03 Feb 2014 07:35:12
Now that we have let the dust settle ( 2 transfer windows) it is now time to take stock of where we are.

Things look really bad at the moment.
Team looks dis-jointed and lacking confidence
Too many changes in defence has cost us stability.
We have lost our fear factor.

Reasons for this.aging and sub-standard squad.

Before we think about buying superstars we have to first trim the squad of the weaker/aging players.

Ferdinand. too old and injury prone
Valencia. one trick pony that is not producing consistantly
Cleverly. Just not United standard
Wellbeck. Just not United standard
Evra. like him but maybe time to trade for younger model
Carrick. any slower and he would be going backwards.
Giggs. legend but now qualifies for seniors tour.

We have lost our pace in the team where we used to rip teams apart but by the time Carrick wastes 10 seconds deciding to pass the ball backwards or sidewards opposing teams have set themselves defensively. He for me is the root of the problem. ok we need someone to dictate the pace of the game but not always in reverse.

We have also bought Mata to play out of position in the out of position Kagawa role. make sense.

I still think Moyes can get it right but he has to be like a young Fergie. RUTHLESS

1.) 03 Feb 2014
Players like Valencia, Cleverley, Welbeck & Carrick should be squad players. You cannot have a full squad of world-class players therefore you need your squad players. Player that are happy to be squad players. Obviously Rooney & Van Persie will play ahead of Welbeck when they are fit. Mata or Adnan should be playing ahead of Valencia. We should have better central midfielders playing ahead of Cleverley and Carrick, but these players shouldn't be sold, they should just not be first choice.

2.) 03 Feb 2014
Good post, sums up the situation very well. I would keep Valencia and Wellbeck as squad players, at least for now.

3.) 03 Feb 2014
Syd, Valencia and Carrick are definitely now squad players and Cleverley possibly, but i'm getting less convinced with every game he plays. As he brings nothing to the team, we might as well give another youngster a chance in his squad place. Welbeck though is rubbish, he brings nothing to the team/squad. His control is rubbish, his passing just as bad, he can't shoot or head the ball, when he runs with the ball he never has it under control. He is not good enough to start by a long way and what you need on the bench is a forward who can come on and give you something different when you are struggling. Because he is so poor in front of goal and most other parts of the field, he is of no use to us doing this either. So where in our squad does he fit? In my eyes, he needs to go and let Keane or Henriquez have a go in his squad place.

4.) 03 Feb 2014
Surely some players have to go Syd?

I would have;

Giggs - Retire
Ferdinand - Retire
Nani or Valencia - Sell
Buttner - Give away
Cleverly - Sell, if possible!
Hernandez or Wellbeck - Sell

I would keep Evra for one more season and alternate with new, younger left back.

We definitely need;

1, maybe 2 Centre Backs
1 Left Back
2 Def Mid
1 Striker

5.) 03 Feb 2014
It's more about what the club will do. But IMO they will allow these players to leave from the senior squad:

Kagawa, Nani, Anderson, Hernandez, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra & Giggs.

I think the club will sign a RB, LB, CBx2, CMx2, RW & striker over the next 18 months.

I think three of them will be what we describe as "Stellar" signings.

6.) 03 Feb 2014
Sydney, couldn't disagree with you more!

city's ambition was two have two world class players for every position. they've nearly achieved that and look at them now.

utd were at their most dominant when we were able to replace quality with quality.

we are poor at the moment because the squad players are second rate as well as half the first team.

e.g. now when Rooney and rvp are injured we only have wellbeck and Hernandez. its hardly like replacing Cole and yorke with solksjaer and sheringham is it?

7.) 03 Feb 2014
Syd I agree with the outs, even Kagawa as Moyes clearly doesn't want him. I would add Cleverley and Wwlbeck to those though. Neither offer us anything and we could give the youngsters a chance as they couldn't do any less. It is a lot of players to get rid of but Welbeck, Cleverley, Nani, Kagawa, Anderson, Giggs and Hernandez have done nothing this season anyway so we couldn't be any worse off, in my eyes.

8.) 03 Feb 2014
Andrew, City do not have two world-class RB's, two world-class LB's and four world-class CB's. They do not have two world-class keepers and they do not have four world-class central midfielders and four world-class wingers. You cannot have a full squad of world-class players. It's impossible.

Brendan, Cleverley and Welbeck will be around for a while simply because they are English homegrown players that are happy to be squad players. The club will want to keep their identity and SAF has said in the past how important it is to keep English players in the club. They shouldn't be first choice, but they are decent squad players.

9.) 03 Feb 2014
"Stellar Signings"
Don't you just love them two words.
I wonder how many "Stellar Signings" there will be if we finish 6th / 7th and miss out on Champions League football?
Certain people keep chirping on about all these great signings in the summer. I can't see it if were playing in the Europa League.

10.) 03 Feb 2014
Simmo, let's hope footballers and their agents aren't as narrow minded and fickle as you are being. Us falling outside the top four for a season isn't going to stop a top player signing for Manchester United. If MU are willing to pay the asking amount for the players, then why wouldn't they sign? Players sign a five-year deal, I am sure they can see past the first 12 months of that contract. Sure, if they have absolutely no allegiance to any particular club and both clubs are willing to pay what it takes, then it maybe more difficult, but if you get a player who wants to take on the challenge of replacing Scholes, and you pay him, his club and his agent what they want, then why won't it happen?

11.) 03 Feb 2014
But Syd surely we can let some of the young English guys like Lingard, the Keanes, Powell etc move up and give them a shot. They will do no worse than Cleverley, Welbeck etc for us and may be much better given a chance. We still keep our identity but with a new generation.

12.) 03 Feb 2014
Brendan, Why not Powell, Cleverley, Keanes & Welbeck together? We do not need to sell players for the fun of it, there are enough leaving this summer. The squad isn't an issue, we need to improve the first XI. By improving the first XI we will be making the squad better. Players like Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia etc will be squad players.