Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , treble winner Teddy Sheringham has run through the personnel decisions facing Manchester United .
Sheringham has argued that Benjamin Sesko 's absence left the whole team exposed, insisted United reject every offer for Bruno Fernandes , and warned against signing Viktor Gyokeres .
The former striker has also cooled talk of moves for Troy Parrott and Folarin Balogun , backed Frank Lampard to stay at Coventry City , and reacted to the JJ Gabriel saga.
The Number Nine
Would United Be in a Better Position if Benjamin Sesko Were Fit?
Has Benjamin Sesko 's injury exposed Manchester United 's defenders? Without doubt.
We used to say you're only as good as your two strikers; now it's one striker, and if that one striker isn't doing his job holding up the ball and retaining possession, if he's not putting the two centre-halves under pressure and running in behind, doing the dogged work proper centre-forwards do, everything falls apart.
The amount of times you see the ball go up to Bryan Mbeumo and it just comes straight back; it puts you under pressure. Every position is a big position, but a goalkeeper and a centre-forward can get you out of jail sometimes, and if you haven't got a centre-forward who knows how to play the position, your whole team is going to struggle. If Sesko had never been injured, United wouldn't be anywhere near the relegation zone right now, even if he didn't score a single goal.
Could Viktor Gyokeres Be an Option for United?
What evidence have we got that Viktor Gyokeres could enhance this Manchester United team? For me, he's a big problem in the Arsenal setup. Everything stops when it goes near him. Every now and again he does something useful and you think, well done, but in general play stops when it goes to him, so I don't think it would be the right signing at all.
Signing players like Viktor Gyokeres from Arsenal is not what Manchester United should be about. If we're talking about a Robin van Persie playing out of his skin, go and get him; you pay the big money because you know he's going to lead the line and win you titles. That's not the case with Viktor Gyokeres .
The Targets
How Painful Would It Be to See Troy Parrott in an Arsenal Shirt?
Tottenham Hotspur fans might be hoping United go and sign Troy Parrott if the other option is Arsenal getting him. That would be another kick in the ghoulies for Spurs , to see Troy Parrott come out of Tottenham , have a little spell of success and then go into Arsenal . That would be a wind-up and a half.
Should United Look at Folarin Balogun in January?
Is Folarin Balogun a player Manchester United should be looking at in January? No, I don't think so. It could take him six months to get up to speed, and United need ready-made players who can go straight in under the spotlight and handle the situation, not a relative unknown at this level asking the question of whether he could be the right man.
He might think he'd be the right man, but when you actually start playing for United and know what it's all about, it becomes a very different proposition, and I'm not sure Balogun is ready for that.
If a Big Offer Came in for Bruno Fernandes, Would United Have to Consider It?
It doesn't matter if Bruno Fernandes is unhappy or out of form; Manchester United should reject every offer that comes in for him. The more top players you've got, the more chance you've got of getting results, so to get rid of him would be the wrong move.
When we're talking about leaders on the pitch, Bruno leads this team. He tries to lead by example and has been a very good example. He's not the whole package, but he's definitely one of the leaders in the dressing room and on the pitch who actually tries to change things. His mannerisms leave a little bit to be desired sometimes, but in general his leadership qualities are very good.
The Dugout and Beyond
Is Frank Lampard an Option if Carrick's Time Comes to an End?
I think people would be very apprehensive about Frank Lampard going back to a big club after what happened at Chelsea and Everton . He's in the perfect job at the moment and doing great, and it's great for English managers to be involved and doing well, so he should just concentrate on what he's doing and enjoy this period at Coventry City .
He's still a young man as a manager, and you can learn an awful lot even when you might be fighting relegation. If Coventry lose two games and then win the third, they can keep going, but if you lose that third and a fourth, it can all fall on top of you again, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles that.
What Have You Made of the Latest Twist in the JJ Gabriel Saga?
I think it's absolutely absurd what's going on. I don't know all the ins and outs, but I wish JJ Gabriel well because he looks like a lovely little footballer. But blimey, there are troubles ahead for him at this rate if these are the demands when he's still only fifteen.
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