It isn’t hidden knowledge that since the 25 year ‘Fergie era’ came to an end, Manchester United have struggled to hit the heights of the golden era. What made Alex Ferguson’s teams so dangerous is the strength in depth that they always had. In each and every position, a substitute was available who could come on and make an impact and affect the game. Gone are the days when the Red Devils had names such as Ruud Van-Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Alan Smith, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Diego Forlan all on the books. Seven players, all of which could easily play in the same position just proves how much strength Fergie’s United of the 2004-2005 season possessed.
The problem with the United side of today is that outside of the starting 11, there is little strength in depth. Yes, they’re still getting used to life under Ole but this shouldn’t be an excuse. The Norwegian has now had the best part of four transfer windows to improve the squad. Although the signings made have been reasonable, with Dan James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes all becoming Old Trafford regulars, there is still room for improvement all over the pitch.
I take a look at the depth in the squad and highlight where improvements could and should be made.
Goal Keepers
David de Gea
Dean Henderson
Sergio Romero
Lee Grant
Arguably Manchester United’s strongest area. Although de Gea has been a little rocky as of the past few seasons, he’s still one of the leagues best. United also have one of last season’s standout performers in Dean Henderson challenging for the number one spot. Both men kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League last season.
The ever solid Sergio Romero was linked with a move away from Old Trafford, but no moves ever came to fruition. Expect to see Romero less than last season as Henderson will likely be the ‘cup goalkeeper’. Lee Grant made just one appearance last season in the Europa League against Astana in a 1-0 defeat and expect less from him this season.
Defenders
Harry Maguire
Aaron Wan- Bissaka
Luke Shaw
Victor Lindeloff
Timothy Fosu- Mensah
Brandon Williams
Eric Bailly
Diogo Dalot
Phil Jones
Marcus Rojo
Chris Smalling
Axel Tuanzebe
Teden Mengi
Despite seemingly having strength in depth in defence, this is where Manchester United begin to struggle. Early showings verses both Crystal Palace and Brighton gave fans nightmares. Especially in the Brighton game United were lucky to get all three points. The defending was woeful.
Starting central defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindeloff are reasonable options. Saying that, Ole certainly isn’t a fan of Lindeloff’s style. He knowingly wants defenders who can defend one-on-one, which is where Lindeloff doesn’t shine. Bailly is still on the return from a rough injury last season but could easily be a United centre back for years to come. At just 26, the 6’2 Ivorian does make mistakes, but nothing that has been too catastrophic.
Despite having Smalling, who had a good campaign at Roma last season, Rojo and Jones all on the books, none of these men are likely to be the answer to Manchester United’s question. Both Smalling and Rojo have been heavily linked with moves away this season, with the latter having been on loan in his native Argentina during the second half of last season. Jones made just eight total appearances last season, his least since joining the club. For the amount that he plays and his overall contributions to the club, many question his supposed £75,000 a week contract.
Two of United’s most promising stars come in the form of Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi. Tuanzebe, a United player since his youth and recipient of the ‘Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the year award’ in 2015 has what it takes to be a quality centre half. A loan move during the 2018-19 season to then Championship Aston Villa saw Tuanzebe make 30 appearances andhe aided them to promotion that season. Tuanzebe captained United in the League Cup last season, despite more senior players being selected, a definite feather in the young defenders cap.
It was criminal for Ole to call up Teden Mengi to the first team, select him in the match day squad for the first round tie away at Luton Town and yet not given him minutes. It was the perfect tie to give him match time, even as a second half substitute, it would have given Mengi first team experience.
The signing that should and needs to be made is getting the signature of Dayot Upamecano. The RB Leipzig centre back has impressed in his young career so far. At just 21 years old, he’s made 85 appearances for Leipzig and has twice been selected for the French national team. United were rumoured to be interested in him in 2015 but he joined the German Bundesliga instead. Gone are the days of Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic, but Upamecano has the skill to become just as loved by the Old Trafford faithful as legends gone by.
Both right and left back also need strengthening. Despite Wan-Bissaka being one of England’s best young prospects, the back-up options are bleak. Fosu-Mensah is good but nowhere near ready for regular football in a team that has top four ambitions. With Dalot seemingly having one foot out the door, the options are thin. Brandon Williams is a right back, who as of yet, has played on the left hand side. If Manchester United are able to get the signature of another left sided defender, Williams will likely revert to his preferred right hand side. The potential of Alex Telles is exciting. The Porto left back is the attacking option that United require in this position. With an impressive 11 league goals last season and two in two already this season, Telles would improve the United starting 11. With the competition for a place in Ole’s starting 11, this would likely up Luke Shaw’s game and lead him to hit the heights he was rumoured to achieve back in 2014.
Defensive Midfield
Fred
Nemanja Matic
Scott McTominay
Paul Pogba
James Garner
Dylan Levitt
Sticking with the 4-2-3-1 system that Solskjaer prefers, United do have options. The world-class Paul Pogba is arguably the most solid of these. The Frenchman can turn it on when he wants and be one of the leagues best midfielders. The problem is that he is both injury prone and has previously had a poor attitude towards commitment to the club. Making just 22 appearances last season, 15 of which were in the league, Pogba looks to be in a good place in recent times. Rumours that the one-year extension clause has been activated on his contract is also exciting for Manchester United fans.
Fred and McTominay don’t get the praise they deserve for their efforts last season. Fred was United’s standout in the early period, constantly breaking up opposition attacks and he began to show why Woodward paid £47 million for him. The 29 appearances last season were a highlight as to how highly Ole regards the Brazilian, although he did seem to fall out of favour after ‘Project re-start’. McTominay on the other hand had a rough 2019-20 season. Despite also making 29 appearances, McTominay suffered a knee ligament injury in December, keeping him out for two months. Both Fred and McTominay are solid, with the Scot certainly having a future at Old Trafford. At just 23 years old, he’s recently signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2025. Fred will also likely stay at the club for a number of years to come and is very much a squad player.
The preferred options at holding midfielders as of late has been the partnership of Matic and Pogba. Each offer different styles to the game, with Pogba very much being the deep playmaker and Matic doing the dirty work, breaking up attacks and getting stuck in. Although this partnership has worked, especially during the restart, it isn’t a partnership that will last. Matic is 32 and clearly has his flaws. He was massively outplayed when United played Brighton on their second game this season. Constantly being done for pace, Matic looked slightly out of his depth dealing with Brighton’s attacking threat. Suffering a yellow card, the Serbian looked all of his 32 years. Although Pogba seems to be settled at United for the meantime, don’t be surprised to see him return to Juventus within the next few years.
What’s the answer? With both Garner and Levitt going out on loan to Watford FC and Charlton Athletic respectively, the youth options are bright. Both have made first team appearances and Ole will be keeping a close eye on their progress this season. With the signing of Donny Van de Beek from Ajax, it could fill the gap left by Matic. Van de Beek can play anywhere in midfield, including in the holding position. Why United haven’t been linked with the young English talent, Declan Rice is certainly questionable. Rice is seemingly seeking a move to Chelsea from West Ham, but it is concerning that United haven’t even been in the running. He would slot into the middle of United system well, breaking up attacks and using his vision to pick out the forward pass into space in order for the quick attackers to run onto. With Rice also being competent at centre back, it would have been the perfect signing for Manchester United to make.
Attacking Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes
Juan Mata
Donny Van de Beek
Jesse Lingard
Andreas Pereira
The attacking midfield options are reasonable at Old Trafford. The signing of Bruno Fernandes in January last season arguably saved Ole’s job, with the Portuguese playmaker making an instant impact. With 14 appearances, eight goals and seven assists, Bruno earned Manchester United’s player of the season award. The signing of Van de Beek is also a blessing at Manchester United. The dutch international notched 10 goals last season and despite not starting a league game for United this season, scored on his league debut against Crystal Palace. At just 23, the talented midfielder is certainly one for the future.
Juan Mata still seems to be a player that goes under the radar. Is it because he isn’t the quickest of player or because he doesn’t play in a flashy manner? His talent is phenomenal and has shone in the two league cup games he’s played this season. He’s been directly involved in 12 goals in his last 15 starts, including four goals and eights assists. Understandably he’s probably good for another season or two. At the tender age of 32, with not enough pace to fit into United’s pacey counter attacking style, he certainly won’t be a regular in the starting 11 this season. Despite this, we did win Manchester United's playe of the month award for September.
The less said about Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira the better. Neither man is good enough to play in a Champions League side, let alone get a side who intend to rival Liverpool or Manchester City. A stable member since 2011, with multiple periods out on loan, Lingard has never really been a regular in Manchester United’s plans. He’s always come across as a player that comes in to ‘fill’ a position. Rumours of a move away, potentially to Spurs have been circling, but nothing of yet has been agreed. Pereira is also a player that doesn’t seem to be in Solskjaer’s long term plans . Too easily bullied off the ball, the Brazilian has joined Lazio on loan this season and will likely join them full time next season.
This is the one position that Manchester United don’t exactly need to strengthen. Fernandes, Van de Beek and Mata are all solid options, with the potential of Pogba filling in at a last resort. It’s criminal that Manchester United didn’t renew the contact of Angel Gomes at the end of last season. To let him go at all is bad enough, but to release him without gaining any sort of fee for him is awful business. The 20 year old signed for French club Lille on a free transfer.
Forwards
Marcus Rashford
Anthony Martial
Mason Greenwood
Dan James
Odion Ighalo
Tahith Chong
It’s no hidden secret that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to invest in a more well established right forward. Despite that, the options that Manchester United currently have are certainly not poor.
Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood were the manager’s preferred options on each wing towards the end of last season. Both men are lethal in front of goal, with Rashford scoring an impressive 17 goals in 31 league appearances last campaign. This stat is even more impressive when you consider that he suffered a double stress fracture in his back mid way through the season.
Mason Greenwood is one of the most versatile players Manchester United have had in years. Equally as good with either foot, the young Englishman makes it difficult for defenders to know which way he’ll go. With pace and the finishing instincts of a seasoned professional, Greenwood is certainly one for the future. Playing in the right winger position for the majority of his first team career, he was exposed against Brighton for a lack of defensive awareness, but this will inevitably come with more experience. Remember, he is still only 19 years old.
Anthony Martial finally hit the heights he was rumoured to achieve last season, being the man trusted to lead the line in a more forward, central role than his usual left sided position. With deadly finishing, Martial was feared by defenders last season. Recording his highest ever scoring season last campaign, Martial looks to pick up where he left off this season.
Dan James looked very promising in the early part of last season, scoring three goals early on in his United career. Despite blistering pace, the winger didn’t featured as regularly in the later parts of last season. At just 22, he’s could be one for the future, but with the Manchester United boss looking to strengthen the club’s right wing position, it doesn't seem that he's in the current plans.
Tahith Chong is a talent, having won 12 senior caps last season. Despite this, he has struggled to really make a name for himself in Ole’s eyes and hasn’t got that ‘standout’ attribute just yet. Yes he’s quick, but many players are. He hasn’t got killer finishing or crossing techniques and he seems a little too inexperienced just yet to read the game quick enough to be a regular starter. His loan move to Werder Bremen will hopefully give him the experience he requires.
Ighalo is what you’d expect a 31 year old striker who was brought in on short notice from the Chinese Super League to be. The former Watford man has certainly filled the gap that Manchester United needed filling in January of this year. He’s a solid option to bring off the bench and play in cup games, can cause defenders problems with his strength and can hold the ball up excellently. Does he have a future in Manchester? It’s highly doubtful. It’s a nice story, a lifelong fan of the club finally gets to play his part, but expect him to go back to China at the end of his loan deal.
A winger for the future to keep an eye on is Anthony Elanga. The left winger recorded seven goals and three assists in nine games last season for the under 18s. At just 18 years of age, don’t be surprised to see him in and around the first team in the near future.
Where Manchester United need to strengthen is both right wing and to secure an out and out forward. The name Jadon Sancho is never far from the lips of United fans, with the club relentlessly in pursuit of the Borussia Dortmund man. Will he be the answer to United’s prayers? Quite possibly. He’s one of the greatest young talents England has had for a number of years. What Ed Woodward needs to do is swallow his pride and pay the price the German giants are asking for. The likelihood of his price increasing next season is inevitable, so get the player now when he’s available and when there isn’t any other interest from rival clubs.
If it isn’t Sancho, Manchester United are considering Ousmane Dembele. The worrying thing is the young Frenchman’s injury record. He was only able to make nine appearances last season as a result of injuries which largely kept him out of the Barcelona squad.
A striker is also needed at Old Trafford. Edinson Cavani is currently a free agent and guaranteed goal scorer. With an insane 138 goals in 200 Paris St Germain league appearances, Manchester United should do whatever it takes to get the 33 year old to Manchester. Yes, he isn’t one for the future, with probably one or two decent seasons left in his legs, however, with the exception of last season, Cavani has scored at least 23 goals a season, consistently for nine consecutive seasons. The addition of the Uruguay international will take the pressure off Greenwood to have to develop so quickly and will allow his development to be more natural, as well as giving him the opportunity to work alongside a certified goal machine. Rumours have circulated that Cavani has agreed personal terms at Old Trafford and is on the brink of securing a two year deal with the Red Devils.
If he does sign for the reds, don't let this cloud the fact that Woodward hasn't completed deals that needed addressing and that as of late, Manchester United's transfer strategy has been poor. A number of players have been close to signing for Manchester United, but the clubs have been put off by their strategy of payment. A upfront payment, which then includes add ons, bonuses and a lack of a sell on clause has certainly put clubs off doing business with Ed Woodward.
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