Raconteur

Talking our left winger to the World Cup as a right back was prime managerial Maradona

John Barnes being our top scorer is a shameful indictment of the ownership as much as Dalglish - similar to the time Jonjo Shelvey was also our top league scorer with six. One day, children will never believe either of those facts.

Late to this, but what I found most astonishing was the 60 minute goal - a spectacular Hollywood ball beautifully controlled and finished by Vydra. But who made the goal with that pass? None other than Wor Jeff Hendrick…

I just saw some clickbait story in my FB feed saying we’re going for a £70m triple swoop for Henderson, van der Beek and Lindgard. Seems legit

I don’t know about that - Schar has never looked as good in a back four as in a back three, while we were all calling for Lewis to be withdrawn (and he’s been kept out by Ritchie for nigh on a year now). Almiron is a better player than some give credit for, and I’m sure he’ll flourish under Howe, but missing a match or two (after long haul flights) while he gets on board with Howe’s program isn’t a big deal.

It’s also difficult to value players coming off contract, or loan signings. That’s why we get a DoF on the big bucks to make every penny count this January.

I think you’re right, and while it’s a shame Almiron and Schar won’t get to impress from the off, it’s worth staring the likes of Joelinton or Fernandez who get to work with Howe for ten days. Dubravka might be a different case as the keeper, god knows Darlow needs replacing.

I don’t think Solksjaer had much to do with the Cronaldo transfer tbh - and there’s quite a few vids around demonstrating how playing Cronaldo is fucking up the system they’d been building towards. He really seems a Norwegian Bruce - pick XI likely lads and “let’s play”, everyone says what a nice bloke he is, completely bamboozled by any tactical sophistication…

Yup, was standard for Year 7 and 8 (12-14yo) Aussie kids when I was teaching. A PE teacher came to me once and told me one of my students produced some appalling, worse-than-the-fattest-kids result. Turned out she'd already been smoking cigarettes for five years...

It “made sense” with Bruce - every international week as a player, he was the only one not away so Fergie gave him time off. Solskjaer was a Norway regular for much of his career, wasn’t he?

You know, if Eddie turns into a player, there’s no doubt quotes from people buried deep, deep within this thread that will make for amusing bumping

The evidence is pretty compelling that Bruce made some sort of Faustian pact to get the results he did.

Or, god forbid, his natural position on the right wing. Remember when Rafa started used him as a stop-gap left wingback - four fucking years ago?

Watching those training videos, I think people should prepare themselves for Shelvey and Ritchie to start against Brentford. Hopefully it won’t take Eddie long to realise Shelvey offers one Hollywood pass a match and that’s it…

Not just that, but wearing that manic grin as he’s cruising a beep test is a clear sign of a psychopath.

I know Longstaff has been written off by many, but he went from an emerging talent being micromanaged by a genius, to one expected to start and completely unmanaged by an oaf. Im certain Hayden will improve under Howe, and I’m hopeful Longstaff can too.

Would absolutely have Ayoze back, can’t see it though. For all the shit our midfield (deservedly) gets, there’s enough ability between Hayden, Willock and Longstaff to make a decent midfield. Centre half and fullbacks have to be bigger priorities.

I have no doubt Hayden will do a Diame on us under Howe - he’s a player crying out for instruction and direction.

Don’t mind that - as a reserves lineup. At most one or two who will be in the first team come Christmas. It seems like you’ve done what I do in FM pre-season games - remove the best XI and play the next XI

Yeah, I’m happy to watch the experiment at another club - I think he has more about him than Lampard or Rooney, but I’m glad it’s not us rolling the dice.

Had a weird conversation with a West Ham fan who was terrified Man U were going to poach Moyes. Now I can’t stop my inner child giggling at the thought…

I’m pretty sure our fitness coach - the last remnant of the Rafa coaching staff - recently moved to Everton.

I think we’ll see something like this in a 4-4-1-1 Dubravka Manquillo Lascelles Fernandez Lewis Murphy Hayden Willock Fraser ASM Wilson Leaving the likes of Almiron, Joelinton and (grits teeth) Shelvey as game changers. Not that I think that’s our best XI, just how I see our squad fitting Howe’s formation. EDIT: Just saw @Infinitely Content’s post. What he said, with some minor changes.

I’m surprised there’s been no “Bring back Moyes” from the Man U commentariat…

I said no chance a decent manager who spends in January takes us down. Howe is a decent manager. Signings in January are inevitable. We’re not going down. Mind, I feel the same way about people voting anything above a 5. Difference is that I’m perfectly relaxed.