Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 12.02.26

One thing that really doesn't surprise me is that a 20 year CM that the manager has made clear he doesn't rate, hasn't been pulling up trees in his 12 minute cameo appearances.

Like Nicky Butt said, its a real shame that Mainoo has lost a year of development at a pivotal age/time in a players career.

I'm not a big fan of our current midfield, under Amorim.

But if we're being honest, Mainoo's performance levels had already dropped off before Amorim arrived. He certainly lacks the kind of athleticism needed to be one of the two CMs playing in this system. Obviously the coach hasn't seen enough in training to convince him Mainoo can do it.

I think Mainoo's future at Utd is very much tied to Amorim's.

Still a lot of games between now and next Summer and I would say the Coach is really not guaranteed to still be there in 6/7 months time….if we see many repeats of the Everton & West Ham games.

Ha, I was on the Andy Reid side of that divide too!

Nice parellels with the stubbornness and inflexibilty of Trap too!

Its not even a case of "This is the answer to all problems he needs to play".

Its "We have a great midfield prospect and a huge problem in midfield, why not try and do something with him…".

One thing I dislike is that there is now a narrative developing that Mainoo must be a problem behind the scenes. Another Garnacho, too big for his boots, thinks he made it etc etc. You can see that seeping in now.

Maybe the manager just isn't good at developing players.

Mainoo, Heaven, Chido Obi, 3 highly promising kids, how are they all getting on these days? How is Yorro's form? How has Dorgu come on since signing?

He has tried him there loads of times, this season and last. He doesn't do the things required of a CM in a 2 man midfield very well. He was brought on when we were 3-0 up v Brighton and it ended up at 3-2 shortly after. I can't see him succeeding in this system so he'll be sold if Amorim is still here in the Summer, which is a big if.

Mainoo is great in a 3 man midfield, he needs better runners beside him, he's slow, runs out of gas early and doesn't look all that physical.

What reports are you seeing, theres been absolutely no reports or any talk of that narrative with Mainoo that ive seen. If anything, he's been the quite professional.

Has obviously said to his agent he wants to get more game time, either on loan for 6 months or if the club approve, a sale.

He or anyone at the club has not come out and made anything abouthilany agenda.

Its been the media blowing it up because of his electric start to his career, the euros etc.

Kid is only 20, and has a massive carrer ahead of him. Be it at utd or not remains to be seen.

Zero narrative and tbh shouldn't be mentioned the same way as Garna ( not that I have anything against him either but two completely different situations).

Heaven is getting minutes slowly, again, young lad only joined.

Chido is 17/18, hardly a professional pro player yet.

These kids need time and not be thrusted in to the first team just because we've had bad results.

Two goals for him at HT this evening.… That was kinda evanevitable, should have backed the hat trick

Thats the point, there are no reports, I haven't heard a peep from the player myself. And yet on threads like this you are starting to see comments like:

given our issues in midfield there must be issues with his training or attitude, I don’t know obviously but I think there’s more to this than we know

There are people that were giving him grief for wanting to get out on loan and how that was obviously calculated to leave the club short at the end of the window, as opposed to a kid reading the room and seeing that the manager clearly doesn't want him.

Maybe he simply isn't good enough, or maybe the manager has it wrong, there doesn't really need to be a third option.

What do ye make of these links to a short term Sergio Ramos deal?! Seems to be more than just rumours. If it's not for too much money and specifically till the end of the season, might be useful to help the defence get a bit more organised, bite and shithousery. Himself and Martinez in defence would make for a fun watch, would also get scousers wound up to see him playing against them again! 😂

Once it doesn't affect any chance of us sorting out midfield in January I don't see any harm in it and could be helpful to the younger defenders.

We have 2 attackers going to AFCON. We need wing backs and most definitely need midfielders. A back up striker would be good. We have Martinez back and needing minutes, Maguire due back in a week.

Better get another CB.

It’s hardly a “narrative “ just because an anonymous nobody (me) on the internet is wondering if there’s something else going on.

And that’s all it is…. me wondering. A couple of days ago I literally posted that I hadn’t heard anything reported in relation to Mainoo having disciplinary issues and asked the question as to whether or not anyone on here had heard anything. I am still wondering though if his application to training is everything that the manager expects of him but that’s all it is … me wondering…. ( he may well be a model professional) no need to get upset about it.

Ramos a decade ago would have been great. I guess it's just to replace Evans as the veteran CB that (hopefully) doesn't play?

That's why I said once it doesn't affect us sorting out the midfield. I'm more asking what do people think of it in isolation as a potential move.