Sean Longstaff

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George The Best

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If we keep Pogba get this lad + bruno. That would give us good depth
Longstaff, AWB, James, Maguire and either Dybala or Bruno would be a great window imo. Something to really build on there. Not title contenders by any means, but should give us a great chance of ECL next season and an opportunity to really push on again.
 

BlahRules

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If we don’t sign him this summer window then if Newcastle don’t have a good season, I doubt we would attempt to buy him again.
 

Devil_forever

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Mctominay will be first choice this season I am sure of it.
I think he’ll excel was showing some very promising signs last season.
Mctominay should be playing further up. His all round game has come on leaps and bounds. He’s got tremendous ability to shield the ball whilst carrying it forward. I was shocked at how good of a shot he’s got on him. We would be wasting him playing in Matic’s position.
 

Fer

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Is Longstaff better than Tonali, Ndidi, Neves or even Berge for the DM position?
 

The Purley King

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Mctominay should be playing further up. His all round game has come on leaps and bounds. He’s got tremendous ability to shield the ball whilst carrying it forward. I was shocked at how good of a shot he’s got on him. We would be wasting him playing in Matic’s position.
Arguably true but I think his chances will be limited there. He’s already much better than matic although I concede that isn’t saying much.
 

charlenefan

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Why? You think will follow up on the interest regardless how Newcastle perform?
Well of course if Longstaff himself does well, if no one touched players who were relegated (let's say Newcastle are relegated) then the likes of Liverpool wouldn't have picked up Robertson from Hull
 

Adnan

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I don't see the sense in signing both Dybala and Fernandes. Maguire, Longstaff and either Dybala/Fernandes would be more logical.

But if we're hellbent on signing both Dybala and Fernandes, then I hope we push the boat out alittle further and sign Longstaff too.
 

Kag

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He’d move here in a heartbeat given the chance.

He also hasn’t been approached by us this summer.
 

roseguy64

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Mctominay should be playing further up. His all round game has come on leaps and bounds. He’s got tremendous ability to shield the ball whilst carrying it forward. I was shocked at how good of a shot he’s got on him. We would be wasting him playing in Matic’s position.
These are my thoughts on him also. He's shone when he's been allowed to play further up.
 

Red_toad

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He’d move here in a heartbeat given the chance.

He also hasn’t been approached by us this summer.
If his club aren’t looking to sell, how would anyone approach him? It’s illegal. He’s playing for his hometown club and will leave ‘if’ Newcastle agree to sell him and won’t agitate for a move.
 

bond19821982

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If his club aren’t looking to sell, how would anyone approach him? It’s illegal. He’s playing for his hometown club and will leave ‘if’ Newcastle agree to sell him and won’t agitate for a move.
No one directly contacts the player. That's why they have agents . It doesn't matter if the selling club wants to sell or not, we can still talk to his agents.
 

Red_toad

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Not really. Was clarifying your "illegal" claim.
It is against the rules to approach a player directly. Rule is very clear. Not sure what you mean, are you saying it’s all ok to approach players directly? As it isn’t.
Or are you inserting that his agent would be involved, which the other poster didn’t mention. If so I’d suggest you clarify that with the other poster.
 

Eric's Seagull

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Sorry, been out of this thread for a few days but wanted to acknowledge your response as is so detailed.

Again, I think a lot of that is conjecture. Ed Woodward has really become this omni being on here, and people think he’s at the heart of every aspect of the club. I think you’re giving him too much credit if you think that’s the case.

He’s an employee of the owners. He works for Manchester United. Of course he wants Manchester United to be successful football team. Even if his own job is to make the club money, so what? We also hire someone to win the club football matches. That person is not Ed Woodward. They can both do their respective jobs.

With regards to this whole transfer malarkey, I think you, and others, should ask yourselves a very simple question:

Do you think if the Glazer family gave Woodward/Ole a billion pounds to spend every summer that we would be in protracted negotiations about a £50m player?

The long negotiations, the sometimes refusing to pay what is being asked is the reality of transfers being done in the reality. We work within a budget. It’s simple economics. If Ole gave Ed a list of players and there was an unlimited budget even I could look like the best negotiator in the world.

As for the fact that we have been in a position where we have to entice players with money, that again is not down to Woodward, or any executive at any club. If we are talking football, Ole should be the one selling a prospective signing on his vision for the football team. Ed should be trying to get the deal done.

Lastly, I think we have descended to conspiracy theory, and anyone would think Ed is trying to sabotage the football team. I don’t agree with that. I suspect football managers always have a long list of wants, and the board have to often deliver bad news as they have to focus on the bottom line. The reality is, someone always has to focus on the bottom line. Just like parents and children in a household. If money was no problem, they would give their kids more, within reason of course. Fans hate the fact that anything but football is considered by a football club, and money is a dirty word because to us, 442 will always be the bottom line. However, as long as transfers cost money, there will be disappointment in the market. The fabled Madrid who ‘always get their man’ have failed to often enough, Barca the same. It’s the game. Contrary to perception, I think Ed gets far more wins than losses in the transfer market. The balance shifts when those players are then handed to the manager, who fails to get the most out of a player he requested.
Thanks for the thorough response.

It seems to me that Woody is heart of everything at the club but like you said I may be giving him too much credit and I may be wrong but that is what it seems to me.

I believe that we should have a DoF and he an Woody should negotiate a transfer budget. Once this budget is negotiated then the DoF and Ole should work together to see which areas need improving, then they should find the players who fit the profile of player they are looking at purchasing, that fit within this budget then the give the list to Woody so he can buy these players thus limiting his role to then just negotiating the contract and concentrate on the commercial side.


With regards to the part in bold I realise that transfers take time but obviously there is a maximum price we are willing to pay which we think would be fair for a player, so why not just tell the selling the club the maximum amount we are willing to pay then move on to another target if they are not willing to accept that amount, as I believe this will make negotiations run faster. I don't like leaving anything until later in the window as clubs will know we are desperate and may want to add e.g £10m-£20m to the fee. Another reason I disagree with the strategy of buying later in the market is that it gives the player less time to get used to Ole's methods and less time to gel with the team which I think will result in us being less successful than we could be the coming season.

I totally agree with 2nd point in bold as I think that Ole would be much better at it, as I believe the player we are potentially buying would listen a lot more to a man with football experience, this particular scenario is one area I think the DoF would be extremely important as I hope when/if we eventually sign one that him and Ole will be be able to build up a good rapport and share a very similar vision for the direction of the club.

Do you think Woody cares about making money as much as he cares about results on the pitch? I am basing this on the quote I previously mentioned in last post, I have limited knowledge of finance but I think if results do not improving it seems sense that the sponsorship money will eventually decrease.

It seems to me as transfers are taking so long because of a strictly limited budget, I believe that Woody got bit before wasting millions and doesn't want to get bit again which is another reason why I think we should have got a DoF for Woody to pass some of the responsibility on to. I believe he doesn't want to give any of that power away. I read which may or may not be true that Woody has been contacted by several good DoF's but they are not willing to come here as they are not willing to work under the constraints Woody is putting on them, I think this is a mistake by Woody. Do you think we should get a DoF in soon to help Woody? I believe that due to this restricted budget I mentioned. Woody can leave the negotiations run on and eventually say something like "At least we tried but it took too long so we didn't sign the player" when he doesn't actually know which areas need prioritising first e.g we have only enough for a central defender or a winger and Woody tries to use his own football knowledge to decide which area needs strengthening, he should not have to concern himself on which areas need strengthening, this should come down to the DoF and Ole.

Do you think Sanchez was a player that the manager wanted or some superstar Woody wanted? As he seems a luxury playing when we signed him for the left wing where I don't believe he was needed and I was initially happy with the signing as I thought it was for the right.

Lastly speaking about the last point in bold I think would be another good point in getting the DoF as he will be able to recruit players who fit the profile most which will hopefully result in them performing better on the pitch.
 

PieCrust

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This feels like a January potential signing for us.
Been thinking the same thing actually.

Matic will again be exposed, McT isn't ready to be the main guy and Fred is, well, Fred and probably isn't really a DM anyway.
 

Ikon

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Manchester United Legend Steve "I'd crawl all the way from Norwich to Manchester for the chance to play for United" Bruce, is adamant that Sean Longstaff will not be sold to United....:rolleyes:
 

The Cat

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I would rather McT be given the season now watching his progress over the last few months.

He's won me around for now.
 
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SilentWitness

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50m on Longstaff at this stage would be a massive risk. He hasn't had a full season in the PL/a top league yet unfortunately due to injury and although in the games he played for Newcastle he looked good he hasn't been given an opportunity to see if he can sustain that level over a whole season. I do think you need to purchase a player in the CDM mould but i'm not sure if Longstaff is the answer for that price.
 

Rozay

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Thanks for the thorough response.

It seems to me that Woody is heart of everything at the club but like you said I may be giving him too much credit and I may be wrong but that is what it seems to me.

I believe that we should have a DoF and he an Woody should negotiate a transfer budget. Once this budget is negotiated then the DoF and Ole should work together to see which areas need improving, then they should find the players who fit the profile of player they are looking at purchasing, that fit within this budget then the give the list to Woody so he can buy these players thus limiting his role to then just negotiating the contract and concentrate on the commercial side.


With regards to the part in bold I realise that transfers take time but obviously there is a maximum price we are willing to pay which we think would be fair for a player, so why not just tell the selling the club the maximum amount we are willing to pay then move on to another target if they are not willing to accept that amount, as I believe this will make negotiations run faster. I don't like leaving anything until later in the window as clubs will know we are desperate and may want to add e.g £10m-£20m to the fee. Another reason I disagree with the strategy of buying later in the market is that it gives the player less time to get used to Ole's methods and less time to gel with the team which I think will result in us being less successful than we could be the coming season.

I totally agree with 2nd point in bold as I think that Ole would be much better at it, as I believe the player we are potentially buying would listen a lot more to a man with football experience, this particular scenario is one area I think the DoF would be extremely important as I hope when/if we eventually sign one that him and Ole will be be able to build up a good rapport and share a very similar vision for the direction of the club.

Do you think Woody cares about making money as much as he cares about results on the pitch? I am basing this on the quote I previously mentioned in last post, I have limited knowledge of finance but I think if results do not improving it seems sense that the sponsorship money will eventually decrease.

It seems to me as transfers are taking so long because of a strictly limited budget, I believe that Woody got bit before wasting millions and doesn't want to get bit again which is another reason why I think we should have got a DoF for Woody to pass some of the responsibility on to. I believe he doesn't want to give any of that power away. I read which may or may not be true that Woody has been contacted by several good DoF's but they are not willing to come here as they are not willing to work under the constraints Woody is putting on them, I think this is a mistake by Woody. Do you think we should get a DoF in soon to help Woody? I believe that due to this restricted budget I mentioned. Woody can leave the negotiations run on and eventually say something like "At least we tried but it took too long so we didn't sign the player" when he doesn't actually know which areas need prioritising first e.g we have only enough for a central defender or a winger and Woody tries to use his own football knowledge to decide which area needs strengthening, he should not have to concern himself on which areas need strengthening, this should come down to the DoF and Ole.

Do you think Sanchez was a player that the manager wanted or some superstar Woody wanted? As he seems a luxury playing when we signed him for the left wing where I don't believe he was needed and I was initially happy with the signing as I thought it was for the right.

Lastly speaking about the last point in bold I think would be another good point in getting the DoF as he will be able to recruit players who fit the profile most which will hopefully result in them performing better on the pitch.
There isn’t any real indication at all that Woodward is at the heart of everything to me. Nobody gets real insight into the detail and who is doing what.

I’ve also said a number of times on here that I think this clamour for a DoF is overstated, and frankly, I am not convinced that we, or any football club, ‘need’ one in order to be successful. I can accept that every club needs the proposed duties of a DoF to be carried out, however, there is no rational argument to me that says these duties must be carried out by one DoF. We can list all of the proposed duties of a DoF, and I think this forum has a tendency to imply that in the absence of one, all of these duties are being carried out by Ed Woodward, which I strongly doubt is true.

Of the points you mentioned, you said we should have a DoF who agrees a budget with Woody and identifies players with Ole. Ultimately, whether Woody sits at the top or a DoF, a budget must be agreed with the Glazers. Again, Woody would naturally spend more money and annoy our fans a lot less with negotiations if he were simply given more of it. If United had a DoF, we would still be faced with the decision on whether we want to pay £50m for Longstaff instead of £30m. As for the identification of the players, I don’t see how this matters. Ole identifies targets with his scouts, not with Woodward. If these scouts are not good enough, we can just as easily get better scouts, and a DoF doesn’t become great at identifying players because his job title is ‘DoF’. The point is, our manager has, and always has had, professionals that help him to identify targets, and that person or persons have not been Woodward or Gill.

Moving on, you speak about a DoF being needed to sell the football project to a player. I have rarely, if ever, heard a player say it is his dream to play for a DoF. The manager should be able to do that. And in any case, the actual facts show that in general, under Woodward, we haven’t struggled to sell the idea of playing for Manchester United to many a player anyway, players with varying profiles within the game.

Regarding money, I suspect that Woodward does care about making money as much as he does about winning football matches. So what? That’s his job. What people need to stop doing though, I think, is seeing him like he’s on some sort of opposing side to the manager or the success of the team. I have no doubt, even if only by his record in the market, that he doesn’t also want the team to be successful. He will do what he can within his own area of the business to make that happen, and others must do theirs.

Regarding wasting money, again, it’s not his money. It is far more likely that the Glazers have ‘gotten bit’ before and as a result they don’t want to waste money any more than it is that Woodward refuses to spend it because he’s some power monger. Again, if the Glazers gave him a billion to spend, we would spend more. The bit about him not wanting to hand over power is something I’ve read on here many times, and also something I find a bit baseless and frankly, even immature. Within the real important corridors at Old Trafford, things will be far less emotional as they are on a fan forum, where we always tend to jump to such extreme conclusions. This is a professional, multi-billion pound corporation. We would want the best people for the job. According to all reports, this DoF stuff started with Woodward in the first place, and it was a point of contention with Mourinho who apparently didn’t want to work with one. As soon as Mourinho left, the reports again were that we intend to get one in. It’s not compulsory, but it’s obviously a will.

There is no indication that Sanchez was a ‘Woodward signing’ at all, it’s just another thing fans like to say while venting. Sanchez was a top player. Like, very top. There is no reason why the manager would not want him. He played wide and centrally, and we saw a way that we could do the deal in a cost effective way, so we did. Why would a manager not want Alexis Sanchez? Why is Woodward not trying to sign Bale? Ole has said this summer that nobody will be here who he doesn’t want to be here. This notion that Woodward is being allowed to play chief scout is ridiculous and unfounded.

Ultimately, yea, we could get a DoF, we may not. The point is, in the absence of one, we have the duties being done by pros. We have a recruitment board, an army of scouts, under a head scout, we have a football manager, we have Nicky Butt doing what he does. Nothing is being left undone because we don’t have a DoF, and nothing says a DoF would do any of it better because he has a cooler job title.
 

Eric's Seagull

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There isn’t any real indication at all that Woodward is at the heart of everything to me. Nobody gets real insight into the detail and who is doing what.

I’ve also said a number of times on here that I think this clamour for a DoF is overstated, and frankly, I am not convinced that we, or any football club, ‘need’ one in order to be successful. I can accept that every club needs the proposed duties of a DoF to be carried out, however, there is no rational argument to me that says these duties must be carried out by one DoF. We can list all of the proposed duties of a DoF, and I think this forum has a tendency to imply that in the absence of one, all of these duties are being carried out by Ed Woodward, which I strongly doubt is true.

Of the points you mentioned, you said we should have a DoF who agrees a budget with Woody and identifies players with Ole. Ultimately, whether Woody sits at the top or a DoF, a budget must be agreed with the Glazers. Again, Woody would naturally spend more money and annoy our fans a lot less with negotiations if he were simply given more of it. If United had a DoF, we would still be faced with the decision on whether we want to pay £50m for Longstaff instead of £30m. As for the identification of the players, I don’t see how this matters. Ole identifies targets with his scouts, not with Woodward. If these scouts are not good enough, we can just as easily get better scouts, and a DoF doesn’t become great at identifying players because his job title is ‘DoF’. The point is, our manager has, and always has had, professionals that help him to identify targets, and that person or persons have not been Woodward or Gill.

Moving on, you speak about a DoF being needed to sell the football project to a player. I have rarely, if ever, heard a player say it is his dream to play for a DoF. The manager should be able to do that. And in any case, the actual facts show that in general, under Woodward, we haven’t struggled to sell the idea of playing for Manchester United to many a player anyway, players with varying profiles within the game.

Regarding money, I suspect that Woodward does care about making money as much as he does about winning football matches. So what? That’s his job. What people need to stop doing though, I think, is seeing him like he’s on some sort of opposing side to the manager or the success of the team. I have no doubt, even if only by his record in the market, that he doesn’t also want the team to be successful. He will do what he can within his own area of the business to make that happen, and others must do theirs.

Regarding wasting money, again, it’s not his money. It is far more likely that the Glazers have ‘gotten bit’ before and as a result they don’t want to waste money any more than it is that Woodward refuses to spend it because he’s some power monger. Again, if the Glazers gave him a billion to spend, we would spend more. The bit about him not wanting to hand over power is something I’ve read on here many times, and also something I find a bit baseless and frankly, even immature. Within the real important corridors at Old Trafford, things will be far less emotional as they are on a fan forum, where we always tend to jump to such extreme conclusions. This is a professional, multi-billion pound corporation. We would want the best people for the job. According to all reports, this DoF stuff started with Woodward in the first place, and it was a point of contention with Mourinho who apparently didn’t want to work with one. As soon as Mourinho left, the reports again were that we intend to get one in. It’s not compulsory, but it’s obviously a will.

There is no indication that Sanchez was a ‘Woodward signing’ at all, it’s just another thing fans like to say while venting. Sanchez was a top player. Like, very top. There is no reason why the manager would not want him. He played wide and centrally, and we saw a way that we could do the deal in a cost effective way, so we did. Why would a manager not want Alexis Sanchez? Why is Woodward not trying to sign Bale? Ole has said this summer that nobody will be here who he doesn’t want to be here. This notion that Woodward is being allowed to play chief scout is ridiculous and unfounded.

Ultimately, yea, we could get a DoF, we may not. The point is, in the absence of one, we have the duties being done by pros. We have a recruitment board, an army of scouts, under a head scout, we have a football manager, we have Nicky Butt doing what he does. Nothing is being left undone because we don’t have a DoF, and nothing says a DoF would do any of it better because he has a cooler job title.


So is what your saying is Woody is doing what can with what he's been given by the Glazer's?

Regarding the point in bold, please correct me if I am wrong but I thought if the DoF thought a player e.g Longstaff was worth £30m not £50m? I thought the valuation of the player was down to the DoF not Woody. I could be wrong but it seems as if Woody is talking crap about appointing a DoF to appease the fans who are p!ssed off. Can you please tell me why we have taken so long to appoint one as I don't know how long these things take, to me it seems it's taking a long time or do you think the reason we have taken so long is that we are not going to appoint one as it's your opinion we don't need one?

Regarding the second point in bold do you think that could be because he offers high wages for players few other teams are likely to pay.

Regarding your 3rd point in bold do you think that Ole may has got rid of all the players he wants to? I think he may have wanted to get rid of a few more. Maybe he wants to get rid of some but cant because teams are refusing to pay the wages we pay.

You have an interesting point on us not needing a DoF at the end. I have mentioned before that I think it would be acceptable for the club to get as many people as possible if need be make jobs up for them and if they could do the duties between them exactly what a DoF would do up to a high standard, I would be happy with that.

What I get from your post please correct me if I am wrong, is that the issues I have Woody are down to the Glazer's and he is just doing what he is told.
 

SinNombre

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If Newcastle is interested in Axel, a deal will happen.

We will probably get something like 25m + 1-2 year loan for Axel past the finishing line.

He has played so little that it is impossible to say how good he is but he has been compared to Carrick (maybe a lazy Geordie stereotype) and we do need a DLP.
 

The White Pele

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Is this dead?
I wonder if the emergence of the Dybala deal would change our thinking at all on our midfield priorities.

If plan A was Lukaku out Bruno Fernandes in then maybe Lukaku for Dybala would make the midfield engine room a higher priority than an attacking player.

Can’t recall who else we have been linked with besides Tielemans who has moved, so wonder if this one could pop back up over the next week.
 

Cassidy

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Newcastle are spending quite a bit of money....
 

Ander herrera the warrior

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Probably get slaughtered for saying this. But I hope if we are going to sign only one other player after Maguire, I really hope it's longstaff, since we badly need a dm to play behind Pogba and Mctominay.
 

Ikon

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If Newcastle is interested in Axel, a deal will happen.

We will probably get something like 25m + 1-2 year loan for Axel past the finishing line..
I wouldn't be opposed to a loan deal but I shudder to think about a permanent deal.
 
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