The squad will be thinned out on guys that fit Tuchel's system. Potter has a system that is still being used at Brighton. Look at his system there and then you can see what he will do at Chelsea. The January window guys will stay. The summer guys may leave.
Where does Sterling have left to go? Few years ago would have said Arsenal next, but do they even need him
He put in a shift against Fulham. Really fought. IMO he would do well any where so long as he's willing to accept more of a bit part role and a more reasonable salary. I honestly wouldn't mind signing him with us, especially if we lose Rashford to injury. He'd be a good alternative to have around.
I'd love Timber but I don't know if ETH goes with 2 short CBs. The way I think it MIGHT work is if we were to sell/release Maguire, Jones & Bailly and use Timber as situation CB/RB along with Varane/Dalot at those positions respectively.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c.../anthony-martial-man-united-transfer-26165213 Maguire, Martial and Telles to be offered for sale in the summer.
I really don’t think ETH is going to be worried about 2 short CBs if he has enough in place to dominate the ball for 60-70% of a match, and Timber would be a big part of that in terms of his carrying and press evasion. Ten Hag’s already had the exact same CB pairing so I’d be amazed if he was reticent when he’s seen how well it plays out when both CBs are a couple of years less mature. I would expect Timber to be more of a squad player initially while Varane is still prime, before cementing one of CB/RB long term. CB Timber would definitely need a keeper that eats up crosses too, but that should be on our list anyway.
This whole height debate is always blown out of proportion. How many PL teams play the style of Stoke? Barely any. Even the bottom half teams attempt to get on the ball instead of hoofing it forward.
The reason I'm hesitant over a Martinez/Timber pairing isn't mainly about the style of play of the opponent, but the limitations having 2 short CBs places on set piece marking/defending. More and more chances/goals are coming from set pieces and having 2 short CBs is fine, if you have tall players in other positions who can mark. Right now, we have a good record of defending set pieces. If we lose Varane & Cas I worry about defending set pieces if at least 1 of the replacements isn't a bigger guy.
It is a balance across the 11 (and squad) thing for me. Few teams play with more than one striker generally anymore, let alone having two good in the air. So is mostly a set-piece thing. Lets face it, most of our other outfield players (particularly our attackers) are ass in the air - so we do need balance across the 11. It has been very useful having Weghorst - has anyone else noticed how significant his contribution has been at helping us defend set-pieces? Not suggesting we need a CF height monster, but given you need an attacking threat in the air as a CF, then having players like Ronaldo, Cavani, Ruud, Rooney etc. able to help defend set-pieces has been very useful. As has having a #6 like Cas (Carrick, Keane etc.) who can too. Sabitzer also decent in the air I believe. If we continue under EtH to pickup players who can help cover set-pieces across the team / squad, then am less nervous about having a player like Timber as CB alongside Martinez.
As a general rule, it helps to have a balance between the CB pair. One tall, one short, one left footed, one right, etc. Each offers something the other might not this way.
You know what else helps? Having a GK who can dominate the area on set pieces. What's that like again? I forget.
Yup. David Raya, Diogo Costa - insert competent modern goalkeeper who claims crosses and has great distribution here.
OK, rummaged through the free transfers this summer and only other one of note i found was Grimaldo (27)* - 28 at the start of the season Liga Nos became too inconvenient to watch of late and i haven't seen Benfica's games on the continent so i have no idea if he is as good as in years past but if ten Hag isn't high on Telles and short of money maybe this is an option. unsure. could easily get two FBs for depth or starting in Guerreiro and Grimaldo for free depending how things play out
Raiola, the cunning agent that he was (you know, the way he was such a big jerk), is really missed in the world football. Looks like a lot of footballers now have dud agents (just take Zaniolo as an example). Mendes doesn't look so super anymore now that Cristiano has ditched him. Perhaps a few up-and-coming great players will sign very bad contracts for clubs they should never have signed for. It's 5pm somewhere. I raise a glass in the hopes that Chelsea never luck out with their amortization strategy. As for our beloved club, maybe the bandits who own it will make off as, well, bandits, then thereafter the 10Hag era will kick off properly and really be something to behold. Supposedly we sounded out Barca for Ansu Fati. Tammy might be an alternative option at CF if we decide not to hand Tottenham or Napoli a quarter of a billion dollars. Vitor Roque from Brazil is someone we are working hard to land according to a big sport's paper in Italy. A couple of weeks back Marco Reus was said to have held a meeting with ten Hag and could sign for free in the summer. Needless to say, I like what I'm reading.
i agree Telles is likely to leave. i am not particularly impressed by either Shaw or Malacia. i'll give Malacia time particularly to see more of his offensive game though. i just mentioned what is out there. never said we had to
Why isn't there more interest in Marcus Thuram? He's available for free this summer. He's a better choice than Martial or Weghorst as a backup. I'm not saying we shouldn't be in for a world-class #9 this next window (because we absolutely should be), but why not augment our squad with some better talent like Thuram? He presses like hell. Just ask Argentina! He's only 25. And the price is right, even for the cvnt ownership group we've got. The romantic in me wants to see Mason Greenwood in that role, flying under the radar, and getting quality minutes off the bench while he turns his career around. But given the pipe-dream nature of that wish, I think Thuram is a better backup than anyone we've got starting now. Someone ring up Laurent Blanc and get his dad's number?!
I think there is an interest. My guess is if we can't get Kane or Osimhen, then we look at someone like Thuram as the alternative. So he's probably our 3rd or 4th choice on the radar this summer.
You guys that say no to Victor Osimehn because of his lack of involvment in build up play, I assume that rules out quite a few options like Tammy Abraham, Thuram, Vlahovic, and a few others.