08 Aug 2021 16:46:06
I'm fairly confident that the club will sign one more player. My concern though is that I think it will be the wrong one.

Trippier is a good player, and is probably on the whole on par with AWB, although his skills are geared more toward attack while AWB specialises in defending. He would 100% improve the quality of the squad and would give the club more tactical flexibility.

That said if given the choice between having TWO top class RB's but having McFred as our starting midfield. Or having only one top class RB and a top class midfielder who can knit the team together. Then I would definitely choose the latter.

The way I see it, only one of AWB or Trippier can start. While only ONE of Fred or McTominay SHOULD start. Bringing in that starting midfielder who upgrades our McFred midfield is far more important than bringing in more depth at RB.

In my opinion a top class midfielder makes us title challengers, genuine challengers. Maybe not favourites but actual challengers.

Games are won and lost in the midfield, and while I like both Fred and McTominay, the truth is neither are anywhere near good enough to make us genuine challengers.

City have Rodri, Gundogan and KDB as options in midfield.

Chelsea have Jorginho, Kante and Mount.

Liverpool have Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago.

Fred, McTominay and Bruno are a clear 4th best midfield from those options.

Simply put without a top class midfield addition I don't think we can genuinely challenge for the title.

1.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 17:12:08
The simple solution would be to sell Pogba and bring in a replacement.

I think perhaps a joint deal for Trippier and Saul might be a possible option.

2.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 17:20:09
All the managers fault Shappy. If we get Trippier, he'll have signed 5 defenders and only signed one midfielder. His obsession with Fred is becoming detrimental to the team as he's a poor footballer. His obsession with worrying about the opposition first is detrimental to our progression.

He would have backed Matic getting a new deal. Has dithered on a decision with Pogba and has alienated VdB after promising him the world.

I wrote awhile ago that we will have major issues in midfield come the end of this season with Matic, VdB and Pogba who may all be gone and we'll be left with McFred going forward.

Trippier should be put on the backburner as Dalot is a fine backup and all our resources should go into getting a midfielder. Though even if we did sign one, would you have any faith in the manager ditching his defensive safety first attitude?

3.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 17:21:57
Camavinga, VDB and Fernandes will do… :)

4.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 18:23:20
Mumbles, don't let you dislike for the manager cloud your judgement.

Did he back Matic's new contract? You know that for sure?

Has he dithered on Pogba? You are placing 100% of the fault about Pogba at his door? That just doesn't seem right. It seems that the reluctance to sell Pogba even though he clearly wants to leave comes from higher up the hierarchy.

Also how do you know he "promised" Donny the world? Were you there when he said it? I'm not sure he has alienated him either. I'm a big fan of Donny's but if I'm honest he played well for us once last season against Wolves on the final day. Maybe he could have been given more chances, but then surely you have to earn the right to play games with performances.

I don't like the midfield of McFred and feel it is far too limited. Yet when we look at our best results they have normally been achieved with McFred at the heart of midfield. They have over the past 2 years proven themselves to be the most consistent midfield pairing.

Matic has struggled to be fit enough to play every week at a consistently high level. He is however when fit our best (and only true No.6).

Pogba has either been injured, or poor. He isn't interested in working hard for the club and lacks the mentality to play when things aren't "easy". When he plays in the pivot even average sides can waltz though the heart of our team.

Donny probably needs to play further forward than in the pivot. His best skill is finding space to have a shot. His passing isn't expansive enough to play deep, and he doesn't have the elite level defensive understanding. He works hard, has good technique, can shoot and moves the ball quickly with short to medium length passes. That said he has struggled last year adapting to the EPL.

None of Matic being past his best, Pogba lacking understanding and fight, or Donny not being the right fit it adapt immediately to the league is not the managers fault.

5.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 20:34:56
You don't get to move the goalposts every time to suit your argument Shappy. Last season you were crowing when we went top of the league. You also said we were second best team in the league. Now the narrative is that our midfield is the crux and Liverpool, Chelsea and City are ahead of us in that department. We have the tools to beat all these teams.

You posted that the players that deputise when our first teamers don't play is a huge drop in quality, yet these players were the ones our previous manager should have won the league with?

So the manager gets to take all the plaudits when things go well but not when they don't? He would have definetely had a say in Matic getting a new contract.

The hard work in regards to Pogba was done by Jose. He could have been shown the door but Ole has left it open and now we're in a position where we hear murmurs from Pogbas camp he might stay? I would assume this is to keep him in the team until he signs for PSG on 01/ 01. He should have been long gone with a replacement already here.

As for Donny, ed002 alluded to the fact that Ole told him he was part of his plans. He gave Fred three years to find his feet but Donny only gets 3 minutes a game.

My dislike for the manager doesn't cloud anything. He has bought 4 defenders and one midfielder. If his priority is to bring in a backup right back to challenge the right back you paid £50 million for last year, then he's got this wrong.

I'm actually excited about this year. I'm looking forward to seeing Varane, Sancho and to see what the team can do. I think we have a great squad of players. Iv made my peace with the manager being in charge. He either wins big trophies soon or he'll go. It's a win win for me.

I can the see some fans getting their excuses in early now. The fa t remains this is his 4th season in charge and he's won F. ALL. Let's hope the penny drops for the manager because his time for playing boring conservative football should be at an end with the talent at his disposal.

6.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 21:11:24
Spot on mumbles.
You will see folk saying ole is building a great squad.
Then in the same breath they will say matic wasn't his decision Jones wasn't his decision vdb wasn't his decision. Its pathetic.
Running with the hounds chasing with the hares.

7.) 08 Aug 2021
08 Aug 2021 21:34:58
I agree with the idea that the midfield is the top priority. Donny was not given enough of a chance last year, but it looks like he has come in with the right mentality and physicality to take a step forward. He does look more suited to playing as an ACM or box-to-box, than as a DCM.

The Pogba situation drags on for another year. Great talent, great guy in the team atmosphere, but too inconsistent, not reliable defensively, the shift out to LW only leads to more questions. We have a talented attack already and are lacking in the middle.

Best scenario would be to sell Pogba now, once and for all, and bring in a good midfielder or two, someone like Neves, Camavinga, Bissouma.