30 Nov 2020 22:14:34
And the madness continues with Leicester losing to Fulham.
If, and nowadays it’s a big if, we win our game in hand we go 4th, 2 points off the top, and let’s be honest, we haven’t hit any sort of consistency yet. What a bizarre season so far.
1.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 06:11:29
If we can get Upamecano or Alaba in January window, we can cover a major weakness in our squad which is a pacey CB.
I'm sure it will have a Bruno effect.
This year's EPL title is totally wide open.
Injuries are disrupting a lot of teams.
2.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 10:14:23
TrueredDevil, keep an eye on Pau Torres of Villarreal. Very good player, left footed and could allow Maguire to shift over to the right side where he'd get more cover from AWB.
Apparently United are keeping a close eye on him, while Villarreal have Eric Bailly on a list of possible replacements if they lose Pau Torres. There is to be had there.
3.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 11:47:39
Why is everything centred around cover being needed for Maguire Shappy? Let's go splash out another £50-60m on a CB to cover for his weaknesses, let's also put him on the right side of defence so AWB can cover for him? Can't you see just how bad at defending he is? If anything, we need a partner for Lindelof, not Maguire.
4.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 12:17:39
Agree Shappy. Pau Torres is now a first choice in Spain setup as well.
Scholes, Lindelof has also been culpable of several mistakes.
Both of our CB's don't fill me with any confidence.
{Ed002's Note - Pau Torres (CB) is the preferred choice if sufficient sales are made. But there is interest from elsewhere.}
5.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 12:35:39
Scholes, Maguire isn't as bad as he is often made out to be. He like all players has his weaknesses.
He is club captain and overall probably our best CB (although that isn't saying much) .
The reality is he will be first choice for a few years yet. So it must be about getting the best from him. That is why switching him to the right side makes most sense.
Otherwise it's buy two top class CB's rather than one. While we also still have Rojo, Jones and the forever injured Bailly on the books, along with the likes of Maguire and Lindelof, with Tuanzebe and Mengi threatening to breakthrough.
We will sign one CB at most, so it makes sense to sign one that is most comfortable playing on the left of the centre back partnership.
6.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 12:35:53
Thanks Ed002.
Glad to hear we are interested in him.
7.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 15:40:21
I still think Lindelof is out best defender Maguire got protected earlier in the season because he was "tired" he'd "had a hard time over the summer" during the same time Lindelof has been just as tired with Sweden saying he's desperate for a break while Maguire was getting arrested he was catching a mugger and for the last few weeks he's been passing fitness tests to play for us each week and playing very well when he does get on the pitch if he was English it wouldn't even be a debate.
8.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 15:42:37
We spent 80 million on Maguire so let's do what we can to get a tune out of him. If we need to move him to the right hand side for extra cover and buy a pacey left sided CB then so be it. If Maguire still struggles then we have to see it for what it is and find a better right sided CB.
9.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 16:47:54
Blind faith MancMan, Maguire will never be good enough, it's so obvious to see, how can you not see that? Maguire isn't as bad as he is made out to be Shappy? I'd argue the opposite.
{Ed025's Note - i tend to agree with you scholesy..
10.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 20:14:56
That's all i need Ed025 lol.
{Ed025's Note - cheers mate..
11.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 20:43:42
Hi Ed002,
Thanks as always for your excellent information re: transfer targets - so very much appreciated.
You mention Pau Torres as a United target dependant on sales: presumably Bailly and Rojo? Maybe even Lindelif or Tuanzebe?
Also, and apologies if you can’t answer this as not directly United linked, but who is interested in Torres please? Barcelona?
Thanks as always for your precious time.
{Ed002's Note - Manchester United would need to add space - the big issue is finding buyers. Manchester City is interested in PT.}
12.) 01 Dec 2020
01 Dec 2020 21:26:55
Thank you Ed002 ☺ï¸â˜ºï¸.
13.) 02 Dec 2020
02 Dec 2020 12:59:25
Will Man City really make a move for a left footed CB like Pau Torres when they already have Laporte and Ake on the books. Seems strange to me.
I think we will struggle to get Jones off the books, Rojo only has 6 months left on his contract come January. Bailly I think we could find a buyer for, he could even be included in a deal for Pau Torres.
The biggest issue we have when moving players on is they are paid wages in line with those you would expect to receive at a top club, but they won't be moving to another top club, they will be taking a step down. Mid table clubs in England won't pay players 120k+ a week, while mid table clubs in other countries will pay less again.
This is why we often seem to sell players below their "market value".
{Ed002's Note - He is one of three CBs they have a keen interest in and one of the others is also left-footed. They are expecting to lose three CBs in the summer and will buy one or two replacements from a longer list of options they also have.}
14.) 02 Dec 2020
02 Dec 2020 14:58:26
Ed002, I would assume the three CB's they are expecting to lose are Garcia, Stones and Otamendi. All three are right footed, right sided CB's.
Or is it possible that Laporte could be on the move next summer?
{Ed002's Note - Otamendi has already left. Most centre backs can play either side.}