Where do you see our Squad in 2 Years?

[Havak]

Somewhat of a hypothetical scenario, but still at least somewhat likely.

Imagine we are going into Ole's third full season in charge (21/22). It's the last year of the contract he signed recently. We're probably expected by now to be in the latter stages of his process to making us Premier League Title Challengers again if we aren't already. He's had five transfer windows and is moving into his sixth (albeit it nothing was done in his very first one other than the sale of Fellaini).

Who is still here out of our first team?

We can safely assume that Valencia, probably Darmian, Herrera, Mata, and possibly even Rojo and Sanchez are gone even before next season and the phasing out of other players will begin as well. So, my expectation is that come August in the 21/22 season the only players that might still be here are:

de Gea, Romero
Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot
Pogba, Fred, McTominay
Rashford, Martial, Lingard

Interestingly, this is a line-up we can play now and I'd expect it to do well.

I think you can make a case for Andreas still being here, and maybe Pogba being shown the door etc, but other than that I'd expect almost everyone else to be phased out by then.

 

[B20]

Lot of players gone. The squad is in desperate need of an overhaul and re-imagining. Think these will be left.

Henderson, romero,
Smalling, Jones, shaw, dalot, lindelof
McToMinay, lingard, Fred
Martial, Rashford.

Might be a few of those gone too though.

Edit: for comparison, players left 2.5 seasons after Klopp took over:

Mignolet
Lovren, moreno, gomez, Clyne
Henderson Milner, Lallana
Sturridge, Firmino, origi

11 players. Good chance that will be whittled down to 4-5 after 3.5 seasons.

 

[Raw]

Staying
Romero, Henderson
Shaw, Dalot, Smalling, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Jones (he'll never leave!)
Fred, McTominay
Rashford, Martial, Lingard

Unsure
De Gea
Pogba

Going
Grant, Pereira
Young, Valencia, Darmian, Rojo, Bailly, Fosu Mensah
Herrera, Pereira, Matic
Lukaku, Sanchez, Mata

De Gea and Pogba pretty much depends on if we truly improve as a team, and they feel like they can win big trophies at United.

Huge player turnover really. Potentially 17 players gone, so that's 4 windows to sort it out (average of 4-5 players per window, or 8-9 if we only deal in the summer windows!). Of course there's the potential of our current youth players taking a first team spot but that's even harder to estimate.

 

[lukepowell1988]

Grant out for sure he is the biggest WTF signing in recent history.

We have so many young and possible 3rd choice Goalies why was he ever signed?

 

[Canagel]

Out this summer:
Herrera, Valencia, Damian, Rojo, Sanchez, Mata

Out next summer and beyond:
Matic, Lukaku, Lingard, Jones, Smalling/Lindelof, Young, Bailly ?, DDG ?, Pogba (if case of failure to challenge)

Staying:
Romero, Shaw, Dalot, Mctominay, Fred, Martial, Rashford.

 

[Sylar]

Imagine in 2 years time, we are still talking about overhauling the squad as we still got players from Fergies era that needs to be gone, but we cant cos of wages.

 

[Raw]

Imagine in 2 years time, we are still talking about overhauling the squad as we still got players from Fergies era that needs to be gone, but we cant cos of wages.

It'd be ridiculous if both Smalling and Jones still have a place in the squad. Ideally one of them should be leaving but I just know we'll never let one go. I must burst a vein if Young gets another extension too

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

GK

Shaw
CB
Lindelof
Dalot

Garner
McTominay
Pogba

Martial
Greenswood
Rashford

 

[thedano]

Grant out for sure he is the biggest WTF signing in recent history.

We have so many young and possible 3rd choice Goalies why was he ever signed?

Seen this a couple of times, I actually think this was a good signing, a Premiership proven former England Youth international goalkeeper , who has done his coaching badges prepared to not play but be available if needed for 1.5m that’s a great deal.

It’s good having a young 3rd choice but if we had to use them I prefer an experienced guy to come in and not waste a kids career sat waiting on the off chance for a game.

 

[tenpoless]

Still in Manchester

 

[Sauldogba]

Same place we are now.
Squad full of players that should have been moved on years ago.
One or two world class players.
Probably sign a past it crock on extortionate wages.
No major trophies.
Wash,Rinse,Repeat.
feck 2 years time I see the same in 5 years time.

 

[Denis79]

Am I missing something? Everyone us so certain Sanchez is leaving, we got a bid? Someone willing to take over those wages? Genuine question.

 

[Random Task]

Same place we are now.
Squad full of players that should have been moved on years ago.
One or two world class players.
Probably sign a past it crock on extortionate wages.
No major trophies.
Wash,Rinse,Repeat.
feck 2 years time I see the same in 5 years time.

This is the kind of post that will assist in your promotion.

Keep fighting the good fight.

 

[JJ12]

Same place we are now.
Squad full of players that should have been moved on years ago.
One or two world class players.
Probably sign a past it crock on extortionate wages.
No major trophies.
Wash,Rinse,Repeat.
feck 2 years time I see the same in 5 years time.

I think the club will finally learn.

It's been a shit trial and error session but I think things will turn around within 2 years.

 

[Trizy]

Relegated.

In all seriousness though, I hope in 2 years only De Gea, Pogba, Martial and Shaw are anywhere near the first team +3 used subs.

Gomes and Greenwood there too.

 

[WolfInSharp'sClothing]

GK: New/New

Cashed in on De Gea in summer 2019, Romero contract up in summer 2021. 2 New 'keepers through the door in the next 3 years.

DR: New/Dalot

Valencia and Darmian released in summer 2019. New RB through the door summer 2019.

CB: New/Lindelof/Jones/Smalling

Rojo and Bailley sold ASAP, New young CB to form long-term partnership with Lindelof, with Jones and Smalling as backup.

LB: New/Shaw

Ashley Young sold in summer 2019 or released in June 2020. New LB in to compete with Shaw as and when Young leaves.

CM: McTominay/Fred/Garner/New/New/New

Herrera leaves summer 2019. Matic summer 2020. Pogba sold in summer 2019 or 2020. 3 new, relatively young, dynamic midfielders to compete with McTominay, Garner and Fred.

AM/Wing: New/Lingard/Chong/Pereira/Gomes

New player in ASAP. Mata released summer 2019, Sanchez sold summer 2019.

FW: Rashford/Martial/Greenwood/New

Lukaku sold ASAP and replaced with a more mobile striker to compete with Rashford, Martial and Greenwood.

TEAM

NEW/NEW

NEW/DALOT___Lindelof/Jones___NEW/Smalling___NEW/Shaw


NEW/Garner

Fred/NEW______McTominay/NEW

NEW/Lingard

Rashford/Greenwood___Martial/NEW


Plus: Chong, Pereira and Gomes competing as squad players​

 

[bosnian_red]

Think we'll have a decent summer but a lot of turnover, get top 4 in 19/20, another decently large summer and then do a title challenge in 20/21. Probably not going to win it as City and Liverpool aren't old teams but are clearly the 2 outstanding teams at the moment. Will then take a year of competing with them both and understanding a true title challenge, and then get whatever big player we need to go over the hump. Also by 21/22 I don't think Pep will be at City, so it opens up a big possibility. It's a possibility if everything goes smoothly to truly challenge in 20/21, but I dont think we'd come out on top. Too soon.

In terms of squad make up, my guess is of the current crop by the start of 2021/22 is going to look like:

De Gea
Dalot Lindelof ??? Shaw
???
??? ???
??? Rashford Martial
​

Pereira/Henderson, ???, Smalling, Jones, Tuanzebe, ???, Fred, McTominay, Lingard, Greenwood, ???, Gomes, Garner

So 8 signings between summer 2019, January 2020, summer 2020, January 2021, summer 2021, youngsters getting bigger roles/squad player roles, etc.
The players leaving is the bigger thing. By the start of 21/22 I'd guess the following will all be gone:

• Romero
• Grant
• Bailly
• Rojo
• Young
• Darmian
• Valencia
• Matic
• Pogba
• Herrera
• Mata
• Pereira
• Sanchez
• Lukaku

Big job to be done.

 

[waza7111]

GK, Romero, Henderson
RB, Dalot, CB, CB, Lindelof, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Shaw, LB
Pogba, Fred, McTominay, Matic, CM, DM, AM
RW, Lingard, ST, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood

I hope our squad will look something like this.

 

[AbusementPark]

No way Sanchez will be leaving. The money we are paying him, no-one will match it.

 

[BlackBen]

Same place we are now.
Squad full of players that should have been moved on years ago.
One or two world class players.
Probably sign a past it crock on extortionate wages.
No major trophies.
Wash,Rinse,Repeat.
feck 2 years time I see the same in 5 years time.

Agreed. I can't trust the people in charge to make ruthless decisions.

I can still see Smalling, Jones and Young here with Young getting that testimonial because he has been a "warrior", shown that "he cares", "been a good servant" blah blah blah.

 

[sunama]

Same place we are now.
Squad full of players that should have been moved on years ago.
One or two world class players.
Probably sign a past it crock on extortionate wages.
No major trophies.
Wash,Rinse,Repeat.
feck 2 years time I see the same in 5 years time.

Agreed 100%

 

[ash_86]

Same place we are now.
Squad full of players that should have been moved on years ago.
One or two world class players.
Probably sign a past it crock on extortionate wages.
No major trophies.
Wash,Rinse,Repeat.
feck 2 years time I see the same in 5 years time.

Have to agree. We should get a glimpse of how it's going to be this summer. If we're ruthless in letting people go and bring in quality we may yet survive.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

I don't think we're getting out of this situation as long as Woodward is in charge, unfortunately.

 

[el3mel]

2 years from now, we'll still be talking about overhauling the squad, appointing a DOF and who's going to be our new manager.

 

[Mylock]

GK, Romero, Henderson
RB, Dalot, CB, CB, Lindelof, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Shaw, LB
Pogba, Fred, McTominay, Matic, CM, DM, AM
RW, Lingard, ST, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood

I hope our squad will look something like this.

I would add O'Connor, Gomez, Laird, Chong (maybe) and Gardner to the list, there's major questions marks about all the midfielders on your list. Marital and Lingard form has collapsed over the last few months, if they don't improve I cant see them being around in 2 years time.