17 Sep 2021 17:02:09
I'm curious to hear others opinions.
Ronaldo was not a planned signing for sure. Whilst its a great coup and he will get goals does he require a different set up in order the get the best from him?
In which case does that alter what sancho was brought in to do?
What does it do for masons development as a cf with cavani and Ronaldo needing games he will get less than planned?
When rasford and cavani return surely martial and lingard won't get a look in?
Big egos to manage i see a couple of outs in jan if the financials stack up at the time with cavani and or martial leaving.
Clearing out will help ole as it will reduce the temptation to chop and change so often.
Does brunos position need to change to accommodate pogba and Ronaldo?
Newcastle worked out well and we looked solid albeit unspectacular until awb and oles tactical meltdown against YB.
So it was unplanned and opportunistic but it creates a few problems and cavani is the one I feel for.

1.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 17:27:54
Ronaldo does not press much so that will mean defending somewhat deeper, maybe pressing passes into the middle third. Cavani presses far better as a center forward.

Sancho is supposed to be the answer at RW, but is currently behind Greenwood, who now will not be getting minutes at CF, with Ronaldo and Cavani there. When healthy, one of Sancho or Greenwood or Rashford will always be coming off the bench, which none of them will be too happy with.

That leaves Martial and Lingard. Martial could end up backup at LW at best, if Sancho and Greenwood split time at RW. Lingard looks to be back up to Bruno, which pushes VDB further back to give depth as an 8 or a 6.

That does look like it will leave a lot of unhappy players. As far as Bruno goes, there has been a good understanding between him and Ronaldo already, mainly in good timing of Ronaldo to lay off passes to Bruno with one touch. The other big issue with Bruno is if he can play as an 8 alongside Pogba with a single pivot as a DCM. But Fred and McTominay are limited there if either are asked to be the sole DCM. And they could get isolated and exposed if Pogba and Bruno are too busy upfield trying ambitious plays in the final third.

The trouble still is that Fred and McTominay are really more box-to-box CMs, rather than defensive center mids. We do not have a player like Carrick or Busquets or Jorginho, that the team can trust to maintain possession under pressure and move the ball from back to front. McTominay is still limited as a passer, and Fred is very turnover prone.

What I should have said in one sentence is that we are overstocked among the front three, and understocked in midfield.

2.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 17:28:44
I have zero faith in him managing this squad correctly. With Rashford, Sancho and Pogba playing left wing, Martials time is up. With the managers insistence of playing players that "Run" ahead of players who can play football, Lingard is also ahead of him. A new club might be the making of him but he's far down the pecking order and should be sold.

I wouldn't worry about Greenwood. Once he plays, and he should be playing when fit on the right.

Cavani will leave in January I would imagine VDB will go also if a buyer can be found.

We'll win more games than we lose, but it won't be pretty. The only thing may be how vocal Ronaldo will be on the pitch. It could come down to him dictating how we play on the pitch.

Even though Tuesday was appaling I'm still looking forward to seeing us play. There are a lot of quality players in that squad.

3.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 17:53:26
Cavani will leave at the end of the season so less than 8 months from now he's history. Martial isn't good enough and has had his chances, he will be gone at the end of the season. Lingard will get a 1 year or 2 year extension and be a squad player at best or be sold in the next 12 months .

For Sancho to have any impact he has to be on the right and AWB needs to forge an understanding with him otherwise he was a waste of a signing and we will continue to be lop sided and no threat from the right where we have been weak for a long time.

Has Ole and his back room squad got the nous to get the best out of this squad . doubtful. will anyone tell AWB he has to stay behind 2 hours a day with a bag of 100 balls until he can hit a 2ft square target time after time on the run like they used to teach 12 year old aspiring wingers and full backs . doubtful.

4.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 18:27:17
Cavani's career in Europe looked finished until we picked him up. Don't be surprised if one of the big European clubs come in for him next year, so feeling sorry for him is not even a consideration.

5.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 18:46:38
I think for this season it makes sense, he's essentially a fitter and better version of cavani, who i suspect might be quietly ushered out of the door come January.

The bigger problem comes in the summer because if we do harbour ambitions of signing Kane or Haaland then they are not going to sit on the bench and neither is Ronaldo. Moving Ronaldo to the left isn't going to work at 37 and would mean benching 2 of Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood every week.

6.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 18:52:22
I never said I felt sorry or pity for him but I feel for him. He did all asked of him signed a new contract instead of going home and now through no fault of his own find himself out of the team.
That's the way it goes at his age but the rug was pulled from under his feet so to speak.

7.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 18:56:55
We are an Ngolo Kante type of player (and coach) away from being a squad ready to compete for honours. Until those issues are addressed we’re going nowhere.

8.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 19:14:35
It's a difficult situation, I mean Lingard, Pogba and Cavani could all be gone by the start of next season. Unless they get a contract extension. Same for Mata.

That leaves a 37 year old Ronaldo, Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood and Martial.

Of which Martial might want to look to move if he isn't getting enough minutes.

Hopefully one or two of Amad, Pellistri, Shoretire or Elanga might be ready to step up and make a push for the first team by that point.

Either way having too many good players is a better problem to have them not having enough.

Last season our best players were burnt out at the sharp end of the season because the understudies couldn't be trusted.

Now we have players good enough to start on the bench ready to come on and change a game, or step in when players need a rest or are out injured.

9.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 21:57:10
I think cavani is injured, just like he was a lot of last season, when he’s fit I think he will have a large part to play in the season.

10.) 18 Sep 2021
18 Sep 2021 00:39:29
Agree gds.

Cavani and ronaldo are perfect upfront. I honestly don't see ronaldo being that upset at being rested for his own good, especially when cavani is waiting in the wings.

They both will get their goals and will play for the teams and the squad.

11.) 18 Sep 2021
18 Sep 2021 07:46:42
We have Donny to replace Pogba who will undoubtedly leave.

12.) 18 Sep 2021
18 Sep 2021 07:47:23
DSG, I'm not so sure the club will go in big for Haaland or Kane next summer now.

Ronaldo will be here for 2-3 years and will be first choice the entire time he is here.

Greenwood turns 20 next month, he'll be around 22 when Ronaldo leaves and he should be good enough to be first choice by then (some would argue that he's good enough already, or at least very close) . While players like Joe Hugill and Charlie McNeill will be 20 and should be pushing for first team minutes.

How these three young lads develop over the next 2-3 years will dictate what sort of player we will need to bring in when Ronaldo leaves if any.

Next summer I don't think a striker is that important. The key areas will be central midfield, possibly RB and maybe a goalkeeper.