Remembering the criticism Nani was getting alone makes me mad. I guess if people who kept slaughtering him and saying he's inconsistent and such knew in the future we are going to have Sanchez, Mata and Lingard running the show on the flanks for us, they would have given Nani a life time contract!
Lukaku and Sanchez - cut our losses? Poll now added
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Remembering the criticism Nani was getting alone makes me mad. I guess if people who kept slaughtering him and saying he's inconsistent and such knew in the future we are going to have Sanchez, Mata and Lingard running the show on the flanks for us, they would have given Nani a life time contract!
What a nothing player Sanchez has become. Its better to accept it to save yourself the disappointment later.
Just goes to show how far we have fallen. Nani would have been the 3rd name on the team sheet nowadays only behind DDG and Pogba.
Sell them both and release Mata, start playing youth and no this is not reactionary post but honestly Sanchez and Mata are far downhill and the minutes meant for them should go to Chongy, Gomez and Greenwood.
It's a really tough vote as it's linked to so many if's and but's.
But here is my opinion.
Sanchez. I'm afraid to say he's never fitted here which has really shocked me. I thought he was a great player and I always cursed us for not going for him rather than Di Maria. I put his poor form in his last 6 months at arsenal down wanting out and not getting game time but perhaps it's time to admit he's not the player he once was.
Ideally I'd sell and get a fee. Perhaps there's someone out there who think that could re-capture his form. Perhaps a mid table prem team who cash in this summer as a assets wants to move on (Richarilison currently at Everton for example) so they have a little money to burn. Wages may be a stumbling block but if Ole gets the job I think Sanchez will know he's not first choice and that may make him consider a move. If we get a different manager I can see him being still here.
Lukaku, personally I've never been convinced by him but he does score goals. Not loads but enough to make a useful player. Probably much easier to move on as he has time on his side and I could imagine there would be plenty of takers.
So now to the debate.
If two go out would two come in?
Does this limit funds for other targets?
Do all the funds gained go on new transfers?
Do we have youngsters, we believe are ready, to fill these gaps.
The reality is we need strength in depth and I'd there fore suggest both leaving as unlikely. Sanchez probably offers less currently and with his age and wage as two factors probably my choice to move first. Long term I'd be surprised if both were still here in two years.
But here is my opinion.
Sanchez. I'm afraid to say he's never fitted here which has really shocked me. I thought he was a great player and I always cursed us for not going for him rather than Di Maria. I put his poor form in his last 6 months at arsenal down wanting out and not getting game time but perhaps it's time to admit he's not the player he once was.
Ideally I'd sell and get a fee. Perhaps there's someone out there who think that could re-capture his form. Perhaps a mid table prem team who cash in this summer as a assets wants to move on (Richarilison currently at Everton for example) so they have a little money to burn. Wages may be a stumbling block but if Ole gets the job I think Sanchez will know he's not first choice and that may make him consider a move. If we get a different manager I can see him being still here.
Lukaku, personally I've never been convinced by him but he does score goals. Not loads but enough to make a useful player. Probably much easier to move on as he has time on his side and I could imagine there would be plenty of takers.
So now to the debate.
If two go out would two come in?
Does this limit funds for other targets?
Do all the funds gained go on new transfers?
Do we have youngsters, we believe are ready, to fill these gaps.
The reality is we need strength in depth and I'd there fore suggest both leaving as unlikely. Sanchez probably offers less currently and with his age and wage as two factors probably my choice to move first. Long term I'd be surprised if both were still here in two years.
I don’t believe in curses but watching Sanchez makes me question that. He’s clearly trying I think, but everything he does looks laboured and nothing he tries come off, not even simple passing. He seems to still be on a different planet to the rest of the team when it comes to movement as well, his flicks barely ever seem to work. It’s sad to watch and at this point I’ve no idea how he can be fixed.
Sanchez’s drop in form has been shocking. Guess one thing we could try is to give him a free role behind striker, although I dont think he would have much of an impact in any system that we will employ. Look to offload if there are any takers.
Lukaku could be worth keeping if he goes back to being a “flat track bully”. Should rotate with Rashford in easier games. I dont think we should spend money on a striker next summer as we have pressing concerns on other areas of the pitch, unless we have a big enough “warchest”.
Lukaku could be worth keeping if he goes back to being a “flat track bully”. Should rotate with Rashford in easier games. I dont think we should spend money on a striker next summer as we have pressing concerns on other areas of the pitch, unless we have a big enough “warchest”.
I don't dislike Sanchez and I've wanted it to work out, but I've never been clear what the question was that he was the answer to. It seems to add up to be an expensive player, we didn't need, now adding nothing. Sell. It comes down to the money being better spent elsewhere, on someone better. Same with Lukaku as well I'm afraid. The options are hang onto him if we're aiming at fighting for 4th and not progressing in the CL each season, sell and replace if we have more ambition.
Sanchez was the most disappointing element of last night for me. On such a great stage, with his rival for his preferred position going off it was an opportunity for him to stand up and be counted on the biggest stage, probably the most important game of the season to date. And it was evidently completely beyond him. I didnt watch him at Arsenal that regularly but I remember in the latter weeks of his time there he used to run around with a look of frustration on his face and I always had the sense it was frustration that the team around him was not on his level. Last night he had a different look on his face, it still seemed frustrated but it seemed more like bemusement at his own inability to do the things that always used to comer naturally to him.
I dont like knee jerking after a game but I changed my vote today. I was sell Lukaku and keep Sanchez because I hoped - and I said before it was hope more than expectation - but I hoped he would eventually come good. I wanted to believe it was just taking him a bit of extra time to settle for one reason or another, but that his former self was still in there. Last night didnt prove to me beyond any reasonable doubt that this is actually impossible. But it was enough to convince me that I am kidding myself to believe in it. I dont know how we go about getting him out the club, but we should probably do it, even if it leaves us out of pocket, because keeping him around is throwing good money after bad. The mistake has already been made, the money has already been wasted, whatever we can recoup from China is better than nothing and we might as well do it.
He still has some time to turn it around. If Martial is out for a few weeks we probably have to play Sanchez on the left, if he rises to the occasion great, but something has switched inside me and I doubt it will happen. Is a pre season going to change anything? I just dont see it.
in which case we should probably keep Lukaku for squad depth as much as anything. There is only so much business we are going to do in one summer and replacing Lukaku AND Sanchez is probably a bridge too far, given the other acquisitions we need to make.
TL/DR: Last night provided the perfect opportunity for Sanchez to show his worth to this squad. He failed to take it and I have lost patience with him.
I dont like knee jerking after a game but I changed my vote today. I was sell Lukaku and keep Sanchez because I hoped - and I said before it was hope more than expectation - but I hoped he would eventually come good. I wanted to believe it was just taking him a bit of extra time to settle for one reason or another, but that his former self was still in there. Last night didnt prove to me beyond any reasonable doubt that this is actually impossible. But it was enough to convince me that I am kidding myself to believe in it. I dont know how we go about getting him out the club, but we should probably do it, even if it leaves us out of pocket, because keeping him around is throwing good money after bad. The mistake has already been made, the money has already been wasted, whatever we can recoup from China is better than nothing and we might as well do it.
He still has some time to turn it around. If Martial is out for a few weeks we probably have to play Sanchez on the left, if he rises to the occasion great, but something has switched inside me and I doubt it will happen. Is a pre season going to change anything? I just dont see it.
in which case we should probably keep Lukaku for squad depth as much as anything. There is only so much business we are going to do in one summer and replacing Lukaku AND Sanchez is probably a bridge too far, given the other acquisitions we need to make.
TL/DR: Last night provided the perfect opportunity for Sanchez to show his worth to this squad. He failed to take it and I have lost patience with him.
Sanchez looks finished. Our problem is finding a taker. If he is on £350k we might have to buy out £150k of his contract per week and give him away for free. Frankly to free up £200k a week from him it would probably be worth it.
Lukaku is a hard one, depends on takers, but we would need at least £70m, because otherwise he is actually an option who can score and replacements won't be cheap.
Lukaku is a hard one, depends on takers, but we would need at least £70m, because otherwise he is actually an option who can score and replacements won't be cheap.
I'm done with both of them. We're better off having backups who arent on astronomical wages and expect to be first teamers. We would also benefit from having second choice players who A) have room for development B) have a certain level do technical class C) can instill some dynamism and put defenders on the back foot, and most importantly D) fit into our footballing ideology.
He's like Rooney when he was over the hill but without the end product and passing it out to Valencia (TM)
Would Sanchez be open to China?
Sanchez is done, I am hopeful China will be interested in the summer otherwise he'll be spending next season on the bench earning stupid money.
I'd keep Lukaku another season as we are going to make a signficant loss on him and a substitute striker will be worth more to us than the fee we'll get.
I'd keep Lukaku another season as we are going to make a signficant loss on him and a substitute striker will be worth more to us than the fee we'll get.
There has to come a point when a player realises he is finished at this level. And then it becomes a question of, what is better for your ego, sitting around Manchester collecting your wages and doing nothing because you arent getting picked? Or going to China where you can relive the glory days of being better than everyone else around you?
I imagine he will go as soon as he realises this, if he hasnt already. It should be relatively easy for him. Its not like England is his home, if he isnt in Chile he might just as well be in China as anywhere else.
It's confusing to watch him on the pitch.
@Adebesi he isn't a starter as it is so perhaps he will want to get moving after the season. Hopefully.
Lukaku still has something to offer and is a good player based on his career so far. Sanchez has done absolutely nothing in a United shirt of note. Id hope that both would come good but in all honesty I don't see it with Sanchez and I don't really see Lukaku fitting into a formation under Ole if he stays. On that basis you would tend to be forced to get rid. Feel a bit sorry for Lukaku in all honesty but there is no point in keeping players, even as squad players if you actually don't want to play them.
Yeah. I dont know if he has still been in the mindset that he was playing himself back into form, playing himself back into the team. I have to believe a player of his quality and reputation backed himself to force his way back into the team. But at some point it will dawn on him that it isnt going to happen. As you say, he might have figured it out already. I was still holding onto hope that he would come good and either force his way into the side, in a central role or on the right, or if he was really sublime on the left perhaps job sharing with Martial in the way Rashford was some time ago. Either way, I imagine by the summer he'll be under no illusions about his prospects at this club.
He really should be open to any kind of move. He's performing laughably badly and should move for his own pride's sake.
But then again, $$
As Bacon famously noticed, If China will not come for Alexis, then Alexis must go to China.
There is an option that is not there and that is keep both for another year. Which I wouldn't go for!!!
¥¥¥¥ works too.
Sanchez wont cut it here, he needs to move on. So does Mata. Lukaku I'm not sure, could work out from the bench with the right setup
With the money he’s on, Sanchez should feel embarrassed with his contributions to the team
I feel exactly the same way . He is trying but it's not working out. Such a disappointment.
Lukaku is still useful for certain types of game where his physical presence is required. Sanchez does not offer anything that the others don't at the moment. If he's willing to adapt to another position, he may still be useful to us. Else he has to leave or sit on the bench.
Mata, Lukaku and Sanchez are earning north of £700,000 a week between them - not including scoring/assists/appearance bonuses etc - which is an absolutely staggering figure given the next to nothing output they provide. They're also taking up valuable bench space that our many talented academy graduates could make far better use of - not to mention the strain their combined salaries are putting on the clubs wage bill.
We have to ship them out at the next available opportunity.
We have to ship them out at the next available opportunity.
I agree on Mata too. When I see people talking about how important they are for our quality in depth I wonder if they realise that getting rid also means recruiting more suitable players. As it is 70.7% on the Caf want rid of Sanchez in the summer and 60.4% Lukaku. I don't think those numbers are reactionary, I think it's foresight.
Would definately sell Sanchez, but not too sure about Lukaku.
Lukaku, despite his poor overall play, is a proven goalscorer in the EPL. His record speaks for itself and it would be very hard to find a player with that record.
That said, when we go from Rashford to Lukaku, the dynamics of our attacking play changes. Although Lukaku runs in behind, he's just not as fluent and comfortable interchanging like Rashford is.
Going forward, I would definately replace Sanchez with a pacey left winger to rotate with Martial.
As I said, not too sure about Lukaku, though.
Lukaku, despite his poor overall play, is a proven goalscorer in the EPL. His record speaks for itself and it would be very hard to find a player with that record.
That said, when we go from Rashford to Lukaku, the dynamics of our attacking play changes. Although Lukaku runs in behind, he's just not as fluent and comfortable interchanging like Rashford is.
Going forward, I would definately replace Sanchez with a pacey left winger to rotate with Martial.
As I said, not too sure about Lukaku, though.
Sanchez is just as ”proven” and was a bigger EPL star at Arsenal than Lukaku has ever been. Doesn’t really say much about the present though.
But Lukaku played well and scored goals for us last season. Sanchez, to date, hasnt done so.
Do people still have the same opinion after the Chelsea game? I wanted both gone before Monday.
I thought both players put in maximum effort and neither let the side down with mistakes. They didn't really contribute much directly but I appreciated their performances. My opinion has changed slightly on Sanchez, I thought this was his best performance, he looked very lively, made the right runs and pressed effectively. If he can replicate that form for the rest of the season, I would be happy for him to stay. With Lukaku I still want to see more. He has a harder job as he is playing in his unfavoured position, but will have to add goals and assists to his game from the right if he stays, otherwise I think the funds from his sale would be more beneficial than having him as an 'option'.
I thought both players put in maximum effort and neither let the side down with mistakes. They didn't really contribute much directly but I appreciated their performances. My opinion has changed slightly on Sanchez, I thought this was his best performance, he looked very lively, made the right runs and pressed effectively. If he can replicate that form for the rest of the season, I would be happy for him to stay. With Lukaku I still want to see more. He has a harder job as he is playing in his unfavoured position, but will have to add goals and assists to his game from the right if he stays, otherwise I think the funds from his sale would be more beneficial than having him as an 'option'.
Sanchez was giving it everything, you have to give him that at least. Still not the quality youd expect for that money, but it isnt for a lack of effort or a bad attitude, at least.
Lukaku is a good option to have. If he is happy to be a squad player we shouldnt be in a rush to push him out.
Lukaku is a good option to have. If he is happy to be a squad player we shouldnt be in a rush to push him out.
Having a £75 million striker on high wages as a "squad player" is not optimal. Assuming we can get anywhere near what we paid for him, selling him should be a no-brainer. That's Pogba/Virgil van Dijk levels of money that we could put to much better use in the transfer market.
You're right about it not being optimal. And I'd definitely ship him out in the medium term but for nxt season there are more urgent priorities.
I am a big fan of Lukaku but he is not a player who can come in and have a positive impact in one off games. He is a bit like Rooney used to be in that he needs a run of games and if he gets them is fully capable of scoring 8 or 9 games in a row. As such, if Ole has decided Rashford is going to be his first choice striker which I think is evident then Lukaku is not suitable for a backup role and should probably go.
Alexis I have no clue about as I find it completely perplexing that he has gone from being up there with Hazard and Aguero to being completely un-noteworthy whenever he plays. It would almost make more sense if he was completely terrible but he still works his socks off, his touch is still good, doesn't even look like he has lost that much pace honestly but it just consistently leads to nothing. I feel he should be given a season as backup striker, maybe? I don't know honestly.
Alexis I have no clue about as I find it completely perplexing that he has gone from being up there with Hazard and Aguero to being completely un-noteworthy whenever he plays. It would almost make more sense if he was completely terrible but he still works his socks off, his touch is still good, doesn't even look like he has lost that much pace honestly but it just consistently leads to nothing. I feel he should be given a season as backup striker, maybe? I don't know honestly.
I feel genuinely sorry for Sanchez. He works his nuts off and I actually think he looks pretty sharp in an odd way...... Just absolutely nothing he tries comes off.
Flicks go out of play, over hit passes, misdirected passes, every 50/50 seems to bounce of 6 or 7 sets of legs and never end up at his feet. It just doesn't work and we should offload if we can find anybody to take him.
With Lukaku, he's a very good goal scorer (You can't argue with his record). I'd sell if any decent offer came in (Around 50Mil) which I don't think is unrealistic. I wouldn't be disappointed if he stayed though as I still think he can grab goals against 70% of teams in the League / domestic cups.
Flicks go out of play, over hit passes, misdirected passes, every 50/50 seems to bounce of 6 or 7 sets of legs and never end up at his feet. It just doesn't work and we should offload if we can find anybody to take him.
With Lukaku, he's a very good goal scorer (You can't argue with his record). I'd sell if any decent offer came in (Around 50Mil) which I don't think is unrealistic. I wouldn't be disappointed if he stayed though as I still think he can grab goals against 70% of teams in the League / domestic cups.
Keep both, we need a squad in depth.
I would get rid of both. Lukaku could feel hardest done by in all of this but he just doesn't fit the mold of the type of forward to compliment Martial, Rashford and Pogba. His touch isn't good enough to mesh well in a free flowing attacking team. I liken him to RVN in 2006, no doubting his goalscoring ability but letting him go and bringing in a more pacy forward (eventually Tevez) will create a much more potent and fluid attack.
I thought Sanchez might have a renaissance under Ole as the more attacking set up should have favoured him but whether his legs have gone or his confidence is shot to pieces he just can't replicate his best form here.
I just don't see them having an impact off the bench (or at least not enough to justify the combined £600K per week they earn).
I thought Sanchez might have a renaissance under Ole as the more attacking set up should have favoured him but whether his legs have gone or his confidence is shot to pieces he just can't replicate his best form here.
I just don't see them having an impact off the bench (or at least not enough to justify the combined £600K per week they earn).