If you knew what you know now about Sneijder and Nasri..

Makki

I always wanted Modric ahead of both of them..

Vidic_In_Moscow

I never thought Nasri was the player we truly needed, in my view the two biggest areas our midfield struggle are creating space, and incisive passing to supply the strikers.

It's rare but you can get players who can do both, like Scholes, Iniesta and even Giggs. Nasri is neither IMO. Modric is a good example of a semi-available space maker, which HUGELY benefits Carrick & Rooney, as we see when an on form Giggs is on the park, or even Scholes now. It makes Carrick & Rooney's job 10x easier because they aren't natural at creating space for themselves so it pays off when those around them can create space for them.

On the flipside I think Sneijder is just the sort of incisive passer our midfield also needs, the first player(s) that would benefit in my mind are the likes of Welbeck, Hernandez & Nani, but as far as I know, he isn't the great space-maker so I still don't think he would have answered our prayers. In my heart of hearts I thought Sneijder wasn't the right player at the time for us, although having said that, the muppet in me thought why not? He's better than what we have.

To answer OP, no I wouldn't want us to buy Nasri, neither in the Summer or now, and no I wouldn't want us to sign Sneijder now, but did we really learn a lot about them in the last 6 months?

surf

Like this midfield?

Nazza Wezza

Luka Modric

Redlambs

I'd still take either of them.

Vidic_In_Moscow

Furthermore, to the fickle - such as myself - fans, I learnt a lot more about Carrick in the past 6 months than I did about Nasri/Sneijder.

If I may factor that into my thoughts, I think that if we were to sign Sneijder, I don't think it would work too well with Carrick in a 442 CM pairing. I just don't think Sneijder creates enough space in his style of play to bring the best out of Carrick. What I would say however, is that in a midfield 3 (433), I think the combo of Sneijder - Carrick - Player X (ala Modric/Iniesta/Giggs/Scholes) would be perfect.

peterstorey

I know what you mean but he's just one of the Glazer plants paid to send out the corporate message.

Kid Cunto

Our midfield would still improve with either now.

Ramshock

Cant tell how things would have been under different circumstances. In fact things would almost certainly be different.

charlenefan

You watch a lot of European football, you dont like the idea of the likes of Martinez or Garcia? At the moment from what I've read it seems like it's the former we'll be after in the summer

The White Pele

As much as I love Sneijder, I was never convinced that it is possible to get the best out of him and Rooney simultaneously. Nasri I believe would have shown more for us than he has for City thus far.

Modric really is the dream ticket though and my number 1 choice. Having him alongside Carrick consistently with the Nani/Valencia wing threat and Rooney and Welbeck/Hernandez up front would be a sight to behold.

Cold_Boy

Modric is clearly the one.

Varun_Utd

Modric would be best suited but its very unlikely we'l ever get him after levy turned down 40mil from chelsea. Never really wanted sneijder here. very good player but not really suited to the way we play with 2 strikers. Him in a withdrawn role isnt the best use of him.

lysglimt

Some people fit one club and not another - there is no guarantee that Nasri wouldn't have performed brillianty for us if we had signed him.

You could have asked the same question about Ashley Young - you take away his first 4-5 matches and he has done next to nothing for us. Still - there is still enough quality to turn it around when he gets back from his injuries

Devil may care

I think we'd have gotten a lot more out of Nasri than City/Mancini have.

Varun_Utd

Thats because he'd have been a starter here whereas city got him just to cover for silva.

buckooo1978

Nasri would have been a good signing

Sneijder has been unlucky with injury but who could predict that

I fancied sneijder but Modric would be the obvious choice of the players we polled

Stretch

This. Though I think it's clear that Sneijder is injury prone and after our Saha and OH sagas we don't need another one. Modric would still be the best fit but Nasri could certainly have improved us and SAF could have made it work.

Pogue Mahone

Definitely.

Nasri would have improved us a lot though.

Anyway, if we a accept the premise of the OP (which I don't) surely it would be a damning indictment of our transfer policy that the only two players we made any serious effort to sign were so unsuitable?

amolbhatia100

Yes. They'd both improve us.

Brwned

I've no idea about Garcia but I wouldn't complain about Martinez. Seems a bit too, I dunno, continental to have Martinez-Carrick as a first choice partnership under Sir Alex though. Potential replacement for him maybe, but I don't think that's a pressing concern. I think if we spend big money we'll do it with someone who can really imposes himself on the ball and dictate the game. There's just very few of them. Maybe Xavi'll decide he wants to have a couple of years outside Spain before he retires...

Spoony's said the same thing but surely there's more to it than that? Would they improve us enough to be worth £20m+ and a bucketload of money in wages, is surely the more pertinent question? Nasri for example has improved City because he gives them options, but has he improved them enough to be worth his fee? We can't go about throwing money around on players that'll make a relatively small difference for relatively big money. Sneijder would've improved us even if he spent half the season out with injury, but that alone doesn't mean we should've bought him. This isn't aimed at you at all but it just seems like people desperately want us to buy players without even caring if they're worth it, which doesn't make much sense to me.

MadDogg

I didn't particularly want either of them. I was much more interested in Modric, Banega, Schweinsteiger, etc...players who have proven to be at their best in a midfield two.

Simon Adebesi

Not the man himself. But on the payroll.

Grande

What does it stand for anyway? Grand Canyon Headquarters?

Simon Adebesi

Glazer Central HQ I assume.

GCHQ

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Yes. We have more pressing needs than an attacking midfielder though.

Devilton

I don't get the point of this thread...either would have been a welcome addition to the club. Obviously Modric is #1 because he can play in a 2 man midfield but for the right price I'd have welcomed Wesley or Nasri.

CnutOfAllCnuts

No

finneh

Seems a bizarre thread. Would United fans want to have signed a World Class player or a potentially World Class young player, obviously yes.

Maybe a more apt title would be "If you knew what you know now about Sneijder and Nasri, would you have preferred us to focus our attention on (a) different player(s)".

SharkyMcShark

Agree with this

Raoul

Wesley Sneijder under Fergie's management would have been ideal.

CnutOfAllCnuts

Said it back then and still of the opinion, Sneijder is the not the right player for us.

Raoul

He would have definitely been one of the more expensive options, but in terms of winning the league and CL, there aren't many others who could have worked out.

CnutOfAllCnuts

Not the type of player we are missing, IMO.

pocco

Whats happened to Sneijder? I got told he doesn't get played now.

RonaldoVII

I never wanted Nasri. I wanted Sneijder after it seemed any potential Modric deal would not be happening as he was my 1st choice.

Raoul

He's just come back following an injury.

gambit28

I'd still want Hamsik, he's been shit by his standards for the last 2 seasons, yet is still stastically better than anyone in that position for their age. Moneyball y'all!!

UnofficialDevil

Yes, I would still have liked us to sign both of them.