advise or understanding the terms were there in black and white. The point is he has not worked out as expected at MUFC and his contract is coming to an end. With that being the case, it is not unreasonable for a club paying him over 60m and his advisors over 40m to act professionaly by informing them of his wishes. If pp/ mr don't then not only does it leave the club with a financial dilemma, but it further jades the players time at the club. ANY body negotiating terms or dealing with the situation to the sums of money reported alone would not sit back and take a hit lightly. Imagine pp at spurs or newcastle: ashley and levy wouldn't take things lightly. I would personally like to see him transferred out of the club and save another year of wages and if we get a fee so be it as the club will be going long after PP.
26.) 06 Aug 2021 10:21:32
LPU, it's not contradictory at all. You can be ambitious but lack the drive or ability to achieve what you want.
Think about the early stages of the X Factor, how many people do we laugh at who want to be a pop star but sound like a cat being strangled? They have the ambition but lack the ability.
Pogba is ambitious, but that doesn't mean he has the mentality to achieve those ambitions.
He has won the world cup, yet if we are honest if he was born Irish or Finnish or South African then he would never get anywhere near winning it. Moussa Sissoko has won more world cups than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo combined.
Football is a team game, Messi playing for Brentford would not make Brentford EPL and UCL winners. Pogba has won things with France because they have the best international side in the world with the best players. He won things with Juventus because they are/ were the best team in Italy with the best players.
I think Pogba want's to play with the best players, and that's probably why he want's to leave United as he hasn't had the best players around him. Rooney famously wanted to quit United because he didn't think the club matched his ambition and he thought the club needed to bring in better players for him to play with.
If you put Ronaldo's mentality in Pogba's body with Pogba's natural ability you would undoubtable have the best player in the world without question.
I think with Pogba football (and sport in general) comes so easy to him he doesn't even have to try most the time to be the best player in his team. At 15 years old he was being courted by all the top sides, United won and signed him when he turned 16. At 18 he thought he should be in the first team and because he wasn't he left. He joined Juventus and went straight in to the first team.
He has never had to fight a day in his life for anything in football, he's not like Smalling or Vardy who were rejected, kicked back and had to fight their way into football through the non-leagues. He has literally had everything handed to him on a plate since he was still a child. That sort of luck and ability means he hasn't developed a fighters mentality. He doesn't push himself out of his comfort zone as simply he has been able to coast by at a high level without ever having to. That is why he will never match the potential he has with actual performances on a consistent basis.
In the games where things fall easy for him and he is afforded time and space he puts on a show and plays well. In the games where he is denied time and space, where he doesn't get the rub of the green he disappears into the background as he simply doesn't have the fighters mentality to push back and get out of his comfort zone.
27.) 06 Aug 2021 10:33:42
Funky, forcing the extension without even saying to the player or his agent that they were going to do so is an aggressive and unprecedented move.
It has been stated in a few places by several individuals that it was the club that stopped talking to Mino and not the other way around. Which if you step back makes sense. Why would Mino stop talking to the club when he needs to work with them to achieve what his client is paying him to do? Whereas, the club resolutely don't want to sell Pogba and as such don't need or want to talk to his agent about the possibility of a sale.
Haaland's father stated that United tried to do a deal to sign his son but on the proviso that Mino was not involved. I appreciate that might only be one side of the story but in conjunction with the clear public falling out between the club and Mino it does make sense.
Pogba and his agent have informed the club of his wishes many times, unfortunately until the club start engaging with his agent again then they won't know what his current wishes are. Although seeing as he has wanted to leave for over 3 years I doubt that has changed.
The problem is the club overpaid to sign Pogba in the first place. The Ed's said at the time that other clubs were interested but none would even consider paying what Juventus and Mino wanted. meaning United were the only option left. Since then he has not really improved and in truth due to his age is worth less now than he was then. We paid 89m for him, but in reality he probably wasn't worth more than 60m. If now he is worth less than the 60m he was worth then it becomes clear just how poorly the club handled the transfer and how much they overpaid.
I think the clubs reluctance to sell him is to avoid the egg on their face they would have if they paid 89m for a player only to sell him a few years later for 50m.
28.) 06 Aug 2021 11:40:06
Shappy, what good is an ambitious player who lacks the effort to fulfill an ambition. In short he is ambitiously not good enough.
You say he never had to fight for anything in football and had everything handed out to him, then he does not need any ambition whatsoever.
29.) 06 Aug 2021 13:08:43
LPU, I agree ambition is only useful when it drives you to succeed.
I don't think Pogba will ever fulfil the potential he has because that potential is based on his physical and technical skills, the issue is though that he lacks the mentality to capitalise on those gifts and as such will always be a player capable of great things when he isn't challenged, but disappears when he is.
He has ambition to win things and thinks he is good enough. Yet he has for the past 5 years been stuck at a club that told him they had equal ambitions to win the biggest trophies, but in reality have not done enough to realise that ambition.
Much like Mourinho, United and Pogba are not a good marriage. United is a top club (in name at least) while Pogba is a top player (in name at least) . But the two just don't work well together and should just divorce.
04 Nov 2021 15:38:56
thanks for your comprehensive reply ed002.
Value you your opinion but could you reasonably see a scenerio whereby mufc if no suitors in january would be prepared to let him free to save wages and a space in the squad or are they so bullish as to even think of that scenario?
{Ed002's Note - No, that won't be happening.}
12 Oct 2021 16:20:50
shappy- longstaff fcs man get a doctors appointment he is garbage. I hope you're wrong pal that we don't even give him a glance.
pogba -get rid
lingard sign or get rid asap
rice - will be expensive but have doubts we could get him
dembele - company for jones in medical room.
Totally agree with shappy when you mention Kessie and selective free agents
Still maintain we need rid of a fair few as well as bringing in / sorting the coaching and managerial side.
06 Aug 2021 14:12:26
shappy- info from ed002 if you read above is interesting. Out of the players you name as possible, we could lose a
keeper, (DDG wages off books v henderson fee)
jones (on a free wages and he hasn't played for 18 month)
Bailly ed explained
Tuanzebe =loan fee and experience Villa?
Dalot - fee = ac milan
Pogba?
Matic probably squad or Roma interest? (cant see a loan)
Pereira = sell spain/ italy?
James ed002 info, could be useful as cover for rash?
Lingard Ed002 info again, would rather sell as I think he would be sickened by xmas and potential to lose him for nothing
Martial, sell if we can as we would probably get more for him than the others except PP. Read spurs still hold interest .
PP is the enigma as to position is/ will be prioritised next with incomings but shifting that lot would be a massive boost to wage savings and clearing space for youth and incoming players.
The real positive for me is the prospect of younguns developement over the next couple seasons, greenwood, elanga, shortire, hannibal etc etc .
06 Aug 2021 13:57:08
ed002 -thanks so much for the update, enjoy the weekend!
06 Aug 2021 12:37:39
Ed002 if you could please- is there anyfirm interest in bailly, james or lingard as of yet? They seem to be players that we could release for a few £££ and not affect the squad so much. tia.
{Ed002's Note -
Eric Bailly (CB) new contract but could be available.
Daniel James (LW/RW) may be lucky and get a loan. Leeds have asked for a loan with an option to buy. Will be available.
Jesse Lingard (AM) West Ham want loan to permanent but Brendan Rodgers is keen on taking him. Manchester United will cash in if they get a decent offer.}
03 Dec 2021 16:54:47
probably tony just saying we have a defender that can play both sides and had a workrate ethic to his game when he was getting minutes. The fullbacks that would be on my wishlist are probably not available tbf.
03 Dec 2021 11:19:44
wiggy -we can add williams back to the squad that could work at right or left hand side.? Early days but the press might not be far off the mark with the quoted 5/ 6 players moving on soon.
Was absolutely buzzing last night but still cannot get away from the puzzle- why pay 73m for a player to play on the right and put him on the left? Again Rashford another frustrating performance.
02 Dec 2021 11:39:30
I agree shappy, the league isn't mathmatically over but realistically it is for me anyway. The hope, glimmer of light is that we have a man coming in who teams play with a certain style and way that is both forward thinking and is revered by many top coaches so its positive news.
It will undoubtedly take a little while to implement and indeed will without doubt need to replace personnelwho are no longer required for the "project" with those that are more suitable.
All I want is to travel best part of 300 mile round trip with a mixture of excitement/ anticipation and pleasure at seeing performances with results in our favour. A cup is not out of the question this season which given the timing of the managerial switch would be more than welcome.
29 Nov 2021 12:29:59
Dio- I did watch united during the the jm years as i did during sexton, atkinson and various other manager years!
You either didn't read and/ or understand what was said or simply don't agree which is your choice, but get your facts right- I never stated that I didn't like rashford, simply that his work rate has slipped and he isn't tracking back as he a) used to b) should do as a top player that he can be. I certainly ain't making up the jeers he got at OT as the other 70k aren't either, but as again stated he isn't the only one. You seem to assume an awful lot without any substance. End of.
29 Nov 2021 11:15:32
GDS2- exactly how would you know he was told to stay forward? He is not the only forward player in the team and certainly not the only outlet. Forget the ology and look at his performances- as stated he played through injury but as tony states, he isn't the only one whose form and seemingly desire has dropped. The 70+k that booed him walking back to the halfway line after losing the ball against liverpool certainly didn't feel your bolloxology. He has the talent but not the desire at the moment, like as mentioned a few other senior squad members.