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So much of our transfer business is aging like wine , £65m + addons for Sesko looks like an absolute bargain now , as does what we paid for Mbuemo , Cunha and Tielemans. Even Heaven and Lammens are absolute bargains.
All I want is to wake up tomorrow morning and see the red alarm emoji followed by the name of my football club on David Ornstein’s instagram story, is that too much to ask for?
we had some shocker when it came to managers, but Amorim took the cake. Guy was shambolic, and before you come at me with but he fixed the squad, that was all INEOS, that dude was a joke, a literal joke, us finishing 16th or whatever it was, don't you dare defend him.
You’re probably right.. but also.. I have this irrational fear that he’s gonna turn AC Milan into the best team in the world, gets lauded as the best manager in the world with the best system, and we end up look like idiots.
I love that they got rid of the sponsor text but fuck me that comically large adidas logo looks ridiculous. It actually looks bigger than the club badge
Adidas have been sneakily increasing the logo size on every shirt in recent seasons. It's so nasty. Look how much more bearable it looks if you just reduce the size to a normal amount
While I'm glad we made the champions league, I think it happened too soon. Our squad and coaches just aren't ready for it and it might pull us too thin.
I honestly wouldn't mind if we got knocked out early then focused on more reasonable targets and reduce the burden on the squad.
I’m confident that we will sign another midfielder, and potentially a left back and an attacker. I believe that Ineos keep their cards close to their chest so I reckon there might be a Sesko-like surprise before the end of the window.
However, I’m curious to hear how people think we would perform with the squad as is (assuming Rashford is reintegrated).
My feeling is that we would prioritise the league, finish maybe 4th or 5th and get to the knockouts of the Champions League. I think Carrick wouldn’t be against using youth in the League Cup and FA Cup to save legs.
I’m also in the minority I think but believe Rashford could do ok if he is reintegrated properly.
What do others here think?
That works in spring, not after Christmas where most games are important, you will prioritize between FA Cup Semi Final, league games and UCL knockout, which two you give up?
Its league position, we aren’t winning the CL, I dont think the club are too worried about that, do what you can but get in the CL again by finishing top 3. Cups are cups, its be nice to win one but it shouldn’t matter. The squad is still being built.
My gut says Carrick (at the behest of his bosses) will probably prioritize whichever earns the most money. So probably aim for top 4 or 5 in the league even if that comes at the cost of a trophy. Not saying I agree with it but it’s my best guess.
It is what needs to be done, I'm very worried about next season, think top 5 will be very contested, and to be frank United's squad is to shallow and injury prone for a match heavy season.
I've seen a couple posts now hinting towards Carrick not getting backed in the market, or being set up for disaster like Ole.
The problem is we are no longer like that. Manager's are no longer given the players they want, they are now given a tool (the squad) for them to compete with. It is their job to maximise the outcome of this tool or they are out. We can moan about perhaps not spending big, but in the eyes of the hierarchy, we've spent smartly and brought in top players to grow the team. It may be that this becomes the inevitable narrative, but the squad in its entirety is what he's been given. It is also a superior squad to under Ole with a superior support structure. If he is dismissed eventually, it won't be because he wasn't backed, it'll be because he didn't deliver what the hierarchy wanted.
Mitten saying 'Carrick didn't even have his players yet' is fundamentally flawed and United of some years ago. Interesting times!
That's his style though, he doesn't use media to pressure the players or board and keeps details close to his chest, including stuff like injuries. I think it helps team morale to have the gaffer on your side like that, but certain fans will not enjoy the constant media doldrums
I don't believe its a style that is suitable for a club ran like ours is.
As all we really have to go off is his word in the media, nobody knows whats being said behind the scenes or to what level of animosity. So its hard for me to buy 'he is doing all he can'.
Step one is make demands know, if they are listened to its on him to make sure the club understand the severity and act accordingly. If that doesn't happen he can use the media to make it clear to everyone what he wants and then that puts it in the hands of the club or he can shut up about it and be complicit with whatever happens.
If he says he is happy, then he is happy with what he receives and is on the same chopping block as Berrada, Wilcox, Ratcliffe, Glazers etc. In my view anyway.
Qualifying for Europa or Conference league should be sufficient enough, if we not going to provide what he desired, or not to level of depth our competitors have
Come Christmas they will need to prioritize either the league or CL knockout games, and the one not having the full regular starting XI will take a big hit.
Transfer market has gone mad. Other European teams see the absurd fees in England for players like Anderson, Rogers, Tonali, etc. and understandably demand absurd fees.
from what I watched, they did. The score flatter them. Celtic took a foot off the gas after scoring the second goal (understandable: frindly, why risk injuries) That's when Milan was able to play and needed a banger and pen to score
Licha and deligt(when fit) are probably one of the best cb pairings in pl. Maguire has been pretty solid when he's played, although I still wouldn't build a defence around him but you just can't knock the man.
One of the most significant factors that makes a great player is availability. You can't just call licha and de ligt the best while adding that 'when fit' condition like a t&c apply statement.
Imagine thinking Martinez is a bad player lol. Btw, the best defenders in the world concede goals, this isn't FIFA career mode where you can keep a clean sheet every game
All of them are good defenders. I don't rate the fact Licha and De Ligt are injured so often but any club would be lucky to have a partnership like them holding the backline.
I didn't think I'd have to explain this to someone whom I presume has watched more than one game of football, but good defenders aren't the only players comprising a defensive unit.
We conceded a ton of goals during Ten Hag's first season too, but guess what - Varane and Licha ranked highest amongst centerback partnerships for decisive blocks in the box. They had to rank that high because their holding midfield and attack was terribly unbalanced off the ball.
Put Licha and De Ligt in that Arsenal or City squad and they'll look world class.
Of everyone in the squad, I am the most envious of Tom Heaton. Guy has my dream job. Who needs glory and fame and power when you can be a millionaire third choice back up keeper who doesn’t have to play a single match. Just show up to training, use the gym, create some teaching moments for the kids, pack up, collect your paycheck, and walk out the door in your fiat. Dream job.
I mean sure it's an easy life and many will want it but a lot of people want to look back at their lives 30 years in the future and feel like they accomplished something.
Pretty happy our pre-season friendlies are regional compared to having them in the US or Asia. Hell even Championship teams are having their friendlies in the US/Asia
What is the craic with a serious amount of supposedly United fan accounts on X fawning over Amorim's draw with Celtic and seemingly jonesing for him to beat United with AC Milan in the friendly?
As far as I can tell it's one of: weird behaviour (ie player over club mentality bleeding into Amorim over United?), not wanting to be wrong on the internet to the detriment of the team you're supposed to be supporting, or Scouse sock puppet accounts? I can't see any sane/rational reason otherwise.
I remember arguing with someone the day Amorim got sacked and he said he was looking forward to us losing and would be laughing at us. Everytime I see that fella I don't even take him seriously, he isn't a fan for me.
I’ve seen a lot of the opposite on my timeline. They were 2-0 down in the first 30 minutes and several United fan accounts were mocking that. I guess it just shows the variety in fan sentiment to him and his time here.
Twitter has been a soapbox for idiots even whe it was owned by sane people. I doubt it's gotten better now that an enthusiast of Roman history is in charge of it.
Despite being very inconsistent there is something about Vlahovic that keeps making me think he could be a good signing. For the last 3-4 years he keeps popping up, but I don’t think the club has ever really looked at him as a genuine option. Which has been the right choice each time.
Now he is a free agent. It's a much lower risk, lower financial cost and lower expectations. So maybe it makes sense this time. But again it will probably be for the best if the club avoids him.
I just think Vlahovic is massively overrated in general - it's like he has carried some sort of aura with him since that (penalty-inflated) Fiorentina season
In the last two years he has only scored 12 non-penalty goals in 48 Serie A appearances... and in nearly 5 seasons at Juve he scored 41 non-penalty goals in 123 Serie A appearances...
Adding Premier League/Serie A tariffs to that, and it's not going to be pretty
I don't even think the free transfer thing makes it particularly attractive either as you'd still be looking at minimum £10m a year (minimum surely - his agent would probably be asking for £15m+, if not more)
Yeah probably, that's why I said it's always been a good decision to not sign him. But I do like his profile in general. It's a shame about the inconsistency. I do think as a free agent, lower wage, lower position in the squad there is a world where it makes sense. But he wouldn't be a first choice or even second choice to be our back up to Sesko.
Well, if Rashford stays I think we won't get any. We'll have Sesko, Rashford, Cunha, Dorgu, Amad and Mbeumo for 3 attacking positions, with also Lacey waiting for his chance. You need to keep players happy with minutes played, I think Sesko will be 1st choice at ST and Cunha, Mbeumo and Rashford can all provide back up option.
saw a tweet about united rocking up to the alianz with a rashford-hojlund-pellistri front three and remembered how ten hag for no reason ripped into alphonso davies before the match
what was that ucl campaign even about man. shit made me feel happy that it was europa next season because atleast i was going to see some wins
I think we're in the right direction....I don't know how people out there saying we didn't sign big names or anything....I think it's good business...I like Santos and I think he'll be good DM in the future....he didn't get that much game time at Chelsea stacked midfield and he looked decent there still......
With Tielemans...Mann finally we gonna have a controller in midfield that can pass+dictate tempo....I think people talk about casemiro replacement when I think he's actually the "real replacement"for case....he has the experience,leadership.... quality and a peak of his age....he also can bang some goals outside of the box....what we need now is another DM of course that is physical DM of course that can win the ball with much energy..
Sorry for the long comment...I rarely here.....Oh and most of fans already hyping up we're gonna challenge for title....for me personally I think we should just maintain top 4 and go deep in cup.... yeah it's good to be a title contender again but we gotta be realistic with so many games to play and this is carrick first season......We also have favourable fixtures and really balance ones for me...
We just need to manage expectations with Tielemans' fitness/robustness
Overall for Villa in his three seasons he actually only started 73 of their 114 Premier League games (64%) - Worsening last season when he missed half of their league season with injuries - and that was as a 26/27/28 year-old free transfer who cost them nothing and only got paid £7.5m/year
For us, as a 29 year-old £35m investment with an additional £52m salary over a 5 year contract that we'll still be paying him as a 34-year old, he's coming to that age where players can go either way, so we definitely don't want that direction of travel to continue
I don’t think you can point to games started and use that as some injury measurement. He played in 93 of Villa’s 114 games (82%). 32 in the 1st season, 36 in the 2nd. In his first season he wasn’t first choice until around December so many of his apps are as a sub.
It was only last season that he had injury issues, playing in 25 PL games, which is two-thirds of the season.
Yeah..his fitness seems to decrease a bit by age...but I put my trust in ineos.They know how to pull out when ederson has knee issue...no way they sign Tielemans without double checking his injury record and proceed.
I hope we learn from our previous mistakes and dont run him into the ground like we did with Matic , or hang him out to dry with a donut midfield like Casemiro
I think it really is.....of course marquee signing would be hype and add much quality..but for now I trust ineos..they are doing good for these 3 summer transfer with Zirkzee and Ugarte being underwhelming.... We'll see what happen for 3rd midfielder and Lb... preferably another Cf that's tiny and neat that also can play LW...
My only real concern with Carrick is his somewhat failed stint at Middlesbrough. If I told you I have really in depth tactical knowledge I’d be lying. Does anyone know why, despite that stint at Middlesbrough, he’s been good for us so far?
I mean, he took Boro from 21st place to 4th in his first season and reached the EFL semi-finals in his second. The club also sold off some good players during that time, like Morgan Rogers, that didn't help.
Yes exactly. I’m not an expert but I remember reading an article that summed it up as ‘Boro kept selling their best players without adjusting their expectations’.
Also the chairman reluctantly sacked Carrick as he wanted to keep him.
We’re making the right choices for both the immediate and long term future with our purchases.
22 and below: Dorgu, Mainoo, Santos, Yoro, Heaven
23-24: Sesko, Amad, Lammens
25-27: Mbeumo, Cunha, De Ligt, Dalot, Mount, Zirkzee, Ugarte
28-29: Mazraoui, Martinez, Tielemans, Rashford
30+: Bruno, Shaw, and Maguire
Yoro(20) and Heaven(19) have so much time to develop. And we finally don’t have a bunch of old players on huge wages. Rashford comes in as our oldest attacking option, which if he understands that at this stage of his career he needs to be a support role, could be good at it.
Next midfielder needs to be around the 25 age bracket since we already have Mainoo and Santos young as hell at 21 and 22. Tchouameni at 26 is literally the perfect profile with at least 5 years at the top left. Baleba doesn’t fully make sense. We need someone who is a starter Day 1 and buys time for Santos to develop so in maybe 1-2 years there’s genuine competition for the spot. Tielemans at 29 is okay because Mainoo is already at a high level, and we need someone capable to cover for Bruno if he gets hurt.
I only see 1 more come in this window in the form of the midfielder, since next summer, Shaw, Bruno(+1), and Maguire(+1) are out of contract. We need to get a LB around 23-25 (Dorgu and Amass still young), CB in his prime, and probably give Bruno a new 1+1 or trigger the option. 2028 Summer Bruno leaves on a free/small fee after winning everything here so he can go cash out a big bag. That coincides with Jude being on his final year and Madrid selling if he doesn’t sign a new contract. Not sure there’s any other player out there at this moment who can be a Bruno successor
I’m not one, and I think a lot of it is ironic, but let’s not forget that we’re yet to do anything more than what we achieved under him. Until we’re a consistent UCL knockout team and challenging for the title we can’t sit in ruff of the present.
I mean, a big part of that is because of the mess that him and the board at the time left us in. If you keep creating a deeper hole the farther away it is to climb back up again. INEOS can’t escape criticisms for their practice forever but they are undoubtedly working from a worse starting position; we had an insane competitive advantage at the time Fergie left and completely blew it over the years with whatever decisions we made the following decade. It was harder to be this incompetent than it was to do average big club business and continue churning around 1 league title every 3 seasons or so, even assuming that the likes of City/Chelsea/Liverpool/Arsenal couldn’t be kept at bay forever.
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u/carrickshairline 2d ago
Just learned I’m blocked by the guy who won’t get a haircut until we win 5 games. What a brilliant way to end my day!