Joao Felix

[DJ_21]

Yes but when you're talking about two clubs who both qualify for the CL more often than not, do you really a singular season outside of the CL is that much of a deal breaker? I just mean in general here, because with Felix there's the added context that he's spending 6 months settling in at Chelsea before hypothetically having to decide between United and Chelsea.

Ye I agree with what your saying and I’ve always said I don’t understand why players opt against joining a team who aren’t in the CL… I mean it’s unlikely gonna be forever and they should be thinking I’m gonna join them and help them return to the CL. I think if you want Felix permanently then he’ll join yous with or without CL football as he’s spent 6 months like you said settling in.

 

[redcucumber]

He's a quality player. Gutted that Chelsea blew any chance we had of getting him out of the water with their rampant spending as he'd have been so much better than Weghorst.

 

[Bluelion7]

I dont see any evidence for that claim. The media print stories against united because they know it gets clicks.
Chelsea seem to want to try and link themselves with every player we go for as well.

Chelsea isn’t trying to get linked with anyone. WE are the prime movers of the entire market right now, so anyone with an agent attaches us as the “other” team regardless of actual interest.

We had no interest in Sabitzer, for instance.

I honestly don’t know if Felix will stay for the project if we don’t make a CL place. If games are called evenly we might make it anyway because we will be tough to just stop, especially when Kante is back in rotation (a week away?)

But Clearlake are not basing their plan on CL places this year. They aren’t going to sacrifice the pace of the long term project just to try and make a desperate lunge at something. They are too good at these “long term” team creations to make that mistake.

I think Felix will want to stay to be a part of it because he does favor the style we are moving toward, Jorge Mendes and Felix LOVE the project we are building, and next season he would be playing that style with the addition of Nkunku at minimum. He’s also forming an excellent bond with players like Enzo, and has been actively helping to recruit for this Summer.

But he is just is still just a loan, so you never know.

 

[croadyman]

He's a quality player. Gutted that Chelsea blew any chance we had of getting him out of the water with their rampant spending as he'd have been so much better than Weghorst.

Will never know why leeches weren't prepared to give Erik that extra £7m,yes I know it's to do with selling up but still fecking harsh

 

[footballbite]

Best player on the pitch aside from his finishing.

Bring him to Utd and get Benni McCarthy to work on it and he could be sensational.

 

[Devil_forever]

Best player on the pitch aside from his finishing.

Bring him to Utd and get Benni McCarthy to work on it and he could be sensational.

Attacking mid/false nine that can’t finish. Worth every cent of €126m. What a fecking joke, the shit cnut.

 

[footballbite]

Attacking mid/false nine that can’t finish. Worth every cent of €126m. What a fecking joke, the shit cnut.

Lots of attackers don't really hone their finishing and become prolific until their mid-20s.

I'd be more concerned if he wasn't getting in to those positions.

I don't see that there'd be many, if any, better players potentially available than him in the summer. Him playing in one of the attacking mid positions linking up with Rashford could be incredible.

Sure he'd cost a lot, but he looks easily Chelsea's best player, even more so than Enzo and Mudryk who they also paid crazy fees for. I'd much rather pay a silly fee for him than someone like Bellingham.

 

[thomas porter]

Well if you've been paying attention you'd know that Todd now has handed over the recruitment/planning side of things to Eghbali and the new technical team.

Proof is in the pudding as they say. What I saw this winter was the same let's spend money like a drunken sailor that has left Chelsea with a bloated squad who still has no established goalscorer. Any competent recruiting team would have moved heaven and earth to get in a half decent 9 and they didn't do it.

 

[Dancfc]

Proof is in the pudding as they say. What I saw this winter was the same let's spend money like a drunken sailor that has left Chelsea with a bloated squad who still has no established goalscorer. Any competent recruiting team would have moved heaven and earth to get in a half decent 9 and they didn't do it.

Or maybe after seeing the end result of the last two summers when we signed "traditional number 9s" (one of whom you yourselves replaced from a far from traditional one to excellent results) we learned our lesson from just looking at the top line.

With Kante permanently crocked, Kova seemingly selectively injured and Jorginho a pale shadow of his 2021 self midfield was by far the most crucial need of the squad.

 

[UsualSuspect]

Or maybe after seeing the end result of the last two summers when we signed "traditional number 9s" (one of whom you yourselves replaced from a far from traditional one to excellent results) we learned our lesson from just looking at the top line.

Nope, definitely the former. I much prefer Mr Porter's online take on the incompetence of a team of recruitment experts. It's simple....just buy a half-decent 9.

 

[thomas porter]

Or maybe after seeing the end result of the last two summers when we signed "traditional number 9s" (one of whom you yourselves replaced from a far from traditional one to excellent results) we learned our lesson from just looking at the top line.

With Kante permanently crocked, Kova seemingly selectively injured and Jorginho a pale shadow of his 2021 self midfield was by far the most crucial need of the squad.

Laughable claim when your goal differential is +1.

 

[Dancfc]

Laughable claim when your goal differential is +1.

Yep, after a summer we not only did what you suggested and "just signed a number 9" but also one of the best goalscoring wingers around.

Almost as if it isn't as simple as 2 + 2 = 4.

 

[SirReginald]

Sure he'd cost a lot, but he looks easily Chelsea's best player, even more so than Enzo and Mudryk who they also paid crazy fees for. I'd much rather pay a silly fee for him than someone like Bellingham.

Bellingham is just the current FOTM. Much like Grealish was during Englands Euro 2020 campaign. I have no doubt that he will go on to be one of the best around but he would definitely need time to adjust in a new team much like Sancho has. However for the expected final fee, fans will want instant results.

 

[Vapor trail]

Bellingham is just the current FOTM. Much like Grealish was during Englands Euro 2020 campaign. I have no doubt that he will go on to be one of the best around but he would definitely need time to adjust in a new team much like Sancho has. However for the expected final fee, fans will want instant results.

I personally think that Bellingham will look more ordinary in the premier league. Bundesliga has proven itself to be a bad barometer in the assessment of a given players ability to transcend their influence into another competitive league. There's less time on the ball, more intensity and depending on the club a much higher expectation to hit the ground running. Those three things alone have likely negatively impacted someone like Sancho with the expectation potentially being the biggest burden due to him clearly having time off to recollect himself. Bellingham does play the midfield so it's less glits and glamour but I reckon no matter when he goes he won't resemble being a 120-150 million player.

 

[Bebestation]

Can look very technical but a bit erratic for his own good.

 

[Telsim]

Must be the manager again, surely?

 

[DWelbz19]

Must be the manager again, surely?

All the crying over the fact we didn’t pay 15m and his large wage for him to play 20 matches for this positionally ambiguous fauxward was way too premature. He’s obviously good at football, but you’ll be saying stuff like this for the whole of his career. Too much unlocking, too much system.

 

[Lay]

Always said he’s good player, you see him play and he has everything you expect from a good player but he lacks a real role in a team. I see him being like Dybala, great footballer but one you need specific instructions for

 

[TheReligion]

Feel Ten Hag would have him flying

Suspect he won’t fancy Chelsea next season unless something drastic happens

 

[Devil_forever]

Feel Ten Hag would have him flying

Suspect he won’t fancy Chelsea next season unless something drastic happens

No one is going to teach this guy how to finish, the amount of hype around him is utterly insane and after his purple patch which lasted one match, he’s reverted back to his actual level. Now let’s blame Simeone for it? Or maybe just maybe he’s a luxury player who doesn’t even know his best position who puts up shite numbers? His end product is abysmal, I hope Chelsea sign him up so we’re not stupid enough to in the summer.

 

[Bubz27]

Or maybe after seeing the end result of the last two summers when we signed "traditional number 9s" (one of whom you yourselves replaced from a far from traditional one to excellent results) we learned our lesson from just looking at the top line.

With Kante permanently crocked, Kova seemingly selectively injured and Jorginho a pale shadow of his 2021 self midfield was by far the most crucial need of the squad.

You signed 18 players and 1 is a midfielder.

 

[Cassidy]

You signed 18 players and 1 is a midfielder.

More than 1.

 

[Bubz27]

More than 1.

Sorry, Zakaria and Fernandez. Am I missing another?

 

[Cassidy]

Sorry, Zakaria and Fernandez. Am I missing another?

chukwuemeka

 

[Bubz27]

chukwuemeka

So one on loan, one youngster who never plays and a top drawer midfielder. One starting midfielder.

Still doesn't scream a team who's desperate to rebuild the most crucial area of their squad, considering how much money was spent.

 

[Cassidy]

So one on loan, one youngster who never plays and a top drawer midfielder. One starting midfielder.

Still doesn't scream a team who's desperate to rebuild the most crucial area of their squad, considering how much money was spent.

I simply replied to say more than 1.

 

[SmashedHombre]

Sorry, Zakaria and Fernandez. Am I missing another?

Andrey Santos

 

[Bubz27]

I simply replied to say more than 1.

Okay.

 

[Bubz27]

Andrey Santos

How's he getting on sorting out their most crucial area of the squad?

The point obviously was their buys don't match up with the idea that they didn't buy a striker because they needed to rebuild their midfield. They bought one starting CM and spent £600m. It doesn't add up to what the Chelsea fan said.

 

[Cassidy]

How's he getting on sorting out their most crucial area of the squad?

The point obviously was their buys don't match up with the idea that they didn't buy a striker because they needed to rebuild their midfield. They bought one starting CM and spent £600m. It doesn't add up to what the Chelsea fan said.

They needed to rebuild alot. Especially the attacking midfield and defence where they spent shit loads.

Of course they should have signed a striker though.

 

[Bubz27]

They needed to rebuild alot. Especially the attacking midfield and defence where they spent shit loads.

Of course they should have signed a striker though.

Yeah, I get that. And agree.

 

[Dancfc]

How's he getting on sorting out their most crucial area of the squad?

The point obviously was their buys don't match up with the idea that they didn't buy a striker because they needed to rebuild their midfield. They bought one starting CM and spent £600m. It doesn't add up to what the Chelsea fan said.

We did buy a striker.

 

[Bubz27]

We did buy a striker.

Congratulations. You don't need another one then.

 

[ForeverRed1]

Is he out and out striker or a number 10? I’d prefer James Maddison if the latter.

 

[Dancfc]

Congratulations. You don't need another one then.

Point is, this narrative how just buying as striker and half the problems will be fixed is lazy. We've twice now tried adding an number 9 (and this summer a goalscoring winger on top of that) to this era squad and neither time it has solved the issues, if anything it made it worse.

It's almost as if just looking at the top line doesn't work.

 

[Bubz27]

Point is, this narrative how just buying as striker and half the problems will be fixed is lazy. We've twice now tried adding an number 9 (and this summer a goalscoring winger on top of that) to this era squad and neither time it has solved the issues, if anything it made it worse.

It's almost as if just looking at the top line doesn't work.

But the strikers you've bought are Lukaku, who'd already been shipped out by an English team trying to become more serious, and Aubamayeng, who'd already been shipped out by an English team trying to become more serious.

I do agree that you don't just buy a striker for the sake of it. You have to get the right one. But the fact you've gone for strikers who most would've told you before you signed them that they were the wrong choice, isn't an argument against what I've said.

 

[Dancfc]

But the strikers you've bought are Lukaku, who'd already been shipped out by an English team trying to become more serious, and Aubamayeng, who'd already been shipped out by an English team trying to become more serious.

I do agree that you don't just buy a striker for the sake of it. You have to get the right one. But the fact you've gone for strikers who most would've told you before you signed them that they were the wrong choice, isn't an argument against what I've said.

But who is there? The number 9 is becoming outdated to the point even the best one for a long time is struggling to win the league for the best team.

In my opinion we should have held our nerve after the Porto UCL win and kept the same squad for another season (bar maybe Tchouameni if he was open to joining) given the scarse options in the market. If we stuck to the same system all the metrics from Tuchel's first six months pointed to a title challenge the following season if as much as one of our players hit a purple patch infront of goal (big if ofcourse) we were almost flawless in that period outside of finishing then eventually a suitable fit would have presented itself (a bit like how Klopp didn't panic when his defense and keepers were shit and waited for the right one), infact Sterling would have been an absolute dream in the pre Lukaku Tuchel system.

Ofcourse in hindsight injuries and the sanctions would have derailed us, but we would still have saved nearly £100m.

 

[Bubz27]

But who is there? The number 9 is becoming outdated to the point even the best one for a long time is struggling to win the league for the best team.

In my opinion we should have held our nerve after the Porto UCL win and kept the same squad for another season (bar maybe Tchouameni if he was open to joining) given the scarse options in the market. If we stuck to the same system all the metrics from Tuchel's first six months pointed to a title challenge the following season if as much as one of our players hit a purple patch infront of goal (big if ofcourse) we were almost flawless in that period outside of finishing then eventually a suitable fit would have presented itself (a bit like how Klopp didn't panic when his defense and keepers were shit and waited for the right one), infact Sterling would have been an absolute dream in the pre Lukaku Tuchel system.

Ofcourse in hindsight injuries and the sanctions would have derailed us, but we would still have saved nearly £100m.

I agree. As United fans, we're asking the same questions at the moment, and we keep coming back to Kane and Osimhen. One of which wasn't coming to you in the last few years and one of which is only really truly breaking through this year.

All I initially replied to was an insinuation that a centre forward wasn't invested in was because midfield was the priority. And all I said was the maths didn't add up on that one.

You could've been more seriously in for Darwin Nunez in the summer? At the time, he was the striker to get. Lewandowski moved. Jesus? Richarlison?

In hindsight, Richarlison hasn't worked out, and neither has Nunez yet. But the point is there's been strikers available who, at the time, would've seemed smart buys for Chelsea. Would they have come? Impossible to say. Lewandowski seemed like he wanted Barca. Maybe City don't sell Jesus to you because they see you as a more direct threat at the time.

 

[Dancfc]

I agree. As United fans, we're asking the same questions at the moment, and we keep coming back to Kane and Osimhen. One of which wasn't coming to you in the last few years and one of which is only really truly breaking through this year.

All I initially replied to was an insinuation that a centre forward wasn't invested in was because midfield was the priority. And all I said was the maths didn't add up on that one.

You could've been more seriously in for Darwin Nunez in the summer? At the time, he was the striker to get. Lewandowski moved. Jesus? Richarlison?

In hindsight, Richarlison hasn't worked out, and neither has Nunez yet. But the point is there's been strikers available who, at the time, would've seemed smart buys for Chelsea. Would they have come? Impossible to say. Lewandowski seemed like he wanted Barca. Maybe City don't sell Jesus to you because they see you as a more direct threat at the time.

Jesus is the one I look at in hindsight as maybe the one we.could have moved for.

Richarlison and Nunez would have been disastrous for us especially in our current position. Nunez is arguably an even bigger case study than Rom in terms of how delving deeper than goal stats is required.

 

[thomas porter]

Yep, after a summer we not only did what you suggested and "just signed a number 9" but also one of the best goalscoring wingers around.

Almost as if it isn't as simple as 2 + 2 = 4.

This past summer you let two 9's, who tbf were both busts, go and signed another 9 who had been released for being unprofessional. For all the money you guys have spent your squad is weaker than it was 2 seasons ago...and i'm not gonna lie I think its hilarious.