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02 Jan 2025 21:12:22
Gyokeres rumours for a JANUARY transfer heating up.
Can imagine us sending Antony and Lindelof there to lower the price. £50m plus those two, £30m of which will be recuperated by selling Casemiro to Saudi. So a £20m outlay on Gyokeres plus huge wages saved. Then Rashford to PSG in a loan swap for Nuno Mendes. £20m Jan window outlay, which sounds realistic.
1.) 02 Jan 2025 21:35:02
Give this man Ashworth’s job….
2.) 02 Jan 2025 21:49:21
Thought RM said on day 1 he wouldn’t go for any Sporting player in January?
3.) 02 Jan 2025 21:55:25
Sounds, great but wishful thinking I fear.
4.) 02 Jan 2025 22:57:43
Gyorkeres would struggle in this team.
5.) 03 Jan 2025 01:01:50
Sounds like fifa career mode. How on earth do you think that's realistic?
6.) 03 Jan 2025 11:17:12
Sounds good until a blind man whispers in the ear of SP CEO and says . that Antony fella isn't worth 5 mill. and Lindelof has all the confidence of a one armed boxer once he's within 10 feet of a football.
7.) 03 Jan 2025 13:14:50
Burrenwayboy,
I still can't believe the club triggered a 1 year extension for lindelof.
8.) 03 Jan 2025 18:28:57
Maguire?
9.) 03 Jan 2025 19:35:09
Casimero for 30 million to saudi? that is absolute gold! thank you, thank you.
10.) 03 Jan 2025 19:39:28
Why do a lot of folk continue to refer to Ruben Amorim, as RM? Is there a reason?
11.) 04 Jan 2025 19:32:59
No chance of Gyokeres this window.
12.) 05 Jan 2025 04:00:46
Ruben M-or-him? ?.
13.) 05 Jan 2025 13:27:03
Probably years of writing RM in short for me, (whilst having a shout ? at me) that’s in their auto spelling.
14.) 07 Jan 2025 22:29:52
Jimbobred,
RA sounds too scouse.
21 Aug 2024 07:33:49
Ugarte likely to come in very soon, possibly even today.
Pellistri, Mejbri, Oyedele all out by the weekend. Eriksen to follow next week.
I think McTominay will stay, but expect Sancho to leave next week, probably on another loan deal.
I just have a sneaky feeling we are going to do something big and unexpected in the last week, too. I think INEOS will want to make an absolute statement signing on deadline day to really hammer home their arrival.
1.) 21 Aug 2024 08:06:30
I wouldn't be surprised if we tried again for branthwaite, he was obviously a top target but i think that depends if Lindelof goes.
2.) 21 Aug 2024 09:59:42
I'd be delighted to keep Scott McTominay - he always gives 100% and never let's you down. He isn't a technical midfielder the way e. g. Eriksen is, but he offers other things. I'd happily say goodbye to Eriksen and Casemiro - both have been fantastic players but their age is catching up and slowing them down. At their peak they would have graced any team but their best days are behind them. I think both still have a lot to offer going forward, but defensively they are too exposed and that makes it very hard to Mainoo etc. However, it's not their fault that Utd paid too much, and both deserve respect for their achievements in the game - at his peak Casemiro was world class in his role, and Eriksen has always been a joy to watch and a model pro.
Sancho I am not convinced has the heart to be a Utd player - wonderful skill but also not a fighter for the cause: if we can get a good price I would sell and move on just to clear the decks.
So, my ideal purchases in last days of window would be Ugarte, a young and hungry left back (Shaw and Malacia just too unreliable with injury: the Turkish guy looks good but I think the Hungarian guy at Bournemouth is more PL proven - but what do I know? ) and if possible another effort for Branthwaite. Unlikely to get them all, but it would be a truly fantastic window if we could achieve this.
3.) 21 Aug 2024 10:58:38
We need a player like Ugarte in midfield, if that means moving McTominay I'd be fine with that. Ugarte's energy and ball winning ability is something we lack in the squad.
McTominay is the 2024 version of Fellaini in my eyes. Gives his all, limited on the ball, can't trust him defensively but if you put him in the opposition box, he's going to cause problems.
As for other departures and signings, I'd say Sancho, Hannibal and Pellistri need to go as they're clearly not at the forefront of Ten Hag's thinking.
If we are to bring in another with Ugarte, I'd target a wide player rather than a left back. When fit, Shaw will start so why sign a short term fix again? We saw how that worked with Weghorst, Reguilon, Amrabat and Sabitzer in recent years. In our wide areas we have youth in Amad and Garnacho and two horribly out of form players in Rashford and Antony. I'd say that is just as big a concern as the likely fitness issues at left back.
4.) 21 Aug 2024 11:39:29
RJmanutd interested you would stick with Shaw and Malacia - I agree Shaw when fit is still quality, but he's not been consistently fit for a log while now, so my sense is that we need to look to the future with a young player who can develop. Amass looks a good prospect but we can't expect him never to lose form or fitness as he develops physically and tactically in next few years, so another young player (like Kerkez at Bournemouth) would be a sensible way to balance risk. If Shaw gets fit consistently he can take his place back, if not he hs to work for it same as everyone should. Last season I think LB was a major weakness for us (although lack of left sided CB with Lisandro injured did not help) and we were targeted. Amrabat is not a bad player, but chopping and changing where he played didn't help him or the team - trying to use him at LB was insanity! I agree that Reguilon and Weghorst weren't great, but I actually thought Sabitzer was a good player and he's looked good for Austria, and in the upper levels of German league (Bayern, RBL and Dortmund - although I can agree their levels are a little lower than EPL overall, Bayern don't buy too many complete mugs) . Biggest problem has been we have brought in some players who look good in other teams and systems, but we haven't coached them well and we haven't had a consistent style of play, so each match we have lurched from system to system. Hopefully this is something Wilcox and Ashforth will address together with Ten Hag but it's not an instant fix and I suspect it will take at least 2 seasons to sort properly. But if we can settle on a style of play, buy players who fit that system and coach players to work in that way, we should see progress. although some players are not very adaptable (either too thick or too ego driven to do so) . Even a team like City - with a huge amount of money and some serious talent available to them, and a well defined system of play by now - buy players and then it takes months for them to really fit the system and settle in - and some (e. g. Phillips, Grealish) don't ever really convince. This season I expect progress, but breaking top 4 will be a big achievement and we shouldn't expect a lasting challenge at top end of the table. I am pretty sure most of us don't expect that, even if we would love to see it.
5.) 21 Aug 2024 12:21:07
I'm not sure we will move for LB now. It's a bizarre situation we find ourselves in, looking for a player who technically could only be 5th choice in that position behind Shaw, Malacia, Mazraoui, Dalot. Last resort should be Martinez, then Amass. Better solution is to find a long-term starter in this position next summer. I think at least one of Shaw/ Malacia will be offski.
6.) 21 Aug 2024 12:27:34
Phil, I totally agree that Shaw and Malacia as LB options is risky. Shaw when fully fit is a very good left back, hence why he is first choice. It's just I don't see the club buying a new 1st choice left back this window, and ultimately, they'd need to be a pretty good player to justify not playing Shaw when he is fully fit. Some of the players linked like Alonso are very short term signings, then players like Chilwell who are good but just as injury prone, if not more so, than Shaw. Others such as Kerkez could be good signings but with limited funds don't seem too feasible this window.
I'd rather see us spend the limited funds we apparently have available on a replacement for Sancho this window. That'd give us sufficient depth in wide areas and still allows for Amad to continue to develop or maybe Rashford / Antony to regain some form. Then next summer sign a top left back to takeover from Shaw.
7.) 21 Aug 2024 19:11:59
Or keep Sancho in the wide areas and see what he can do?
8.) 21 Aug 2024 22:34:42
Eric,
We’ve seen what he can do, nothing.
22 Jul 2024 11:56:48
Now confirmed that we've bid £30m for De Ligt this morning.
In my opinion we absolutely need him, but that must surely mean that the departure of Lindelof (or Maguire? ) is imminent? We can't possibly justify Martinez, Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire, Lindelof and Evans being at the club.
1.) 22 Jul 2024 12:11:41
I'd prefer keeping Lindelof and getting rid of Maguire, but I expect Lindelof will leave.
2.) 22 Jul 2024 12:29:02
I would let them both go tbh. However Maguire performed better last season without the Captaincy and didn’t do much wrong. As cover either is fine, DeLigt and Yoro this window would be very good though.
3.) 22 Jul 2024 12:31:05
I'm sure they will push to sell both Lindelof and Maguire. From there they can hopefully bring in de ligt.
Having Evans, Martinez, Yoro, De Ligt and AN other would be a fantastic selection. i still think they go back for Branthwaite.
4.) 22 Jul 2024 12:31:10
Really good news if true, it would give us 3 very good options at CB.
Maguire surely has to go if he’s got anything about him. He can’t sit on the bench at 31.
I’d sooner keep Lindelof. He’s a good passer of the ball, and I think is better than most seem to think. It wasn’t long ago that Barcelona were sniffing around him.
5.) 22 Jul 2024 13:04:50
Would be a great signing at that price. Can see why we wanted to get the Yoro deal wrapped up first. Not sure if he would have signed had he known we’d be bringing in a CB of De Ligt’s quality in the same window. I’m sure that both will get ample game time next season, but between them and Martinez, only two can be first choice.
6.) 22 Jul 2024 14:28:00
I would be relaxed with either Maguire/ Lindelof to leave or both if it was possible but we may want to be mindful of injuries again. If one of them stays for a further year as 4th/ 5th choice then that's okay.
I would be happy with Martinez/ De Ligt/ Yoro sharing the game time and think De Ligt/ Yoro are intelligent enough to cover left side when Martinez not playing.
We can then clear out all of the remaining next season with one additional CB/ bring through from the youth team.
7.) 22 Jul 2024 13:42:38
If you consider that we didn't have enough CBs last year (see Casemiro playing CB), We have lost Kambwala and replaced/ upgraded with Yoro (prospect ready to play first team games) . Varane (starter) has left and not been replaced - so i would see de Ligt as filling the Varane slot, bringing us back to as many capable CBs as last season, which wasn't enough (granted - bit of a freak with number of injuries) . Lindelof also covered (tried to) a bit at LB last year (as did Amrabat, who won't be staying), and there doesn't seem to be strong links to a new LB so his perceived versatility may count in his favour.
8.) 22 Jul 2024 15:52:47
We need another premium cb for sure the thought of going into the season with the prospect of maguire or lidelof playing 20 plus games fills me with dread.
9.) 22 Jul 2024 22:40:27
My tuppence worth is that Lindelof is far better than a lot of fans give him credit for. He’s suffered from the anti Maguire campaign by association. He’s actually pretty decent on his feet and can also fill in at right back. I’m not saying he’s a starting selection by any stretch, but as a back up player, the captain of Sweden isn’t a bad option. Maguire on the other hand is only going to get slower given his age and physiology, so it doesn’t bode well!
10.) 23 Jul 2024 13:47:33
Agree, Fireman. Lindelof's versatility and comfort on the ball compared to Harry, means if one goes it's Harry for me.
11.) 22 Jul 2024 13:49:52
Angelred,
Getting another cb after buying Yoro and De Ligt makes no sense. No club in the world has so many cb options. Martinez, Yoro and De Ligt is amazing, one of Maguire and Lindelof will surely stay, plus we have Evans. 3 top cb options plus two who can get minutes in cup games and when the main guys need rest.
08 Aug 2022 09:54:53
Adrien Rabiot is this morning's link. Reported by Ornstein though, who is usually fairly spot on.
Another with an attitude problem and an agent who loves the limelight.
Interestingly, we are starting to get linked with £20m players. Has ETH decided the squad is so poor/ light thaT he'd be better off with four £20m signings than one at £80m? Interesting week ahead.
1.) 08 Aug 2022 10:19:19
Hope neither is true. Would be better off with neves and take a risk on the young kid from salzburg, although i suspect he will find it difficult and will need time and probably will get slammed here as the pl is a tough school for a 19 year old from austrian league.
2.) 08 Aug 2022 11:00:49
I'm hoping the Rabiot and Arnautovic rumours don't lead anywhere. Both decent players, better than what we have, but neither look good enough for where we want to go and both have had attitude issues in the past.
Given our dressing room issues we need players with good attitudes, ideally players with EPL experience as we need players who will get to grips with the league immediately and not take half a season to acclimatise.
Fabian Ruiz would have been a great option, but given his impending move to PSG it looks like that boat has sailed.
Ruben Neves gets a lot of love and I wouldn't be against it, that said he would likely cost MORE than FDJ.
Matheus Nunes seems to be the hipsters pick, always seemed a gifted player when I've seen him. Although personally I think he's more suited to a box to box role than as a holding midfielder.
Youri Tielemans is probably the player I'd target, EPL experience and available for a reasonable price. While also probably being closer to the skillset EtH seems to be looking for in a midfielder (technically gifted, mobile, quick, press resistant, with an expansive passing range) .
Up front Sesko is the name that keeps being linked. Supposedly a talented player from everything I seen written about him. Only seen him in a UCL group game last season. Looked decent but didn't really stand out at that level at the time. Maybe by the time he's 22 he'll be considered world class. But we need a player who can make a difference this season not in 2-3 years time.
Mitrovic has been mentioned and I wouldn't be against it, seems a much better player now to the one who was in the EPL previously. Although he would likely cost a lot.
The EPL striker I'd go for would be Ivan Toney. works hard, presses well, good technical level linking well with teammates, and has a clinical finish when in front of goal. He looks very well suited to EtH's style of play. Again though cost could be prohibitive.
Both Mitrovic and Toney would likely cost upward of 40-50m as they are vital in their sides fight for EPL survival this season. Which is a lot of money to pay for a striker who won't necessarily be a long term first choice option.
Which leads me to Moussa Dembele of Lyon, proven scorer decent link play, good technical striker, good in the air and on the floor. While entering the final year of his contract and would be available for under 30m.
For me if you cannot get your first choice option then you cannot be paying top whack for your 2nd or 3rd choice compromise options.
If FDJ isn't going to happen and Ronaldo is determined to leave then maybe Tielemans and Dembele for less than what FDJ would cost initially let alone in total are probably the smartest moves available to the club.
3.) 08 Aug 2022 11:33:42
Shappy come on mate both are average. and one is a complete racist
If we do end up with the 2 players above then we have well and truly fell off. what are we actually trying to accomplish buying cheap mediocre players that would get a sniff in any other top 6 side never mind the top 4 or a team wanting to win trophies.
4.) 08 Aug 2022 12:06:56
Arnautovic can stay in Italy. Why we’re targeting him is beyond me. Rabiot I’d take for the reported low fee but only IF he is not the alternative to De Jong.
Adding Rabiot and Tielemens/ Neves would improve our midfield but it’s surely not the route we want to be taking?
As Shappy has said, Ruiz would’ve been a decent alternative but he’s off to PSG. I can see us getting Rabiot and going for SMS late in the window. I’m certainly not against Savic as he’s better than what we have.
5.) 08 Aug 2022 12:33:06
Bolger, This is literally the first line of my post:
"I'm hoping the Rabiot and Arnautovic rumours don't lead anywhere. Both decent players, better than what we have, but neither look good enough for where we want to go and both have had attitude issues in the past".
All I have said is they are better than what we have.
I don't want them, I don't think they are good enough and their attitudes stink.
6.) 08 Aug 2022 12:42:13
A lot of reports now saying that we’ve agreed a deal for Rabiot. Looks like the pursuit of De Jong is finally over.
7.) 08 Aug 2022 13:07:19
I don’t actually think either are better than what we have
Shappy you just said in that last paragraph I don’t think they are good enough but yet you also said they are decent players ?♂️
Not making a dig shappy but these types of players if we are to actually show some ambition on wanting to win are not the players we go for
No wonder ronaldo wants to leave. 0 ambition the club is a shadow of its former self
Play Iqbal or savage play McNeil or ganarcho use the players within and development them if your not going to spend money on a ready made player now
Stop the short term stop gaps it’s not how you produce a winning team
If rabiot is an alternate to de jong then this is a joke of window tbh.
8.) 08 Aug 2022 13:15:58
Rabiot is 27 and is a very good player. His technique is miles ahead of McFred. He'd be a major upgrade. He's not a backup player at Juve. He's a starter for all his time there. Arnautovic would be signed as a squad player. Not ideal but he did really well with Bologna last year. Don't get the doom and gloom about those two.
9.) 08 Aug 2022 13:32:19
MA is 33 years old and would be just as inept at pressing as Ronaldo. I’d rather we brought through a youngster or signed somebody like Sesko than drop £10m+ on a stop gap player who doesn’t fit the manager’s system. We really should have signed Darwin when we had the chance….
10.) 08 Aug 2022 13:44:04
don we already have an abuser at the club we don't want a racist aswell
if they don't want to pay the money and get a striker to help score goals and you know maybe win something then just promote a player from the youth and work with him
this window has clearly become about the owners not wanting to pay the money for players.
11.) 08 Aug 2022 13:50:20
Rabiot I can just about get my head round. Although he’s moody and far from what we need. Arnautovic I’m literally dumbfounded. I reckon he must think all his Christmases have come at once. He’s nothing special and won’t be the kind of player to dig out blind for you, he’s also got dubious morals and he isn’t what we need at Old Trafford. I actually can’t believe we’re in for a player like him…………. panic and desperation spring to mind. We haven’t learnt a thing over the last 10 years. And I don’t care if ETH wants him or not. I’ve got eyes as have other fans, and he isn’t what we need.
12.) 08 Aug 2022 16:15:39
Sorry but perhaps i am missing something. Which players have the owners not paid up for or not willing to. hasn't the fee been agreed with Barcelona for quite some time now and that too in excess of 80M? So where is the issue with the owners here. Its literally EtH running the show here. All 3 signed have been his targets and all targetted are again his. don't get the hatred with the owners here.
13.) 08 Aug 2022 18:06:19
United it would quite glazer esk to bid
For a player who doesn’t want to join for them to then be able to turn around and say we tried getting de jong but instead we paid 15 million for rabiot.
14.) 08 Aug 2022 18:12:23
Bolger2 I wasn't aware of the racist allegations re Arnautovic. If true obviously we should steer clear.
15.) 08 Aug 2022 18:44:53
Dembele is terrible.
16.) 08 Aug 2022 19:38:15
Bolger2……exactly what I was thinking. Stick decent bids in for FDJ knowing full well he wants to stay where he is. Also stick a bid in for Anthony knowing full well it’s 20 million below their valuation. Gives the impression everything is hunky dory to shareholders. The club is skint in my view. The fees for Martinez and Malacia were offset by sales (albeit minimally) and would have been lumped on the debt anyway. No sign of the Glazers investing any of their own cash that’s for sure. And for the record, signing Arnautovic is a complete joke.
17.) 08 Aug 2022 20:11:23
RedWhiskey, he's decent without being outstanding. Even at that level he's better than Arnautovic as a footballer and almost certainly a better person.
18.) 08 Aug 2022 20:11:45
Rabiot is not good enough. Is decent but no more. Its no coincidence he can't settle and retain a first team place at the bigger clubs. As a squad member he is OK (and yes he is better than McFred) but he is not the calibre of player we should be looking to rebuild a teams midfield around.
19.) 08 Aug 2022 21:47:32
Good news, the Bologna president says Arnautovic is not for sale at any price. Let's hope he is a man of his word.
Another shambles of a transfer window for United, strangely reassuring.
20.) 09 Aug 2022 00:01:24
You can literally view the accounts if you want to, the club is not ‘skint’ and you’re embarrassing posting stuff like that.
21.) 09 Aug 2022 08:37:22
It’s the complete lack of anticipation and planning that is so troubling: United always so reactive….
Look at what RBL just done: sign Sesko in a year to replace outgoing Nkunko….
Appearing so panic-stricken now…
Surely a huge question mark over scouting also - hope analysts brought in can rectify this.
10 Jul 2022 20:09:37
Leandro Paredes (CM) from PSG seems to be the latest rumour doing the rounds. Could any of the Eds shed any light on this at all please?
{Ed002's Note - Leandro Paredes (DM) May well be available with Roma a possible destination or an exchange with Juventus for Kean. Manchester United and Lazio both stepped back from the €35M asking price.}
1.) 10 Jul 2022 21:41:42
Good for a yellow card on £1 accas!
Downsie53's banter posts with other poster's replies to Downsie53's banter posts
24 Dec 2024 09:59:23
Osimhen rumours seem to be gathering pace.
£60m for him or £80m for Gyokeres? Personally I'd rather pay the extra £20m for someone guaranteed to fit Amorim's system. I think that's what Amorim would want too. Which makes me think.
Either:
1. Napoli still owe us plenty of the McTominay money, which will be wiped off the Osimhen deal, allowing us to get the experienced striker needed in January and stay within our supposed small FFP allocation.
Or:
2. Napoli are interested in either Rashford (straight swap - problematic individual for problematic individual? ) or Zirkzee (again, making the Osimhen signing a £30m outlay rather than the £60m) .
Either way, I'm starting to become convinced that Victor Osimhen will be a United player in a month's time.
For what it's worth, I believe Casemiro will be off to Saudi in January, where the money will be used to bring Alvaro Fernandez back from Benfica to fill the LWB spot.
1.) 24 Dec 2024 10:15:23
I have concerns over Osimhen, his injury record is pretty awful, and his recent spat with Napoli suggests that he might be a problematic personality.
The very fact that the player might be available for less than half of what Napoli reportedly turned down for him 18 months ago shows a player whose value at the very least is in freefall.
He's one I'd steer clear of personally.
2.) 24 Dec 2024 10:42:42
I’d love us to pull off a decent unexpected loan in Jan to bring a little buzz to the place.
Agree that as exciting as Osimhen could be he seems a like a bit of a rogue. Maybe not, we sure could use him at his best. Possibly avail in Jan too.
Gyokeres… not sure. I think Rasmus is a similar player and not convinced the Swede can make the step up and prob not avail right away.
would love to be proved wrong on either count as both better than what we have.
3.) 24 Dec 2024 17:12:01
get rid of Rashford's 350k a week for Osihmen who is asking 500k a week. Can't see that one happening unless he and his agent has woken up to realize this is not Saudi Arabia.
4.) 24 Dec 2024 17:51:50
Spenno, I doubt Osimhen will be available in January, you'd have to pay the break fee owed to Galatasaray on top of any fee to Napoli. He's more likely a summer option in my opinion.
At his best he is a phenomenal player who ticks all the boxes of what we need.
However, he will be expensive (even at the reduced price), and demand high wages. While he has consistently shown that he struggles to stay fit in far less physically demanding leagues than the EPL. On top of all that he has spectacularly fallen out with the hierarchy at Napoli in a very public spat that has seen his value drop and him spending a season on loan in Turkey.
Expensive, big name, injury prone, egomaniac screams Glazers signing far more than INEOS signing.
5.) 24 Dec 2024 18:07:34
Hopefully the era of fantasy wages twice as much as everyone else are coming to an end across Europe.
6.) 24 Dec 2024 20:19:40
My word, I really hope not. He loves a club fall out!
7.) 24 Dec 2024 23:12:45
Let’s stick to the sensation that is Zirkzee then shall we :D.
8.) 25 Dec 2024 21:37:55
Spenno, Zirkzee was one of those players that was worth the gamble. A very different style of player who was available for below his market value due to a release clause.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like the gamble will pay off, especially now we've changed managers to someone who has never used a false 9 type striker before.
We clearly need to move Zirkzee on, hopefully before he loses too much value, and we need to bring in a new top class striker to challenge/ compete with Højlund. I just don't think Osimhen is the best option.
9.) 26 Dec 2024 12:02:17
Blimey Shappy we agree on something re: Zirkzee :D
I'm not going to pretend my repertoire of potential strikers outside of the usual big leagues is expansive but there are a couple in the Prem at so-called smaller teams who could easily make the jump up/ sideways to United - Cunha, Pedro stand out as players that could make an instant impact, Delap is decent but maybe not quite ready, Ferguson has really taken his foot off the gas.
30 Oct 2024 15:53:47
Downsie53 has written an article entitled, Profile of Amorim's Teams
1.) 30 Oct 2024 16:36:05
Thanks downsie.
2.) 30 Oct 2024 16:48:26
Well done Downsie, very informative. Have to say have thought before that we may suit a 3 at the back system. It may well be the case that the players we have are well suited to it. We shall see!
3.) 30 Oct 2024 17:11:23
Good post, mate. I've always liked 3 at the back, but a lot of people saw it as negative the few times we've gone with it, preferring to see it as 5 defenders on the pitch ?♂️.
4.) 30 Oct 2024 18:32:08
Have to say I'm really excited by it. Something new and it will take us time to adjust to it as fans too.
As long as I'm supporting 50 years I've never known us to implement that shape for a sustained period.
In 18 months time we could be watching a very different very vibrant style of play.
Fingers crossed it works out this way. The more I've read about him and the more you dig into his profile and his trajectory the more I like him.
He is stepping up into a cauldron like he's never seen before.
I can't wait to see how he handles himself. I like the look of what I've seen which is limited. I can't wait to see him in action.
5.) 30 Oct 2024 19:39:46
I wonder if Garnacho is an option at wingback, given that the players Amorim has been playing in those positions hasn't been restricted to defensive players, often deploying midfielders and wingers in the roles. I think he could of course play in one of the front three roles too but might be better suited than anyone outside our regular fullbacks.
6.) 30 Oct 2024 22:16:13
See below spenno.
7.) 31 Oct 2024 10:35:02
The idea's will likely stay the same but due to personnel things might change slightly.
He likes one wingback to be more of an overlapping player, this works as one of his wide forwards will tuck in far more. While the other wingback has stayed a little deeper with the wide forward on that side staying wider.
However, both wingbacks will be expected to over lap or stay deeper and even invert at times. His system relies on a fair amount of players rotating positions, particularly between the wide forwards, midfielders and wingbacks.
Lots of positional play.
I actually think our squad is fairly well suited to how he wants to play, with only the LWB not having an ideally suited player for that role. Maybe its a chance for Harry Amass to show what he can do. Or maybe Antony could get a run out at LWB to see if he could be of some use.
What I am looking forward to is greater balance in attack, unfortunately we have been a little unbalanced when playing two of Rashford, Antony and Garnacho who are all players who like to run at defenders, cut inside and shoot. It has lead to players like Hojlund (who's our most consistent finisher) being starved of chances. While we are also far too predictable and that makes us easy to defend against.
I agree that Zirkzee might end up being a casualty of the new appointment. He doesn't fit as Amorim's typical CF. That said he is a very unique player who very few managers have had the chance to try an use the kind of player he is. He is potentially a great option off the bench to change things up. While he does offer tactical flexibility in that he can play wide or in the No.10 role. I'd be interested in seeing him play instead of Bruno at some point.
Although looking at him last night he still seems to need to adapt to the pace of the EPL. He looks a yard off the pace still, and his confidence needs building up. I think that was something RvN was trying to do by showing faith in him from the start last night.
I also think both Rashford and Garnacho will need to adapt their game slightly and develop into more rounded players who look to create as much as they look to score if they are to ultimately be successful under Amorim.
27 Aug 2024 12:08:44
Ugarte in for £41m initial fee.
McTominay for £25m up front.
Hannibal for £9m up front.
Midfield exponentially upgraded for just an initial £7m really is excellent business!
Now for Rabiot on a free.
Ugarte/ Casemiro/ Collyer
Mainoo/ Rabiot
Bruno/ Mount
Is insane midfield depth. ETH would have absolutely no excuses in that part of the pitch.
1.) 27 Aug 2024 12:26:31
Ten hag needs to actually play the right players instead of wasting games on the likes of Maguire and radhford
Not sure about rabiot he would just be another casimiro type signing if if it’s on a free
He wants high wages and I would expect if his agent is still his mum to be a bad egg which we should be avoiding.
2.) 27 Aug 2024 13:40:00
The money doesn't work like that at all downsie.
You have left out a multitude of costs.
3.) 27 Aug 2024 13:58:47
I imagine de ligt will replace Maguire soon. Yoro being injured has probably changed the original plan.
At least I hope that's the logic.
4.) 27 Aug 2024 15:26:16
How Maguire has even started the season is anyone’s guess
Ten hag does make some strange team selections and subs
Rashford is another one, how much longer does the manager back him before he realises he’s been poor for 18 months.
5.) 27 Aug 2024 15:29:23
We've let many problems leave.
Maguire and Lindelof last year of contract.
To move on, imo shaw, rashford and bruno needed to go as well.
Nobody wants Shaw, so we are stuck with him.
We decided to give Bruno a contract, but he is still a frustrating player and a manager favorite.
As for Rashford, for the wages he takes he still plays like a new academy graduate majority of the games.
Is rash significantly better than Amad or garnacho especially since last season.
17 Aug 2024 11:01:51
I'm really not buying the 'Sancho had an ear infection' line from last night.
He genuinely seems to be 5th choice winger behind Garnacho, Amad, Rashford and Antony, whilst also being 5th choice no.10 behind Bruno, Mount, Amad and McTominay as well as being 5th choice no.9/ false 9 behind Hojlund, Zirkzee, Bruno and Mount.
For someone to be that far down so many pecking orders whilst still being a sellable asset, I suggest we move him on ASAP. Not on loan as that's no good to anybody, but on a permanent. Even as part of a swap deal for someone we really want/ need, would be a good shout.
I'd be negotiating as close to a straight swap for Ugarte with PSG as possible.
If not, how about money plus Sancho for Branthwaite? Straight swap for Toney? Get Chelsea to give us cash plus Chilwell for him? (I genuinely see us going for Chilwell btw, possibly on a loan deal on deadline day if the above doesn't happen) .
He's an £30-£40m asset who isn't going to get near the first team. Sell, sell, sell!
1.) 17 Aug 2024 11:24:17
Everton and Brentford are not going to pay sanchos wages lol.
PSG and Chelsea are options, chelsea especially, they need to make signings, they have hardly any players on their books at the moment.
2.) 17 Aug 2024 11:45:11
I doubt most of those swap deals would be possible due to Sancho’s £250k a week wages.
3.) 17 Aug 2024 12:54:52
I can’t believe a deal with PSG for Sancho and Ugarte moving opposite ways won’t be completed. Not necessarily as 1 transfer but it seems to be such an obvious transfer for players and clubs.
4.) 17 Aug 2024 14:00:45
Ports,
I believe the word is 'compromise'.
It would work well for all parties.
5.) 17 Aug 2024 14:09:18
Obvious from our side Ports, maybe PSG are not stupid though ?.
6.) 17 Aug 2024 17:27:49
We may get that money but I really don’t see how a United fan can think he’s worth it. He’s done absolutely nothing, and his overall contribution has been net negative.
7.) 17 Aug 2024 20:39:42
If you were a hunting club you wouldn't roll over to demands from us for Sancho.
Emma Can and Pep have had digs over his mentality.
He seemed to have an issue reportedly physically and mentally that meant Ten Hag sent him mid season to Holland to sort himself out.
He fell out publicly with manager.
He cost us way to much in fee and ridiculous wages.
The United manager is not likely to start him over some very poor options at United.
No one is pulling anyone's pants down over our desire to be rid of him or his crazy wages.
There is no negotiating tactic here, no one would believe any of it, we hold no aces here,
The starting point for any club negotiating will be we are doing you a massive favour taking your unwanted problem child. You can carry on paying the lad another 60 million to train with reserves and be massively hampered In Your rebuild or you can start compromising massively. We have no leverage at all in this deal.
8.) 18 Aug 2024 00:14:48
But he'd be a great player for PSG, would he, ahem, Oakbark. I could really see him helping them, erm, win the UCL finally. ?.
9.) 18 Aug 2024 01:33:00
Downsie do you really think Chelsea would give Utd cash on top of Chilwell for Sancho? ??.
05 Apr 2024 09:29:29
Genuine question:
If INEOS came out and said that next season would all be about getting high earners off the wage bill, giving kids a try and having a year that looks great for FFP, ready to go for it the year after when all the back room team are finally in place, would you accept it?
Personally I'd rather a season of removing Bayindir, AWB, Varane, Eriksen, Casemiro, Rashford, Martial etc. and blooding the likes of Amass, Kambwala, Gore, Amad.
Give me an 8th place finish with kids who look like they actually want to run and be here over a 6th place finish with the multitude of mercenaries we have currently every day of the week.
The key would be communicating that fully to the fans. That next year is about saving money and trying youngsters, to see who could really be a United player the following year and longer. Then we go for it in 25/ 26.
1.) 05 Apr 2024 10:05:55
As long as the manager goes with the players you've mentioned I'd have no issue with that downsie.
2.) 05 Apr 2024 10:20:42
Think it has to be a mix of this and signing good young players. Take away the expectations of a title charge for the next couple of years but make it clear that the vision is building a squad of players who fit the system being implemented and that will grow together to make a real title winning team. No more 30 year olds, max age of 25 for signings unless it’s a great opportunity for example free signings or very good prices. Get rid of the old underperforming players and bring through a young core who want to play for each other.
3.) 05 Apr 2024 10:44:34
Downsie, that's a no brainer. I'd rather watch the ball boys/ girls playing.
4.) 05 Apr 2024 10:51:04
we would get relegated or fighting for survival. Never going to run a football club like that. Most of these kids people talk about are never going to be good enough or close to being ready.
Most team that is are good and competes at the highest level have a mix of very seasoned pros and yes they earn a lot of money and some young players. some of these kids you are mentioning are 2/ 3 years maybe more away even being physically ready to cope with the pl and good way to ruin them is sending them out there to get beat up.
Mainoo looks close to picking up an injury imo. watch that space.
5.) 05 Apr 2024 11:06:34
Mainoo looks close to picking up an injury? How does that even make sense.
I think he is being overplayed for his age right now but how you can say he like close to picking up an injury is bonkers.
Really and truly some peoples faux expertise is too much to take??.
6.) 05 Apr 2024 11:10:57
Expectations of a title charge? Have not had those for over a decade.
7.) 05 Apr 2024 11:33:08
Getting rid of many of these players and predominantly bringing youth is probably the best use of any transfer budget we may have.
Ten Hag? Not perfect, but who is.
I think he has suffered more than the fans as a result of this bag of moronic self serving gits.
8.) 05 Apr 2024 11:36:59
I think most would accept that right now, but I suspect most would also me moaning about it halfway through next season having watched inconsistent football and having had to endure a few humiliating defeats.
I said yesterday we need to be careful when making changes, evolution over revolution has always tended to be more successful in football.
Chelsea have tried to change too much too quickly, and as a result have dropped from a top four side to a mid-table side who still looks a season or so away from really being able to challenge for a UCL place.
I've said our first team squad is far too big, we need to reduce it from 36 players down to 26 players at most. So that's 10 players leaving without being replaced. There should be another 4-6 players leave with replacements brought in.
We need to be signing first 11 player quality, and shy away from signing squad players or good back up.
80% of our summer signings need to be better than the current first 11 and go straight into the team, with at most 20% of them being highly talented players with huge potential who maybe need a little developing to be first team players.
None should be "solid" back up players. There are positions where we need to strengthen where we probably have a good enough first choice option.
For example with Højlund, but we have no one else. We shouldn't be signing a solid back up player, we should be aiming for someone as good as Højlund or possibly better. That could be someone who has a proven track record or someone with the potential to be as good or better than the Dane.
We need to stop spending money on players who aren't good enough and who would only weaken the side of they played. If we are going to play a player who isn't good enough then I'd rather it be a kid from the academy who might actually be able to step up and show themselves as good enough. If they don't then it's someone we could then sell for a decent price to a club lower down the league.
Players like Elanga and Mengi have had very good season's at Forest and Luton. While ultimately I don't think either will be good enough to be first choice at United, I'd rather be giving lads like that a chance, and pushing up their value than spending 25-30m on someone who will never really be good enough, but patches a hole for a season or two.
We need better, but that will take time. 14-16 players out this summer, 5-6 players signed to replace them.
Get them settled, build them into the team with those who are good enough and start to give the team an identity.
Then the following summer it's a case of one in one out. Sell/ release a further 4-5 players, and bring in 4-5 players to replace them. Make sure the ones leaving are for the most part the 4-5 weakest players in the squad and replace them with top level talent who are or will soon be good enough to be first choice.
At that point we would be starting the 2025/ 26 season with 10-12 new players from our current squad, 17-18 of our current squad will be moved on by that point, those new players will be blended with the core of Onana, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Mount, Garnacho and Højlund to give us a squad of 17-20 players who are good enough, hopefully with a few more academy lads who've stepped up and are in and around the first team squad by that time (maybe players like Harrison, Amass, Gore, the Fletcher twins, Lacey, Biancheri and McNeil) .
That's next season starting the rebuild (2024/ 25), the following season bringing most of that squad rebuild together (2025/ 26), then it'll probably be the season after when we can add the finishing touches, those few cherry on the top players or just improve on those who haven't kicked on as hoped to round out the squad. At that point we should be able to mount a serious title challenge (2026/ 27 season) .
It has to be a three year project, changing too much too soon will not shorten the length of time it will take, it will just mean we will have a bigger drop off initially and have a bigger gap to close.
We need to be able to balance this rebuild while still ideally qualifying for the Europa league at least each year. The European football is essential for several reasons. Firstly we need it for the revenue, rebuilds cost money and we need to make it to spend it. Secondly, for the prestige and the ability to attract the players we need, top players might be prepared to go to a top side playing in Europe's second tier competition, especially if they can see a plan and progress towards getting back to the top. But they will be less willing to join a side that has dropped off the map entirely. Finally, the squad needs it to help them develop. A new squad will only get better by playing games together, losing out on 8-12 games a season by not being in European football will slow that development down. Also players need to get into the rhythm of playing twice a week, keeping fitness levels up, staying match sharp etc. You often see a club have a great year and make it into a European competition, only to see them drop off the following season when they are having to get used to playing twice a week, international travel and the changes that makes to their training regime.
We need to make sure that we don't drop off too far as it just makes making up the ground again that much trickier.
That probably means that some of the players we know aren't good enough stick around next season to be replaced the season after. Players like AWB, Maguire, Lindelof, McTominay, Rashford, Bruno etc maybe they stay for another season. They do after all at least contribute to the side, even if they aren't ultimately good enough.
This summer we need to prioritise getting rid of those who add little to nothing to the side, players like Donny, Pellistri, Hannibal, Alvaro Fernandez, Williams, Sancho, Greenwood, Malacia, Shoretire and Martial. That's 10 players who have contributed literally nothing to this season, or last season.
Then we need to look at those who need upgrading due to decline/ injury players who are having a diminishing impact on the side. Players like Varane, Evans, Casemiro, Bayindir (if he wants to leave), Antony if we can find a buyer.
After those players have gone only then can we really look at moving on the likes of AWB, Lindelof, Maguire and McTominay. In truth they probably need to stay next season otherwise we'd be looking at moving on 19 players in total, which is just far too much.
Focus on the spine of the team, two CB's, at least on CM ideally two, a ST who can challenge Højlund, then a LB who can challenge Shaw.
We probably need to keep AWB as we won't be able to bring in full backs on both sides and as we have seen this season LB needs to be the priority. We probably won't be able to bring in a RW, especially if we can't shift Antony. While it's a position of need we do have Garnacho who is making the position his own this season, as well as Amad and potentially Mount who can play there. We need to focus on that spine, games are won and lost by the centre of defence and in midfield. We currently have one defender (Martinez) and one midfielder (Mainoo) who are good enough, they both need a partner AND top quality competition/ rotation option as neither can be expected to play 50 games next season due to age or fitness.
Maybe we can sign a player or two who if flexible enough to cover two positions, a first choice in one and a top quality back up in another. Maybe we sign a CB who can play LB, or a ST who can play RW. We might need to look at players like that in the short term until we can bring in improvements across the whole squad.
9.) 05 Apr 2024 11:53:08
Ken how can you argue that Mainoo doesn't look close to picking up an injury, then make a statement that you think he is overplayed? They are intrinsically linked.
Being overplayed in football significantly increases the likelihood of picking up an injury. There is an increased risk of immediate impact injuries but also a greater susceptibility to overuse injuries due to repeated stress on the body.
10.) 05 Apr 2024 12:18:53
Kurtis I think he is being overplayed because he is 18 and is getting used to the physical demands of the league.
It's impossible to ascertain if his body is going to get injured right now. Totally impossible. There is no way to judge that.
Bruno made his pro debut at 19 and has never once missed a match through injury. Yet Phil Jones spent his career in the treatment room as has Shaw.
Prevention is better than cure but there is no way of knowing if he is close to an injury by watching him it's just nonsense talk.
11.) 05 Apr 2024 12:22:08
I’d be playing the kids now tbh…seasons gone so what’s to lose. At least they’d show the application and desire this other lot miss.
13 Jan 2025 18:34:50
Agreed.
And then Eriksen, Lindelof, Shaw and Antony in the summer.
The Amorim rebuild is alive.
29 Aug 2024 07:49:53
Can’t see us bringing in a winger to replace him.
Garnacho, Amad, Rashford and Antony will be our four first-team wingers.
Mount and Bruno can play there, whilst we could always move to a diamond in midfield with split strikers if necessary. That’s before looking at the like of Lacey, Ibragimov etc.
Selfishly, I’d like Toney and Chilwell on top of Ugarte over the next 37 hours. But I think it’s unlikely. Incomings probably all done.
23 Aug 2024 09:31:53
Rumours that the Ederson negotiations are to secure him for NEXT summer.
Would suggest that Casemiro will stay for one more season to compete with Ugarte and Ederson will replace him in the summer of 2025.
17 Aug 2024 08:18:30
Get Ugarte in and play Casemiro in Europe, cups and as/ when needed in the league. Let’s be honest, ‘when’ we’re winning 1-0 away at Liverpool later on in the season, Casemiro coming on for the last 20 minutes will be invaluable.
Sell McTominay, bring in Rabiot and that’s midfield sorted, at a cost of only around £15m net:
Ugarte/ Casemiro/ Collyer
Mainoo/ Rabiot
Bruno/ Mount.
25 Jul 2024 20:18:49
Nope. Dumfries would be ‘first reserve’ at fullback.
Dalot RB
Shaw LB
Either of them get injured and Dumfries would be next cab off the rank, with Dalot moving to LB if necessary.
Stylistically, Dumfries is far more similar to Dalot than AWB is.
13 Jan 2025 18:36:13
Now what that unit need around them is pace, and lots of it.
23 Aug 2024 09:33:16
It’s got a deadline day loan for Chilwell written all over it.
27 May 2024 07:29:51
Outs:
Bayindir, Lindelof, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, vdBeek, Sancho, Greenwood, Martial.
There are a few more who I’d like to go, but moving that amount on is going to prove tough. The above should bring in £100-£130m.
Ins:
Johnstone, Todibo, Hato, Amrabat, De Jong, Fofana, Olise, Haller.
Around £250m spent, so a net spend of about £120m-£150m, which doesn’t seem unrealistic.
26 May 2024 09:37:31
ETh needs to be kept and backed in the summer.
Allow him to bring in Todibo/ Bremer, Branthwaite, De Jong, O’Riley (nobody has mentioned him but for me he’d be a fantastic signing from Celtic), Olise, a cheap backup striker (Morata? ) and back-ups at keeper and left-back.
Clear out Lindelof, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony etc.
Hopefully no commentator’s curse here, but EtH cannot possibly be as unfortunate with injuries next season. Let him build - none of the other options to replace him are particularly exciting, either.
14 Apr 2024 10:29:36
Casemiro and Rashford should never play again after yesterday. They genuinely do not care.
The team for the rest of the season should be something like:
Onana
Dalot
Kambwala
Maguire (Evans if fit)
Amass
Mainoo
Mount
Fernandes
Amad
Garnacho
Hojlund.