18 Aug 2026 10:51:30
After Mad Hatter’s comment the other day that we are no longer a Rolls Royce team, it got me thinking, what kind of car would you describe United as now?
I will go with Jaguar XJ. The badge still means something. The shape still turns heads. People remember when it represented class, power and status.
But underneath, it’s ageing, temperamental, expensive to keep fixing, and too often slower than newer, better engineered rivals that don’t have half the romance.
Every few months it starts beautifully and you think, there it is, still got it. Then the electrics fail.
18 Aug 2026 13:17:22
Chevrolet Vega.
American made. Looks flashy, but it's a disaster under the hood and covered in rust.
18 Aug 2026 13:45:45
3rd last season, so we are a lot less rusty than some under the bonnet.
The team immediately above us lost the best manager in the world and the best midfielder in the world.
Last season.
City dis-improved.
United improved.
Liverpool dis-improved.
As did Spurs, as did Villa, as did Chelsea.
imo we go into the season in better shadowing than any of the above, bar Arsenal.
That's not to say we are guaranteed to do as well as we did in 2nd half of last season, which was, in fact, better than anybody else, including Arsenal.
With 2 or 3 more astute signings, we are in a better position to compete than most give credit for imo.
18 Aug 2026 14:15:37
Liverpool have got a very good manager. If Jeff Bezos invests in them, I think it shows a belief that they are going to get better to enable worldwide profits to flow. They will surely sign a few good players before the end of the window, especially a winger.
Chelsea have bought well and only the domestic competitions to play for.
Spurs likewise.
Villa have a very good manager and bought well.
City are at a cross roads, having lost Pep, Stones, Silva and Rodri.
All that said, their first team, on paper at least, is far better than us.
The only real weakness they have is defence, but even that is better than ours.
Our defence is seriously lacking, and the midfield has definitely been improved, but still needs more.
My biggest worry is if Bruno gets injured. There is no obvious backup apart from Mount, who is too injury prone.
18 Aug 2026 14:16:32
Ken, this is a very spot on, sit back kind of take.
We are so focused on who we have signed etc. We dare not look at the teams around us. None of which, imo, look like they have improved.
And we still have 2 more weeks of the window to go where I think we will surprise a few.
18 Aug 2026 15:26:17
You worry too much about things you can't have an impact o Salford. Its not good for your hairline?