Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 12.02.26

https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/drew-scanlon-blonde-guy-blinking-eyes-shocked-confused-gif-15920083

Whaaa

I wouldn't go that far. It was a decent one touch finish from the edge of the box after a lovely setup touch from Brown (I think)

De Ligt won the "Golden Boy" award in 2018 for best young player in Europe.

Other notable winners of that award include Yamal, Bellingham, Haaland, Mbappe, Messi, Rooney, Aguero and…eh, ahem… Martial.

While the poster was fairly aggressive in asking, it does pose the question of where the line is drawn. You attended the match, and by doing so, supported (in some way) the club that employs this "sewer rat". If that is your stance on Greenwood, I think it's fair enough to question why you would go to see any match he was playing in.

No doubting De Ligt doesn't have the top speed of some of the defenders you mentioned but for where we are at the minute (nowhere close to the heights that some of those defenders have been playing at recently), I don't see an issue with him and Martinez for now. (I do think Maguire is lost in a high press, don't think he has the same positional awareness of De Ligt and while his top speed may be similar, not sure if it is or not, his change of directional pace looks way slower to my eye).

De Ligt and Martinez mightn't be fast enough to compete for a team at the very top, but we're a distance away from the very top.

De Ligt has decent awareness and positional sense imo, that can compensate for a lack of pure speed. When Van Dijk wasn't twerking, he used both of these more than his outright pace for e.g.

We also seem to have a keeper who isn't completely stuck to his line, which also helps compensate.

At the highest level, I don't think you would want De Ligt and Martinez, but you could probably get away with one of them in a back three assuming the other two (Yoro and Heaven for eg) could cover on the pace front.

"Asked the Marseille supporter sitting next to me..."

As I said, he was there supporting them (in some way). Being in the away section is being a part of the support.

If someone is so strong in their hatred of a player, and takes it upon themselves to question someone cheering that player on, as well as coming on a public forum to highlight this.... I think it's very fair to ask... why did you go to watch a match he played in.

Agree on the top level part but ultimately it’s quite structural. You have to sit a few yards deeper with them and I think that then impacts everything.

True on VVD but at his peak (past now thankfully) he was so athletically gifted that nobody even tried to run him in behind as it was a waste of time. Lads 1v1 with 30 yards of space just turned and waited for supported.

He’s not as slow as Maguire but he’s definitely susceptible when he has to turn and run. Martinez is absolutely world class on the ball and brings a whole new dimension, but even prior to his major injury I felt his bottom quartile athleticism was a massive issue for us. I’m very skeptical he’ll be a major contributor going forward with the injuries he’s had. Hope I’m wrong.

Not that he’s a beacon of quality as he’s a donkey in many ways. But in the inter game last night, Liverpool pressed high at one stage and Mkhitarayn (not that he’s quick) has minimum 5 yards+ start on Konate. 2 v1 against VVD with Martinez. Konate was on half way and ate up the ground in seconds and mkhi had to play some crap half hearted ball that VVD swept up. We simply couldn’t press that high or we’d have given up a massive chance.

I’m a real believer that as football moves towards top teams pressing high and suffocating teams. Athleticism becomes absolutely essentially at CB

"Did you cheer for Partey?"

He was probably a teenager then 😂

Push Shaw out to the left if Martinez keeps progressing well. Dalot and Shaw at wing back. Bring Dorgu on for Shaw later on to protect him a small bit.

The wingbacks options are terrible

I wonder how long he would last. He’s kept himself fit this season but I’d imagine playing LCB is a big part of that? He might break down if playing LWB every week.

@jayo44 Definitely a huge improvement on last season for sure.

With 7 less games played at this point of the season as well, which has to be taken into consideration?

It’s great to be in 6th right now - considering where we’ve been the last two seasons but with the summer signings and the fact that we’re only participating in one competition - Liverpool being in crisis, Newcastle slow start, on course to climb - external things are definitely going in our favour which makes this look a little better than it is, imo. We could just as easy be tied for 2nd or 3rd - we pis$ed away points against Everton and West Ham.

I am concerned about the next 3 fixtures though. Bournemouth aren’t in great form, Semenyo has gone off the boil and Senesi went off injured in the last game - would be great if he misses out.. I think we can win that with the players available to us but Iraola knows what he’s at and they have beaten us 3-0 at Old Trafford the last two times. After that then are two more tough games.

If we can retain 6th after the next 3 I would be very happy. Then you’re heading into Wolves at home which should be another 3 points, even with the AFCON three gone.

That’s my take on it. Not intending to be negative but more to give a balanced view given the full picture. Let’s not be delusional either. (Not directed at anyone in particular)

Jordi Cruyff on The Overlap this week. Very interesting conversation. Talked about a Club having an identity and Barcelona for example if a manager tried to play with wing backs they would be out the door before they know it. Wing backs he said in general are a very specialised position where they aren't good enough to be an out an out defender and also not good enough to warrant a starting position as an attacker. He also said if you move a manager on and the new manager plays 4 at the back it can take several transfer windows to get players needed. Also a lovely story about his daughter who has overcome cancer.