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Ports's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Ports's rumours posts
10 Aug 2025 16:32:18
Currently in Turkey, and on their sports channel they’ve just reported Besiktas will look at Sancho as an alternative to Lauriente? Plays in France I think.
Not sure if any of that has been spoken about in England yet and not sure if Sancho would be interested but be good if we can move him on ASAP.
1.) 10 Aug 2025 20:22:53
What's he worth let's be honest!?, no commitment, no pride, no drive and turns it on now and again!, a spoiled egotistical brat!, be embarrassed if my child showed as little interest from such a privileged position, massive queues for his signature not!, needs grow a pair!, I'd take a tenner for him and put it down to a very bad purchase to be honest.
2.) 10 Aug 2025 21:33:28
Got no self respect. doesn't seem to love the game. downhill for him now probably be in America in 3 years.
3.) 10 Aug 2025 21:39:52
I have the feeling the Sancho situation will run towards the end of August and he will end up back at Dortmund. Whether as full sale or one more loan!
30 May 2025 08:32:17
Morning. Although it feels a bit disappointing that Delap has chosen Chelsea. Being one to try and look at the glass being half full when it comes to the football side, I think this season we will finally be getting players who WANT to play for United. This is something I don’t think we’ve had since SAF left bar a few individuals. Cunha is a great example of this, it was only United and I love that. We need players who want to represent the club if we are going to move forward.
With Delap gone, Arsenal appearing to be in for Sesko I do wonder whether Gyokeres is an option although you’d think he’d end up at a Champions League side. I wonder if Ramos from PSG is an option and for some reason, I feel like an outside option is Kane. He’s won his title but I’ve read his family aren’t happy in Germany. The idea of coming back and beating Shearer’s record must be tempting for him. I’m not sure this is a move we should rule out.
1.) 30 May 2025 10:04:00
I am with you Ports as a bit of an optimist when it comes to or club (wrongly recently) . Delap for me would have been great if we had an existing striker numner 1 in and we wanted to split the playing time, allow to challenge and bring in as a number 2.
He felt a bit like Rooney when we brought him in. but we had Berbatov/ Tevez so they could give him time to bed in (not that he needed much)
At the minute we need a ready made number 1, does not need to be a huge name even though I would love an Osihmen/ Gyorkeres. If not them then a player who has been number 1 striker somewhere and scored.
Chelsea - Delap in and looks like they want another which could be Gyorkeres/ Ekitike
Arsenal - Seems split on manager/ sporting director but expect one of Gyorkeres/ Sesko
Newcastle - sorted with Isak
Liverpool - dark horses to get one of the big options but could look at Ekitike
We could be left on the outside looking at the best of the rest. reality of where we are but think with no Europe we can improve our position as a whole team with improvements in all 3 of the attacking positions.
2.) 30 May 2025 10:42:27
I really hope we can bring in a very good if not great striker who can instil a bit of that fear factor again, a player who's a handful and the opposition CBs dread facing. Doesn't feel like we've had that for a long time.
If Arsenal do get Sesko then maybe the Gyokeres move still has some legs in it. It wouldn't be the first time we'd managed to sign a very good player without the lure of European football to offer (despite what went on to follow, Pogba signed in an 'off' season) . Selling the dream of starting this new chapter and aiming for the Europa spots (I assume) won't appeal to the elite players but we're not in for those, the ones a rung below might be up for the challenge though?
3.) 30 May 2025 12:40:38
Getting a top class striker will be difficult in this market of limited options and with so much competition for them. Especially from teams that can offer European football and realistic chances of winning major silverware.
We will almost certainly end up shopping for a striker who is either unproven or that next bracket down from elite.
I still maintain that I'd be doing everything we can to get Jonathan David across the line. He might be in that next bracket down from elite, but he is miles ahead of our current options and for free it is surely a no brainer. Then we can afford to maybe look for a young talented striker with potential who can rotate around with David.
I'd also be pushing really hard for Mbeumo to join alongside Cunha to make sure we've added more goals across the front three so we are less reliant on the strikers to get all the goals.
4.) 30 May 2025 15:55:51
I have to say I'm not 1 but Sissons in not getting delap.
Obviously he has good potential but too far from the finished article to lead the line imo at united given where we are.
He might be the next shearer but might also be the next rasmus.
5.) 30 May 2025 17:04:58
I'm not bothered about a player choosing not to come here.
I'm more bothered about or ability to pick the right player. Then it's down to the player to want to come here. Delap wanted to go elsewhere, I'm okay with that.
I'm hoping mbeumo joins, a really good premiership player coming into the prime of his career.
6.) 30 May 2025 17:41:12
#Brad76
Did I misunderstand your comment, or you said we bought Rooney while already having Berbatov and Tevez?
7.) 30 May 2025 18:26:44
Would anyone go for Wissa? Knows the league, had a great season, if we go for Mbeumo too, they already form a great partnership, and it would not block potential younger strikers.
8.) 30 May 2025 18:33:24
Delap choosing Chelsea is a blessing in disguise. The board will be forced to reach a little deeper into their pockets for a Gyokores / Osimhen-style player. I expect it will mean the end of Bruno, although if the plan was to play him in a deeper position next season, that might not be such a bad thing. The £150m he’ll bring in will cover the Cunha fee, a striker, and a new keeper.
{Ed077's Note - I was never a big fan of the whole Delap idea so I'm happy he's going to Chelsea instead
9.) 30 May 2025 23:03:06
With you Ed. We need to buy goals now. Delap doesn’t guarantee this.
10.) 31 May 2025 08:30:15
Brad. I'm not sure you have your signings in the right order??.
11.) 31 May 2025 08:31:11
Redseven 150m no chance.
12.) 31 May 2025 11:22:32
Ken - He’s worth two Dhurans. He’s their statement signing. Maybe they won’t go all the way to £150m, but I expect they’ll go close if we hold our nerve. Worst case scenario Bruno stays.
13.) 02 Jun 2025 03:33:01
I won't comment on the striker options other than to say you should ignore the "potential" and go for players who want to to play for you and have the right character. Get that sorted first. Pretty much what Klopp did when he first started at LFC. People laughed when he signed Milner but he paid it back in spades just in the way he changed the dressing room culture.
Mind you I think you missed the boat by not going for Kelleher as GK. Already an upgrade on Onana (not that that would be hard) and wouldve been cheap (and home grown) . He is only going to get better imho and you prob wouldve had that position sorted for the next 6 years or at least until you had the money to afford an elite GK.
09 Aug 2024 16:59:26
Currently in Turkey and talk of United speaking with Fenerbache for Ferdi kadioglu.
1.) 09 Aug 2024 19:03:13
Are you getting the hair or teeth done ports?
2.) 09 Aug 2024 19:30:57
Gone for the Jurgen Klopp smile option!
3.) 09 Aug 2024 19:59:09
I didn't know Turkey did hair as well as teeth.
4.) 10 Aug 2024 00:40:57
Oak bark, they do all plastic surgery too. Can get yourself a new hairline and the missus a BBL at the same time ?.
5.) 10 Aug 2024 08:55:15
Just make sure you have a good Turkish translator with you when you go to the surgery, tick the wrong box and you'll get yourself a pair of double D's instead of a new fringe or a set of pearly whites ??.
29 Jul 2024 09:26:43
Ed, sounds like PSG are keen on Sancho. Just out of interest, would it be better for both clubs to do the Sancho and Ugarte transfers as separate deals or, if possible tie them both into 1 deal? I know it’s a lot more complicated but for me, the simplistic answer for them would be that Sancho is valued at £50M, they want £70M for Ugarte so £20M plus Sancho and get deal done (I’m just using numbers from reports) . Or for financial purposes would both deals need to be done separately. I guess there is an agent fee that may complicate it further?!
{Ed002's Note - PSG are not going to pay £50M for Sancho. Don't worry about the structure of any transfer as they are recorded separately on the TMS.}
1.) 29 Jul 2024 10:05:54
There certainly sounds like a deal can be done for both players. I'd imagine a comprise on both sides will be required.
2.) 29 Jul 2024 13:10:13
Ignoring money I definitely feel like there will be some movement with incoming/ outgoing shortly.
Ugarte feels like it is waiting for the Neves deal to progress and if an agreeable price can be met for both Ugarte and Sancho it is possible the deals happen at the same time with us topping up with some cash.
Mazraoui from Bayern feels similar if we can agree a deal with West Ham for AWB then that deal could go through smoothly.
Hopefully we are continuing discussions for De Ligt, as we saw from the Arsenal game we need to make sure we are covered and a main 3 of De Ligt, Yoro and Martines would give us this.
3.) 29 Jul 2024 14:27:58
PSG aren’t paying much more than that for Neves. Would rather we just went for him instead.
4.) 29 Jul 2024 16:34:02
Redseven,
He’s a similar player to Mainoo though and we need a Casemiro replacement, perhaps buying players we need rather than fancy names is the way to go?
5.) 29 Jul 2024 16:39:25
Rarely does a club actively looking to sell one of their players ever get the asking price.
If we are trying to sell Sancho for 40m, we'll be lucky to get 35m.
Likewise, PSG might want 70m, but they will be lucky to get 55m.
No one will match, let alone pay more for the player than what they paid last summer. Especially given that PSG are looking for a sale.
We are just seeing the media posturing that takes place in the build up to most transfers.
6.) 29 Jul 2024 20:29:18
Gds2. I've seen a lot of talk about him but never really seen him play. I can say the same about ugarte to be honest.
But the psg deal for neves seems all but done so as you say a player of ugarte's profile is more akin to what we need to compliment the likes of mainoo Bruno and mount.
Midfield looks very short on depth if any of cas ericksen or mctom were to depart without another coming in alongside ugarte. Interesting to see if we can get 2 in.
18 Jul 2024 21:58:37
Personal terms agreed for Ugarte. What is happening to this club!
1.) 18 Jul 2024 22:11:03
It's like Glazers are not running the club anymore :D.
2.) 18 Jul 2024 22:15:55
Club now being run by competent people who form a dynamic, agile and proactive structure.
imagine where the club will be in a few years time if this professional approach is maintained - and reflect upon the previous incompetence and wasted years previously. We're now finally acting like other well-run clubs such as Liverpool and Man City.
still SO much to do to rectify the mess the club has become but a really good start to the window.
3.) 18 Jul 2024 22:20:33
If we pull this one off too, that would be 3/ 3 so far for me in terms of acumen and identification.
4.) 19 Jul 2024 08:51:54
We certainly seem more ruthless and clinical don't we. Would just temper the expectations of Zirkzee Yoro and (potentially) Ugarte. I haven't seen evidence they are necessarily starting quality for us. Not trying to be negative about them, as I'm pleased to have them at the club; but I'm not getting carried away.
5.) 19 Jul 2024 11:04:04
Absolutely love to see it. I don't expect every signing to work out perfectly, no club gets it right every time no matter how well run they are.
Yet the difference between this summer and the past decade is absolutely night and day.
They have assessed what the team needs most, scouted, shortlisted suitable targets and have just gone about getting them done quickly and efficiently.
We will still over pay on a few targets (everybody does), and we will still pay more than most other clubs (impossible not to when you are one of the biggest clubs in the world) .
Most signings will work out, but some will not. That is always going to be the case when dealing with individuals. You can scout talent, you can select players with skill sets you need, you can even background check players to see what kind of person they are.
Yet how they fit in with the other players in the squad, how they adapt to that new environment (possibly a new country), how their loved ones who move with them adapt, and how they blend with the current players are all things you cannot predict. Those are the reasons players should be failing. Not because they don't have the right skill set or are not at the required level.
That is something that excites me most about our signings so far. They all seem to have the right skill set for what we need and have either shown themselves to be at the required level or have the potential to get to that level.
Zirkzee has shown himself to be a great player in Serie A, won the young player of the year award and been a key player for an exciting Bologna side. He has a complimentary skill set to Højlund, offering something different. His style of play should work well in creating space and chances for a forward line that has shown itself capable of scoring goals, but lacking in creating chances.
Leny Yoro is a phenomenal talent, someone whose skills seem very well suited to playing alongside Martinez. He's a mobile, athletic, sweeper who can clean up behind the more aggressive, front footed Martinez. He is also comfortable with the ball at his feet and can build up from the back. He's a good replacement for Varane who made a great partnership with Martinez when both were fit and playing. Obviously with a young player there are concerns over his ability to adapt to a more physically demanding league. He might take time to adapt and he will make mistakes as he learns. But the talent is there, it's now down to the player and the club to develop him into the player his talent suggests he can be.
Manuel Ugarte looks like he'll be the next through the door. Terms reportedly agreed, the player opens to the move, and PSG open to a sale. He looks every inch the kind of combative, ground covering, ball winning midfielder we need to pair alongside Mainoo to give him licence to focus on progressing the ball. His passing isn't expansive, but his safe controlled passing is what we probably need alongside a young player who will be looking to progress the ball forward and Bruno whose preset pass is an aggressive, high risk forward pass. He could be an excellent deal, especially if it's a loan with an option/ obligation to buy in a years time. Off-setting expenditure this summer when funds seem tight.
All three signings seem well suited to improve the team and add skills we need to become a better side. Hopefully all three settle quickly and adapt to the club, country, and the league.
While being decisive in making sensible signings the club have also been quick to move players out.
With Greenwood finally leaving and drawing a line under a very unfavorable period at the club, making it 10 departures already (Greenwood, Varane, Martial, Donny, Alvaro Fernandez, Kambwala, Shoretire, Forson, Williams and Amrabat) .
While they continue to discuss possible departures of players like Sancho, Casemiro, McTominay, AWB, Lindelof, Eriksen, Hannibal and Pellistri. These players are the ones who are likely to bring in fees to bolster the transfer budget and enable more signings.
I expect to see us continue our pursuit of Branthwaite, who would provide cover for Martinez and looks a good potential fit alongside Yoro in the long term. We will over pay for him, but that is always the case when signing homegrown players.
We are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Adrien Rabiot, who on a short term (3 year) deal could offer us some quality and experience for a minimal cost. He isn't a perfect signing, but he would represent good business I think. Whether a deal happens or not remains to be seen.
While signing a player like Rabiot on a free might free up funds to make the signings of Branthwaite and possibly a new fullback if AWB departs to West Ham or somewhere else. Although I've heard that we have spoken with Bayern about Sascha Boey on a loan with an obligation/ option to buy. We have reportedly looked at a few options like that, both in terms of players we could sign and players we are struggling to sell (Sancho) .
It's so refreshing to see our club actually being well run, with a plan, and with experts pulling the strings. While we won't be back challenging for major honours this season, if this approach continues and even improves further then it will only be a matter of time before we get back to the top.
6.) 19 Jul 2024 18:19:00
Agree with all the points.
Only caveat is no one signed is EPL proven.
It could take a season to come together.
7.) 19 Jul 2024 23:44:42
ThaT os The THing THough, these signing s aren't for mext year. They are picking players they think will developing players who will be part of a title challenge in 3 to 5 years and going forward.
I expect us to to develop each year, and these. Players to improve.
Now I do think each is am upgrade, Zirkzee better than any of our options to spell Hojlund. Yoro better than what happened last year to us at CB, Ugarte is not a significant upgrade in fairness. But I also understand their will be growing pains, they will make mistakes they are developing and learning. I can live with that as long as we are developing as a whole.
I am not excited next season because I think we will challenge or these lads are the finished article, I am excited because I think these lads could be one day and will grow into the players we need with some luck.
I think there are youth players coming through that will make it too, Amass I eel very confident about. So much so I would ignore left back and focus elsewhere, he is very young but is good enough that I think we have to avoid blocking his pathway with a new signing. Lacey too I think will make it, but unlike LB we don't really have anyone currently playing at a high enough level. Garnacho could develop into that player on the right, Diallo I am less sure of.
8.) 20 Jul 2024 10:40:42
Oakbark, I think we are on the same page. I'm excited to see the shoots of growth this season, not because I think we will genuinely challenge for major titles. That said I think we should focus on the Europa League as I think we have a good chance of winning it. EtH has shown he is good at winning in the cups, with three finals in two years. While there is no UCL drop down into the Europa league this season, meaning who is in it to start with is the only competition we will have. I think we are one of the stronger teams in the competition, with a winning manager and a history and pedigree of winning.
Personally I'd focus more on that competition as winning it means UCL qualification, while it would also improve our UEFA coefficient meaning we would be less likely to draw a tougher UCL group then following season.
I'd play the kids and squad players in the domestic cups. With our main focus being the league and the Europa League.
Yoro and Zirkzee in theory improve us, although until they play in the EPL you never know how they will adapt. Yet the real benefit of them is as you say the potential they have, and the players they could become.
I actually think Ugarte would be a big improvement, finally having a tenacious, aggressive, high energy, ball winner in midfield who'll pair nicely with Mainoo. Giving Mainoo more licence to progress the ball forward, which is his best quality.
I'm hopeful that Amad can get more game time, he looked promising every time he played last season. He probably should have got more minutes.
While if Mount can stay fit he'll be like a new signing.
I agree with Amass, he looks like he could become a top level player. Defensively he still has a lot to learn, but a real threat going forward. If we do sign Branthwaite, then I could see either Branthwaite or Martinez covering LB with them either staying deep or dropping into midfield rather than bombing down the wing. That would give us more options on the left, along with Shaw and Malacia hopefully staying fit.
I'd certainly be more inclined to sign a RB to compete with Dalot and allow AWB to move on. As our options on the right are far more limited. Maybe Yoro could play there in a pinch, which might be good for him as he adapts to the EPL. Other than that the options seem very limited, with no one in the academy who looks ready to push for the first team squad. Unless there is a change of position for one of the midfielders like McAllister for example. That sometimes happens with academy players, moving into a different position when stepping into the first team. Although we can't count on that.
9.) 20 Jul 2024 15:32:34
Utd Road, while I personally prefer to see us sign players from within the EPL as they tend to be successful more often and adapt quicker, the reality is that there are many players who have moved to the EPL and hit the ground running.
If they are well scouted, and well suited to fulfill a specific role in the team they are moving too then they tend to work out fairly quickly.
We'll see with Zirkzee and Yoro. Personally I think Zirkzee will adapt quickly, being Dutch he shouldn't have any issues understanding what the coaching staff want him to do, and he seems fairly well suited to both the EPL, and to be the link man in the forward line who makes space and creates chances for those around him.
I expect he'll quickly become first choice, with Højlund being an option off the bench, or possibly playing some games from the right hand side.
Yoro I think might take a little longer to settle and will make a few more mistakes. If he learns quickly from them then he'll be fine.
10.) 21 Jul 2024 08:15:44
We need another right back ??.
11.) 21 Jul 2024 10:42:09
Fireman, it's an awkward situation as with Shaw's and Malacia's continued injury issues there is a fair arguement that we need a consistent and regularly available LB.
However, assuming everyone is fit we have Shaw, Malacia, Martinez, Dalot and Amass who can play at LB.
Whereas, we only really have Dalot and AWB who can play at RB.
If the club looks to sign a second CB, if they get a left footed player who can play LCB and possibly LB then I think that should be fine. Then we can look at a RB as a higher priority.
Ideally it would be best if we can delay trying to bring in another LB for a season or two. That would give us time to see how Malacia fairs and give time for Amass to develop. If they don't step up or are enough then we could look at bringing in a top young LB.
I do worry though what we would do next season if Dalot misses a big chunk of the season.
Ports's banter posts with other poster's replies to Ports's banter posts
18 Apr 2026 22:36:26
Massive shout out to that Garnacho performance tonight. He does love United deep down. ?
1.) 19 Apr 2026 01:57:04
I really can't remember the last United player that left that I didn't want to do well. But he is the real exception for me.
I really do hope I change that view over time. I think I will. Maybe if he leaves Chelsea. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ended up at Villa next season.
2.) 19 Apr 2026 09:22:39
I think it's Spain or more likely Italy for Garnacho next season to get some playing time. No issue with self-belief/arrogance, as all the best need that streak in them. But he believes his own former hype and thinks he's Ronaldo. There's a decent player in there, but I'm not sad he's gone.
3.) 19 Apr 2026 10:24:30
Putting aside his attitude issues, I am surprised that he seems to have regressed physically.
He looks like he could do with a good meal, lol. I have not seen Dalot that comfortable defensively.
4.) 19 Apr 2026 10:40:27
He seems quite immature. He behaved childishly before he was sold. He has hinted he regrets it all now, but he's another player who believed his own hype. He's hugely talented but isn't delivering. It's a shame, but he's not the first to arrive in a blaze of glory and then fizzle out.
5.) 19 Apr 2026 10:49:04
All Dalot had to do was show him the inside, and Garnacho passed backwards, like he did for us for so long. He really isn't good enough to be a top-level player, and Chelsea, I think, know that.
6.) 19 Apr 2026 11:28:28
Garnacho has to take personal responsibility for his actions, but I really don't think he has a good support system. It seems his brother and others are more interested in self gain, rather than what's best for his career. It just goes to show that a level head and steady guidance are very important in modern football.
7.) 19 Apr 2026 14:26:27
AJH, the importance of surrounding yourself with good people in order to keep you grounded. He is a talented player, but talent only gets you so far.
Fortunately for us, we got a few quid for him. He's still young, though, and will have chances, but I'm not sure he is mature enough to take them.
8.) 19 Apr 2026 18:44:16
There's a chat on the Chelsea site asking if he is their worst signing ever.
9.) 19 Apr 2026 18:55:53
There is as long a list at Chelsea for crap signings as there is at United.
10.) 21 Apr 2026 01:52:47
Sancho. By far the worst signing for us and for Chelsea too. Never heard of a club before then paying us to send him back.
30 Mar 2026 13:41:31
De Zerbi in talks with Tottenham. Another Manager seemingly off the list. So for me it’s between Carrick and Naglesmann now. To be honest, I’d be happy with either. I think the comparisons of Carrick with Solskjaer are unfair. IMO Carrick has a team now of better characters. No Rashford, Pogba, Lingard, Martial etc. This I think is a real important difference. The Manchester United structure is also better now, no Woodward and co. Football-minded people like Vivell. So I would be confident with Carrick going forward especially with the coaching set-up, Holland and Woodgate. I think Carrick ticks most boxes we should want. Unfortunately the one box he doesn’t tick is the one managers get judged on the most and that’s cups won BUT that has to start somewhere for a manager.
No reason it can’t be at United for Carrick IMO.
Obviously Naglesmann has probably a better CV and he has a previous, successful working relationship with Vivell, who seems to be taking on a bigger role now so this is a positive.
Regardless of who they opt for, and it could also be someone else, I do wonder if a decision sooner rather than later is needed to help with transfers. Players will want to know who’s going to be manager, teams will want to get transfers done early in some cases before the World Cup or we’ll want players back as soon as possible after World Cup so want players sorted out.
1.) 30 Mar 2026 15:24:56
We obviously don't want de Zerbi, or they would make it known they want to talk to him.
imo he would be out of his mind to take Spurs job before end of season.
2.) 30 Mar 2026 15:59:19
Yeah, I agree, Ken. Brave man takes the Spurs job now, and I personally wouldn't want De Zerbi at United. I think he's a good coach. I just feel he's a bit volatile for us at this current moment.
3.) 30 Mar 2026 16:39:18
Nagelsmann, really? He was abysmal at Bayern.
4.) 30 Mar 2026 16:44:01
Agree, Carrick and Nagelsmann seem among the top contenders, but we've eliminated other managers (Poch, Tuchel) as they will be involved with the World Cup, which will seriously hinder a good pre-season and transfer window.
Whatever transpires, I feel a better coaching team will be needed, especially re: Holland.
We've stopped leaking goals, but the style of play has been drab. Is this what we want to watch? No coincidence, England and United were tough watches, despite admittedly an upturn in results.
5.) 30 Mar 2026 17:35:01
I think he is very emotional and excitable, Ports.
But I do like his style of play, and think he would have us playing a much better brand of football with who we have.
But most of our fans dont have the appetite for the journey change would demand.
I've a feeling they will stick with Carrick. Its the safe option, and he has done well in terms of results. Very well in fact. If he gets new players he could do even better.
Id say he is as safe a bet as Glasner or Iraola or Poch etc.
If it doesn't work out, id imagine come next Oct Nov there will be better candidates available than there is now, so he must continue to do well.
I dont know about Enrique. If he fancies a new challenge he will have options.
Simione im a big fan of, but he isn't going anywhere.
Conte could leave Napoli, but not sure he is the man either.
6.) 30 Mar 2026 19:08:02
I think some are falling into the same trap as we did with Ole. Carrick is the comfy slippers, so people find something negative about every other candidate. Recently, the team have been sluggish, lacking energy going forward. To me, we are set up a bit like Southgate would be.
We need a world class manager. City will likely replace Pep well, whilst some want us to have the ex Boro manager.
We cannot make the same mistake again. Simeone would be my choice. Would he leave? Does he want the challenge or stay in a comfy place? We should already know.
The club now have notable emotional pressure from some fans and pundits to keep Carrick. Let's see if they cave in or make the tougher decision to get the world class manager the club needs. It needs a really strong character and personality.
7.) 30 Mar 2026 22:56:00
I think once UCL is confirmed for next year, that is when they will make their play, whether that is Carrick or someone else. The number one goal for the club is UCL, irrespective of manager, players, upper management.
Once that is achieved, an announcement of the direction clears the path for early transfers prior to the WC commencing.
That's what I would do if I was running the show, at least.
8.) 30 Mar 2026 23:16:13
I love Simeone, but I'm not convinced he would be the right option. His English is pretty poor, and Atletico play some dreadful football at times. His players work unbelievably hard for him though, and I absolutely love his mentality. He is also the most highly paid manager in world football at the moment, apparently earning about £25 million per year. If we got Simeone, and it proved to be a mistake, it would be a seriously expensive one.
Luis Enrique would be my first choice without question. I would've been pretty happy with Tuchel but that is obviously no longer an option.
Other than Enrique I think I would only really consider Pochettino or Nagelsmann. Obviously there are various arguments against both Poch or Nagelsmann, but they both have experience at massive clubs, both typically play exciting football, and have proven they are able to develop young players and bring them into the first team.
Poch hasn't really won anything yet, at least not in English football, but reaching a Champions League final with Spurs was a massive achievement, and his experience in the Premier League is an important factor for me.
9.) 30 Mar 2026 23:33:36
I don't see how people would accept Darrick.
A disaster waiting to happen!
Yea, he steadied the ship, but this league has been awful this year.
We've been pretty poor to watch recently, and we still can't do anything against a low block.
Let's not do what we did with Ole and get sentimental.
Get top 4, and go for a manager who has pedigree and a winning mentality.
Go all out for Enrique. We're Man Utd.
10.) 31 Mar 2026 00:02:35
Carrick has done a great job so far. It seems crazy to me to say you don't know how people would accept Carrick. We finished 15th last season, he's come in and got us winning football matches, and I'm enjoying going to the games again.
I'm not saying I want Carrick, I don't really mind as long as the guys in charge trust him, but to suggest you don't know why people would accept it is a bit silly when you look at the results.
11.) 31 Mar 2026 03:56:01
imo we need a more proven manager, otherwise the risk of regressing again the next season is very high.
Good enough options for me would be: Enrique, Ancelotti, Tuchel, Simeone. 1 is easily the standout. 2 and 3 are unattainable. 4 I dunno. Fair questions on how much he is paid and if he will ever leave Atletico.
That means we should pretty much go all out for Enrique.
Nagelsmann is an interesting option if none of these work out.
Carrick has the makings of a good manager, and maybe someone to consider in 5 years or so.
12.) 31 Mar 2026 06:42:31
Enrique isn't leaving PSG, he is angling for a new contract, Ancelotti and Tuchel are tied up with international jobs. Simeone is basically La Liga's David Moyes and will only ever manage one club well.
Pochettino shouldn't even be in the conversation, too many people still living off his Spurs stint and ignoring what happened at Chelsea. As for Nagelsmann, it's a gamble either way. If Germany do well, he won't leave; if they flop, do we really want him? With a release clause in 2027, that feels like something to revisit later.
Glasner and Iraola both fall into that "next Thomas Frank" category, promising, but unproven at the very top level and will be sacked after lacklustre performances.
If we're looking for a genuinely exciting, up-and-coming option, Sebastian Hoeness stands out. That said, it could easily turn into another Amorim situation. But Bayern are circling depending if Kompany replaces Pep when he goes off to manage Spain at the end of the season.
And then there's the inevitable Southgate shout, maybe as a steady, safe pair of hands if everything else goes wrong 6 months after Carrick is appointed, but that probably caps us at mediocrity.
Whatever happens, at least we will have something to talk about.
13.) 31 Mar 2026 09:01:17
When people say "we're Man Utd, go out and get the best!", they never follow this up with Guardiola. He's the best? I think I can assume what people's reason for this will be, but surely you have to apply the same logic when throwing out these other names.
Are City going to go all in for Simeone when Pep goes? If Arsenal win the league, should we go all in for Arteta?
14.) 31 Mar 2026 11:06:07
In what universe does the City manager move across the city to United lol.
Fergie met Pep in a well-documented meeting to discuss successing him. It didn't happen and we got Moyes. That was the chance to get him.
15.) 31 Mar 2026 18:32:23
Because, Ports, it is common sense.
Why would a rival manager join? It ain’t the Bundesliga.
Luis Enrique is manager of PSG. The French league.
Why is it hard to believe we could convince him to join the best league in the world and one of the best teams in the world?
There'll always be that achievement of being the manager to bring the prem back to Man Utd. Can’t get a much better achievement than that.
Also, in terms of Carrick, all he is doing is playing to the players' strengths. Yes, short term, it’ll get results, but we know it’s not sustainable.
The players will drop tools, and once they do, he is finished.
We need a manager with a clear style (433 to suit Utd), and a clear plan which aligns with those higher up. Getting the right players in to match the manager's needs. We can’t trust Carrick to be responsible for the rebuild of a 5/10 year plan on the basis of a few games and a stint at Boro. It’s laughable. It’s why we’re in this shambles in the first place. Let go of the sentiments.
Short term, to steady the ship, great. But, if we want to be back on top, you go for the best possible.
16.) 31 Mar 2026 21:14:47
Trumours
Spot on.
06 Mar 2026 11:22:27
It feels like a bit of an over reaction to us losing to Newcastle. Fans turning on Carrick and Mainoo and revisiting past negative points.
It was really frustrating losing to Newcastle. Honestly, if I was a Newcastle fan I'd be asking why the team hasn't applied that much effort in their previous 6/7 home games, but United is their biggest game of the season and they are desperate to create a rivalry with United, so it was always going to be a tough game.
As for United, the next game will tell us what we need to know about Carrick and also the players and whether they have mentally turned a corner. I was gutted after Wednesday but on reflection, first game lost in 2026, been on a good run to get to 3rd and we've lost but still in 3rd place. We've certainly had darker days in recent times so just need to take a deep breath and look forward to the Villa game.
1.) 06 Mar 2026 11:45:48
I don't necessarily think the reaction was to the result, but to the performance. Let's not forget we were playing against 10 men.
Since beating City and Arsenal, we have been stumbling through games and snatching things last minute or against the run of play. Carrick talks a lot about 'the United way', but I'm certainly not seeing it.
If we were attacking, urgent, energetic, and taking hold of games, and we lost, that would be one thing. The reality is that we are not any of those things, and positive results have carried more than a slice of luck.
2.) 06 Mar 2026 12:40:24
Think most of the criticism is legitimate. Obviously, the people using it as some sort of stick to beat Carrick and reference Amorim are ludicrous. I mean, Carrick could lose every game for the rest of the season and have a better win rate lol.
But the last 3 or 4 performances have been underwhelming, no width, little tempo, and some poor substitutions.
We keep letting the game drift, which for a team playing once a week barely is inexcusable.
For the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, against 10 men Newcastle, we didn't have a shot, it was bizarre.
Best case scenario is we limp into the Champions League places, performing well enough to get results but not too well so that Carrick gets the job permanently and we can find a top manager for next season.
3.) 06 Mar 2026 12:56:11
Criticism of both is fair, so long as it is balanced, and we should also praise as well.
Carrick has done really well, steadied the ship, and brought results where we were not getting them. Performances started off well but have definitely dropped. Is this him, the players, or purely a case of getting the results being the only importance?
Mainoo has had good and bad moments, but the bad can look really bad. At times it looks like Amorim was right and he needs to develop physically, and other times he links play and is really good. Is he in the right position for him, does he need a certain type of player to allow his best attributes (a Kante-type, energetic holding midfielder who frees him to roam).
This season feels like an odd anomaly, we have few games yet do not look like we are hugely benefitting fitness-wise from this. We certainly have periods, but over the past few games we have not hit the ground running and maintained this. Whether there is an argument that we are lacking match fitness and have too few games.... who knows.
Let's hope that Newcastle was a blip, a reality check, and we go on another run.
4.) 06 Mar 2026 13:24:55
My reaction was due to lack of urgency, effort and energy. Not the result itself. I am frustrated that we put no crosses into the box for Sesko, particularly that, against 10 men, our fullbacks continued to pass sideways and backwards instead of overlapping, driving forwards and crossing.
Also, our midfield was tapping the ball around like they had no ideas. We should have been laying siege to their goal.
5.) 06 Mar 2026 17:05:44
Exactly, Dodgy.
6.) 06 Mar 2026 19:55:52
It's an average team with an average manager. Not sure what you all expect. We've got no real number 9, not one good CB at the club, poor full backs, and not the greatest midfield, and you're all moaning cos we lost one game. I would say we've been damn lucky it's only the one, but still a vast improvement over the RA debacle, so I will take that.
If we can finish 4th it's a masterstroke by Carrick.
After the World Cup, a new manager comes in and, looking like Martinez, Carrick will be offered number 2. Not sure Carrick accepts that though, but we need a more experienced manager, and certainly need some better players.
7.) 07 Mar 2026 08:12:55
The Newcastle game just gave us a reminder of the real issues with our squad. The lack of quality in depth. It's no coincidence that the two worst performances we have had under Carrick have been in midweek games, games where we are playing our second game within 3 or 4 days.
People have mentioned Carrick's lack of rotation as an issue, which is a recurring theme from our time under Amorim. But no one is pointing out that against Newcastle our bench was:
Bayindir, Malacia, Heaven, Dalot, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee, Fletcher and Kukonki.
If we are honest, only Amad and maybe Dalot are good enough to be starters, and there are plenty of fans who don't think Dalot is good enough.
Bayindir has categorically proven he isn't good enough. So have Malacia and Ugarte.
Zirkzee is a player with a lot of ability, but who doesn't seem suited to the EPL.
Leaving just Heaven, Kukonki and Fletcher, three teenagers.
We are missing options like MdL, Martinez, and Mount due to injury, all three would give us great options. Yet let's be honest, all of them have a well earned reputation for being injury prone.
This squad desperately needs another 5 players of first team quality to give us the ability to just maintain our performances when playing twice a week.
Carrick, just like Amorim before him, has his hands tied when we have two games a week, and his lack of options means he has to stick with the same players over and over again, unable to give them a rest, to rotate, or to drop them when their form dips.
These recent performances are less a criticism of Carrick and more just further evidence of how much further we have to go with rebuilding this squad.
8.) 08 Mar 2026 03:15:10
2 mids is the bare minimum we need, imo.
If it were me setting the plan and targets...
Gomes (Wolves) 6.
Anderson 8.
Branthwaite CB.
Robinson LB.
Livramento/Munoz RB.
I'd be targeting those to be starters for next year.
Further to those I'd be looking at Wilson from Fulham and Senesi from Bournemouth on free transfers to bolster the squad.
You all already know who to get rid of.
25 Feb 2026 12:39:46
I'm not going to come on and pretend to be a financial expert or to defend or criticise anyone but just read Manchester United have announced an operating profit in first 6 months of fiscal 2026 of £32.6 million, compared to £3.9 million operating loss in first 6 months of fiscal 2025.
This looks good for the club. Glazers will certainly be very happy!
1.) 25 Feb 2026 14:58:59
Cool, now give me the net. Operating profit only includes day-to-day costs (rent, payroll, utilities). Net profit includes all costs, including interest on debt and taxes. We have a boatload of debt and pay a king's ransom in interest.
2.) 25 Feb 2026 15:01:52
Ok, quick check. United announced an operating profit of £32.6m for the first six months of the 2025-26 season, but that included £48.2m profit from player sales. The underlying result, exclusive of those, a total which is more commonly used in the football industry as a club's operating result, was a £15.7m loss.
3.) 25 Feb 2026 16:14:11
And now the debt has increased to 1.3bn. What brilliant owners we have!
4.) 25 Feb 2026 16:34:57
Like I said, I'm not a financial expert, but I guess, from a very simplistic point of view on this subject, the lack of Champions League football and the well-reported struggles to get sponsorship deals compared to other teams have hit us hard. Is it fair to suggest the club has had to borrow again to cover costs, but that this current "profit" in the report should be viewed as positive despite all of the above? Next year, if the club is in the Champions League, we'll attract better sponsorship, profits will (hopefully) rise again, and debt should fall more quickly (in theory).
I know the comment "don't worry about the finances" will come up, and I'm not trying to ignore it, but it does affect the club and what we are doing, and it would be interesting to hear from people better placed to offer a balanced view on this, because there has to be a positive to this profit?
5.) 25 Feb 2026 17:06:34
Champions League football is needed to make an impact on the debt. Quite frankly, it's amazing they're doing as well as they are considering we don't have it this year, and got knocked out of both domestic cups in the first round. And, moreover, they managed to acquire 5 excellent players over the summer, and no duds.
There are no instant fixes. The results are an improvement. It's going to take at least another year to see any major change in direction from a financial point of view. No point in worrying about it.
6.) 25 Feb 2026 19:53:11
I suspect the next one will be a loss. No profits from player sales, players loaned out, and inflated wages for dross players. No cup runs (fewest games in a season for a long, long time), and a crazy amount of debt causing high interest payments. Oh, and payouts to sacked employees, I would imagine.
08 Feb 2026 09:12:14
Another happy morning the day after a game. I think we all have a little spring in our step at weekends this past 4 weeks.
I see the chat is starting about Carrick getting the job full time and I have to be honest, it’s hard to argue that. I know the concern is what happened in this scenario previously however, this time it feels different. For me, Solskjaer came in at a time when the atmosphere was rock bottom, he got the enjoyment back and the attacking attitude which we all craved but we just lacked that structure when needed and then confidence got knocked again.
This time however, we seem to have the structure in place to and I think this is down to the coaching set up Carrick has brought in. We always get caught up in who should be Manager but I think we also have to consider the coaching set up to and Holland and Woodgate, appear to be doing an excellent job along with Carrick. Carrick knows the club, knows what the fans want and knows what sort of substitutions to make and Holland and Woodgate are helping lay a foundation for all this.
It just feels different this time and I really think the whole coaching set up is key, not just who the Manager is. Carrick and the team are working with this team for the next few months, setting up the structure, any new manager who comes in with their new team will need to follow this blueprint otherwise the players will be having to get to grips with a whole new system and ideas across preseason.
Then you have to consider other options, Iraola, Howe, Glasner? All managing teams outside the top 10 currently. Managers from abroad need backing as the premier league is very different to Holland, Portugal, France etc as we’ve seen. Can we offer that and the time?
For me, this set up works. Am I caught up with all the excitement currently? Possibly but it’s to simplistic just to say this is Solskjaer 2.0. The structure and set up seems so much better now.
1.) 08 Feb 2026 10:48:14
It's going to be interesting. If MC continues winning and gets us into CL football, or into 2nd place (yikes), it will be difficult for the board not to appoint him permanently. Then it all goes pear-shaped, next season the knives will be out.
On the other hand, MC carries us to 5th place, and the board employ somebody else, and it then goes pear-shaped. The situation will be the same with different personnel.
The future is 'interesting'.
2.) 08 Feb 2026 10:51:15
I'd rather judge him at the end of the season. Can't judge anyone after 4 games. Specially if we take the rose tints off. We only beat Arsenal from 2 worldies that usually don't happen and any other game and we draw or lose that one.
We threw a 2 goal lead away against Fulham if it was from a bruno dummy that worked we would have drawn that game too. So I think your getting carried away and we need to lay off all this stuff until the end of the season.
3.) 08 Feb 2026 11:11:14
I am delighted as anyone that Carrick has won his first four games. Maybe if he wins all the remaining games there would be an argument for giving him a one year rolling contract. However, whilst very happy we are winning games I won’t get carried away on the usual United emotion train.
Emotion is too strong in the club decisions in the past. So let’s not get carried away on Carrick. Yes Ole did the same and whilst I think Carrick is a more thoughtful choice than the emotion ridden Ole one, he is still an emotional choice. Win all his remaining games and it becomes a discussion.
4.) 08 Feb 2026 11:20:32
Good post Ports.
If Michael Carrick is to be considered for the job, his biggest problem is OGS. I think the board will be very reluctant to give him the job full time based on the fact lessons should be learned from given an Interim the job full time based on the job they did short term. Rightly or wrongly, they will be reluctant because of the last time.
Personally, I think we should aim for Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, but after that, I think I'd rather stick with Carrick is the coaches in the frame are De Zerbi/Glasner/Iriola.
5.) 08 Feb 2026 15:11:52
I would stick with Carrick before Glasner or Ireola but I would think we got our sights set on Tuchel
Enrique ain’t coming, besides when I said he should replace ETH it was met with derision…same when I said Flick before ETH…how did that go!
I think the club wants TT……problem is won’t be released prior World Cup so be interesting how we build team players before hand.
6.) 08 Feb 2026 16:01:48
JSU if TT comes, they will have it well in place. Targets, structure etc, he will be done before the WC if he is going to be the one.
7.) 08 Feb 2026 16:18:47
I agree it's early to judge right now. I dislike a lot of the anti-Amorim stuff and have been vocal enough here about it! I think RA really improved the squad and took long term decisions that were starting to pay off for him. However he showed a lack of adaptability at times. I think most of the chat about formation ignores that teams transition between formations all the time and that the key change hasn't been anything to do with formation but rather that Mainoo is playing and Bruno is further up.
That being said, I felt Carrick played a style that was largely similar to Amorim in the first couple of games (difference to me was that rather than a player pushing out of the 5, instead a winger was expected to be the defensive presser) .
However I've noticed a change in last two games. The structure is more to compress the space near the ball with a couple of outlets. It suits our highly technical players like Cunha, Mainoo, Bruno and is suiting us. That's down to Carrick. So I'm very encouraged by what he's doing. Let's see how it progresses.
8.) 08 Feb 2026 16:22:51
Let's see how Carrick does. If he wins most of the remaining games and Utd finish in the top 4 then you could say he has passed an audition.
If it's not broke.
9.) 08 Feb 2026 18:54:48
There was a troll called German that used to be Maze that said a few of those things JSU but he got banned, you aren’t saying that’s you are you?
07 May 2026 11:44:39
That newspaper is notorious for giving low and harsh marks to Marseille players. Not a story.
16 Jan 2026 15:31:35
I’ve seen that knit’s NOT Ruben Neves ?.
13 Jan 2026 17:30:35
That’s a great shout ConwyRed. Believe he was highly tipped to make a big move also? Imagine wouldn’t affect the summer budget either?!
18 Nov 2025 16:19:43
The argument of taking out a player automatically loses you a certain amount of goals is so simplistic. Van Nistelrooy left in 2006, his last season we scored 72 goals in the league. The following season we scored 83.
11 Nov 2025 16:52:45
IF he stays for 10 years Je Suit unite. IF. But he’s 23, why is it unrealistic to think he could stay for 10 years?
08 May 2026 11:19:59
I'll put my support behind Fulham. They have Bournemouth tomorrow, which will be significant for either side. If they get the win, they have Wolves away and Newcastle at home.
08 May 2026 11:03:20
I'm all for giving the youngsters some minutes, and I certainly think we have some very talented ones capable, but I would also be setting the team up to win all the remaining games. The team needs to maintain that habit of winning, and the feeling of winning.
07 May 2026 16:03:16
I can't see past Carrick now. I don't think it needs to be overcomplicated either. Offer a 2 year contract and review again. Some will throw out the "and waste 2 years" or "send the club backwards for 2 years" statements, but personally, I don't think this will happen.
Can't guarantee it, but no more than people can guarantee it will happen.
The only thing I can see as a possibility for delaying the appointment, and that may result in a different manager, is if PSG win the European Cup and Enrique decides he wants a new challenge?!
07 May 2026 11:06:23
When a football manager doesn't really rate you, there's only so much you can do. You keep working hard, stay professional, and control what you can control - but sometimes it's just not your place or your manager.
Tbf to Mainoo, he didn't make any noise, that was all outside nonsense.
He requested to go on loan, not to leave because he clearly still felt he had a career at United but wanted to be playing which should be applauded. Really happy the lad is back in the team.
06 May 2026 16:21:34
Care to name any CBs under the age of 21 who are playing in the Premier League that you consider better?!