"I have been but little in," said Ninian hastily...

Davies signed, Fred re-acquired, Onstad moves off the bench, James leaves

I hope that Charlie Davies does well here. Let's remember, though, that he wasn't exactly playing first-string for Arsenal even before he had a near-fatal accident. I'm sure we all honour his tremendous determination and accomplishment (and, presumably, excellent genes) in coming back from such a horrible set of injuries to play professionally. That's amazing. But it's indicative of how low our expectations have sunk, and the historic disregard that MLS has for United, that a player who can't crack the starting lineup at a mediocre team in France is considered a huge signing for United, when other teams get players like three-time World Footballer of the Year Thierry Henry.

Fred. Individually, Fred made a modest impact even in his best (and first) season at United. He was a force because he was an additional threat, stretching teams that already had to deal with the more capable players in the United lineup. He ceased to make that difference, slipped down the roster, and eventually off it altogether. He failed to earn his way at other clubs, and now he's coming back? This move smells of desperation, on his part and ours. I'm not happy about it. I can't think of a single player that we've let go and re-signed who's been a bonus the second time around. And, yes, I include Jaime Moreno in that. And, much as I love him, Ben.

Onstad. Well, this is what happens when we dick around and leave serious, important positions badly filled. I think the jury was out on the Cronin signing, and already it will be some time before we see him play. At least we don't have the disastrous Perkins on the roster (see note above about re-signing former players). And Onstad still has some petrol left in his tank...but not much. As long as he keeps his head and doesn't deck any opposing strikers...

James. Another stunningly bad decision from DC management. One of the hardest-working players and most effective defenders on last-season's atrociously bad squad is let go while we retain the questionable Burch and the mediocre McTavish and sign the wholly unremarkable Woolard. And keep a roster of, what, a dozen midfield defenders? OK, maybe only half a dozen, but still too many.

Overall, I'd have to give this week a C, and the pre-season roster management overall no better. United may not spend the entire season at the bottom of the table the way they did last year, but I still don't see any sort of cohesive vision or any reason to think we're break the mid-table line. Every year I hope to see some suggestion that there is a sudden access of intelligence in the front office, and every year Bill Murray wakes up to that same alarm clock.

United's president, confronted by poor team performance, declining attendance, crumbling grounds, and inability to recruit high-caliber players, insists that making serious management changes would be "self-indulgent". Meanwhil the GM claims that, "we just need to put it all together."

I don't think I've read about people that far in denial since Cheney and Rumsfeld in 2004-2006.

If I'm here next year, I'm going redactrice's route and buying tickets match by match. No more season tickets for me; I've been disappointed too many times over the last ten years.