What ARE we missing?

These 2 would be a start. We havent got any proper wingers apart from Valencia, and hes played as a wing back. We also havent got a proper captain. Someone who can fix things on the pitch, drag the game up by the scruff of the neck, and motivate the players.
The last part will definitely happen. I can see as many as half a dozen new players coming in at least.


I honestly think that zlatan should be captain .It looks like he is likely to play every game , he leads by example on the pitch , has the respect of all the other players is prepared to fight for the cause , doesn't shirk his responsibilities, has a great relationship with the manager and most importantly is vastly experienced when it comes to winning titles .
We should give him the armband now a perfect option to be Jose's luitenant on the pitch
 
I'm pretty darn certain we have the bold.

When Mkhitaryan, Martial and Carrick are in form, we are almost perfect but we missed that for a long period of time. That's why we lack firepower and consistency, we need to replace Carrick and improve our wing options.
 
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A proper DM. Too reliant on a 35 year old Carrick

Our defense needs a complete rebuild with only Bailly staying a regular starter

Another top quality goal scoring forward who could play in our front 3 (Griezmann perfect if he can be signed)

Also when Zlatan leaves, I want Martial as a ST
 
I would like to see

De Gea
Valencia Bailly CB Shaw/ Blind
Weigl / Renato Sanchez
Herrera Pogba
Mhki Griezmann
Martial
Probably horrible defending but attacking we would be breath taking .
 
I think there is a distinction between what we are missing and why. To me it is quite obvious what we are missing are goals, it is more difficult to explain why.

Ibrahimovic has wasted a decent amount of chances, but so has almost every other offensive player. Is it a slump/confidence issue? I believe it is. From looking at the gameplay, e.g. the pressing, it seems that our players has picked up the gauntlet. They look like a team believing in what Mourinho is selling. It does not look to me like a commitment issue.

Neither does it look like an issue of bad players. Last year had twice the conversion rate ca, with almost the same players. A great new striker would help obviously, but not necessary to challenge for the top spots if we continue our form.

We create a lot of chances. One can always argue another formation, better wingers, different team-selection etc. would've increased our chance-creation - but it still more than sufficient at the moment. Even against Arsenal we created plenty. This is not our primary concern.

To summarise, I think we are almost guaranteed to return to normal conversion rates throughout the season - which will make us a very good team, capable of scoring 3-4 goals in most games.
 
I honestly think that zlatan should be captain .It looks like he is likely to play every game , he leads by example on the pitch , has the respect of all the other players is prepared to fight for the cause , doesn't shirk his responsibilities, has a great relationship with the manager and most importantly is vastly experienced when it comes to winning titles .
We should give him the armband now a perfect option to be Jose's luitenant on the pitch

As much as I like Zlatan and think he would fight for the team, I would prefer to have a midfielder or a defender be our Captain. Zlatan is too static, I would like to see someone who can drive the team forward and help dictate the rhythm of the match.
 
  1. We are soft at the cb positions on set piece situations when bailly and smalling are injured .
  2. We lack team balance in attacking areas. Wingers who played under lvg think the lvg way and hence their positioning when we are on the ball is not what it should be. And lack of attacking runs behind the defense and in the box when we are in posession. But every theing was perfect when martial improved in the west ham game in efl cup. Mkh will solve every thing in our attacking play with his pace and directness because he does not think the lvg way. The 4- 1 win over west ham is perfect example of how we should play in the league too.
  3. Clinical finishing . Small little details, shooting low in corner of the goal, sometimes you need a touch before shooting sometimes you don't. sometimes your teammate is in the better position than you to score .
  4. When you play big games with big teams with similar quality and organized style you need high work rate up and down the pitch and to dominate the game you need to win the first and second balls more than the opponent, which is lacking because of lower work rate and lower energy. So high work rate and energy is missing in some areas.
  5. Lack of through balls. We need to play more through balls to attackers . Our final third play will be more fluid dynamic and unpredictable.
  6. A Fast creative attacking traditional united winger. I wish We had not sold di maria
  7. Ruthless instinct.

  • Things which lvg brought to united and should stay in the team's principles in some degree
  1. Ball circulation for better control.
United squad lack pace and energy and work rate in some players mainly rooney ibra mata fellani and carrick even pogba to some degree. . So playing too direct like in the ferguson era will only make us more vunrable to counter attacks and due to lack of work rate and energy We wont be able to recover the ball quickly and a team with good quality ,pace and creativity can score against us. To avoid that happening we should control the ball more like we are doing right now, and play it from side to side but in a dynamic faster way. Mata is a very good player when we need to play this way because he holds the ball makes the team hold the ball more as well. When we need more control, these principles of lvg must be kept. Lvg was the master of big games because he sheilded the ball more from opposition team.

 
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A DM who can hold while Pogba goes on the attack. TFM ought to be tried there in the last 15 mins of games when were winning, and hopefully we will be from now on. Carrick wont last forever and we might as well try with what we have now, before we spunk another £50 million on a transfer.
A CD and as with TFM we could give Tuanzebe game time. OK they might not come off but unless you try whats the point of having reserve and youth teams?
The attack is looking sound now, and hopefully Shaw will get the message like Martial seemed to of got on Wednesday, and step up, or we need a speedy LB as well.
 
A replacement for Carrick, a left back and a centre half.
 
As much as I like Zlatan and think he would fight for the team, I would prefer to have a midfielder or a defender be our Captain. Zlatan is too static, I would like to see someone who can drive the team forward and help dictate the rhythm of the match.
I think a Defender preferably as he has the whole game in front of him, but saying that we had two superb captains from midfield Robbo, and Keane, who also have a lot of the game in front of them.
 
It feels like every transfer window we address whatever we are "missing", and we still come up short in games.

I honestly think the real thing we are missing right now is consistent team selection and a winning mentality. That's something that I believe will come as long as we keep the faith in Jose and his staff.
 
We're lacking a pacey, skillful forward who can bang in 30+ goals. We're lacking a replacement for Carrick in midfield. We're lacking a real world class commanding centre back.

I would say we lack quality wingers, but Martial and Mkhitaryan should be more than good enough.
 
Watching Costa's vital role for Chelsea I wish we had Lukaku to play that role up top.