Manchester United Banter 2

10 Mar 2026 22:21:58
Feel sorry for the Spurs keeper tonight. Just had one of those nights. Thank goodness we finally have a decent one in Lammens. Without a good keeper the defence and team cannot prosper. We def need a good backup and I would be happy with Vitek.

10 Mar 2026 23:41:57
Yeah, I felt for him too, Salford, but it was the right call to take him off, imo.
Van de Ven didn't look a 100m player.
They are in a bad place as a team at the moment, and I think they need a change of manager again, and a change of mood and attitude.
9 games to save the club from the catastrophe of relegation.


Who do they get? It will need to be an inspired move.
What age is Martin O'Neill holding fort at Celtic?
Lifting that bunch off the floor will take some doing. Can't wait to see who they turn to, because this guy has to go.

11 Mar 2026 02:46:03
Or he has to stay! It would be great to see Spurs in the Championship!

11 Mar 2026 06:02:39
Yeah, would love them to go down, but they may be saved because of the other poor teams down there.
Tudor was always going to be a risky appointment.
Van de Ven is a very good player (put him in front of any CB we have, that's for sure).

Of course, even good players look terrible in a very poor team, plus he wants out anyway, so not helping.
Diabolical decision to chuck in number 2 GK in the Cauldron of Metropoliano...

11 Mar 2026 11:55:33
Van de Ven is a poor centre back, je suis not even the best centre back at Spurs, so I don't know how you think he's better than ours.

11 Mar 2026 12:46:23
My suspicion is that a lot of the "big" players in the Spurs squad are hoping for relegation. They've given up on the team, and know that they'll have a better chance of leaving if they go down. They haven't given a single s**** since the new year.

11 Mar 2026 14:34:07
Why Jim?
Spurs are a big club, I'd hate to see them relegated.

11 Mar 2026 17:49:49
They are a biggish club that, the Europa League success aside, haven't exactly been winning loads recently.

Preston were a big club, but I wouldn't want them in the Premier League.

I feel they could do with a bit of a reset for a year or two.

I'm not saying they should stay down and never return, they are just a bit boring over the last 10+ years. They are never going to actually challenge for the title, etc.

11 Mar 2026 22:20:37
A bit like us then, Jim.

12 Mar 2026 18:28:30
Yes, Ken, at times I have felt that we would be better off with a season or two out of the PL, if only to rid us of the owners.
The difference is we both flirted at the bottom last season. One went one way, the other went the other. That's the difference between a big club and Spurs.

10 Mar 2026 16:38:42
Centre backs:
I'll say from the outset MdL needs to go as he is not available, cut losses and get him back to fitness and out the door.

Renew Maguire on a rolling one year extension is stage 1.
Sign Senesi on a free stage 2.

Senesi and Licha first choice.
Yoro and Maguire second choice.
Heaven and Kukonki back up.

I do expect Heaven and Yoro to keep pushing and it may even see Licha dropped into the second choice position through the season.



I said in a previous post we don't need to spend too much here as well stocked, next window would probably need to be looking at a Branthwaite to replace Licha or Maguire.
If the club has the funds to make that change this summer I wouldn't be against it, but I feel fullbacks and centre mid are crucial for our future progression.

What is the general consensus here.

10 Mar 2026 18:34:33
Senesi isn't good enough.

Shaw needs to be the first out the door.

10 Mar 2026 18:37:29
I can already see centre back being a big issue for us next season. It's not a position you can afford to be naive about. Two seasons ago, Varane and Martinez missed most of the season, and our season imploded (J Evans went from 5th choice to first choice lol).

I appreciate we have so many other areas to strengthen (CM, LW and LB), but this overlooks that all of our centre backs are either injury prone or inexperienced.

I agree with OP that MDL is injury prone, and so is Martinez.

Maguire is getting older and suffering more injuries as he ages. None of them can be relied upon tbh.

Yoro and Heaven are promising but inexperienced. I could see them starting a lot of games, but they would need to be next to a highly experienced partner.

I think we desperately need to sign a top CB next season and let MDL or Martinez go.

First Choice: Yoro and New CB
Backups: Maguire & Martinez & Heaven.

10 Mar 2026 18:45:16
Not sure on Senesi, if w how about Murillo from Forest, Nathan Collins at Brentford or Lacroix from Palace.

10 Mar 2026 19:03:39
I contemplated Branthwaite this season, but I suspect he would cost north of $70m, and I felt midfield is more of a priority.
Senesi has been a beast this season. I think overlooking him might be a mistake, more so for our financial position.
Don't disagree with your sentiments on moving on more players this summer from CB DSG.

My concern is whether we have the team to execute this, and the funds to do it right.
Talk of Amissah from Fulham, which would make sense as he covers all positions. But, again, young.
Wiggy, of those I like Lacroix, the others I'd pass on personally.

10 Mar 2026 20:03:49
Sell Maguire. As a self-confessed anti-Maguire, I accept that he has had somewhat of a purple patch of late, but the fact remains he is borderline average at this level.

He will fall off the cliff next season, post-World Cup. Not that he could get much slower, but he will struggle even more to play the high line.

It's laughable seeing him try to recover from the halfway line. I've got T-shirts whose colour runs faster!

If you are going to keep him on for one more year, then it can only be as backup, as mentioned above, when we need to shore up defence in games for the last 10 minutes.

10 Mar 2026 20:21:08
Murillo would also be my first choice. We need a serious improvement on Dalot. I think calling for Shaw to go isn't particularly fair on him.

10 Mar 2026 21:19:58
Similar to Keefy's comment on Maguire, DonRed, Shaw's stock, form, and availability will fall off a cliff post WC. The only thing that will go up will be his weight, if I had to predict proceedings.

11 Mar 2026 05:52:55
Licha should take the Casemiro role until we have a replacement. Maguire needs to stay for his experience. Likewise, Shaw has had a decent season this year.

It's a shame about Mdl, but if he can't keep fit, we need a replacement with experience and pace to help Yoro and Heaven. Must be a guide, an in-game talker, to guide these two young boys.


Def need a good left back.

But, first priority has to be midfield. It has been neglected far too long. I don't want £80m + being spent on a 28yr old like Newcastle Bruno. I want a 25 yr old who is maturing, but we can still get 4 to 5 years of good playing time at least from him and in his prime years.

11 Mar 2026 17:51:25
I'm saving midfield til last, Salford. 👍

09 Mar 2026 23:41:03
Fullbacks:
Assuming a 60 game season, ideally we need 3 players per position.

The narrative for me is to churn out the players who, over the years, have not been good enough. This includes saying goodbye to likes of Shaw and Dalot as our first team fullbacks.

I don't think our financial position allows for us to be signing the best in class (say Livramento as an example).

I actually think our fullbacks need more attention than centre backs, which we will touch on next post.



Right back, suggested first Teamer (Munoz or Ryerson), back up either one of those two or retain Mazraoui for another season, youth player, Ogunneye.

Left back, first team Robinson from Fulham, bring back Amass for cover, and have Leon as third choice.

Welcome people's thoughts on those suggestions and offer alternatives if not aligned.

10 Mar 2026 11:11:19
I don't think Dalot will be going anywhere tbh. And, to give him some credit, he has been one of the most improved players since the change. But I don't think he should be a starter, and we need an upgrade. Can see him staying on as a squad player though, along with Mazraoui, as both can play RB and LB.



I've seen Di Marco from Inter mentioned in rumours and think he'd be a good addition to LB, and maybe Munoz from Palace or Kayode from Brentford for RB.

The 4 of Di Marco, Munoz/Kayode, Dalot and Mazraoui, along with the youth of Amass and Leon, should be sufficient imo.

10 Mar 2026 13:32:04
I think Dalot and Mazraoui are fine for another season considering the other areas we need to strengthen.

Definitely think we need another left back. I have seen us linked with Di Marco/ Grimaldo as more attacking options.

10 Mar 2026 16:32:40
Di Marco numbers are excellent this year, my concern is whether they are repeatable in the Premier League, same kind of applies to Ryerson who we've also been linked with.

I'd be happy with one Premier League proven and one risk. Because we have more proven cattle at RB, it maybe makes more sense to invest in, say, Ryerson over Munoz, and then get prem proven for LB as Shaw needs to go imo.

After Livramento, who I would want but don't think we'll even go for, the next best in the EPL is Robinson. He fulfils his role with no fuss.

Would you be happy with
Ryerson, Mazraoui, Dalot
Robinson, Amass, Leon (he is specialist left sided not right).

10 Mar 2026 18:20:30
Lewis Hall over Robinson for me, Jimbo.

10 Mar 2026 20:38:36
Has anyone considered Vanderson from Morocco? Seems an excellent fit and should be available at a respectable fee.

10 Mar 2026 21:22:45
Don't disagree, Wiggy. Concern is the required fee. I am led to believe Robinson would be a relatively low fee.
Kiwi Red, yes, considered, and if we had an established team with a direction, and were looking to top up our stock, I would take a gamble on an unknown in the PL.

For that reason alone, I discounted him, but he looks quality.

Definitely a position that has a few options available for it.

09 Mar 2026 18:42:17
Ed033, do you have any pages open for Cheltenham chat and tips?

Cheers.

{Ed033's Note - We have a site called football rumours bets but the Ed that runs it for Cheltenham and the Grand National Meeting is in hospital.

09 Mar 2026 19:41:21
No problem, mate, thanks. Hope they're ok. 👍

09 Mar 2026 17:53:26
Rather than write a full script on the future direction of the squad, I thought I'd break it down starting with an easy one. Goalkeeper.

Lammens has been a revelation for our team, IMO.
Vitek is doing well out on loan at Bristol and is very much capable of being understudy/competition to Lammens.

Bayindir, even as third choice, I am not sure he is worth keeping.
Onana just has to go.
Heaton is of course retiring. His experience is vital for the dressing room.


Suggestions of Pope or even Ortega on a free at the end of the window. Either would be smart business and I'd probably lean more towards Ortega at the moment.
We also have the likes of Mee and Harrison in youth, but they probably need loans before any consideration is given to them stepping up.
So would everyone be happy with a stock of Lammens/Vitek/cheap third choice like the aforementioned Pope or Ortega. Or do people feel this is an area we need to invest in over the summer?

09 Mar 2026 19:42:48
I think that is fine, to be honest. Lammens has been great and should only get better.

Goalkeeper isn't a position you want to rotate much, and is probably the last position we should be looking to spend significantly on improving right now.

09 Mar 2026 19:44:58
Jimbo, I agree with the first choice, obviously. I can't see Pope wanting to be a third choice, so I'd take him as backup if he was happy with that. Vitek needs game time at his age, so I'd get him out again on a good loan.

I do think he could be a good keeper, but no point in him sitting on the bench week after week. Young goalies need as much playing experience as possible, imo.

09 Mar 2026 21:38:19
Talking about goalies. Has anyone seen our u18s keeper? I'm not sure I've ever seen a range of passing like that from a GK in my life. 😂

09 Mar 2026 22:46:10
So, general consensus is the GK position is not in need of any major surgery.
Noucamp, fair point on Vitek. Maybe he sits in the #2 spot until Xmas, and is then on loan for the second half after early rounds of the EFL, etc., have been played. My issue with, say, Pope as #2 is that he isn't going to offer much competition for Lammens, whereas Vitek is literally going to do exactly that.

It could be an interesting tussle between the two. Providing we have competent coaching staff, I think it could work well.
I'll do a separate thread next for full backs.... to see what the general consensus is.

10 Mar 2026 04:27:59
100% we need a GK who is capable of playing regularly and challenging for the starting position. That way, it keeps pushing Lammens; there is nothing worse for any player than knowing there is no competition for their place. I don't care who it is, just as long as they are of the quality to be a number 1.

10 Mar 2026 16:40:12
Would you be happy with Vitek JSU?

08 Mar 2026 22:31:22
Hayden Hackney is a player known to Carrick. Looks quality. Should we be looking to sign him. Wonder if there is any Utd interest.

09 Mar 2026 05:08:35
Is this really the quality of players United should be looking at?

09 Mar 2026 09:03:49
I think, as a backup to the first team, sure, get him in.

09 Mar 2026 10:12:15
I thought he'd have been a good, cheap January signing to freshen up the squad and the midfield options for the remainder of the season. It would have given him half a season to get to grips with the expectations, and, hopefully, he would have developed well enough to be a useful squad player next season.



However, going into the summer, I think other, dare I say, better options need to be targeted, and maybe he's a later signing in the window depending on budget and player outs.

09 Mar 2026 10:55:40
I think he looks a very classy player, but you only really find out when you ask them to play the highest level.

09 Mar 2026 19:46:09
He looks a great young player, and there are lots of recent examples of players getting a good grounding in the Championship, then stepping up and playing well in the EPL. Even our own Amad did well on loan at Sunderland before coming back and stepping up with us.



Hackney looks like the best midfielder in the Championship. That said, given the need we have, he probably shouldn't be the marquee signing this summer. But, as a second or third midfield signing (if Ugarte leaves), I think he could be a shrewd bit of business.

10 Mar 2026 04:30:54
Let's be honest, as Amad has really stepped up to what's required at United. Yes, he's been ok if you're comparing him to what we have and had, but he is no world beater, if we are being honest.



If he was at another club, would we be looking to purchase him? I would 100% say no. That's no disrespect to him, he did ok here, but is he at the level we really need?

08 Mar 2026 09:54:12.
Patrice telling it how it is, good man. Whether or not Carrick is the right man, and I think probably not, the constant sniping by ex United players is tiresome. As Evra says, they've all tried management and none of them were particularly good at it, and in Neville's case, he was awful. Yet here they are pontoficating endlessly.

Scholes thinks Ancelotti would be perfect, I think it's 10 years too late.

Keane and Neville don't offer names other than not Carrick, which feels like a personal agenda.

Yes, yes, I know they are paid to be provocative and it generates headlines and clicks, but they just come across as sour. Neville was quite refreshing when he started but now he's just gobby for the sake of it. Keane is usually good value but he is clearly carrying a grudge, and Scholes generally talks tripe. But here we are.

08 Mar 2026 10:16:16
You're not wrong, Ajh.

08 Mar 2026 12:13:57
It's frustrating, but they are successful at what they do. And that is giving opinions. I'd prefer if actual data backed up their points, but I do find Neville's podcast very interesting. The pity for me is that, when Neville started off, he was a breath of fresh air because he spoke about tactics and gave some great insight into what goes on at the top level. The more air time they have, the less content we're getting.


Nonetheless, those who are lauding Carrick and those who are slating him are guilty of the exact same thing - neither are taking a holistic view of where we are and whether there is anything beyond raw results that demonstrate a clear progression. Ultimately, we just don't have enough information right now to gauge him.

08 Mar 2026 18:56:20
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You pay your money, you take your choice. Just because you don't agree with it, don't make it right or wrong. It's an opinion, and hardly worth losing sleep over. I never understand the people who threaten and curse over others' opinions.

08 Mar 2026 20:49:35
The biggest thing for whoever we have as a manager is the ability to motivate the players by whatever means necessary. I can't imagine Pep or Klopp allowing their teams to start off so sluggish, game after game.

This has been an issue for years.

A good man manager should have the ability to work out what is needed to get a team to perform. This applies to all walks of life. A manager needs to lead, and make and take the hard decisions necessary for success.

09 Mar 2026 05:12:16
Sadly, the world seems to have moved on from this breed of management nowadays. In a world where people are more like little sheep following influencers, social media rules the waves, so the days of the Harry Redknapp type, short on tactical nous but big on geeing up the players, are long gone.

The manager who gives the hairdryer treatment will no longer get a reaction from pampered stars.

09 Mar 2026 07:23:37
Agreed, Red Man. They all seem to have some personal thing going on.

Whatever the issues at the club, I'm not sure how you can lay any blame at Carrick.

09 Mar 2026 09:27:19
Sorry Ajh, not Red Man! It was an early post, I was half asleep.

Apologies Ajh.

08 Mar 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United Need A Savvy Summer To Build Depth

08 Mar 2026 12:05:25
Good post, Shappy.
Artetadyce and his London Stoke side. 🤣🤣🤣

08 Mar 2026 12:16:41
I agree there's value in the market, and I like your suggestions.

I'm hoping we get Enrique as the new coach, so I could see him bringing a player or two from France. If Vini Jr goes to PSG, Kavra would be nice, but Diomande looks promising, and I'd expect JJ Gabriel to be pushing next season.



I quite like Mateta over Vahlovic. I'm not convinced by him at all. Lautaro Martinez or Alvarez would be a dream.

Exciting times ahead, but UCL is key. 21 might be on.

08 Mar 2026 15:03:51
Sorry, Lautaro Martinez is dreadful. Definitely take Alvarez.

08 Mar 2026 17:25:43
Utd Road, I prefer Mateta over Vlahovic personally as well, and with one year left on his deal he might be available for a reasonable fee. If he is available for around 25-30m, then great. But I'd be reluctant to go much north of 30m for a player who will be 29 by the start of the season, had a move to AC Milan collapse over issues found in his medical, and who is ultimately being bought for squad depth rather than as first choice.



I think, with the money we spent on Sesko, along with his promising performances, I doubt the club will want to block his development, but he does need at least someone who he can rotate with, especially if we will play closer to 60 games next season rather than 40 this season.

08 Mar 2026 18:59:56
I suggested Mateta before, but he recently failed a medical for a move last window, surely we don't need another crock!

Sesko has got a lot to learn, and needs an experienced striker with pace to learn from, but it would also be nice to get a winger who could actually cross a first-time ball.



We need lots of players for most positions, so it is a matter of what we can get and what level they are. We have not bought a world class player for years.

08 Mar 2026 19:27:08
What about Obi Martin? Let's not forget him, guys. I know JJ is the talk of the town, but he is 15. Sure, give him some time next season, for sure.
We also have Wheatley and Biancheri. The latter scores goals for fun.



I have said before we need to spend big on midfield and defense before we restock the frontline. Diomande being an exception, I guess, but again we do have stock there already.

09 Mar 2026 05:21:45
I am not sure Latauro Martinez is dreadful; he is probably better than anything we currently have!
Seems like Obi is well out of favour for something or other that happened under the RA reign. He doesn't seem to have been given a proper chance, and I'm not sure he will now.
I agree we need a defence, that's for sure. I said for years we need an experienced CB with pace and got shouted down when I said de Ligt was a waste of time because he has been injured for most of his career. How's that going? We need CBs, full backs, midfielders, and certainly an experienced striker with pace, and someone who can cross a ball first time would not be too much to ask.


Of course we then need an experienced manager to gel this together.
Atm, all we have is mediocrity all over the pitch, the manager, and above.
Yes, it's a bit better than it's been, but it's still nowhere near the level United should be aspiring to.
Our players that get injured disappear for months on end.
It's all a bit of a mess...
Sjr has even gone very quiet since the last statement he made went down so well. It's quite embarrassing how United, all round, has sunk to this level, and now we have fans saying anyone above 25 is too old and we should be looking at players from the Championship...

09 Mar 2026 17:44:36
Mateta is decent, but my goodness he misses some sitters as well.

07 Mar 2026 18:43:49
Not going to lie but JJ Gabriel will be the next biggest thing and will be competing with Yamal and co for years! He is that good!

07 Mar 2026 19:52:21
We just have to bring him down at the appropriate time.

07 Mar 2026 20:07:32
The kid is going to be special if he steps up to the men's game. He has so much talent, but it's not just talent that determines success.

07 Mar 2026 23:38:33
Shappy, you are so right. Physicality, mentality, off-field influences have all derailed the next great player.

08 Mar 2026 07:53:25
Sadly he'll be in Spain within 2-3 years. It's just the way it goes.

08 Mar 2026 12:22:34
I'm not sure he'll be in Spain, but I can see his father being the key to keeping him long term. They just need to throw money at him, and provide a pathway to the 1st team. I get Bellingham family energy.

The numbers don't lie. He's very special and, at a minimum, on par with Dowman. Giving him minutes in preseason and sub appearances in cups next season, and more time in the EPL after December, would be a fair plan to let him show what he can do.



We need to be careful in summer transfer plans not to block him. Perhaps he's the long-term Bruno replacement. We need to give him opportunities to win titles too.

I'm sure there's a plan.

08 Mar 2026 15:47:52
I hope you're right, Ur.

08 Mar 2026 19:01:27
Well, if he got the same as the Bellingham family, he might as well be gone now, cos they just chase the glory and the money and he gets neither with us.

09 Mar 2026 00:45:35
I'd suggest he gets both with us.

09 Mar 2026 05:25:25
Blinkered or what... Oh right, so under SJR, we are going to pay what the likes of Real Madrid will...
And I guess we will be winning the Champions League and our league before Madrid do too, or Barca come to that, or even Munich, or, closer to home, City or Arsenal, maybe even Liverpool... Strange how some can't see the wood for the trees.

09 Mar 2026 05:37:52
There we are then.

12 Mar 2026 21:22:25
So, hold on, Jsu. You constantly complain about the level of the players we have and the ones we're looking at, but you don't think we can buy top ones either? Who do you want?

07 Mar 2026 14:10:19
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United Need A Savvy Summer To Build Depth

07 Mar 2026 19:58:20
Agree with all those except Vlahovic, although on a free, I wouldn't say no, but he smacks of the old guard and the silly signings of the past.
I still think we need more of a churn of those players. With that squad, next year's problem will 100% be the defence.

07 Mar 2026 20:13:46
I'm not Vlahovic's biggest fan, but on a free maybe give him a 3 years plus one deal, and he would probably be a more natural fit at CF in the EPL than Zirkzee is, unfortunately.

Really, it's about finding someone who can take the pressure off of Sesko but who won't block his development. Then, on top of that, making sure we don't spend a load of money for a player who'll sit on the bench.



There are better strikers out there. Absolutely, on paper someone like Ollie Watkins is ideal, homegrown, EPL-proven, and at 30 still has a few good years in the bank, but won't block Sesko. The problem is that he'd probably cost 50m plus, which is madness for a player to add squad depth. Which is why I'm suggesting someone like Vlahovic.

07 Mar 2026 20:48:18
Juventus have offered a new contract to him in the last few days, and, seemingly, the expectations are that an extension will be agreed.

07 Mar 2026 23:39:05
He is a good player. Good squad addition.

08 Mar 2026 03:13:16
I think Sesko has done enough this year to prove he can lead the line next year, so perhaps we need an understudy.
I don't think Vlahovic would do well with a rotation role at this stage of his career.
I know he's a free, but that's the only appeal to him.
I think he would be too slow for the EPL.

08 Mar 2026 10:24:36
Good post, Shappy.
Artetadyce and his London Stoke side. 🤣🤣🤣