Let's say INEOS go full fire sale this summer: Who are your untouchables?

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

As the title says, there has been many reports about INEOS bringing in a number of new footballing minds to spearhead our recruitment and overall squad direction going forward. As with any time new decision makers come in, we can expect some changes to be made. Assuming we don't magically put forth some title contending second half form and largely stay the team we are now on our way to a 5th/6th place finish, I'm of the opinion that much of the squad needs to be turned over and we start fresh (Ragnick style). Whether or not you may agree, I am curious who the Cafe thinks are the utter untouchables from our squad that you absolutely don't want sold.

My list:

Hojlund- promising striker prospect perhaps coming into his own recently. Far too much potential to ditch after 1 year though especially with how dry the market is
Garnacho- obvious choice. Has carried our attack at times this season as a teenager.
Mainoo- Again another obvious choice. Build the entire midfield around him.
Shaw - Getting up there in age but it's very hard to find fullbacks as complete as he is when fit.
Martinez- the injury issues give me pause, but he's far too good when fit.
Dalot- Not very well liked by the Cafe but he has a very solid skillset and is quietly having his best season so far with the club.

Some notable names aren't on the list, but these are really the only players that I'd absolutely hate to see leave this summer. Everyone else is expendable for various reasons.

 

[SuperiorXI]

Fred the red

 

[Solius]

As the title says, there has been many reports about INEOS bringing in a number of new footballing minds to spearhead our recruitment and overall squad direction going forward. As with any time new decision makers come in, we can expect some changes to be made. Assuming we don't magically put forth some title contending second half form and largely stay the team we are now on our way to a 5th/6th place finish, I'm of the opinion that much of the squad needs to be turned over and we start fresh (Ragnick style). Whether or not you may agree, I am curious who the Cafe thinks are the utter untouchables from our squad that you absolutely don't want sold.

My list:

Hojlund- promising striker prospect perhaps coming into his own recently. Far too much potential to ditch after 1 year though especially with how dry the market is
Garnacho- obvious choice. Has carried our attack at times this season as a teenager.
Mainoo- Again another obvious choice. Build the entire midfield around him.
Shaw - Getting up there in age but it's very hard to find fullbacks as complete as he is when fit.
Martinez- the injury issues give me pause, but he's far too good when fit.
Dalot- Not very well liked by the Cafe but he has a very solid skillset and is quietly having his best season so far with the club.

Some notable names aren't on the list, but these are really the only players that I'd absolutely hate to see leave this summer. Everyone else is expendable for various reasons.

You've basically named them all. You could make a case for anyone else in the squad.

 

[BluesJr]

Hojlund, Mainoo, Garnacho.

The only 3 who would truly get me upset if they were to leave.

 

[Andy_Cole]

 

[Ish]

Hojlund, Garnacho, Mainoo, Martinez & Shaw. I like Dalot as well but I don’t think he’s untouchable.

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

Pretty much covered it in your post for me. I’d keep Bruno too though. He’s a real source of quality, as much as he is of frustration too. Doesn’t mean he’d be an automatic starter for me in a rebuild as massive as you’re suggesting though.

*Dalot isn’t untouchable but i recognise he’s having a decent season and think he’sbeen really solid stepping into the middle to beat the press.

 

[Robertd0803]

Garnacho,Hojlund,Mainoo, Martinez,Dalot, Bruno.

Dont think I would miss anyone else. Even until recently I would have said Rashford but think the Belfast thing has finally turned my opinion.

A few I accept moving on in the general scheme of things despite not having any issue with them (Casemiro/Eriksen) and theres a good few that just need to be gone from the club now and I wouldnt blink an eye (Antony/Martial).

 

[diarm]

Mainoo, Garnacho, Hojlund and Martinez.

I like Shaw and wouldn't mind at all if we keep him - he'd be very expensive to replace. But the fact remains he's been a constant through a decade of mediocrity. Not untouchable for me.

I wouldn't mind keeping McTominay, Dalot, Amad and Gore as squad players next year, but wouldn't be upset if any of the rest move on.

 

[Raoul]

As the title says, there has been many reports about INEOS bringing in a number of new footballing minds to spearhead our recruitment and overall squad direction going forward. As with any time new decision makers come in, we can expect some changes to be made. Assuming we don't magically put forth some title contending second half form and largely stay the team we are now on our way to a 5th/6th place finish, I'm of the opinion that much of the squad needs to be turned over and we start fresh (Ragnick style). Whether or not you may agree, I am curious who the Cafe thinks are the utter untouchables from our squad that you absolutely don't want sold.

My list:

Hojlund- promising striker prospect perhaps coming into his own recently. Far too much potential to ditch after 1 year though especially with how dry the market is
Garnacho- obvious choice. Has carried our attack at times this season as a teenager.
Mainoo- Again another obvious choice. Build the entire midfield around him.
Shaw - Getting up there in age but it's very hard to find fullbacks as complete as he is when fit.
Martinez- the injury issues give me pause, but he's far too good when fit.
Dalot- Not very well liked by the Cafe but he has a very solid skillset and is quietly having his best season so far with the club.

Some notable names aren't on the list, but these are really the only players that I'd absolutely hate to see leave this summer. Everyone else is expendable for various reasons.

Everyone spare Garnacho and Mainoo would be fair game. It would be unrealistic to ditch Hojlund given his potential, so he should probably be on the list. I agree with the others as well, but wouldn't be shocked to see some or all of them gradually swapped out during a nuclear reboot firesale over the course of a couple of summers.

 

[Jeppers7]

The three lads on the boards yesterday. Shaw Martinez. There's others I wouldn’t sell before replacing with at least equal quality such as Casemiro, Varane, Rashford and some like Amad and Kambwala that I wouldn’t want sold.

 

[DJ_21]

Hojlund, Garnacho, Mainoo, shaw, Martinez, Bruno. These are the ones who are worth keeping and building around. All the others are either not good enough or have an hit and miss attitude and turn up when they want. We’ve actually got a pretty solid team with youngsters coming up. We just need to build on it with some solid signings. We defo need another CB that’s in the same mould as Martinez as he’s the one player that makes us tick a lot better. He can pass through the lines into midfield.

 

[Josep Dowling]

No one should be untouchable. Players come and go but every single player can be replaced. The club and fans should stop putting players on a pedestal.

 

[sparx99]

Garnacho, Hojlund and Mainoo are the only untouchables. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have competition for their place though.

Shaw, Dalot and Martinez fall more into the category of not being a priority area for me.

I’m hoping Martinez has just been unlucky with the injuries. We’ve been looking at a couple of centre backs though so it’s possible we sell two and buy two.

 

[Raoul]

Unless they feel Hojlund is capable of knocking in 25-30 goals next year, they would almost certainly buy an established striker. That doesn't mean you get rid of him, just that he would still have to compete for playing time.

 

[sparx99]

No one should be untouchable. Players come and go but every single player can be replaced. The club and fans should stop putting players on a pedestal.

I don’t think that was the intent behind of the OP. It’s more that the ‘untouchables’ would fit into the category of being young enough and talented enough that we don’t want to see them leave.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

Licha, Mainoo, Garnacho and Højlund

 

[Scandi Red]

Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Garnacho, Bruno and Højlund are untouchable right now.

On top of this I'd give Onana one more year to prove himself. Dalot is good enough on the right back for now. Rashford can stay as well, although if a big offer comes in I wouldn't be opposed to selling.

So that's 6 untouchables and 3 "good enoughs". We need to sign at least 3 players. CB, CM and an attacker (to compete with our current front 3).

 

[groovyalbert]

Hojlund, Garnacho, Martinez, Mainoo, Rashford, Bruno, Shaw.

Would be happy to keep Varane and Case around, but they're probably part of a small pool who could fetch a decent fee from Saudi.

I've no qualms in us keeping McTominay, Dalot, AWB and Lindelof around either.

Hey rid ASAP - Martial, Sancho, Greenwood, Amrabat, Antony and can see Mount and Onana being added to this list before too long.

 

[pacifictheme]

Evans
Shaw
Martinez
Hojlund
Mainoo
Garnacho

That's probably it.

 

[adexkola]

Has such a mass clear out ever happened in top flight football?

 

[Remember the geese]

Evans

The feck?

 

[matherto]

Has such a mass clear out ever happened in top flight football?

People so easily forget it's not Football Manager.

Suspect FFP will still be a hinderance for other teams willing to spend this summer. Suspect that unless we do the pretty much impossible and just pay off contracts then we're stuck with some players for some years yet sadly.

The feck?

Honestly to have around as a backup of some quality and also a proper United player he's been brilliant, might as well keep him.

 

[diarm]

Has such a mass clear out ever happened in top flight football?

Every time we throw away a two goal lead and I load up a therapy FM session.

 

[Raoul]

Has such a mass clear out ever happened in top flight football?

Its hypothetical, not real.

In most similar circumstances, changes happend gradually over the course of several seasons. Take Roman at Chelsea circa 2004 or City circa 2009. It didn't all happen in one summer, it took at least a couple, during which new players were brought in and older ones gradually ushered out.

 

[Remember the geese]

Honestly to have around as a backup of some quality and also a proper United player he's been brilliant, might as well keep him.

He's been good relative to expectations. Not untouchable though.

 

[Von Mistelroum]

Mainoo - seems very talented, and we should do whatever we can to keep him.
Hojlund - classy striker for his age, she I genuinely think he can be our main striker for the next ten years.
Martinez - The passion and talent alone make him worth keeping. Not on the level of the likes of Rio, but a class above our other senior players.
Garnacho - a bit of an unknown quantity for me. He could become top class, but I'm still not convinced. His passing and crossing are not great, and he often makes bad decisions. Still, he's young and could add things to his game still.

I would also keep Shaw probably, but otherwise I wouldn't be bothered to see anyone else leave. I would really like to get rid of Antony, Rashford, Martial, and McTom. These players are not the level we should be aspiring to. I would get rid of Onana too, but I feel sad saying this as I like the guy and his attitude.

 

[OleGunnar20]

As the title says, there has been many reports about INEOS bringing in a number of new footballing minds to spearhead our recruitment and overall squad direction going forward. As with any time new decision makers come in, we can expect some changes to be made. Assuming we don't magically put forth some title contending second half form and largely stay the team we are now on our way to a 5th/6th place finish, I'm of the opinion that much of the squad needs to be turned over and we start fresh (Ragnick style). Whether or not you may agree, I am curious who the Cafe thinks are the utter untouchables from our squad that you absolutely don't want sold.

My list:

Hojlund- promising striker prospect perhaps coming into his own recently. Far too much potential to ditch after 1 year though especially with how dry the market is
Garnacho- obvious choice. Has carried our attack at times this season as a teenager.
Mainoo- Again another obvious choice. Build the entire midfield around him.
Shaw - Getting up there in age but it's very hard to find fullbacks as complete as he is when fit.
Martinez- the injury issues give me pause, but he's far too good when fit.
Dalot- Not very well liked by the Cafe but he has a very solid skillset and is quietly having his best season so far with the club.

Some notable names aren't on the list, but these are really the only players that I'd absolutely hate to see leave this summer. Everyone else is expendable for various reasons.

This + Fernandes - Dalot = Just Right.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Pretty much the ones mentioned by the OP.

I wouldn't be massively fussed if Dalot left, though I do have a soft spot for him and would be happy enough for him to stay on with some decent competiton for his spot.

 

[AltiUn]

I wouldn't be that arsed if Shaw, Martinez or Dalot left eventually but they definitely shouldn't be the first out of the door. Obviously you want to keep the cream of the crop of your youth talent which Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund obviously are.

 

[SER19]

Pretty much covered it in your post for me. I’d keep Bruno too though. He’s a real source of quality, as much as he is of frustration too. Doesn’t mean he’d be an automatic starter for me in a rebuild as massive as you’re suggesting though.

*Dalot isn’t untouchable but i recognise he’s having a decent season and think he’sbeen really solid stepping into the middle to beat the press.

I agree. Bruno remains an influential player and while I understand some people's frustrations with him, his stats where work rate are concerned are absolutely brilliant and overlooked. I feel like every misplaced pass gets about 20 times the reaction of the sort of quick turnover or switch he does multiple times a game. He's a fantastic player and I'd love to see him be part of success

 

[Fortitude]

Shaw, Mainoo, Amad, Martinez, Hojlund and Garnacho.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Why in earth would INEOS have a fire sale?

Everyone wants to sell half the team, without realising that if you sell half the team, they all need to be replaced and with better players.

Then they all need to bed in and get used to the system and playing for the biggest club in the World and all the pressure that brings.

Selling half the squad is idiotic and I've yet to see any evidence of idiocy from INEOS.

 

[Shakesy]

Surely no one is untouchable. We need funds to rebuild

 

[Demon Barber]

Martinez, Højlund, Garnacho, Mainoo, Shaw, Dalot, Bruno and Rashford.

 

[devilish]

No one

However I think it would be silly to sell Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund

 

[CallyRed]

We don't want to be another Chelsea

 

[RedSky]

Don't get the love in for Dalot. He's got no end product and still poor defensively.

He's not untouchable for me, we can certainly do better.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I wouldn’t be in any way bothered if Dalot left.

I wouldn’t advocate it because he always shows effort and would be a decent back up. But if a manager wanted rid, I’d fully back them

 

[Dannn411]

Mainoo, Hojlund, Lisandro, Garnacho, Amad. Bye to the rest.