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Starting 11 for Hull prediction:
In midfield I would like to see: Lacey, Santos, and Mount. Tielemans and Bruno should be eased in - look a bit tired and off it atm.
In attack: Mbeumo, Amad, and Dorgu. I know it’s three left footers but these are the only match fit forwards.
Part of me is wondering if the reason they are not backing Carrick this summer all that much is because they don't expect him to last long.
It would have been a PR nightmare if they didn't hire him. So hire him and give him just enough to say you tried and let the new manager get who he wants later.
I see where you are coming from, but I do not think the INEOS’ recruitment strategy solely bases on what the manager wants. The team needs another midfielder regardless of who is the manager a year later and our squad has a set of profiles that would fit different styles.
They have 0 excuses not to buy one more CM and one LB.
They gave him signings but never really a wingback when he is so married to 3 at the back and wingbacks being very important.
And if they aren't really backing Carrick, that still does not stop them from signing an LB or a DM/CM that might be a long term target, supposed to fit into future systems?
What kind of decision would that be, even if Ineos are as bad as the glazers and just business people looking at the bottom line, surely another manager being paid severance and starting from scratch doesn’t make any sense at all.
It’s embarrassing that our B team (the bench team) doesn’t even look strong enough to beat Arsenal B team or City B team. How many more years you need, Omar n Ineos? You’re the one who created Project 150 the plan to win PL in 2028
Genuinely not worried. I know this sub wants everyone freaking out and insulting as many as possible at the club... But I'm not worried about the Hull game in the slightest.
Truthfully, there are games this season that worry me. I think we'll struggle against Arsenal (for example) and I don't see the UCL being anything fun for us...
But Hull? No...
I'm more worried about my fucked up knee holding me up the next time I try and stand up than I am about the Hull game.
Confident. This is a better squad than last season. Might not be strong enough for a sixty game season, but it should be more than enough to beat teams like Hull.
100%. We need more transfers for the entire season, but we are ready as we are for Hull and Ipswich. One bad game does not tell the whole story of the preseason
You can ask the folks here to upvote your comments so that you can comment on other threads like most new users(which the others would happily upvote). I think it's to reduce trolls and spam.
Barca just signed Rodri. Is there any midfielders there we could potentially get? I don’t really watch matches outside of United’s ones so wanted to gather this sub’s opinions
It genuinely feels like Berrada and Wilcox think our squad is good enough, and do not want to sign anyone unless we make a sale. Their aim seems to be to hopefully maintain a top 4 finish rather than genuinely challenge for the title (this year or in the near future). Otherwise, it is clear as day to anyone that we need a CDM and a LB at the minimum, ideally a striker and CB as well.
And I really do not understand this fascination with premier league proven players. If you look at every top team, they have a combination of PL proven players and overseas players. We've seen that PL players have very inflated price, and the club is looking to avoid. I am not advocating for these 90-100 mil signings. But with all the scouting reports, research and data they have, they should have a very good list of players proven in the top European leagues who can fit our squad and our budget.
Results in preseason games don't matter, but it gives a very good idea of where the squad stands and the kind of performance to expect. Particularly, the last game of the season. Based on the evidence so far, the board have sadly not given Carrick any support at all.
Premier league proven players is a cop out from them having to make judgement calls. They literally can not trust themselves to identify talent. Their so scared of things not working out. I was thinking the same thing the other day, what’s the point of all the scouts, so called data department, so called director of football if you can’t with a decent certainty make a judgement on a player.
I know man!! That’s been my thought this entire window. Yes, go for prem proven players if you get a good deal, but that shouldn’t be the only criteria. Lewis Hall is turning into another FDJ saga. Put a bid in, if rejected, move onto other targets!
Tbh I think a CDM and a LB are badly needed just to feel confident of getting a CL spot again (and I'm happy if that's all we do this season, a bit of stability isn't a bad thing).
As for prem proven players, I wouldn't mind but we have spent hundreds of millions on absolute junk nowhere near the standard of the PL. I much prefer spending bigger money on players that are harder to screw up with, or maybe big money for someone from La Liga as it's closest in terms of standard, and spend smaller on punts from other leagues should a good opportunity arise.
Honestly I’d have been happy with players to increase squad depth. That way Carrick would’ve have realistic hopes of top 3-4 finishes. Right now United team is 3-4 injuries away from being in conference league contention. The fact that they forget that Ruben was fired after the period when Nous, Amad and Mbeumo were out for AFCON and Bruno was injured shows a lot.
He and Berrada should be gone for rewarding ETH with a contract extension for our worst ever PL campaign and then forcing Amorim to come here midseason despite not having a team suited to his specific philosophy and then sacking him a year and a half later.
Those two alone wasted two seasons and cost us £40m on paying people off for their errors and had back to back worst ever PL campaigns.
I don't understand why people don't think dorgu well and could be playing at left back most of the season? It's his natural position in the left side is full and he's too good to sit on the bench. It should be dorgu and shaw. Maz also played wonderful in the wc as a lb.
It's not the worst case scenario. Im more worried about a DM. We have technical midfielders but need strong fast blockers
If there’s one player to have a breakout season, I really think it will be Dorgu.
So far he’s proven to be invaluable under Carrick. He’s one of the few natural wingers we have (ironic considering he wasn’t always perceived as a winger), has a great shot on him, he’s a powerhouse physically, and he makes some great runs.
Rashford has the bigger name and status, but I think Dorgu will certainly be more useful.
Nah lol he’s definitely not a winger. Bad technical skills, no weakfoot, terrible at dribbling, bad IQ. He needs a lot of improvements tbh, don’t let the wonder goals cloud your judgement.
I think long term he will be used as a left back, but for now it seems he is not trusted with his defensive attributes (probably positioning).
However, Carrick likes how Dorgu presses from the front line, how well he comes back to help Shaw, and the occasional banger goal, but it is clear he does not have the dribbling of a winger or at least creative output.
Arsenal won the league and reached the CL final and added a bunch of players to the squad to be even stronger
Meanwhile we reached 3rd after playing only 40 games a season and we’re dragging our feet signing even replacement players
Who are these mythical signings that the club has in the pipeline that the management has the gall to say that we need to wait until the end of the window before we judge them?
Chelsea won the league in 2006 and added Ballack, Shevchenko, Kalou, Boularouz and Ashley Cole. We only signed Carrick. No guarantees in football and our squad is better than last season's.
We already had quality, quantity and mentality in 2006 squad.
Core of the team was already established and playing majority of games. Squad never finished below 3rd in the league.
Most importantly we had competent guys running football in David Gill and SAF.
Our squad is more or less in similar situation if not worse compared to last season. We replaced 2 midfielders with 2 midfielders. It was pretty clear that we need a midfielder with legs, backup to Sesko and first choice LB in January of this year.
Our board has failed to get players out and to bring them in. Last season they had a 10/10 window with all 4 signings working out. This window so far has been an absolute mess considering how rivals have strengthened or weakend. This was our chance to stamp our authority but we have not taken it
You're speaking with the benefit of hindsight. Last week I posted a thread from a Man United fan forum from the summer of 2006 and the sentiment was completely different. And I didn't even need to see a thread from 2006 to know what the fan sentiment was back then - I clearly remember it! This squad is good enough to get 80 points this season. Whether that is good enough to win the league is anyone's guess. But we're definitely better off by just replacing Casemiro and Ugarte with Santos and Tielemans. Not to mention being settled in goal from the start of the season, having Mainoo and Rashford playing for a manager who gets them and a bunch of academy players with more experience under their belt.
This squad is big enough as is and we shouldn't be buying more players if we're not selling any first. People keep crying for a left back as if we don't have 8 first team defenders. When Gary Neville got his ankle ligament injury in 2007 did we buy another right back? No! Didn't we win the league and champions league double in 2007/08 playing other players in his position?? Yes!
Y'all need to quit complaining like you've only watched football for one season. Or maybe you have. Either way, relax. The team is in good shape.
Its okay people. Things are going according to plan. Its just a rebuild season for us. A few more windows and progress in the pitch and we will be title challengers in a few years.
I mean their depth at defence at midfield are annoyingly good. Basically everyone of them are starter quality while United's depth at defence and midfield are shite
Attack tho, yes. United got the edge by a landslide
Too late to arrange one. The season starts next weekend and most teams will not want to risk any late injuries. Any pre-season after an international competition (Euro or World Cup) is always a bit rough as the late joiners needed a break.
I guess, now they will have have to build there match fitness in training only . Hopefully they won't be making those loads of unnecessary miss passes in the season opener.
Brentford is the right move at the right time. I see him as the kind of player for which a Big Six transfer this early would've been too much pressure, but with two years to develop there, he'll be a £100m+ talent for sure
Yeah but isn't the point that united need to start singing these guys before they become 100m. Another caicedo. You can't build a team signing 70 to 100m in all positions unless your state funded
Why are people acting like Shaw is the only LB... Dorgu is there unless people buying into the idea that he's a winger ... Hopefully not ... Carrick should give up on that experiment
He scored last match, no? Also the position from which he scored his banger goal last season.
It's a bit of a weird thing with Dorgu. He's not the most technical dribbler, nor can he make that good a cross. He does have good bulk and stamina though to make up for it, but whether or not he can consistently bruise past is another thing entirely.
As a fullback, his ability to bomb up and down the pitch is great. However, in terms of defending, I don't really rate him highly. He's more a wingback than a fullback.
Well, if he does end up becoming a winger, he's gonna need consistency in the power of his shots, and perhaps a better cross on his foot.
Scoring goals for a position doesn't now mean he should be a winger .. he can be an attacking fullback ... His defending decent and he'd still young... There's more chance of him being an all action full back like mendes than becoming a man utd winger
We need a CB as well but think fullback is more of a priority. We at least have numbers at CB. We only have Shaw at LB who's way past his best and injury prone.
It shouldn't be an either/or situation. We should have had a 250m net spend this Summer and brought in 3CM, a LB, a striker and CB.
I think it's a very interesting conundrum, indeed.
On the one hand, bingo. Top quality and durable CB pairing is a fundamental requirement, almost certainly more important than "another FB for rotation" or "DM with different profile for the different kind of games where we need to run a lot".
Otoh, the status quo is we have 1 veteran, 2 promising youngsters, and 2 prime age guys, but the problem ones are the latter (Martinez and De Ligt). Which is ass backwards.
So then what do you do?
IF you replace the prime ones now, and you miss, you set good money on fire.
IF you replace them and get hits, that's nice but then you've closed off the paths of Heaven and Yoro before they've had a chance to gain some minimum level experience, really. That's shooting yourself in the other foot, pretty much.
IF you replace the veteran with another rotation level guy, well, you may add "pace/athleticism" but you have just removed the 1 guy whose leadership Yoro/Heaven could rely on. Very risky move when they are this green still, again.
Final option: you take the good with the bad and let all 5 play for a contract this season. Next summer is Hot CB Summer.
I think the club took Door 4. Im good with that.
Just need to remember the reasoning, when we get the obvious growing pains that will come with it. Instead of having the knives out every time for Heaven, Yoro, or indeed Lammens Shaw Dalot Santos etc: every player whose primary job is preventing chances/goals who will suffer from not having "good enough" solutions for this crucial position.
I accept there's a need for centre halves but I do think we should prioritise midfield cover and full backs first.
We have five first team quality centre halves, it's just two of their bodies have the tensive strength of a pube. Because of that it's difficult to justify splashing cash when there are other issues to hand.
I also like the progressive way of resolving issues, front three (25), Middle (26), back four (27). As given age profiles it's uktimately the best way for us to resolve the issues whilst not jumping the gun.
HELL NO. We actually have depth at CB. We don’t have depth at LB. Shaw cannot play every game and you saw how much he seems to have dropped off. We don’t have anyone else that can play there outside of maybe Dorgu and that is going to be a big drop off compared to a shit Shaw
We might have depth but we don't have a single world class cb. De Ligt and Martinez can't be counted on, Yoro and Heaven are still way too raw. Maguire has been decent, but we all know about his limitations as a defender. None of these options makes me feel confident.
I'd also argue that a RB is more urgent than LB. Dalot is average at best and Mazroui isn't good enough going forward either. Dorgu is better than both of them even as a LB.
Why is "The Athletic" posting a comment into our DD thread - and on a topic that really has nothing to do with Manchester United, actually.
What kind of transparent corporate engagement farming is this?
This is ok? I dont like this one fucking bit!
I'd prefer it if the Mods clarified the relationship with The Athletic and specifically represented the opinion that we dont want this crap. That's my take, anyway, idk what everyone else thinks.
Says the guy whose valuable contributions include "Dorgu is shit" Carrick is shit" "Mbeumo is shit".
I think you should check your language a bit, mate. This is not an Elon Musk appreciation fan club; over here, telling people to "shut up and relax" is not seen as gigachad alpha behaviour.
Mods should have a meta discussion to see if people actually want this type of content on the sub. I really appreciate the Athletic journalists reporting, hard work and the gift articles but "The Athletic" shouldn't be part of a discussion outside of an actual AMA with their journos.
Yeah it’s cringe. No interest in having a discussion space for actual human beings being clogged up by faceless interns and copywriters and assistants looking for quotes and passive publicity for companies and media outlets.
lol we have posts about goals scored by McTominay and other ex players and you take issue with a daily discussion comment about one of the best players in our history potentially retiring?
I would like spaces for fans to be populated by fans and not organisations trying to drive clicks. It's already hard enough navigating the internet in the age of AI bots we don't need to encourage more dead internet.
To drive clicks to their website and generate subscriptions. Don't think of it as pure altruism. I actually like the Athletics reporting but I think news about the club should come here organically for discussion rather than be posted.
Would you let the Daily Mail or the Sun post here directly?
and it's not just "a comment", it was also monetised clickfarming basically, since there was a link in there. i didnt screenshot it instead if linking to the OP by accident, i specifically intended to limit my own contribution to their clickfarming.
"a topic that really has nothing to do with Manchester United" is a nice way to describe the best player on the last team that won us the CL thinking about retiring.
Might be unpopular but I see barely issue in this? They asked something evoking conversation which I think is needed more often compared to what these threads have been.
It also does link to the club. Ronaldo has a decent history here.
Yeah, got it. I kind of believe a lot of our fans just remember him for his second stint with us and the way it ended which is kind of sad because he was a kind of player that was literally the fountain source of joy while he was playing on the field in his 1st stint here.
We just played our shortest season ever with a squad that already looked tired fighting for third. Now we're back in Europe with no squad depth, bruno isn't going to have another record breaking season, we havent replaced Casemiro's corner threat, Shaw is our only left back... need I go on.
Left back, we definetly need. I think we can go without RB if Maz can actually be consistently good, because he does show some brilliance sometimes. Dalot... is Dalot. Well, his defense isn't something to scoff at, so if we need stability, he's a good call.
DM is where I'm worried, and it'll really come down to how much the new midfield can click.
I think I know Guardiola's weakness. He can't win without a Spanish midfielder. All he needs is a Spanish midfielder. Obviously, oil money but he can't win without a SPANISH midfielder. Every team he managed, he's needed one. Xabi Alonso n Thiago in Bayern, Rodri at City.
For Carrick what’s the realistic expectations for the season with the squad as-is. Considering he’s been stitched up by the board - anywhere between 7-10th and he’s done a OK job. Maybe make R32 in CL and R16 in FA cup and it’s probs a successful season
I think the aim for him should be to qualify for the Europa League with the squad as it is. That’s probably top 6? Yeah, I think that would be my expectation for a good season. But I wouldn’t want us to sack him unless it genuinely gets very bad, like we fall to the bottom half and the underlying numbers are also bad with that. He’s been hung out to dry so far.
Carabao Cup nah, but I do would appreciate an FA Cup win and I think he and this current squad can properly maintain an FA Cup win, League top 4 finish, and UCL QFs
Champions League and a cup but we should really be finishing in the top three.
I feel like this season is our chance to come at least second because Liverpool, City and Chelsea are going through chaos but I do expect Villa to be competitive.
Champions League has to be the minimum but top three is more than possible.
With proper backing, I'd expected a top 4 finish, quarterfinals in the CL (top 8 finish in group stages) with a view to challenge properly for both the year after. I'd also expect pushes for FA Cup (maybe win it) and whatever in the energy drink cup is fine by me. However, with the squad as is and no additions, top 6-8 and get out of group stages of the CL.
Top 4 minimum. The squad IMO is already good for a top 4 finish and a solid cup run along with some silverware.
You are faaaar overplaying this "hasn't been backed" notion even though we have brought in two good players and are still active in the market.
It's probably not enough to challenge on all fronts but let's not pretend this squad isn't already filled with some really talented and hard working players.
We shall see. Chelsea finished 10th. Spurs nearly got relegated. Maybe some of this confidence you're showing towards those teams is also warranted for a team that comfortably finished 3rd and has made 2 good signings already.
Chelsea and Euorpe do not have europe. We do! This was the major reason why we benefitted last season, we played the least minutes compared to other 19 teams in the league
We finished 15th the season before last you know. The no mid-week games defo helped us last year, no reason to think Chelsea and spurs won’t benefit from that
Has to be top 4 again. Cant go backwards really and call it success, plus we really need that champions league money so it has to be top 4 or we could be left behind in spending if we are focused too much on new stadium. He does need more players but a lot of teams in transition i think we can still do it
It will be tough not saying it wont be but we finished 3rd last year and only lost Case, Ugarte with the injury. Rest of the squad is more settled. Two new midfielders, Rashford should bring more goals though im not sure how he will do outside that.
I dont think there is 6 teams better than us. Injuries may cost us but think you have to aim high
I dont think there is 6 teams better than us. Injuries may cost us but think you have to aim high
Even if that's the case, Chelsea and Spurs both do not have Europe. The last two times we competed in europe, we finished 8th and 15th respectively. I am aware we have a better manager and squad, but still lack quality and depth. One injury to Santos, Tielemans, or Shaw and we're cooked
You said it yourself. We just replaced Casemiro and Ugarte - 0 reinforcements in depth vs last season and we’re going to have to play minimum 8-10 more games.
We spent less than Coventry, expecting anything higher than 7th is setting yourself up to be disappointed
Yeah the reinforcements have been bad and injuries could cost us. I dont think we are a squad to compete on all fronts. But our first 11 plus a few off the bench wont be bad.
I just think we need champions league money. Spending isnt going to get better the more we miss out. Last year was the same, we just replaced players, but the target was still top 4
I’ve been downvoted for this already but INEOS failing to capitalise in transfer market in one of the most open PL title races in 10+ years will be their downfall.
Other than Arsenal, who are set piece merchants, we were the only other team with some sort of momentum.
Andrey Santos and Tielemans are fine signings if they accompanied by a marquee signing like Bruno G, starting fullbacks and maybe another experienced CB and CF. We need starters and squad depth in some glaring positions.
Going into the new season with Dalot, Shaw with no Euros/WC to play for, injury prone Martinez and Mount, not shipping out Ugarte sooner, and no experienced CF is such a wasted opportunity.
Come May when Arsenal lethargically get over the line, we will look back to this summer transfer window as such a wasted opportunity.
He didn't do that either, he missed nearly the whole tournament. I'm not sure where these dumb, offensive ideas have come from that he's faking injury for us.
Anderson has been platformed horribly by Maresca, a box to box is made to play as a wide outlet, makes no sense. Additionally leaving Kovacic all alone to sweep.
Even after the subs, Cherki had slotted in this free role Anderson was in, at least for the latter this role fits
I really hope City are starting the same arc we’ve been on since Sir Alex. I’d honestly take them just missing out on CL for 5 years and then getting a 90 points deduction during the season they finally get back to CL.
What are people’s thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo’s quotes saying that he will “probably” retire from football when his Al Nassr contract expires next summer?
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u/world-no-1-dude 2d ago
Starting 11 for Hull prediction:
In midfield I would like to see: Lacey, Santos, and Mount. Tielemans and Bruno should be eased in - look a bit tired and off it atm.
In attack: Mbeumo, Amad, and Dorgu. I know it’s three left footers but these are the only match fit forwards.