Taking it from the top. De Gea has had a good season, because he has been called on in almost every game to put 180 minutes worth of work in. Because of the dross in front of him the spot light was on.
Smalling may yet work out but Jones has looked shocking for 2 seasons - moved too soon from Blackburn - should have been farmed out whilst a high profile CB was brought in to let Ferdinand or Vidic move on. CB requires at least one experienced older head, no panics, good communication, and for a club like ManU at least decent distribution. Evans couldn't oust either of the injury prone ones - good squad cover - not good enough every game first teamer.
De Gea was the best keeper in the league last season. Sadly, when your GK is your season's best player then something is not right. He has the talent to become the best in the world in the coming years.
You are right that a top, experienced CB needs to be added to the mix. Don't think anyone will dispute that.
However, I disagree that the three CB's are merely squad fillers. It is not easy to perform consistently when you are constantly injured or shunted around to different positions every other game. Central defense is all about partnerships, and neither under Fergie nor under Moyes did these guys get a chance to form one. Moyes went OTT with his squad selections and didn't pick the same team twice in his 51 games in-charge (Mind boggling). People remember Evans bad seasons but no one wants to recall the time when he performed brilliantly under a mostly uninterrupted run. His problem has been injuries, not talent.
Jones is only 22 and shown his versatility in a couple of positions. Has had some excellent performances, given mostly in defensive midfield, and needs to play in a fixed position to fulfill his talent.
People look at Smalling and judge him as a CB based on his performances at RB, where he is atrocious going forward but still solid defensively. Can't remember a horrible game he had at CB. You are obviously going to make a few mistakes when you play there once in 5 games and each time with a different partner. He is a good header of the ball, has good recovery pace and is tenacious. If anything he can blamed for, is his iffy distribution at times.
In addition, United's midfield frailties also take some blame for the defense. Most of the time our midfielders are too afraid and do not even provide an outlet for the defense. Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Fellani are all slow and leave gaps for the opposition midfield and attackers to exploit. It is tough for the defense under that kind of consistent pressure.
How much cash has been thrown at Evra for this 12 months? How bad is that Dutch LB that was signed thats not mentioned?
Rafael is a backup right back. Too small, not fast enough.
Buttner is wank and will most likely be shipped out. Evra had an option in his contract through which he could extend for another year. Evra doesn't have legs to play 50 games a season anymore. We need to buy a good first choice LB and use Evra for his dressing room presence and experience.
Rafael was tremendous in the season before and went back to his injured self again this term. "Not fast enough" is an inaccurate assessment. He is very pacy and a good outlet going forward. Links up well with our RW. Our team suffers in attack in his absence. We need to get a back RB and keep Rafael fit.
Valencia hasn't progressed, still playing his Wigan game, but being thrown in at RB because the transfer policy for half a decade has been awful must grate.
Valencia pace, strength and intelligence are an asset. His delivery has been wank for two seasons now. My guess is he'll be used as a wingback in Van Gaal's 433 system.
Nani wanted out 2 seasons ago - should have cashed in instead of refusing to up the pay of an unhappy player.
Young - crocked. Zaha patchy but a youth prospect (Puncheon looks 3 times the player) Januzay has had 6 months of decent play, young and could be a saviour.
Nani & Young will be sold. Januzaj is a precocious talent and will only get better. He'll be first choice for either wings next season. Lingard will come back as Young's replacement. Mata or a new addition will be used on the other wing.
Fletcher needed a replacement 4 or 5 years ago, has he made it back fully? Cleverly should be working in Greggs or somewhere because a footballer he aint! Fellaini isn't suited to Utd, Carrick is getting on and due to the half decade of transfer bunglings has been thrown in at CB somehow.
The midfield options besides Carrick do not give much confidence. They are mainly squad players and as I said earlier the area needs to be strengthened with at least one excellent additions. Our season will depend on how we are able to enforce the area.
Carrick played a sum total of one game in defense.
Mata - player. Kagawa - player. Rooney - player. (Too many cooks spoil the broth).
RVP old but quality. Welbeck fast but erratic. Hernandez scores when he plays.
RVP is 31. Hernandez and Kagawa will mostly likely be sold. And Wilson from the academy will be our fourth choice striker.
It's not David Moyes anymore. A good manager should be able to fit all these players together into a team.
Somehow Pogba was allowed to leave. He looks a big strong lad that can run a midfield does that lad. Fabulous piece of business that was.
Before Fellaini the last CM player (first team) signed at Utd was Hargreaves in 2008 (Carrick was 2007). Cashing in on Ronaldo and not reinvesting. Mega money on a nearly 30 RVP was some move, it got one title so it could be seen as a payoff.
Pogba was offered a contract but he wanted the first team spot too soon, which wasn't happening under Fergie. The club is too big to cower down to the demands of some 19 year old. Riola is agent. Let's see how long he stays at Juve. My guess - not very.
The market has inflated, mate. 24m on Van Persie, who played a huge part in our title win the season before, is peanuts. If I give you na option of a 30 year old at an inflated price who can win Everton the title, will you call it a bad transfer?
Where is the long term plan? Where is this magnificent youth system? Why aren't former players that are now(were) managing abroad like Solskjaer was not utilizing Utd youth prospects and sending that leagues best over to England?
The squad consists of mainly young players. The veterans have been released.
Youth systems go in cycles. No academy produces world class talent consistently. Still we have more players from the academy in the first team than any other top 4 club (am not counting one season wonders in Liverpool). The premier league is littered with players from the United youth academy. Wilson, Lingard, Lawrence, Varela and co. are waiting for a chance to be part of the first team.
"Why aren't former players that are now(were) managing abroad like Solskjaer was not utilizing Utd youth prospects and sending that leagues best over to England?"
Sorry, I couldn't comprehend what you meant by this.
Heavy was the burden of the crown that eventually got the better of Ferguson, he left a nightmare to deal with and the manner and ease at which that fact is glossed over provides a telling indictment of the fans and the sycophants in the media that refuse to admit what everyone else can see and that they know deep down. Perhaps with the last of the golden generation or whatever it was hanging up his boots the aura of the player power from that era can finally be put to bed.
League positions under Fergie in his last 5 years - 1, 2 (by one point), 1, 2 (on Gd), 1.
Fergie didn't sell anyone a dummy. His biggest mistake was trusting Dithering Dave to make the step up. The squad was no where near as bad as it performed last season. Moyes signed his death warrant by not strengthening last summer and then revamping the coaching staff.
The team needs addition in the right areas and a coach who is not overawed by the size of the club. Defeat and bad coaching can make a very good team like a bunch of plonkers. Judgement should always be based on long term, not on one good or bad season.
Sycophants in the media? The same people who kept calling it the worst squad at United every year, yet we still kept winning the titles year on year and making them eat a crow. Even a broken clock is right twice in a day.
A rebuild is definitely required at the club. And no sensible United fan thinks that we are going to win the title in the next two years. We have no divine right. What we want is good football to be played, our youth given a chance and signs of progress.
With our resources and the right manager it is not as big as job as some think. If people want to write United off, they can do so at their own peril.
But that is a discussion for another thread). You cannot question his judgement on that.
