Blimey, is this your Football Manager game or something.
What do we still need? Post Summer 2016 edition
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
Blimey, is this your Football Manager game or something.
read the previous post
I'd like us to get a MF destroyer and a proper RW for the cash we would splash for Griezmann.
think a CM will be the top priority, i like Nzonzi and think hes been superb for Sevilla everytime i have seen him. Goretzka is another who i have liked when watched him, Weigl as well but dont see any chance of that happening,
As much as i like Griezmann i dont see where he would fit in to our side, he certainly dont fit Jose usual criteria for a ST, i would rather we spunked the cash on Kane as i think he would suit us better and his goal record is superb in the premiership.
A RW maybe as well as Miki has looked quality in the AMC area, would also give us more options. not sure who is top quality around at the moment to be honest.
As much as i like Griezmann i dont see where he would fit in to our side, he certainly dont fit Jose usual criteria for a ST, i would rather we spunked the cash on Kane as i think he would suit us better and his goal record is superb in the premiership.
A RW maybe as well as Miki has looked quality in the AMC area, would also give us more options. not sure who is top quality around at the moment to be honest.
Mkhy Griezmann Martial
Zlatan
Or
Griezmann Mkhy Martial
Zlatan
If he joins, he's likely replacing where Rooney was playing at the start of the season.
With Jones injured again it's back to wondering if we do need an extra CB added to the mix.
If we want to fix all the holes in our squad this summer, then yes, a CB should definitely be on the list. However, I'd prefer we limit ourselves to 3-4 class signings, and make do for another season where we're least desperate, like CB and LB. Priorities for me should be a DM of some sort, a RB and added quality in attack.
I'm not sure Mourinho sees it that way, though, and might prioritize a strong back four.
Currently it looks like we need a LB more than a RB.
I'd agree except that Jones can't stay fit, we need 4 CB's for a season IMO so it's not so much about the quality (though that is an issue) but about the lack of options we'd have for a 60 game season when relying on a guy who is always getting injured.
I think both fullback positions are a bit of an issue, Valencia is having a great season but we have no quality cover/competition for him. With LB I think the club still hope Shaw will make it long term but the problem is the ones filling the role while we wait and see are not good enough. Kolasinac on a free would be a decent option as he can play LB and CB.
I agree, was just commenting on the current situation.
You can absolutely make arguments for either position being a bigger need than the other. The way I see it, we have numbers and just about sufficient quality at LB to get by for another season, even though it is a position we could certainly do with upgrading if Shaw is not getting a look back in. However, we have one RB, and I just don't rate Valencia as the demi-god the caf does, even though he's improved a lot there. He's also a nearly 32 year old who relies almost entirely on his athleticism. RB is just a more pressing area of need for me.
Yeah, nothing is simple with our fullback situation right now, very tricky one for Jose in the summer.
I think we need a CB, RB to compete with Valencia. A CM to rotate with Carrick/Herrera, and a striker to back up Ibra
To go
Young
Darmian
Rooney
Fellaini
To go
Young
Darmian
Rooney
Fellaini
Well, he'll either make two signings or just one. The left-back spot is probably our weakest link in our starting XI, even if Blind occasionally has very good games there. I've said this before, ideally, we sign someone who can play either side like Azpilicueta, someone who can cover as long as Shaw isn't in form or Valencia needs a rest. Eventually we sign another player, if there's a need.
Sidibie would probably be our best option if we go for a fullback that can play both flanks. I think he's stronger at RB but has looked solid at LB when I've seen him there. I have to admit I prefer the look of Semedo for RB but he might not be the practical option under the circumstances.
Not much has changed since the start of the season. Another attacker that essentially replaces Rooney (Griezmann), a more defensively minded central midfielder and definitely a new right back to push Valencia.
We're fine everywhere else.
LB?
I think Shaw deserves the time and patience to make that role his own. I believe in him, and I like Blind as back up. Darmian can sod off, he's shite.
If Blind was to ever move on, or Mourinho wanted another left back to push or better Shaw, then I wouldn't be averse to improving the side, but this thread asks what do we need. For me, we struggle to score goals and finish chances (see Griezmann), our midfield cover is poor (see new guy) and we're an injury to Valencia away from having a hugely weakened right flank (see new guy).
We need proper cover for Ibra as well, Martial is a wide forward and now realizing that, and Rashford doesn't have the game to be a Jose #9, he'll need to develop his wide play to get his minutes IMO.
Rashford is cover for Ibrahimovic. Very good cover at that. Why are you still carrying on as if he isn't?
Seems like we mostly agree here. IMO signing someone who's mainly a RB, but can cover LB competently, and hope Shaw pulls his finger out is the optimal way to improve that area of the squad this summer. Then we can look at LB in January or summer 2018 if Shaw is no good.
But how much time should Shaw get? A club the size of Manchester United can't continue having a "weak" left side for another season. You're basing your thoughts on the "pro-injury" Shaw and that he would be really good as the #1 LB (therefore no need to get a new one). But I'm thinking the other way - maybe Shaw can't be as good as he was thought to be anymore? Shouldn't the club try to improve the spot if so? Doesn't that mean that the club needs to get a new LB?
But I really do hope he'll fight for his spot and show that he's a "force to be reckoned with".
Because I don't think he is and I don't think we could rely on him if Ibra got hurt, I also don't think he will take the #9 spot when Ibra leaves in a years time, he doesn't have the attributes Jose likes in a #9, his hold up play is non existent and he has no aerial presence, basically Jose has used him as a striker twice in the last 6 months and that was when we played garbage teams from the Championship.
To be fair as bad as Sidibe was yesterday, I thought Semedo wasn't exactly defensively sound against Schmelzer either. And any decent right-back should be able to deal with Schmelzer IMO.
There are other options like Henrichs, who can play on either side as well. Think we discussed him before. Yep, agreed.
He's still 19. Don't you think there is room for improvement? It's quite common that a player can change the style of play.
I think he is what he is in terms of what his strengths are, it's not about improvement IMO, it is simply about the style required by the manager, same reason he played Eto'o as a RW for Inter, Jose has his preferences for a #9. If we played like Dortmund or Liverpool Rashford would be the #9, but we don't and Jose never has.
I'd give him next season. He and Blind are more than capable of sorting the position out between them. Of course I'm basing my thoughts factoring in a fully fit Shaw. That version of Shaw was excellent at Southampton and was beginning to look the part at United prior to his injury. Why wouldn't I, or those at the club, look for that player to return? He's 21, not 30.
If we're in the same position this time next year, with no clear left back option, then we should be making moves to rectify the situation. As a club that prides itself on the development of young players, or helping those who have encountered trauma, we owe it to Shaw to give him a genuine shot. I don't think giving him a few games at the start of the season, publicity castigating him after the first poor game, and then cutting him out of the first team picture from there out is a particularly fair crack at the whip. I can wait, and I hope Mourinho does too.
To be fair as bad as Sidibe was yesterday, I thought Semedo wasn't exactly defensively sound against Schmelzer either. And any decent right-back should be able to deal with Schmelzer IMO.
Oh yeah I'd agree on that, to me all of these young options are better attacking than defending, which is pretty true of Valencia as well, I just like Semedo in attack more than the others. Heinrichs is good as well, I just wonder if the physicality of Sidibie would be favoured by Mourinho, he's quite a unit for a fullback.
Mourinho is nowhere near as rigid as you like to make out. Rashford is quick, strong, skilful and a very good finisher. If he's consistently putting the ball in the net from the #9 position then he'll replace Ibrahimovic when the time comes. Plus, his hold up play is very good given his age.
For next season we need a holding midfielder with pace, endurance, strength and the passing ability of Carrick. We also need a proper right winger. In the next 2 years, we need a replacement for Zlatan (don't think Jose will trust Rashford to be our sole No.9 until he's abit older). We also need world class CB. I would also say if Shaw doesn't show any improvement this year then we would need a new LB.
I'd love an exciting wide player that could genuinely whip in a cross but I wouldn't even know where to start. Ibrahimovic would score a lot more than he already does.
For some reason I think it's not going to be Sidibe. Despite the fact that you are probably right about the physicality aspect.
Jose has played with the same type of #9 for over a decade, I'm confident you are 100% wrong and we'll have a proper #9 bought within the next 2 summer windows, he wont have a 20 year old with no hold up game leading the line.
A bit more grit at times. And some luck.
I honestly don't know who he'll go for, Meunier would have been Jose's wet dream but his ascension came a season too soon for us as Jose had settled on the 4 positions he was strengthening last summer.
Aurier could be to his liking as well.
Physically he definitely would be, but I'm not sure the club would fancy bringing his drama in, plus we'd have 2 of the starting back 4 leaving for the AFCON every other season.
Fekir, who's slowly getting back to his best again, is quite good at them.
No argument from me there. Just mentioned him because he plays for the same club as Meunier.
Lindeloff, A Carrick replacement (Fabinho perhaps?) , Griezmann, Mbappe (I'm dreaming)
(I'm dreaming)It's interesting that when we bought Darmian the options out there for RB were slim, now there are half a dozen good options in such a short space of time.