After a largely promising pre-season for Ruben Amorim and his Manchester United squad, a loyal fan base is expecting the greatest of responses to what has been the most forgettable of campaigns.
The October departure of Erik ten Hag beckoned the arrival of Sporting’s favourite son, with the prospect of a league-leading system and philosophy to guide the 20-time English champions back to success.
But like everything, good things generally take time. A combination of Europa League heartbreak and a 15th-place Premier League finish emphasised the nature of the beast ahead.
However, Ineos entered the summer market with profound intent, completing deals for Diego Leon, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, before firmly fixing their gaze on Brighton starlet Carlos Baleba.
This assured approach, coupled with the unveiling of a truly breathtaking Carrington facility, has led to the unprecedented postponement of the 1958 planned protest ahead of Sunday’s arrival of Arsenal.
Make no mistake, United supporters are not fickle. The damage of two decades of Glazer mismanagement exists for all to see, and the Manchester faithful will not rest until the family has removed every trace of their connection with this one-time perennial giant.
Furthermore, while a democratic process shaped the group’s decision, an air of contention still exists as many subsections believe Ineos has been allowed ample time to oversee change.
Regardless of what side of the fence you stand on, Amorim and his team are locked in detailed preparations for their Premier League opener, and the vast majority of support remains committed to acting as a 12th man.
Ahead of the tantalising Old Trafford showpiece, the Theatre of Red chatted with several Reds to gauge their feelings following news of the protest and their aspirations ahead of the 2025-26 season.
What is a reasonable expectation for Ruben Amorim and this Manchester United squad?
Patrick Ashton (26), Manchester.
I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, to be honest.
A part of me understands the reasoning behind the protest being postponed, and I accept that a democratic reason has shaped the outcome. All we have asked for is to be heard, and the 1958 presented the question, received their response and made a decision – you have to applaud that.
I will say that I didn’t expect the level of activity this summer. I thought we were going to be sitting back and waiting on sales when [Matheus] Cunha was announced. Obviously, I’m happy to have [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Benjamin] Sesko in the door. If we can get [Carlos] Baleba in too, my god, it’s hard not to start getting giddy.
But it’s important to realise that this doesn’t make up for the years of neglect or financial crimes attributed to these Americans. Jim doesn’t get a free ride because he’s flashed some cash. He’s targeted the supporter, and we will not stop until they do right by each and every one of us.
In terms of the football and the season ahead, we’re still missing a little something in the team. Baleba would immediately transform us, and I think Ruben accepts this. But I’m not sold on what’s behind the defenders. As good as they are – and they are bloody good – how can they not be nervous?
All things considered, goals win games, and I’d like to think we have plenty of those in us at least! I have a feeling we do Arsenal on Sunday, and I’m thinking around 5th or 6th in the league with a nice cup run along the way.
I know money has been spent, but all you have to do is look at Chelsea to see that it’s not that simple; it takes time. We just want to see real progress. Amorim has to make his mark quickly, and I have a feeling he will.
Rohit Rao (35), Kolkata.
Oh man, I’m excited! I can’t wait for the football to return. I always feel that the opening weekend offers an opportunity for every supporter of every team to hope for something amazing. Now, every United supporter will have a different interpretation of the word, given what has been and gone last season.
I believe we have enough firepower to enter games with the Sir Alex Ferguson mentality of ‘if you score two, we will score three’, but it may take time for the group to develop cohesion. Remember, we haven’t seen Sesko lead a Manchester United line before. But we can hope he hits the ground running and can learn from Premier League-proven players like Cunha, Mbeumo and, of course, Bruno [Fernandes].
There is much talent in this squad, but a frailty in midfield and our goalkeeping options. I think this season will bring many highs and lows, starting with a win against Arsenal on Sunday. Don’t ask me why, but I have been confident of a win since I first saw the fixtures list released.
In terms of the season, I would say 6th place is a reasonable expectation. You look at Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Chelsea and Arsenal – even though I think we will beat them, they have settled squads who are used to challenging at the top.
Regarding the postponed protest, I always find it difficult to speak about this because many will disregard my views because of my country.
I feel the correct decision has been made because the manager and the team require our assistance from the opening whistle. It is better to get behind the team and embrace the new season. We can always protest at a later date. This club will not be free until the Glazers sell and leave.
Up the Reds!
Samuel Parkins (19), London.
I would have liked to see the protest go ahead as planned, but I can appreciate the decision.
The Glazers must go, and we can not soften our grip on their throats! Has Jim [Ratcliffe] been given enough time? I think so, yeah. He has to be held responsible for last season. But he has responded as you would expect this summer, and that shows a different dynamic to the Americans!
In terms of the season ahead, I think we will surprise quite a few people. There is a lot of talent in this team, and most importantly, there are a lot of goals.
Goals win games, and even though we will likely concede a fair few, I think we will score plenty more often than not. That was the biggest problem last season – we couldn’t put the bloody ball in the back of the net.
Now, we’ve got Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, Bruno, Amad and [Patrick] Dorgu – how good was he during pre-season by the way!? What a player Pat can turn out to be for us. If he’s half as good as our famous Pat, we’ll be doing all right.
Arsenal will be interesting because there’s a serious confidence coming out of their lot. They believe they’ve got the missing piece in [Viktor] Gyokeres and will be coming to Manchester to get three points. I think the crowd will play a massive part, and if we can kick off the season with three points against them, who knows how far that could take us.
We need a bit to fall in our favour, but I reckon we can nick a Champions League spot this season. There is so much time to prepare midweek. Amorim loves time on the training ground, and I think it is going to show.
Jimmy Murphy (48), Cork.
I’m nervous, to be honest. Nervous because I can’t help but feel we need a fast start, or Ruben will be under pressure. We can’t afford to start over again next year, and we need to see improvement yesterday.
Ineos appear to have his back, though, and that is at least reassuring. The players we’ve signed are impressive, no doubt, but let’s see how they adapt to the expectations and criticism when playing for Manchester United. I’m not against them; I’m just being pragmatic. We’ve seen superstar names come and fall at the first hurdle before.
I will say that the entire dynamic appears to be a little different today, however. The squad looks trimmer, fitter and far more athletic, and there appears to be a bond within the camp. That’s a breath of fresh air.
I will be over for Arsenal, and I know that Old Trafford will be rocking right behind the players and manager. Let’s hope that offers enough inspiration. Wouldn’t it be great to beat [Mikel] Arteta on the opening day and Sesko to hit the winner!?
Amorim should be aiming to nail a return to European football. What competition that happens to be remains unclear. We’ll know more by next week.
I think the correct decision has been taken regarding the protest. Let’s start the season with a supportive manner and revisit the protest in a couple of months. The damage can not truly be remedied until the Glazers are gone, but it’s good to see some bit of desire from the hierarchy.
That said, supporters need to be considered in every decision, and I can’t help but feel that’s still being forgotten.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images via depositphotos.com
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