Is signing nobody a possibility?

[Cassidy]

Buying players is easy. Buying the right player a lot harder.

We have glaring holes in our squad. We dont need 120m superstar signings to fix them

 

[Wumminator]

Obviously not a possibility. Ffs.

 

[AshRK]

Woodward will sign Brooks and act all giddy.

 

[MUFromLTU]

Even though I check the transfer news with the hope of us signing someone daily, I wouldn't be too surprised if we don't sign anyone (apart from very young players, low-risk investments for future).

Bad business in this window can break the club's finances. Imagine if we spend big and then don't do well next season - for example, have an injury crisis in this very packed season and manage to finish out of top-4 in the league. Brexit, financial crisis, possibly not being able to allow fans into stadiums etc. So many risks that can f the club up for a decade if we don't take care of our finances.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

I'd argue that Chelsea aside, no-one in the top 8 has made any even remotely game changing a signing.

We are the only “big 6” club yet to do any transfer business.

 

[sparx99]

I'd argue that Chelsea aside, no-one in the top 8 has made any even remotely game changing a signing.

yeah, Ake at City is a big ‘whatever’. He won’t even play if Laporte was a fit unless they play both together.

Liverpool’s recent business reminds me of Utd when Fergie has to deal with Glazernomics. Minamino looks useless and Tsimikas will be good cover but likely only playing League cup games.

Hojberg = Schneiderlin

Arsenal adding Willian is a good free transfer. Having Saliba as a CB option possibly alongside Gabriel might see an improvement or they could just prove average defenders from the French league so who knows. They still need to sort out Ceballos and Guendouzi as CM still looks a mess for them.

 

[Coops73]

As has already been posted in other threads the Glazers tend to only invest when there is a need to get into the top 4 as it will significantly impact on the sponsorship deal with Adidas and this now appears to be their M.O.

I hope I’m proved wrong and they buck that trend in this window but I’m not holding my breath

So there is a high probability that they won’t invest or invest enough for this club to challenge for the league, CL etc and there’s nothing we can do about it.

fecking shocking state of affairs.

 

[Sandikan]

We are the only “big 6” club yet to do any transfer business.

City bought Ake. Chelsea are buying everyone.
Who have the others bought?

 

[patty123]

could you see a possibility where we simply don’t sign anyone this window?

No need for a second thread when one already exists

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/wot-no-transfers-countdown-timer-6-weeks-to-go.456957/

 

[sparx99]

As has already been posted in other threads the Glazers tend to only invest when there is a need to get into the top 4 as it will significantly impact on the sponsorship deal with Adidas and this now appears to be their M.O.

I hope I’m proved wrong and they buck that trend in this window but I’m not holding my breath

So there is a high probability that they won’t invest or invest enough for this club to challenge for the league, CL etc and there’s nothing we can do about it.

fecking shocking state of affairs.

How does that make sense though? The Adidas reduction is only like £20-25m so why would missing out make them spend £150m to get back in.

I honestly think what happens is we finish 2nd/3rd and they think we are moving in the right direction. Then instead of putting our foot down and accelerating we just hold steady and think some light tinkering is all that’s needed to continue the progress.

 

[Nytram Shakes]

Yes, it's absolutely a possibility. And for once I don't think we should be shouting at Woodward and the Glazers if we didn't sign anyone.

Were in the middle of a global pandemic and financial recession the likes of which have never really been seen, which long term is going to affect everything from shirt sales to sponsorship deals. The club's debt is already rising to the tune of 100 million, fans aren't allowed in the stadium which is going to cost the club around 100 million in gate receipts alone without even taking into account into accounts lost merchandise and food/refreshment sales.

On top of that, we have a massive squad, with at least 2 players for each position and in most cases, 3 players and that's even without counting the youth players that need game time. Plus it's going to be insanely hard to ship players out in this market with the wages we pay, so very few of them are likely to leave.

On top of that, while we could, of course, do with improving in area's, the squad is no means terrible and if we were going to go into the market we would be looking to upgrade what we have and that is really expensive. What we don't want to do is buy players just for the sake of it.

Fans need to get a bit of a sense of perspective and not have hissy fits that the club isn't currently happy to spend 100+ million on a new shiny player in the current circumstances.

 

[Ødegaard]

City bought Ake. Chelsea are buying everyone.
Who have the others bought?

Willian, Soares, Saliba & possibly Gabriel to Arsenal I think.

Lo Celso permanent, Höjbjerg & Hart for Spurs.

Tsimikas and possibly Thiago for Pool.

Ake & Torres for City.

Werner, Ziyech possibly Chilwell & Havertz for Chelsea. Also rumored to be looking at Onana.

 

[Jev]

The Glazers are not unwilling to spend big; we've spent loads of money on transfers the last five years.

 

[Beaucoup]

We are the only “big 6” club yet to do any transfer business.

We were the only big 6 club to drop big money in January

 

[ThatsGreat]

What do Utd need really? Think the first eleven is pretty well settled. You go for a player like Sancho if he's available but otherwise why spend just for the sake of it.

 

[sparx99]

What do Utd need really? Think the first eleven is pretty well settled. You go for a player like Sancho if he's available but otherwise why spend just for the sake of it.

We shouldn’t expect or want Greenwood to start 50 games as an 18yr old next season however good he is.

During the last few games it became painfully obvious we had nobody worth bringing on from the bench to try and change the game.

 

[Ødegaard]

What do Utd need really? Think the first eleven is pretty well settled. You go for a player like Sancho if he's available but otherwise why spend just for the sake of it.

We need a right winger. Our alternatives there are Greenwood and James. James is better on the left (and still not very good) and Greenwood is 18 years old and can't play every game. With Greenwood on the right-wing we have literally no one coming on from the bench to any attacking position who can do a half-decent job.

We need a replacement for Matic long-term. Fred or McTominay could grow into the role but as of now they are not good enough, and Matic when fresh and Matic when tired are night and day in terms of what they give to the team.

Shaw is injury plagued and needs upgrading or a proper challenge. Getting in a left-back would allow Williams to be backup to Wan-Bissaka instead of that being TFM or Dalot.

Then there is serious questions about Lindelöf's qualities as a first choice CB and our alternatives to Bruno & Pogba if either of them are out injured or tired. The drop in creative quality from either of those to the likes of Fred, McTominay, Pereira, Mata or Lingard is way too big.
And we need to get something done either in January or before to make sure we're not without a striker when Ighalo goes back to China.

In short, long-term we need:
1 backup striker.
1 world class RW.
1 quality rotation alternative for creative midfield role.
1 up and coming but good defensive midfielder.
1 quality rotation alternative or upgrade for left-back.
1 first eleven quality CB.

That is assuming De Gea comes good or Henderson replaces him and does well.

 

[Coops73]

How does that make sense though? The Adidas reduction is only like £20-25m so why would missing out make them spend £150m to get back in.

I honestly think what happens is we finish 2nd/3rd and they think we are moving in the right direction. Then instead of putting our foot down and accelerating we just hold steady and think some light tinkering is all that’s needed to continue the progress.

I’m not saying it makes sense it just appears that way to me, there’s very little that the Glazers or Woodward do that makes much sense, at least from a footballing perspective.

 

[NoMidfielders]

It’s possible but I’d imagine once Smalling and hopefully Rojo go we’ll bring in a cb. Again if we manage to shift Andreas/Lingard we may bring in someone like Brooks. But I highly doubt we see a major signing at this point and if we can’t sell anyone then we may see no new first teamers.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Given Woodward and Judge proving incompetent often
Yes.

 

[sp_107]

I think we will spend for sure, at least a couple of signings

If we are short of money, at least we could have gone all out for players like Gabriel from Lille for 25M just to fill in but I think we are still after few big signings.


Do I feel bad if we don’t sign anyone ? Don’t think so as sometimes we should understand the global economic situation before we slate our club

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

City bought Ake. Chelsea are buying everyone.
Who have the others bought?

City bought Torres too, Spurs bought Hojberg & made Lo Celso permanent, Arsenal signed Willian & just bought Gabriel, Liverpool have bought a left back from Greece & appear to be winning the race for Thiago.

 

[madzo2007]

Don't forget the transfer window is open until the 5th October. Plenty of time to get people in... or is it too sensible to say that

 

[Stretender]

What do Utd need really? Think the first eleven is pretty well settled. You go for a player like Sancho if he's available but otherwise why spend just for the sake of it.

Take your losers attitude out of here to your Arsenal. We aspire to win the league, finished about 30 points from Liverpool and you think all is well. First Elevens win you football games squads win Championships.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

I'm not sure it has ever happened? Anything is possible in the sense that there's some non zero chance but seems unlikely in the extreme

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

It certianly is possible, given the current situation of the world, but I believe we'll get in at least one player, even if its a squad player.

If we get a first XI player, then they must be attainable and better than what we have. Ole has been saying this for a while.

 

[kiristao]

We are definitely signing atleast 2 or 3 players. Not sure if it's Sancho plus 1 20/30ml player or 1 60/70ml and 2 20/30 ml players.
Total outlay will be about 150ml with a net spend of 80/100ml.
PS: if my prediction does come true, I am playing the super lotto the very next week!

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Take your losers attitude out of here to your Arsenal. We aspire to win the league, finished about 30 points from Liverpool and you think all is well. First Elevens win you football games squads win Championships.

I doubt we'd have finished 30 points behind if we had the settled team we had following the restart. That being said, we'd have also come up short, and as you said, we need to continue to strengthen our squad if we are to push on.

 

[IAmAWinner]

Of course not. Sancho is coming for starters. And a couple of squad players I'd imagine.

 

[Sandikan]

Willian, Soares, Saliba & possibly Gabriel to Arsenal I think.

Lo Celso permanent, Höjbjerg & Hart for Spurs.

Tsimikas and possibly Thiago for Pool.

Ake & Torres for City.

Werner, Ziyech possibly Chilwell & Havertz for Chelsea. Also rumored to be looking at Onana.

Not sure Torres has signed has he? And Thiago certainly hasn't.

Counting a player Tottenham already had is stretching it too.

So outside of Chelsea is there one player worth taking at United?
Id say no

 

[Sandikan]

City bought Torres too, Spurs bought Hojberg & made Lo Celso permanent, Arsenal signed Willian & just bought Gabriel, Liverpool have bought a left back from Greece & appear to be winning the race for Thiago.

Would our fans be happy if any of those were our signings?
Or are we desperate for anyone

 

[bosnian_red]

Would our fans be happy if any of those were our signings?
Or are we desperate for anyone

Thiago would walk in our team, Ferran Torres would be a huge improvement in a position of need both in starting 11 and depth, but we all assumed we were serious for Sancho so didn't care, Gabriel is highly rated but few of us probably actually watch him (but is still a position of need). Ake would've partnered Maguire better than Lindelof. Willian same situation as Torres, don't care if we were actually getting Sancho but since we aren't, it would've been a decent short term signing on a free given we will struggle to get anyone else worthwhile. Then of course either of Werner or Ziyech wouldve been excellent signings, but Chelsea was proactive with them (which we haven't been).

We have weaknesses at left back, center back, midfield depth, holding midfield, right wing and attacking depth. There's loads of options out there, high profile or bargain gems, who could improve us massively. None of it should be a surprise and we should've been working on shit ages ago given we have such gaping holes.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Getting Thiago is not a no brainer. We have four players in that position. Four players all vying to start. So you'd then bring in an old player to disrupt that? No thanks. I'd like Thiago over two of our options but that is irrelevant based on where our squad is at. We have a lot more important positions to focus on.

And this is why we thankfully have professionals making the decisions, even if fans don't like the result.

Our defenders could learn a hell of a lot from Thiago

 

[Member 101269]

we'll have players back from injury which is like a new signing.. e.g. jones and his pink boots.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

... we have such gaping holes.

Nailed it.

This is why we don't sign anyone. The owners and the board are gaping holes.

 

[Ødegaard]

Not sure Torres has signed has he? And Thiago certainly hasn't.

Counting a player Tottenham already had is stretching it too.

So outside of Chelsea is there one player worth taking at United?
Id say no

Torres has signed.
Tottenham had him on loan, they would have lost him. They spent 32 million euros on him.
I wasn't answering if the others had signed players United should have, my answer was highlighting that the other clubs are trying to strengthen their own team despite of corona.
If our club doesn't, then it isn't down to finances. It is down to a choice by the top executives.

 

[bond19821982]

Getting Thiago is not a no brainer. We have four players in that position. Four players all vying to start. So you'd then bring in an old player to disrupt that? No thanks. I'd like Thiago over two of our options but that is irrelevant based on where our squad is at. We have a lot more important positions to focus on.

And this is why we thankfully have professionals making the decisions, even if fans don't like the result.

City has 6 for 3 positions. Its a no Brainer if he wants to come.

 

[Offside]

Woodward has got the pandemic as the perfect excuse for his incompetence. Nevertheless I can still see some signings. We’ve 6 weeks to go. Why he always leaves it so late we’ll never know.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

So we’ll sign no one [or no one of great importance] & it’ll be due to the pandemic but other clubs seem to be managing just fine. . .

If we take away the cost of the Sancho deal I’m truly baffled as to why we aren’t strengthening other areas.

We finished the league season on a relative high & went out to the eventual winners of the EUL having outplayed them; we’re absolutely killing any momentum generated.

Signing no one should be inexcusable but the PR machine will go into full flow.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Would our fans be happy if any of those were our signings?
Or are we desperate for anyone

I’d take Hojberg as backup DM, the left back pool signed to back up Shaw & move Williams to the right, Gabriel as we need another CB, Willian to backup Greenwood as he’s far better than James & id definitely take a world class player like Thiago yes. Lo Celso would be an infinitely better backup to Bruno than Lingard & Pereira, and Ferran Torres as Rashford’s back up / competition. Absolutely.

Those players would actually massively improve our squad depth.