29 Aug 2026 07:57:39
Happy Saturday, the last days of the summer transfer window.
Left back
I see we are now said to be looking for a back up for Shaw, a bit of a Reguillon type deal. Having had the whole window, it comes down to that. Not fixing the position that has been glaringly obvious for years, but trying to stick yet another cheap sticking plaster over it. Dithered over Hall at the beginning of the window, likely until the new financial year on 1 July.
I see some saying wait for Hall next summer. There are two big assumptions in that: first we make Champions League, second he isn’t courted by a club that acts and is a big club, regularly in the CL. Maybe they will surprise us, but it’s very tight now.
Striker
Sorloth the latest rumour, whilst big clubs look at Alvarez.
Maybe we will get something, but to go with one striker for a season with no back up is a shambles. Why not get Osimhen? Too much money?
CB
It’s a concern, the lack of a leader back there. But that may have to wait because we clearly are not being decisive nor wants to spend.
Last days but bar Baleba we have shopped for bargains, even Baleba is seen as a bargain. Whether Santos and Tielemans turn out well is to be seen, but they were bought because the serious CM were more than the club wanted to pay. Is our midfield better? For sure, yes. Is it top level? No, not sure. Baleba has to seriously work.
Enjoy the last few days and remember, our owners have been masterful, well in the financial world for sure.
29 Aug 2026 13:58:59
We buy mid table players, and many fans on here are about with that. How United and the expectations have gone to a new low. Fans excited about Tielemans, who, let's remember, has spent most of his career as a mid table team midfielder.
Santos could not even make the regular Chelsea team, and has had 5 clubs already in a short career.
Baleba is probably the best of the 3, potentially, but that's at a mid table club and based on 1 good season.
And, yes, let's be over the moon about that, and some say it's fantastic business. Well, that's what we come to... unbelievable.
29 Aug 2026 15:19:35
JSU, be interesting to see historically where we've bought players from before. The way you describe it, it's like we've only ever bought from Barca, Real and Bayern as no other players could possibly be good enough to step up from a lower team.
29 Aug 2026 20:50:02
At the start of the window I stated Tonali and Anderson were the fix, then move on to LB, RB, CB etc. I was not alone. Clearly, our aspirations did not align with the budget available, which I believe pivoted dramatically when we would no longer have the likes of Ugarte available for sale. Barca were already moving away from Rashford, and then we dug in our heels with Zirkzee. They have had to move the budget, as it would be inconceivable for them to strip the team of other 'assets' to fund the gaping holes. For example, we have a surplus in certain areas, eg, Mount, or centre back, where we have assembled too many 'not quite good enough' players.
Where was the ruthlessness we need from a top club? Repeat the cycle. Extending Maguire's contract was the point for me that they revealed their hand as not being ruthless. He had to go, and now we are stuck with him for one more year. I will get behind them again and hope we go on a similar run to last season, but hope the football is drastically better! And, the effort needs to be several magnitudes above last week's!
30 Aug 2026 05:33:17
Buying 1 or 2 potentials hoping they can step up and get much better is fine, but we have half a team of players who are average and we are hoping they all step up and progress. That ain't going to happen.
Some saying we are building a team for later years is pie in the sky, what is it, 2, 3, 4 years? By then other teams will have won things and rebuilt and be winning again.
We will then realise, oh dear, all our potential did not materialise and we need to buy some more... Football ain't about the future, it's about the here and now.