Reed played in a different position to Johnson, so not like for like. Downing will feature far more than Conway did and I would hope he will offer far more also. Static Danny Graham? Bit harsh. I actually think Gallagher will end up being first choice in the striker role, possibly as early as the first game. Raya alone cost us 14 points last season. I can't see anything but improvement there. I agree about the city lad, he is being brought in as a squad player. Maybe that is why the move has stalled. I don't think we should be making any guarantees to city about how much game time he will get. I think it is important to note that a vast number of the other teams are no better off, many worse off. We are doing well by comparison, even though you wouldn't think it reading some of the posts here at times. That's what frustrates me about Mowbray the most, his team selections. I think we have a team that can really compete if utilized correctly. Credit to Mowbray fro assembling it. I just wish he let the shackles off at times and didn't over rely on the players he "trusts".

So a mix of Scholes, Thompson and Cairney? Me likey. I think even Tony was impressed last night. He asked Rich Sharpe after the game if he saw how good Buckley was.

Wow. It would be great to have a player like that as a regular starter.

Fake news. I would say on here it is about 50/50 and in other places even more optimism. Johnson will be a big player in the middle. Downing will bring some experience and excellent crossing ability, which we lacked. Rothwell and Travis will feature more from the beginning. Gallagher and Brereton should start adding goals to help Dack and Graham out. Dack will have a season at this level under his belt. New keeper looks to be an improvement on Raya. The lad from city to come and potentially a center half. Most importantly Damien Johnson in and around the first team will give a boost of energy and fresh ideas. If you look at the horrific run we went on last season and assume that the team learned from that, then there are a lot of points to be played for that we pissed away last season. 14 extra points would have gotten us into the play offs. Not impossible to do at all.

Ya, hopefully with better ballers in the middle than Richie and Evans we can actually get on the attack more and therefore push teams back home and away. Attack is the best form of defence as the fella says. I think it will come down to Mulgrew either improving drastically on last season and having a second wind/indian summer, or he won't and it will depend on how long it will take Mowbray to acknowledge/admit this. The issue is do we have a suitable replacement then...

Good God man, what have you done? Run, save yourself!!!

City guy in Nuttall to Accrington Stanley

Ya, it should't really, but some of the refs are crap and he will have it put up to him more from a physical standpoint than he has under age. Dack gets fouled a lot, but he is a robust little fecker.

True, but a player gets far more protection in the Premier league or in European football. The Championship has that extra physicality to it.

Thanks.

Really, really nice goals. If Rothwell doesn't start I will be starting my own "Tony out group". I notice as well it looked like the players were doing a more structured and intense warm up before the game. Did Johnson take that?

No, I don't think any of them are fully honest when talking to the media. Never were. Nor should they be. They need to do what is best for their club. Solskjaer is saying that, but of course he will be raging if they don't sign Maguire and he is left stuck with the centre halves who let them down last season. What they say is twisted at the best of times. A manager says something in a press conference, next thing one quote is taken out of context and used as a headline. See it time and time again.

Read my posts properly and I will. I honestly don't care who accepts my view. You wouldn't want to let that bother you on here. Apology accepted.

How is it rude? It is better that fans don't know the budget. What, do you want a personal email from Waggott keeping you updated?

I know he can't brush it under the carpet, because the massage board mafia will be on the case ? I see Solskjaer said today he would be happy if united didn't sign anymore players before the start of the season. I wonder is he lying?

I know

Ya, but is that for fees or wages? Better fans and other clubs don't know Keep the cards close to the chest.

It isn't a riddle. The money is all the same. Ye are just looking for things to criticize him about. Roll on the season....

But we don't know how much we had last summer because he also said we didn't spend all the budget.

Ya, Nike air max are such a rip off. I was going to say Adidas Predators but I didn't want to complicate my analogy that I felt was on a tight rope to begin with ? Speaking of which Mulgrew shared a pic the other day of brand new old school original predators, you know the ones with the raised rubber? They are sweet.

Ya I am sure it does , but I don't think it should. A manager should be able to find a way to play him and protect him. Play him in the middle with Johnson or Travis there to protect him as his enforcer

Hopefully Johnson being in Mowbrays ear will mean that he stays with the first team this season.

Any of the bury trialists look any good?

Not this one, but I do like an analogy

Maybe and this may be shocking, they don't want to give away the budget to other teams?