Wot, no LB? (2026)

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I think there's a big problem with perception. Mazraoui is a decent LB. He looked good at the WC and AFCON. He's a defensive battler rather than an attacking flyer but he can certainly do a job there if asked to play to his strengths.

Given one of Dalot's greatest assets is his availability I think it's reasonable to think that Maz will be free to rotate with Shaw quite regularly.

Of course, we'd all like an upgrade on both Shaw and Maz at LB. But there clearly aren't many available and especially not at the prices we can afford.

For what it's worth: I don't believe Carrick is the type of manager to not try Dorgu at LB as some kind of message to the board. I just don't think he sees him as a LB and will only play him there in an emergency or against lower league teams.
 
United's transfer window was controversial to say the least. On the fan side, we are left needing multiple players to (in my opinion) finish in the top 5. I worry about player mentality and I worry about injuries. If we finish in a Champions League spot, then I will admit that Carrick is a puppet master and can work wonders.
Then there is the business side where United were absolutely shrewd when counting pennies this window. Haggling over 2 million pounds and walking away from deals left and right.
I can see where the penny pinchers might look at the window and say we didnt get caught up in the freefall of funds that were going back and forth. I saw where Murdyck went for a potential 100 million pounds with an obligation to buy? That cant be right can it?
If the Premier League doesnt get off its ass and figure out a punishment for City, then I think we can agree that this is the beginning of the end for the league. Clubs will continue to throw money left and right. I wouldnt be a bit surprised if multiple clubs didnt break FFP these past few weeks.
 
Mudryk deal is just a loan with an option for £75m. An option that seems fairly unlikely, though De Zerbi apparently rates him.

Chelsea have done really well with their outgoings.
 
I don't think we need to do this but I do wonder if Guerreiro will be picked up.
 
Escobar said:
I'm sure he would have preferred to sell / upgrade both of them. Just was not possible
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Agree on Rashford. If the club could've sold him they would've. I think the previous connection Rashford had as a teammate of Carrick's definitely factored into him staying.
 
The thing with Rashford is that £26m or whatever it was is peanuts for a player of his quality. We are better off keeping him.
 
RedEarth said:
Oh no, what shall we do? We only have one left-back! No cover at all!

Only Maz, who played LB at a World Cup and did it rather well.
Oh and Martinez perhaps, who is an experienced WC winning defender and could perhaps cope with a shift of position in an emergency.
Ah yes, and now Baleba, who may be able to follow in the footsteps of Keane and Ince to cover FB on his favoured side for a period, as we have plenty of CMs.
And don't forget Dorgu, who at least has experience of LWB.
And Heaven, who is a capable footballer as well as a decent defender, and might be able to provide cover for one of the above.

You know. I think we'll survive.
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You know that they have to do more than defend right? They have to cross the halfway line, overlap and provide crosses?
You can’t have watched them and thought “oh they’re good options for LB”
 
golden_blunder said:
You know that they have to do more than defend right? They have to cross the halfway line, overlap and provide crosses?
You can’t have watched them and thought “oh they’re good options for LB”
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First world problems.

We've survived long enough without much in the way of overlaps and crosses from either side, we can manage another season. We had fkn Amorim playing inverted WBs and inverted Wide Forwards together, FFS. It will never be that bad. Shaw did start going beyond occasionally towards the end of last season, and again a couple of times against Ipswich. Obviously he doesn't push it too much but he can contribute in attack... just not for two games a week. Maz can certainly cover that part if we need to shut down a decent, inverted right forward... Saka for example... more than worrying about overlapping.
 
RedEarth said:
First world problems.

We've survived long enough without much in the way of overlaps and crosses from either side, we can manage another season. We had fkn Amorim playing inverted WBs and inverted Wide Forwards together, FFS. It will never be that bad. Shaw did start going beyond occasionally towards the end of last season, and again a couple of times against Ipswich. Obviously he doesn't push it too much but he can contribute in attack... just not for two games a week. Maz can certainly cover that part if we need to shut down a decent, inverted right forward... Saka for example... more than worrying about overlapping.
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Standards in the gutter.

We shouldn't be "surviving" or "managing". We should be looking to improve so we can keep pace with the other teams striving for CL places. If lowerr to mid table teams can have LBs who can get forward, overlap, contribute to the attack, why can't we?
 
Yes. It could have been better.

On deadline day, on my 50th bday, I went hiking with my wife and kids. We were in the middle of nowhere when I answered a WhatsApp bday wish. I lost my balance and dropped 1.5 meters into a dry river bed. There were rocks, but in that moment of fierce calculation, I couldn't find a stable landing spot. So, I distinctly remember giving up and hoping for the best as I plummeted into the unknown.

I shattered my new phone and my right pinky. Went to the ER, got admitted and had an operation today.

Yes, this unfathomably wild 50th could undoubtedly have been better. We could indeed have bought a decent LB.

But, jeez, I could have broken an ankle and been airlifted to hospital. We could have failed to address our MF. Amorim could still be in charge.

Call it copium or whatever, fact is my ankle is unbroken
 
Shakesy said:
Yes. It could have been better.

On deadline day, on my 50th bday, I went hiking with my wife and kids. We were in the middle of nowhere when I answered a WhatsApp bday wish. I lost my balance and dropped 1.5 meters into a dry river bed. There were rocks, but in that moment of fierce calculation, I couldn't find a stable landing spot. So, I distinctly remember giving up and hoping for the best as I plummeted into the unknown.

I shattered my new phone and my right pinky. Went to the ER, got admitted and had an operation today.

Yes, this unfathomably wild 50th could undoubtedly have been better. We could indeed have bought a decent LB.

But, jeez, I could have broken an ankle and been airlifted to hospital. We could have failed to address our MF. Amorim could still be in charge.

Call it copium or whatever, fact is my ankle is unbroken
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Boy this was a journey. I'm glad you're okay or sorry it happened.
 
Highfather_24 said:
Obvious answer is Carrick was promised a LB, and he built his squad and pre-season planning for that.
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Not entirely implausible that. Could also be that he was’t directly promised one, but was labouring the point that we need one. Or that people expected Rashford to move up until very late, and counted with Dorgu for LW. Or a bit of all three maybe?
DomesticTadpole said:
Be interesting what the targets will be next season. If Dorgu did well, would they try to get away without signing at least a backup? Depending on how our CB's progress, plus if the older ones pick up more injuries, will it be a CB. Would they still be happy with our RB options? I would say we definitely need another striker option. Hopefully we have a bit more cash to splash next summer. I just hope Carrick does well, not sure I can take another manager with different ideas and the squad being all over the place again.
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We’ll see how the season pans out, I guess :)
 
FromTheBench said:
Seeing Chelsea are signing Wijnaldum cant we sign guerrero or someone as stop gap.
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I would have liked to seen him or Zinchenko, the TOTD podcast guys will laugh if the question of free agents come up on next one which is pretty telling.
 
The curious case of Luke Shaw or rather a good left back in our seasons.

---- This is not a case for Shaw rather, how when he's available the team performs so well.


Of the last 10 seasons Shaw has had the following League appearance.

Season PL apps PL finish
2016/17 ~ 11 ~ 6th
2017/18. ~ 11 . ~ 2nd
2018/19 ~ 29 ~ 6th
2019/20 ~ 24 ~ 3rd
2020/21 ~ 32 ~ 2nd
2021/22 ~ 20 ~ 6th
2022/23 ~ 31 ~ 3rd
2023/24 ~ 12 ~ 8th
2024/25 ~ 7 ~ 15th
2025/26 ~ 36 ~ 3rd


United's three best finishes in this 10-year period—2nd (2020/21), 3rd (2019/20, 2022/23 and 2025/26)—all came in seasons where Shaw made at least 24 Premier League appearances.

The two lowest finishes, 8th and 15th, came when he made only 12 and 7 appearances.
When Shaw played fewer than 24 games

Five seasons:

2016/17 — 11 → 6th
2017/18 — 11 → 2nd
2021/22 — 20 → 6th
2023/24 — 12 → 8th
2024/25 — 7 → 15th

United finished inside the top four in 5 of these 10 seasons:
2017/18 — 2nd
2019/20 — 3rd
2020/21 — 2nd
2022/23 — 3rd
2025/26 — 3rd

Shaw's availability in those seasons:

11, 24, 32, 31, 38.

30+ Premier League appearances in 3 of the 10 seasons:
Season Apps Finish
2020/21 ~ 32 ~ 2nd
2022/23 ~ 31 ~ 3rd
2025/26 ~ 38 ~ 3rd


As backed by stats and league finishes, a better LB we usually perform so so well.
I still die on the hill, if we signed Hall and 15-20 league goal striker we would have won this season league title. At least stats back my projections. A genuine chance has passed us.

For the management, they have taken the gamble that Shaw won't miss many games, they've rolled the dice on Shaw availability, if it comes out well then good for them but if Shaw get injured, we're screwed as data backs it.
 
Dorgu back to (roughly) the position we purchased him to play and Rashford to be Cunha's competition.

No problem.

I'm more worried about the lack of quality at right back.
 
golden_blunder said:
I just don’t get people that think that we’re worse off at right back than left back.
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I prefer both Shaw and Dorgu to Dalot.

Availability is Dalot's only praisable attribute. Mazraoui is pretty average, particularly going forward.

I prefer our left back options.
 
HankHill said:
I prefer both Shaw and Dorgu to Dalot.

Availability is Dalot's only praisable attribute. Mazraoui is pretty average, particularly going forward.

I prefer our left back options.
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What is Shaw better at than Dalot?

Dalot is better availability wise, faster, better at attacking, gets back in position quicker

(Dorgu has never played LB)
 
golden_blunder said:
What is Shaw better at than Dalot?

Dalot is better availability wise, faster, better at attacking, gets back in position quicker

(Dorgu has never played LB)
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Shaw has a better delivery, is a better defender, and is an all-round better footballer.

Left back/left wing back - close enough, Dorgu's defending is fine. He's certainly more of a left back than a left winger.
 
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