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12 Aug 2024 21:24:10
Sander Berge left out of Burnley's squad for their first game of the season this evening.
Seems to suggest that there is something in the rumours of him leaving. Will it be to ourselves, or to someone else?
1.) 12 Aug 2024 22:06:16
He’s also missed most of pre season with the same injury that kept him out of tonight. Nice try Shappy!
2.) 13 Aug 2024 07:53:27
Romanoesque!
3.) 13 Aug 2024 08:58:48
Be a shame to not keep the trend of signing injury prone players going!
4.) 13 Aug 2024 11:45:59
Wazza, where did you hear he is injured, I've scoured the internet and not found any mention of him being injured. The Burnley manager didn't mention him as being out injured.
5.) 13 Aug 2024 12:47:50
He has not played any pre season due to injury so was not considered last night and it was reported at the match last night that he was left out due to that reasoning.
6.) 13 Aug 2024 12:50:09
Shappy, Parker said so, and confirmed it's what has kept him out of some pre-season fixtures.
You can't have Googled too long as it's the first thing that comes up when searching Sander Berge injury.
"He picked up an injury in Spain. He had a bit of discomfort in his quad. It's not a big injury, it's quite a small injury to be honest with you. "
Nice clickbait though!
7.) 13 Aug 2024 13:33:59
Wazza to be fair I searched last night and that article you've quoted was published at midday today, 15 minutes AFTER I posted saying I hadn't seen anything to say he was injured.
From what I read he was expected to be in the squad and wasn't, which seemed suspicious. As it was he is injured, so that's that then.
12 Jul 2024 18:16:32
Sancho back at the club and training with the first team.
Apparently talks between Sancho and EtH have taken place and they've agreed to draw a line under the situation.
He will now be available to take part in pre-season games.
Is this a case that Sancho has realised his options weren't as good as he thought?
Or is this the player and the club doing what is needed to push up the offers to facilitate his move away.
I guess we'll see what happens over the next couple of months.
1.) 12 Jul 2024 19:28:08
If true, my opinion of ETH has gone up a little. Sancho still has a long way to go.
2.) 12 Jul 2024 19:55:26
Or sancho has realised this board ain’t getting rid of another manager for players and he’s having to knuckle down
Still hope he’s gone tho.
3.) 12 Jul 2024 20:02:32
2 adults in a room, having a chat.
It's surely a bit of both, no offers and ETH drawing a line, giving a clean slate to align with the current mood of the club. Everything is new.
I hope he can put his head down and make the best of his second chance at the club.
4.) 12 Jul 2024 20:08:07
Hopefully just the club strengthening their position, and Sancho isn’t smart enough to be any the wiser.
5.) 12 Jul 2024 21:17:13
Well this is interesting. People can and do have the right to change their minds. He’s better than Antony who Ed said was available for transfer, and with Greenwood on the way out and likely Pellestri too, makes sense for him and Amad to compete.
Plus he can play 10. Why not let bygones be bygones. If he wants to come back and show the form he shows in Dortimund then awesome for both parties.
6.) 12 Jul 2024 21:41:06
I’m in the get rid camp. Glad they’ve come to an amicable cease fire, but a Leopard doesn’t change its spots and he’s still the petulant kid that fell out with the boss in the first place.
7.) 12 Jul 2024 23:45:46
I would suspect that the big boys “suggested” that ETH needed to sort it out between them both as well as Sancho realising he was damaging his chances.
I am also in the out basket.
8.) 13 Jul 2024 06:24:10
I don't really care about the detail of what has happened and him being back and no issues with it. The realty is he has been poor for us even before the spat under previous managers barring the odd game and not sure he can cut it at united and hence selling him would be ideal.
9.) 13 Jul 2024 06:54:52
Agreed Ahmad.
Beyond what happened, he’s not very good and needs to be moved on.
The laziness and ego are part of his personality, people don’t change.
10.) 13 Jul 2024 07:10:46
As Ahmad said he has been at the club three years now, hasn't set the world alight has he?
Maybe the wages are putting people off, clearly he has the ability and mentality as we saw at Dortmund, unfortunately the consistency might never be there and he is destined to sit the last few years of his contract out at United.
I guess this doesn't help our PSR and getting some of the big wage earners out.
{Ed001's Note - when was this fabled Sancho ability shown at Dortmund? If people had actually watched him play, instead of reading his PR bull, they would have known he was terrible there except when coming on very late as a sub. Even then, it was more down to rank amateur defending that he got decent stats. He is so far up his own backside that he can lick his own tonsils and will not achieve anything until he grows up.}
11.) 13 Jul 2024 09:20:52
Absolutely spot on Ed001. People saw highlights of that game against PSG and couldn’t see past it. He was no good for Dortmund, couldn’t hold down a starting place, and his G&A numbers were as poor there as they’ve been for us. That’s without mentioning his attitude and mentality.
The last headline I read started “England International Jadon Sancho…”. PR nonsense.
12.) 13 Jul 2024 09:44:51
I will still be surprised to see Sanchi still with the club once the window shuts.
However this allows for him to show what he can do in pre season, see whether he can reintegrate with the new coaching structure.
Would not be surprised if he still moves late in the window.
13.) 13 Jul 2024 10:11:47
We dropped a bomb buying him, and now we are paying for it, no one will pay the money we want or the wages either so to get rid we are still going to end up subsidising his wages.
Not surprised they made up, there wasn't really a choice, it doesn't look good on Sancho but neither does it on United. I rather suspect that's all parties are working together to find a solution that will involve him playing elsewhere next year.
14.) 13 Jul 2024 10:19:39
Absolutely bang on the money Ed001. Bang on it. Get rid asap.
15.) 13 Jul 2024 21:34:15
Get rid. Bad attitude and not good enough anyway. Not worth the hassle.
16.) 14 Jul 2024 07:25:17
Ed 1 is totally correct here. It’s total PR spin, because even though I know he’s not a great player, and all my Cory fan mates say the same, my mind still thinks he should get a (yet another) chance. It’s brainwashing. He’s done nothing positive of note since he joined the club, and Italian and German leagues are far more suitable for him than the rigours of the Premier League.
Being him back, get him training and fit, sell him for maximum value. Smart move by the club.
If he does stay, he now has to win back over the fans too who frankly want rid.
03 Dec 2023 12:53:13
Heard a rumour today that United and Barcelona are exploring the possibility of swapping Sancho and Raphinha initially on loan, but with a possible view to it becoming a permanent deal if it works out.
If there is any truth to this then I think its a possible deal that could work out for all parties.
United and Sancho need to part ways, while Sancho probably doesn't want to take a step down/ backwards.
United really need someone who can lock down the RW spot, and Raphinha was one of the best RW players while at Leeds.
Unfortunately for him it seems Xavi doesn't quite rate him, despite him playing well when called upon.
Stylistically I tend to think that Sancho does fit better in a side like Barcelona and Raphinha in a side like United.
I'd be pretty happy if the club managed to pull something like this off, what is everyone else's view?
1.) 03 Dec 2023 15:28:02
I mean I’d be delighted if we can pull that off. But I can’t see it.
2.) 03 Dec 2023 21:44:52
Sounds like a computer game transfer to me.
3.) 03 Dec 2023 21:52:43
Would rip your arm off for that deal but it’s all pie in the sky.
4.) 05 Dec 2023 01:58:03
We could do with new negotiators, or they might come back from Spain with a bunch of Rapini.
5.) 05 Dec 2023 09:07:03
Shappy
Wishful thinking. Why would Barcelona do that. He will end up somewhere in Italy as that's generally the league players end up when they don't work out in PL. He is not good enough for any of the top 3/ 4 teams in Spain and unaffordable for any in the next tier.
Its one of those players who will be hard to shift unless we take a bath on the transfer.
6.) 05 Dec 2023 21:09:51
Rumours today it’s Rashford ??♂️.
7.) 09 Dec 2023 20:22:57
I’d be happy if Rashford went tbh along with Sancho. The pair of ‘em aren’t bad players, as long as they get their own way. We aren’t currently in a place where we can carry talented babies though, so I’d get radical and get rid of the pair.
08 Jul 2023 14:41:19
DDG is gone, club just wished him well and said goodbye on Twatter.
1.) 08 Jul 2023 14:49:36
Great servant, but right time for MU and himself to move on, some of the replies made my blood boil though, clearly not fans but even still. he's got my respect and wish him well in his next venture.
2.) 08 Jul 2023 15:22:56
He's big, he's brave he's Spanish Dave
He makes great saves, he never shaves,
Flying through the air
Come and have a shot if you dare!
He indeed has been a great servant as well as a true professional in his behaviors. He will inevitably divide some on opinions, but no one can doubt some of the class saves over the years (Mata's freekick)
Ed002, what teams would be interested? Roma? Saudi clubs?
3.) 08 Jul 2023 15:43:50
Our best player over the last 12 years, gutted he is going but it is the right time for him and the club.
4.) 08 Jul 2023 15:22:56
He's big, he's brave he's Spanish Dave
He makes great saves, he never shaves,
Flying through the air
Come and have a shot if you dare!
He indeed has been a great servant as well as a true professional in his behaviors. He will inevitably divide some on opinions, but no one can doubt some of the class saves over the years (Mata's freekick)
Ed002, what teams would be interested? Roma? Saudi clubs?
{Ed002's Note - David De Gea (G) If Mr Mourinho stays at Roma, then perhaps interest. Perhaps someone in Spain or the Middle East. Manchester United have a list of potential replacements but want a new contract.}
5.) 09 Jul 2023 07:07:25
Good time for both parties to move on. Clearly looked very uncomfortable under ETH’s system. That being said, a brilliant keeper for us over the years. Wish him all the best. Italy seems an obvious move in the absence of decent Spanish interest - or of course Saudi!
28 May 2023 09:30:51
Heard a rumour this morning that United might look at Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich, as well as closely monitoring the situation with Ryan Gravenberch.
Bayern yesterday sacked their CEO Oliver Kahn and their Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic, possibly opening the door for some players to leave who might have been intending to stay under the previous regime.
Pavard would be an interesting option, capable of playing both CB and RB he'd be a very good option.
Gravenberch too has great potential but just can't get the game time he needs with players like Kimmich and Goretzka ahead of him.
1.) 28 May 2023 09:50:18
Think Ed002 said that Pavard is reluctant to consider us because he wants to play primarily as a cb.
2.) 28 May 2023 11:30:14
A RB who can also chip in at CB is a good shout, as is Frimpong.
I think Bayern have a number of players who should be of interest. I assume the Mount thing has legs and if so that would probably kill off any interest in Gravenberch and De Jong, and what of Sabitzer.
3.) 28 May 2023 12:13:02
Interesting thread this and might have legs as we know Erik likes players who can play multiple positions to limit the impact of injuries in the squad.
4.) 28 May 2023 13:25:20
Back in February, it was reported that his expected fee this summer could be £26.8m because his contract is up next year - that would amount to a bargain.
That said, it's likely that Bayern would still want more than that for a versatile defender approaching his prime.
The problem is that he wants to play CB and there can be no assurances offered by United that he'll be first-choice ahead of Varane.
He can play RB, but he might be reluctant about coming to a club where that could be his only consistent option.
That does also render Barcelona as a questionable option given that the superior Kounde is already playing RB to accommodate other players.
Personally, I'd expect him to move to a Serie A club.
5.) 28 May 2023 22:50:42
We really need to be looking at Gravenberch. I’m not sure if he’s even available but if he is and a a low price it’s a no brainier. Le fee is another player I hope we take a look at.
6.) 30 May 2023 10:44:36
varane missed 14 league games, went off 6 times, efl only played 90 mins in the final missed 4 games and subbed off once. Class act but never been consistantly fit for games throughout his career. Any cb coming in would get a minimum of 25 games a season if fit/ available.
Shappy's banter posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's banter posts
29 Apr 2026 22:29:57
It's a long way to go yet, but I do feel that this squad is showing the green shoots of a potential title winning team in the future.
Senne Lammens has been a phenomenal signing for us, he is already one of the best keepers in the league already (highest xG prevented in the league), and he will only get better.
Ayden Heaven in the last couple of games has shown just how much of an absolute bargain he was for 1m (3 weeks of Alexis Sanchez's wages). He looks like with a little polishing he could be a monster in defence for us for the next decade.
Kobbie Mainoo is playing himself back into the kind of form that got so many United fans excited when he burst onto the scene in the senior team.
Benjamin Sesko has also quietly gone about settling into English football very effectively. He has all the attributes needed to be a superstar, and even when his form in front of goal hasn't been great he still is effective for the team with his work rate and goal threat.
That is a spine of a team that if they all reach their potential (and I'm fairly confident they will) that could challenge for all the major honours.
Add to them Leny Yoro who I still believe will become a top player (settling into the EPL as a teenage CB was always going to be tough). Let's not forget that Saliba needed to spend time back on loan in France before he could come back and become the stalwart he is for Arsenal.
As well as Amad Diallo, who despite a slight down season from him looks like a future superstar.
That's 6 young lads who are all 3-4 years away from entering their peak years.
While there are other potentially great players in the Academy, JJ Gabriel for example, looks as close to nailed on to become a star as you can get from youth football.
I really like this side, I like what INEOS are building on the pitch, and I'm confident that they will continue to get more signings right over the next couple of windows than they get wrong.
The future looks bright.
1.) 30 Apr 2026 06:36:18
We still need to do a good job in the transfer window, and we, as fans, shouldn't expect a title-winning team so soon.
I would honestly be happy if we qualify for the CL next season, perhaps having a good run in some of the cups, considering the amount of games we will play and how thin our squad is at the moment.
2.) 30 Apr 2026 06:53:12
Shappy,
Yes, to a point. Heaven looks a real player to me, high potential, even Rio-level vibes. Amad is a concern, not seeing the development yet that we would expect.
They need to get the manager appointment right or we won't maximise the potential.
3.) 30 Apr 2026 08:35:26
I agree on some of the core pieces that we have in the team for the next few years. Heaven and Yoro look like they could be a quality pairing in a couple of years, but, likely next year, we need an older, reliable player alongside either of them. Hopefully fewer injuries in the back line, and we could rotate between these.
Lammens could mean we have the GK position locked up for the next decade, with still some upside development to come.
If we can get the CM positions sorted this summer alongside Mainoo, then we could have a real spine that could have us challenging for trophies.
4.) 30 Apr 2026 09:51:00
I think we are a rb and an athletic, combative cm away from having a challenging starting 11. If we get a cb and lb in as well, then a starting 11 you could argue would be favourites. To be real challengers, we need to be better with recruiting the squad players.
I've seen some of the criticism towards Carrick has been his use of substitutes during games, but to be fair, when you look at the bench, there is not a lot to turn to.
Ugarte? Zirkzee? Malacia? Mount? (I actually rate Mount, I just wish he could keep some form of fitness). Yoro is still learning his trade, Lacey is just coming into senior football.
Once Dorgu is fit, Cunha is fit, and you replace Ugarte, Malacia and Zirkzee, suddenly, when everyone is fit, the squad looks very healthy.
5.) 30 Apr 2026 09:53:11
Interesting piece, Shappy. I agree with almost all, but can you help me with my issue - Sesko. Maybe he hasn't had enough play, and it's just his 1st season, with me judging harshly, but .....
I really wish I see what you see, but so far I do not :( What am I missing, between his current displays and future superstardom. His performances so far remind me of players like Zigic, Jan Koller, Benteke; perhaps a step above Crouch and Carrol, but nowhere near Zlatan, Batigol, RvP, Ruud, Lewa, Kane etc.
I hate to say this, and hope I am wrong, but I think he will peak into a Giroud-class player.
And BTW Amad at 24 isn't that young any more and his progress has stalled.
6.) 30 Apr 2026 10:34:29
I'm good with a Giroud-class player, Mbd. ?
I think he has looked great and is a massive upgrade on Hojlund. With even better players, I think he will easily grab 20+ goals a season. He's got 10 from 29 games already this season.
7.) 30 Apr 2026 12:17:44
Agree with a fair bit of that, Shappy.
I think we finally have a pivotal window for the club, for a number of reasons.
- (assumption here) CL football to help attract the best players.
- Opportunity to get rid of (most of) the random signings, either by selling or because of contracts expiring. That frees up a lot of spots and wages.
- The hope that some of the squad players we need to cope with a busier schedule can be found from the youth, provided we have a manager that's willing to take a chance, e.g.
Vitek, Amass, Lacey, and the continued progress of Yoro, Heaven, Amad, and Mainoo.
That should mean the club should, and can, go all-out to attract players that will improve the first XI. CM (at least 2, ideally 3), followed by full-backs, is the clear priority. Am hopeful there's budget for at least 5 quality signings, but a lot will depend on the owners' ambition. This window will tell us if we are happy competing for CL spots or titles.
8.) 30 Apr 2026 15:04:14
How many strikers in world football do you think are better now than peak Giroud was?? Not many!
05 Apr 2026 09:57:11
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Why United Should Consider Bringing Back James Garner
1.) 05 Apr 2026 13:46:07
He was available on a free this summer if we had approached him, but we didn't, so he signed a new contract 6 weeks ago and will stay at Everton.
2.) 05 Apr 2026 16:02:01
Maybe Ken, or maybe he signed a deal to make sure Everton get a fee for him.
He is from Merseyside, so could well have family connections to Everton. They also gave him his chance, and he might be one of the few players who has some moral fibre.
His deal that ran out this summer, I believe (according to press reports at least), had a one-year extension that the club could trigger.
So they could have unilaterally extended his deal. Maybe a new deal, with a gentleman's agreement or even a buy-out clause, was agreed. Who knows.
Ultimately, my post wasn't really tied into the likelihood of him signing, just that I think he'd be a very shrewd signing given his skillset and our need this summer.
3.) 05 Apr 2026 20:03:59
Agree, Shappy, that he could be a shrewd signing. Always rated him as a younger player, and now has matured.
4.) 05 Apr 2026 22:00:51
His contract was expiring in full end of June. He signed a new deal to stay there.
I think he has turned into a very good player and is versatile, plays rb a bit too. But he was not viewed as a potential free. A couple of England caps won't change that to a 40m plus buy. Let's be realistic.
5.) 06 Apr 2026 07:56:23
Shappy,
If he signed a contract to enable Everton to get a good fee, yet wants to return to us, then frankly I don't want that in a Utd player. Decent player, having a good spell, but fawning over someone who is probably a long way down the line of quality midfielders isn't the best way.
Available on a free, and not wanting him then, but willing to pay a big fee is very Fellaini-like decision making. Leave well alone.
6.) 06 Apr 2026 12:17:12
I thought we were right to sell him and he's obviously improved a great deal. I like his versatility and workrate. We need a bit of that. Pretty sure his impressive single cap will double his fee.
7.) 06 Apr 2026 11:32:13
Red Man, I agree that there are definitely more talented players.
Veron was a far more talented player than Nicky Butt, but he wasn't half as effective for us.
Sometimes the best player for a club isn't the most talented player, but the right player to enable the whole team to click and work to their maximum efficiency.
My concern is that a lot of the players we are being linked with are naturally more inclined to play the box to box No.8 role be that as a destructive ball winning No.8 or as a creative on the ball No.8.
The only one who we have been consistently linked with who fits the mould as a natural sitting and shielding No.6 is Baleba, and I'm not even completely sure that is his best position either. He is a comfortable passer, but lacks imagination, and he has an aggressive tendency to jump and try and win the ball (but that could just be the enthusiasm of youth).
Successful sides do not just stick the biggest name players together ala Galactico style. The best sides recruit players who complement eachother and bring out the best in eachother, which makes sense as football is a team game.
Casemiro is the only player we currently have who can comfortably play that sitting No.6 role, which is why we look so much worse when he isn't playing.
Mainoo isn't a player who'll naturally sit and shield the back four, neither is Bruno, or Ugarte (who is often mistaken as a holding player due to the perception that players who make a lot of tackles are the defensive lynchpin).
We see it all the time when Casemiro isn't playing, we suddenly have big gaps open up centrally which nearly always leads to us conceding goals. We say it's a lack of legs in midfield as we see players struggling to sprint back to cover, but the issue isn't their lack of legs, but the fact they were in the wrong place which opened up the space.
Casemiro last season was trying to play too much as a box to box driving player which meant he was occasionally out of position and without a more natural sitting player like Kroos alongside him it left big spaces. This season he appears that his legs aren't as gone as we thought, when in reality he has just learned to adapt his game and sit more often, meaning the space never opens up.
We need to bring in at least one player who is more about defending the space than winning the ball. They will tend to win the ball a lot due to them playing as that shield in front of the back four, but they won't go chasing the ball and leave gaps open behind them.
James Garner fits that role well, is EPL proven, homegrown, and a former academy player to boot (meaning he is less likely to be overwhelmed or struggle to adapt to our club).
There are other options out there, Eduardo Camavinga would be another that I would have high up on my list. He's certainly the bigger name, more naturally talented and shiny option, but he does come with a bigger risk of whether he could adapt to the EPL or playing for United (although you'd hope having played for Real Madrid he'd be able to cope with the pressure, although that isn't a given).
We need a natural sitting No.6 type player, of those we have been linked with Wharton and Anderson are the two who could probably adapt to that role best, but it isn't their natural role and playing them in it will not get the best out of them. Which seems silly to spend such a huge amount on a player to then play them as a square peg in a round hole, even if they can do an adequate job there.
8.) 06 Apr 2026 14:01:26
Garner signed a new contract 6 weeks ago. He is not moving from Everton. He is not an option. Simple.
9.) 06 Apr 2026 20:51:26
Garner would've made for an upgrade on Ugarte, but for his own sake, it made sense to stay at Everton, where he's a regular starter.
10.) 06 Apr 2026 22:50:39
Manuel Fernandes, Garner and Anderson. Greedy.
11.) 07 Apr 2026 04:45:00
Garner probably doesn't want to come and be a 4th choice back up. Yes, he would be incredible to have that depth on the bench. But, that is not what he wants, I imagine.
Question is, when are we going to see someone from the youth team step up into that role? Has anyone looked ready?
{Ed025's Note - 4th choice back up DB?, he walks into the united side mate and the only player you have that is a better midfielder is Bruno..
12.) 07 Apr 2026 12:54:26
Yeah, because Garner's better than Casemiro, right? Absolute nonsense 025.
{Ed025's Note - he replaces Cas for me WR, hes been decent but hes a bit of an old turnip now and he strolls rather than runs these days mate, he still gets in your midfield though because lets be honest the likes of Mainoo and Ugarte are championship players at best and thats before you throw in Mason out for the count Mount..
13.) 07 Apr 2026 13:08:02
Whiskey, Casemiro is leaving! Breaking news. ?
14.) 07 Apr 2026 13:32:58
That's hardly the point I'm making, is it, Fizz? I stated that he is not better than Casemiro.
I'm well aware he's leaving.
15.) 08 Apr 2026 02:06:22
Fantastic post, Shappy, one of the very best.
Just my opinion, but I think Garner is a very tough guy. He did renew his contract so he can see who really wants him and has him as a priority.
Because, if he was free, a lot of clubs would take him for third or fourth option for their rotation. But who wants him badly and is going to pay 70 millions?
16.) 08 Apr 2026 10:22:56
The answer to that heaven is nobody. He renewed his contract because its the only or at least the best offer he had on the table at the time. He did not renew it to see who wanted him that's one of the thickest things I've ever read on here?
17.) 08 Apr 2026 12:59:45
No, not exactly. But he did think, my personal opinion, that if he is good, and if someone really wants him come summer or next, someone can pay and buy him. And that's a win win situation with Everton pocketing money too.
It was the only offer on the table because you can't offer a contract to a player who plays for a team in the same football association before his contract expires. So, you are right, he hadn't another choice.
18.) 08 Apr 2026 13:22:00
Heaven you are very poorly informed.
Any club club can speak to a players agents/representatives and make a contract offer while he is employed elsewhere. Use your head.
If he could have got a free move in the summer he would have pocketed an extra 5-10m personally, i don't think getting a fee for Everton entered his thought process or his representatives. Do me a favour
19.) 08 Apr 2026 15:33:23
He had an option of an extra year extension, Tumble. I don't think he could leave for free.
20.) 08 Apr 2026 15:41:41
There was no option, Heaven. His contract was expiring in full in June.
21.) 08 Apr 2026 15:43:43
Also, Heaven, that option is not the player's option. When it does exist, it's the club's option; the player is powerless to stop a club enforcing it and has no option to force it on the club. If they don't want him to stay, they just don't take up the option, like we did in Sancho's case.
22.) 08 Apr 2026 15:56:20
That's what I say, or, I mean, if you prefer, it's the club's option. So, at the very least, Everton would trigger it in order to not lose him for free. Ideally, Everton would extend his contract by 4-5 years, as they did.
That's what Moyes, more or less, said, if I remember correctly, and more or less confirmed that they had the choice of +1. I, of course, believe him.
23.) 08 Apr 2026 17:12:03
Everton didn't have an extra year option. His contract was up in June.
24.) 08 Apr 2026 17:25:12
If you say so, Tumble. If you have inside information, or better information, that's fine. I go by what I read. Moyes hid that there was a year extension for James Garner, and I do believe him.
25.) 08 Apr 2026 18:32:57
Yes, cos his current contract had expired, so he got a 3 year extension on increased terms. The details are in the public forum, it's not difficult to check.
26.) 08 Apr 2026 19:11:52
Yes, it was going to expire because Everton didn't trigger the one year extension yet. But they had this option, you must search what Moyes said, it's public and it's not difficult to check. Anyway, move on.
05 Apr 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, What a Manchester City Punishment Could Change
1.) 05 Apr 2026 19:46:25
A few things that I might be wide of the mark with, but.... I understand the following.
1. City have exhausted all avenues of appeal, hence the delay, and the talk of the decision being final.
2. Newcastle, Villa, and I suspect Chelsea, to a lesser degree, have issues with Financial Fair Play currently.
I think the first two will fall off a cliff as the squads get decimated by the bigger boys.
3. Spurs are not coming back.
2.) 05 Apr 2026 22:02:40
I think Spurs will be in the mix for top6/7 next season if they stay up. Lots of work to be done. They have a good coach and will do fine, I think.
3.) 06 Apr 2026 08:51:38
As I understand it, for teams in Europe next season, squad cost (the total of wages and amortization) cannot exceed 70% of revenues. Villa's revenues last season were £378m, Newcastle's £335m, Chelsea's £490m. We have an enormous revenue advantage going into the transfer window, particularly if we do make it into the Champions League.
If one of the punishments meted out to City is a transfer ban, then we would be in an even better position to secure the midfield improvements we're going to need. Our revenues should exceed £700m, leaving us with a permissible transfer budget in excess of £300m, limited more by our ongoing debt and cash/credit facilities.
4.) 06 Apr 2026 11:40:58
New name, I doubt they will give City a transfer ban, as the majority of the charges are related to effectively fudging their accounts to make it look like they are more profitable than they are.
They will get a points deduction, maybe even a big enough one to relegate them.
They will also be forced to adjust their accounts to more accurately reflect their true income, which means their cost/expenditure percentages change, and means they won't meet certain criteria to pass the FFP/affordability rules.
That in itself will likely force them to have to sell players and bring in cheaper replacements on lower wages (definitely if they are relegated).
To then give them a transfer ban on top of effectively forcing them to sell many of their players would be to hamstring them, and I don't imagine any governing body would uphold such a ruling.
Our best chance to beat them to key signings such as Elliot Anderson is if they get relegated or at least are forced out of European football.
That would make them less attractive as an option, especially if it causes Pep to jump ship.
A Man City side without Pep and European football, along with them likely losing several key players, marks them down as a side in serious decline. Their old advantage of offering to pay higher wages (either officially or off the books) would also no longer be available to them.
5.) 06 Apr 2026 12:51:41
Hopefully this uncertainty is the only thing we have in our favour against City in the Anderson race.
6.) 06 Apr 2026 21:28:16
Just gonna put this Utd out there.
How about we make ourselves an attractive club to come to, and not worry about City, or indeed rely on them to be suitably punished to make them unattractive to prospective players.
We can only compete with whoever is out there, and if it ain't City, then someone else will step up.
Get back to where we should be, and then we will be able to pick and choose.
7.) 07 Apr 2026 11:24:11
That would be nice, Keefy. It has been too long between drinks for this club.
8.) 07 Apr 2026 12:26:11
No argument from me, Jimbob. But the sentiment remains.
04 Apr 2026 13:26:21{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, What a Manchester City Punishment Could Change
1.) 04 Apr 2026 15:22:57
Agree.
City are also proposing the largest ever shirt sponsorship £1B over 10 years with Etihad.
Apparently it's being reviewed to benchmark against the going marker rate.
Common sense should prevail, and this will be more drag and friction for them.
Price of football, fellas, predict 40-60 point deduction for City.
2.) 04 Apr 2026 18:04:05
Embarrassing that football has not dealt with this swiftly and strongly. Everyone knows they are at fault. How can it possibly take this long? Dish out the penalty and let them serve their punishment and move on. It is a complete joke that we have one of the top teams in world football still competing at the top table, with this hanging over them.
Is it a footnote to every victory and trophy? It is better for City to clean the slate. Maybe they just want to wait till Guardiola has gone and then deal with it as quick as possible.
3.) 04 Apr 2026 21:06:38
That being said, he doesn't speak English.
4.) 05 Apr 2026 16:40:59
Who, Ajh?
Simeone? Daglish? Guardiola?. ?
5.) 05 Apr 2026 16:43:24
Yeah, I replied to the wrong post, Simeone.
01 Apr 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United's Manager Choice: Upgrade or Trust Carrick?
1.) 02 Apr 2026 22:15:19
I am beginning to get a sneaky feeling it'll be Pochettino for no other reason than a gut feel.
2.) 03 Apr 2026 22:05:09
Eric, im a big Poch fan. I always felt he would do a good job and was my choice before Eth.
However, I think since then he has underachieved and gone on to the heights I thought he would.
03 May 2026 23:16:26
Vitek looks a great prospect, but I don't want us to stifle him like we did with Henderson. I'd sell him with a buy back clause.
28 Apr 2026 22:32:08
Hard work and simple, that sounds like some of my students. ?
15 Apr 2026 19:55:15
Marcos Senesi is the obvious choice. Great age, EPL experience, has been one of the standout defenders in the league this season and is available on a free.
{Ed001's Note - he is a very weak defender though. Good on the ball, but not good at actually defending.}
11 Apr 2026 12:09:43
Utd Road, did you want to check the maths out on that?
1 in 4 is 25%.
25% of 55 is 13, and 25% of 60 is 15.
So if a player missed 15 games of a 60 game season then according to your post that is both not a major issue, yet is not okay. So which is it?
Statistically most players for teams that play 55-60 games a season typically play around 40 to 45 games.
Which for MdL is typically the number of games he has managed a season.
On the face of it that suggests that his injuries don't stop him from playing just as much football as those who don't pick up injuries.
The issue isn't how many games he is fit to play. The real issue is that he can be relied upon to be fit for any given match.
There is a big difference between a manager choosing to rest or rotate a player out of the team for a game or two and them not being an option due injury.
The first choice players in a top team that average 40-45 games a season will typically start all of the biggest and most important games. Key league games against title rivals, quarter finals, semi finals and finals etc.
They typically get rested or rotated out for games against "weaker" sides both in the league and in cup competitions.
But that can only happen if they are fit and available. MdL not being fit for a league cup game against a League 2 side or a home game against the side bottom of the league isn't a major issue as there is a good chance he'd be rested in those games anyway. But him missing for league games against Arsenal, Liverpool or City, or a knockout UCL game against one of Europe's best sides, that is where the problem really lies.
If MdL and Martinez are fit and available for the biggest games next season then we don't have any need for a new CB. Yet if we have to play at the Bernabeu in a knock out game with Yoro and Heaven as our starting CB's then that is a problem. Not only for our chances of progressing, but also in terms of development for two highly rated young defenders.
We've extended Maguire's deal and that makes a lot of sense, especially as the focus for our spending this summer has to be on midfield where we only have Mainoo as a quality option for next season (and he himself is inexperienced and will need to be rotated in and out of the line up). We also clearly have a need to address an imbalance on our left hand side in terms of attack. With Shaw no longer being able to get up and down the flank and be an attacking threat out wide, along with Cunha being our only natural fit on the left. With his natural game to come in field and link up with his teammates, we lack an attacking threat wide left. Maybe Dorgu when he's back can offer something either from LB or LW, but we clearly need at least one other player to offer that width wide left. That could be either a LB or a LW player, ideally both.
This means we probably have very little to spend on a CB this summer, especially as if (long shot I know) MdL and Martinez are fit for most of next season then with Maguire, Yoro and Heaven as back up we have very little need for a CB, who ultimately might just end up blocking Yoro and Heaven from getting minutes.
Imagine the scenario where we spend 50m on a CB who hardly plays next season because MdL and Martinez are fit for the majority of the season. All the signing does is limit game time for two of our most promising young players. All while we struggle to control games as we have limited options in midfield, or we struggle to score enough goals because our attack is too one sided.
Fans would be fuming that we spent 50m for a player to sit on the bench while not fixing issues in the first 11.
For me the solution is simple, we sign Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth on a free transfer. He's EPL proven, the perfect age (29 at the start of next season, which means he isn't a long term barrier to Yoro and Heaven), brings experience and leadership, has shown that he can play on either side, has a really good injury record, and he wouldn't stop us from spending elsewhere.
This is the most obvious tap in signing we could make this summer. Quick, easy, cheap, and solves an issue in the squad without creating another.
MdL and Martinez are the obvious first choice options if fit (but we know they will miss proportions of the season with injuries). Maguire and Senesi offer experience and leadership when called upon to cover for injuries, while Yoro and Heaven will also get game time when MdL and Martinez are out injured, and if they do well enough they can force themselves into the first team.
It allows us to focus on fixing midfield and the left flank this summer. Then next summer we can readdress the CB issue and look at RB, along with any other positions that become Iman issue over next season (either due to players declining or not developing or settling as hoped).
06 Apr 2026 11:11:42
If an EPL team plays in the Europa league, and makes the final along with making the final of both the league and FA cup, along with playing the maximum number of replays possible on that cup run then the maximum number of games a club can play in a season is 71 (as well as playing the Community shield).
No teams outside of the EPL can play that many as most top European leagues don't have two domestic cups (that have more than 3 rounds) and they don't have replays for drawn cup games.
In Germany, Italy and Spain the maximum is between 56-58 games, and in France it's 61.
The most games played by one EPL side in modern history is Liverpool in 2021/22 season when they made the final of every competition, they played 63.
If United play 60 games next season then we will have made at least one cup final and at least the Semis in the other two competitions.
Which is unlikely, given that we will still be lacking squad depth even if we bring in 5 or 6 new signings this summer.
I'd imagine that we will play 50-55 games at most, but could play as many as 60 or so.
50-55 is the going rate for most UCL teams across Europe, while most players at those clubs average around 40-45 games in total with only around 80% of them being starts.
This obviously doesn't include international games for their national teams. When including those very few players play more than 52 games a season.
Bruno Fernandes I believe is the only current EPL player who has played more than 52 games in one season. Which is testament to his supreme fitness and endurance, that comes across as freakish due to so few players managing to play that number of games.
For example the next 6 players on the list of EPL players for most games played in a season are all goalkeepers.
MdL does pick up a fair few injuries across the season, I would likely attribute it to him starting to play professional football at the age of 16 (especially in what is one of the most physically demanding positions) while his body is still growing and developing.
That said his record isn't anywhere near as bad as Luke Shaw's or Martinez's since he joined us. He has typically been fit to start around 40 games a season on average (obviously with a couple of seasons that are anomalies). That's a great record across a decade when you consider that the first two years of that he wasn't even old enough to buy a pint or vote.
While it's only a handful of games less than the average player manages.
04 May 2026 11:20:12
The manager question is the one that seems to dominate the discussion right now.
I'm neither for nor against Carrick. I think, from the outside looking in, he has done a good job. If the club decides to stick with him, then I'll back that decision. Like many fans, I also have a few reservations or unanswered questions about him as a manager (which, to be fair, I'd have over any manager we hire).
Where most fans differ on the manager front tends to come from the basic fact that we are all basing our opinions off of less than 20% of the information needed to make that decision.
Firstly, there is a subtle difference between the best manager available and the right manager for the job.
Ultimately, we are best off hiring the right manager for the job, even if others on the surface look like "better" managers.
Again, some of us are basing our opinion on who is the right manager on who we feel is the best manager, often on things like what they've won, who they have managed previously, or their perceived style of play, etc.
Yet all of those things need to be taken in context.
For example, would Pep have won all the titles and accolades he has at City if the people running the recruitment hadn't managed to get him the players he has ultimately had? How much of his success should also be attributed to those who gave him the conditions he had to be successful?
Finding the right manager is about finding the right piece of the puzzle; it might not be the biggest piece, or the fanciest piece, but it will be the piece that brings the rest of the image together.
As fans, it's fine to have an opinion on things like who the manager should be or who we should sign. But ultimately, there is so much we don't know about the whole process, or what is actually required, that our opinions carry very little weight. The important thing is, regardless of who we hire as fans, our job is to get behind the new manager even if he isn't our preferred choice.
Personally, I think player recruitment this summer is far more important as to our long term success than who we hire as the manager. But like I say, that's just an opinion.
04 May 2026 11:04:33
Agree with all of that. For me the biggest issue we have had over the past decade as fans is we have created this saviour complex. Where we are looking for one man to come in and turn everything around and get us back to the top.
But that just isn't realistic in the modern game where clubs are now absolutely massive global businesses.
We don't need one man, we need a team of people who are all experts in their area to come in and work together.
Expecting a manager to run the team, recruitment, balance the books, run the branding, align the youth development, and be our chief of PR is not just unrealistic, it's setting managers up to fail.
We are reluctant to embrace this "head coach" title over "manager", yet that is something that is holding us back.
You either adapt to the changes in the football landscape or you go extinct trying to keep doing things the old way (the way that worked in the past).
Lots of people are overly hung up on who we appoint as manager this summer, but I really don't think it's as important as most fans think.
We now have a proper structure behind the scenes.
A CEO who will balance the books, but understands that we do so to run a successful team and not run the team to balance the books.
We have people put in place to run youth development, to ensure we have a production line of young players ready to move into the first team.
We have a full data analytics team who work closely with the recruitment team, youth teams and first team to identify what we need from players on a far more in depth basis.
We have overhauled the recruitment team, who now have clearer remits and areas to focus on when scouring the world for the best talent.
We also have a DoF/Technical director in Jason Wilcox whose job it is to bring this all together as part of a vision for how the club should play on the pitch. He understands football on multiple levels, and can be the man to keep a level of consistency across many years and potentially several managers.
Several of the key criteria that many fans feel the manager needs to meet are being fulfilled by other people at the club. Which is ultimately what we need to be able to be consistent.
Top clubs cannot be consistent when everything is built around a man who could be 10 bad games away from being fired. Managers aren't typically sacked because they have been poor for multiple years/seasons, it tends to all fall apart in less than half a season. You simply cannot build a club around a man whose position is so unstable.
The key to success is no longer hiring the biggest name or fanciest CV manager available, but about finding the right piece of the puzzle. The right manager who fits the rest of the club and the vision moving forward.
At United we need a manager who'll do three key things.
1. Play attractive and winning football. For a club out size and with our media attention there is an expectation that we entertain when we play.
2. Develop young players by incorporating them into the first team. Both academy and young signings.
3. Manage the clubs image during press conferences. They need to be someone who steadies the ship rather than someone who throws petrol on the fire. Our club attracts a lot of attention, often negative, they need to be the person who calms things down and gives the club space to operate without additional pressure.
That's it, that is all we need from a manager/head coach.
We don't want someone who'll be challenging the club or creating tension within the club.
We don't want someone who'll be overly involved in player recruitment, we've been down that route of signing players on 5 year contracts for a specific manager who has historically not even lasted 3 years.
We don't want a manager who feels the need to change the club to suit them or their vision.
We don't want someone whose ego comes before the club.
Ultimately if we want to get back into title contention then we need a squad capable, until we get that it just won't happen. People point to Pep, Klopp and Arteta but all of them oversaw a huge overhaul of the squads they inherited before they seriously were able to consistently challenge for major honours.
When players are signed on 5 year plus deals and managers on a maximum of a 3 year deal, it's clear that you are hiring a manager for the players and not signing players for the manager.
If the manager is successful then he stays longer, if not then you part ways and bring in a better suited replacement.
I know as United fans we find that difficult to grasp given the amount of time we had SAF as our manager, yet ultimately even he had to be successful to keep his job, to show he was moving us in the right direction.
23 Apr 2026 22:39:44
Alright Red Man, I'll bite. Name me ten serious options who we could bring in who are definitively better than Carrick and who are available this summer and willing to join?
23 Apr 2026 22:36:56
Archie Gray is the only one who I'd seriously consider if Spurs go down.
I saw him play for Leeds a few years back, and it was obvious that he was going to be a great player.
Van De Ven is a player I'd actually avoid. His positioning and defensive reading of the game is terrible.
Probably because he can rely on his speed to dig him out, but he's already started to pick up a few muscle injuries. I wouldn't be surprised if he's pretty much finished by the time he's 28, struggling to make 100 appearances in a top flight league after he turns 28.
20 Apr 2026 19:34:34
While some look at the obvious inconsistencies with VAR (sometimes even during the same game) and see that as potential corruption, I don't think it's intentional cheating or fixing of results (although you can't rule it out).
Nor do I think referees can really be that bad or stupid, to make such contrasting decisions and genuinely believe they are right on both occasions.
However, they were adamantly against VAR when it was first proposed, and they have pretty much been forced to use it against their will. So, with that in mind, do I believe the referees would, in good faith, try their best to make it work? Or would they, even subconsciously, want it to fail?