Hypothetically, if we actually went for major changes to the squad which players would you desperately like to retain?

devilish said:
To answer this question, one need to understand the club's vision from the very top. Are we happy with just top 4 or are we aiming for more? Cause there are players in there who are good enough for top 4 but will never win us the league. I am referring to the likes of Lindelof, Fred and McT.

After that we must ask what sort of system we want to play and stick to it. The likes of Maguire, AWB, Rashford and DDG are more suited for a deep line and a counter attack game then for an attacking game with a high line.

Finally we need to understand Greenwood's situation better. Is his career gone to flames? Cause we simply can't rely on 35 year old + strikers anymore. That's silly

Considering the enormity of the rebuild task we need to be shrewd on the transfer market by going for players who won't cost us a bomb, can adapt to different styles of games and are hungry for success.
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Board are happy with top 4 despite the PR spin bollocks we heard last week, time to accept that we are very much the new Arsenal now
 
Other than Varane, De Gea and Sancho, I wouldn't sweat anyone in the first team leaving, tbh.

Realistically, I would also try and keep Bruno and Fred (even if not as nailed on first team starters) only for the fact that they give a f*** on the pitch.
 
pawanraj said:
Other than Varane, De Gea and Sancho, I wouldn't sweat anyone in the first team leaving, tbh.

Realistically, I would also try and keep Bruno and Fred (even if not as nailed on first team starters) only for the fact that they give a f*** on the pitch.
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De Gea is also piss. Sooner we’re shot of him the better.

Agree on Varane, Sancho and Bruno. Fred would be one of those serviceable squad players in an otherwise happy camp like I alluded to earlier. Instead he’s a first choice midfielder and ultimately not good enough.
 
I really don’t like this group of players but if I’m being realistic the only players I’d keep/ like are De Gea, Varane, Lindelof, McTominay, Matic, Sancho, Elanga and Bruno, the others I really wouldn’t mind seeing the back of.
 
croadyman said:
Board are happy with top 4 despite the PR spin bollocks we heard last week, time to accept that we are very much the new Arsenal now
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Arsenal was financially handicapped due to the stadium build throughout most of those years. You lot have a billion pound squad. Not getting the comparison between a club under a great manager consistently making top 4 without any money vs the worst run club in the league with one of the most expensive squads.
 
Kag said:
De Gea is also piss. Sooner we’re shot of him the better.

Agree on Varane, Sancho and Bruno. Fred would be one of those serviceable squad players in an otherwise happy camp like I alluded to earlier. Instead he’s a first choice midfielder and ultimately not good enough.
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I don't think De Gea is as bad as many here seem to think he is.

The way I see it, we will struggle to find a replacement keeper who we can count on to save us points over the course of a season. Plus he's a senior head and I have little complaint about his efforts on the pitch. Hence my leaning towards keeping him.
 
Mastadon said:
Arsenal was financially handicapped due to the stadium build throughout most of those years. You lot have a billion pound squad. Not getting the comparison between a club under a great manager consistently making top 4 without any money vs the worst run club in the league with one of the most expensive squads.
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Emirates was completed in 2006. It's been a few years since. It's not like Arsenal have been challenging or even trying to challenge, since then. ManUtd have been saddled with debt from the takeover since 2005, and the great manager we had till 2013 managed to challenge for leagues just fine.

This doesn't invalidate the fact that we've been shoddily run for a decade now, but let's not use the stadium that was completed 15 years ago to justify Arsenal's lack of ambition since.
 
croadyman said:
Top two are long gone this summer, others on your list can leave for me too
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I don't even think they are bad players in the right circumstances. Just not high press players.

pawanraj said:
I don't think De Gea is as bad as many here seem to think he is.
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That misses the point. He's a superb shot stopper. But Liverpool and City have shown that to high press effectively, you need a sweeper keeper. And he is nowhere near that and never will be.
 
Elanga
Bruno
Sancho
Varane
Lindelof
De Gea just because finding a decent keeper that wont shit himself at United is hard

The rest can feck off
 
glazed said:
I don't even think they are bad players in the right circumstances. Just not high press players.



That misses the point. He's a superb shot stopper. But Liverpool and City have shown that to high press effectively, you need a sweeper keeper. And he is nowhere near that and never will be.
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Yes that’s because they have midfield and defence which can be relied upon. Those keepers will be disaster in our team.
 
pratyush_utd said:
Yes that’s because they have midfield and defence which can be relied upon. Those keepers will be disaster in our team.
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Which is why we also need to change the midfield and defense. Goodbye Pogba and Maguire. Neither of them are bad players contrary to the hysteria in some parts of the caf, but neither fit high press.

Basically we need to turn into a high press team or we won't win anything. If we don't do this we can simply look forward to getting panned by Liverpool and City for the foreseeable future.
 
The torygraph has a player audit but unfortunately can't view it on the website as you have to pay. Any ideas who they've suggested stays or leaves?
 
Acole9 said:
The torygraph has a player audit but unfortunately can't view it on the website as you have to pay. Any ideas who they've suggested stays or leaves?
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Keep

Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Tom Heaton

Defenders: Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay, Fred

Forwards: Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo

It feels like there is an ever-dwindling pool of players to provide the foundations from which to build. United badly need better defenders to assist Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw. David De Gea has been United’s standout performer this season but if the new manager wants to play out from the back with real purpose and conviction there remain questions over whether the Spain goalkeeper is good enough with the ball at his feet, even if there are more pressing issues to address.

The midfield requires major surgery but Fred and Scott McTominay - neither of whom are natural defensive midfielders and play so often because of the lack of viable alternatives - are two of the few regulars prepared to put in the hard yards. Struggling talisman Bruno Fernandes needs direction. Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga are exciting young forwards but Marcus Rashford, in the worst form of his career, craves revitalisation and a pedigree striker is a priority.

Sell / release

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Lee Grant

Defenders: Eric Bailly, Phil Jones

Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira

Forwards: Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard

Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are all out of contract this summer. United want Pogba to delay a decision on his future until he knows who the new manager will be but, after six years of mediocrity, plenty of fans want to see the back of the mercurial France midfielder.

United must finally offload the likes of Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic, Anthony Martial and Andreas Pereira. It may mean running with a lighter squad next season but it will clear space on the wage bill and raise vital funds after too long running with a bloated squad where unrest can fester. Second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson is unprepared to spend another season on the bench.

Stuck with for now / listen to offers for

Defenders: Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Diogo Dalot, Alex Telles

Midfielders: Donny van de Beek
 
glazed said:
Keep

Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Tom Heaton

Defenders: Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay, Fred

Forwards: Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo

It feels like there is an ever-dwindling pool of players to provide the foundations from which to build. United badly need better defenders to assist Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw. David De Gea has been United’s standout performer this season but if the new manager wants to play out from the back with real purpose and conviction there remain questions over whether the Spain goalkeeper is good enough with the ball at his feet, even if there are more pressing issues to address.

The midfield requires major surgery but Fred and Scott McTominay - neither of whom are natural defensive midfielders and play so often because of the lack of viable alternatives - are two of the few regulars prepared to put in the hard yards. Struggling talisman Bruno Fernandes needs direction. Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga are exciting young forwards but Marcus Rashford, in the worst form of his career, craves revitalisation and a pedigree striker is a priority.

Sell / release

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Lee Grant

Defenders: Eric Bailly, Phil Jones

Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira

Forwards: Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard

Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are all out of contract this summer. United want Pogba to delay a decision on his future until he knows who the new manager will be but, after six years of mediocrity, plenty of fans want to see the back of the mercurial France midfielder.

United must finally offload the likes of Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic, Anthony Martial and Andreas Pereira. It may mean running with a lighter squad next season but it will clear space on the wage bill and raise vital funds after too long running with a bloated squad where unrest can fester. Second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson is unprepared to spend another season on the bench.

Stuck with for now / listen to offers for

Defenders: Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Diogo Dalot, Alex Telles

Midfielders: Donny van de Beek
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Cheers for that. Weird how they've missed out Ronaldo.
 
glazed said:
I don't even think they are bad players in the right circumstances. Just not high press players.



That misses the point. He's a superb shot stopper. But Liverpool and City have shown that to high press effectively, you need a sweeper keeper. And he is nowhere near that and never will be.
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That is a point missed by many of our fanbase, however will say that GK is way down the priorities list right now.
 
Acole9 said:
Cheers for that. Weird how they've missed out Ronaldo.
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Oh I think he was on next line sorry my bad

Stuck with for now / listen to offers for
  • Defenders: Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Diogo Dalot, Alex Telles
  • Midfielders: Donny van de Beek
  • Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo
There is, inevitably, a limit to the number of players a club can realistically buy and sell in one summer. Too much churn creates its own problems and compromises will be required and a longer-term view taken, meaning United will have to stick with certain players for the time being, despite the questions that may surround them.

Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were held up as examples of how United had finally got their recruitment right but the pair - signed for a combined £130 million in 2019 - have been abysmal this season.

Donny van de Beek’s future may be dependent on how many other midfielders leave, or what offers come in for the Dutchman. Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence is another headache. He remains United’s best source of goals but, at 37, can no longer play every few days or offer the same work rate of a younger striker. Yet his standing and £775,000-a-week wages dictate that he needs to play and is a problem if he does not. He has another year left on his contract and there is not another club in Europe who would be prepared to take him on that sort of money.

Unavailable
Mason Greenwood.
 
Elanga, Lindelöf and Sancho. The rest? Get rid of the lot.
 
Sancho, Varane, De Gea (Only because we don’t play good football at the minute)

Everyone else can go. Ideal the overrated best players so the club can stop trying to build around them.

Bruno, CR7, Rashford, Shaw and Maguire being the biggest issue.
 
Sancho, Varane, the youngsters and the new recruits as it is far too soon to write them off. That's it.

The worry is we just keep adding to a broken squad and eventually, one by one, the new recruits become part of the malaise.

We at the very least need a drastic shifting of players to shake up this squad. Not just the fringe ones.
 
Bastian said:
Sancho, Varane, the youngsters and the new recruits as it is far too soon to write them off. That's it.

The worry is we just keep adding to a broken squad and eventually, one by one, the new recruits become part of the malaise.

We at the very least need a drastic shifting of players to shake up this squad. Not just the fringe ones.
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This is because we don’t actually make any wholesale squad changes, instead we tinker on the periphery. Pogba was injured loads last year, Lingard started only a few games yet people lauded their departures as if some massive impact was going to be felt. Last year we had a series of horrendous results & the majority of the worst offenders were given ‘clean slates’ for what exactly. We know who/what this squad are so why when you add 1 or 2 players a year of course they’ll be dragged down into mediocrity soon enough.
 
AFC NimbleThumb said:
This is because we don’t actually make any wholesale squad changes, instead we tinker on the periphery. Pogba was injured loads last year, Lingard started only a few games yet people lauded their departures as if some massive impact was going to be felt. Last year we had a series of horrendous results & the majority of the worst offenders were given ‘clean slates’ for what exactly. We know who/what this squad are so why when you add 1 or 2 players a year of course they’ll be dragged down into mediocrity soon enough.
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Absolutely. I think you could take a random 5-6 "first XI" players and sell them and we'd instantly have a chance of being less shit. We are in a lazy/looser dynamic.
 
None. Not a player in the current squad that's has shown to be good enough.
 
Bastian said:
Absolutely. I think you could take a random 5-6 "first XI" players and sell them and we'd instantly have a chance of being less shit. We are in a lazy/looser dynamic.
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Prime example De Gea. When he was doing ok last year he was digging out the squad in the press left & right but how many lapses in performances has he had in his 10 or so years at the club? we’d see no dip if we sold him & bought in a just above average EPL standard GK who likes to come off their line.

Our supposed leaders are serial losers yet we have a fascination with building them up.
 
Henderson(hasn't had a proper chance since the Liverpool game in 20/21 and was good before then)
Then Varane, Martinez, Malacia, Eriksen and Sancho
Wouldn't bat an eyelid if anyone not mentioned left today
 
Garnacho
Hannibal
Malacia
Eriksen
Varane
Martinez
Sancho (Jury out though)
Alvaro Fernandez

I’d be unfussed if Donny and Garner stayed.

Everyone else can do one
 
AFC NimbleThumb said:
This is because we don’t actually make any wholesale squad changes, instead we tinker on the periphery. Pogba was injured loads last year, Lingard started only a few games yet people lauded their departures as if some massive impact was going to be felt. Last year we had a series of horrendous results & the majority of the worst offenders were given ‘clean slates’ for what exactly. We know who/what this squad are so why when you add 1 or 2 players a year of course they’ll be dragged down into mediocrity soon enough.
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Yup. There has been no real consequences for any of these players for bad performances, even over long periods of time. We need to seriously refresh the squad and seriously up the standards.
 
Sancho would be a useful player in the future, it's going to be a while before we can utilize him though. Really it was a waste for him and us.

Malacia I like the look of at his old club and feel he can do that for us now in the PL but we've not seen much of him. He has the skills and hard work needed and could stand out in the coming weeks and even lead by example.

At ground zero I'd pencil in Malacia. If we were to draft in a bunch of players hypothetically then Sancho would be a good player to keep.
 
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sebsheep said:
Yup. There has been no real consequences for any of these players for bad performances, even over long periods of time. We need to seriously refresh the squad and seriously up the standards.
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I say his name to a point where even I consider myself to have an agenda but how in the year of our lord 2022, is Shaw after 8 years, 2 decent stints & multiple managers questioning his fitness, professionalism etc. now supposed to miraculously sustain levels we’ve rarely, if ever, seen from him? McTominay has a series of games with passing numbers trainees would be realeased for to his name but Caftards will swear blind he’s a great squad option. Our captains career highlight is Hull City PoTY & has been consistently providing YouTube highlights since Project Restart yet these players apparently get what it means. For all army Martial love, the guy was out the door in January & is now apparently pivotal to our future to a point we can’t muster attacks without him. The list goes on, sell them all.
 
New signings and Sancho, Rangnick said we needed 10 new players, he was wrong we need 15.
 
Malacia only.

Along with the young lads like Iqbal and Garnacho
 
Surprising so many people are keeping Sancho... He'd be one of the first ones I'd bin off in a perfect world
 
Only the new signings because I haven't seen them enough. Rest of them can do one.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
Surprising so many people are keeping Sancho... He'd be one of the first ones I'd bin off in a perfect world
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I agree, but unfortunately his 350K/week guarantees that we are stuck with him too. I was amazed how much money MC recovered by selling their players this summer. We still keep paying Phil Jones, Bailly, Bradon Williams, DVB and many more. And those who are gone are simply out of contract. Just curious if we are worst run team in PL.
 
r1z3mu said:
I agree, but unfortunately his 350K/week guarantees that we are stuck with him too. I was amazed how much money MC recovered by selling their players this summer. We still keep paying Phil Jones, Bailly, Bradon Williams, DVB and many more. And those who are gone are simply out of contract. Just curious if we are worst run team in PL.
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Oh be curious no more...

We definitely are, though @SilentWitness might beg to differ.
 
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