16 Aug 2026 16:52:33
When Ineos took on football responsibility, a number of “necessary cut backs and redundancies” were made, yet our club has a management structure of recruitment process which consists of Berrada, Wilcox, Vivell, McCauley, Hargreaves, Sansoni, yet this summer we’ve (to date) only agreed a simple deal for Tielemans, in fairness, the impressive left field signing of Santos and the free transfer of Darlow, plus a couple of youngsters of whom it’s hoped they can have some first team involvement in season 26/27. We’ve yet again and I stress to date not managed to move on enough of the below average baggage this first team manager has inherited. I’m not going to hammer any player in particular as we all have different views on which players contribute regularly the quality expected and who are assets to the playing staff.
My point is that with the senior management listed plus their significant staff and systems below them, how can it be acceptable to the owners that within a week of the season start Carrick is lacking in so many positions for what he needs to compete across all fronts this season. Maybe the Glazers and Ineos are comfortable with this, as a supporter of United, I am not. Ultimately failure this season or next will land with Carrick and not with the people employed (on huge salaries) that are tasked with bringing the right players to our club. I pray this post does not age well between now and the end of the transfer window.
16 Aug 2026 19:16:11
It's extremely worrisome that the starting back 4 is likely to be the same back 4 that started the season 4 years ago.
Despite the team struggling over recent years, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez and Shaw are still the first choice back 4. And none of them are anywhere near the required level to be competing for league titles like the club say they want to.
16 Aug 2026 19:24:37
Unfortunately, most of our players have not been easily sellable. That's due to mistakes that were made prior to Ineos taking over day-to-day management. Ugarte, Rashford and Zirkzee are not easy sells.
As I mentioned below, the club's net spend of £1.35bn over the last 10 years is the highest in all of football. We've bought too high, paid too much salary, and have not got value on the playing field.
So, we need upgrades in many positions. Resources may be limited, but there's no way all we can afford is a net spend of £30m in this window. If that's what it comes to, then it's by choice and nothing else.
Like everyone else, I'll be disappointed if we don't buy anyone to fill the obvious holes in the next two weeks. If we don't, and the season goes south, the management team will deserve all the criticism it gets.
16 Aug 2026 19:31:59
The first-choice back 4, with all fit, is
Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Shaw. That's 2 players that weren't here 4 seasons ago. Martinez has been in 2 WC finals. He most certainly is good enough, despite some of the nonsense spoken about him - the issue is fitness.
But, I agree on the other 3 who are likely to see significant minutes this year. We need at least one fullback, arguably two.
16 Aug 2026 19:38:44
If it goes south, it will be pinned on Carrick. The same as it being pinned on Amorim last year. Wilcox should have followed Amorim out the door. He's the one that pushed so hard for Amorim that it pushed our director of football out of the job.
If there's one thing that can be said about Glazer era United, it's that the suits will always find a way to throw the manager under the bus to save their own necks.
16 Aug 2026 19:45:25
I hope we will get 3 in before the window shuts Kramskeeh.
I understand people's frustration. Its the same every year.
I didn't expect anything very different to where we are.
We all want what more. I expect more from our management team. But I've no idea what's going on so don't see the point in being over critical until the window shuts. If we have not got 2 or 3 in then I would be disappointed and critical.
There are too many unknowns to be jumping up and down at this point.
We are no different to any of the other teams.
Liverpool need 2 or 3 more and will sign them.
Spurs will sign a couple more forwards.
Even city are looking for a couple more and not got them done yet.
Arsenal signed 5 players in the last couple of days last summer and went on to win.
I like the 3 guys we've got in. 2 very good midfielders and a solid back up keeper.
Ideally we get 5 more in, ? but that's not going to happen.
Its proving hard to shift both rashford and zirkzee which is making it hard to address the attack and we do need a striker but we can't keep adding bodies without exits and if they won't move or there are no takers there is not much that can be done. Hopefully they get some offers they like and will move on.
Im not happy that mount is reliable enough, and even if he is, has not got the defencive profile we are missing in midfield. So i'd like to see a defencive cm in
Obviously a lb.
I think we are desperate for a rb just as much as a lb.
Cb should also be a priority.
If we fill 3 of those positions and shift zirkzee and rashford i'd see it potentially as a very good window.
Fail to do that and I'll be disappointed.
16 Aug 2026 20:18:35
I honestly can't see United bringing anyone of a decent level in. Maybe another youth player.
It's correct, there are still 2 weeks to get something done. But why leave it so late? Is it another typical United window where the team loses the first few games and they panic buy some galactico on the last day?
16 Aug 2026 20:45:49
First, it was "it's not even August yet", then it was "come on guys, August just started!", then it was "4 more weeks", then "3 more weeks", now it's "2 more weeks"...
I am usually positive about the club, but not this time.
I honestly think this is very bad, and it's making me want to know when the people who defend the management will just admit it?
16 Aug 2026 21:28:44
The thing what's most disappointing is the lack of ambition.
They give a good talk but are yet to walk the walk, all the pr bs and all the positivity can only last so long.
Be it pre-season, the last two games have been terrible. Any half decent side will cause us issues, our defence is imo terrible and 3 of 5 cbs cannot be trusted to stay fit, we've one senior left back.
I don't know why we hang onto players for so long, City have managed to sell two players they got last summer who had stinkers.
Maybe I can't compare as the two sold still have a high ceiling to reach.
But it's very worrying again. We get champs football and no ambition shown to want to push on and close the gap.
All the so called big teams, bar Arsenal, have new managers.
People seem to forget Liverpool won the title the season before last and invested 400 million plus into the team. Unfortunately for slot they went backwards, their squad still has some very good players.
Chelsea have spent and have built something for their new manager, bringing in 11 players.
City will still spend as they have done in the last 18 months, over 700 million and counting.
Rumours circulating there is a difference in opinions yet again with that tit Wilcox and Vivel, who doesn't want to sign players based on data led information, instead wants to interfere and go with what he sees.
He should have gone along with Amorim.
I won't fully explode until the window has shut, but if they think this squad with only 2 signings added to what you would say to push for a starting spot then they are in trouble.
Why we struggle so hard to sell players is a mystery.
Two promoted sides up first and the type of teams we have in the past struggled to overcome.
I hope behind the scenes they know what they are doing.
16 Aug 2026 22:45:50
I highly doubt they do. Already putting out excuses as to why Chelsea, etc., can spend, but we can't. No doubt, there'll be endless reasons given, but the reality is they could do more, but are choosing not to. We need 2 minimum, cm and lb. Don't get that, and I fear it could be a long season.