Manchester United (Part 2)

Maguire has signed for a world record fee for a defender - £80m + Add-on's - This games gone mental!

Overpaying pretty handsomely, but Leicester held all the cards with a long term contract in place, and also using the fact that we were reaching the point where a deal was almost not going to go ahead so close to the season kicking off. 

Happy the deal is done, but feel we've been taken for a bit of a ride on this one. 

It is what it is. We were always looking desperate for CBs. Everyone knew it. 

With Maguire you have a CB in his prime who isn’t going to need 6 months to get up to speed. He’s also a professional and a leader who isn’t going to throw his toys if It doesn’t work out.

Yeah any club we’re going to absolutely cream us for every dollar knowing how much we wanted a CB. I call it United tax.

Dybala deal's off. 

I'm not gutted about it. As I said in my earlier post, the player didn't really want to come. You can offer him as much money as you like but if he's not happy in his environment 9 times out of 10 we'd end up with another Di Maria situation. Let's just hope we've got something up our sleeves for that deeper midfield role.

Sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. Good move i reckon.

Why not keep Lukaku? 

He gets goals. You have wide forwards?

Martial and Rashford either side of him seems like it should work to me. Lingard, Sanchez and a few very promising youngsters as well, that's an ok stable of forwards imo, not sure I'd be wading into the market. 

He doesn't want to be here and doesn't fit Ole's planned pressing style. Did you see he posted all of United's sprint testing data on Instagram the other day? Salty. 

Fair enough if that's the case. 

I didn't think the instagram thing was a big deal though, he posted it specifically to brag about his own pace, rather than as some kind of dig at the club or Manager, right? Didn't look like a cynical move to me...

It wasn’t even sprint testing data. It was max speed in a single training session. He probably knew he was going to do it and went out of his way to hit a 50m sprint. Was an absolute child. 

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Dybala, but glad to see the club pull out if it wasn’t going to work. Leaves the player in a really precarious position but only Juve and himself to blame. The fact Juve has publicly stated they don’t want him but he’d rather sit on the bench than go somewhere and prove himself speaks volumes to his character. 

Still want to shift Lukaku. Football wise he is a glorified Benteke. Team wise he is salty and becoming poisonous.

Sorry for posting this in here guys, but just making sure I get Leggy's attention, in case he doesn't see my comment in the picks thread:

"Hey Leggy, you're short of a few players in your round 1 picks, you gotta pick two players each from Liverpool, Norwich, Arsenal, ManU and Chelsea. You've got 2 Liverpool players, but need to add one more for Norwich, one more for ManU, 2 for Arsenal and 2 for Chelsea.

Of course if you put the picks in with the intention of coming back to complete it before the games then ignore me, as you were!"

Cheers

Lukaku surely on the way out now. Apparently training back in Belgium with Anderlecht. Be interesting to see if he's done this on his own accord or whether he's just been left in the cold? Would seem odd for United to do that when they're after £70-80mill for him but there ya go.

The move is going to happen and everyone knows it. United has left him there to make him work out his own transfer - possibly decreased wages for Inter to increase their bid for instance.

Heavy rumours for Eriksen which will have me pretty excited if United pull it off. Great player, amazing playmaker, works hard, and is Premier League proven. Probably one of the world's most underrated players for me.

Also rumours of us going for Coutinho.... fudge no.

Sounds like Spurs in for both Coutinho (on loan) and Dybala. Apparently Coutinho played for Pochettino at Espanyol and likes him as a coach. If either of those are true Eriksen could well be available, and I wouldn't be upset with that - would prefer him to Coutinho for sure given the make-up of our midfield at the moment and the fact that I don't like Coutinho.

Feels like Dybala was trying to hard ball United for big wages, then we threw in the towel, then he went back to Turin and it dawned on him Juventus team didn't want him...

My guess is that Spurs are just gonna agree deals for Coutinho and Dybala then play them against each other on wages.

Reports this morning that Dybala fee agreed for Spurs but if United can't get agent fees and image rights over the line I don't see how Spurs will. They of course can offer Champions League football. 

On a seperate note, if we don't sign another player for the number 8 role before the end of the window it's a disaster. If Pogba gets injured our options in midfield are: McTominay (who I actually rate highly and think is going to have a good season), Pereira (20 league appearances, mainly off the bench), Fred (seemingly down on confidence and not much of a pre-season), and Matic (seemingly well past his best and slow, more of an anchoring midfielder). That's worrying. 

Eriksen is a hell of a player but not convinced he's an out and out central midfield player for a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 (when Pogba wants to be the roaming player in the midfield 3).

I think our transfer business is done. Spurs have signed Lo Celso which could open the door for Eriksen, but I'm doubtful that Daniel Levy will let him go to United anything short of an astronomical figure that we won't pay.

Eriksen deal is off. Heart set on Madrid. Fair play to United pulling the plug on anyone who doesn't genuinely want to be here. It's the right way to go. Meanwhile, Lukaku's off to Inter:

Gutted Eriksen is off but yep, no point paying the big bucks for players who don't really want to be here. We either have to ruin any semblance of a wage structure, or have to deal with them kicking up a fuss in 12 months.

I actually think we've made massive strides this summer:

• Set up a manager who's football and "mental" philosophy fits the club
• Signed a proven centre back
• Signed a proven right back
• Signed a young hard worker with bags of potential
• Got rid of Lukaku (first time since we signed Fellaini that we've had a first team of footballers who actually have a first touch) 
• Reinvigorated the youth team
• Showed the world that we're not here to be ripped off or used as a pawn in their negotiations for other clubs

And just quietly, I think Gomes is one of the most talented kids I've seen play football. I'd add to that boat Greenwood, who has had the best youth season you possibly could. Knowing these two are at least in a position to get serious game time is a very good thing.

 United have not pulled the plug on Pobga who  does not genuinely want to be at Utd( he has said this) but RM don't have the money. 

Yeah I was referring to potential incoming signings but correct.

As much as we’ve been given grief for paying £80 mil for Maguire, how good a bit of business is getting £75 back for Lukaku!!

That's nothing short of a miracle tbh. Lucky Conte seems to have some sort of fascination with  him.

Is the good thing about forking out big cash for 23-24 year olds; they still have re-sale value in a few years.

Good on the money side but now having 8 central defenders and not replacing Lukaku is just poor management. Of course the window has not shut, but you don't win games unless you score goals and Lukaku was the best striker we had.

Wow I'm officially concerned. No business on deadline day as expected. I think we are really lacking depth up front and in central midfield. 

A bit more than disappointing. Just poor management again.

If we are going to stick with the young players and hope that in a couple of seasons they will be able to step up then I am OK with that and will not have high expectations for the next few seasons.

However,I doubt the board and Woodward will go with that as I am sure they expect Ole to make the top 4. The Board has six Glazers on it and they know nothing about football and with Woodward are only interested in money--- not the team. This will of course backfire when the team fails to win trophies,football shirt sales  etc. slow down and the share price drops. Utd shares are $10 less than they were a year ago.Since Woodward was appointed to the board in 2012 we have won the title once.

Ole has been dropped in the deep end. I never thought that he was a good choice but I hoped I was wrong as he is a true Utd man and with the right backing he might have done a good job. As I have said for a few years now that Utd do not have enough quality players to win the league. Nothing has changed as most of those players are still there.People have ridiculed me for this but I have been proven to be correct. EPL greats like Shearer, Keown and many more have said the same thing for years.

We won't make the top four this season and will be lucky to make 6th. Will be more than happy to proven wrong.

Unfortunately I agree with you for the most part. If they get behind OGS and we're able to re-generate United mentality and bring in young players then maybe it'll work and the culture can be improved for the better, but unfortunately I also foresee the board giving OGS the boot when they haven't even given him a real chance to implement his vision.

It needs a captain to be the first signing. Who's the captain? Pogba is a distraction and a liability. I'd like to eat those words, but...

Maguire and Wan-Bissaka do seem like pretty good signings... Big improvement to 50% of your backline?

Big thing is getting goals. Your forwards and attackers need to do their jobs. So many of them have not played to their potential in recent times. 

6 1/2 hours till season kicks off! 

Always excited for the start of the season and Chelsea first up should be a good test to see what where our the collective heads are at.

Not expecting miracles this season, but an improvement in mentality, combined with willingness to get stuck in and face up to the challenges ahead, well, that would be a good start.

Gunna be tired tomorrow, but luckily only have a leisurely afternoon start time at work.

I think this is pretty much right for you guys. It's in ownership and board room that the trouble really lies.

Although, I have some optimism that Ole will get things going for MU. I think the likes of Martial and Rashford will get the needed goals. I just hope injuries go your way. And that defense is fixed (except when you play Norwich).

I know as fans of teams we tend to be either overly optimistic or overly pessimistic but I think MU will be fine and finish 4th this year.

United a little fortunate to be ahead at H/T courtesy of a Rashford penalty, with thanks Zouma's late challenge in the box. 

Chelsea have been a little more threatening going forward though - they've hit the woodwork via Abraham early on and Emerson towards the end of the half. That being said, very watchable and positive game, good end to end action as you would expect from sides that should be up towards the pointy end (top 6 at least) come season's end. United defence looking a little bit shaky, with some off communication resulting in a couple of mix ups, notably for the Emerson chance when he hit the bar. Overall though a decent way to kick off the season (albeit still another 45 to go). Maguire is proving a cool head at the back - a powerful aerial presence, but he's also made some good interventions to stop Chelsea getting in behind the backline. Wan-Bissaka not letting much get by him either, but he's been a bit sloppy with his passing game. Having said that he's getting up that right hand flank when United get forward, but needs to be a little more decisive in his decision making as he just seemed to run out of options.

Good to see United putting on a decent press as well, and not something half assed like we saw last season where there was little team cohesion in enforcing such a tactic - there seems to be more intent to put the opponents under pressure which is nice to see.

Not perfect by any stretch, but I'll take the 3 points on opening day thanks. Just tuning in for the second half now. 

UTFR what a start!! Absolutely buzzing. A few high level thoughts on the game:

• Maguire and AWB were absolutely immense and immediately improve our defence ten fold
• No idea how we kept a clean sheet (but see above)
• Does Ole already rue not getting a central midfielder in?
• Pogba trying to be too clever in possession but did improve in the second half 
• De Gea’s back 
• The fluid front four looks extremely promising
• Old Trafford’s the best stadium in the world 
• FOUR NIL

So happy to see James get a goal on debut too, and the emotion as he ran over to celebrate. Fantastic start for the young lad. Just a shame I had him on the bench in my Fantasy team ? Martial and Rashford were brilliant, energetic, full of running and above all else, clinical - Lukak-who?

Best part for mine though, a clean sheet! Chelsea on the other hand, well their defence was in tatter's that 2nd half, really woeful stuff from them, they just disintegrated. They shipped a few goals in pre season too so looks like Lampard's got a job on to fix that up, especially with Liverpool coming up midweek in Istanbul in the European Supercup.

Shout out to Spark Sport too. Was skeptical about the platform at first, but really good clear coverage, no buffering problems and the service didn't drop out at all, so will definitely be purchasing after my first free week runs out.

I actually got a bit emotional with the James celebration and just seeing how stoked the lads were for him!

James goal was awesome.

Chelsea better first half. But United held on. Second half they had more possession but were pretty toothless.

Maguire's calmness was an absolute breath of fresh air which definitely rubbed off on Shaw and Lindelof.

Decent first half showing from United. 70% posession, a 1-0 lead and Wolves offering little going forward.

Martial with a lethal finish and looking bery good so far as a #9.

That's what happens when you let a guy like Neves have time on the ball outside the box. Very sloppy second half and Wolves deserved the point.

Why on earth are we changing penalty takers game to game??? Why does Ole even let this happen? For what it's worth I thought Rashford was very poor tonight aside from his assist and I also think this was not the right type of game for Daniel James, with Wolves effectively defending with 5, nullified all his good attributes. 

Also can't believe it took until the last 10 minutes to bring our subs on. I would have brought Mata on much earlier, as we were clearly lacking creativity. 

I don't think Rashford was "very poor", he just wasn't great.

We capitulated after Pogba missed his penalty. It was like everyone forgot how to pass.

Lack of subs was definitely weird.

I don't expect Lingard to start next week.

Fair points, especially about the 2nd half. Could sort of feel it coming though. Traore substitution brought Wolves to life and he really gave Shaw a bit of a working over down that left hand side, which in effect started pulling United players out of position to try cover and nullify the threat, hence freeing up space for other Wolves players in the middle of the park.

Ole said in the post match interviews that both Pogba and Rashford are the "designated penalty takers" and that it came down to "choice on the day and who is feeling confident enough to take the penalty." 

Bit of an odd system if you ask me, but sounds like we'll be seeing a lot more of it this season.

Agree with the subs, felt it was left far too late for them to come on and make an impact. Also think Pereira should have been starting instead of Lingard, who was mostly invisible for a lot of the match to be honest. Don't think Rashford was that poor either, just not a sparkling performance compared with the Chelsea game.