⚽ Football (Soccer)

[Zantera]

Having watched last night's game against Everton the glaring need for midfielders is beyond obvious, the front line is looking sharp, and the back 3 are doing their jobs but there's zero protection in midfield, there's not enough pace, physicality and positional discipline/nous in there, and not enough quality on the ball, it's like we have a gaping void between defence and attack.

The reality is that we need 2 midfielders, arguably 3, but certainly 2 starters, but having kept Bruno were stuck with 1 at most, however if we don't get at least 1, then we're going to struggle.

I agree we need to sign but our current squad makes that awkward. Bruno will probably start as one of the two in most games (could see him being used further up the pitch in some games) and he's got a great track record of staying fit. So that leaves the spot next to him and we got Mainoo, Ugarte, Casemiro and Collyer. Potentially Kone if he impresses enough to get some chances.

Casemiro is here for 1 more year and I do imagine we go big next summer for a key midfielder to replace him. But until then what do we do? Mainoo feels like an interesting one because he's so hyped up to be the next big thing yet we haven't seen a functioning midfield with him. Do we sell him? Lose out on a big prospect from our academy, see him go on to have a great career elsewhere? Ugarte just joined so feels too early to get rid of him. Maybe we go for a loan for Collyer/Kone and get someone in to cover there?

 

[Hunter Rider]

I agree we need to sign but our current squad makes that awkward. Bruno will probably start as one of the two in most games (could see him being used further up the pitch in some games) and he's got a great track record of staying fit. So that leaves the spot next to him and we got Mainoo, Ugarte, Casemiro and Collyer. Potentially Kone if he impresses enough to get some chances.

Casemiro is here for 1 more year and I do imagine we go big next summer for a key midfielder to replace him. But until then what do we do? Mainoo feels like an interesting one because he's so hyped up to be the next big thing yet we haven't seen a functioning midfield with him. Do we sell him? Lose out on a big prospect from our academy, see him go on to have a great career elsewhere? Ugarte just joined so feels too early to get rid of him. Maybe we go for a loan for Collyer/Kone and get someone in to cover there?

I think we have to loan Kone and Collyer, with Kone he's not played a single minute in pre season, and Collyer just isn't good enough for what United are trying to achieve. We are absolutely hamstring by Casemiro, unlike other clubs we struggle to get these deadweights to leave, it's not just the wages, I think our approach is too soft, we let them just linger. We also made a mistake not selling Bruno, now we're shoehorning him into a role he's not suited to, we could have rebuilt the midfield with the money we'd have gotten for him. As for Kobbie, I worry for him, he's clearly talented but he's struggling in the deeper midfield

The bottom line is we absolutely MUST get a midfielder, our options are atrocious, we'll not get top 7 with what we currently have, it doesn't matter how many forwards we buy, and the goal for Amorim this season has to be qualification for the Europa League. The truth is we need 3, Bruno, Casemiro and Ugarte are not the answer, the jury is still out on Kobbie, but we need 4 options so it's Kobbie plus 3 for me, but obviously that's not happening, we're not even going to get 2, so the 1 we get at the bare minimum must be a powerful ground coverer.

 

[Zantera]

The bid for Sesko means striker is the big signing the club wants to make. I still think we either wont sign a CM at all, OR the club will take a punt on a cheap option (a loan or a low cost gamble). I just think with no european football they will think CM is fine for another season and numbers-wise it is.

But I think it's a big make or break season for some players. Mainoo needs to step up this season. He's been touted as one of the biggest prospects in England but he has struggled to stay consistent or solidify his position in the team. If he can't claim a CM position in THIS version of Man Utd then what are we doing? Ugarte has also been mixed but you still have the "he just joined" tag and this season he needs to hit the mark or risk becoming a peripheral player at best. Casemiro is out next summer regardless so not much to say there.

I would love for us to sign Wharton and Baleba tomorrow but I think honestly the scouting department needs to step up. We can't afford spending 60-80m on every signing and if we want a functioning midfield I think we might have to sniff out some good value-for-money deals. Find the next Wharton/Baleba before they become a 80m player. I guess someone like Kone was that kind of signing but he was just way too raw. Surely there are good CMs in the 19-23 age range who wouldn't cost a fortune?