Louis van Gaal believes he may have gone through “all the consequences and suffering” of losing his job as Manchester United manager as a direct result of the Manchester City cheating scandal.

Van Gaal was dismissed at the end of the 2015-16 season after United missed out on Champions League qualification, having finished fifth in the Premier League.

Interesting:

Under the terms of a deal struck in the summer to refinance $425m (£320m) of debt from the Glazers’ leveraged buyout in 2005, there is a potential window of opportunity for Ratcliffe to seek majority control in the second half of 2029, but United need clarity at the top of the club long before then. And Ratcliffe is known to be difficult to work for.

It has been discussed in the dressing room with the club aware of frustrations around recruitment.

There was a fear ahead of the campaign that the squad would not be strengthened properly - the lack of cover at left-back and striker were major concerns, which is evidenced in how much the need for reinforcements was stressed during pre-season interviews.

Told the driving reason behind Martinez’s airing these grievances publicly is fury that Carrick is likely going to lose his job despite not being given the tools to have a fair crack, and players are sick of reset after reset, without questions asked of the people in charge and what direction they’re taking the club in.

Carrick and the team have faced criticism, accepted it, and owned up to performances being nowhere near good enough.

Where is the accountability from the people who keep leading the club to one doom spiral after another?

Lisandro Martinez has struck a chord with Manchester United fans.

His public criticisms were unprecedented. Speaking as explicitly as he did in the aftermath of the club’s latest defeat, his views chimed with the anger felt by many fans and sparked so many other questions.

In the executive lounges of the impressive Metropolitano stadium, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox will have surely realised the gravity of the situation.

The Argentine’s comments landed because United fans are deeply frustrated after the worst start to the season in 40 years, because they don’t – and have never – liked the Glazers and because any goodwill towards the new decision makers INEOS that prevailed in 2024 has long since dissipated.

Things were supposed to get better after years of errors yet it feels exactly the opposite.

The shockwaves of Lisandro Martinez’s decision to detonate his private feelings in the public domain could be felt as soon as the microphone left his lips. Several people connected to Manchester United described Martinez’s criticism of the club’s board, and director of football Jason Wilcox in particular, as unprecedented.

That is the sentiment among a group of experienced professionals canvassed by The Athletic, giving their opinions anonymously to protect relationships. Martinez has cast aside those usual rules of engagement. He has opened the door wide on the dressing room, inviting the most profound questions of those running the club. It is a commentary that will earn widespread support among fans harbouring deep frustrations at United’s direction, but the consequences could be profound.

Firstly, it must be pointed out Wilcox is going nowhere.

United sources say the 55-year-old is not in any danger of losing his job.

The club's recruitment department is working on potential targets for January given it is accepted the strategy of not signing left-back competition for Luke Shaw and striking support for Benjamin Sesko was flawed.

Same shit different matchday

Laurie on The Rest is Football.

For the record, Glazers took money OUT of the club. £1.2 billion is the approx figure and invested in no infrastructure, training ground, stadium and didn't even appoint executives who had any background in football in Woodward.

INEOS came in, put money in, $300M to bring the training ground up to standard, plans for a new stadium, land secured for a new stadium, cosmetic repairs on Old Trafford. Appointed people who are involved in the game into positions, yes they haven't worked out but they put people with game knowledge into places instead of finding a finance guy. Overhauled the data department and brought in the guy from Mercedes F1 team who is highly regarded and knows the data world as opposed to some lackey like Glazers had in place.

Club has lost money for 7 years, all based on the interest they are paying on the debt. All driven by Glazers.

People need to get their heads out and understand the crux of the issue is the Glazers. They put the club on the market, could have made a huge profit, were greedy for more, then only sold part of the club and put INEOS at the front to take the heat.

I also understand why they couldn't spend the money they wanted to this summer, Ugarte injured, can't sell him, Rashford realised no top club wanted him, no longer wanted to leave. Zirkzee interest limited. Had all 3 been sold, we would have spent more but you can't keep stock piling players and then send them out on loan, not covering the wages or getting a good loan fee.

Club has been buying players on the credit card for last few years, thats how drained of cash they are. This obviously can't continue, you can't live off your credit card and this is all down to Glazers.