I forgot all about Pereira to be honest, I'm sure he'll come in useful next season, but even so we're still quite light in midfield.
Jose's Wish List...
- Thread starter Inigo Montoya
- Start date
I am not quite sure about the names but I still think he we have plenty of positions to fill.
- Centre back
- Left back
- Holding midfield
- Griezmann
- Striker
First choice:
Griezmann
Aubameyang
Bernardo Silva
Fabinho
Lindelof
Second Choice:
James
Belotti
Dembele
Mendy
Van Dijk
Dier
Griezmann
Aubameyang
Bernardo Silva
Fabinho
Lindelof
Second Choice:
James
Belotti
Dembele
Mendy
Van Dijk
Dier
Silva first choice with Dembele second?!
Is James likely to be on this list? I always had him down as a player Madrid have been touting to Woodward, rather than someone Mourinho actively wants. This is one I am not excited about.
Goalkeeper - I really hope De Gea stays.
Defence - If Jones and Smalling didn't have injury problems I think we have enough barring LB to win the league. Unfortunately they do. Smalling was first choice for the final so on this alone I suggest Jones perhaps is sold for a more reliable replacement. LB I would buy a solid addition to challenge for the position as I still think Shaw when on his game is better than any likely addition.
Midfield. After what seems like 5-6 years of trying we still haven't replaced Carrick with a top draw performer. Nail it finally!
In addition add a player who can play in there and rest Herrera/Pogba without weakening us too much. Perhaps someone younger like Renato Sanchez.
Attacking options. We have some quality players when on their game which under Maureen hasn't been as consistent as they achieved under other managers. Mata, Miki, Martial, Rashford are all quality players. Ibra I would keep if he's fit for second part of season he could still be like the best Jan signing in the PL next season! That said Rooney will be going so another top draw striker should be brought in. We've gone from having 4 great strikers at the club to people suggesting Rashford will suffer if we bring in a Rooney replacement.....
Defence - If Jones and Smalling didn't have injury problems I think we have enough barring LB to win the league. Unfortunately they do. Smalling was first choice for the final so on this alone I suggest Jones perhaps is sold for a more reliable replacement. LB I would buy a solid addition to challenge for the position as I still think Shaw when on his game is better than any likely addition.
Midfield. After what seems like 5-6 years of trying we still haven't replaced Carrick with a top draw performer. Nail it finally!
In addition add a player who can play in there and rest Herrera/Pogba without weakening us too much. Perhaps someone younger like Renato Sanchez.
Attacking options. We have some quality players when on their game which under Maureen hasn't been as consistent as they achieved under other managers. Mata, Miki, Martial, Rashford are all quality players. Ibra I would keep if he's fit for second part of season he could still be like the best Jan signing in the PL next season! That said Rooney will be going so another top draw striker should be brought in. We've gone from having 4 great strikers at the club to people suggesting Rashford will suffer if we bring in a Rooney replacement.....
Because there are more links in the media to Silva.Silva first choice with Dembele second?!
Griezmann, Silva, Dier and Keane.
But Mourinho, instead of his usual "i don't talk about other players than my own" comments when he wants a player, said "no, i don't think so" or something to that effect when talking about a potential buy of Silva.
Don't think we'll go for either (edit: City seems to be getting Silva, and I don't think Dortmund will sell Dembele anytime soon), but would find it weird if the superior player was seen as second choice instead of a unlikely first choice.
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Let's just buy Harry Kane.
Just hoping he has adjusted his list slightly. It was fine writing a list when we were on form, but when we hit the slump it showed the limitations of our play. We need someone fast in at least one of the wide positions. We are inclined to go through the middle, including the so-called wide men. Then we hit a brick wall. Might be nice to be able to drag a defence apart by switching it wide to an out and out winger.
Griezmann
JRod or Barkley
Fabinho or Dier
Keane, Van Dijk or lindelof
Costa or Willian
JRod or Barkley
Fabinho or Dier
Keane, Van Dijk or lindelof
Costa or Willian
Zlatan needs to let us know quickly what his intentions are. We cannot be left hanging for weeks.
He would cost our entire transfer budget.
Worth it.
I think Jose wants determined players with proven record. Players who have a mentality that hes likes to work with. He has mentioned in a lot of interviews that some players he just can't understand and therefore can't work with. So I guess a lot of the quality he is after is proven winners. He won't want young unproven talent - more players in the mid, late twenties. Also, you who think he will get players from the likes of Spurs or Chelsea think twice. They won't sell Matic, Dier etc. to us anymore.
Griezmann - Obvious. Proven in La Liga, proven on the big scene i both CL and the Euros. Has the speed and is a superb counter attacker.
Lindelöf - A wild card i terms of age, but has proven himself in Liga NOS, CL and won the Under-21 with Sweden. Solid attitude and have a good speed and a relative good right foot. Can play right back as well. Plays in Benfica, which is Mourinhos and Mendes has in their pocket.
Blaise Matuidi - Search for determination on Wikipedia and Matudi shows up. Has Raiola as agent and a contract that expires 2018. Has proven over and over that hes a player who doesn't falter under pressure.
Romelu Lukaku - Not in the top six teams and has Railo as agent. Wants to win trophies and has stated that he will leave this summer. Proven in PL. Mourinho knows the guy and may (or may not) like him, but if he is, then a real possibility.
Of course, all of the above name are mentioned a lot, and all for a good reason when you look at reasons. But the last summer both Mickhi and Bailly flew under the radar and both turned out great. So I guess, and hope, this could happend again this summer
Griezmann - Obvious. Proven in La Liga, proven on the big scene i both CL and the Euros. Has the speed and is a superb counter attacker.
Lindelöf - A wild card i terms of age, but has proven himself in Liga NOS, CL and won the Under-21 with Sweden. Solid attitude and have a good speed and a relative good right foot. Can play right back as well. Plays in Benfica, which is Mourinhos and Mendes has in their pocket.
Blaise Matuidi - Search for determination on Wikipedia and Matudi shows up. Has Raiola as agent and a contract that expires 2018. Has proven over and over that hes a player who doesn't falter under pressure.
Romelu Lukaku - Not in the top six teams and has Railo as agent. Wants to win trophies and has stated that he will leave this summer. Proven in PL. Mourinho knows the guy and may (or may not) like him, but if he is, then a real possibility.
Of course, all of the above name are mentioned a lot, and all for a good reason when you look at reasons. But the last summer both Mickhi and Bailly flew under the radar and both turned out great. So I guess, and hope, this could happend again this summer
Not going to lie, I would love it if we blew our load on Harry Kane
I don't agree with most of your choices, and here's why:
Griezmann is a must buy, although I feel it will force us, even more than Rashford already has, to play closer to a 4-4-2 next season.
Lindelöf is a decent youngster, proven in a minor league, but I can't see how he's to become a fundamental center-back for us; and if he's not coming to our first team directly, why not wait for Tuanzebe's developpement? Or we go for experience, like Marquinhos or something like that, or better not splash the money on hope.
Matuidi would be a good experienced short term solution, of course, but I was hoping for a young already stablished defensive midfielder who can take Carrick's torch and has the capacity to be a mainstay in the next seasons; Fabinho might be a better option.
Lukaku serves certain purposes, has the physical presence we lack after Zlatan's injury, but I don't see in him the quality to lead our attack; he was very poor decision making, it would be very frustrating to watch him; would prefer Belloti, for instance.
The players on that list are pretty much all the transfer rumours that have been floating around. Mourinho wants the job done as quickly as possible, and Ed Woodward is responding to that. So they are talking to all the transfer targets at the moment and sky sources etc are catching onto that. Hence all the rumours on specific players. The players that haven't become a rumour to United are not coming this season I do not think. They are out there, just a matter of fact if we get them, and when.
Willian
Griezmann
Matic
Griezmann
Matic
I'm a bit worried that outside of Griezmann we seem to be interested in some pretty mediocre players (Matuidi and Keane etc).
I'm not panicking I know it's all rumours and the summer is just starting but I'd be happier being linked with better players is all.
I'm not panicking I know it's all rumours and the summer is just starting but I'd be happier being linked with better players is all.
Griezmann
Tricky pacey wide player
CB (if we sell Jones, probably Keane)
LB who can come in and instantly demand a starting spot
CM (Hopefully a replacement for Carrick, I prefer Herrera in a more advanced role)
Don't think 5 signings is unrealistic, especially with Rooney, Young and Jones likely to leave.
Tricky pacey wide player
CB (if we sell Jones, probably Keane)
LB who can come in and instantly demand a starting spot
CM (Hopefully a replacement for Carrick, I prefer Herrera in a more advanced role)
Don't think 5 signings is unrealistic, especially with Rooney, Young and Jones likely to leave.
Matić would fit so nicely, but not Willian, who's not a “tricky pacey wide player”.
Need 2 strikers if Rooney is going
1 CB
2 CM
2 ST
Thats the minimum guys
1 CB
2 CM
2 ST
Thats the minimum guys
It's clear he wants to reinforce or improve the spine of the team. I think our defence is good enough if we avoid our perennial injury crisis at the back so if someone of note becomes available I'm sure he'll reinforce there with maybe one big name leaving. In midfield it's clear we need a more versatile Carrick style player who tends to play deeper and is a technical upgrade on felliani. This will reduce the defensive responsibilities of pogba. Up front I expect Ibra and rooney to leave which will create space for a 25 goal a season striker. I expect a 4th player to be either a winger or defender depending on outgoings. So a first choice central defender, central midfielder and striker are a must.
I think its inarguable that we need at least a CB, midfielder and striker as minimum. I am however wary of just going out and buying half a new team, but there are gaping holes. I really hope DDG stays, otherwise we have another problem to solve.
Mahrez
Dier
Keane
Greizmann
Jose needs to get the best from Shaw, we have a perfectly acceptable left back and it shoudn't be a priority, too many other issues. We may get away with only buying one midfielder if Pereira is part of the first team squad next year and Carrick stays to play 20-25 games. Still a bit light in the striker dept, but I think we will have Zlatan for the second part of the season.
Mahrez
Dier
Keane
Greizmann
Jose needs to get the best from Shaw, we have a perfectly acceptable left back and it shoudn't be a priority, too many other issues. We may get away with only buying one midfielder if Pereira is part of the first team squad next year and Carrick stays to play 20-25 games. Still a bit light in the striker dept, but I think we will have Zlatan for the second part of the season.
It's like Brendan's envelope or that Pulp Fiction briefcase.
We 'know' he wants Griezzman and Mbappe. Anything past that is guess work really. I'd say a midfielder has to be on the list, and possibly a full back. Past that who knows.
Unfortunately the briefcase had a couple of batteries and a lightbulb inside - there's a good picture of it going round, but be aware you can't unsee it! Hopefully Jose's list is not so dissapointing.
Lukaku
Griezmann
Matuidi
Keane
Griezmann
Matuidi
Keane
Best answer so far.
At a guess:
Lukaku or Belotti
Griezmann or James
Bakayoko or Matuidi
Keane or Lindelof
Lukaku or Belotti
Griezmann or James
Bakayoko or Matuidi
Keane or Lindelof
Really? Every day's a school day.
I think this is around right
Arielly powerful striker
Goalscoring Number 10
Energetic physical midfielder
Ball playing/ arielly strong defender
Lukaku
Griezmann
Bale
James
Matic
(Obviously this is a pipedream)
Griezmann
Bale
James
Matic
(Obviously this is a pipedream)
Think we'd struggle with Bale in goal tbh.
Keane and Van Dijk aren't good enough in my opinion, at CB. Maybe Lindelof. Sanchez for Ajax looked a decent player, strong and quick. I've watched hima few times.
Griezmann is the big one; get him and I'll be happy. It'll be him OR Bale, not both.
Rodrigues from Real is someone in a role we do not need; he won't be coming.
Ideally, a new striker, another wide forward and a quality CB.
Griezmann is the big one; get him and I'll be happy. It'll be him OR Bale, not both.
Rodrigues from Real is someone in a role we do not need; he won't be coming.
Ideally, a new striker, another wide forward and a quality CB.
In a perfect world, and with a big enough potato sack, we'd be able to kidnap Verratti. Sadly he looks like he'd likely join Barcelona, or worst of all for us Chelsea. Griezmann is probably our most important target because we need someone who can not only take his chances but also drilling around huddled defenses like a squirrel on crack and draw them out. After that we need to sort out our wings and get a new CB.
And a sack, a really big sack.
And a sack, a really big sack.
