The need for creativity in our squad

Canagel

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Our squad reflects our position imo. No way do we have a better squad than Liverpool nor Spurs. I would say we're on par with Chelsea and Arsenal. I think people who think we have better players than that probably do because they overrate the likes of Martial, Rashford and even Pogba.
disagree .we're top of the league since Ole came- more points than any other team. we are behind City and closer behind Liverpool maybe on a par with Spurs but definitely ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal. we even gave those three a half season head start and still caught up . if ole started the campaign we'd be sitting in 3rd place comfy right now no questions.
 

Janson

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disagree .we're top of the league since Ole came- more points than any other team. we are behind City and closer behind Liverpool maybe on a par with Spurs but definitely ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal. we even gave those three a half season head start and still caught up . if ole started the campaign we'd be sitting in 3rd place comfy right now no questions.
Yeah we have had a very good start under OGS but we will have to see if we can keep that up until the end of the season. I'm not convinced that our record with Ole is our true level.
 

Maticmaker

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It's not just creativity that we have a dearth of, its players who can make others play; either by giving encouragement, or by exercising authority or by anticipating the next move and forcing the play.

The best forward played and telling pass yesterday was a straight ball down the right channel from Smalling launched from his own half to a good inside the full back run forward by Dalot who then played a first time pass into the pen area. Now very few would describe Chris Smalling as our most creative player, he often looks scared to death when in possession, but he saw the next move he didn't wait for Dalot, he forced the play... it came to nothing because that's where the anticipation/ perception amongst our attackers failed; Lingard too far back, Rashford stood amongst three Wolves defenders, not seeking space and Martial still hugging the left-hand touchline.

The most worrying thing for me about yesterday was not just the slow build up or lack of intense pressing, but that our three front men went back to playing their own game and against a resolute well drilled defence like Wolves it was virtually useless.
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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Our squad reflects our position imo. No way do we have a better squad than Liverpool nor Spurs. I would say we're on par with Chelsea and Arsenal. I think people who think we have better players than that probably do because they overrate the likes of Martial, Rashford and even Pogba.
Does our squad reflect our position, though? To me, we were underachieving massively under Jose and since Ole has come in, we've been playing at the level we're capable of and form shows that if he were here at the start of the season, we'd be title challengers.

Dont get me wrong, we are far from the finish article, but in my opinion, we have a better squad than our current position would suggest.
 

Janson

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Does our squad reflect our position, though? To me, we were underachieving massively under Jose and since Ole has come in, we've been playing at the level we're capable of and form shows that if he were here at the start of the season, we'd be title challengers.

Dont get me wrong, we are far from the finish article, but in my opinion, we have a better squad than our current position would suggest.
I just don't see this form continuing next season without serious reinforcements. Martial and Rashford are still too inconsistent for one to be starters. Just the eye test tells me that we're not even close to Liverpool and City when it comes to passing and fluidity. I think we might be better than Arsenal and Chelsea but that's it.
 

simplyared

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We're far too reliant on Pogba. If he has an off day, which he has too many of, nothing creative comes from our midfield. Herrera for all he's worth, justn't doesn't cut it creativitywise. Matic has another role which he performs very well. So yes we're screaming for a creative midfielder. Özil maybe!
 

Art Vandelay

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We need someone like Eriksen in midfield along side Pogba
Yeah, if he's really looking to leave we should be trying to break the bank for him. Great player in his prime that could play instead of Pogba, can be a massive upgrade on Lingard or work as more of a wide playmaker. He would give us options and we'd have one of the best players in the league.

Spurs would be looking for a fortune though.
 

Canagel

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RW like Sancho has bagged 12 assists this year . if you add a ball playing CB and DM we're sorted creativity wise.
 

Walters_19_MuFc

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We need an upgrade on Lingard. Whoever plays in that right wing/number 10 role is more often than not, not good enough.
I personally think we should get rid of the false winger and just get a playmaking centre midfielder.

Games such as yesterday shouldn't really require our wingers roaming and playing centrally. We need to stretch compact teams and in order to do that, we really need wingers who stay wide.

Give the job to the centre midfielder to create. After all, that is their job.
 

AaronRedDevil

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The only thing that annoys me is that the team hasn't a clue what to do in the final third. They just wing it. You'd think after all the years they've played together, they'd know what to do. Barca is a perfect example. They'd look at the player and he know exactly where to run to. Like it a plan. How many backheel passes have we seen where's there's no one even there.
 

In Rainbows

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I miss this level of creativity in our club.
Develop Gomes. He needs to start getting first team minutes. I don't see much separation from Pereira and Gomes apart from one being older. We're not all that progressive with youngsters.
 

reddaz71

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Sancho and Rabiot would enhance us but will the Glazers stump up whats needed, doubtful!
 

buckooo1978

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agree with the OP

we've barely invested in the attack the last couple of years and we are reliant on Pogba, a tired looking Rashford and the inconsistency of Martial/Lukaku and Lingard. Sanchez has been a disaster and Mata is a player with a reputation for unlocking defences but his influence has been close to zero this year.

we should sign a CB but next priorities have to be a playmaker and a couple of other attackers - someone who can beat a man is essential

one possible scenario is

De Ligt, Neves, Dembele and Fekir

you are talking about 300m there though most likely
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I'm not bothered to do that because it's been done to death. It's too subjective and pointless.

I know how this goes. Someone is inevitably going to come in and ask me if I really think we have better than Henderson and Milner. Apparently these two are garbage despite making up most of the midfield in a title challenging team. So the answer is yes, I would take those two ahead of Herrera and Matic. And obviously Salah and Mane are miles better than Rashford and Martial.

As a whole, imo our team belongs in a top four fight, nothing more.
We are in this current position because of Mourinho so our position right now doesn’t reflect the squad, last season we finished 2nd. If you are bothered to take your time to think and answer what I asked you, may be you won’t be overrating Spurs, Chelsea & arsenal squad or even Liverpool.
 

E-mal

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We need a lot of creativity, perhaps a player like Thiago or Ericksen in midfield and Sancho on the right.
Think Delight, Ericksen/Thiago, Sancho and Munier is OK for the summer.
 

Janson

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We are in this current position because of Mourinho so our position right now doesn’t reflect the squad, last season we finished 2nd. If you are bothered to take your time to think and answer what I asked you, may be you won’t be overrating Spurs, Chelsea & arsenal squad or even Liverpool.
I have thought about it, but it's pointless to list players against eachother since it never ends in a constructive debate. It's been done many times on here. That is my opinion on our squad strength, and you're welcome to disagree.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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I have thought about it, but it's pointless to list players against eachother since it never ends in a constructive debate. It's been done many times on here. That is my opinion on our squad strength, and you're welcome to disagree.
So far you haven’t provide an evidence of your own statement. The rank of the league doesn’t reflect our squad because of Mourinho. A manager can make good players look bad.

This is why we having this discussion.

It’s your opinion who do you think worthy the money to upgrade our squad. It’s similar to signing new players bandwagon, So it’s useful to provide your original statement a solid proof.
 

Eli Zee

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Yeah we have had a very good start under OGS but we will have to see if we can keep that up until the end of the season. I'm not convinced that our record with Ole is our true level.
Very true and that’s not a slam at Ole. We need a better squad if we want to compete with city, liverpool, and Europe’s best.


Just cause Ole had a great record coming in, doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. I love Ole and can’t wait to see what he can do when we have a few additions to the squad. We really do lack in a lot of areas of the pitch.
 

Nuts

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Very true and that’s not a slam at Ole. We need a better squad if we want to compete with city, liverpool, and Europe’s best.


Just cause Ole had a great record coming in, doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. I love Ole and can’t wait to see what he can do when we have a few additions to the squad. We really do lack in a lot of areas of the pitch.
I agree with this. At least Ole can get the best out of even weak players. There’s no reason why, against Barcelona, players like Mata, Young or Dalot can’t give exceptional performances. SAF would always get performances out of guys like Butt, McClair, Phil Neville, David May etc etc when he needed to.

It was something Mourinho was simply awful at - he’d make the weaker players so underconfident they became worse. With Ole I can see a return to the vital habit of getting great performances from squad players.
 

Abe144

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DM ? He has, multiple times even. For both Bilbao and United
Through injuries maybe. Javi Martinez or Ander Iturraspe was the DM when Herrera was at Bilbao
 

Gasolin

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I thought Herrera was too safe with his passing. I like him, but in days like this, you get reminded of his limitations. Surely Ole would allow him to be more expansive in his passing?
It depends of games, but it seems that he is asked to cover most of the times. Only against Chelsea he was allowed to move forward, and that translated in a goal for example. Overall, it's never one player because I think the failure was collective, but we did need to create more movement off the ball to ask for it, and no one was asking for it. Rashford made some calls behind the defensive line but they were too few, we need much more movement to ask for the ball again and again to have a chance in this kind of game. Maybe fitness was not top notch as well.
 

amolbhatia50k

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The only thing that annoys me is that the team hasn't a clue what to do in the final third. They just wing it. You'd think after all the years they've played together, they'd know what to do. Barca is a perfect example. They'd look at the player and he know exactly where to run to. Like it a plan. How many backheel passes have we seen where's there's no one even there.
It helps to have a few playmakers in the team. Teams are out of synch when little things go wrong like a player not making an obvious pass or holding on to the ball for too long. A small (ironically) moment yesterday was when Smalling had a simple passing inside to try CM but didn't have the confidence to make it and went to the marked fullback instead.

I think in the end it boils down to having footballers who are comfortable in tight spaces. We need more.
 

Slamar85

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Buy James Rodriguez, Dybala and Allan to improve our midfield, creativity and attack. Koulibaly and Hysaj in the back. Would cost over 250 even after selling few players.
 

Ekeke

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Buy James Rodriguez, Dybala and Allan to improve our midfield, creativity and attack. Koulibaly and Hysaj in the back. Would cost over 250 even after selling few players.
You really think Napoli are going to sell 3 of their players to us without asking for ridiculous fees to make it worthwhile them dismantling their team?

Sounds easier if you just support Napoli.
 

Janson

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It really does though. You can choose to disagree with it
Well yeah I do choose to disagree. We will just have to see if any manager ever plays him there in the future. And I mean consistently as first choice, not as a stand in from time to time.
 

kouroux

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Well yeah I do choose to disagree. We will just have to see if any manager ever plays him there in the future. And I mean consistently as first choice, not as a stand in from time to time.
Whatever Ole does, we definitely need another body there. Matic shouldn't start every game and specially the tougher ones.
 

Janson

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Whatever Ole does, we definitely need another body there. Matic shouldn't start every game and specially the tougher ones.
Definitely, I would faze out Matic anyway and get someone else to start at the same time.
 

Dec9003

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Herrera was United's POTY playing deep in midfield,it's 100% a role he can play well.
 

RedorDead21

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Herrera was United's POTY playing deep in midfield,it's 100% a role he can play well.
Doesn't pass through the lines well enough or often enough for me. Not good enough to be our DM long term and rarely does a manager play him in there. I like him where he is why change his position? We should buy a top DM.
 

jem

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So far you haven’t provide an evidence of your own statement. The rank of the league doesn’t reflect our squad because of Mourinho. A manager can make good players look bad.

This is why we having this discussion.

It’s your opinion who do you think worthy the money to upgrade our squad. It’s similar to signing new players bandwagon, So it’s useful to provide your original statement a solid proof.
Sorry to jump into this, but it's a bit weird to be asking for evidence and then make a completely subjective statement like this.
 

buckooo1978

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Sorry to jump into this, but it's a bit weird to be asking for evidence and then make a completely subjective statement like this.
I would have thought the evidence was there for all to see

Ole's team has done things Mourinho's didn't/couldn't for months now
 

KingMinger22

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We need a lot of creativity, perhaps a player like Thiago or Ericksen in midfield and Sancho on the right.
Think Delight, Ericksen/Thiago, Sancho and Munier is OK for the summer.
This.

We need two TOP CLASS creative additions minimum.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Sorry to jump into this, but it's a bit weird to be asking for evidence and then make a completely subjective statement like this.
It’s not weird because he said that the rank/position of the league reflect our squad. And that’s why I make statement to say that’s not the case.
 

Oneunited26

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We just seeing limitations with the squad, and even our best players mentally they need to do more also. I would love to say we rebuilding, but? It’s a problem when none of us know the direction and the investment we need in the squad big time
 

jem

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I would have thought the evidence was there for all to see

Ole's team has done things Mourinho's didn't/couldn't for months now
There's still no tangible way to prove that it would have been that way from the start. Many would claim that the 'new manager bounce' had an effect on our great start. I happen to think Ole has done a great job and would've been a good appointment from the start of the season, but it's an opinion, and not something that anyone could prove would have happened from the start of the season.