comment by 115 reasons why ours is better (U22832)
posted 44 minutes ago
comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago

Rashford’s about to be reborn as a cf.

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comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 8 minutes ago

For about 12 games
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As long as one of those games is the Liverpool game, who cares

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True.

But if Amorim wants a striker that is good at running in behind then Rashford as cf makes sense.

Especially if he wants Bruno playing as an inside left.

comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
Under no circumstances should Lindelof ever be seen as a starter in any United line up
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He's had plenty of games where he has played really well. The biggest issue with Lindelof is that he only plays well if the circumstances suit his strengths and don't expose his weaknesses, and that hasn't been the case often enough.
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Well he can go and play well somewhere else where the circumstances suit his strengths and don’t expose his weaknesses because he’s one of the worst CB’s I can ever remember playing for this club
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We'll get rid pretty soon unless Amorim is a genuine alchemist and turns him into something none of us have ever seen. I think he's a mediocre player relative to where United should be. I guess I just struggle to see him standing out as by far the worst in the context of an era when we've generally had bad CBs. Bailly easily made as many bad mistakes relative to minutes played - does he get a free pass because he was injured so much? Jones was never elite when he played and he never played. Rojo was rash. Smalling was a very good box defender but very poor with the ball at his feet, whereas Lindelof is more comfortable than most and a good passer. Maguire's best level is much higher than Lindelof's but he reached a lower level when he had that crisis of confidence. Varane - much better defender; again, an inferior passer. Lisandro is the only CB we've signed post-Fergie who unquestionably elevates the whole team. (Although I really liked Blind as a footballer, wherever he played.)

Again, I'm not dying on any hill for Lindelof. I just don't really see him standing out for better or worse among a very average group of centre backs.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
Under no circumstances should Lindelof ever be seen as a starter in any United line up
----------------------------------------------------------------------

He's had plenty of games where he has played really well. The biggest issue with Lindelof is that he only plays well if the circumstances suit his strengths and don't expose his weaknesses, and that hasn't been the case often enough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well he can go and play well somewhere else where the circumstances suit his strengths and don’t expose his weaknesses because he’s one of the worst CB’s I can ever remember playing for this club
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We'll get rid pretty soon unless Amorim is a genuine alchemist and turns him into something none of us have ever seen. I think he's a mediocre player relative to where United should be. I guess I just struggle to see him standing out as by far the worst in the context of an era when we've generally had bad CBs. Bailly easily made as many bad mistakes relative to minutes played - does he get a free pass because he was injured so much? Jones was never elite when he played and he never played. Rojo was rash. Smalling was a very good box defender but very poor with the ball at his feet, whereas Lindelof is more comfortable than most and a good passer. Maguire's best level is much higher than Lindelof's but he reached a lower level when he had that crisis of confidence. Varane - much better defender; again, an inferior passer. Lisandro is the only CB we've signed post-Fergie who unquestionably elevates the whole team. (Although I really liked Blind as a footballer, wherever he played.)

Again, I'm not dying on any hill for Lindelof. I just don't really see him standing out for better or worse among a very average group of centre backs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He might not be in a rush to get rid: we’re gonna need plenty of CBs in the squad and with the injury issues some of ours have, he’ll want at least six capable of playing at least one of the roles I’d say.

Yoro
Lof

De Ligt
Maguire

Martinez
Shaw

Maybe Dalot could do a job on the RHS at a push.

Rube is in for a ruud awakening this weekend. He thinks his precious 3-4-3 is going to work against the mighty Ipswich?

Maybe Dalot could do a job on the RHS at a push

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I could see Dalot as a bit of a utility player for Amorim. He's obviously not a super-attacking wing back, but obviously an option there until the squad develops. I think you're right that he could be RCB back-up. Might even be a fourth-choice CM a la John O'Shea in the event of injuries / suspensions / needing to limit minutes of a player lacking full fitness.

comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, Ruben (U17054)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
Under no circumstances should Lindelof ever be seen as a starter in any United line up
----------------------------------------------------------------------

He's had plenty of games where he has played really well. The biggest issue with Lindelof is that he only plays well if the circumstances suit his strengths and don't expose his weaknesses, and that hasn't been the case often enough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well he can go and play well somewhere else where the circumstances suit his strengths and don’t expose his weaknesses because he’s one of the worst CB’s I can ever remember playing for this club
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We'll get rid pretty soon unless Amorim is a genuine alchemist and turns him into something none of us have ever seen. I think he's a mediocre player relative to where United should be. I guess I just struggle to see him standing out as by far the worst in the context of an era when we've generally had bad CBs. Bailly easily made as many bad mistakes relative to minutes played - does he get a free pass because he was injured so much? Jones was never elite when he played and he never played. Rojo was rash. Smalling was a very good box defender but very poor with the ball at his feet, whereas Lindelof is more comfortable than most and a good passer. Maguire's best level is much higher than Lindelof's but he reached a lower level when he had that crisis of confidence. Varane - much better defender; again, an inferior passer. Lisandro is the only CB we've signed post-Fergie who unquestionably elevates the whole team. (Although I really liked Blind as a footballer, wherever he played.)

Again, I'm not dying on any hill for Lindelof. I just don't really see him standing out for better or worse among a very average group of centre backs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He might not be in a rush to get rid: we’re gonna need plenty of CBs in the squad and with the injury issues some of ours have, he’ll want at least six capable of playing at least one of the roles I’d say.

Yoro
Lof

De Ligt
Maguire

Martinez
Shaw

Maybe Dalot could do a job on the RHS at a push.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro could do a job as 5th or 6th choice maybe?

comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, Ruben (U17054)
posted 41 minutes ago
comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 17 minutes ago
https://x.com/ilatif_/status/1858645124483608706?s=46&t=OGtF2r2qWFSojPdK5ETiMg
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Already pointing at his watch and shaking his head about them not getting back quickly enough to restart the drill
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I liked on 3:05 he blew the whistle to indicate Shaw lost the ball and then the whole team has to sprint back the full pitch to the defensive shape, seems pretty basic but hopefully if he doesn’t allow players to get away with not doing it, our squad will start to weed out the lazy fckers.

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, Ruben (U17054)
posted 16 minutes ago

He might not be in a rush to get rid: we’re gonna need plenty of CBs in the squad and with the injury issues some of ours have, he’ll want at least six capable of playing at least one of the roles I’d say.

Yoro
Lof

De Ligt
Maguire

Martinez
Shaw

Maybe Dalot could do a job on the RHS at a push.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro could do a job as 5th or 6th choice maybe?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It strikes me that the respective left, central and right CB roles are so distinct in their requirements that we're thinking even less than we have done in terms of a generic roster of central defenders, and much more about options and depth for each of the three slots. The wider CB roles require ability to defend a lot of space. Yoro looks ideal for that. Martinez less so, but he brings so much else to the team that I don't see him being displaced. With squad turnover I imagine we'll look to bring in pacier defenders who can compete / cover in those wide CB roles. Maguire and De Ligt would seem better suited to the central role, and I'd imagine Casemiro only really works there too, as emergency cover.

Gonna go back in for Branthwaite you’d think if attainable at the right price. Really suits that type of defence.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, Ruben (U17054)
posted 16 minutes ago

He might not be in a rush to get rid: we’re gonna need plenty of CBs in the squad and with the injury issues some of ours have, he’ll want at least six capable of playing at least one of the roles I’d say.

Yoro
Lof

De Ligt
Maguire

Martinez
Shaw

Maybe Dalot could do a job on the RHS at a push.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro could do a job as 5th or 6th choice maybe?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It strikes me that the respective left, central and right CB roles are so distinct in their requirements that we're thinking even less than we have done in terms of a generic roster of central defenders, and much more about options and depth for each of the three slots. The wider CB roles require ability to defend a lot of space. Yoro looks ideal for that. Martinez less so, but he brings so much else to the team that I don't see him being displaced. With squad turnover I imagine we'll look to bring in pacier defenders who can compete / cover in those wide CB roles. Maguire and De Ligt would seem better suited to the central role, and I'd imagine Casemiro only really works there too, as emergency cover.
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100%

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 3 minutes ago
Gonna go back in for Branthwaite you’d think if attainable at the right price. Really suits that type of defence.
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The focus on uptooling our defence this summer, despite loads of other gaps in the squad, makes me wonder whether the new sporting leadership had identified a back three as a tactical trend that could give us a competitive edge (looking at Alonso's success at Leverkusen as well as Amorim's at Sporting). This is probably bоllосks, as De Ligt famously didn't get on well with playing in a back three at Juventus, but as far as I'm aware the rules of this forum doesn't prohibit talking bоllосks.

We don’t need Branthwaite when we’ve got Kukonki coming through the youth team. God willing he makes it and saves us a fortune.

RR "but as far as I'm aware the rules of this forum doesn't prohibit talking bоllосks."

Actively encouraged on some threads by some posters

comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 41 minutes ago
We don’t need Branthwaite when we’ve got Kukonki coming through the youth team. God willing he makes it and saves us a fortune.
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Still think he’d be a good addition if the right profile for Amorim. Him, Yoro, Martinez, De Ligt, Shaw plus one youngster coming through for 3 CB slots long term would be good.

Let’s Maguire, Lindelof and Evans eventually be moved on.

Tbf I only said that because Kukonki’s first name is Godwill.

Branthwaite looks a promising defender. Might be able to get him a bit cheaper this summer as well.

As an aside, I think we need to be looking at Ait-Nouri if we want to take some players off the shiiiiit prem teams. We really need a good left wing back. Hopefully we’ll flog Dalot and get someone good for the right as well.

comment by It’s time for some Lancashire hotPote, Ruben (U17054)
posted 3 hours, 32 minutes ago
Best guess against Ipswich is:

Lof De Ligt* Martinez*
Mazraoui Casemiro Ugarte* Dalot
Amad* Hojlund* Bruno*

The players with *s I'd put (a very small amount of) money on. The others I'm really not sure about, although I'd be very surprised if he threw in players who aren't fully match fit/recovered from injury.

Particularly hard to guess the wingbacks, but I expect he'll be cautious.
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This is pretty much what I would guess at.

comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
We don’t need Branthwaite when we’ve got Kukonki coming through the youth team. God willing he makes it and saves us a fortune.
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Feck me! 6ft 5" at 16 years old.

comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 12 minutes ago
Tbf I only said that because Kukonki’s first name is Godwill.

Branthwaite looks a promising defender. Might be able to get him a bit cheaper this summer as well.

As an aside, I think we need to be looking at Ait-Nouri if we want to take some players off the shiiiiit prem teams. We really need a good left wing back. Hopefully we’ll flog Dalot and get someone good for the right as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Funnily enough, I debated whether to make a thread about realistic PL targets that would strengthen key areas for us at not completely ridiculous prices and Ait-Nouri would have been number 1 on the list for the LWB role.

Wolves have got two or three players who look like they could play for a much better team to be fair (Gomes, Cunha, Ait-Nouri).

If the likes of Yoro, Mount, Shaw, Mainoo complete every training session this week in the managers first week of trying to get new ideas across before the game Sunday I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a couple of them starting.

Malacia is playing again tonight for the U21s so helps getting close to match fit, maybe he won’t be as shiyte at LWB as he was as LB.

Keep seeing Alphonso Davies linked on Twitter as we can agree a contract with him from Jan apparently. Not sure if just lazy journalism or not but if we want wing backs and he’s out of contract in the summer or would be daft not to enquire!

Hefty signing on fee you’d imagine.

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 7 minutes ago
If the likes of Yoro, Mount, Shaw, Mainoo complete every training session this week in the managers first week of trying to get new ideas across before the game Sunday I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a couple of them starting.
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That would be the right thing a good manager would do. I'm petty but that will decide a lot of my first opinions with him.

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 9 minutes ago
Malacia is playing again tonight for the U21s so helps getting close to match fit, maybe he won’t be as shiyte at LWB as he was as LB.

Keep seeing Alphonso Davies linked on Twitter as we can agree a contract with him from Jan apparently. Not sure if just lazy journalism or not but if we want wing backs and he’s out of contract in the summer or would be daft not to enquire!

Hefty signing on fee you’d imagine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If so, it will require a pile of woods to be knocked

comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 41 minutes ago
Tbf I only said that because Kukonki’s first name is Godwill.

Branthwaite looks a promising defender. Might be able to get him a bit cheaper this summer as well.

As an aside, I think we need to be looking at Ait-Nouri if we want to take some players off the shiiiiit prem teams. We really need a good left wing back. Hopefully we’ll flog Dalot and get someone good for the right as well.
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Shame he's not the son of Danny Ings

comment by Redastomatoes- Feels very Moyesian...cleverson forever!If he is good enough he is ready! (U12026)
posted 37 minutes ago
comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 7 minutes ago
If the likes of Yoro, Mount, Shaw, Mainoo complete every training session this week in the managers first week of trying to get new ideas across before the game Sunday I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least a couple of them starting.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That would be the right thing a good manager would do. I'm petty but that will decide a lot of my first opinions with him.
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Despite the fact that none of us will probably have any idea whether any of them are fit enough to play even 60 minutes?

comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
comment by Ruben The King Amorim Tim Tagi Dim (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
We don’t need Branthwaite when we’ve got Kukonki coming through the youth team. God willing he makes it and saves us a fortune.
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Feck me! 6ft 5" at 16 years old.
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Mental, isn’t it?