What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

[Fosu-Mens]

Alderweireld: 25 million pound buy-out clause
Manolas 31 million pound buy-out clause.
Meunier - 20-30 million pounds.

There's more than enough value in the market right now so we better not use that excuse again.

Manolas, while available for a relatively low fee, will not solve anything.

 

[Dong Fangzhuo]

On the Man Utd website there are 28 players listed in the first team, three of which have spent the season on loan, so we've been working with a 25 man squad (3 GK's + 22 outfield players). I have bolded the ones I think are almost 100% to still be here next season, red means I think they are as good as gone, blue means there's a possibility they might leave:

GK's:
DDG
Romero
Grant
J Pereira

DEF:
Lindelöf
Bailly
Jones
Smalling
Rojo
Young
Dalot
Shaw
TFM
Valencia
Darmian
Tuanzebe

MID:
Pogba
Mata
Lingard
A Pereira
Fred
Herrera
Matic
McT

FWD:
Sanchez
Lukaku
Rashford
Martial

That's just 16 players we can be almost sure are staying, but I don't think there's any chance we let all five listed in blue leave, so we're probably looking at between 18-21 players returning.

Looking at the squad, assuming we're looking at 22 first team outfield players again and all except the ones listed in red stay, numbers wise we'd be 4 players short of that, 2 defenders, a CM and and a forward.

The ones listed in red won't bring in much in transfer fees, 20-30m probably, but we only spent around 40m net over the last couple of windows so we should be able to go all out this summer and spend 200-250m. If we get say Meunier for 25m, that would leave an average of up to 75m per position for the remaining three positions. Meunier + Toby could allow us to spend 75-100m per on the two remaining positions. I don't watch enough football outside of the PL/CL to have an informed muppet list for those positions, but that kind of money should be able to bring in two top quality additions, assuming we can convince players to join this circus.

 

[Dolf]

Manolas, while available for a relatively low fee, will not solve anything.

Let's agree to disagree ;-)

 

[Fosu-Mens]

Let's agree to disagree ;-)

He reminds me of a mix of Mustafi and Jones. We need stability in the back, not more reckless and inconsistent players like Jones, Bailly, Rojo and to some degree Smalling.

 

[BlackBen]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

 

[sideshow_bob]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

I'd be overjoyed!

 

[Van Piorsing]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

Koulibaly and Dybala means investing beyond 150m mark. It would definitely help repair relationship between Glazers and supporters, if there's any left at this point.

 

[BlackBen]

Koulibaly and Dybala means investing beyond 150m mark. It would definitely help repair relationship between Glazers and supporters, if there's any left at this point.

Yes it will be in excess of 150 m and like you said it might help get the fans off the backs of the Glazers for a while.

I also think they're signings that address most of our problems and will definitely take us up a level or two above what we currently are.

 

[AgentP]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

That would be an amazing window! Will solve multiple problems in our squad. But these players would cost over 300m euros.

 

[BlackBen]

I'd be overjoyed!

Same here. Do it Woody

That would be an amazing window! Will solve multiple problems in our squad. But these players would cost over 300m euros.

Yes it would but we need to spend that or more this summer if we're serious about getting back on top in a season or two.

 

[Stubble]

I think 4 players are likely to be signed:

RB : (prob Meunier) Nailed on this - why we got into a position of relying on a 19 year old prospect and a 33 year old ex-winger i'll never know - poor planning as per usual. Meunier would improve on what we have and not block the progress of Dalot and Laird.

CB : (prob Alderweireld) Cheap option allowing investment in other areas - would partner Lindelof with Smalling as squad option. Recall Tuanzebe and sell Rojo. Jones as last resort ! That would be enough.

DM : (Rice?) Herrera is off and Matic cannot play every game that is obvious. Rice would be a good aggressive, mobile player with a good attitude. Just what we need more of. McTominay as squad option.

RW/RMF (Sancho/Dybala etc) This where i expect the big bucks to be spent. We need a big upgrade on Jesse (Runs a lot) Lingard and Juan (not a RW) Mata. If we do not address this area in a big way i expect more of the same ineffective attacking patterns next year.

This is where i think we will spend but if Lukaku jumps ship (i hope so) we should buy another more reliable striker to complement whatever system we are playing next season. Rashford and Martial have proven they are not ready/inconsistent.

Pogba i think will stay - the club will not sell him for what others will be willing to pay.
I also doubt anyone will pick up Sanchez's wages..

The above is easily affordable and would improve the team significantly - top 4 would be quite possible next year. I just don't think we will spend more than £150-£180 million unless Lukaku or Pogba go - talk of a £250 million spend is discussed at length on here every year but its pie in the sky the Glazers wont sanction it whether we can afford it or not !

I also think we need another creative midfielder to compete with Pogba and stop him assuming he is a nailed on starter despite his periods of lack of effort. Its possible we may go for this and forego a CB but i think thats risky. More likely this is addressed in the summer after - by that time the Pogba staying/going question will be clear one way or the other.

 

[superdry]

Dragons, we need Fire breathing Dragons!

 

[AgentP]

Same here. Do it Woody


Yes it would but we need to spend that or more this summer if we're serious about getting back on top in a season or two.

We definitely need to. But I don't think our owners will.

 

[fps]

I have enormous concerns that, due to a lack of DoF, Solskjaer is currently too busy to be looking at signings, and players are therefore getting away. I worry that City will announce their signings pretty well on the day the transfer window opens, while United will be looking around for players.

Alderweireld seems a no-brainer. I think he and Lindelof would be excellent as a pairing.

 

[ArjenIsM3]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

Obviously, but that will never happen.

I have enormous concerns that, due to a lack of DoF, Solskjaer is currently too busy to be looking at signings, and players are therefore getting away. I worry that City will announce their signings pretty well on the day the transfer window opens, while United will be looking around for players.

Alderweireld seems a no-brainer. I think he and Lindelof would be excellent as a pairing.

I'm not sure about him anymore. Seems to be on the decline. Would rather sign Manolas and add Tuanzebe to the squad

 

[Dan600]

Presuming we sign 5, I reckon we'll sign a RB, CM, RW, ST and a CB/CM. I'm going with CB.



I have 4 sets of transfers in my head, 1 is my preferred (i.e. literally impossible), 1 is an Ed Woodward galactico set, the third is a realistic/Ole type set, and the other is if Ole really wants old school and has gone off the deep end:

My Preferred (Dream) Choices: Wan-Bissaka, Ruben Neves, Sancho/Pepe, Griezmann, Skriniar (Part of Swap Deal with Lukaku).

Ed's Choices: Cheap young Right Back (no market value here), Coutinho (This is Ed so for CM), Bale, Dybala/Griezmann, Varane.

Realistic/Ole Choices: Meunier, Declan Rice, Someone like Buendia/Brooks but would prefer Sancho, Dybala/Icardi or a Dembele/Ayoze Perez, Alderweireld.

Old United Ole Choices: Rafael, Drinkwater, Josh King, Danny Welbeck, Michael Keane.

 

[fps]

Presuming we sign 5, I reckon we'll sign a RB, CM, RW, ST and a CB/CM. I'm going with CB.

Ed's Choices: Cheap young Right Back (no market value here), Coutinho (This is Ed so for CM), Bale, Dybala/Griezmann, Varane.

Hahaha the Coutinho one, I can already see it in his head.

 

[Fer]

If we are going to play diamond formation, and we are going to lose Pogba, Herrera, Mata and Lukaku. Then, players like Fernandes, Dybala, Felix, Pepe, Tielemans, Barella, Neves, Rice, De Been, etc make sense.

We could build a strong midfield to play 4312 if we don't get Sancho.

 

[Yorkeontop]

We have bigger issues at full back than I first thought

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It doesn't seem like a high priority but it seems like the position is arguably the biggest difference maker in attacking fluidity these days.

 

[Xaviboy]

Ok if we believe the Dybala reports then maybe we might get 4 or 5 in this window.

Dybala replacing Lukaku
Pellegrini replacing Herrera some reports from today.
Lozano - replacing Sanchez
Munier - upgrade for RB
Maguire- centre back

We may add another CM if Pogba goes.

Mata stays in the end signs contract extension

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

We have bigger issues at full back than I first thought

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It doesn't seem like a high priority but it seems like the position is arguably the biggest difference maker in attacking fluidity these days.

We need both full backs. Shaw has not had a bad season but, in reality, he’s nowhere near the level required for a modern top level fullback.

 

[el3mel]

New owners, a Dof, an entire new squad and maybe a new manager. Basically an entire new club I guess!

 

[Woziak]

On the Man Utd website there are 28 players listed in the first team, three of which have spent the season on loan, so we've been working with a 25 man squad (3 GK's + 22 outfield players). I have bolded the ones I think are almost 100% to still be here next season, red means I think they are as good as gone, blue means there's a possibility they might leave:

GK's:
DDG
Romero
Grant
J Pereira

DEF:
Lindelöf
Bailly
Jones
Smalling
Rojo
Young
Dalot
Shaw
TFM
Valencia
Darmian
Tuanzebe

MID:
Pogba
Mata
Lingard
A Pereira
Fred
Herrera
Matic
McT

FWD:
Sanchez
Lukaku
Rashford
Martial

That's just 16 players we can be almost sure are staying, but I don't think there's any chance we let all five listed in blue leave, so we're probably looking at between 18-21 players returning.

Looking at the squad, assuming we're looking at 22 first team outfield players again and all except the ones listed in red stay, numbers wise we'd be 4 players short of that, 2 defenders, a CM and and a forward.

The ones listed in red won't bring in much in transfer fees, 20-30m probably, but we only spent around 40m net over the last couple of windows so we should be able to go all out this summer and spend 200-250m. If we get say Meunier for 25m, that would leave an average of up to 75m per position for the remaining three positions. Meunier + Toby could allow us to spend 75-100m per on the two remaining positions. I don't watch enough football outside of the PL/CL to have an informed muppet list for those positions, but that kind of money should be able to bring in two top quality additions, assuming we can convince players to join this circus.

Solid Post however you fail to recognise we are playing Europa League Football next season which can be up to 21 games including qualifiers if we finish 6th. The previous two occasions we played in this competition, QF and Winners we had a large squad of 28. Three Goalkeepers and 25 outfield players. The idea from Sir Alex was always to have two specialist players for each position and have 8 attacking options with 3 or 4 wingers and 3 or 5 Centre Forwards. We have not scored more than 70 league goals for 7 years because are options going forward are consistently poor. I think of your blue maybe leave, both Pogba and De Gea will go with Juan maybe staying but it wouldn't surprise me if all the Spanish players left this year.

The originally 3 or 4 players coming in will be more like 6 or 7 because some of these players will simply force their own exits. Don't be surprised if the £200M becomes £350M, Woodward will be under intense pressure as all our Domestic rivals pick up the 5 Domestic and European trophies while we fall apart at teams like Huddrsfield, Brighton, West Ham, Burnley, Southampton, Derby, Everton and Wolves!

His completely inept management has left the club the laughing stock of the football World and the Glaziers by association will be considered to be just as unfit to run this great club, they will either sell or remove Woodward if the problem does not show any signs of improvements by Winter 2019.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

We have bigger issues at full back than I first thought

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It doesn't seem like a high priority but it seems like the position is arguably the biggest difference maker in attacking fluidity these days.

This has always been his level, people are making up a player that never even existed. There was never a point where he seemed like he was able to cross the ball well.

 

[Sea-Cow]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

I'd be reasonably happy with 4 out of the 5. I just don't want us to sign Dybala, even though it has the hallmarks of an Ed signing.

On paper and in Fifa he's an upgrade on our current options, obviously. But I just don't see him succeeding here. I don't think he would be willing to give the effort required to succeed in the premier league and big athletic CBs would kick him and push him around, and he would quit just as Di Maria did. He just doesn't seem to have the killer attitude that we need in our summer recruites. He might have some youtube worthy skillz when things are going well, but the minute things turn south he would quit and resort to collecting his massive checks.

The rest of your list is promising -- Cancelo looked quality when we played them this year. Rabiot is a quality CM, despite being a dramaqueen. Koulibaly could be great and would be a big help in an important area. And I don't really know anything about Pepe except that he's fast.

But I would also be prepared for them to all fail miserably and for us to be right back in this same dilemma in 12 months time.

 

[Sea-Cow]

Presuming we sign 5, I reckon we'll sign a RB, CM, RW, ST and a CB/CM. I'm going with CB.



I have 4 sets of transfers in my head, 1 is my preferred (i.e. literally impossible), 1 is an Ed Woodward galactico set, the third is a realistic/Ole type set, and the other is if Ole really wants old school and has gone off the deep end:

My Preferred (Dream) Choices: Wan-Bissaka, Ruben Neves, Sancho/Pepe, Griezmann, Skriniar (Part of Swap Deal with Lukaku).

Ed's Choices: Cheap young Right Back (no market value here), Coutinho (This is Ed so for CM), Bale, Dybala/Griezmann, Varane.

Realistic/Ole Choices: Meunier, Declan Rice, Someone like Buendia/Brooks but would prefer Sancho, Dybala/Icardi or a Dembele/Ayoze Perez, Alderweireld.

Old United Ole Choices: Rafael, Drinkwater, Josh King, Danny Welbeck, Michael Keane.

I would be all over your Realistic / Ole Choices:

Meunier, Rice, Brooks, Dembele, Alderweireld would be outstanding work. It wouldn't be perfect, and I would prefer an upgrade on Dembele but don't know who exactly, but those are all reasonable options that would address huge holes in the starting 11.

 

[charlenefan]

We have bigger issues at full back than I first thought

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It doesn't seem like a high priority but it seems like the position is arguably the biggest difference maker in attacking fluidity these days.

My god what a load of bollocks that tweet is

 

[Jacob]

What do we still need? Everything. We need everything.

 

[ForestRGoinUp]

Would you guys be happy with a summer of
Dybala, Cancelo ,N. Pepe, Rabiot and Koulibaly?

Just curious

Hell yea let’s go

 

[Canagel]

My god what a load of bollocks that tweet is

Why is it bollocks?

 

[galwayfa]

Dybala be a morato mk11?

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

We have bigger issues at full back than I first thought

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

It doesn't seem like a high priority but it seems like the position is arguably the biggest difference maker in attacking fluidity these days.

Left back might be an issue, but I don’t think it’s a bigger issue than centre backs, DM, midfield & attackers.

Rebuild is step by step, and replacing Shaw will be the last step. Shaw has shown some improvement so far, although still nowhere near his 2015/2016 season prior his injury.

 

[Godfather]

On the Man Utd website there are 28 players listed in the first team, three of which have spent the season on loan, so we've been working with a 25 man squad (3 GK's + 22 outfield players). I have bolded the ones I think are almost 100% to still be here next season, red means I think they are as good as gone, blue means there's a possibility they might leave:

GK's:
DDG
Romero
Grant
J Pereira

DEF:
Lindelöf
Bailly
Jones
Smalling
Rojo
Young
Dalot
Shaw
TFM
Valencia
Darmian
Tuanzebe

MID:
Pogba
Mata
Lingard
A Pereira
Fred
Herrera
Matic
McT

FWD:
Sanchez
Lukaku
Rashford
Martial

That's just 16 players we can be almost sure are staying, but I don't think there's any chance we let all five listed in blue leave, so we're probably looking at between 18-21 players returning.

Looking at the squad, assuming we're looking at 22 first team outfield players again and all except the ones listed in red stay, numbers wise we'd be 4 players short of that, 2 defenders, a CM and and a forward.

The ones listed in red won't bring in much in transfer fees, 20-30m probably, but we only spent around 40m net over the last couple of windows so we should be able to go all out this summer and spend 200-250m. If we get say Meunier for 25m, that would leave an average of up to 75m per position for the remaining three positions. Meunier + Toby could allow us to spend 75-100m per on the two remaining positions. I don't watch enough football outside of the PL/CL to have an informed muppet list for those positions, but that kind of money should be able to bring in two top quality additions, assuming we can convince players to join this circus.

The bolded ones make me want to cry. What a shambles we are. So much shit in one squad assembled is quite something.

 

[simonhch]

We absolutely have to get rid of the following this summer:

Bailly, Rojo, Darmian, Valencia, Matic, Mata, Sanchez, Lukaku, and Martial.

I have been a huge fan of Martial for a long time, but have finally come to conclusion that he just gives zero shits. It has been shown that you can be talented and skillful, as well as hard running. I have no time for lazy footballers. Lukaku is lazy, and crap. We can probably fetch 100M for those two combined. Maybe more. So feck them right off.

I don't even want stars at the club this summer. We have to go for young and hungry players, real footballers who desperately want to play for the shirt, and have the talent/potential to match. We also have to be clever about where we spend the money, because supply is limited.

Players of huge interest to me include:

De Ligt, Ziyech, Van Der Beek, Sancho, Wan Bissaka, Rice, Fernandes, Felix, Ndombele, Fekir, Rodri, Ndidi, Maguire.

Stars to whom we've been linked, and in which I have zero interest:

Bale, and Dybala.

 

[charlenefan]

Why is it bollocks?

Well he's 3rd best in the league for tackles won but his overall average is taken down by including fouls and yellow cards per 90

He's 4th best in the league for attempted passes between the lines but his average is taken down by including both through pass accuracy (of which there's not even a number for the amount he attempts) and passes in-between the line accuracy

Seems for everything he's good at they've found hipster phrases to make his overall average look average. Shaw's far from perfect I'm not suggesting he is but there's not 9 LB's in the league that are better than him which is what that tweet is suggesting

 

[romufc]

What is the point of signing marquee signings like Dybala etc on big wages. Surely, we have to adopt a different method?
James Madison
AWB

We need prem experience, players who will press high and play for the badge not the bank balance.

 

[Woziak]

Already feeling a little like last summer, your biggest rivals doing well in Europe and domestically. A huge disconnect between the Manager, Fans and Ed Woodward's transfer targets.

It seems that the toxicity within the club will only end when either Woodward or the Glazers go. More and more stories about how Fading superstars like Bale or emerging young superstars like J Sancho or M De Ligt have no interest in joining our sinking ship are just spining the media's current agenda for the club.

But United are not the Titanic, We never will be, we more like a Phoenix that rises from the ashes as we did after Munich and as we did during the depression and doldrums of the 70's and 80's and as we will do again after this latest setback.

Deja Vu, however will happen if we go after fading marque mercenaries footballers that have no love for the club, Ole may not be the final solution but he will promote youth that love the club, buy and develop young British players that work hard and fall in love with the club because of the opportunity he and Mike Phelan will give them but most importantly he will spot emerging superstars that blossom at the club and then more players like Rio, Ronaldo, Rooney, Evra, Cantona, RVP, Berbatov, Saha, Yorke, Cole, Sherringham, Carrick and many more, all of which would currently walk into our shambles of a first team will become the new idols for the 2020's and beyond, because right now we need a couple of these magical players that the club has always had, up until now!

I really no longer care who we sign, I just want there to be hard working intense competition for places and if you have a bad game on Thursday or Sunday you get dropped for a week or 2 like Fergie used to do with the players, continue to put that shirt on and not work in training or on a league game, go and train with the kids before being kicked out of the club.

This is what must be done for United to truly return but most importantly Woodward needs to leave before the 1st June 2019.

 

[Pexbo]

Think we are going to see a billy big bollocks summer from Woodward personally. Frugal year last year and he will have a point to prove to critics and sponsors. Attempts to appease fans.

I just hope he realises that we want the right players, not galacticos.

 

[Yorkeontop]

Left back might be an issue, but I don’t think it’s a bigger issue than centre backs, DM, midfield & attackers.

Rebuild is step by step, and replacing Shaw will be the last step. Shaw has shown some improvement so far, although still nowhere near his 2015/2016 season prior his injury.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

An upgrade at full back I believe would make a quicker impact, a dramatic one at that too.

 

[Njord]

Wan Bissaka in, Valencia+Darmian out
De ligt in, Bailly+Rojo out
Tierney or Chillwel in, Young out
Rice in, Matic out
Bruno Fernandes in, Herrera out
Sancho in, Mata out
Hudson-Odoi in, Sanchez out

Would make us younger, better and ready for a more modern approach, as well as cheaper in wages.