United will win the league if...

L1nk

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....and yet here we are sitting in 2nd place.

A place above his 3rd place finish last year.

An improvement, no?
...you realise the season isn't over, right? We could still end up around the 6th yet, let's wait till then. Improvement? Yes. Convinced me we'll win anything under him yet? Not in the slightest
 

Siorac

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Once Guardiola's gone, we might have a chance. But with how our club is generally run, and how poor our recruitment is, I don't expect us to win the league any time soon.
 

Paul_Scholes18

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Replace Ole Gunnar with a proper manager and we have a chance next season.

A top manager could maybe catch City this season too although not likely, but sadly we are stuck with Mr average Pe teacher.
 

Tom Cato

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Replace Ole Gunnar with a proper manager and we have a chance next season.

A top manager could maybe catch City this season too although not likely, but sadly we are stuck with Mr average Pe teacher.
Manchester City are on the longest winning streak in Premier League history, by 3 games and counting.

Meanwhile Manchester United's current no loss away streak is A) A club record B) currently 4th longst in PL history.

We're sitting 2nd in the league. Every team beneath us are doing worse after 25 games.

I must applaud you though, your assumption that "a top level manager" would not only set the same away game record, but also not lose at home at all this season, enabling us to overtake Manchester City, merits both plaudits and cheesecake for a lot of assumptions.

Pretty impressive for a PE teacher all in all.
 

thegregster

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Mike Oxard

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We are a poor second and that isn’t just reflected by the points difference. Any objective assessment would deduce that the quality of the players, the coaching, the style of play and the end product at City is on a different level. However, we are second rather than sixth these days and we should stick with Ole. I can’t see us catching City for a few years yet and even then, it will only be if they deteriorate. With Abu Dhabi money and a momentum of continual success, that’s a long shot, but you never know. I’d be happy being a ‘cup team’ from now on. Liverpool won it last year, which maybe a one off, but you never know.
 

Zen86

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We don’t need world class everything, just having ‘dependable’ would be a start for some positions.
 

Dr. StrangeHate

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United can't beat both Klopp and Pep in one season. It is as simple as that. We are against the two best managers in the world. Even having a squad on level with City and Liverpool is not enough as the managers will be the difference then.
 

Denis' cuff

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If... the Glazers take over Ciddy and we are left to run United as it has been since WWII
 

Foxbatt

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If Ole gets better coaching staff and a couple or more WC class players. I would say Haaland, a top CB and a top DM.
 

Zlatattack

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If for just 3 seasons the Caf got to make all the decisions. Imagine the Amazon documentary you could make from that!
 

LuckyScout78

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New Edit/adding

To make it short. If United find those top level/world class players. In this 3 position. Then United are capable of winning the premier league.

Like earlier: RW + CB + CM (nr.8)

Top and world class level in the past football history.

CM & nr.8 = Paul Scholes

RW = Arjen Robben or David Beckham. Beckham not world class dribbler. But...Beckham was a world class crosser and at freekick. And with a CF like Cavani. Cavani would love a right midfield player like Beckham

CB (Right side) = Jaap Stam

+ Compare to the level of the current football market:

RW = Sancho & Raphinha

CB = Who? Sorry to CBS out there. No one close or near enough of Jaap Stam and Brazil and Inter Lucio. So I decided to not recommend anyone yet. Maybe one = Tanguy Kouassi from Bayern Munich. The young CB who went from PSG to Bayern for free. But unlucky with injury this season.

CM. Anyone world class nr.8 out there. Special in a 2 men cm partnership?Top level like Scholes, peak Modric or Yaya Toure? Again, sorry to nr.8 out there. And not even close to all round cm and football legend Patrick Viera. So again. No top level out there I will drop to recommend.

But here is a example of a line up with 3 ex world class players in United current team. In United most used formation. The 4231 formation. Before the signings :

De Gea + Bissaka - Stam - Maguire - Shaw + Beckham/Robben - Scholes (8) - McTom (6) - Rashford + Bruno (10) - Greenwood/Cavani

And without the legends and with realistic new signings.

De Gea + Bissaka + Who? = still looking after - Maguire - Shaw

Midfield & Attack : Raphinha - Bruno - McTom - Sancho + Greenwood - Rashford/Cavani

No top level of a nr.8 out there. I lower my expectations and drop Bruno down as nr.8. Still the offensive and creative one in the team. Then I go for 2 really good CF upfront. Change 4411 to 442. Because there are higher level of CF out there then the world class creative and offensive nr.8 out there.

But against team that sitting deep. I will start Pogba if he stay. And switch Bruno back as nr.10. The different between a nr.10 and a nr.8. It’s that nr.10 has a more free role and more attack. But still, both of them are really creative and better in the offensive. Bruno is playing as nr.8 for Portugal. And I am 100 sure and convince Bruno can do a really good job as nr.8 too.

Again. Against parking bus and sitting deep team. Those whom let United control the match:

De Gea + Bissaka- New top CB - Maguire- Shaw +

Raphinha - Pogba - McTom - Sancho + Bruno + Greenwood/Rashford/Cavani.

Against tight and parking bus defend. United need players who are really quick and good in small tight areas. Like Sancho. With Bruno and Sancho in the team. A player like Raphinha will suit and match those players too. On his best level. Raphinha has nothing to be shy if he match Bruno and Sancho football skills level and football vision and understanding.

And about Raphinha. United might include Van De Beek in the deal. One of the big reason is because Beek will never get pick ahead of Bruno as nr.10 or Pogba as nr.8. And with Leeds playing like Ajax and have the same formation 433. With Raphinha go the others way. And Leeds is a really good football team. A RCM role like this :
De Beek - Phillips - Klich. Will suit De Beek. And with new strength to a really good Leeds side. You never know. Top 6 are realistic target for Leeds next season. With 3-4 new really good and right players.

Back to United and conclusion of the new Edit and adding. Sum up.
A new RW and CB is must have. And left winger?Martial?If he hit the best level as left winger in the earlier first season with United. And I prefer Rashford as the left CF in a 2 men upfront.
About nr.8. United can switch between Bruno and Pogba depend of the opposition teams.

So with the current recommendations. United squad will be like this :

GK : Dea Gea/Henderson
RB : Bissaka, Williams
LB : Shaw , Telles
CB : Maguire, Lindelof, Jones, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Mengi
RW/RM : Raphinha, Diallo
Nr.6 : McTom, Fred, Matic
Nr.8 : Bruno, Pogba
LW : Sancho, James
CF : Greenwood (right) , Rashford (Left), Cavani, Martial

There you have. New players in. To this date :

Sancho and Raphinha = Wide players
Nr.8. If Ole don’t drop Bruno down as nr.8 or Pogba reach the top or close to top level as the creative and offensive nr.8. United and Ole still has to looking after a new one. If United don’t go for the internal solution in Bruno and Pogba. Then the solution has to be external. But no realistic external solution out there exist. If you don’t go for Bayern nr.8 Joshua Kimmich.

In short sentence. A new top level RW and CB is must. And the nr.8. United and Ole has to fix it out. Trust and believe in Pogba as nr.8 or Bruno only as nr.10?

Because in the end of last season. United were struggling a lot with Bruno as nr.10 and without Pogba as the creative cm. Not because of fatigue and tight schedule. But United didn’t simply have enough creative players from the cm area. Then United continue to struggled this season too. Home with a covid Pogba against Palace with a lost. Again Sheffield United and West Brom. It’s clearly a big problem Ole and United have to solve.

With the additions of Sancho and Raphinha it will help more to open up tight defend. But to get closer to City and to win premier league. A world class nr.8. In the category of Scholes, Modric, Kimmich and Toure.
United are playing with a 4231 or alternative a 442 formation. The abilities and qualities that required and need is nr.8 category above. A nr.8 that has eyes and really good with trough passes, ball and assist. And with Scholes and Toure level. Capable of 5-10 goals each season = world lass level.

I am sure. If you find and buy those top level and those 3 positions. RW, CB and nr.8. Then United are capable of winning the league in the future. And others little concern are LW with Martial, Rashford. Martial is more of a left winger because of his one on one skill. Rashford is in Vardy type of CF. Both more left CF in a 2 CF upfront. Plus United goalkeeper situation. De Gea is old and Henderson not sure and 100 convince yet.

3 positions must fix, solve and strength. GK and LW might good enough or not good enough. Reasons why ideally is to get both of Sancho and Raphinha. Those are ingredients, factors and reasons. Where I believe United can strength a lot. And where United need to strength to get closer and to win the premier league.
3 - 4 short of top level players from a premier league title.
 

Betson

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New Edit/adding

To make it short. If United find those top level/world class players. In this 3 position. Then United are capable of winning the premier league.
A lot of teams would be capable of wining the league if those world class players just appeared out of nowhere and joined them
 

Giggsy13

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Our greatest teams have had a strong spine. We have elements of that in Maguire and Henderson/De Gea, but our midfield remains an issue despite the massive investment. We need a ball winner and leader in the middle of the park. Carrick was our last truly great CM, and that’s precisely the type of midfielder we require if we want to take the next step.
 

Adnan

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Our greatest teams have had a strong spine. We have elements of that in Maguire and Henderson/De Gea, but our midfield remains an issue despite the massive investment. We need a ball winner and leader in the middle of the park. Carrick was our last truly great CM, and that’s precisely the type of midfielder we require if we want to take the next step.
We won't win the league until the midfield improves considerably.
 

LuckyScout78

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Under and after a hard time for every football clubs. It will lead to that top clubs will not spend or pay as much as they do. Then buying smart is a important key. A good price but still will strength United XI example. Really good football players. But still has a low market value. The source to market value is from transfermarkt.com.

United look to pay around 80+/- mill £ for Sancho. For a RW and wide player. I agreed. United shall strength RW options. First because I see and hope Greenwood develop to a left clinical CF and I am not sure Diallo is ready to help United battle for league title next season.

Others positions United clearly need to strength. From mind observations. It’s definitely a CB. A CB that don’t get bully to often like Lindelof and a CB who has to fight and battle to reach the ball first on set piece against United. United had conceded so many goals on set piece. Villareal knew and took advantage of that. When they scored on set piece. So a really good and close to top level is needed.

And like earlier. If Bruno stay as nr.10. And Bruno is the only creative cm, nr.8. A top level. Then United need to buy another creative nr.8. That can push and battle with Pogba for that creative cm spot. It will give aNd strength United depth. In case Pogba get injury.

And for. Personally. Rashford started his United as a CF. Came and step in for United CF injury back that time. And I am strongly convince Rashford is a through passes CF a la Vardy. That kind of nr.9. Who smell and lay on the offside line. Like passes from Lindelof to Rashford. Drift a bit from the left to received that trough passes. Or be at right place and right time CF. A CF who smell instinct where the ball will come and be there. Everything happened for reasons. When you made first time debut and scored two goals as a CF. It’s meant to be. You are a CF.
So Rashford back to CF option. It will be Martial and James for LW spot. Then out there it does exist a upcoming really good LW and wider player who is better than both of James and Martial for a good price. I will come with a name later.

So mine recommendation of players those I stink have a current market value which can rise a lot more. Can rise double as much as theirs current MV. And if you can get 10 mill above theirs current mv. It’s still be a good price.

+ First : RW/LW : Look to be Sancho - around 80£ mill +/-

+ A Versatile CB, RB & DM : Tiago Djalo from Lille. 09.April.2000 - MV = 5 mill euro

+ A allround CM : Aurélien Tchouaméni, Monaco. 27.Jan. 2000 - MV = 30 mill euro

+ A LW & RW : Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Rubin Kazan. 12.Feb.2001 - MV = 18 mill euro

There you have. 3 others really really good football players. Upcoming players. Quality players. All 3 around the age of Sancho and Greenwood. Aim for it. Be ahead and best about 2 - 4 years. And battle all the way for the league next season. It will boost United depth a lot. All of those 3 will strength United XI line up.

Now where to put all those 4 in the team :

Bissaka/Djalo/Williams - Djalo/Lindelof/Bailly - Maguire/Tuanzebe - Shaw/Telles

Sancho/Diallo - Pogba/McTom - Tchouaméni/Fred/Matic - Kvicha/Martial/James

Greenwood/Bruno/Beek - Rashford/Cavani

There you have. Adding with 4 really new good players and qualities in :

CB, RB & DM = Tiago Djalo . MV = 5 mill euro. Paying price = around 15 mill euro plus add ons
Allround CM = Tchouaméni. MV = 30 mill euro. Paying price = around 40 mill euro plus add ons
RW&LW = Jadon Sancho Paying price = around 90 mill euro plus add ons
LW&RW = Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.MV = 18 mill euro. P price = around 25 mill euro plus add ons

Total price = 90 + 40 + 25 + 15 = around 170 mill euro. For 4 really good football players. All realistic. From Monaco, Lille and Rubin Kazan from Russia.

With addition of those 4. Definitely good enough to win the league in the future.

Short description of the others 3 more unknown players than Sancho.

+ Tiago Djalo: Physical superior compare to Lindelof. 1.90 meter tall versatile CB and defensive player. Beside his physical strength and pace. Equal or more skillful than Lindelof. And Djalo is more composure than Bailly.

+ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia : A really good dribbler and wide player. Really good close control of the ball on top speed. Consistent. No mood player. A lot more skillful than Daniel James and a good finisher too.

+ Aurélien Tchouaméni : a allround CM. Who are both good in the offensive and defensive. A player from the French academy and football school. So he is really skillful and good with the ball. Beside slim, fit and athletic and cover big areas.

+ Plus Sancho.

Sum of those 4. I believe will strength United a lot. Both short and long time strength. Those 4, i will promise make immediately impact. Because they are true quality and no mood player. Theirs fighting attitude and mentality will always be top. Always get 100 % from them.

And all of them are around 20-21. Reasons why they are also long time perspective strength and solutions.

In the end. I wrote. I will wait after the euro to give mine last recommendation and names. But I believe and have big confidence. Those 3 above , beside Sancho. Will strength United a lot. Both starting XI line up and squad depth.
But if. I discover a really good, a bit unknown. Better than those 3 players i had recommended here, during Euro 2021.I might change. But they have to be really good. To be better rate than those 3. On a really high level.
 

TheLord

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A minimum of four players plus one man in suits, I think.
1. A GK
2. A CB
3. A CM
4. A ST
 

Jibbs

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A world class manager.
A solid goalkeeper
A solid left CB
A world class striker
De Gea and Pogba out
 

Bondi77

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United get more points than everyone else
.
OR

United get the same points as the next nearest team but have a better goal difference.

OR


United get the same points as the next nearest team and have the same goal difference but a better head to head.
OR

If we finish 2nd to Citeh or Chelski but FP rules are finally taken seriously and they are deducted points and we are declared the Champions:D
 

Champagne Football

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We need to wait 1 more year at least before dreaming about a realistic challenge. It's not happening next season.

Sancho would give us a boost no doubt.

We need to wait another year before James Garner is ready. We will need his creativity in midfield.

I wonder will Ole go for Max Aaron's and perhaps play Wan-Bissaka as a central defender next season.

I don't think we will sign any central midfielders because we need to give Van de Beek 1 more season to stake a claim.

The patient approach is the only way.

Sancho and Max Aaron's will probably be our only 2 signings apart from a couple of unheard of wonderkids too hopefully. Martial and Greenwood will be back up to Cavani.
 

simonhch

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More strength in depth and luck with injuries. We are 3 signings away from a very serious title challenge. Biggest problem is having to overplay our first xi because the back up players aren’t good enough. Ideally we’d get a CB, DM and RW who are better than what we have, and competition at right back.

You’d expect more from VdB this year, improvement from Martial, further development from Greenwood, and the emergence of Amad and Hannibal.

If all those things happen, the squad is good enough to win it. Will come down to luck with injuries and individual form. Perfectly happy with the manager.
 

Bondi77

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More strength in depth and luck with injuries. We are 3 signings away from a very serious title challenge. Biggest problem is having to overplay our first xi because the back up players aren’t good enough. Ideally we’d get a CB, DM and RW who are better than what we have, and competition at right back.

You’d expect more from VdB this year, improvement from Martial, further development from Greenwood, and the emergence of Amad and Hannibal.

If all those things happen, the squad is good enough to win it. Will come down to luck with injuries and individual form. Perfectly happy with the manager.
Why would you expect improvement from Martial?
 

simonhch

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Why would you expect improvement from Martial?
He scored 25 the season before last and 7 last season. So we have first hand evidence he can play much better than last season. I didn’t say I expect improvement, I said I hope for improvement.
 

Bondi77

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He scored 25 the season before last and 7 last season. So we have first hand evidence he can play much better than last season. I didn’t say I expect improvement, I said I hope for improvement.
Fair enough, I hope so too but am not overly optimistic.