22 Aug 2024 22:58:41
Anyone else concerned with the lack of fullbacks in the squad?
Apart from fullbacks, I would say every other position is covered within the team.
We have atleast 2 players for every other position. And others who can do a job.
But going into a season with 2 fit fullbacks in Dalot and Mazraoui feels extremely risky to me.
Malacia will not be the same player,
Shaw is injured half the season,
Amass has been deemed not ready for first team.
Martinez was out last year, and playing him out of his natural position doesn't seem like a good plan.
Lindelof at LB was poor.
If we actually cannot afford a fullback, maybe look to add some depth.
Last year we struggled at Lb once reguilon was out with the lack of options.
Surely we can get one of the free agents, or an option like reguilon as a body. Ideally sign a top target, but if that cannot happen atleast have an option for europa league and cup games, and rotation to give rest to current fullbacks.
Hermoso, Marcos Alonso, Van Aanholt, Alex Sandro, Kurzawa, Serge Aurier, Cedris Soares are some free agents.
We do need a fullback surely.
23 Aug 2024 06:34:07
I’m not concerned by the number of, but by their fitness.
On paper Mazraoui / Dalot and Shaw / Malacia does not look like an area that needs much attention but 3 of the 4 have very poor injury records.
We can’t assume Malacia won’t be the same player. He’s had a torrid time but hopefully he makes a good recovery. It’s a case of getting them all fit, and then it’s no longer a problem position.
23 Aug 2024 07:34:12
Chilwell loan may be a decent option, but the list you provided above back pass is utter dross, none of whom should ever wear the Man Utd shirt.
23 Aug 2024 08:19:27
It's not ideal I think we might see something happen.
Question marks over 3 of them fitness wise and over 3 of them quality wise with Mazraoui being the only one good enough.
Dalot will be off next year I'd imagine and we will be shopping again next year 4 a couple of starting lb a cover rb and hopefully amass will go cover lb.
We are weak in those positions but will have to struggle though this year.
23 Aug 2024 09:24:17
Chilwell is injury prone.
I just mentioned some free agents. Not saying those are the right moves.
We will struggle all year with only 2 capable fullbacks.
We've been lucky with dalot's fitness. What if he is out for a month? Lindelof RB is not good.
I do personally like Marcos Alonso, very good going forward, suspect defensively. But an option and not a bad one.
23 Aug 2024 09:31:31
If the club is even considering Chilwell then they need to give their heads a wobble. A very good player, but his injury record is awful. No point adding one more player to the physio room.
23 Aug 2024 09:33:16
It’s got a deadline day loan for Chilwell written all over it.
23 Aug 2024 09:10:01
ED001,
What are your thoughts on Hermoso as a potential LB option?
{Ed001's Note - I am not sure he is all that good at left-back. He looked better in the centre from what I saw. Maybe if you play him as a more defensive type full-back he would be good, rather than bombing on. But not as an inverted type that sits in front, instead more like a third centre-back when you have the ball. I didn't see a lot of him, so there is always the chance he was carrying an injury, but he didn't look mobile enough to get up and down the flank in the Prem. He just played like a centre-back who was out there as emergency cover and gave it a good go. He never let them down or anything, but I would think he would get exposed if he had to do it all the time.}
23 Aug 2024 10:33:00
Cheers ED001,
Who would be your options for Utd at LB?
{Ed001's Note - there are so few good ones about, though Villa got a steal with Maatsen, no idea why you weren't in for him. I would suggest Ait-Nouri, but they let the back-up (Bueno) go out on loan, so are unlikely to sell him for anything other than an obscene fee. There really isn't a lot of good ones out there, the likes of Antonee Robinson are very poor. Chilwell has a poor lifestyle and that causes constant injuries. I have not seen Kadioglu play, but he is highly rated. Tyrick Mitchell always impresses for Palace, and they play a much more possession-based system now, so it is not like Wan-Bissaka who needed to learn a new way of playing. Other possibilities would be Gutierrez, but he is from a Citeh feeder club, so they would probably not sell for a reasonable price to you, Cambiaso, but Inter wouldn't want to lose him. Rico Henry I would say would be the best option if not for injuries again. Maybe Kerkez could be taught to defend?}
23 Aug 2024 14:55:02
LB could become a live position but expect it to be late in the window if we do. I am not averse if we either get short term cover or find the money for a number 1 LB. they will likely see how dalot/ masouari cover.
If they expect Shaw to be back in September then assuming he stays relatively fit that is 50% of the games covered and maybe prioritising premier league. Who knows with malacia but assume he becomes ready from December we have enough cover. I also think the plan is for Amass to see some minutes but likely second half of season.
23 Aug 2024 15:56:56
I wouldn't be surprised if we looked at cucarella again.
23 Aug 2024 12:36:19
Cheers ED001,
The club need to sign a LB as Shaw and Malacia are very injury prone. There shouldn't be a reliance on playing Dalot or Mazraoui at LB.
Amass looks good but perhaps it is too early for him. However playing alongside Martinez might just be the best thing for his development.
{Ed001's Note - I think your best bet is the youth system as, like I said, the options are poor really.}
23 Aug 2024 13:48:09
ED001
Gutierrez is not the greatest defender either as I watched him last year a few times, full game and not You tube stuff which is not relevant and deceiving once we were linked to him.
Watched ait Noori last weekend vs arsenal and he had a poor game and Saka and co had him caught out of position a lot.
Kodiuglu was a revelation at the euros.
Most of the ones who are good going forward seem to have weaknesses defending and some of their positional play. Unfortunately they don't make them like ashley cole anymore.
{Ed001's Note - I don't think any of them are particularly outstanding either, it is a best of a bad bunch that you are looking at really. Personally I would be looking to the youth system and bringing through someone. There really isn't the quality out there, so there is little risk in bringing through someone. I doubt the likes of Amass could be any worse!}
23 Aug 2024 17:41:02
Deano, we should be nowhere near Cucurella. Headless chicken personified.
23 Aug 2024 18:02:08
Cheeky kieran tierney loan then.
Will give us good 15-20 games a year.
{Ed001's Note - did you mean minutes rather than games?}
23 Aug 2024 19:58:13
Thanks ED001,
Is hope Amass would get some EL and LC games.
{Ed001's Note - I hope so. Always good to see kids come through from the youth team and break into the first team at any club. Well, maybe not Chelsea, as that just means they will sell them soon!}
24 Aug 2024 08:39:23
ED001,
Do you rate Alphonso Davies?
He is more than likely to play for RM next season.
{Ed001's Note - blisteringly quick, excellent going forward but weak defensively. There are not many outstanding left-backs right now.}
24 Aug 2024 20:22:04
Cheers ED001.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome MH.}
25 Aug 2024 00:58:06
A lot of people want that LB right now and don't want to wait out and see the kid grow into the role We sign anyone it limits his chances and will hold him back.
I personally am more than happy to struggle for a while if we let the kid come though. I will happily take the growing pains and inevitable struggles to see him make it. Young players need to play and this lad is right on the cusp, Amass is going to get his chance at some point this year, we just have to wait.
We have enough problems in the squad that need fixing, patience here will save a lot of money.
The next one for me will be Lacey at RF, that's another kid who will make it.