What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

diarm

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In Fergie's favourit format:



Shows RW, CM and CB are the problem areas still, along with LB looking more than a little raw.
 

ROFLUTION

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In Fergie's favourit format:



Shows RW, CM and CB are the problem areas still, along with LB looking more than a little raw.
Isnt Laird Right Back?

Not on topic but think Fergie would have gone for Jimenez, possibly Traore too (still only 23)
 

diarm

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Isnt Laird Right Back?

Not on topic but think Fergie would have gone for Jimenez, possibly Traore too (still only 23)
He is - I'm half asleep!

Not sure on Traore but I should've included Jiminez definitely.
 

Craig Ward

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In Fergie's favourit format:



Shows RW, CM and CB are the problem areas still, along with LB looking more than a little raw.
I wouldn't categorise Shaw as expendable. He's our 1st choice LB, despite Williams having a few good games.

Rashford is more LW than CF so that leaves our CF looking weakest along the front line.

Smalling and Sanchez should be on the expendable list, as should Pogba because he wants out.

Between the January window and the summer window i'd hope to see the following leave:
Smalling
Sanchez
Pogba
Jones
Rojo
Lingard

I also think for various reasons we will see Chong, Gomes and maybe TFM gone by the summer as well.

What do we need?
A lot in truth!

I'd like to see the club by the end of the summer window sign:
2x CM's
2x AM's
1x RW
1x CF
1x CB

Thats potentially 9 out and 7 in.......seems a lot over 2 windows, especially considering how historically poor we are in transfer dealings and there is 8 days left of the Jan window with no incomings....

CB Options: Ruben Diaz / Skriniar / Ake
CM Options: K.Phillips / Soumare / Van Der Beek / Winks / Tonali
RW Options: Sancho / Mertens
AM Options: Olmo / Fernandes / Maddison / Havertz
CF Options: Jovic / Dembele / Richarlison
 

NinjaZombie

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While we're losing players to injuries and fatigue and dilly dallying on transfers, Newcastle have made a couple of January signings to try make the best out of the rest of the season.

We're a big club with a wee mentality.
 

Devil may care

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Ole seemed to think 3 players are needed and presumng he is still manager come the summer then that doesn't seem unreasonable or unrealisitc to achieve, even with Woodward and co procrastinating. Now I know the majority of the Caf think we'll all be dead or living in a version of the Walking Dead and there wont be a next season, but presuming we aren't and we get through the current situation, I'd go for the 2 additions below and also add in Marcus Thuram who is a very versatile attacker, as if we don't switch to a 3-5-2 then Werner and Martinez don't make sense and I don't fancy the other Strikers we have been linked with.

Hopefully we sell Jones, Rojo, Lingard and Pereira, plus I expect Pogba will still go.

 

NoPace

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A reasonable summer/squad is starting to take shape:

ST: Martial, Greenwood, Veteran9
LW: Rashford, James
RW: RW, Chong
#10: Bruno, #10
CM: Fred, McTominay,
DM: DM, Matic
RB: WanBissaka, Williams,
LB: LB, Shaw
CB: Maguire, Bailly, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Jones
GK: De Gea, Romero

(Garner, Laird, Bernard and Mejbri can handle a game or two presumably if an injury crisis breaks out)

Permanently out: Pogba (be lovely if he stayed), Mata Pereira, Lingard,, Smalling, Rojo, (I'd sell Jones too but with the other CBs going it makes sense to keep him one more year until Tuanzebe is established and Bailly shows some healthy form, and if neither happens we need to buy a CB in 2021)

Loaned out: Dalot, Gomes

Signings:
RW - Clearly the biggest need in the squad.

#10 - We'd be a mess without Bruno, if we sign a RW like Sancho who can also play as a 10 that would be fine, too. Alternatively, we could sign a proper RW and then a player comfortable as a 9 or 10 and not sign a pure 9, but I'm not sure who that would be. Might be best to get creative like Ajax did turning Tadic into a 9, since he could also be a good backup 10.

DM/CM - Again, may not be needed if we keep Pogba or sign a proper AM like Grealish or Maddison to backup Bruno and also start alongside him a lot with Fred or McTominay as the lone DM.

LB - Shaw is good but needs pushing and also when we play 3/5 at the back we need someone to be an assist threat, so this should really be a wingback unless the RW type is someone like Dwight McNeil who could also be the first choice LWB in that setup.

9 - Ighalo is obviously doing well but there are other options. Someone good in the box and in the air makes sense, a loan or a punt on a mid 20s player with the talent and profile who hasn't had a chance yet, like we did with Chicharito, would make sense too. Maybe even the team that takes Dalot can be one with an excess 9 and they send us that striker
and they get a starting RWB in return. There is also the option of just giving Greenwood the job and if need be playing James-Rashford-RW as a front 3 doesn't look so bad.

So, I'd say the minimum amount of moves would be signing Sancho or a similar RW who can also be our creative hub, keeping Pogba or replacing him with a midfielder who can pass, signing a LWB and just trusting Greenwood as the backup 9 (since even if Martial is hurt we still have Rashford who can also play there and we would still haves Sancho, James and the Pogba replacement or Bruno able to play a narrower role out wide) but maybe a small investment on a 9 good in the box and the air like we did with Ighalo.
 

AltiUn

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If Pogba stays then getting a proper DM is as essential as Sancho.

Must be about 30 years since we played a team of players all in their natural positions.

But yeah, looks a good team. I'd be really happy if we only signed a top quality RW and DM this window, and made Ighalo permanent. Be a coup if we could get another year out of Pogba.
 

Cathy Ferguson

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Excellent Team, I would keep Ighalo too as a backup striker
And then we sign Telles and Konate in the following window. Lindelöf and Shaw are the weak links, and I would prefer a new CB or left back instead of Zakaria since we have Fred and McTominay.
 

RedDevilRoshi

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Must be about 30 years since we played a team of players all in their natural positions.

But yeah, looks a good team. I'd be really happy if we only signed a top quality RW and DM this window, and made Ighalo permanent. Be a coup if we could get another year out of Pogba.
Agree. That would be a very good window.
 

sp_107

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And then we sign Telles and Konate in the following window. Lindelöf and Shaw are the weak links, and I would prefer a new CB or left back instead of Zakaria since we have Fred and McTominay.

Fred and McTominay are never the out and out Defensive Midfielders and that position is so important for any team, With inform Matic we could see how balanced our team is now so I would go for Zakaria type player too in coming window along with a RW.
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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1. RW. Sancho. £100M+
2. DM. Super talented. Young&learning. £40-60M.
3. Left CB. Good in the air, passing ability, fast and strong. £60-80M.
Total: £240M.

Woody has to find a way to finance this.
 

Cathy Ferguson

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Fred and McTominay are never the out and out Defensive Midfielders and that position is so important for any team, With inform Matic we could see how balanced our team is now so I would go for Zakaria type player too in coming window along with a RW.
I agree that Fred and McTominay are not DMs, they are no 8s and lose the ball too often to be world class. Why Zakaria and not Partey? The latter is a world class no 6, and isn't Zakaria more of a no 8? Partey would most likely cost more.
 

Devil may care

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Excellent Team, I would keep Ighalo too as a backup striker


Must be about 30 years since we played a team of players all in their natural positions.

But yeah, looks a good team. I'd be really happy if we only signed a top quality RW and DM this window, and made Ighalo permanent. Be a coup if we could get another year out of Pogba.
Aye, the amount of shoehorning we have done for such a long time is crazy.

I think if Pogba is here next season he'll have signed a new contract, as if he doesn't intend to stay beyond next season then we seem very interested in Grealish but obviously wont buy him if Pogba stays but someone will in the summer, so we need to know.

Yep, that would be a quality side. Lindelof would be the next weak link in that, I don't think he's as bad as half the forum thinks but he is upgradable.
Agreed, and I'd like to see if Bailly or Axel could be that upgrade, I think CB is something to revisit next summer.

Fred and McTominay are never the out and out Defensive Midfielders and that position is so important for any team, With inform Matic we could see how balanced our team is now so I would go for Zakaria type player too in coming window along with a RW.
Exactly, Fred and McTominay are box to box CM's, trying to make either a DM weakens us in that position and takes away part of the strengths of their individual games.
 

yo@Kirk

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Bring Dean Henderson back from Sheffield Utd as he's ready to be Man Utd and England's #1. Sell De Gea to Real Madrid. Buy Dayot Upamecano (huge Utd fan) from RB Leipzig for left CB. Sell Lindelof and Smalling. Buy DM Denis Zakaria from Monchengladbach and RW Jaden Sancho from Dortmund. That would add 4 emerging stars to the starting 11 for about 120m net spend.
 

amolbhatia50k

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I thought I'd put my reply here.

Think the ideal window would be RW, CAM, CDM, ST in that order. If the quality/personality is right in each of those positions, United will be title contenders, no question.
I don't think we badly need a striker at the moment considering the other areas where strengthening is required. Rashford, Martial, Greenwood and Ighalo are enough for now.

I'd break it down as per the below.

Essential:


Right Wing -
This is without doubt the position that needs the greatest amount of attention. We've been a left-heavy side for as long as I can remember now. Nani was the last genuinely brilliant right winger I can remember us having and that was absolutely ages ago. Maybe Valencia had a spell after that but really it's been years since those long winding debates we used to have between the pair of them. And so we have Jadon Sancho appearing as by far the most important transfer target this summer.

Attacking midfielder - if Pogba leaves then we definitely need to add an attacking midfielder. Fernandes has started out superbly and has his own qualities, but we shouldn't, as a team, have to relinquish the close control, manipulating the ball, and individual brilliance that Pogba gives us. And while we won't get a like for like replacement in terms of natural talent, I think getting those qualities is important. We don't have anyone in midfield without him who can drive at defenders and beat them.

Playmaking CM /DM - For me this has been, like the right wing, an Achilles heel for our team for a long time now. Ever since Scholes and then to a lesser but still significant extent Carrick, we've lacked that player to controls and runs the midfield. We've got all action midfielders like Fred and Mctominay. We've got a destroyer in Magic. We've got flair in Pogba (who may leave) and end product in Fernandes. But we don't have a Modric/Kroos/Scholes/Pirlo figure in midfield who pulls it all together. Someone who turns us from being reliant on moments of brilliance to complete control. These players aren't easy to find but we have give someone we rate a shot and try to develop them. Whether it's a deep lying midfielder or an 8, would depend on the system.

Non essential:
Centre Back -
I don't think Lindelof is of the required quality. He's a decent centre back but I'd say his defensive capabilities are just about decent. If we are to eventually challenge for the league I can't see it happening with this chap being our starting CB. Obviously if we see Bailly or Tuanzebe have a meteoric rise soon, then it may quash this need but as of now we can do a lot better than Lindelof

Attacking fullback - The attacking fullback is the most debateable decisions for me. AWB and Shaw for me have the potential to be the most defensively sound and physically dominant pair of fullbacks in any team. A fullback with genuine attacking threat would essentially complete us in this position. The question is of how much faith Ole has in Williams developing rapidly I suppose.

Pure CDM - again this one would be contingent to having two attacking midfielders as part of the midfield trio.
CF - As of now, only if Ighalo doesn't stay or proves to not be good enough. If he doesn't, then I'd still prefer a cheaper signing here.
 

Kweku Amonoo

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I thought I'd put my reply here.


I don't think we badly need a striker at the moment considering the other areas where strengthening is required. Rashford, Martial, Greenwood and Ighalo are enough for now.

I'd break it down as per the below.

Essential:


Right Wing -
This is without doubt the position that needs the greatest amount of attention. We've been a left-heavy side for as long as I can remember now. Nani was the last genuinely brilliant right winger I can remember us having and that was absolutely ages ago. Maybe Valencia had a spell after that but really it's been years since those long winding debates we used to have between the pair of them. And so we have Jadon Sancho appearing as by far the most important transfer target this summer.

Attacking midfielder - if Pogba leaves then we definitely need to add an attacking midfielder. Fernandes has started out superbly and has his own qualities, but we shouldn't, as a team, have to relinquish the close control, manipulating the ball, and individual brilliance that Pogba gives us. And while we won't get a like for like replacement in terms of natural talent, I think getting those qualities is important. We don't have anyone in midfield without him who can drive at defenders and beat them.

Playmaking CM /DM - For me this has been, like the right wing, an Achilles heel for our team for a long time now. Ever since Scholes and then to a lesser but still significant extent Carrick, we've lacked that player to controls and runs the midfield. We've got all action midfielders like Fred and Mctominay. We've got a destroyer in Magic. We've got flair in Pogba (who may leave) and end product in Fernandes. But we don't have a Modric/Kroos/Scholes/Pirlo figure in midfield who pulls it all together. Someone who turns us from being reliant on moments of brilliance to complete control. These players aren't easy to find but we have give someone we rate a shot and try to develop them. Whether it's a deep lying midfielder or an 8, would depend on the system.

Non essential:
Centre Back -
I don't think Lindelof is of the required quality. He's a decent centre back but I'd say his defensive capabilities are just about decent. If we are to eventually challenge for the league I can't see it happening with this chap being our starting CB. Obviously if we see Bailly or Tuanzebe have a meteoric rise soon, then it may quash this need but as of now we can do a lot better than Lindelof

Attacking fullback - The attacking fullback is the most debateable decisions for me. AWB and Shaw for me have the potential to be the most defensively sound and physically dominant pair of fullbacks in any team. A fullback with genuine attacking threat would essentially complete us in this position. The question is of how much faith Ole has in Williams developing rapidly I suppose.

Pure CDM - again this one would be contingent to having two attacking midfielders as part of the midfield trio.
CF - As of now, only if Ighalo doesn't stay or proves to not be good enough. If he doesn't, then I'd still prefer a cheaper signing here.
RW : Jadon Sancho / Richarlison

Attacking CM: We really should trust Angel Gomes

Playmaking DM: Marc Roca
 

Fahad Jawaid

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If Pogba stays i believe we need to sign Grealish and Sancho. If he leaves then we should sign Grealish, Partey and Sancho.

This will result in us having first 11 of:
Ddg
AWB Maguire Lindelof Shaw
Mctominay/Fred Pogba
Sancho Bruno Rashford
Martial

This is a potential title winning squad, With options like Grealish, Mata, Ighalo and Greenwood on the bench.
 

diarm

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Chilwell? Seriously? He's a laughably poor defender when he has to face anyone semi-decent. He can cross a ball but that's about it. Leighton Baines lite.
Back when I wrote that, I only included players I had seen us linked to in the press. I think I used the previous 3 or 4 weeks of @christinaa 's Press Gossip thread.

Not my personal opinion.
 

sp_107

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I think this summer will be our major investment to fix few positions like RW,DM,CD,
Once that is done we will have a very good settled squad for next 6/7 years as most of our guys are not too old
That means from 2021, Ole and Recruiting team will focus on signing best young talent around 15-20M bracket and develop them to superstars.sings are very positive.
 

The United

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A reasonable summer/squad is starting to take shape:

ST: Martial, Greenwood, Veteran9
LW: Rashford, James
RW: RW, Chong
#10: Bruno, #10
CM: Fred, McTominay,
DM: DM, Matic
RB: WanBissaka, Williams,
LB: LB, Shaw
CB: Maguire, Bailly, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Jones
GK: De Gea, Romero

(Garner, Laird, Bernard and Mejbri can handle a game or two presumably if an injury crisis breaks out)

Permanently out: Pogba (be lovely if he stayed), Mata Pereira, Lingard,, Smalling, Rojo, (I'd sell Jones too but with the other CBs going it makes sense to keep him one more year until Tuanzebe is established and Bailly shows some healthy form, and if neither happens we need to buy a CB in 2021)

Loaned out: Dalot, Gomes

Signings:
RW - Clearly the biggest need in the squad.

#10 - We'd be a mess without Bruno, if we sign a RW like Sancho who can also play as a 10 that would be fine, too. Alternatively, we could sign a proper RW and then a player comfortable as a 9 or 10 and not sign a pure 9, but I'm not sure who that would be. Might be best to get creative like Ajax did turning Tadic into a 9, since he could also be a good backup 10.

DM/CM - Again, may not be needed if we keep Pogba or sign a proper AM like Grealish or Maddison to backup Bruno and also start alongside him a lot with Fred or McTominay as the lone DM.

LB - Shaw is good but needs pushing and also when we play 3/5 at the back we need someone to be an assist threat, so this should really be a wingback unless the RW type is someone like Dwight McNeil who could also be the first choice LWB in that setup.

9 - Ighalo is obviously doing well but there are other options. Someone good in the box and in the air makes sense, a loan or a punt on a mid 20s player with the talent and profile who hasn't had a chance yet, like we did with Chicharito, would make sense too. Maybe even the team that takes Dalot can be one with an excess 9 and they send us that striker
and they get a starting RWB in return. There is also the option of just giving Greenwood the job and if need be playing James-Rashford-RW as a front 3 doesn't look so bad.

So, I'd say the minimum amount of moves would be signing Sancho or a similar RW who can also be our creative hub, keeping Pogba or replacing him with a midfielder who can pass, signing a LWB and just trusting Greenwood as the backup 9 (since even if Martial is hurt we still have Rashford who can also play there and we would still haves Sancho, James and the Pogba replacement or Bruno able to play a narrower role out wide) but maybe a small investment on a 9 good in the box and the air like we did with Ighalo.
Again, LB?

Do we even realize the RB position is a lot worse? After AWB, who can we even rely on? Dalot?
 

The United

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If we sign Sancho, I doubt we will sign any other A list player this summer assuming Pogba is not leaving.
 

jamesjimmybyrondean

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Again, LB?

Do we even realize the RB position is a lot worse? After AWB, who can we even rely on? Dalot?
I don't mind because I think Laird will step up from what I've seen from him. Also let's not get ahead of ourselves with squad depth. Very few teams have a solid back up right back. We have Dalot Williams and Laird who can all do a job there and we can also play with 3 at the back
 

NoPace

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Again, LB?

Do we even realize the RB position is a lot worse? After AWB, who can we even rely on? Dalot?
I'm assuming Williams is better at RB than LB going forward as statistically very, very few fullbacks are better on their weaker foot side.

Dalot is only about to turn 21, hasn't been awful when he's played and was highly rated for a reason I think he'll still be at least a decent backup by next season or the one after. I wouldn't mind him getting a season on loan where he can play 45 times at fullback to get experience and have Williams being the backup to AWB.

So yeah, I think the fullback situation should be thought of as this going forward:

LB:
1 - LWB we sign (really should be attacking since Shaw has been good at LCB and in a 4 man defense with Wan-Bissaka not great going forward and projecting as a Kyle Walker at City type whose best skill is defensive work as a tucked in RB)

2 - Shaw (good enough defensively but often hurt, if we're serious about winning the title he has to be one of 2 proper leftbacks not the lone starter)

3 - Brandon Williams

RB:

1 - Wan Bissaka (very good first season defensively, obviously has to develop going forward or he'll be like a prime Gallas or Arbeloa type who is a fine option in big games but you'd like to sit against weaker times or haul off with 30 to go at times for a better offensive player)

2 - Dalot (good potential to be that offensive option)

3- Williams
 

The United

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I'm assuming Williams is better at RB than LB going forward as statistically very, very few fullbacks are better on their weaker foot side.

Dalot is only about to turn 21, hasn't been awful when he's played and was highly rated for a reason I think he'll still be at least a decent backup by next season or the one after. I wouldn't mind him getting a season on loan where he can play 45 times at fullback to get experience and have Williams being the backup to AWB.

So yeah, I think the fullback situation should be thought of as this going forward:

LB:
1 - LWB we sign (really should be attacking since Shaw has been good at LCB and in a 4 man defense with Wan-Bissaka not great going forward and projecting as a Kyle Walker at City type whose best skill is defensive work as a tucked in RB)

2 - Shaw (good enough defensively but often hurt, if we're serious about winning the title he has to be one of 2 proper leftbacks not the lone starter)

3 - Brandon Williams

RB:

1 - Wan Bissaka (very good first season defensively, obviously has to develop going forward or he'll be like a prime Gallas or Arbeloa type who is a fine option in big games but you'd like to sit against weaker times or haul off with 30 to go at times for a better offensive player)

2 - Dalot (good potential to be that offensive option)

3- Williams
You are assuming Williams will be better at RB? Well, based on evidence, he is clearly better as LB so far. Dalot does not even know how to defend at this moment. And AWB has better offensive play and he is hardly good at it so far.

I do agree that we need a full back who can play both sides. But, RB is a more urgent to have a look at as Dalot can not be relied on this season there. People really talk about wanting to have attacking fullbacks here. FB's first job is to defend. Those who can do both decently are pretty rare. It is just that our team does not have a good wing threat on both sides right now, it makes our FBs look worse than normal in offensive plays.
 
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Looks like we're getting rid of 3 CBs in the summer, reports have come out that we want to sell Jones. I think we'll defo need another CB as Bailly and Tuanzebe dont have a good fitness track record.
 

The United

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Looks like we're getting rid of 3 CBs in the summer, reports have come out that we want to sell Jones. I think we'll defo need another CB as Bailly and Tuanzebe dont have a good fitness track record.
We have a few CBs that we don't need to keep for sure. When or if they try to get one, he can hopefully head the ball properly.
 

SparkedIntoLife

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GK: More than OK. Henderson to get another loan with Sheffield United. RB: Good, concerns over Dalot but Laird is a great prospect if he can stay fit. LB: Shaw's playing very well and Williams is a good squad player. Not top drawer but I don't see many quality available LBs. CD: Maguire's begun to do a quality job for us. Lindelöf isn't a nailed on starter but has ability. Bailly is reminding us why we got excited about him. Tuanzebe is promising but needs games. No one needed here desperately. CM/DM: Fred, McTominay and Matic are fine senior options. Garner needs a year or two on loan. Mejbri is sublime but not ready. I'd buy Denis Zakaria in a heartbeat if available at a sensible price (no more than 50m). AM: Bruno Fernandes is looking like a crucial player. Lingard and Pereira can both go. I like Gomes but he needs a loan, perhaps even to Birmingham. So, for now, the very talented Jude Bellingham will fill in as a backup player both here, CM and on the wings. RW: No doubt we need one, and Jadon Sancho is that man. Chong and Mata to cover for him. LW: Rashford and James are more than good enough for this position. ST: I still have major reservations around Martial but Odion Ighalo has been an inspired loan signing thus far and should be made permanent. Greenwood will get more games up top on his own as he fills out a bit.

I don't really see the need for Jack Grealish or James Maddison. They'll both be very expensive with English tax and would get in Bruno's way. Upamecano looks exciting at that release clause but I'm far from convinced he's a priority.

1) De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Maguire, Bailly; Zakaria, Fred; Sancho, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes; Martial
2) Romero/Grant; Dalot/Laird, Williams, Lindelöf, Tuanzebe; McTominay, Matic; Chong/Mata, James, Bellingham; Ighalo/Greenwood
 

NoPace

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You are assuming Williams will be better at RB? Well, based on evidence, he is clearly better as LB so far. Dalot does not even know how to defend at this moment. And AWB has better offensive play and he is hardly good at it so far.

I do agree that we need a full back who can play both sides. But, RB is a more urgent to have a look at as Dalot can not be relied on this season there. People really talk about wanting to have attacking fullbacks here. FB's first job is to defend. Those who can do both decently are pretty rare. It is just that our team does not have a good wing threat on both sides right now, it makes our FBs look worse than normal in offensive plays.
Unless I'm mistaken the only other righfooted LB in the top 50 (Williams is 49) on Transfermarket is Jonny Otto and I think he might also be a RB it's just that Wolves have Doherty and no veteran left back. Guys like Azpilicueta are similar on both sides but his crossing has definitely been better on the right.

Williams has played LB because that's where the need has been but unless things change (as they did with wingers about 15 years ago or so I guess) and inverted fullbacks become more than 1-2% of fullbacks, I see no reason to think he isn't a RB.
 

The United

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Unless I'm mistaken the only other righfooted LB in the top 50 (Williams is 49) on Transfermarket is Jonny Otto and I think he might also be a RB it's just that Wolves have Doherty and no veteran left back. Guys like Azpilicueta are similar on both sides but his crossing has definitely been better on the right.

Williams has played LB because that's where the need has been but unless things change (as they did with wingers about 15 years ago or so I guess) and inverted fullbacks become more than 1-2% of fullbacks, I see no reason to think he isn't a RB.
Ok, so based on whatever list, you are quoting, Williams will be a good RB? Well, I hope he becomes a good FB on either side.

But, the point is that he is performing well on left more than on right so far. I would keep him where he shows he can perform.
 

croadyman

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I could quite easily see a switch of focus from signing an AM (Grealish) to a CM/DM (Zakaria) if Pogba does stay on beyond this summer. I would be quite happy with a window of Zakaria, Sancho & Ighalo on a permanent deal and then focus on getting a tempo controlling CM and top class CB partner for Maguire in the Winter 2020 and Summer 2021 windows.
 

NoPace

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Ok, so based on whatever list, you are quoting, Williams will be a good RB? Well, I hope he becomes a good FB on either side.

But, the point is that he is performing well on left more than on right so far. I would keep him where he shows he can perform.
The point of the list is to show that the odds are strongly against any of the top 50 rated (website lists transfer value it's nothing crazy) right-footed fullbacks both being good enough to start for Manchester United AND better at LB than RB and therefore primarily a LB.

Basically, if Williams can produce enough offense on the left while being rightfooted he's probably going to be an even better right back.

The one argument against this I could see is Williams seems to be quite good coming infield and linking play, so maybe he can look to score goals and cut inside more than most fullbacks, but there's a reason most teams have wingers to do that and then fullbacks to overlap them and be wider (so the advantage is to be on your correct foot). Enda Stevens plays on the left for example but he comes infield a lot since Sheffield have their fullbacks overlap, but certainly in a 4 at the back system it's tough to think of anyone but Guardiola who uses his fullbacks narrowly enough for it to make sense to have inverted fullbacks.

So, yeah, if we get a ton of width from a left-winger I guess Williams could do what Zinchenko or Walker do a lot for City and come inside to help the midfield and stop counters, but since the strength in his game seems to be his linking play and energy I just don't see it.

TLDR: Right footed players tend to be rightbacks not left foot in the modern game and Williams would be an exception. My guess is it'll be like James where he's not bad on his weaker wing but in time it's clear he's better on the right (as James seems clearly to be better on the left).
 

ovoxo

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Assuming Ighalo becomes permanent, i think it’ll likely be the following coming in:

1. Sancho
2. Grealish/Zakaria(if pogba stays)
3. Bellingham
 

Suvvernmanc

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It's been said enough on this thread that we need a right winger, 1 CM or 2 of Pogba goes and a striker (maybe Ighalo) but the ultimate goal is for us to get to a point where we can bring in 1 quality player per season IF we need it, or if someone is retiring or being sold. That signals our rebuild being complete!

I think bringing in 3 players for those positions will have us a fairly balanced squad with youth and experience, creativity in attack while defensively sound.

It's been a long process and could have been alot quicker but we do seem to be close to that point.

Sancho, Grealish and Ighalo on a permanent deal would be great. I am of the opinion that we dont need a DM. If we play a 2 man midfield with a #10, we have Matic, Fred, Mctominay and Pogba. If we play a 3 man midfield, we can play with Matic in the #6 role with Bruno, Grealish, Pogba, Fred and Mctominay sharing the other 2 positions. Its ample in numbers but they would all get a good amount of minutes.
 

ovoxo

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More likely:
1. Sancho
2. Grealish (Pogba goes)
3. Bellingham / Zakaria
Isn’t Bellingham more an attacking midfielder/left winger though? I’d have thought it’s RW,DM (if pogba stays), and AM (young talent)