05 Aug 2026 20:52:02
It is hard not to be disillusioned with what is going on.
The Lewis Hall situation bewildering, why wait until Newcastle don't need the money? Net spend sits at circa £31M having bought no one in the January window. A purge was launched on season ticket holders which received bad publicity, then we have the big training kit announcement, lots more money.
I get don't panic, the window still has weeks to run, I also understand there are only two games between the season start and the window closing, but every game is important, every point. What I wonder with the Hall situation if it has actually posed a serious question, was there ever a plan?
I understand it could all change, quickly, yet the anger is growing out here. Communication applauded for keeping targets quiet is moving towards anger at the potential of being lied to.
Whilst other clubs buy serious improvements, we are buying bargains, decent players in both CM, but not ones to take us to win the league. If this hadn't have happened before we probably would be happy to wait, yet history has shown us the owners spending drops after the cash cow of Champions League is achieved.
Now no doubt the apologists will tell us that we are broke, that all is well, we are moaners, what we have bought is great. The proof will come in the coming weeks, but the feeling grows there is going to be a fudge, we tried but they didn't want to sell, no value, will not overspend, won't pay the price. Yep, let's see when the window closes, but right now they have a huge amount to prove in the next few weeks. Three players, CM, LB ST of high quality. No more excuses.
05 Aug 2026 22:27:42
I'm also surprised, and as impatient as anyone, that we haven't made more of a splash in the transfer window. Of course, it's frustrating, especially because I personally don't accept that we can't afford the odd £75-£100m player. But, please, let's wait until the end of it before we strangle ourselves on our twisted knickers.
Even then, to mix metaphors, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. With a number of good players now bedded into Carrick's system, I think we should be in far better shape to start the season than we were last. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water, yet.
05 Aug 2026 23:01:53
History tells us we spend less when we're in the Champions League, but I'd still expect another 2 or 3 players coming in.
Why is Hall suddenly the transfer that broke the camel's back?
The only transfer we were openly targeting was Fernandes. Santos and Tielemens came out of nowhere. If you watch/read anything from journalists, it's clear they haven't really had a clue what's going on behind the scenes.
That could be scary, and mean there's not a lot going on, or the flip side is that the club are keeping their cards very close to their chest.
Make everyone look at Hall while we do a different deal?
Last year we were supposedly done in the market until Sesko became available. We were in for Semenyo in January. Money will be there for the right player. And the list of players that we're stuck with or left for free, it's vital we get things right.
As for the season tickets, some fans have got caught up in it, but can appeal the club's decision. But I am delighted the touts are being put in their place.
06 Aug 2026 00:40:52
He's lied to you? The club haven't said a word about transfers all summer.
06 Aug 2026 06:44:54
I have UTD to lift the title. ?
06 Aug 2026 08:27:09
Lift which title, JBR? Best club financial profit for the year?
06 Aug 2026 10:47:53
It's PR. Suddenly the club is quiet, but all last season we were happy to push/brief the narrative we are after Semenyo, Anderson, etc. They want to look like they can compete for big players. The difference is other clubs have stumped up the cash and the wages.
It is now a standard that a good, not even world-class, cm is now 70+mil. That isn't going to change going forward, it will only increase. Next summer it could be 100+. So that third midfielder could actually cost up more if we leave it till next year.
06 Aug 2026 10:57:59
I think we are seeing the new normal for the club. We won't compete at the top end price-wise for players. We fumbled the Rashford situation by being greedy. The obvious question is why, which we can easily explain:
Manchester United's net debt stood at around £547 million in 2024, and it's risen to roughly £749 million by late 2025/early 2026. Total financial obligations approach £1.3 billion. Since the Glazer ownership, we have paid £852m in interest and another £166 million in dividends. The club have paid out over £1bn in interest and dividend payments. There's our answer.
21 years of Glazer ownership has caused this. We have a stadium that needs either a complete refurb or a new build due to lack of investment. We still have Woodward era players in the squad. Love him or hate him, Amorim did the ugly work to rebuild the team.
The transfer window hasn't shut, so it's a bit early to surmise the transfer strategy. However, on the face of it, we look like we are working to massive internal financial constraints put in by INEOS.
My worry is, if you look at the club from a business perspective, the best way to run the club is to have success based on a revenue target (Champions League qualification and a high enough coefficient to get to the Club World Cup), which is offset by having the most cost-effective playing side to secure the target. As an example, buying Anderson for £115m and £300kpw and Bouaddi for £90m and £200k pw might win you the league. However, if that's not your target, a £48m Santos £100k pw and £35m £180k pw are waaaay more cost effective to get Champions League.
I think this is our new normal, unfortunately.
06 Aug 2026 11:52:40
I simply don't get the disillusion.
Why not just support what and who we have.
The time to judge anybody and anything is at the end of the season, or Xmas at least.
We will get more signings before the window closes.
Since the EPL commenced in 1992, anyone care to take a guess at how many times the biggest spender in the summer window has won the league the following season?
It's 5 times out of 37.
United have been the biggest spender in the EPL on 3 occasions since 1992.
All 3 of those occasions have been under the Glazers' ownership.
Never before the Glazers arrived were United the biggest spenders in the EPL.
United have never won the league after spending the most money.
This is in no way a defence of the Glazers, just a little balance to a lopsided, biased and untrue version that gets posted by others.
We have won the same amount of trophies from 2005 till now as we did the 20 years previous to the Glazers.
The last 12 years have been awful: bad managers, bad CEO's, bad CFO's, bad structure, but it's improving. Very positive times ahead, imo.
You can be positive and optimistic, or you can bang your head off a brick wall because the people who own the club are not doing what you want them to.
If you're sad enough to become disillusioned because the people who run the club are not doing what you want them to, more fool you.
Spending the most does not guarantee success, far from it. The biggest spender has won the league only 5 times in 37 years.
06 Aug 2026 12:07:44
Rewz, I think you may be right, but maybe only in the short run. Ineos's first goal is to get financial stability. To do that, overall debt as a % of revenues has to come down from what was almost 2x revenues. Revenues have to grow, and costs have to be contained, so that profits can be made and we can start generating +ve cash flow. Obviously, we have to buy a whole lot smarter. £1bn has been spent really poorly in transfers. We don't need to belabour the point about how badly the club was run under Woodward.
If the club can somehow succeed in becoming a regular qualifier for the Champions League, or at least Europe, then revenues will continue to rise, and wage costs, starting from what is now a more sustainable level, will not swallow up that increased income.
Debt will start to come down, and we won't be spending the equivalent of a £100m on a £400k-a-week player in net interest payments. If they're confident that this trend is the new norm, then I think they will start to consider buying marquee players.
The strategy rests on Michael Carrick being able to make 2+2 = 5+. City's payroll is £80m a year more than ours. That's a big starting disadvantage.
06 Aug 2026 13:32:58
Tumbleweed!, Nobody has said we need to be the biggest spenders. What point are you trying to make?
INEOS have been putting out into the media they want AI-driven and predictive data infrastructure recruitment, led by Director of Data Mike Sansone. They also put out that the data showed Anderson and Fernandes were the players to buy. Neither of them are at Man Utd because the club walked away.
The way the club is run now, we wouldn't sign Rooney, Ferdinand or Keane, and the crazy part is, the club would know we should sign them from the data, but we won't because of the financials.
I want the club to compete for titles, not hope they make top 4 every year to service debt like the last iteration of Arsen Wengers Arsenal. At least Arsenal got a stadium out of it, we got a billion in interest and dividends payments.
As newnameoldideas points out, it would appear the strategy rests on Michael Carrick being able to make 2+2 = 5+.
06 Aug 2026 13:40:00
So newname, if we get rid of Rashford's 20m salary and replace him with someone on 5m a year, they will have a 95 m bigger spend on wages, but I think we would be better off in that scenario, not worse.
Simione earned more than Anchalotti every year, but didn't win as much, despite paying more for their top man.
06 Aug 2026 13:53:23
I don't see anyone demanding we spend the biggest amount of all clubs. However, we have an expectation the club will buy the quality of players to meet the aims for the club, which should be to win leagues and European cups.
Right now, we haven't bought a top quality CM, still trying pick and mix with bargain corner.
LB is reliant on Shaw staying fit for all games. Utter lunacy. We should half expect a Regullion type transfer.
We have one main striker who has an injury.
Season starts in 2 weeks and we just look weak and limp in the breeze.
Tw.
It doesn't waver support for the team, nor should it, but it does shine a very strong search light on the missing Wilcox and Berrada.
Maybe I care too much because I feel utter frustration watching this window. It is like the first Moyes one or the one after Mourinho got second. All we got was a bunch of excuses and fans on here saying we make stars. I want to see us win the league, and sitting on the cheque book whilst our main opposition buy quality players is a strategy that will cost us.
We must buy the 3 players needed at the right quality. The nagging concern that the owners are at it again and won't spend is not going away. They have to prove they mean football business.
06 Aug 2026 15:55:54
I don't get why you're frustrated by something you have no control over, and you don't know any of the detail, and you've not got a clue what will or won't happen. Each to their own. I care about corporate taxes, but don't get frustrated by the amounts, as I've no control.
Maybe you are too emotional when it comes to United. Emotional reactions are very common for fans, as it's a roller coaster if you get caught up in it.
Anyways, I look at every match as a challenge, and I will go into every game hoping and expecting to win. If we don't, then I'll forget about it 5 mins after final whistle, and if we win, I'll forget about it after 5 mins. The game is only important while it's being played. The minute it's over, it's over. No point carrying frustration and bitterness around with you.
06 Aug 2026 15:36:22
Incorrect redman they don't have to prove anything to you
06 Aug 2026 18:05:31
Remind me Ken who are the players playing for at Manchester United? Take the fans away and Manchester United shuts down tomorrow. Red Man is as important to them as yourself. I hope you don't live under that delusion.
06 Aug 2026 18:56:27
The EPL title, Redman.
We are not even talked about in the papers anymore. It is great. No noise, getting on with business.
It is nice to see.
06 Aug 2026 19:07:56
Ua, the owners don't need to prove anything to anybody.
You tell me what they need to prove, and what happens to them if they don't prove it?
06 Aug 2026 19:30:03
Ken, you haven't seen any of the Glazers out signs? They get insulted on the world stage. If you want to make a change, do something, and stop accepting mediocrity.
06 Aug 2026 19:51:15
So what you're saying is that if they don't prove 'whatever', someone might hold up a sign. Deary me, I'd say they'll be quaking. ???
Like I said, they don't have to prove anything to anybody.
They own the business, I think they have proven no amount of holding signs up will make them sell.
06 Aug 2026 19:53:14
What are you doing, UA?
I accept they own the club, and I don't moan about it because it is the way it is. I just have to wait till they sell. Thankfully, we don't live in North Korea and people can't be forced to sell their business against their will.
06 Aug 2026 19:55:18
So again UA what do the owners have to prove and what happens apart from sign holding (which has proven to be an unsuccessful deterrent)if they don't?
06 Aug 2026 20:49:33
Walkouts, mass boycotts, and boycotting sponsors is the only way it will change. Never going to happen. But that would work. The club's reputation would have to be damaged so they stop enjoying the financial trappings of their ownership. We would survive and rebuild. Unless a large buyer comes in and offers them silly money, they will just bleed us for their ill-gotten gain.
Leveraged buyout for a football club should have been blocked. But it wasn't. The fit and proper owner test should have been triggered, but it wasn't.
If owners want to show they mean business, they should clear the debt. Put a plan together, 5 years, 10 years, and get rid of the millstone around our necks.
06 Aug 2026 21:01:03
DB, our owners don't want to do that.
Where do you think they will get the money to clear the debt?
06 Aug 2026 21:04:59
UA, I know a guy who makes great sandwich boards. I'll get you a discount and you can wear it at your next organised protest.
07 Aug 2026 03:26:09
Ken, you are really overplaying your Glazers love card, it's getting boring.