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

[div0]

Can’t see him leaving this season, it’s too late in the window and the discord and impact to the ‘good feeling’ / formative thing they have going would be too great as he’s integral to it. Next season, sure.

Agree though about the actual games, he makes the whole team a little awkward.

On pure numbers and fantasy management, you'd sell him and replace him with someone more suited to that deep lying midfield role.

But I think you're right, with all the new faces coming in, it feels like the club needs someone like Bruno to help everyone else settle in first.

 

[engee]

Exactly my thoughts too. Although we could do with the money towards someone like Baleba, it might destabilise what appears to be good vibe around the pace by losing the captain.

 

[booyaka]

Still sounds like Sancho is sitting on his arse wanting to do nothing.

Roma have said the deal is dead with him unless he shows some willingness to move (a lack of motivation from his side)

Pathetic

Anthony doesn't seem to be bothering either with anything.... Just a load of deadwood that needs gone.

 

[Droolinggimp]

Surely there must be a way to sack players like Sancho. I know contracts are probably water tight, but still, behaving like he has since being helped to get himself right just stinks.

 

[fez]

Still sounds like Sancho is sitting on his arse wanting to do nothing.

Roma have said the deal is dead with him unless he shows some willingness to move (a lack of motivation from his side)

Pathetic

Of course hes sitting on his arse. Hes not that bothered about playing football clearly and hes getting paid more here than he will anywhere else and if he waits another year, he will be able to get a bigger payout from any club that signs him vs him leaving this summer. It makes little sense for someone of his persuation to do anything but wait for a brilliant offer. I'm sure if Dortmund came in with a package he liked the look of he would go but outside of that hes probably not going anywhere.

Anthony doesn't seem to be bothering either with anything.... Just a load of deadwood that needs gone.

He still seems to be hoping that United will cave and sell him for FA to Betis. I assume he has been told that ain't happening but he still seems set on it. He will probably be loaned out again this year.

Surely there must be a way to sack players like Sancho. I know contracts are probably water tight, but still, behaving like he has since being helped to get himself right just stinks.

Of course there isn't. Hes fundamentally done nothing wrong as per his contract. We were the idiots that gave him that contract at any rate. Fingers crossed lessons have been learned.

 

[spudbynight]

Surely there must be a way to sack players like Sancho. I know contracts are probably water tight, but still, behaving like he has since being helped to get himself right just stinks.

Has he refused to play? As long as he makes himself available for selection then he is holding up his side.

 

[Mekrel]

Do we believe things will be better this season? I know it's early days but not getting three points vs Fulham is concerning, especially with how much we've spent on the front three. I couldn't watch the match as I was at a friend's BBQ but I heard we didn't turn up for the second half?

The worrying thing is, if we still have the inability to score, we've got to be solid at the back but it seems we can still leak a goal that either results in us losing by the one goal or losing our lead.

 

[Robbo]

My thoughts after yesterday.

Let's park the fact Amorim is a charismatic, likeable guy - because he is, but that's not really part of being a good football manager.

He's had the luxury of throwing away half a season in order to carefully assess the squad. Not many managers get that, but it's fair enough, it's a very difficult job with unique challenges and pressures. I think this has also introduced a new problem though: it's increased the pressure this season even more. His record is, however you look at it, utterly dreadful. Other managers have come into clubs and made much bigger impacts.

New signings will take time to bed in, that's usually the case, but for me the real issue now is will his system actually work? He's showing absolutely no tactical flexibility at all, and he damaged us yesterday by playing Mount and Bruno as a central pairing. Was this on purpose to show we need another midfielder? Mainoo and Ugarte would have been more secure, surely. Opposing players and managers keep saying they know exactly how to face this rigid system... which isn't exactly great.

It's good they're trying to address the goalkeeper situation, but we also look pretty hopeless in terms of organisation when it comes to set pieces. At least one midfielder must be a priority now.

Overall there is an improvement, but given the changes in the squad I'd say it's pretty marginal. Things will need to start clicking, and fast. Looking at the fixture list I think we'll probably win 2 or 3 of the next 12 games, so yeah, not exactly hopeful...

Typically amusing article from Barney Ronay:

Manchester United have sunk to ground zero, caught in an endless cycle of hope and regret | Barney Ronay

Against Fulham, Sesko looked like he had just realised what he had let himself in for, thrown into the meat grinder and asked to fix everything

www.theguardian.com

 

[Mekrel]

I don't understand how the midfield issue has gone unfixed, it's been pretty obvious we have a massively unbalanced roster of players there and that's become even more the case after this summer window.

Mainoo, Fernandes and Mount are all better further forward. Ugarte... he looked dreadful in pre-season, especially the Everton game and when he came on against Arsenal, he lost possession in our third not long after he came on.

Hopefully Sesko gets up to fitness and actually starts games.

 

[booyaka]

My thoughts after yesterday.

Let's park the fact Amorim is a charismatic, likeable guy - because he is, but that's not really part of being a good football manager.

He's had the luxury of throwing away half a season in order to carefully assess the squad. Not many managers get that, but it's fair enough, it's a very difficult job with unique challenges and pressures. I think this has also introduced a new problem though: it's increased the pressure this season even more. His record is, however you look at it, utterly dreadful. Other managers have come into clubs and made much bigger impacts.

New signings will take time to bed in, that's usually the case, but for me the real issue now is will his system actually work? He's showing absolutely no tactical flexibility at all, and he damaged us yesterday by playing Mount and Bruno as a central pairing. Was this on purpose to show we need another midfielder? Mainoo and Ugarte would have been more secure, surely. Opposing players and managers keep saying they know exactly how to face this rigid system... which isn't exactly great.

It's good they're trying to address the goalkeeper situation, but we also look pretty hopeless in terms of organisation when it comes to set pieces. At least one midfielder must be a priority now.

Overall there is an improvement, but given the changes in the squad I'd say it's pretty marginal. Things will need to start clicking, and fast. Looking at the fixture list I think we'll probably win 2 or 3 of the next 12 games, so yeah, not exactly hopeful...

Typically amusing article from Barney Ronay:

Manchester United have sunk to ground zero, caught in an endless cycle of hope and regret | Barney Ronay

Against Fulham, Sesko looked like he had just realised what he had let himself in for, thrown into the meat grinder and asked to fix everything

www.theguardian.com

Yes - no plan B is a deep concern for me - He seems totally fixated on playing one system with no other options.

Whilst Sesko has only played 40 minutes total so far - he's had literally no supply, not a single cross into the box etc.... Hojland was the same - no service and if nothing changes, we will never score goals playing like we are.

Just looks like relying on individual moments to score - there appears to be no team build up/crosses/through balls at all.

 

[fez]

The club has a big decision to make because currently we are at risk of throwing more money after a manager who simply isn't showing the signs he should in order to be backed. He cannot and should not get the benefit of the doubt until he has every position replaced. I like the signings we have made and I don't think they are specialists for his system at all. We would still be unbalanced if a new manager game in but we would have too many 10s.

The difference is that a 3 man midfield would solve most of our midfield issues enough to have a good season. If hes shown no real progress beyond that you would expect from upgrading the quality of a few positions after 10 games he should be replaced. This is how well run clubs do it. If they make a mistake they rectify it and if you have a proper structure in place then your manager being replaced shouldn't change the culture around the team.

 

[Converge]

I think you’re forgetting they’re not looking to buy players just for the manager though. That’s what Wilcox and co are supposed to be moving away from. It’s players for the club now, something almost verging on good upper management may be happening! They need a midfielder (and the incoming goalkeeper) regardless of what happens to Amorim in future. I’m sure they will have planned accordingly behind closed doors when making decisions on players. I’d say ETH was the last of the old solely ‘for the manager’ buys.

 

[Robbo]

The players would fit into a standard 4-3-3 quite easily. Sesko striker, Mbeumo right, Cunha left, and then Bruno/Ugarte/Mount as the 3 (insert Mainoo or someone when Mount gets injured).

Still need more in the midfield, but it'd work with a decent manager... it feels like we're constantly fighting against the Amorim tactical system.

I do also think it's slightly bizarre he's so proudly wedded to this specific system, isn't adaptability part of being a good manager...

 

[Calpol]

It was always going to be this way. You don't go from finishing 15th to CL spot in 2 games. (Unless you are Spurs )
I still trust him (amorim) but the above posts from sensible watchers like @Robbo @fez @booyaka are concerning as it suggests a dwindling confidence in the coach and that is not a good sign.
What seems strange is how we have amassed so many players for the same position in the team. This vaunted no.10 role.
Fernandes - his best position
Zirkzee - not a number 9 as we have seen
Mount - only ever looks anywhere near good enough as a 10
Amad - our 2nd best player last season as a 10
Mbeumo - deffo best as a 10
Cunha - deffo best as a 10
Mainoo - who knows what his best position is but Amorim says he is fighting Bruno for the spot.

So we have seven potential players for 2 spots but we have seemingly no-one we trust to do the defensive midfield role including the one we bought less than a year ago.
I suspect Fernandes is a problem for Amorim but one he can't resolve at this stage in his tenure. A manager with more in the bank would have sold him and bought Baleba.

The game is fine margins - we were unlucky to lose to Arsenal having been the better side. Yesterday, Cunha's shot hits the post and goes in, Bruno nets the penno and its a different game especially after the encouragement of the start. What we saw was players reverting to type and forgetting the training when things didn't go as planned. That must be very frustrating for the coach but its his job to solve it. Sadly he won't do it with Casemiro, Dalot, Shaw. Bayinder or Mount in my opinion.

 

[booyaka]

I don't mind Mount - I would like to see more of him in games but I agree - he's better as a 10 but we have loads of players for that.

Bruno deep just doesn't work for me - he's frustrated, gets pushed around to easily, he's way better going forward etc.

Keeper is still an issue for sure - that looks like it's getting sorted but we are still lacking a real quality deep lying midfield player - Agree with @Calpol - Casemiro ain't it at this age, Mount doesn't work there, Manioo seems like another one destined for the sale pile.

 

[Robbo]

It was always going to be this way. You don't go from finishing 15th to CL spot in 2 games. (Unless you are Spurs )
I still trust him (amorim) but the above posts from sensible watchers like @Robbo @fez @booyaka are concerning as it suggests a dwindling confidence in the coach and that is not a good sign.

*snip*

I've not given up on him yet, but I am very concerned. If it wasn't for his charismatic manner, I think most fans would be demanding he's sacked so we don't waste yet another season.

I don't think you can underestimate the damage that was done to both him and the players last season, it's hard to come back from.

If things look no different in the next few games I think they'll be looking to get rid of him.

The new goalkeeper will hopefully be a boost and they absolutely must get in a midfielder at all costs - failure to do so will mean he's almost certainly doomed.

 

[dacads]

Yeah I think a loss and draw isn't a great start either to the season either, need to start winning games sooner rather than later or else..

The players we have now there's no excuses

 

[md85]

Amorim's future is in his hands now, I think. I'm not convinced we'll be getting a midfielder in, at least no-one capable of making a difference (we don't have the money for a Baleba without something dramatic happening sales wise).

He needs to find a way with what we have (beyond Lammens (likely) coming in). He has to show some flexibility in his approach when things aren't working (which is most of the time). It's been one of the good things about him, that he came in and stuck to his approach, his rules and discipline around players like Garnacho, but he also has to bend the other way a little at times as well. The only "dramatic" change I can even think of from his time here is him sticking Maguire upfront, I can't recall any significant tactical flexibility otherwise. If he doesn't bend a little, and things don't improve, I think those international breaks throughout autumn come along pretty quickly...

I don't think he will because he seems set on 5 at the back, but it seems obvious to most that a shift to 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 would fit the players we do have a lot more and push the midfielders we do have (those 10s mentioned above) into their better positions. With Martinez coming back, providing he doesn't get crocked again too quickly, you could also look to try him in the DM role (in a 4-2-3-1) alongside Casemiro (there's only really Casemiro and Ugarte out of the current setup). He's at least more defensively minded than any of the 10s we're currently trying to force in there, and he's played there before.

We're just clutching at straws really at this point though. We need more and better players obviously, but we should also be doing much better than we are with who we have.

 

[MartinPrince]

The game is fine margins - we were unlucky to lose to Arsenal having been the better side. Yesterday, Cunha's shot hits the post and goes in, Bruno nets the penno and its a different game especially after the encouragement of the start. What we saw was players reverting to type and forgetting the training when things didn't go as planned. That must be very frustrating for the coach but its his job to solve it. Sadly he won't do it with Casemiro, Dalot, Shaw. Bayinder or Mount in my opinion.

I think United fans are moving their finger over the panic button too soon.

I see them having a good season this year. They could just have easily won those first two games. Cunha's pull down from the sky, shot and great save from Leno is a sign of things to come for me.

I do agree that you have a bit too much dead wood like Dalot et al but the main problem I saw last year when watching ManU was where they were going to get goals from. That is not the case now.

 

[fez]

I think United fans are moving their finger over the panic button too soon.

I see them having a good season this year. They could just have easily won those first two games. Cunha's pull down from the sky, shot and great save from Leno is a sign of things to come for me.

I do agree that you have a bit too much dead wood like Dalot et al but the main problem I saw last year when watching ManU was where they were going to get goals from. That is not the case now.

We've managed 0 goals for nearly 4xG this season so far. Not good so far.

The bigger issue is that we are still getting overrun in the middle of the pitch and team will target that and have a lot of joy. Amorim needs to work out how to fix that.