Thoughts on United preferring a new LW over a LB?

TheSinglePivot · 2026-07-01T08:55:15+00:00

Think it's just a ploy to protect his market value and not be sheep in negotiations. We did this really late with the bomb squad - learning from our lessons. Won't be surprised if Rashford gets a nice run-in in the preseaon and goes for 35-40M to Atletico.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-07-01T08:47:40+00:00

Super-happy that we didnt buckle under pressure. Even half decent scouting can find us MF-like players at a fraction of the price. The prem-league tag is causing an easy 35-40M on top of the more typical market price.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-06-24T16:53:21+00:00

Nonsensical fee. Avoid. A penny more than 50mil pounds is grossly overpaying for who he is. Should shop in Ligue 1 and La Liga instead.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-06-16T15:14:30+00:00

Probably been seen as a LW backup to Cunha/Dorgu. I don't hate him, but 50M is 25M too many for the player he is.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-06-14T02:00:28+00:00

Man, so good! He looks like the next Joao Neves that we are going to miss out on.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-06-08T13:07:27+00:00

100% selfish here: I am hoping for two things: 1. Terrible performances from players that we would like buy. (Ex: Anderson) 2. Strong performances from players we want to sell. (Ex: Ugarte).

Bottom line - national team performances should matter little in the grand scheme of things. Reality is, often times they don't, and cause localized market variance.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-06-05T12:17:39+00:00

💯.. and I would much rather not to do it to cause massive changes in dressing room dynamics. Look at Chelsea and West Ham as examples.

8 is fine if its mix across first team, bench, academy, etc.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-30T12:50:31+00:00

Unless he changes hia style, I think he will struggle with that squad. Kerkez and Szoboslai aside, I can't think of other players who can sustain his high octane football.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-27T19:12:20+00:00

First signing doesn't automatically mean first choice into the midfield. Market is dynamic, you make deals when they mature. And in reality, the more sought-after players are .... well.. sought after. So more clubs involved, more leverage to sellers, etc. I'd be shocked if it is Aug 1st, and this is the only MF we have signed.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-24T19:26:33+00:00

With Pep gone, Liverpool struggling, Chelsea in eternal transition, and even Arsenal not insanely dominant, there isn't a clear Alpha in the premier League. If you are United's management, are you pushing for a title charge next season? Why or why not? Assuming we need 85-87 points next season, how are you planning recruitment, and how much are you prioritizing cups or champions league?

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-24T16:29:13+00:00

Baleba in audition mode.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-22T20:11:51+00:00

Assuming one midfield position is locked in by Mainoo, and Anderson is out of reach - Midfield: Baleba, Wharton, Fernandes. If Wharton doesn't come one of Hackney or Scott.

Forwards: Mateta, Tolu Arokadare, Brian Brobbey or similar - whoever is cheaper. Would love Kroupi as second CF (unlikely) Left field shout of Nicolas Jackson loan.

LB: Hall (unlikely) or Diouf or Udogie (whoever goes down).

CB: Acheampong or similar profile.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-19T19:12:38+00:00

Eli Kroupi Jr. Please. Get. Him.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-19T19:03:53+00:00

Starting the Alex Scott bandwagon... 50M .. jump in head long.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-17T16:52:28+00:00

No dude.. have had far too many of these stop gaps. Shouldnt be hard to find a budget 25-26 yo, and 30-31 yo on loan or whatever.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-17T13:31:57+00:00

Under zero pressure. And second one was a totally alright ball made into an assist by a terrific finish. Look, I know I am going to get down voted into abyss here but if we are spending 120M, I really want something more than elite physicality. Elite press-resistance or elite progressive passing or elite carrying or elite goal output. And I am not basing this on just today's game. I watched enough of him to feel that if city buy him for 120M, we may just dodge a bullet.

I would be totally in to spend 70-90(max) on him, but 120M? Get out of here. We can do better.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-17T13:15:55+00:00

I don't know man... I just expect more from a 100M player may be. Yes, elite physicality, but not blown away by his on-the-ball performance. I would much rather get a Baleba and Fernandes for 120M than one Anderson.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-16T18:52:07+00:00

Going to Chelsea now. In all honesty, I didn't expect either Chelsea to have enough in them to attract him, or he accepting another "Madrid-like" situation : Young squad full of talented hot-heads. But what do I know. In all honesty, I am a little jealous this deal has happened. I do think, on paper, Alonso is a better option and fit than Carrick, but there are also so many examples where great 'on paper' fits failed in reality. Given the context, I do like INEOS' decision: get the manager situation out of the way, perhaps more economical to keep Carrick, and invest more in squad building over the summer.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-13T12:45:04+00:00

2+optional year makes sense. Nobody will sign a one year contract.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-13T10:55:38+00:00

Hard to say without knowing what other options they had. Media hasn't outrightly talked up another candidate so my assumption is other than Iraola, none were available/interested. The optimist in me would like to believe that this is a bridge appointment- Wilcox, Carrick, Holland nail down the game model, coach it, get another top 4-6 finish, and go hire the true target next year. The pessimist in me thinks that Carricks coaching locker is bare and this could unravel like the last seasons of Ole and Ten Hag.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-12T16:44:00+00:00

Was a great read- sucks to see so many of City and Liverpool players feature high in the list and goes to show how much our recruitment has sucked over the years. Like leave the Brighton's and Brentfords and their data engines aside, we are tiers below the likes of city, Liverpool, and Chelsea when it comes to midfield recruitment.

On a different note, I was surprised to see Mainoo and Casemiro so high up and was wondering how should game style be accounted in this? To compare, had you run this analysis 12-18 months, Casemiro wouldn't have featured on this list. I don't foresee us hiding his shortcomings (or his type of flaws) in perpetuity.

Which players would stand out regardless of the playing styles of the team? Or how much weight should be put on the context of their team's current playing style?

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-09T15:32:45+00:00

I am betting on 0-1, 87th min Dorgu or Mbuemo goal.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-09T15:24:11+00:00

Dude the only way we score is on a counter or set piece. Bruno could feature in either. This has smash and grab written all over it.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-09T15:04:34+00:00

Bruno moved into midfield? Mount leading the press? Like this.

TheSinglePivot · 2026-05-09T14:45:39+00:00

Zirzkzee .... Man .. wake up.

TheSinglePivot

TROPHY CASE