I think Casemiro, in the main, has been a success, tbh. He was utter ****e against us in the 7-0, and I think that highlighted how vulnerable United still are when he's not there. I still think Martinez is the no 6 they're looking for, but most of my United friends and neighbours see him as a permanent fixture at CB now for both them and Argentina (perhaps rightly).
yes he was ok for the majority of the season but was blowing out his arse quite a lot.
he's going to be 32 this season and is rotund. theres a reason real were delighted to off load for a vast fee to utd. Absolutely nothing to do with his calss, his attitude or that, purely he is never going to be a long term option and he won't cope with the demand.
Martinez is a CB but not an english CB. he's not been really found out too much cos he is dirty as **** and has theat utter commitment but he is dominated in the air.
Utd have a big problem that getting rid of de gea solves. if the next keeper an push that defensive line 10 yards up the park then the spec becomes that space behind the cbs rather than the whole outfit sitting deep or some not bothering to track back.
the lacked goals imo simply because they sit deeper to protect de gea and the other defenders.
For me utd no 1 priority should have been a sweeper keeper, no 2 a partner for casamiro and no 3 the striker.
Instead up pops mason mount for a vast fee.
right now this would even be a transition phase stil lfor me.
NEW GK
Dalo? varane Martinez Shaw? (instantly you see why its transitonal, those full backs)
Casemiro NEW CM
Anthony Fernandes Rashford (this is their best 3, you'd want to see snacho, garancho and others step up)
NEW STRIKER
or some such version of this in a 433 with double pivot at CM.
As it stands they now have mount in which creates a different balance and we have never seen utd play a 3223 and move someone into midfield form the back line ala city or our poor efforts at it.
Utd need 3 more signings imo just to consolidate top 4 they have earned back.