Manchester United banter 3

30 Nov 2025 17:39:18
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new podcast entitled, Ed1, Ed666, Ed77 LFC Collapse Podcast

30 Nov 2025 14:10:10
Great result that and a fantastic way to cleanse the soul after that showing on Monday night lol. I honestly give up trying to work this team out, had us winning comfortably on Monday and losing today yet the results were vice versa. Anyways can enjoy the rest of today’s games now. ?.

30 Nov 2025 15:50:15
Yes, all very odd Tim, and a pattern repeated elsewhere. Foresalt smash Liverpool. and then lose to Brighton. I'll say again, its a weaker league this year which makes things good for us. We have improved but with so many teams being inconsistent, it does feel like top 4 is a possibility.

Arsenal look a class ahead of the rest, everyone else seems to be all over the place. Competitive, weaker, whichever works for you.

30 Nov 2025 18:16:26
There’s like 10 teams separated by 3-5 points. I’ve never known a league like it. Keeps it interesting that’s for sure!

30 Nov 2025 18:26:11
Yep, ken says competitive, I say weak, but whichever one of us is right, a decent run has a big impact right now. I can't see Sunderland staying so strong, and Brighton will do well to stay top 6 sonics all tomplay for.

The big difference for me this season is we seem to be able to come from behind to draw or win, that's a big improvement.

30 Nov 2025 22:05:46
Its much more competitive whichever way you li at it. Epl teams will all get out of the league phases in Europe I think. The mid teams are stronger that incudes us.
The gulf city Liverpool and arsenal had is tightened due to them not being able to do over teams .
The 3 epl managers touted to replace amorim all sit below him.
Arsenal do look strong but I'm not convinced they will get too far away from the pack.
3 wins on the bounce for any team in top half will put you in cl place probably.

3 defeats amd your in bottom half but still in touch of a top 4 spot.
I expect it will thin out to 7 or 8 teams competing for 3rd and 4th possibly 5th for cl spots after about 30 games. I still think we will be in that 7 or 8 teams. It will be a bit of a lottery. Lots of ups and downs for most teams.
Our last 7 is 3 wins 2 draws 1 defeat. The same again in our next 7 will keep us very much in touch I feel.

29 Nov 2025 17:47:40
Ed how good is jj gabriel or what sort of potential does he have?

{Ed077's Note - He's a 14 yr old shining for the U18s so sky is the limit for him, but it's still a long long way to go to get there. He is literally just a child

30 Nov 2025 13:24:42
15 now Ed, since the 6th October. The lad has everything, he will be with the first team squad from next summer as soon as he’s allowed. We have to do everything to keep hold of him.

{Ed077's Note - Oh, I hadn't realised

29 Nov 2025 18:17:41
Why couldn’t Everton have been that crap on Monday night? Lol. Organised, resolute and well drilled they were, tonight…all over the place! Typical ?.

29 Nov 2025 19:44:05
Played against a better team today.

29 Nov 2025 21:03:15
Imagine how it will be when Mbeumo and Amad go to the AFCON.

29 Nov 2025 21:34:40
It's very worrying isn't it MH? I have a feeling we will be somewhere around where we finished last season by the time they get back.

I'm hoping I'm wrong.

30 Nov 2025 06:17:12
Think it says just as much about Everton as it does about us!

29 Nov 2025 17:46:35
Oh what joy! The U18s were playing in the league today, away at Liverpool.

We won the game 0-7, JJ Gabriel scored a terrific hat trick, this guy only turned 15 a couple of week's back and already look's too good for the U18s.

Let's hope for three thing's.
1. He stay's with us .
2. He avoids injury.
3. He continues developing as he is doing.

I know it has been said of many other's and there is a long way to go, but he truly could be very, very special.

29 Nov 2025 17:25:08
He's the main man in my current FM save! ?.

29 Nov 2025 17:37:25
Could be a load of BS. But I think I saw somewhere that other clubs are after him.

29 Nov 2025 19:17:50
Other clubs Fallguy! Real Madrid and Barcelona are trying all sorts behind the scenes to get him to sign, every single major club in Europe has expressed a desire to sign him.

I can only assume you do not have any interest in, or knowledge of the academy as he is most certainly not worthy of being described as BS.

29 Nov 2025 19:26:05
Fallguy

Yes all the top teams. There was even a story about Arsenal being keen to get him, to punish Utd for taking Obi and Heaven.

29 Nov 2025 21:31:01
Anyone who may be interested in seeing the 7 goals we scored against Liverpool can go on to the club's website, there's a 5 minute highlights reel. It's worth seeing.

30 Nov 2025 03:47:07
Sounds like Real Madrid are favourites to sign him too, which would be another sad day for United if it happens, hopefully not, but would not be surprised, Arsenal even play a 15 year old occasionally to give him so incentives, we don’t even play kids who he puts on the bench when drastically needed to try something different… if RA stays the kid might just go, RA likes a Robot.

30 Nov 2025 08:48:41
Been watching the youth teams a bit on YouTube recently but still limited exposure. The number of selfish players is frightening. Every forward will try to beat as many defenders as possible before shooting. No one seems to look up to play a ball to a teammate or for a better opportunity once the get to the 18 yard box.

It’s an awful trait in the first squad that needs sorting. Obviously only watched a handful of highlights, but it was obvious and a bit worrying. Is this thing or just coincidence?

30 Nov 2025 14:38:49
JSU/German/Romanian or whatever you are hiding behind today, it has to be said your ability to talk utter twaddle never ceases to amaze, (aMAZE-get it! )

Arsenal play Dowman because he is a very, very talented youngster, not to give him incentives as you suggest. Furthermore he is almost a year older than Gabriel and consequently a bit further ahead in his development.

Part of the reasons both Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi left Arsenal to join us was because of the fact Arsenal give nowhere near the opportunities to youngsters that we do, look at the stats.

Very often academy youngsters are named as substitutes to give them experience of first team involvement, with little intention of game time, unless maybe a large lead is held or suchlike.

As for opportunities for JJ, I have no doubt whatsoever, he will get opportunities under R. A. but don't forget he has only just turned 15 a few weeks ago so physicality will remain an issue in the short term.

Finally, I have no idea why this issue concerns you as surely it only matter's to Utd supporters, something you assuredly can lay no claim to be.

30 Nov 2025 21:17:48
I’m pretty sure Dowman can play epl games as he is 15 but was turning 16 during this calendar year, so JJ would only be able to play epl matches from next season, well I believe it’s something like that.

30 Nov 2025 22:40:26
Maze, you don't like RA, we get it.

30 Nov 2025 23:23:30
Yes, EWAM, there is a minimum age rule which states that to play in the Premier League this season you have to have turned 15 by August 2025, which Dowman had but JJ did not reach that age until October so he will not play in the Premier League this season.

Although JJ could play in the FA Cup in January as the rule does not apply in that competition.

However he is physically nowhere near ready yet for first team action.

29 Nov 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - funky061 has posted a new article entitled, Pressure Builds For Arne Slot At Liverpool FC

28 Nov 2025 10:51:22
Congratulations to the GW12 winner of the FOOTBALL RUMOURS FPL league:

RTFP

28 Nov 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - ScouserInFrance has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool's Collapse Under Slot Reaches a New Low

27 Nov 2025 23:31:19
I don't know why people are so anti Zirkzee. He has never had a proper run in the team to build his confidence. He has never really played in a settled team either.

I think he is a decent player and that like.

28 Nov 2025 02:11:59
I like Zirkzee, I understand that he hasn't played much this season and lacks match sharpness. My concern isn't his work ethic, but where does he actually fit in.

Last season I thought that he had started to develop a good understanding with Dorgu and Heaven down the left handside. Until Heaven got injured, shortly followed by Zirkzee aswell.

He is a grafter aswell, but I feel that he lacks the overhaul quality to be a success at Utd.

Is the environment at Utd the right one for players to develop?

Players need to be mentality ready to fight, to succeed, to withstand the pressure and burdens that being a Utd player is, especially when the club has underachieved for so long, with the weight of expectation weighing down on their shoulders.

28 Nov 2025 03:16:23
Yes, he is a quality player Salford, I don't think there is a doubt about that.
My issue with him post Everton was that he had an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting position irrespective of whether Sesko or others are available and he let himself down.
Would be interested to see how productive he is after a few more games.

28 Nov 2025 06:23:50
I'm not Anti-Zirkzee, I was a big fan of the signing when we got him. Quality young player, bargain price, and a different type of striker to what we had.

Unfortunately, the landscape has changed since he signed, we have a different manager who has different footballing ideas. Maybe if we sign Semenyo and played Zirkzee as a false 9 with Semenyo and Mbeumo playing episode of him with the intention of bombing past him, along with both wingbacks playing very high and wide to keep the width then it could work. But you'd also need two more naturally defensive midfielders more similar to Casemiro than Bruno to give it balance and avoid being exposed with both wingbacks that high.

Realistically to set the team up to get the best out of Zirkzee would require us to sign another 3 or 4 players with specific skill sets as well as dropping both Bruno and Cunha from the team. Which doesn't seem likely to me.

Under Amorim he's played best as one of the wide 10 rather than as the central striker.

As a striker he's very niche in how he plays and needs the team set up a very specific way to get the best out of him. I'm also not sure he's fully adapted to the EPL, I think some games are just too transitional for him and he's not particularly effective in those games. Germany is a very transitional league, and he looks okay for Bayern, the one team that had more control in games, but he needed the move to Italy before he flourished. Incidentally Serie A is one of the slowest and least transitional leagues in Europe. He has that Berbatov-like languid style, where he isn't necessarily slow/lazy, but he looks lackadaisical in how he plays.

I still think he's a very good player, just one that's maybe not suited to this league or this manager.

28 Nov 2025 09:47:27
He has an overly languid style reminiscent of Berbatov. Berba got away with it because he scored a lot of goals, if you're not delivering goals then it's easy to pick up criticism when you seem to amble about.

28 Nov 2025 13:27:33
Berba was a striker, who could score and create.

Zirkzee doesn’t know what he is tbh. Especially in our system. I feel like he might work well in a front 2 where he’s an outlet to hold the ball up, and wait for the other striker to make the run. Even as a number 10, he really isn’t particularly creative. He’s more of a facilitator than someone who can make something happen. I just think it was a bizarre signing, and more bizarre that we kept him and loaned Hojlund.

I don’t mind his style of play and he could do well at another club with the right strike partner, but for us he is dead weight.

28 Nov 2025 14:01:34
Too slow for the EPL, frequently has a poor first touch, his lay offs and short passes are often wayward, and he's not a great striker. Decent squad player at best who would do better in the right league, but we would have done better keeping McTominay, who actually has an eye for goal, and playing him further up the field rather than in the McTom role.

even more so with Cunha and Mbuemo in the squad, Having said that Zirkzee will probably get another chance this weekend and I hope he proves me wrong. I know he's been injured but there wasn't much about his performances last year to fill one with any confidence.

28 Nov 2025 20:30:28
Berbatov was an entirely different class and level.

28 Nov 2025 21:07:44
Danny I think zirkzee is just a case of wrong man in the wrong place.
I like some of his playing style but its not in keeping with what is needed from our cf.

29 Nov 2025 07:04:20
Agree Ken
He isn’t a goal scorer, or a centre forward or pacey. Good support striker if playing two up front with him just off. Goes back to the question, what was the plan when the club went out buying? Not just him. We have only one striker, how has it come to this? Incompetence.

29 Nov 2025 09:39:40
Theres a reason why he's been allover europe at the age of 24. He’s dross, a liability and shouldn’t ever had had the chance to put this shirt on.

29 Nov 2025 10:24:18
Zirkzee like a lot of players struggles to show his ability in Amorim’s system.

4231 he’d be able to show more in either the 10 or 9 position.

Based on Gyokeres at Sporting Amorim wants a mobile CF, pressing, strong and fast. Zirkzee’s profile doesn’t fit the system.

29 Nov 2025 19:48:02
Seeks to me we got rid of the wrong forward in Hojlund and let Zirkzee stay.

29 Nov 2025 20:50:55
That’s what I think Eric. Hojlund wanted to stay and compete with Sesko. But the club decided to loan him out and keep Zirkzee. Made no sense at the time because we have only one genuine number 9 in the squad.

Obviously things have worked out well for Hojlund, but it would far more logical to have him on the bench than Zirkzee.

27 Nov 2025 20:09:31
After 3 wins, the RA fans were in full voice, dissing those of us that doubt him. They seem to have gone quiet now.

The jury is out for me. I think we will likely lose to Palace and the same questions will be asked. Poor game management, doubts about player motivation and an obsession with his formation. I remain unconvinced about RA.

When Everton went down to 10 men, I expected immediate changes, possibly 4 at the back, bring on Mount and go for them, but that didn't happen. The same against Grimsby, 2 down and struggling but we continued with the same formation. The phrase 1 trick pony springs to mind.

He's a lovely guy, articulate and looks the part, and I'd love him to be successful, but he just doesn't convince me that he has the depth to deliver. This job and League has arrived too early for him.

We will have some statement wins, we did last year, and beating Liverpool was key this year, but struggling to see of a 10 man Everton team was so poor.

Here we go again.

27 Nov 2025 21:29:03
Here come the "we are only 3 points off top 4" replies.

27 Nov 2025 23:08:27
we are only 3 points off top 4.

28 Nov 2025 05:40:13
Lucky for us Palace played Thursday night, so might help, but let’s face it, we are crap and 1 year in are no better…, apart from spending another quarter of a billion, what we get, Dorgu and Sesko, we still desperately need a striker and wing backs, ok all shout we got Cunha and Mbuemo, but let’s be fair we are well stocked anyway in those positions, so I say it again we won’t outscore the goals we conceded in games, who builds from the front… by the time they start getting service they will have given up too and moved on…shambles.

29 Nov 2025 10:30:53
Then jury never went in for me.

Since Amorim came in I’ve seen us play well twice, Brighton this season, Everton last.

Every other win has been either a tight game where we are playing on the break or against 10 men. There no identity or confidence, and after a year I’d say that’s poor. The consistency is in being poor.

Mbeumo has done well and polish this turd of a system. Bruno, Cuhna, Sesko, LWB, CBs all under performing. Casemiro, Goalkeeper and Amad have been reasonable.

I like Amorim but look forward to him leaving or changing system. Each loss and poor performance is one closer to his last game or an change and the only glimmer of hope!