Our wingers: need strengthening?

[OohAahMartial]

Seems our first choice wingers are Mhkitaryan and Lingard now. But whether it be Martial and Mata or the former two, or an out of position Rashford there, or a past it Rooney, we seem to have been much weaker there this season than we looked to be on paper at the beginning of the season. None of them have really got top class goals and assists from those positions, and some have put in very poor numbers. All have underwhelmed.

So do we need to make this a position to strengthen in? Which side? Or a versatile player able to play both? Or will they come good next season? Who would you sell?

NB: Don't care whether you want to call them wingers or inside forwards or wide attackers. The people named above are who I am referring to.

 

[Lentwood]

I don't want to see Lingard as a regular starter next season, and when we do see him I would rather he play #10 where his movement and energy can make up for his limited technical ability

Mata i am afraid is never a Utd player. I know we all think he is a top bloke but he just doesn't fit with what we need in a wide player. No pace, no trickery, very one-footed, struggles to get up and down. I would be surprised if Jose didn't accept an offer for him in the summer should we get £25m+

Martial gets one more season imo. One good, one quiet so far. I would also use Rashford as back up #9 rather than a wide player next season

So yeah, we need wingers! I don't know if we could pull it off but i think Willian is very underrated and would be a great signing

 

[Sammyjunn]

I trust Martial and Mkhi for next season myself. It'd be nice if we could a Dembele but unlikely, Martial and Mkhi in their old form would be enough.

 

[2 man midfield]

Yes 100%, I've been banging this drum on here since about 2014, or since it became clear Valencia was never going to be an attacking danger again. We've lost any kind of threat from the wing and it's needed sorting for years.

 

[OohAahMartial]

Yes 100%, I've been banging this drum on here since about 2014, or since it became clear Valencia was never going to be an attacking danger again. We've lost any kind of threat from the wing and it's needed sorting for years.

Any candidates? Which side?

 

[OohAahMartial]

I trust Martial and Mkhi for next season myself. It'd be nice if we could a Dembele but unlikely, Martial and Mkhi in their old form would be enough.

Mhki's been hugely disappointing for me and I think is a large reason for our poor year in the league. Jose bought him as a RW with expectation of goals and assists of the level he gave at Dortmund, having clearly identified a weakness at RW and also seen that Depay wasn't MUQ, yet he hasn't delivered and leaves many still viewing the RW as unsolved.

 

[devilish]

Mhki's been hugely disappointing for me and I think is a large reason for our poor year in the league. Jose bought him as a RW with expectation of goals and assists of the level he gave at Dortmund, having clearly identified a weakness at RW and also seen that Depay wasn't MUQ, yet he hasn't delivered and leaves many still viewing the RW as unsolved.

Mkhitaryan always start slowly when joining a new team. However he's one of the best we've got. Martial had regressed this season, big time. The rest are no option at all

 

[Berbasbullet]

Been saying this for years, our wingers are bang average.

 

[cheeky_backheel]

Mhki's been hugely disappointing for me and I think is a large reason for our poor year in the league. Jose bought him as a RW with expectation of goals and assists of the level he gave at Dortmund, having clearly identified a weakness at RW and also seen that Depay wasn't MUQ, yet he hasn't delivered and leaves many still viewing the RW as unsolved.

This is his first season in EPL at a new club and new manager, so he should do better next season. He struggled in his first 2 seasons at Dortmund. Also he is not the type to build an attack around. We need an elite #10 for that. Mkhi should do better once he has a better player to play off.

Next season we should have a new CF (mandzukic/Dzeko/Morata/Lukaku), new #10/CAM, Rashford as LWF, and Mkhi as RW/RM

 

[OohAahMartial]

Mkhitaryan always start slowly when joining a new team. However he's one of the best we've got. Martial had regressed this season, big time. The rest are no option at all

So you would strengthen? One in one out?

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Yeah, i think we do. Things is though, who can we buy with the neccessary quality.

Insigne, Felipe Anderson or Douglas Costa if he decides to move and Bayern are willing to sell, but i don't think any of them are sure bets. Then you have the Mata like players, who reminds you of a #10 but plays on the wing like Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar or Calhanoglu. Bale is interesting, but his injury problems and the huge fee it will take to bring him here is pretty risky.

Maybe we should just focus on getting a top class striker + Griezmann and Silva to support them. Our main focus in attack would then be to create chances for the two up top. We need some good attacking fullbacks to make it work though.

 

[OohAahMartial]

This is his first season in EPL at a new club and new manager, so he should do better next season. He struggled in his first 2 seasons at Dortmund. Also he is not the type to build an attack around. We need an elite #10 for that. Mkhi should do better once he has a better player to play off.

Next season we should have a new CF (mandzukic/Dzeko/Morata/Lukaku), new #10/CAM, Rashford as LWF, and Mkhi as RW/RM

Happy with our backup options on the wings?

 

[Womp]

Douglas Costa was looking likely to leave due to his dispute with the Bayern board, he could be an option. Dembele would be extremely difficult but probably worth testing Dortmund's resolve. Emre Mor? Incredible dribbler and looks an insane talent but has flown under the radar a bit at Dortmund.

 

[OohAahMartial]

Yeah, i think we do. Things is though, who can we buy with the neccessary quality.

Insigne, Felipe Anderson or Douglas Costa if he decides to move and Bayern are willing to sell, but i don't think any of them are sure bets. Then you have the Mata like players, who reminds you of a #10 but plays on the wing like Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar or Calhanoglu. Bale is interesting, but his injury problems and the huge fee it will take to bring him here is pretty risky.

Maybe we should just focus on getting a top class striker + Griezmann and Silva to support them. Our main focus in attack would then be to create chances for the two up top. We need some good attacking fullbacks to make it work though.

Good point about upgrading the full backs as I do think they (Darmian in particular) are partly responsible for the poor performances of our wingers. Shame we can't sign more than one Monaco player...

 

[Mainoldo]

Douglas Costa should be our main target in the summer. We need a direct winger who isn't scared to shoot.

 

[Top]

Douglas Costa was looking likely to leave due to his dispute with the Bayern board, he could be an option. Dembele would be extremely difficult but probably worth testing Dortmund's resolve. Emre Mor? Incredible dribbler and looks an insane talent but has flown under the radar a bit at Dortmund.

Emre Mor is not an insane talent. His attitude problems are bigger than his talent.

 

[T00lsh3d]

New winger(s) would be nice but we simply have more problematic positions to fill. I'd put a CF, a DM, a CB, and a keeper if DDG leaves all ahead of a winger.

 

[Womp]

Emre Mor is not an insane talent. His attitude problems are bigger than his talent.

If there's one manager who won't take his shit it's Jose, could be worth a punt as he does look extremely gifted. His ability on the ball is something you can't teach.

 

[ilovethisgameahahah]

Mkhitaryan always start slowly when joining a new team. However he's one of the best we've got. Martial had regressed this season, big time. The rest are no option at all

Right wing needs strengthening. Mkhi is poor and has been the biggest under performer of the year for me, can't wait around for him to maybe come good at 28 and Mata is not a winger. Would rather get a more traditional winger for the right, an attacking left back and let Martial do the job he excels at, as an inside forward(not a secondary left-back).

 

[Mainoldo]

Good point about upgrading the full backs as I do think they (Darmian in particular) are partly responsible for the poor performances of our wingers. Shame we can't sign more than one Monaco player...

Same.. the lack of overlapping means are wingers have to be Robben to be effective. Well especially on the left.

 

[OohAahMartial]

Right wing needs strengthening. Mkhi is poor and has been the biggest under performer of the year for me, can't wait around for him to maybe come good at 28 and Mata is not a winger. Would rather get a more traditional winger for the right, an attacking left back and let Martial do the job he excels at, as an inside forward(not a secondary left-back).

Who?

 

[AkaAkuma]

Bruma is being linked with Southampton and Leicester, looks good this year:
Looks like Adama Traore with the end product. He might still be raw, but would be a decent squad option.

 

[devilish]

Right wing needs strengthening. Mkhi is poor and has been the biggest under performer of the year for me, can't wait around for him to maybe come good at 28 and Mata is not a winger. Would rather get a more traditional winger for the right, an attacking left back and let Martial do the job he excels at, as an inside forward(not a secondary left-back).

I wouldn't say that Mkhi had been poor. The flanks need to be strengthened irrespective whether Mkhi is the new Ronaldo or not. We simply lack quality strength in depth. Lingard is Championship material, Martial is good but he's yet to improve alot, Mata is not a winger and Young is a goner.

 

[cheeky_backheel]

Happy with our backup options on the wings?

We will have Mata, Martial and Lingard. Could definitely be better but will likely have to live with them for another season. After next season, Martial should have proven boom or bust, Mata likely leaves and Mkhi goes to bench or leaves.

 

[devilish]

We will have Mata, Martial and Lingard. Could definitely be better but will likely have to live with them for another season. After next season, Martial should have proven boom or bust, Mata likely leaves and Mkhi goes to bench or leaves.

Mata is not a winger and Lingard is not an EPL level player

 

[ilovethisgameahahah]

Who?

I'd go for Douglas Costa of the top of my head. He's available, would be very affordable and a proper Mourinho type winger with bags of pace, strength and skill and he can play on both sides. Not having the best season under Ancelotti but neither are most of the Bayern squad.

 

[2 man midfield]

Any candidates? Which side?

I like the look of Emil Forsberg from what I've seen of him, admittedly not a great deal but he's impressed me on the 4 or 5 times I've watched him and he's got decent stats. Obvious candidates like Douglas Costa spring to mind if we could get him. Hell, at this point I'd even take Zaha back.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Mhki's been hugely disappointing for me and I think is a large reason for our poor year in the league. Jose bought him as a RW with expectation of goals and assists of the level he gave at Dortmund, having clearly identified a weakness at RW and also seen that Depay wasn't MUQ, yet he hasn't delivered and leaves many still viewing the RW as unsolved.

Give him another year, it's clear that he's class. He has shown multiple glimpses of his ability, I think next year we will be a lot better and he will be used to the PL a bit more, started slow at Dortmund too.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Douglas Costa is also a very good option, wants more money and Bayern told him no, he'd be excellent for us. When in form, one of the better wingers around.

 

[frank lee madeer..]

Wing is a tough position. The way to make it easier is by trying to form relationships between wingers & fullbacks.
We don't do that. It's basically, pass ball to wideman & there you go, you're on your own pal , win it for us.

There's not many players who'd thrive in such circumstances.

 

[stu_1992]

The main problem is none of them are true wide players and they are all kinda similar in a way. I'd definitely like to see us get one true Wide player in, preferably on the right hand side. Right now, they all want to cut inside which is fine until it's the only thing you do and become predictable.

 

[cheeky_backheel]

Mata is not a winger and Lingard is not an EPL level player

That debate is moot cos those are the players currently playing those attacking positions on the flank and behind the lone striker, and will likely be here for another season.

 

[Womp]

Wing is a tough position. The way to make it easier is by trying to form relationships between wingers & fullbacks.
We don't do that. It's basically, pass ball to wideman & there you go, you're on your own pal , win it for us.

There's not many players who'd thrive in such circumstances.

That's also not helped by the fact that every wide player in our squad isn't capable of staying out wide, so the fullbacks don't really have much of an option but to do run the wings by themselves. Mata etc. are great players, but they're still number 10's. Sometimes I just feel like we need someone fast as feck who just runs it down the line and whips a cross in.

 

[cheeky_backheel]

The main problem is none of them are true wide players and they are all kinda similar in a way. I'd definitely like to see us get one true Wide player in, preferably on the right hand side. Right now, they all want to cut inside which is fine until it's the only thing you do and become predictable.

Inverted wingers are what you will see with most top teams in the modern game. CR7, Bale, Messi, Neymar, Di Maria, Sanchez etc all play on the opposite side of their foot as inverted wingers and cut inside. The main idea is that the attacker is on his dominant foot vs the defender's weaker foot. The fuil backs are meant to provide the width.

 

[Womp]

Inverted wingers are what you will see with most top teams in the modern game. CR7, Bale, Messi, Neymar, Di Maria, Sanchez etc all play on the opposite side of their foot as inverted wingers and cut inside. The main idea is that the attacker is on his dominant foot vs the defender's weaker foot. The fuil backs are meant to provide the width.

True in a sense, but most teams still have that one player who's able to sit outside. At Bayern it's Ribery, Barca it's Neymar. Players who can do both. It genuinely seems like our players can only do one, cut inside.

 

[Bobcat]

Honestly i think the current system is just as faulty as the personnel, or rather the system does not fit the personel

In the 4231 we are currently playing, it demands A LOT from the three players behind the striker, especially the wide men, as they have to fill the roles of both being wide AM's and wingers. It means they need the guile, technique and tactical awareness of a AM (like Mata), but they also need the pace and delivery of a traditional winger (Do we really have one of those?) to get wide and challenge the fullback

Right now, the players who fits that description best is Miki and maybe Martial but the former has been blowing hot and cold this season and the latter is barely playing at all. I love Mata, but he does not really have the pace needed, Rashford is a CF, Lingaard is a headless chicken.

Additionally, there is the issue of fullbacks. Valencia is a beast, but his delivery is unreliable. At left we don't really have a proper fullback. I tried looking up some stats (could not find anything meaningful), but i am pretty sure we have created very little from wide areas this season in term of goals.

Lastly, the 4231 is a very defensive tactic (basically a glorified 451) which often only leaves us with 4 people in attack as the two deep CM's don't join in very often. As much shit as Zlatan has been getting he has basically carried our attack this season and has only helped masked over the deeper problem which is the attacking four is not really working.

 

[lopiop]

Last few games I've given up on lingard. He's way too limited in his game plus he doesn't excel in any attributes. He's not extremely quick or strong and doesn't have the trickery to beat players. His shooting is also hit or miss. All he does is tippy tappy keep possession stuff similar to cleverly, which is all fine and dandy when your leading 3 nil but when your chasing or closing off the game, would be utterly useless.

Mkhitaryan is also not a true winger, he prefers to drift into the middle.

Right now we need one winger with pace that can play on the right, preferably left footed.

 

[3KDré]

We need fullbacks that can attack more than we need wingers. In the modern game it's the fullbacks that give width.

 

[OohAahMartial]

We need fullbacks that can attack more than we need wingers. In the modern game it's the fullbacks that give width.

Even if so, the players mentioned haven't really offered much attacking wise in any sense.

 

[Wan]

I wouldn't say that Mkhi had been poor. The flanks need to be strengthened irrespective whether Mkhi is the new Ronaldo or not. We simply lack quality strength in depth. Lingard is Championship material, Martial is good but he's yet to improve alot, Mata is not a winger and Young is a goner.

Trust devilish to exaggerate 'a little'.

While I think Lingard is fine as a backup player, we need to have better options out there. We used to have the likes of Park and Nani as covers for the flanks. They would walk into the current side easily considering how inconsistent the likes of Mata, Mkhi and Martial have been playing this season.

We need atleast one who can do stuff on his own that would scare the living shit out of the defenders. That and fullbacks who can cross properly.