News: The 2025/26 Season (P)Review Thread [R]

That's a relatively balanced schedule for us I reckon, especially with no Europe. Only a couple of tricky back to back weeks in September and again January.

Obviously if we play like last year, every game is a nightmare, so hard to judge entirely...lol.

We need a minimum of 13 points from August and September though, otherwise pressure will be on Ruben massively. That's a tricky ask.

 

We are apparently top of the table for toughest start based on first five games from opta stats or some such.

However remember our "easy start" to 2022 when we lost to both Brighton then Brentford our first two games.

So people will be able to see this through any particular lens tbh.

The pressure will be on Amorim regardless the oppo and circumstances.

Might as well look at this positively - our players tend to focus better against better oppo. If we don't get points against Arse / City / Chelsea and shortly after that Liverpool, then at least they were games we were likely to drop points anyway.

Biggest hope for the season is that we are more watchable assuming we follow through on getting some forwards.

Disappointment I can handle, boredom I can't

 

The tough start doesn't bother me.

1. Much of what JamesA said, we're terrible. Every game is tough for us!

2. We had a free hit last year. Get it done.

 

So, thoughts on score?

3-2 loss.

 

So we are playing a Leeds team who are in blue and we are in white ....

All the MUTV presenters wearing the white kit too. It is a good looking kit tho tbf.

Playing Leeds in an all white kit ... sign of the times

 

Don't think it really matters early preseason tbh.

Given the players we have lost to long term injuries in pre-season recently (Yoro, Hojlund, Mainoo etc.) then having no injuries is most important to me.

Also looks to be the usual team selection in early pre-season of a mix of first teamers and youth each half, so don't expect anyone to play that long.

So hard to care much about the actual scoreline this early in preseason.

Would be nice to see some decent understanding of shape and would be good if we see some signs of players showing some form.

 

Nothing burger of a first half, unsurprisingly very much like watching us last year - defensively okish and offensively nothing.

- Bruno playing as an #8 (ie one of pivots) and all the issues with wandering we know that brings
- Leon looked all at sea for half an hour, done by simple one-twos and often out of position
- Collyer started much of the game at RWF with predictable results, him and Amad (who was RWB switched later)
- Shaw looked rusty
- Cunha did some bits and actually went past people, but then so did Garna last year and without a proper striker or runners from midfield it won't amount to much
- if we play a midfield of Casemiro / Bruno for much of next season it will not be good ...

 

0-0

Mostly a nothing 2nd half with a different team and some further late subs for more youngsters.

Basically same as watching us last season, which not surprising give we are up Cunha but down Garnacho & Malacia with Antony / Rashford / Sancho remaining unavailable.

Mbeumo will help but things probably wont change substantially until we do some more business with outs and ins.

Rashford probably won't help in that regard as supposedly not even any loan fee, they are basically just covering his wages apparently.

 

There were highlights to see?...

 

Pre Season Schedule

I get the gentle start of mixing up the squad and having two separate teams each half initially, however would like to see us start with the first 11 in at least the last two or three (obvs many subs later) so the players get used to each other prior to the Arsenal game in under 4 weeks.

Code:

+------------+---------------+-----------------+-------------+-------------+
| Date       | Opponent      | Location        | Kick-off BST| Kick-off EDT|
+------------+---------------+-----------------+-------------+-------------+
| 19 Jul 25  | Leeds United  | Stockholm       | 14:00       | 09:00       |
| 27 Jul 25  | West Ham Utd  | New Jersey, USA | 00:00       | 19:00 (26)  |
| 31 Jul 25  | Bournemouth   | Chicago, USA    | 02:30       | 21:30 (30)  |
| 03 Aug 25  | Everton       | Atlanta, USA    | 22:00       | 17:00       |
| 09 Aug 25  | Fiorentina    | Manchester      | 12:45       | 07:45       |
+------------+---------------+-----------------+-------------+-------------+

 

Surely we're not lucky enough that the "issues" are he's finally been sold...

 

Posting this here as I don't think we have a thread yet for him:

https://www.skysports.com/football/...wn-barcelona-offer-after-old-trafford-next-up

In a further nod to United's storied past, Ayden chose to have the No 26 on the back of his shirt - the same number of years Sir Alex Ferguson spent as manager. Ayden was leaving an established title-challenger in Arsenal for the lure of recreating history at United.
​

Both he and his mom/agent sound like they are solidly grounded - have really high hopes for him

 

What channel are the preseason games available on?

 

FUBO in Canada