What would you have done had you taken over from Sir Alex (£300m budget)

[JPRouve]

Without insight: De Gea-Coleman-Smalling-Evans-Digne-Carrick-Strootman-Nani-Herrera-Griezmann-Rooney

With insight: De Gea-Darmian-Smalling-Evans-Shaw-Carrick-Kondogbia-Nani-De Bruyne-Griezmann-Rooney

 

[Amar__]

That's why

Considering we won the league there is a possibility that they aren't that shit as you might think.

 

[Cina]

Those were the days. Where's Mad*_Winger, speaking of player molesters?

*in the clinical sense

He was banned, then he came back as Fellaini's Afro, covered his tracks for a while. Then he made a Mad Winger esque Kagawa post and revealed himself.

He might be back again, who knows?

 

[vibe]

Since it's Christmas season, someone has to be the Grinch and ruin everyone's fun. So allow me to explain why discussing this topic is pretty impossible.

1) You'd be giving ideal scenarios.
You'd mention the players you sign and the moves you'd make as automatically successful, because in your hypothetical world the moves you'd make can't fail, but in the real world they can. You would say things like "I'd sign Ozil" without knowing whether Ozil would accept your deal. You'd say "I'd keep Nani" without knowing if Nani would want to stay under your management.

And the even bigger reason.

2) You'd be using 2015 knowledge for something happening in 2013.
The best example I can give you for what I'm talking about is Falcao. If you took over after Ferguson and Falcao became available on loan as he did, a lot of you would have signed him too. The forums were absolutely buzzing when we got him. A lot of people were saying "I can't believe Falcao is playing in a United shirt, this is a dream come true." But I don't see anyone mentioning that they'd get Falcao after inheriting the squad. That's because you already know he'll flop. But it's unfair knowledge, because if you had taken over after Fergie you wouldn't know if he'd flop or not.

I get that it's just a game though, but I'm in a bitterly realistic mood lately. You have LvG to thank for that.

What I'd do, ignoring flaws in the thread's nature, is.

• Let Rooney go like Fergie wanted. Keep in mind that for all my Rooney trash talk, I've always been a huge fan of his, but even in 2013 he was in a steep decline and I'd simply do it for the sake of his career.
• Turn mountains over trying to get Sanchez. This is probably the transfer I'd go hardest for, because Sanchez would have fit the style I would have tried to maintain perfectly. I loved him even before the World Cup and I knew for a fact that he'd come good.
• Get Griezmann. I've always been a huge fan of his.
• Play Jones CDM. I may be wrong, but to this day I think the lad's best position is defensive midfield. He's solid as a rock and physically he's a beast, but he has way too many blunders in him and needs cover behind him. With consistent games in CDM, I think he could have ironed those blunders out. Still very injury prone, so I'd probably go for a backup CDM on a budget that can do a job. Back then I was a big fan of Wanyama.
• Would have given Januzaj as many minutes of play as possible. I'd start him against lower table clubs and swap him in for one of Kagawa or Sanchez basically every time it's safe to do so, based on who's looking more tired or where we could use fresh legs.
• Would have kept Rafael. Always loved him and his pace.

My Moyes-era team would have been:
------------------- De Gea -------------------
-- Rafael --- Vidic ---- Smalling --- Evra --
------------- Carrick --- Jones --------------
--- Griezmann --- Kagawa --- Sanchez ---
--------------------- RvP ---------------------

I can't really say what I'd do the year van Gaal took over, too many butterfly effects happening.

 

[Amadaeus]

Without needing hindsight, I feel what I would have done would accomplish the goals set by club and bring an attractive brand of football that utilizes a combination of the total football and high pressing philosophy. The only negative is that without hindsight, I probably would have missed out on Martial as I never seen him play before and the price we paid for him was ridiculously high for a complete unknown at that time.

2013/2014 Season
​

2013) Transfers In:
The year post Ferguson, I will be smart enough to realize that we had a horrible midfield, as such I will not ignore that by buying only Fellaini who is not even a midfielder. I will not make too much change, as this was a title winning team and I want to assess the players at my disposal. In the market, I will strike a balance between keeping the squad competitive and keeping the team's chemistry in tact.

Herrera £25m, Adrien Rabiot £10m, Mata £34m

2013) Transfers Out:

Anderson
Macheada
Bébé

De Gea/Lindergaard
Rafael/Valencia - Smalling/Evans - Vidic(c)/Jones - Evra/Büttner
Carrick/Rabiot - Herrera/Cleverly
Mata/Nani - Rooney(vc)/Januzaj - Welbeck/Kagawa
Van Persie(vc)/Hernandez

Squad Options: Lindegaard, Adnan, Hernandez, Valencia, Young, Ferdinand, Giggs, Fletcher, Zaha, Büttner, Jones, Powell, Zaha, Wilson
​

The team above would have kept us in the champion league, rather than finish 7th, which happened under Moyes.

___________________________________________________________________________________

2014/2015 Season

​

2014) Transfers In:
This season, is where whole sale changes are needed. After assessing the squad, I realize what area needs strengthening. As such, I begin to get players who can adopt my philosophy and has noteworthy mental strength.

Di Maria
Blind
Shaw
Aurier
Otemendi

Di Maria £52M, Shaw £28M, Blind £14M, Otemendi £28.5M, Aurier £10M



2014) Transfers Out:
Ferdinand (Retires)
Giggs (Retires)
Büttner
Zaha
Fletcher
Powell (Loan)
Rooney
Cleverley
Vidic
Nani

De Gea/Lindergaard
Aurier/Rafael - Smalling(vc)/Evans - Otemendi/Jones - Shaw
Carrick(vc)/Rabiot - Herrera/Blind
Di Maria/Januzaj - Mata/Kagawa - Welbeck/Lingard
Van Persie(c)/Hernandez

Squad Options: Lindegaard, Blind, Adnan, Valencia, McNair, Blackett, Hernandez, Pereira, Young, Jones, Varela, Wilson, Lingard
​

___________________________________________________________________________________

2015/2016 Season​

2015) Transfers In:
Emulate Wenger mindset and focus on team Unity this season, by making few changes.
​

Harry Kane/Lukaku

Halilovic
W. Carvalho
Schneiderlin

Kane £55M raising, Halilovic £16M, W. Carvalho £20M, Schneiderlin £24M



2015) Transfers Out:


Van Persie
Lindergaard

​

De Gea/Johnstone
Aurier/Rafael - Smalling(C)/McNair - Otemendhi(vc)/Jones - Shaw/Blind
Schneiderlin/W. Carvalho - Herrera/Rabiot
Di Maria(Vc)/Januzaj - Mata/Halilovic - Welbeck/Lingard
Kane(Lukaku)/Hernandez

Squad Options: Johnstone, Pereira, Lingard, Hernandez, Blind, Valencia, Welbeck, Pereira, Young, Jones, Varela, Carrick, Wilson, Kagawa

___________________________________________________________________________________​

​

 

[kundalini]

Summer 2013 - Sell Rooney. Scholes to retire. Try to buy Thiago (fail because he'd rather go to Bayern). Instead buy Herrera (£30m). Get Fabio back from his loan at QPR. Most importantly, keep Rene to do the coaching. Loan Macheda, Powell and Bebe.

During the season, lots of rotation, fade out players that seem past it (Rio). Smalling as a central defender. Give Januzaj a few games (probably less than he got from Moyes). If Rafael injured, play Fabio.

Strikers/no 10 - Hernandez, RVP, Welbeck and Kagawa (lots of rotation)

Midfield - Carrick, Anderson, Cleverley and Herrera, Fletcher (slowly recovering)

Wide - Nani (first choice), Valencia, Young, Giggs, Zaha and Januzaj

Defence - Rafael, Fabio, Evra, Buttner, Rio, Evans, Smalling, Jones, Vidic (Evans probably first choice central defender)

Summer 2014 - Rio and Vidic out. Giggs too. Sell either Valencia or Young. Bring in a left-back Alex Sandro (about £20m) to develop slowly. Promote Michael Keane and Jesse Lingard (though perhaps loan out for half a season). If I could find a long term Carrick replacement I'd buy him. Not sure one was actually available.

Subtle changes in terms of priorities. RVP more of an occasional starter. Herrera gradually getting more playing time in central midfield. Januzaj featuring more.

Summer 2015 - RVP out. Whichever of Cleverley/Anderson had contributed least sold/let go. The remaining Valencia/Young to be sold/let go. Evra let go. Fletcher probably left for more playing time. Buy Carrick replacement (Schneiderlin ? £25m). Love to say I'd have bought Martial (£35m+) but that's perhaps optimistic. Promote Pereira and Wilson

Attack - Hernandez, Welbeck, Kagawa (unless failed miserably), Martial (unlikely), Wilson

Wide - Nani (first choice), Januzaj (first choice), Lingard (back-up), Zaha (back-up)

Midfield - Carrick, Herrera (first choice), Schneiderlin (or similar), another back-up (Cleverley perhaps if still around), Pereira

Defence - Smalling (first choice), Evans, Rafael (first choice), Fabio, Jones, Alex Sandro, Buttner, Micheal Keane (or another youngster if they had impressed more)

Basic playing strategies - high tempo, lots of pace on the wings, quality crosses, get men in the box, take risks, early through-balls, lots of rotation to keep players fresh. No players owning a position. If playing shit get dropped.

My view is that we got rid of lots of perfectly decent players used to a system that was competitive most seasons in the PL, replacing them with similar standard players for a new system that has yet to show it is can deliver results in the PL. Hernandez scores goals if the team creates enough chances so put together a side that creates chances rather than sell him.

 

[Raees]

SUMMER 2013 (Aim for top 4)​

OUTS: Rooney, Vidic, Fletcher, Cleverley, Anderson, Valencia +£40m

IN: Thiago (£20m), Lewandowski (£30m), Sanchez (£45m), Contraeo (Loan), Herrera (£30m), Garay (£15m). - £140m

Budget left: £200m

• Keep Evra and Ferdinand around the side as back ups/Team Captains (keep winning mentality, useful back ups and great for dressing room morale)
• RVP and Hernandez as backups
• Convert A. Young to right back cover
• Kagawa as cover for Herrera and Welbeck/Januzaj cover for out wide.

DDG
Rafael Smalling Garay Contraeo
Carrick Thiago
Herrera
Sanchez Lewandowski Nani



SUMMER 2014 (Get into top 2/3 - be competitive)​

OUTS: Van Persie, Ferdinand, Young, Januzaj, Wilson. +£20m

IN: Clyne (£15m), Shaw (£30m), Verratti (£60m). -105m

Budget left: 115m

• Keep Carrick around as a backup
• Jones/Evans are cover for CB
• Shaw and Evra can rotate (no need for Contraeo now)
• Welbeck and Nani as rotation options for either wing

DDG
Clyne Smalling Garay Shaw
Verratti
Thiago Herrera
Sanchez Lewandowski Nani



SUMMER 2015 (fight for the title/be competitive in ECL)
​

OUTS: Kagawa, Welbeck, Evans, Carrick. +40m

IN: Stones (45m), K. De Bruyne (55m), Schneiderlin (25m) and Martial (35m) (assume he was on scouts radar all along and we would have been kept informed on him) - 160m

Budget left: 5m

• Schneiderlin and Herrera provide the midfield depth
• Barkley and Stones add more physicality and athleticism to the side.. plus give the side a british core.
• Nani is the go to option as back up on either wing.
• If Lewandowski is out, Martial is first choice back up and Nani goes LW.

DDG
Clyne Smalling Stones Shaw
Verratti
Thiago De Bruyne
Sanchez Lewandowski Martial
​

GK: DDG, Lingaard
RB: Clyne, Rafael
CB: Smalling (VC), Jones
CB: Stones, Garay
LB: Shaw, Evra (C)
DM: Verratti, Schneiderlin
CM: Thiago, Herrera, De Bruyne
RW: Sanchez, Nani
CF: Lewandowski, Hernandez
LW: Martial, A. Pereira

​

 

[devilish]

Considering we won the league there is a possibility that they aren't that shit as you might think.

That's due to saf superb man management and tactics. Most of that junk proved to be shit after he was gone

 

[Green_Red]

I would have looked to create continuity. I would have tried to have the least ego driven management style possible. I would have kept all the previous coaches. I would have assessed the older players and their intentions. Obviously assess the squad and try to add to it. I think the players input on who you'd bring in is important. It has to be someone that they really respect. You want a signing thats going to make them raise their game. I dont think I would have done too much to change a lot. I think a backseat approach until I earned the respect of the squad. With clubs like United even if you're the manager you're kind of a passenger so you need to keep in mind that you have been brought on board as opposed to been given the keys.

Style of play. 433. 2 wingers. 2 strikers. 1 box to box midfielder. 1 #10. 1 ball playing CB. 1 headcase CB to attack things. 1 wing back that likes to get forward and one thats more defensive minded. Simples. Id want the ball moved quickly. I want to see running and a good work ethic from my players. And I want the players to try and win every game. Play all the way to the refs whistle, no exceptions. Players that dont get dropped.

Youth gets a chance, against easier opponents. Play 1 or 2 youth to give them a chance. If they play well sub them off early enough so the fans can show their appreciation and try to build the players confidence with fans applause.

Carling cup is for youth too. Play an olympics style team. Mostly youth with 3 or 4 seniors.

Expectations? Players are winners. I expect them to win the league and challenge for the CL, as is expected of them and as is capable of them, and Id make sure they understood that.

Team decides captaincy, by vote. Unlesd there is an obvious candidate, a Keane / a Bruce.

I would be backseat but a ballbreaker if I had to be. But I would try not to rock the boat too much. Once I had the fans and board and majority of players on board Id think about potentially making changes.

 

[nick2004]

Buy a horse?

 

[Raees]

I would have looked to create continuity. I would have tried to have the least ego driven management style possible. I would have kept all the previous coaches. I would have assessed the older players and their intentions. Obviously assess the squad and try to add to it. I think the players input on who you'd bring in is important. It has to be someone that they really respect. You want a signing thats going to make them raise their game. I dont think I would have done too much to change a lot. I think a backseat approach until I earned the respect of the squad. With clubs like United even if you're the manager you're kind of a passenger so you need to keep in mind that you have been brought on board as opposed to been given the keys.

Style of play. 433. 2 wingers. 2 strikers. 1 box to box midfielder. 1 #10. 1 ball playing CB. 1 headcase CB to attack things. 1 wing back that likes to get forward and one thats more defensive minded. Simples. Id want the ball moved quickly. I want to see running and a good work ethic from my players. And I want the players to try and win every game. Play all the way to the refs whistle, no exceptions. Players that dont get dropped.

Youth gets a chance, against easier opponents. Play 1 or 2 youth to give them a chance. If they play well sub them off early enough so the fans can show their appreciation and try to build the players confidence with fans applause.

Carling cup is for youth too. Play an olympics style team. Mostly youth with 3 or 4 seniors.

Expectations? Players are winners. I expect them to win the league and challenge for the CL, as is expected of them and as is capable of them, and Id make sure they understood that.

I would be backseat but a ballbreaker if I had to be. But I would try not to rock the boat too much. Once I had the fans and board and majority of players on board Id think about potentially making changes.

To be fair to Moyes, he might have tore apart the coaching team but in terms of the squad - he kept it exactly the same, which was the wrong approach. He lacked the foresight and didn't study our team in enough depth... most of the fans were aware that the team was on its last legs and needed ripping up and an influx of new talent. He was unable to see it and spent money adding to the squad, but not rectifying any of the weaknesses which we had.

Van Gaal saw that the squad was in change of revolution, but he has not bought well... sold the wrong players at times, and kept some bad ones too.

A mixture between both their approaches, with better spending and better coaching/management in general.. we wouldn't be where we are today.

 

[Skills]

Forget the rest. 2013 was the key summer, but we fecked it massively. If we got it right here, we would've been in a great position now.

Our key weakness was midfield, unfortunately the idiot we hired thought Fellaini was the solution that, rather than all the options that were available. If we even got 2 of Herrera, Matic (who moved only in the following January) or Thiago we would've been set. All 3 would've been the greatest triple whammy of all.

In:
Shaw (back out on loan) - £30m
Herrera - £30m
Thiago - £16m
Matic - £20m

The second problem was the ageing defense. Should've moved on Rio in that summer, and Smalling should've been established as the number 1 CB at the club to build around for the next few years. Would've kept Evra for that season, and brought in Shaw at the time we actually did.

Out:
Ferdinand
Rooney

Oh if only we accepted Chelsea's offer for Rooney.

 

[Leftback99]

Without hindsight, and based purely on my own sophististicated scouting system, at the time (ignoring anything previous) I'd have done:

Summer 2013 - Baines, Strootman, Thiago/Herrera

Summer 2014 - Sanchez/Di Maria, Shaw, Herrera, Vidal/Fabregas, Hummels.
Not got rid of Welbeck or loaned out Nani.

Summer 2015 - Schneiderlin, Depay, Gundogan, Pedro/De Bruyne, Benteke/Lukaku, Hummels/Laporte.
Wouldnt have released half the players we did.

I wouldn't have wasted my time chasing Bale, Ronaldo, Neymar, Muller, Lewandowski and Messi.

 

[Green_Red]

To be fair to Moyes, he might have tore apart the coaching team but in terms of the squad - he kept it exactly the same, which was the wrong approach. He lacked the foresight and didn't study our team in enough depth... most of the fans were aware that the team was on its last legs and needed ripping up and an influx of new talent. He was unable to see it and spent money adding to the squad, but not rectifying any of the weaknesses which we had.

Van Gaal saw that the squad was in change of revolution, but he has not bought well... sold the wrong players at times, and kept some bad ones too.

A mixture between both their approaches, with better spending and better coaching/management in general.. we wouldn't be where we are today.

Yea but football clubs that have long term managers and long serving players are like gangs. If you feck with one you feck with all. Its like joining a new group of friends. If you feck with one you better make sure you have the backing of the stronger characters in the group or you're out in the cold.

Moyes fecked up by saying it would be good to be like City. He fecked up by bringing in Fellaini, nowhere near the standard that winners like the ones at United would be impressed by. And he fecked up by sacking the coaches that were respected and loved by the players. Then took over the training and ripped up the script that had made these players the most successful in England. Thats why my approach would be a bit more softly softly and slow.

 

[wiz4231]

How is Strootman doing these days (in his recovery.) Has the ship completely sailed on his eventually coming here. I've never really watched him, so curious to know: is Schneiderlin a like-for-like replacement, as it were, or would Strootman offer something else? Basically, I'm wondering if it's still worth keeping an eye on this guy?

In my opinion he offers something different to Schneiderlin and Herrera, you could say he's in between both, good defensively and good in attack, kind of bridging the gap between the qualities of the 2. His most impressive characteristic is his leadership quality and steel he shows. He has 1 of the best Midfield football brains I've seen. Having him in the squad alongside Schneiderlin and Herrera there would not be a need for a #10. We would have a well balanced central midfield that we currently lack. Hopefully he fully recovers from injury and before Van Gaal leaves he can do us a favour and bring him to the club.

Schneiderlin
Herrera.............Strootman​

 

[POF]

The biggest mistake Moyes made was not looking to transition the defence. He played Rio and Vidic every game to start the season and both left at the end of that season.

I would have rotated the pairs Smalling/Evans and Jones/Vidic with Rio playing very rarely. Fabio back as cover for Rafael and defence was fine.

Other than that, Ozil for Rooney (Moyes' next biggest mistakes), 2 central midfield players (Herrera/Thiago & Strootman?) and a goal scoring winger. Playing a creative 10 would have put more emphasis on the wingers as goal scorers. Welbeck may have flourished in that role.

Longer term, a world class replacement for RVP, Luke Shaw for Evra and a new centre back or 2 (depending on how the transition to Smalling/Jones went).

A club like United needs to continually evolve. Under Moyes, the squad wasn't freshened up enough and since then the changes have been far too many.

 

[Nickosaur]

Buy a horse?

look at my horse, my horse is amazing

 

[Revan]

Hindsight is a good thing, but here my thoughts:

1) Sign Thiago, Strootman and Garay who apparently were already agreed.
2) Sign Rodriguez as our left back (sorry Shaw)
3) Not sack the other coaches
4) Not sign Fellaini, Rojo and Blind (in hindsight, Blind has been a top signing though)
5) Get rid of Rooney immediately
6) Sell Valencia, Young. Release Rio and Vidic.
7) Keep Kagawa, Welbeck, Rafael, Hernandez and Nani
8) Relegate the team. After all, I am not a true manager.

 

[Bwuk]

Moyes first season.

Dave
Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra
Carrick - Thiago
Nani - Kagawa - Bale
RvP​

LvG first season.

Dave
Rafael - Stones - Vidic - Shaw
Carrick - Thiago
Nani - Kagawa - Di Maria
Bale​

LvG second season.

Dave
Clyne - Stones - Smalling - Shaw
Thiago - Schweinsteiger
Di Maria - Kagawa - Memphis
Bale​

Obviously certain players would of been kept as squad etc, but first thing id of done was punt Rooney. Always said Moyes biggest mistakes was giving him that contract and getting rid of Fergusons staff.

I'd probably look to replace Kagawa with Kane after this season in this hypothetical line up and play Bale behind Kane.

 

[Moston_Lad]

I'd have bought a £290m rocket and strapped Woodward, Moyes, Fellaini, Falcao, Van Gaal and his creepy looking assistant to it and I'd have fired the fecker into the sun. Then I'd have bought some property in London because, well, I'm not a complete fecking idiot.

I like this idea the most.

 

[RoadTrip]

Some proper full on dossiers in this thread haha.

 

[MrPooni]

Step 1: Sign Mahrez
Step 2: Sign Vardy
Step 3: Appoint Nigel Pearson as my immediate successor on the provision that he is sacked and replaced by Claudio Ranieri towards the end of his first season.
Step 4: Profit.

 

[Nucks]

This thread is ez ez ez.

Sell Rooney and RvP.

Promote Hernandez to number 1 striker.

Throw 200-250 million at Barcelona for Messi.

Get Ozil or Di Maria.

Watch as Chicharito scores 40+.

Use whatever is left to shore up midfield and defense until proper funding can be sourced (after we win 2 back to back CL finals).

Feast your eyes on a front four of Messi, Ozil, Kagawa and the ultimate goal poacher, Javier "If I miss with my feet, I still got 28 other body parts" Hernandez.

 

[Kazi]

I'd still be playing Giggs in midfield. Guy makes things happen.

 

[Nucks]

I'd still be playing Giggs in midfield. Guy makes things happen.

He's a dreamboat too. I'd give him a bonus if he took his shirt off and ran around like a maniac if he ever scored another goal.

Advertise games as Magic Giggs XXXXXXL.

 

[NinjaZombie]

I'd have sold Rooney. Then the squad would have revolted because some 28 year old guy just sold Wayne Rooney.

Also, Herrera wouldn't have left Bilbao to play for me. Nor would Thiago. Forget a single plane with a banner. We'd have a whole squadron flying over Old Trafford in early August.

 

[Name Changed]

I'd have bought a £290m rocket and strapped Woodward, Moyes, Fellaini, Falcao, Van Gaal and his creepy looking assistant to it and I'd have fired the fecker into the sun. Then I'd have bought some property in London because, well, I'm not a complete fecking idiot.

 

[Spock]

There's too much that seems so obvious now but we have to resist what we know with the benefit of hindsight.

What was clear to me in the summer of 2013 were two things:

We should have sold Rooney and bought Strootman.

The squad needed a lot more work than just that but that's what was obvious at the time -- and in any event who among us here would actually have sold 5 or 6 of our starters right after a trophy winning season?

RvP went to crap in 13/14 but we had no reason to believe that was going to happen. Hernandez had life in him and Welbeck and Henriquez were promising young players. We would have gotten along just fine without Rooney and IMHO we would have thrived.

As for Strootman, he was the right man to strengthen a midfield that needed someone like him. Of course he suffered a bad knee injury but we couldn't have known that was his fate.

Ferguson set the table for his successor to rid the club of Rooney. If you want a single mistake by Moyes, it was to extend Rooney's contract. It was a diabolical decision at the time and becomes only more obvious as every grim performance disgraces the club.

 

[77]

Coke and hookers, the rest I'd probably just waste.

 

[Van Gaalacticos]

De Gea

Coleman (Rafael was too injury prone)
Smalling
Vidic
Evra

Carrick
Vidal (I really wanted/still want Vidal lol)
Jones (thought he was going to be a midfielder for ages - yeah ok I was wrong)

Nani
Rooney/RVP
Sanchez (would have been all over that)

Play a counter attacking, attack, attack, attack attack attack sort of game so we'd have won every game about 8-0 and been the greatest champions ever with Phil Jones putting in a good shift as the next Duncan Edwards. Some how Rooney still only bagged 6 PL goals but pundits praised him for his hard work and what he gives to the team.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

Would just buy Messi and that's it.

 

[Stretford End Phil]

Fun to dream on during Xmas morning while 'She Who Must Be Obeyed' prepares the Turkey.

In 2013, I thought the Chelsea offer for Rooney was a good deal and said that on forums at the time. Where as Arsenal has gone 'French' given my place of work I would have gone German. I thought Gundogan and Reus were good buys, with possibly Patrick Hermann, and Kroos. My choice of 'assistant' was Klopp! I would have prepared for release Rio, Clevs, RVP, and Bambie unless there had been an improvement on their form. My impression back then was some strengthing of the midfield, release Rooney, and plan changes as players form began to dip with new players taking over.

In 2014 I would have said goodbye to RVP who was already showing his problems with injury and loss of form. By then Reus and the others should have been in a position to move us forward. Ander I would have bought but not the others not even Juan, but might have made a play for Thomas Müller. Possibly Coleman or Stones or both. I would have made Wilson a part regular squad member for the first half and then loaned him out. End of the season would have replaced Klopp with Keano!

In 2015 my front players of choice would then have been Reus, Chico, Wilson, Nani, Kagawa, Valencia, Müller, Kroos and Ander. The central or defensive midfield pair would include Carrick, Cundogan (but now more aware of his serious back issues), Clevs if his form had remained, Hermann, or maybe Jones. Defenders, Evans, Smalling, Evra, Jones, Stones, Coleman, Rafa, McNair, Gibbs from Arsenal and DeGea in goal.

Going into Xmas and planning for April I would be looking to slot in a marque striker like Lewandowski or maybe Bale to finish off and sell the shirts to recoup the money.

Of existing recent buys:
I would never have bought MF, probably not Juan (although I do accept he can be a great player), certainly not Depay, Basti, AdM, and the Falcon.

Morgan maybe, Darmian maybe, Shaw, maybe and tbh Martial was never on my radar although had seen him a couple of times.

 

[devilish]

Considering we won the league there is a possibility that they aren't that shit as you might think.

Considering that they were horse shit soon after SAF retired and irrespective of the manager managing them than I guess they were.

TBF they were overrated

 

[alibaba]

Right so you've been given the job after Sir Alex... you're heading into the 13/14 season on a three year contract and you've been set the following targets (please give a season by season detailed breakdown and try to keep it realistic in terms of transfer targets):

• Stay in the top four this year
• Win the league (or produce a genuine title challenge) within the next 3 years
• Win FA Cup/League Cup within the next 3 years
• Play an attractive brand of football
• Demonstrate that progression is being made in all aspects of the club
• Be competitive in Europe i.e. QF's (by the 3rd year)
• Integrate youth within the first team squad
• Transfer Budget of £300m (over three seasons)

Remember the first team from last season (12/13) which won the PL was...

DDG
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
Valencia Carrick Cleverley Kagawa
Van Persie Rooney​

1 GK Spain David de Gea
2 DF Brazil Rafael
3 DF France Patrice Evra
4 DF England Phil Jones
5 DF England Rio Ferdinand
6 DF Northern Ireland Jonny Evans
7 MF Ecuador Antonio Valencia
8 MF Brazil Anderson
10 FW England Wayne Rooney
11 MF Wales Ryan Giggs
12 DF England Chris Smalling
13 GK Denmark Anders Lindegaard
14 FW Mexico Javier Hernández
15 DF Serbia Nemanja Vidić
16 MF England Michael Carrick
17 MF Portugal Nani
18 MF England Ashley Young
19 FW England Danny Welbeck
20 FW Netherlands Robin van Persie
22 MF England Paul Scholes
23 MF England Tom Cleverley
24 MF Scotland Darren Fletcher
25 MF England Nick Powell
26 MF Japan Shinji Kagawa
27 FW Italy Federico Macheda
28 DF Netherlands Alexander Büttner
33 FW Portugal Bébé
N/A FW England Wilfried Zaha


Reminder of what actually happened..

In short Moyes kept the squad as it was for his 10 months in charge and spent vast amounts on Fellaini and Mata. They didn't have any impact on an already over bloated squad that was punching above its weight under that title win from the year before and we finished 7th.

In the years since LvG took charge.. 30+ players have been released or sold, so the squad has undergone a huge change in terms of its size and out of the first team from the last PL title, only DDG, Rooney and Carrick are still starters. Which when you consider that most of us only consider DDG to be worthy of a place at this club out of that trio... says a heck of a lot about the quality and longevity of the first team that Sir Alex left behind in 12/13. He didn't leave behind a team which could go on and win title after title.. he left behind a team which was on its last legs and needed a revamp. Despite the much needed revamp, LvG hasn't been able to take the team back to the top.. so his revolution has stalled.

Anyway.. what would you have done in retrospect within the conditions provided above.

I will do none of that. I will spend the whole lot of the cash on horses knowing that they will definitely be running forward rather than going sideways

 

[Sereques]

Oh this is the thread where milkmen, waiter, gardeners, teachers, librarians etc believe they are better managers than people who have been managers for 30+ years.

 

[Stretford End Phil]

Oh this is the thread where milkmen, waiter, gardeners, teachers, librarians etc believe they are better managers than people who have been managers for 30+ years.

In the nature of incompetence - even after 30 years of the same thing the incompetent remain incompetent.

 

[Norris]

I'd ideally want 3 players for each position (First two being Top notch players and the third being an academy product). By the end of the three years, this is what I hope my squad will look like.

GK: DDG, Valdes (FT, 1st Year), Sam Johnstone
RB: Rafael, Valencia, Saido Janko
LB: Evra, Shaw (1st or 2nd Year, 30m), Blackett
CB: Smalling, Hummels/Varane(1st year, 40m), Jones, Otamendi (2nd Year, 30m), McNair, Fosu-Mensah
CM: Thiago(1st Year, 22m), Carrick, Schneiderlin (2nd Year, 25m), Gundogan(2nd Year, 20m), Herrera (1st Year, 30m), Sean Goss
RW: Nani, Di Maria (2nd Year, 60m), Lingard
LW: Young, Memphis (2nd Year, 30m), Januzaj
AM: Rooney, Hakan Çalhanoğlu(3rd Year, 35m), Perreira
FW: Martial(3rd Year, 35m), Chicharito, Marcus Rashford

1st Year Expense: 122m
2nd Year Expense: 165m
3rd year Expense: 70m
Total: 357m (I don't include Transfer sales, which lets say gets us close to 10-20m if we're lucky)
I would try to restructure our scouting and our academy too in my 3 year tenure.
Obviously, some of the signings are in hindsight.
P.S: This is the same logic I used when I build my FM Teams. It usually works most of the time.

 

[ravi2]

I would have bought Ozil, Sanchez and Lewandowski for a start - what a front line that would be

With the right money, that front line was very attainable for us in 2013.

 

[ravi2]

Ddg
Rafael
Vidic
Smalling
Evra
Carrick
Modric
Bale
Nani
Lewandowski
Welbeck

So basically I'd have spunked my budget on 3 players

A season later I'd be looking at long term replacements for vidic, Carrick and evra

IMO our biggest loss in cm was not buying Luca Modric from Tottenham before he went to Madrid.
He was perfect for our setup and can play in a midfield 2 easily. SAF didn't want to pay the £40m that levy was demanding. We also should have paid hazards agent the £6m he wanted, but perhaps if we did that Moyes would still be here .

 

[ravi2]

I wouldn't have changed much honestly. Brought in a couple of targets who are easy to get. Herrera and Shaw come to mind. Find a replacement for Carrick so Schneiderlin would have been my pick. Let's face it, most players aren't to a club based on name only outside of Real Madrid or Barcelona. Most will also be interested in the coach which is the issue that Moyes faced. So that rules out any big name targets until the ship is steadied. Most importantly I would kept the coaches in place. With Gill leaving and Sir Alex leaving what we needed most was stability. I would have gradually changed some things over time but our transition was too much for most to cope with.

If we had picked a decent coach after SAF, with the right budget we could have bought just about anyone back in 2013. Getting players excited to play for Moyes was not an easy proposition. We really fecked up there