Assessing our squad

[Fuck the Glazers]

In a stunning amd completely unpredictable twist, Antony Martial is out of the cup final due to injury.

He's done, finished, doesn't fancy it

Time to take him to the shed

[fat maradona]

In a stunning amd completely unpredictable twist, Antony Martial is out of the cup final due to injury.

He's done, finished, doesn't fancy it

Time to take him to the shed

What's even more incredulous is that a big club with 'ambitions' has retained someone so unreliable. He has surely got to be finished at United, he shouldn't even be getting a squad place let alone on the bench.

[Fuck the Glazers]

In a stunning amd completely unpredictable twist, Antony Martial is out of the cup final due to injury.

He's done, finished, doesn't fancy it

Time to take him to the shed

What's even more incredulous is that a big club with 'ambitions' has retained someone so unreliable. He has surely got to be finished at United, he shouldn't even be getting a squad place let alone on the bench.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if he stayed such is the dire state we're in. He's our only permanent number 9. If they let him go, and they should, we'll probably have to keep Weghorst on - or vice versa. They might both stay. That wouldn't surprise me either.

Even if that happens, we still probably need two CFs. But again, thanks to Glazer neglect we may not have the finances to sign two CFs as well as address other positions.

Sorting out the Glazers' mess is gonna take fucking ages.

[bman2]

The problem is that the players we most want to shift are the players that are almost impossible to shift. The players that Ed Woodward unilaterally decided were superstars and gave huge wages to: Martial, Maguire, Sancho etc.

[swampash]

I still hope bman that Sancho will still come good - he just needs to be played on the right, rather than on the left. He was always more effective in more of an 'inside right' position - if such a thing can be said to exist in the modern game.
Martial and Maguire I'd let go for free - both totally useless.

[fat maradona]

Dalot has sgined a new long term deal, probably ETH's preferred RB. AWB has been alright this season, priorities elsewhere on the pitch.

Apparently personal terms agreed with Mount, just now need to make sure we don't pay a double whammy 'United tax' and 'English Player Premium'. If we can get him for £40m, I'd say it's good business. He's 24, EPL proven and has plenty of potential to become prime Lampard-esque.

Oh, and the Daily Mail reporting that we have offered Maguire £10m if he leaves...lololololol....

[Felwin]

I still hope bman that Sancho will still come good - he just needs to be played on the right, rather than on the left. He was always more effective in more of an 'inside right' position - if such a thing can be said to exist in the modern game.
Martial and Maguire I'd let go for free - both totally useless.

With you 100%. I know some of you here don't like excusing players too much but Sancho has had a bizarre first two seasons if we're being honest.

Started off the back of the Euros penalty miss where all the England players across the league were shit for 6 months. He's clearly a sensitive lad and the dressing room got more and more toxic last year thanks to Ronaldo and then basically playing half a season without a manager. This season he took 3-4 months off to work on his mental health and since he's come back has been ever so slightly better, but obviously not the sort of winger United fans want. It makes him look even more dilly-dallying because of Garnacho's breakthrough and the fact Ten Hag has made us very direct at times becuase we don't have the players for possession football.

His composure and ability in tight spaces are an asset but when we play on the counter and he has time and space he seems a bit lost. The few times we've really dominated and he's spent the majority of the game in the final third, you see time and time again how good he retains possession, plays others in and even finishes with ice cool composure. I can't help thinking that if we managed to transition to that sort of ball dominant team next season, we'd see his best qualities more often but it looks increasingly like he doesn't fit. Really important who we sign now. An all round 9 and some tidy midfielders and maybe Sancho will shine.

Time is running out though, I'm with his opponents on that. The top top players adapt to any system.

Also, thanks to the financials were stuck with him so may as well give it another season. If he plays a 6-7/10 but still doesn't fit, we could maybe shift him next summer.

[bman2]

Good points Felwin. But that’s why I’ve said before that Sancho seems a lot like Mata. Tidy, intelligent, slow. If you can’t dribble past a defender, there’s just not a lot of use for you in a wider position in the PL.

I wish I could remember who it was, but during our big Sancho transfer drama, I remember one pundit saying very explicitly that they thought Sancho was overrated because he didn’t have the speed to get past PL defenders, and that he’d get found out if he came to the Prem. I think that’s exactly what was happened. I even recall the same pundit saying that in that situation, the player would have to buckle down and try to learn new tricks, try to learn some way to get over the obstacle of quality defending. It seems like that’s where Sancho failed, and maybe had a bit of crisis of confidence instead.

In contrast, I can see Antony working hard constantly. He also has to add to his game to really shine against PL defenders, but you can see him working it, he doesn’t give up. I think he’s much more likely to break through next season than Sancho.

But I totally agree that joining the disaster clown show that was United last season was the worst situation the lad could have put himself in. Antony managed to avoid that.

I don’t have any opinion at all on Mount, I haven’t seen enough of him.

[Felwin]

Good points Felwin. But that’s why I’ve said before that Sancho seems a lot like Mata. Tidy, intelligent, slow. If you can’t dribble past a defender, there’s just not a lot of use for you in a wider position in the PL.

I wish I could remember who it was, but during our big Sancho transfer drama, I remember one pundit saying very explicitly that they thought Sancho was overrated because he didn’t have the speed to get past PL defenders, and that he’d get found out if he came to the Prem. I think that’s exactly what was happened. I even recall the same pundit saying that in that situation, the player would have to buckle down and try to learn new tricks, try to learn some way to get over the obstacle of quality defending. It seems like that’s where Sancho failed, and maybe had a bit of crisis of confidence instead.

In contrast, I can see Antony working hard constantly. He also has to add to his game to really shine against PL defenders, but you can see him working it, he doesn’t give up. I think he’s much more likely to break through next season than Sancho.

But I totally agree that joining the disaster clown show that was United last season was the worst situation the lad could have put himself in. Antony managed to avoid that.

I don’t have any opinion at all on Mount, I haven’t seen enough of him.

Very fair analysis. Mata is a decent enough comparison but he always had more of an eye for goal I'd say. Sancho is almost purely a link player.

I'd look at Firmino, Bernardo Silva or Mahrez as potential models for Sancho, rather than a pacey winger. There's definitely space for someone who isn't blisteringly fast but intelligent and creative.

Antony has the right attitude basically. Fuck all of you, I'll prove to you I'm the best. Whereas Sancho needs to prove it to himself first maybe.

[swampash]

I'd look at Firmino, Bernardo Silva or Mahrez as potential models for Sancho, rather than a pacey winger. There's definitely space for someone who isn't blisteringly fast but intelligent and creative.

Totally with you on that; good comparison.