Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

I'm splitting my comment because they are separate ideas.

What if we are talking about bias here though, very few on this thread like to engage with line of reasoning which is their right.

Very early on, Amorim mentioned clothes and how a player dresses and conducts their life. This was a mistake and should never have been mentioned. He tried to gloss over it and say just because he doesn't like something it wouldn't affect his selection criteria, but he vocalised it.

There is also the wider political climate. Again this is another point very few on this thread like either. MR is one of the very few footballer activists in history. He was campaigning against a Tory government to extend the hot meals initiative.

The club have been taken over by a Tory supporting, Brexit supporting, billionaire who is lobbying a Labour government for funding to create a Wembley of the North while at the same time cutting jobs, benefits and pay of the ordinary working class North. How do the politics of MR and SJR mix, what do they think of each other and their political goals?

These are just ideas, thoughts on a slow Thursday morning, so don't lock me up and cart me off to the Conspiracy Forum.

The best outcome for all now is that Marcus gets a move to a top European club and gets back to scoring goals and hopefully enjoying his football for the first time in a long time.

I honestly think Rashford is burned out, Olé overplayed him while he carried injuries and his body hasn't recovered, he has lost that extra yard of pace he had and its probably weighing down on him.

Hopefully the change of scenery helps him mentally.

Then how did he have his good season, if his body is wrecked? And why does it only effect him when he has to run back and not forward :D

As you say, there are elements that people don't like to discuss as possible mitigations for Rashford - and I have been made out to be a moron for even mentioning them. But for me, while i think those elements are there with Marcus, I wouldn't imagine that they are specifically issues with SJR or Amorim and Marcus.

I do think the club in general has shown a poor ability to protect its players from outside attacks
I think Ole saying marcus needs to concentrate on his football when the government were telling him to shut up about hungry kids was good. I disliked that, a lot, from Ole.
I think the general access the Glazers allowed UWS given their relentless attacks on Rashford and Maguire in particular - especially after both players (apparently) and Bruno and other raised UWS as a specific toxic issue.}
There is also apparently ill feeling from Sancho and Rashford with regards to how United acted after the WC abuse vs how Arsenal rallied around Saka.

But I don't think that the issues with Rashford right now with Amorim or Untied itself stem from his choice of clothes or politics. I think how the media treat him in general leans on that a lot, but I don't think its an inhouse issue.

I think the Belfast trip and the night out (apparently) before the Everton game are two huge issues that Rashford himself caused - and lied about (apparently) on both occassions. Now, I think WHY Rashford does these things could be an interesting discussion of a persons mentality and what can contribute to it, but the end result would remain the same.

I think the Everton night out was the catalyst for where we are now - but I also think it can't be the only thing, becuase that could be punished and moved on from. So I reckon there are probably any number of other aspects at play here, but Marcus himself is in control of solving it. It could turn out solving it involes being a 'good boy' with all the dog whistling that implies, but I personally don't think that is the case - and i would be appauled if it was.

BUT i appreciate your point and post, and topic of discussion.

Real crossroads in Rashfords career now, no club of any worth in for him and a manager who's determined to make and example of him. Should have been done years ago, hopefully the manager doesn't bend on this.

I can remember Klopp deciding that Benteke wasn't for him when he took charge, not similar circumstances just Benteke playing style didn't fit in with his vision. I'd love to see Rashford enjoying his football, I just don't see that happening at Utd and maybe any club at this point. The difference in his demeanour through the years is stark

The "100% in training" thing is being strangely misunderstood if you ask me. It would never have been about players sprinting further and faster than everybody else, as people seem to imply. And so its not really a factor that not everybody else is working harder than Rashford at all times.

Its about attitude, and in that squad it has always been about attitude.

I have trained with lads that on their worst day were fitter and faster than me on my best day. But they were also moany pricks who stood at the back rolling their eyes when the manager couldn't see them, who whispered complaints in corners and who generally just dragged the **** mood down.

I have no doubt there are certain drills that Rashford probably beats a lot of players in. And I also have no doubt that he is at training with a huge chip on his shoulder, being passive aggressive about pretending to be cheerful towards Amorim while making it very clear to the other players that he "doesn't deserve this" or some other such crap.

That sort of toxic behaviour kills offices never mind high performance sports teams and Amorim is dead right to want it cut the **** out of the squad.

Its easy fixed for Rashford. Go to Amorim, apologise and have a clear the air talk, cut out the transparent moodiness, go to training with a genuine desire to be part of the team, wait a short while until the chance comes and then take it.

I have no doubt there are certain drills that Rashford probably beats a lot of players in. And I also have no doubt that he is at training with a huge chip on his shoulder, being passive aggressive about pretending to be cheerful towards Amorim while making it very clear to the other players that he "doesn't deserve this" or some other such crap.

You have no doubt? Are you regularly at Carrington watching them train?

Good ol boards.ie pedantry 😂 It's just a saying, when anyone says "I have no doubt" to me I know it's more of a "I have a feeling" etc.

Brailsfords whole career (in cycling) has been based on among other things (!!!!) 'marginal gains' and a team ethos where the team was stronger than it's parts. Team Sky won the Tour year after year, often not necessarily having the best rider but had the best strategy and best team environment. Team GB won at the Olympics because they had state of the art aero bikes and equipment before other countries, in a sport of hundreds of a second.

Ineos pulled Brailsford from cycling for this type of thing…you would have to assume, Amorim being their hire is on board with this. Anyone, not getting the maximum from what they have, good luck.

Players like Rashford, who is quite clearly not getting a fraction of what he should out of his talent, certainly does not fit in with a culture of extracting every 0.1 of a percent out of yourself.

There are no doubt valid reasons why he is the way he is but the long and the short of it is that culturally he does not fit with where United are heading, supposedly.

Put all that alongside the wages and financials, he is not value for money and there will only be one outcome and for everyone's sake I hope it gets sorted before Tuesday… I can't take the press conferences about one player any more.

People might argue that Hojlund or Zirkzee are not performing or scoring, but they are not a million miles off what they have previously shown (10ish goals a season) and are young, whereas Rashford has proven that he can score 30 goals in a season.

It's like when you're coaching the kids, the number one thing is 'do your best'.

Nowhere near as much as we do on a match day!