20 Jun 2017 13:57:53
I'm concerned with the lack of rumours around wide players this summer despite being 2 months away from the start of the season.

I think the wide positions are those that need addressing most. What we've seen (thanks in a large part to Moyes and LVG) is too many central players signed. We've been guilty for 3+ years now of playing people out of position and it's resulted in our style of play being slow and boring, we're not playing with the width we used to due to not having specialists in the attacking positions.

Miki - best position as a 10, played out wide and has failed to make a position his own.
Mata - best position as a 10 but has been played mostly on the right.
Pogba - best position as furtest forward in a midfield 3 and arguably the only player in this list played in his natural position.
Martial - best position striker but has been played mostly on the left.
Rashford - best position striker but has been played mostly on the left.
Pereira - returning after loan and again played as a 10 but may get some minutes played out wide this season.
Fellaini - says himself he wants to play off the striker but is nowhere near the level to dislodge any of the above from an attacking position.

Rooney - I'm not even sure what to say, I stuck by him longer than most but now is the time for him to move on.
Lingard - wants to play as a 10 but isn't good enough to make the position his own. He's a good squad player and should be used in cup games and give 45/ 60 minutes against teams lower in the league to keep him happy and fresh

Then to arguably our only two 'natural' wingers:
Valencia - Poor final ball and too predictable to play as a right winger, has become Mr Reliable at right back, but we need another RB bringing in to compete with him as we'll likely play 60 games again this coming season.
Young - Never really been at the level required but again he's been reliable when called upon, totally professional and good backup, but again in an unnatural position t left back.

Then our full backs:
Shaw - It's on him and him only now.
Darmian - Good tackler but gives nothing going forward.
Rojo - natural position is not LB.
Blindnatural position is not LB.
TFM - natural position is not RB.
Tuanzabe - natural position is not RB.

Wide players linked with:
Perisic - 28, seems a short term fix and I believe that is exactly what we need as we are really struggling for natural wide players but we need more than 1.
Semedo - Haven't seen anything more than paper talk, other than 002's Sharkopod.

Taking all of that into consideration I'm surprised we're not linked with more wide players. I know Jose hasn't really had enough time to bring his own players in but i'm still surprised that he's not prioritising these positions. Or maybe he sees things differently and that's why he's manager.

After 3 seasons of playing people out of position and watching boring football it's surely time to concentrate on specialists and have a team that picks itself in big games, much like we have been used to seeing in years gone by.


1.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 14:02:59
With Rooney leaving and Shaw injured, we are definitely short a few wide players.

{Ed025's Note - love it danny..


2.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 14:26:03
:-D hahaha.


3.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 14:38:42
Wazza you spend too much time worrying 🤣.


4.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 14:39:39
Danny-brilliant.
But agree with Wazza and we've been saying this for some time.


5.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 15:37:07
Going on the rumours Peresic seems likely, he looks a good addition if he comes in and is someone who wants to be out on the touchline rather than always coming in.
I have said previously that I see Willian being a target of Jose. Again not a sexy purchase but he works hard, jose knows what he is getting with him and I think as part of the team Jose builds he would be a good addition. Plus he can score a decent free kick.


6.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 15:38:44
Saw a picture of Shaw at Phil Jones wedding at the weekend and thought how bulky he looked -across the chest he is just out of proportion - yet the caption underneath was "slimline shaw. and went on to say he is back in training looking fit and slimmed down .

Valencia is built like a boxer but in proportion . Shaw just looks odd.


7.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 16:57:53
Didn't martial play left even when lvg was managing how exactly do you know ST is his best position given that he did not play much for monaco and excelled for us at lw, mkhi too flopped at no 10 for klopp and the season he was brilliant for tuchel he played mostly on the wings not as no 10. I think you need to calm down the window ends 31st august, i think there is enough time to be linked to a few wide players and may be even sign them.


8.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 18:12:27
CSM, I'm totally calm, don't worry about me.

Martial is a striker by trade and Miki has said himself he prefers to play centrally 👍🏼.


9.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 18:21:28
Wazza,

A lot can happen in 2 days in football never mind 2 months so there is no point worrying at the moment.

Also, this team that picked itself in years gone by with players in the correct positions won the CL in 1999 with Blomqvist on the right wing and Beckham centre mid. Not saying we don't need specialists but just saying it hasn't always been as straight forward as people will have you believe.


10.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 18:33:06
the wide players will be the fullbacks. semedo and martin :)


11.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 18:43:55
Agree GDS2 plenty of time left and I alluded to that in my OP. I'm just saying I'm a little surprised at the lack of wide players we've been linked with so far. As the season was coming to a close I fully expected the wide positions to be addressed as a priority. Be nice to have a couple of flair players again who get us on our feet every time they get on the ball.


12.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 21:09:52
Wazza, last year we were linked to over 50 players, none of whom were Bailly, so who knows what is going on n the background.


13.) 20 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2017 22:05:11
I don't mind martial or rash on the left side wazza if a striker comes in, I like others would love someone with a bit stardust on the right side of attack, I like searing pace or great dribbling ability in this position but I guess one of my favs Beckham had neither, I hope we do have plans for this position.