No.
What we absolutely need is a CM.
What would be good: A LB, a CB and a backup RB on top of that.
What we absolutely need is a CM.
What would be good: A LB, a CB and a backup RB on top of that.
Major surgery needed?
- Thread starter Walters_19_MuFc
- Start date
1 or 2 CM
A proper winger
a fullback
probably a CB
4 or 5 players needed. Would call that major surgery
A proper winger
a fullback
probably a CB
4 or 5 players needed. Would call that major surgery
Will second that. A good CM and an LB would go some way towards fixing our issues.
----------De Gea---------------
Rafael-Smalling-Evans--Buttner
-------Carrick-Fellaini-----------
Nani------Mata/Rooney----Kagawa
------------Van Persie------------
Knowing what we know about who's off in the summer, this is probably our strongest side going into next season. The bolded players are question marks, either not good enough, too frequently injured or rumoured to be off. And that's just stopping the decline, i haven't even mentioned areas we need to strengthen in order to move forward such as a replacement for Carrick or a new centre back.
I do however think a good manager will galvanise us again and players such as Carrick, Nani, Kagawa, maybe even Fellaini can be a part of the team going forward. All hinges on who we appoint.
Rafael-Smalling-Evans--Buttner
-------Carrick-Fellaini-----------
Nani------Mata/Rooney----Kagawa
------------Van Persie------------
Knowing what we know about who's off in the summer, this is probably our strongest side going into next season. The bolded players are question marks, either not good enough, too frequently injured or rumoured to be off. And that's just stopping the decline, i haven't even mentioned areas we need to strengthen in order to move forward such as a replacement for Carrick or a new centre back.
I do however think a good manager will galvanise us again and players such as Carrick, Nani, Kagawa, maybe even Fellaini can be a part of the team going forward. All hinges on who we appoint.
We don't need major surgery. Just a competent midfield (that is 2 starters coming in) a left back and a center back.
And a top drawer manager.
And a top drawer manager.
I read this part and stopped right away.
Jamie Redknapp, aka Rent a gob. He knows literally nothing about what it takes to manage a team and what United need.
Never was needed, still isn't. I can't wait for next season so that the players can shove it up arses of the ungrateful doubters and pathetic pundits.
Players that are rotated mindlessly will never stay fit. Change the rotation and the fitness of players will vastly improve.
For me it's difficult to judge our players this year-as playing for Moyes apparently was no picnic. All along I've thought we needed an upgrade at LB and CM. Otherwise our squad seems solid to me.
It's not all that bad. We probably won't have Europe so our players won't need to be rotated as much. If anything, we could afford to trim the squad and bring in talented players to strengthen the first team.
Backup RB (young player)
First Choice CB
First Choice LB
First Choice CM
That's the most we need imo.
Not many - but that's not all down to the manager. Some are desperate to believe that moving Moyes on will solve all of the problems we have. It would be nice if that were the case, but it my opinion, it isnt.
We have a number of players who, in my opinion arent good enough. We're losing three top drawer players in Vidic, Evra and Ferdinand. Its probably the right time, but those who need to step in have done nothing this season to suggest thay're capable of doing so.
We'll see what happens in the summer - but there is deadwood that needs to go and a significant injection of qwuality is needed. Given what we are losing, in my opinion we need 5 players - a right back, left back, centre back a wide player and at least one central miefielder. That is "major surgery" by any clubs standards when you consider that at least four of those players would probably be regular starters.
What's happening with Varela? From what i've seen he looks good enough, surely good enough to play ahead of Smalling?
I don't follow the reserves any more. So don't really know how he's progressing if I'm honest.
Seems sound to me. Personally I'd rather see us stick with Smalling-Jones-Evans at CB, either looking to Thorpe and Keane or just bringing in back-up, and buy two top CMs. I'd like us to hit that problem on the head once and for all.
But I agree with the approach. Our squad has plenty of top talent in it, including quite a few world class players. It desperately needs a better midfield, and there's some tinkering to be done in defence, but a good coach with a good system is what we really need to get these players reaching their potential again. Caftards have never been very good at telling the difference between good players struggling in an out-of-form team, and bad players. We have the former, for the most part.
That said, let's get rid of Young.
It won't solve all the problems but it solves arguably the biggest problem which was a manager who was out of his depth, had run out of ideas and could not motivate the players. Poor form is not all the manager, form fluctuates but it's pretty obvious that there was no belief in what moyes was doing and the players had no support for him.There is deadwood, there is work to be done but there is also plenty of talent and room for improvement with what is there.
We need a bit of an exodus in my opinion, but only around five additions. We have enough quantity in the squad - too much really - but it needs to be refined and a more balanced squad. Not forgetting that we are unlikely to play in Europe next year, so we will benefit from having a fresh squad regularly, as Liverpool have this season. There is no necessity to have a very large squad. One thing we can certainly improve on, is continuity in our first team which has hindered certain players development. Next season, I expect us to play with a lot of cohesion and team understanding which will enhance our chances greatly, as it has for Liverpool.
3 first team signings and one or 2 back ups would be perfect. 2 central midfielders and a left back to replace evra, nothing huge. A center back too would be ideal. We don't need a huge make over but we do need to spend.
So this is the squad we have left who have minutes this season. I've removed Vidic, Giggs, Fabio from the list. Now lets say worst case scenario we don't qualify for Europe, that's roughly 10 games less to play next season! So rotation won't be required as much, therefore we can trim the squad a fair bit and plug the gaps with first choice options.
Goalkeepers:
David de Gea...........23......2970
Anders Lindegaard....30......90
Centre Backs:
Phil Jones...............22......1970
Chris Smalling..........24......1759
Jonny Evans...........26......1375
Rio Ferdinand..........35......859
Fullbacks:
Patrice Evra............32......2610
Rafael....................23......1413
Alexander Büttner....25......410
Central Midfield:
Michael Carrick.........32......2098
Tom Cleverley..........24......1505
Marouane Fellaini......26......1014
Darren Fletcher........30......600
Anderson................26......155
Wingers:
Antonio Valencia......28......1766
Adnan Januzaj.........19......1426
Juan Mata...............25......1041
Shinji Kagawa..........25......966
Ashley Young...........28......938
Nani.......................27......507
Wilfried Zaha...........21......30
Strikers:
Wayne Rooney.........28......2356
Robin van Persie.......30......1459
Danny Welbeck........23......1288
Chicharito...............25......722
Players out on Loan not listed above:
Nick Powell
Jesse Lingard
Michael Keane
William Keane
Tom Thorpe
Davide Petrucci
Jack Barmby
Tom Lawrence
Liam Grimshaw
Tyler Blackett
Ángelo Henríquez
Federico Macheda
Bebe
Goalkeepers:
David de Gea...........23......2970
Anders Lindegaard....30......90
Centre Backs:
Phil Jones...............22......1970
Chris Smalling..........24......1759
Jonny Evans...........26......1375
Rio Ferdinand..........35......859
Fullbacks:
Patrice Evra............32......2610
Rafael....................23......1413
Alexander Büttner....25......410
Central Midfield:
Michael Carrick.........32......2098
Tom Cleverley..........24......1505
Marouane Fellaini......26......1014
Darren Fletcher........30......600
Anderson................26......155
Wingers:
Antonio Valencia......28......1766
Adnan Januzaj.........19......1426
Juan Mata...............25......1041
Shinji Kagawa..........25......966
Ashley Young...........28......938
Nani.......................27......507
Wilfried Zaha...........21......30
Strikers:
Wayne Rooney.........28......2356
Robin van Persie.......30......1459
Danny Welbeck........23......1288
Chicharito...............25......722
Players out on Loan not listed above:
Nick Powell
Jesse Lingard
Michael Keane
William Keane
Tom Thorpe
Davide Petrucci
Jack Barmby
Tom Lawrence
Liam Grimshaw
Tyler Blackett
Ángelo Henríquez
Federico Macheda
Bebe
Michael Carrick was a better player last year than he was then. Rooney is just about better than he was and RVP is better than Tevez.
Oh and pretty much anyone is better than Hargreaves at right wing, even Mata.
So 5 from 11 from a team that won the Champion's League
People want us to go from our current position to Bayern Munich level of perfect first 11 and squad in the space of one summer. It's a pipe dream.
I'd replace the outgoing Evra, Vidic and Rio with one left back and one centre back, and add a central midfielder. That's the necessities covered to ensure we can contend for the title in my opinion.
With a proper coach next season I think many people will be surprised how good some of our current players can be.
I'd replace the outgoing Evra, Vidic and Rio with one left back and one centre back, and add a central midfielder. That's the necessities covered to ensure we can contend for the title in my opinion.
With a proper coach next season I think many people will be surprised how good some of our current players can be.
There is room for improvement - but for me, without quality additions we're not going to get close to the best sides in the PL or in Europe - and that's the issue.
Easy to sit here where we are now and say that Top 4 is realistic with the squad we have - but the ambitions should be higher.
The underinvestment means we need a number of players. Had these issues been addressed sporadically over the last couple of years we'd be in a much better position than we are now.
Looking at the squad, it's not actually all that bad. I'd be removing players that are simply not good enough, nor young enough to warrant time being given to. I'd sign a leader at the back and promote Michael Keane. Fullback options require some attention, I'd prefer to keep Evra for at least another year as a backup option as he's a useful leader to have in the squad and still more than capable. Central Midfield really needs work as we all know, I'd cut our losses on Fellaini right away, he's simply not up to it and has never looked like a United midfielder. I'd bring in two quality first choice midfielders to form the backbone of the team, with Carrick used as squad material alongside Fletcher and Clev. I'd then trim our Winger options and promote Lingard. Those players should be more than enough to get us back into the Top 4. Strikers/Goalkeepers need no work. At most we need 5 new signings, we can reduce that to 4 if we keep Fellaini for another season, thereby reducing the need of another CM.
Players I'd Sell/Leave:
Rio Ferdinand
Alexander Büttner
Anderson
Ashley Young
Antonio Valencia
Federico Macheda
Marouane Fellaini
--------------------------------------
Goalkeepers:
David de Gea...........23......2970
Anders Lindegaard....30......90
Centre Backs:
Phil Jones...............22......1970
Chris Smalling..........24......1759
Jonny Evans...........26......1375
First Choice Centre Back
Michael Keane - Promoted
Fullbacks:
Patrice Evra............32......2610
Rafael....................23......1413
First Choice Left Back
Backup Right Back
Central Midfield:
Michael Carrick.........32......2098
Tom Cleverley..........24......1505
Darren Fletcher........30......600
First Choice Central Midfielder
First Choice Central Midfielder
Wingers:
Adnan Januzaj.........19......1426
Juan Mata...............25......1041
Shinji Kagawa..........25......966
Nani.......................27......507
Wilfried Zaha...........21......30
Jesse Lingard - Promoted
Strikers:
Wayne Rooney.........28......2356
Robin van Persie.......30......1459
Danny Welbeck........23......1288
Chicharito...............25......722
Players I'd Sell/Leave:
Rio Ferdinand
Alexander Büttner
Anderson
Ashley Young
Antonio Valencia
Federico Macheda
Marouane Fellaini
--------------------------------------
Goalkeepers:
David de Gea...........23......2970
Anders Lindegaard....30......90
Centre Backs:
Phil Jones...............22......1970
Chris Smalling..........24......1759
Jonny Evans...........26......1375
First Choice Centre Back
Michael Keane - Promoted
Fullbacks:
Patrice Evra............32......2610
Rafael....................23......1413
First Choice Left Back
Backup Right Back
Central Midfield:
Michael Carrick.........32......2098
Tom Cleverley..........24......1505
Darren Fletcher........30......600
First Choice Central Midfielder
First Choice Central Midfielder
Wingers:
Adnan Januzaj.........19......1426
Juan Mata...............25......1041
Shinji Kagawa..........25......966
Nani.......................27......507
Wilfried Zaha...........21......30
Jesse Lingard - Promoted
Strikers:
Wayne Rooney.........28......2356
Robin van Persie.......30......1459
Danny Welbeck........23......1288
Chicharito...............25......722
Buying fellaini and Mata hasn't helped, we didn't need either of them and they don't address any of the problems we had, we have to sign the players we needed last summer and a few extra players in this window so yes an injection of quality is needed but we cant under estimate the negative impact moyes has had and how reversing this will also improve the squad.
A FB who can play RB or LB. A LB. Two CMs, at least one of whom is in the Fabregas/Gundogan mould. A senior CB - a Dante-like purchase would be nice. Maybe a top class attacker.
5 players.
That's with:
Anderson
Vidic
Rio
Hernandez
Young
... leaving.
5 players.
That's with:
Anderson
Vidic
Rio
Hernandez
Young
... leaving.
a left back, a center back, 2 central midfielder. an all around attacker would be a great bonus.
You can't estimate it at all until we see what happens.
It's not a given that players performing poorly or not looking like they have the ability to play at the very highest standard will suddenly improve under a new manager.
People are making assumptions that now Moyes has gone its all rosy. Certain players looked questionable under Fergie last year, and have shown nothing to suggest they can hack it this year either. Some players playing regularly should be squad players at best. It seems the club are aware of the issues and will try to rectify them - but they need to get their finger out.
A manager needs to be appointed in enough time to avoid last summer's debacle.
I actually disagree with this. Granted it doesn't happen with every manager, but there are examples of a manager coming in and stamping his mark on a club straight away. Confidence is vital in football and sport in general. If a manager can restore that confidence quickly then performances will get better. It's clear our squad is low on confidence at the moment and it's also been clear for a number of weeks that there are a number of senior players who weren't willing to give the full 100% in every game.
Get back to those standards and we'll improve.
I only expect a minor tinkering. I think the side most people would have this season as our 'best 11' will remain pretty much with maybe Vidic and possible Evra going.
In a years time I fully expect we'd all agree that the idea the club in spring of 2014 needed "major surgery" was absolute nonsense.
In a years time I fully expect we'd all agree that the idea the club in spring of 2014 needed "major surgery" was absolute nonsense.
It's not all rosy but it is likely that a new manager can get more than Rooney and DDG to play anywhere near to their potential, I don't see much hope for the likes of young and anderson but there are plenty of other players who can perform better, signing lots of new players won't guarantee improvement either unless they are the right players. The players may have over achieved last season but have under achieved this season and a lot of that was down to the managers at the time.
We do need to get on with it though, new manager needs to be appointed ASAP and then start getting players in ideally before the World Cup, how realistic that is we will have to wait and see.
2 midfielders, left back, centre back, winger as an absolute minimum.
would prefer 3 midfielders, left back, centre back, 2 wingers and a right back plus a striker if we're selling rooney/rvp.
would prefer 3 midfielders, left back, centre back, 2 wingers and a right back plus a striker if we're selling rooney/rvp.
No way is RVP better than Tevez when partnered with Rooney though.
Its funny how everyone is now saying the squad is good enough for top 4..
Martinez said it before our game, Robson on SS, Yorke,etc and even Gary going on about the quality of the players and their desire to do well for the club..
Why today?
Two quality CM's are a must, if we had a mobile, technical, quick and strong Midfield base we'd get more from the undoubted quality we have in attack.
If we are getting Van Gaal as manager he apparently favours a front 3 so I don't see us adding another attacker but we should ship out Valencia and Young.
In defense I'd be happy if Evra stayed on another season so we could hold off getting a LB, and I think we'll bring in a top CB as that would seem a likely choice for a new, experienced manager to make given the injury prone nature of our CB's and the fact they are still unproven without a top CB next to them.
If we are getting Van Gaal as manager he apparently favours a front 3 so I don't see us adding another attacker but we should ship out Valencia and Young.
In defense I'd be happy if Evra stayed on another season so we could hold off getting a LB, and I think we'll bring in a top CB as that would seem a likely choice for a new, experienced manager to make given the injury prone nature of our CB's and the fact they are still unproven without a top CB next to them.
Class is permanent - the point I'm making is that I question whether some if these players have ever been good enough.
Seems now we're likely to appoint a bloke who is at the World Cup till mid July, so how can he added the quality of what as have?
The worry is that the club persist with certain players, who prove not to be the answer and its another season wasted.
Tevez was little more than a workhorse in that team and his scoring rate was worse than Welbeck's is this season. I'd rather have a present day Danny for that role. He'd offer more up top as well.
I'd also have Valencia ahead of Hargreaves as a defensive winger.
That's my fear too. Regardless of who the manager is there are a handful of players who need to go.
Van Gaal will want a number two he trusts. He'll listen to the staff currently at United and will dig up a list of players. It wouldn't take long to organise a list of players he wants. Van Gaal has been all over Europe watching his players and opposition players, he'll know who are the diamonds to go after to fill the voids in our squad. All he needs to know is where our voids are, something which i'm sure he's probably already noted having watched United a few times scouting RvP and if he doesn't, that;s where his #2 would come in and the current United staff.
Van Gaal ain't Moyes, he will take action straight away but will also look to promote young players like he did at Munich. Will Keane and Jesse Lingard imo will be the stand out choices for promotion. Both are imo ready.
There are players who need to go but it won't take much for a better managers to get more out of some of the other players, look at what pulis has done at palace. He took over a squad that looked like they had no chance of staying up and full of players who weren't good enough to stay up but look at what he has done with them, he has got a similar points tally to what moyes has got in the same period and they are staying up with ease. He did that by working with what he had, improving the players and a new manager can do that here as well as adding to the squad.
Appointing van gaal isn't ideal, would have to hope holland don't get very far ion the World Cup but a lot of the players will also be at the World Cup or on holiday so he won't miss much time and will be working with them in purée season. The bigger concern would be the transfer window but I think hopefully we could find a way round that especially in van gaal approves some of the targets we were already pursuing.
The squad isn't that bad, and we only need a few players to put us on the right track again.
Couple of midfielders, and at least one centre back. Although i'd be happy with Jones, Evans, Smalling and Keane we probably need one more
Couple of midfielders, and at least one centre back. Although i'd be happy with Jones, Evans, Smalling and Keane we probably need one more
Tevez's second season sure, but his first season he was a fair bit better than Welbeck even if he wasn't ever as good for us as he became at City/Juventus.
Valencia and Hargreaves are extremely different players.