Man U summer fire sale to begin...

[Workingman]

After a dismal season and failure to get in the Champions League they have to sell, sell, sell in order to buy due to financial fair play rules, and only three of the first team squad are guaranteed to stay: Mainoo; Garnacho and Hojlund. All the rest can go, but who will want them!?

I imagine Ten Hag is also part of the fire sale's offerings.

[JoM]

I’m firmly Ten Hag in. He’s had a lot to deal with this season with Greenwood and Sancho, the sale of the club and the uncertainty surrounding that, the ridiculous amount of injuries. Jim Ratcliffe and co are bringing in people with a footballing background to replace the clueless bankers (not rhyming slang but it works) that the Glazers put in charge of footballing matters so he needs a chance with a better structure behind him.

Players I’d like to see the team built around are Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, Garnacho, Hojlund, Mainoo, Amad and Willy Kambwala. There’s a lad coming through from the under 18s, Ethan Wheatley, who looks an interesting prospect too.
As for Rashford, he should be first out of the door. His attitude has been appalling this season, and it does make you wonder if he only put the effort in last season because he was coming up to contract renewal time and a wage increase.

[Workingman]

Sorry, Jo, but as a L Utd supporter I partly disagree.

'Fall down' Fernandes is a disgrace, Garnacho, Hojlund are good but Mainoo ain't there yet. You do need the fire sale, and then some.

Mid table for a few years looms but it might not be a bad thing tbh. Building from the academy rather than buying 'stars' might be the way to go. SAF did it, and it worked - oh yes!

It's what we might have to do. If we fall at the play-offs we will lose first team players so will have to look at the academy. Fortunately we have a good one.

[JoM]

Oh believe me Frank, us supporters want the majority gone and the kids played more often. More so those of us who go to games, the keyboard Reds want the star names. Missing out on Europe would be a blessing in my opinion.

The thing with Bruno is that he’s pretty much the heartbeat of the team, he was out for two games and he really was missed. Came back in on Wednesday night, put in a MOTM performance and covered every blade of grass.
Mainoo will get there, he’s 19 and probably should’ve been eased in and not started as many games as he has done but needs must.
Shea Lacey is another who you should be hearing of in a season or two. Also generating some interest for the amount of goals he’s scoring is 14 year old Kai Rooney…you’ll know of his Dad.

Gratuitous pic of our Joe and his mate Bruno

IMG_4701.jpeg (144.15 KiB) Viewed 6205 times

[miasmum]

Jo, social media is full of Man Utd being after Keiran McKenna. Let me know if you hear anything more solid

[Workingman]

Jo, it is so good to hear from a "real" supporter and not the plastics.

Missing out on Euro for a few seasons and turning to the academy is the way to go IMHO. With the way the FFP rules, now the Sustainability Rules, are about to operate quite a few teams might have to take the same measure. Just throwing money at foreign players has to end at some time. Sell to buy seems to be the new factor.

Teams who build their academies early will benefit most in the future. It is what Leeds started a few years back and we have already got Gray, Byram and Gelhardt from it. We sold some others who were not quite there and a few are out on loan getting 1st team experience.

We have also looked to buy cheap youngsters from smaller clubs with a view to bringing them on, Jaidon Anthony for example. It is another route for teams to take though maybe easier to do in the championship.

However, Jim is going to have to spend a few bob on Old Scaffold. I saw the videos of the rain the other night when you and Joe got soaked. The Theatre of Streams: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... xez22ll5ro

[cromwell]

Man U have overspent on players.
I won't pretend to understand the FFP rules, but it is "interesting" how some teams get pulled for their infractions, and some don't.

Sometimes I think that Man U have paid a lot for a player just to show that they can.
But £80 million for Maguire and £80 million for Anthony was surely too much. £60 million for Casemiro plus add ons plus £10 million a year salary?

Bruno Fernandes I agree with both of you. He is such an annoying player but he puts in the performances, unlike some.

Rashford is a big problem. He is on wages of £300,000 plus a week, has been in poor form and has been showing a bad attitude. Who is going to want to pay a big transfer fee and then massive wages for that?

I agree that you need a clearout Jo. You would be better with some younger players from the academy than some of the people stealing a wage from the club.

MM I have heard that Man U, Brighton and Chelsea have all been linked with McKenna.
Most of it will be paper talk (ie rubbish), but there may be something in some of it.

[miasmum]

I truly hope not Crommers but the fans seem to think he's pretty much a definite for Brighton

In a year or two we could be a Brighton. But next year will be tough we need stabilisation and trust, not another new manager.

I truly hoped KM had loyalty and integrity, the things he said he looks for in a player. I'll be bitterly disappointed if he jumps ship.

To me thats pretty much him saying as you are likely to be relegated next year I'm off before my value drops

[JoM]

Shell, we’ve heard the same re MUFC, Brighton and Chelsea.
Why anyone would want to manage Chelsea is beyond me and while he’s still a relatively new manager and learning his trade he needs to keep well away from there.

Crommers, patience for Rashford has well and truly run out in the stands. He’s not that promising youngster any more, and the only clubs I could see stupid enough to pay his wages are those in the Saudi league or maybe PSG now Mbappe’s off. We should’ve cashed in on him a while back rather than give him a new contract and a rise last Summer. Another concern is that if Ten Hag is sacked it opens the door for Rashford’s mate Sancho to return

Me and Joe went to Brighton away on Saturday. Bloody hell, it’s a different world to what we’re used to at any other stadiums we’ve been to Their supporters look posh, and there wasn’t a burger van in sight at the stadium…just a fancy wooden hut selling fish and chips (small tray, small portion - £13.50) and another selling brownies, muffins and cookies


Off to Wembley on Saturday for the cup final and then that’s us done until August, won’t know what to do with ourselves

[TheOstrich]

Anthony Martial has announced that he's leaving, presumably as a free agent.