19 Jul 2024 15:29:34
Afternoon Ed002, hope you’re enjoying the UK weather!
If you get a minute, would you mind giving us the latest on Casameiro pls?
Lots of conflicting reports in the media today, such as
Saudi lost interest in him due to wanting to bring in younger talent (and question marks over his fitness)
United telling the PIF that they want to keep him
The player desperate to leave the club.
Any info gratefully received!
{Ed002's Note - Casemiro (DM) Manchester United would be willing to let him leave but will take a huge loss. Michael Emenalo spoke of him as one option for Saudi clubs but will be concerned about persistent injuries. PSG offer a wildcard option but only as cover and that option has likely moved on. The player will want to understand his options before deciding with the club what to do.}
19 Jul 2024 23:32:34
Id prefer we move SMc on and keep Casemero (IYKYK) on. As long as we bring someone in circa Ugarte. Case is better cover.
(Here come the salary police)
20 Jul 2024 06:53:49
You’re assuming Casemiro would be happy in a role as cover though. Not sure at this stage in his career he would be.
20 Jul 2024 07:34:28
IYKYK? Spill the beans big boy.
20 Jul 2024 07:38:47
I think that all depends on which Casemiro stays. The one from his first season, or last season’s?
That being said, nobody in the squad covered themselves in glory last season.
20 Jul 2024 09:07:48
Cas’s legs have gone, and positionally he was all over the place last season, which was a big factor in our midfield being overrun.
He was great in his first season up until the league cup win, but since then has proved to be an expensive mistake.
We need to solidify our midfield with an out and out DM who’s happy to sit and allow others to take the glory. Kante style.
20 Jul 2024 10:05:51
It seems likely that it'll be one of McTominay or Casemiro who leaves this summer. Although ideally it should be both out with two new signings coming in.
That might be a bit too much change and will potentially be difficult for the club to do.
The question over which is better to move on though really depends on what you value.
McTominay is a model professional, hard working, a leader and is a United lad through and through. He also counts towards our homegrown quota. I also suspect he'll be more accepting (although not happy) with being a back up player. He is also on lower wages.
That said he really isn't a defensive midfielder, and shouldn't be playing deeper in midfield. His best role is probably as a No.10, a physical presence who can press from the front and create chaos with his physicality in the final third. He's also excellent at being that late arriving player in the box who finds pockets of space to score.
Yet that isn't really the profile we need, he's a useful option off the bench for certain stages of play in some games.
What we really need though is a deeper, defensive option. Which is where Casemiro is a much better profile for our needs. The issue with Casemiro though is that he doesn't have the mobility or stamina to be a single pivot or cover a large area anymore. Which is why we are seeing him dive into tackles much more as he knows he doesn't have the legs to stay with the runner. Yet if we play with a double pivot and have someone who can provide more energy alongside him then I don't think his days are as numbered as some would have you believe. I think if he moved to Italy where they tend to play far more compact and keep the spaces much smaller that Casemiro could play there at the top level for another couple of season's.
The problem with keeping Casemiro is not as some have suggested his high wages, although they are less than ideal. It is both his lack of interest in being a back up player at this point in his career, along with the much bigger issue in that he is the type of player who needs to play regularly to stay match sharp.
We saw even during his first season, where he was generally excellent, that after he missed a few games that it would take him 2 to 3 games to get back up to speed. This was most evident when he had his suspensions, he'd miss a few games, then when he was back he'd be a yard or two off the pace for the next couple of games.
That inability to stay match sharp when not playing, and the length of time it takes him to get back up to speed make him a very poor option as a squad player.
I think half of the issue he had last season was niggling injuries meaning he was in and out of the line up, meaning he rarely had a run of 5-10 games to get fully up to speed. Add that to the tactics/ decisions of other players, meaning our midfield was very open and he had too much space to cover just exasperated the problem.
Which for me is why I'd probably look to sell Casemiro first if possible, as if he isn't going to be first choice and play most games then his ability to be useful as a squad player is minimal.
Although ideally we'd sell both and bring in two new midfielders capable and comfortable playing deeper in defensive midfield.
20 Jul 2024 10:19:49
Thank you for taking the time to reply Ed002!
20 Jul 2024 16:23:13
McT is an excellent squad player if not a starter. Casemiro's legs appear to have gone, we should take whatever we can get for him. Sorry to be brutal it i don't see this one as complicated.
20 Jul 2024 16:32:13
I’d keep McT, sell Cas if possible and Eriksen.
20 Jul 2024 23:45:11
Cant remember the last time I made it through the whole of one of shappy's posts ?.
21 Jul 2024 08:13:50
Dodgy Banter……. got to be honest mate, I skip ‘em! ?.
21 Jul 2024 10:36:24
Don't worry, I know some people ain't got the stamina ??.