It's easy to have this kind of thread after a defeat, especially one like tonight.
But what's been on my mind recently, even during the recent string of wins, is the fact that we don't seem to be very serious about clearing players out of this team who are not good enough to compete at the levels we're looking to reach. By that, I mean players who are clearly not good enough, not players like Pogba, Lukaku, or Martial after they have a poor game.
Tonight, we started Jones and Smalling as CBs. I personally think Smalling is a good defender, but poor with the ball. Jones has been a sick note for much of the last few seasons (even more than Smalling), always has a mistake in him, and his performances, when bad, can be laughable. I can understand people who think neither are good enough.
Our FBs were again Young and Valencia. Both converted wingers. Both 32. Both in need of replacement. They work hard, but again, not good enough to have title aspirations with.
2 of our subs tonight were Fellaini (who lasted about 3 seconds) and Mata. They've had their moments but also have their limitations and been here for as long as United have been out of serious title contention. Not good enough.
Then you look at other squad players...I don't know how Darmian is still at United. Blind I like but is physically limited, too slow. Carrick IMO should've retired last season.
Many of these players are getting significant minutes in the team or are being started in big games, yet IMO they should have been cleared out long ago. This is another transfer window (granted, its January) where players are not being gotten shot of, we're either doing nothing or triggering options on their contracts - which, I grant, might be just to sell them later. And you have the nonsense going on with Fellaini, I like the guy but IMO it's crap that we're getting into a wage battle, as if United will cease to exist if he leaves.
I understand that we can't clear everyone out at once, but there are positions where players could/should be offloaded. Yet over the past few windows, I don't think we've done enough to raise the overall standard of player that we've got out there. I actually think Jose and upper management have been soft. Part of the problem is that we have players signed to big contracts and other teams won't pay up for them, which is our own fault. And I think there are actually cases where we could've replaced certain ones with youth/reserve talents and been no worse off.
But what's been on my mind recently, even during the recent string of wins, is the fact that we don't seem to be very serious about clearing players out of this team who are not good enough to compete at the levels we're looking to reach. By that, I mean players who are clearly not good enough, not players like Pogba, Lukaku, or Martial after they have a poor game.
Tonight, we started Jones and Smalling as CBs. I personally think Smalling is a good defender, but poor with the ball. Jones has been a sick note for much of the last few seasons (even more than Smalling), always has a mistake in him, and his performances, when bad, can be laughable. I can understand people who think neither are good enough.
Our FBs were again Young and Valencia. Both converted wingers. Both 32. Both in need of replacement. They work hard, but again, not good enough to have title aspirations with.
2 of our subs tonight were Fellaini (who lasted about 3 seconds) and Mata. They've had their moments but also have their limitations and been here for as long as United have been out of serious title contention. Not good enough.
Then you look at other squad players...I don't know how Darmian is still at United. Blind I like but is physically limited, too slow. Carrick IMO should've retired last season.
Many of these players are getting significant minutes in the team or are being started in big games, yet IMO they should have been cleared out long ago. This is another transfer window (granted, its January) where players are not being gotten shot of, we're either doing nothing or triggering options on their contracts - which, I grant, might be just to sell them later. And you have the nonsense going on with Fellaini, I like the guy but IMO it's crap that we're getting into a wage battle, as if United will cease to exist if he leaves.
I understand that we can't clear everyone out at once, but there are positions where players could/should be offloaded. Yet over the past few windows, I don't think we've done enough to raise the overall standard of player that we've got out there. I actually think Jose and upper management have been soft. Part of the problem is that we have players signed to big contracts and other teams won't pay up for them, which is our own fault. And I think there are actually cases where we could've replaced certain ones with youth/reserve talents and been no worse off.
