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

Arsenal are a very good side. I'm worried about Sunday. I'd nearly be more comfortable playing them away from home on opening day. I'm also not sure that Sesko is going to start and if he goes with Mount up top again, I think we will find ourselves in trouble.

I'd love for us to beat them as it would give us a great opportunity to build some momentum into the City game with two winnable fixtures. But lose and the pressure on those two games is big.

I don't think he will start with mount up top in a league game, pre season he just wanted players in the positions they would most likely be involved in so Cuhna and mbuemo at 10s. We may see sesko play 45-60, or mount as a 10 and Cuhna up top or maybe even hojund if there is not movement on his transfer.

I'd expect Mount uptop to just hare around and nip at Rices heels to try and stop him dictating play.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mbeumo was benched to push Amad up and have the more defensive Dalot start RWB.

Mbeumo could then replace Mount/Amad in the second half depending how things are going.

Forget about Hojlund. They won't risk him in case he picks up an injury.

I hope not. He might not be everyone's cup tea but if Mitrovic can be got cheap he'd be a solid back up to have spring from the bench if needed or graft for 60mins if Sesko is unavailable or rested.

First team football and a decent signing on fee also if he's a free agent. You only go to Saudi for the money so logic would be his next move will be about the money again. Best bet United could try offer would be come play for Man United the biggest club in the world. Others this season have turned down more money to join so maybe the pull of the jersey could get him.

And it's not like he'll be on absolute peanuts. If Rasmus is on £85K could say Mitrovic might get £100K given his experience but £85K at a minimum if Hojlund's wages are covered in full.

Yeah can't see Mount up top. Maybe at 10 along with Mbeumo, Cunha up front. Sesko coming off the bench.

As for the season, I know I'll get pelters for it but I'd give Amorim the season. Even if we're bottom half again at Christmas. Because sooner or later we need to give someone time to build something. Last season's **** show was not Amorim's fault. He was pressured into taking a job with a squad that we all (including the board) knew was not fit for his purpose but he took it, stuck to the mission he was given and only for a blunder (which I do blame him for) of a selection for the Europa final we'd have a European trophy and CL football this year.

Sack him now and we just undo what he has achieved and reset yet again. And what has he achieved? He has expelled the toxicity from the squad. Rashford is off for the season. Garnacho has finally been shut down. Everyone not 100% committed has been removed from the equation and the mentality & morale in the squad is booming.

He has rebuilt the front line. Cunha and Mbeumo are great signings. Sesko is aa bit of a risk but can't be any worse than Hojlund.

We're allegedly still looking for a keeper (although I don't see it unless Onana leaves) and a midfielder so the strengthening isn't over yet.

I think that the revamped front 3 gives us 40 league goals between them. Another 10 between Fernandes and Amad and 10 more from the rest of the squad. That's 60 goals, 16 more than 24/25 and something only 7 teams hit last year.

At the back I think that Yoro is turning into a star. Harry will be largely on the bench. Licha fingers crossed comes back in good form but even if not, Heaven is progressing very well and Shaw hasn't got injured yet.

With the improvements up front and the whole squad having a better understanding of what the boss wants, plus no European football so more time on the training ground, I think we take between 15 & 20 more points this season which puts us challenging for top 6.

Challenge for (and reach) CL and I'd be chuffed, finish top 10, I'd call it an improvement but still disappointing.

I fancy us to do well in the cups too.

And even if my predictions are absolute balls, we finish 16th and Amorim gets the boot, I doubt that any of us will be here (on boards) to pull me up on it!

Donarumma looking City bound. Strange signing for them. Ederson hasn't gone yet. Trafford just signed for £30m.

There were rumours of a behind closed doors friendly for Onana and Sesko this week. No idea if it happened.

Maybe this doesn’t make a lot of sense but I’ve been thinking about this tough run of fixtures - maybe it’s not a bad thing to be playing (what most would agree are) the top 4 best teams inside the first 8 games. My logic which is probably flawed - those teams may not be fully up to speed yet so there may be a better chance of beating them or getting a point compared to later in the first half of the season. After the Liverpool game there is potential for a good run of results through to mid-January.

I agree Amorim needs to be given time and patience to get things right. Again I know some posters won't agree but we need to see improvement from the squad and European qualification, even if it's Europa League, will be improvement in the right direction. We won't solve everything in one window and looking at the squad now I don't think there is enough there to get top 4- Can anyone here honestly say we are better or as good as Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal?

So that realistically leaves 4th place which Chelsea would be favourites for. Can we have a better league campaign than them? Possibly but I wouldn't sack Amorim if we don't - If we were to get 6th say- Europa League qualification and another good window to build on, clear the deadwood and improve the midfield and keeper. I know that wouldn't satisfy a lot on here but this is a slow painful rebuild from 15th place back (hopefully) to where United should be.

How has he expelled the toxicity from the squad? Same as all the other managers before him who sold the players who had no belief in what he was doing?

If we start this season badly then there will be new "toxic" players you can guarantee it.

Expelled the toxicity lol

Sancho, Rashford and Antony are utterly toxic. ETH kept trying to fix Sancho and he wouldn't drop Rashford for love nor money.

Amorim has dumped them all from the squad and made them train separately and we'll most likely get all 3 out this summer in some form.

If you can't/won't see that as clearing the toxicity from the squad then I suspect you're either deliberately being argumentative, or you need to change your avatar to this fella.

Wouldnt be surprised to see Casemiro in from the start purely for his ability in the air at Arsenal corners.