Permanently injured former left midfielder. Unrepresentative of myself.
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Joined April 2010
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A regular reminder:
*A united Ireland would be replacing cross-community power-sharing in Northern Ireland with nationalist rule*
That is not a progressive vision, it's throwing away all the progress N. Ireland has made. And all so that one side can "win". It's so wrong for NI.
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
Man Utd have to be brave here and say Carrick is staying long-term. Back him big time. Can’t have a media feeding frenzy every weekend based on next result. Players have to know manager is going nowhere , so either put in hard yards or be axed.
Why to scrap Bruno: “When your No. 10 turns the ball over carelessly, your entire shape collapses. It invites immediate counter attacks against a vulnerable backline. Under methodical, possession focused setups, this lack of predictability becomes a handicap.” 👏🏻
Modern football isn't won by spamming low percentage "hero" passes anymore. It’s won through elite retention in the half spaces. Why Kobbie Mainoo is a fundamentally better structural No. 10 for United than Bruno Fernandes.
The modern elite game isn’t won through "hero ball" or spamming low percentage, high risk killer passes. It’s won through structural control, numerical dominance, and high level retention in the half spaces.
Bruno Fernandes is a phenomenal transition player and statistically elite. But his style is fundamentally chaotic. He thrives when the game is stretched, but he frequently vacates his zone and flips possession too easily.
When your No. 10 turns the ball over carelessly, your entire shape collapses. It invites immediate counter attacks against a vulnerable backline. Under methodical, possession focused setups, this lack of predictability becomes a handicap.
Enter Kobbie Mainoo. We saw flashes of him in an advanced role. Even managers have noted his immense freedom and sheer comfort when moved higher up the pitch.
What makes Mainoo a better modern 10?
• Press resistance in tight areas
• Incredible ball retention under heavy pressure
• Elite close control and sharp, simple distribution
He gives your front line a structural anchor, not a wild card.
Mainoo excels at taking the ball with his back to goal, rolling a defender, and orchestrating in the final third. He forces the opposition to collapse on him, which naturally creates massive space for the wingers to exploit.
Playing Mainoo at the 10 also brings much needed defensive discipline to United's high press structure. Unlike traditional playmakers, his natural midfield instincts mean he tracks back, stops counters at the source, and blocks passing lanes early.
Where does this leave Bruno? Some tactical minds have long insisted Bruno isn’t a true structural 10. He is arguably far more dangerous arriving late from a deeper No. 8 spot or operating as a second striker where he can break defensive lines without breaking United's midfield shape or we just move him on. Hes 32 yrs and united shouldnt be building around him at that age if we want progress.
For United to evolve into a side that truly controls the rhythm of big matches, they need a predictable, pause creating playmaker in the hole. Kobbie Mainoo has the elite technical floor to provide exactly that.
Let me know your thoughts below! 🔴👇 #MUFC #Tactics
Happy about this. May not last, but if he does spark a tune out of the players against Chelsea, and it continues in next 2 games, everything looks v different. Worth trying, if the dressing room is salvageable (which I don’t know but not impossible it could be)
🚨 Manchester United have decided to continue with Michael Carrick as head coach.
Despite Bournemouth and Como defeats, #MUFC hierarchy decides to give Carrick more time to fix things. Player also informed.
Up next: Chelsea-Man United on Saturday. Carrick will be there.
But they told us they had decommissioned 🧐
Police chiefs feared any potential dissident gun attack on the Garvaghy Road would have involved old Provisional IRA weaponry, plunging the political process into crisis.
Read more: tinyurl.com/2aus3mfy
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
🚨 Wayne Rooney — Suspend Bruno Fernandez and give carrick time.
🗣️ “If I were Carrick, I would seriously consider suspending Bruno Fernandes indefinitely for publicly criticising his manager and showing no remorse on the bench while his team were losing.
“You’re Manchester United’s captain. You should be leading by example, not undermining your manager. I just hope the owners don’t sack Carrick to protect the bigger problems at this club.
“INEOS cannot keep neglecting the squad, changing managers and expecting miracles. Injuries have exposed the lack of depth, and another managerial sacking will not fix that.
“I pray the owners give Carrick time. Manchester United cannot keep sacrificing managers while protecting the people responsible for the club’s problems.”
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
This was a legitimate military operation in which terrorists were killed by lawful force.
A former soldier who planned an SAS ambush that claimed the lives of three IRA men 35 years ago has said the ‘chain of command’ in similar operations included British Prime Ministers.
Three IRA members, Pete Ryan, Lawrence McNally and Tony Doris, were shot dead in Coagh, Co Tyrone, in June 1991, in what some believe to be a shoot-to-kill operation.
Read more: tinyurl.com/53rre6bh
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
But not the family of Robert McCartney.
Ain’t that right @DeirdreHargey?
Shame on you and @sinnfeinireland
Family of Sean Brown deserve truth and justice - @johnfinucane
sinnfein.ie/news/family-of-s…
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
A reminder
The IRA murderers watched him place the baby in a carry cot on the back seat of his car.
They waited till he got in the drivers seat then opened fire from behind the vehicle in the full knowledge that the bullets would pass through the baby before killing her dad.
There are scum in this world who think the IRA were freedom fighters.
They were cold blooded killers
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
“One toilet in the bar and yet everyone was in at the time. It’s just ridiculous. It was a wee bit scary actually. Like a bloody cult.”
The words of one of Robert McCartney’s sisters about the wall of silence surrounding her brother’s murder.
A cover-up operation by the IRA after the brutal murder of Robert McCartney will be laid bare in a new documentary as his sisters continue their fight for justice 21 years on.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda…
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda…
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
New post:
We have a fascinating and candid interview with Tony Radakin who was head of the armed forces 2021-2025.
Covers decisions on Ukraine, the lessons from the UK, the threat from Russia, defence spending and the disaster of military procurement.
samf.substack.com/p/when-rus…
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
UK Gov launches the AI Biosecurity Lab.
Will use frontier AI to detect new biological threats and rapidly develop medical countermeasure.
£100m from UK Gov, plus £100m each from OpenAI and Anthropic.
(Remarkable the UK is building way more gov capacity here than the US.)
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
I'd phrase my admiring stupefaction differently but this is beautiful football ❤️
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
This is moment of maximum danger for Reform. You can broadly split current Reform voters into 2 groups - true believers & 'just want a right wing govt'. The second are much more transactional & if the Tories start to look like the vehicle to defeat Labour they'll go back to them
Conservatives overtake Reform for the first time since January 2025 in our poll tracker. Labour still rising economist.com/interactive/20…
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
Yesterday we launched our positive case for the Union: national security, peace, a lower cost of living, our NHS & economic strength. We finish with pride in our contribution to the UK - from food security to specialised skills in cybersecurity & manufacturing. Stronger together.
Old Newtownabbeian retweeted
"Sell United and f*k off home" sing MUFC fans, the only good thing about the club right now.
And it's right. The Glazers have made their money many times over for 21 years. Fans never wanted it and that takeover should never have been allowed. Do the right thing: sell up and go.
I think you do have to look at them now. 3 decisions they’ve had to backtrack on re managers in their brief time (2.5 years): keeping Ten Hag after FA Cup, signing Amorim, signing Carrick (assuming he goes now)
@bbc5live Utd fan for 50+ years. You’re mocking Carrick for citing football reasons for dropping Bruno but:
1. if he’s dropped for upsetting team morale, that is a footballing reason;
2. if he’s dropped for his play, that is more than warranted. Many fans think, not before time
