Manchester United banter 7

15 Mar 2026 16:07:36
Genuinely, is there anyway Casemiro can stay?!

15 Mar 2026 16:57:39
He's too slow now.

15 Mar 2026 17:47:44
Not been too slow 7 times this season.

15 Mar 2026 18:29:47
It'd be great if he could stay, but it'd obviously need to be at vastly reduced wages, as either way he shouldn't be a regular starter next year.

15 Mar 2026 18:32:14
Too slow and still our best midfielder! Not always about speed, it's experience and class... and scores much more than Kobbie, who everyone raves about, and besides, Mainoo is not exactly Linford Christie!
I would also say Cass is one of the best headers of the ball at the club; his timing is impeccable.


I would keep him another year if at all possible, in a heartbeat.

15 Mar 2026 18:54:28
What strength of Mandela effect has happened to this Realm?

I am finding myself agreeing with Maze, n9re, and more, recently.

Is this the troll effect? If you are the troll long enough, you become the enlightened one?


(Just s***s and giggles, Maze. No bad feelings. Your opinion is as valid as anyone's. Your tone has changed, though. Reacharound?)

16 Mar 2026 14:04:39
The one game a week suits him, let's not ruin his Indian summer.

16 Mar 2026 18:49:20
He can stay if he drops his wage demands by at least 70%. Then it would make sense to give him a rolling contract.

17 Mar 2026 01:41:07
Hit the nail on the head, Grim. One game per week, and still subbed every game. He should be allowed to go to a fans cheer, and we need to recruit very well in midfield over the summer.

15 Mar 2026 13:01:39
Hey Jimbobred, hope you are around.

I have just come on to site for first time since Thurs pm, have been unable to visit since then.

First thing to say is sorry, but we were both talking about different things with my post about Schlotterbeck! Having read the responses it seems you were actually referring to Licha when you commented about being injury prone. As I meant my post as principally about Schlotterbeck, my assumption upon reading your response was that it was he you were referring to!

I thought it was a wrong thing to say so my follow up post, detailing an injury record, was therefore not about Licha but Schlotterbeck. Hence the ensuing confusion.

Anyway, just wanted to clarify, it was not meant to be having a go at you and sorry if you thought so.

Finally, I agree that, sadly, it might be the time to move Licha on, although it will be a huge disappointment as like with many others he is one of my favourite players. Oh, and how anyone could think the injury profile I posted related to Licha is surprising, it bears no similarities.

15 Mar 2026 18:02:49
All good, mate, no need to apologise, I was more concerned you were having some kind of medical episode, it made that little sense what you were saying across them both. ?

13 Mar 2026 20:44:11
Ed033, could you run 2 polls please.

First poll: keep Shaw, demote to back up, sell

Repeat the poll for Dalot.

Looking at the fullback discussion and want to get a general feel of these two.

{Ed033's Note -


Shaw poll



Dalot poll

14 Mar 2026 00:06:44
Cheers Ed!

{Ed033's Note - ok thanks.

14 Mar 2026 11:58:27
In an ideal world we sell Shaw, but to be honest, no one will be willing to come close to matching his wages. He turns 31 in the summer, and he has an awful injury record.

He will have to be kept, but probably as back up, rather than first choice, as we simply cannot rely on him to stay fit next season. We should go into the season with the mentality that if he stays fit then that's a bonus.

Personally, I'd sign both a LB and a LW, as Dorgu is young and still developing and could end up settling in either position. While I'd send lads like Amass and Leon out on loan again next season to get more experience, then whoever does best can be the Shaw replacement when his contract expires in 2027. That'd give us Shaw and the new LB, Cunha and the new LW, along with Dorgu who can cover/challenge for both positions.

Dalot, I'd keep at RB. Yes, he can be limited at times, but he is an excellent professional, a quiet leader, and rarely injured, an all-round good player to have in the dressing room. He's mostly solid in his performances (especially at RB), and I feel his reputation has been a little unfairly tarnished by playing a lot at LB and wingback.

If you ignore those performances and only judge him on his RB performances, he has rarely let us down.

I really rate Mazraoui as a player, but his injury record isn't great. We also don't have as many potential options at RB. Even if we sold Dalot and bought a new RB, an injury to the new guy and can we really trust Mazraoui to be available? I don't think so.

If we get 2 or 3 midfielders, a LB, a LW and possibly a CB, then I'd look to see if we can sign a promising young RB who can challenge for a starting spot. But in truth I think RB has to be below those other options in order of priority.

I look at it like this: what would limit us the most next season, starting Dalot at RB or with Ugarte in midfield, or playing a youth player at LB, or having to regularly start both Yoro and Heaven together at CB, or not having any width or variety of attacking options on the left?

For me, Dalot stays and probably starts (until we can solve other more pressing issues), and Shaw stays as back up (because we can't shift him).

14 Mar 2026 12:57:32
We're not going to be signing defenders and midfielders this year. It's a pipe dream, as the club is skint. It'll be a midfielder, and wouldn't surprise me if they signed backup for Sesko.
I'm not saying I agree with it, but it's what we seem to do.

14 Mar 2026 18:28:46
I think the order of importance is
Midfield X 2/3
Fullbacks X 2
Centre back X 1/2
Left wing X 1
Striker X 1
Goalkeeper X 1.

14 Mar 2026 18:53:39
The polls currently suggest Dalot to be sold and, marginally, Shaw to be kept as back up rather than be sold. Both are suggested to be removed from the first team, although, surprisingly, Shaw is, percentage-wise, close to being retained as first choice.
Almost 100 votes in both polls, which is a nice spread. Well done.

15 Mar 2026 04:07:47
Not quite as easy as that, though, is it? Too many variables come into play. Like Shappy says, who would buy Shaw? Plus, you move him to 2nd choice, he will be injured again. Also, after the World Cup, he will be injured anyway.
Dalot is a solid professional.

I have no problem with him. Yes, there are better out there, but I doubt we are getting them.
So, if we are being realistic and not dreaming, we won't get 2 shiny new full backs. We may get 1 or 2 potentials, as we now seem to be in that market, with a small club mentality.

15 Mar 2026 07:59:41
If Shaw was sold in the summer, it would be classed as our profit for Utd as well, which may well act as an incentive for the club to look at cashing in on him.



The question is, as stated above, who would be willing to buy him, given his injury record. Well, a club that isn't in Europe. With fewer games, he appears to stay fitter.

15 Mar 2026 09:39:35
Shaw has had a good season. He is also versatile and can play as a centre back, plus he adds attacking thrust down our left wing, which we badly need. He should be retained.

Dalot has had a reasonable season. Not great, but no disaster, especially considering the failed Amorim experience.

We don't have obvious ready-made replacements for both, so at the very least they need to be kept as backups to anyone we sign in their position, especially with European football a real prospect.



If we sign decent midfielders, they will be less exposed too, and midfield is the position which we have to get sorted, as it's been long overdue.

16 Mar 2026 13:43:22
Pspence,

We aren't skint and we will be signing players in the summer.

16 Mar 2026 18:58:08
If we go into next season with either of these two as first choice, we have a problem.

The polls with double the votes since last count are unchanged in their outcome.
Shaw demoted
Dalot sold

Personally I'd prefer it the other way around on availability alone. Shaw is probably more consistent and with less error, but he is equally less attack minded at this stage of his career.

I've always maintained Mazraoui is retained and this works well.

Both results indicate we need new fullbacks on both sides.

Eds, poll please!
If the names mentioned in original post on fullbacks we have the following names for first team.
RB: Munoz, Ryerson, Kayode
LB: Livramento, Hall, Robinson, Vanderson, Di Marco, Grimaldi

Vote away everyone.

Feel free to make wildcard suggestions within the poll.

{Ed033's Note - For a poll:
1. create a new thread post
2. ask for a poll
3. include a poll question in the post
4. include possible voting option in the post.

12 Mar 2026 17:54:58
Oh dear, Licha has picked up an injury in training and is out of Villa match.

It's getting concerning all these knocks, we really miss him playing the ball out so well and instigating attacks.

Don't care what anyone says. The absolute necessity for a title challenging side is a top, top class Goalkeeper and a quality Centre Back. We are on the way with the keeper but not so with a centre back.

You won't do as well with top class strikers and poor keeper/centre back as you will the other way around. Look at our teams of the last 30 years. When did we win league titles without them. Look at when we did NOT win leagues and the keepers we had.

I do think both Yoro and Heaven are very, very promising. We must remember that Yoro is not long turned 20 and although over recent times he has struggled he made his debut at 18 and for the majority of the time, until recently, looked good. Longer term, I would be hopeful of both players coming good, but the concern is now.



A player I think who could come in and succeed would be Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, 26 years old, 6'3'' excellent in the air and very quick, also strong and very aggressive in the tackle. A left footer who has top quality passing skills. He is also known to have a strong ''warrior'' mentality.

He ticks all the boxes and I would love us to do all possible to sign him this summer, his contract expires next year (Dortmund very keen on getting him to renew but not achieved yet). Despite this, I would be prepared to make a significant offer to try and sign him.
Real Madrid are also very keen but as is their way they want a cheap deal, so we need to blow them out of the water. Only my view but I think he would be very much worth it.

The foregoing all sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but sadly, I have just remembered I am not the one making the decisions, so I hope someone there agrees with me!

12 Mar 2026 18:24:56
He is too injury prone to be relied upon for the first team, same as MDL, really. It does change things in the CB if this is a longer term injury or just a niggle.

12 Mar 2026 21:11:19
Jbr, you have not backed that up in any way. Let's have a look at the facts, shall we?

2025.
He had a meniscus injury last year that kept him out from 7th April until 17th October, obviously a major injury, apart from that, excluding cold/flu, he had 5 days of injury.
2024.
He missed 14 days in total from 3 small injuries.
2023.
A total of 70 days from 6 injuries (3 injuries accounting for 60 days).
2022.
12 days in total from 2 small injuries.
2021.
22 days in total from 3 injuries.


2020.
Hamstring injury from 3rd October to 14th January, obviously a more serious issue; apart from that, 6 days in total.

So, over a 6 year period, apart from the 2 significant injuries, this is a history that could hardly be described as ''too injury prone'' and the ''same as Mdl''. There are many, many players who could match and even exceed that record. I have no doubt you would welcome them to the club.

I do not accept your assertion as valid.

12 Mar 2026 22:17:08
Time to get rid of Martinez and de Ligt, both always injured.

13 Mar 2026 07:43:59
It is valid he had missed 50% of the games we have had since he signed.
Whether you accept it or not, iwotb, which is irrelevant, he has been unavailable for selection for over half of our games.
Get rid, he is too small and will always pick up injuries; he is batting above his weight physically, and in this league gets exposed.


Pity, I really like both his character and ability, but he has to go due to his availability.

13 Mar 2026 07:46:17
Strange response, that IWOTB.
Licha spent a lot of last season out, and Mdl has been out since November.
You have listed 14 minor injuries in 5 years and one major one in that same time.

Make your mind up, fella, either the injuries are a concern or they are not.....



IMO, his injuries are a concern, as are Mdl's and Mount's. As are Shaw's, whose injuries will come back post WC. Get rid of them all would be the correct way forward.

13 Mar 2026 08:10:32
In his 2 seasons in Argentine top division, he played 21 and 24 games respectively.
In the Dutch top division, in 2 seasons he played 24 and 24 games per season.
Here: 27, 11, 20; this season: 14.
Of those appearances, 13 as a sub coming back from injury.


Really poor availability, mystery less than 50% fully fit.
Not available enough.
I'm still laughing at "he's all good injuries but he is not injured much". ????

13 Mar 2026 09:08:08
I mean, apart from his first season with us, Martinez has missed more games than he has played. Obviously a quality player, but relying on him over a full season is foolish.

You only have to go back two seasons, and Jonny Evans was our starting centre back.

He was originally brought back in to train with the team and spend more time with his wife. That is not how a top football club should be run, imo.

13 Mar 2026 09:13:51
I think we need to prioritise our resources over the next 2 summer transfer windows. This may mean we need to make do in certain areas, or bring in some cheap/free transfers as other positions take priority.

If we could have kept Casemiro, the midfield would not have been as pressing; however, we would still have needed at least 1 top player, but likely 2. Now we are looking for at least 2 top players, maybe 3. Then what do you do with Ugarte: keep him as a reserve player and develop him, or sell and replace him? Can we bring in anyone from the youth to take a position?

So, with all that in mind, I think we will be looking at Mdl/Yoro (RCB), Martinez/Heaven (LCB).

Heaven covers both, and can Shaw do a job? We can hope that injuries will be better for us next year. Schlotterbeck would be perfect, but I can't see the money being available. So, is there a free agent that could be brought in, Antonio Rudiger for a year? The following window will then be looking at defense/full backs.

We need to be realistic and pick where the biggest upside is.

13 Mar 2026 09:20:57
He's one of my favourite players and characters, but he misses far too many games and, sadly, it's always been the case.

13 Mar 2026 12:16:57
I am sadly coming to the same conclusion re Martinez. I love the player when fit, but that's the catch, unfortunately.

We have too many injury prone players in the squad. I would look to offload at least 2 of MdL (like him too), Martinez, Mount, and Shaw this window, depending on what we can get for them and the price of replacements.

My own preference would be Shaw and Martinez first.

13 Mar 2026 14:46:22
I think he is a lot of people's favourite. Amen, he does play. But he will always be injured in this league. He is only a little chap, and he writes cheques his body can't cash.

13 Mar 2026 17:27:33
The midfield should be the priority over everything else.
We have been lacking in that department for years. It needs sorting out in the summer urgently.

14 Mar 2026 12:12:10
The problem we have is that we have several key positions that all need work.

Midfield has to be the priority, as we lack numbers as well as quality in that area.

Yet, just like last summer, we spent big on one area (attack) and massively upgraded it. Yet there still remain other parts of the side that are holding us back. We could solve midfield this summer and still have several areas that need attention.

CBs are one of them. We are in a weird position where, on paper, it does not look like we have an issue at CB. MdL and Martinez are a really good starting duo; in fact, there probably are not many better starting CB duos in the league. We then have Maguire as a veteran (and someone who has gotten better with age), along with two top-quality young lads in Yoro and Heaven.

On paper, that looks like a very solid selection. But, on the pitch, we struggle to keep MdL and Martinez fit, while even Maguire, as he ages, picks up more knocks, potentially leaving just the two young lads as starting options.

We need to invest in another CB this summer, whether we keep Maguire or not.

The problem will be that we will need to spend heavily in midfield, along with at least a LW or a LB depending on where we think Dorgu will play; ideally, though, we need both given Shaw's age and injury history. Yes, he's been fit most of this season, but he's also played most of this season in a less physically demanding LCB position of a back three.

Personally, I'd be looking to do a deal for Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth. He's been one of the best and most consistent CBs in the league this season, and is available on a free. While at 28 years old, he's in his peak years and wouldn't be a long-term road block to Yoro and Heaven. Are there better CBs potentially available this summer? Absolutely. Are there any better options available for free or fairly cheaply? Absolutely not.

We could go and spend 70m on MvdV from Spurs, and then have the very real question of whether he even starts if both MdL and Martinez are fully fit, while that's also ignoring his own iffy injury record.

14 Mar 2026 18:34:46
Agree, Happy! Senesi had been outstanding this year.

15 Mar 2026 04:22:31
I don't get the love-in with Martinez even when he is fit. I think he is about an average CB in the Premier League. Yes, great win-at-all-costs attitude, but that doesn't make him a great CB. He is very rash, dives into ridiculous tackles, gets caught out of position too often, and just needs a physical battle, that's about what he is best at. Like I have said for some time, we have not got a decent top CB at the club.

I got shot down when I said de Ligt is an injury-prone player all his career, and the stats guys come up with the usual, but my eyes come over all those stats and look how that's turned out.
de Ligt, decent CB but always injured.
Yoro, too weak, needs much more time.
Heaven, our best potential.
Martinez, not for me unless we're happy mid-table team.
Maguire probably our best CB, but lacks pace, something chronic.

12 Mar 2026 14:33:47
Watching the City v Real game last night, and wondering what modern coaches have against crossing the ball.

Coaches like Pep, Arteta, and Slott have complained about the difficulty in beating a low block, but don't even try to whip crosses into the striker.

Last night was a prime example. Real sat back, allowed City possession in their half, and hit on the counter. City have the most prolific goal scorer in the world up top. Yeah, Haaland likes balls over the top to run on to. But if the opposition is set up to prevent this, surely you'd look to get down the line and get crosses in for Haaland to get on the end of?

Doku clearly had the beating of Trent. Yet every single time he got past him, he cut back inside, allowing Valverdi to cover. Haaland could have walked off the pitch and nobody would have noticed. What's the point in playing him if all he gets to do is watch the other players pass rge ball around the box behind him? Same with Gyrokes. Bringing in a 6ft plus powerful striker and not even attempting to get crosses into him, baffling.

I mean, I'm not advocating the Moyes style when he was here, but at least try a few crosses if the more intricate stuff isn't working.

12 Mar 2026 17:53:10
Yep, fully agree. Something or someone needs to radically change and upset the apple cart. Same crap being served up week in, week out, with all teams.
LFC fan in peace.

12 Mar 2026 19:06:53
How many times have I talked about crossing the ball? We have a tall CF. We need to attack the space between pen spot and 6 yard line.

12 Mar 2026 19:48:48
Same here, Red Man. I searched 'cross the ball', and the number of times people have said the same thing. It's just as bad over here in Oz. Playing the ball out from the back at a largely pedestrian pace, trying to walk the ball into the net.

CTFB!!!!!

12 Mar 2026 21:18:13
Danny, I was reading that and just gearing up to mention the stick Moyes got for the Fulham game. Then I saw your last paragraph. ?

12 Mar 2026 21:18:42
Have to say, I totally agree. A number of times last season, I posted the very same thing about the complete lack of crosses/service to Rasmus Hojlund.

I have noticed the very same thing this season with Benjamim Sesko, you know, our 6'5'' centre forward who is excellent in the air!

12 Mar 2026 22:30:29
Against Newcastle, Sesko received not a single pass inside the box.

13 Mar 2026 09:02:54
We stand 4th for teams crossing into the box in the EPL.
We are making less crosses per game under Carrick.

13 Mar 2026 09:55:02
It's strange that in today's game, which is dominated by set pieces and long throws, the crossing element of the game seems to have been neglected.

I think this is heavily down to the issue of left footers on the right and right footers on the left, so they are all naturally cutting back onto their strong foot, allowing defenders to get back in. I long for the day a "Giggs" bombs on the outside and whips a ball in behind the CBs.



I also wonder who out there is recognised as a great crosser of the ball from open play now? There doesn't seem to be a Beckham anymore and even the full backs, despite being great at getting forward, aren't great at crosses. Gary Neville, imo, had a fantastic delivery of the ball but would be regarded as an attacking full back.

Our best crosser of the ball is Fernandes, but he plays more central.

13 Mar 2026 11:56:33
I believe it's based on statistical probability. A cross is a low-probability pass. This is why Pep's teams look for cut backs, as the striker is in the highest probable position to score (6 yard box), and a cut back is a high-probability pass, thus giving the striker the most probable scoring outcome.

You can take this a couple of steps further. You can play a system with the best statistical outcome, then purchase players who statistically fit that system. If you have enough data, and a sophisticated enough system to analyse the data, it gives you a high probability of success.

Key emphasis on probability; however, it does mean you will be far superior in your signing success ratios. The best examples of this are Brighton, who use Tony Bloom's Starlizard, and Brentford, who use Matthew Benham's data analytics Smartodds. Benham used to work at Bloom's betting company, developing his analytics, before they fell out. This is the reason Brighton and Brentford punch way way above their weight.

14 Mar 2026 11:58:47
Ports, I think that part of the reason we looked so dangerous in Carrick's first few games is that Dorgu was playing as an actual winger. His delivery isn't brilliant, but having a player who looked to get down the line to cross unsettled defences. Fullbacks don't defend the outside because they know most players are going to try to cut back inside. Having a winger that crosses the ball exploits this.

Playing the game on the basis of stats and probability is pig-headed. Players on the pitch should be able to see if something isn't working, and have the freedom to switch things up.

The intricate link-ups around the box might look better on a spreadsheet. But getting the ball into the box with pace gives strikers a chance to score, and increases the possibility of defenders making a mistake.

Not every game can be won with fast counterattacks, and if big teams are buying big strong strikers, then use their abilities. Haaland, Sesko, Gyrokes, etc., are reduced to spectators if the only strategy is to pass the ball around on the edge of the box. Use them. And have midfielders bursting into the box to help them too.

I guess my main point is to mix things up offensively.

14 Mar 2026 12:29:25
We are living in a time of extreme statistical analysis. Look at Arsenal's corner tactics, playing to the percentages.

Statistically, live crosses into the box have a very low success rate. If a winger finds a teammate 25% of the time with a cross, they are considered an elite crosser of the ball, which means even if you have a prime Beckham regen, you are giving away possession at least 75% of the time.

Then you have to consider that of those 25% successful crosses, less than 5% of them result in a goal, which means that you are looking at a goal rate of around 1.25% from live crosses.

Modern managers look at that and think, if my team make 100 crosses then statistically we should score 1 goal, but we will concede possession 99% of the time.

If you were crossing the ball 25 times a game, you'd score one in four matches.

Purely from a numbers perspective, it just doesn't make sense.

Crosses from deadball situations are very different. The crosser can take their time and be more accurate, you can overload the box with players, crowd out the keeper so that they can't claim the ball, and profit from the chaos. If you have 8 players in the box and the opposition have 9, then you still have a 45% chance of the second ball falling to one of your players, which will likely result in a high quality chance (player, fairly central in box having a shot).

14 Mar 2026 14:50:28
The problem with taking a solely analytical approach to coaching is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If, for example, Beckham is the player crossing the ball and Shearer is in the box trying to get on the end of it, those statistics change. They played in a different era, but the key difference is that they honed the skills of crossing and anticipating crosses in the box.

Modern coaches start from the premise that crosses are less effective, and focus on other forms of attack in training. This has resulted in wingers and fullbacks with poorer crossing abilities, and strikers that haven't developed the skills of anticipating crosses, getting in front of defenders, etc., in turn, this reinforces the idea that crosses are ineffective.



My point is that crosses are an under-utilised method of attack, and that the struggle teams have with breaking low blocks is exacerbated because teams are discouraging traditional wing play, and players aren't being coached in ways that help them create better opportunities from crossing the ball.

11 Mar 2026 18:21:08
Number 6
Casemiro is going to be a massive loss.
Ugarte has to go.
Kone is not quite ready.

We need two in here with Kone as understudy, I feel he is the standout from the youth section.

Do we go all out for a prime target and retain Collyer as back up?

So maybe a Baleba, Collyer and Kone setup.

Is Collyer good enough and should we cash in on him and use the funds for a Gomes?

Baleba, Gomes, Kone.

Thoughts?

11 Mar 2026 18:39:42
Baleba and Gomes aren't good enough for where we want to be, Jimbob. They would be great as a second or third signing, but not the star name.

11 Mar 2026 19:05:29
Then who, JR?

11 Mar 2026 20:41:35
Manu Kone, Elliot Anderson, Nmecha, Ederson. Lots of players I'd be very happy with. Gomes is a good shout for squad depth to replace Ugarte, but I agree with John that he's not got enough to be a regular starter for us if we have league title aspirations.

11 Mar 2026 22:20:28
I agree, guys. Gomes is backup to a long-scouted Baleba.
To be clear, we are talking about the holding midfielder here, not the number 8. Some of those names are not a Cas/Ugarte replacement.

11 Mar 2026 23:22:30
Anderson and Nmecha are very much 8's.

Ederson and Manu Kone are definitely options versus Baleba. I suppose it is whether we are going the prem proven route or not....

I'll do #8 last. Anderson and Nmecha are in with a shout for sure.

12 Mar 2026 11:45:57
We need a 6 and an 8. If we are going to play Mainoo as one of the 8's, we need a left-footed 6. Also, we are heavily linked to Anderson, another right-footed 8. Baleba, Wharton, and Stiller are all left-footed 6's.

You ideally want two of each, so potentially we need 3 midfielders in the summer. Anderson & Wharton would be my first choices, as they like to pass forward, and, most importantly, they cover a lot of ground, which would stop our biggest issue over the last few seasons, which is midfield runners.

The backline would get a lot more protection from those two.

If we were to let Ugarte go, we would need a third midfielder. If we were to sign Wharton and Anderson as starters, that would give Mainoo as Anderson's backup. Wharton would need a backup. I'd suggest a younger player, such as Jorthy Mokio at Ajax. He's a left-footed CDM, with quite a lot of potential, and he'd be fairly cheap in terms of cost.

12 Mar 2026 14:09:19
Jimbo, I wouldn't get caught up in the 6 vs 8 split. If we've two box-to-box midfielders, they'll work it out. Elliot Anderson, for instance, reminds me very much of Roy Keane in his Forest days. We'd have regarded Keane as an 8 at that stage. But the main characteristic was that he's a box-to-box midfielder who can do everything.

12 Mar 2026 14:10:32
There's no way we sign both Wharton and Anderson.

I think we need to be savvy, pick one of them and go all out. Move Ugarte too, and bring in a cheaper option for back up.

Personally, I think Anderson is a better fit because he's able to move the ball forward quicker than Wharton.

For me, this is the key position, because Casemiro, despite not having the legs anymore, has been key in getting our attacks started.

12 Mar 2026 15:50:46
I like Wharton and Anderson, 2 big, strong lads who get up and down the field, great engines, and can really play football. That's from what I've seen. Baleba also looks good and athletic, but he hasn't impressed me when I've watched him.

Outside of that, I would be guessing, as I haven't watched the others closely enough.



I think the scouting and recruitment department has done a pretty decent job so far when bringing in new talent, so I'm very positive about who they choose to bring in.

13 Mar 2026 09:08:42
If we could pull in 3 centre mids, who would people's top 3 be, bearing in mind they probably can't all be starters.

13 Mar 2026 12:22:15
Jbr, really like your idea of doing a position by position set of posts!

My three would be, in this order of priority (with caveats that some I have not seen much).
- Anderson
- Gomes
- Sadiki.

13 Mar 2026 18:54:29
Cheers, AM2. It has been great to get the general views. I'll try to summarise all the posts in time. I've allowed the 8 position to merge into this post!

I like those 3 choices.
Where does Mainoo sit in your choices?

Personally, I'd like us to get Tonali and Anderson as first teamers, then add Gomes.


Have Mainoo, Gomes, and some youth.

However... I am not sure they will go for Tonali, so I swapped him for Baleba.

14 Mar 2026 13:02:20
Mainoo is backup for me. I am still not convinced, and think RA was right to give him the rocket up his arse.

He has quality, but doesn't make the effort. His problem is he doesn't yet have that level of intelligence that he can look graceful and still be effective, which means the effort needs to be put in, but he is intent on stuff that will look flashy as opposed to helping the team.



Also, him allowing his brother to put up that t shirt is a black mark in my book.

11 Mar 2026 18:13:06
The Bruno role:

This is a split decision.
If Bruno stays.
I'd be happy with Wilson from Fulham at 28 who isn't going to pull up trees but equally is a capable stand in when Bruno needs a rest. And then I'd have Thwaites as the third choice. Again fund have been preserved for other areas whilst adding depth with a free transfer.

If Bruno goes, we don't have anyone who can actually step into that role that is ready.
Mainoo? Means we effectively have zero midfielders for the 6&8 roles assuming Ugarte goes.
Cunha steps in if we sign a LW? Not against that route.

I haven't really thought too much about this in the event Bruno leaves, I assume he stays. But if he goes I think we need a Doue or a Musiala or a Paz to replace him.

11 Mar 2026 23:23:00
Or do we test the likes of Chelsea with a bid for Palmer.

12 Mar 2026 11:31:22
Rightly so, Mount is not even part of the discussion.

What an absolute shower of a signing it has been. Overpaid, never fit, and the enormous opportunity cost of not signing an actual centre mid that summer puts it down as one of the worst signings in the club's history, imo.

12 Mar 2026 13:55:48
Agreed! Anyone not mentioned from current squad is assumed sold.

12 Mar 2026 14:16:42
I feel sorry for Mount. He didn't really have major injury concerns before he signed, and had shown glimpses of what he's capable of when fit. You can see that he wants to play, but is stuck in a cycle of pushing to get back and never being 100%.

I think Bruno has to be kept for another season.

He carries most of the creative responsibilities, and Cunha is way too prone to go missing in games. Ultimately, we need to see the likes of him and Manioo step up and take some creative responsibility. Far too often, they divert to Bruno instead of trying to play a final pass.

12 Mar 2026 15:52:23
I like Mount as both a person and a player, but he cannot stay fit, and, unfortunately, that has to be the priority. No point having talent if you can't use it on a consistent basis.

11 Mar 2026 03:34:11
Front 3

Personally, until we have sorted other areas, I wouldn't be bothered if we left this alone, apart from departures.

LW: Cunha, Dorgu, Mantato
RW: Mbeumo, Amad, Lacey
SK: Sesko, Obi-Martin, Biancheri and JJ Gabriel

IF, and a big one at that, we sort out midfield and portions of defence, I can see us making a play for Diomande, with the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo able to shuffle across the line to a degree. But more me, a luxury signing that we only make it funds permit after sorting the rest out.

Thoughts?

I've saved the favourite positions to last of course, midfield tomorrow!

11 Mar 2026 05:58:35
Well we have virtually those players now and it's not exactly pulling up trees..... Both of those wings already have trouble supplying decent crosses into the box, or even a constant supply for strikers to feed off.
Sesko still has lots to learn, Obi even more so, so you now have Obi trying to learn from a player who's still learning his trade. Nah, not for me.
I still think we need a very experienced striker, one with pace & quality, and a decent winger who can supply quick, incisive crosses, not more of this slow, pedestrian build up.
To me Cunha is no left winger, he holds the ball far too long.
Dorgu, yes, gives energy and pace, but his crossing and final ball are poor, but of course, if that's the standard we're happy with, he can do a job.
Mantato... have no idea.
Not sure the right wing is much better. We have that now and it's not doing so well.

Guess we stick with these if that's the level we are now looking at.

11 Mar 2026 10:00:14
We are definitely going to be signing a left winger. We sold/loaned all of them because of the shift in system with Amorim. Now we are shifting back, we need to bring someone in.

Cunha is not a left winger. He spends most of his time drifting to the middle, and it gets way too congested.

We are going to need to see more than 3 games of Dorgu at left winger before he can be banked on to play there.



I know it's going to be unpopular, but I don't think we should have let Garnacho go, especially for the small fee we received. Rumours that someone like Diomande is going to cost 80-100m, and I'm not sure he is twice the player.

11 Mar 2026 12:31:57
We sold them, DSG, because they were either disruptive or not good enough. Sancho, Garnacho, Rashford and Antony went. Cunha, Mbeumo, Dorgu in, with Amad now playing. We could do with another, but your point about the playing system, I don't think is correct.

11 Mar 2026 13:51:12
What about bringing Hoijland back to compete with Sesko?

11 Mar 2026 14:36:11
Garnacho struggles to get a game for Chelsea. They have been underwhelmed with him. He is another Billy Big Boots who thinks he is better than he is. We have shipped out the bad attitudes, Scott aside, and it was needed.

11 Mar 2026 15:34:04
JBR, not sure if you have seen much of JJ Gabriel, but we need to remember he has only just turned 15 and physically he has a long way to go. Don't think he will be a regular in the first-team squad, he needs to be playing regularly.

Have watched quite a few U18 games this season, and, whilst he clearly is a phenomenal prospect and very, very talented, we need to avoid heaping too much expectation upon him too soon.

Next season I can see him training with the first team on occasions and getting a few minutes as a late substitute. This would mainly be to let him know how highly rated he is by the club, let's not forget, when he turns sixteen this October, he has the option of leaving on a free transfer.

There is massive interest in him from most of the major European clubs, especially Barcelona. It is not going to be straightforward keeping him.

Before we get the 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' comments, whilst he may be skilful enough, his physicality is not ready for the Premier League.

Anyone not really seen him, if you want to get an idea, go to YouTube and search for his highlights against Nottm Forest U18s last Saturday, 7/3/26. He scored 2 goals.

11 Mar 2026 17:46:09
Nice comments, everyone. I almost agree and disagree with them all. The reason I haven't changed personnel is that, at times, even since the managerial change (Arsenal and City), the front three have been electric. Dorgu being injured seemed to change the dynamic; we lost his unpredictability (sometimes it felt he didn't know what he was going to do next!).

I agree JJ is young, hence 4th choice. I wouldn't be against signing someone, but equally I felt that Sesko is finding his feet, and I agree with Ken that he will score 25+ goals next season.

Also the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo can sit there if absolutely necessary.

I guess I wouldn't be too concerned if we didn't sign someone there. Amongst all of these posts, I'm trying to ascertain the general feeling of the fans.

If we sign Diomande, for instance, what happens to Dorgu and Cunha?

11 Mar 2026 18:05:50
Simo, that is not the worst decision, and I assume not off the table. He hasn't exactly found his previous form whilst being away, but he could play understudy.

I'll say this, I would love us to go and sign Kane, but that ain't happening for a multitude of reasons, so I haven't composed these posts to suggest my dream team.

It is a measured assessment, factoring in where we are as a team and financially.

10 Mar 2026 22:21:58
Feel sorry for the Spurs keeper tonight. Just had one of those nights. Thank goodness we finally have a decent one in Lammens. Without a good keeper the defence and team cannot prosper. We def need a good backup and I would be happy with Vitek.

10 Mar 2026 23:41:57
Yeah, I felt for him too, Salford, but it was the right call to take him off, imo.
Van de Ven didn't look a 100m player.
They are in a bad place as a team at the moment, and I think they need a change of manager again, and a change of mood and attitude.
9 games to save the club from the catastrophe of relegation.


Who do they get? It will need to be an inspired move.
What age is Martin O'Neill holding fort at Celtic?
Lifting that bunch off the floor will take some doing. Can't wait to see who they turn to, because this guy has to go.

11 Mar 2026 02:46:03
Or he has to stay! It would be great to see Spurs in the Championship!

11 Mar 2026 06:02:39
Yeah, would love them to go down, but they may be saved because of the other poor teams down there.
Tudor was always going to be a risky appointment.
Van de Ven is a very good player (put him in front of any CB we have, that's for sure).

Of course, even good players look terrible in a very poor team, plus he wants out anyway, so not helping.
Diabolical decision to chuck in number 2 GK in the Cauldron of Metropoliano...

11 Mar 2026 11:55:33
Van de Ven is a poor centre back, je suis not even the best centre back at Spurs, so I don't know how you think he's better than ours.

11 Mar 2026 12:46:23
My suspicion is that a lot of the "big" players in the Spurs squad are hoping for relegation. They've given up on the team, and know that they'll have a better chance of leaving if they go down. They haven't given a single s**** since the new year.

11 Mar 2026 14:34:07
Why Jim?
Spurs are a big club, I'd hate to see them relegated.

11 Mar 2026 17:49:49
They are a biggish club that, the Europa League success aside, haven't exactly been winning loads recently.

Preston were a big club, but I wouldn't want them in the Premier League.

I feel they could do with a bit of a reset for a year or two.

I'm not saying they should stay down and never return, they are just a bit boring over the last 10+ years. They are never going to actually challenge for the title, etc.

11 Mar 2026 22:20:37
A bit like us then, Jim.

12 Mar 2026 18:28:30
Yes, Ken, at times I have felt that we would be better off with a season or two out of the PL, if only to rid us of the owners.
The difference is we both flirted at the bottom last season. One went one way, the other went the other. That's the difference between a big club and Spurs.

10 Mar 2026 16:38:42
Centre backs:
I'll say from the outset MdL needs to go as he is not available, cut losses and get him back to fitness and out the door.

Renew Maguire on a rolling one year extension is stage 1.
Sign Senesi on a free stage 2.

Senesi and Licha first choice.
Yoro and Maguire second choice.
Heaven and Kukonki back up.

I do expect Heaven and Yoro to keep pushing and it may even see Licha dropped into the second choice position through the season.



I said in a previous post we don't need to spend too much here as well stocked, next window would probably need to be looking at a Branthwaite to replace Licha or Maguire.
If the club has the funds to make that change this summer I wouldn't be against it, but I feel fullbacks and centre mid are crucial for our future progression.

What is the general consensus here.

10 Mar 2026 18:34:33
Senesi isn't good enough.

Shaw needs to be the first out the door.

10 Mar 2026 18:37:29
I can already see centre back being a big issue for us next season. It's not a position you can afford to be naive about. Two seasons ago, Varane and Martinez missed most of the season, and our season imploded (J Evans went from 5th choice to first choice lol).

I appreciate we have so many other areas to strengthen (CM, LW and LB), but this overlooks that all of our centre backs are either injury prone or inexperienced.

I agree with OP that MDL is injury prone, and so is Martinez.

Maguire is getting older and suffering more injuries as he ages. None of them can be relied upon tbh.

Yoro and Heaven are promising but inexperienced. I could see them starting a lot of games, but they would need to be next to a highly experienced partner.

I think we desperately need to sign a top CB next season and let MDL or Martinez go.

First Choice: Yoro and New CB
Backups: Maguire & Martinez & Heaven.

10 Mar 2026 18:45:16
Not sure on Senesi, if w how about Murillo from Forest, Nathan Collins at Brentford or Lacroix from Palace.

10 Mar 2026 19:03:39
I contemplated Branthwaite this season, but I suspect he would cost north of $70m, and I felt midfield is more of a priority.
Senesi has been a beast this season. I think overlooking him might be a mistake, more so for our financial position.
Don't disagree with your sentiments on moving on more players this summer from CB DSG.

My concern is whether we have the team to execute this, and the funds to do it right.
Talk of Amissah from Fulham, which would make sense as he covers all positions. But, again, young.
Wiggy, of those I like Lacroix, the others I'd pass on personally.

10 Mar 2026 20:03:49
Sell Maguire. As a self-confessed anti-Maguire, I accept that he has had somewhat of a purple patch of late, but the fact remains he is borderline average at this level.

He will fall off the cliff next season, post-World Cup. Not that he could get much slower, but he will struggle even more to play the high line.

It's laughable seeing him try to recover from the halfway line. I've got T-shirts whose colour runs faster!

If you are going to keep him on for one more year, then it can only be as backup, as mentioned above, when we need to shore up defence in games for the last 10 minutes.

10 Mar 2026 20:21:08
Murillo would also be my first choice. We need a serious improvement on Dalot. I think calling for Shaw to go isn't particularly fair on him.

10 Mar 2026 21:19:58
Similar to Keefy's comment on Maguire, DonRed, Shaw's stock, form, and availability will fall off a cliff post WC. The only thing that will go up will be his weight, if I had to predict proceedings.

11 Mar 2026 05:52:55
Licha should take the Casemiro role until we have a replacement. Maguire needs to stay for his experience. Likewise, Shaw has had a decent season this year.

It's a shame about Mdl, but if he can't keep fit, we need a replacement with experience and pace to help Yoro and Heaven. Must be a guide, an in-game talker, to guide these two young boys.


Def need a good left back.

But, first priority has to be midfield. It has been neglected far too long. I don't want £80m + being spent on a 28yr old like Newcastle Bruno. I want a 25 yr old who is maturing, but we can still get 4 to 5 years of good playing time at least from him and in his prime years.

11 Mar 2026 17:51:25
I'm saving midfield til last, Salford. ?