MANCHESTER UNITED

I think it's on their to do list but a LB to cover and ideally compete or surpass Shaw is probably next priority..

Not that many teams that have a genuine '9' and a reserve genuine 9 these days..

City don't really have an obvs cover for Haaland and Havertz @ Arsenal isn't an authentic striker by any stretch..

Michael Carrick thinks Hull away followed by Ipswich at home is a tough start...

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Hull away on opening day of the season feels a bit tricky (newly promoted team cup tie atmosphere) but if you can't beat Ipswich @ OT it could be a very long season..

tbh it's just textbook responses to inane questions I'd imagine..

I don't know when it was when we last were on top the league but if we aren't after two games we're in trouble.

where are we finishing this season ?

I'm thinking 5th or 6th tbh...

flattered by 3rd last season..(I went for 7th last season though that was on the assumption the Portuguese Messiah was at least doing the majority of the season)  - the business to this point has been 'ok' - I'm not sure we're significantly better, CL demands on top...would be delighted with 3rd or 4th tbh..

I was very hopeful of a top 6 last year, can't see us topping last year, I think 4th to 6th will be us, Liverpool and Spurs in any order.

The Prem as a league was pretty cr4p last season hence our 3rd position.

Who is going for Week 1 Bench Boost?

I'm sorry, I am not conversing with anyone not in our league

On FPL issues that is, not general

Let's make general.

Manchester United have agreed a £70m deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.

The deal for Baleba is worth £65m + £5m in add-ons.

Brighton have inserted a sell-on clause within the deal as well.

Baleba is expected to sign a five-year-contract with Manchester United and will undergo his medical in the next 24 hours.  sky sports

Should have bought back James Garner.

Well he can run....and run, which is the main thing IMO.

Has a minor ankle injury at the moment so will miss first few weeks apparently..but style of player certainly what was needed...let's just hope he's good enough..

I've posted previously that I hoped we wouldn't sign Baleba, from what I've seen there must be better options out there, although most of those viewings were from last season. Obviously I hope to be wrong on this one.

At least we seem to have signed 3 midfielders who seem to have been chosen for their specific qualities rather than just buying who is available and then working out how to fit them in. A physical/mobile/ground covering midfielder was a must to complement Mainoo, Santos and Tielemans.

A sell-on clause? At United? less than 1% chance of that making Brighton anything

The defence is just as hopeless as last season.

Disagree...they're not that good...shambolic, absolutely no control in midfield, Bruno basically playing as a centre forward to my eye.

Still, not to worry, at least we're not playing one of the worst tea.....oh no wait a minute, scrap that thought

These 11 players are not a team.

Never mind about not being able to defend a set piece, the biggest problem that is glaringly obvious is that Bruno is too far forward, they think that Tielemans can operate in the deeper role that Bruno normally works in and can do that job, Bruno is practically a centre forward, he should be playing where Tielemans is and the bargain 35 million man shouldn't be out there.

Tactics aside, the team has no fire in their guts.

Just haven't matched the intensity and energy of Hull...a bit of an old cliché but you have to earn the right to play in these kind of games...and defensively just poor.

reluctantly probably need Rashford on sooner rather than later - Dorgu been poor.

They need to take Tielemans off and drop Bruno deeper

And it's not even 3 o'clock on the opening Saturday of the season

on the plus side, the chance of another signing has gone up by about 60%

on the plus side, the chance of another signing has gone up by about 60%

earnt the right
to how u what ?
what cunha,tillermans,doku,bruno,tunk the world cup out with or what maguire,shaw,etc have or havnt been howing us for 5 eaon,utd havnt got anything to show anybody outside of old trafford,that we havnt een a 1000 time,s before,boring slow pace football

in English ?

no one, not even HULL are losing any sleep at the thought of playing man utd at home

well that's certainly true..

United back in the Champions League should have seen them sign some real ballers, how have you not attracted anyone of note with the wages you can offer along with European football, recruitment has been poor.

for anyone returning from the moon witching on to see, maguire,haw,mainoo,rash, do not adjut your tv et ,thi i life not a recording from 4 seasons ago

What a load of old rubbish.

man u should have started with maguire up front ,might still not have scored but give themelves a better chance of nicking a nil  v  nil

Dishonest post-match interview from Carrick.

PMSL££££$££

Balde to Man Utd soon.

No not that manager coming back
Balde from Barce..

Aug 18, 2026 -- 12:56AM, Angela Rebecchi wrote:

Got some lays outright on us at 8.0 (truly bizarre) and backed Liverpool at similar prices.

Lol

Isn't it about this time Luke "Fatty" Shaw gets a contract extension?

Thoughts on Saturday's game - forget tactics and personnel for a moment, if you don't win tackles, aerial battles, get amongst the opposition or pass or control the ball properly then you won't get anywhere.

Some players want to get the ball forward as quickly as possible while others want to keep possession - this balance needs to be addressed.

Thoughts on the weekend - there's never been a better chance for a Brighton, Brentford, Forest, even Leeds to get top 4. Arsenal should have this league won with 5 games to spare looking at the likes of City, Villa, us and Liverpool in the 1st game.

Hull packed the midfield.

The only way through was over the top.

We don't have a single target man.

Theres been another fa ck up

Luke Shaw

I genuinely haven't seen a fatter footballer ffs. An absolute disgrace of a player.

Big boned.

Harry out of position for the goal,followed the player on the fake run.

Stood and watched last week mind.

Decent goal there 1-1

Boo

Maguires shot was heading for the corner flag Thems the breaks.

Well well,
How long before Shaw gets a slight knock and is taken off as a precaution, and is out until after Christmas,
Never mind he's been responsible for 5 goals conceded in our last pre season game and two league games but he's still our only left back at the club.

The two right backs who neither are good enough in the own positions are going to be used as cover apparently with Dorgu and Baleba also in consideration if needed.

And all the while 115 charges are buying as if money is going out of fashion.

The premier league are a joke on that front and destroying their credibility.

I've cancelled sky and watch in other ways now in protest.

And back to the team,

Don't really know about the midfield but they all look like good signings for the money.
Time will tell whether they elevate us but with Carrick determined to only play two in front of that defence is going to make it hard for them to prosper.

Looked fine once we went ahead Sunday but very few teams will allow us the space Ipswich did.

A defence of Dalot Maguire Martinez and bloody Shaw will not cut it in the PL.

Low block hoping to counter is our only hope again and any chance of trying to play more progressively will have to be put on the back burner.

And with that issue above and the fact we now fave 4 genuine midfielders and 5 or 6 if you count Dorgu and Amad I think he should explore a 3 man midfield.
Over half of Bruno's assists came from dead ball situations last year and I'd presume another few came from a right forward position so actually playing him there might not be such a bad idea.
Whipping balls into Sesko and coming inside himself with less running to do might just make him even more productive.

It would also lessen his biggest flaw , namely losing possession in crucial positions leaving us wide open.

Worth a shot imo.

I like Bruno deeper myself, against Hull when we were up against a low block, Tielemans was deeper doing nothing and Bruno was further forward, he was almost a centre forward at times, with no space and he was completely ineffective, I like him in the deeper QB position where he can dictate play although I take the point of him losing the ball and putting us in trouble.

I think we can ignore the result from a perspective of an accurate assessment of where we are offensively as Ipswich simply fell apart and we were flattered.

The most pertinent point of the game was the first half when they waltzed through our midfield at will, Baleba will be sleeping well at night playing in our midfield that is for sure.

UH, when he's fit of course

Everton away should be an absolutely horrible game to play in, that would have been one of the easiest games United have had against them, space everywhere to attack and just some simple composure needed to be able to pick them off and we can't see it out.

We're starting to look like we did in those games with ETH where when defending a lead we would be desperately clinging on for dear life at the end of games.

Not many games UTD have controlled like that especially away from home in last few seasons...deserved to win...didn't.. but we got a few breaks last season winning games we didn't merit so just have to take it, some encouraging signs in terms of link up passing, relationships etc  but already behind any basic point target through 3 games so needs to kick on if not to be a tough season..

very surprised no LB deal was done...but Dalot has done it both for UTD and Portugal..and  seems they'll wait on Hall or another who would cost proper money, Hall deal was never going to happen at anything near sensible price after all the N'castle outgoings this summer.

Rashford's return which seemingly was mainly on Carrick, as INEOS very keen to find an out for him is.. if you get an effort from him a 60-70m player in this era...him and Shaw clearly link better than others have..

Thought we were impressive today. Rashford and Mainoo keeping that standard would be awesome. Can't do much about that equaliser, crazy goal.

Hall wants to go elsewhere hence not pushing for man utd transfer, they couldn't take him this window.

Dunno how it plays out, he's being offered new deal, and doubtless agents will have escape clause inserted, maybe he includes man utd, maybe not...

yep, was a bit of a sickener to play like that and not get the win but as I say ...got the rub a few times last season under Carrick..

where does he want out of interest yhtl ?

quite an easy fit at Utd if he has even a solid season...accept if N'castle have a great season he might well stay there with better contract..

Newcastle cannot pay the wages he might get at man utd or if he learnt Spanish.

I say not out of bias but he'd be better off at Utd than Spain....could do 8-10 years easy if he keeps his level and develops a bit (only 21)

Everton were impotent for much of the game but the two times we were ahead they suddenly found space and chances in our penalty area, I don't think it was any particular clever link up play through the middle that created space it was more that Everton were simply non existent in those areas and it was naturally there and as said this was as easy an Everton side that I've seen us play against in many years and we let them off.

By the way, where is Tielemans, I've barely seen or heard his name mentioned in three games, he is going through the motions....slowly!!!

Carrick has a problem now because the time has come for Sesko to start, Cunha playing in that role has hurt his form and confidence and he deserves a chance to resume playing in his normal position but Carrick's love affair with Rashford could leave Cunha as the odd man out.

I'm not sure Tielemans gets a strongest XI start if (quite a big IF btw) Baleba is the real deal..in terms of today I think with due respect he played some nice link up stuff but he and Mainoo can't long term be the CMF 2 with Bruno as a 10 (ish)...Utd play half decent so Everton are s*** is certainly possible though gives a team few opportunities for credit...both Cunha (especially) and prior to his high end finish Mbuemo need to be far more consistent to justify themselves..

I think he will do great in a team that plays a more defensive right back.

Going to, say, Barcelona, he's set up nicely in not having too much defensive work.

He's struggled twice now with Rayan breezing
past him on the outside, but stuck at it.

Take would be Rayan is a good player!

I'm not sure if it was you or me looking at a different game Brentford.

I thought we looked dreadful against the worst Everton side I can remember.

It wasn't just two worldies as Carrick said,

Everton had higher xg, more shots, more shots on target, more touches in opposition box, more tackles,more interceptions, more sprints and out ran us again.

Its a recurring theme.

20 times last season we were out run by the opposition,
Arsenal meanwhile were outrun 3 times.

They've  settled into cosy now with Carrick and have figured out he doesn't drop people once they're established.

I'll be honest if you thought we were dreadful I'd say it was you, respectfully..

Utd ran the game, twice lead and would have deserved the win tbh ...both XG's were low..surprised we only registered 0.69 tbh...

I'm not prone to talking up Utd performances and god knows there's been little reason to but thought they played pretty well today..each to their own I guess.

We were dreadful in as much as we had numerous times when the space was aplenty and after exposing them we didn't put them away, but this wasn't unpicking a lock, the door was wide open.

I expected that game to be United facing a low block with no space in behind and us having to find a way through a stubborn gnarly defence, that's what an Everton game for us should look like.

The way it panned out should have suited us, there was space to exploit everywhere and the opportunity to get through them on multiple times was there for us, we just didn't capitalize and then let them get at us instead.

apologies yhtl, only just caught your comment...fair shout.

Same thoughts as others - neither keeper with much to do but felt like we had numerous promising situations only to be let down by poor decision making, passes behind the man instead of infront of etc etc. Have always said Cunha is a player you want on the ball facing forward, not starting at centre forward and coming back.

When defending the lead, particularly at 2-1, there was way too much space around our defence. Rashford looked a threat but all other attackers were poor today, not only going forward but also defensively. The game was there in the 2nd half and we let it slip.

Unsure whether it's down to Carrick or the players but we don't look like a unit when trying to win the ball back - players still seem unsure who and how to press. Lots of arm waving and pointing going on and not as much tracking back.

It's not all negative, think Carrick is trying to implement a game plan with more control and less end to end games - see the type of signings in midfield - but he hasn't found the right balance or personnel yet. And it's an easy game up next in the league......

No probs Brentford, forum doesn't require swift replies.

You are probably right Brentford,  with the realisation we are again going nowhere and wasting more time on a model that won't work I'm probably approaching every game with a glass half empty attitude.

When Carrick took over I looked up what the Boro fans thought of him, always gives a better view than lazy pundits who might only have seen them occasionally.
Anyway the general consensus was they were glad to be shot of him ,  slow build ups,  no plan B , a hierarchy of players that always played irrespective of form, late like for like subs , little reaction to what's happening in front of him etc.

All seems so familiar to where we are now.

On a completely different note does anyone know if goalkeepers have their own personal coach or is it a club goalkeeping coach ?.

Dr Gea never left his line to intercept or claim a cross but we accepted that was who he was,

Onana was meant to be very proactive off his line but never showed it at united.

Now Lammens who got massive cheers when he claimed two crosses on his debut doesn't come out any more either.

Twice yesterday he had an easy claim a few yards in front of him but stood rooted to his line forcing the defence to panic clear it.
Another cross straight at him he mysteriously punched away for some reason.

It's a worrying sign to me.

I think Craig Mawson is still the club Goal keeping coach so I guess he does most if not all of the work with Lammens, yep he was a bit iffy at times yesterday though I think one of them he should have had a free kick... overall he's been very decent especially for the price paid but that part of his game probably not his best.

He's probably suffering a hangover from spilling one that knocked them out of the WC.

I've no idea why the Press are praising United's performance against Sabah. I expect City to win on Sunday.

No Rashford last night. Fear of being cup-tied?

you can't be cup-tied in the C, that ended years ago

Rashford came off in league v Everton with a niggle in leg. Probably not risked.

Sabah did miss two sitters...you know, in the interest of context.

They started a bit iffy, after that did the job ok and played with the handbrake and full bench quota for last part of the game...seeing as Citeh have 2 extra days, felt about right in the context..

I heard Hargreaves rather talking some of it up which felt a little inaccurate but we know everyone and their dog would have been on their case if any less convincing..

Losing to a dubious goal shouldn't hide the fact United were poor today.

Carrick and his backroom staff don't have a record of winning stuff and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon. 

Assistant head coach, Steve Holland, was sacked by his last club, Yokohama F. Marinos, after 4 months!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Carrick will be gone before the end of the season and he'll be replaced by Kieran McKenna. That may explain the quiet transfer window.

United don't really do proactive sackings preferring to burn seasons completely before acting.

Once Carrick has us within about 6 points of CL places I think they won't have the stomach to sack him.

The fact he's a yes man and won't rock the boat about recruitment is also in his favour.

If it were down to me he wouldn't be manager before today but certainly not after it.

I keep saying it but the Boro fans told us,

Slow build up, no plan B, sticking by favourites irrespective of form,

All what were seeing now still hinting that he won't or can't adapt so will never evolve.

Sack now and try save the season.

McKenna won't be the answer either and he's tainted by being Part of the ole Carrick threesome so no thanks.

When I saw Mckenna's name mentioned I couldn't believe my eyes.

Let's appoint a manager that is a proven successful manager in a top league in European football, you know, someone experienced at doing what they are going to be asked to do, if that fails at least you can fail whilst trying to do it the right way and giving yourself the best chance.

I do not understand the comments from some fans, "we tried that" well try it again, sometimes doing it the right way doesn't work, it doesn't mean you have to give up and start giving the job to novices.

McKenna has had great success with mediocre squads.

I see your point

I see the var referee was head of sports provisions at a school for eight years that was funded by man city while he was there.

Probably just coincidence like his mate Oliver funded by city for "education" purposes out there.

Howard Webb needs binning and United should be demanding that this morning,

It's not excusing the performance but two wrongs etc...

Howard Webb needs binning and United should be demanding that this morning,

Agreed.

This is just the latest in a long line of ****-ups.

The very least we should expect is that Howard Webb ensures that all referees know the laws of the game.

It's just standard procedure Norbert.

If your head of a government dept that's underperforming you have to go or the pressure goes higher,  same in industry ,  underperforming heads are out or the CEO goes, 
Howard Webb has presided over one scandal after another for years.

Time to give someone else a go.

United should absolutely be at least asking the question will he go if he can't get his team in order.

We know with the 115 charges and city's efforts to block and delay the hearings that they don't care for rules or fairness.
Apparently journalists have also been warned to leave it although plenty wouldn't have the appetite anyway after availing of city's hospitality.

It's widely known Russia befriend and help out loads of up and coming politicians and business leaders in the chance they get into real positions of power.

What's not as widely known is Israel and the more influential middle East countries also follow this procedure.

Every PL referee should have to disclose any potential conflict of interest issue at the start of every season.

Something that crops up afterwards should be immediate sacking.

Even if there's nothing untoward with Oliver and Donough the optics are shocking imo.

Donohue is also the linesman who lied in his report to get Mcguire suspended last season when he said he heard him say your all a fooking joke.

He later admitted he "misheard".

City even still have a photo of him on their website explaining how they funded his sports project at the school.

It was worse before Webb took over, I know, I know...


Some of the rugby var guys are excellent, but borderline decisions will always be borderline, and nobody can be perfect... See
maguire handball goal, but this offside yesterday is clear error to me.

Getting good video replay operators working alongside rules folk who act quickly and thoroughly is key,.. and not just appointing referees and assistants who are so used to seeing 3d stuff that they fail to view film accordingly.

Some of the stuff refs don't see is routine to linos and vice versa.

Fans staying tribal when these errors occur just ensure it happens again... There should be a consensus to get var working as well as
possible and if it's still carp then bin it.

Pro Ref is owned by the Premier League, the FA & EFL and there's just no accountability.

Everyone there, including the tea lady, should know the rules of the game and be able to operate the VAR position.

It's a cluster *****

Emmm, yes, they should, but if they can't, then get somebody who can. Tealadies are not ex refs patched into a job, and do a great job.

VAR is just another Refs opinion its not working .Im glad its not yet used in the Championship.