Squad Players

Edgar Allan Pillow

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and to extend, 'non world class' players. Do you think we should be in the market for one or two?

They may not have been top class, but we always found sue for Park Ji-Sung and John O'Shea. So I was thinking, maybe a good squad player or two may not be a bad choice after all. They are not that expensive and do not push for regular starting place...but would definitely be a good choice to have in the bench.

Worthwhile thinking? Any current (and/or ageing) players that spring to mind?
 
Lindegaard
Jones, Smalling
Fabio, Buttner
Cleverely, Anderson
Young, Zaha,
Hernandez, Wellbeck
 
We have an amazing squad, what we need are a couple of top players to go straight into the starting 11.
 
They are not squad palyers, but currently bench strength challening for first team appearance. Unlike a 'squad' player, lack of gametime would make most of them ask for a move (as seen by Hernandez, Kagawa, Anderson & Fabio). Don't think a GK can ever be a squad player ;)
 
We have plenty of squad players already. What we need is some real quality, not more players that can put in a shift for us.
 
I echo what most have said, we have plenty squad players. What we lack in some arears is some top quality and then those that are replaced in the first 11 will go into the squad player pool.
 
We are strong everywhere except central midfield. Feels like we've been saying this forever.

At least we actually bought a midfielder this summer, but still not at the caliber or with the skillset we require, though I hope Fellaini can improve. He's still young. I still think we need a top class box to box player.

Is Thiago getting antsy about not playing much at Bayern yet? :nervous:
 
I actually think that our biggest problem is that we have too many squad players.
 
Absolute Fruit Cake said:
I think most are confused here. Squad players are those who you make a move to retain. Most in our squad are players who did not make the cut or have fell donw hard from it. Big difference.
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And these squad players that you want us to buy, are they going to be better than the players we have that don't get games as it is?
 
Amar__ said:
I actually think that our biggest problem is that we have too many squad players.
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I agree. I think the squad needs trimming and we need a couple of class players to go straight into the first team.
 
Absolute Fruit Cake said:
Nope. As I mention in OP< players like O'Shea, Park etc are good to have in the squad to be utilised when used. Not Young/Anderson kind who need to be rid off it they don't deliver.
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I can't say I agree with you. You essentially want to swap squad players with other squad players.
 
We have a squad full of them, so no. We need top players. Right now arguably the only top (world class) players we have are Rooney, van Persie, de Gea and Rafael.
 
Orton said:
We have a squad full of them, so no. We need top players. Right now arguably the only top (world class) players we have are Rooney, van Persie, de Gea and Rafael.
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Rafael isn't world class yet, look at someone like Dani Alves for instance in his prime or Evra/Cole and Rafael is still off their level. Can get there though.
 
I think we're a great midfielder and a very good left back away from competing at the very top again. Maybe one or two more good players or talented youngsters with the inevitable departure of players like Rio and Giggs.
 
Cina said:
I think we're a great midfielder and a very good left back away from competing at the very top again. Maybe one or two more good players or talented youngsters with the inevitable departure of players like Rio and Giggs.
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We may still need two in the middle, I feel. I felt we needed two in the summer, then we bought Fellaini - although that hasn't, as of yet, convinced me that we no longer need two. He hasn't looked to solve one of the two issues I felt we had.

Januzaj has been a revelation, otherwise the wide area would have been another place we could do with top quality. Most of our options there have flattered to decieve for one reason or another, and haven't really performed to a level that screams 'regular first XI United player'.

And yes, I think Nani is very good too.
 
I don't think you should ever set out to purchase squad players. You want every player to be a real threat to another players position. Ashley Young is what happens when you purchase a squad player.
 
One world class midfielder, one left back and a left winger and we are sorted in my opinion. feck it, let's just get Baines and Coentrao in January. Blow the summer budget on a midfielder. Hopefully.
 
2 Man Midfield said:
One world class midfielder, one left back and a left winger and we are sorted in my opinion. feck it, let's just get Baines and Coentrao in January. Blow the summer budget on a midfielder. Hopefully.
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Why would we get both Baines and Coentrao?
 
Sarni said:
Why would we get both Baines and Coentrao?
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Coentrao could play in any one of those 3 positions. I wouldn't agree in getting Baines and Coentrao, but yeah any would be nice but at least Coentrao would be versatile.
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
Coentrao could play in any one of those 3 positions. I wouldn't agree in getting Baines and Coentrao, but yeah any would be nice but at least Coentrao would be versatile.
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I'd rather we signed Coentrao to be honest. He's gone off for a while and hasn't really performed for Madrid last season which is why they were trying to get rid but I think he could get back on track with consistent first team action (be it in midfield, defence or on the wing). He has plenty of talent and won't cost a bomb, he's also younger than Baines and can play in more positions (including left wing which will come handy).
 
Weird thread considering our squad is far too big already. It needs trimming down.

Giggs, Young, Anderson and Ferdinand I can't see being here next season. We have quality players we are under using and we have quality youngsters who need more of a look in. I fear we'll also lose at least one of Nani/Kagawa/Hernandez, which would be a shame as I like all of them.
 
Sarni said:
Why would we get both Baines and Coentrao?
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Baines for left back, Coentrao for left wing. I can't think of many left wing targets that are attainable. Di Maria and Reus are probably out of range, and I think Coentrao could do a job there. Can also play in midfield.
 
Pexbo said:
I don't think you should ever set out to purchase squad players. You want every player to be a real threat to another players position. Ashley Young is what happens when you purchase a squad player.
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Fergie in his book stated that Young was bought as a replacement for Giggs.
 
I don't think we need squad players at all, we have quite a few players that are versatile and can be utilised in various positions if need be, such as Jones and Welbeck. So I really don't think that looking for a utility squad player like O'Shea or Park is needed.

What we need is quality that can immediately impact our first team. The standard of the first team - bar a few players like Rooney and RvP - is not a massive difference between the rest of the squad and that is not positive either.

If you look at the squad/utility players we have or should be considered that, you could say Welbeck, Jones, Fellaini, Smalling, Valencia, Hernandez, Cleverley, etc. There's quite a few, I feel we are well stocked in that department.
 
psychdelicblues said:
Fergie in his book stated that Young was bought as a replacement for Giggs.
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I think it's probably worth stating that he meant "as a left winger to fill the left wing void". Calling him a replacement for Giggs is absurd.
 
Pexbo said:
I don't think you should ever set out to purchase squad players. You want every player to be a real threat to another players position. Ashley Young is what happens when you purchase a squad player.
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psychdelicblues said:
Fergie in his book stated that Young was bought as a replacement for Giggs.
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Pexbo said:
I think it's probably worth stating that he meant "as a left winger to fill the left wing void". Calling him a replacement for Giggs is absurd.
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Fergie:
'I signed Ashley Young to replace Giggs'
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Whatever you think Fergie meant, Young was involved in nearly all the pre-season games and started 8 of the 9 first PL games of the 2011/12 season, before injury. Despite the niggling injuries throughout that season he played a part in 33 games, including 25 league games.
He has now evolved to be a squad player, but Fergie did not buy him to be a bench-warming squad player.
 
I think with Rene at Fulham, one or two of our squad players could head there in January.
 
Why are people hellbent on Coentrao as a left winger when we have Januzaj? Did I miss something?
 
Id love to see us bring in Mohamed Diame off West Ham, hes quick, presses well and energetic, not necessarily to be a starter but to come on in certain games to do a job, beats having Ando there anyway
 
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