Messages

Well done to the winners and thanks to Oakleaflad for organising again. See ye in August!

There has been bad luck - missed penalties, goalkeeping calamities and Saturdays absolutely bizarre VAR shambles - but my overriding feeling is that it's not so much the much talked about "system" but the team selections that are the real problem. Clearly none of us have the full story but it's hard to understand:

The constant tinkering with the back 3 personnel. Every game and during the game changes are made that seem too frequent and not logical. With one game a week nobody needs resting unless they are injured.

Mainoo has to be in the team and is in my opinion the best central midfielder. Not perfect but he adds a spark. Really inexplicable how he is being treated. 

Fernandes g/a record over every season he has been at the club is amazing. When he plays central midfield the game passes him by largely. He's not able to play the position. Needs to be in a freer role where he can influence in attacking area where he's up there with the best.

Most of the wing backs are miles off but the likes of Dalot, Dorgu and Shaw (I know he has played predominantly at left centre back) play every week and are crap and get picked the next week. Dalot and Shaw are nearly always involved somehow in the goals conceded. They will cost another manager his job soon if he keeps picking them.

Goalkeeper - get the new lad in. Bayindir is a decent backup but nothing more.

I want Amorim to get a chance because he seems a tough nut and that's what's needed. But he's not going to be around much longer unless he starts winning games. And i'm also sick of seeing that poor lad who needs a haircut. 

Ya, you just cannot keep giving away cheap goals. Especially when you're not finding it easy to score at the other end.

I just think the club has to stop firing managers. Amorim probably needs to stop feeding the media though. He's giving them too much. Probably as he's a genuine, passionate person but I don't think the interviews are helping. He says something - media latch on to it - I think it then makes him more reluctant to go against what he said. Just tell them the bare minimum.

Stating the obvious the say yesterday's result was disappointing. As usual with United the reactions are massively exaggerated. In my view United were not that bad yesterday overall but playing against good teams you get punished for weakness/mistakes and so it was again yesterday.

The goalkeeping soap opera has masked the fact that Luke Shaw has been playing terribly for some time now. He's slow and ponderous on the ball, defensively very poor and looks slow. He basically looks completely disinterested. I struggle to understand ow he has conned manager after manager but there are guys like that who can make all the right noises but in truth are phoning it in. You have to do your job and he was badly at fault for all 3 goals. The goalkeeper is miles off as well (thought he was in the totally wrong position for Haaland's first and very lucky to get away with dreadful control in first half).

United have played some good opponents and lets be honest - are not a top 6 team in this league. Are steps being taken to improve things? This is where I'm getting concerned. I like a manager to be stubborn because at times you need to stick to your guns for things to bed in. Unfortunately I see a few fundamental areas that look easy fixes and it appears Amorim is not going to do the obvious thing.

1) Goalkeeper. The new lad is only in the door but why buy him if you're not going to play him? Bsyindir is only marginally better than Onana and destabilises the back line. Play Lammens.
2) Centre of midfield. Fernandes cannot play this position. He loses his man and doesn't have the positional mind in a defensive sense to protect the defense. I thought when Mainoo came on it was again abundantly clear that he is the best centre midfielder at the club by a distance. I also thought Ugarte had a decent game yesterday in difficult circumstances. These two are the partnership he has to run with.
3) "Number 9". I thought the decision to start Sesko yesterday was a mistake. I'll give him time but I'm very worried already he's not up to it. That aside yesterday was the day to play Bruno as deep lying or false 9. Amad and Mbuemo more than capable of getting in behind as the latter did and Bruno has in the past shown an ability to drift in there. Regarding Sesko - whether he's not good enough or the team don't know how to feed a number 9 he has not looked good. Prioritise this guy in lesser games or else he's going to be another flop before he gets a chance.
4) Shaw. He has to go. His performances are dreadful. I'd prefer Maguire to get more game time in the centre and play Yoro or DeLigt at LCB until Martinez comes back (not sure how far away he is but a fully fit Martinez is badly needed).

Less obviously fixable are the wing backs. Mazraoui good defensively but not dynamic enough. Perhaps with a few games he'll be better....maybe he can do better. Dorgu - great athlete but not as good as you'd like defensively and end product substandard. Dalot is a poor defender. Decent athlete and decent going forward. Amad - wasted as a wing back and due to his size will be a target. Probably has been the best of them though. In the system he uses (which I think is overstated) these are key players. I think all these options are pretty flawed.

When do waivers open 

Looks like first round of claims process on Thursday for the A competition.

Was a really quick draft considering it was 19 rounds.

Lammens confirmed I see.

Serious pressure on the young lad. Needs to get plenty of support but no doubt the muppets will be out in force after the first mistake. Very highly rated seemingly but honestly don't know much about him. Got to be an upgrade on whats there though.

It's definitely a bigger risk than taking Emi Martinez who is proven in the Premier league. 

Lammens confirmed I see.

A good and deserved win Saturday and all the better for having to dig it out. Felt United meant business from the off and kept the momentum going more or less throughout the game. This needs to be the minimum standard - not just when the b acks are to the wall. We'll see on that. The obvious problems reared their heads again with the two goals conceded - goalkeeping error (I make it 4 of the 5 goals conceded by United this season are goalkeeping errors) and Dalot's inability to understand basic defending (he very nearly caused another goal by dropping too deep - goal was disallowed because Burnley player was just offside by a whisker).

Talk about the penalty above kinda makes me laugh. Fairly clearcut. Some of the arguments against it would mean the first half one on Mount should have remained as a penalty. I can see why the Mount one was overturned but if it wasn't Walker could have no complaints....he was fortunate.

The goalkeeping led defensive crises and inability to save penalties have caused a shit storm but the stats tell you it has been a reasonable star to the league anyway. Highest xG, most touches in opponents box, most shots. Fernandes who everyone seems to hate/think is shit - highest number of chances created as has been the case for the last 3 full seasons (and he was second by 1 the previous season).

Looks like United will get at least one goalkeeper and Sancho and Antony out the door today which is essential. Talk of Onana going to Fenerbahce too which would be great. Honestly feel the central midfield issue is one Amorim is overthinking. I genuinely think the question is who to play alongside Mainoo. I don't think it is Bruno. I think if you feel you need legs and a defensive mindset in there (I'm not certain it's as bad as everyone thinks) Mazraoui could do a job though United need to keep Dalot off the pitch. He has his moments in attack but he's defensively clueless.

https://x.com/bayer04_en/status/1961093674797818192?s=19
 

Hated. Adored. Never ignored. 

Hope all good Laoislad.

Welcome back MS.

Out of curiosity, other than the fact United paid a fortune for him as a kid, what on earth come lead you to say at this point that Yoro looks destined to be a star? What has he done in a United shirt to suggest this? His most memorable performance for United for me was being repeatedly exposed and skint in the Sociedad game (I think) last year.

He had a few shaky moments early on but I think he is just the real deal when I watch him. A great competitor, bit of edge to him, pace and a really good tackler. Even last weekend he got back to a Fulham player and made an outrageous tackle (I thought it was a penalty at first look but replay showed it was clean as a whistle). He's 19 still and in a struggling side but seems very confident. Honestly feel unless United get back to being some sort of force he'll be gone to Madrid or somewhere like that within 18 months.

Been a while! My tuppence worth for what it is worth.

On the money thing - my understanding is Owners are allowed to put in a certain amount. The Glazers had put in nothing so there is scope for Ineos to put money in......hence spending 200m so far in this window which most wouldn't have though possible without sales.

Anyway....where the hell are things? Clearly not good. Like many I was very encouraged by the performance against Arsenal but it seems it's a case of playing to the level of your opponent. Which can only mean one thing - attitude, mindset is not right. This is what has contributed to other managers getting sacked and it seems to be at work again. I would not have greed with getting rid of LVG, Ole or Ten Hag when they happened because I firmly believe changing managers is simply the owners way of placating the social media masses - vast majority of whom haven't a clue (but they spend money).

FORWARDS: I was glad they went and got attackers over the summer. Still early but I think Cunha and Mbuemo will do well. At the very least I think Sesko will be an upgrade on Hojlund but people might need to be patient with him. Garnacho will go, Rashford is gone and Sancho will just rot. Overall I'd be shocked if it doesn't work out better than last year.

GOALKEEPERS: Glaring problem is goalkeeper and I cannot understand how this has not been addressed. This is not looking for scapegoats or excuses but quite simply Onana has been so bad I've wondered at times was there something sinister going on. Last night was absolutely incredible. The first goal (others at fault too) was apparently a shot that is expected to be saved 91% of the time. Absolutely dreadful goalkeeping. The second was actually worse where he ended up farther up he pitch than half the players before the goal went in. Yes the guy handled but that was cancelled out by the goal disallowed in the second half. In the shootout he saves one and gets a a good hand to FOUR others but fails to keep one out. Absolutely amazing. Bayindir is slightly better but both are stealing a living. A goalkeeper simply has to be bought before the end of the window because no matter how good or bad a team is goalkeepers this bad give you absolutely no chance. 

DEFENSE: You always want more but overall I'm thinking with a bit of luck with injuries and a functioning goalkeeper the defense will be ok. DeLigt loks to be getting better. I think Yoro is destined to be a star (hopefully for United for a long time but if things don't improve....). Maguire has been doing quite well of late, central of the 3 suits him. Martinez back soon. Mazraoui very important, hopefully back soon. Heaven is fine. I think Shaw has not been good. Fredricson was poor last night. Dorgu is grand....lots of energy and workrate but maybe you'd like him to be better defensively. Dalot should only be a reserve....not good enough going forward and worse defensively.

MIDFIELD: Amad - I'd persist with him at wing back. He's no worse defensively than Dalot and could work a good partnership with Mbuemo. He was poor on Sunday and worse last night though including miscontrolling a ball and subsequently taking Ugarte out in lead up to first goal. This might be controversial but I think Mainoo is far and away the best centre mid United have. I don't understand what Amorim is doing with him. Thought he was United's best player along with Maguire last night. Casemiro slow but a good passer & aerial threat. Ugarte works hard but not as good in possession as other midfielders. Bruno is Bruno but I think it's fanciful to think he can play as a centre mid. Let Smith Rowe away from him badly at the weekend - he's simply not capable of the defensive side. Still arguably the most important attacking player but his influence on games is variable. I'm really happy with Mount's play the back end of last season and start of this. He's a good player and looks to have his confidence back. I honestly think the need here is for a more defensive but technically strong and athletic partner in the centre for Mainoo. If that can't be got then it will be a patch up job.

Might have missed one or two. Jist of it is - (1) this squad is decent and should not be preforming as badly as it is, even allowing for horrendous goalkeeping. (2) mental weakness and bad body language is rife throughout the group which needs to be addressed. (3) confidence is very brittle and I don't see it improving without results.

So to Amorim. I don't agree with all he does but I think he is determined and ruthless and he needs to be backed. His interview last night was worrying in that perhaps he's near the point of leaving himself. Get a goalkeeper and pick the lads who will fight for results and not give anything away.

Thanks.

I'm the same - have two drafts Sunday evening.

Thanks Oakleaflad.

Tullamore Titans saying he got the email about deleting him from B but nothing regarding adding him to A. Can you check? Thanks.

Apologies, just checked and had a typo in the email address for the invite. Should have the invite to the 'A' now.

He's sorted now. Thanks.