Squad depth for next season, then

Pexbo

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Needs a DM or else it’s another season of the “McFred” pivot. If that is the team I’d try

DDG
Trippier Varane Maguire Shaw
van de Beek Pogba
Sancho Fernandes Martial
Cavani​

Decent bench too with Greenwood & Rashford if the front 4 aren’t firing.
What the hell is that team man? To think you’re one of the ones who means the most and you put VDB and Pogba in a double pivot and drop Rashford for Martial :lol:
 

golden_blunder

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Swap Pogba for DeLigt. CB done.
Buy Frankie DeJong. €70m + Lindelof. CM done
Buy Sancho 80m + extras. RW done
But Trippier. €20m RB competition done.
sell Dalot, lingard, Henderson, James, Chong. Must be 100m+ there in sales.
DeGea
AWB - Maguire - DeLigt - Shaw
DeJong - DeBeek
Bruno
Sancho - cavani - Rashford
 

Kopral Jono

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Need to sign Trippier, Sancho, Rice, and a CB like Varane or Torres.
Henderson
Wan Bissaka Varane Maguire Shaw
Rice Pogba
Sancho Bruno Rashford
Cavani


Heaton
Trippier Lindelof Bailly Telles
McTominay Fred
Greenwood Van de Beek James
Martial​
Bolded team is good enough to go all the way in the Champions League. Again, this goes to show that we're not actually that far off. With the right signings we're a very, very good side.
 

alexthelion

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Swap Pogba for DeLigt. CB done.
Buy Frankie DeJong. €70m + Lindelof. CM done
Buy Sancho 80m + extras. RW done
But Trippier. €20m RB competition done.
sell Dalot, lingard, Henderson, James, Chong. Must be 100m+ there in sales.
DeGea
AWB - Maguire - DeLigt - Shaw
DeJong - DeBeek
Bruno
Sancho - cavani - Rashford
That's a good team, would be better with Henderson in goal, though.
 

eire-red

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Not focusing on the squad depth as a whole here, but going into next season, if we sign Sancho and keep Pogba, we'll have an incredible amount of games changers at the top end of the pitch.

Cavani, Rashford, Bruno, Pogba, Greenwood and Sancho are all match winners in their own right, even Martial on his day is capable of tearing any defence apart. If we can sort out the team behind them, surely we'll be a force next season?

A CDM and a CB are the glaring holes to me. I think Sancho, a starting CB and a starting CM/CDM would be a brilliant summer, and put us in a strong position, on both a first 11 and squad as a whole.
 

28gunsalute

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No chance we sign all of those. If we get Sancho forget about an expensive CB
If we dont get a worldie expensive proven centre back we will not be mounting a serious title challenge.
Lindelo, Bailly and Tuanzebe are not good enough, simples.
 

roseguy64

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Adding to that instead of selling we loan players out. Why buy Pellestri, never play him and loan him out until probably until his contract runs out. Another waste of money. Periera as well. Just sell even if its for £5 mill, its still better than nothing when his contract runs out.
Then either one of De Gea or Henderson need moving on, but you can bet both will still be here. We will have 2 goalies probably the highest paid at one club. Ridiculous.
Why would we sell Pereira for 5 mil when we could potentially get his wages paid and have a small loan fee included in that? Works out to similar savings probably or close enough that selling him for that low doesn't make sense.
 

devilish

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GK: DDG, Henderson, Heaton - (DDG is impossible to move out with that salary)

DR: AWB, Dalot, Williams/Laird (one of them should be loaned)
DL: Shaw, Telles
DC: Maguire, Varane, Lindelof, Bailly

DM: Bentacur, Fred
MC: Neves, McT
AMC: Bruno, Calhanoglu

AML: Rashford, Martial, Elanga
AMR: Sancho, Diallo

STK: Cavani, Greenwood

In

Heaton - free
Calhanoglu - free
Varane - 50m
Neves - 40m
Bentacur - swap with Pogba (with money)
Sancho - 80m

170m

Out

Jones - free
Pogba - Bentacur + 10m
Lingard - 30m
Mata - free
James - 25m

65m
 

Bondi77

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Very early, I know, but looking at the strongly rumoured ins and outs. I thought I'd do a little thought experiment and see what we'll have to play with next season.

GK
Henderson
DDG
Heaton

RB
AWB
Trippier

CBs
Maguire
One of Varane/Torres/Kounde
Lindelof
Bailly
Axel

LB
Shaw
Telles

RW
Sancho
Amad
Greenwood

CM (inc. DM)
Fred
McTominay
Matic
VdB
Pogba

LW
Rashford
Pogba
Martial
James

#10
Bruno
Pogba
VdB

Striker
Cavani
Greenwood
Martial
Rashford

I think we have decent depth in most of the positions, though admittedly there are a few players in the team who can cover multiple positions rather than specialists, which isn't totally ideal. I haven't factored in the kids like Mejbri, Shoretire, Elanga, et al, as well as the kids who went out on loan, because it's too early to know what the plans are for them. Pellistri might be someone worth keeping an eye on if he gets loaned out to La Liga again and impresses.

I think looking ahead, a DM and a striker to replace Cavani will obviously be foremost in our thoughts, as well as a replacement for Pogba if he leaves on a free, but I think getting a player in to the squad who can help lessen the load on Bruno in the 10 position might be worthwhile pursuing (if Donny has another season like last year).
Going by his brief loan spell I would be amazed if Pogba and VDB are viewed as better options at 10 then Lingard if Ole looks at things in the cold light of day. The whole point of a loan spell is to see what they can do given a decent run of games if we cannot offer it at the current time and the form of Jesse was spectacular.
 

Smores

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We don't really have a depth problem, we have areas in the first team that we could improve but our depth isn't an issue.

The issue is everyone assumes we need Citys depth to compete which clearly isn't true as they don't win everything every season. Would it be ideal? Of course.

We've not had huge amounts of depth in our teams going back though. It's a rarity that we've had seasons with any quality on the bench.
 

wolvored

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Why would we sell Pereira for 5 mil when we could potentially get his wages paid and have a small loan fee included in that? Works out to similar savings probably or close enough that selling him for that low doesn't make sense.
Because we had to pay some of his wages last season I remember reading. Same as Pellestri. Its obvious in Perieras case and probably Pellestri as well that they have no future here, so just sell.
 

CanadianUtd

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Cavani
Martial

Rashford ——— Bruno ——— Sancho
- ——James ———— VDB ——- Mason/Amad

Pogba ——— Rice
—— Fred —— McTominay

Shaw -—- Maguire -—- Varane -—- AWB
-Telles Axel/Bailly Lindelof- - Trippier

Henderson
DDG



ACADEMY CALL-UPS:
Elanga, Shoretire, Mengi, Fish

IN:
Sancho, Rice, Varane, Trippier

OUT:
Lingard, Pereria, Matic, Mata, Dalot, Jones

LOAN:
Pellistri, Hannibal, Garner, Williams,​
 

Bertie 2 Hats

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Up to present our line-up could be :

1. Nead Denhensor

2. Oaran Naw-Sibaask

3. Kule Wash

4. Rictov Denfolli

5. Rarhy Reguiam

6. Derf

7. Laup Bagpo

8. Nobur Reefsannd

9. Danjo Chanos

10. Nendiso Vianca

11. Ramsuc Forshard
 

The Corinthian

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GKs: Hendo, DdG, Heaton, Grant

RB: AWB, Dalot - I think Williams should be sold personally, but looks like a loan to So'ton it is.

CB: Maguire, Varane (or Torres) with Lindelof, and Axel as back ups. I'd like to see Bailly sold (Villareal interested I think?).

LB: Shaw, Telles

Midfield: McTominay, Fred, Donny, Camavinga, Matic for the 2 spots behind Bruno. I think Pogba should be moved on.

AM: Bruno, and Donny when he needs a rest.

LW: Rashford, James

RW: Sancho, Amad, James, Mata

CF: Cavani, Mason. Martial to be moved on.

Soooooo...

Ins: Sancho, Varane/Torres, Camavinga
Outs: Bailly, Pogba, Martial, Lingard

Also, promote some of the youths - Mejbri, Garner, and see where we are with Chongy, and Pellestri too. I'd give Laird, Shoretire, Elanga and Mengi a season on loan elsewhere, and then see if they can be integrated / used in the first team from the following season.
 

Rampant Red Rodriguez

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Squad depth is pointless if he's not going to be making subs on time and regularly so. He needs more players on form for the latter stages of the season than his core players.

It's a long football season and we need to keep the intensity up at the business end, we won't do it with the core if he doesn't use his subs properly.
 

Nytram Shakes

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Personally, I'm expecting Williams to be our reserve RB next season. we are spending 73 million on Sancho and probably looking at signing a partner for Maguire which you would expect to be around 30-40 million at least. I don't think there is going to be much incoming beyond that considering the losses the club has made over the past 2 years. Nor do I think spending 20 million on a reserve 30-year-old RB is a great idea.
 

laughtersassassin

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GKs: Hendo, DdG, Heaton, Grant

RB: AWB, Dalot - I think Williams should be sold personally, but looks like a loan to So'ton it is.

CB: Maguire, Varane (or Torres) with Lindelof, and Axel as back ups. I'd like to see Bailly sold (Villareal interested I think?).

LB: Shaw, Telles

Midfield: McTominay, Fred, Donny, Camavinga, Matic for the 2 spots behind Bruno. I think Pogba should be moved on.

AM: Bruno, and Donny when he needs a rest.

LW: Rashford, James

RW: Sancho, Amad, James, Mata

CF: Cavani, Mason. Martial to be moved on.

Soooooo...

Ins: Sancho, Varane/Torres, Camavinga
Outs: Bailly, Pogba, Martial, Lingard

Also, promote some of the youths - Mejbri, Garner, and see where we are with Chongy, and Pellestri too. I'd give Laird, Shoretire, Elanga and Mengi a season on loan elsewhere, and then see if they can be integrated / used in the first team from the following season.
That Midfield with Pogba gone would be criminally poor.
 

Borys

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I'm starting to think we don't need a backup for Bruno. We just won't play with attacking mid if he needs a rest, and switch to 4-3-3. Most of our attackers are wide forwards anyway.

Big season for van de Beek, I feel like he will have much better season acting as Fred replacement in some games. He had his best performances in midfield. Seems like Ole understood that in latter stages of the season. Along with the fact Pogba can't play in 2 man midfield.

Pogba will be sold, and hopefully we will use the money for a proper defensive minded central midfielder. Or just DM. Paul offensive contribution will be replaced by Sancho, and defensive contribution will not be missed.

We should be fine offensively, and if we improve defensively it should be even easier to control games and score more goals.

But I fear we won't buy a CB, or at least not a very good one. I still think we're one injury away from a disaster at the back.
 

RUCK4444

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Squad depth is pointless if he's not going to be making subs on time and regularly so. He needs more players on form for the latter stages of the season than his core players.

It's a long football season and we need to keep the intensity up at the business end, we won't do it with the core if he doesn't use his subs properly.
Our subs have let us down a lot in fairness, our record when having to switch players out and rely on bench options is poor, particularly through the spine of the team… which naturally makes the manager inclined to field the players he trusts.
 

RUCK4444

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I'm starting to think we don't need a backup for Bruno. We just won't play with attacking mid if he needs a rest, and switch to 4-3-3. Most of our attackers are wide forwards anyway.

Big season for van de Beek, I feel like he will have much better season acting as Fred replacement in some games. He had his best performances in midfield. Seems like Ole understood that in latter stages of the season. Along with the fact Pogba can't play in 2 man midfield.

Pogba will be sold, and hopefully we will use the money for a proper defensive minded central midfielder. Or just DM. Paul offensive contribution will be replaced by Sancho, and defensive contribution will not be missed.

We should be fine offensively, and if we improve defensively it should be even easier to control games and score more goals.

But I fear we won't buy a CB, or at least not a very good one. I still think we're one injury away from a disaster at the back.
I’m not sure that midfield can control games at all well. Especially if Pogba does go, not many that are composed in possession.
 

Borys

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I’m not sure that midfield can control games at all well. Especially if Pogba does go, not many that are composed in possession.
Impossible to tell until we know who joins our midfield. For sure McFred is not enough, but I wouldn't call Pogba composed in possession and particularly press resistant (especially in midfield) so I wouldn't worry about losing him. Van de Beek and Matic are by far our best players in that regard, so I'd like to see more of Donny, but surely not from the start.
 

Wolverine

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That Midfield with Pogba gone would be criminally poor.
I think it would be average and not very good. I think below par if we are aiming for top prizes domestically and in europe.
Centre-midfield and defense should be priority. Slightly frustrating that we haven't moved on some players to clear up wage bill.
 

Wolverine

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Impossible to tell until we know who joins our midfield. For sure McFred is not enough, but I wouldn't call Pogba composed in possession and particularly press resistant (especially in midfield) so I wouldn't worry about losing him. Van de Beek and Matic are by far our best players in that regard, so I'd like to see more of Donny, but surely not from the start.
Do you think Donny can play in a deeper role? Personally I like his intelligent play and I think he'll get better with more regular play time and thrive in a time is we have possession and movement rather than just mainly counter-attacking. Not sure though about playing more central as I think he's too passive defensively
 

padzilla

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I can see goalkeeping being a problem for us next season I am not convinced Henderson is anywhere near good enough to be our number one and DDG is past it. We absolutely need some quality in midfield to stop us ludicrously playing Fred and McTominay in each game.
 

laughtersassassin

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I think it would be average and not very good. I think below par if we are aiming for top prizes domestically and in europe.
Centre-midfield and defense should be priority. Slightly frustrating that we haven't moved on some players to clear up wage bill.
You can't lose Pogba and replace him with an 18 year old.

The incompetence to do that would be insane.

There should be no world where we go into next season planning in starting McTominay and Fred together week in week out.
 

laughtersassassin

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Do you think Donny can play in a deeper role? Personally I like his intelligent play and I think he'll get better with more regular play time and thrive in a time is we have possession and movement rather than just mainly counter-attacking. Not sure though about playing more central as I think he's too passive defensively
Not with our current DM otpions.
 

Borys

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Do you think Donny can play in a deeper role? Personally I like his intelligent play and I think he'll get better with more regular play time and thrive in a time is we have possession and movement rather than just mainly counter-attacking. Not sure though about playing more central as I think he's too passive defensively
I don't know what you mean by deeper role, surely he can play the Fred role (supporting midfielder but with another strong player behind him). He was OK to good whenever I saw him in midfield, and considering he really had very limited playing time I'd definitely give him another chance in midfield.

I actually think he was quite good defensively, I remember him doing a number of tackles. He is too weak to be there on his own but he's good on the ball and I like how he positions himself to get the ball, pass and move style. He also is a calming presence so to speak, not afraid to get the ball under pressure. I definitely see more of a midfielder in him, exactly the opposite feeling I have with Pogba.

Not with our current DM otpions.
That for sure is true. It'd be madness, as midfield is our weakest area with or without Pogba. We need a DM/defensive minded Central Midfielder more than anything, whatever system we use next season. Hopefully Pogba will fund that.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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You can't lose Pogba and replace him with an 18 year old.

The incompetence to do that would be insane.

There should be no world where we go into next season planning in starting McTominay and Fred together week in week out.
Is your concern because you believe Camavinga will just sit on the bench while we will only rely on McFred week in week out?

Camavinga already has lot of men's football experiences and already had his senior France NT caps means he is good enough to be part of rotation for McFred, thus McFred won't play together week in week out. Him, McT and Fred are likely to share minutes.

On top of that we already invested 40m on VDB. Whether VDB is good enough or no, that's a different story after he is given the chances to prove himself. Assuming we sign Camavinga for 30m-35m. That's basically total of 70m-75m investment on midfield (VDB & Camavinga). That's already enough money to replace Pogba. If we still need more without giving the lads chances first then we have to question Ole's transfer plan why he spent those big money for midfielders in the first place.
 

laughtersassassin

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Is your concern because you believe Camavinga will just sit on the bench while we will only rely on McFred week in week out?

Camavinga already has lot of men's football experiences and already had his senior France NT caps means he is good enough to be part of rotation for McFred, thus McFred won't play together week in week out. Him, McT and Fred are likely to share minutes.

On top of that we already invested 40m on VDB. Whether VDB is good enough or no, that's a different story after he is given the chances to prove himself. Assuming we sign Camavinga for 30m-35m. That's basically total of 70m-75m investment on midfield (VDB & Camavinga). That's already enough money to replace Pogba. If we still need more without giving the lads chances first then we have to question Ole's transfer plan why he spent those big money for midfielders in the first place.
Not a great way of looking at it when Fred and McTominay both should only be squad options.

Of course the midfield needs major overhaul.
 
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UNITED ACADEMY

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Not a great way of looking at it when Fred and McTominay both should only be swayed options.

Of course the midfield needs major overhaul.
To be fair, I heard the same thing about Jordan Henderson back then and Liverpool won UCL and PL with him as captain. Fred might no longer have time to develop but McTominay can still develop to be better next season. The fact we finished 2nd with those two in midfield and beat City 2-0 as well as McTominay performed top class vs Villareal is something I wonder if there is potential in him.

In additional if we spend money on Camavinga, that will be 70m investment on midfield in 2 years. What about we put some faith in the manager's investment plan first and give the lads chances before we jump into conclusion.
 

laughtersassassin

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To be fair, I heard the same thing about Jordan Henderson back then and Liverpool won UCL and PL with him as captain. Fred might no longer have time to develop but McTominay can still develop to be better next season. The fact we finished 2nd with those two in midfield and beat City 2-0 as well as McTominay performed top class vs Villareal is something I wonder if there is potential in him.

In additional if we spend money on Camavinga, that will be 70m investment on midfield in 2 years. What about we put some faith in the manager's investment plan first and give the lads chances before we jump into conclusion.
Let's just agree to disagree mate.

I've seen plenty of McTominay and Fred to have formed an opinion. I see potential there too mate. But do we really want to go into a season with no Midfielder that is 100% good enough to start every week at a top team? That's my issue with the options.

Camavinga is would be a great signing but would be no guarantee he would go straight into the squad.

For me that would leave us In a potentially very dangerous position next season where our Midfield is a detriment to the rest of the team.

VDB could end up being useful but only beside a true DM in my opinion. He won't fit in alongside another number 8 which is all we have currently.

Your argument could be used for not replacing Lindelof as well tbh. Or anyone for that matter.

For me our midfield two is actually our weakest area. Lots agree, Lots disagree.

Hopefully it's not a situation that arises anyway. I don't think a competent club would risk it if I'm honest.
 
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devilish

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As both Ole and Southgate has shown, a manager has have fairly ample quality in certain positions but that means nothing unless the manager in question is willing to trust the backup players available.Assuming we get the 'obvious' players that are linked to us then we will lack quality in these positions

GK: DDG, Henderson

RB: AWB, Dalot
CB: Maguire, Lindelof
CB: Varane, Bailly, Tuanzebe
LB: Shaw, Telles

DM: McT, Fred
MC: Pogba, Periera

AMR: Sancho, Lingard/Diallo
AML: Rashford, Martial

AMC: Bruno, VDB, Mata

STK: Cavani Greenwood

Ole might get away with RB and CB but he certainly need an MC.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Let's just agree to disagree mate.

I've seen plenty of McTominay and Fred to have formed an opinion. I see potential there too mate. But do we really want to go into a season with no Midfielder that is 100% good enough to start every week at a top team? That's my issue with the options.

Camavinga is would be a great signing but would be no guarantee he would go straight into the squad.

For me that would leave us In a potentially very dangerous position next season where our Midfield is a detriment to the rest of the team.

VDB could end up being useful but only beside a true DM in my opinion. He won't fit in alongside another number 8 which is all we have currently.

Your argument could be used for not replacing Lindelof as well tbh. Or anyone for that matter.

For me our midfield two is actually our weakest area. Lots agree, Lots disagree.

Hopefully it's not a situation that arises anyway. I don't think a competent club would risk it if I'm honest.
My argument couldn't be used on Lindelof's case because we are about to invest in total 120m-126m on our midfield. 40m VDB, 30m-35m Camavinga, and 51m Bruno. That's basically like VDB replaces Herrera, Camavinga replaces Matic, and Bruno replaces Pogba. If we are replacing those three by investing 126m on VDB, Camavinga, and Bruno then it's only fair that we should also replace Lindelof.
 

laughtersassassin

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My argument couldn't be used on Lindelof's case because we are about to invest in total 130m-135m on our midfield. 40m VDB, 30m-35m Camavinga, and 60m Bruno. That's basically like VDB replaces Herrera, Camavinga replaces Matic, and Bruno replaces Pogba. If we are replacing those three then it only makes sense that we should replace Lindelof.
Bruno doesn't replace where we ever actually used Pogba though.....

We have used Pogba in the two 90+% of the time in his time here.

Anyway the point is moot if said replacements aren't up to scratch.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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Bruno doesn't replace where we ever actually used Pogba though.....

We have used Pogba in the two 90+% of the time in his time here.

Anyway the point is moot if said replacements aren't up to scratch.
How many midfielders do you want?

We are only playing 3 midfielders in starting XI with 2 wide players and 1 striker. Camavinga, VDB, and Bruno are pretty much 3 midfielders in total and the total cost of those three are 126m. I think it's only fair to give them chances before we jump into conclusion that they are not good enough before we invest on replacements.

If we sign Camavinga, VDB, Bruno and another midfielder, I'm not complaining but we will be packed full of midfielders after investing on them massively and someone needs to be sold because some of those won't get game times and it's not straight forward to sell players.