HE Is Our Curse! Not The Glazers... (Man Utd Hot Takes)

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]Welcome back to Man United Hot Takes, the weekly show where you guys send in your best current Man United hot takes and I react to them.

[00:00:09]Episode five. This week we are smashing these videos out. Look, before we get started, smash that like button right now. Do it now. It takes 2 seconds. It's completely free, unlike the making of these bloody videos. And it does go a really, really, really long way in pushing these vids out to more Man United fans. So, if you enjoy the hot takes videos, tell YouTube you enjoy the videos by clicking that like button and getting involved in the comment section.

[00:00:32]React to these hot takes. Let me know what you think and let's talk about it.

[00:00:36]Without further ado, let's get into the hottake. Theo gets us rolling with hot take. If we won the Europa League final, we would be 18th in the league right now. Theo Theo. Theo. This is Man United hot takes, not Spurs cold takes. Yeah.

[00:00:57]What you're essentially saying here, Theo, is if Man United won the Europa League final in Bil Bao, we would be in the same position as Spurs right now.

[00:01:05]No, we wouldn't. We We just wouldn't.

[00:01:08]Spurs did not make a single summer signing of the quality of Man United summer signings and we didn't have any European football whatsoever. They are not us. We are completely different clubs and that is why that Europa League final defeat was so bad. And realistically, if we're in the Champions League this season, we get the revenue, we get the pull factor. We probably would have signed a top class midfielder as well. We might have even be higher than third if that was the case. So, what stupid start to the video, Theo, do better. Good hot take though. I like it.

[00:01:37]Ivan 87 says, "Every fan should expect a drop off in form next season with us getting Europe again because I don't really think we have a team with enough depth for European football." Again, what is this narrative about Man United being in European football, being in the Champions League, so that automatically means that we're going to have a worse season than this one? It makes no sense to me at all. Like, don't get me wrong, yes, Man United must get this summer right, and we must have a squad next season that is going to be able to cope with the demands of a much longer and much busier season than this one. I'm with you there. But don't you just think it's a really sad sign of how us Man United fans have been programmed to think since Alex Ferguson when we're not expecting Man United to challenge for the Premier League every season. We're not even expecting Man United to be in the Champions League every season and to be able to cope with it. If Man United sign the three midfielders that we desperately need, if we get some experienced competition for Benjamin Cesco, maybe another profile at left wing and some defensive reinforcements in the form of maybe a left back or a center back, we're going to be fine.

[00:02:37]Now, I do appreciate having said that out loud. That is a very big summer and maybe we might not be capable of that, especially in a World Cup year. But if Man United are genuinely targeting a Premier League title by 2028, that is the internal target. How realistic that is, I'm not so sure, but that is what they're aiming for. They're going to have to act like it and they're going to have to move big in this summer transfer window. Make use of that Champions League status. Irish Dtos Legend of the Discord server, Irish Dtos. If you want to get in the Discord, I'll leave a link in the description. That is the only place you can submit your Man United hottakes for each episode. So, get in the Discord in the description. It's a good time in there. It's just a lot of Man United chat, a lot of random rubbish, but it's good. [laughter] Join if you want. It's absolutely free and it's worth it. If you enjoy these videos and you want to submit your own hot takes, get involved. Anyway, Irish Dto says, "Manchester United's biggest problem isn't the manager, the owners, or even recruitment. It's that the club is still emotionally living in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and it's holding us back."

[00:03:40]I disagree. I think Man United's high standards are definitely driven by the Sorax Ferguson era. Of course, they are.

[00:03:48]But so much time has passed now, I don't think that can be blamed anymore at all.

[00:03:53]To be honest, I would probably argue the fact that the Glazer family are owners have cost Man United over1 billion pounds in dividends and debt since that dodgy takeover in 2005 and their refusal to put a single of penny of their own money into the club is a far bigger problem than Sir Alex Ferguson, Mr. Dtos. I would also argue in terms of the recruitment that the same owner's reluctance to put football people in charge of football decisions, say between 2013 when David Gil left with Fergie and 2024 when Inos arrived, that reluctance leading to bankers like Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold making the football decisions leading recruitment.

[00:04:34]That was just as damaging as the financial turmoil the Glazes have put us in. In the grand scheme of things, we can't over complicate it, right? Good football teams are good when they have class players on the pitch. Players worth the money that clubs have paid for them. That is a fact. The amount of money Man United have spent on utter utter dross in the last decade. That is the direct reason for Man United's downfall. And you could say yes, there was always going to be a downfall after Sir Alex Ferguson because of those expectations. Even Alex Ferguson himself, did he leave Man United in the best state with that team in 2012 13?

[00:05:11]That team had no right to win the Premier League t that season, but it did cuz Fergie was Fergie. That gave us a false sense of hope. Go into the next season. Then what do we do? We signed Fellaini and that's it. And that is where the downfall starts. Without question, the biggest problem has been the recruitment and the Glazer family for allowing the club to get into the position that we had done. But under Inos, I think we can be encouraged about the direction we're going in in terms of recruitment. Oliver says, "Hot take Inoss are incredibly overhated and have actually done a good job so far." Ah, what a coincidence. A perfect segue into Inos. It's almost as if someone purposely orders these hot takes in a certain way. I completely agree, Oliver.

[00:05:54]I really do. Now, don't get me wrong.

[00:05:56]They've made some very expensive mistakes. I mean, the whole Dan Ash of saga was a complete joke, wasn't it? The decision to give Eric Tan a new contract and back him with millions more pounds in another summer transfer window after fully planning on sacking him before that 2024 FA Cup final only to then go and sack him a few months later. An utter mess. Ruben Amarim was quite obviously the wrong head coach appointment. I can't believe how bad that actually went. And he wasn't even one of the main candidates when they were going to sack Eric Tanag. And obviously all this was happening at the same time of mass redundancies at Man United, the removal of staff perks, all sorts. But they deserve some credit as well, and I'm optimistic about the direction we're going in. The recruitment has been largely great compared to what we've been used to in the last decade. I mean, a couple of stinkers, fair enough. Joshua Xerxy made no real sense. Manuel Agatt has been a disaster realistically, but if you think about all the hits, Brian Bumo, Matteas Kuna, Senny Lmens, Patrick Doru, all hits in my books. I mean, getting Aiden Heaven from Arsenal for 1 million pounds is a ridiculous bit of business. And I complained previously about the Glazers putting people like Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold in charge of football decisions. Listen, Sergeon Ratcliffe is a very easy man to dislike, but he has done the complete opposite. While he ultimately sanctions the decisions, he has put football people in charge.

[00:07:19]Whether they're fit for purpose or not, that's another story. But Jason Wilcox, Omar Vada, Chris Vll, they are the decision makers. So Sergeon Ratcliffe deserves credit for that, too. On top of obviously investing 50 million pounds of his own money to revamp Man United's training facility. The Glazers, the owners of the club, put no money into that. That was all Sergeon Ratcliffe as part of his investment in the club.

[00:07:43]again he deserves to be praised for that whatever you think about him and you can't obviously forget that Inosios and Sergeon Rackley are pushing the new stadium as well obviously a lot of people want to stay at Old Trafford myself included I think but it's ambitious they want what's best for the club they want Man United to be performing on the pitch it's it's it's something to be excited about it's something to be optimistic about Apollo T74 says if United don't give Carrick the job it will be a massive mistake and just delay progress by making the players learn another new system I'm so torn over the manager situation.

[00:08:15]Honestly, I have no idea what would be best for United. And unless this new permanent head coach performs a miracle and challenges for a title or something next season, I think United are fighting a lose-lose battle here. Cuz think about it, if they stick with Michael Carrick and he can't sustain this win rate, this standard that he has set during this interim spell, which let's be honest, he definitely wouldn't over a full season.

[00:08:39]I mean, ninemans out of 13, what is that across 38 games? That is Premier League title territory. That's not going to happen next season. All the talk would be if Michael Carrick doesn't do that. I can't believe Man United stuck with Carrick and they didn't get a a proven manager with an elite track record cuz that would happen, wouldn't it? But if Man United take a risk and say to Carrick, "Listen, you've done a fantastic job for us, but this was the role. We're going to give the permanent job to someone else." or say I don't know and Iola and another external man comes in, struggles to make an impact, loses a lot of games, doesn't get Champions League football, the narrative will be Man United have made a massive mistake. How did they not give Michael Carrick the full-time job? So, it's a double-edged sword. I don't think Man United can win unless next season is unbelievable. But for what it's worth, I think Man United will go for Michael Carrick, not just because the results under him in this interim spell, but it's just the safer bet. And I think if we beat Liverpool this weekend to guarantee that Champions League place, the mood will be at an all-time high. I would not be surprised if Man United announced Michael Carrick next week if that was the case. They can fully press on with summer plans. Morad says, "We won't win a single trophy as long as Carrick is our head coach." And there's the other side of the argument. Yeah, I mean, I do feel like this is the massive elephant in the room whenever Michael Carrick is on the agenda. He's come in, he's rallied the players, he's rallied the fans, he's steadied the ship, he's got some amazing results, and he probably isn't even playing the football that he wants to play at Man United because he has needed to get results as soon as possible and he's done that. But it goes without saying that the interim job is so so different to the permanent job. And that is the big question. When Michael Carrick does have the responsibility and the pressure to implement his own style of play, to buy his own players, play a huge part in recruitment, does he have the credentials to make Man United Premier League champions again, to make Man United European champions again? I cannot say that with 100% certainty and I don't think anyone can. You even have former teammates of Michael Carrick like Gary Neville the other day. I mean, Gary Neville supported Ole Gunnar Solskja through absolutely everything when he was struggling as Man United manager, but the other day Gary Neville essentially came out and said to Michael Carrick like, "You should probably step aside at the end of the season." He said something like, "I thought about this the other night. It it would be such a great thing for Michael Carrick to do to step aside at the end of the season and give the job to someone else." That is Gary Neville saying that he doesn't back Michael Carrick at all. So, it is a really tricky situation, isn't it? But if it is Michael Carrick, I'm going to back him all the way. Theo says, "Hot take. If Ruben Amry never left the club, we would still be in a Champions League spot anyway." Oh, here we go. Theo's back, everyone.

[00:11:26]Woo! And now it is time for me to put you down, Theo, once and for all, you little Listen, Man United were sixth when Ruben Amry was sacked. We were what, three points off Liverpool in fourth. We were on the same points as Chelsea in fifth. like we were in a good position, but we were also 11 points behind Aston Villa. There has been an 11 point swing since Michael Carrick took charge. And not just that, Man United, when Ruben Aram did leave, we were sixth. We were only four points above 14th.

[00:11:59]A few bad results, a few more bad results, we could have been in the bottom half again. It wasn't like Man United were sixth and were well on course for European football. It wasn't like that at all. And if you look back at the results near the end of Ruben Amram's tenure and the way we were playing, I mean, we couldn't beat Wolves at Old Trafford. Ruben Amarim, he he ditched the 343 system. We got that win against Newcastle. Then Wolves came to Old Trafford and he switched back to the 343 to try and limit Wolves. Bottom of the table Wolves with not a single win.

[00:12:28]That is fatal for a Man United manager.

[00:12:30]So we didn't beat Wolves. West Ham came to Old Trafford. They were in the pits as well at that time. I mean, they still are, but they were really in the pits at that point. We couldn't beat them either. I mean, Amarim won back-to-back Premier League games once as Man United manager in a year. Once. It was horrendous. And I can't believe anyone would be trying to rewrite history on this. Pigaruma says, "If we never sold Ganacho, we would win the league."

[00:12:56]Yes, we really miss Alejandro Ganacho's 17 Premier League goals in 116 appearances.

[00:13:08]We're fine, aren't we? I think Jaw Mander says [laughter] Joe Mander says Harry Maguire is the best center back in our squad. You know what? I'm with you there. Now, listen.

[00:13:21]Now, I think if everyone was fit, I'd probably go Lzandre Martinez or Matias Dit to be honest, but they're not fit and they can't stay fit. The way Harry Magguire has come back into the Man United team under Michael Carrick with his leadership and his ability to play out from the back in terms of ball carrying, in terms of passing, his ability in both boxes, his box defending in United's box, his setpiece threat in the other box. I genuinely believe Harry Magguire in terms of both boxes, one of the best center backs in Europe. Harry Magguire has been a a driving force behind Man United's Champions League push. If I was to rank Man United center backs right now, it would probably be Harry Maguire first, Landre Martinez, Matias Delet, Aiden Heaven, and then Lenny Yuro. Let me know your ranking in the comments. Dictator says Luke Schaw and Diego Delos slow the team down and have no line breaking passes. No crossing. They should be gone. From the defensive glue to the defensive poo.

[00:14:19]What the Jesus Christ. Luke Shaw definitely deserves some credit. I mean, he has started every single one of Man United's 34 Premier League games this season. Not one person can say they predicted that at the start of the season. So, he deserves credit for that.

[00:14:33]And you can see he still has some top qualities. But you can also see that Luke Shaw has sacrificed some parts of his game in order to stay fit. And I think when you're approaching a season that you're going to have two games a week again, that is a major problem.

[00:14:47]He's nowhere near as quick and explosive and tenacious as he used to be. He rarely contributes to attacks as well.

[00:14:56]That is a big problem for United. And in terms of Diego Dalow, he actually for the most part has been quite good under Michael Carrick, but it's just the consistency. You never know which Dodo you're going to get. And that is also a problem if Man United are going to win a Premier League title again. I mean, let's put it this way. When Man United win a title once more, number 21, I don't think either of Luke Shaw or Dioadaloo are going to be starting for the team. There we have it. Wayne says, "Kuna is our best signing since Bruno Fernandez. I like Matteas Kuna a lot and I think he has had overall a good first season at Man United and you could tell before Matteas Kuna arrived, you could just tell he epitomized what a Man United player should be. But let me raise three options that I think are probably better right now. Casemiro ranks higher than Matias Kuna right now for me. I mean, forgetting the amount we paid Real Madrid for a 30year-old or 31y old, forgetting how much we're paying Casemiro as well, for the vast majority of his time at United, he has been pure class. But if you want to talk value, I keep on saying it, but I'll say it again. Aiden Heaven for1 million pounds from Arsenal is going to go down as one of the greatest bargains in Premier League history. I really do believe that there are still some raw qualities about his game. He's a bit rash in the tackle positioning wise maybe that needs a bit of work as well. But his physicality, his calmness on the ball, his dominance in the air, I mean United have such a gem there in Aiden Heaven. Senny Lmens is 100% up there as well. I mean, I was excited for him to arrive cuz that position was something United needed to address. I He surpassed all expectations, though. He has been so much better than I thought he was going to be. For just £18 million, United look to have signed a goalkeeper who not only supports Man United and has done his whole life, but a goalkeeper who has the potential to be one of the Premier League's best for the next decade.

[00:16:58]Really exciting. Morad is back. Ahmad's form is horrible, but and Bumo's has been worse. Ahmad should start at right wing, he says with an Ahmad profile picture. Yeah, Ahmad just looks shot of confidence right now, doesn't he? I mean, you that huge chance he missed in like the second minute against Brenford after that ridiculous run from Kobe Mayu. You could just see it in his face like it was a look of like I cannot do anything right at the moment, can I? I mean, that Kobe Manu run that deserved an assist so much. I don't know how Ahmad does not find the net. But you are absolutely right because Brian and Bumo has not been good at all either since AFCON realistically. I mean one goal in his last 11 appearances that is nowhere near the standard we expected of him and the standard we were getting from him before AFCON. But then again, even before AFCON, I mean, while Ahmad is probably a more rounded footballer, then Brian Bumo in terms of getting involved in play, Brian Bumo sort of that coldblooded killer who's just going to get you goals relentlessly. Even if Abumo played badim games before RFCON, he was still chipping in with the odd goal, the odd assist, and that is just it like Brian Bumo could still finish this season as Man United's top goal scorer. And for that reason against Liverpool, if Matteas Kuna is back on the left, Brian Bumo should start over Ahmad on the right. I mean his record in big games has been amazing this season.

[00:18:21]I mean scored against Liverpool at Anfield in that win, scored against Spurs in home and away games, scored against Arsenal, scored against Man City and at this stage where results are everything, especially in a game against Liverpool where you know moments matter.

[00:18:36]Even though Ahmad in recent years has one of the best moments against Liverpool, that winner in the FA Cup quarterfinal, I would just rather a big chance fall to Brian and Bumo right now than Ahmad, but it both need to improve next season 100%. We're on to the last few now. Brooks says, "We should have kept Anthony Martial and made him the experienced striker to help younger strikers."

[00:18:58]Oh, sorry. Whoa, you don't come across a member of Martial FC still flying that flag very often these days. Hey, credit to you, sir. I do miss Martial and I missed some of the goals that he scored at Man United. However, I was also very content with him leaving at the time that he left. It was the right time. I mean, the injury problems just continued cropping up and in his last season at United, including his loan spell at Sevilla in the second half of the campaign, he scored two goals. Let's be real here. United were right to let Martial go when they did. I mean, first of all, he down tools at the end of his United career. Like, he knew United weren't going to extend his contract. He did not give 100% in his last season or two. But also, you can't really help young players when you're spending more time in rehab than you are on the training pitch, so it was the right decision. As good as Martial could have been at United and was at certain points, that was the right time. Oliver at the double today. Love it. He says, "Benjamin Cesco has been the best striker signing out of all the big money striker signings this season. Are we all in agreement that Benjamin Cesco has had a good first season at Man United?"

[00:20:02]Surely we are. in a 40game campaign, 10 Premier League goals, 11 goals in all competitions from a 22year-old striker coming to the Premier League from overseas to a team massively in transition. And you've got to remember 40ame season, he has not started a lot of those games, but he's still been scoring off the bench. I'm really encouraged by Benjamin Cesco. But if you look at the striker signings last summer, and there were a lot in the Premier League, I presume that's what you mean by this question. You can't go through the whole of Europe. Um, it's probably a stretch to say Cesco has been the best. I mean, I've got them here.

[00:20:38]Some of the names you've got Nick Volultardada, Liam Dilap, Hugo Eat, Alexander Each, Victor Yarez, Jao Pedro.

[00:20:48]I'm probably forgetting some as well.

[00:20:50]Out of those, if I have my football hat on rather than my United hat, I would probably say Jao Pedro has been the best by quite a significant margin. Hugo Eat, Victor Yakarez probably slightly above Benjamin Cesco as well if I'm being deadly honest. Just slightly though.

[00:21:11]Slightly. But Benjamin Cesco is no lower than fourth on that list, which is great to see. And I'm so confident he's going to be even better next season when the team is better hopefully when he's getting more service, when it's more suited to him, and when we're back in European football, which should suit him massively as well. We're only going to see a better Benjamin Cesco. I'm loving this signing. And that is a wrap on episode 5 of Man United hottakes. Again, if you're still here, you've obviously enjoyed the video. Like the video, please. You have to tell YouTube you've enjoyed it so it pushes it out to more Man United fans and you get to see more of these videos from me. Get your thoughts in the comments and also join the discord. If you want to be involved in the next episode of Man United hottakes, join the Discord now. It's in the description and when I ask for submissions next week, you can submit yours in the hottakes channel. Thank you very much for watching. IT Turk. This has been Turk Talks FC. Subscribe if you're new for Delhi United content and I will see you in the next one. Bye-bye.