I think Mignolet is one of the most overrated players to play for us recently, and I still think that’s an insult.
No question Onana is worse. What makes the comparison relevant is they both had the propensity of making their defenders nervous.
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I’ll revel in it on here. Why not? As you said he might sell his shares to some god dreadful despot.
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I don’t like it to be honest. I’d prefer them to linger in a somewhat mediocre fifth or sixth place as they were in previous seasons. This is now an extreme situation for them, just like we were in an extreme situation just before fsg came in. For our fortunes to start turning around, we needed to be on the very brink of bankrupcy.
I hope that they will stay in a state of mediocrity, but the worse they are, the bigger the chance that someone will step on the plate with a genuine project for them. Just like us at the time, they are a sleeping giant, awaiting to be awakened by someone with a clear mind and a clear path on how to steer them out of their current misery.
On the other hand, even if this happens at some point, it won’t be a quick fix by any means. Just like for us, it will be a multi-year process, with a lot of ups and downs.
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When looking at their players and trying to assess if they are actually PL quality… aside from their playing ability, it also needs pointing out, that this is a club devoid of confidence on the playing side. Arrogance yes, lots of it, but without confidence, they will never become a footballing force again. Spiralling out of control seems to be the only thing they remain good at..!
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Manchester United are understood to have decided to go ahead with the barbecue at Carrington, for players, their families and staff despite their Europa League final defeat.
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Not sure about the director, however the owners should train so that they are really, really bad at Jenga, pull the “right” brick from the foundation and call the insurance company.
Yeah mate. We’ve done that already.
Anyway, even if I did mean £200, I’m still not sure they can afford it.
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Watch this whilst reading the comments.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Seems the Ol’ Crookster is everyone’s least favourite pundit.
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More redundancies…
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What is happening now at least answers the question we were asking 2 years ago of “why the fuck are they buying Mount when he isnt an 8 or a winger, and they are already shoehorning Bruno into one of the roles to accommodate him.” They were just 2 years ahead in their planning. They are THAT well organized
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Fucking hell…
Jimbo going all in.
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We got closer to administration, but in most ways their situation is FAR worse. Our problems were almost entirely caused by a business plan that was more or less the way things were done in the business environment of the time, but then became unviable overnight once the post-banking collapse hit the finance market. Once we got the private investment necessary to get us out of the hole the project from there was simply to do the basics of simply improving a business across the breadth of its operation. Utd are in a massive hole and are so because of their own doing and its likely we still havent seen the nadir of where this fall is almost committed to reaching.
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Ralph?
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Asil.
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Their main hope will be someone in the Middle East buying the club and having the deep pockets to sort it out from top to bottom. Whether or not that person exists remains to be seen. They might, but the main barrier would probably be the Glazers, as they have now managed to work themselves into a position where they have a valuable club, appreciating in value into the multi-billions (don’t laugh); and they take out dividends; and they took 1.5 Billion of Jimbo’s cash so he could be a minority owner and have the hassle of actually running the thing.
It is the perfect scenario for the Glazers, so it would take a truly exceptional offer for them to even consider a full sale.
What I don’t know is how tightly Sir Jim’s hands are tied. Is he free to sell his own stake to someone else, as he sees fit? It might give him a way out, but the buyer would presumably want some sort of assurance that the Glazers would sell their shares too?
It’s a mess, and long may it continue.
If a new owner is not forthcoming, and they don’t get that magical solution to all their woes, what is the likely prognosis?
The whole thing needs a reset. Expectations need to be realistic. Sell anyone and everyone you can get proper money for. Build a young team. Get realistic on the wages.
It’s a methodical, multi-year strategy, and if it is executed well, it would see them slowly climbing up the league and getting stronger. It is doubtful they have the patience for that, or indeed the footballing acumen to build it up again.
You love to see it.
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I see your points and of course, let’s hope that you are right. I can see some similarities with us in 2010 though:
- an old stadium in need of being modernized. Anfield wasn’t in such a dire state as OT, but still in need of some serious work and expansion. With h+g, nothing was going to be done in that regard.
- we weren’t as mediocre as them now, but still. Rafa had been hounded out of the club, and an inadequate guy brought in to replace him.
- our carefully built up youth and development program under Rafa was being torn to pieces, with all the coaches leaving.
- our MD was not only clueless, but downright malicious (Purslow). He was working for the owners, not for the club’s well-being.
- most importantly, g+h were taking money out of the club, just as the Glazers do. That was the most important aspect, as it was going to hinder anyone to right the ship.
In short, it was a nightmare situation, which could have led us to bankrupcy or to relegation if the same people had remained in charge for too long. With hindsight, it was a blessing that g+h were both experiencing cash flow problems. Otherwise, they could still be in charge of this club. Imagine that.
As @RedOverTheWater said, the major problem for the mancs are the Glazers: unflushable turds. Long may it last.
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I hope this puts them more into upgrading old Trafford and not building a new one. That’s going to be even more cash being burnt.