Kolarov, Sagna, and Fernandinho are City's three most featured outfield player this season in the PL. In rest of 11 of their most featured players they have Mangala and Navas. Bony is 12th most featured and their second striker. Fecking Navas started 10 games for them. To say that our squad is way far behind them is clearly not true, and frankly - idiotic.
We actually have a very good squad
- Thread starter Amar__
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
We have a good bunch of defenders with 2 standouts (Smalling and Shaw), solid midfielders but nothing elite, a very promising young attacker and 2 star names who for different reasons aren't performing. And the best GK evaaaaa.
It's an ok squad, not title-winning, but can be improved on quite easily (an elite striker or winger).
EDIT: compatibility issues: Herrera would be best in a 3-man midfield while Mata needs to be a #10 or nothing. The only way to play the 2 together is a diamond, and we don't have the wingbacks for that.
It's an ok squad, not title-winning, but can be improved on quite easily (an elite striker or winger).
EDIT: compatibility issues: Herrera would be best in a 3-man midfield while Mata needs to be a #10 or nothing. The only way to play the 2 together is a diamond, and we don't have the wingbacks for that.
I think that the squad 1) is pretty decent, 2) far better than post-Moyes, 3) capable of playing much, much better. The current state is one that needs editing, not wholesale rebuilding IMO. There's too much imbalance in the sense that our best talents are not there yet (Martial, Shaw) or past it (Rooney, Schweini). Only DDG is a top talent at his peak.
How anyone can look at our squad and think it's remotely good is beyond me.
We've a FEW decent individuals but everyone else is as average as can be. We are still 4 or 5 players away from mounting consistant trophy challenges
We've a FEW decent individuals but everyone else is as average as can be. We are still 4 or 5 players away from mounting consistant trophy challenges
Well is that true? It's recently that we released some big players but Rooney, Falcao, RvP, ADM, Vidic, De Gea are/have been on some huge contracts as well. That's true, but with the money recently spent, we ought to be a whole lot closer.
You've got to question the mentality of these players.
Look at how they are visibly shrinking here.
Edit: After Rooney's goal we've really sorted our selves out here. Great to see.
Edit: Oh dear.
Look at how they are visibly shrinking here.
Edit: After Rooney's goal we've really sorted our selves out here. Great to see.
Edit: Oh dear.
Last edited:
Squad isn't strong, only one cb of any quality who can stay fit, only one good full back who is injured, a keeper who may well leave and an attack that is at least two players short. Squad is littered with ordinary players, promising youngsters or players past their best and loads of work is needed.
Vidic was nobody when we signed him. Rooney was a kid that the other team after him was Newcastle United. Nobody else wanted Falcao(now we know why) and PSG couldn't afford ADM at the time. DeGea was a young goalie, we took a chance on him. RvP wanted a title and got it, then went downhill fast, so we served a purpose for him.
This post sums our team up perfectly.
Rethinking Schneiderlin's inclusion to that top category yet?
Should have been in lower from the start, not just because of this game.
If onyl Rooney was our Ulloa/Vardy Depay our Mahrez and Darmian our Danny fecking Simpson, Schneiderlin our Danny Drinkwater. Smalling as good as Huth and Herrera our Andy King in that case we might have been two points of first Arsenal and fought for the title.
Our squad is not great but defo nit bad, we actually have midfield and good defense when fit and a great young striker if we play him in his role, we need three players to be considered really strong and one of the favourites for the title but still we are not that bad and definitely top4 material with a fair chance for a title in a crap season for most of the sides like this one.
It's so obvious that the problem is not in players, someone like Pochettino drops and sells without a blink of an eye 28million Soldado to play once a reserve player Harry Kane, make Delle alli look like Pogba material and make Kyle walker actually decent looking fullback, while playing entertaining and at the same time very disciplined and organized football..
Average team like WHU are just one point ahead of us and they only just acquired new manager who also is rebuilding team...
Again yes we can do better with the squad we have but we should never ever present ourselves this dull while struggling to snatch europa league places, this fecking embarasement doesnt go to player but manager 90% and it's not less embarrasing what Moyes managed here. Thinking about it again, it's pure disgrace to make this squad play like this.
How many of our squad would get in City's starting 11?
De Gea, Shaw, Martial. That's it.
Smalling maybe. Schniederlin maybe.
Our squad needs more talent, either through buying or waiting for others to develop (ie Depay)
De Gea, Shaw, Martial. That's it.
Smalling maybe. Schniederlin maybe.
Our squad needs more talent, either through buying or waiting for others to develop (ie Depay)
we said the same in fergie's yrs whether it was arse , chelsea or city. it comes down to a team not just players. fergie did wonderful things building teams.remember our midf when we had carrick and fletcher. noone would walk into some of the sides we finished ahead of. there are good players in this side. it needs to be stitched together as a team.
When we were winning titles we had players who were the best in be league in their positions, though. The likes of VDS, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, even Carrick at his peak, let alone the talent in previous teams such as Scholes and Giggs. It's not as if we've had some overachieving squad in yesteryear. We've had quality. We're lacking it at the moment when we play midfielders in defence, Fellaini in midfield and kids in attack.
good point. depth is clearly lacking.
Any team that has to regularly play 4-6 players out of position can't have a very good squad.
It is decent but it has glaring issues at both ends of the pitch. In my opinion we had as many as 6 players playing out of position tonight or not in their best position. 7 if you count Mata when he came on.
This squad still needs some serious investment and thats worrying.
It is decent but it has glaring issues at both ends of the pitch. In my opinion we had as many as 6 players playing out of position tonight or not in their best position. 7 if you count Mata when he came on.
This squad still needs some serious investment and thats worrying.
Agree with 1,2 and 3. That's my gripe against LVG. IMO the team is underachieving.
We manage to put a team out each game that performs worse than the sum of its parts, quite an achievement.
The squad is patchy but it is hard to think of too many players that we appear to be getting the best out of (or even close to) and that is hard to comprehend and wholly unacceptable.
The squad is patchy but it is hard to think of too many players that we appear to be getting the best out of (or even close to) and that is hard to comprehend and wholly unacceptable.
This squad is better than it is playing at the moment. Darmian and Herrera, and even Schneiderlin, have shown elsewhere that they are very good but it's not going to happen for them under the current management, where they will always be patchy. Replacing Fellaini and van Gaal both have to be under serious consideration now as their presence is not helping.
Last nights game raised another load of questions. The attacking side was great to watch, a lot faster pace. Problem was it raised questions about the defence who without a Carrick/BFS paired with Morgan looked completely exposed. We need someone to replace Fellaini and someone for Carrick. If we can play like that and then tighten up the defence people will be a lot happier, if some are ever happy.
Keep - DDG, Smalling, Herrera, yes I would keep Rooney( he was like another player last night), BFS for now, Morgan, Shaw, Rojo(who is better than people give him credit for), Lingard (he has a lot of energy and would be a good squad member), Martial (obviously), Young (poor Ashley has been played everywhere except his best position as winger, that isn't his fault), maybe Memphis (there must be a player in there somewhere), and Blind who has a lot of uses (and he looks good), maybe Valencia( as at the moment seems our best RB options.
Get rid - Fellaini(should never have signed him), Mata (slows us down), Carrick( we have to move on), Jones (how long can we put up with the injuries), Januzaj(sorry but I don't see what all he fuss is about).
I won't mention Pereira etc because we just haven't seen enough of what they can do.
Keep - DDG, Smalling, Herrera, yes I would keep Rooney( he was like another player last night), BFS for now, Morgan, Shaw, Rojo(who is better than people give him credit for), Lingard (he has a lot of energy and would be a good squad member), Martial (obviously), Young (poor Ashley has been played everywhere except his best position as winger, that isn't his fault), maybe Memphis (there must be a player in there somewhere), and Blind who has a lot of uses (and he looks good), maybe Valencia( as at the moment seems our best RB options.
Get rid - Fellaini(should never have signed him), Mata (slows us down), Carrick( we have to move on), Jones (how long can we put up with the injuries), Januzaj(sorry but I don't see what all he fuss is about).
I won't mention Pereira etc because we just haven't seen enough of what they can do.
We need some top signings to strengthen the squad. We are severely lacking with pace on the wings/up front (Apart from Martial) We have played a CDM/LB at CB all season which unbelievable tbh. Blind has done well but we need a proper CB there. We also badly need a top CM. I think Darmian and Memphis will be better next season which will be a boost along with the return of Shaw.
Weird bump
Bump weird
I got qouted somewhere else with this because someone was desperate to take something out of context.
Was from the Perisic thread. My bad.
Well, your reply was rubbish anyway.
"B b b b buuut Bayern has got a monopoly!"
God I'm tired of that. Do you guys actually know who's buying the most players from Bundesliga rivals? Beloved Dortmund.
Last edited:
If you play 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 like most teams do, I think you basically need 2 forwards, 3 wingers, 4 central midfielders, 3 fullbacks, 3 center backs and 2 keepers of serious quality. Assuming we've signed Lukaku, I'd say we're at of the 17 spots filled, and Rashford and Martial should get there sooner rather than later with their talent:
Lukaku-Rashford
Mkhitaryan-Martial-Mata
Pogba-Herrera-CM-DM
Shaw-Valencia-Darmian
Bailly-Lindelof-(Rojo,Blind,Smalling,Jones)
De Gea-Romero
People will point to Shaw's lack of health, Mata's lack of pace, Martial being raw and Darmian being poor going forward, but Shaw and Mata are plainly good enough to help a top team, Darmian has 30 caps for Italy at aged 27 and is very good defensively and Martial has a lot to learn at LW but should still be able to score a healthy number of goals while learning.
I'm not saying we're a quality CM and DM from winning the Prem or the Champions League, but I do think the above squad, with those 2 midfielders signed, should play our best football since Fergie if the manager makes it work (and if Lindelof is the player we think he is), and be able to compete at a high level with anyone.
Health can upset a team, but that's a 17 I'm happy with.
Lukaku-Rashford
Mkhitaryan-Martial-Mata
Pogba-Herrera-CM-DM
Shaw-Valencia-Darmian
Bailly-Lindelof-(Rojo,Blind,Smalling,Jones)
De Gea-Romero
People will point to Shaw's lack of health, Mata's lack of pace, Martial being raw and Darmian being poor going forward, but Shaw and Mata are plainly good enough to help a top team, Darmian has 30 caps for Italy at aged 27 and is very good defensively and Martial has a lot to learn at LW but should still be able to score a healthy number of goals while learning.
I'm not saying we're a quality CM and DM from winning the Prem or the Champions League, but I do think the above squad, with those 2 midfielders signed, should play our best football since Fergie if the manager makes it work (and if Lindelof is the player we think he is), and be able to compete at a high level with anyone.
Health can upset a team, but that's a 17 I'm happy with.