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- Feb 12, 2018
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Why not just ask who we would keep, wouldn't that be easier?
Ill admit i havent seen Neto that much, so yeah maybe he will.Neto is going to be class unless his injury hampers his development, it’s the exact type of signing Liverpool would make then elevate them to the next level a bit like Jota and Diaz
If I could somehow find buyers for all the players I'd like to sell:
Keepers:
De Gea - Sell. He is world class at one aspect of goalkeeping, while being amongst the worst in the league at every other single aspect.
Henderson - Sell if we can afford to get another goalkeeper who actually suits what Ten Hag wants amongst all the other things we need. Keep him as #1 for now if we can't. He's not great himself, but he's better than De Gea at communication, control of the box, willingness to play a high line, aerial ability, distribution, etc.
Heaton - Keep him if he's happy to stay as a cheap 3rd choice.
Grant - Release. No point having both he and Heaton on playing contracts. If he actually seems to be a good goalkeeping coach then bring him back in that role.
Defenders:
Shaw - Keep. He has the ability to not only be one of the best in the world, but also the attributes to play a big part in a 'modern' style. Give him one season to show if he can do it, but sell after that if he disappoints again.
Telles - Keep either him or Williams as back-up.
Williams - See above.
AWB - Sell. Incredibly limited player.
Dalot - Keep as cheap back-up.
Maguire - Sell.
Lindelof - Keep as a good 3rd choice.
Varane - Keep and hope that he gets over his injuries and that a run of games allows him to get into form.
Jones - Sell. It's pointless having back-ups who can't stay fit themselves.
Bailly - Sell. See above.
Midfielders:
Pogba - Release.
Matic - Release.
Fred - Keep as either part of the first choice midfield or as the first back-up.
McTominay - Sell if we sign enough midfielders that he's way down the pecking order, keep him as a squad player if we don't. Definitely not in the main 11 anymore though.
VDB - Keep as a bit of a bridge towards ETH's style in the short-term, then make the call on him the following season.
Atackers:
Bruno - Keep and hope that he can be 'tamed' a bit when surrounded with a proper style and players.
Rashford - I want to say 'keep' for one more season and see if he can turn it around under a manager who is (hopefully) moving us in the right direction, but I'm just about out of hope for him. Poor form is one thing, disinterest and laziness is another.
Sancho - Keep.
Greenwood - Release
Martial - Sell.
Lingard - Release.
Mata - Release.
Pereira - Sell.
Elanga - Keep as back-up.
Ronaldo - Completely up to him and ETH to work out. If ETH thinks he can be important either as first choice or as back-up, and if Ronaldo is happy with that, keep him. If not, thank him and sell/release.
Cavani - Release.
So overall, the 15 players I'd definitely sell/release (with a few other borderline cases):
De Gea
Grant
Telles or Williams
AWB
Maguire
Jones
Bailly
Pogba
Matic
Greenwood
Martial
Lingard
Mata
Pereira
Cavani
Bruno cost us last game by missing penalty and then losing the ball for their 3rd goal and was lucky he wasnt sent off. Was constantly losing ball and was hitting wayward passes. Not sure which Bruno you have been watching this season because this is more or less his story this season.On Bruno. I think people have this idea that ETH is Pep. He literally played with Ziyech in his teams. Bruno actually fits his style. I don't think Bruno needs to be tamed. I think outside of Ronaldo, he literally has noone to create for. When he came in, he was creating chances through taking risks and moments of magic out of nowhere, because he has had to. He could also depend on Martial or Rashford, even though not perfect, to make decent runs. The team is morally at its worst and Bruno will always try to have an impact in a game, even when off form, so it's more noticeable. However, he isn't costing us games, he's literally the one of the few players we have trying to win us games.
All these long lists with explanations. Be easier to point out who I'd keep: Ronaldo, Sancho, Varane, Fred. Possibly Maguire. McTominay and Dalot too purely because their salaries are pocket change and can be used for back up. Get rid of everyone else. Priority given to Rashford, Lingard, Pogba, Martial, Mata, Matic. De Gea is on an absolutely insane salary. For that alone I'd look elsewhere, but we need another better rounded keeper. I wouldn't have offered Bruno a new contract, too.
Goalkeepers:
DeGea- Stay
Henderson- If convinced to stay as a backup stay
Heaton- Stay
Central defenders:
Varane- Stay(and project defence around him)
Lindelof- Stay (as Varanes backup)
Maguire- Go if we get 30+ millions out of him (can see Newcastle going for that), if not stay as a backup
Bailly- Go (like him but too much of an injury prone to plan around him)
Jones- Go
Plan of action:
Sign a consistent partner for Varane, on the below at this order :
1. Timber (Ajax)
2. Gvardiol (RBL)
3. Badiashille (Monaco)
Bring back Mengi to cover as replacement for Bailly and also Tuanzebe (if Maguire is sold). I will send Bernard back on loan.
Full backs:
Shaw- Stay
Telles- Go
AWB- Stay (I still think he can improve)
Dalot- Go (if we sign a RB)
Plan of action:
Sign both a LB and RB. Young modern fullback not necessarily designated for first 11. For RB one of Mazraoui/Aarons/Lemptey and maybe Livramento. For LB no really outstanding prospects around that can be realistic for us but we can not go wrong with Theo Hernandez (Milan), Wijndal(AZ) or Di Marco (Inter).
I will bring back Williams if I cant sign any LBs, if I will, I will send him back on loan. I will think about keeping Laird as a backup.
Central midfield:
Fred-Stay
McT- Stay (as a backup) if I sign 3 midfielders go
Pogba-Go
Matic-Go
Bruno-Stay
Mata-Go
Lingard-Go
VBD-Stay (give him a chance)
Plan of action:
Absolute priority!
As a minimum sign a defensive minded MF and a deep central playmaker. Potential candidated
One or two of Rice/Philips/Tchoumameni/Ndidi/ Haidara for DM
one of De Jong/Gravenberch/Fabian Ruiz/Vitinha for CM
Also I will bring back Garner who together with Hannibal will serve as backups. I will not play with AM but if I have to Bruno is good without a cover for now in there.
Wingers
Sancho-Keep
Rashford- Keep (still see him turning it back) will give him one more season
Elanga-Keep
Greenwood- Keep?
Martial-Go
Diallo-Keep
Pelistri-Keep
Chong-Go
Plan of action:
This is tricky as in a first sight we look covered if we have Greenwood back, but we are awfully of form.
I will prioritize of signing a left footed side forward if nothing in here. We need goals and all the other options we have on the right are playmakers.
I will go with one of Rafinha/Anthony in there and keep Diallo/Pellistri/Elanga as backups.
If Rashford continues with bad form plan for a LW the following market.
Striker:
Ronaldo - Stay
Cavani- Go
Plan of action:
I can see Ronaldo leaving to be honest but I will keep him. If he stays I will give captaincy to him and get him involved in installing winning mentality on the team. If we can win something next year as a result it will be one of his biggest accomplishments.
Beside this we are very short on the options on the front, so we need to get at least one big signing in there. Realistic options that would suit the project:
Nunez/Nkunku/Jonathan David/Dembele
If Ronaldo leaves I will go big on Kane (especially if Spurs are out of CHL).
As a wildcard I will sign Richarlison especially if Everton are down in the Championship.
Overall
10 players definitely released or sold
4 players potentially go
6-8 new players signed
25-27 first team players
Perfect situation:
De Gea/Henderson
Timber/Maguire Varane/Lindelof
Mazraoui/AWB Shaw/Theo
Rice/Haidara
Bruno/VDB De Jong/Fred
Rafinha/Elanga Sancho/Rashford
Ronaldo/Nunez
Dreaming!
Yes, but I would expect Ten Hag to bring in a couple of players in this area.Yes, especially Garner I have high hopes for. Would be great if he could act as a squad player, since we will be paper thin in midfield with Pogba and Matic leaving (pending transfers obviously).