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20 Apr 2024 01:06:48
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19 Apr 2024 22:19:12
If Jason Wilcox is our new technical director, where does that leave our present technical director Darren Fletcher?
Technical, is not something I would use to describe Darren Fletcher. The days when he was stuck on the bench alongside RR have gone, so let's see what happens to Darren.
19 Apr 2024 17:53:29
Zidane then.
19 Apr 2024 18:33:25
Makes more sense than potter and southgate.
19 Apr 2024 18:43:06
Zidane now.
19 Apr 2024 18:54:57
Hope not.
19 Apr 2024 20:27:27
I know it sounds weird but I can’t picture Zidane working alongside Wilcox and Ashworth 😂.
19 Apr 2024 21:45:54
It won’t be Zidane. Unless he’s signing to play in our midfield.
19 Apr 2024 23:07:02
No chance.
SJR wants the real football ethos to return to the club, which means he won't suffer fools.
Although the prospect of these two egos locking horns could get the shrug in light of Zidane's resume, the inevitable fallout could well be a financial and PR sinkhole where the victor will have wasted valuable years of a much-vaunted rebuild.
Let's not kid ourselves into thinking that the resident big egos at the club will be reluctant to challenge a true football legend, let's not be foolish enough to think their egos aren't fed daily by fortune and tongues.
Although the football would be more entertaining, this would have a Mourinho-style outcome.
Imo, only one word would fit the prospect of this appointment - Damage!
19 Apr 2024 16:44:26
ED001,
Which players would you keep at Utd cine this summer?
Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - the problem is that you are unlikely to be able to unload and then replace everyone in one summer, but the ones I would look to keep are:
Martinez, Kambwala, Evans, Malacia, Dalot, Mainoo, Mount, Shoretire, Garnacho, Hojlund.
I would probably not be that bothered about some of them as well, if there is a decent replacement in the youth team or available to buy. The rest are all disposable imo.}
19 Apr 2024 17:34:23
Cheers ED001,
I think not qualifying for any European football next, may aid the club next season. There necessity to replace isn't such a requirement then
I was surprised to see Shoretire in your list. What are your thoughts on his potential?
{Ed001's Note - I took the list of first teamers from transfermarkt, so he was in there. As was Diallo but I am not convinced by him and think there is better in the academy. I think Shoretire still has a chance of making it, but he needs games in the first team to do so. It is never easy, but having these youngsters coming through the academy around the team helps. It reminds the first teamers just how much it means when they interact with these kids who are just delighted to be in contention. It also gives the kids in the academy a boost knowing that if they put in the effort they will get a chance. On top of that, the ones in the team will usually put in that little bit more effort, at least early on, to prove themselves.}
19 Apr 2024 18:00:55
No Onana ed?
{Ed001's Note - definitely not, he is dog muck. He would be the first player I would replace. His basic goalkeeping is awful, his technique is abysmal and he is not that good on the ball either. He is nowhere near good enough for a team that wants to challenge for trophies.}
19 Apr 2024 19:08:49
yeah but apart from all that I reckon he is pretty good.
19 Apr 2024 19:29:56
ED001,
Thanks for that. What do you make of Amass, I was hoping, still hoping to see him get some minutes as neither Dalot nor AWB have been suitable at lb this season.
Understandably, Amass is only 17, so perhaps a tad bit young just yet given how poor the team have been. Yet, Mainoo has shown how good he is despite that. I think that says more about his attitude aswell.
{Ed001's Note - I like the look of Amass, he will no doubt get some minutes if you have a dead rubber game at the end of the season. Personally I would have given him a chance before now, just to see if he can hack it.}
19 Apr 2024 20:32:52
ED0001 MY GUYYY!
I said this since day one that Onana is so poort its a joke that we even bought him.
{Ed001's Note - I really do wonder about the scouts that don't notice his basic technique is so bad.}
20 Apr 2024 00:07:03
In personally don’t hold with this not being in Europe will aid us argument. For a start it means we will not be able to attract the players we need to form the spine of a developing team
We need to replace these players to ensure that if we do get into Europe then we are able to compete. Otherwise we turn up in Europe in 2026 with ageing and unsuitable players and round we go again.
Do I think we will get to Europe? Not at all, but to think it will help us is possibly off the mark. And personally I don’t think ETH is the man to do it either. Far too tactically limited for such a demanding competition.
19 Apr 2024 12:52:51
Decision to end FA Cup replays is a travesty for the football pyramid.
I might be a life-long United fan, but for the last 10-years since moving I've also become a Peterborough United fan. My son and I now have a season ticket even though we don't go to all of the games. I feel like I'm helping a local club that has to fight tooth and nail to survive. I would be lost without it now.
Cup replays are such a vital form of revenue and match day motivation. There's no guarantee obviously. Clubs can't budget for replay revenue, but when they come along they're like gold-dust. The EFL clubs already lost cup revenue when the top PL clubs withdrew from the early rounds of the League Cup. Now this.
Replays are a part of British football heritage and culture. It's another poor PL decision that rips at the very fabric of our game. The greed shown by the PL is astounding. It would not be what it is now without the pyramid. It's not just players. There is a wealth of talent that is developed in the lower leagues that the PL relies upon. Even referees and linesman depend upon it for their career progression.
It's short-sighted greed that alienates supporters and communities up and down the country. Even as a United supporter I'm at the point where I'm starting to resent these clubs. Their arrogance will one day be their downfall.
Our game needs a proper regulator that protects the game, not just the elite.
19 Apr 2024 13:37:51
Couldn't agree more.
It's actually a disgrace and one that further drives the stake into the heart of football - the heart put in by all the working class folk who sought to bring this wonderful sport to the world, now being insulted by the continual disregard shown towards football communities beyond the big cities who better reflect the founders and early participants.
Complete and utter disgrace.
19 Apr 2024 14:33:10
It was an FA Cup replay that Bryan Robson scored my favourite goal ever v Liverpool at Maine Road. An FA Cup replay we witnessed one of the greatest goals ever scored by Ryan Giggs v Arsenal.
Everything that made the FA Cup magic they are slowly changing. Semi finals moving to Wembley from grounds like Villa Park. Saturday kick off to 5pm from 3pm. And now this. Replays add to the excitement of the matches and makes the FA Cup, or made the FA Cup the best cup competition in the world outside of international football. Once again a decision has been made that make me question my enthusiasm for the game. I’m all for change and agree things have to move on but it has to be for the benefit of the fans primarily and the game. Sad times.
19 Apr 2024 16:19:25
The underlying problem is that there are too many games for some players. Agree this isn't the answer. There are lots of alternatives e. g. trimming premier league to 18 teams, reducing the number of international football friendlies, putting load management limits for players .
19 Apr 2024 17:46:10
There are too many teams that are unsustainable for professional football.
The clubs are often living beyond theft their means the football pyramid needs to be reduced imo by bringing probably about 15 or 20 clubs back to part time.
19 Apr 2024 18:06:00
There are too many games yet teams are going abroad at seasons end thousands of miles away to play an exhibition match!
19 Apr 2024 19:27:37
Harrison Burrows has played more games this season (Posh captain) than any Liverpool player.
19 Apr 2024 19:33:24
Teams should be encouraged to play more players from U23’s and academy. I’ve never liked the 5 sub rule but if it’s in place, 2 of the 5 should be academy products. Agree with Salford about pre season and I really believe something like the charity shield will be in America or somewhere soon and that’ll be the start. Also, sack of international friendlies 3 weeks into a season!
19 Apr 2024 20:27:38
terrible decision -also not all players are household names on 300k a week of course - why should a long serving player from e.g woking, tranmere or peterborough be denied the chance to play at Old Trafford/ Anfield Arsenal etc once in their career?
19 Apr 2024 11:38:48
Hi Ed001, can you give me your opinion on Joao Neves please? I know you probably have a long list of players to do profiles on, I was hoping for a tit bit in the mean time :)
{Ed001's Note - excellent technique, good range of passing and vision, but lacks a bit of mobility. Quite similar to Mac Allister in a lot of respects.}
19 Apr 2024 12:19:16
Kind of reminds me a bit of Ander Herrera from when I've watched him. Pretty physical for a small guy and I do think he has good potential, just depends where he goes next.
{Ed001's Note - you know what I was half asleep when I typed that and I realise I was talking about Ruben Neves not Joao Neves. You are closer, he is more workmanlike, good mobility, works hard, puts himself about, good touch and decent passing range. My apologies for the confusion.}
19 Apr 2024 12:23:36
Thanks pal, so he isn't an out and out DMF more of a CM?
{Ed001's Note - I have to apologise, I was misreading when I typed that, but Joao Neves I would see as more of a CM who can break up play. Like Caicedo, Kante etc, they play better with a deep-lying player alongside them to free them up to get about the pitch. Herrera as Elvis mentions is a good example.}
19 Apr 2024 13:40:04
His highlights reel is fantastic. but then they all are lol.
A player to watch for sure but I hope we don't blow so much budget on any one player, we need so much.
19 Apr 2024 15:14:20
No troubles at all Ed001, you are human after all :)
{Ed001's Note - there are a lot of people that would dispute I am human.}
19 Apr 2024 18:04:02
Herrera isn't small, he is 6 feet tall.
{Ed001's Note - I think slight is what he meant, small as in build rather than height.}
19 Apr 2024 10:58:34
Well that's Nagelsmann ruled out. Looks like Pitter or ten Hag next season.
19 Apr 2024 11:18:39
De Zerbie as well in that surely?
19 Apr 2024 11:41:58
Unless we get royally spanked on sunday by a Championship side EtH has to be what we go with.
Guess Potter over other names like Southgate/ de Zerbi etc is available now and could theoretically be working behind the scenes already but with so many players signed in the Dutchman's vision surely we can't go for another complete reset.
It's been a dreadful season no doubt but a line should be drawn under it, with or without European football next season (preferably not, if it's the cruddy one Villa are in) and we see how we get on with one more window under ten Hag.
I really think failing to convince de Jong to join last season had a major impact on his plans. We ended up with Casemiro, who is a different kind of player, and Mount who may or may not be a useful player but seems to have no specific place in this team, at least while Bruno is in it. De Jong dictates play. As does Casemiro by slowing it down to crawling pace.
18 Apr 2024 14:58:48
Rather damning revelation from Bastian Schweinsteiger regarding Murtough and Mourinho on the Overlap with Gary Neville.
18 Apr 2024 15:39:50
It's crazy stuff Ports.
Sancho faced the same fate.
18 Apr 2024 16:12:29
Same fate, different circumstances.
18 Apr 2024 16:24:01
My recollection was he was flying round the world watching his wife in tennis tournaments rather than rehabbing with Utd. I think there was noise in the media about it, and I suppose mourinho wanted to send a message that he is in charge. Haven't seen OL. Just remembering the issue from my foggy memory.
18 Apr 2024 16:44:56
I just watched it. That's mind blowing but the inevitable question is why?
18 Apr 2024 17:12:41
The why seems to be to intimidate other players. Wasn’t part of Jose’s plans, so used him to send a message - if the manager is willing to ban a player of Schweinstager’s stature from the dressing room, you either do what he says or the same will happen to you.
Not a good look for the club at all.
18 Apr 2024 17:16:06
The manager decided he was being unprofessional amd not putting team before self and not doing his best. Very similar reasons eth called sancho out.
18 Apr 2024 17:27:03
If you watch the whole video from basti it appears it wasn't 100% the manager and was also the club.
It also seems like it was all just a player liaison issue where he'd agreed his rehab/ training schedule for injury with van gaal. Then the club sacked him and no one made contact with basti to find out what the plan was/ had been. He then played for Germany in the euros or world cup and the club got annoyed with him, despite not knowing or finding out what had been agreed.
18 Apr 2024 18:58:34
Same thing happened with RVP about rehabbing away from the club in their home country and then conveniently becoming fit in time for an international tournament.
17 Apr 2024 20:27:54
What would posters like to see in the remaining games this season;
1. Give Youth a chance and blood a few more youngsters regardless of where Utd finish in the league.
2. Aim to finish as high as possible in the league.
Personally I'd go for option 1. Seeing a few more youngsters play this season would feel far more fulfilling than than watching the current cack. I'd certainly respect EtH more for doing that. I do understand that it isn't always easy to just a throw a Youth player in, but I feel like it is the perfect time to try this. Utd have nothing to lose now. (With the Exception of the FA Cup) .
17 Apr 2024 21:46:19
Option 2 for me. Blooding youth is not just throwing them in. Play too many and they get a thumping and it could impact them mentally, while you might see sections of the fanbase start to write them off.
We need a pretty substantial rebuild this summer, and that cost money. We need to finish as high as possible to make sure we are in the best position both financially, but also to make us as attractive a club to sign for/ work with as possible.
Imagine we give a loads of youth game time and they had a few bad results 4 or 5 nil thumpings. A few of them who aren't emotionally mature enough take a massive hit to their confidence and never recover from it.
We finish 11th or 12th, which restricts us financially, we struggle to get our first or even second choice signings who go to teams playing in Europe. We sack EtH obviously, only to find none of the best young managers want to manage us and we get stuck with Southgate as the only option.
17 Apr 2024 21:47:14
Option 2 or a hybrid.
Willy I think should play as varane is leaving.
Unless there is another standout who deserves a chance.
17 Apr 2024 22:02:13
Id like us to try something different…whether that be tactically or personnel wise. Doing the same thing week by week isn’t getting us anywhere.
17 Apr 2024 23:50:22
Neither is repeatedly sacking managers.
18 Apr 2024 06:30:30
If the manager isn't going to be here next year, where is the motivation for him to blood youth. He will play the best team he can, try to finish as high up the table as and possibly win the FA Cup.
Then if he does go, he can look back on his time at United and say he won 2 trophies in 2 years which puts him up there with The Doc (probably ahead as one of those was the old 2nd division) and only behind Big Ron, The Special One, Mangnall, Busby and Fergie in our most successful managers.
18 Apr 2024 07:38:02
Indeed Kurtis. As 80% that voted suggested the same by voting to give the manager more time. (219 v 54)
18 Apr 2024 09:11:56
Seeing as the manager has still said CL isn't gone (and mathematically it isn't), or at least Europa, it has to be option 2.
18 Apr 2024 10:36:11
Why would he go for option 1?
His job is on the line and he needs a strong finish to the season.
He is obviously going to go with his strongest / best 11.
We can still qualify for europe and win the FA Cup last time i heard.
18 Apr 2024 11:56:02
ETH has been in survival mode for the majority of the season. For him it’s about trying to save his job, which invariably results in bad football and the manager getting the sack. I suspect it’s locked in at this stage that he’s gone, but I wouldn’t expect any real change in team selection.
18 Apr 2024 12:58:59
Fizz, correct. It is the violent minority that makes the most noise.
18 Apr 2024 13:41:52
2nd option.
18 Apr 2024 13:50:19
Violent minority? I for one don't condone any sort of violence so I'm not in that bucket wazza.
18 Apr 2024 13:53:11
A very considerable majority think he will be replaced.
18 Apr 2024 15:05:22
Well after tonight’s results, I’d imagine 5th place no longer offers Champions League so invest heavily on FA Cup and be brave with league line ups, Wheatley and Amass for example.
18 Apr 2024 15:47:35
I really don't think he will be replaced personally.
There's no funds to pay him off, then to buy out his replacement.
There's no time, in the case of a few of the mooted replacements, to wait until after the Euros before they have their holiday, then miss out on a whole pre-season.
I don't think cost and time should mean he keeps his job, but he knows who he wants, who he wants to get rid of, and still has this master plan that he hasn't been able to implement this season for several massive reasons.
Not defending him - I think the style has been appalling, and there has been scant evidence of the process he constantly references. But being realistic.
18 Apr 2024 18:42:59
Either way he will be damned if the team doesn't perform. Personally was hoping that the regulars would have sorted themselves out and played with pride and real effort because the talent is there as they have showed in too infrequent glimpses.
If ETH thinks some of the youngsters are ready then why not put one or two more in to see how they cope. Actually playing in a cup semi final might work brilliantly for them or they could be overwhelmed by the occasion. The coaching staff are the only ones who can probably tell with any reasonable degree of accuracy who has the character and nerve to prosper.
17 Apr 2024 19:20:16
Looking forward to the weekend.
Our whole season rests on this game on Sunday. Winning keeps our season alive until the final day. Its motivating for the squad they know they will all be fighting for a starting spot in the final. Martinez or Shaw could be back by then.
Can any of us say we are more than 80% confident.
17 Apr 2024 19:59:51
Nobody can Ken. Cov are decent passing side and on the day who knows. We’re pretty awful this season’.
17 Apr 2024 22:02:57
80% Ken that’s optimistic…I’m at around 60% 😂😂.
18 Apr 2024 00:06:43
I'm confident. I think our players will rise to the occasion. That is also why I want half of them gone. They need to play in all games, not just when they choose.
Cant believe I am reading that sancho might consider coming back. What a piece of work. I don't want that stain anywhere near our club. I seriously hope the fanbase it not about to blame everything that is wrong on EtH and give everyone else a pass. We need to clean house and then move forward as one club under a new structure. No thanks to any players our on loan coming back.
18 Apr 2024 00:30:06
Obviously not talking about developmental loans. But the older players sent away on loan should not come back IMO.
18 Apr 2024 09:13:39
You can never be 100% but I'm 99% on this we'll be in the final, then humiliated in the final.
18 Apr 2024 15:42:48
I'm as confident as I can be too spenno. Better players more experience not much coming from the club this week which means there is good focus as you'd expect.
19 Apr 2024 09:31:54
At the risk of eating my words, and yes I appreciate it is the FA Cup semis, but it is also Coventry .
17 Apr 2024 11:36:09
I read about a stat showing that tLuke Shaw has missed 253 games through injury, since he has been at the club.
It wouldn't be surprising if this was actually true.
Regardless of the accuracy of this star, another lb is a must for Utd for next season.
17 Apr 2024 13:24:22
For club and country since arriving at OT, according to that markt thingy, it's 256 so far.
Taking the leg break season out (64 games), he averages 19.2 games missed per season throughout his career so far.
If you then take last season out (by far his luckiest with only 3 games missed), he averages 21 games missed per season.
While I've always been a big fan of him, I think the above context should support any suggestion of buying another LB.
17 Apr 2024 16:55:56
Ok. that's an entirely new back 4 required now.
17 Apr 2024 18:25:13
He has flattered to deceive imo.
Never fulfilled his potential due to attitude and injuries mainly I'd suggest.
Very good at his best but can't be relied upon.
I hope he makes the euros as the lb options are pretty slim for England.
Good youth coming through we got from Watford if he fulfilled is penthouse then we have a really good player in our hands coming through.
17 Apr 2024 18:54:53
Fulfills his potential#.
17 Apr 2024 20:44:33
Like Luke Shaw, unlucky with his injury but I also believe he’s been his own worst enemy with his attitude and approach to football at times. A full flowing Luke Shaw is one of the best in Europe but unfortunately it comes down to that word consistency and probably a better professional approach.
17 Apr 2024 20:54:32
When he has been fully fit he has been really good and he works v well with Rashford. Been a big loss this season.
17 Apr 2024 21:13:38
Half of the squad have missed games when they have been playing!
17 Apr 2024 21:52:19
It’s a bit misleading as he had a horrific injury in the beginning.
Hopefully this season is a one, he’s an excellent player but would love to see Theo Fernandez level LB come in and Shaw cove LB and LCB.
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