Hindsight is 20-20: Why Erik ten Hag is not to blame for Man United's current crisis - opinion

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"A special player": Forest boss sings praises of United ace before crucial clash

New Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, has been incredibly complimentary of his compatriot and Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes.

According to The Mirror, the new Forest boss claimed that Fernandes is “a big player, a special player”.

“I don’t want to say too much but he’s definitely one of the best players in the Premier League. He’s so competitive,” the 49 year old said.

The coach waxed lyrical over the player’s desire to win and whilst admitting it is not everything in football, it is “something I think all professionals should have”.

The Portuguese international has been one of, if not the best signing United have made in the post-Ferguson era and had a wonderful first couple of seasons for the club, as he took to English football like a duck to water.

While his statistics are not as impressive as they once were, the 29 year old is still an absolutely integral part of the side. This could be seen in the team’s first goal versus Villa when he won the ball back by pressing high up the pitch and played a great ball into Marcus Rashford, who could square for Alejandro Garnacho to finish.

However, the former Sporting Lisbon player has faced a massive amount of criticism from a variety of pundits about his leadership credentials and his visible complaining on the pitch.

The Peoples Person has recently relayed statistics that show Bruno Fernandes has created 100 chances from open play in the league this calendar year and this is 29 more than Mo Salah in second place.

Espirito Santo admitted that the media is split on the player but he went on to speak of the pride the Portuguese nation has over the midfielder.

“People in Portugal have a lot of respect for him. He plays for the national team, he’s captain of Manchester United and, as Portuguese, we are proud of him,” he said.

“Especially to the young generation, he represents a lot of good. Not only him, but Cristiano (Ronaldo) and all of these players – we’re very proud they’re doing so well around the world.”

The Forest boss was also quick to highlight that the Red Devils are much more than Fernandes and the rest of the team is just as effective. He was also wary of United’s character in their comeback victory over Aston Villa and knows his Forest side will need to be at their best to get a result.

Manchester United fans will certainly be hoping their captain can live up to Espirito Santo’s billing and put in a display to keep his critics quiet, just for a little bit at least.

The post Nuno Espirito Santo calls Bruno Fernandes a “special player” before huge end-of-year match appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

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No returns: Erik ten Hag says tomorrow's squad will be "similar" to the last one

Erik ten Hag says there will not be many additions to his squad ahead of Manchester United’s trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

Asked about players returning from injury, the boss said “It will be a similar squad as we had against Aston Villa.

“Mid-January we expect many players back. Mason [Mount], Casemiro, Martinez, Malacia, so we expect Harry Maguire, of course. We expect many players to return in January.”

The manager was attending the pre-match press conference ahead of the game and was asked if he had spoken to the INEOS team who will take control of football business at United following Sir Jin Ratcliffe’s 25% investment in the club.

“I didn’t have the time to speak with them but it will come & I look forward (to it). They want to work with me, I want to work with them. We’ll have conversations, meetings, so we will see.”

Asked if he expects them to be regulars at United’s training complex at Carrington, he replied:

“I’m focused on the game so far, so I said no, in this moment I don’t want to have distractions but in the coming days, weeks, there will be time for this, and then I’ll know more.”

The manager was pressed on whether the change in structure will motivate his team.

“We always want to win, it doesn’t matter who is the leader. We are appointed here in this area, we need a winning culture no matter who is in the lead, no matter who is the owner. But, of course, owners can inspire you.”

Ten Hag was also asked whether Andre Onana would be allowed to join up late with the Cameroon squad for AFCON in order to play against Wigan in the FA Cup.

“We’re talking, we have good relationships with all the federations,” he responded. “It’s also about Sofyan (Amrabat) and Hannibal.” It is interesting to note that he did not mention Amad Diallo, who is expected to be named in the Ivory Coast squad.

United’s match against the in-form Forest kicks off at 5.30pm tomorrow.

The post Erik ten Hag says the squad for Nottingham Forest will be “similar” to the last one appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

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"He can leave Man United": Fabrizio Romano gives update on exciting youngster

It’s that time of the year when teams with African players start sweating about losing their marquee talents to the national team.

The African Cup of Nations begins January 11th and Manchester United have a few cases of their own whose future is becoming clearer.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Hannibal Mejbri will not be going to the AFCON with Tunisia.

It is because the club is in the process of sorting out a loan move for the player and all interested parties want him to be available for the January/February period.

The three clubs mentioned are Olympique Lyon, Sevilla, and Freiburg from France, Spain, and Germany respectively.

EXCL: Hannibal Mejbri, not going to AFCON as he can leave Man Utd to go on loan in January.

Understand 3 clubs want to sign him — they all want him available in Jan/Feb.

Sevilla
Olympique Lyon
Freiburg

…meanwhile, talks to extend his #MUFC deal are underway. pic.twitter.com/ZQ8wKbwxNe

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 28, 2023

Mejbri is expected to sign a contract extension before leaving, indicating that United see a future for him at the club.

Therefore, a loan move makes sense, since United are already out of two competitions so the fixture list isn’t going to be as daunting.

Furthermore, in Casemiro, Mason Mount, and Sofyan Amrabat, the numbers in midfield are about to be beefed up so the opportunities for youngsters will dry up.

After spending last season on loan in the Championship, it is a mark of the midfielder’s growth that first-division clubs in three different countries are taking an interest in his services.

With Casemiro’s advancing age, Amrabat’s loan unlikely to be made permanent, and Scott McTominay’s future in perennial doubt, a window could open for the Tunisian next season.

United would undoubtedly appreciate his commitment to making it at United by withdrawing from the Tunisian national team.

Now it is up to the player to impress at his loan club, whichever it might be, till the end of the season so he can return in the summer as a legitimate midfield option at the club.

The post Hannibal Mejbri not going to AFCON due to impending loan move with three clubs interested appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

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"The common denominator": Shearer has no doubt who is to blame for United's problems

BBC sports pundit, Alan Shearer, has claimed that the vast majority of Manchester United’s problems stem from the ownership of the Glazer family.

Writing in The Athletic, the Newcastle legend claims that a football club is just like any other business and “what happens at the top of the organisation filters down to the shop floor”.

The all-time leading Premier League goal scorer stated that “uncertainty has taken root, on and off the pitch” and “ultimately, players want to run onto the pitch with their minds clear and from the outside looking in, fogginess has been ingrained for a very long time” at the Old Trafford side.

Shearer states that players “loathe” uncertainty, and while it remains to be seen what control INEOS will have at the club whilst the Glazers are still there, it is a step in the right direction. He claimed that players “sitting in the dressing room before a match, you want to know exactly what your role is and feel confident in your ability to fulfil it. You want to look around and know the players sitting near you all feel the same”.

“The common denominator” to foster such a culture is clearly the owner, according to the former England international.

“When that vibe is persistently gloomy or divisive, it seeps into your bones”.

Shearer claims that if owners give players the best of everything, it is much more difficult for them to “shy away from responsibility”. This is something numerous United teams have been guilty of over the years as they have thrown successive managers under the bus.

The Newcastle legend tells a story about his former coach, the late-great Sir Bobby Robson who once told his side, “If I give you my wrist, you’ll take my arm, if I give you my arm, you’ll take my shoulder”. For too long this culture has thrived at Old Trafford.

Shearer draws a comparison to his own spells at Newcastle United and Blackburn. He claims to have had a “brilliant owner” in Jack Walker at Blackburn and it was “similar” at St James’ Park under Sir John Hall, Douglas Hall and Freddy Shepherd. However, the player also had some experience of the toxicity he claims exists at United under the Floridian family.

Describing when he returned to Newcastle as caretaker manager in 2009 he stated, “it was toxic, a total shambles and relegation was staring us in the face. Negativity was tangible; you could smell it and feel it, players had been bombarded with different ideas and their heads were swimming and discipline had frayed. The tone was dictated by Ashley’s appointments and decisions”.

Shearer finally backs up his point on the ownership by taking swipe at the transfer policy that saw the club spend so much on a player like Antony and the mishandling of the Mason Greenwood situation demonstrate a “lack of clarity and leadership (that) eats away at the fabric of a place”.

United fans will be hoping that the news of INEOS’ investment and the fact the chemicals company is already involved in transfer and managerial decisions points to the fact that, at last, there is a genuine change in direction.

The post Alan Shearer clear on who is to blame for current malaise at Manchester United appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

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Ten Hag may need to reassess his transfer strategy given this incredible stat from Aston Villa win - opinion

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"Do not expect...": Sir Jim Ratcliffe has decided his transfer strategy at United - report

There is euphoria around Manchester United after boyhood fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in the club was confirmed.

The INEOS chief penned a heartfelt statement upon completion and with him taking control of sporting matters completely, there is hope again at Old Trafford.

However, fans might have to temper expectations a bit, if recent reports are to be believed.

The Telegraph reports that INEOS has learned from its past transfer mistakes at other clubs and “huge transfer splurges” should not be expected at United.

It is a pertinent point, considering the aimlessness with which they approached their first few months at Switzerland’s FC Lausanne Sport and France’s OGC Nice.

Particularly at Nice, it looked like the transfer team mainly relied on contacts back in England to sign players whose peak was behind them.

Players like Kasper Schmeichel and Aaron Ramsey were purchases which prompted fans of the club to roll their eyes at the transfer strategy.

However, since those gaffes, INEOS has learned its lesson, with a proper sporting structure created at the club, headed by one of football’s highest-rated upcoming directors, Florent Ghisolfi.

As a result, after some initial discontent among Nice fans, the pivot is now paying off as the club sits second in the table, just five points behind giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Therefore, while the report that INEOS won’t make huge transfer splurges might not be received well at first glance, it could be exactly what United need.

After blowing through a billion pounds in a decade with scattergun recruitment, perhaps a measured policy of shrewd transfers is exactly what the club needs.

Ed Woodward once deemed Old Trafford as an “adult version of Disneyland”. It’s about time Manchester United got back to being a football club.

The post Manchester United under INEOS will pivot to a new transfer strategy appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

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