Dusic

Assuming Jankowitz starts, IMO he has to play alongside JWP rather than adding Armstrong in there, especially seeing as its a strong area for Utd. I wouldnt be suprised to see Armstrong on the bench as Ralph is always very cautious with him playing every 3 days and he played last midweek too. That would mean Djenepo and Redmond in the #10s behind Ings and Adams. So RB...would only leave one of the Academy lads like Ramsay. Tough ask against either Martial or Rashford.

Will doubtless be positioned as full back cover being of lesser need with KWP injury not too bad and CBs getting close to fitness. Reality is if you are reliant on other clubs letting players go, for little benefit to them, then you are liable to be left with nothing. To have loaned out Vokins, and frozen out Valery it also suggests it was a mistake in the summer to think that they were sufficient back up. We have been extremely fortunate that Bertrand and KWP have generally been durable despite our playing style and the impact of a condensed season. Such a shame to be left with a weakness in a position where it surely wouldn't cost the earth to have something better. Agree no point in getting someone for the sake of it, but with months to plan for this window and being in a comfortable league position, its just a bit disappointing and I'm sure Ralph agrees. I can't think of any other PL club who just have one RB and one LB.

Ornstein says "good chance" AMN will choose to stay at Arsenal if he can't join Leicester. The King/Long deal interesting as King could play any of the front four positions but if I were him I would wait and see what is available in the summer as a free agent. Full back cover is what is essential today, as it has been since the summer.

DM linking us with loan move for Billy Gilmour. Good player, but full back cover surely more of a need, unless Diallo and Romeu are out for a while in which case CM is arguably more of a need.

Quite possibly. Failure to sign back up in the full back area after failing to do so in the summer would be a big disappointment, especially as on the face of it there is no reason why we couldn't find someone who we can afford to do the job. Its not like we are searching for a starting striker. Just a competent run of the mill full back. To just have one selectable RB and one selectable LB is insufficient in a normal season, let alone this covid congested one.

If we do sign someone, presumably they come straight in to start at RB as am guessing KWP will be out. JWP has to play midfield with presumably Jankowitz as Romeu pulled up injured. Valery clearly not trusted.

Ralph: "Good players cost money and we have no money".

Pretty clear from the second half of Ralph's presser that Romeu, JWP and Diallo will all start with presumably Diallo or JWP moved to RB. Talked about how when you have players of quality you must find them a space in the team, even if it isnt their perfect position.

Mitchell seems to have been a disappointment, certainly in terms of goals, considering the fee we paid for him at 16yo.

Maitland-Niles is right footed. We don't need a #10 as its probably our best stocked position, especially with Djenepo and Redmond now back. We need a competent full back cover, preferably someone for whom that is their actual position and they would like to play there not in midfield. Tricky bit is unless the KWP injury is bad, they are going to be a squad player, covering occassionally. Maitland-Niles wouldn't be a first choice full back, midfielder or no10 for us, but he is probably a better third choice goalkeeper than Harry Lewis.

He is a midfielder who was used at full back by Arsenal when they had nobody else and then picked by England at LB when there was an injury crisis and he had recently played well there for Arsenal in a big game. As he says himself, he is not a defender. https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/im-not-a-defender-maitland-niles-makes-arsenal-admission/shn3rdw2ybb11b9zfy0ubthtj

Unlikely unless we felt we could sign him permanently and IMO he is a central midfielder, not really a full back. Anyone else wonder if maybe KWP injury is not a minor one and RH hasn't disclosed that for fear of putting prices/loan terms up? Seemed strange that he said he didn't know how bad it was after the Arsenal game, I don't believe that considering how on top of the medical side they are and Ralph personally is usually very honest.

If an injury to one first XI player causes a key player from another position to move and cover there instead of picking the backup player whose job it is to play in that position then it juat shows the composition of the squad is wrong. If we have multiple injuries in a position then that is different, but at full back that is not the case. If Valery and Vokins are not considered good enough to cover a short term absence then neither should be in the first team squad in a role that is essentially to do the above. Diallo deserves to stay in the team for now, Romeu gives a great option from the bench.

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-man-united-put-block-on-in-demand-star-leaving-this-month/#Echobox=1611746133 Don't recall us being linked with any other full backs this window.

Simple summary: the PL is ruthless and players who are not good enough will be exposed. This is what happened tonight. We are a good team when our best players in each position are available and fresh, but we don't have the depth to handle 4 or 5 starters missing at the same time. No disgrace but its probably what sets our ceiling as being a top half finish rather than potential to perhaps do a little better.

One thing is certain, Spurs aren't going to take their £40m+ option to sign Vinicius. They will be in the market for Ings, without doubt.

Seems like the injured players are starting to come back which is good. Arguably the only area we are light is full back, so possibly this Arsenal game has come at a good time, in that Vokins and likely Valery will play and will really show how urgent the requirement is. Also it is clear we will only bring in a loan that we feel we can buy if we want to, and that makes total sense IMO.

His recent injury record is pretty good. He pretty much plays 90mins every game for us and I can't recall any lengthy muscle injuries in the last 18 months or so. Running his contract down gives him more options rather than fewer and he can't base his career on the possibility he might get a bad injury - its a risk all footballers have.

The LB selection will be interesting. If it isn't Vokins then that will be very telling about Ralph's view on him. Otherwise I don't see many changes as quite simply there aren't any we can make that don't reduce out chances of a win. Sounds like some of the injured players will be back soon, so if anyone needs a rest then wait til they can come in.

I interpret the Semmens comments as Ings intending to run his contract down to keep his options open, which he is perfectly entitled to. Happy at the club and professional but no intention to sign a new deal at this stage. Not really sure his comments can be interpreted as good news or bad news, its basically confirming much of what has been reported. Very similar comments to those said re Hojbjerg's contract and situation. Perhaps a compromise would be a sensible release clause that becomes valid summer 2022? Therefore we get 18months from him at which point he can move and we get our investment back to allow us to replace him.

Now that Jaidi's secondment has finished, it begs the question why they called it a secondment considering he clearly hasnt returned to the club? Presumably his return was never the plan?

The Mourinho comments are a thinly veiled attempt to hide interest. Yes Kane is no1 striker. Yes Son is no 3 striker. But the no2 striker Vinicius is only on loan has an option of approx £35m and Mourinho seemingly doesn't rate him if game time is anything to go on, so very unlikely they would be signing him permanently. Mourinho favours experienced players and if they can save 10m by going for Ings whilst also upping the homegrown number - its an absolute no brainer move.

Didn't he come back as ALWAYS_SFC?

With a nod to David Connolly, who would you bring back from the dead/elsewhere/other forums? Where is Roger these days? Or that wazza from Dubai?

Will be interesting to see when the usual SWF player opinion shift will begin. The one where, like with Hojberg, he goes from being good to woeful once it becomes clear he will be leaving. Won't play at the team he joins, not a top 6 player etc. Not as good as N'Lundulu. Adams makes him look good. He was only good because of Ralph and Aleks Gross etc etc. I reckon April this year.