I think having less games is a good thing and will help us settle as a team with players mostly able to stay fit.
Optimism for 2025-26 season
- Thread starter Pughnichi
- Start date
We'll probably finish somewhere between 8th and 12th. I'd be slightly more optimistic if we completely rebuilt our midfield. And we still lack the elite striker we truly need. Realistically, I can see Amorim getting the sack within three months. I hope it doesn't happen, but it probably will. I have that same feeling I've had every summer for the past ten years. Maybe things would’ve felt a little different this summer if we had at least won the Europa League.
All in all, if things are to change even slightly, I think it's crucial that we don't lose a game in the first five weeks or so. The moment we do, we’re likely done. It’ll kill any momentum we might have built as a club by then.
All in all, if things are to change even slightly, I think it's crucial that we don't lose a game in the first five weeks or so. The moment we do, we’re likely done. It’ll kill any momentum we might have built as a club by then.
I agree with all of the above. We have made strong signings indicating attacking intent and without question the likes of Villa, Forest, Newcastle and Palace will have it much harder next season. Plus, Amorim has had time to impose his tactical vision. As you say, Utd should be in the European mix again and this season then becomes a springboard for further improvement the following year. Looking forward to the start of PL.
We play arsenal, city, liverpool and chelsea in our first 8 games, so its highly likely we will lose many games in the 1st 5 weeks.
Mbuemo and Cunha are huge upgrades on what we have(on paper anyway), so there is that to be optimistic about , but the squad is still so weak and the gap to the top teams an us is just getting bigger and bigger.
We have some shoots of optimism for this season….
1. Young players - We have some really excellent looking young/er players in the squad now pushing for first team places. The likes of Yoro, Heaven, Dorgu, Amad, and Mainoo will all feature heavily this season and if they stay fit and play regularly together I think that’s very exciting. Throw in Hojlund and Garnacho if they stay as well. Obi for me is too young and needs another season to develop. Maybe same for Leon, he has the attitude but the PL will eat him up to start with.
2. New players- Cunha and Mbeumo are both excellent signings, we’ve lacked goals for a few years now and we’ve gone out and bought two of the best in the PL over the last couple of years (excluding strikers). Really looking forward to see how they perform and help move our transition along.
3. Unwanted players- Finally we seem to be looking to move players on faster if it’s clear they aren’t going to fit our needs or keep them away from the squad if they’re a negative influence. Will take a few more seasons to do the job fully and we’ll have to eat some losses but it’s needed and will be worth it in the long run.
1. Young players - We have some really excellent looking young/er players in the squad now pushing for first team places. The likes of Yoro, Heaven, Dorgu, Amad, and Mainoo will all feature heavily this season and if they stay fit and play regularly together I think that’s very exciting. Throw in Hojlund and Garnacho if they stay as well. Obi for me is too young and needs another season to develop. Maybe same for Leon, he has the attitude but the PL will eat him up to start with.
2. New players- Cunha and Mbeumo are both excellent signings, we’ve lacked goals for a few years now and we’ve gone out and bought two of the best in the PL over the last couple of years (excluding strikers). Really looking forward to see how they perform and help move our transition along.
3. Unwanted players- Finally we seem to be looking to move players on faster if it’s clear they aren’t going to fit our needs or keep them away from the squad if they’re a negative influence. Will take a few more seasons to do the job fully and we’ll have to eat some losses but it’s needed and will be worth it in the long run.
2025/26 will be a very interesting phase in the development of the team under Amorim. Crucially, a major area of concern has been addressed with the signings of both Cunha and Mbeumo. Two PL proven forward threats that both wanted to be United players. On paper, that looks like a significant upgrade and a great way to start.
Other areas, especially GK, CM & ST need to be addressed sooner rather than later but it remains to be seen whether or not this window will allow for those positions to be improved. The outgoings and if and when they happen will decide this issue. However, with Rashford now gone, for now, at least, that makes a significant difference as do the funds achieved through the sell on clauses of former players. United are not as lacking in funds as most make out, although the significant outlay on Mbeumo and Cunha obviously took the majority of the war chest for this window, to date. I find it hard to imagine that Garnacho, Sancho and Antony will still be around a month from now, so the coffers may well swell some. Whether it will happen in time to fill in the aforementioned positions of need remains to be seen. Patently, the sooner the better. Would be great to see a few sales go through in the next week or so, rather than loans.
The less cluttered fixture list and focus on the development of the system, should, theoretically, benefit the results on the pitch.
Fingers crossed going forward...I am quietly confident that the team will be heading in the right direction, we just need to temper expectations, however difficult that may be for some of the younger brigade of fans that expect everything overnight.
Other areas, especially GK, CM & ST need to be addressed sooner rather than later but it remains to be seen whether or not this window will allow for those positions to be improved. The outgoings and if and when they happen will decide this issue. However, with Rashford now gone, for now, at least, that makes a significant difference as do the funds achieved through the sell on clauses of former players. United are not as lacking in funds as most make out, although the significant outlay on Mbeumo and Cunha obviously took the majority of the war chest for this window, to date. I find it hard to imagine that Garnacho, Sancho and Antony will still be around a month from now, so the coffers may well swell some. Whether it will happen in time to fill in the aforementioned positions of need remains to be seen. Patently, the sooner the better. Would be great to see a few sales go through in the next week or so, rather than loans.
The less cluttered fixture list and focus on the development of the system, should, theoretically, benefit the results on the pitch.
Fingers crossed going forward...I am quietly confident that the team will be heading in the right direction, we just need to temper expectations, however difficult that may be for some of the younger brigade of fans that expect everything overnight.
Probably the least optimistic I’ve felt in a season in a while, no ST, midfield is going to be painful to watch all season, like the signings of Mbeumo/Cunha, but it’s not going to be enough to challenge for CL.
They going in the right direction but they havent done enough. We just can't simply go to next season with the current keeper and midfeild options. Those holes are too big, they will sink the ship.
Onana was the worst keeper in the EPL last season. We are immediately conceding 10 + points with him starting unless somehow he dramatically improves from last 2 seasons.
And we have no viable consistent midfeild pairing. Bruno/Case too unathletic, too slow and will get run through. Bruno/Ugarte - ball progression is an issue with Ugarte. Ugarte/Case - worse of the combinations. Mainoo doesn't work in a 2.
If we address those 2 positions, I will feel a lot better about next season. I think they could get to 6th and at even at 5th. If not, then I think we finish in 12 -8th range
The only silver lining in my eyes is less games! This should greatly impact less injuries and just more time training for the players to click with one another.
Obviously it's not good to have less games and not compete in Europe but it's the situation we are in.
Obviously it's not good to have less games and not compete in Europe but it's the situation we are in.
Since this is the optimism thread, and I’ve been told off for being pessimistic (
), I thought I’d give positivity another go while trying not to be too unrealistic (E.g., Rasmus suddenly morphs into prime R9)- Lenny Yoro was, for me, our best player in the EL final and looks a real talent. He’s going to get even better and is the one I’m most confident about.
- De Ligt and Ugarte did show some signs of promise last season. De Ligt must know this is probably his last chance at a massive club.
- Heaven looks a talent and will get more games.
- Dorgu is another who showed flashes of quality and can get better.
- We have improved the attack with premiership proven players.
- Mainoo, if he can improve on his stamina and fitness, could have a good season.
I am not sure if the number of games had such an impact on players like Mount, Shaw, Mainoo, Yoro, Mrtinez and some others. You can still rotate if you want. There is no silver lining in it. CL would help us like nothing else.
That’s how I feel as well.
The spine of the team is very weak from GK to the Striker position, without addressing these issues it will very likely be another season of struggle.
I think we are really starting from the beginning this year. I know people don't like how Amorim is stubborn with his formation but I think he's doing it for a reason that's more than just tactical.
He's doing it to create a solid foundation and frame work for the club to build from and also give us a new fresh identity.
For years we have been riddled with confused policies and decision making, a club strategy which didn't focus on winning but instead on commercial success. The football has often been a sideshow to the glazer drama and we need to start somewhere new.
Ok results have been very poor but he's come in and tackled major issues head on and worked to make big sweeping changes. This year is where we consolidate from years of decay and start to build a fortress we can start to fight back from. I'm not expecting big amazing results and I'm not expecting a top 4 finish, all I want to see is a coherent and cohesive team moving in the right direction football wise. We need to improve our results hugely but I feel there's something bigger going on behind the scenes.
I'm hopeful but not for instant success I want to see green shoots which can flourish with in the next 3 or 4 seasons.
He's doing it to create a solid foundation and frame work for the club to build from and also give us a new fresh identity.
For years we have been riddled with confused policies and decision making, a club strategy which didn't focus on winning but instead on commercial success. The football has often been a sideshow to the glazer drama and we need to start somewhere new.
Ok results have been very poor but he's come in and tackled major issues head on and worked to make big sweeping changes. This year is where we consolidate from years of decay and start to build a fortress we can start to fight back from. I'm not expecting big amazing results and I'm not expecting a top 4 finish, all I want to see is a coherent and cohesive team moving in the right direction football wise. We need to improve our results hugely but I feel there's something bigger going on behind the scenes.
I'm hopeful but not for instant success I want to see green shoots which can flourish with in the next 3 or 4 seasons.
Since this is the optimism thread, and I’ve been told off for being pessimistic (
Nothing ridiculously optimistic there…but this positivity stuff is hard work. The goalkeeper, Centre midfield and striker is where all the worries are.
- Lenny Yoro was, for me, our best player in the EL final and looks a real talent. He’s going to get even better and is the one I’m most confident about.
- De Ligt and Ugarte did show some signs of promise last season. De Ligt must know this is probably his last chance at a massive club.
- Heaven looks a talent and will get more games.
- Dorgu is another who showed flashes of quality and can get better.
- We have improved the attack with premiership proven players.
- Mainoo, if he can improve on his stamina and fitness, could have a good season.
Yeah tbf wrong thread for me, but optimistic things:
- Yoro improvement, looks fantastic.
- Heaven/Dorgu to improve, but showed great flashes at points in the season.
- One game a week should benefit us massively for the most part.
- Can’t be any worse than last season.
I think even if players are not injured, fatigue is a factor. Bruno, for instance, plays every game possible and has off games here and there in the middle where he doesn't look 100%. Affects a few others as well I think. With one game a week, everyone should be at their best every game and the focus can be on gelling well together as a team with less pressure and more focus on the league.
Assessing the squad so far, I think they are capable of scoring about 60 goals. The defence should be the same as last year so it should be enough for 5th or 6th place. It would need someone to have an unbelievable season or luck in key moments to do any better than that. There might still be some key transfers coming in near the end of the window but we should be in the running for the Europa places again.
unpopular opinion but I think/ hope this year we can help Hojlund add far more goals to his game. I can see him scoring 3 or 4 in the first 5 or 6 games and this will go a long way in a young man's confidence. the new additions goes without saying are the type of quality that can only improve us and Ugarte is relatively young so could be like a new signing for us. we may not end up where we should be but i can see a vastly improved season...Heaven and Yoro at the back can start to assert their places to pave the way for a solid future too
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In the right set up, this team is more than capable of finishing in the top 5. However, Amorim's 3-4-3 is not that set up.
It is doubtful that we will finish ahead of Spurs, Villa, Brighton and Newcastle. Onana, De Ligt, Ugarte and Höjlund is not a spine to mount a top 5 challenge. Too many flaws in the setup.
It's meant to be an optimistic thread. Onana has a reasonable technique. He is premiership experienced and played in major finals. De Ligt has been a little up and down. With his first season done, hopefully he will be more settled this year. Ugarte likewise. He is superb at sniffing a chance to get the ball back. He is reasonable at moving the ball and decent at directional changes. Hojlund, I hope gets a few chances and is able to put them away and get the confidence of the crowd back. He could thrive in a set up with cooperative wide players.
I’m trying to feel excited and optimistic for the new season. Not sure how long that will last, mind you— all optimism may have evaporated by five games in when we're sitting nine points off the top.
There are still a lot of problem areas in the team, mainly in the arse area, in Onana. The head of the team is looking better now because we have signed Cunha and Mbeumo, but still, the hair (Højlund) isn’t great.
How can we go into the season high in confidence like this? Imagine going on a date having shit your pants—it's a hot mess back there. Things flapping about that shouldn't be, unexplained leaks. You want to feel confident, but knowing that you're stowing a King Richard III back there just totally ruins your vibe.
Then your hair, or is it a toupee? Is it even on right? I can't tell if it's on back to front or upside down. It's the sorriest looking toupee you have ever seen. Then you remember you spent £70 million on it and it can't control a football to save its literal life.
We're not going to score like this.
You want things to change, but the same players are still going to do the same things. Mount—i.e., Casper the friendly ghost fart is still going to waft around invisible whilst managing to still stink up the place. Casemiro will probably do okay at times but then do some random brain fart pass to the opposition and we concede a goal because of it.
Dalot with his crap crosses. Holes in midfield. Even Fernandes, for how good he is, seems to have a brain fart pass in him too. Then Maguire still doing his nanny from Count Duckula impersonations, etc., etc.
What I'm trying to say is, whilst expecting us to be better overall in comparison to last season, and it's reasonable to have hope because we’ve added some positive additions, reality might just hit us soon enough.
Now forget all that.
What if we do manage to get our shit together? Amorim has had a full pre-season. We may have just transformed our attack. Opposition teams should feel a little more scared of us now.
With only one game a week, we might have an edge in terms of fitness and injuries. We can focus all our efforts into the weekend game.
Yes we can feel optimistic about our players.
Why can't Dorgu continue progressing? He can be a big threat bursting down the left channel. He looked dangerous last night vs. West Ham. I’m excited to see him doing more of that.
Maybe Mainoo will once again show everyone what he's made of. This might be his season. I have a feeling De Ligt is going to have a good season too.
I'm also hoping we have better luck with injuries. I'm hoping we can create momentum and build confidence, we need to be more confident and we need to be united.
There are still a lot of problem areas in the team, mainly in the arse area, in Onana. The head of the team is looking better now because we have signed Cunha and Mbeumo, but still, the hair (Højlund) isn’t great.
How can we go into the season high in confidence like this? Imagine going on a date having shit your pants—it's a hot mess back there. Things flapping about that shouldn't be, unexplained leaks. You want to feel confident, but knowing that you're stowing a King Richard III back there just totally ruins your vibe.
Then your hair, or is it a toupee? Is it even on right? I can't tell if it's on back to front or upside down. It's the sorriest looking toupee you have ever seen. Then you remember you spent £70 million on it and it can't control a football to save its literal life.
We're not going to score like this.
You want things to change, but the same players are still going to do the same things. Mount—i.e., Casper the friendly ghost fart is still going to waft around invisible whilst managing to still stink up the place. Casemiro will probably do okay at times but then do some random brain fart pass to the opposition and we concede a goal because of it.
Dalot with his crap crosses. Holes in midfield. Even Fernandes, for how good he is, seems to have a brain fart pass in him too. Then Maguire still doing his nanny from Count Duckula impersonations, etc., etc.
What I'm trying to say is, whilst expecting us to be better overall in comparison to last season, and it's reasonable to have hope because we’ve added some positive additions, reality might just hit us soon enough.
Now forget all that.
What if we do manage to get our shit together? Amorim has had a full pre-season. We may have just transformed our attack. Opposition teams should feel a little more scared of us now.
With only one game a week, we might have an edge in terms of fitness and injuries. We can focus all our efforts into the weekend game.
Yes we can feel optimistic about our players.
Why can't Dorgu continue progressing? He can be a big threat bursting down the left channel. He looked dangerous last night vs. West Ham. I’m excited to see him doing more of that.
Maybe Mainoo will once again show everyone what he's made of. This might be his season. I have a feeling De Ligt is going to have a good season too.
I'm also hoping we have better luck with injuries. I'm hoping we can create momentum and build confidence, we need to be more confident and we need to be united.
Entirely optimistic, we've got some great young talent who could really shine. Amad, Yoro and Mainoo can have real breakout seasons.
A striker and a holding midfielder would go a long way way, but it's start of the season, and time for new starts.
A striker and a holding midfielder would go a long way way, but it's start of the season, and time for new starts.
Top 4 looks difficult, but with 1 game a week, it's certainly possible. European qualification of some sort is my own hope, with at least a cohesive and identifiable style to our play, showing growth and heading in the right direction under Amorim.
No guarantee the players that last year's top 4 brought in will gel well settle quickly etc, so it's all about ensuring we put away the so called lesser teams with the ruthlessness we used to under SAF.
I'm looking forward to the season starting, I wasn't at the end of last one, but I'm feeling it now.
Maybe it IS optimism I'm feeling.
No guarantee the players that last year's top 4 brought in will gel well settle quickly etc, so it's all about ensuring we put away the so called lesser teams with the ruthlessness we used to under SAF.
I'm looking forward to the season starting, I wasn't at the end of last one, but I'm feeling it now.
Maybe it IS optimism I'm feeling.
We will be a lot better than last season, that’s for sure. But the crazy spending at the top of the league means it will be a while before we break into top 5. I just want to see some more positive, attacking football this season, and I think we will. Early signs are that the squad is in great physical condition, so I expect a much stronger press and for us to play more of our matches in our opponents half, rather than pinging the ball backwards and sideways.
I actually think, while we are most likely going to finish 6th or 7th, we are also a goalkeeper and grit away from top 4.
We were already capable of beating any team on our best day, even the shit we were last season. You add warriros like Cunha, Mbeumo, and a decent striker and we have a chance to be consistently good. Not the best but consistently good, and consistency + decent (not best) quality can get you a lot in EPL... unless your goalkeeper is shit.
Amorim could coach top 4 performance with Mbeumo, Cunha and Watkins/Sesko in the team. As long as he also has a reliable goalkeeper. We can forget about dramatic improvement with Onana in the goal, however. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. Goalkeeper is that important and if Wilcox and Berrada don't see that, then they have no business running this club
We need to avoid losing in the first five weeks. No matter what, we have to get this done. The team really needs to give it some thought and concentrate properly.
We are Manchester United! How can you be anything but optimistic for the new season?
We can't be worse than last season, so optimism is easy
A lot also depends on our mental strength. We crumble too fast and used to play without confidence. If we can change that, many things will improve
Completely agree with this, it's been the one constant throughout the last 3-4 seasons.
We've seen it so often, the team look have looked really good at times when they've managed a run of wins. Yet all too often a silly mistake ends up costing the game, or a slow start then the wheels fall off.
Unless something has changed on that front, it's hard to be too optimistic about the season ahead. Even a good pre season means nothing if they lose to Arsenal on the first game. The tough set of fixtures at the start of the campaign could shape the whole season.
Lack of trust in each other is another one. With Onana, Dalot and Hoijlund, that was a huge issue as the team never trusted team and made everyone lose confidence
There are enormous advantages in having more time to train. Practice is the foundation of any success. It is by far the single most important aspect to mastery in any area, especially sports and music. The time we save on travelling, recovery, and mid-week games due to European football which can instead be invested in improving as a team is of way more long-term value than being in this season's CL.
This tour and pre season as a whole had such a positive feeling, definitely didn't feel like this last year. Even the negative content creators are being a bit more upbeat which is telling.
Have a good feeling about this year.
Have a good feeling about this year.
Not trying to jinx anything, but… I haven't felt this positive in a long time.
I know it’s only preseason. I know the real tests come when the competitive fixtures start, and results actually mean something. But I can’t help it — this feels different. Not just the scorelines, but the performances, the patterns of play, the energy, the chemistry. There’s an understanding out there that we haven’t seen in a long time. Players look like they knowwhat they’re doing, and more importantly, they look like they’re enjoying it.
It’s not blind optimism. I’ve seen enough false dawns to know the danger of getting carried away. But at the same time — why shouldn’t we let ourselves feel excited when there are genuine reasons to be?
We’ve spent enough time slogging through seasons where things felt stale, disjointed, or lacking identity. Now there’s a sense of purpose again. Movements off the ball make sense. There’s fluidity in the buildup. We’re seeing pressing with intent, clever combinations, and even a few glimpses of swagger. That’s not luck — that’s the result of hard work on the training ground and a squad that’s buying into something.
Of course, the league is a different beast. We’ll face tougher opposition, tactical challenges, injuries, form dips — all of it. But right now, I’m choosing to enjoy what I’m seeing. I’ve missed that feeling — watching my team play and thinking, “Yes, this is how football’s meant to look.”
If things go off track later, fine — we deal with it. But I won’t let the fear of disappointment stop me from appreciating the good signs when they’re staring us in the face. Sometimes you’ve got to let yourself believe a little. And honestly? It’s been far too long since we had something worth believing in.
Bring on the season. Let’s see what we can do.
I know it’s only preseason. I know the real tests come when the competitive fixtures start, and results actually mean something. But I can’t help it — this feels different. Not just the scorelines, but the performances, the patterns of play, the energy, the chemistry. There’s an understanding out there that we haven’t seen in a long time. Players look like they knowwhat they’re doing, and more importantly, they look like they’re enjoying it.
It’s not blind optimism. I’ve seen enough false dawns to know the danger of getting carried away. But at the same time — why shouldn’t we let ourselves feel excited when there are genuine reasons to be?
We’ve spent enough time slogging through seasons where things felt stale, disjointed, or lacking identity. Now there’s a sense of purpose again. Movements off the ball make sense. There’s fluidity in the buildup. We’re seeing pressing with intent, clever combinations, and even a few glimpses of swagger. That’s not luck — that’s the result of hard work on the training ground and a squad that’s buying into something.
Of course, the league is a different beast. We’ll face tougher opposition, tactical challenges, injuries, form dips — all of it. But right now, I’m choosing to enjoy what I’m seeing. I’ve missed that feeling — watching my team play and thinking, “Yes, this is how football’s meant to look.”
If things go off track later, fine — we deal with it. But I won’t let the fear of disappointment stop me from appreciating the good signs when they’re staring us in the face. Sometimes you’ve got to let yourself believe a little. And honestly? It’s been far too long since we had something worth believing in.
Bring on the season. Let’s see what we can do.
A huge part of the game is played in the mind I think. If Amorim can create the right psychological conditions, you can turn a 5/10 player into an 8/10 one. Fergie was a master at this, probably the best ever.
That’s the wrong bar to set for a team facing Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City in those 5 first weeks
Biggest improvement should come from increased performance of existing group of players as a whole plus of course also additions. From what we see players came back fitter, training is more intense, the team has higher intensity. Hunger is there. If Amorim is to succeed he will remove bad apples, improve intensity and chemistry between players so we will play as a team and not as a team of individuals. First signs are looking good. With more quality up top with Cunha and Mbeumo already here and another striker possibly incoming I'm optimistic for new season. If team gels we should fear no one. Arsenal may well be the first team that gets the taste of work in progress but more and more Amorim's United in new EPL season.
This is just wrong, physical fatigue is only a small part of it. But mental sharpness/wellbeing and most importantly time on the training ground are going to be the big difference makers.