I would personally be pretty happy with that, on paper AWB, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw with DDG behind looks pretty solid.James
AWB
Fernandes
longstaff
Maguire
Ben Yedder (If lukaku goes)
That is probably a realistic , if optimistic outlook of our summer.
How would that make you all feel?
Oh I should have explain properly. I mean if we sack Ole and bring in A-Class manager like Guardiola who can win stuff. Surely he will ask for how much transfer kitty before he sign. Of course if we appointed another 'midtable' manager like Eddie Howe or Macro Silva, they won't have such high requirements.Different scenario across the road - if you have an unlimited source of cash and can just pick who you want and get them then you can succeed. I am sure if you played football manager in 'unlimited cash cheat mode' you would find it easy to win the league with over 100 points. This is why anything City have achieved is pretty meaningless.........
That would be a good start, IF we keep Pogba AND he’s motivated enough to perform.James
AWB
Fernandes
longstaff
Maguire
Ben Yedder (If lukaku goes)
That is probably a realistic , if optimistic outlook of our summer.
How would that make you all feel?
Well, apart from Maguire, who - apparently - would rather sign for City.Rest assured, the players we are trying to sign actually want to play for us.
That's not really true. Or at least it isn't black or white. There's a bit of grey area in there. For one, English teams don't have to sell. It's not like before when if United came calling the other team would sell to make a quick buck. Now teams are more financially secure, but there are deals to be had. Secondly, it's not like we are getting foreign talent on the cheap. We paid nearly 50m for Fred. It's been quoted at well over 100m if we are going to land Koulibaly. Meanwhile the last British player we signed is Daniel James for only 15. The last English player we signed was Shaw for 27m and he was EPL proven and the best LB in the country at the time. Compare that to the 29m we paid in the same season for Herrara or 60m for Di Maria. So it's not that English players cost more. That's a myth. It comes down to the situation of the buying and selling club, as well as the player himself. What is his contract situation? Is he pushing for a move? Does the team want to sell? That last point is the big one. If the team doesn't want to sell and they have the player in a long term contract, then things get tricky. Just look at Maguire. We could have had him a couple of years ago for relatively cheap. Instead we wait until he has some time with Leicester and now they don't want, and don't need to sell him. Doesn't matter that he's English. He's a quality player and they would want to keep him regardless. Mind you, one thing about signing British players is that in a couple of years time, they won't have their heads turned by Barca, Madrid or any of the other big foreign clubs. A British player will see United as the pinnacle of their career and likely won't be pushing for a transfer anytime soon...The one thing I've got against this buying home-grown players or players used to the Prem is that they cost 2x 3x what they'd cost if they were playing in any other league. So the "operating in an inflated market" is pretty much our own choice.
This all makes an enormous amount of sense, especially the last section. Players who see Man Utd as a stepping stone are going to kill the club.That's not really true. Or at least it isn't black or white. There's a bit of grey area in there. For one, English teams don't have to sell. It's not like before when if United came calling the other team would sell to make a quick buck. Now teams are more financially secure, but there are deals to be had. Secondly, it's not like we are getting foreign talent on the cheap. We paid nearly 50m for Fred. It's been quoted at well over 100m if we are going to land Koulibaly. Meanwhile the last British player we signed is Daniel James for only 15. The last English player we signed was Shaw for 27m and he was EPL proven and the best LB in the country at the time. Compare that to the 29m we paid in the same season for Herrara or 60m for Di Maria. So it's not that English players cost more. That's a myth. It comes down to the situation of the buying and selling club, as well as the player himself. What is his contract situation? Is he pushing for a move? Does the team want to sell? That last point is the big one. If the team doesn't want to sell and they have the player in a long term contract, then things get tricky. Just look at Maguire. We could have had him a couple of years ago for relatively cheap. Instead we wait until he has some time with Leicester and now they don't want, and don't need to sell him. Doesn't matter that he's English. He's a quality player and they would want to keep him regardless. Mind you, one thing about signing British players is that in a couple of years time, they won't have their heads turned by Barca, Madrid or any of the other big foreign clubs. A British player will see United as the pinnacle of their career and likely won't be pushing for a transfer anytime soon...
Key word in your response. ‘Apparently’ guess we’re about to find out.Well, apart from Maguire, who - apparently - would rather sign for City.
I know it's not an either or issue, as such. But it's pretty close. Shaw at the time of purchase was expensive, since then the market has gone more insane. Di Maria was a household name coming off a storming season. No comparison.That's not really true. Or at least it isn't black or white. There's a bit of grey area in there. For one, English teams don't have to sell. It's not like before when if United came calling the other team would sell to make a quick buck. Now teams are more financially secure, but there are deals to be had. Secondly, it's not like we are getting foreign talent on the cheap. We paid nearly 50m for Fred. It's been quoted at well over 100m if we are going to land Koulibaly. Meanwhile the last British player we signed is Daniel James for only 15. The last English player we signed was Shaw for 27m and he was EPL proven and the best LB in the country at the time. Compare that to the 29m we paid in the same season for Herrara or 60m for Di Maria. So it's not that English players cost more. That's a myth. It comes down to the situation of the buying and selling club, as well as the player himself. What is his contract situation? Is he pushing for a move? Does the team want to sell? That last point is the big one. If the team doesn't want to sell and they have the player in a long term contract, then things get tricky. Just look at Maguire. We could have had him a couple of years ago for relatively cheap. Instead we wait until he has some time with Leicester and now they don't want, and don't need to sell him. Doesn't matter that he's English. He's a quality player and they would want to keep him regardless. Mind you, one thing about signing British players is that in a couple of years time, they won't have their heads turned by Barca, Madrid or any of the other big foreign clubs. A British player will see United as the pinnacle of their career and likely won't be pushing for a transfer anytime soon...
Or perhaps we tend to overrate players from other leagues/clubs higher than we do our own. What has Koulibaly done to justify his fee that Maguire hasn't???I know it's not an either or issue, as such. But it's pretty close. Shaw at the time of purchase was expensive, since then the market has gone more insane. Di Maria was a household name coming off a storming season. No comparison.
If we're shopping at home, we are paying much more than if we were to shop abroad. Koulibaly would cost a world class fee because he's world class, but every other defender would probably be a lot less than the 90m quoted for Maguire. In the UK you pay a world class fee for a player who's not world class. That's not the same elsewhere.
We fit Bruno and Pogba the same way that City fit De Bruyne and Silva. By playing a high line, compacting the space in midfield and dominating the ball. That’s surely the way we want to go as that’s the only way you play both of them in a midfield. People talk about the diamond all the time but like 1% of teams use the diamond like 1% of the time, realistically no one plays itI would personally be pretty happy with that, on paper AWB, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw with DDG behind looks pretty solid.
Interesting to see how he would fit Fernandes and Pogba in the same side, maybe play a diamond formation, 433 may be a little open but it could work. Longstaff/McTominay fighting for DMC position, there would be more creativity centre of the park and you would hope Gomes/Chong/Greenwood will be given further chances this year.
Only thing missing really is a RW but I think Ole will be pretty happy this year to make do with what we have on the right and assuming we make top 4, go all our for Sancho next summer as our main signing.
Overall I would take that summer.
He’s played at a higher level, under better managers, instrumental in his team and where he plays there is actual pressure to perform. To me he looks a pretty complete centre back. An absolute monster.Or perhaps we tend to overrate players from other leagues/clubs higher than we do our own. What has Koulibaly done to justify his fee that Maguire hasn't???
And Maguire hasn't looked like a complete centre back and absolute monster? Let me guess, because he plays for Leicester we have to under rate him. Makes me wonder how you felt about VVD when he was at Southampton. And it's not like Napoli has done anything of importance. They got knocked out of Champions League in the group stage (tough group though) and got eliminated by Arsenal in Europa. If anything, I would put the nod towards Maguire if comparing the two seeing as he's been a top player in the league despite playing on a team that isn't as good as Kounibaly's team. However, all you have to do is look at the England set up and see just how good he really is when surrounded by other talented players as Maguire has made himself the first name on Southgate's team sheet...He’s played at a higher level, under better managers, instrumental in his team and where he plays there is actual pressure to perform. To me he looks a pretty complete centre back. An absolute monster.
Only if City bid as high as us. If they don't we'll never know. But every report I've seen so far suggests he prefers City...and why wouldn't he?Key word in your response. ‘Apparently’ guess we’re about to find out.
I rated van Dijk from the moment he went to Southampton (always had him in my fantasy teams). With Maguire I see some outstanding attributes (heading, strength) and then the odd mistake, the needless risks, the not-great pace.And Maguire hasn't looked like a complete centre back and absolute monster? Let me guess, because he plays for Leicester we have to under rate him. Makes me wonder how you felt about VVD when he was at Southampton. And it's not like Napoli has done anything of importance. They got knocked out of Champions League in the group stage (tough group though) and got eliminated by Arsenal in Europa. If anything, I would put the nod towards Maguire if comparing the two seeing as he's been a top player in the league despite playing on a team that isn't as good as Kounibaly's team. However, all you have to do is look at the England set up and see just how good he really is when surrounded by other talented players as Maguire has made himself the first name on Southgate's team sheet...
Exhibit A: Young, Jones, Lingard, Smalling, McT, and Shaw. The problem is we need Top players, not just players from UK. Limiting ourselves to signing UK players is like going into a fight with one hand tied behind your back.For.
We need more players from UK imo, think a club like United should have that like we always used to have.
He had quite a bit of success with it last year away at a few of the big sides, splitting the front two, at the moment if he tries to play the same way City do, not sure we have the players. Shaw tucking into midfield, don't think he has the capabilities, do we have a DMC in the mold of Fernandinho, I don't think we do, plus would Pogba be as disciplined to team instructions as Silva/De Bruyne are, again I don't think he would, plus with Smalling/Jones/Bailly we don't have the CB's to provide enough defensive structure.We fit Bruno and Pogba the same way that City fit De Bruyne and Silva. By playing a high line, compacting the space in midfield and dominating the ball. That’s surely the way we want to go as that’s the only way you play both of them in a midfield. People talk about the diamond all the time but like 1% of teams use the diamond like 1% of the time, realistically no one plays it
I 100% agree that we don’t have the players to play the City way especially centre backs and dm. If you sign 2 AMs and want to play them both then that’s the only balanced way to do it. People love to talk about these crazy formations but hardly any team deviates from the standard 433 or 4231, sometimes 3 at the back but never anything crazier than that.He had quite a bit of success with it last year away at a few of the big sides, splitting the front two, at the moment if he tries to play the same way City do, not sure we have the players. Shaw tucking into midfield, don't think he has the capabilities, do we have a DMC in the mold of Fernandinho, I don't think we do, plus would Pogba be as disciplined to team instructions as Silva/De Bruyne are, again I don't think he would, plus with Smalling/Jones/Bailly we don't have the CB's to provide enough defensive structure.
Although, I don't think it will be a problem as I don't see Pogba being here come the start of the season.
Also, just because not many sides play it does not mean that Ole won't, don't forget Leicester won the league playing a system that has not been touched since the early 2000's.
Yeah mate agree with you on that, this day and age a lot of teams end up playing 2 or 3 formations in a game so you need to be flexible, we will no doubt go with 433, which means Mata or Lingard on the right AGAIN haha my god.I 100% agree that we don’t have the players to play the City way especially centre backs and dm. If you sign 2 AMs and want to play them both then that’s the only balanced way to do it. People love to talk about these crazy formations but hardly any team deviates from the standard 433 or 4231, sometimes 3 at the back but never anything crazier than that.
Yes there’s exceptions just like there are in everything but that’s what they are, exceptions. If you go by logic and history it’s almost certain we’ll play 433. Even the diamond we played last season unde ole was really a 433 once the strikers went wide, but that was a very specialist formation and we won’t play like that.
My money is on us signing Longstaff or Lemina and going 433 with more creativity upfront and more defensive work on the midfielders. Pogba will play as a 10 I think
The only thing I can think of is promoting Greenwood and trying to get him to first team level so he can play there. He certainly added a lot when he played against Cardiff but he’s still very raw.Yeah mate agree with you on that, this day and age a lot of teams end up playing 2 or 3 formations in a game so you need to be flexible, we will no doubt go with 433, which means Mata or Lingard on the right AGAIN haha my god.
Hopefully James can play there but from the looks of his stats, he has always been a left winger, hopefully Woody pulls a RW out of his arse haha
