Will things get better or worse next season?

[LawCharltonBest]

Help me decide.

Think about how many of these players will still be United players in 2022/23 season - Cavani, Pogba, Lingard, Greenwood, Martial, Ronaldo, Henderson, van de Beek - then you have Jones, Bailly, Grant, Mata.

Negative part of my brain: Glazer's rarely net spend over £100m per season and Henderson and van De Beek are the only players I can see United getting notable fees for. £100m would be needed for a new striker alone. So the squad will be thin, bolstered by untested academy players, lacking in quality. The manager is going to have a very difficult job next season to even get 4th, let alone any trophy.

Positive part of my brain: With such a clear out, the dressing room will be much different and likely have a much different atmosphere. Which perhaps could help United could get that extra 10% out of the likes of Varane, Shaw, Fernandes (in his fresh new number 8 shirt) and Sancho who'd need to all step up and be the key men. Also assuming United don't continue with Rangnick, the new manager will be able build his own squad much easier with so many likely to be leaving and therefore implement his ideas a lot quicker. With Pogba, Cavani, maybe Ronaldo etc leaving too, expectations might dip allowing room for error.

Your opinions please? And thanks if you read all that, feedback welcome even if it is negative and makes me cry.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

It’ll be one or the other for sure.

 

[Reynoldo]

I think the tide is turning and surely the higher ups now know that some type of reset is needed in terms of some form of a clear out so in that regard I think it is a positive as we are just so stale at the moment that any meaningful change in personnel on and off the pitch will lift the mood. The negative if this were to happen is bedding in time so short term in terms of results they may get worse before better.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Think it will get worse before better, but I can accept that if the on highs can admit they made mistakes in signings and not worry about getting rid of mistakes, even at a loss. That we change the type of signings we make and stop going for busted flushes for managers.

 

[Speako]

I think I’d take a 70’s/80’s type rebuild now if it meant supplementing some quality experience with younger promoted players who are proud to wear the shirt. I’d find that exciting even if it meant stretching the timeline back to challenging for trophies. Akin I guess to seeing the Sharpe’s and Beardsmore’s coming through and beating Liverpool, even though overall it was a bit of a slog watching us every week. United have come to epitomise everything I hate in modern day football/footballers, which is not a good feeling.

 

[DickDastardly]

Help me decide.

Think about how many of these players will still be United players in 2022/23 season - Cavani, Pogba, Lingard, Greenwood, Martial, Ronaldo, Henderson, van de Beek - then you have Jones, Bailly, Grant, Mata.

Negative part of my brain: Glazer's rarely net spend over £100m per season and Henderson and van De Beek are the only players I can see United getting notable fees for. £100m would be needed for a new striker alone. So the squad will be thin, bolstered by untested academy players, lacking in quality. The manager is going to have a very difficult job next season to even get 4th, let alone any trophy.

Positive part of my brain: With such a clear out, the dressing room will be much different and likely have a much different atmosphere. Which perhaps could help United could get that extra 10% out of the likes of Varane, Shaw, Fernandes (in his fresh new number 8 shirt) and Sancho who'd need to all step up and be the key men. Also assuming United don't continue with Rangnick, the new manager will be able build his own squad much easier with so many likely to be leaving and therefore implement his ideas a lot quicker. With Pogba, Cavani, maybe Ronaldo etc leaving too, expectations might dip allowing room for error.

Your opinions please? And thanks if you read all that, feedback welcome even if it is negative and makes me cry.

We've come the lowest we could probably......

So, the only way is up.

BUT!, and thats a really big BUT, we have to hit the nail on the head with the manager appointment.

That's the biggest part of the equation. Get that right, and we're on a upward trajectory.
Get it wrong......stagnation and downfall are the words that come to mind.

 

[charlenefan]

Depends on who the manager is and who we sign

 

[Raw]

I think I’d take a 70’s/80’s type rebuild now if it meant supplementing some quality experience with younger promoted players who are proud to wear the shirt. I’d find that exciting even if it meant stretching the timeline back to challenging for trophies. Akin I guess to seeing the Sharpe’s and Beardsmore’s coming through and beating Liverpool, even though overall it was a bit of a slog watching us every week. United have come to epitomise everything I hate in modern day football/footballers, which is not a good feeling.

I would be very happy to see young players come in and prove their worth. I just hope we don't fall into the same mistakes by giving them ridiculous contracts at a young age, hyping them up as the next big thing. It ruined Rashford, Martial and surely had some effect on Greenwood (not excusing his actions of course). We need players who want to stay and fight for the badge, not sulking around the pitch.

 

[OleTheGreat]

I would like for us to unload Ronaldo, Cavani, Lingard, Jones, Periera & maybe Pogba (sadly). I would like for us to buy a striker and a couple of hardworking energetic midfielders, one of it definitely being a fantastic CDM. I'd sell Maguire if it was me but I'm sure he'll stick around to make a lot of mistakes.

Erik Ten Hag- exciting football.
Pochettino- exciting football.

Both can change things but I'd like Erik Ten Hag because he works well with youngsters and can raise a generation of stars. His Ajax teams are taken apart but his United teams cannot be. He should/must chase us.

 

[JB7]

Unless we bring in a defensive manager who wants to set up on the 18 yard box I don't see how things improve without changing the goalkeeper. And I don't see us changing the goalkeeper anymore than I want to see us setting up to play defensive football. So there's my answer sadly.

 

[adexkola]

It’ll be one or the other for sure.

Brave prediction there

 

[Smithy89]

Worse if we don't get the right man and if the board doesn't start to run us like a football club. Got to seriously look at how we're coached also, i don't think we have had any players properly coached or developed since LVG.

 

[nmm85]

We are all hoping for a clear out with a few new faces and will have a new manager. It will take some time for things to gel so I expect a rough start to next season.

 

[tenpoless]

Worse. Will finish 14th. Fletcher appointed as new manager. Ronaldo still here and fighting with everyone. Ralf resigning from the board mid season.

 

[FrantikChicken]

I personally don’t think much will change next season no matter who the manager is. We might get lucky and finish a tedious 2nd until an inevitable drop the season after but unless the way the club is run from the top down gets fixed, it’s all just papering the cracks.

 

[Jezpeza]

Help me decide.

Think about how many of these players will still be United players in 2022/23 season - Cavani, Pogba, Lingard, Greenwood, Martial, Ronaldo, Henderson, van de Beek - then you have Jones, Bailly, Grant, Mata.

Negative part of my brain: Glazer's rarely net spend over £100m per season and Henderson and van De Beek are the only players I can see United getting notable fees for. £100m would be needed for a new striker alone. So the squad will be thin, bolstered by untested academy players, lacking in quality. The manager is going to have a very difficult job next season to even get 4th, let alone any trophy.

Positive part of my brain: With such a clear out, the dressing room will be much different and likely have a much different atmosphere. Which perhaps could help United could get that extra 10% out of the likes of Varane, Shaw, Fernandes (in his fresh new number 8 shirt) and Sancho who'd need to all step up and be the key men. Also assuming United don't continue with Rangnick, the new manager will be able build his own squad much easier with so many likely to be leaving and therefore implement his ideas a lot quicker. With Pogba, Cavani, maybe Ronaldo etc leaving too, expectations might dip allowing room for error.

Your opinions please? And thanks if you read all that, feedback welcome even if it is negative and makes me cry.

It wont happen but i’d like to see us be brave. New manager, Get rid of the dirge in the squad. Lower the wage bill. Get a reasonably strong established first 11 sorted - i do believe that is achievable fairly easily if Shaw, Rashford etc regain form. We need a midfield 2 and a striker. Maybe a centre back and right back. Then supplement that team with academy talent and the odd bit of ‘deadwood’ can stay on. Even if the academy lads arent the best players ever they will be on lower wages and will put in 110% every week. In the grand scheme of things would it matter if they get knocked out the league cup early next year?

sad thing is the reality is that the board will wake up to the contract situation in May and you’ll see the likes of Mata handed extensions

 

[r3idy]

Think we are hitting close to rock bottom and personally don't put too much of this current malaise on Ralf. Hoping this new management team that has been installed post Woodward will be the catalyst for healthy change.

Next year has to be consolidation though, probably painful consolidation at that and the board need to back the manager with some brave decisions. Those decisions may come at the expense of paying up some contracts and having a pretty low transfer budget but whoever the new manager is will need time and patience to mold the squad to their style of play from the board and the fans. We are journalists wet dream because next season I see a lot of pain on the horizon and some of the stories coming out will be painful on the eye.

If and it's a MASSIVE IF, we get the appointment right there is no reason why we cannot be back to challenging within a year or two. Look at Liverpool pre Klopp, an utter laughing stock. The right manager as many have said is essential.

 

[Chief123]

Although it looks pretty grim now, I do think it's not as rock bottom as it feels either. I do think a couple of high quality signings can make a huge difference to the whole team. I think back to how lost and devoid we looked as a team in January 2020 and then we signed Bruno who made us look a completely different team.

I think if we are able to finally get that top quality CDM (he would dramatically improve our defensive weaknesses) and can sign a couple of forwards we wouldn't be as far away as it feels. Not saying we would challenge for the title but definitely not be as bad as we are now.

 

[El Zoido]

It should get better if we get the right manager in and make the correct purchases. We’re not going to be challenging for trophies so it’s just a matter of gaining a structure and some stability.

 

[Zen86]

We still don't know who the hell we are as a club and how we want to play, so I can't see things being any better next season.

 

[Infra-red]

Probably worse in the first instance. A lot of big players including Ronaldo, Pogba and Cavani will be leaving the club in the next couple of months. We'll also have either Europa League or Europa Conference League fixtures to contend with. The biggest change will of course be the new manager, who will likely want to change our style of play and integrate his own players, which of course takes time.

Fifth or sixth next season, with a top 4 finish in 2023/24, would be my guess.

 

[El Jefe]

Worse. We have too many positions to replace and because of that we will end up keeping some players who should not be here. We should be looking at 23/24 as the year where we look to bounce back.

 

[Member 101269]

Probably worse in the first instance. A lot of big players including Ronaldo, Pogba and Cavani will be leaving the club in the next couple of months. We'll also have either Europa League or Europa Conference League fixtures to contend with. The biggest change will of course be the new manager, who will likely want to change our style of play and integrate his own players, which of course takes time.

Fifth or sixth next season, with a top 4 finish in 2023/24, would be my guess.

The squad will be reset. More importantly, finances will be reset, a new manager will be able to work with RR etc building something. I'm optimistic for next season, in part because wheels seem to be falling falling off others (Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal have no money).

 

[bosnian_red]

Can't see it being worse? A clear out is desperately needed, though of course there is a huge question mark over who the coach will be and who we will sign. We need to get a young and motivated core again though. Its such a poorly balanced squad right now. Next season regroup, rebuild, fight for a cup and 4th place. Just need a positive atmosphere though. There are plenty of useful pieces to build a good team around, we just need to fill the spaces in a way that suits every player we do have.

 

[Sylar]

It might be the same. But we need a lot of good planning for it to get better (it should be better). But for us to get where we want, we need a lot to go into this.

We need a year out of Europe, so we can trim the squad down. Its gonna sound daft but having long runs in cups ultimately not to win it is costly too (early exits are better).

If you look at the club, first we need to get the manager right. And for that, we need somebody to carry on whatever Ralf is trying. If hes trying to make us high pressing, high energy, then fine, and its obviously been a failure with these players, but we need to carry on with those who are at least excelling and replace the rest. (Maybe the Ajax manager is the way to go to continue this)

But given the season is pretty much over, with a slight chance of top 4, we should stop playing people who have been failures or want away, and maybe bring in some youth who will make mistakes but will be looking to impress too.

We then have to look at the squad and see who needs replacing for next season. For me, its a huge huge task unless we get lucky with a batch of three-four youngsters who come in and fill that role meaning less signings needed

We need to get the goalkeeper right first. We need an above average shot stopper, but somebody that can command at the back and give confidence to defenders (as well as good with the feet). Its no co-incidence that both Klopp and Pep replaced the keepers, and then pretty much replaced the replacements to get that position right. Its damn important if you wanna be playing out the back, stop an opposition press, and also sometimes bypass a press.

We need the following positions imo, just for the first team
GK, RB, CB, LB, DM, CM, RW, Striker

We are not signing 8 first teamers and getting all 8 right. We could maybe get 3-4 and then we need to fill the other positions with youth (rotating too so theres no over reliance on youth).
But mostly we need that spine:
GK (who can play with his feet and command a box)
CB (a commanding one)
DM (one who can actually do this role)
Striker (a goal scorer who presses from the front)

Easier said than done obviously. The rest we can use what we have and youth.

But then you look at who we need to get rid of, its a huge list
We need to sell DDG or Henderson (and get rid of Grant? or Heaton)?
We need to sell one or both of Bailly / /Jones
We need to sell one RB and one LB
We need to sell / retire Mata, Matic
We need to sell Lingard, Pogba
We probably need to sell Martial and decide what to do with Rashford.
Cavani and Ronaldo cannot be here next year.
We need to find out whats happening with Mason...

Thats about 10-11 we need gone from the squad / first team on top of my head. And about 8 we need to bring in (and we need to set a style where the players we bring in suit that style)

We cant have a RB that defends but isnt comfortable on the ball, if we are trying to play out the back.
We can have a striker who doesnt run if were trying to press and rush
We cant have midfielders hiding behind opposition.

From our squad you would be happy with
Varane (if he can stay fit), Fred (not as DM), Bruno (if he stops being Mr hollywood), Elanga, Sancho...

Its tough to say who else for the first team?

 

[laughtersassassin]

Worse. Chances are we have a worse squad next season.

 

[Roboc7]

We’re no more than a team that might finish in the top four now, 60-70 points a season give or take. I don’t see that changing anytime soon, our first 11 next season will have at least 8-9 of same players week in week out so I don’t think they’ll be much difference.

It’s going to take years to offload dross in this squad and that’s assuming we’re motivated to get rid.

 

[Luke1995]

Probably worse. If you want to be a top contender for anything in this world, you need to have the best people available for the job.

Unfortunately, in the current market, the best players cost something way beyond what the Glazers are willing to allow.

Plus, we likely won't be able to sell our worst players.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I would be very happy to see young players come in and prove their worth. I just hope we don't fall into the same mistakes by giving them ridiculous contracts at a young age, hyping them up as the next big thing. It ruined Rashford, Martial and surely had some effect on Greenwood (not excusing his actions of course). We need players who want to stay and fight for the badge, not sulking around the pitch.

Players who get rewarded for making the club achieve targets, not one MOTM performance you get a double your money pay rise. There is too much rewarding players for their little targets instead of what they achieve for the team. I think it makes them focus on their own thing instead of being a team player.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Probably worse. If you want to be a top contender for anything in this world, you need to have the best people available for the job.

Unfortunately, in the current market, the best players cost something way beyond what the Glazers are willing to allow.

Plus, we likely won't be able to sell our worst players.

Not sure you need the best players, or what are perceived to be the best players. You need the right coach for this club who can turn players into the best players. All you need is another load of big heads who think they know better than the manager.

 

[kthanksbye]

More of the same, we'll get a new manager who will again not be able to get a tune out of most of the players, the board will not want to sell a lot of players in one window, nor are they going to allow the new manager to buy many players, then there's the fact that we will not have CL football, so a lot of players will not want to come here either, even if they overlook the unstable nature of the club.
We're going to need 3 spotless windows to become a squad that can stay in the top 4, all this is only IF we appoint the right man, which is something I don't trust us to do.
So yeah, things are going to remain the same for most parts, don't give yourselves hope.

 

[OT1214]

Worse in terms of league position. Better in terms of football we play. I hope the new manager, whoever it may be, set us up to play good football. That should be the first and foremost target. And then we climb up the table in the following season.

 

[Steven-UK]

There's a reason United are getting season ticket holders to commit earlier, and earlier every year... They know, as well as we do, that United needs as much as a rebuild and restructure as the NHS - both are money pits, with endless deadwood, and poor decision making.

 

[DRJosh]

It’ll be one or the other for sure.

An Owenesque response

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Unfortunately, in the current market, the best players cost something way beyond what the Glazers are willing to allow.

Yeah I agree with this. Considering how many players we need, I'd take a few risks on 5 or 6 players for the £20-25m mark who could go one way or the other and just hope that 2 or 3 fulfill their potentials.

Easier said than done of course.

 

[Leftback99]

I think it'll get worse without 5/6 new first XI starters which simply isn't going to happen.

 

[Zoo]

It will surely get better because Ed Woodward is no longer around and has been replaced by Arnold who supposedly is quite tough and actually based in Manchester, plus Rangnick will have some influence with his experience behind the scenes. And we’ll actually have a current high level manager rather then an interim who has managed for 2 out of the last 11 years or a former player from Molde.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Yeah I agree with this. Considering how many players we need, I'd take a few risks on 5 or 6 players for the £20-25m mark who could go one way or the other and just hope that 2 or 3 fulfill their potentials.

Easier said than done of course.

Then you have to hope they use Ralf's experience and he has already noticed the next batch of up and coming players. I am sick of overrated, overpaid big heads, with big entourages who cannot keep their cake holes shut.

 

[Ludens the Red]

No.

because we’ve got at least three more poundings to take this season. Liverpool and Arsenal will be messy affairs. And they’ve now put the games three days apart just to torture us some more.

wankers.

 

[crossy1686]

How can it get worse? Something has to give in the summer and whatever it is will be for the best