29 Dec 2023 08:05:11


Shappy has written an article entitled, Manchester United Player Position Priorities.

1.) 29 Dec 2023
29 Dec 2023 14:40:39
Rw is absolute priority. No attacking prowess there at all.

2.) 29 Dec 2023
29 Dec 2023 17:05:12
Classemiro, I'd like to see both Mount and Amad given a chance at playing RW. Both have been injured for most of the season so we haven't really had much of a chance to see them play at all yet, let alone try them on the right. Also maybe I was dreaming but didn't Garnacho score two goals and was a constant thorn for the Villa defence in our last game playing from the right?

Then of course there is the possibility of Greenwood coming back (Not something I want or would agree with, but until he leaves permanently a return is always possible) .

So there are options there within our squad who should be given a chance before we decide to spend heavily on a position that we have already spent close to 200m on in the past four years.

That said my preferred solution would be to sign someone like Frimpong, who while on paper is a RB, spends most of the game playing as a RW. You could then play any of Mount, Bruno, Amad or Antony on the right, they would then drift into the inside channel when in possession with Frimpong being the player to get chalk on his boots, staying wide to stretch play. That would force the opposition full back wide to mark Frimpong, leaving Bruno/ Mount/ Amad/ Antony to play in that pocket of space on the right inside channel between the opposition fullback and left sided CB.

That would give us a very dangerous and creative right flank, to balance out the over reliance on our left hand side. That stretching of the play would also open up space right across the oppositions back line, creating more space and greater chances for our entire forward line.

Most teams look to build up in a 3-2 or a 2-3 shape in the defensive third. Teams create this in many different ways.

Some simply play a 343 shape, with the wingbacks pushing high, leaving the 3 CB's and 2 CM's to create the 3-2 shape.

Others will play with a back four, with one full back either pushing forward or inverting into midfield. While the other fullback becomes part of the back three in a rest defence/ build up shape 3-2. Depending on the other players in the team the fullback who advances can either join a single pivot midfielder in midfield to create a double pivot. Or if the team starts with a double pivot one of the midfielders will advance and push further forward creating the space for the fullback to invert to make that 3-2 shape.

Alternatively the fullback could push high, leaving the back three to be made up of the CB's and the other full back, while maintaining the double pivot in midfield. Personally this is my preferred option. Fullbacks typically aren't the most technical players, which is why they are full backs and not wingers. So unless you have an especially technically gifted fullback (TAA, or Lahm) then you don't really want then to invert into midfield. For me its too important an area to have someone who isn't a special-ist in that position playing there regularly. I'd want my double pivot to be two special-ists midfielders who are used to playing in the hurly burly of midfield. Its a position where you have to be super aware of everything around you. Fullbacks play wit the touchline one side of them, so only need to be aware of who in front of them or inside of them. In midfield you have to be aware of the 360 degrees all around you. Fullbacks who invert have a tendency to be out of position or allow players to run off of them during a transition as they aren't in their natural position.

Whereas having a full back either stay deep as part of the back three in build up isn't an completely alien position for them, and they aren't being asked to be more expansive in their passing, as they aren't responsible for progressing or recycling the ball through midfield. While having the other fullback push high and keep the attacking width is the easiest job in the forward line and something that again isn't entirely alien to a fullback who will have to overlap at times anyway. Keep the width, then either play the ball inside or take on your man around the outside and cross.

For us Shaw is more than comfortable being the full back who tucks into the back three. If we had someone like Frimpong who could be the overlapping wide option on the right then that would give us a nice balance. It would also mean that our starting RW player could tuck in into the inside channel which like I said would really suit any of Bruno, Mount or Amad. Which means we don't need to sign a RW immediately.

My preference might be to play Bruno there (RW), it wouldn't be a massive shift for him, as he often plays in the inside channel anyway, plus his tendency to always try and play the killer ball, often leading to losing possession would be less detrimental in the wider areas rather than centrally. In fact it would even open up opportunities to counter press as being closer to the touchline the opposition has less space to play out and its easier to press them. I'd then play Mount as the No.10, its his best position, he presses well and is an excellent facilitator for those around him. For example he's very comfortable playing on the left wing, which means he could drive left when either of Rashford or Garnacho look to cut in with the ball. He would then pull the full back away or offer a passing option wide if the centre becomes cut off.

I think setting up like that puts Mount in his best position/ role, allows Bruno to play his natural game without the drawbacks, allows both Rashford or Garnacho to play their natural game, while creating a lot of space by the RB keeping the width, which should be ideal for our CF (Hojlund) as they will have more space and have more players looking to create (Mount, Bruno and Frimpong) .

The beauty of setting up like this is that it only requires making one signing and getting the best out of the players we have. Players like Dalot, Amad, Garnacho, Antony and Eriksen could all offer up solid rotation options for depth. We probably still need another ST as we would only have Hojlund as a special-ist striker, but there is no way around that. If we can sign one player that solves the issue of a lack of quality at RB AND solve the issue of a lack of width and creativity from the right hand side then surely its a no brainer.

We could then focus more heavily on bringing in quality players down the spine of our team, particularly in midfield and at CB. For me the tricky problem is the ST to rotate with Hojlund. ST's tend to cost the most money, and even average ST's are likely to cost you upwards of 60m. When we need to make 4 or 5 other signings as well there just isn't going to be the budget to spend a large fee on a ST. Guirassy is supposedly available of 17m, which is a snip in the current market. I just really don't think he's anywhere near the level we need. He seems more like he's in a purple patch, than anything else. Plus you tend to see forwards get far more chances in the Bundesliga which also inflates their numbers. But then surely he isn't going to be any worse than Martial or Weghorst, and could we really get anyone better for a similar outlay? Definitely not. I'm just fairly sure he'll flop wherever he goes next as the expectations will far outstrip the level of talent he has.

3.) 29 Dec 2023
29 Dec 2023 20:39:49
Need to focus on younger players and sureshot way to drop the wage bill - something we desperately need and will be quite close to the top of SJRs priority list.
For midfield we should target Joao Neves and Kimmich ( if Casemiro leaves) . We can let mctominay leave and andJack Fletcher is ready we can send out Hannibal on loan. A midfield of Bruno, Eriksen, Mount, Neves, Mainoo, Casemiro (or Kimmich) is plenty.
Olise should be our main target for RW.
If a RB leaves then Frimpong may be worth looking again
If McGuire leaves then I think we should target Nathan Collins. Hopefully Varane stays. Kambwala can replace Lindelof’s place in the squad if he leaves.
CF is the tough one but we should push the boat out for Evan Ferguson.

It will be a hefty outlay but we will hopefully be able to shift quite a few players (martial, Sancho, Mctominay, McGuire, one of Dalot or Wan Bissaka, Van de Beek etc. ) to make up for the cash needed.

4.) 29 Dec 2023
29 Dec 2023 23:09:43
Ryan's LF. Agree on ferguson. Also agree on Collins. Criminally underrated imo. Both would be very good acquisitions I think.
Midfield and both full backs need total upgrading.
I don't know who is of interest so n point in that yet.
Assuming 6/ 7. needed for next season for the 3 positions. Only 3 are nailed down. Mainoo mount Bruno. Possibly hannibal or gore as 7th.
3 will be required if cassimero mctom and ericksen leave.

5.) 30 Dec 2023
30 Dec 2023 06:30:58
Would love to see Nico Williams, Tapsoda and Onana as DCM from Everton. Finally Sesko as a second striker would be amazing business and add a couple of young guys like Vermeeren and Nusa.

I suspect martial, Dvb, Sancho, mc, Varrane, Cas, Greenwood will all be gone come summer.

On the fence on players like Neves especially the fee that is being talked about. not sure he is physically made for the pl. Also indifferent to Todibo.