For now, like ASAP, an experienced forward Højlund can learn from and a starting central midfielder playing alongside or competing with Mainoo and Casemiro (when in form)
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
We need Two strikers an established number 9 like Mario Icardi who we could sign for £20m and young mobile strike striker like Benjamin sesko. I would play 352 in some haves and 433 in others.
Why on earth we signed Rasmus for £72m when we could have bought the two mentioned this summer for £50m combined ?
Yeah and he is not exactly a massive upgrade on what we have. If Martial leaves id be fine with it, but other wise we should be concentrating on getting the best out of what we have.
Even if we could afford it I don't think we should be making any permanent moves until we have a fired and replaced the existing recruitment structure at the club. Murtough and Ten Hag have shown they don't have a clue about squad building and player recruitment. Untill we have a new team in place, who have experience in squad building, have had the time to assess what the team needs both in terms of ability and personality, go out and scout players that fit that mold, I don't want us signing any permanent transfers.
Even if that process goes on past the summer and we only make loan moves in the summer i'm 100% ok with it. We can't keep pouring 100's of millions down the drain every summer, so if it takes us 18 months to get an infrastructure in place that allows us to have a well thought out recruitment/squad building decisions, then I am 100% on board for that.
Wasn't Sesko alone being quoted for that price (50mn) two years ago when we were first interested in him and frankly he hasn't done anything as impactful as Hojlund did last year with Atalanta since. Wasn't rattling them in at any great rate in Austria and has three goals this year in an easier league to score than Serie A.
i remember someone from Salzburg came on here and quoted £150m plus Fred for Sesko back when we were interested.
In the short term, aka this window, we need a reliable striker. I think someone like Toney would work. He's not world class, he's not at Kane's level, but he had good numbers for a (supposedly) lesser team.
We could also use a RB who can play both ways.
Beyond that, we need our regular first team players to come back from injury. I think we're in a decent shape. Licha, Shaw, Mount, Casemiro back in action, we will be pushing for one of the CL places. Mainoo and some of the other youth players breaking into the first team will fill in some of the gaps. Maybe Mainoo is the only one capable currently, but maybe Hugill, Gore, Kambwala, Hansen-Aroen, and some others can get some minutes.
I don't think this team is capable of challenging for top honors without a massive overhaul. In the next year or two we will need to replace Casemiro and Varane.
We could also use a RB who can play both ways.
Beyond that, we need our regular first team players to come back from injury. I think we're in a decent shape. Licha, Shaw, Mount, Casemiro back in action, we will be pushing for one of the CL places. Mainoo and some of the other youth players breaking into the first team will fill in some of the gaps. Maybe Mainoo is the only one capable currently, but maybe Hugill, Gore, Kambwala, Hansen-Aroen, and some others can get some minutes.
I don't think this team is capable of challenging for top honors without a massive overhaul. In the next year or two we will need to replace Casemiro and Varane.
Here's my current keepable team:
Garnachos
Shaw Martinez AWB (sort of)
(Casa and Varane are great but going forward we cannot build a squad around them. Bruno worth a mention, i'm getting to the point i think he's replaceable. Rash has fallen off a cliff and i'm not sure he's returning.)
Garnachos
Shaw Martinez AWB (sort of)
(Casa and Varane are great but going forward we cannot build a squad around them. Bruno worth a mention, i'm getting to the point i think he's replaceable. Rash has fallen off a cliff and i'm not sure he's returning.)
A senior management team (owner and DOF) to create a culture, ethos and desired style of play
A manager that fits with the culture, ethos and style of play desired (it could be ETH)
Scouting that looks for the players that will specifically fit with the culture, ethos and style of play desired.
Coaching of the team that suits the culture, ethos and style of play desired.
I'd happily not sign any players in this window if we appoint the SMT as without this, buying players is really pot luck as to whether they will fit in with the clubs ethos.
A manager that fits with the culture, ethos and style of play desired (it could be ETH)
Scouting that looks for the players that will specifically fit with the culture, ethos and style of play desired.
Coaching of the team that suits the culture, ethos and style of play desired.
I'd happily not sign any players in this window if we appoint the SMT as without this, buying players is really pot luck as to whether they will fit in with the clubs ethos.
Brian Brobbey is a return of a story from last year but he decided to move elsewhere.
He really must be the last player Ten Hag has in his black book.
Shame we're still not using our scouting network to identify targets, and once again we probably didn't have someone lined up ahead of the window.
He really must be the last player Ten Hag has in his black book.
Shame we're still not using our scouting network to identify targets, and once again we probably didn't have someone lined up ahead of the window.
Everyone currently in the scouting department expects to lose their jobs in a matter of weeks. They are probably more focused on stealing paperclips and trying to polish their terrible CVs.
We need a new midfield.
If that is fixed
- they will protect the defense and make the CB, LB and RB better.
- they will create more service to our offensive players who then has the possibility to show if they are worth it.
- they will be a threat on goal
- the will be able to control the ball avoiding constant counter attacks from dangerous positions.
I agree that we might need better CB, LB, RB, wings and striker but unless the midfield is fixed first we will not know where the biggest problems are.
Further not fixing the midfield will most likely mean that no mater who we bring in they will fail.
If that is fixed
- they will protect the defense and make the CB, LB and RB better.
- they will create more service to our offensive players who then has the possibility to show if they are worth it.
- they will be a threat on goal
- the will be able to control the ball avoiding constant counter attacks from dangerous positions.
I agree that we might need better CB, LB, RB, wings and striker but unless the midfield is fixed first we will not know where the biggest problems are.
Further not fixing the midfield will most likely mean that no mater who we bring in they will fail.
Forget Toney. We simply can't spent 90m this winter and he is not worth that price anyway.
I haven’t seen any figures quoted like that. Have you? £90m would be crazy but maybe at half that…
I scare Toney is a typical late bloomer who somehow manage to have couple of good and other two ok seasons in EPL before dropping back to Championship level again. Like Kevin Phillips. He could be good enough for OGS/Chicharito role but I think that's it. Sooo, he's not the answer. Especially with expected price tag. We should be aiming for players with higher ceiling.
I don't smoke but I feel like I need to smoke a packet of 20 cigarettes while watching United in action.
Good luck if you genuinely think that you will get Toney for 45/50m
No exact numbers but Brentford board said he's not for sale and only an indeclinable offer would move them. Similar stance to Ajax with Antony in summer 2022. Also, Toney smells like a typical United transfer of a British midtable player who'd come and flop hard, despite his talent. I just have that feeling.
I hadn’t seen any figures quoted, I’m saying if he was valued at £45-50m we should snap him up.
He was valued at 100m just a few weeks ago
No sale!
Yikes... With all the finance in EPL teams don't need to sell any more. £100m is not a discretionary spend mid season. It's typically a third of our annual budget.
We should only be spending that sort of money if the guy is nailed on to solve a problem position for us, hold it for a number of years and make us more competitive for actual silverware.
There is noone at the club who we can trust to make that sort of call. Hopefully we get Mitchell in 3-4 weeks and we can let him go into negotiations and ensure we never 2x or more overspend in future.
No chance we should be spending that on one player anymore. Let the new structure (when in place) show what they can do for less, or at least get more for our money
Bruno G from Newcastle.
Sign him and play him next to Mainoo.
Sign him and play him next to Mainoo.
Garnacho Hojlund Greenwood
Fernandes
Mainoo Bruno G
Shaw Martinez Varane Dalot
Onana
These two would transform our team and right hand side, but Ten Hag probably won't admit the Mount signing was a waste of time to do it.Fernandes
Mainoo Bruno G
Shaw Martinez Varane Dalot
Onana
WHy midfield is the main problem (not saying it's not the problem)?
We saw against Wigan, we dominated them but couldn't score properly. It gives a massive in-your-face clue of where the problem lies. I don't know how much more massive you need to see.
In Fergies era, we used to laugh at Arsenal's trying to walk the ball into the net. All we did was just counter attack them, because we knew our attack would finished them off.
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There is a difference in playing the ball to your attackers and getting it to then I a dangerous position.
We created maybe 2 chances to Højlund (he should have scorede 1).
Against a team like Wigan our midfield did not play our attackers into dangerous positions.
Sell Dalot , Lindelof , Mctominey, Rashford, Bruno, Martial, Antony , Van De Beek and Sancho
Buy any of the listed in each position
RB 1.Frimpomg, Vanderson , Walker Peters
CB. Todibo 2. Diomonde 3. Branthwaite
CM. Barella (if Newcastle nearly got him last summer why not),Thuram, Onanna
RW. Olise , Rony, Nico Gonzalez
CAM Gibbs White, Baturina, Lazar Smardzic, Dani Olmo
ST. Mitrovic ( apparently wants out of Saudi) Taremi, Guirassy
If we got good money for Casimero then buy a Paulina or Zubimendi. But his experience is useful around the squad plus he was good last season still need to see him play again to see if still got it
Buy any of the listed in each position
RB 1.Frimpomg, Vanderson , Walker Peters
CB. Todibo 2. Diomonde 3. Branthwaite
CM. Barella (if Newcastle nearly got him last summer why not),Thuram, Onanna
RW. Olise , Rony, Nico Gonzalez
CAM Gibbs White, Baturina, Lazar Smardzic, Dani Olmo
ST. Mitrovic ( apparently wants out of Saudi) Taremi, Guirassy
If we got good money for Casimero then buy a Paulina or Zubimendi. But his experience is useful around the squad plus he was good last season still need to see him play again to see if still got it
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Question. Which scenario that most likely would make us won that game comfortably:
1. Having Jones - McAllister - Szobozlai in midfield, supporting our attack.
2. Having Gakpo - Nunez - Salah in attack, supported by our midfield.
We can try this scenario with any top teams.
Football has changed
Such a difficult market. Hardly any experienced number 9s out there. We over spent on Hojlund. Apparently Mitrovic is unhappy in Saudi. Premier league proven. All time top scorer for Serbia and always been a handful when I have watched him. I would take him here for a couple of season to Help with Hojlunds development .
We need someone who can actually score goals at the PL level. It's a head scratcher as to why this need was not addressed last summer.
So frustrating INEOS didn't have control of recruitment when Kane was available,just maybe he might have seen us differently then
- Goals. We are one of the worst team in scoring goals in the league.
- Control. We need someone who is ideal to play with Mainoo who can control the midfield.
- Defending in high line. We are one of the worst team in conceded goals in UCL because the way how we play is high line. We need a CB who can stay fit and can defend in high line.
- Greenwood (£0) (I can’t think any striker that we can sign, Toney for £100m means he has to be elite for us to spend such a money and Osimhen for €130m with his injury record is a risk, the rest are mediocre. The market of striker right now is not ideal. Greenwood is always highly rated with his finishing ability so he’s exactly what we need ‘’good finisher’’ and ‘’goals’’.
- Bruno G (£100m) (Newcastle seems to be in the mud right now, need money and there is £100m release clause for a top player who doesn’t get lot of injuries and proven PL). He can cover no 6 and no 8, he’s an ideal replacement for Eriksen.
- Todibo (£40m-£50m) (We need a centre back who doesn’t get injured, has pace, strong, tall, composed on the ball, and good with one v one to play high line).
I will also try to look at into the market about left back if there is. Our left backs spent lot of their times with injuries and Luke Shaw is proven injury prone imo.
Can't see Rashford or Bruno being sold,also don't seem in a rush to sell Dalot or Lindelof. Shame because there is some good suggested signings
Cost of that attack over the midfield is completely different.
But honestly I dont think even that attack will succeed with our midfield. So would still take their midfield.
And I will take City strongest midfield any day of the week over their attack.
Yeah we certainly do
Bruno and Rashford are the only sellable assets we have if we want a rebuild which most fans and pundits think is needed. But agree can’t see them leaving soon. Knowing us we will just let their contracts run down and while being further into the ground with FFP. Yes apparently Lidnelof is getting a new contract what an absolute joke. Standards have dropped massively at this club.
Yeah we are masters of letting contracts run down
Who do you think we could bring in realistically to improve the midfield? Conor Gallagher would be a good option to play alongside Mainoo?
For years we've been buying for the 'here and now'. The reality is we've about 5/6 key players in our first team/squad who are past their best and are effectively on the cusp of retirement. Added to that, about half of the players just aren't good enough/ can't carry out the key principles of a Ten Hag team.
Our whole midfield play relies on an 18 year old who's played about 10 professional games.19 year old Garnacho is tasked with being our key attacker. Is it any surprise we are in such a state?
Our whole midfield play relies on an 18 year old who's played about 10 professional games.19 year old Garnacho is tasked with being our key attacker. Is it any surprise we are in such a state?
Totally agree all the bad decisions from the past have come home to roost. Let’s not confuse the situation Ralph was right we need open heart surgery.
The Club need -
New CEO
New DOF
New Head of Recruitment
New Coach
(Young emerging)
Get Xabi Alonso yes I know Liverpool connection but who cares he’s the best young coach out there right now.
New number 1 GK - D Costa
New Right CB - J Tobido or J Tah
New RB - J Frimpong
New LB - T Henrrnandez
New CM - N Barrella
New 8 - M Zubimendi
New 10 - F Witz
New 9 - V Osimhen
New RWS - M Olise
That lost will cost £500-550m so it’s never going to happen but that’s the type of player and character United need but first they need to fix the Infrastructure and sack ETH.
The only shining light right now is Nick Cox and he should keep his job and have more direct links with the new DOF, let’s not forget our under 18’s have won 11 out 11 this season and we have some real talent coming through.
How good is Witz? His name is mentioned a lot on this forum. Leverkuson seem to be producing a lot of good players
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