Manchester United

I've got this bad feeling we're going to waste Rashford. Or that we're going to waste Martial because we'd rather play Lingard. Or that we're Herrera and Pereira because we'd rather play Fellaini.

Mourinho's track record is against him.

Frustrating watching people rave about young players at other clubs who get to play every week. (Yes I realise Rashford played a lot of games last year, they were mostly out of position.) I just think he deserves better.

Edit: throw TFM and Tuanzebe on the list as well.

Not sure what you mean about Jose's track record. Who are all these young players from other clubs.

He has played more young players than any other club.

Lukaku would be the first name I'd suggest. De Bruyne would be the second. Matic the next.

The difference being that Chelsea's transfer and club strategy was not to play youth, so that when they develop in 3 or 4 years time they will be amazing. Chelsea wants quality now, and there is not one player in their squad (maybe Bakayoko now) that is young and has been developed. They don't want players that are nearly at their best. Chelsea wants quality now. Only now that they have got a squad which is of a high quality, are they looking to supplement that with developing players. 

In all those cases above, Chelsea already had quality and experience in the positions that they played in. They weren't going to get enough games (to develop) so he let them go. Chelsea wants results now, and uses developing players as sort of a loan farming system to generate money, as opposed to quality. 

United on the other hand has always had a decent mix of youth and experience throughout the squad - and the reason why LvG had to play lots of youth when he was in charge, was because LOTS of experience had left during / after the Moyes era (Rio, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Giggs)

Last season, Rashford made the most appearances out of the whole squad (53 apps from the 63 games). Playing him on the wings is not 'out of position'. He is versatile. Martial and Lingard made 42 apps to. 

Having bought Pereira, TFM, McTominay, Mitchell and Tuanzebe on tour is promising. I have the feeling so far that Jose has bought into the United philosophy of developing youth. by contrast, I cannot think of an instance in recent times where Chelsea has integrated a young player who was out on loan, back into the next seasons squad. Loftus-Cheek clearly won't be given the chance, as they just bought another CM. Solanke just got lost on a free. 

Ultimately, when Jose speaks about United transfers, I get the impression that he is always talking about balance and I think age / experience is part of that. Until proven otherwise. 

Murmurs of Fellaini going to Galatasaray, then Galatasaray confirmed their interest on their website:

http://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/cenk-ergun...

Let him go for free.

I hate to say this, but we need a replacement for him before we let him go. We were already looking for another CM, so if he goes we need two

I would say he is gone for sure and looks like Matic will replace him.

Fellaini isn't going anywhere, and rightly so. He's a limited player, but he's incredibly good at what he does. Moyes, LVG and Mourinho all love(d) him and he certainly has a place in a Manchester United squad, but hopefully not the starting XI. He's good, but you guys are all judging a fish on its ability to climb a tree.

Mourinho said this morning that Galatasaray have a better chance of signing Mou himself than the Big Fella and that makes me very happy.

I am just not sure where Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba, Carrick, Matic all fit into the equation. Maybe as we have more games there will be more rotation. But you still have Pereira and TFM to potentially fit into the CM roles too. 

When we play 4-2-3-1, I am happy with Herrera and Pogba playing as the two. The other three might play here on a rotational basis. 

We have generally played with either Pogba as one of the attacking three, or with a 4-3-3 against stronger opponents, and that would be where Matic fits in - but again, that means limited / rotational game time for Fellaini and Carrick. 

Will everyone be happy with that? I just can't imagine Matic wanting to come to United for a rotational role, UNLESS he has been told that Bakayoko is ahead of him in the team now. Or he will play most of the big games. 

Squad depth is a great problem to have.

I don't see Fellaini in your starting eleven at all. He's just a great battering ram option to bring on when you need late goals. He creates chances time after time when you just throw him in the mixer and start lumping it to him.

It's not pretty, I understand why it's not desirable to the fans, but it does get results. 

I often wonder what people see when they watch football, whats actually going on or some preconceived cliche thats being touted at the time. In the Europa League final he was a long way from being a battering ram of a player and his touches in that game didnt revolve around having the ball lumped at him. He was one of the best players on the paddock that game. 

I didn't watch that full game, only saw the odd highlight.

My view was based on what I've seen of him in the prem over the years, rather than one single game, which I think is probably more sensible. The game plan with him at ManU when he comes off the bench has so often been to lump it to him late on when chasing a goal. Moyes, van Gaal, Mourinho, they've all done it, because it's effective as hell. Not basing that on any cliche, just my own two eyes.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Footbal...

Matic officially signed

No surprise there.

What do you guys reckon is your strongest eleven when all fit this season?

Likely a 4-3-3 vs stronger teams, I would have

De Gea

Valencia, Bailly, Rojo (when fit, otherwise Smalling), Shaw (again, when fit, otherwise Darmian)

Matic sitting behind Pogba and Herrera

Lukaku up top with Mkhi and Martial either side, who can be swapped out for Mata/Rashford/Lingard.

If more attacking Mkhi plays in front of Pogba/Herrera, Matic drops out and one of the spare wingers above plays.

Not bad... midfield looks quite strong now... 

Andreas Pereira has looked great preseason too - still only 21.

Matic a very good signing. Am quite pleased.

Yea I think we have a very good squad, with some very tough decisions to make as to who starts. There is one tough decision in attack and midfield. Defense is solid, but other than Valencia and Bailly, no one is of such consistent quality that means they should start most games. Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Shaw, Darmian and Jones have all been good in parts, and Lindelof hopefully can step up. 

In midfield, the decision is to play Matic or Mata; either play a number 10 or a number 6. Martial and Mkhitaryan on the wings and Lukaku up top. Rashford and Lingard are able back ups. And in games where Mourinho wants energy and pace, these guys are more likely to play. 

Good decisions to be made

I find it interesting that Matic has been training alone at Chelsea. 

"You have been training at Chelsea but you haven't been playing in their pre-season matches so how are you in terms of your fitness and match fitness as we go into the new season?"
"As you know probably, I didn't train with the team, I trained alone and with a fitness coach and, of course, it's not the same when you train alone and when you are with the team."

Firstly, how did no one in the press pick up on this as an obvious indicator that he was leaving. Secondly, how long has he been training alone? Why didn't United just sign him earlier then?

It's been common knowledge that he was training alone, was mentioned in press reports weeks prior to the club confirming his omission from the touring squad.

Decent game this morning. What seems to be the final looking squad (In no real particular order):

Good competition. No glaring weaknesses. Very strong side I think.

Except when playing Real Madrid. Saw first half. Painful. Apart from Lukaku header straight at keeper, Man U showed nothing up front. And next to nothing going forward. For speed of thought and execution, Real were on a different plane right across the park.

Perhaps if you had watched all the game you probably would have come up with something different.

RM  were miles better but I have been saying for years that all English sides are poor compared to the top European ones. Nothing has changed. However JM will get Utd to the top although he will have to get rid of a few players.

United were undoubtedly woeful and looked incredibly Laboured but Real Madrid are on another level to every other team on earth right now. Modric and Kroos are incredibly underrated... I'd be paying 200m pounds for them over Neymar.

I think woeful is probably a bit strong, but as you said, Madrid is well ahead of others and it will take a real team performance to beat them at the moment. BUT United only lost 2-1 and should improve further this season.

That one more winger would be good, but they dont necessarily need to be a world class player as those that didn't play in the super cup included Bailly, Mata, Martial, Blind, Shaw, Jones, etc so the squad is looking strong. 

That was excellent.

You'd have to be out of your mind to sell Matic.

Side looks so balanced. Everyone looked really comfortable where they were. Matic just allows Pogba to do what Pogba wants and it allows us to play a proper attacking midfielder.

Still early does but for the sort of opposition that can often prove difficult for us it was so great to see.

Certainly a good result but still short of the players needed to win the EPL

Not complaining, but West Ham were not that great.

West Ham were bad but as far as first performances go I'm quite happy. More convincing than other title contenders for sure.

I actually think we have a great balance of players in the squad and do not need anyone else. 

We have at least two, more than decent players in each position and it is tough to pick a best 11 from the top 14/15 players.

I also think the versatility of the players is strong and as long as Jose learns to rotate the squad and not play the same 11 most games, we are in for a good season.  

I agree. There's areas of uncertainty over our best CBs, our best midfield and our best wingers due to the quality of players available (LB as well but that's less of a happy problem). 

CL will be a test to whether we can mount a title challenge but this is the best we've looked since Fergie (although, not saying much).

Well if you mean decent and not good then you might be right.

Lingard,Darmian Smalling are certainly not class players. As much as I like him Blind was rubbish on Monday.

Hm, I don't think Blind was rubbish at all...

Realistically, who do you propose replacing them with?

I am not even going down that road of who we could replace them with. Suffice to say that there are a lot of players out there that are better.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footb...

I am not even going down that road of who we could replace them with. Suffice to say that there are a lot of players out there that are better.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footb...

Unless you can name some realistic targets then there's no point having this discussion.

Fabinho , Rose and Perisic for starters. 

Even if we don't replace those three, does  not mean that I have to think they are OK------ because they are not. They would struggle to get a start in half the EPL sides.

Smalling was one of our best players under LVG. He absolutely was class, just needs to find that form again. Blind, Darmian and Lingard are all solid rotation options. Luke Shaw is still the first choice LB if he can ever stay fit though so its good that all of the above are little more than rotation options.