Man Utd Thread:

[Blowitupref]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/01/05/sir-jim-ratcliffe-has-got-all-big-decisions-wrong-at-united/When you reflect on this saga, perhaps the most extraordinary detail is United's surprise at the manager that Amorim turned out to be. Ratcliffe prised him from Sporting Lisbon in the first place, knowing full well that he was a headstrong personality wedded to a rigid tactical system. And yet now he has cast him aside for the very same reasons. An impression grows that Ratcliffe, for all his staggering business successes, has not the faintest conception of how to put the listing United supertanker back on an even keel. For fans hoping fervently for a turning of the page, Amorim's exit signals less a masterstroke than another desperate stab in the dark.

What's been going on since Ferguson retired in 2013, he ran the club on and off the field with a Iron fist and over the last decade it's clear under the ownership of the Glazers how desperately run the club are and has been no improvement by passing on the football side of things to Radcliffe and with hand picked guys.

I might add the day's of a manager holding everything together as Ferguson did are over and unless the club can become well run off the field you can't expect to be challenging for major honours on the field.

Man Utd have spent £2 billion on players since Ferguson left.

Mainly squandered.

[Armagh18]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/01/05/sir-jim-ratcliffe-has-got-all-big-decisions-wrong-at-united/When you reflect on this saga, perhaps the most extraordinary detail is United's surprise at the manager that Amorim turned out to be. Ratcliffe prised him from Sporting Lisbon in the first place, knowing full well that he was a headstrong personality wedded to a rigid tactical system. And yet now he has cast him aside for the very same reasons. An impression grows that Ratcliffe, for all his staggering business successes, has not the faintest conception of how to put the listing United supertanker back on an even keel. For fans hoping fervently for a turning of the page, Amorim's exit signals less a masterstroke than another desperate stab in the dark.

What's been going on since Ferguson retired in 2013, he ran the club on and off the field with a Iron fist and over the last decade it's clear under the ownership of the Glazers how desperately run the club are and has been no improvement by passing on the football side of things to Radcliffe and with hand picked guys.

I might add the day's of a manager holding everything together as Ferguson did are over and unless the club can become well run off the field you can't expect to be challenging for major honours on the field.

Man Utd have spent £2 billion on players since Ferguson left.

How much have Arsenal spent since Arteta took over? Chelsea have nearly spent that in the last couple of years.

Arteta has spent about a billion.

And are top of the league.

The reality is since Ferguson left you would struggle to name any successful signings. Shaw? Bruno? Anyone else?

Veryyy debatable that clown.

I suppose the likes of Herrera, Mata weren't awful and did rightly, but for the money at the time Mata didn't deliver what was needed.

[Look-Up!]

Stubbornness can also be equated to self belief, an essential trait when trying to achieve what most see as the impossible.

I seem to remember criticism for ETH from some quarters for having no discernable style and abandoning his Ajax principles after quickly realising the enormity of the task at Utd. I'm in no way defending him because his transfers were terrible but this "flapping" was equated to indecisiveness and weakness on his part.

You certainly couldn't accuse Amorim of abandoning his principles. In fact his major criticism is for not doing what ETH did and adjust his style. Although a bit contradictory I think it's fair to accuse him of being too unbending but I will say this in his defence. He made no secret of his style when he came to Utd. No one was under any false impressions. The club head hunted him and even pressured him into coming half a season too early no less. And I'm sure there were many many lofty promises made to him of being given the time and backing to achieve his vision. But the club have obviously since baulked at those promises and he was only recently told they will be reneging. So although he was very unprofessional in how he handled it you can understand his anger and frustration.

I don't know where that leaves the club though or what route they'll go next. But what the hell was the point of hiring Amorim and all the grandiose pronouncements of philosophy and new Utd if they just flap after one window? And what will the next man be thinking upon listening to the latest raft of promises and visions?

[laoislad]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/01/05/sir-jim-ratcliffe-has-got-all-big-decisions-wrong-at-united/When you reflect on this saga, perhaps the most extraordinary detail is United's surprise at the manager that Amorim turned out to be. Ratcliffe prised him from Sporting Lisbon in the first place, knowing full well that he was a headstrong personality wedded to a rigid tactical system. And yet now he has cast him aside for the very same reasons. An impression grows that Ratcliffe, for all his staggering business successes, has not the faintest conception of how to put the listing United supertanker back on an even keel. For fans hoping fervently for a turning of the page, Amorim's exit signals less a masterstroke than another desperate stab in the dark.

What's been going on since Ferguson retired in 2013, he ran the club on and off the field with a Iron fist and over the last decade it's clear under the ownership of the Glazers how desperately run the club are and has been no improvement by passing on the football side of things to Radcliffe and with hand picked guys.

I might add the day's of a manager holding everything together as Ferguson did are over and unless the club can become well run off the field you can't expect to be challenging for major honours on the field.

Man Utd have spent £2 billion on players since Ferguson left.

Probably spent close to that paying off managers also!

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/01/05/sir-jim-ratcliffe-has-got-all-big-decisions-wrong-at-united/When you reflect on this saga, perhaps the most extraordinary detail is United's surprise at the manager that Amorim turned out to be. Ratcliffe prised him from Sporting Lisbon in the first place, knowing full well that he was a headstrong personality wedded to a rigid tactical system. And yet now he has cast him aside for the very same reasons. An impression grows that Ratcliffe, for all his staggering business successes, has not the faintest conception of how to put the listing United supertanker back on an even keel. For fans hoping fervently for a turning of the page, Amorim's exit signals less a masterstroke than another desperate stab in the dark.

What's been going on since Ferguson retired in 2013, he ran the club on and off the field with a Iron fist and over the last decade it's clear under the ownership of the Glazers how desperately run the club are and has been no improvement by passing on the football side of things to Radcliffe and with hand picked guys.

I might add the day's of a manager holding everything together as Ferguson did are over and unless the club can become well run off the field you can't expect to be challenging for major honours on the field.

Man Utd have spent £2 billion on players since Ferguson left.

How much have Arsenal spent since Arteta took over? Chelsea have nearly spent that in the last couple of years.

Arteta has spent about a billion.

And are top of the league.

The reality is since Ferguson left you would struggle to name any successful signings. Shaw? Bruno? Anyone else?

Veryyy debatable that clown.

I suppose the likes of Herrera, Mata weren't awful and did rightly, but for the money at the time Mata didn't deliver what was needed.

This is my point. He is realistically the most successful signing of the post Ferguson era. And that says it all.

[gawa316]

You could throw big Zlatan in there. Diallo is a good player.

Cunha and Mbeumo will most likely prove good signings

[Armagh18]

Absolutely.

Although it's definitely improved lately. I think Lammens, Cunha, Mbuemo, Heaven will all turn out to be excellent signings.

De Ligt, Mazouri and Yoro going back abit further all decent signings, Amad too.

Outside of that any of the players who played well in parts have asterisks beside them- Martial always injured, Matic, Casemiro, Pogba, Varane, Ronaldo, Zlatan all had good spells but not long enough, especially for the money. Some absolute brutal signings who cost a bomb and gave them absolutely nothing- Di Maria, Antony, Sanchez, Sancho..

[RedHand88]

Ten Hag confirmed.

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/2008600891189063774?s=46

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Stubbornness can also be equated to self belief, an essential trait when trying to achieve what most see as the impossible.

I seem to remember criticism for ETH from some quarters for having no discernable style and abandoning his Ajax principles after quickly realising the enormity of the task at Utd. I'm in no way defending him because his transfers were terrible but this "flapping" was equated to indecisiveness and weakness on his part.

You certainly couldn't accuse Amorim of abandoning his principles. In fact his major criticism is for not doing what ETH did and adjust his style. Although a bit contradictory I think it's fair to accuse him of being too unbending but I will say this in his defence. He made no secret of his style when he came to Utd. No one was under any false impressions. The club head hunted him and even pressured him into coming half a season too early no less. And I'm sure there were many many lofty promises made to him of being given the time and backing to achieve his vision. But the club have obviously since baulked at those promises and he was only recently told they will be reneging. So although he was very unprofessional in how he handled it you can understand his anger and frustration.

I don't know where that leaves the club though or what route they'll go next. But what the hell was the point of hiring Amorim and all the grandiose pronouncements of philosophy and new Utd if they just flap after one window? And what will the next man be thinking upon listening to the latest raft of promises and visions?

Hit the nail on the head there.

ETH was slated for changing his system at United and Amorim was slated for being to rigid in his system.

No matter what you do at united the media and former players and pundits will pile the pressure on you.

The club will continue is this cycle unless they come up with a long term vision and stick through it... Most rebuilds you need to get worse before you get better and ignore the outside noise.

[Baile Brigín 2]

You could throw big Zlatan in there. Diallo is a good player.

Cunha and Mbeumo will most likely prove good signings

Good being the operative word. 100 odd signings and we are saying 5 'weren't terrible'.

The whole club needs tearing down before success is almost possible.

[Armagh18]

You could throw big Zlatan in there. Diallo is a good player.

Cunha and Mbeumo will most likely prove good signings

Good being the operative word. 100 odd signings and we are saying 5 'weren't terrible'.

The whole club needs tearing down before success is almost possible.

Could probably go through them all and find a few more that were alright, but I take your point.

Club is rotten from the top down.

[statto]

Absolutely.

Although it's definitely improved lately. I think Lammens, Cunha, Mbuemo, Heaven will all turn out to be excellent signings.

De Ligt, Mazouri and Yoro going back abit further all decent signings, Amad too.

Outside of that any of the players who played well in parts have asterisks beside them- Martial always injured, Matic, Casemiro, Pogba, Varane, Ronaldo, Zlatan all had good spells but not long enough, especially for the money. Some absolute brutal signings who cost a bomb and gave them absolutely nothing- Di Maria, Antony, Sanchez, Sancho..

Sanchez was probably the most disappointing was a star at rival club then fell apart once came to Manchester.

Yoro to date for the money spent has been uninspiring can't command a regular place despite De Ligt, Martinez, Maguire and Mazrouri being unavailable at different times this season through one reason or another.

[Baile Brigín 2]

You could throw big Zlatan in there. Diallo is a good player.

Cunha and Mbeumo will most likely prove good signings

Good being the operative word. 100 odd signings and we are saying 5 'weren't terrible'.

The whole club needs tearing down before success is almost possible.

Could probably go through them all and find a few more that were alright, but I take your point.

Club is rotten from the top down.

I kinda have and there are no signings you would say were unambiguous successes. That is statistically difficult.

Far too many blazers and the club culture won't allow a manager to have the power they require to get a grip. I'm not suggesting Ferguson levels of power, but they need to pick someone and hand him some blank cheques and give him control.

Would Klopp take it?

[Captain Scarlet]

The scouting is truly awful and there are so many injury prone players.

Arsenal pick up the likes of Timber and he is a monster. Around the same price as Dorgu.
Liverpool likewise identify lads that will boost them.
Szoboszlai would have been ideal for United with mobility and passing. He was cheaper and less crocked than Mount.

They never pick up lads like that any more.
Spent loads on timid young strikers too.

[thewobbler]

The scouting is truly awful and there are so many injury prone players.

Arsenal pick up the likes of Timber and he is a monster. Around the same price as Dorgu.
Liverpool likewise identify lads that will boost them.
Szoboszlai would have been ideal for United with mobility and passing. He was cheaper and less crocked than Mount.

They never pick up lads like that any more.
Spent loads on timid young strikers too.

Arsenal have spent all of Arteta's tenure picking up players who weren't good enough.

The difference though is how quickly they move them out and go onto the next one.