Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

Yeah, I also think it will cost a bit much but then Semenyo is sooooo good he could be elite on either side at WB and if we have to move back to a 433 in the nearish future then he is also an elite option on the wing. His quality along with his versatility would make it justfiable, imo.

Yes, but that was Ten Hag. I think we can all agree tactically, he wasn't the best, and that's being very generous.

What I'm saying is, it's what suits the best for now. Work with what's best for now, focus on improving the basics (we really need to), and then adjust tactically form there once you make the signings/improve the players.

Personally I wouldn't be buying a specialist wingback. Amorim may not be here next season, so it wouldn't be right to flood the squad with specialist players for his system. Someone like Semenyo would be perfect because you could imagine him doing a great job at wingback similar to Amad. But if we ever change manager/system, he can easily slot into a winger role in a 4-3-3. This is exactly the type of player we should be targeting.

Amorim will have 1 year left on his contract in the Summer, so we'll have to decide whether to stick or twist.

You would hope Amorim would have us on a clear trajectory towards becoming a league title winning side and will get an extension. And the bar for that imo isn't a top 4 finish. That's a bad way of thinking about it because Mourinho, Ole and Ten Hag all got top 3 finishes but none of them ever had us looking like we were on a trajectory to becoming an elite side.

Similarly, you can have finishes outside the top 4 and be on that trajectory, ala Arteta. But the problem with the media is they tend to be very result/outcome orientated when judging these things..

depends on what you are looking for.

If Amad is the type of player he wants there, or Quenda if you look at Sporting then I don't think either are a fullback.

Additionally, i think Frimpong is 100% a wingback, and will struggle as a more conventional fullback - and I think Kerkez is suffering for that too.

And if you buy a fullback that is good at attacking, I don't think you will generally find the offernsive skills needed.

Nuno Mendes and Alhonso Davies are two of the few players I think would be great at WB for us, but have also shown to be very good fullbacks in a 433 or similar.

Personally I think United need to be looking at wingers who are good defensively. We have players like Mazraoui and Shaw who can be fullbacks. and I think Dorgu could play fullback far better than Amad.

i thought Sesko, Mbeumo and Cunha were all quite poor in Saturday. We got into decenet positions, but the final ball and touches were poor. But i would expect them all to do better and put it down to a bad day rather than a bad team/formation/plan etc.

agree with your view on the game.

especially in the second half - I felt we were always going to create chances if we calmed down a bit, but we were just a bit too hectic or panicy in both directions imo. Even after the equalizer, I felt we could go on to win it but we played too quickly.

Think no matter when you go for Anderson the quoted price is going to be 9 figures. Shocking that Newcastle left him go without even a sell on clause.

Jonny Evans on MNF.

I know I'm in the minority but I'd love to see Shaw at LWB. He's light years ahead of Dorgu or Dalot in that position.

Semenyo doesn't make sense. Can't keep turning forward thinking players into defenders. Can'tafford any more African players at the moment.

I think we need those two CMs no matter what we do.

I think that should be the goal though, but the midfield balance will need to change, with two more capable and athletic CMs to help it work.

You then have two wingers, a striker, and two attacking midfides - alongside 3 defenders and 2 defensive minded/capable midfielders. in terms of numbers…. is that wrong? In a 433 you would likely have two wingers, a striker and two attack minded midfielderds?

And then yeah, vs the best sides you then maybe still need to adjust, dropping out one of the more attacking players for a more fullback coded 'wing back' - but that is basically what Amorim did at Sporting. Wingers at Wing Back when looking to be offensive, fullbacks at Wingback when he wanted to go defensive.

As it is, right now, imo Amorim only has one attacking player for wing back - maybe Dorgu gets there (I think positionally he 'gets it' but lacks quality) but you aren't getting the offensive side out of Mazraoui or Dalot.

It's be interesting to hear whether Amorim thinks playing Shaw LWB significantly increases his risk of injury, or whether his previous injuries were as a result of different reasons. I don't think he's ever been asked that.

I don't think Shaw would have the legs to allow him get up and down the line as well as he once could, but I do find it hard to imagine a more conservative version of him being worse there than Dalot or Dorgu.

I don't understand the point/logic about not signing Semenyo because we will at times face top teams?

That is why you have a squad of players…

Despite what Slot says you are in fact allowed to change your team and adapt your team depending on the opposition i.e Amad and Semenyo don't need to be the starting wide players if we play City, Arsenal, Pool etc..

We could go more attacking if needed and play both.
Or play 1, or play none.
Play more defensive more traditional full back there if worried about defending

I don't see the issue tbh
I just see the team having more high quality options that improve our options

United started the same first 11 in the past two league games v Forest and Brighton.

According to ChatGPT the last time this happened was in 2021 under Rangnick.

This must be seen as a positive thing. Lack of stability has killed United in the last few years, especially in the defence. So Shaw will probably stay in the team as long as he's fit.

In particular, it must be nice for the newer players to be coming into a stable team and playing in their best positions!