Pogba stays. Lukaku out. Bruno, Dybala and Maguire in. What would be our ceiling?

Ikon · Jul 31, 2019

mojo said:
Imagine if no-one else were signed.....

Very possible scenario, and it would be another 6th place finish, with our better players wanting to leave.
This is a vital window, and the clock is ticking.....

shamans · Jul 31, 2019

No excuse to not be competing for the title with that squad then. Nothing infuriates me more than this mediocre "lets get top 4 this season then for progress" talk

AceUnited · Jul 31, 2019

Jacob said:
More eager to sign Longstaff than all of them

Nothing against Longstaff but with only 9 PL games and asking price of 50 Mil????

RedFish · Jul 31, 2019

... Chumpians elect

RedDevilRoshi · Jul 31, 2019

djembatheking said:
There will be a huge meltdown on here if we don`t start well , thankfully we have 2 nice easy games to start the season .

Wouldn’t say they are easy, particularly Wolves away. We didn’t beat them in 3 attempts last season. They are a very good outfit.

No Idea For Nickname · Jul 31, 2019

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RedTiger · Jul 31, 2019

Without any new signings we'll still finish top 4 and maybe win Europa league. With Maguire, Bruno and Dybala well challenge for top 2 and win the Europa league.

Football Scout · Jul 31, 2019

Being realistic probably 3rd if we got Dybala, Fernandes and Maguire.

The lineup would be interesting. The front 6 would be:

~~~~Rashford
Martial. ~~~ Dybala
~~~~~~Fernandes
~~Pogba
~~~~McTominay

Inter Yer Nan · Jul 31, 2019

I think IF all those players sign we'll have AWB, Fernandes, Dybala who'll need time to settle/develop so will likely see them in a better position this time next season after a full season behind them. Maguire would come in and make an immediate difference. Also so would the aforementioned because they'd all be improving problem areas it's just whether they can make that much of a difference immediately. Could happen but conventional wisdom says it will take at least a year. I think James will make a decent impact as it's an added dimension and a player that can probably make a huge difference perhaps off the bench or in open games.

My guess is IF we nail those signings we'd almost certainly get top four with probably 2nd place (though a distant 2nd) would be our ceiling for next season. It would be a huge step in the right direction especially if we have a consistent and positive style of play and perhaps a piece of silverware or two at the end of the season.

Jacob · Jul 31, 2019

AceUnited said:
Nothing against Longstaff but with only 9 PL games and asking price of 50 Mil????

Yes, couldn't care less about the fee. I think he will be a massive player and he reminds me of Carrick who was instrumental during our best years. His passing will release quick counters and he has the composurrme on the ball, 9 games or not.

Fer · Jul 31, 2019

If we manage to sign Fernandes AND Dybala, why do you think we should continue with the 4231 formation? Don't you think it would be wiser to get the best of our players with a different formation? Also, that doesn't mean that our high pressing is going to be over.

nameischarles · Jul 31, 2019

If we manage to sign all of these players and keep Pogba. We should be pushing all the way but really knowing it'll take weeks to settle, get the rotations and playing style right then 4th should absolutely be the minimum. However, I'd be expecting more than just 4th.

Annihilate Now! · Jul 31, 2019

Top four... Still think our defence will be a bit leaky and Pogba too inconsistent to push City.

Fosu-Mens · Jul 31, 2019

If we get Dybala and or Fernandes, then we need midfielders behind them that can play out of defence without being forces to hoof the ball long or make risky passes. Instead of spending Money on Fernandes or Maguire, prioritize balancing midfielders able to pass and protect the central defenders and push Pogba further up the pitch.

Steven-UK · Jul 31, 2019

Top three easily we should go for.

We still will not win the league with that team, though; we are way behind City still in terms of quality. Tactics also will play a huge roll this season.

It will be interesting to see where we are at Xmas.

Suedesi · Jul 31, 2019

No Idea For Nickname said:
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Spoken like a Raiola client.

Moonwalker · Jul 31, 2019

Third, provided the manager knows what he's doing, which is dubious.

Pavl3n · Aug 1, 2019

Bestietom said:
4-1-2-1-2 Is how he would probably use all 3, If they came here, but I can't see it. This system would only be used in some games, and where is the width. Teams with wingers would destroy us.

Yep, 41212 has it's pros and cons and width is one of the major minuses. It's very hard to defend against it, but the moment you stretch the team set up in a diamond, all kinds of cracks and pockets show up.

I can't see us playing the diamond week in week out. But what I can't see us doing even more is bringing two more advanced midfielders, albeit one of them (Dybala) would be better described as a shadow striker / false nine. That would leave us with Dybala, Bruno, Mata, Lingard, Pereira and Gomes, which in all honesty is overkill.

SambaBoy · Aug 1, 2019

To not get top 4 with that squad would be an utter failure. It could potentially still have the same problems, lack of defensive awareness and nous in the midfield with Herrera not being replaced, unbalanced with no natural RW. Can't see it challenging for the title at any point though due to them flaws. We would still not have a DM unless you include Matic who can't cover the ground as well and is on the decline.

I'd imagine Ole would line up with a fluid front four all interchanging allowing for more flexibility and freedom when attacking. In the lesser games where we are expected to dominate you could probably get away with Pogba in a two man midfield especially if Bruno is playing due to his defensive work.

Walters_19_MuFc · Aug 1, 2019

Top 4 and possible domestic cup.

Stobzilla · Aug 1, 2019

Depending entirely on Scott McTominay's development over the course of the season, it is a top centre back away from challenging for the league but more than capable in every cup competition we enter and if we get into the CL it could be a threat there as well.

amolbhatia50k · Aug 1, 2019

Think we'll sign two of those three.

Regardless of two or three, I think 3rd is our best bet for this coming season.

quackattack · Aug 1, 2019

Still that right winger though...

sweetmgd · Aug 1, 2019

Don't know why we want to buy Dybala instead of buying a proper right wing like N. Pepe. Everyone knows his best position is AM, which Mata , Lingard, or Angel Gomes, can play this position. However, no one in our team can play right wing - Martial, D. James, Chong all perform better at left wing. Greenwood has potential, but his skill set is a striker, not a winger. Our team's structure is totally unbalance.

I think buying Dybala is Ed Woodward's idea, not Ole, in order to replace Pogba' s commercial ability, who may leave in this summer.

Red00012 · Aug 1, 2019

I’d personally have a low ceiling about 7 foot high as Lukaku is gone as he’d need a 30 foot ceiling as the ball would go everywhere when he tries to control it.
Bruno, Maguire and dybala like the ball at their feet so I’m going with 7 feet off the ground.

Also I’d have a timber effect to keep Bruno and Dybala warm and away from the Manchester weather.

Fracture90 · Aug 1, 2019

Depends on how they all will fit in together. If they do, I can see us being contenders, if they don't "hello darkness my old friend".

4-2-3-1 with Pogba and MCT in the MF duo, Dybala playing as a inverted RW and Fernandes in the #10 role is the likely scenario in that case.

AWB is good enough to hold the entire right flank with the minimal help from Dybala.

kirk buttercup · Aug 1, 2019

Its funny how Rashford always automatically gets the 9 spot. He hasnt exactly earned it , probably just shades it but Martial ,Greenwood , Sanchez and if Dybala signs could all play there . Rashford imo needs to really step up this year potential only goes so far, we need to see more of it this year on the pitch

Eric's Seagull · Aug 1, 2019

If they gel well I could see us achieving top 4.

buckooo1978 · Aug 1, 2019

have to say I think its Dybala or Fernandes not both

I'd opt for Fernandes I think - simply because I'd guess hes more keen to be here

if we got all anything less than third is a slight disappointment in paper

you never know about injuries and players gelling

Ventura · Aug 1, 2019

Third.

RedCoffee · Aug 1, 2019

Do we really want Dybala? We've been here with Di Maria and Sanchez. Players who don't want to be here. Surely we've learnt from those lessons or is it a panic purchase just so we can offload Lukaku. Not worth it.
Is there no one at Juve that would love to come here?

Rish Sawhney · Aug 1, 2019

RedCoffee said:
Do we really want Dybala? We've been here with Di Maria and Sanchez. Players who don't want to be here. Surely we've learnt from those lessons or is it a panic purchase just so we can offload Lukaku. Not worth it.
Is there no one at Juve that would love to come here?

If all we had were players who wanted to be here all we’d have is Lingard and Jones.

Hamadovich86 · Aug 1, 2019

Without new signings we'll struggle to finish top 4. There is no reason to believe that we would as we failed to do so in 3 out of the 6 past seasons. Citeh and the scousers are a lock for top 2, Spurs have improved their squad, Arsenal have improved as well. Chelsea have lost their best player are unable to make any transfers and with a new manager they might flourish or they might stumble its hard to tell.

With new signings like Maguire and possibly Dybala its really hard to tell if they will have an impact. We had the worst defense among the top 10 last season, is Maguire going to save 10+ goals? Is he remarkably better than what we have already? How many goals will Dybala add? What will that translate into in terms of points? Its impossible to tell but at least it would be more comforting for the club to have reinforcements .. I think.

Sleigh · Aug 1, 2019

I personally think you’ll be tussling with Spurs for the 3rd spot at best.

Manchester City and Liverpool are (I know it’s pains you guys) unfortunately ahead of you in terms of overall squad quality.

Saying that, Manchester City have lost leaders, in Kompany and Delph. They maintained that dressing room leadership around the club, once their fitness and dwindling ability kept them out of the team. Who knows what the impact of losing them will add to the squad. Kompany picked up a lot of the community and media stuff. That’s a burden for a “big name” to do now. It all takes its toll.

The league will be open and exciting this year. The money being invested by clubs like Everton, Wolves and Leicester adds to the intrigue. Chelsea have looked good in preseason and ........ Arsenal still don’t have a defence.

Jericholyte2 · Aug 1, 2019

With a first team of:

———————DDG———————
AWB—Lindelof—Maguire—Shaw
—————McT——Pogba—————
—————Fernandes——————
Rashford——Dybala——Martial

With a squad including Romero, Smalling, Dalot, Matic, Lingard, James and Chong, Greenwood, Gomez, Garner coming through, we must surely be challenging the top two.

That line-up, barring injuries, should be putting many teams to the sword and pushing Liverpool and City all the way.

esmufc07 · Aug 4, 2019

This was such a jinx thread.

Pogba stays. Lukaku out. Bruno, Dybala and Maguire in. What would be our ceiling?

Correctly predicted France to win World Cup 2018

Thinks you can get an STD from flirting.

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