Why didn't we sign a right-winger?

[Drz]

Mourinho said we wouldn't in February. If Martial or Mata was sold we probably would have tried to go for someone but with those it was felt we had the numbers in attack.

Thanks for that, a statement from Mourinho I can agree with.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Because Lukaku will play on the right at times. Same with Sanchez.

Bale would have been nice.

 

[L1nk]

We're waiting on Pulisic to become available next season. (i hope)

 

[NoPace]

I can't understand it whatsoever

Douglas Costa, Mahrez, Lucas Moura, Dembele, Justin Kluivert, Malcom, Felipe Anderson, Yarmelenko, Shaquiri etc all moved in the last year or so and I don't think we were interested in any

Fekir was available and Pulisic sounds like he was gettable too - I can't understand it at all

Jose's shortlist

1. Bale
2. Perisic?
3. Willian
4. ?
5. ?

this for me was priority number 1

I'm not sure why Lucas, Kluivert or Yarmolenko or Fekir playing out wide make more sense than just giving Rashford the job and hoping he can be a Callejon type RW getting enough goals to compensate for lesser buildup.

And Dembele wasn't available I don't think.

But yeah, it is weird that our scouts and Mourinho couldn't pick from the promising young wingers around like Malcolm, Brandt, Pulisic (might have cost too much), Bailey, Oyarzabal, Thauvin (or another winger in his early 20s) that we think is ready to make the leap into stardom and pulled the trigger.

 

[buckooo1978]

I'm not sure why Lucas, Kluivert or Yarmolenko or Fekir playing out wide make more sense than just giving Rashford the job and hoping he can be a Callejon type RW getting enough goals to compensate for lesser buildup.

And Dembele wasn't available I don't think.

But yeah, it is weird that our scouts and Mourinho couldn't pick from the promising young wingers around like Malcolm, Brandt, Pulisic (might have cost too much), Bailey, Oyarzabal, Thauvin (or another winger in his early 20s) that we think is ready to make the leap into stardom and pulled the trigger.

can you name one time Rashford played well on the right? I can't- Rashford doesn't have the creative ability someone like Fekir has... I think it's another case of a backup number 9 being asked to do a job rather than buy a specialist - Dembele was available in Summer 17

I think we need players who are more creative- 80% of the teams we play defend deep - we need someone who can unlock a defence rather than a physical player like Rashford

 

[Janson]

Because we're idiots.

 

[NoPace]

can you name one time Rashford played well on the right? I can't- Rashford doesn't have the creative ability someone like Fekir has... I think it's another case of a backup number 9 being asked to do a job rather than buy a specialist - Dembele was available in Summer 17

I think we need players who are more creative- 80% of the teams we play defend deep - we need someone who can unlock a defence rather than a physical player like Rashford

I'm not sure Fekir is any better a RW than Mata is though. He really is a central player. Someone who can both create and beat a man out wide, as Malcolm's stats suggest he can, that's a legit upgrade.

Dembele we should have signed instead of Dortmund in '16, his stats were clear that he was a dominant dribbler and watching him play once was enough to see he was two-footed. It wasn't exactly an under the radar signing. But yeah, we're frustrating. We seem to miss Kante, Mahrez and Dembele type signings when they're cheap but not completely shocking (Kante had the most tackles in Europe when Leicester signed him) and we aren't the team that swoops in once they're proven themselves further either.

Edited to add: I looked it up, and there were multiple Dembele wanters in 2016 when Dortmund paid only 15M for him. I alone wrote:

"RW - Dembele looks incredible and has the numbers to back it up. 12 goals in 17 starts and 4 subs in Ligue 1, from the wing, is incredible for a 28 year old, never mind an 18 year old." and "I too have gone mad with Dembele lust. Looks incredible and his numbers for a kid or a winger in Ligue 1 are phenomenal." and was hardly the only one pushing for him.

We really do need to fire everyone and start all over.

 

[Hoof the ball]

There's absolutely no reason why either Rashford, Martial or Sanchez aren't able to play on RW. PSG successfully managed to move Mbappe there last season, despite having not played there many times before. Obvious talent aside, he kept shape, structure and width. There's zero reason one of the aforementioned three could or should not simply do the requested job if they put enough focus into it.

 

[RedorDead21]

There's absolutely no reason why either Rashford, Martial or Sanchez aren't able to play on RW. PSG successfully managed to move Mbappe there last season, despite having not played there many times before. Obvious talent aside, he kept shape, structure and width. There's zero reason one of the aforementioned three could or should not simply do the requested job if they put enough focus into it.

But they all have had games out on the right last season right but didn't exactly stake a claim. Thats my worry. We used to have wingers who would swap wings throughout the game in Ronaldo and Nani etc. Strangely its Lukaku when he finds himself wide right who put in good crosses and links play well from there....?

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Once Mourinho signed Alexis, he felt that we were fine in attacking areas.

The only way we'd have signed a winger is if Martial went, which I still think will happen. If not in January, then the following summer.

We have enough numbers in our attack, I just think the balance of our attacking selection is wrong. We have too many left wingers.

Going forward, what we need to do is get rid of Mata and/or Martial and buy a top right winger and back up striker leaving us with:

Sanchez/Rashford - Left Wing
Lukaku/New Striker - Striker
New Winger/Lingard - Right Wing

 

[Sunny Jim]

Who was out there that absolutely would have lit it up out there? That was reasonably available and wasn't Willian? Mahrez? Malcom?

I wanted a RW, but to be honest the options weren't really there this year. What we should have done is revamped our fullback situation.

Since we dont have a RW (actually we do, but he is a 33 year old converted right back these days, oh yeah and hes injured) id say whoever we had bought he would be a massive improvment on our current options.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

Because it's 2018 and wingers don't exist anymore?

 

[bucky]

Well, if Mourinho thinks Valencia and Young are still good enough and we are going to play like this:

De Gea

Bailly/Smalling - Lindelof - new CB

Matic

Valencia - Fred - Pogba - Young

Lukaku - Alexis
​

Then, in his mind, we wouldn't need one. Same applies to the diamond or 3-5-2 with a #10. Problem is that Lindelof needs to improve, our CBs need to stay fit and our FBs aren't good enough, just like Ivanovic wasn't anymore at the end of Mourinho's second Chelsea stint.

 

[Cliche Guevara]

I hope Mourinho has a plan. I don’t really care what it is, I just hope he’s made a decision and sticks with it.

My preference is Rashford. Just commit to playing him there and he’ll give us enough goals and seems to be working on his crossing. If we’re playing 4-3-3 he won’t really be getting used as a winger anyway.

The alternative is Sanchez or Martial. Either way, if we haven’t brought anyone in because he’s made a decision and gives it a reasonable chance then no problem.

 

[JK-27]

Mourinho already clearly stated in this mornings press conference that he has a new tactical plan for the season, and part of his frustration is that he's had so many 1st team squad members away for preseason he hasn't had the time he wanted to work on it.

As for not buying a right winger, or any real significant player bar Fred, it's a consequence of the players we want not being either available / clubs requesting a too high transfer fee / player requesting too high wages / agents fee's being too high / player not wanting to join and use Utd as a tactic to get a better deal at existing club (Godin).

Good on the club for not buying players for the sake of it, and only looking to buy if they will improve the squad/the deal makes sense.

 

[RedorDead21]

I hope Mourinho has a plan. I don’t really care what it is, I just hope he’s made a decision and sticks with it.

My preference is Rashford. Just commit to playing him there and he’ll give us enough goals and seems to be working on his crossing. If we’re playing 4-3-3 he won’t really be getting used as a winger anyway.

The alternative is Sanchez or Martial. Either way, if we haven’t brought anyone in because he’s made a decision and gives it a reasonable chance then no problem.

If Mou has anything in life.....he always has a plan. You might not like or agree with it...but the day that guy has no plan.....

 

[RedorDead21]

Well, if Mourinho thinks Valencia and Young are still good enough and we are going to play like this:

De Gea

Bailly/Smalling - Lindelof - new CB

Matic

Valencia - Fred - Pogba - Young

Lukaku - Alexis
​

Then, in his mind, we wouldn't need one. Same applies to the diamond or 3-5-2 with a #10. Problem is that Lindelof needs to improve, our CBs need to stay fit and our FBs aren't good enough, just like Ivanovic wasn't anymore at the end of Mourinho's second Chelsea stint.

Can someone post up SAFs last winning team I think the above is damn strong overall....

 

[Smores]

Mourinho already clearly stated in this mornings press conference that he has a new tactical plan for the season, and part of his frustration is that he's had so many 1st team squad members away for preseason he hasn't had the time he wanted to work on it.

As for not buying a right winger, or any real significant player bar Fred, it's a consequence of the players we want not being either available / clubs requesting a too high transfer fee / player requesting too high wages / agents fee's being too high / player not wanting to join and use Utd as a tactic to get a better deal at existing club (Godin).

Good on the club for not buying players for the sake of it, and only looking to buy if they will improve the squad/the deal makes sense.

Yeah i think that's been skipped over due to the transfer window. I can see us going 352 and it may just work.

If we stick with a front 3 I'm hoping he just makes Martial play there. Give him consistent games in the position and let him rise to the challenge like he should

 

[Cliche Guevara]

If Mou has anything in life.....he always has a plan. You might not like or agree with it...but the day that guy has no plan.....

He didn’t really seem to last season, though, which did surprise me. The team chopped and changed so much on a weekly basis. How often did we play the same back four two games in a row? Not many I imagine, and I couldn’t tell you who our preferred centre-back pairing is.

 

[bucky]

Can someone post up SAFs last winning team I think the above is damn strong overall....

De Gea

Rafael - Ferdinand - Evans - Evra

Cleverley - Carrick

Valencia - Rooney - Young

van Persie
​

From memory. Valencia and Young weren't good that year. Carrick was excellent, so was van Persie and Rafael had a good season as well. Ferguson was probably papering over the cracks and I really wonder, what he would have done, if he hadn't retired.

 

[friendlytramp]

Because with a 3 5 2 or 2323 your wife men need to be able to cut inside rather than hug the line. Biggest surprise is we haven’t bought any fecking full backs/wing backs.

Lingard/mata/Lukaku can all play comfortably off the right side of attack + Rashford at a push. Left side we have a waht away martial and Sanchez who would rather play down the middle...

 

[RedorDead21]

De Gea

Rafael - Ferdinand - Evans - Evra

Cleverley - Carrick

Valencia - Rooney - Young

van Persie
​

From memory. Valencia and Young weren't good that year. Carrick was excellent, so was van Persie and Rafael had a good season as well. Ferguson was probably papering over the cracks and I really wonder, what he would have done, if he hadn't retired.

Thanks. Hmmmmm. Van Persie was sooooo good on that alone I think that team edges it?

 

[johanovic]

This starting team when everyone is fit is a really strong team. Alexis and Chong are the best options on the right wing. The young kid Chong has speed, workrate and a good football brain. Mata as a right winger/attacker is not working and has never worked. Some say Chong is not strong enough yet but if you compair him to Giggs when he started it´s was not a question of strength, it was all albout speed and the ability to take people on. Mata always plays it sideways or backwards as he neither has the speed or strength to something else. But everybody has been talking about centerbacks but I really worry about the fullback postions and I belive that is hindering us greatly in our attacking play. But hopefully we will come out of this period stronger and it´s clear that if things do not turn around this season then Mourinho is out. Behaving like a miserable sod doing one of the greates jobs in world football is doing my head in. No wonder there is no positivity when the leader of the gang is behaving like a spoiled kid.

De Gea

Valencia(Dalot)-Bailly(Jones)-Smalling(Lindelof) - Young(Shaw)

Matic(Pereira)

Pogba (Fellaini) Fred(Herrera)

Alexis(Chong) Lukaku- Martial(Rashford)

 

[bucky]

Thanks. Hmmmmm. Van Persie was sooooo good on that alone I think that team edges it?

Depends who is in charge. Carrick was even better than van Persie that season IMO. I think Rooney's decline started to show then, which is why Ferguson suggested Rooney wanted to leave. If he hadn't retired, I think he would have sold him that summer. Like I said none of our wingers were good that year. Carrick practically had to do it on his own in midfield, Evra needed better competition than Buttner (and he needed to be rested more) and as usual we had injuries to our CBs. We had a few comebacks and weren't playing that well in general.

 

[Castia]

Because Jose opted to buy a left winger in Sanchez instead.

Sanchez came out of this summers budget that I’m certain.

 

[marjen]

De Gea

Rafael - Ferdinand - Evans - Evra

Cleverley - Carrick

Valencia - Rooney - Young

van Persie
​

From memory. Valencia and Young weren't good that year. Carrick was excellent, so was van Persie and Rafael had a good season as well. Ferguson was probably papering over the cracks and I really wonder, what he would have done, if he hadn't retired.

There's no way that, with an aging Ferdinand and Evra, is a better side than what we've currently got. Just no way.

De Gea

Valencia/Dalot
Bailly
Smalling/Lindelof
Shaw

Matic
Fred
Pogba

Lingard/Rashford/Martial/Mata
Lukaku
Sanchez


I repeat: No way the Fergie side is better player by player. It's all about the coaching.

 

[RedorDead21]

There's no way that, with an aging Ferdinand and Evra, is a better side than what we've currently got. Just no way.

De Gea

Valencia/Dalot
Bailly
Smalling/Lindelof
Shaw

Matic
Fred
Pogba

Lingard/Rashford/Martial/Mata
Lukaku
Sanchez


I repeat: No way the Fergie side is better player by player. It's all about the coaching.

SAF didn't coach apparently........he sat in his office and looked out the window at his coaches.....

and you cannot underestimate Carrick over Matic at that time.

 

[JK-27]

Because Jose opted to buy a left winger in Sanchez instead.

Sanchez came out of this summers budget that I’m certain.

We didn't buy Sanchez, he was swapped, so you're making stuff up.

 

[Coops73]

In response to the OP. Er, don’t know.

 

[marjen]

SAF didn't coach apparently........he sat in his office and looked out the window at his coaches.....

and you cannot underestimate Carrick over Matic at that time.

True, but the gap between Tom Cleverley and Fred/Pogba is enormous, absolutely enormous. So in midfield we should be better off.

And in terms of attacking talent, look at those wingers.

 

[Castia]

We didn't buy Sanchez, he was swapped, so you're making stuff up.

He was swapped for a player that would cost upwards of 40m in this market and Sanchez is one of the best paid players in the world his contract takes up a decent part of our overall budget.

Why do people think Alexis was free he cost a fortune.

 

[dannyrhinos89]

Fewer goals and assists than Jesse Lingard, smaller contribution to overall play. People keep going on about needing to buy players who improve the first XI, not just filling the squad with mediocrity. Shaqiri is the definition of mediocrity.

Yeah he’s not though, in the league Shaqiri assisted more than lingard and they scored the same amount of goals. Remember Shaqiri did it in a god awful stoke team too. That’s why I said he would be a stopgap for a season too it’s 13 million for god sake. He would’ve provided us width, goals and assists which we simply don’t have From the right side.

 

[RedorDead21]

True, but the gap between Tom Cleverley and Fred/Pogba is enormous, absolutely enormous. So in midfield we should be better off.

And in terms of attacking talent, look at those wingers.

But look at the opposition! That SAF team would struggle and did struggle with City's investment even then.

 

[RedorDead21]

Yeah he’s not though, in the league Shaqiri assisted more than lingard and they scored the same amount of goals. Remember Shaqiri did it in a god awful stoke team too. That’s why I said he would be a stopgap for a season too it’s 13 million for god sake. He would’ve provided us width, goals and assists which we simply don’t have From the right side.

We should have signed Ronaldo...for 100m it's the biggest drop ball since we failed to get Pep! I mean we'll spunk 100m on a CB most likely. It's a complete joke we didn't get him.....

 

[MAME DIOUF 32]

I don't understand why we didn't go for Mahrez. He'd have had a much better chance of regular football. Failing that, if we really couldn't find a better option, we should've paid the £13m for Shaqiri.

 

[Reiver]

Fewer goals and assists than Jesse Lingard, smaller contribution to overall play. People keep going on about needing to buy players who improve the first XI, not just filling the squad with mediocrity. Shaqiri is the definition of mediocrity.

In terms of our RW, mediocrity would be an upgrade.

 

[Member 109952]

There's no way that, with an aging Ferdinand and Evra, is a better side than what we've currently got. Just no way.

De Gea

Valencia/Dalot
Bailly
Smalling/Lindelof
Shaw

Matic
Fred
Pogba

Lingard/Rashford/Martial/Mata
Lukaku
Sanchez


I repeat: No way the Fergie side is better player by player. It's all about the coaching.

To an extent is coaching, but that side had two natural full backs, and at the time pretty solid wingers in Valencia and Young. This side is just a darth of creativity when you go out wide. And obviously an RVP in great form.

But Mourinho should be doing better, what I dislike is that he's so reluctant to mix up the formations. Try Lukaku out on the RW, try Sanchez on the other wing, mix it up. SAF loved to play weird arse formations and I wish Mourinho would mix it up as to try and get the best out of some very talented players.

 

[spiriticon]

If I have one transfer deadline moan today, it would most definitely be this one.

Why oh why didn't we sign a right winger? Why did we waste our time chasing centrebacks?

Surely Willian couldn't have been the only target?

All these mysteries.

 

[Saicc]

I can only assume Jose is serious about playing 3-5-2. If that's our formation Valencia and Dalot will battle it out on the right hand side and a RW would become redundant! Young and Shaw similarly on the left! If Dalot is as as talented as Jose thinks we have the potential for a very balanced side! Let's see!

I agree, this would give Pogba Matic Fred in the middle with Peirera Fellini Lingard Mctominay etc as back up.
Lukaku at the front with Alexi/Rashford/Martial to play together. It make more balance with what player on hands

 

[JMack1234]

Because Alexis was our attacking purchase we just happened to buy him in January because that's when he became available.