A world class player in attack definitely can make up for a lot. Take Salah for example.....he's been involved in 69% of all Liverpool goals this season. The highest percentage in the PL out of any player for his team.

God knows why they haven't offered him a deal yet as without him they would be a lot more ordinary.

We need our own Salah for sure. None of our forwards are even close to his ability and never will be.

comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)
posted 4 minutes ago
a striker that's been clinical elsewhere could do for the attack.
-----------
We have one of those?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who?

The (immeasurably larger) problem is that Bruno had to feed the likes of Ighalo, Elanga, Dan James and Lingard when he arrived, and then has had to deal with Weghorst, Garnacho, Rashford and facking Antony.

Collectively probably the most wasteful bunch of tosssers the footballing world has ever seen

comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
We've got a lot of exciting young players in the academy. I seriously hope we see some of them over the next 18 months to 2 years.

Under 18 champions and cup winners last year. Absolute monster of a team and those who watch them on MUTV will know. I'd say it's the most talented team we've had since class of 92.

This gives me the biggest amount of hope really as I just still don't fully trust our recruitment process at all. If Zirkzee is someone INEOS team identified then that worries me greatly as he's absolutely crap.
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Of course their sporting model is very different, but Amorim brought through a huge number of youngsters at Sporting.

Something to be optimistic about

If Amorim is looking for quick wins with the existing squad then for me he definitely needs to get Amad into the '3' rather than at RWB. He's a huge threat with his ability to run at people, his close control and ball striking. He looks our most lively and dangerous attacking player at the moment and he needs to be closer to goal. The ball also sticks to him much better than it sticks to Rasmus, Rashford, Bruno or Garnacho.

If we must play an attacking wide player as one of the WB's, I'd genuinely plump for Antony. He doesn't have the quality at this level to be productive in attack but he does has the energy, intensity, work rate and mobility to get up and down and to provide natural width.

We obviously need more running power in CM. Ugarte will definitely be making the position his own in the coming weeks and then it's a question of who goes next to him. Mount has the running power and energy (but not the fitness to play loads of games) and Mainoo doesn't have the intensity but obviously brings quality in possession, more youthful energy than the other options and is strong physically and a deceptively good tackler. If he can up his work rate and running a notch or two then he can answer those question marks hanging over him.

The LWB role is going to be a big issue all season unless we address it in January.

comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
We've got a lot of exciting young players in the academy. I seriously hope we see some of them over the next 18 months to 2 years.

Under 18 champions and cup winners last year. Absolute monster of a team and those who watch them on MUTV will know. I'd say it's the most talented team we've had since class of 92.

This gives me the biggest amount of hope really as I just still don't fully trust our recruitment process at all. If Zirkzee is someone INEOS team identified then that worries me greatly as he's absolutely crap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course their sporting model is very different, but Amorim brought through a huge number of youngsters at Sporting.

Something to be optimistic about
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's hope so. I think Wheatley will become a player twice as good as Zirkzee if not even better as long as he keeps grounded. That boy is scary talented.

Obviously we have Obi Martin too from Arsenal who looks a real handful.

Maybe our forward woes will be over soon? Let's hope so.

comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 13 minutes ago
The (immeasurably larger) problem is that Bruno had to feed the likes of Ighalo, Elanga, Dan James and Lingard when he arrived, and then has had to deal with Weghorst, Garnacho, Rashford and facking Antony.

Collectively probably the most wasteful bunch of tosssers the footballing world has ever seen
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wout and Ighalo are honourary legends

Scary to think about some of the names we've had in the last 10 years. 😂

“ If Amorim is looking for quick wins with the existing squad then for me he definitely needs to get Amad into the '3' rather than at RWB.”

This x2. He was totally isolated on the right and often received the ball far too deep to offer anything constructive in the final third, he was essentially there to retain possession.

comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 36 minutes ago
If Amorim is looking for quick wins with the existing squad then for me he definitely needs to get Amad into the '3' rather than at RWB. He's a huge threat with his ability to run at people, his close control and ball striking. He looks our most lively and dangerous attacking player at the moment and he needs to be closer to goal. The ball also sticks to him much better than it sticks to Rasmus, Rashford, Bruno or Garnacho.

If we must play an attacking wide player as one of the WB's, I'd genuinely plump for Antony. He doesn't have the quality at this level to be productive in attack but he does has the energy, intensity, work rate and mobility to get up and down and to provide natural width.

We obviously need more running power in CM. Ugarte will definitely be making the position his own in the coming weeks and then it's a question of who goes next to him. Mount has the running power and energy (but not the fitness to play loads of games) and Mainoo doesn't have the intensity but obviously brings quality in possession, more youthful energy than the other options and is strong physically and a deceptively good tackler. If he can up his work rate and running a notch or two then he can answer those question marks hanging over him.

The LWB role is going to be a big issue all season unless we address it in January.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t know if Amorim has seen something of a Quenda in Amad. For me, he’s somewhere between a Quenda and a Trincão, but I expect we’ll see Amorim experimenting with Amad in both roles.

We certainly looked better yesterday when Bruno switched to the left of the two ten roles (Garnacho was pretty terrible I thought), and the right hand one should be up for grabs.

I’m hoping we get to see a bit of Amad and Bruno behind Hojlund in the next few weeks. That’s the three for me.

Berba

And yeah, we desperately need a LWB, and sharpish. If it isn’t going to be Shaw, Malacia or Amass this season, I’d go and get Fernandez back as soon as the winter window opens (if he’s amenable to a return… )

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 14 minutes ago
“ If Amorim is looking for quick wins with the existing squad then for me he definitely needs to get Amad into the '3' rather than at RWB.”

This x2. He was totally isolated on the right and often received the ball far too deep to offer anything constructive in the final third, he was essentially there to retain possession.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Agree with this and I think he will probably do this when he's got more players available to start.

Bruno and Amad behind whoever he plays upfront for now seems like the best way to go.

Mazraoui and Dalot RWB and Shaw and Malacia LWB.

Long term plan

-----------------------------New ST

---------------------Amad----------Bruno

New LWB-------Mainoo-----Ugarte-------Mazraoui/Dalot


--------Martinez/Shaw-----De Ligt-------Yoro

---------------------------------Onana


A couple of top class players at ST and LWB would make a hell of a difference to this team for sure. They absolutely have to be the priorities over the next few windows.

Hojlund and Zirkzee can both leave for me. I really want to believe in Hojlund but I am just not seeing enough from him. Thought he looked poor again yesterday when he came on.

Rashford's time with us probably coming to a natural end too but not sure how we move him on due to wages. He'd have to take a monumental pay drop to leave us which is why he probably won't be going anywhere.

Garnacho I'd keep around and try and work on his game as he's still young.

comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 14 minutes ago
“ If Amorim is looking for quick wins with the existing squad then for me he definitely needs to get Amad into the '3' rather than at RWB.”

This x2. He was totally isolated on the right and often received the ball far too deep to offer anything constructive in the final third, he was essentially there to retain possession.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Agree with this and I think he will probably do this when he's got more players available to start.

Bruno and Amad behind whoever he plays upfront for now seems like the best way to go.

Mazraoui and Dalot RWB and Shaw and Malacia LWB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On this, one interesting thing at Sporting was Amorim being keen on using two left footed players on the RHS: Trincão at inside right, and Quenda or Catamo at RWB.

Then the pair would in possession almost play like two overloading wingers on the same side.

I wonder if he’s possibly thinking about using Amad as one (hence the game at RWB) with another leftie at inside right? Amad and Hojlund? Amad and Antony (shudder)?

Or possibly even doing the same on the LHS with a right footed left wingback playing with a right footed inside left?

comment by RRRU-ben a-moo-REENG (U17054)
posted 1 hour, 21 minutes ago
Berba

And yeah, we desperately need a LWB, and sharpish. If it isn’t going to be Shaw, Malacia or Amass this season, I’d go and get Fernandez back as soon as the winter window opens (if he’s amenable to a return… )
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Amass looks more like a WB than the other two. Shaw is a quality player but he's not someone that plays at a higher intensity. As the LCB I think he'd be excellent competing with Martinez but my biggest bug bear with him has always been that he doesn't attack forward space with the kind of verve and dynamism you'd want from a top attacking LB or WB. It's maybe not surprise that the first time he really started playing like that over several games he ended up breaking his leg bursting into the box.

I don't know about Fernandez but I'd love to see us get Ait-Nouri from Wolves.

Talks that we are interested in Alfonso Davies on a free. Seemingly only United and Real Madrid hold any form interest and that's probably down to wage demands and requirements in the teams that could afford him.

He's a United fan too apparently so he'd be a dream signing. Failing that I'd be fine with getting Alvaro back. He always looked a real talent in our academy teams and even won player of the year before he left us. Erik and the club selling him for peanuts whilst we had no left back available was absolute stupidity.

Alfonso Davies would obviously be the dream ticket at LWB.

I mean, there’s two players potentially available on free transfers in the summer that could improve our athleticism, technical ability, energy & depth: Alfonso Davies & Angel Gomes. I’d be all over those deals personally as they’d improve us at minimum cost.

Alvaro Carreras seems a no-brainer to me, I remember talking about him a few weeks ago. Assume he would work well in the Amorim style of play, so unless something amazing happens within the current squad, I can see us going for him as we have first dibs

comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 14 minutes ago
Alfonso Davies would obviously be the dream ticket at LWB.

I mean, there’s two players potentially available on free transfers in the summer that could improve our athleticism, technical ability, energy & depth: Alfonso Davies & Angel Gomes. I’d be all over those deals personally as they’d improve us at minimum cost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Me too. Would be interested in Rosso's views on Gomes in Amorim's system, given how he has emphasised the physical / hard-running nature of the two CM roles. (I know Angel has thrown off the 'Gnomes' reputation since he left United as a literal dwarf.)

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 14 minutes ago
Alfonso Davies would obviously be the dream ticket at LWB.

I mean, there’s two players potentially available on free transfers in the summer that could improve our athleticism, technical ability, energy & depth: Alfonso Davies & Angel Gomes. I’d be all over those deals personally as they’d improve us at minimum cost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Me too. Would be interested in Rosso's views on Gomes in Amorim's system, given how he has emphasised the physical / hard-running nature of the two CM roles. (I know Angel has thrown off the 'Gnomes' reputation since he left United as a literal dwarf.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Gomes is a very busy, energetic and quick player. He’s not Kante, but he’d be an upgrade on Eriksen’s mobility as well as Mainoo’s whilst offering technical security as good as anyone’s.

I don’t think every single player in Amorim’s system will need to be some kind of pressing/running monster. Every manager will want to have a midfield player that can put their foot on the ball and help control a game and what I like about potentially bringing Gomes back is that not only does he not need to start every game, but he’d also be an option further forward as well.

comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 38 minutes ago
Talks that we are interested in Alfonso Davies on a free. Seemingly only United and Real Madrid hold any form interest and that's probably down to wage demands and requirements in the teams that could afford him.

He's a United fan too apparently so he'd be a dream signing. Failing that I'd be fine with getting Alvaro back. He always looked a real talent in our academy teams and even won player of the year before he left us. Erik and the club selling him for peanuts whilst we had no left back available was absolute stupidity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If Real want Davies, I think we want to at least have a very good plan B!

As to Fernandez, I understand why the club let him go. They went with ETH, and I don’t think he had any intention of using Fernandez as a wingback or wide left, which is where his talents really lie.

The medical team apparently spent the whole of last season telling ETH and the club that Malacia was going to be ready, so although some of the blame for starting the season without a single LB has to be on the club, the medical team appear to have shafted both ETH and club there (again).

comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 5 minutes ago
Alvaro Carreras seems a no-brainer to me, I remember talking about him a few weeks ago. Assume he would work well in the Amorim style of play, so unless something amazing happens within the current squad, I can see us going for him as we have first dibs
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Does anyone know how much he would cost? The fact that we can sign him at a favourable rate compared with other buyers doesn't necessarily mean he's the best value for money option out there. Loaning him out cost us in the absence of Shaw and Malacia last season - a mistake in hindsight. Obviously, the loan-with-right-to-buy deal was agreed in January 2023, pre-INEOS. That doesn't necessarily mean doubts about his readiness to be a regular senior player at United were wrong.

I'm not in a position to judge this - just playing devil's advocate. But the dynamics of this remind me a bit of a low priced version of the Pogba affair. Popular consensus is that we made a mistake in letting a talented young player go; we see him thrive abroad, which intensifies the perception of a mistake; does it follow necessarily follow that the player will be a success if he comes back?

comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 3 minutes ago

Gomes is a very busy, energetic and quick player. He’s not Kante, but he’d be an upgrade on Eriksen’s mobility as well as Mainoo’s whilst offering technical security as good as anyone’s.

I don’t think every single player in Amorim’s system will need to be some kind of pressing/running monster. Every manager will want to have a midfield player that can put their foot on the ball and help control a game and what I like about potentially bringing Gomes back is that not only does he not need to start every game, but he’d also be an option further forward as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I didn't need much convincing, Berbaking. That's enough for me.

If Real want Davies, I think we want to at least have a very good plan B!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Xabi Alonso is going to convert Mbappé to left wing back and I'm not sure Alphonso wants to be back-up at this stage of his career.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 14 minutes ago
Alfonso Davies would obviously be the dream ticket at LWB.

I mean, there’s two players potentially available on free transfers in the summer that could improve our athleticism, technical ability, energy & depth: Alfonso Davies & Angel Gomes. I’d be all over those deals personally as they’d improve us at minimum cost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Me too. Would be interested in Rosso's views on Gomes in Amorim's system, given how he has emphasised the physical / hard-running nature of the two CM roles. (I know Angel has thrown off the 'Gnomes' reputation since he left United as a literal dwarf.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have no idea what kind of numbers Gnomes is doing in terms of distances, defensive actions, etc. but his size I don’t think would be an issue for Amorim.

Sporting have Bragança, Morita and Pote playing in midfield, and they’re all relatively small or skinny. Morita must be about 5’9”.

What they all have in common though, apart from their size, is they leave everything on the pitch every week. They’re harrying players like nobody’s business, they’ll tactically foul, they’ll crash into players fully committing to 50/50s, they’ll leave scorch marks on the grass running back. They all have something of the Ander Herrera about them, if you will.

That’s what Amorim will be demanding of the midfield. Look at Palhinha, Ugarte and Hjulmand, and the kind of challenges they make and commitment they demonstrate. What we’ve seen of Ugarte in the last couple of weeks is the minimum Amorim will allow I think.