Pre Season 2024/25

Jayc1860 said:
It's the midfield that is the major problem. We can't compete for titles without recruiting well in those positions. We desperately need a mobile CM, and a DM ball winner. Players of high quality of we are destined for the same type of season as last.
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I can’t quite believe you guys haven’t added any midfielders! Given Casemiro was poor last year and is another year older. Given McTominay seems out of favour somewhat as United are willing to sell. And given Amrabat has gone back to Italy. It was an issue last year and the year before and in fact for many years now.

IDFD said:
What have Tottenham done this offseason? Did you watch them at the back end of last season and see how they were shipping goals for fun could no longer score and teams had worked out all you needed to do was sit in and pick them off on the counter?
Wouldn't you agree Liverpool have gone backwards this offseason? They lost their manager the man everyone is adament was crucial to their success.
Wouldn't you agree Villa have gone backwards this offseason? They lost their best player.
Wouldn't you agree Chelsea have done nothing to improve their side this season and their starting 11 is actually weaker to start this season than it ended last season? They've lost the player who was their best midfielder and lost the player who was their best CB. Fofana looks a liability, their LB's can't stay fit. Their main striker is Nicolas Jackson who looks woeful at best.

Do you not think having the off field distractions of the takeover gone will help the manager and the team?
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Tottenham have signed Gray who’s a really good young player who can play CM or RB. That’s a good addition and it looks like they want to sign Solanke. Let’s not forget they were better than you last year so you needed to catch up and right now you haven’t.

Liverpool haven’t added so that’s an issue and yeah they have a new manager. But again they were already ahead of you and won’t lose Salah to the African Nations. Plus it looks like Slot is already putting his style on them which is more than you can say for United with Ten Hag.

Villa signed Onana which is a fantastic signing for them to replace Luiz. I think they have had a solid enough summer without majorly improving. Having European football will be a challenge for them but you guys have Europa league so it isn’t like you will be fresh.

Chelsea, as I’ve said, are absolutely an unknown. They have talent and they were getting it together but then they threw that all away in typical Chelsea fashion. I think they have a talented squad but right now given the circus there id say they are behind United I’ll say that.
 
RichH2016 said:
I can’t quite believe you guys haven’t added any midfielders! Given Casemiro was poor last year and is another year older. Given McTominay seems out of favour somewhat as United are willing to sell. And given Amrabat has gone back to Italy. It was an issue last year and the year before and in fact for many years now.


Tottenham have signed Gray who’s a really good young player who can play CM or RB. That’s a good addition and it looks like they want to sign Solanke. Let’s not forget they were better than you last year so you needed to catch up and right now you haven’t.

Liverpool haven’t added so that’s an issue and yeah they have a new manager. But again they were already ahead of you and won’t lose Salah to the African Nations. Plus it looks like Slot is already putting his style on them which is more than you can say for United with Ten Hag.

Villa signed Onana which is a fantastic signing for them to replace Luiz. I think they have had a solid enough summer without majorly improving. Having European football will be a challenge for them but you guys have Europa league so it isn’t like you will be fresh.

Chelsea, as I’ve said, are absolutely an unknown. They have talent and they were getting it together but then they threw that all away in typical Chelsea fashion. I think they have a talented squad but right now given the circus there id say they are behind United I’ll say that.
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Tottenham - They finished 6 points ahead of us. A gap that was 12 points after 6 games. They had no European football and fell apart towards the end of the season they aren't finishing top 7 this season and Ange will be gone by Christmas. Gray will start less than 10 league games this season it's certainly not movement on their starting 11 for the season. Signing Solanke isn't putting the frighteners on anyone.

As for Slot putting his style in but ETH not. 'Always hard to get a gauge from preseason of course but the fact United seem to be showing some kind of structure and approach is at least something.' that's you in 2022. But yes two seasons later after you've said that ETH hasn't put his style on the team. Yet again ignoring that injuries forced us to change the style we play. I don't believe you're ignorant to this or stupid which is why I believe you're on the wind up when you choose to ignore it.

You keep mentioning teams 'already being ahead of us' which means again you're completely ignoring we went through a takeover and a perilous time on the pitch followed whilst they were doing a review of everything and the uncertainty obviously caused issues. We got 15 points less last season than the season before. The off field issues were obviously detrimental. How many clubs go through takeover concerns and carry on performing. Didn't Chelsea fall out of the top 12? You don't seem to want to understand the issues the takeover would have taken on the team though and just pretend it never happened. Again you're aware of the effects so i'm unsure why you ignore it.
 
RichH2016 said:
I can’t quite believe you guys haven’t added any midfielders! Given Casemiro was poor last year and is another year older. Given McTominay seems out of favour somewhat as United are willing to sell. And given Amrabat has gone back to Italy. It was an issue last year and the year before and in fact for many years now.
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We might well end up with Ugarte and Rabiot by the end the window though, so there is hope. They're both the quality we need to be signing. Ugarte particularly - good age and has potential to get even better. I'd be quite happy if we got those two.

I'm sure INEOS are not finished this window, so I'm putting faith in them to see what we do. Strengthen that midfield.
 
If we get Rabiot we can write the season off.

Guy is a waste of space with baggage
 
Think the point was a guy like Rabiot isn't going to make a big enough difference to solve the problems we've got.

The problem is the longer we leave this issue the harder it's going to be to get off to a good start.

A good start and a bit of momentum can be huge in a season.
 
I’m getting more concerned by the day that we aren’t getting the signings done.
I’m not expecting miracles this season as it’s too soon but I was hoping for more.
 
jsp said:
Think the point was a guy like Rabiot isn't going to make a big enough difference to solve the problems we've got.

The problem is the longer we leave this issue the harder it's going to be to get off to a good start.

A good start and a bit of momentum can be huge in a season.
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I don't think that was his point at all. The post has a sense of hate in it, that he doesn't like the player, and that's fine. Each to their own.

Even if it is his point, I don't get it. Let's complain about signing a good player because he doesn't single-handedly solve everything? Football doesn't work like that, and you know that. It's a jigsaw puzzle of pieces, and you cannot fit all the pieces in one transfer window.

Signing Rabiot to me would be a good piece of business considering our options. Is it perfect? No, it isn't, but it's a step forward. If Mainoo was to get injured, what then? That leaves us with no legs [Casemiro} and McTominay in midfield? Or even worse, Eriksen.

People need to wake up and realise the player would be a very good signing. He's a much better player than all of the above, can play two positions and is still 29. Not an ideal age I admit, but has at least 3 years at the very top of his game left. Maybe more.

The attitude of it's all over if we add him is beyond stupid.
 
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IDFD said:
Tottenham - They finished 6 points ahead of us. A gap that was 12 points after 6 games. They had no European football and fell apart towards the end of the season they aren't finishing top 7 this season and Ange will be gone by Christmas. Gray will start less than 10 league games this season it's certainly not movement on their starting 11 for the season. Signing Solanke isn't putting the frighteners on anyone.

As for Slot putting his style in but ETH not. 'Always hard to get a gauge from preseason of course but the fact United seem to be showing some kind of structure and approach is at least something.' that's you in 2022. But yes two seasons later after you've said that ETH hasn't put his style on the team. Yet again ignoring that injuries forced us to change the style we play. I don't believe you're ignorant to this or stupid which is why I believe you're on the wind up when you choose to ignore it.

You keep mentioning teams 'already being ahead of us' which means again you're completely ignoring we went through a takeover and a perilous time on the pitch followed whilst they were doing a review of everything and the uncertainty obviously caused issues. We got 15 points less last season than the season before. The off field issues were obviously detrimental. How many clubs go through takeover concerns and carry on performing. Didn't Chelsea fall out of the top 12? You don't seem to want to understand the issues the takeover would have taken on the team though and just pretend it never happened. Again you're aware of the effects so i'm unsure why you ignore it.
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So hang on… Spurs finished 6 points ahead of United and have added Gray and want to add Solanke. So that’s additions to their team and squad. Solanke isn’t putting the frighteners on anyone but Zirkee is? Gray is a quality young player I think he’s going to make an impact. I’m not quite sure how you can say United have closed the gap on Spurs when right now I don’t see it. You want to point to getting players back from injury? But some of those players aren’t reliable and the injury list is already lengthy before the season starts.

2 years ago when Ten Hag came in there was a bit of evidence that they were moving to a Ten Hag system. But the evidence over the last 2 years has shown it either hasn’t worked or the players aren’t listening. And OK sure maybe Liverpool show early signs and then go the same way… But lots of teams take on their managers style whereas the proof is United haven’t taken the Ten Hag style.

If you want to keep making excuses then go ahead. Ignore the reality and keep kidding yourself.
 
I will give you a 10 point head start and a £10 bet on Spurs you obviously didn't pay attention last year in how much they fell off when they should have been primed to really compete with no European football.

Zirkzee is a back up player Solanke would be there number 1 and he's had 1 good season in his career.
 
Jayc1860 said:
I don't think that was his point at all. The post has a sense of hate in it, that he doesn't like the player, and that's fine. Each to their own.

Even if it is his point, I don't get it. Let's complain about signing a good player because he doesn't single-handedly solve everything? Football doesn't work like that, and you know that. It's a jigsaw puzzle of pieces, and you cannot fit all the pieces in one transfer window.

Signing Rabiot to me would be a good piece of business considering our options. Is it perfect? No, it isn't, but it's a step forward. If Mainoo was to get injured, what then? That leaves us with no legs [Casemiro} and McTominay in midfield? Or even worse, Eriksen.

People need to wake up and realise the player would be a very good signing. He's a much better player than all of the above, can play two positions and is still 29. Not an ideal age I admit, but has at least 3 years at the very top of his game left. Maybe more.

The attitude of it's all over if we add him is beyond stupid.
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I wouldn't like to speak on @Mr C's behalf but pretty sure I know he's got a very poor opinion of Rabiot as a person and as a player and has never wanted him anywhere near Utd.

I think living in France he's probably more familiar with the drama that surrounds him especially when it comes to his family (mainly his mum who acts as his agent) who likes to speak to the press on his behalf when Rabiot isn't getting his own way.

Rabiot is on a free this summer only it won't be a free it'll be a massive signing on fee, agent commission and big wages for a lad who who turns 30 at the end of this season. That's sort of how we've got ourselves into this mess with Casemiro and Eriksen where 2 years after signing them to be our first choice midfield pair we need to replace both of them.

I don't think he's good enough to come in as a starter and be the guy we need to make the difference now if he came in to replace Eriksen as a squad player I think that is more his level.

Personally I'd rather the club invest in younger players that can see us through the next 5 or 6 years but if the money isn't there it might need to be another short fix. Rabiot is an option for that if he's prepared to be sensible about his wage demands which we all know he won't so for me he's a pass. You might get 2 good years out of him then have 2 years of trying to move him on.
 
jsp said:
I wouldn't like to speak on @Mr C's behalf but pretty sure I know he's got a very poor opinion of Rabiot as a person and as a player and has never wanted him anywhere near Utd.

I think living in France he's probably more familiar with the drama that surrounds him especially when it comes to his family (mainly his mum who acts as his agent) who likes to speak to the press on his behalf when Rabiot isn't getting his own way.

Rabiot is on a free this summer only it won't be a free it'll be a massive signing on fee, agent commission and big wages for a lad who who turns 30 at the end of this season. That's sort of how we've got ourselves into this mess with Casemiro and Eriksen where 2 years after signing them to be our first choice midfield pair we need to replace both of them.

I don't think he's good enough to come in as a starter and be the guy we need to make the difference now if he came in to replace Eriksen as a squad player I think that is more his level.

Personally I'd rather the club invest in younger players that can see us through the next 5 or 6 years but if the money isn't there it might need to be another short fix. Rabiot is an option for that if he's prepared to be sensible about his wage demands which we all know he won't so for me he's a pass. You might get 2 good years out of him then have 2 years of trying to move him on.
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I think INEOS are smarter than that. They'll see all of your concerns too, as do I. I'm only saying we should sign him if it suits us as IMO he will be a useful addition to the team. He shouldn't get a long contract on huge wages, and if he's not willing to accept our demands then I agree with you, it's a pass. We should only sign him if we are the ones in the driving seat. He might be willing to finally join us on these terms.

I agree on the whole - we should now be looking for young players with huge potential and get them on the lowest possible wages. That's the way forward. Just think sometimes you can afford to break the rules a little, and even in some cases it's just necessary.
 
Jayc1860 said:
I think INEOS are smarter than that. They'll see all of your concerns too, as do I. I'm only saying we should sign him if it suits us as IMO he will be a useful addition to the team. He shouldn't get a long contract on huge wages, and if he's not willing to accept our demands then I agree with you, it's a pass. We should only sign him if we are the ones in the driving seat. He might be willing to finally join us on these terms.

I agree on the whole - we should now be looking for young players with huge potential and get them on the lowest possible wages. That's the way forward. Just think sometimes you can afford to break the rules a little, and even in some cases it's just necessary.
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I don't think he will to be honest if he wasn't looking for a big pay day he'd likely have accepted reduced terms at Juventus and stayed there as he seemed to be doing well enough with them.

Just think we've broken that "rule" a few to many times in recent years which means every 2 years we sort of end up back at square one needing a replacement for a guy who we can't move on.

It might mean that next season is 5th or 6th rather than 3rd or 4th but longer term it will fix the deep rooted problems in that squad.

You look at Eriksen and think why's he got a 3 year deal rather than a 2 year deal or Casemiro and how the hell did we get talked into that transfer fee for a player Madrid were happy to sell. Every time we fall into their trap Di Maria was the same we paid a premium price for a player they no longer wanted. I reckon they'd have taken 30-40m for him but we end up paying 60m.

I know people don't want to hear it but I'd probably accept getting a little bit better next season if it meant we kept getting better the following year rather than making a big splash that sorts us out for 12 months then sees us go backwards again. I can't take much more of that it needs to be slow and steady progress from what was hopefully rock bottom last season.
 
I think JSP has summed my opinion on Rabiot very well

If we want to compete we need to be looking at upgrading our squad. Not bringing in a bang average player, who's consistency is a real problem, who also comes with baggage and will want big money.

Mctominay or Amrabat are much better options

And of course one signing doesn't define the season, but if this is the type of player we are profiling, it's a problem.
 
As for the season, no excuses about injuries this year.

Can't keep saying we have injuries, we can't sell/attract players.

They must come out quick from the first game, have some kind of system, and play attacking football.

Looking forward to next Friday
 
IDFD said:
I will give you a 10 point head start and a £10 bet on Spurs you obviously didn't pay attention last year in how much they fell off when they should have been primed to really compete with no European football.

Zirkzee is a back up player Solanke would be there number 1 and he's had 1 good season in his career.
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I didn’t pay attention to last year? Freaking hilarious! Did you see the complete ish show at United? And yes I know there were things going on off the pitch. But do you really think this season is going to be that much better? I mean if United don’t start well (and let’s be fair here there’s a good chance with your injury list already that you don’t) then it’s going to be a circus again with Ten Hag under real pressure early on.
 
RichH2016 said:
I didn’t pay attention to last year? Freaking hilarious! Did you see the complete ish show at United? And yes I know there were things going on off the pitch. But do you really think this season is going to be that much better? I mean if United don’t start well (and let’s be fair here there’s a good chance with your injury list already that you don’t) then it’s going to be a circus again with Ten Hag under real pressure early on.
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You're talking to a guy that recently said Bruno outperformed Odegaard last season. I'd say that's the very definition of not paying attention.

A player who easily did enough as the most creative influence in a team to keep up with the Champions. If they had a proper striker, you'd be looking at Arsenal as champions and Odegaard player of the season - compared to Bruno who turned up for three months.
 
jsp said:
I don't think he will to be honest if he wasn't looking for a big pay day he'd likely have accepted reduced terms at Juventus and stayed there as he seemed to be doing well enough with them.

Just think we've broken that "rule" a few to many times in recent years which means every 2 years we sort of end up back at square one needing a replacement for a guy who we can't move on.

It might mean that next season is 5th or 6th rather than 3rd or 4th but longer term it will fix the deep rooted problems in that squad.

You look at Eriksen and think why's he got a 3 year deal rather than a 2 year deal or Casemiro and how the hell did we get talked into that transfer fee for a player Madrid were happy to sell. Every time we fall into their trap Di Maria was the same we paid a premium price for a player they no longer wanted. I reckon they'd have taken 30-40m for him but we end up paying 60m.

I know people don't want to hear it but I'd probably accept getting a little bit better next season if it meant we kept getting better the following year rather than making a big splash that sorts us out for 12 months then sees us go backwards again. I can't take much more of that it needs to be slow and steady progress from what was hopefully rock bottom last season.
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Well, if he wants that huge pay day then he's not for us. As you said we need to be moving away from stupid contracts. I agree. As I said before I just had hope that he'd be affordable and wouldn't demand the world. I still think he'd be a good addition to our current midfield. That's all.
 

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