08 Feb 2026 10:34:45
Lets get carried away a little.
Let's say we get European football next year and we address the midfield needs in the transfer window.
Clearly we would also need squad players.
If you had the reigns and you could sign one squad player for defense, midfield and attack that could be somewhat attainable. Who would you pick?
I'd go for prem experience,
Def: Kayode (Bren)
Mid: Gomes (Wolves)
Att: Evanilson (B'mouth)
08 Feb 2026 11:17:48
Good post Peter.
By the way, I think Top 4 is a must now. At the start of the season it was 'European Football's but I don't think there is any doubt we can get into the Champions League.
If those were the only 3 positions, I'd go.
Def: Kayode BRE
Mid: Anderson NF
Att: Diomande LEIPZIG
I think with Dorgu and Shaw, we should have enough at LB, Maz can also play both flanks. So I would add another RB. I think it will be 2 CMs and a wide attacker. Diomande looks promising and with the attacking talent we already have, a good balance with real prem experience, I think we can add someone like him. I really believe that we could hit the ground running next season, it's vital we get the right manager in place.
08 Feb 2026 11:57:45
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United’s Summer Priorities: Midfield First, Then Balance
08 Feb 2026 15:07:20
We don’t need squad players we need players to go straight in starting 11
We can’t expect Shaw to stay fit after World Cup, need a LB
Mazz is not good enough either side as first choice only as cover, So Dalot needs to stay. Otherwise a starting right back needed
Need a GK to push on Lammens but he needs to be good enough to take his place if need be
We still need a experienced proper CB with pace
Need 2 Midfielders and an experienced striker, Sesko got a lot to learn still and hopefully Zirkee gone
If Bruno goes we are bang in trouble.
Still a lot needed if we want to push on.
08 Feb 2026 15:43:05
Defence: Kounde Barca
Midfield: Anderson Forest
Attack: Thiago Brentford.
08 Feb 2026 16:11:54
Je suis unite, it was hypothetical. Lighten up pal.
08 Feb 2026 16:18:22
Angel/Don Red - I agree with Anderson although I wouldn't put him down as a squad player. For me he would have been part of the "address the midfield needs in the transfer window. " part.
Don Red - Thiago was up there for me. After taking Mbuemo and Hypothetically taking Kayode. I starting to feel sorry for Brentford. So I raided Bournemouth instead ?.
08 Feb 2026 16:26:19
Ah yes indeed. João Gomes for midfield then. Anderson for sure is a starter.
08 Feb 2026 16:26:34
Ah yes indeed. João Gomes for midfield then. Anderson for sure is a starter.
08 Feb 2026 19:01:00
Senesi (free) or Mukiele
Wilson (free) or Aaronson
Thiago
Accept the frees would still command a small fee, but it means we bolster the squad, hypothetically if course, and keep majority of funds for the major works required elsewhere.
On that, thankfully, Mainoo is playing again, the discontent around his contract seems to have become secondary and with that, I think it presents a great opportunity for the centre mid to be resolved.
I believe Ugarte needs to go as well as the case departure.
Baleba for me is the obvious Casemiro replacement, and assuming Bruno stays and Mainoo starts, we probably still need one more, again assuming you have the likes of Kone, Fletcher (x2) etc available. To that end, I think Wharton is the preferred all rounder over Anderson as he can play in either the Baleba/Mainoo role. I also think he is more attainable than Anderson.
So we could end up with
Mainoo, Baleba, Wharton, Wilson, Kone, Fletcher x2 for the central mid positions.
I will say, we need to offload mount also as he really has no pathway into this team if the wide players remain untouched (Amad, Cunha, Mbeumo, Dorgu) add to that potentially diomande and we have Lacey etc al coming through, he has to go, along with Zirkzee. He is also very injury prone.
I said in the past once we solve midfield defence becomes the problem child to then solve! I think if it doesn't get some attention this summer, we will all be screaming at the usual suspects this time next year for costing us games.
I know folk will say 'tok much churn for one season' but I really think we need to see 3-5 defenders depart this summer!
Keepers are apples assuming Vitek comes back and I don't care who occupies the 3rd spot.
We do need another striker too.
08 Feb 2026 19:53:14
Jimbob at the moment of 1st 11 plus sesko deligt maz can compete with any 11 on their best day.
The issue is beneath that we are very weak on experience and quality allbeit with good young players and even within that 14 cas is going maguire not much left Shaw not much left.
So as someone said above moving to 2 games a week will mean we need to sign 5 or 6 players that are 1st team starters. i'm confident that the likes of heaven yoro will be better in a back 4 and can step up 5 starters i'd hope for would be.
2xcm 1x rb 1xlb 1 x st 1xcb
That us assuming bruno stays.
Maguire mount zirkzee cas ugarte either maz or dalot sold
Baleba wharton kayode evanilson Hall murillo
If bruno and martinez stay then maguire will not be needed as an elder imo i hope he gets a good move.
Not chance of that happening but it would leave us with a well balanced squad imo.
No superstars just good players with potential to improve that compliment what at have and fits into how Carrick set the team up in the last few games.
Win against West ham and we are 1 step closer to securing that cl place. If we get it 5 or 6 starters are required imo.
08 Feb 2026 20:44:07
Anderson does not thrill me as a signing. His form recently has not been great and I don't think he will ever be a great footballer.
08 Feb 2026 22:45:29
Pretty much nailed on Ken, we are aligned once again! ? I don't feel we ever stray too far away tbh.
In agreeance on your departures, although personally I would dump MDL (too often injured for 2 games a week) and retain Maguire on reduced wages.
We don't need world beaters, I actually hope we bypass Diomande, as good as he looks, we need to avoid those types of signings. As you say, just simple non superstar status players. Lift the overall quality of the squad a notch or too and mst importantly add depth!