**Official** English Football Season 2024/25

[andruid]

I wouldn't want Dalot or Bruno but I'd wager he keeps them both (that's based on both being Portuguese and that he's relied on both so far).

Mainoo was definitely overplayed last season, reminds me a bit of Bajcetic where the injuries caught up with him. It's a tricky situation.

Ragnick hit the nail on the head a few seasons ago, the entire place needs to be gutted and Amorim needs to be ruthless. Of the current squad I think only Yoro, Mainoo and Diallo should have long term futures at the club.

United suffer shock relegation, City banned from football activities for a decade please.

 

[Niall]

Yes, and not just a second season but one that follows a summer with the Euros. Throw in injury and maybe uncertainty about his role in the 3-4-2-1 and he looks out of sorts for sure. Quality will come through I'm sure but a poor environment for a young emerging talent.

Never rated Dalot. As for Bruno, he's had to single-handedly be the creative force for United pretty well since he arrived. The down side is that he has never developed a simple game that fits in with a team model. When faced with a simple pass to a team-mate or a glory ball with a 80% chance of failure he'll go for the latter every time. And given who he's got to pass to a lot of the time who can really blame him?

Yeah I do have sympathy for Bruno because their has been instances where he has fizzed in some lovely passes and nobody has got hold of them which must be infuriating, another reminder spending so much on two unproven strikers wasn't the best idea.

I do think its time to have a look at how they line up without him though, because heh it can't be much worse.

It can't be great for team morale that everyone is getting rotated/dropped bar the new manager's fellow countrymen who are consistently dropping 3/10 performances.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1872542271444513103

Mainoo is good but I am a little concerned, this version of Utd is not ideal for developing especially as he has been played into the ground.

 

[Tangles]

Mainoo looked tired at the start of the season so agree that he was overplayed and then went to the Euros.

Dalot has been horribly defensively for years. Fans and managers wanted his forward play over his defense. Now even his forward play has relapsed.

Bruno has to create everything outside Amad this year. There is so little coming from anywhere else. I’m not worried about his temper because it shows he cares. The team could do with more of that. His temper leading to multiple bad challenges in a game is a problem. I do think playing him deeper and having too many others not willing to make a challenge at all puts him in positions he should not be in. That’s on the club for the mess of a squad and the managers who don’t know how to handle it.

 

[Furball]

Watching the game now and that 1st card was laughable given the amount of contact the ref was allowing. But once you’re on a yellow you can’t make a challenge that gives you a 2nd.

Keepers used to be protected from being impeded and blocked. Has that changed this year. United are bad but teams are clearly putting a man in front and behind.

His first yellow is as clear a yellow as you could wish for.

 

[Skipper Pup]

Bruno is an above average player but he's not the creative weapon he was during the first 2 seasons or so at United. His output has dropped off significantly.

I think on the balance of things he ends up being a net negative because of his petulance and clueless pressing. He's not the sort of player United need right now if they want to shift the culture of the club.

 

[Tangles]

Bruno is an above average player but he's not the creative weapon he was during the first 2 seasons or so at United. His output has dropped off significantly.

I think on the balance of things he ends up being a net negative because of his petulance and clueless pressing. He's not the sort of player United need right now if they want to shift the culture of the club.

They need a proper rebuild where the squad is fixed and they bring in younger players and guys prepared to do the work. Ratcliff seems to be in a rush to win and find a quick fix due to his age so the new manager and little progress cycle is likely to continue.

at one point I though relegation might get rid of the Glazers but not now. It’s just a $ machine to them so I don’t see them leaving.

 

[Skipper Pup]

That one game suspension was the best thing that's happened to Mac Allister. He's been so good lately with how he sets the tempo and his ability to break lines with his passing. Integral player to this system but goes under the radar.

Szobo got his rest now too. Couldn't have timed it better.

5-0 and we never got out of 2nd gear. Only big concern is the Gomez injury, we're now down to just Quansah. Need to reinforce at CB.

 

[CartyDurham]

Liverpool are playing superbly and it will take some injuries to stop them this season

a joy to watch

 

[CartyDurham]

They’ve announced today that during the league cup semi finals , any var decisions will be explained to the crowd by the on field referee

be the first time most of the refs voices will become known

 

[grecian]

Honestly I know people are saying the new comedy of Citeh is better than United ATM, but honestly the continued renewal of optimism at the new managers and complete lack of recognition from some United fans that their squad isn't exactly where they deserve to be, and TBH if you are a top player going to United must seem like a ridiculous bad proposition.

If Amirom can turn this around it'll take years, and he'll be as good as Fergie, as there are so many teams ahead of them now, all with decent financial wealth, and with PSR, better chance to strengthen. Sacking a few low-paid workers aren't going to offset decades of poor transfers.

It's all so glorious.

 

[Tangles]

Ericksen and Casemiro in CM. Amorim really must think he needs more evidence of how unsuitable they are to the role. 5 at the back and no midfield.

 

[Tangles]

Amorim doesn’t look like he will change his system like ETH did for a squad unable to do as told. So he is pretty much playing chicken with Ratcliff and the Glazers. Outside the top 4 gets you fired normally with the latter.

 

[Skipper Pup]

Honestly I know people are saying the new comedy of Citeh is better than United ATM, but honestly the continued renewal of optimism at the new managers and complete lack of recognition from some United fans that their squad isn't exactly where they deserve to be, and TBH if you are a top player going to United must seem like a ridiculous bad proposition.

If Amirom can turn this around it'll take years, and he'll be as good as Fergie, as there are so many teams ahead of them now, all with decent financial wealth, and with PSR, better chance to strengthen. Sacking a few low-paid workers aren't going to offset decades of poor transfers.

It's all so glorious.

The best part is the United fans who thought this was entirely an ETH problem rather than a squad quality issue. Wonder if we ever see Boy Blunder again

I actually think the current United Squad would suit that system quite well. Ugarte is a ready made solution for the Ball Winning Midfielder, and has played for Amorim before. Mainoo when he returns will suit the Progressive role alongside him. Erikson or even Bruno can fill in there.

United have 6 CBs in the squad so we have no need to worry about that. Fully fit the system allows for Yoro, De Ligt and Martinez all to get in that side. In the short term Lindelof or even Mazraoui could work as that right sided CB.

We have a weakness at the left sided WB position, but that's a weakness of the Squad in general and would be there for a 4 at the back system too. Amorim has played wingers at WB in the past, so Garnacho could perhaps fill in there. Alternatively he could go to the Academy - something he's done often at Sporting.

We have huge depth in the AM positions, and any combination of player would work there. Fully fit I think he'll go with Bruno and Rashford or Garnacho.

And Hojland is perfect for that system up top.

 

[Niall]

Ericksen and Casemiro in CM. Amorim really must think he needs more evidence of how unsuitable they are to the role. 5 at the back and no midfield.

I've been critical of Mainoo this season, but this wasn't the game to drop him tbf. That was a shocking call from Ruben.

A bit of huff and puff in the second half, but if Newcastle needed to win this by 5 tonight they would , just a huge quality gap.

 

[Tangles]

I've been critical of Mainoo this season, but this wasn't the game to drop him tbf. That was a shocking call from Ruben.

A bit of huff and puff in the second half, but if Newcastle needed to win this by 5 tonight they would , just a huge quality gap.

So again the media is talking about a squad clean out yet ignoring that United have been awful at that. Giant wages for aging players on long contracts. Ineos was better during the offseason but there is a lot of work to do.

Dropping Mainoo was madness. Play he and Collyer if you have too. Ericksen and Casemiro were always going to play as AMs as is their want. Ericksen was better after he was pushed up but then poor when deep after Casemiro went off. ETH played them both at times and they just can’t do it physically.

 

[Skipper Pup]

The problem United will have when it comes to fixing this mess is that selling clubs will immediately slap a tax on any players United want.

Unless they get some really shrewd operators who can find bargain release clauses, there's no way they'll be able to get in the quantity and quality of players needed within FFP.

They need to forget about the big name (and wage) signings. Similar to what Klopp did with the likes of Grujic, Klavan, Matip, Wijnaldum, Mane, Solanke etc - go after proven prem experience that won't break the bank or come in with huge expectations or wages.

Mbuemo, Ait-Nouri and even someone like Will Hughes or Lemina would add the depth and know-how they need. There's a few off contract guys that would be interesting too - such as Aina, Decoure, Reinildo, Calabria, Anguissa, Tyrick Mitchell. Lamptey. No doubt they won't bother with any of those names though and instead throw big cash at Cunha, Gyokeres, Kimmich, Davies etc.

 

[Niall]

So again the media is talking about a squad clean out yet ignoring that United have been awful at that. Giant wages for aging players on long contracts. Ineos was better during the offseason but there is a lot of work to do.

Dropping Mainoo was madness. Play he and Collyer if you have too. Ericksen and Casemiro were always going to play as AMs as is their want. Ericksen was better after he was pushed up but then poor when deep after Casemiro went off. ETH played them both at times and they just can’t do it physically.

Casemiro and Rashford will have suitors, but they would have to take big wage cuts thus why they have been sidelined recently in an attempt to force them out, at least with United so bad some of these guys may say "**** it , I'll take a big pay cut to get out of dodge", so some "good news".

Ruben has to address the wing back issue in January, Dalot and Maz are not suitable for the role whatsoever, Dalot especially is embarrassingly easy to handle when going "forward".

Ruben has a lot of goodwill because its a mess, but some of this is on him as we seen tonight with the line up.

The only glimmer of light v Pool is they have some tough fixtures coming up so they may ease up in the second half , but they could put seven past them if really in the mood.

 

[Skipper Pup]

The only glimmer of light v Pool is they have some tough fixtures coming up so they may ease up in the second half , but they could put seven past them if really in the mood.

We will put the cue in the rack early I suspect, Slot isn't the type of manager to go after a big score line. We've got some hungry subs though so the likes of Jota, Chiesa, Darwin and Elliott could have some fun if given the chance.

No doubt we will still find a way to concede, most likely through Quansah or Robbo.

 

[Redbacks]

Cole Palmer can’t do it all on his own. Chelsea need a support act to make a serious challenge for the title.

 

[Redbacks]

Man U would not be an ideal club for many players at the moment. So they either pay stupid wages again and take risks that it’s a slacker waiting for a payday or they need to innovate and moneyball their way up the table.