It’s been a while since I’ve written anything here, but let’s talk about what we actually want. Mid-season, we sack a manager who’s had a huge say in signing and developing players he thought suited his formation. At this point, the only one I can really defend from his signings is Ugarte—sure, playing Eriksen in the same role for long period says a lot about his idea o the position, but I’ll give him credit for Ugarte.
Then there’s the problem with the players who’ve been here forever—players no other team would touch. I’m talking about Maguire, Casemiro, and Eriksen. Yeah, they bring “experience," but when they’re out there, they can’t compete with the physicality required in the Premier League anymore. And the worst part? We don’t have any choice but to play them.
Then we have the young and hopefuls: Mazroui and Dalot—two right-footed right-backs who are barely suited for a modern back four, and definitely not suited for a back three. Garnacho and Mainoo—both of whom still need a lot of work before they can make a real difference. Hojlund and Zirkzee? I still can’t figure out why they’re even here. And Onana? Looking more like a glaring mistake with every passing week.
And let’s not even get started on Amad and Bruno. If these two don’t play at an 8/10 level, we’re not winning games, full stop.
Now, look at every other team in the league. They’re physically stronger, faster, hungrier. They don’t need any tactical genius to beat us—they just have to be as hungry as we are, and that’s often enough.
So, the real question is: What do we want? I think we’d have more points under a back-four manager like Ruud, but would that fix the bigger problems, or just hide them for a bit? Do we accept that we’re poisoned and start cutting away the rot? Or do we just aim to win the next game, rinse and repeat?
What *do* we want?
What do we want from Amorim?
posted on 3/2/25
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 40 minutes ago
I’m less concerned about what Amorim brings to the table right now and more interested in what the recruitment will look like in the summer.
Until we have the WB, CF & LF roles resolved (plus one or two other positions if possible), I can’t see the value in judging Amorim. Our squad is poor… Really poor. And particularly in attack and down the flanks, which is a big problem when you play with wing backs and three attackers.
Once that’s in place then I want to see some high intensity, goal scoring football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No European football and a lowly PL finish is hardly going to sell the project to new players either is it?
I have been saying it for a while but I fear the window we had to undo all this crap has sadly been and gone. We blew it with ETH and £600m on mostly crap and now the money has dried up.
We've surpassed becoming the new Liverpool of the 90's. We're becoming Everton.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We should have more cash available and leeway on wages once we’ve shifted (permanently) Rashford, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Lindelof and Sancho.
Should hopefully be ballpark £100m in for that lot, and not far off a third of our wage bill gone Maybe one or two more sales might boost the kitty.
Hopefully, we’re busy preparing for the summer now, and can get a few deals agreed before the window opens: £15m to £30m range, the right fits for the system, the right mentality, powerful and athletic, mouldable, and sub £100k wages.
Part of the reset needs to be establishing a new (and vastly more stingy) wage structure. No more stupid splurges on big fees or big wages.
posted on 3/2/25
Rubin has said from the start that things will get worse before they get better. He is here to do more than just improve on ETH's disastrous start to the season, he is here to completely rebuild.
Pointing to other managers that have joined a club and made immediate improvements is all well and good, but it fails to take into account the difference.
I think of it like this:
He isn't interested in making an immediate difference, he is working to make a lasting one!
The only issue is the patience of the fans/board.
But surely the board knew this (which is why they decided against him in the summer, only to do a U-turn a few months later)
posted on 3/2/25
Casemiro isn't going anywhere. He's shown his intentions this window as he's barely getting any play time and still isn't pushing to leave. He's happy collecting his money and he's going to be her until summer 2026 now.
Rashford's move will obviously depend on how he does at Villa. If he does fairly well then somebody will take a punt on him for sure even if it's not Villa.
posted on 3/2/25
comment by funnyoldgame feels twitchy!!! (U17347)
posted 34 minutes ago
Rubin has said from the start that things will get worse before they get better. He is here to do more than just improve on ETH's disastrous start to the season, he is here to completely rebuild.
Pointing to other managers that have joined a club and made immediate improvements is all well and good, but it fails to take into account the difference.
I think of it like this:
He isn't interested in making an immediate difference, he is working to make a lasting one!
The only issue is the patience of the fans/board.
But surely the board knew this (which is why they decided against him in the summer, only to do a U-turn a few months later)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This
posted on 3/2/25
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 53 minutes ago
Casemiro isn't going anywhere. He's shown his intentions this window as he's barely getting any play time and still isn't pushing to leave. He's happy collecting his money and he's going to be her until summer 2026 now.
Rashford's move will obviously depend on how he does at Villa. If he does fairly well then somebody will take a punt on him for sure even if it's not Villa.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro will 100% be gone in the summer.
posted on 3/2/25
comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 53 minutes ago
Casemiro isn't going anywhere. He's shown his intentions this window as he's barely getting any play time and still isn't pushing to leave. He's happy collecting his money and he's going to be her until summer 2026 now.
Rashford's move will obviously depend on how he does at Villa. If he does fairly well then somebody will take a punt on him for sure even if it's not Villa.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casemiro will 100% be gone in the summer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Available to play doesn’t cause any bother not our biggest problem
posted on 3/2/25
comment by funnyoldgame feels twitchy!!! (U17347)
posted 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
Rubin has said from the start that things will get worse before they get better. He is here to do more than just improve on ETH's disastrous start to the season, he is here to completely rebuild.
Pointing to other managers that have joined a club and made immediate improvements is all well and good, but it fails to take into account the difference.
I think of it like this:
He isn't interested in making an immediate difference, he is working to make a lasting one!
The only issue is the patience of the fans/board.
But surely the board knew this (which is why they decided against him in the summer, only to do a U-turn a few months later)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It took Pep a dodgy first season and a 300 mill window to become a genius again and doing 200 mill this window to become the same again.
Not a dig at Pep just that even the best can’t do it without the the right players
posted on 3/2/25
comment by funnyoldgame feels twitchy!!! (U17347)
posted 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
Rubin has said from the start that things will get worse before they get better. He is here to do more than just improve on ETH's disastrous start to the season, he is here to completely rebuild.
Pointing to other managers that have joined a club and made immediate improvements is all well and good, but it fails to take into account the difference.
I think of it like this:
He isn't interested in making an immediate difference, he is working to make a lasting one!
The only issue is the patience of the fans/board.
But surely the board knew this (which is why they decided against him in the summer, only to do a U-turn a few months later)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm all for long term success at the expense of short term success, and I want it NOW
posted on 3/2/25
A letter of resignation…
posted on 4/2/25
Has he resigned yet?