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12 Aug 2024 21:24:10
Sander Berge left out of Burnley's squad for their first game of the season this evening.
Seems to suggest that there is something in the rumours of him leaving. Will it be to ourselves, or to someone else?
1.) 12 Aug 2024 22:06:16
He’s also missed most of pre season with the same injury that kept him out of tonight. Nice try Shappy!
2.) 13 Aug 2024 07:53:27
Romanoesque!
3.) 13 Aug 2024 08:58:48
Be a shame to not keep the trend of signing injury prone players going!
4.) 13 Aug 2024 11:45:59
Wazza, where did you hear he is injured, I've scoured the internet and not found any mention of him being injured. The Burnley manager didn't mention him as being out injured.
5.) 13 Aug 2024 12:47:50
He has not played any pre season due to injury so was not considered last night and it was reported at the match last night that he was left out due to that reasoning.
6.) 13 Aug 2024 12:50:09
Shappy, Parker said so, and confirmed it's what has kept him out of some pre-season fixtures.
You can't have Googled too long as it's the first thing that comes up when searching Sander Berge injury.
"He picked up an injury in Spain. He had a bit of discomfort in his quad. It's not a big injury, it's quite a small injury to be honest with you. "
Nice clickbait though!
7.) 13 Aug 2024 13:33:59
Wazza to be fair I searched last night and that article you've quoted was published at midday today, 15 minutes AFTER I posted saying I hadn't seen anything to say he was injured.
From what I read he was expected to be in the squad and wasn't, which seemed suspicious. As it was he is injured, so that's that then.
12 Jul 2024 18:16:32
Sancho back at the club and training with the first team.
Apparently talks between Sancho and EtH have taken place and they've agreed to draw a line under the situation.
He will now be available to take part in pre-season games.
Is this a case that Sancho has realised his options weren't as good as he thought?
Or is this the player and the club doing what is needed to push up the offers to facilitate his move away.
I guess we'll see what happens over the next couple of months.
1.) 12 Jul 2024 19:28:08
If true, my opinion of ETH has gone up a little. Sancho still has a long way to go.
2.) 12 Jul 2024 19:55:26
Or sancho has realised this board ain’t getting rid of another manager for players and he’s having to knuckle down
Still hope he’s gone tho.
3.) 12 Jul 2024 20:02:32
2 adults in a room, having a chat.
It's surely a bit of both, no offers and ETH drawing a line, giving a clean slate to align with the current mood of the club. Everything is new.
I hope he can put his head down and make the best of his second chance at the club.
4.) 12 Jul 2024 20:08:07
Hopefully just the club strengthening their position, and Sancho isn’t smart enough to be any the wiser.
5.) 12 Jul 2024 21:17:13
Well this is interesting. People can and do have the right to change their minds. He’s better than Antony who Ed said was available for transfer, and with Greenwood on the way out and likely Pellestri too, makes sense for him and Amad to compete.
Plus he can play 10. Why not let bygones be bygones. If he wants to come back and show the form he shows in Dortimund then awesome for both parties.
6.) 12 Jul 2024 21:41:06
I’m in the get rid camp. Glad they’ve come to an amicable cease fire, but a Leopard doesn’t change its spots and he’s still the petulant kid that fell out with the boss in the first place.
7.) 12 Jul 2024 23:45:46
I would suspect that the big boys “suggested” that ETH needed to sort it out between them both as well as Sancho realising he was damaging his chances.
I am also in the out basket.
8.) 13 Jul 2024 06:24:10
I don't really care about the detail of what has happened and him being back and no issues with it. The realty is he has been poor for us even before the spat under previous managers barring the odd game and not sure he can cut it at united and hence selling him would be ideal.
9.) 13 Jul 2024 06:54:52
Agreed Ahmad.
Beyond what happened, he’s not very good and needs to be moved on.
The laziness and ego are part of his personality, people don’t change.
10.) 13 Jul 2024 07:10:46
As Ahmad said he has been at the club three years now, hasn't set the world alight has he?
Maybe the wages are putting people off, clearly he has the ability and mentality as we saw at Dortmund, unfortunately the consistency might never be there and he is destined to sit the last few years of his contract out at United.
I guess this doesn't help our PSR and getting some of the big wage earners out.
{Ed001's Note - when was this fabled Sancho ability shown at Dortmund? If people had actually watched him play, instead of reading his PR bull, they would have known he was terrible there except when coming on very late as a sub. Even then, it was more down to rank amateur defending that he got decent stats. He is so far up his own backside that he can lick his own tonsils and will not achieve anything until he grows up.}
11.) 13 Jul 2024 09:20:52
Absolutely spot on Ed001. People saw highlights of that game against PSG and couldn’t see past it. He was no good for Dortmund, couldn’t hold down a starting place, and his G&A numbers were as poor there as they’ve been for us. That’s without mentioning his attitude and mentality.
The last headline I read started “England International Jadon Sancho…”. PR nonsense.
12.) 13 Jul 2024 09:44:51
I will still be surprised to see Sanchi still with the club once the window shuts.
However this allows for him to show what he can do in pre season, see whether he can reintegrate with the new coaching structure.
Would not be surprised if he still moves late in the window.
13.) 13 Jul 2024 10:11:47
We dropped a bomb buying him, and now we are paying for it, no one will pay the money we want or the wages either so to get rid we are still going to end up subsidising his wages.
Not surprised they made up, there wasn't really a choice, it doesn't look good on Sancho but neither does it on United. I rather suspect that's all parties are working together to find a solution that will involve him playing elsewhere next year.
14.) 13 Jul 2024 10:19:39
Absolutely bang on the money Ed001. Bang on it. Get rid asap.
15.) 13 Jul 2024 21:34:15
Get rid. Bad attitude and not good enough anyway. Not worth the hassle.
16.) 14 Jul 2024 07:25:17
Ed 1 is totally correct here. It’s total PR spin, because even though I know he’s not a great player, and all my Cory fan mates say the same, my mind still thinks he should get a (yet another) chance. It’s brainwashing. He’s done nothing positive of note since he joined the club, and Italian and German leagues are far more suitable for him than the rigours of the Premier League.
Being him back, get him training and fit, sell him for maximum value. Smart move by the club.
If he does stay, he now has to win back over the fans too who frankly want rid.
03 Dec 2023 12:53:13
Heard a rumour today that United and Barcelona are exploring the possibility of swapping Sancho and Raphinha initially on loan, but with a possible view to it becoming a permanent deal if it works out.
If there is any truth to this then I think its a possible deal that could work out for all parties.
United and Sancho need to part ways, while Sancho probably doesn't want to take a step down/ backwards.
United really need someone who can lock down the RW spot, and Raphinha was one of the best RW players while at Leeds.
Unfortunately for him it seems Xavi doesn't quite rate him, despite him playing well when called upon.
Stylistically I tend to think that Sancho does fit better in a side like Barcelona and Raphinha in a side like United.
I'd be pretty happy if the club managed to pull something like this off, what is everyone else's view?
1.) 03 Dec 2023 15:28:02
I mean I’d be delighted if we can pull that off. But I can’t see it.
2.) 03 Dec 2023 21:44:52
Sounds like a computer game transfer to me.
3.) 03 Dec 2023 21:52:43
Would rip your arm off for that deal but it’s all pie in the sky.
4.) 05 Dec 2023 01:58:03
We could do with new negotiators, or they might come back from Spain with a bunch of Rapini.
5.) 05 Dec 2023 09:07:03
Shappy
Wishful thinking. Why would Barcelona do that. He will end up somewhere in Italy as that's generally the league players end up when they don't work out in PL. He is not good enough for any of the top 3/ 4 teams in Spain and unaffordable for any in the next tier.
Its one of those players who will be hard to shift unless we take a bath on the transfer.
6.) 05 Dec 2023 21:09:51
Rumours today it’s Rashford ??♂️.
7.) 09 Dec 2023 20:22:57
I’d be happy if Rashford went tbh along with Sancho. The pair of ‘em aren’t bad players, as long as they get their own way. We aren’t currently in a place where we can carry talented babies though, so I’d get radical and get rid of the pair.
08 Jul 2023 14:41:19
DDG is gone, club just wished him well and said goodbye on Twatter.
1.) 08 Jul 2023 14:49:36
Great servant, but right time for MU and himself to move on, some of the replies made my blood boil though, clearly not fans but even still. he's got my respect and wish him well in his next venture.
2.) 08 Jul 2023 15:22:56
He's big, he's brave he's Spanish Dave
He makes great saves, he never shaves,
Flying through the air
Come and have a shot if you dare!
He indeed has been a great servant as well as a true professional in his behaviors. He will inevitably divide some on opinions, but no one can doubt some of the class saves over the years (Mata's freekick)
Ed002, what teams would be interested? Roma? Saudi clubs?
3.) 08 Jul 2023 15:43:50
Our best player over the last 12 years, gutted he is going but it is the right time for him and the club.
4.) 08 Jul 2023 15:22:56
He's big, he's brave he's Spanish Dave
He makes great saves, he never shaves,
Flying through the air
Come and have a shot if you dare!
He indeed has been a great servant as well as a true professional in his behaviors. He will inevitably divide some on opinions, but no one can doubt some of the class saves over the years (Mata's freekick)
Ed002, what teams would be interested? Roma? Saudi clubs?
{Ed002's Note - David De Gea (G) If Mr Mourinho stays at Roma, then perhaps interest. Perhaps someone in Spain or the Middle East. Manchester United have a list of potential replacements but want a new contract.}
5.) 09 Jul 2023 07:07:25
Good time for both parties to move on. Clearly looked very uncomfortable under ETH’s system. That being said, a brilliant keeper for us over the years. Wish him all the best. Italy seems an obvious move in the absence of decent Spanish interest - or of course Saudi!
28 May 2023 09:30:51
Heard a rumour this morning that United might look at Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich, as well as closely monitoring the situation with Ryan Gravenberch.
Bayern yesterday sacked their CEO Oliver Kahn and their Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic, possibly opening the door for some players to leave who might have been intending to stay under the previous regime.
Pavard would be an interesting option, capable of playing both CB and RB he'd be a very good option.
Gravenberch too has great potential but just can't get the game time he needs with players like Kimmich and Goretzka ahead of him.
1.) 28 May 2023 09:50:18
Think Ed002 said that Pavard is reluctant to consider us because he wants to play primarily as a cb.
2.) 28 May 2023 11:30:14
A RB who can also chip in at CB is a good shout, as is Frimpong.
I think Bayern have a number of players who should be of interest. I assume the Mount thing has legs and if so that would probably kill off any interest in Gravenberch and De Jong, and what of Sabitzer.
3.) 28 May 2023 12:13:02
Interesting thread this and might have legs as we know Erik likes players who can play multiple positions to limit the impact of injuries in the squad.
4.) 28 May 2023 13:25:20
Back in February, it was reported that his expected fee this summer could be £26.8m because his contract is up next year - that would amount to a bargain.
That said, it's likely that Bayern would still want more than that for a versatile defender approaching his prime.
The problem is that he wants to play CB and there can be no assurances offered by United that he'll be first-choice ahead of Varane.
He can play RB, but he might be reluctant about coming to a club where that could be his only consistent option.
That does also render Barcelona as a questionable option given that the superior Kounde is already playing RB to accommodate other players.
Personally, I'd expect him to move to a Serie A club.
5.) 28 May 2023 22:50:42
We really need to be looking at Gravenberch. I’m not sure if he’s even available but if he is and a a low price it’s a no brainier. Le fee is another player I hope we take a look at.
6.) 30 May 2023 10:44:36
varane missed 14 league games, went off 6 times, efl only played 90 mins in the final missed 4 games and subbed off once. Class act but never been consistantly fit for games throughout his career. Any cb coming in would get a minimum of 25 games a season if fit/ available.
Shappy's banter posts with other poster's replies to Shappy's banter posts
14 May 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Manchester United Still Need Better Players
13 May 2025 20:29:57
Shappy has written an article entitled, Manchester United Still Need Better Players
1.) 13 May 2025 22:14:08
I know Rasmus is under performing, but not even a mention?
2.) 13 May 2025 22:34:02
I agree Shappy, but what's new?
3.) 13 May 2025 22:36:45
United still need better players. right there!
4.) 14 May 2025 07:32:10
Jimbob, He's in the list, but just like when he's on the pitch he's actually invisible and you hardly notice he's there.
I wanted to include him in the list of squad/ potential but with every passing game he just isn't showing any sort of progress. His finishing is great when he is in the right position and he receives the ball. But that rarely happens and he doesn't offer anything else. So unfortunately I think he is probably one of the players we will have to cut loose in a year or twos time (only because we can't afford to let him go sooner as no one will pay enough to make sure we avoid making a loss, and because he is currently the only striker we have) .
Højlund is an example of how not to buy potential. Personally I feel that we are best off buying players who are younger and with a high level of potential over buying the players already at their peak. I think historically that has always worked out better for us. Younger, hungrier players, who still feel like they have something to prove and who are mouldable to fit the team rather than the team having to adapt to them.
That said Højlund while probably the best option that was available at the time given the circumstances. In hindsight he was probably too young and inexperienced, especially to come in without a senior pro in his position for him to learn from and to take the pressure off of him. While the fee paid was far too much for such a unproven player. He's then been really unfortunate in that the manager has changed a year after he signed and with it the style of play and the demands of the position he plays has changed dramatically. With him poorly suited to it.
He will be excellent for a counter attacking team. In a side that doesn't expect him to come deep and link the play, where he can just play off the shoulder or make a blind side run on to a ball slipped through or over the top, where he can use his pace to get clear of the defence and finish comfortably past the keeper. In a team like that I'm fairly confident of him getting 15-20 goals a season once his confidence has been rebuilt and he's settled.
He just isn't suited to the multifaceted role of the striker in Amorim's system. But like I've said, we probably can't sell him this summer as we'd need someone to pay over 40m for him to just breakeven, which given his form no one will do. Personally I'd look to bring in two strikers this summer (I'd 100% sign Jonathan David on a free, even if he isn't quite a perfect fit for Amorim, he's better than Højlund and can play wider/ deeper and if he doesn't succeed then we can still sell him for a profit in a year or twos time as he cost us nothing) . If we signed two strikers this summer then we can afford to send Højlund out on loan to a club that plays a way more suited to his game. Maybe then he can find form and maybe raise some interest in him. Then we can maybe sell him next summer when we only need around 30m for him to breakeven.
If we were to say sign Delap and David this summer for 30m along with Cunha who can play as a striker if needed then we can afford to send Højlund out on loan. But if we only sign one striker then he probably has to stay and play second fiddle, maybe coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes. Which isn't ideal and won't get him into the kind of form we will need him to be in if we are to find a buyer who will pay enough to get us off the hook with him.
5.) 14 May 2025 13:39:32
I just think it's a case of Hoijlund needing to be coached more and introduced slowly and not into a poor team with such pressure to perform especially when he gets no service. I really believe he will be a top player given the right environment. Ideally I wouls send him out on loan to a team eg as part of a deal for Gokeres if Sporting would take him.
6.) 14 May 2025 14:17:13
Hojlunds confidence is shot to bits. Should never have been signed as a no.1 striker. The club have done him dirty IMO. He needed a couple of more experience heads around him.
Where is that explosive Rasmus I saw at Atalanta and at the start of his time at United. Completely mishandled.
He is one that will get a move and be absolutely fine elsewhere.
7.) 14 May 2025 16:41:21
LOL, awful striker poor touch, can’t head a ball, can’t hold up a ball, always on his heels got delayed reaction and no strikers brain plus can’t hit a barn door, also for someone quick he looks terribly slow, too weak spends more time wrestling and losing and ends up on the floor.
Yeah he will do just fine in a Micky mouse league, but no big boys will touch him.
8.) 14 May 2025 16:53:59
I agree angelred. Talk of signing Delap but Hoijland at Atalanta could do everything Delap could do and be a better finisher but you're right, he has been mishandled and has no confidence right now. Like others, the system is not playing to his natural strengths.
9.) 14 May 2025 18:00:49
What’s new lol, not sure anyone needs to be told this club needs better players….
10.) 14 May 2025 18:45:20
The pesky club ruining top top talents like Rasmus Hoijlund do you fellas even watch games he's an absolute donkey a poster boy for the TH era up there with Antony and Onana as the worst signings in the history of the club but somehow UTD are holding this WC striker back do u fellas even support the club or just random players.
11.) 14 May 2025 19:27:57
I watched him in Italy brummie and he was a lot better than he is now and in my opinion the club IS using players incorrectly just to fit a system.
12.) 15 May 2025 09:27:07
I dunno banjoe iv not been impressed with Hoijlund since he came wouldve been a good punt at maybe 20 mill tops but to pay 72 was lunacy. Maybe Anos "system" dosent suit him i dunno don't think hel be here nxt season Rasmus see the clubs looking at Eteke and Delap him and Zirkzee be gone.
13.) 15 May 2025 10:53:02
He been useless since day 1 he was never that great in Italy, 1 in 10 in the league wasn’t it! Poor finisher, poor striker, poor at everything at this level, plus lacks strength and always on heels.
10 May 2025 14:49:32
Maybe it's hyperbolic, but if Mason Mount can stay fit then he will bring a hell of a lot to this Amorim team.
Three goals in 2 games, while also making the team look so much more functional when he's on the pitch.
At the very least if he stays fit then he adds a much higher quality squad option to the two inside forward positions. They are also the positions he played at Chelsea when he got 20+ goals and assists in back to back seasons.
It's a bit of a cliché but he could be like a new signing.
There are two other players who deserve a shout out after the Bilbao game. Firstly Amad, what a player. He just oozes class, yet he also works so hard and fights for every ball. Secondly Yoro is really starting to settle and show why he was rated as the best young CB in Europe when we signed him. He reminds me so much of a young Rio Ferdinand, silky on the ball, great at carrying it out of defence, and actually a real threat when he gets up the pitch with the ball at his feet.
While Bruno has been carrying us for most of the season, if we can make sure we have both Mount and Amad fully fit and match sharp for the final then I think we can win it comfortably.
1.) 10 May 2025 15:55:23
Talk about getting carried away. Amad has shown himself to get a real asset, Mount needs more than a couple if cameos, and the bug issue gere us IF he can stay fit.
Yoro gas real potential, but right now, it's just potential.
Back to Amad, he has a swagger and confidence other players could learn from, his return is a huge plus.
2.) 10 May 2025 20:03:58
Jeez, fot fungers.
3.) 10 May 2025 21:06:55
Mount has a lot of work to do to show he can stay fit. Shaw is in the same boat. We cannot rely on these players right now.
4.) 11 May 2025 07:38:32
Who was the better player at 19, Yoro or Ferdinand?
Tbh, I can barely remember what Rio was like at that age. Seems so long ago. Yoro certainly has impressed and looks very composed.
5.) 11 May 2025 08:40:46
Rio was Rolls-Royce. Yoro has that look about him but a long way to go yet.
6.) 11 May 2025 14:47:10
Yoro doesn’t compare to Leeds-era Ferdinand IMO.
02 May 2025 18:24:43
We often place a lot of praise on the younger players in our squad. Yet I think we have to say that it has generally been the more experienced players who have often been the guys to carry us over the line in the Europa League this season.
Casemiro, Bruno and Maguire were absolutely top class last night. They all came up with a big performance right when we needed it most.
While a shout out should also go to Lindelof, a player who has always been maligned. Yet last night was possibly his best performance in a United shirt, certainly the best in a long, long time.
Maybe a little experience goes a long way.
1.) 02 May 2025 20:14:01
Lindelof was really good. Maguire was iffy in defence but turned into prime Messi in attack. Casemiro and Bruno were superb. The red card was unfortunate for them. It's the rules but it feels far too harsh. Nonetheless we'd have gone 2 up so we didn't owe the win to that rule. Great result.
I do think if we're to go on and win it we'll need Mainoo, De Ligt, Shaw and Amad all up to match fitness. To play our style against EPL opposition it requires technical players.
2.) 02 May 2025 20:35:02
Vert true Shappy, they were all excellent. Also thought Leny Yoro was very good, he really does seem to have settled well over recent weeks and is looking very capable defensively, always seems to have time. His use of the ball has been has been good, very rarely gives it away. Let's not forget he is not that long turned 19.
Thought Hojlund had his best game for some time, his hold up play was controlled and effective. That need's to be continued.
Only slight disappointment was we did not score a couple more goals.
3.) 02 May 2025 21:09:24
Sorry. Lindelof was abysmal. Great win but let’s not change what happened. Casemiro Bruno and McGuire were all really good and carried the team for a lot of that game.
4.) 02 May 2025 21:23:56
My worry is that people, including himself (waiting for his pump himself up release) will start to think Maguire is capable at this level. Let’s just be very clear. He isn’t!
That’s not to detract from a few decent performances but spread over the time he has been at United it’ not awe inspiring.
5.) 02 May 2025 22:57:57
You can at least see why having Maguire in the squad next year is not a bad call. From an economic point of view it defers having to spend another £40-£60m on a top class CB while allowing some of our younger players an extra year to see if they can make the grade, ultimately making an expensive acquisition unnecessary. And let's face it, if we do end up winning the tournament which should generate around £80m additional income we can thank Maguire for his major contributions. He may not rank amongst the best defenders, but he is a true professional and gives 100%. Well worth keeping for another year for £15m compared to probably twice that in pay and amortization for a serious replacement. Despite injuries, with a few exceptions, scoring has been a bigger problem than defence. Plenty of games recently where we've been the better side but failed to capitalize on our chances.
6.) 03 May 2025 00:34:44
Imo lindelof made a great block other than that he was below average. Negative in his passing and slow in possession. Good attitude will see it his contract and try his best when called upon.
I don't think anybody is getting carried away thinking maguire is suddenly the answer. But this system suits him better and he has played better. Great attitude and may not be 1st choice too often next season but deserves to see out his contract.
Bruno has been nothing short of brilliant. I've been critical and there are many traits of his I disliked but I've seen great leadership at times and a lot less histrionics. He imo has improved in most aspects of his game and character.
Maz is another snr pro that had a few indifferent games but was top class last night.
Cas has been much better again a peo with great attitude very expensive if he sees out his contract but I'd imagine he is a good influence o the younger players. So if he stays we won't have a player not wanting to contribute.
Great to see amad back last night too. His energy is infectious.
7.) 03 May 2025 00:41:32
@ryans left foot: nah I'm not having that Lindelof was good. 96 out of 99 passes. He was calm on the ball. He was facing Nico Williams and really was solid. You're flat out wrong on this one.
8.) 03 May 2025 01:58:22
I am not buying that slabhead has turned into the amazing player with close control.
99 times out of 100, he tries that again, and he shins it into the hoardings.
Yes it was great, but one out of the ordinary trick, does not make a shire horse!
9.) 03 May 2025 10:21:34
Not sure on Lindelof to be honest. Bar the block on the line, didn’t look comfortable on the ball and for me not a player you look at feel confident with.
Happy to give credit where credit’s due and Maguire has played an important role recently in big moments for us. I can’t say he’s been excellent because I don’t think he has but the big moments for us in games he’s been involved in so fair play to him. But I still think he’s not a player we need starting regularly if we want to start challenging for the title.
When you watch Yoro, there’s, for me a big difference in quality on the ball in tight areas between him and Maguire and Lindelof. Maguire is good on the ball when he’s got time and not pressed but under pressure I don’t feel confident with him whereas Yoro appears to be comfortable receiving and playing under pressure.
10.) 03 May 2025 10:23:42
Ken that's exactly what I thought after watching the game back, lindelof was poor aside from the block.
Amorim made a comment on case a while ago saying he understands more how to use him. I'm not seeing the gaps to the left and right of him like I did under ETH. My thoughts are that RA has seen this and given him extra support allowing him to do what he is good at.
Maz is quality, sure the odd game here and there but remember this is also his first season going from a formation he was bought for to another and adapting very well IMO.
Bruno is bruno, just quality.
Ive always said, confidence is everything in all walks of life. I believe the other night gave them a massive sense of it and I can see us finishing the season strong.
Also noticed how RA has become more and more animated on the touchline over recent weeks. For me, that's a good thing, he may be finally starting to find his feet. I'm hoping he is anyway.
What an incredible scenario and bounce this will be if we win this EL, champions league next year.
Regardless we have our transfer targets, however if we get into the champs league, it will mean even more money.
11.) 03 May 2025 11:38:47
As someone said above how much more comfortable can Lindelof be than a 96% pass success rate? Yoro who I thought looked great on the ball only had a 92% success, which is also good by the way.
12.) 03 May 2025 13:34:12
Gds2 his passing is negative. 96% praying is one party of his stats. He treats the ball like a hot potato and played the recurve into trouble often and or slowed attacks.
He has done that since he arrived at the club. Very limited but no doubt he tries his best.
13.) 03 May 2025 18:17:40
Totally agree ken, his negativity and slowness was the issue but people are saying above that was bad because he kept giving the ball away but he didn’t.
14.) 03 May 2025 18:18:00
Looked to me like Lindelof was a weak link and vulnerable until they went down to 10 men and took a striker/ player off who had a bit of pace and movement.
15.) 03 May 2025 18:49:13
Oh come on guys/ gals if we want to dissect every bit of play, Ugarte was atrocious in first 30 mins, Dorgu got awful control and can’t cross a ball, no one is saying McGuire is Beckenbauer or Lindorf is anything special, but on the night the team collectively got a fantastic result, no one on here could or would have predicted that score, I am the biggest critic of this team / squad but on the night they done fantastic to come away with 0-3 can’t you just for once instead of trying to puck fault be happy.
I not overly convinced 2nd leg will be plain sailing, but on the night in Bilbao they done more then anyone expected, give praise where it’s due….
16.) 03 May 2025 20:27:41
The irony ?.
17.) 03 May 2025 23:44:34
Just an opinion but people should think twice about the stats they use to make an argument.
96% pass completion? Mmmmmm. As a team that has regularly passed the ball back and forth between the defenders and keeper we are bound to have a high percentage. How many of those were effective? How many were actually 1 or 2 yards behind the player? Bruno gets slated for a lower percentage but only 1 a game needs to be completed if the ball ends up in the net.
Keepers who have “kept” a clean sheet? How many times has the opposition never really had a shot or on target? How often (not in United case) has the defence actually done their job?
Even strikers. They get the plaudits for scoring so many goals but often they are bolstered by penalties, especially Bruno. Even Hoijlund could be in double figures if he took the penalties! Well maybe not!
Dont get me started on “final 3rd entries” “touches in opposition box” or my personal favourite rubbish stat xG.
Anyway my point being that stats as many have said can easily be skewed or very misleading.
The only undeniable “stat” that counts is the score at the end of the game.
18.) 04 May 2025 00:45:53
Keefy,
A lot of clubs and coaches use these stats now though, it’s all scientific and the stats you say don’t mean anything are used by clubs to collate data so they are useful tools, although I think sometimes you just can’t beat the good old eye test or watching a player and seeing if he’s any good. Analysis and numbers are my job so I’m a stickler for a few stats myself and working out what they mean and if they correlate to what I’m actually seeing with my own eyes.
Totally agree the stat at the end of the game counts and that was a 3-0 win with a clean sheet, I doubt that happens if one of our defenders is abysmal. I also agree that pass success doesn’t always mean a lot, Eriksen always gets a high one as he just passes it back to the player who gave it him all the time, I only brought it up because I felt people were suggesting he was poor because of his ball retention when actually it was pretty strong. We all know full well that Lindelof isn’t good enough, he won’t get a new contract and I hope to God he doesn’t play in the final, but to say he was abysmal on Thursday is a little harsh I think.
19.) 04 May 2025 06:43:24
GDS. no disagreement from me mate! I as have I said before I was/ am a Six Sigma Black Belt. And like you, get a bit toey with incorrectly backed up discussions. And as you quite rightly say unless they directly correlate as a causal factor with evidence rather than subjective approach then they are essentially rubbish and only a fool would build his house based on them.
I just feel that many of these stats are just not robust. Just look at xG. How can you have a an xG of 0.79 and score three goals? Plus you can only score in whole numbers? Until they refine the algorithm and actually predict whole numbers it’s a rubbish stat. I think that stat is very likely built on the foundations of a lot of subjective numbers and a novelty number that cannot be used in anger.
Who cares if you got into the opposition box 5 times more than the opposition? Not me if there are no resultant goals and we lose!
If all Volvos cars are silver, does that mean that all silver cars are Volvos?
Anyway…. rant over!
21 Apr 2025 15:53:40
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Possible Transfer Targets For Manchester United
1.) 21 Apr 2025 18:41:28
Delap is not EPL proven, and Jordan Henderson is not a GK. I assume you meant Dean, but its still a big no from me.
2.) 21 Apr 2025 19:05:03
Yeah, Dean Henderson.
Delap has a year season in the EPL and at least 12 league goals. He's more EPL proven than someone like Osimhen. I know how Delap can play in this league. I've seen it. I have no idea how Osimhen could perform in this league. No one does.
3.) 21 Apr 2025 19:38:49
I don't think 12 goals in 1 season makes him EPL proven, but I accept the point about Osimhen, or even Gyokores, or any other foreign based player. It's been years of poor transfer choices, but you never know who will and won't work out. Liverpool signed Firmino, Salah, and Sane, and they all clicked, but there was no guarantees,
I saw an interview with Matic where he felt the focus was on commercial opportunities, as opposed to winning games, which is a key issue that needs fixing.
4.) 21 Apr 2025 20:18:31
I love this premier proven obsession. Countless examples of players walking into this league and performing fantastically. Delap and Osimhen aren’t even in the same sport as far as I’m concerned. One is a mercenary who’s just going wherever the paycheck is is a better angle.
5.) 22 Apr 2025 05:05:54
Yes he may go where the money is, but who cares if he scores goals, I want the player who will score the most goals, I leave it to accountants to worry about the £££s
Just get the best in class, is what I say, otherwise it’s more years of this crap and people on here saying oh he got potential!
I want players (strikers) who had potential and now turned that potential into reality.
07 May 2025 05:47:08
I think this is one of those situations where no matter what happens the club are likely to be seen to be doing the wrong thing.
On one hand Bruno is our captain, our leader on the pitch and currently our best and only player close to being world class. Losing him would absolutely have a negative impact on the team, at least in the short term. While there are absolutely no guarantees that any money he brings in would be spent on the team or if it was that it would be spent wisely. Remember when Spurs sold Bale and bought 3 or 4 players with the money. None of them came close to providing even a quarter of what Bale did.
On the other hand he is 31 in September, on huge wages, and will only decline on the pitch. When that happens is anybody's guess. Maybe he does a Modric and keeps playing at a high level for another 5 or 6 years, or maybe his body starts giving up on him over the next couple of seasons. He has after all worked it harder than most, rarely injured, playing the majority of available minutes every year for the past 5-6 years or more. Does he even know how to slow down and manage himself? While if the rumours of a record British sale price are true then it isn't an offer the club can dismiss out of hand. Sacrificing Bruno in the short term might be the better option for the club in the long term. It helps rebalance the wage structure by getting another higher earner off it. While if the money is reinvested well in the squad then we could bring in 4 maybe even 5 players who if even half of them go on to be vital first team members means that we've improved the team overall.
Whatever happens the naysayers will be out in force. If we sell him then we lack ambition, and have lost our best player. If we keep him then the moment his form drops they will say we wasted the opportunity to sell him for a huge fee and the club is being mismanaged.
For what it's worth I've changed my view over the course of the season. At the start I even suggested that we might need to sell Bruno as he might not be a great fit for Amorim and that he wasn't the long term solution. I likened it to Liverpool selling Coutinho after Klopp joined. He didn't quite fit the system and the funds helped buy key players who did.
Yet now I'd say it makes more sense to keep him. I've seen how valuable he has become for Amorim. A key player who helps set the managers vision on the pitch. He has adapted his game and shown that he can do so and still put in top class performances. He has grown as a leader on the pitch, with some of the pettiness and rubbishhousery being cut out of his game. While he his experience is vital for what is becoming a much younger and inexperienced squad. His professionalism has never been in doubt, he trains hard, and is committed to the club. I think we lose vital things needed for the rebuild of this squad if we sell him, things that just cannot be replaced. For that reason I think it's best we keep him.
However, that's just my opinion. Ultimately this decision needs to be in the hands of the player. If he wants to move on and take the insane wages on offer then it will be the right time to part ways. I won't begrudge him that opportunity, nor will I hold it against him. I'd thank him for all he's given us and wish him well. Then move on and see how we can use the money to improve the squad. If his head is turned then there is no point in keeping him. Likewise, if he listens to the offer and decides "no thank you" then it reconfirms his dedication to us and proves he is the right man to captain us over the next few years.
I hope he stays as we are a far better team with him than without him.
05 May 2025 08:11:15
Ugarte isn't a problem, he's been good without being great so far. But then I think a lot of that is down to his midfield partner.
Amorim's system uses a double pivot in midfield, and he doesn't want his wingbacks to invert into midfield. That means the midfield can be outnumbered by a side that plays with a midfield three.
The solution to this is twofold. Firstly, the inside forwards need to stay narrower and press very effectively but also understand where they need to position themselves to cut off passing lanes centrally. At United this has been difficult at times when Garnacho for example who isn't a natural when it comes to off the ball movement is playing. Bruno two at times has a tendency to press relentlessly but that does mean he vacates space that can be used by the opposition to get the ball into midfield.
Secondly, Amorim tends to use a very energetic and mobile midfield double pivot. They don't tend to be expansive passers, but players with a great engine and understanding of space. They work together and with the inside forwards to cut off passing lanes centrally forcing the opposition to go down the flanks. Again so far at United Amorim has struggled to find the right partner for Ugarte. Particularly in the more physically demanding EPL. In Europe Casemiro has been able to partner Ugarte effectively, but he doesn't have the stamina or mobility to do so in the EPL.
To be honest Bruno has probably been Ugarte's best partner in the EPL, even though he has a tendency to over commit himself at times which has left us open.
Mainoo is a phenomenal talent, but he lacks both the athleticism and the reading of the game currently to fullfil this role in Amorim's system effectively and consistently. Which is why Amorim has preferred to play him further forward, while he develops at least.
Eriksen is obviously not a great fit and we have been at our poorest when he has played deeper. Maybe if Mount was able to stay fit he might be a good partner for Ugarte.
We've been linked with Ederson from Atalanta who looks an ideal fit, energetic, mobile, technically strong and relentless.
While if we were able to bring in a player like Cunha and/ or Mbeumo then we would have the right sort of player to play ahead of and work with the double pivot to force teams wide to try and progress the ball.
I don't think Ugarte is a problem, he just cannot transform the midfield by himself.
05 May 2025 07:54:50
I remember Ed002 (RIP) saying Campos would be a great DoF for United. He has had a phenomenal career, certainly an interesting option.
29 Apr 2025 18:08:49
I think he missed the boat unfortunately. He was highly rated but got injured at just the wrong moment. Who knows what might have happened if he didn't get injured.
Either way it's kind of irrelevant now, Mainoo and Collyer have over taken him, while likes of Kone, McAllister, Scanlon and Thwaites are also highly rated and might soon be ready to push towards the first team squad.
If Gore is to forge a good career inn football he needs to start playing at the senior level regularly. To do that he will likely need to leave on a permanent deal.
He won't the first highly rated youngster to leave and he won't be the last. Charlie Savage is now playing for Reading in League 1, and Zidane Iqbal for Utrecht in the Netherlands. Remember when they had that phenomenal pre-season and a couple of good cameos at the start of EtH's tenure?
Some step up, most don't. But as a club we tend to give them more of a chance than most.
It's probably time for Gore to move on for his own best interests. I'd wish him well and hope he has a great career.
25 Apr 2025 16:55:20
He isn't a big name "world beater", but then when have any of those we have signed ever paid off anyway?
What I like is that he's EPL proven, done very well in a poor to average Wolves side.
He's physical, has a bit of a edge to him, and is tactically as close to a perfect fit for Amorim's system as we could find.
That for me is what is exciting. You can see that we are signing players who fit a vision, rather than a flashy name that'll sell a few more shirts and keep the sponsors happy.
14 May 2025 07:32:10
Jimbob, He's in the list, but just like when he's on the pitch he's actually invisible and you hardly notice he's there.
I wanted to include him in the list of squad/ potential but with every passing game he just isn't showing any sort of progress. His finishing is great when he is in the right position and he receives the ball. But that rarely happens and he doesn't offer anything else. So unfortunately I think he is probably one of the players we will have to cut loose in a year or twos time (only because we can't afford to let him go sooner as no one will pay enough to make sure we avoid making a loss, and because he is currently the only striker we have) .
Højlund is an example of how not to buy potential. Personally I feel that we are best off buying players who are younger and with a high level of potential over buying the players already at their peak. I think historically that has always worked out better for us. Younger, hungrier players, who still feel like they have something to prove and who are mouldable to fit the team rather than the team having to adapt to them.
That said Højlund while probably the best option that was available at the time given the circumstances. In hindsight he was probably too young and inexperienced, especially to come in without a senior pro in his position for him to learn from and to take the pressure off of him. While the fee paid was far too much for such a unproven player. He's then been really unfortunate in that the manager has changed a year after he signed and with it the style of play and the demands of the position he plays has changed dramatically. With him poorly suited to it.
He will be excellent for a counter attacking team. In a side that doesn't expect him to come deep and link the play, where he can just play off the shoulder or make a blind side run on to a ball slipped through or over the top, where he can use his pace to get clear of the defence and finish comfortably past the keeper. In a team like that I'm fairly confident of him getting 15-20 goals a season once his confidence has been rebuilt and he's settled.
He just isn't suited to the multifaceted role of the striker in Amorim's system. But like I've said, we probably can't sell him this summer as we'd need someone to pay over 40m for him to just breakeven, which given his form no one will do. Personally I'd look to bring in two strikers this summer (I'd 100% sign Jonathan David on a free, even if he isn't quite a perfect fit for Amorim, he's better than Højlund and can play wider/ deeper and if he doesn't succeed then we can still sell him for a profit in a year or twos time as he cost us nothing) . If we signed two strikers this summer then we can afford to send Højlund out on loan to a club that plays a way more suited to his game. Maybe then he can find form and maybe raise some interest in him. Then we can maybe sell him next summer when we only need around 30m for him to breakeven.
If we were to say sign Delap and David this summer for 30m along with Cunha who can play as a striker if needed then we can afford to send Højlund out on loan. But if we only sign one striker then he probably has to stay and play second fiddle, maybe coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes. Which isn't ideal and won't get him into the kind of form we will need him to be in if we are to find a buyer who will pay enough to get us off the hook with him.
08 May 2025 20:11:30
He's a Tesco value Pep. Pep says the same crazy things all the time, but he backs that up with trophies so he doesn't sound delusional.
Arteta did a good job of turning Arsenal around, but he doesn't have the knowhow or the kahunas to take them over the line. If Arsenal are well run they will realise that now and be ruthless. Otherwise they will continue to rinse and repeat next season, play well, but end up empty handed. Then before they know it this young talented squad will be old has beens that saw their careers drift and don't have the medals they should.
08 May 2025 20:06:07
Slot has done a great job, and this title is all about him and the way he's managed to reignite and reimagine this Liverpool side.
Klopp was an amazing manager for Liverpool, but it did feel like they were running out of steam last season. A few key players left and I'm not sure if it was the club or Klopp but they couldn't find the right players to replace them and keep the team playing the same way.
While players like VvD and Salah looked to be drifting towards decline. Yet Slot has breathed new life into them and they loo not just back to their best, but dare I say it better than before.
Whether it's a last hurrah from them this season or whether they can keep this going next season or even build on it I guess we'll have to wait and see.
08 May 2025 19:59:20
Garnacho is still young and has a lot of potential to develop ahead of him, which he will need if he is to reach the top.
For me the problem with him is that he is a player who plays on instinct more than thought, and I think he is trying too hard to be like his idol (Ronaldo) and he just isn't the same kind of player. For a start he doesn't have Ronaldo's physicality, his speed or his ability in the air. Yet he wants to try and get the ball wide and cut in and shoot every single time. Which wouldn't be a problem if he was actually good at shooting. But a quick look at his stats highlights a player who should be looking to create chances not finish them.
While he is in the 98th percentile for shots taken, he is in the 26th percentile for goals scored. Which makes sense when you realise that he only gets 32% of his shots on target which puts him in the 23rd percentile across Europe's top five leagues.
He just isn't a natural finisher, probably because he plays on instinct which leads his to often snatch at shots or take shots from poor positions because he sees sight of the goal.
I've always said that I feel he plays better on the right than the left as it forces him to pass more and think about what he is going to do. He plays more with his head up.
He's got that knack of getting into good positions and instigating attacks, but he needs to learn to keep his head up and look to play others in to better shooting positions far more.
I saw a stat the other day that Garnacho actually starts more attacks in our team than Bruno. The difference is his attacks often go nowhere due to poor decisions he makes. Either running down a blind alley and losing the ball, shooting off target from distance or from a tight angle, or just holding on to the ball for too long allowing the opposition to get back in shape.
I'm on the fence with him as to whether he will develop that side of his game to the degree needed for him to ultimately be a success here.
He has the talent in his feet, it's whether he has what is needed between his ears. There is no place in Amorim's team for a knock-off Temu Ronaldo wannabe. If that is the player Garnacho is determined to be then he won't make it. If he listens to the manager/ coaches and commits to developing into being the best Garnacho then he has every chance.
I'd be sad if he left, but I'd also understand it.
07 May 2025 05:55:06
Reluctantly I probably would, but I know that I might live to regret it.
I rate both Mainoo and Garnacho highly, but they only really have potential right now. There is no guarantee that either of them becomes the player their potential suggests they could be.
While the team currently heavily relies on Bruno, and if he doesn't do it then we struggle. Cole Palmer has shown he is a class act capable of performing and being decisive right now. Ironically he is the kind of player we need more of in the squad to give players like Mainoo and Garnacho the breathing space to develop without the expectations of having to actually win the games for us.
The worry will always be what if they go on to eclipse Palmer, will we have egg on our face. You never want to sell academy players, especially with the ones who have the potential to actually reach the level you need.
Fortunately this is just a hypothetical and will never likely be viable option. But given where we are right now you'd be mad to turn down a top class player who performs to a high level every week for two youngsters who don't contribute combined even half of what Palmer does on his own right now.