The Manchester United Club Thread **Sponsored by Comedy Central**

[mid_gen]

In our case, I think there are fairly unique, very high-profile mitigating factors.

There does need to be a sharp upturn in results though, I like Amorim but he's not done well enough so far.

He was brought in on the basis that he has a specific system he plays, and that it will take time to build a squad and get the team playing it well. Canny on the part of Amorin and Ratcliffe, so they can take the heat off poor results? Maybe.....

We have improved in terms of how we're playing over the course of the year. The players have started adapting to the system, well some of them at least.

We've been absolutely done over by ETH's signing of Hojlund. Nice lad but he's just not good enough and far too soft for the PL. Goes for a lot of players in the squad, we get bullied far too often. It's why we can perform against second tier European sides, but get schooled by physical PL sides. Time and time again our players are going down expecting the ref to save them.

 

[Calpol]

Think Amorim just needs to gut the team tbh and gets players that are on his side and not lazy or useless as anything or causing issues behind the scenes, so thats bye to Maguire thanks for putting work in but your not good enough lack of pace just dosnt suit this formation, bye Hojlund because how you play football actually embarrassing it like he dosnt even know how to kick a ball at times, bye Onana because your an absolute liability. I think Garnacho has to go aswell im sure he a trouble maker behind the scenes and the farce with his brother etc just isnt good for club. Luke shaw its time to go aswell just injury prone and he been given enough time now.

This is just some of the players a total clear out needs to happen Amorim needs to be given a chance to gets his players in he had half a season and only player he signed is Dorgu.

I am however abit concerned with the results and how it going to turn out next season we should be beating or at least getting better results we have at home its a disaster at times.

This is where I am. Ten Hag was prepared to compromise his game idea and early on said that the squad could not play like his Ajax team. He attempted to patch things up but ultimately the same failings as the previous managers came back to haunt him when his signings didn't work. I also suspect he wasn't fully backed in getting rid of players he knew weren't good enough and was given second choice signings. He wanted de Jong - we spunked a fortune on Casemiro. He wanted Kane - we gave him Hojlund.

I like the fact you have called out Shaw and to a lesser extent Maguire. Shaw is a player who I think epitomises what is wrong with the club. As a senior player he shows very weak leadership qualities. I recall clearly how he went to pieces in the 7-0 game and yesterday he was awful. Played with zero ambition and let Amass down. He has to go because we wouldn't moss him. Maguire also has to go because his traits really hamstring the play. My only pause is that I admire his fight and what he's done to get back in the team after ten hag more or less transfer listed him. We look better with him in the team - at least in Europe.

The manager's comments yesterday alluded to the requirement of being brave in the summer. I think that means that he believes we need a huge churn in playing staff. I suspect that means he needs at least 6 new players and importantly the end of players who cannot adapt to his style of play. We could quite easily ship Rashford, Sancho, Antony, Malacia, Eriksen, Lindelof, Casemiro, Shaw, Evans. I actually suspect that if we don't win the final that either Mainoo or Garnacho will also be sold to boost the transfer funds. That's 9/10 first team players - replacing that many will not be easy and few of the youngsters look ready yet.

With that level of churn and the prospect of Champions League football it would be fair to suspect that next season was only a marginal league improvement. We saw how long it took the likes of Forest to reform after their clear out and rebuild upon staying in the league. This is not a Liverpool, or Arsenal where you bring in 2/3 every window. I actually think that in many ways a season without midweek fixtures would be a benefit. The physicality of the EPL makes it hard to sustain levels when you play twice/three times a week every week.

Like many have said, I like Amorim - he has a steel and determination about him that reminds me of Fergie but he won't get the time or support that Sir Alex enjoyed. Yesterday you could tell he was seething about the effort level and intensity. That's where you need senior players to drag it out of players and we don't have the characters. Bruno has saved us from relegation and he always leaves it all out on the pitch but I wouldn't be scared of him as a captain.

 

[Thekwango]

Nice lad but he's just not good enough and far too soft for the PL

I’ve been a big admirer and relatively quite vocal in my support of Hojlund. My initial thoughts were he was a bit rough but that there was a player in there waiting to develop. I now think that he’s possibly just another Antony - full of effort but ultimately just not actually up to PL standard. Which is a shame, not just from the teams perspective but for the lad himself

 

[sigma]

This is where I am. Ten Hag was prepared to compromise his game idea and early on said that the squad could not play like his Ajax team. He attempted to patch things up but ultimately the same failings as the previous managers came back to haunt him when his signings didn't work. I also suspect he wasn't fully backed in getting rid of players he knew weren't good enough and was given second choice signings. He wanted de Jong - we spunked a fortune on Casemiro. He wanted Kane - we gave him Hojlund.

I like the fact you have called out Shaw and to a lesser extent Maguire. Shaw is a player who I think epitomises what is wrong with the club. As a senior player he shows very weak leadership qualities. I recall clearly how he went to pieces in the 7-0 game and yesterday he was awful. Played with zero ambition and let Amass down. He has to go because we wouldn't moss him. Maguire also has to go because his traits really hamstring the play. My only pause is that I admire his fight and what he's done to get back in the team after ten hag more or less transfer listed him. We look better with him in the team - at least in Europe.

The manager's comments yesterday alluded to the requirement of being brave in the summer. I think that means that he believes we need a huge churn in playing staff. I suspect that means he needs at least 6 new players and importantly the end of players who cannot adapt to his style of play. We could quite easily ship Rashford, Sancho, Antony, Malacia, Eriksen, Lindelof, Casemiro, Shaw, Evans. I actually suspect that if we don't win the final that either Mainoo or Garnacho will also be sold to boost the transfer funds. That's 9/10 first team players - replacing that many will not be easy and few of the youngsters look ready yet.

With that level of churn and the prospect of Champions League football it would be fair to suspect that next season was only a marginal league improvement. We saw how long it took the likes of Forest to reform after their clear out and rebuild upon staying in the league. This is not a Liverpool, or Arsenal where you bring in 2/3 every window. I actually think that in many ways a season without midweek fixtures would be a benefit. The physicality of the EPL makes it hard to sustain levels when you play twice/three times a week every week.

Like many have said, I like Amorim - he has a steel and determination about him that reminds me of Fergie but he won't get the time or support that Sir Alex enjoyed. Yesterday you could tell he was seething about the effort level and intensity. That's where you need senior players to drag it out of players and we don't have the characters. Bruno has saved us from relegation and he always leaves it all out on the pitch but I wouldn't be scared of him as a captain.

Sancho will be very hard to shift
Casemiro won't go
Neither will Shaw
Malacia even if he does go will go for peanuts

 

[Converge]

I’ve been a big admirer and relatively quite vocal in my support of Hojlund. My initial thoughts were he was a bit rough but that there was a player in there waiting to develop. I now think that he’s possibly just another Antony - full of effort but ultimately just not actually up to PL standard. Which is a shame, not just from the teams perspective but for the lad himself

I was the same, but he’s just got worse not better for the most part. It’s a real shame, but the only defence I can muster for him now is that he’s not had any senior influence, like a Cavani character to learn from. But even if he picked up a bit then he was probably a squad player rather than a starter.

 

[sigma]

Ah, Cavani

fap fap fap

 

[Converge]

Ah, Cavani

fap fap fap

I think this is the most positive reaction I’ve ever seen from you.

 

[sigma]

I think this is the most positive reaction I’ve ever seen from you.

That's because I don't think there's been much to be positive about in recent times. I really don't understand where people see the positives! Look at the league position. Look at what the people in charge are doing. Look how much money they've wasted over the last decade.

I'm off to weep and watch some classic games from years gone by!

 

[fez]

That's because I don't think there's been much to be positive about in recent times. I really don't understand where people see the positives! Look at the league position. Look at what the people in charge are doing. Look how much money they've wasted over the last decade.

I'm off to weep and watch some classic games from years gone by!

I still have hope that the new owners and people they have hired will signal a new dawn for us. If there is nothing to look forward to, whats the point. We should have a better idea how the future will look over the next 2 or so years. Will recruitment still be poor? Will we still over pay transfer fees and wages? Will players with poor attitudes be shown the door? Will injury prone players be moved on or their contracts left to expire. Will the new stadium plans go anywhere? Will we start to see some results of the above on the pitch?

Lots of things that should be changing for the better.

 

[sigma]

Lots of things that should be changing for the better.

I hope so, although this has been the case every year since SAF left (this time it's different, the special one, the God Father of Football, best in class management team, etc etc) and if anything, things are rapidly getting worse. I don't think this is a negative view to hold... It's factual.

I definitely have hope, yes. A bit like I hope I win the lottery. But I'm also realistic at the same time.

Reality Bites!

 

[JamesH85]

I’ve been a big admirer and relatively quite vocal in my support of Hojlund. My initial thoughts were he was a bit rough but that there was a player in there waiting to develop. I now think that he’s possibly just another Antony - full of effort but ultimately just not actually up to PL standard. Which is a shame, not just from the teams perspective but for the lad himself

Thing is Hojlund's goal record isn't great even before he came to united. In a team that struggled to create chances, what made anyone think he would be a success?

 

[fez]

I hope so, although this has been the case every year since SAF left (this time it's different, the special one, the God Father of Football, best in class management team, etc etc) and if anything, things are rapidly getting worse. I don't think this is a negative view to hold... It's factual.

I definitely have hope, yes. A bit like I hope I win the lottery. But I'm also realistic at the same time.

Reality Bites!

Thats the thing though, I don't think we had ever actually done what we should with the structure of the club. At what points since SAF left have we actually appointed football focussed people in the right positions? When have we been cutthroat with underperforming and overpaid stars?

INEOS literally came in Feb 24. They've been around for a year and have already made more football focussed changes than the Glazers did in the previous 15. It won't be smooth sailing but I don't see any point in getting worked up about things that will take years to bear fruit.

The number of people that see no issue comparing EtH and Amorim at United boggles my mind. The number of people who think that you can change a clubs culture and trajectory in 6 months boggles my mind. Just give it time. It might not work out but whats the point getting down about it and being negative.

 

[Converge]

Thats the thing though, I don't think we had ever actually done what we should with the structure of the club. At what points since SAF left have we actually appointed football focussed people in the right positions? When have we been cutthroat with underperforming and overpaid stars?

INEOS literally came in Feb 24. They've been around for a year and have already made more football focussed changes than the Glazers did in the previous 15. It won't be smooth sailing but I don't see any point in getting worked up about things that will take years to bear fruit.

The number of people that see no issue comparing EtH and Amorim at United boggles my mind. The number of people who think that you can change a clubs culture and trajectory in 6 months boggles my mind. Just give it time. It might not work out but whats the point getting down about it and being negative.

Exactly. So many people have said ‘give it time’ in the past on here and on other forums. And within the space of even a few weeks or months revert to bemoaning every little thing.

 

[fez]

Exactly. So many people have said ‘give it time’ in the past on here and on other forums. And within the space of even a few weeks or months revert to bemoaning every little thing.

I assume its because the noise is always deafening around United. We are doing crap, everyone laughs at us. We start doing slightly better and everyone says "look they think they have turned a corner". We regress and everyone points and says "told you so".

We are just the media wet dream because people either support us or support our downfall. Either way, people read endless articles on the same thing. Day after day after day. Go read any BBC article on United and its full of opposition fans on the wind up or whinging about how many United articles there are...which they keep reading.

Its good to take a step back and just see what happens and not listen too much.

If Amorim doesn't do better next season he will be sacked. If he doesn't do better next season, he should be sacked. I think next season will set the tone for the next 3-4 years. If recruitment is remotely good we will be fine.

 

[sigma]

So let me get this straight, fans aren't allowed to moan about finishing near the relegation spots?

Or moan about the Ashworth debacle? The way season ticket holders are being treated? Charities?

At which point can we moan? In the Championship?

 

[Robbo]

So let me get this straight, fans aren't allowed to moan about finishing near the relegation spots?

Or moan about the Ashworth debacle? The way season ticket holders are being treated? Charities?

At which point can we moan? In the Championship?

He’s not saying that, he’s just saying there will be lots of drama regardless.

The decline under Amorim has been stark, but perhaps that’s what will be needed to kickstart things. Who knows.

INEOS have made a lot of high profile unpopular decisions, but it may well be short term pain for long term gain.

I could actually see a situation where Amorim wins the trophy but they mutually agree his departure. He leaves a European cup winner, and we get a more conventional manager playing a familiar system.

It’s really quite a strange situation.

 

[Shamikebab]

Prime example there are articles about us not having a parade if we win Europa. We didn't do it before either, it's literally just manufactured drama for clicks. No other club gets that sort of coverage.

 

[fez]

So let me get this straight, fans aren't allowed to moan about finishing near the relegation spots?

Or moan about the Ashworth debacle? The way season ticket holders are being treated? Charities?

At which point can we moan? In the Championship?

Fans can moan about whatever they like but its endless with some of our fans and if you want to whinge about something, at least have a good reason for it. Complaining that a manager who was brought in mid-season with a completely alien system to our players and asked to play this system is doing that and its not going well and then claiming that hes not better than EtH is frankly ludicrous.

The things I hear the least moaning about the the things you mentioned there. Ashworth, season tickets, charities, staff etc. Most of its just generic "woe is the club, its all going down the toilet" coupled with "we want complete change and don't care how hard it is" followed by "oh it shouldn't be this hard, why hasn't the manager turned things around already".

 

[sigma]

It’s really quite a strange situation.

A situation entirely created by Glazers and Ineos, due to poor management. This is what is so annoying.

I know the latter have only been in place for a year but the club as definitely deteriorated since they joined, how much of it is their fault remains to be seen but they are the ones making the decisions and they don't seem to be doing a good job so far. Let's see what happens but I'd say it's a false sense of confidence if we think they'll get it right. They've got more wrong than right so far.

 

[Calpol]

Fez knows