What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

JakeC

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Sancho is going to break our hearts and sign for City or Madrid. It's bound to happen. Eriksen would be a great buy, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Ed spend 60 million on him in January even though his contract is in June. An experienced midfielder who won't allow our team to be bullied like we were against Palace should be another top priority.
 

stepic

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A left back to cover/alternate with Shaw
2 centre midfielders and another one if Pogba decides to go
A decent right winger winger
A quality striker
half a team basically, still.

primarily because in the last two summers we've managed to add 2 starter quality players. pathetic, really.
 

Andersons Dietician

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Personally I think Pogba will be off next summer and given only really Fred or McT look like they can sort of play football occasionally I reckon we are going to need 3 midfielders, so I can’t really see where the finances would come from to buy say a striker if needed and say Sancho.

Maybe Gardner comes in but still need 2. God help us if at some point Ashley Young is converted to DM :(
 

reddevilchennai

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This is what we need.

DDG
AWB Lindelof/Bailly Maguire Shaw/LB
Partey
Savic/Bruno Pogba/Saul
Sancho CF
Martial/Rashford

Saul is needed if Pogba leaves. Signing Sancho should be our 1st priority as there an no better RWs available.
Partey has release clause of 60m.
We need to sign CF based on the performaces of Martial and Mason this season.

We can sign Saul with Pogba money.

Sancho 120m
Partey 60m
Bruno/Savic 70m-80m
Backup LB 20m

Sell
Sanchez 20m
Jones 10m
Smalling 15m
 

Hammer_st

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We still need a whole midfield.
I hope we sign some midfield player who have a good technical ability.
IN:
Bentacur 60mio
Aouar 60mio
Fabian Ruiz 60mio
Konate/Upamecano 40mio
Sancho 120mio
340mio
Out:
Fred 30mio
Pereira 15mio
Mata 10mio
Pogba 180mio
Smalling 20mio
Jones 20mio
Rojo 10mio
Baily 20mio
Sanchez 10mio
315mio

ATT: Martial, Rashford, Lingard, James, Greenwood, Sancho
Mid: Bentacur, Aouar, Fabian Ruiz, Matic, McTominay, Gomes
Def: Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf, Dalot, AWB, Tuanzebe, Konate/Upamecano, Laird
GK: DDG, Romero
 

Codie

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Sancho
Maddison
Longstaff
Rice
Brooks (if free)


DDG
AWB - Maguire - Tuanzabe - Shaw
Rice - Longstaff
Maddison
Sancho - Rashford - James

(Greenwood, Gomes, Brooks, Martial, McT, Garner, Fred ...)
 

Eric's Seagull

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half a team basically, still.

primarily because in the last two summers we've managed to add 2 starter quality players. pathetic, really.
Yes basically. I don't think that some the players we have let leave go have been replaced properly and we have been negligent last summer wondow. If we don't start recruiting more efficiently in the next few windows I think that we are in danger of falling further behind our rivals. I agree with your point in bold completely.
 

Devil may care

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The DM position is the one that needs to be amongst the priorities next season IMO. And one of the players that looks very interesting for the role is the young Benfica talent Florentino Luis who only recently turned 20. I first mentioned him on here around 7-8 months ago and he has come on leaps and bounds since.

What makes this player particularly interesting is that not only is he a very good distributor from a deeper role, he's also very quick off the ground, physically strong for his age and a good tackler. He actually ticks more boxes as a DM/#6 than say a Tonali in comparison IMO. He also has the all round ability to satisfy fans who prefer the ball playing #6 as opposed to the fans who prefer the dynamic destroyer all rolled into one player, which makes Florentino Luis a extremely interesting prospect.

It'll be interesting to see how he fares this season, because the potential looks huge at this stage. To have such composure, ability to break lines and also have the added ability to tackle like AWB is quite rare to see in such a young player playing a deeper midfield role. I'd like to see us in the mix for his signature if and when he moves from Benfica. Looks a special talent.

I think Tonali is the better passser but when it comes to a combined set of attributes I agree that Florentino Luis looks the dogs danglies, the biggest issue though is that new buyout, and after not budging with Joao Felix I think we'd run up against the same brick wall for Luis.
 

sparx99

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It’s crazy to think that we are going to really struggle to keep Pogba, Matic’s contract is up at the end of the season and his legs are gone anyway and Fred has been completely awful so far.

In the space of 18 months we could have sold Fellaini, let Herrera and Matic leave on free transfers and be forced into selling Pogba.

That would leave us with Fred, McTominay and Garner in midfield! It really would be negligent not to sign at least one midfielder in a January.
 

ovoxo

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If Pogba does leave in the summer, I can imagine we go for Maddison for the CAM position but who can play in the 2 behind the CAM? I’ve seen names like Auoar but can he play in that 2? Fabian Ruiz would be my choice but I think he’s likely to leave for one of the Spanish two when he leaves Napoli. Who is realistically available for that spot?

Lorenzo Pellegrini is an interesting player which could be a possibility.
 

bucky

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If Pogba does leave in the summer, I can imagine we go for Maddison for the CAM position but who can play in the 2 behind the CAM? I’ve seen names like Auoar but can he play in that 2? Fabian Ruiz would be my choice but I think he’s likely to leave for one of the Spanish two when he leaves Napoli. Who is realistically available for that spot?

Lorenzo Pellegrini is an interesting player which could be a possibility.
Yes, he can, has done it with NDombele.
 

RooneyLegend

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We should pay attention to how Dele Alli does this season. Him and Martial would be a fantastic front 2.
 

Okey

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Seeing as we definitely need a DM, I wonder what folks think of Sander Berge? I like him a lot. I know it's the Belgian league but Kompany came from there, as have others who turned out the real deal.
I agree with the prevailing opinion on where we need additions:
1 LB
2 MF, 3 if Pogba leaves
1 RW
1 ST
 

bond19821982

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The DM position is the one that needs to be amongst the priorities next season IMO. And one of the players that looks very interesting for the role is the young Benfica talent Florentino Luis who only recently turned 20. I first mentioned him on here around 7-8 months ago and he has come on leaps and bounds since.

What makes this player particularly interesting is that not only is he a very good distributor from a deeper role, he's also very quick off the ground, physically strong for his age and a good tackler. He actually ticks more boxes as a DM/#6 than say a Tonali in comparison IMO. He also has the all round ability to satisfy fans who prefer the ball playing #6 as opposed to the fans who prefer the dynamic destroyer all rolled into one player, which makes Florentino Luis a extremely interesting prospect.

It'll be interesting to see how he fares this season, because the potential looks huge at this stage. To have such composure, ability to break lines and also have the added ability to tackle like AWB is quite rare to see in such a young player playing a deeper midfield role. I'd like to see us in the mix for his signature if and when he moves from Benfica. Looks a special talent.

Benfica will quote at least 70m . Isn't Tonali in the last 2 years of contract?

People quoting Havertz or Sancho needs to understand the ground reality. We are not getting them. Zaha,Tonali ,Savic and Maddison would be great.
 

Skåre Willoch

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Emre Can in january, Eriksen in jan for free with transfer happening after the season, and Sancho as the big money signing in the summer window .
 

RatPack

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Priority: 2 midfielders one 6 and one 8. 6: Able to protect the back 4 with running, tackling and able to safely distribute the ball. 8: Real box to box player, Able to score and able to defend.

Pogba should be our CAM. When he leaves we need a new players as replacement.
Next a top right winger.

After that we might need to look at a backup striker and LB. Think Martial is great as No. 9 but fear for his injuries. Same with Shaw.
 

Cee90

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This is where I’m at:

2 cms or 1 DM + 1 cm (+1 IF Pogba leaves)
1 cb
1 lb
1 RW/rwf
1 gk if DeGea doesn’t sign

Gonna be a long rebuild
Agree with the above. However, if we really wanted to, I think we can address all of these problem areas in as little as 2 transfer windows. I just hope Woodward/the Glazers show the ambition we need to try to get back to the top.
 

Eric's Seagull

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Agree with the above. However, if we really wanted to, I think we can address all of these problem areas in as little as 2 transfer windows. I just hope Woodward/the Glazers show the ambition we need to try to get back to the top.
I would love to see this sorted out over 2 windows but couldn't see it happening as I don't think they will put in the necessary investment and are happy to put in the minimum investment Woodward thinks we need to get us to top 4 :annoyed:
 

Cee90

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I would love to see this sorted out over 2 windows but couldn't see it happening as I don't think they will put in the necessary investment and are happy to put in the minimum investment Woodward thinks we need to get us to top 4 :annoyed:
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of Woodward and the Glazers, but I genuinely do feel that our transfer approach has changed (for the better) since Ole took over.

I am happy with the 3 signings we have made under him so far and I feel that the club is already actively working on identifying our next targets (e.g Sancho). I do not necessarily think that our lack of transfers in the summer was because we were being tight with our money, but I think it’s more to do with the fact that we are looking for the right profile of player and that can perhaps take a bit longer. Ole wasn’t permanently in charge for that long, therefore that could explain why we didn’t sign more players, but as mentioned, I feel we are doing our homework now which fills me with a bit of confidence.

I think under our previous mangers we would have signed the likes of Bale in the summer, whereas now it feels like we are done signing that type of player and more focussed on identifying talent with the right attitude.

Therefore I am cautiously optimistic at the business we will do in the next few transfer windows. Ole is trying to build something a bit different here.
 
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Macedonian Red

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We need 6 or 7 players and I hope we will sign 2 of them in januar.

Dmf, amf, cf, Rw, Lb, cb and maybe another cmf.
 

Son

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Martin Odegaard is looking awesome this season.

Could be a steal for us or another big club if he’s on the market next summer. Just as if not more technically gifted than Maddison for a third of the price.
 

Fosu-Mens

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Martin Odegaard is looking awesome this season.

Could be a steal for us or another big club if he’s on the market next summer. Just as if not more technically gifted than Maddison for a third of the price.
No point in us getting players that are technically able and would suit a possession based team. We might have been able to lure him from RM this summer, as suggested by some posters on here, but not now after his performance with Sociedad.
 

Fosu-Mens

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Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of Woodward and the Glazers, but I genuinely do feel that our transfer approach has changed (for the better) since Ole took over.

I am happy with the 3 signings we have made under him so far and I feel that the club is already actively working on identifying our next targets (e.g Sancho). I do not necessarily think that our lack of transfers in the summer was because we were being tight with our money, but I think it’s more to do with the fact that we are looking for the right profile of player and that can perhaps take a bit longer. Ole wasn’t permanently in charge for that long, therefore that could explain why we didn’t sign more players, but as mentioned, I feel we are doing our homework now which fills me with a bit of confidence.

I think under our previous mangers we would have signed the likes of Bale in the summer, whereas now it feels like we are done signing that type of player and more focussed on identifying talent with the right attitude.

Therefore I am cautiously optimistic at the business we will do in the next few transfer windows. Ole is trying to build something a bit different here.
Our transfers this summer was not good. We bought a fullback with little to offer going forward(might improve over time but not likely given the lack of improvement among the players at the club), a central defender that is slow as F for £80m, and a LW with 1 season experience at championship level that we expect to perform each week and create on his own.

Our midfield is poor and unable to pass the ball, our fullbacks are still useless in attack and offers little when on the ball, our central defenders have already shown that they are not comfortable with the team pressing high, and with Martial out we have no striker. Our wide attacking players(James, Rashford and Mata) are either slow as F or lacking the ability to play against a balanced defence and without PP we have no clue on how to attack.

I think that we would have been better off getting two decent central midfielders in this summer instead of the 3 signings we did.
 

Hawks2008

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In my view the 3 major needs to be filled are:
  • A wide forward who specializes in playing on the right
  • A striker to compete with Rashy/Tony and offers something different to their skillsets.
  • An energetic ball playing CM, basically the player we thought Fred would be :lol:
I also see the case for a LB to compete with Shaw and a specialist DM but I feel these are less pressing needs.
 

Fosu-Mens

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What we need:
(Not included Glazers and Woodward jumping ship)

1. Get a manager and coaching staff able to improve the players over time by actively coaching and training them.
Ex: Wan Bissaka needs to improve his crossing. Make him practice crossing, study how TAA strikes the ball and copy him.
Ex 2: Rashford (whole team) should improve his short passing and close control --> Rondo every session.

2. Get a manager and coaching staff that prefers playing football dependent on possession and that have previously shown evidence that they can teach a group of players to play this type of football. --> Daniel Farke would suit this, but it should be noted that most of the Norwich players that he starts are miles better at controlling and passing the football than most of our players.

3. Get players that can pass and control the ball while under some pressure, and not just by English or counter attacking specialist.
For top 4 challenge:
  • Two Central/defensive midfielders that can do a bit of everything, but must be technically able with no real weakness in their game.
  • A left back that can contribute in both ends.
  • A centre back that can hold his own in 1v1s.
  • Right winger that can create and finish and not only receive the ball then try something and fire a shot from a hopeless position.
For us to challenge for the title we would need another winger that can create and score, unless Martial his overall game greatly and another centreback that can hold his own in physical duels and 1v1.
 

bosnian_red

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  1. Right winger - Jadon Sancho (or option like that who will be automatic starter, can score and create, technically gifted and fast) - £100-150m
  2. Creative midfielder - James Maddison - £80m
  3. Holding midfielder - Someone like Carrick, can be mid-late 20's. Quality holding midfielder who can pass it around and shield the defence and organize the team in there. Witsel would be good but unrealistic - £50m
  4. Striker depth - Someone like Dzeko a few years ago, Mandzukic a few years ago, Haller, etc. Experience, physicality, aerial threat, hold up play and technically gifted and can score in big games - £20m? Free?

Total in: £300m

Outgoings:
  1. Matic
  2. Mata
  3. Bailly
  4. Pereira
Rashford - Martial - Sancho
Pogba - Maddison
Witsel

Shaw Maguire Lindelof Wan Bissaka
De Gea

James Haller Greenwood
McTominay - Gomes/Lingard
Garner/Fred
Young/Williams - Jones- Tuanzebe - Dalot
Romero/Henderson​

Add in Rojo and Chong somewhere to be a squad player for left back and CB and the wing for Chong. Players in italics are more suggestions for types of players needed, not necessarily realistic that we can actually get them. After that if Shaw still an issue then add a left back and make Shaw back up. 3 big signing starters, 1 squad player more experienced striker and we're good though IMO. Of course people get sold and I think Pogba might well leave so would need a big midfield signing to replace him. Its not that bad though. We should have signed at least the holding midfielder and striker depth this summer, leaving Sancho and Maddison for next summer, but we didnt.
 

poleglass red

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Long term I think we need a new centre half to partner Maguire, new left back, holding mid, creative mid, winger, striker.I think short term our priority must be creative mid and striker. Sort out the spine of the team and then each window we can still add. Its easy to add to a team with a strong foundation. I think we are easily looking at 4 transfer windows
 

ThierryHenry14

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What we need:
(Not included Glazers and Woodward jumping ship)

1. Get a manager and coaching staff able to improve the players over time by actively coaching and training them.
Ex: Wan Bissaka needs to improve his crossing. Make him practice crossing, study how TAA strikes the ball and copy him.
Ex 2: Rashford (whole team) should improve his short passing and close control --> Rondo every session.

2. Get a manager and coaching staff that prefers playing football dependent on possession and that have previously shown evidence that they can teach a group of players to play this type of football. --> Daniel Farke would suit this, but it should be noted that most of the Norwich players that he starts are miles better at controlling and passing the football than most of our players.

3. Get players that can pass and control the ball while under some pressure, and not just by English or counter attacking specialist.
For top 4 challenge:
  • Two Central/defensive midfielders that can do a bit of everything, but must be technically able with no real weakness in their game.
  • A left back that can contribute in both ends.
  • A centre back that can hold his own in 1v1s.
  • Right winger that can create and finish and not only receive the ball then try something and fire a shot from a hopeless position.
For us to challenge for the title we would need another winger that can create and score, unless Martial his overall game greatly and another centreback that can hold his own in physical duels and 1v1.
LVG seems like the perfect candidate for the job, at least for coaching young players and play possession based football.
 

XJ2000

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4-3-3 like FC Barcelona and City and Real and new manager like from Ajax or Dortmund or Zidane.

Zidane will have 21 players in this team building:

In:
Fojticek, back to MUFC
Umtiti. 30M
Rakitic, 60M
2 new Fw if Rashford and Sanchez leave

Out:
Matic, 30M
Jones, 20M
Mata, 18M
De Gea, 60M
Chong, 4M
Romero, 2M
Wan Bissaka, 20M
154M euros


2020/2021:

Fojticek

Umtiti - Bailly - Tuanzebe - Rojo

Fred - Rakitic - Gomes

Fw so far speculation.

Backup:

Kovar
Shaw
Lindelöf
Maguire
Dalot
Mctominay
Pogba
+ triple attack players.
 
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Son

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No point in us getting players that are technically able and would suit a possession based team. We might have been able to lure him from RM this summer, as suggested by some posters on here, but not now after his performance with Sociedad.
I agree Madrid probs won’t let him go now.

I think we should be looking for players who are comfortable in possession going forward though. Our problem is we haven’t got enough of them.

Dominating a game and creating overlaps should be the ideal tactic to win titles these days. It actually seems to give points consistency due to the smaller team struggling when they sit back.

First off the bat though we need actual world class coaches. I’d rather they threw money at that and a decent manager if I’m honest atm.
 

VeevaVee

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4-3-3 like FC Barcelona and City and Real and new manager like from Ajax or Dortmund or Zidane.

Zidane will have 21 players in this team building:

In:
Henderson, back to club
Umtiti. 30M
Rakitic, 60M
2 new Fw if Rashford and Sanchez leave

Out:
Matic, 30M
Jones, 20M
Mata, 18M
De Gea, 60M
Chong, 4M
Romero, 2M
Wan Bissaka, 20M
154M euros


2020/2021:

Henderson

Umtiti - Bailly - Tuanzebe - Rojo

Fred - Rakitic - Gomes

Fw so far speculation.

Backup:

Kovar
Shaw
Lindelöf
Maguire
Dalot
Mctominay
Pogba
+ triple attack players.
What's the thinking behind letting Wan Bissaka go for 20m? And what's wrong with Romero at backup?

The rest is clearly bang on though, no arguments there like. white text
 

Fosu-Mens

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LVG seems like the perfect candidate for the job, at least for coaching young players and play possession based football.
I think having him as a coach would have been seen as a good foundation if we hired a more possessionoriented coach instead of Mourinho. Only problem was that his personality might have been a little to difficult for some of the frail players at the club at the time.

IIRC he was the coach at Barcelona before Rijkaard replaced him, and he had a stint at Bayern and they improved their ability to keep possession before Guardiola became manager for them.
 

Fosu-Mens

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I agree Madrid probs won’t let him go now.

I think we should be looking for players who are comfortable in possession going forward though. Our problem is we haven’t got enough of them.

Dominating a game and creating overlaps should be the ideal tactic to win titles these days. It actually seems to give points consistency due to the smaller team struggling when they sit back.

First off the bat though we need actual world class coaches. I’d rather they threw money at that and a decent manager if I’m honest atm.
First class coaches are hard to define. Better to acquire a manager and his team of coaches that has been succesful with implementing a possessionbased style.
 

Dong Fangzhuo

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30m for an out of contract, over the hill Matic? I must be underestimating Woody, that would be quite impressive.
 

jderbyshire

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4-3-3 like FC Barcelona and City and Real and new manager like from Ajax or Dortmund or Zidane.

Zidane will have 21 players in this team building:

In:
Henderson, back to club
Umtiti. 30M
Rakitic, 60M
2 new Fw if Rashford and Sanchez leave

Out:
Matic, 30M
Jones, 20M
Mata, 18M
De Gea, 60M
Chong, 4M
Romero, 2M
Wan Bissaka, 20M
154M euros


2020/2021:

Henderson

Umtiti - Bailly - Tuanzebe - Rojo

Fred - Rakitic - Gomes

Fw so far speculation.

Backup:

Kovar
Shaw
Lindelöf
Maguire
Dalot
Mctominay
Pogba
+ triple attack players.
Parody post, surely.
 

XJ2000

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What's the thinking behind letting Wan Bissaka go for 20m? And what's wrong with Romero at backup?

The rest is clearly bang on though, no arguments there like. white text
Would like to see Kovar + Fojticek as replacements to gold sell De Gea and best backup of current situation the Argentine no 1 goalkeeper Romero.
 
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Nou_Camp99

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What do we need? A miracle at this point. The club is fecked unless it's sold to new owners who are a) Capable and b) want to see us win not just make money.

We will go 25/30 years without the PL or CL under these twats. Guaranteed.