We need to be realistic about how many more players we can release without replacements. There aren’t that many coming through the ranks that can step up next season.
Key players to shift:
Sánchez - doesn’t fit and big wages. Needs replacing.
Rojo - clearly not wanted and not good enough. Replaced by Tuenazabe.
Lingard - signed with Raiola. He’ll be gone for any offer. Shockingly poor player. Gomes is a suitable replacement.
Jones - needs to be moved on for his own sake. Could forge a good career elsewhere.
The emergence of Shaw at LCB kind of makes this move easy.
I wouldn’t sell anymore unless we get replacements. Squad is already quite thin.
Mata can still do a job of the bench and low key cup games.
Pereira - as above. Might force a move if not featuring though. Seems a motivated lad.
Matić - will prob run his contract down. He’s grown on most of us these last few months and could still play many games for us.
Smalling - could still play a part for us but I doubt he will come back unless told he’s first 11, which he won’t be. Will be sold and I think he’ll be great wherever he goes.
I’ve not mentioned Pogba as he’s not deadwood just a potential issue for the club until we start performing well. CL qualification will probably see him extend his contract.
Good post, a few discussion points though.
Lingard wont "be gone for any offer". We'll probably try to sell him for his market value if someone comes in and wants to pay it, but we won't just throw him away for nothing just because you or some fans dislike him. Ole see's him as a good squad player and someone whos been here most of his life.
Matic has always been a top quality CM, he hasn't grown on me "this past few months". He grew on me when he helped Chelsea win a League title. I never doubted him when he was injured and fans were posting "Matic needs to leave" and "Matic is done" for no reason other than his age and the fact Mourinho signed him. He's forging an excellent partnership with Fred and is the ideal option when McTomminay doesn't play.
Mata has recently proven he can slice open teams in the PL, not just low key cup games. He's very much in rotation in this team and despite being past his best, he's one of the most talented players in the squad when you compare him and the height of his peak he reached to the likes of Chong, Gomes, Lingard, Pereira. He will still be an important player for the next 18 months or so without doubt, even if it is in a rotational sense. Much more than a low key cup game player.
Gomes? What has he done to demonstrate he's a suitable replacement for Lingard, a man whos played shedloads of games for us? Are you basing that on the hype? Because I've seen him in the youth teams play at a decent standard with flashes of quality, but nothing to suggest he can play 30-40 games per season for the first team.