23 Jul 2026 20:24:28{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United's Squad Balance and the Left-Side Dilemma
23 Jul 2026 23:13:52
Is Amass ready to take a squad place? I'm guessing, like many, he is being very closely assessed during pre-season training and friendlies?
The club may wait a few weeks longer before committing to another left back purchase.
24 Jul 2026 07:16:16
Eric, Amass was good in the game against Wrexham, and personally I think he's probably ready to be our 2nd/3rd choice LB option.
However, I have absolutely zero faith in Luke Shaw's ability to stay fit.
Historically, his most injury-free seasons have been those leading up to a World Cup. It's almost as if he's working harder to make the England team.
By contrast, his most injury-impacted seasons have typically been those after a World Cup.
How many games will he actually be available for next season (the final year of his contract)? There is also the chance that we might need him to cover at CB.
If Shaw is injured, then that leaves Dorgu and Amass in the squad as our LB options. Again, this is a personal opinion, but I feel like Dorgu is far better when played further forward as a LW, not a LB.
Amass might be ready to be our 2nd choice LB and start 10-15 games next season, but with Shaw's injury record and Dorgu playing further forward, he might have to start 30-40 games.
That's throwing him in at the deep end without armbands.
It's very risky.
I'd prefer us to sign a top LB, such as Truffert, who can be first choice, with Amass as the backup. This would give him the opportunity to bed into the first team without the pressure of having to perform as a title-challenging LB in his first season as a first-team regular. Then Dorgu can play further forward, and Shaw can be squad depth, covering LB and CB, if he's fit.
I have high hopes for Amass, but youth development means having a structure and a pathway for them, not just throwing them in and hoping they immediately step up. Youth players need to be able to be rotated in and out of the line up more than senior professionals. Their bodies are still developing, and they need more rest to ensure you don't overwork them and risk long-term injury issues. They need taking out of the firing line sometimes after sub-par performances. There are some games that just aren't suitable for them at their current stage of development.
Can we guarantee that we can do that for Amass next season if the only real option to play instead of him is Luke Shaw?
24 Jul 2026 10:40:57
The unknown here is how much Dorgu is really going to play at left wing.
In reality, he has only played 3 games there for us, I think: City, Arsenal and Brighton. 3 goals and an assist in those three starts, mind, so he was clearly productive.
But are we really going to say he's a converted forward now on the evidence of three games, two of which we clearly played in a lower block to best utilise his pace on the counter-attack? Is he still going to be a useful forward against teams that sit back and we have to make the game?
If he is now a converted forward, then we need to sign a left back.
If he can play 20-25 games as a left back, I think we can potentially not sign a left back this summer and be okay.
24 Jul 2026 10:45:14
I think we should be looking at bringing a LB in, with the intention that the secondary cover is either Shaw or Amass, with hopefully Amass growing as the season goes on to allow Shaw to be moved on. At this point, I have not seen enough to think Amass can take Shaw's current position as the 1st LB.
Hopefully, this season we will have a lot of games, so there are enough games to go around for everyone, especially as Shaw can cover CB if needed.
24 Jul 2026 12:35:30
Hopefully, Shaw not being picked for England will benefit him and us. He has had a good break, and presumably will be wanting to show Tuchel that he was wrong.
24 Jul 2026 12:37:42
Shaw is not good enough to be first choice left back.
Shaw cannot play two games a week.
Shaw is highly likely to have an extended period out injured in the year, just based on what we have seen these past 10 years.
We either need to develop Dorgu into a left back, when he looked more effective further forward, or we buy a ready-made first choice left back.
At some point, we do need to start acting like a club that is being aggressive and trying to win the league.
If we save money and make do and scrimp and save, it will be a long season ahead.
Long way to go yet. I would expect a left back to come in, and would be surprised if a left wing came in.
A second striker is probably dependant on Rashford and Zirkzee leaving.
A third CM signing is likely, but Ugarte getting injured was probably not in their plans. His wages should be covered by his international federation, so maybe it won't block something from happening.