Choose one important issue we need to address to challenge in all competitions next season

[simplyared]

The main issue which I believe must be sorted is our incredibly slow build up out of defence. It makes us so ineffective and not only that, boring to watch.

To remedy this we need two quality attacking full backs and a CB that can take the ball forward out of defence.

We need players with the right DNA and confidence to be able to go forward. Not sideways or backwards as it is now.

Those 3 new additions (naming no names) would take us to the level required imo.

Thoughts on this subject?

 

[vangagal]

What DNA? Kendrick Lamar's DNA or what?

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Ruthlessly get rid of bang average players.
Fellaini, Blind, Darmian, Rojo.

Replace some decent players with better
Mata, Young, Jones

A proper right winger, a central midfielder, a left back is a must.

However, i think the approach from the manager needs looking. Players are more often not pumped up for important games. And whosoever we sign turns shite syndrome needs to be binned.

 

[simplyared]

What DNA? Kendrick Lamar's DNA or what?

Just limiting this to footballers, not other forms of artistry. Footballers with the inclination for going forward in other words.

 

[Mihai]

Two proper fullbacks and we would look like a totally different team. Even with no other additions.

 

[KirkDuyt]

Proper fullbacks and a different coach.

(yeah, I said it)

 

[Trigg]

Decide if he wants to play a 4231 or a 433 and then get players to suit the roles while also sorting out a right sided attacking player.

Lots of money has been spent but the team still feels unbalanced.

 

[Treble]

Workrate.

 

[RedCurry]

1. Build up play: We need to play the ball forward, on the ground, with pace. Give a chance to likes of Rashford, Lukaku, Martial, Pogba, Sanchez to isolate a defender and with their ability they will come on top most of the time.

2. Attacking width: Fullbacks should have complete freedom to attack like traditional wingers and if they aren't able to do that, rotate them till we find the players who are willing and able to contribute in the attack.

 

[Craig Ward]

Agree with the majority here, our issue's cant be solved by just signing players (take Sanchez for example, he's looked worse than he has done in seasons with us while taking Martials place)

We do need at least 1 FB, 2 if Jose sells Shaw.
We also need I would say at least 2 central midfielders.

But like most I'd like to see a change in our build up and play with some attacking intensity. This parking the bus mentality is ok in certain games and certain situations within games, but that's currently our no1 way to play. If that doesn't change, regardless of who we sign we'll have a very similar season next season to this.

Our attacking players are way too good to be restricted like they currently are

 

[charlenefan]

100% the backline, still in need of a top class CB & LB

 

[AshRK]

Consistency

 

[Rozay]

Changes need to take place off the pitch primarily, or at least not so much in terms of personnel.

This has all been said over and again on here, but I’d like us to have a better idea of who starts for us and how exactly we want to play. From game to game, I have no idea whether we will play Mata, Lingard, Rashford etc - whereas we know Salah, Firmino and Mane will start at Liverpool, or Sane and Sterling will start wide for City and so on. We keep trying to stumble across something that works, and it rarely seems deliberate.

We could use some better footballers for sure, but I still maintain that our footballers are good enough to challenge for the league and certainly play better than they do. As it stands, I do not have the confidence that we could sign any players that will make us the best team in the league next season. That will remain the case until some fundamentals are corrected.

 

[steeeb]

Get rid of deadwood.
Proper fullbacks (making up for our "wingers").

And we'd be a lot nearer.

Here's some controversy: Jose plays the way he does because of our team. If we bum rushed the ball into the box we wouldn't be 2nd in the league. The manager isn't playing the way we want but he's trying to balance a *still* unbalanced side.

We're clinical, with some improvements at the back we can take more risk up front and be banging them in.

The manager we have isn't someone like Klopp that'll play a certain way and do relatively poorly because of it until he gets the players to finally be paying it off (and still be behind us). Jose will play the way to get the most points out of the team he has.

It seems many would rather us be 4th-5th but playing attacking last ditch football.

 

[Roeindo]

Fullbacks.

To have Antonio and Young for last 5 seasons as FB in a club like United without proper back up and competition is shocking.

We could do better with the likes of A Robertson / /Kieran Trippier/Ben Davies / Bertrand / Ben Chiwell in our squad. All of those names shoud be easy to get. To bad we just ignore them and spent time trying to get big names.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Those who want mourinho to stay but also want proper full flank covering fullbacks, you realize how oxymoronic that is right?

 

[Florida Man]

The reading comprehension is sorely lacking in this thread. OP asks for one issue. Posters list several. Fantastic job.

If I had to pick one — a realistic one — is that we need good fullbacks. Arguably our weakest area, and solidifying that will bring much more balance to the team.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

The reading comprehension is sorely lacking in this thread. OP asks for one issue. Posters list several. Fantastic job.

If I had to pick one — a realistic one — is that we need good fullbacks. Arguably our weakest area, and solidifying that will bring much more balance to the team.

So which one is it?

 

[el3mel]

Fullbacks.

 

[Florida Man]

So which one is it?

The fullbacks. The part about balance would be the result of bringing in good fullbacks, rather than being something to fix directly.

 

[deafepl]

One of our most important issues is defending corners and set pieces which have cost us 15+ points in the league. We conceded more goal from that than any team in the league despite us being tallest team in the league.

 

[Canagel]

I totally agree with the OP. We all pretty much unanimously agree that fullbacks are desperately needed. Add to that some additions in midfield and a RW and we are set to go. We need to focus on overhauling our defence to give a better platform for our attacking players who I believe are good enough to win the PL. Half the problems in attack our down to our slow defence and it's inability to move the ball out quickly and effectively in the first attacking phase so the OP is pretty much spot on. We could have Messi and Ronaldo upfront and they would struggle with a defence like ours behind them.

Another thing we need to do more is rotation and try to decrease the drop off in quality between our 1st team and our 2nd team with the signings that we make. Lack of quality cover in midfield particularly has hit us hard. Matic especially has been overworked this season. We need someone who can challenge/cover for him to keep his motivation levels high and hopefully get rid of complacency. Get rid of useless deadwood in defence and midfield.

 

[gza the genius]

I think we just need width. Whether that's through a left back or a right back/winger. We have no width at all currently and it's definitely hampering our attacking play quite a bit.

 

[buckooo1978]

creativity

where we are sadly lacking in terms of quality and tactics

 

[Adisa]

Intensity.

 

[dannyrhinos89]

Can’t pick just one issue there’s far too many to name.

 

[RedCoffee]

Mental strength

 

[Fergie's gum]

A leader.
Either player or manager.

 

[Guapa]

In a nutshell we need a leader on the field

 

[Shane88]

Right fecking wing.

Being able to threaten on both wings will free this team up so much. Doubling and even tripling up over the left is stupid.

Stretch the field with two good wingers.

 

[reddevil702]

Fullbacks! We have no width and the fact that Young and Valencia are our best options really says it all. Pep went out and bought about 10 of them this past summer and look where that got them.

 

[Mr Anderson]

Sort out our defence. There is a reason Mou relies heavily on 2 holding midfielders. We are too hit and miss at the back. Smalling is indifferent, Jones similar but injured alot. Rojo was reborn under Jose but is he a true leading centre back? Young does well but he isnt a proper left back and does get caught out. Valencia is a tank but is pushing on in footballing terms. Be interesting to see will Mensah be involved there next season. Shaw looks well out of favour.

So a leftback for sure. Rightback potentially. Centreback for sure with more leadership credentials.

CM replacement for Carrick.

Go our for a wide right player if someone like Mata is flogged.

But for me, defence is crucial. A strong and well linked defence gives much more freedom to midfield. You can have all the attacking options in the world, but if you are weak at the back we will be throttled by the coach - which is understandable at times. Otherwise you are rolling the dice too much.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

1 World Class FB
1 World Class CB
1 very good DM

That should do it, imo at least.

 

[Jinn]

Fix the whole right side of the team.
Full back, right sided midfield, right sided centre half and a right winger.
All quality buys who have terrific engines and a football intelligence.

 

[Charles Miller]

To play the current style(and Mourinho will not change) need to bring some consistent wide wingers able to win in 1x1 situations. This and attacking full backs.

 

[Bobski]

I would like more attacking full backs but I would also like the full backs to have the freedom to attack. Mou has tended in his career to prefer a more conservative style. He brought Ashley Cole to Chelsea, at Arsenal he was an outstanding attacking full back, Mou gave him a more disciplined role.

Ultimately it is about changing attitudes as much as players.

 

[prath92]

@harshad probably subscribes to DNA

 

[Chiken138]

Mourinho already said that he wants more Quality passes from the back. Smalling Needs to be benched forever, his build up is not good enough for any top side

 

[Ole90+3]

Intensity.

Yep, well 'urgency' is the word that came to my mind. Not to wait until we're 2-0 before getting the finger out. Get on the front foot straight away from the first whistle. We've shown on several occasions this season we have the capacity to be a force when we're really trying to score - getting men forward, moving the ball quick, runs being made in behind the defence. I mean if we approached the Sevilla games like this, we would have had the tie wrapped after the first leg. feck, I'm getting pissed off just typing this.

 

[harshad]

@harshad probably subscribes to DNA

Hindustan Times mate