Manchester United are rubbish

[theonlywayisup]

So said the BBC ticker message. Apparently, someone was training behind the scenes and typed in the message unaware that it would be seen live on the BBC News Channel. BBC have apologised for the error.

BBC apologises after 'Manchester United are rubbish' appears on screen - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61563153)

Makes me wonder, if you were that person what message would you have written.

[HH81]

The statement was correct. 😆

[Pretty Boy]

It's rare to be able to read mainstream news these days and know without fact checking that it is 100% accurate.

Well done BBC.

[Sir David Gray]

Not too sure an apology was really merited.

There was no swearing and it's hard to argue with.

[twiceinathens]

[QUOTE=HH81;6972871]The statement was correct. 😆[/QU

If only we could aspire to such standards of mediocrity!

[HH81]

[QUOTE=HH81;6972871]The statement was correct. 😆[/QU

If only we could aspire to such standards of mediocrity!

We don't spend the most money in the league and finish 6th though to be fair.

[HoboHarry]

I'd be more concerned about the apology, it should have read " We at the BBC are renowned worldwide for broadcasting lies, damned lies and utter bull**** on a daily basis. We are deeply sorry that on this occasion we told the absolute truth and would like to assure all of our viewers that we will do our utmost to avoid any errors of this magnitude in the future".

[Sir David Gray]

If only we could aspire to such standards of mediocrity!

Manchester Utd finishing 6th in their league is probably not a million miles away from us finishing 8th in the Scottish league in terms of underachievement.

[Alfred E Newman]

Takes me back to the Dave Ewing classic “ Rangers are rubbish” !

[jacomo]

Manchester Utd finishing 6th in their league is probably not a million miles away from us finishing 8th in the Scottish league in terms of underachievement.


:agree:

By their standards and the expectations due to their spending power, they are rubbish.

[Irish_Steve]

I see the new United manager says he wants to break the (mainly) City/Liverpool dominance of the League. It will be interesting to see where he's gonna find the extra 35 points to do so

[Tommy75]

Why would anyone be offended? Surely even Utd fans can see the funny side.

[Sir David Gray]

I see the new United manager says he wants to break the (mainly) City/Liverpool dominance of the League. It will be interesting to see where he's gonna find the extra 35 points to do so

Liverpool managed to find an extra 23 points this season compared with last season and Manchester Utd dropped 16 points.

Nearly a 40 point swing in the space of 12 months in Liverpool's favour so it is possible when you consider the size and potential of Manchester Utd.

[HibbyAndy]

With all these fans in England running on to the pitch recently , Lets hope no one runs onto the pitch at old Trafford or they may find themselves man of the match :tee hee::tee hee:

[Eyrie]

I'm not sure how "Manchester United are rubbish" qualifies as news these days.

[hibsbollah]

With all these fans in England running on to the pitch recently , Lets hope no one runs onto the pitch at old Trafford or they may find themselves man of the match :tee hee::tee hee:

…I have heard this three times already today, no offense :tee hee:

[MWHIBBIES]

Liverpool managed to find an extra 23 points this season compared with last season and Manchester Utd dropped 16 points.

Nearly a 40 point swing in the space of 12 months in Liverpool's favour so it is possible when you consider the size and potential of Manchester Utd.

Difference is, Liverpool had dreadful injuries to a brilliant squad. A bad season in amongst three 90+ point seasons. United have been dreadful for years. If city and Liverpool avoid injury, United won't get near. No one will

[Sir David Gray]

Difference is, Liverpool had dreadful injuries to a brilliant squad. A bad season in amongst three 90+ point seasons. United have been dreadful for years. If city and Liverpool avoid injury, United won't get near. No one will

It was the potential that Manchester Utd have that I was mainly referring to.

They certainly have the ability to challenge the top two but their structure is all wrong from the very top.

[The Modfather]

It was the potential that Manchester Utd have that I was mainly referring to.

They certainly have the ability to challenge the top two but their structure is all wrong from the very top.

No matter how good Tenn Haag might be I can’t see Man U winning the league again, or seriously challenging for it, while Klopp and/or Pep are still there.

[Stevie Reid]

Manchester United need a manager to have as big an impact as Fergie had first time round, in terms of the overhaul needed at all levels of the club. That took a lot of time though.

I think Ten Haag is a very good appointment, but think their best case scenario would be to be seriously challenging for the league again in three years, at the very earliest.

So much work to be done. They’re miles behind Liverpool and City - who certainly won’t be standing still. Arsenal and Spurs improving too, and Chelsea are Chelsea.

[SteveHFC]

The statement was correct. 😆

Whoever done that needs a pay rise.

[jacomo]

No matter how good Tenn Haag might be I can’t see Man U winning the league again, or seriously challenging for it, while Klopp and/or Pep are still there.


You’re right although if Salah and maybe Mane leave Liverpool have big shoes to fill.

[Inconsequential]

Very rich that from BBC very rich indeed.

[HH81]

No one really believes Man u are challenging the top 2 and probably won't even make the top 4 next season.

Lucky to finish 6th this year.

[Hibernia&Alba]

The statement was correct. 😆

Hope you are enjoying the new job at The Beeb.

[Irish_Steve]

You’re right although if Salah and maybe Mane leave Liverpool have big shoes to fill.

Diaz has hit the ground running

[theonlywayisup]

:hmmm:

[JamesHFC]

Looks like they are signing Casemiro for £60m. A fantastic player who is a huge upgrade on Scott McTominay, I’m surprised he wants to go there though in their current climate. They must be throwing crazy money at him.

[hibee-boys]

Looks like they are signing Casemiro for £60m. A fantastic player who is a huge upgrade on Scott McTominay, I’m surprised he wants to go there though in their current climate. They must be throwing crazy money at him.

£60 million for a 30 year year old😂 Basket case of a club.

[Scottie]

£60 million for a 30 year year old😂 Basket case of a club.
:agree: Who the **** is making these horrendous decisions at the club ? The club is slowly going to hell in a hand cart.

[Phil MaGlass]

Great watching them fall apart.

[Scouse Hibee]

Great watching them fall apart.

It certainly is 😀

[Callum_62]

£60 million for a 30 year year old😂 Basket case of a club.

I dont think they care about turning a profit with this one

He is though, a very good football player in a position they are awful in

[Big_Franck]

I dont think they care about turning a profit with this one

He is though, a very good football player in a position they are awful in

I can't see this signing working out well. Brazilian players are normally very quick at downing tools when they feel like they're career has peaked. I can't see fighting for a place in the top 6 in the english league being of any interest or a motivating factor for Casemiro at all. No doubt he'll be getting a ridiculous wage and he'll be happy to take the money until he leaves them and goes back to Brazil.

[ScottB]

Just bonkers that there’s clearly still no plan going on, running road Europe desperately waving their chequebook at player after player.

[theonlywayisup]

Said it before, take away the SAF years and their record is good but not enough to suggest that they are the biggest club in England.

Excluding the SAF years, they've won 7 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 European Cup and 1 Europa League.

Liverpool (19), Arsenal (13), Everton (9), Man City (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many league titles, excluding lower league titles.

Arsenal (14), Spurs (8), Liverpool (8), Chelsea (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many FA Cups.

Liverpool (9), Man City (8), Aston Villa (5) etc etc etc have won more league cups.

Liverpool (10), Chelsea (7), Spurs (3), Arsenal (2), Aston Villa (2), Nottingham Forest (2) etc have won more or as many European trophies excluding the Super Cup.

Now I know the teams above also had good spells and I should also exclude their good spells, but difference is that Manchester United's record is so heavily dominated by one individual, and they may never recruit someone who'll get even close to what he achieved.

SAF records was:
Premier League - thirteen in 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13 (7)
FA Cup - five in 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04 (7)
League Cup - four in 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10 (1)
Community Shield - ten in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 (11)
Champions League - two in 1998-99, 2007-08 (1)
Cup Winners' Cup - one in 1990-91 (0)

[Irish_Steve]

Man U, always following Liverpool, so much so that they have turned into the Liverpool team of the 90’s…

[Key West]

Casemiro looks like a desperate signing,plenty yellow cards on the way with a few reds, will be interesting to see how he fares with English refs.

[The Modfather]

Said it before, take away the SAF years and their record is good but not enough to suggest that they are the biggest club in England.

Excluding the SAF years, they've won 7 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 European Cup and 1 Europa League.

Liverpool (19), Arsenal (13), Everton (9), Man City (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many league titles, excluding lower league titles.

Arsenal (14), Spurs (8), Liverpool (8), Chelsea (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many FA Cups.

Liverpool (9), Man City (8), Aston Villa (5) etc etc etc have won more league cups.

Liverpool (10), Chelsea (7), Spurs (3), Arsenal (2), Aston Villa (2), Nottingham Forest (2) etc have won more or as many European trophies excluding the Super Cup.

Now I know the teams above also had good spells and I should also exclude their good spells, but difference is that Manchester United's record is so heavily dominated by one individual, and they may never recruit someone who'll get even close to what he achieved.

SAF records was:
Premier League - thirteen in 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13 (7)
FA Cup - five in 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04 (7)
League Cup - four in 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10 (1)
Community Shield - ten in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 (11)
Champions League - two in 1998-99, 2007-08 (1)
Cup Winners' Cup - one in 1990-91 (0)

I wonder how Ferguson would do nowadays in terms of rebuilding teams and sustaining success in the way he did in the second half of his career. Of course he would adapt and still be incredibly successful as he’s possibly the best manager of all time. However with all the money in football now, particularly in England. To sign the likes of Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Berbarov etc would require close to world records each time, if the other club will sell at all.

Saying that, Liverpool show that with a good recruitment team and sensible planning it is possible to evolve teams today without the level of the team dropping off.

[Pagan Hibernia]

Said it before, take away the SAF years and their record is good but not enough to suggest that they are the biggest club in England.

Excluding the SAF years, they've won 7 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 European Cup and 1 Europa League.

Liverpool (19), Arsenal (13), Everton (9), Man City (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many league titles, excluding lower league titles.

Arsenal (14), Spurs (8), Liverpool (8), Chelsea (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many FA Cups.

Liverpool (9), Man City (8), Aston Villa (5) etc etc etc have won more league cups.

Liverpool (10), Chelsea (7), Spurs (3), Arsenal (2), Aston Villa (2), Nottingham Forest (2) etc have won more or as many European trophies excluding the Super Cup.

Now I know the teams above also had good spells and I should also exclude their good spells, but difference is that Manchester United's record is so heavily dominated by one individual, and they may never recruit someone who'll get even close to what he achieved.

SAF records was:
Premier League - thirteen in 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13 (7)
FA Cup - five in 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04 (7)
League Cup - four in 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10 (1)
Community Shield - ten in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 (11)
Champions League - two in 1998-99, 2007-08 (1)
Cup Winners' Cup - one in 1990-91 (0)

their legend was built on the intoxicating blend of tragedy and glory, rather than tangible achievement. The death of the Babes and then the rebirth of the club in the 60s (helped by the glamour of Best) and still becoming the first English team to win the European cup 10 years after losing their team in the chasing of it. Hollywood couldn’t have written that.

their record in the near 70 years prior to Busby’s arrival was really very mediocre.

Growing up in the 80s I could never understand why United were treated with such reverence, with their huge support and constantly being referred to as the biggest club in the country when they never seemed to win much. A couple of FA cups was the height of it.

Ferguson’s achievements added a glossy veneer of credibility to those claims to greatness but as you say, without him they are nowhere near Europe’s elite

[Craig_HFC]

If you take away all the trophies they've won then they've won nothing

[GreenNWhiteArmy]

Take away the famous five and we're on a par with the Dundee clubs

Bizarre that United have chosen to ignore the advice of Rangnick in terms of creating a blueprint then sign players according to that. At the moment they're rummaging around Europe trying to sign a centre mid instead of having a 3-5 year operating plan of how to create a squad capable of challenging city and Liverpool.

[Callum_62]

Take away the famous five and we're on a par with the Dundee clubs

Bizarre that United have chosen to ignore the advice of Rangnick in terms of creating a blueprint then sign players according to that. At the moment they're rummaging around Europe trying to sign a centre mid instead of having a 3-5 year operating plan of how to create a squad capable of challenging city and Liverpool.Mind, we are doing what rang nick suggested and also getting smashed [emoji1787][emoji1787]

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[Pretty Boy]

I saw an analogy earlier that fitted quite nicely.

They have chased De Jong all summer and are now going to throw money at Casemiro. It's like going to buy a labrador and coming away with a rottweiler and claiming it's the same thing.

[ScottB]

I think we can see that if you have the mix of a lot of money, and a decent planning / recruitment setup, then you can be pretty successful.

Man Utd certainly have the money, and have spent vast amounts of it in recent years.

If they somehow put in place a background team as good as City’s or Liverpool’s, then there’s absolutely no reason they wouldn’t move back into contention.

[Oscar T Grouch]

Said it before, take away the SAF years and their record is good but not enough to suggest that they are the biggest club in England.

Excluding the SAF years, they've won 7 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 European Cup and 1 Europa League.

Liverpool (19), Arsenal (13), Everton (9), Man City (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many league titles, excluding lower league titles.

Arsenal (14), Spurs (8), Liverpool (8), Chelsea (8) & Aston Villa (7) have won more or as many FA Cups.

Liverpool (9), Man City (8), Aston Villa (5) etc etc etc have won more league cups.

Liverpool (10), Chelsea (7), Spurs (3), Arsenal (2), Aston Villa (2), Nottingham Forest (2) etc have won more or as many European trophies excluding the Super Cup.

Now I know the teams above also had good spells and I should also exclude their good spells, but difference is that Manchester United's record is so heavily dominated by one individual, and they may never recruit someone who'll get even close to what he achieved.

SAF records was:
Premier League - thirteen in 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13 (7)
FA Cup - five in 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04 (7)
League Cup - four in 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10 (1)
Community Shield - ten in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 (11)
Champions League - two in 1998-99, 2007-08 (1)
Cup Winners' Cup - one in 1990-91 (0)

Shirley if you are taking away their best ever managers successes you should do the same with Liverpool, (Paisley 20) and Arsenal (Wenger 17). I would say both those teams records are both heavily dominated by one manager too unless you want to argue that 20 and 17 trophies aren't significant and way above what any other managers won with those teams? Not that I have any skin in this game, if I was forced to pick an English side to support it would be Forest Green Rovers :greengrin

[theonlywayisup]

Shirley if you are taking away their best ever managers successes you should do the same with Liverpool, (Paisley 20) and Arsenal (Wenger 17). I would say both those teams records are both heavily dominated by one manager too unless you want to argue that 20 and 17 trophies aren't significant and way above what any other managers won with those teams? Not that I have any skin in this game, if I was forced to pick an English side to support it would be Forest Green Rovers :greengrin

Possibly, but I'm not including the Community Shield in my list :greengrin

Ignoring the Community Shield, Wenger won ten trophies at Arsenal - 3 leagues and 7 FA cups, so ignoring Wenger Arsenal with 10 leagues wins and 7 FA Cups would still be better than Manchester United's, though marginally.

Ignoring the Community Shield, Paisley won 9 domestic trophies at Liverpool - 6 leagues and 3 league cups, so ignoring Bob Paisley Liverpool with 13 league wins and 8 FA Cups would still be better than Manchester United's by a distance. Also, ignoring Paisley's European record, Liverpool's record is still vastly better than Manchester United.

So, by highlighting Wenger and Paisley, you're backing up my claim that Man United are so heavily dependant on one person that the other clubs are not.

[Oscar T Grouch]

Possibly, but I'm not including the Community Shield in my list :greengrin

Ignoring the Community Shield, Wenger won ten trophies at Arsenal - 3 leagues and 7 FA cups, so ignoring Wenger Arsenal with 10 leagues wins and 7 FA Cups would still be better than Manchester United's, though marginally.

Ignoring the Community Shield, Paisley won 9 domestic trophies at Liverpool - 6 leagues and 3 league cups, so ignoring Bob Paisley Liverpool with 13 league wins and 8 FA Cups would still be better than Manchester United's by a distance. Also, ignoring Paisley's European record, Liverpool's record is still vastly better than Manchester United.

So, by highlighting Wenger and Paisley, you're backing up my claim that Man United are so heavily dependant on one person that the other clubs are not.

It’s almost as if you’re using very specific rules on these records to make your point 😝😂

[Eyrie]

Just read that Casemiro is a defensive midfielder.

£70m for a defensive midfielder?

[Sir David Gray]

Must admit as a Manchester Utd sympathiser this seems like a pretty horrendous piece of business.

What a shambles the club is right now.

[ScottB]

Just read that Casemiro is a defensive midfielder.

£70m for a defensive midfielder?

Probably more a reflection of being seen as a desperate buyer…

[Since452]

Quite incredible how far they've fallen from the Fergie days. Aberdeen fans will sympathise.

[Pagan Hibernia]

Possibly, but I'm not including the Community Shield in my list :greengrin

Ignoring the Community Shield, Wenger won ten trophies at Arsenal - 3 leagues and 7 FA cups, so ignoring Wenger Arsenal with 10 leagues wins and 7 FA Cups would still be better than Manchester United's, though marginally.

Ignoring the Community Shield, Paisley won 9 domestic trophies at Liverpool - 6 leagues and 3 league cups, so ignoring Bob Paisley Liverpool with 13 league wins and 8 FA Cups would still be better than Manchester United's by a distance. Also, ignoring Paisley's European record, Liverpool's record is still vastly better than Manchester United.

So, by highlighting Wenger and Paisley, you're backing up my claim that Man United are so heavily dependant on one person that the other clubs are not.

I would say united’s record rests on two managers. Busby and Ferguson.

[Allant1981]

Must admit as a Manchester Utd sympathiser this seems like a pretty horrendous piece of business.

What a shambles the club is right now.

I would say the opposite, if he wasnt moving he would be one of madrids main midfielders, a lot of money yes but the guy could still play for another 4 years. He is one of the best DM in the world imo. They need stability so are going to have to pay for it

[Sir David Gray]

I would say the opposite, if he wasnt moving he would be one of madrids main midfielders, a lot of money yes but the guy could still play for another 4 years. He is one of the best DM in the world imo. They need stability so are going to have to pay for it

Guillem Balague seems far from convinced and Real Madrid have also just spent around £70 million in signing Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, who is 8 years Casemiro's junior.

I'd suggest that may prove to make far better business sense.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62603699

[Allant1981]

Quite possibly but we mock reporters/journalists in this country constantly so why take what he says as gospel? Personally think he will be a good signing for them, is it a lot of money, of course but he is what they need so if it works then great, if not then its a waste of money but the same could be said for any of these high end transfers

[MWHIBBIES]

Just read that Casemiro is a defensive midfielder.

£70m for a defensive midfielder?

Brilliant player, though.

[hibsbollah]

Guillem Balague seems far from convinced and Real Madrid have also just spent around £70 million in signing Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, who is 8 years Casemiro's junior.

I'd suggest that may prove to make far better business sense.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62603699

I watch Monaco a fair bit and Tchouameni doesnt really scream out a £80 million player. Camavinga who Madrid got from Rennes is an absolute superstar and plays a similar position so it was a weird signing, although their scouts will know more than me.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

Guillem Balague is incredibly irritating in my opinion. Add Kaveh and that other weasel from Sky Sports News who always surface on transfer deadline day and I’ve compiled my triumvirate of blowhards.

[theonlywayisup]

What a difference in Manchester United's performance last night! Played much more like a team rather than as individuals. However, how poor were Liverpool! Obviously missing Mane and their midfield would struggle to find a place on the bench at some of the other PL teams.

[jacomo]

Just read that Casemiro is a defensive midfielder.

£70m for a defensive midfielder?


And he’s thirty, so little prospect of getting any of that back.

This signing could easily cost Utd £100m over 3 seasons… it’s obscene.

[ScottB]

And he’s thirty, so little prospect of getting any of that back.

This signing could easily cost Utd £100m over 3 seasons… it’s obscene.

5 year contract too…

[evy]

Guillem Balague is incredibly irritating in my opinion. Add Kaveh and that other weasel from Sky Sports News who always surface on transfer deadline day and I’ve compiled my triumvirate of blowhards.

Jim White is his name.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

Jim White is his name.

Nope, not him.

Dharmesh Sheth, that’s the felly. Him and Kaveh absolutely dement me.

[jgl07]

I wonder how Ferguson would do nowadays in terms of rebuilding teams and sustaining success in the way he did in the second half of his career. Of course he would adapt and still be incredibly successful as he’s possibly the best manager of all time. However with all the money in football now, particularly in England. To sign the likes of Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Berbarov etc would require close to world records each time, if the other club will sell at all.

Saying that, Liverpool show that with a good recruitment team and sensible planning it is possible to evolve teams today without the level of the team dropping off.
No manager at a club like Manchester United would be given the leeway that Ferguson received in his early years at United. At the time the United chairman (Martin Edwards?) was feeling under pressure and did not act. Ferguson was on his last chance when they scraped a draw in the FA Cup Final against Palace. Ferguson would certainly have been out had they lost. United won the replay and went on to win the European Cup Winners Cup the following season and the rest was history.

[hibsbollah]

No manager at a club like Manchester United would be given the leeway that Ferguson received in his early years at United. At the time the United chairman (Martin Edwards?) was feeling under pressure and did not act. Ferguson was on his last chance when they scraped a draw in the FA Cup Final against Palace. Ferguson would certainly have been out had they lost. United won the replay and went on to win the European Cup Winners Cup the following season and the rest was history.

Totemic history, as Giggsy would say.

[Pretty Boy]

No manager at a club like Manchester United would be given the leeway that Ferguson received in his early years at United. At the time the United chairman (Martin Edwards?) was feeling under pressure and did not act. Ferguson was on his last chance when they scraped a draw in the FA Cup Final against Palace. Ferguson would certainly have been out had they lost. United won the replay and went on to win the European Cup Winners Cup the following season and the rest was history.

Ferguson said in the recent Channel 4 documentary about him that he was privately assured his job was safe regardless of the result in that final.

How much of that is revisionism or how true it would have been had they actually lost is a different matter of course.

The point stands thought that no manager would get the time Ferguson got now and understandably so. The game is a different beast financially these days and all the more short term for it. I'm not sure many managers would hang around as long as he did these days either though. For all Uniteds financial clout in England in the mid 90s they were unable to compete with the big Italian clubs. Ferguson alludes to it in the letter he wrote to Eric Cantona after his retirement. He mentions the wage structure and financial restraints he was under meant he was unable to sign a top class replacement. He clarified it was Gabriel Batistuta he wanted but United couldn't (or wouldn't) compete with Fiorentina on wages. I wonder how many top 6 clubs in England would struggle to outbid Fiorentina these days. If it did happen there would be all kinds of public hints and implications and more than likely a resignation or mutual consenting somewhere down the line.

[neil7908]

And he’s thirty, so little prospect of getting any of that back.

This signing could easily cost Utd £100m over 3 seasons… it’s obscene.

He does the dirty stuff protecting the back 4 really well and scores the odd screamer and will definitely be an upgrade on Fred and McTominay.

But this feels like another Alexis Sanchez, Schweinsteiger, Ronaldo etc.

A 5 year deal for a guy his age and on the reported salary is mental.

Will he fit with the pressing game I believe Ten Hag wants to play?

[Pagan Hibernia]

Ferguson said in the recent Channel 4 documentary about him that he was privately assured his job was safe regardless of the result in that final.

How much of that is revisionism or how true it would have been had they actually lost is a different matter of course.

The point stands thought that no manager would get the time Ferguson got now and understandably so. The game is a different beast financially these days and all the more short term for it. I'm not sure many managers would hang around as long as he did these days either though. For all Uniteds financial clout in England in the mid 90s they were unable to compete with the big Italian clubs. Ferguson alludes to it in the letter he wrote to Eric Cantona after his retirement. He mentions the wage structure and financial restraints he was under meant he was unable to sign a top class replacement. He clarified it was Gabriel Batistuta he wanted but United couldn't (or wouldn't) compete with Fiorentina on wages. I wonder how many top 6 clubs in England would struggle to outbid Fiorentina these days. If it did happen there would be all kinds of public hints and implications and more than likely a resignation or mutual consenting somewhere down the line.

it’s one of those fascinating what-ifs that will remain a question mark forever. The only person who knows for sure is Martin Edwards and he’s never going to come out and admit he was on the brink of sacking Ferguson.

at that point Fergie was three and a half years into the job. In the previous two seasons they’d finished 11th and 13th respectively in the league. With no trophies if they’d lost that final. Fans were protesting in the stands (“Ta-ra Fergie”). They were the definition of a club that appeared to be going nowhere.

if you look at Ron Atkinson’s period at United, 5 years, regular top 5 finishes and two trophies only to get the boot after a poor start to a season, it’s clear Ferguson was on a shoogly peg.

how different the course of history in English football might have been..

[Mick O'Rourke]

My grandson,Liam who is 30 has pals who live down South and follow Man Utd/ST holders.
Anyway,he and my great grandson 10yr old Aiden managed to get briefs for the Brighton game.Pals away on holiday that week.
They made a real weekend of it.
Train down/nearby hotel to ground /Stadium Tour /Museum and club megastore
Couple of tops/small flag and George Best t/shirt/scarf souvenier.
Busier than Cameron Toll,he told me.
He had been a few times before,but an eye opening experience for Aiden .
Liam reckons he could have bought two STs for ER with what he paid/spent for his weekend jaunt to Old Trafford.
Gate and shop receipts must be mind boggling .
He got offered briefs for the Liverpool game but knocked them back.
Those upcoming winter fuel bills etc come first !

The football cash in England is phenomenal, isnt it ?
Greater than some nations GDP !