Football News: Manchester United Has Improved The Team Over the Summer

Let's put to one side about how we feel the window has gone. It's more important to get to your destination than it is how you got there.

So let's reflect on what we needed and what we have.

DDG and Henderson were both issues for Manchester United / the manager for different reasons and solutions needed to be found. DDG while still a top class shot stopper but lacking in key areas that the manager needed to play a modern style. Add to that he was on huge wages and needed to be given a deal deal to stay it was clear a decision needed to be made. He couldn't really stay as second choice his wages and status wouldn't really allow it. So it was new deal and stay as first choice or let him leave and replace him.

Henderson was a problem for different reasons. While more suited to a modern style than DDG, he has shown to have an attitude issue and has reportedly be the source of dressing room leaks. While he isn't prepared to stay unless he's first choice, while not really showing enough to be trusted with being first choice.

Ultimately both needed to leave, and they have. We have replaced DDG with Onana, a keeper we know suits EtH's style of play. He's a keeper who is an upgrade on DDG in just about every way. Henderson has been replaced with Bayindir. I don't think anyone really knows if that is an upgrade in terms of ability. But he is a player who wants to be here and is less likely to cause unrest. While he's come in for a fraction of what we sold Henderson for and almost certainly on lower wages.

By hook or by crook the club have resolved their issues in the keeper department. The club is in a better place post window than pre window.

Defence was an odd one. An argument could be made that we needed a better RB, and that the back up CB's needed refreshing with players better suited to the style of play we are trying to play. Yet neither were really a top priority and both would require selling players to make space. Last season we were actually very good defensively and as such this again reduced the need for the club to focus resources in this area.

However, it does feel like we are currently weaker in defence than we were last season. A combination of a new keeper settling in and building that rapport, a ridiculous injury crisis (compounded by the selling of fringe players) has left us feeling short in defence.

Bailly, Jones, Telles, Tuanzebe and Mengi have/ are all likely to depart. Yet none should be a loss. Bailly and Telles were not at the club last season, while Jones was not named in the 25 man squad. I'm not sure there was even a single appearance from the lot of them last season. Removing them from the wage bill and clearing space was required. While it looks like Evans will join to replace them with someone who will offer similar impact on the pitch but more experience and leadership off of it.

It looks like the injury crisis at LB will force the club to act. It's never ideal when the club have to quickly come up with a solution from the transfer market at short notice. It looks like Cucurella will come in on loan. Which is actually I think great business given the context of the situation. They have come up with a solution for the manager by bringing in a player proven in the EPL and who looks fairly well suited to fit the profile of player the manager wants. They have also done so without having to divert a large amount of the club's resources into fixing what is really a temporary problem. That actually deserves a pat on the back and a well done. I don't believe there was a better option available for the same kind of outlay.

The real issue in defence is that we haven't managed to move Maguire on and replace him with a player better suited to our new style of play. While some will still feel that the club could improve on AWB/ Dalot at RB. I'm not sure the club can be blamed for not moving Maguire on this summer. They agreed a deal with a club but ultimately the player didn't make the move. That is Maguire's choice and not on the club.

I understand that the reason it is so difficult to sell him is due to his wages, but that isn't the fault of the current people running the club. It's a problem they inherited and have had to try and solve. Maybe they could have if they spent more time and resources on this issue. But I'm not sure they can justify spending that much time, effort and money to replace the 4th choice CB. Clearly the club's priorities were elsewhere, and understandably.

Now we are moving on to the area that I actually think was the biggest priority this summer, and it might surprise a few of you but it isn't the striker issue. I actually think the biggest area we needed to address was in midfield.

I'll explain, on paper the midfield three of Casemiro, Eriksen and Bruno looks fairly strong. But in practice it has two glaring issues. Firstly lack of energy deeper in midfield. Bruno is an energiser bunny in that advanced midfield area. But Casemiro and Eriksen arebi particularly mobile, powerful runners. While Eriksen also lacks a little in defensive awareness. This lead to a lack of control in many games last season.

This is further compounded when you look at the back up, McTominay, Fred and Donny. None are good enough or well suited to how EtH wants his team to play. Forcing the first choice three to play most of the time (an issue in itself given Casemiro and Eriksen are 31 years old).

I actually think we needed to see all three squad players leave and for three new players to come in. Players suited to how the manager wants the team to play.

In an ideal world that would have included a CDM to support Casemiro, and two No.8's/ box to box midfielders. This would push Eriksen back further up the field as competition for Bruno. Again ideally you'd want one ball playing No.8 and one ball carrying No.8 to give the team tactical flexibility.

In that respect the only midfield signing we have currently made in Mason Mount feels a little off. It's unclear how well suited he is to playing as a No.8 in EtH's system yet. He does have the skills to adapt well to it. But as yet he hasn't quite settled into that role. He seems better suited to being the competition for Bruno, which leaves Eriksen deeper where he isn't as effective.

Not all new players have to be bought and I'm very happy with the idea of bringing Kobbie Mainoo into the first team and giving him minutes. It's a brave decision as he looks like his best role will be as Casemiro's understudy. Which are big boots to fill for someone so young and inexperienced.

Especially given Casemiro's age and the fact that he might be expected to step up sooner rather than later. He probably won't get 2-3 season's to bed in and learn before he has to play significant minutes. It shows how much faith EtH has in him. He along with Garnacho could become special players for us.

That still leaves us short of a box to box player, ideally someone with more defensive nous than Eriksen and someone who could maybe offer a powerful runner who can carry the ball through the lines in midfield to create space and opportunities further forward.

It does seem like Amrabat or Gravenberch are the one's we might see. Which is interesting as Gravenberch might actually fit the profile slightly better, but is obviously unproven at this level and looks more likely to be a loan deal than a permanent one. Amrabat is a much better passer than a runner, and while he seems to tick many boxes, he has struggled to really bring all of it together consistently at his previous clubs. If we can get either of them across the line though that would still improve our midfield.

The issue we seem to have currently in midfield is the same as we have in defence. Injuries to Mainoo and Mount have robbed us of the fresh legs we have brought into the team. Meaning we are still relying on the same midfield as last season. While also weaker in depth with Fred having left. However, the injuries will hopefully subside in midfield as they hopefully will in defence and we just need to ride this out. We can't just buy ourselves out of an injury crisis. It creates too many issues down the line when everyone is fully fit and you can't give players enough game time.

If we can get another midfielder so we will have replaced McTominay, Fred and Donny with Mainoo, Mount and Amrabat / Gravenberch then on paper at least we will have improved the squad. However, on the pitch that will be dependent on how Mainoo steps up, and Mount and whoever else we sign adapt. Maybe this could have been better, it's a wait and see thing now though.

Finally we get to the striker situation. We were absolutely desperate for at least one top class striker, probably two.

However, very few proven strikers were available and those that were would have cost a fortune. Højlund looks a great young player, he has the attributes we need. However, he is young and isn't likely to have the consistency we need. While he will also have to adapt to the EPL. I'm confident he will, but it might take a little time.

The issue we have now is that ideally we would have also brought in an older more experienced player who could support Højlund while he develops into the player we need. Without such a player it puts a lot of pressure on the young Dane. Again though it's a very tough market with few options available. One that could be available in January if it's clear we need someone to come in at that point could be Ivan Toney. Yet options available now are either lacking in experience or quality and still come at a premium.

The other issue we have with the forward line in my opinion is too many players playing for themselves and not enough playing for the team. Players like Rashford, Antony and Garnacho all have a tendency of playing with their head down as they try and tunnel their way towards goal for a shot. They can be a lite too one dimensional often only looking to pass once they have no way to goal for themselves. Often by the time they make that pass the player they pass to is marked and cannot shoot either. Whereas if they made that pass a few seconds earlier then we would have created a really good goalscoring opportunity.

In that respect I can see a role for Pellistri as he offers something different to the others. While we really need Sancho to step up and turn his undoubted talent into performances as he is a player who plays with his head up. Another option could be playing Mount wide right, but that would require more cover in midfield.

Amad, I'm not sure where he fits to be honest. He had a good loan at Sunderland, but didn't create much and made more of an impact through his goals. He also played best more centrally than wide. Which would put him in competition with Bruno. A fight he is never going to win.

Overall adding Hojlund and not losing anyone means we have improved this area of the pitch. But we still look light at CF and could have done with replacing Martial with someone who will be fit. We are stronger, but it looks like we are dependent on players stepping up and showing more this season than they did last season to see a big improvement.

Overall we have improved the squad in many of the key areas while also managing to move on many of the players who just didn't contribute last season. If there is a flaw in this summer's window it is the inability to move on and replace some of squad players. Although that really was never a high priority.

Unfortunately due to a slow start and an injury crisis that improvement isn't showing in results or performances on the pitch. However, I remain confident that as the season progresses and we get those players back and we find our form we will see a better performances more consistently this season than we did last season.

While we might not feel that this summer's business has been done ideal, we have managed to improve the team, and clear out those players who made little to no contribution last season. Which is all you can really ask for. It's now down to the players and manager to get the results and put in the performances on the pitch.

Written by Shappy August 31 2023 14:00:12