Squad reshape this summer

[calcalcal]

I’ve maintained for a while that United’s season will be determined by how good a centre half we recruit this summer.

The rest I’m far less bothered.

Not going to get excited or upset over what will be a reserve full back / centre back cover. Likewise a player who could be last in line for the wide slots isn’t going to thrill or upset me either.

I can even live with Riedewald as first pick if he’s as capable as last season.

Even the strikers could be left alone, though I wouldn’t be upset if one or two moved on if the money made sense.

It’s all about the one signing. We get Souttar and he plays all season then we may well have a say at the end. We do they old “we tried, but…” and rely on McGuinness as first pick then we’re in for a challenging campaign.

The only other factor is if further sales occur. We need to make sure we are not short of the quality we have today when we line up next month.

Keep what we have (or maybe sell peck if we must)
Sign anal and vini replacements and we'll be fine
But we badly need that spine

 

[The Fox]

Keep what we have (or maybe sell peck if we must)
Sign anal and vini replacements and we'll be fine
But we badly need that spine

There have been times , mainly after a vindaloo when an Anal replacement would have been a consideration .

 

[Bell4]

Keep what we have (or maybe sell peck if we must)
Sign anal and vini replacements and we'll be fine
But we badly need that spine

Is this a post from 12 months ago ?

 

[calcalcal]

Is this a post from 12 months ago ?

Still valid tho innit as we never truly replaced our spine

 

[calcalcal]

There have been times , mainly after a vindaloo when an Anal replacement would have been a consideration .

I spotted the error of my ways but sadly editing time has ended

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

(Without selling players)

CB x2
CM
W
ST

Minimum 5 players we need after signing 2.

 

[BangorBlade]

They can't even seem to take a decision on Rabbi Motondo ffs

 

[Willglynning]

Don’t think Wrexham have signed anyone yet have they?

Oh no! You’re absolutely right. The filter I was using only showed clubs who’ve made signings- so they weren’t included- my bad.

 

[wf9-Danny]

Hardly owt has changed for us, why will we have a better season? We were promised an overhaul, where is that happening?

 

[Champagneblade]

Keep what we have (or maybe sell peck if we must)
Sign anal and vini replacements and we'll be fine
But we badly need that spine

I think most would agree this was probably the de facto line up which attained 92 points in 2024/25:

Cooper
Gilchrist Souttar Ahmedhodzic Burrows
Arblaster/Peck Souza
Rak-Sakyi O’Hare Hamer
Moore

According to the Star, McGuinness has been told he can leave and talk of Baptiste getting a new deal so currently we are:

Cooper
Seriki Tanganga Baptiste McCallum
Peck/Arblaster Riedewald
Donovan O’Hare Hamer
Bamford

To contrast the two line ups I’d say:

Up
Seriki > Gilchrist
Bamford > Moore

Down
Souttar > Baptiste
Souza > Riedewald

Debatable
Ahmedhodzic = Tanganga
Donovan = Rak-Sakyi

The rest are either the same players with some marginal ups/down but on the whole comparable.

Initially you’d say that Riedewald doesn’t have the physical dynamism of Souza but he’s probably more disciplined in the way he plays. Despite this, Souza registered no goals and just one assist in 35 Championship matches whereas Riedewald notched 3 goals and an assist in just 25 matches and without much of a pre-season. Souza is perceived as better but Riedewald is arguably a bit of a dark horse; our results with him were very good vs without.

Souttar or comparable is where we need to make it count. There is really no analysis needed there. I will say that impacts my view on Ahmedhodzic vs Tanganga. The former looked good with Souttar but when you look at matches like Wrexham, he often got exposed defensively at times. His allround game and goals made up for this. I think if Tanganga got alongside Souttar and could attack the ball more with a brick wall behind him, we’d see him being as good as Anel; arguably he had this alongside Cooper at Millwall.

It’s just too early to judge the impact of Donovan vs Rak-Sakyi. The former already seems to be more keen to help out defensively though I did like the latter’s directness and desire to shoot on site. I would have preferred him instead of Brewster for the final.

There’s a good month and a bit and we just have to get the big signing right and not drop quality on others. It may well frustratingly not be until the bigger teams have done their business that this happens.

 

[LBA_Blade]

They can't even seem to take a decision on Rabbi Motondo ffs

With him training with the squad and playing in a pre-season fixture if that is a go ahead, I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t announced on Monday at the Bramall Lane opening training day scarf in hand and all that

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Is this a post from 12 months ago ?

I think its old Biggsy.

 

[Champagneblade]

(Without selling players)

CB x2
CM
W
ST

Minimum 5 players we need after signing 2.

I don’t think we will go for so many. He said around 5 and he’s already got Riedewald back, signing his Right Back cover in Doherty and brought on Donovan for Brooks.

CB x2 - feasible IF McGuinness also goes. Otherwise may be just one, especially if we’re pleased with Baptiste.
CM - IF Peck goes, otherwise he’s Arblaster, Peck, Rothwell and Riedewald. I don’t see how a fifth gets a game. He’s also got Hamer who can come in there and (suppresses laughter) Shackleton who can cover.
W - It seems Matondo is in pole position.
ST - Managers love signing strikers. With Oné back with us and same Marsh he’s got more options now. Most of the time we will play Hamer (if he stays) or O’Hare as a 10, meaning you already have Bamford, Campbell, Cannon and Oné competing for one spot. Think he needs bids for Cannon or Campbell for a newbie to come in.

I wouldn’t be against:
Both Souttars in, Matondo in, another winger on loan.

But then, Chong and McGuinness out to balance it.