Window closes without United signing a much-needed defender

The transfer deadline has now passed and Manchester United haven’t signed any more players, as Jose Mourinho suggested would be the case earlier today.

This means United’s first choice back four for the season ahead may still be Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young.

Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof should be given a shot to form a partnership given that Smalling and Jones have failed to impress for years.

There have been suggestions that Tim Fosu-Mensah will sign for Fulham on loan but there is still time remaining for loan deals to be completed.

Fred and Diogo Dalot are the only players United have signed this summer.

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60 Comments

Mobi August 9, 2018

WAU
Credit for that observation lies solely with u24!

CR
For all we know, José could've sanctioned the sale of all our CB's and they all refused to leave!

Bryan_Robson August 9, 2018

Mobi

Ignore the troll mate. He feeds on hate

Paul_Scholess August 9, 2018

CR, if data is to be trusted, he is always more than willing to sell players. I have to believe it's not JM's job to sell players, it is Woodward and his team's job to do it. Having players onboard for the pre-season and only to be sold is nothing new.

Ezzerguru August 9, 2018

I’m signing off. A bit perplexed and massively intrigued by our transfer window. Thank god it’s closed, for as much as I tried I couldn’t help but click on a lot of those obviously made up stories. Despite all the uncertainty and the negativity our manager has generated, I still expect us to beat Leicester comfortably tomorrow night.

CR August 9, 2018

Mobi,

Yes true, but why does he persist in playing them then? He's given some players too much paying-time.

Paul_Scholess,

Yes, though in many cases the players he's sold have been good players, not average ones. He's keeping the likes of Fellaini while benching the likes of Martial.

Anyway, there are some positives right now as well, especially the emergence of Pereira. Fred looks promising and Sánchez in form. A lot will depend on the tactics though. Players need to be unshackled. Just a suggestion for a line-up against Leicester, pending all the injuries and fitness levels:

FORMATION: 5-3-2
Martial Sánchez
McTominay Fred Pereira
Shaw Bailly Smalling Jones Lindelöf
DDG

Poster_Formerly_Known_as_Lims August 9, 2018

everton signed a few neat players. those 2 from barca could be good for them i think, unless they turn out to be duds

Actually, on second thought, maybe put Mata in there somewhere. Instead of McTominay perhaps.

N_N August 9, 2018

Darmian & Shaw played well preseason, there is every chance JM put signing an FB on the back burner.

As I said before, Bailley, Lindelof & Jones are all more than capable of mixing it with the best imo, so whilst I would have liked us to strengthen with Toby, its not the end of the world or an excuse that we didn’t. Unless 3/3 mentioned get injured. Alexis, Mata & Herrera had very good preseasons too.

CR I don’t rate Fellaini skill wise, but you cannot fault the guys effort, determination and passion, and what many still don’t get is that is JM’s number 1 attribute he looks for, hence why Young, Lingard, Fellaini & Sanchez get picked over Martial, or he criticises Shaw or Pogz as an eg.

Whilst I think his method of criticism is wrong, I don’t disagree that a ride or die player is better than a lazy one

N_N,

I don't fault that and I don't mind Fellaini being a squad player and Plan B, and this is not hating him or bashing him, but he should not be considered a starting player for Manchester United.

I agree, his quality of skill is not to our standards as one of the starting XI

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