Manchester United FC – CaughtOffside

British Airways pilots will play a role in fixing major Premier League issue this season

Darren Looney — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:37:10 +0000

British Airways pilots are currently playing a role in the Premier League as they help referees hone the art of communicating under pressure during matches.

The officials in England’s top flight have come under intense scrutiny this season as there have been several high-profile mistakes that have infuriated clubs and their fans.

The incident that infuriated most people was Luiz Diaz’s disallowed goal for Liverpool against Tottenham in September, where the winger scored a perfectly good goal but it was chalked off as the officials couldn’t communicate effectively.

According to The Times, the Premier League have brought in British Airways pilots to help their officials hone the art of communicating under pressure.

? Premier League referees are being helped by British Airways pilots to hone the art of communicating under pressure. ????

(Source: @TimesSport) pic.twitter.com/1snlKz3SJw

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) November 23, 2023

Man United scouting 23-year-old with Barcelona past ahead of transfer window

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:53:28 +0000

How Man United fare in the upcoming January transfer window is likely to set the tone for the second half of what’s been a disappointing 2023/24 campaign so far.

Erik ten Hag’s side have flattered to deceive for the most part, but with a strong January can still end up finishing the season smelling of roses.

That will almost certainly be the Dutchman’s focus, particularly with all of the expected change going on behind the scenes.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival could well see a shake up in the first-team squad, and one of the first deals that he could be likely to authorise will see a player move from one of his teams to another.

According to The Sun, Nice’s 23-year-old defensive star, Jean-Clair Todibo, is top of the list as far as defensive replacements at Old Trafford are concerned.

Things didn’t quite work out for Todibo when he was at Barcelona, however, he’s one of the rocks in the Nice defence that have ensured the team are just a point behind Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue Un table.

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To that end, a mid-season switch for the player isn’t likely to go down well amongst the Nice faithful, but modern football being what it is means that such a switch could be the first of many for Ratcliffe’s multi-club ownership model.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe targeting former Liverpool man key to Jurgen Klopp’s success at Anfield

Darren Looney — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:07:19 +0000

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is eager to get through the door at Old Trafford so he can start work on turning the fortunes of the Manchester club around and the INEOS CEO is targeting a former Liverpool man for a vital role.

The British businessman would have hoped to have had his deal for 25 per cent of Man United done by now but things are still rumbling on regarding the takeover.

The Glazer family and Ratcliffe are still discussing the legal points of the ownership structure as the deal has been described by those involved as one of the most complicated in the long recent list of football takeovers, due to the distinctive condition of the minority owner taking full control of the sporting side of the club, reports The Independent.

When in charge of the sporting aspect of the Premier League giants, Ratcliffe will likely make changes and the British businessman is targeting a former Liverpool man to bring to Old Trafford for one of the biggest jobs at the football club.

Ratcliffe eager to start at Man United

£60m-rated 23-year-old set to spark bidding war between Arsenal and Man United

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 07:53:13 +0000

At present, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side look in healthier shape than Erik ten Hag’s Man United outfit, however, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe expected to be taking over the sporting side of the business imminently, that gap could soon be narrowed.

One of the main areas where the Red Devils need a change is in their recruitment policy for playing staff.

Though the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane are serial Champions League winners, they are also the two top earners at the club despite being nearer the end of their careers than the beginning.

Capology note that the Brazilian earns a whopping £350,000 per week, with Frenchman, Varane, not too far behind on £340,000 per week.

If the club are able to rid themselves of that extensive salary burden, it will allow them to compete with the Gunners for £60m-rated Wolves ace, Pedro Neto.

According to TeamTalk, both Premier League clubs as well as their Saudi Pro League counterparts are interested in the player, however, the outlet also note that Wolves won’t let him leave for less than £60m.

Whilst that is a considerable outlay for any club, given that the player is only 23 years of age and playing as well as he has at any point during his career to date, it could prove to be a bargain in the longer-term, particularly as transfer fees continue to rise.

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Newcastle plotting January move for €60m-rated Liverpool, Manchester United target

Saikat Chatterjee — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:48:38 +0000

Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League.

A report from Mais Futebol claims that Newcastle United have been tracking the player since last season, and they are now looking to make a move for him during the January transfer window.

Sporting CP will not negotiate his departure midway through the season and therefore Newcastle will have to trigger his €60 million release clause in order to sign the player. The 22-year-old Portuguese international has shown his quality for club and country and he has the attributes to develop into a world-class defender.

Newcastle could certainly use defensive reinforcements and Inacio would be a quality long-term investment for them. The 22-year-old could be the ideal, long-term partner for Sven Botman at the heart of the defence.

Meanwhile, a report from Correio Da Manha (h/t SportWitness) claims that Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in the player as well.

Goncalo Inacio to Newcastle, Liverpool or Manchester United?

Man United prepared to let high-profile ace leave in January but want £50m

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:45:40 +0000

The January transfer window could be a busy time for Man United, regardless of whether results have picked up by then or not.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s imminent arrival is expected to herald the start of a new era at the club, and this new broom will be sweeping clean with almost immediate effect.

It’s clear that things on the pitch can’t stay the way they have been for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign for the Red Devils.

If the club genuinely want to be challenging for domestic honours at the end of the campaign, then the building blocks put in place now will help them to achieve that aim.

What that looks like will only be determined over the next few months, however, it’s clear that there needs to be a reshuffle in terms of the squad and in order to make way for new faces, some of the old guard must be dispensed with.

To that end, TeamTalk are reporting that the club are ready to cut their losses on midfield giant, Casemiro, and have placed a £50m price on his head.

Whilst that may seem excessive for a 31-year-old that’s seriously out of form, he does still have two and a half years left on his current deal at Old Trafford.

With Saudi clubs apparently interested, it could provide the perfect scenario for the Brazilian to finish his career.

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Newcastle could head off Liverpool and Man United interest in €60m ace

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 23:01:05 +0000

The rise of Newcastle United under the ownership of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the management of Eddie Howe can most notably be seen by the fact that the Magpies are now on a level playing field with any other club regarding transfers.

When European football’s hottest properties become available Newcastle are one of the teams in the conversation, and that’s something unlikely to have been the case even as recently as a couple of years ago.

According to Mais Futebol, the Magpies are now looking at the possibility of paying Goncalo Inacio’s €60m release clause in the upcoming transfer window.

The 22-year-old Sporting centre-back has also been linked to Man United and Liverpool, per The Hard Tackle.

Goncalo Inacio celebrates scoring against Arsenal

It’s obvious why all three Premier League outfits would be keen to acquire the Portuguese international.

Man United would appear to have question marks over the futures of both Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane, Liverpool wouldn’t be averse to having another high-quality exponent to play alongside Virgil van Dijk and Newcastle’s defensive injury woes are getting worse by the week.

Sporting aren’t likely to be too enamoured at potentially losing one of their best players, however, if any team meets the release clause, there’s little they can do.

It would then be purely down to the players own wishes as to where he wishes to further his career.

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Man United fans will be concerned by latest David Ornstein update

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:25:20 +0000

Thanksgiving weekend means that another week has passed where Sir Jim Ratcliffe hasn’t been able to take his place at Man United’s top table.

It’s unlikely to come as any surprise to supporters of the club who’ve been waiting for an age to see some type of takeover scenario come to fruition.

Until everything has been signed, sealed and delivered, fans would be forgiven for thinking that there could be an 11th hour hitch, although discussions do appear to be far enough down the line now for that not to be the case. It would simply seem to be a case of dotting the final i’s and crossing the t’s.

However, the longer term scenario for Sir Jim might not be as straightforward as he and everyone else was hoping for either.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

“I assume he (Sir Jim) wouldn’t be coming in with 25 per cent and sporting control as the end goal,” David Ornstein said in a special Q&A for The Athletic (subscription required).

“That makes me think there will be a roadmap of sorts but, if so, I’m not sure if that will be formal, or not at this stage.

“The complexity and time it is taking to finalise the initial deal suggest any further steps will take way longer to put in place.”

Thoughts of any further business are, frankly, discussions that need to be had another time.

Sir Jim and his incoming team have a number of issues to concern themselves firstly, just in order to get the club back on an even keel in a sporting sense.

If they’re able to do so over the course of the next 12-18 months, then those discussions regarding a phased full takeover may be worthwhile.

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Manchester United team news vs Everton

Connor Holden — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:13:36 +0000

Everton (19th in the Premier League) take on Manchester United (6th in the Premier League) on Sunday 26th of November, at Goodison Park, at 16:30 PM (GMT).

The last time these two sides faced, Manchester United beat Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford. Goals from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial securing the victory for United.

Everton won their last Premier League game, beating Crystal Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park. Goals from Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard for Palace, and goals from Vitaliy Mykolenko, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye for Everton.

Manchester United also won their last Premier League game, beating Luton Town 1-0. The only goal of the game coming from Victor Lindelof 59 minutes in.

How to watch Everton vs Manchester United

Date: Sunday, November 26th, 2023
Kickoff: 16:30 PM (GMT)
TV Network: Sky Sports
Venue: Goodison Park

Team News:

Manchester United will be without Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw through injury, whilst Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will have further fitness assessments before determining their availability to face Everton on Sunday.

Predicted XI:

Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young, McNeil, Onana, Garner, Harrison, Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin.

Manchester United: Onana, Lindelof, Varane, Maguire, Dalot, Mount, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, Antony, Hojlund.

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Photo: Man United Legends scandalous decision to play with three ringers

Joe Dempsey — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 20:06:08 +0000

The ‘Legends’ tours that routinely take place across the world these days allows football fans from all corners of the planet to delight in watching their heroes from yesteryear one more time, however, supporters of Man United could’ve been forgiven for being a little confused when watching their recent Legends match against a World XI.

A photo published after the match on Antonio Valencia’s Instagram page showed a happy enough looking squad, despite the fact they’d just been beaten 8-3 according to talkSPORT.

In amongst the actual Man United Legends, however, were former Leicester City captain, Wes Morgan, legendary Internazionale keeper, Julio Cesar, and Nathan Dyer, none of whom have ever played for Man United at any stage of their careers.

For the Red Devils to have to bring a few ringers into the team to make up the numbers is more than a little embarrassing.

Picture courtesy of Antonio Valencia Instagram

Although going to watch a Legends match nowadays is generally considerably cheaper than going to watch current stars, patrons will still want to get value for money.

Anyone watching that particular game might’ve felt a little short changed, and it would be interesting to see who at the club sanctioned such a decision.

The last thing the club need now is even more bad PR.

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