Op is not wrong in any way tbh. The window now closes in less than 1 month. We have Lukaku and Pogba openly stating they want out and so far we are not even close to make a deal for neither of the two. We still need players in for multiple positions and there's not really that much time left. It took them over a month only to sign James and AWB. I think this is just heading towards another shit window.
It's pre-season and we are in dire straits
- Thread starter Ranchero
- Start date
Yep. It could be just that with Pogba and Lukaku gone or if they don't they won't be bothered. People who think they will be professional and put in a shift are having a laugh.
Yeah forcing them to stay another year is a recipe for disaster and toxicity.
So if they dont, they dont play or go train with the reserves. Like any other player.
One should not underestimate that these are human beings and both Pogba and Lukaku has close friends in the United squad. I dont think that they will "down tools" so easily as you seem to think. Also: its not going to help themselves doing that, its not going to make them more attractive to other clubs. To bite the bullet and try to perform next season will probably help them more to secure a transfer next summer; both towards a prospective buyer and towards United.
If they still do: see my first sentence: bench or reserves. No one that is benched or sent to the reserves will be happy about it, why should we consider Pogbas or Lukakus feelings on this and why should they be considered more toxic to the group than any other player that does not play?
They can both leave as far as I am concerned but not one pound under their market value. They are both on long contracts and have absolutely no leverage. PSG is a shit club, but they are handling the Neymar situation as we should these two.
That great, but if they are banking on the money they bring in to buy players, which I wouldn't put past them, then people expecting any improvement will be disappointed.
Well, its obvious that they need to be replaced if they do leave. Which is another reason why the club should adopt a hard stance here. Since the PL-window closes earlier than all the other leagues we cannot be put in a situation where we cant replace them. Both transfers should be done two weeks before the PL-window closes or they stay. Period.
I am not that worried if they do stay, its not like they are at the worst club in the world and are underpaid.
Its not ideal but this idea that they will sulk and down tools I dont accept.
Its not logical after the fact.
You can play around in social media now and infer this (its done for leverage, nothing else), but its something completely different when/after/if they do stay.
If we lose a Pogba or a Lukaku you need to replace them with players of the same or similar standard. Not players used to scrabbling around in the basement of the PL. Otherwise the standard of this side will plummet to even lower levels.
Yes, exactly, which is why the ifs of those transfers has to be settled sooner rather than later and well before the PL-transfer deadline.
And its just one way to do that; and thats to set a relevant corresponding deadline to the players agents and interested clubs. And hold to it.
I usually defend Paul Pogba here and I can understand why he wants to play elsewhere. However, the latest nonsense from him and his agent - yes it's him and he's more culpable because he employs his agent to do what he wants him to do - splashed all over the sports sections of different papers online and in print deserves a hard nosed response from Manchester United.
Memo to Pogba and his agent - no, it's not your prerogative when under contract and an immensely generous contract at that to scream all over the media that you will be transferred. I'd say United is playing it correctly here - stating publicly he is a United player. F............Real and all those other clubs, why should United do them any favours?
No discount for Pogba, in fact if I were United I'd up the valuation. And yes, he should stay. He's under contract, I don't think he will down tools once the season begins. However, the fact that he is doing this and telling his agent to be a gobshite in the media reflects poorly on him, very poorly.
Memo to Pogba and his agent - no, it's not your prerogative when under contract and an immensely generous contract at that to scream all over the media that you will be transferred. I'd say United is playing it correctly here - stating publicly he is a United player. F............Real and all those other clubs, why should United do them any favours?
No discount for Pogba, in fact if I were United I'd up the valuation. And yes, he should stay. He's under contract, I don't think he will down tools once the season begins. However, the fact that he is doing this and telling his agent to be a gobshite in the media reflects poorly on him, very poorly.
Talent seeks other talent naturally. He’s one of the 5 best midfielders in the world and he’s playing for what, maybe the 20th best club in the world? We’ve had 3 years to boost the talent around him and we’ve gone the other way, surrounding him with Smalling Young Scotty Lingz etc.
He should continue agitating. It’s only natural.
Even I'm getting a tad worried now. So many players to sell. So many players to sign. Not enough exciing players were even being seriously linked with.
I am at the point where i am thinking...Daniel Sturridge is available on a free. His missing dog is worth more. Get Sturridge in. I then think...that is desperate. Then i think, hold on, Lukaku is off...who do we have as cover for Rashford and if we can actually get the best from him.... Take him on pay as you play. No risk.
I AM going mad. I am. Am i?
I AM going mad. I am. Am i?
I presume either Martial will go through the middle, Sanchez if he can rouse himself or stay fit, or a bit of a kid will be expected to carry all our expectations.
I would be happy with a CB and 2 midfielders now as long as they were established good players.
The rest can happen if we sell Pogba, Lukaku, and whoever else we can flog before deadline day.
This waiting is killing me.
The rest can happen if we sell Pogba, Lukaku, and whoever else we can flog before deadline day.
This waiting is killing me.
More amazed that there were people who seriously believed we would do proper business for once.
Well that Ed is a real silver tongued scallywag. Bless him.
Yep. Our fanbase is partly to blame for allowing them to get away with this again. Saying that, those season tickets were renewed in the midst of Ole's winning start so I can't blame them too much, it did seem like something good was underway. I can't imagine sitting at OT for 19 league games watching Jonah, Young, JLingz, Rashy, Scotty and co stinking the place up for another season
Even if we were to sign three of the 'stars' we are currently linked with the limits of our ambitions would be a slight improvement on last year and qualification for CL. We need radical transformation and what we are getting is small scale incremental improvement at a glacial pace.
To be fair, there hasn't been much movement with any of the top clubs in Britain. Spurs are looking good and city have bought 1 top player. That's about it.
I'd expect something to happen soon.
I'd expect something to happen soon.
It’s Ole I feel for. The club can’t get the players he wants, and he knows full well the team isn’t good enough to compete for top 4.
Barring a miracle, he knows he’s getting the sack either next May, if not before.
Barring a miracle, he knows he’s getting the sack either next May, if not before.
I have no optimism left for the future of this club under the glazers, this was the summer window where the club needed to be the most proactive that has been since fergie left after how bad things were last season especially in the last few months and was obvious that Solskjear needed serious backing as he showed how much he struggled with what he had and yet he will have to do exactly that and basically manage the same he had playing like a relegation battling team except without the most effective players in their position in Pogba and Lukaku and looks as if we will replace them with 2 downgrade players.
If the glazers and Woodward can penny pinch and dither around this summer of all summers what honestly makes you think any future transfer windows will be any different from now on?
If the glazers and Woodward can penny pinch and dither around this summer of all summers what honestly makes you think any future transfer windows will be any different from now on?
Well, our competitors are Chelsea and Arsenal. Leicester , Everton and Westham can also give us a run for the money.
It’s not Oles fault at least, he’s doing the walk of life.
I’m sure he’s onto Woodward pointing at his wishlist and saying clearly - He got the action, he got the motion
Yeah, the boy can play
Dedication, devotion
Turning all the night time into the day
I’m sure he’s onto Woodward pointing at his wishlist and saying clearly - He got the action, he got the motion
Yeah, the boy can play
Dedication, devotion
Turning all the night time into the day
New year, the same lack of ambition to sign new players to fill gaps or compete with current players, either established or developmental. On top of this, 2 of our best want out.
I'm worried and I don't see it getting any better. Every year I'm calm until the end of summer but this year we just have too many gaps, not enough action or any sign of it coming.
Don't really understand why you're getting criticised for very genuine concerns about the team on a Utd forum.
I'm worried and I don't see it getting any better. Every year I'm calm until the end of summer but this year we just have too many gaps, not enough action or any sign of it coming.
Don't really understand why you're getting criticised for very genuine concerns about the team on a Utd forum.
It gets worse folks. Sky Sports saying that Tielemans' agent wanted to hold off on signing for Leicester while the Pogba situation was developing... but Tielemans did not want to wait and wanted to Foxes NOW. Leicester did a lot of touch feely stuff with him, and is pleased with their ambitions to go top six.
Also they are saying that the Bruno Fernandes saga is "complex" because there are so many issues with his contract and his release clause.
They are expecting a bid for Longstaff but "that hasn't happened yet". Feety draggy time. AGAIN.
And that we are showing a "surprise" interest now in the Gabon international midfielder, currently with relegated Southampton, Mario Lemina. And he is cheap. £15m of cheap.
The 25-year-old is not part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans for next season and was left out of the Saints’ pre-season tour of Austria.
So there you go, Sturridge and Lemina. Let's get them in. Ahem.
Also they are saying that the Bruno Fernandes saga is "complex" because there are so many issues with his contract and his release clause.
They are expecting a bid for Longstaff but "that hasn't happened yet". Feety draggy time. AGAIN.
And that we are showing a "surprise" interest now in the Gabon international midfielder, currently with relegated Southampton, Mario Lemina. And he is cheap. £15m of cheap.
The 25-year-old is not part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans for next season and was left out of the Saints’ pre-season tour of Austria.
So there you go, Sturridge and Lemina. Let's get them in. Ahem.
Not even remotely bothered about Tielemans. Leicester is about his level.
This! The waiting and lack of news are seriously affecting my mental health!
I don't care if Pogba or Lukaku go but we need to set an earlier deadline in public and then force their hand. Come up with the money by July 20th or we aren't selling. We need to know what our squad is going to be and get the time to gel.
My only hope is that we have one of those summers where internal development can kick us on. The manager has had 6 months and a pre-season to get ideas in place instead of trying to turn around a nightmare situation. Maybe Gomes, Chong, Greenwood or Garner could provide a nice surprise and save us a massive fee.
You can't help being optimistic though. Even if we don't do anything the first day of the new season is always full of hope.
But that us PRECISELY what will happen. Guaranteed.
I am surprised you have just woken up to Pogba's toxic presence at Old Trafford. It wasn't ALL Mourinho. In March Pogba was publicly courting Real and Zidane and that coincided with our results going pearshaped when we had the form to go Top Four.
I'm far more worried about players not being sold so far tbh. Squad is overly bloated and having that doesnt help. It seems small, but many managers have said that having too much pointless depth just hurts overall the quality of training sessions, focus, motivation and just morale overall.
Being honest, I think we'll sign 2 more players this summer (Maguire, probably Longstaff as the midfielder). Assuming that, and breaking down the squad into categories of starting 11/2nd 11/extra fill in or youth/surplus itll be something like this:
Surplus squad members:
Being honest, I think we'll sign 2 more players this summer (Maguire, probably Longstaff as the midfielder). Assuming that, and breaking down the squad into categories of starting 11/2nd 11/extra fill in or youth/surplus itll be something like this:
De Gea
Wan Bissaka Maguire Lindelof Shaw
Matic
McTominay Pogba
Lingard Rashford Martial
Romero
Dalot Smalling Tuanzebe Young
Fred
Longstaff Pereira
Mata Lukaku James
Extra versatile/squad fill ins/youth:Wan Bissaka Maguire Lindelof Shaw
Matic
McTominay Pogba
Lingard Rashford Martial
Romero
Dalot Smalling Tuanzebe Young
Fred
Longstaff Pereira
Mata Lukaku James
- Grant
- Jones
- Garner
- Chong
- Gomes
- Greenwood
Surplus squad members:
- Darmian
- Rojo
- Bailly
- Sanchez
You can choose to believe we are in dire straits or you can focus on the positives.... Being negative is far too easily done.
Some positives currently on going at the Club...
De Gea finally seems ready to commit - Ole spoke very positively about him staying and working with him. I've had my issues with him not committing but if he is to stay I'm happy for that. Just wanted it boxed off and hate this stuff dragging out for as long as it has.
*Mata resigns - Not overly excited about this one but he has his uses as a sub late on in games as he is arguably our best set piece taker and reads the game very well. More importantly he has a great attitude and hopefully the younger lads learn from him.
*Tuanzebe & Periera resign - I'm more excited about the former of course. Had a good season at Villa and I'm hoping to feck Ole keeps him round and starts pushing 1 of the more senior players out over the course of the season. Periera is an odd one, it genuinely feels like he's been at the club forever! He's a decent squad option to have round and had some good games last season, but also some poor ones as well. I understand some supporters won't be buzzing about the lad but with the extra games we've to play in Europa now this season we need squad players too.
Rashford resigns - Continuing the trend of new deals, we've tied down a talented kid here to a long term deal. At 21 he still has lots to learn and who better to learn from than Ole? I don't think we've had many better natural finishers at the club in the last half century than Ole, Ruud or RVP arguably but that aside? Anyway this will be Rashford's first full proper chance at CF over a full season. He's had the summer off, good pre season behind him, here's hoping he can deliver cause it very much feels like the onus is on him and its sink or swim now Marcus.
Youth - I'm confident we'll see more of the younger lads this year. Who? Greenwood, Garner, Chong & Gomes to name 4 more who could possibly see more involvement. With RW still a bit of an issue (no idea if James will play there?) It leaves the door open for Chong possibly? Either way, those extra EL games along with league, FA & League Cup means we've a grueling season ahead and we need extra bodies.
Wan-Bissaka - Think its fair to say he was top 3 fullback last season? Anyone disagree? I'd only have Liverpool's lads ahead of him. Defensively, he was arguably the best fullback in the league. He's ours now! Hoping for big things from him and he hits the ground running. It pushes Young down to the bench as well most games I'm sure.
Daniel James - I can't say much about the kid as I've not watched him in a full game myself but what I've seen his pace is absolutely terrifying, but more importantly for me is his energy and work rate. If your reading this, how often did you personally complain or read others complain about lack of movement in our front line? I think he'll be an absolute handful even if things aren't working for him he has it about him that he just won't stop going at the back line. Yet another talented kid with huge potential on our hands here.
Martial / Sanchez - At 23 years old it really really is put up or shut up time for Martial. I've defended the lad plenty and with Rom leaving (looking likely) it really is time for him to step up and start making a name for himself consistently now. Again working alongside Ole, I can only hope he finally focuses and delivers on a weekly basis. Sanchez, what a disaster transfer, but with Rom moving on, he is now our senior attacking player and has to set an example? Will he? Can he even? At 30 years old and years of PL experience and proving it season in and out, we know he can do it. Perhaps he'll be played CF more and Martial sticks to the LW? If he starts delivering not a single 1 of us will give a shite about his wages.
Further signings / sales - Ole confirmed yesterday that we are still working on getting some more deals done, I'd say its 2 more myself and 1 of them possibly being Bruno, which we'll all be happy with I'm sure? I think everyone wants a new CB and its quite possible it could be Maguire but who knows, we might get a surprise and Toby or De Ligt could be signed? Maybe I'm being overly positive? Call me deluded if you will but I think Riaola might use De Ligt as a make weight if you will to get Pogba out and get us De Ligt.
I know we wanted to see more players sold but reality is this, if your a manager would you touch any of Rojo, Jones or Darmian? Considering their poor record of playing time, injury history & of course wages. The whole transfer window for all clubs so far has been slow, its not exclusive to United.
New Direction - Finally, its quite obvious to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention to current goings on that we're doing a 180 from Jose's tenure. Ole / Mike are working massively on fitness, I think this was a huge factor in our dip in form at the back end of the season, we missed key players in many games and of course our energy was gone and we were played right through, like the Everton game. We are being tougher with transfers, both with buying and selling. We are buying players that want to be here! They are young but talented and offer far greater upside than focusing on more senior players for the short term.
Some positives currently on going at the Club...
De Gea finally seems ready to commit - Ole spoke very positively about him staying and working with him. I've had my issues with him not committing but if he is to stay I'm happy for that. Just wanted it boxed off and hate this stuff dragging out for as long as it has.
*Mata resigns - Not overly excited about this one but he has his uses as a sub late on in games as he is arguably our best set piece taker and reads the game very well. More importantly he has a great attitude and hopefully the younger lads learn from him.
*Tuanzebe & Periera resign - I'm more excited about the former of course. Had a good season at Villa and I'm hoping to feck Ole keeps him round and starts pushing 1 of the more senior players out over the course of the season. Periera is an odd one, it genuinely feels like he's been at the club forever! He's a decent squad option to have round and had some good games last season, but also some poor ones as well. I understand some supporters won't be buzzing about the lad but with the extra games we've to play in Europa now this season we need squad players too.
Rashford resigns - Continuing the trend of new deals, we've tied down a talented kid here to a long term deal. At 21 he still has lots to learn and who better to learn from than Ole? I don't think we've had many better natural finishers at the club in the last half century than Ole, Ruud or RVP arguably but that aside? Anyway this will be Rashford's first full proper chance at CF over a full season. He's had the summer off, good pre season behind him, here's hoping he can deliver cause it very much feels like the onus is on him and its sink or swim now Marcus.
Youth - I'm confident we'll see more of the younger lads this year. Who? Greenwood, Garner, Chong & Gomes to name 4 more who could possibly see more involvement. With RW still a bit of an issue (no idea if James will play there?) It leaves the door open for Chong possibly? Either way, those extra EL games along with league, FA & League Cup means we've a grueling season ahead and we need extra bodies.
Wan-Bissaka - Think its fair to say he was top 3 fullback last season? Anyone disagree? I'd only have Liverpool's lads ahead of him. Defensively, he was arguably the best fullback in the league. He's ours now! Hoping for big things from him and he hits the ground running. It pushes Young down to the bench as well most games I'm sure.
Daniel James - I can't say much about the kid as I've not watched him in a full game myself but what I've seen his pace is absolutely terrifying, but more importantly for me is his energy and work rate. If your reading this, how often did you personally complain or read others complain about lack of movement in our front line? I think he'll be an absolute handful even if things aren't working for him he has it about him that he just won't stop going at the back line. Yet another talented kid with huge potential on our hands here.
Martial / Sanchez - At 23 years old it really really is put up or shut up time for Martial. I've defended the lad plenty and with Rom leaving (looking likely) it really is time for him to step up and start making a name for himself consistently now. Again working alongside Ole, I can only hope he finally focuses and delivers on a weekly basis. Sanchez, what a disaster transfer, but with Rom moving on, he is now our senior attacking player and has to set an example? Will he? Can he even? At 30 years old and years of PL experience and proving it season in and out, we know he can do it. Perhaps he'll be played CF more and Martial sticks to the LW? If he starts delivering not a single 1 of us will give a shite about his wages.
Further signings / sales - Ole confirmed yesterday that we are still working on getting some more deals done, I'd say its 2 more myself and 1 of them possibly being Bruno, which we'll all be happy with I'm sure? I think everyone wants a new CB and its quite possible it could be Maguire but who knows, we might get a surprise and Toby or De Ligt could be signed? Maybe I'm being overly positive? Call me deluded if you will but I think Riaola might use De Ligt as a make weight if you will to get Pogba out and get us De Ligt.
I know we wanted to see more players sold but reality is this, if your a manager would you touch any of Rojo, Jones or Darmian? Considering their poor record of playing time, injury history & of course wages. The whole transfer window for all clubs so far has been slow, its not exclusive to United.
New Direction - Finally, its quite obvious to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention to current goings on that we're doing a 180 from Jose's tenure. Ole / Mike are working massively on fitness, I think this was a huge factor in our dip in form at the back end of the season, we missed key players in many games and of course our energy was gone and we were played right through, like the Everton game. We are being tougher with transfers, both with buying and selling. We are buying players that want to be here! They are young but talented and offer far greater upside than focusing on more senior players for the short term.
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You, Sir have won the internet for tonight. I'm really looking forward to pre season and the challenge of the new year ahead.
Feck the movement at the other clubs. I am only concerned about us mate. Hope your right on that not in bold.
So Far Away...
News: on new signings
Why worry? Because we are in dire straits
Why worry? Because we are in dire straits
Still time for Maguire, Longstaff, a CM and Lukaku replacement. Minimum requirement imo, but the CM is the one that worries me most.