I think so too in terms of being stronger, Varane and Sancho improve two spots that needed fixing no doubt.
City fans on this thread making out Varane is average because of his games against yourselves are kidding themselves. Look at his accomplishments for club and country. He's in his peak and Madrid cashed in knowing he would leave next summer for a new challenge. The fact he's hungry to try a new challenge shows his level of motivation which is exciting as unlike di maria, Varane wanted this united move. Whether he will be a success and adapt to the prem we'll have to wait and see as nothing is guaranteed.
Regarding De Gea it's a tricky one for Ole. The defence with Dean behind them looked solid overall and Dean is so vocal as we heard without fans. Throughout the matches you can here him constantly communicating with the defence and as anyone who's played football knows this is goes along way to performing better as defensive unit. If Dean hadn't picked up covid he would have continued this season as our no1 and deserved the chance after last season. He's far more commanding than Spanish Dave which improves the performance of the defence as a whole. Despite not being a better shot stopper.
De Gea is on 350k pw therefore we can't just get rid and it wasn't that long ago he was regularly picking up our POTS award along with Premiership keeper of the season and then his form fell off a cliff. Many united fans like myself perhaps and probably through rose tinted glasses hope he can rediscover this form as he was amazing for so many years it's hard to accept we wont see this form again. Blind faith you could say.
Regarding Pogba again it's a tricky one. On his day and on quite a few occasions last season he was unplayable but there's been no consistency since he joined and then there's Raiola. I'd slightly disagree with the work rate criticism as I think he's running style creates the impression he's not trying at times but statistically for distance covered last season in 90 mins he did ok. The main issue is that us along with France struggle to define what his position should be. France have to have Kante next to him to make up for his defensive positioning and because he will take risks with his passing as we saw against Switzerland therefore he can be criticised for giving the ball away to easy in the wrong positions. I've got no issue with players taking a risks in the right area of the pitch but we've seen him get caught dwindling in position on the halfway line and before you know it we are on the back foot.
If we played a 4-3-3 then we could probably accommodate him more but in a 4-2-3-1 he's not as good as Bruno at being a 10, not disciplined enough to constantly play part of a midfield 2 unless he has a freak like Kante with him therefore I can see him getting minutes left of the front 3 like last season whilst Rashford is out and against weak teams Ole will play him as part of a 2 man pivot in centre midfield.
Very talented player but he just doesn't fit into Ole's plans and I think both parties know this.
Players, coaches and ex teammates never moan about him or criticise his effort of commitment to the team therefore I do think he gets a hard time by the press like Raheem.
If he came out and did what Kane has done he'd get lynched by the English press.
We've definitely strengthened but cannot match City's depth plus you probably have the best manager in the league.
when is Pep leaving :)
