[Denis' cuff]

Yep agreed. He looks like he has lost a yard of pace too. Personally I don’t see him as a regular starter if we wanna go top 4

We were brutal today: zirkzee offered no threat, Maz gave away a silly penalty, Mainoo looks every bit an 18 year old kid and is gassed by the 70th minute, midfield in general was off the beat and again sloppy mistakes cost us

I don’t see this as needing to call for amorims head. He’s walked into a shitshow and there is not an instant fix

Every word.

Mainoo… still able to beat the press but then hasn’t a clue what to do afterwards

Have some sympathy for Zirk on the goal as he was clearly pushed in the back. Nearly any other team would have had var on the case but this ref…

Lost patience with Onana. Not even average. Seems to milk the attention when he has the ball for 10 minutes and then usually plays someone into trouble or hoofs. Needs to watch Schmikes starting attacks immediately (I know these lazy arses don’t always show for the ball but still…) and that’s before we get to him actually being a keeper. Their no1 was light years better

 

[justsomebloke]

We gifted you three goals out of nothing. Any team would have beaten us today with our gifts and aim at the target. We couldnt hit the net 2 yards from the goal line.

Oh come on.

 

[NoPace]

The two signings that transformed them from also rans to title contenders (VVD and Allison) were both top class established players in their prime. More recently Diaz, Jota, McAllister and Sjobozlai would be a similar profile. Established quality players. The best player at their former club, at their peak as a footballer.

You need a mix in your squad and we’re desperately in need of some real quality in that 24-29 year old category. Defenders aside it’s insane that we’ve really only Bruno and - soon to be gone - Rashford of that age. In fact, I’d argue it’s the single biggest reason we’re such a flaky and inconsistent team.

Whoscored list of those guys, just going by that critera at the top 5 leagues and adding Gyokeres since he fits the criteria and is banging them in for Sweden as well. I cut out Dwight McNeil at Everton because I just don't see him making a step up:

Gyokeres
Isak

Cunha
M'Beumo
Joao Pedro
Eze
Marmoush
Kudus
Kvara
Baena
Amoura (no idea who this is)

Zubimendi
Boudaoui (no idea who this is)

Gutierrez
Nuno Tavares
Antonee Robinson

Danso
Tuta (seen this guy twice I think? Technically doesn't qualify at the best player at his club but right age and it's not really his fault that Marmoush and Ekitike are tearing up the league up top, unless you think their threat makes playing CB and DM much easier, which maybe it does, I haven't seen Frankfurt much at all last season or this)

 

[tlb80]

Bournemouth fan here. just read through the thread and tbf, there was pretty much none of expected Bournemouth aren't a good team, tinpot outfit, how did we lose to them type stuff, you tend to read about before on other clubs forums.

We're on cloud 9, having been attending afcb games since 80s, and some extremely hard times... club nearly folding numerous times... game awsy from relegation to non league during Eddie Howe's first season in charge. .can't believe what we've experienced since. Even more so since Foley took over. He means business... formed Vegas knights nhl team few years back and took them to Stanley cup victory within first few seasons. Not suggesting we'll win pl of course .

I think we'd spend more without ffp constraints... given his wealth. That said, i think ffp may actually be helping us a bit perhaps, as previously the elite clubs may have hoovered up the high potential young players we signed, before farming them out on loan... with the odd one eventually making it. Bit tongue in cheek, but all our young signings turn into top tier players in football manager... and those whole play, know the level of research that goes into that game

Anyway, what I'd say through our experience of when AI took over as head coach in summer 23, was he was rumoured to be on verge of getting the sack around October time. Can't recall exactly, but our record was something like won 1 or 0, drawn 2, lost 6 or 7. Tbf, looking at results/fixtures... none of them were surprises as such, if using previous season as measure. But our mainly realistic fanbase were growing more and more concerned he wasn't the right man. If those tough fixtures had been spread over the season, no one would have been concerned at any of them. But being deep in relegation, with hardly any points... not plsying close to level we are now... billing scored last min winner from something like 30 yards out, when it appeared to be destined for draw. Foley had flown in and feeling was he may be there to sack AI, if we hadn't won. We then went in cl level form for months, and its continued from there. As many of you've mentioned... our press is phenemenol.

Maybe it will be similar for you with Amorin. Although no doubt much more pressure/expectation from a massive fanbase

Multi million training ground project nearing competition. Next step is stadium. Perhaps that'd make some fans take us a bit more seriously!

Anyway, appreciate the absence of usual comments against us weve grown to expect. Didn't come away thinking it was a load of big club clueless,, condescending cr4p ... as I expected. Pleasantly surprised. All the best, Cheers lads.

 

[Westerkerk]

Our attacks are ineffective because our ability to finish chances is utter trash. Even if Amad, arguably our most effective attacking player, is running through, you don't expect us to score. I don't know if it's confidence or ability or coaching. Probably a mix of all three.

It will get better, I'm sure, if we dig in and stick with the manager no matter what, but the problem with bringing in any new manager is you have to commit to it. You have to back him in the transfer windows and you have to get exactly what they want.

But there are several problems with this. Firstly, as we've seen, spending money is no guarantee that it will succeed. Most of the current crop of players will still be here in 2-3 seasons because you simply cannot replace an entire squad in the next few windows - it just isn't financially possible. We can't sell players for shit either, so we can't fund big spending on new players that way. Who wants to spend a fortune on an underperforming player from an underperforming team?

Lastly, if time is what is truly needed it only goes so far. Time ultimately won't be given. I mean, long term. No way is Amorim getting the time that say, Arteta, has had. No way. He needs next season to be a good one, with most of the players he has now still being key players on the roster.

We need some kind of miraculous turn around, fecking Ted Lasso style.

I really dislike this team, in fact I hate it. As the old saying goes it's not the losing that is the problem, it's the way you lose.

The winning mentality of this club is gone, the entitlement is there, but the mentality and ability to grow that mentality seems completely lost.

 

[Andy_Cole]

Taken a week off football due to Xmas plans. Last 2 games I’ve been out so not watched even a highlight of both games (except Sons corner).

What the feck has happened since the euphoria of the city game. 3-0 down in both games. This is just shocking really.

Amorim really needs to be a bit pragmatic and sort this defence out. These set piece goals we’re letting in has become a joke now.

Genuinely need to sign in January. I know a lot out there thinks we need a LWB or a CB but we just need a talisman. Need someone to bail us out again and again. Get in Gyokeres and pray he does that for us.

 

[Matt851]

Taken a week off football due to Xmas plans. Last 2 games I’ve been out so not watched even a highlight of both games (except Sons corner).

What the feck has happened since the euphoria of the city game. 3-0 down in both games. This is just shocking really.

Amorim really needs to be a bit pragmatic and sort this defence out. These set piece goals we’re letting in has become a joke now.

Genuinely need to sign in January. I know a lot out there thinks we need a LWB or a CB but we just need a talisman. Need someone to bail us out again and again. Get in Gyokeres and pray he does that for us.

We weren't actually good against city though. City are just easy opponents at present

 

[Craig Ward]

I've been impressed by Amorin so far, he's handled himself in the media really well.

He was never going to have an easy ride, coming in mid season and changing formations.

He's also inherited such a mixed bag of talent and personalities.

He's learning as he goes, and sometimes its good and sometimes its beyond ridicule.

He's probably made some harsh assumptions about this squad, it's probably a lot worse than he realised.

For me, the biggest issue we have is accountability and consistency. Not one player in our squad is capable of being consistent, not even for 90 minutes. Our captain, our leader Bruno is capable of brilliance, but he shows it for spells during games and then is as calamitous as it comes. If he is the benchmark we are doomed.

I cant go through every player cos they're literally all flawed. Worse still, as a collective group we are just plain rotten. We have players who on paper have superb attributes and they're all capable of saying the right things - but together on the pitch we are just broken. We cant play as a team, we cant defend, we give up as soon as the going gets tough and we lack any form of proper leadership. We have no characters of any note to inspire us. We're lacking in the basic standards that playing for an elite team should have.

Being outclassed 3-0 at HOME is a disgrace. It's a disgrace to any lose to that extent at home to ANY team, let alone fecking Bournemouth. Worse still - they were absolutely miles better than us. No question we deserved to be battered which is utterly unacceptable. We are where we are in the table and it's an absolute reflection on where we deserve to be. We are that bad at the moment.

Amorin has one heck of a job - He needs 3 seasons and a whole lot of transfers to even get us looking like a top 6 team, yet alone challenging for anything. We have to face facts - we aren't going to win the league or champions league in the next ten years. THAT much damage has been done in the last few years. As a fan base, we should be angry, we should be furious at the glazers and we should demand better.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Have Liverpool signed a player at his peak in recent seasons? United’s biggest mistake was trying to sign ready made superstars and giving them stupid amounts of money. We are now paying the price with no money left to buy ourselves out of this situation. It’s impossible to buy 2-3 world class players.

United has to build this team slowly and that’s starts by buying younger, hungrier players at a lower market rate, with a mix of decent players that know the Premier League and Bosman signings.

Liverpool signed Salah when a lot of people thought he was a Chelsea failure. They got Robertson for peanuts. Mac Allister a promising signing from Brighton. VVD was a big signing but the money was well spent. Jota has been a good signing for the squad as has Gakpo. Dias another good signing. Only Nunez has been a bit of a disappointment. Then their players coming in from the academy look good as well.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Bournemouth fan here. just read through the thread and tbf, there was pretty much none of expected Bournemouth aren't a good team, tinpot outfit, how did we lose to them type stuff, you tend to read about before on other clubs forums.

We're on cloud 9, having been attending afcb games since 80s, and some extremely hard times... club nearly folding numerous times... game awsy from relegation to non league during Eddie Howe's first season in charge. .can't believe what we've experienced since. Even more so since Foley took over. He means business... formed Vegas knights nhl team few years back and took them to Stanley cup victory within first few seasons. Not suggesting we'll win pl of course .

I think we'd spend more without ffp constraints... given his wealth. That said, i think ffp may actually be helping us a bit perhaps, as previously the elite clubs may have hoovered up the high potential young players we signed, before farming them out on loan... with the odd one eventually making it. Bit tongue in cheek, but all our young signings turn into top tier players in football manager... and those whole play, know the level of research that goes into that game.


Anyway, what I'd say through our experience of when AI took over as head coach in summer 23, was he was rumoured to be on verge of getting the sack around October time. Can't recall exactly, but our record was something like won 1 or 0, drawn 2, lost 6 or 7. Tbf, looking at results/fixtures... none of them were surprises as such, if using previous season as measure. But our mainly realistic fanbase were growing more and more concerned he wasn't the right man. If those tough fixtures had been spread over the season, no one would have been concerned at any of them. But being deep in relegation, with hardly any points... not plsying close to level we are now... billing scored last min winner from something like 30 yards out, when it appeared to be destined for draw. Foley had flown in and feeling was he may be there to sack AI, if we hadn't won. We then went in cl level form for months, and its continued from there. As many of you've mentioned... our press is phenemenol.

Maybe it will be similar for you with Amorin. Although no doubt much more pressure/expectation from a massive fanbase

Multi million training ground project nearing competition. Next step is stadium. Perhaps that'd make some fans take us a bit more seriously!

Anyway, appreciate the absence of usual comments against us weve grown to expect. Didn't come away thinking it was a load of big club clueless,, condescending cr4p ... as I expected. Pleasantly surprised. All the best, Cheers lads.

Oh there was a bit of we shouldn't be losing to Bournemouth, but last season should have been a big warning. There are still United fans stuck in the SAF era who still think we have that standard of squad. They are blinded by the amount of money spent, on average to bad players. They need to wake up. Your team were ruthless, hard working and exceptionally well coached. You should be very proud of how your team are performing. You have people who run the club properly and have a great eye for talent.

 

[Rojofiam]

Huijsen is probably the player we should be targeting to be Maguire's real replacement and the long-term CCB for our back 3 system.

I'm certain he's gonna be one of the next young CBs that move for Maguire/VVD/Fofana/Gvardiol type money within 2-3 years, and I hope United are going to be in for him.

This could mean that de Ligt has to be sold, but if Ineos want to build the best team in the world, moves like this one will have to be considered.

Huijsen seems to have a considerably higher ceiling, and one of those creme de la creme prospects like Yoro that don't come along very often and are very hard to attain.

Expect Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool to all be in for this kid soon. City as well if they're still around.

 

[Maticmaker]

I suspect Ruben will learn more from this defeat than from the City victory.

First thing to say is Bournemouth is no longer anyone's 'chopping block', twice recently they have come to OT and demonstrated their capabilities. From what I saw yesterday they have 3 or 4 top class players, the rest may be 'journeymen' type, but they know what to do and put in a shift. Bournemouth's manager will have had the pleasure of seeing his plan workout, in particular he nullified our (recently) best player Amad, by playing some one just as fast and quick off the mark against him.

We were all at sea from the off, only Ugarte, (by far our MOTM), was actually 'putting a foot' in and destroying repeated Bournemouth attempts to drive through the middle. He is an 'awkward squad' member par excellence, (reminds me very much of Nobby Stiles), harassing, doubling up with his team mates when Bournemouth were showing a clean pair of heels to our wing backs and to Mainoo. When Ugarte was taken off (presumably because of yellow card), the feeling of relief in the opponents camp could be felt all the way down to the South Coast, and Bournemouth then duly carved us up.

Certainly a bad day at the office from us, especially as we came up against a team well drilled in their own game plans.

The only thing that puzzled me was Onana's tendency to stand (what seem for eternity) just inside his penalty box with the ball. Ignoring, on three separate occasions, that Mainoo had (Paul Scholes like) drifted into acres of space in midfield, and Onana just didn't appear to see him.

Very much back to the drawing board, for Ruben but with some valuable information gained.