The changing of the guard...

[Zatara]

I think whats interesting is that Martinez is always looking to add to this age group

Defence to add to Jags/Baines
Coleman (27)
Galloway
Mori
Stones
Browning
Holgate on the bench
Kenny hopefully coming through next
Pennington has done well before injury
Matty Foulds just signed

Midfield we have to add to Kone/Barry
McCarthy (25)
Cleverley (26)
Barkley
Besic
Deulofeu
Ledson /Henen / Dowell hopefully next through


Thats a huge amount of depth really and means that rather than diluting any cash across 5+ players we can focus on adding one or two stars going forward.

I wonder how good Leandro is and if he could be able to get a game alongside or as backup to Lukaku. We really need someone to compete with Lukaku and also a new keeper.

Two months on; this is very much in evidence now.
We have a spine of four..Stones/Barkley/Rom/Geri..all must play. Add in Galloway/Funes who in my eyes are proven already they can play high level football.

 

[Zatara]

The thread is not like one of my threads

It's about having a new wave of younger players (including Coleman) who are replacing those whose time with us is coming to an end e.g Hibbert/Osman/McGeady/Pienaar etc

Its showing how Martinez is organically replacing these older players with players from the u21s or new signings.

Of course the average age of the squad comes down. Ideally you would want it as low as possible filled with superstars who can grow together over a decade as Man Utd had with Giggs/Scholes etc. Then add in one or two major signings a season to improve the quality.

That's not what the thread was about. It's called changing of the guard and it's yet another boring we should only play people under 25 thread as once people turn 26 they become poop in some weird FM or FIFA world. This place is littered with the same thread written and rewritten and it's still not true. When fully fit our best defence will have Leighton Baines and no one in the squad comes close. Old heads are needed, Gareth Barry right now is performing brilliantly and is the leader of that team with a lot of experienced players out.

From now on I'll not try to make points in these threads just yawn loudly and link their predecessors.

 

[rochdaleblue]

I hope we don't revert to the 'old guard' against boro. I think we have a genuine chance to win the league cup this year. Start with our strongest 11 and we can beat boro. Start with Lennon, McGeady and Gibson and they will sense an upset.