Manchester United Banter Archive January 21 2019

21 Jan 2019 16:10:40
Does anyone think if we haven't got rid of few players during previous managers stint with UTD we would be having a better and a complete squad right now?
Few Players like Depay, Blind, Di Maria, Will Keane, Chicharito would have provided that missing edge/ Depth to our team?

21 Jan 2019 16:44:30
If you re-write history maybe, none of them 5 were anywhere near good enough for us.

Memphis is the only one that could potentially improve us but we have players in his position and he wasn't good enough when he was here, he came a couple of years too early and was correct to leave.

The only player who left who I think would improve us now is Zaha, he is one of the best attacking players in the prem and would be great on our right wing in certain games.

21 Jan 2019 16:58:18
Maybe but I wouldn't have kept di Maria if he offered to play for free. Blind was slow but good cover, could slot in for matic to give him a rest. Depay was too soon but would be interesting to see where he'd fit now. Keane's always injured so no, but I've just snapped him up on my FM game. Hernandez good lad but he left because he wanted more first team minutes, if he was here he'd still be on the bench.

21 Jan 2019 17:28:03
Depay and Di Maria yes. Hernandez wouldve been good to keep as a squad player.

21 Jan 2019 18:26:14
If Hernandez was still here would rash have got his debut and chance? Probably not.

21 Jan 2019 18:52:55
"In certain games" is right GDS2. Loads of talent, inconsistent application.

21 Jan 2019 20:16:12
Zaha, like others have said, is at his best at Palace. He is happy there, the main man, and doesn’t have to work particularly hard to be an automatic pick.

He was, perhaps, unlucky to be here under Moyes, who didn’t know how to use him. But he couldn’t raise his game to convince anyone that he was capable of reaching the top level. Even at Cardiff, he was a disappointment.

The only one on that list I think would have any future here now is Depay. He was too young, and neither LVG or Jose were the right manager to get the best out of him. Would be a good option under Ole, and still has potential to get better.

22 Jan 2019 07:04:30
Rafael, Di Maria, Memphis, Chicharito and Zaha are all players that would improve our current squad.

22 Jan 2019 07:41:42
Di Maria would have fit in perfectly at Right Wing position under Ole.

22 Jan 2019 14:56:25
But di Maria never wanted to be here an couldn't wait to leave so shouldn't be in the discussion.

21 Jan 2019 11:54:05
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new player profile about, Kepa Arrizabalaga

21 Jan 2019 18:53:42
Sounds similar to a critique of a young de Gea that, Ed.

{Ed001's Note - in many ways I agree.}

21 Jan 2019 11:20:55
At the moment we have a Manager who was Utd. 's former striker and our attack has improved significantly. He is being assisted by a former Utd midfielder and our midfield now has some stability. Do we maybe need an ex Utd center back to sort out our defense? As it is obviously our weakest area. I know mike Phealan played as a LB for us for a while, but maybe a Cb (the caliber of Rio, Vidic etc) who can add his voice to that section on the field. Or will it be a matter of too many cooks spoil the broth?

21 Jan 2019 11:50:54
I would be tempted not to rock the boat, ae the saying goes if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I feel the issue with our defence is a combination of not having the right quality there.

Valencia, Young, Dalot, Shaw, Darmian, Jones, Smalling, Bailly, Lindelof and Rojo.

Just look at that group of players and let it sink in. Young is solid back up, Shaw and Dalot are young and developing, Lindelof on recent form might turn out good enough. Then you have Bailly who has great potential but has stagnated and suffered quite a few injuries over the last 18 months.

That's 3 maybe 4 out of 10 might be good enough, but most of them are still young and developing. No amount of coaching will make Smalling a good passer at this stage in his career, no amount of coaching will stop Jones or Rojo making stupid mistakes.

We just need better defenders, If it was me this summer I would spend most of the money on defenders with maybe one or two midfielders coming in as cover/ competition. I wouldn't worry about forwards, we don't need No.10's, we don't need strikers. People talk about a right winger, and it would be nice, but we have some excellent youngsters coming through who could take up that role.

Personally I would want to see Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Young and Darmian leave this summer. With Ricardo Pereira, Koulibaly, Danny Rose and possibly Nathan Ake coming in. Although I would be fine giving Tuanzebe more game time in place of Ake and maybe keep Young for one more season as back up.

I think we need four top quality full backs to compete in multiple competitions. We need more quality at CB.

That would give us options of Ricardo Pareira, Dalot, Lindelof, Bailly, Koulibaly, Ake, Tuanzebe, Shaw, Rose and maybe Young.

With maybe someone like NDombele or Reuben Neves replacing Fellaini.

21 Jan 2019 15:55:06
Interesting reply Shappy, thanks. I get your point about rocking the boat, but if we look at it critically, in this scenario our defense is the boat and it is already rocking.

I agree about the issue of quality. We need a vocal CB with a domineering presence who is great aerially. Someone to complement Lindelof. If Koulibaly isn't possible what about Salif Sane. Or A long term partner could be Jonathan Tah. i will personally stay away from Ake. Rather we give Tuanzebe a chance.

For RB, if possible Alessandro Florenzi from Roma.

I agree with your last comment, Neves wd be a dream.

21 Jan 2019 18:28:43
It's not the playing staff it could upset but the coaching staff. Imagine if someone was brought in to replace you before you had a chance to do your job.

21 Jan 2019 18:28:50
Ronnie wanted neves 2 years ago. so he did get 1 right😂😂.

22 Jan 2019 04:10:22
He probably wanted his younger brother though Ken, I think he's called pastrami 😉.

21 Jan 2019 07:29:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 21st January 2019

21 Jan 2019 11:29:54
If Scholes does get the coaching job, what happens if Salford get promoted this season? There will be some sort of conflict of interest for him then, won't there?

22 Jan 2019 04:28:42
He would have to sell his stake in Salford City to become / remain manager of Oldham Athletic.

EFL Regulation 104 reads:

Except with the prior written consent of the Board a person, or any associate of that person, who is interested in a Club cannot at the same time be interested in any other football club.

22 Jan 2019 08:41:14
Thanks Mike.

22 Jan 2019 13:55:09
No problem, just passing it on : )