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Oakbark's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Oakbark's rumours posts
13 Aug 2024 12:13:26
West Ham have announced the signing of AWB for 15 million. I wish him good luck for the future.
1.) 13 Aug 2024 13:21:02
Great news.
Antony pellistri hannibal erikson mctom sancho casimero maguire lindelof.
If we can get 5 or 6 of that 9 out before the window closes and another couple in it will have been the best window in many a year imo.
On the ins imo
Yoro I'm not over excited about. So much to prove. If you watch his 'low lights' as well as his highlights you will see a young kid who is a long way off ready for the epl. I doubt he will play a big part of things this season or indeed possibly next season. One for the future let's hope he fills his potential.
Zirkzee intrigues me. I think he can offer something different. Plays off the cuff in a maverick style.
Deligt. Again a lot to prove. Not pushed on and not been kept by 2 huge clubs. Sold at a significant loss. Hopefully eth can get him playing to his best again.
Mazraoui, is imo the best and most exciting of the 4 signings. I expect him to be a permanent fixture in the 1st 11 quite quickly.
I'd like us to sign ugarte rabiot and if we can get sancho and Anthony out either cheisa or raphina on the right would be astute signings imo.
2.) 13 Aug 2024 13:27:55
Me too. He was a good solid professional. He came in did his best, worked hard and never caused any problems.
He's not an awful player, he's just not suited to playing for a team that looks to play a progressive technical style of football.
His touch and technique are not at the required level.
I wish him the best and hope he has a good time at West Ham.
3.) 13 Aug 2024 13:55:23
Chiesa? Really? God, I hope not!
Why would Juve be so eager to get rid of him, if he was that good? Also, if I remember corectly, he is injured more often than not. And most importantly, i'd rather give a chance to Amad.
4.) 13 Aug 2024 14:13:22
Yoro is the most exciting signing of the lot.
5.) 13 Aug 2024 14:19:33
Juve offered him a contract which he didn't take up.
He only has a year left so they need to sell.
He is a very good player imo.
He played 46 games last season for juve and Italy.
Still a starter for Italy still has plenty to offer.
Amad and him as rw options would be strong imo.
6.) 13 Aug 2024 14:59:26
How much have you seen of him caolan?
What has you excited about him? People talking about him a lot over past 6 months or so. People talking about him as highly as they did januzai and ferdinand, i'm hopi g he does as well as the latter, but from the limited pieces I've seen he looks a long way off and that was all in the French league not the standard of the epl. I've no doubt he will do well but I don't see him being a regular starter for a season or 2.
7.) 13 Aug 2024 15:03:28
Bayern made a profit on De ligt.
8.) 13 Aug 2024 15:25:14
I think AWB and West Ham are a good match, they have brought well and with Lopetegui they have an astute manager. Always gave his all and a decent human, just not the atributes for a team looking to control the ball.
Whilst I would love to solve all of our problems this window the reality is we need to prioritise our resources. If we can solve the defensive issues we had last year as well as HM I will take that. I think we have enough in other positions to get by with young players improving, injured players coming back and youth players seeing time with the first team.
9.) 13 Aug 2024 15:30:15
Some players do well at some clubs, and badly at others. Cantona never settled anywhere and yet he was a super hero for us.
De Ligt had huge potential bit hasn't pushed on, hopefully he finds his mojo; he and Martinez as a partnership looks very interesting.
We need to look after Yoro and ensure he builds on what is clearly huge potential. As for Zirkzee, never really seen him.
10.) 13 Aug 2024 15:52:35
I'm not intimate with buyers accounts fuser. They bought him for 69m euro on a 6 year contract sold him 2 years later for 43m euro with potential add ons not guaranteed and paid him in excess of 25m euro. Again this is from the Web so can't say with any real accuracy.
11.) 13 Aug 2024 16:21:47
I think Yoro will be a regular this season once fit.
12.) 13 Aug 2024 17:07:25
I like the Mazraoui signing because he can cover on the left if needed and I don't want us signing someone who will limit Amass chances and further money tied up in Left backs doesn't make sense hivenbour financial plight.
It seems under the current management including Ten Hag that they will being youngsters through and have them an pathway, that's whatvinpersonally want to see and would like. And yes they will make mistakes, its part of the growing into men's football but I will will take a few points dropped as he learns if he does have the opportunity to make it here.
Zirkzee I want to see in that false 9 role which he is supposedly suited for and where he like to play. It's an option that we looked quite good in at times with Bruno playing. This lad adds a physical presence to the role, it could be interesting if Ten Hag can set it up right. I do t think we will move to this as a primary system, more it's another bow in our strings we will use at times.
Yoro I am excited to see his development, again I am happy to take the Hughes and lows as he develops. At games the fans will stick by him, they might not on message boards but he won't care about that.
De Ligt he has had a couple of rough seasons since he left Ajax, but his skillset aligns with what Ten Hag wants and he is the manager who got everyone excited about him 5 years ago. He might be the godsend Onana needs alongside Lisandro to start establishing the patterns of play we thought we might be getting with Ten Hag two years ago.
Overall thus far I think the signings offer potential and options, none are the final product and there is going to growing pains with all of them, be ups and downs and maybe some tough moments, but I can live with that if we are showing a clear movement towards an end goal.
13.) 13 Aug 2024 17:53:21
15 million for AWB. But if we were buying him the other way at least 25. And yoro I hope he will make a player but if anyone thinks he is ready for first team in the premier league there in cloud cuckoo land, at least 2 years to see whether he will be a top defender. niw he will get a few games.
14.) 13 Aug 2024 18:19:03
I don't know tumble, looking at his last 3 seasons he played:
21/ 22 867 minutes
22/ 23 844 minutes
23/ 24 2206 minutes
This is league games, ofcourse. doesn't scream injury free player to me.
15.) 13 Aug 2024 18:25:40
Ken, think it’s €45m upfront with €5m add ons which would probs just be breakeven/ sought profit. Wages are counted for profit or loss on a player.
16.) 13 Aug 2024 18:49:47
I'm aware of that fuser but there is a difference between profit and loss in accounting or on the accounts as opposed to profiting if you get me.
I can show what I like in my accounts but it's shillings in the bank that counts.
17.) 13 Aug 2024 21:10:24
He was in the team of the season at 18 in France.
18.) 13 Aug 2024 23:23:25
MEL is the exciting one for me. His injury record interest but it's been exaggerated on here. Meanwhile he was really good for Bayern. My wife is German and we have a lot of friends and family there, every German football fan I've spoken to insists he has been Bayerns best CB (although some say joint best) over the last 2 seasons. None of them understand why they are letting him go, the Munich fans are fuming about it, while the fans of other teams are delighted to see him leave.
When the opposing fans are happy to see him leave, that tells me everything I need to know.
19.) 14 Aug 2024 09:55:45
I like the look of all of our signings so far this summer. I think they all have a good profile of player, clearly we are looking at increasing the technical ability of our squad. I have a couple of minor concerns with the two Bayern lads, mostly tied to their previous injuries and Bayern's habit of being able to look at the medical data and know when to sell a player who they know will struggle to stay fit (Hargreaves and Schweinsteiger) . The saying in once bitten twice shy. Well we've been bitten twice by Bayern already with signing players from them with dodgy injury records.
That said if both can stay fit and play regularly then we have signed two excellent players for very reasonable and fair fees. That on its own is a massive improvement on our recent transfer dealings.
I'm excited to see how a MdL and Martinez partnership will work. Both are typically front foot defenders, with neither being a natural sweeper. Yet both are intelligent defenders, so I'm optimistic that they can work it out.
Mazraoui if he can stay fit is an excellent fullback who can cover both sides. Him and Dalot give us some great quality in depth and tactical flexibility. His injury record is pretty awful, and personally I'd have maybe looked at other options. Fingers crossed he come them, while when he is fit and playing he really improves the quality of our team.
Yoro is a super exciting signing, potentially a generational talent. He is young and he will take time to adapt, and he will make mistakes. For all those people likening him to Varane I actually think he looks more like a young Rio Ferdinand, especially when he was at West Ham and Leeds. Tall, long limbs, not quite filled out into his body, calm on the ball, quick recovery pace when caught out of position, and an ability to use his long legs to go around a player and make the tackle.
Unlike Rio though he will have to complete his formative years at the club under the pressure of playing for United. Rio had the opportunity to have a few seasons of EPL football at other clubs before playing for United so was already more developed and less raw when he started to play for us. So we will need to be a little more patient with Yoro.
Finally Zirkzee is an interesting signing in terms of his skillset. He is a very different kind of striker to what we have had in a long time. In terms of how he plays he's closer to Eric Cantona than anyone else I've seen in a United shirt. Tall and strong, looks like a target man, but actually has a deft touch and plays more withdrawn from the front line more like an No.10. A high energy, relentless presser, who'll win a lot of possession and link well with his teammates to create chances. He won't be a player who scores a big number of goals, but he might be a player who scores big goals (important) .
Given the kind of other forwards we have (players who look to shoot rather than create) I think Zirkzee really suits them, he'll drop off the line, pull a CB out with him, and create space for the likes of Rashford, Garnacho, Amad and Antony to run into and get a shot away with less bodies to block those shots. He's the kind of striker who'll add 30 goals to the team, but won't score many of those extra 30 goals themselves. Expect him to score 10-15 goals maximum, but to see the other forwards get an extra 5-10 goals each.
I'm really excited to see how they all fit into the young and progressive team we are building. I expect to see us sign at least one more player as well, maybe more depending on out goings. If that player is Ugarte (like I think it will be) then I'm also excited to see how he fits in. He'll be a fan favourite for his tenacity, aggression and passion. A full bloodied battling midfielder who'll go to war in the shirt. I think he's tailor-made for the EPL, and would be a great player to shield the defence and give Mainoo greater licence to get forward and play to his full potential. He could be our equivalent to the Gilberto that Fabregas needed when breaking through at Arsenal.
All in all this is the most excited I've been for a new season in over a decade, I don't expect us to be anywhere near challenging for the title. But I am very hopeful of seeing a new and improved side start to come together, to see the green shoots of a potentially successful side start to take shape. A team that we can build on next summer and beyond to get back to the very top.
31 May 2020 17:31:11
Saul Niquez on his twitter posting he will announce new club in three days.
1.) 31 May 2020 19:37:18
If this is true and not a windup, then reckon he’ll either stay at Athletico, or go to Juventus or PSG (though maybe too similar to Verrati perhaps? ) : United do t seem to have Pogba sorted yet and not sure if he’ll take the risk of City getting a Euro ban.
If he goes to Juventus, could mean Pofba’s most likely escape route blocked and he has to stay with United.
2.) 31 May 2020 22:09:06
Not sure many clubs, if any are going to spending big cash in the current climate.
3.) 31 May 2020 23:06:04
Well he’s recently followed Bruno, Pogba and man it’s foundation on Instagram. Utd move confirmed :’)
4.) 01 Jun 2020 04:47:10
I m sure that " club" will not be football related. just a tease. some horse riding, golf, charity club will it be. don't expect such high profile move to be confirmed like this during this time.
5.) 01 Jun 2020 15:50:17
Saul's Nightclub!
6.) 02 Jun 2020 20:32:22
I’ve seen a few things say it’s to do with an esports club.
We will know soon enougj!
16 Jan 2020 11:24:01
I have a friend who worked with Shaw at Southampton. He says that Shaw is the thickest person he has ever met and that is the real problem with him. He says nothing ever clicks with him and he really doesn't get it.
Nice lad he says, but as thick as two short planks.
1.) 16 Jan 2020 11:41:30
He's a footballer! But to be at the bottom of the class in a class of idiots. >.
2.) 16 Jan 2020 21:43:30
Get fit - play better. Simple for him.
3.) 16 Jan 2020 22:11:50
i have heard exactly the same.
4.) 17 Jan 2020 21:44:54
so what? Rooney is as thick as they come and still had a pretty decent career with us.
Oakbark's banter posts with other poster's replies to Oakbark's banter posts
01 Sep 2025 23:18:41
It seems all the spoiled brats got the move they wanted.
Guehi who i thought acted with class throughout and has turned up and delivered for Palace whilst waiting for the move he wanted, didnt.
27 Jul 2025 07:54:20
Whilst incomings are spread across 5 years on the accounts, player sales are put ob this years accounts. So Chelseas purchases this summer will be covered by sales over the next 5 years and their academy produces a lot of players who are sold. Arsenal help them out most seasons as well.
15 Dec 2024 21:12:57
Can you join me in sending our thoughts and prayers for Kyle Walker and wish him a full recovery from that horrific head injury he suffered.
1.) 15 Dec 2024 21:27:11
???.
2.) 15 Dec 2024 21:29:15
rasmus. hoejlund
Manchester is red
Violets are blue
What a brilliant performance
But the Oscar goes to…….
3.) 15 Dec 2024 21:47:09
Liked the Instagram post from Rasmus, 'Manchester is red, Violets are blue. What a brilliant performance, but the Oscar goes to. '
It was a pathetic act from Walker and he deserved to be on the loosing side for that alone.
Still think the Dias tackle on Rasmus was a penalty.
4.) 15 Dec 2024 22:00:05
It was, IWOTB. Left his leg across him.
5.) 15 Dec 2024 22:03:57
Spot on Stevie and he did not get near the ball.
6.) 16 Dec 2024 07:01:37
Walker was pathetic and as a cheat should have been given a red. The foul on Rasmus was a penalty, someone said Neville said not in a game like this. What, so if it’s Everton v Southampton it’s a penalty but not at the Etihad, because it’s City basically? Nonsense
Well done Amorim, said on live chat before the game, good strong decision. Very much behind Amorim.
7.) 16 Dec 2024 08:34:12
it was actually mike Dean who said that redman, yes Mike Dean the retired referee, thanks for giving an insight into referees thought processes Mike.
8.) 16 Dec 2024 09:16:56
Mike Dean also said during the discussion it wasn't a penalty as the defender was just a bit clumsy! Never heard that as a reason for not awarding a penalty.
13 Aug 2023 09:40:52
BBC article on transfer negotiations.
Interesting line about Man Utd near the bottom, when he talks about concluding deals, saying Man City is a very streamlined process involving Texi, Pep and the Chief Exec whereas with United he always felt there were too many people involved implying our processes were cumbersome and unweildy and slowed everything down.
I wonder if this has changed now, it certainly appears to have been hinted at that its just Ten Hag and Murtagh, with i assume Arnold saying yes or no as to whether he will sanction the spend, its felt as if we are moving forward in some regards compared to previously.
1.) 13 Aug 2023 12:12:32
In theory the new process should involve the management team and the scouts in the first instance to identify what is needed for the team and targets who meet that need.
It will then be down to the manager and Murtagh to speak to agents about whether those targets would be interested in a move, find out rough costs both from the players side in expected salary and roughly what the club would expect in transfer fee.
If the player would be interested, and the cost seem reasonable then Arnold will get involved with Murtagh to approach the club and start talking numbers.
Once all the numbers are agreed I believe Arnold has to get a final signing off on the deal from the Glazers. Once he gets that then the process of the transfer can start. Official bids, solicitors etc. Medical booked, media team working on announcements etc.
To be honest there are really only two ways the process could be streamlined. The first is having Arnold and Murtagh's jobs combined and having one person in this role. However, that's probably a case of swings and roundabouts. In that what you save in terms of them having to collaborate on transfer deals you lose in that that they would have significantly less time to work on deals with their added responsibilities.
The other area where streamlining could occur is in removing the need for the owners to sign off on the deals. However, if done well in the first place it shouldn't be a significant hold up. The problem will come in terms of availability. If the owners cannot make themselves available for whatever reason then that is the only reason for a hold up. Presenting them with the information and them making a decision shouldn't take more than a hour or two at most. However, if it takes two days to arrange that meeting then that's the delay.
2.) 13 Aug 2023 14:45:12
Oakbark, heard plenty of rumours that everything, every minor decision, has to be signed off by Joel Glazer, who is not only in a different time zone but is often called “Glacial” given their speed of movement.
Bring on new owners.
Please.
3.) 13 Aug 2023 17:21:19
There was last year an article on the Athletic about United. Ot was spur ed from people in football though sources aren't named. A number of themes came up. One of which was that United waste a huge amount of resources with a massivbe scouting setup all across europe watching games where there is no player they are interested in. What was then highlighted is that United aremt looking to bring in nd develop talent but buy ready made talent so why are they scouting everyone.
One executive from Premier league stated that Uniteds structure is confusing, you don't really know whobis doing what, is it Murtagh or Fletcher, that whilst one of DoF one is tecjnical director neither is a sporting director with an overall vision coordinating everything, so do you speak to John Darren or Richard the CeO. Murtagh was described as competant bit witbout the connections in the game you need a the moment.
One agent commented on United, that to do a deal with them you have to speak with three people.
11 Aug 2023 20:28:06
Am i right in thinking that its very possibke top 5 for the new champions league format in 24/ 25, given England is very possibly going to be top 2 i the coefficient for the xtra places?
1.) 11 Aug 2023 23:33:50
It would have been top 5 last season in England and in Netherlands using the rules from next year, so perhaps.
2.) 12 Aug 2023 00:31:40
Based ober last 5 years the coefficients are. So the perhaps is s lot more likely with Past rwsukts taken into account.
29 Aug 2025 00:15:27
Becsuse i dint think he expected to have the squad he did. We have clearly been after a DM and GK as well but we didn't think we would shift no one on.
He can only select from what he has i dknt think anyone thought qe would think this GK options and rhis midfield would be acceptable.
28 Aug 2025 23:10:56
I thought Amorim was calling out his players for their attitude for not following their instructions.
I thought in the second half he bought on those he does trust to save the game.
I have heard/ read a lot of different takes on those words.
I think he's done because he's realised that we still need that open heart surgery and what he thought would happen this summer hasn't.
I didn't think we would go into this season with no midfield.
28 Aug 2025 16:34:29
A lot of players burst onto the scene then get found out. Their habits, the preferences, even their tells get noticed and leant and the more the play the more game film there is the more that everyone understands how they play and how to play them. Its up then for the player to add more strings to his bow find ways to hurt you thst cpunter your counter to what he is good at.
With Mainoo you don't press because his great at recieving and turning into space and taking one or two players out of the game whilst he isn't strong he has a low centre of gravity and uses his body well here.
Mainoo for example bevomes a totally different player if people start dropping off allowing him turn and he starts hitting 40 or 50 yard passes. Suddenly you have a massive headache in how to deal with him.
Hjulmand certainly did a bit of this at Sporting. The big thing with Hjulmand though is defensively his reading was exceptional which covered for his lack pace. Mainoo isn't at that point yet by a long way.
Mainoo needs to develop his game like all players. I think that's at least in part why he has seemi gly regressed. He hasn't so much as others have adjusted how they deal with him.
A lot of players have difficult years 2 and 3 whilst they work out what got them through a decade of youth and reserve football isn't going to carry them through EPL.
27 Aug 2025 08:31:33
I am not worried about Mainoo going. We have not managed to complete a sale in 2 months of negotiating.
Cant see us suddenly completing one in under 5 days.
26 Aug 2025 19:28:07
I think the whole Mainoo story would have been avoided if Amorim had been a bit cuter with his post match comments.
Something along the lines of its a long season and he's going to play a lot of games and be a valuable part of the team would have quitened that story down.
The mwdia already had all the headlines they needed with United losing and drawing one to start the season they didn't need another one that Mainoo is stuck behine the captain who we all know never misses a game.
09 Oct 2025 00:07:32
Gk Gordon Banks
Rb Gary Neville
Lb Ashley Cole
Cb Alan Hanson
Cb John Charles
Cm Bryan Robson
Cm Duncan Edwards
Am Bobby Charlton
Lf Tom Finney
Rf George Best
Cf Dennis Law
My dad, my grandad, my Uncles tell me that Big Dunc, who played HB which we know as DM was the best player they ever saw. Sir bobby says that only Big Dunc made him feel inferior on a football pitch, he is the first name i would put on any team.
Sir Tom i am told by those who watched Big Dunc and Bobby was the only english player that ever reached their level.
John Charles was considered world class as a CF and CB, no one else has ever managed that, it ridiculous.
John Charles
The Lawman just beats out Kane.
08 Oct 2025 23:43:39
I like Anderson he does the dirty work and makes players around him tick. he's also one of those players that keep getting better and at every level grows into the role.
There is something about a leaderin Him as well. You cam see and hear him in games driving people on. I don't think hr the best technicalĺy on the list but he's the best footballer, if we consider all that makes a top professional. Right now i think he is tha one we need the most.
We missed out on Henderson and then Rice, this team needs some World Class Characters, i thibk he's the one.
28 Sep 2025 14:45:38
The issue is the character of the players.
They aren't driven to win, winning teams, winning individuals have a hunget, a drive.
You see it in any moment of adversity, they wilt. You see it on the pitch in moments all the time. Youll see players stop competing and turn to the ref with an opposition player carrying on playing.
You will aunited players banging their hand on the floor throwing their arms around in frustration, not spring back to thwir feet and fight to make amends.
United lack players with heart to stand up when things get tough, lack players with the drive to push the team on to fight through adversity. To stand up when get physically battered, we get pushed around on set pieces because we don't have players who revel in a phsyical battle.
United will not progress until they find a coupke of characters like this. You get a couple of players like this and everything will impove, o4hers will follow their lead.
If i was United leaders i would be throwing money at Guehi and Palace and at Elliott Anderson and Forest.
I know the first seems to wamt Liverpool well he seems exactly the sort of leader we need now and the right kind of character that's worth apendint extra and Anderson is constantly involved and drives the team on. Both lead by example.
We don't need world class players we need a couple of world class characters in the squad.
20 Sep 2025 23:30:58
I could not agree more about Mainoo ambling around the pitch, he does, he doesn't see danger early and he doesn't bust a gut to nullify it onde he realises.
I have lost count of the number of football experts i have listened too bemoaning the lack of legs in midfield then in the next breath suggesting he is the midfield solution.
In 23/ 24 he was the slowest player in the United squad at under 30 KM/ H and at the Euros he was one of the slowest England players at 30.4 KM/ H.
With such a low baseline no ampunt of training isn't going to make him quick, he isn't the solution for Amorim, he doesn't even have the awareness defensively to compensate in part.
Kobbie doesn't start becsuse he isn't the solution amd he isn't going to be.
11 Sep 2025 17:48:55
I really don't know with this one. City are vulnerable and haven't got going and well, we are what we are.
Think i have talked myself into a 2-2.