---GK--------
De Gea
Henderson
Romero
Grant
RB------------CB-----------CB--------------LB
AWB-------Smalling----Lindelof---------Shaw
TFM---------Bailly-------Tuanzebe-------Rojo
Darmian----Jones-------------------------Young
-------------DM-----------
---------McTominay
----------- Matic
--CM------------------AM---------
--Fred---------------Pogba
--Pereira------------Mata
--Garner------------Lingard
------------------------Gomes
--RW---------------ST---------------LW----
-James---------Rashford---------Martial
-Dalot------------Lukaku----------Sanchez
-Chong--------Greenwood
Now some of that can be played around with but nailing down the single position where they would be most useful for us.
Mad how we've been crying out about central midfield since 2011 and it still hasn't been sorted. Fellaini, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Kagawa, Powell, Herrera, Blind have all come and gone in that time.
Current depth chart
posted on 26/6/19
Mctomminay isn't even a DM either.
posted on 26/6/19
Shows how bloated we are in some areas of pitch but lacking quality in those same areas.
With that said, maybe only one or two youngsters stepping up next season and maybe one or two squad players kicking on another gear could make a big difference in combination with some quality signings.
Players like Fred have something to prove, and after a fairly poor debut season, must surely be at least a bit better now he's had more chance to settle. McTominay could kick on a little more after a very promising second half of the season and a few of youngsters like Greenwood, Tuanzebe and Dalot could stake a strong claim. Greenwood was outstanding against Cardiff and Gomes did well when he came on, too. We might see a lot of Greenwood this year.
posted on 26/6/19
comment by Red the Fred (U5318)
posted 23 minutes ago
Fred was a weird signing. Could have got a much more consistent and PL proven CM for that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, it's hard to nail down his utility. Doesn't have physical attributes to really impose himself defensively/ball winner, passing is atrocious but he has a decent engine and can beat a man.
Personally I believe Pereira is a better footballer but accept I'm in the minority.
Someone needs to go and kidnap Tielemans. Midfield needed strengthened before losing Herrera but can't see 2 coming in unless 1 of Pogba/Lingard/Matic/Fred goes.
posted on 26/6/19
There are about a dozen players from the squad in the OP that I would get rid of.
posted on 26/6/19
There are about a dozen players from the squad in the OP that I would get rid of.
----------------
half of that dozen should be made up of defenders
posted on 26/6/19
comment by United_kaz (U9943)
posted 3 minutes ago
There are about a dozen players from the squad in the OP that I would get rid of.
----------------
half of that dozen should be made up of defenders
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant, TFM, Darmian, Jones, Rojo, Young, Matic, Fred, Pereira, Mata, Lukaku, Sanchez
posted on 26/6/19
Grant, TFM, Darmian, Jones, Rojo, Young, Matic, Fred, Pereira, Mata, Lukaku, Sanchez
----------------
would give fred maybe another 6-12 months, another pre season for us and see what happens, not holding my breathe but lets see
posted on 26/6/19
Looking at it I was thinking at the start of the window I though CB was the priority.
However looking at the options and as time has gone by we HAVE to get a midfielder in my view.
Them options to me look a shambles. I would honestly say the worst midfield trio out of the top 10 from last season.
Matic - slow, past it and hasn’t got the legs to get back which puts a lot more pressure on the back line
McTominay - still not wholly convinced and I think fans are starting to overrate him after his end to the season and the fact he was one of the few who cared.
Fred - decent in patches however very poor by and large. Certainly would give him another season however it’s not looking overly promising at this moment in time
Perreira - Decent little player but that’s about it. Not going to pull up any trees but definitely worth keeping as a squad player for now
Mata - way past his best. Will be useful against some of the poorer teams to open up defences but simply can’t play in the big games. Just doesn’t have the legs
Garner and Gomes who knows
Pogba - Wants to leave and very inconsistent. Absolutely no evidence to see why that would change especially considering he isn’t happy.
Lingard - No comment
posted on 26/6/19
comment by _Viva_Vida (U6044)
posted 2 hours, 37 minutes ago
comment by United_kaz (U9943)
posted 3 minutes ago
There are about a dozen players from the squad in the OP that I would get rid of.
----------------
half of that dozen should be made up of defenders
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant, TFM, Darmian, Jones, Rojo, Young, Matic, Fred, Pereira, Mata, Lukaku, Sanchez
==============
Think you can make a case for Fred & Pereira for another season so see how they do. TFM maybe because of his age and his earlier promise but I think injuries have really hammered his loan spells and his progress.
The rest are certainly expendable.
posted on 27/6/19
Don't really see the issue with keeping Grant. He's third choice and allows our young GKs to go on loan. It also stops him from having a blinder against us.