Mark Critchley
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mjcritchley.bsky.social
Mark Critchley
@mjcritchley.bsky.social
6K followers 140 following 100 posts
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
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mjcritchley.bsky.social
Patrick Dorgu set to be out for around 10 weeks with a hamstring injury

United still assessing full extent and exact timeline but more significant issue than hoped

w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social + more www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu set to miss around 10 weeks with hamstring injury
The 21-year-old has featured 22 times in the Premier League this season, recording three goals and three assists.
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:29 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
We’re recording a Talk of the Devils Q&A special tomorrow

Send your questions to devilspod@theathletic.com

Or reply to this skeet ⬇️👇
January 25, 2026 at 8:33 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
The simplicity of Carrick's changes to this team might be the most refreshing thing about those two performances. Nothing complicated, just players in roles they are suited to, and a gameplan that brings the best out of them.
January 25, 2026 at 7:02 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United talking points

• It's Carrick, you know
• Ballon D'orgu
• Big game Bryan Mbeumo

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Arsenal 2 Man Utd 3 – Did composure cost Arteta’s side? How good was Dorgu? What does this mean for Carrick?
Our writers break down the talking points from an enthralling encounter at the Emirates.
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:01 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Casemiro set to leave Manchester United at the end of the season

United will not be activating the one-year extension option in his contract

w/ @adamcrafton.bsky.social _ + others www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Casemiro to leave Manchester United at end of season
The midfielder's contract expires at the end of June. He joined United from Real Madrid for a deal wort at least £60m in 2022.
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:14 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Harry Amass close to joining Norwich for the second half of the season

Toby Collyer also set to go on loan to Hull

w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Manchester United’s Harry Amass and Toby Collyer set for loan moves to Championship clubs
Amass spent the first half of the season at Sheffield Wednesday while Collyer returned from a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion.
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:09 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Forget ‘CCB’ and ‘WCB’. Forget ‘dropping in during build-up’. The best things don’t always come in threes.

An appreciation of Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and the art, beauty and simplicity of a good old-fashioned centre-back partnership www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez dominated Haaland. There’s beauty in a centre-back pairing
Michael Carrick's first game in charge brought scenes not seen at Old Trafford for years – the centre-backs set the tone for United's win
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:23 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Michael Carrick is Manchester United's new head coach

• Why him, not Solskjaer
• Impressing in face-to-face meeting
• Ferguson's backing
• Champions League target set

The inside story of the interim hunt, w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social + more www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
Inside Michael Carrick’s Man Utd return: Fresh vision, Solskjaer concerns, Champions League target
The full story of another turbulent week at Old Trafford, as the club appoint their third manager of the 2025-26 season
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:34 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Manchester United need their fringe players to fill gaps right now

Ayden Heaven’s rise is a consequence of absences hitting a thin squad

But Heaven is also an example to others of how to take these opportunities when they arrive www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Ayden Heaven is taking his chance at Man United, just when Ruben Amorim needs him most
Gradual improvement has been the story of Heaven’s reintroduction over these past five games
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:27 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Manchester United left frustrated after Morocco reject Noussair Mazraoui request

United escalated matter to FIFA. Mazraoui trained all last week, left for AFCON on Sunday night www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
Manchester United unhappy with Morocco for rejecting Noussair Mazraoui request
FIFA announced this month that the deadline for players to be released to AFCON squads would be pushed back to December 15.
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Mark Critchley
theathleticfc.bsky.social
Bruno Fernandes says he was left “hurt” by the feeling that Manchester United wanted him to leave the club in the summer.

The 31-year-old rejected a lucrative approach to join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in the last transfer window.

More from @mjcritchley.bsky.social ⤵️

🔗 bit.ly/3Mxoy4B
December 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Bryan Mbeumo and Amad set to be available for tonight's game vs Bournemouth

#mufc agreement with Cameroon and Ivory Coast to allow them to travel for AFCON afterwards

w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
Manchester United’s Amad, Bryan Mbeumo available for Bournemouth game before AFCON
Ivory Coast and Cameroon begin their AFCON campaigns on December 24.
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Most accept that this flawed Manchester United side will lose their fair share of games this season

But when they lose, they cannot lose like this

If the result was bad, the abject manner of this defeat was worse, with worrying hallmarks of last season www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Manchester United were always going to lose games this season. But not like this
It was the manner of the defeat by Everton, rather than just the defeat itself, which was so worrying for Ruben Amorim
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
🎙️🇫🇷 Leny Yoro interview

• 'really emotional' last season + what's changed
• United's 'no bad energy' policy
• no regrets over €62m move
• that Homer Simpson celebration

www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Leny Yoro: Man Utd’s ‘no bad energy’ policy, ‘tough’ last season – and that Homer Simpson dance
Yoro is finally settling in at United after a difficult first campaign. 'This year is different,' he says
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:08 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Jason Wilcox to MUTV: "We know there are areas of the team we’ve got to improve.

"For us to get in the top four, to consistently challenge for Champions League places and win Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues, we’ve got to invest in the squad." www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Manchester United have ‘clear plan’ to invest in and improve squad, Jason Wilcox says
United committed an initial £216million (€245m, $284m) on five new players in the summer transfer window.
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
What has changed about Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United?

A look at the biggest differences in this season’s data vs last season’s

• Long balls, even pre-Lammens
• Moving up the pitch faster
• Fewer touches in own third
• No more outswinging corners

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United changes: Lammens’ long kicks, faster attacks, no outswinging corners
How going direct helped to solve some of Manchester United's biggest problems and deliver their best run of form under Ruben Amorim
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
The story behind Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3

• Why he plays 3-4-3
• How he changed from 4-4-2
• Why he insists it will ‘evolve’ again - and if we can believe him

Revisiting the only time he changed formation, at his first club Casa Pia www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Tracing the roots of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 at Manchester United – and if he will ever change it
Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 system has defined his time in charge of Manchester United, but why is it so important to him and will he ever change?
www.nytimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:52 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Ruben Amorim has to "demonstrate he is a great coach over three years", says Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe also dismisses prospect of Glazers overruling him on manager change: "It's not going to happen." www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
Ruben Amorim has three years to prove himself at Manchester United – Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Amorim has won just 19 of his 50 matches in charge of United following his appointment in November of last year.
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Tyrell Malacia reintegrated into Manchester United squad and will return to first team training today www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Tyrell Malacia reintegrated into Manchester United squad, will return to first-team training
The 26-year-old was one of five United players placed in a so-called ‘bomb squad’ this summer
www.nytimes.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:45 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Tyrell Malacia's talks for Elche loan have collapsed. No agreement on clause to turn deal permanent

Malacia could now stay beyond today's deadline as last remaining member of so-called 'bomb squad' www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
Malacia loan talks with Elche collapse
Talks regarding Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia's prospective loan to Elche have collapsed. Club-to-club negotiations between United and Elche were being held at the end of last week.But d...
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:55 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Ruben Amorim only knows how to be himself, for better or worse

And as endearing as his honesty can be, maybe it’s part of the issue www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
Ruben Amorim, for better or worse, clearly only knows how to be himself
Amorim did not apologise for seething like he did after Manchester United's loss to Grimsby, but what must the players think of his honesty?
www.nytimes.com
August 30, 2025 at 8:22 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Kobbie Mainoo’s future - what we’re hearing

- Mainoo is open to leaving
- United have considered sale all summer
- £20k p/w deal, contract impasse
- lack of Amorim communication

w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social + @adamcrafton.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United future: What we’re hearing
Old Trafford's homegrown starlet has found himself frozen out under Ruben Amorim. So what now?
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Manchester United advancing in talks with Antwerp for goalkeeper Senne Lammens, w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Manchester United advancing in Senne Lammens talks with Royal Antwerp
The 23-year-old goalkeeper has played 52 times in the Belgian Pro League.
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Manchester United set to appoint Crystal Palace's Imtiaz Ahmad

Ahmad to succeed outgoing head of sports medicine Gary O'Driscoll, as first reported by @muppetiers.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Manchester United set to appoint Crystal Palace’s Imtiaz Ahmad as head of medical services
Ahmad will replace Gary O’Driscoll, who moved to Old Trafford in September 2023 from Arsenal.
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
mjcritchley.bsky.social
Rasmus Hojlund set to be left out of the squad to play Arsenal today

Hojlund has said he wants to stay, and remains committed and professional, but several clubs interested

w/ @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
Rasmus Hojlund set for omission from Manchester United matchday squad vs Arsenal
Hojlund faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford following the signing of fellow striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
www.nytimes.com
August 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM