Started the summer with huge hope that we would finally solve problems accumulated over the past 5 or 6 years. I expected depature of a good number of deadwoods as much as I expected new faces. Overall it was promising transfer window and above all we proved wrong the doubt we couldn't attract big names without champions league.
Summarize the summer
- Thread starter Manchie
- Start date
Some good players signed. Mostly gutted about Welbeck.
2 defenders, 2 midfielders, a winger and a forward.
World class CB and CM short.
But delighted in all in terms of coming in. Just ashame Cleverley, Fellaini, Young and Valencia survived the cull.
But delighted in all in terms of coming in. Just ashame Cleverley, Fellaini, Young and Valencia survived the cull.
Want over need.
Muppetry over necessity.
Delighted though.
Delighted though.
Sticky keyboard...
It will be piss easy to attract new signings with this squad if we end up in top4
Hot.
Been a fabulous summer for us, if we are being perfectly honest. Some world class players with up and coming youngsters added. That with some of the old guard being phased out means we are in for exciting times with new football style to look forward to.
I thought he was immune to the clear out sale
So did I.
Big question marks over defense and midfield, yet again. We signed potential where we needed established, class signings. That means we just gamble and there's every chance Blind and Herrera could turn out shit. And that would leave us where we finished last season, only 150m pounds shorter.
Again, I don't understand stuff like "want over need".
Evra has been replaced - Shaw.
Lacking in CM, we signed 2 players there - Herrera and Blind.
Center of defence - Rojo [Obviously not the best quality but not a bad signing]
Attack - Di Maria and Falcao.
We can't say we haven't addressed our needs just because we didn't sign Vidal and Hummels, it's a narrative that's going on in the press and people have picked up on it without looking at the facts. We signed 2 central midfielders and that's a fact. Quality center backs are few and far between [at least the big name ones, which seems to be what people want] - If Rojo turns out half as good as Vidic was at his pomp then that is fine by me, it's not about always getting big names, it's about finding the right players. We must also consider that LVG might want to use 1 or 2 of our academy lads, as he's been doing with Blackett, the solution to everything is not always the transfer market. In view of our injury crisis, he also made sure we signed players who are very versatile - Rojo, Blind and Di Maria comes to mind. People moan about our defence but in the past 4 games, we have created nothing - we've been discussing here how our attack lacks pace, we've gone and signed Di Maria and Falcao who are both pacy and absolutely top class. It's been a good summer, we were never going to address all the squad issues in one summer, it's a process. I think considering the above, we met our basic need - I just felt that we could have tried harder for Benatia rather than Rojo and that could have made it a near perfect summer.
Evra has been replaced - Shaw.
Lacking in CM, we signed 2 players there - Herrera and Blind.
Center of defence - Rojo [Obviously not the best quality but not a bad signing]
Attack - Di Maria and Falcao.
We can't say we haven't addressed our needs just because we didn't sign Vidal and Hummels, it's a narrative that's going on in the press and people have picked up on it without looking at the facts. We signed 2 central midfielders and that's a fact. Quality center backs are few and far between [at least the big name ones, which seems to be what people want] - If Rojo turns out half as good as Vidic was at his pomp then that is fine by me, it's not about always getting big names, it's about finding the right players. We must also consider that LVG might want to use 1 or 2 of our academy lads, as he's been doing with Blackett, the solution to everything is not always the transfer market. In view of our injury crisis, he also made sure we signed players who are very versatile - Rojo, Blind and Di Maria comes to mind. People moan about our defence but in the past 4 games, we have created nothing - we've been discussing here how our attack lacks pace, we've gone and signed Di Maria and Falcao who are both pacy and absolutely top class. It's been a good summer, we were never going to address all the squad issues in one summer, it's a process. I think considering the above, we met our basic need - I just felt that we could have tried harder for Benatia rather than Rojo and that could have made it a near perfect summer.
Every single transfer is a gamble, but I get your point. Herrera is an established player, just not world class.
I watched the space...I wasn't disappointed.Getting that on a t-shirt.
Not what I expected.
Only partly what I wanted.
Only partly what I wanted.
He surely was and must have asked to leave.
Good window. Quality over quantity.
Not sure why Anderson is still here.
Great window from a muppet point of view. Depending on how Rojo, Shaw, Herrera and Blind get on in defence and midfield will tell just how successful the window was from a footballing pov.
Sad to see Danny go and there's others still here who should have gone long before him.
Sad to see Danny go and there's others still here who should have gone long before him.
Needed a LB. Got one.
Needed at least 1 (maybe 2) CB's and got one (unless Blind plays there)
Needed 2 CM's and got two (three if di Maria stays there)
Needed a winger and got di Maria
Considering the departures, we needed another striker and got a world class one.
That should feel pretty great and yet it still feels like we're short. Which shows how big a rebuilding job is needed. Or perhaps its all the injuries and the fact we've not fielded close to our best XI yet.
Either way, it's 100x better than Summer 2013.
Needed at least 1 (maybe 2) CB's and got one (unless Blind plays there)
Needed 2 CM's and got two (three if di Maria stays there)
Needed a winger and got di Maria
Considering the departures, we needed another striker and got a world class one.
That should feel pretty great and yet it still feels like we're short. Which shows how big a rebuilding job is needed. Or perhaps its all the injuries and the fact we've not fielded close to our best XI yet.
Either way, it's 100x better than Summer 2013.
A lot of our fans are screaming for central defenders in this transfer window. We didn't get any (unless you consider Rojo as one) but there is no need for any one of us to have a meltdown. My reasons are simple:
1) We have defenders with great potential in our hands, players like Jones, Smalling, Blackett and Rojo can develop into top class defenders under a good coach.
2) LvG is not Moyes, he will be able to develop these defenders into proper ones given time. Our players are not Titus Bramble, Pascal Cygan or our own De Laet. SAF see potential in these players therefore they will be able to become top class under LVG.
3) Looking at examples of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Players like Pepe, Pique, Ramos or even Lescott makes tons of mistake and poor in marking strikers but due to the fact that their attacking players are so strong that they can easily outscore their opponent and win the game. Not often you see them keeping a clean sheet to be honest.
So with the arrival of Falcao and Di Maria, our attacking front is as best as any club in the world (if used properly). Let LvG worry about how he will utilize the players and we should just anticipate the glory days coming back. Don't worry too much unless Cleverley is in the starting lineup.
1) We have defenders with great potential in our hands, players like Jones, Smalling, Blackett and Rojo can develop into top class defenders under a good coach.
2) LvG is not Moyes, he will be able to develop these defenders into proper ones given time. Our players are not Titus Bramble, Pascal Cygan or our own De Laet. SAF see potential in these players therefore they will be able to become top class under LVG.
3) Looking at examples of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Players like Pepe, Pique, Ramos or even Lescott makes tons of mistake and poor in marking strikers but due to the fact that their attacking players are so strong that they can easily outscore their opponent and win the game. Not often you see them keeping a clean sheet to be honest.
So with the arrival of Falcao and Di Maria, our attacking front is as best as any club in the world (if used properly). Let LvG worry about how he will utilize the players and we should just anticipate the glory days coming back. Don't worry too much unless Cleverley is in the starting lineup.
papered over the cracks. havent sorted the problems.
The problem with this though, is that players don't turn good over night, and if you have watched our matches they have been all over the place. Jones has actually held it together on his own at times.
The amount of times Evans and Blackett gave the ball away in stupid areas against Burnley was worrying. Do that against a better team and it will be another defeat
Mixed emotions during the summer but pretty happy in the end. Need a defender and central midfielder but you cant fix it all in one window. I guess when players like Di Maria and Falcao became available we decided it was too good to miss.
Still plenty of rubbish left here in Fletcher, Anderson, Cleverley, Young, Valencia, but I suppose you can't sell what people don't want.
I knew Blind's father was a footballer and have just googled to see Herrera's was i can't seem to find anything about Falcao's though?
Almost perfect.
I'm excited.
Wish we would've gotten another midfielder, and only slightly disappointed about Welbeck.
But we can't have everything our way.
Think we have a squad that when is fully fit we capable of getting top 4, and then from there we can continue to build further.
Wish we would've gotten another midfielder, and only slightly disappointed about Welbeck.
But we can't have everything our way.
Think we have a squad that when is fully fit we capable of getting top 4, and then from there we can continue to build further.
A common prediction and complaint was that we wouldn't sign anyone, Woody would fail in all the big transactions, and we'd wind up with Herrera and sod all else.
Now we've made the massive signings to please them.
And so we've got a multitude of complaints about Welbeck leaving and overpaying on the fees. Not saying either are right or wrong, but that no matter what we'd still be drowned in complaints.
Now we've made the massive signings to please them.
And so we've got a multitude of complaints about Welbeck leaving and overpaying on the fees. Not saying either are right or wrong, but that no matter what we'd still be drowned in complaints.
Fantastic summer of business, Falcao is an incredible cherry on the cake and the two signings I was desperate for in Shaw and Vidal I got one of which I'm happy with as well. Once everyone is fit we've got a very good side out there, and they pass the litmus test.... I'd actually pay as them on fifa now!
if everyone questions abilites of woodward than he or se should feck off. He has done brilliant job, but for some impatient fans he was the villain the to blame but hes done what he was told to do and hes done it excellently well.. I am glad he proved all the doubter wrong I am happy with the signings and outgoings. After diMaria arrival everybody forgot about how brilliant signing Shaw was and then Herrera our key player for this season. Rojo was also brilliant. I think he certainly imroved our squad andthe defense is bettter now we needed someone that aggresive.. I didnt wanted blind tho, anyway if it means fletcher and cleverley are benched then I am satisfied he can do the job well while carrick is gone and till january when we go for strootman and maybe someother players to bolster our week midfield which is still concern.. but if the key player in midfield stays fit, then then we can cope well.... And then we bring in di Maria and Falcao, who cant be satisfied what weve done? We showed the world that we are big club. Anyway we made a huge mistake with welbeck and it is a really sad story. sthis was tupid from the club and its philosophy, I am glad for the boy that he can reach his potential and prove his doubters wrong afterall. We need to get the fact that van Gaal will be here three years and needs success to his CV and when he can buy success then why not to do it. I was hating that evolution thingy wih Myes but Revolution with van Gaal doesnt make me feel comforatable either. Something between it could be great but we should have known that before his arrival. anyways buying falcao means we will continue to play 3-5-2 with Young and Valencia as wide players and with no Januzaj so we should better get used to it. So a lot of excitement but some disappointment as well.. but if we start to win and play some good stuff I can forget things..
Gaalacticos....!!!!!!!!
Brilliant business done imo. Never knew we had so many crybabies on here though. Some ridiculous over reactions because of Welbeck.
It was a magnificent transfer windows which should shake fans, players and our competitors alike. However we haven't yet sorted all our problems and I can see more players joining us and others leaving in the future.
We needed:
2 CM - Herrera, Blind*
1 Winger - Di Maria!!
2 CB - Rojo, Blackett* (done extremely well)
LB - Shaw
Not needed/Bonus - Falcao!
Amazing summer, I would've tried to get a better second CB and CM but the ones above should suffice.
2 CM - Herrera, Blind*
1 Winger - Di Maria!!
2 CB - Rojo, Blackett* (done extremely well)
LB - Shaw
Not needed/Bonus - Falcao!
Amazing summer, I would've tried to get a better second CB and CM but the ones above should suffice.
No complaints the players signed have done what was needed. The signings have improved the area's that have been our downfall.
We needed a LB to replace Evra, shaw is signed, we needed a CB rojo is signed, we have signed 2 CM players in Herrera and blind, we needed a top class winger in di Maria.
We have actually needed a striker, welbeck sold, Hernandez on loan, RVP's current age his form and fitness are a real concern, while Rooney does not look in great form, and looks past it. Rooney and RVP are not dynamic enough, so someone like falcao actually makes sense.
We needed a LB to replace Evra, shaw is signed, we needed a CB rojo is signed, we have signed 2 CM players in Herrera and blind, we needed a top class winger in di Maria.
We have actually needed a striker, welbeck sold, Hernandez on loan, RVP's current age his form and fitness are a real concern, while Rooney does not look in great form, and looks past it. Rooney and RVP are not dynamic enough, so someone like falcao actually makes sense.
How did we not need a striker? Welbeck sold, Hernandez sent on loan, that would mean we would have just 2 strikers and an academy backup.
Rooney and RVP have been in a comfort zone, and it needed shaking up. Both are not dynamic enough, RVP has been poor for a while now, and is probably in need of surgery. Rooney has been poor even longer, and someone like falcao has breathed much needed life into our forward line.
I think most fans are impossible to satisfy. We have done extremely well and bar Vidal have signed players everyone would be happy with. Now that the window is over, too many people complain that we haven't solved all problems but to be fair these problems are hard to fix in one window. The work done though is fantastic. And regarding Welbeck - i was shocked to see him go but after thinking a bit I came to this conclusion - It am sad more of the fact the he is an academy lad than because of his footballing qualities. If Chicharito and Welbeck were one player, it would be what we need. Sadly they both lack what the other has.
We set out with a grand statement and we fulfilled it. Signings across all positions including some genuinely world class names.
Delighted and it sets us up nicely for the season. Whiners gonna whine.
Delighted and it sets us up nicely for the season. Whiners gonna whine.