Manchester United banter 6

20 Nov 2025 19:51:58
Just seen that a passionate lifelong Red's supporter and member of the Stone Roses, whose music is well known at O. T, 'Mani' Mountfield has passed away at the much to young age of 63.

I was reading that in order to get to Barcelona in 1999 for the Champions League Final, he sold his prized scooter! In an interview with our magazine years later, he stated that 'It was infinitely worth it'
That's what you call a supporter.

R. I. P. Mani, think I'll have a listen to Stone Roses album.

{Ed007's Note - Mani will always be a legend to lads of a certain vintage ??
Have a read at THIS from an interview he done for The Celtic View in July this year.

20 Nov 2025 21:10:37
Breaking into heaven.

21 Nov 2025 05:36:26
Really sad to hear this, couple of years after his wife passed and he leaves behind twin boys. RIP Mani.

20 Nov 2025 22:35:13
Thanks' for that Ed007, you're quite right about being a legend to a certain vintage. Not saying it quite so nicely it means old farts! Sadly true though.

There has been a connection between Utd and Celtic for a long time now. Think it really came to the fore many years ago during the time of Sir Matt Busby. While Celtic have always been known as the club of the Roman Catholics, Sir Matt, who was a very religious man, of that faith, sought to bring a closeness between 2 great institutions, based upon those religious beliefs.

I remember that testimonial games for player's of both club's, a much, much bigger thing back then, would often involve both club's. To this day I remember going to watch the testimonial for Sir Bobby Charlton at O. T. against Celtic in 1972. Thousands and thousands of Celtic fans came down for a midweek evening match, I couldn't believe how many were there just for a testimonial. The entirety of the Scoreboard End was crammed and just a complete sea of green and the noise they created was astonishing. I cannot think of any game since with more away fans than were there that night. It truly was a remarkable event.

{Ed007's Note - Charlton's testimonial was a bit before my time but I was down for Bryan Robson's in 1990 (35 years ago yesterday btw), Hughes' in 94 and was a VIP guest at Roy (Peace be upon Him) Keane's in 2006.}

21 Nov 2025 12:18:25
Was at Lou Macari’s and Robbo’s
Biggest away following I’ve seen at Old Trafford.

21 Nov 2025 17:21:04
Would just point out, I was pretty young watching that testimonial game!

22 Nov 2025 00:28:24
Gon IWOTB you were 43 when that was on?.

22 Nov 2025 13:51:27
Had just turned 44 actually Ken, but was allowed to stay up late, even though it was a school night!

22 Nov 2025 20:41:25
Saw him in sam platts once, f#$king mental top lad ❤️.

19 Nov 2025 20:48:27
I'm personally not too worried about Sesko being out for a month. He's not played well the last couple of times he's featured. Maybe Zirkzee will get some decent minutes v Everton but I think Amorim will start out without a true #9.

It's not been without success thus far this season. I'm more concerned about the drop off when Casemiro comes off the field. You can be sure he'll be somewhat tired after the international break and the long trip back from South America.

20 Nov 2025 18:29:24
Zirkzee? You remember when brighton came back to 3-2 and mbuemo got us out the sh! t? that's because of the likes of zirkzee not working hard enough. We cannot afford passengers this season and he is one of them.
It would be like playing with 9 outfield men.

20 Nov 2025 19:35:46
Mount on the left with Cunha upfront is the tried and tested option and personally I think that is the one that will be used. Those three (w/ BM) make the front line very fluid. They're all comfortable covering each other when needed.

19 Nov 2025 20:27:46
Assuming we bring back Vitek next season, GK seems well stocked.

Assuming Kone is integrated, Mainoo stays and we add 1, possibly 2 CMs, it would be dependent on final league position IMO. UCL means 2, anything less, probably 1. Don't discount Casemiro signing a 1 year extension. I wouldn't be against that.

10's I think we are well stocked, nothing needed, maybe a youth integrated to fill void left by likely departure of Zirkzee.

Strikers! Sesko will come good Ian confident, we also have Obi to come through. Again subject to where we finish, I think we might add something here.

Now defence.
IMO, we need to lift the first team across the entire back line.
That's a LWB, RWB, and at least 1 CB. Again, if we get UCL, 2 CB.

That's 5-7 transfers IN. I really think they will make a move in Jan to roll the dice and secure top 4.

The obvious ones are WB and CM and the names being bounded around are Livramento and Anderson as suggested below.

You're probably looking at north of 150m, but we are going in the right direction and those two would accelerate proceedings.

20 Nov 2025 20:07:07
I disagree I think we still need one or two more players in attack.

Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo are a good front three, but the quality in depth is questionable.

Zirkzee looks like a good player who just isn't suited to the EPL. Bruno at 31 isn't a long term option there. Both of them could be gone next summer. Amad has looked better at RWB. That really just leaves Mount as a back up option.

So a choice of Cunha, Mount, Sesko, Mbeumo, and Amad looks okay, but when one is injury prone and two of them will miss 8 weeks every other season due to the AFCON it becomes apparent that we are a little short in that department.

I'd expect to see us sign another back up striker, and a flexible wide attacker who can play either left or right No.10 or even at wingback. Then add a couple of youth players like Obi and Lacey possibly adding a little depth.

I think we'll look at two new midfielders, we need athletes in midfield.

Then I think we'll look at one maybe two CB's depending on the futures of Maguire, Martinez, and Shaw. I could see us going for one more experienced and one younger youth type signing.

I don't think we will sign a senior type special-ist wingback. Firstly there are very few available, secondly I think Amad has RWB tied down, with Dalot and Mazraoui as cover, while Dorgu is highly thought of and we have two excellent youth players in Leon and Amass who I think will be given a chance at LWB. I think we will look at a flexible attacker who could also play wingback if needed.

I could see something like Semenyo (65m), Anderson (70m), João Gomes (40m), Guehi (free), then maybe a cheap striker and/or a young CB.

21 Nov 2025 06:12:40
Shappy, my summary assumes the likes of Bruno and Mount and even Amad fill the 10 spots. We have option coming through also. Bruno has another 3-4 years at the top level.

Strikers I agree, also on centre mid and defence, one or two for both positions.

Where we definitely disagree is wing backs. Whilst we have some coming through, I think they are back up, at best. Amad is NOT a wingback, he is awful there. The likes of Livramento, Porro, Robinson are the players you want there.

Probably don't disagree with your suggestions.

21 Nov 2025 11:36:20
As much as I'd love either I'm not sure we'll attract Guehi or Semenyo, I imagine both will have a choice of top clubs. But wouldn't be a surprise, I think it's clear to all (hopefully including prospective signings) that we're on the right track and a shrewd winter signing to boost the starting XI could be the difference in a few places up the table.

23 Nov 2025 11:56:26
Jimbo, I disagree on Amad, in this system I think he is best suited to wingback role, under Amorim all of his best performances have come from wingback, while he has often been poorer by comparison when playing in that inside forward role.

I think you feel he'd be better there due to his size and the weaknesses he has when defending, particularly aerial balls at the back post.

Yet most people totally misunderstand the wingback roles in Amorim's system. He wants them to spend 90%+ of the game in the opposition half, even when we are defending. They aren't defenders who get forward, they are wingers who occasionally defend. I think the confusion comes from the idea, particularly in England, that wingbacks are classified as defenders, or at least lumped in with them. For most of Europe wingbacks are considered as midfielders, and for some, like Amorim, they are forwards.

If you look at the players Amorim has used as wingbacks at Sporting:

Nuno Santos - played most of his career as a winger.

Quenda - was a winger at youth level, and since Amorim left has been played as a winger.

Catamo - winger for most of his career.

Marcus Edwards - winger.

In fact the only players who were considered a fullback who he played at wingback are:

Nuno Mendes and Pedro Poro, both who were considered extremely attacking fullbacks, neither were unfortunately at the club that long under Amorim. While Matheus Reis was the only fairly regularly used fullback under Amorim at Sporting. Yet he was also regularly used as a LCB as well.

Amorim typically prefers to convert a winger into his ideal wingback, as simply put there aren't many players out there playing wingback to sign, and even fewer who actually play it how Amorim wants the role to be played. Frimpong was perhaps the only obvious one.

That means if the club are to sign a top level wingback which will likely cost a big fee, then they will either be very limited in their options or have to sign someone who they feel has the right attributes, but hasn't actually played the role. Which is a big gamble.

As Amorim likes/needs to mould his players into the kind of wingback he wants then it is easier to do so with younger, less experienced players. Players who haven't got 300 games under their belt playing a different position in a specific way, meaning that they naturally default to that when playing. It's much harder to teach an old dog new tricks. Amad is adapting quickly to the role, he has the right attributes, and is tactically intelligent which makes the adaptation easier.

Dorgu was signed as a young player with the right attributes but limited exposure to playing the role, he is adapting but it is taking a little longer than it took Amad. He is also younger and that comes with more inconsistency.

We've seen both Dalot and Mazraoui struggle with adapting to the role despite both on paper having many of the ideal qualities. Yet both have spent so much of their career as defenders it's hard for them to let go of the defend first attack second mentality.

We have players like Amass and Leon who will likely be moulded into the role at LWB, also keep an eye out for Mantato who could be slowly introduced as a wingback likely on the right-hand side over the next 18 months. Apparently Amorim has taken a real liking to him. He might even get a chance when Amad is at the AFCON.

As I see it there are very few top end options I can see the club moving for, maybe Nuno Mendes is the only one if he became available for a reasonable price. Due to his experience in the system in the past and his previous experience playing the role under Amorim. With Frimpong now at Liverpool I don't see any obvious other targets in that role. The only other way I see is spending big in this position is if we sign a player like Semenyo, someone who can play both wingback or wide 10 in this system.

Which for me means that we will either promote youth, sign a young mouldable option similar to Dorgu, or sign a cheaper more experienced winger to try and adapt into the role.

If I was to put them in order of most likely:

1. Promote youth (cheapest and easiest option, and allows funds to be focused elsewhere) .

2. Sign someone like Semenyo or Minteh who can offer quality in a few different positions including wingback (more expensive, but solves multiple issues) .

3. Sign a young mouldable player similar to Dorgu (more expensive than promoting youth, but still not hugely expensive ideally less than 15m, but maybe as much as 30m perhaps) .

4. Sign Nuno Mendes if he is available for a reasonable price (35 - 45m at most) .

5. Sign a cheaper older winger and hope he can adapt (this seems more like a hail Mary approach, and I'd expect them to prefer trying to develop youth) .

While wingback is a vital role in Amorim's system, there are so few proven options that we could sign who are nearly guaranteed to work. Making it more of a gamble to spend big in this position. Also it's such a special-ist role if we did spend big and then changed managers we'd have an expensive player who likely doesn't have a role under the new manager.

Given we have Amad (our best current option), Dalot, Mazraoui and possibly Mantato for RWB, and we have Dorgu, Leon, and Amass at LWB. That is a lot of young talented players who can develop and grow into the role. Which as discussed any new signing would also need a period of time to grow and adapt into the role. Meaning their impact on improving the team will be limited in the short to medium term.

I think the money we have available is needed far more in midfield, centre of defence and adding depth in attack.

It just makes much more sense to spend it in those positions, given that any wingback signing will take time to adapt and we already have a lot of young quality options that will also take time to adapt/grow into the role.

Think about it logically, if it will potentially take a new signing a year to adapt to the role, then why not spend that time developing Dorgu or one of the other young players and save the money for a midfielder who'll actually have an impact during that year?

19 Nov 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - TheRedKop has posted a new article entitled, Why Wirtz Is Struggling to Shine at Liverpool FC?

18 Nov 2025 21:02:50
That McTominay lad is one hell of a player.

Sekou Kone bagged a brace too. Looks like he could have a future.

18 Nov 2025 23:23:55
Yes Kone I expect to be in and around the first team next season.

19 Nov 2025 18:14:31
Shout out too to Tahith Chong who has helped Curacao qualify for the finals.

18 Nov 2025 20:42:57
Take a bow Scott McT take a bow. that has to be 1 if the best goals this year by far

Well done SMCT from the Irish

CMON.

19 Nov 2025 20:20:52
Of all the players that have left us, none give me as much pleasure as seeing how great everything has gone for him as Scotty.

He keeps producing these moments and is just crushing life right now. Great to see.

21 Nov 2025 05:39:04
Weird to say, but maybe his destiny was to leave United so that he could achieve his full potential.

18 Nov 2025 09:06:07
Sesko out for a month. With no recognised Cf Backup I would expect to see mbeumo playing through the middle, maybe mount at false 9 depending on the opposition. What does everyone else think?

18 Nov 2025 11:50:11
I expect it will either be Mount as a false 9 with Cunha and Mbuemo behind, or Mbuemo as the CF with Cunha and Amad behind.

Personally I'd prefer Mount, Cunha and Mbuemo with Amad at RWB, but I'm not an expert or coach so will trust RA knows what is best.

18 Nov 2025 14:46:20
My guess will be Cunha rotating with Zirkzee. Where is Obi these days?

18 Nov 2025 14:50:31
I expect it will be Cunha at 9 but switching positions with mount and mbueno like he has gone to many times already this season.

18 Nov 2025 17:44:41
Should be bruno false 9 and Mainoo in imo.

18 Nov 2025 19:56:55
He is stuck on bruno being a midfielder unfortunately.

18 Nov 2025 20:55:57
Mount is the obvious imo going on previous selections but who knows?

19 Nov 2025 10:27:08
Mount, Mbuemo and Cunha will be the starters. When Amad and Mbuemo go to AFCON then we may have an issue. Zirkzee is the obvious one to play more. However, Sesko may be back by then anyway. Wing back replacement for Amad is the bigger issue. I'd like to see Shaw play at LWB and then Dorgu can move right.

19 Nov 2025 12:21:03
Don't think Shaw is capable don but rest i'd agree with you.

18 Nov 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - LAUDRUPHAGI has posted a new article entitled, Raskin's Value Debate Shows Reality of Rangers' Market Position

16 Nov 2025 16:35:35
If utd were to go out and sign Anderson and Livramento, it would put the onus back onto the central defence and/or striker being areas in need of attention.

16 Nov 2025 19:46:20
2 midfielders are required.

16 Nov 2025 22:48:47
You don't think Anderson and Mainoo would work?

17 Nov 2025 12:35:11
I don't think Amorim is a fan of mainoo or his attributes.
Id like to think with more games next season hopefully he will get a chance.

17 Nov 2025 14:39:03
I don't know if they would work together or not. Would be a huge risk to presume that they will. Our midfield is very light on numbers and could possibly get lighter. 2 new midfielders are required for the rebuild regardless of the plans for KM.

17 Nov 2025 15:19:32
Couldn't agree more Peter.
We desperately more pace in the team.

17 Nov 2025 18:45:30
I wouldn't be surprised if Utd tried to bring in Baleba and Anderson/Wharton in the summer. Massive money but also a massive priority.

18 Nov 2025 02:20:58
Appreciate we need two, but let's start with one hey? Also, our wingbacks are equally as bad, if not worse, than our central mid.
For clarity, I'm talking January raids on opposition and continuing the trend of EPL proven players.
It would make the summer window easier again.

18 Nov 2025 07:23:49
I would be over the moon with baleba and wharton.

18 Nov 2025 09:26:17
Baleba with Anderson/Wharton would future proof the midfield first years.

Hopefully Mainoo is working hard and take his chance when it comes.

18 Nov 2025 22:16:17
Amorim's system ideally requires legs in midfield. Mainoo is very talented but the only thing that holds him back is his athleticism, he doesn't naturally have the lung power. That doesn't mean he can't develop it though.

My biggest concern with Mainoo though is this seeming lack of patience to play. Look at Foden at City, despite his obvious talent he wasn't a regular starter until he was 22, despite being in the first team picture since he was 18. Mainoo is just 20.

If he wants to be at a big club then he will have competition for his place. If he doesn't want to fight for a starting spot then he'll need to accept playing at a mid table club.

He isn't happy playing second fiddle to Casemiro and Bruno, two top class players who are amongst our top performers this season. We will also look to bring in at least one of not two more stops class midfielders by the start of next season. The competition for his place isn't going to go away.

Hopefully all the talk is more from his agent than it is from the player. But ultimately if he doesn't want to fight for a starting spot with us then we will need to move on from him.

16 Nov 2025 15:59:31
Just for fun on this eventless weekend, this from Reddit:

Sneijder: What I found out many years later was that Man Utd were pretty close but there was a problem with the agent/

January signing?

16 Nov 2025 21:15:27
One of the most annoying transfer rumours of all time ?.