17 Nov 2020 17:38:58
Two clear issues still exist this season, firstly is we still don't have a first choice RW option. Greenwood is a short term solution, yet has his limitations (age, inconsistency, best position will probably be central) . While we still don't look like we have the right blend in defence.
Is there a player out there who could have a similar effect to Bruno in January.
Looking ahead to January, a CB looks unlikely. Although we have been linked to David Carmo in recent days, the issue of having Jones, Rojo and the constantly injured Bailly still on the books, we might in the short term at least need to find the right balance with the players we have. Hopefully Tuanzebe or Mengi step up and make a difference. Although that is more a hope than an expectancy.
Right wing though is an area we could look at in January, while the big names like Sancho might not be available, there are many good options who maybe would be available. Players like Emi Buendia, Calvin Stengs, Viktor Tsygankov, David Neres, Ismaila Sarr or an outside of the box option Pedro Neto of Wolves (who I feel could have a breakout season this year) .
Who do you guys feel could possibly be available in January who could really make a difference?
17 Nov 2020 17:51:54
Traoré seems restless at Wolves, he could be an option.
17 Nov 2020 18:09:36
Good post Shappy. I wouldn't touch Traore, unless he is Amad Traore. Neto is the better player and can become a top player.
17 Nov 2020 18:27:54
Doesnt matter who we sign, i am convinced we would still end up with juan mata right wing.
17 Nov 2020 18:28:12
LLV, Adama Troare wants either a big new deal or a move to a big side. He and Wolves are wrangling over a new deal and have been for a few months.
However, that said I don't think he would be either a viable option or a particularly good one. Firstly, a deal for him would likely be £60-70m+ which you don't see many deals of that magnitude happening in January. While I also think that is too much.
Secondly, I think he is great at one aspect of the game, but he isn't rounded enough to really fit into a top side. He has a world class ability to dribble past players with fantastic pace and power, his end product is still a little iffy. However, for me the real problem is much like Dan James and Valencia before him, if he doesn't have space to burst into he doesn't have the footballing intelligence and technical ability to come inside and link up and play those clever passes.
17 Nov 2020 18:30:16
Herrera, Neto I think could become a top player. He was the reason Wolves were happy to let Diogo Jota leave (I really rate Jota, I think he will be an excellent signing for Liverpool and in a few years time I believe most people will rank Jota as the better signing when compared to Thiago) .
That said Neto is 20 years old and looks to have a great future ahead of him.
17 Nov 2020 19:38:36
Shappy you are dreaming if you think Wolves will value Traore at £70m. He isn’t even a guaranteed starter there. He’s quick and powerful but that’s where it ends. His end product is very poor. Hence others start before him.
17 Nov 2020 19:41:45
We can sign all we like but if we have the same defence this time next year it will be the same conversation.
17 Nov 2020 20:08:11
Unless we have a change in manager i don't see is signing a rw in jan.
We spent 30m on 2 18yo players and greenwood has hardly kicked a ball all season nor has lingard and we are keeping mata who at his age and after betting largely ignored most of last season is suddenly a starter so i think ole will stick with those for the season.
Ole has also looked to playing a diamond or 3 at the back and that actually negates the need for a rw.
Playing 2 up with our forward options of cavani greenwood rash and martial makes sense. Any 2 from that 4 looks strong.
17 Nov 2020 20:36:21
Adama Traore is a great shout for RW.
He can put in good crosses which we are lacking in our wing play.
18 Nov 2020 06:35:54
I agree with Ken
Having paid out quite a lot of money on Amad, unless his visa falls through he will arrive in January. Another left footed player to play on the right and cut in, rather than stretch the game with width, looks a very good prospect though. We also bought Pellestri who actually is a RW, young but a RW. Given our tactics not sure where he fits. I sense unfinished business with O Dembele but can’t see that as much now. Traore is powerful and quick but don’t we need width and finesse to get behind defences. For the money Dembele is a better fit, yet it has its risks and we bought youth.
For me there are three not two areas. The obvious central defensive issue but also the defensive midfield, despite Fred’s slight resurgence. Given the financial figures I can’t see a splurge in January unless a real bargain turns up.
18 Nov 2020 08:13:57
Adama Traore? Please no. He's James with muscles and that's as good as it gets.
18 Nov 2020 08:56:07
I wouldn't call greenwood a short term solution, had a difficult start to the season abd there us a particularly disturbing rumour, which I hope isn't true .
But he can certainly be a long term player.
Amad like another couple are clearly for the future not the present .
I think sancho is the player we want for rw and that's who we movd for.
18 Nov 2020 09:23:31
I would suggest he is short term rw but long term cf as its his best position and God knows we are crying out for a proper cf and goal scorer.
Lots, in fact too much being said about him at the moment.
Lets hope he gets through this difficult time and that he comes through a better and stronger person and player.
18 Nov 2020 09:24:28
Is Amad not older than greenwood?
18 Nov 2020 10:37:07
Agree with RedMan, We are lacking a top class CB and CDM in addition to RW.
We should have gone in for Partey. He intercepts danger and is progressive with the ball.
For CB, Upamecano and Alaba are available both pacey and left footed which will add much needed balance to our defence.
18 Nov 2020 10:51:57
Ken agr is but an number greenwood is ready for the united first team now . Personally I'm not sure amad is.
If rumours are true greenwood won't be playing for anyone, so hopefully there not. Looks like it may of been someone else
Personally I think the club want sancho for rw.
18 Nov 2020 11:24:37
No nothing really of amad so i can't comment. Never seen him so I've no idea how ready he is. Probably as ready as rash was when he was thrust in.
Bd will have to lower their demands it doesn't matter how much the club want him if they can't or won't meet the valuation.
18 Nov 2020 11:39:33
We will not sign anyone in the January window (unless there is a serious belief that fans will be allowed back into grounds) . Clubs are being hit massively and whilst we are a huge organisation able to cope, I believe that this in the short term will be done in a frugal/ cautious way.
To be honest, unless we identify a Bruno type signing that is going to be the next piece of the jigsaw I am potentially happy with that.
We all know where our areas of concern are but I just don't see the players we need long term being available in January, whether it is Olly or another manager they first need to sort the current team into a system that works consistently.
Sorry, kind of goes against the usual trend of the January window.
18 Nov 2020 11:46:03
On sancho BD will have to lower their demands with C.V. and as sancho contract runs down . But if sancho is the player we want and the club think a deal can be done in the future I see little sense buying someone else .
Amad isn't getting in the Atlanta first team so I find it hard to belive united see him moving to the EPl with everything that entails and going straight in to the united 11 .
I think the fact he is older than greenwood is irrelevant.
18 Nov 2020 12:28:22
Ive not suggested buying anybody else. I've said above i don't exoect any rw to come in this jan.
18 Nov 2020 12:59:55
Red Man, I agree that a CDM is needed, Matic doesn't have the legs to play twice a week. While I wouldn't call either McTominay or Fred natural holding midfielders. More defensive minded box to box players. Something closer to Darren Fletcher rather than Michael Carrick. However, I don't see us signing that sort of player in January.
Ken, Amad Traore is a year younger than Greenwood. He looks talented, but we have no idea if he is ready to step up. He has played a handful of games in Serie A, which is not the same as playing week in week out in the EPL. He's a young lad moving to a different country, he will need time to settle and adjust. This season I would be surprised big he played more than a few minutes maybe half an hour in a couple of cup games. Both him and Pellistri should not be considered first team player this season.
Jred, age is just a number, maybe Scholes should lace up his boots again and start playing. I'm kidding of course. Clearly Greenwood is ready to play regularly, and I too hope the rumours are false. When I said Greenwood was a short term solution it was meant as a right winger. Long term he should be playing more centrally. So we are still short of a proper right winger, rather than playing someone in that position to fill in. I think if we signed a natural wide player for the right hand side it would enable us to switch between having a inside forward player like Greenwood to a natural wide player. Giving us more options, and making our attack less one dimensional and more unpredictable. While giving the manager the ability to change the game from the bench.
18 Nov 2020 13:06:52
Ken
More than you on the thread.
18 Nov 2020 13:22:18
Shappy greenwood is more than capable off playing rw so i'm not sure I agree that we are currently short of a rw .
I do think we need an extra attacking option.
I don't think that needs to be a right winger I woukdnt really describe sancho that . Most attacking players are exactly that attacking players.
Someone like sterling once over was a winger he isn't now tho .
Greenwood could very well be a " inside forward " for a number of years .
18 Nov 2020 14:23:47
It very much depends on what way the manager wants to play.
If he wants to play with 2 strikers and no 'wingers' then we don't need another cf we have 4 good options.
We then don't need a wide player except for wing backs where we have good options.
Ole has got most of his best results playing 4231 / 433 and in that case we could do with another right sided option. That could bring more contribution than mata james or Jesse.
While its great to have options and be flexible its hard to know exactly what ole wants to achieve.
I'm not sure if he chops and changes to suit who is available because he only really trusts 12 or 13 to play his preferred way and when they are not there the whole lot seems to change.
18 Nov 2020 18:55:00
That I think is the problem Ken. If you listen to past Manchester United managers they will tell you that they didn't get the players they wanted which stopped them playing the way they wanted to play.
Moyes wanted Fabregas, Kroos and Bale, but got Fellaini and Mata in January.
LvG listed about 20 players he wanted, the only one I can remember right now is Thomas Muller.
Jose wanted more defenders, and a couple of others.
Ole wanted Sancho this summer.
It appears that while as Manchester United manager you may ask for any player you want, the reality is that you will have to make do with the players you are given.
Maybe Ole will play with a strike duo now that he has Cavani rather than Sancho. But I wouldn't say that is necessarily the way he wanted to play.