Yes it's been a difficult season and the end has been horrible and so bad that I'm concerned it'll bleed over into next season if we're not careful. However, looking ahead to next season and beyond, and knowing that Ole has a three year contract (yes, I know that it could easily go tits up and he leaves by Christmas, if you have thoughts about posting that, don't bother 
), I was wondering how he would go about this rebuild and the sort of players he would target and timeline of progress that would be acceptable for you? I've had a go at it, and this what I've come up with:
First off, anyone thinking we're going to get the creme de la creme this summer is going to be in for a shock. Unfortunately 3 CL qualifications in 3 seasons now shows that what we are, is a team that is not Top 4 material. I know a lot of you hate the terms 'rebuild' or 'transition', but that is exactly where we are. What has exacerbated this is that we turned to shit just as the rest of the league has grown strong enough to be legitimate threats in their own right.
For me, the strategy for this summer should be to put in the building blocks and foundations for us to propel us on to the next level. That means starting to clear out the deadwood (for this year: Valencia, Darmian, Bailly, Sanchez, and maybe Lukaku in addition to Herrera and more than likely De Gea leaving - Pogba will most likely be priced out of a move, unless Real can get us to accept a player plus cash deal for a Varane &/or a Kroos - I'd also wager on TFM not being here either despite not really being given a proper chance), and attain players with proper PL level experience and savvy who know the league inside out and can fill the numerous tangible and intangible voids we have in the squad - these guys, in addition to the likes of Chong, Garner, Gomes, O'Connor, Greenwood, Laird et al most likely being considered as part of the first team squad over the next couple of seasons should see a good level of turnover and ensures that the squad is fresh and renewed at regular intervals during the three years. We'll also likely not target a replacement for DDG straight away IMO, instead we'll give Romero a chance and send Henderson out on loan to Sheff Utd in the hope he develops in to our long-term number 1 as we have so many pressing needs and Romero has done well enough in his career thus far to at least be given a season to show us what he can do on a full-time basis. Target on the pitch should be winning the EL, doing well in the domestic cups and maybe Top 4 (rather than league position, I'd say a points tally of 75-80 would represent a good level of progression on the mess that he had to inherit this season), but above all getting the fans back on side and getting us to believe in them again.
Target for the 2020/21 summer transfer window should be to use our financial muscle properly and to target and acquire the best possible young talent on the continent which we should be able to achieve if we attain CL qualification, as well as a long-term DDG replacement if Romero doesn't work out &/or if Henderson leaves/isn't up to the required standards - while also continuing to clear out the deadwood (most likely Rojo, Pereira, and Jones - Romero too, if it doesn't work out (his contract currently expires in 2021, but we will most likely sign him up to a new one if DDG has left. Ideally, Matic should be discarded in 2019, let alone 2020 but considering Ed's background, he'll likely have his one year option triggered and we'll sell him the next summer for a pittance. While Fred might be let go too, if he hasn't properly adapted to the PL by now - if Pogba hasn't left by 2019, then we can pretty much guarantee that it will be in 2020. Likewise for Lukaku). On the pitch, being comfortably in Top 4 should be the aim, maybe even a surprise title challenge if all the stars align, and doing as well as possible in the domestic cups and getting to R16/QF in the Champions League.
Target for 2021/22 should be to fill in any outstanding gaps in the squad, or holes that have developed during the past three years and to finally rid ourselves of the last remaining deadwood (this will probably be the last chance saloon players who for different reasons we want to give as much of a chance as possible - Martial, Lingard, et al and Matic and Smalling should finally be phased out. Depending on Rashford's development, we might see him go also). This should now be Ole's squad in its entireity and a title challenge should be a realistic aim.
If Ole does well at this point, then the final step is transferring this progress to the CL and getting to consistent QFs and SFs before finally getting to Finals and maybe even winning it, but that should be a long-term aim rather than something to consider for the short, or even medium-term.
What do you think? I know the format is all over the place but I'm at work so this was a bit of a rush job!
), I was wondering how he would go about this rebuild and the sort of players he would target and timeline of progress that would be acceptable for you? I've had a go at it, and this what I've come up with:First off, anyone thinking we're going to get the creme de la creme this summer is going to be in for a shock. Unfortunately 3 CL qualifications in 3 seasons now shows that what we are, is a team that is not Top 4 material. I know a lot of you hate the terms 'rebuild' or 'transition', but that is exactly where we are. What has exacerbated this is that we turned to shit just as the rest of the league has grown strong enough to be legitimate threats in their own right.
For me, the strategy for this summer should be to put in the building blocks and foundations for us to propel us on to the next level. That means starting to clear out the deadwood (for this year: Valencia, Darmian, Bailly, Sanchez, and maybe Lukaku in addition to Herrera and more than likely De Gea leaving - Pogba will most likely be priced out of a move, unless Real can get us to accept a player plus cash deal for a Varane &/or a Kroos - I'd also wager on TFM not being here either despite not really being given a proper chance), and attain players with proper PL level experience and savvy who know the league inside out and can fill the numerous tangible and intangible voids we have in the squad - these guys, in addition to the likes of Chong, Garner, Gomes, O'Connor, Greenwood, Laird et al most likely being considered as part of the first team squad over the next couple of seasons should see a good level of turnover and ensures that the squad is fresh and renewed at regular intervals during the three years. We'll also likely not target a replacement for DDG straight away IMO, instead we'll give Romero a chance and send Henderson out on loan to Sheff Utd in the hope he develops in to our long-term number 1 as we have so many pressing needs and Romero has done well enough in his career thus far to at least be given a season to show us what he can do on a full-time basis. Target on the pitch should be winning the EL, doing well in the domestic cups and maybe Top 4 (rather than league position, I'd say a points tally of 75-80 would represent a good level of progression on the mess that he had to inherit this season), but above all getting the fans back on side and getting us to believe in them again.
Target for the 2020/21 summer transfer window should be to use our financial muscle properly and to target and acquire the best possible young talent on the continent which we should be able to achieve if we attain CL qualification, as well as a long-term DDG replacement if Romero doesn't work out &/or if Henderson leaves/isn't up to the required standards - while also continuing to clear out the deadwood (most likely Rojo, Pereira, and Jones - Romero too, if it doesn't work out (his contract currently expires in 2021, but we will most likely sign him up to a new one if DDG has left. Ideally, Matic should be discarded in 2019, let alone 2020 but considering Ed's background, he'll likely have his one year option triggered and we'll sell him the next summer for a pittance. While Fred might be let go too, if he hasn't properly adapted to the PL by now - if Pogba hasn't left by 2019, then we can pretty much guarantee that it will be in 2020. Likewise for Lukaku). On the pitch, being comfortably in Top 4 should be the aim, maybe even a surprise title challenge if all the stars align, and doing as well as possible in the domestic cups and getting to R16/QF in the Champions League.
Target for 2021/22 should be to fill in any outstanding gaps in the squad, or holes that have developed during the past three years and to finally rid ourselves of the last remaining deadwood (this will probably be the last chance saloon players who for different reasons we want to give as much of a chance as possible - Martial, Lingard, et al and Matic and Smalling should finally be phased out. Depending on Rashford's development, we might see him go also). This should now be Ole's squad in its entireity and a title challenge should be a realistic aim.
If Ole does well at this point, then the final step is transferring this progress to the CL and getting to consistent QFs and SFs before finally getting to Finals and maybe even winning it, but that should be a long-term aim rather than something to consider for the short, or even medium-term.
What do you think? I know the format is all over the place but I'm at work so this was a bit of a rush job!
.