Manchester United Discussion
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25 Nov 2025 07:22:40
What is found concerning last night was RA reluctance to change formation to a more attacking one. It was Southgate esque football last night.
1-0 down, at OT and we played into Evertons hands. The extra man was never utilised. It really showed that RA doesn't have a plan B or C.
I really can't see Utd getting a result at Palace on Sunday.
The joys of supporting Utd!
2
25 Nov 2025 10:29:46
The good news is that Palace play away in Europe on Thursday. If we manage to have less energy than them I think it’s time to move Amorim on.
1
25 Nov 2025 11:16:02
GSD2,
I think December will become a critical month for RA. He is clearly obstinate. His tactics cost Utd last night.
I don't think we could actually find a fan who would defend RA tactics last night. They were woefully wrong.
1
25 Nov 2025 20:11:11
Totally agree. Let’s not sugar coat it. Last night was dreadful.
1
26 Nov 2025 22:18:16
I'm still surprised by the pure lack of tactical understanding by most casual fans.
To be fair it doesn't help when the commentators and pundits are so clueless.
They keep saying 343 is a defensive shape/style, yet they clearly can't count.
343 is a shape that has THREE defenders, four midfielders and three forwards.
442/4231/433 is a shape that has FOUR defenders.
Now I might not be the sharpest tool in the box, but even I can understand that four is a bigger number than three.
So exactly how does playing one LESS defender make a team more defensive.
7
27 Nov 2025 05:58:17
Got nothing to do with initial numbers. Typically 343 is more defensive because the two wingbacks drop back (or should! ) to form a 5 man defence in defensive phase.
This has its own issues in that it depends entirely on the wingbacks dropping back with discipline.
Similarly they need to advance quickly in their own attacking phase as it could potentially leave the midfield low on numbers.
0
27 Nov 2025 06:40:52
Keefy, there is no typically about it. Every team regardless of formation does things differently.
There is no set way of playing a formation.
When we play 343 it works fine when we have the right players to do what the manager wants, i. e. Amad playing in the wingback role meaning we have a wingback whose natural tendency is to attack.
We struggle more when either Dalot or Mazraoui play as their natural instincts are to stay deeper and defend. Which pulls our team out of shape and makes things difficult for us.
Every team regardless of team shape/formation will look to make sure they have a man advantage both when defending and ideally when attacking. In that regard football is just a numbers game.
But there is nothing inherently defensive about the 343 shape despite the dumbass pundits insistence there is.
7
27 Nov 2025 09:50:18
Isn’t that what I said?
Typically - usually or normally, not exclusively.
Teams (not all) will use the 343 formation with the right cattle on the park to provide a better defensive structure with the ability to transition to an offensive structure. Of course there will be exceptions and team execute it differently.
Either way thanks for essentially agreeing!
Thanks also for pointing out that football is a numbers game. 40 years of playing and coaching and I never knew that! See you can teach an old dog new tricks!
1
20 Nov 2025 19:40:41
Leadership
On here when SAF retired and many times since I have talked about Leadership and how it is different to management. I read this and hope the Eds are ok with posting it, it isn’t my work. However, it outlines the importance of Leadership so very well.
Patrice Evra’s recollections suggest that David Moyes’ failure at Manchester United was rooted in a rapid loss of authority. The issues began in pre-season when Moyes disregarded security advice to hold a session at Bondi Beach, resulting in a mob scene that undermined his judgment early on.
However, the core issue was a shift in leadership style. Unlike Ferguson’s autocratic control, Moyes attempted a more democratic approach that backfired. By asking the players to teach him how to win trophies, he inadvertently signaled incompetence to a squad used to definitive leadership. This led to a breakdown in discipline, characterized by media leaks (such as the infamous chips ban) and insubordination from fringe players.
The situation deteriorated as results worsened. Evra notes that Moyes seemed unable to handle the intense internal standards of the club, expressing shock at aggressive confrontations between senior players like Vidić and Evra. By the time the team suffered a defeat to Olympiacos, the dressing room had checked out, evidenced by their relaxed demeanor on the return flight.
The end became inevitable following a defeat at Goodison Park. Ryan Giggs reportedly lost his temper at the humiliation of being mocked by Everton fans. Recognizing the broken relationship, Ed Woodward consulted the senior players. Their feedback sealed Moyes' fate, and he was sacked shortly thereafter, with Evra noting he was the only player to bid him farewell.
Now me, consider what Amorim walked into. It’s taken a few months, moaning fans, moaning players, yet Amorim has not flinched, jettisoned those who would not adapt. Yes he was inflexible, at first but was that stamping his authority? I suspect so, see above. He has tweaked recently but from a different position, it would not be seen as being done because anyone else wanted it. Players know what Amorim wants, he is not asking them how to do it, he is telling them. Authority.
That is leadership.
2
{Ed001's Note - who wrote this?}
0
20 Nov 2025 20:08:39
Hi Ed,
Read it online and it was said to come from Evras autobiography.
0
20 Nov 2025 20:24:29
I wrote the bit about Amorim from Now me,
1
{Ed001's Note - ok thanks, should always try and credit the writer please.}
0
20 Nov 2025 21:37:23
Sorry Ed, various quotes online with similar stuff but can’t find the actual source.
1
{Ed001's Note - ok, no worries.}
0
20 Nov 2025 19:08:11
Noooooooooo!
Mani. RIP PAL!
Legend of two legendary bands. Devastated To say the least.
2
20 Nov 2025 19:34:47
The Stone Roses were and still are my favourite ever band, and Mani was the beating heart of it.
When the bass kicks in at the start of I want to Be Adored. Goosebumps ❤️
Genuinely gutted. RIP, Mani. 😔.
1
17 Nov 2025 14:05:40
I know the topic of Mason Greenwood sets a lot of people off, and I get why. The off-field situation was serious and it changed everything. This isn’t a post defending that. But purely from a footballing perspective, it’s impossible to ignore what the lad is doing over in France.
I was chatting with a lifelong Marseille fan recently, and honestly, they talk about Greenwood like he’s their superstar. And when you look at the numbers, it’s hard to argue with them.
Since joining Marseille:
• 45 games • 29 goals • 8 assists — that’s 0.64 goal contributions per game
• 2024/25 Ligue 1: 21 goals, 5 assists
• 2025/26 so far: 8 goals, 3 assists in 11 games
• Regularly posting 7+ match ratings and even bagged four goals in a single Ligue 1 match this season
• Marseille fans absolutely adore him — they see him as the face of their attack
Meanwhile, we’ve spent £200m+ trying to fix our forward line, and half of those signings haven’t come close to delivering numbers like that.
Again — I’m not saying United should have kept him, I’m not dismissing what happened, and I’m not asking anyone to change how they feel about him. But it’s also fair to admit the football reality:
If things had turned out differently, Greenwood would be absolutely untouchable at Manchester United right now.
He had the talent, the finishing ability, the two-footed threat, the academy pathway — everything. And seeing him hitting these levels in France, while our attack still struggles for consistency, is a hard pill to swallow.
This isn’t meant to glorify him or start an argument — it’s just acknowledging a “what if” that a lot of us secretly feel:
We lost a player who had the potential to be one of the best forwards in Europe.
3
17 Nov 2025 18:35:24
What if we signed Harry Kane!
What if we signed Halaand
All what ifs and no real substance so all pointless really
What if we bought a proper striker decent defenders a manager who got some decent in game management
I for one happy that Greenwood don’t play for united, whatever his stats.
1
17 Nov 2025 23:13:52
Maze, well done for proving you didn’t read all of the post.
Interesting one Red Devil, such a shame for the club and for him that his actions off the field meant he’s never going to be remembered for the wonderful football ability he has. Best player to come through our academy for a very long time but unfortunately a horrible person.
4
18 Nov 2025 22:07:27
If you are successful and lucky you'll be remembered for your talent.
However, a great many talented people are remembered for their actions/comments.
I don't know what happened to make Greenwood the horrible little worm that he is, but he will be remembered for his actions off the pitch, no matter what he does on it.
4
13 Nov 2025 20:38:55
Dalots defensive ability being thoroughly exposed by Ireland here, long balls being pinged into the right every chance they can get. COYBIG!
1
14 Nov 2025 10:50:03
Utd really do need to upgrade Dalot. Selling g him woukd be pure profit aswell.
1
14 Nov 2025 11:29:52
Ireland played the ball every chance they got and more often than not he was ball watching like he does every week for us great for me as an Ireland fan but as a united one he was appalling.
2
01 Nov 2025 18:19:19
4 games unbeaten and other than 5 minutes of madness we would have won. I think we will see lots of ups and downs through the season, but other teams are also inconsistent so we have a chance to move much higher up then table, even top 5 feels achievable based on the last month.
I'm still not 100% convinced about RA, but the last moth has been excellent, not least the character we have shown today, and against Liverpool and Brighton.
I like him as a bloke, I like his demeanour, and he has flexed his approach in recent weeks so it may be he is also adapting to what is a very tough league.
10 points from 12 is a great return, we have many players stepping up and showing their class. My one observation would be Sesko has still not fully settled, it feels like he needs a a couple of goals, or a screamer to settle him down.
Wilcox is talking about strengthening in January. Looking at today's game, imagine Anderson in our midfield, the boy is special, and whilst Cas is playing well, he will remain limited around pace and stamina.
The whole feel has shifted, if this continues. I will be delighted to eat humble pie, I really hope I have to.
2
01 Nov 2025 18:51:30
I thought Anderson was excellent today. Much more impressive than Baleba last week who we have been strongly liked with. Them 2 with Wharton and Mainoo (I really don't know what the plan is with him at the moment), would give us decent long term flexible midfield combination options.
0
02 Nov 2025 09:12:03
I'm sure it was Ed001 who commented on how good Anderson was a couple of seasons ago, I couldn't see it at the time but that's why I always trust his judgement on players, Anderson would be perfect for us.
0
{Ed001's Note - Newcastle had their pants pulled down on him, due to being in serious FFP difficulties. Marinakis didn't even use lube, he just made them buy a goalkeeper neither side wanted from him for an exorbitant fee on top! Unreal deal that is between the two sides. Bad enough losing your best young talent for less than you valued him, but then having to give them the money back for a terrible keeper you didn't want or need, ouch! I bet that one still hurts. Anderson is a fantastic player, I would love him at Liverpool and he would be great for United too.
And thank you for the compliment, I did big him up even before Forest signed him and kept telling them on their site he was their best player when they did. I think they would agree now and are starting to worry about the bids coming in for him. You can't always get it right on players, so when you do it is nice to see it - except in Cunha's case. I didn't enjoy seeing him prove me right last week!}
2
02 Nov 2025 12:16:52
Question Ed, Wharton or Anderson, I'm no expert but they look similar types of player or do you think they could play together?
1
{Ed001's Note - very different. Wharton is a playmaker mainly, he can get about the pitch, but his main strength is getting on the ball and making passes. Anderson can do that too, but his main strength is as a box to box midfielder, breaking up play and picking a pass. He really needs to work on his shooting though! They look like an ideal combination on paper. Both are verging on complete midfielders but are both let down by a lack of goals.}
2
02 Nov 2025 19:31:05
What’s your take on Kobbie Mainoo Ed1? And where can he fit into this Utd team?
0
{Ed001's Note - if he works on his athleticism and desire, he should be the long term replacement for Bruno. He does play the creator very differently, with more running with the ball, but he should be a better fit, rather than just an outstanding player shoehorned in to get him in the team. He is such a good technical player, but he lacks the physicality to really work well in a 2 man midfield. That is something he can develop though, he just needs to want it enough.}
1
03 Nov 2025 20:21:47
I think that’s a very fair assessment.
2
14 Nov 2025 10:05:21
Mainoo was overplayed by EtH and it showed when he had injuries last year. A year of less football will do him good in the long term, although you can understand his frustration not getting my playing time.
0
31 Oct 2025 09:47:03
2 more games before the intl break.
Tough away fixtures.
Forest are badly in need of a result and I eclectic them to be much tougher under dyche.
Last week the got beaten by Bournemouth after a great midweek performance v Porto. They had no midweek game this week and I expect them to be very aggressive and hard running. Should be a good contest. Exactly the type of team we have struggled against recently.
Spurs away then the following week.
Personally i'd be delighted with 4 points from these 2 games.
Obviously a win and loss would be better than 2 draws.
2 wind would mean a lot to that poor sod who is waiting on us winning 5 in a row to get a haircut.
i'm not sure if anybody has seen this chap but i'm guessing he wished he'd never opened his mouth🤣 he looks like Leo Sayer on steroids 🫨 (there is a name for posters of a certain vintage)
Getting good points on the board in our next 6 or 8 games is vital before the afcon players depart. Our whole right side will be decimated. Mount is the likely replacement for mbeumo which if he stays fit is not the worst cover. Bruno can also mive up allowing mainoo to stake a claim. So not bad cover at all for mbeumo. Dalot likely to switch over to his stronger side is a big downgrade on amad.
Could be very light on numbers over the period they are away. All hands to the pump.
1
31 Oct 2025 18:30:47
I hope we just set out like the Brighton game we were hungrier from the start and that's a bonus in any match.
I really hope we beat forest and spurs it's a a tall order but ra would be going in to an international break with most of thee press noise about hee won five in a row and 6 out of 7.
Hopefully we can stay consistent there as top 4 there for the taking for anyone who can and dare I say it the league but let's not mention that.
0
30 Oct 2025 00:12:20
I hate to be cheesey but I'd like to wish all of us united supporters a great time[I know its only 3 games on the bounce] but it genuinely feels that we have turned that corner. So here it is
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
As the reds go marching on on on!
Just like the busby babes in days gone by
We'll keep the red flags flying high
Your going to see us all from far and wide
Your going to hear the masses sing with pride
United, Man united
We're the boys in red and we're on our way to Wembley!
Wembley, Wembley
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wembley
Wembley, Wembley
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wembley
In Seventy—Seven it was Docherty
Atkinson will make it Eighty—Three
And everyone will no just who we are
They'll be singing que sera sera
United, Man united
We're the boys in red and we're on our way to Wembley!
Wembley, Wembley
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wembley
Wembley, Wembley
We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wembley
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
As the reds go marching on on on!
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
As the reds go marching on on on!
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
Glory glory Man united
As the reds go marching on on on!
3
30 Oct 2025 12:33:58
You have a lot of time it seems.
2
30 Oct 2025 17:43:16
Indeed.
0
01 Nov 2025 13:08:34
Fair play, mate. Love your enthusiasm. Sometimes as we (me) get older, we get a lot more cynical and grumpy. Posts like this remind me there's still a lot of enjoyment in supporting this club.
Oh, and you have too much time on your hands 😁.
0
27 Oct 2025 12:58:15
One of our Academy defenders, Rhys Bennett has been granted compassionate leave along with full pastoral by the club following his announcement that his father had taken his own life.
A very, very sad occurrence for him and his family, you just wonder how dark the place his father was in, to not only contemplate, but carry out such an action.
Deepest condolences to the family at such an appallingly sorrowful time.
12
28 Oct 2025 08:25:39
And very often it’s those with lots to live for that carry out the action. So many famous people at their peak have been lost far too soon, and of course those at the other end of the spectrum who are driven by total despair.
It is so sad and as you say what must be going through their minds to be driven to it.
I could never suppose to understand. It is far beyond my intellect.
I spent a good amount of time during COVID ( a hard enough time! ) in a bubble providing company for a suicidal friend. It is draining trying to say the right things and provide the necessary support with little or no relevant training. But the medical structure was broken at the time to provide professional help.
Thoughts are with Rhys. The sooner he can get back amongst his support group (the lads) the better!
2
19 Oct 2025 20:43:58
Id like to report from behind enemy lines. There's a lot of dogs yelping!
6
Manchester United Discussion 2
Manchester United Discussion 3