Really nice article Pauly as always. I would say though, Manchester united not only have made poor signings but also made questionable extension to players in the hopes to retain value to add to the overall bloated wage structure. Extending players like Mata, Bailly, Jones, Matic and Axel to name a few who are not first team starters by now is just why?...
The signings we made for the current season weren’t entirely bad aside from cr7. Varane was okay to add as a better first choice depth for centre back. Reason for this is Maguire was superman playing in almost every league and cup game since joining which caught up to him by the end and he couldn’t play in Europa final and Euros. Axel and Bailly were not fit enough to be backups. We also had to try and limit Victor’s game time as well because he had a back injury if I recall. All this to say that going into yet another full season with these centre back choices wasn’t going to be wise if the entire plan was to hope that Maguire would be bullet proof again after coming back from an injury. Varane was very opportunistic considering the price we got for him up front.
I mainly hope that the club can find some sort of structure that works for them and is streamlined. If it involves deep data science like what Liverpool do, then great. But it must be a process that is subjective and not something that will be interfered with by the glazers or whoever is above John Murtough now. Also, we should totally stop trying to go for players that Man City "Might" buy all because of pride at preventing them getting a player. Totally hasn't slowed them down at all. In fact, some cases, it has helped to get a better player...
On the bright side we have a new shiny data science department set up earlier on in the season if I recall that may or may not be listened to (Probably not for now since we are so all in on Declan Rice). Ralf will advise the club after his interim role that we may or may not listen to.
Does Manchester United even have a vision what they need their players to do? I don't think United have two players that could be used in a same way. For example Dalot and AWB or Shaw and Telles are totally different player profiles and work differently in a match.
Really nice article Pauly as always. I would say though, Manchester united not only have made poor signings but also made questionable extension to players in the hopes to retain value to add to the overall bloated wage structure. Extending players like Mata, Bailly, Jones, Matic and Axel to name a few who are not first team starters by now is just why?...
The signings we made for the current season weren’t entirely bad aside from cr7. Varane was okay to add as a better first choice depth for centre back. Reason for this is Maguire was superman playing in almost every league and cup game since joining which caught up to him by the end and he couldn’t play in Europa final and Euros. Axel and Bailly were not fit enough to be backups. We also had to try and limit Victor’s game time as well because he had a back injury if I recall. All this to say that going into yet another full season with these centre back choices wasn’t going to be wise if the entire plan was to hope that Maguire would be bullet proof again after coming back from an injury. Varane was very opportunistic considering the price we got for him up front.
I mainly hope that the club can find some sort of structure that works for them and is streamlined. If it involves deep data science like what Liverpool do, then great. But it must be a process that is subjective and not something that will be interfered with by the glazers or whoever is above John Murtough now. Also, we should totally stop trying to go for players that Man City "Might" buy all because of pride at preventing them getting a player. Totally hasn't slowed them down at all. In fact, some cases, it has helped to get a better player...
On the bright side we have a new shiny data science department set up earlier on in the season if I recall that may or may not be listened to (Probably not for now since we are so all in on Declan Rice). Ralf will advise the club after his interim role that we may or may not listen to.
Does Manchester United even have a vision what they need their players to do? I don't think United have two players that could be used in a same way. For example Dalot and AWB or Shaw and Telles are totally different player profiles and work differently in a match.