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

irishchris · 16-08-2025 03:09PM

Problem is we have tried numerous versions of 4 at the back. 4231, 433 etc without any success in league. Maybe just maybe we need to actually give a manager a couple of years to develop a team.

Every season is the same, hire manager then find fault before they have time to create an actual team and finally then look at the greener grass of a new manager with new tactics. It's been done... It hasn't worked. If we went that route as we nearly did with fergie there would have been many more barren years at the club.

Season hasn't started yet, Give the man a chance to place his stamp on team and realise short term pain will be needed before the long term gain

thefa · 16-08-2025 03:30PM

To be honest, I was purely theorizing what that formation would look like off the back of Mainoo and probably a couple of more players being more suited to a 4-3-3.

It’s become a bit of a cliche for people to say we need to change to a 4-3-3 on here when the results were terrible last year.

johnnyryan89 · 16-08-2025 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728148#Comment_123728148

Well it's only been three transfer windows and couldn't do much in January. Defensively we do need some signings but I can see that being next season's objective after focusing on the front three this season.

LB would be worry for me even though you've got Dorgu, Shaw, Heaven, and Martinez that can play there. It's mostly not being sure how defensively sound Dorgu can be in a back four. You might need an actual LB but a switch to playing with wingers also sees Dorgu as RW or LW in that formation.

DataDude · 16-08-2025 05:55PM

Painful watching Reijnders knowing he cost the same as Ugarte and less than Casemiro. How do we get it wrong so often.

nachouser · 16-08-2025 06:08PM

Arsenal (H), Fulham (A), Burnley (H), City (A), Chelsea (H), Brentford (A), Sunderland (A), Liverpool (A), Brighton (H), Forest (A).

That's the first ten league fixtures. 18+ points out of that run would see the team in the top six based on last season.

After 10 games they scored 9 goals last season and were sitting in 13th place with 12 points and -3 GD.

If the new signings don't bring more than 9 goals in the first 10 games… then I'd be a little worried.

GA wasn't the thing holding them back early on, it was clearly GF.

twinex · 16-08-2025 06:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728161#Comment_123728161

I think maybe he got overwhelmed with the task he was handed and the combatative player we thought we were getting didn't materialize last season.

Fingers crossed though.

DrPhilG · 16-08-2025 07:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728718#Comment_123728718

I've not given up on him yet either but by God he was dreadful against Everton in pre season.

Robson99 · 16-08-2025 07:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728781#Comment_123728781

He's nowhere near a top 6 team player. Himself and Bruno together are a disaster waiting to happen. Amorim clearly doesn't fancy him and they couldn't wait to get rid of him at PSG.

TheMilkyPirate · 16-08-2025 07:22PM

Yoro be likely to start Grimsby game?

Insect Overlord · 16-08-2025 07:23PM

Rumours on Reddit in the last 2-3 hours about both Antony and Zirkzee (Betis and Napoli) but neither with strong sources.

johnnyryan89 · 16-08-2025 07:45PM

I can't see Zirkzee leaving unless there's another CF joining the club or Hojlund has rejected a loan move.

Nalz · 16-08-2025 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728803#Comment_123728803

its disappointing as he played 80+ games under Ruben at Sporting

DataDude · 16-08-2025 09:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728991#Comment_123728991

And the year he was sold Sporting/Amorim went from 4th with 74 points to 1st with 90 points. Didn’t miss him much.

Amorim definitely doesn’t rate him at the level he needs at United (I’m sure he was fine in Portugal). He will be moved on as soon as suitable midfielders can be found and financed.

PSG didn’t either. He’s not stylistically suited to the top level of modern club football and unfortunately never will be.

Headshot · 16-08-2025 09:13PM

Manchester United are ready to accept Roma's offer of a loan with obligation to buy for England winger Jadon Sancho, but are waiting for the 25-year-old to make a final decision. (Fabrizio Romano)

Manchester United will revive their efforts to sign Brighton and Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba in 2026 after the Seagulls closed the door on a move this summer. (Fabrizio Romano)

We had our chance this summer, bigger players will come in next summer

FourFourRED · 16-08-2025 09:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728809#Comment_123728809

Hard to know. Maz could start on that right CB slot as he will need game time. Could be heaven at LCB. Why so?

TheMilkyPirate · 16-08-2025 10:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729021#Comment_123729021

Just picking brains for FF mate that's all. Thanks

DrPhilG · 16-08-2025 10:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729016#Comment_123729016

How do you have a obligation to buy for a player who only has a year left?

bucketybuck · 16-08-2025 11:16PM

Why would anybody agree an obligation to buy for a player with Sanchos record? For a player a club literally just paid not to take.

What does happen to obligation to buy if the player doesn't agree terms?

Mantis Toboggan · 16-08-2025 11:24PM

Sure didn't Chelsea have an obligation until they didn't

blackwhite · 16-08-2025 11:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729236#Comment_123729236

Loan with obligation to buy doesn’t happen without the player agreeing the terms up front for both the loan and the buy parts.

kerplun k · 16-08-2025 11:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729200#Comment_123729200

yeah, that’s what I’ve been thinking. How can you loan out a player for a season who’s on the last year of his contract.

I still honestly think the best course of action is to keep him, and just leave him in the canteen or something, have him sign in everyday, and if he’s late, or unruly, just keep fining him. I’d enjoy that. I’d enjoy that very much.

AidoEirE · 16-08-2025 11:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729265#Comment_123729265

Problem going that direction is he'd still be around stinking the place out, coming out with interviews about how bad he's being treated etc.

Goes against what RA is trying to bring back to the club. Squad seems to be a lot more together now the 4 are not in around the place.

Rome is a unbelievable place to live for a year, id hope he goes.

( i don't include Malacia in the bomb squad as i don't think hes done anything wrong to be honest, just **** luck for the lad)

scottser · 17-08-2025 12:12AM

Decent analysis of potential Baleba alternatives here:

https://twitter.com/DataMB_/status/1956732271429304468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1956732273623011637%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=

johnnyryan89 · 17-08-2025 08:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729236#Comment_123729236

Chelsea didn't pay the money to get out of buying him. They paid the money because Sancho wouldn't agree to their contract offer and the transfer fell through.

johnnyryan89 · 17-08-2025 08:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729200#Comment_123729200

Arsenal did it with Raya. It's just saying we'll buy the player but we'll pay the majority of the fee to you in 12months.

johnnyryan89 · 17-08-2025 08:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729287#Comment_123729287

And more importantly it's wasting money to keep him around. Out the door with him and save ourselves a few quid whilst maybe making a few mill off him.

jayo44 · 17-08-2025 08:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729200#Comment_123729200

United have an option for a year on him so he has two years, noway will united trigger that tho but for purpose of a sale this window that's the contract they have for him.

Seattle · 17-08-2025 09:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123729542#Comment_123729542

They would lose leverage with the player if they say they wouldn't trigger it. Sancho would be delighted to be a free agent in 12 months time. He'd get a nice 4/5 year contract on a decent salary from another club.

But if Utd kept him and sat him in the stands for 2 years it would be a different story because 2 years without playing is a long time at this point in the career of the player. It would cost us an extra year of wages but it'd be risky for him too. You need to incentivise him to leave permanently this window and imo you don't do that by saying he'll be a free agent next Summer.

Runswithfeet · 17-08-2025 09:13AM

Time for a little fun guys…..looking into that murky Crystal ball and saying how Season will go.

Champions-Man City

Runners up-Arsenal

Utd Finishing spot- 8th

Utd Player of Season- Cunha

Utd Flop of Season- Onana

If Carlsberg could do end of transfer window moments- Al Nassr sign Casemiro for 30m and Anthony for 40m on Transfer Deadline Day……leaving the brains trust till January to identify and get a decent young Keeper and DM.

All_in_Flynn · 17-08-2025 09:22AM

City were impressive yesterday but they started that way last season too if I remember correctly. Before a ball was kicked I would have said Arsenal are probably the team to beat this season. I think we will see where they are today.

Very nervous about today and the next few weeks in general. If we get off to a good start these first few games then I think we will surprise a lot of people this season but likewise, if we get off to a bad start and lose 3 or more of first 5/6 games then the season will likely become a slog.

Just hope we see a positive performance today. We are up against a very good side. Not everyone is 100% fit obviously but just want to see buy in from the players and maximum effort.

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

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