‘No value in the market’ - 2026

[cpresc]

It’s all merely a huge coincidence

What does the data tell us? We spend reactively to CL qualification.

The stats when we’ve not qualified our spend pattern in relation to the previous season is:

+444%
+41.8%
+94.6%
+69.4%
+4%
+17.1%

The times when we’ve qualified our spend pattern in relation to the previous season is:

-25.2%
-10.3%
-47.1%
-60.4%
+112.3%
-15%
(current spend this season) -56.1%

After every season without Champions League (2014, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025), we spent £144m–£212m, whereas after qualifying we spend far less (e.g. £27m, £57m, £74m, £93m). It lends weight to the argument that the club has repeatedly spent reactively after failure rather than building proactively from positions of strength.

The pattern is clear to see. The owners objective is CL football. Anything more would be an unlikely bonus.

Amount spent vs Quality in

Based on that ratio, I don't think anyone should be worried about spend. The two lads we've brought in are quality

 

[croadyman]

The bottom line is everyone expected Anderson/Tchouameni/Fernandes/Tonali/Bruno G/Sangare

We ended up with Santos, Tielemans and a big "Mason Mount is a top top player".

Yeah talk about not walking the walk eh INEOS, can see now why some see you like the leeches

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

I do think the midfield will hold for this season, Santos is essentially replacing Casemiro, and Tielemans is a quality addition for extra competitions. We'll have more Mainoo, and possibly a little more Mount. We spent very little and managed a tricky situation quite well.

But we needed strengthening in other areas too, and while we may just scrape by into CL next season, unless we don't make quality moves now, we're in trouble for the next window.

We'll quickly need a new starting LB; more CBS to replace the injury-prone and aging trio of Maguire, De Ligt, and Martinez; a Bruno replacement; a direct, beats-his-man left winger; and a capable second striker. All of this just to stay in the CL the next season, not compete for top honors.

The good news is - despite what it may seem like - our rivals are not improving as much as well. Arsenal are only getting Guimares (hopefully no Vini). Liverpool have a new manager but haven't replaced Salah, and are a top heavy side with a crisis in defense. City have lost their magic with Pep gone and are replacing Rodri/Silva with Anderson alone (they already preplanned their business with Cherki and Semenyo). Villa have just replaced Rogers and Tielemans with Manzambi and Homes.

The only sides to have actually moved forward a lot are Spurs and Chelsea. Both of whom have new untested managers and were starting with poorer squads than ours. That being said, they've really moved forward.

Chelsea look good for a CL run - Quenda, Rogers, Lacroix, Pelestra, Barco in and only Santos, Cucurella out, plus Alonso is a much much better coach than Rosenior.

Spurs - the story of the summer - have a fantastic manager in De Zerbi, and may have just bought themselves a CL place with good players returning from injury and additions in Fernandes, Tonali, Van Hecke, Senesi, and possibly Gakpo. Incredible window, and the cost of it will soon be forgotten for the returns it generates.

As things stand - two of us, Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea, and Spurs are going to lose out on CL next year, and it's gets more difficult the summer after. Let's hope Carrick can keep delivering his magic.

 

[croadyman]

I do think the midfield will hold for this season, Santos is essentially replacing Casemiro, and Tielemans is a quality addition for extra competitions. We'll have more Mainoo, and possibly a little more Mount. We spent very little and managed a tricky situation quite well.

But we needed strengthening in other areas too, and while we may just scrape by into CL next season, unless we don't make quality moves now, we're in trouble for the next window.

We'll quickly need a new starting LB; more CBS to replace the injury-prone and aging trio of Maguire, De Ligt, and Martinez; a Bruno replacement; a direct, beats-his-man left winger; and a capable second striker. All of this just to stay in the CL the next season, not compete for top honors.

The good news is - despite what it may seem like - our rivals are not improving as much as well. Arsenal are only getting Guimares (hopefully no Vini). Liverpool have a new manager but haven't replaced Salah, and are a top heavy side with a crisis in defense. City have lost their magic with Pep gone and are replacing Rodri/Silva with Anderson alone (they already preplanned their business with Cherki and Semenyo). Villa have just replaced Rogers and Tielemans with Manzambi and Homes.

The only sides to have actually moved forward a lot are Spurs and Chelsea. Both of whom have new untested managers and were starting with poorer squads than ours. That being said, they've really moved forward.

Chelsea look good for a CL run - Quenda, Rogers, Lacroix, Pelestra, Barco in and only Santos, Cucurella out, plus Alonso is a much much better coach than Rosenior.

Spurs - the story of the summer - have a fantastic manager in De Zerbi, and may have just bought themselves a CL place with good players returning from injury and additions in Fernandes, Tonali, Van Hecke, Senesi, and possibly Gakpo. Incredible window, and the cost of it will soon be forgotten for the returns it generates.

As things stand - two of us, Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea, and Spurs are going to lose out on CL next year, and it's gets more difficult the summer after. Let's hope Carrick can keep delivering his magic.

Please tell me this isn't you suggesting we could get by this season without athletic ground covering DM or LB cover

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

Please tell me this isn't you suggesting we could get by this season without athletic ground covering DM or LB cover

Without DM - possible, but not good. If Santos is injured and not even available for rotation, we're basically fecked.

Without LB - possible. Dorgu, Maz, Dalot can all play there, so a Shaw injury won't cripple us as much as a Santos injury would.

We were in crisis mode in midfield before the start of the window, though. What I'm saying is we're one step away from crisis instead - which is an improvement when we're skint and the market is crazy. I think people underrate the impact Tielemans can have.

 

[croadyman]

Without DM - possible, but not good. If Santos is injured and not even available for rotation, we're basically fecked.

Without LB - possible. Dorgu, Maz, Dalot can all play there, so a Shaw injury won't cripple us as much as a Santos injury would.

We were in crisis mode in midfield before the start of the window, though. What I'm saying is we're one step away from crisis instead - which is an improvement when we're skint and the market is crazy. I think people underrate the impact Tielemans can have.

Trouble is club can't show we are in crisis mode or unfortunately we will end up priced out for all players

 

[Isotope]

We were in crisis mode in midfield before the start of the window, though. What I'm saying is we're one step away from crisis instead - which is an improvement when we're skint and the market is crazy. I think people underrate the impact Tielemans can have.

It seems like our season depends on Tielman, a player that missed 23 games, just last season. If he isn't fit, our midfield would have two kids with limited PL experience, to play 3 times a week for 90+ minutes every game.

 

[Red4Life_#7]

Dorgu is receiving a wage as an attacking option which he will provide and may be lb in an emergency. Amass is off. The point is we want good options, you can't just say we don't need the sign players as people can fill in, that works at Ipswich, not a top side

Dorgu is on the books of the club receiving money from the club. Any business you have to justify why we need to go back into the market to spend again.

He is a high pressing defensive winger. We now have Cunha and Rashford in the squad who have a higher technical ability in the attacking 3rd than him.

On top of that, it's currently a very bad market for buying clubs. People always want new signings, but you have to react to the market, the club is a business first and foremost.

 

[sp_cgb]

It seems like our season depends on Tielman, a player that missed 23 games, just last season. If he isn't fit, our midfield would have two kids with limited PL experience, to play 3 times a week for 90+ minutes every game.

If we actually count on Mount as that 4th midfielder, you'd basically have a whole midfield (Mount, Mainoo and Tielemans) with concerning injury records. With our luck, it's not inconceivable to envision a scenario when they're all out at some stage and we're having to resort to shunting Bruno back into midfield. That's the reality we could find ourselves in. We also have nobody, besides Santos seemingly, who is comfortable as the deepest midfielder. I don't think rocking up in a Champions League match with Mainoo/Tielemans as a pair is particularly ideal and we'll pay the price for that kind of imbalance eventually.

We need another midfielder. Not signing one is just negligence. Same goes for relying on Shaw at left-back.

 

[croadyman]

If we actually count on Mount as that 4th midfielder, you'd basically have a whole midfield (Mount, Mainoo and Tielemans) with concerning injury records. With our luck, it's not inconceivable to envision a scenario when they're all out at some stage and we're having to resort to shunting Bruno back into midfield. That's the reality we could find ourselves in. We also have nobody, besides Santos seemingly, who is comfortable as the deepest midfielder. I don't think rocking up in a Champions League match with Mainoo/Tielemans as a pair is particularly ideal and we'll pay the price for that kind of imbalance eventually.

We need another midfielder. Not signing one is just negligence. Same goes for relying on Shaw at left-back.

Yeah and blindingly obvious the profile required

 

[lex talionis]

If we actually count on Mount as that 4th midfielder, you'd basically have a whole midfield (Mount, Mainoo and Tielemans) with concerning injury records. With our luck, it's not inconceivable to envision a scenario when they're all out at some stage and we're having to resort to shunting Bruno back into midfield. That's the reality we could find ourselves in. We also have nobody, besides Santos seemingly, who is comfortable as the deepest midfielder. I don't think rocking up in a Champions League match with Mainoo/Tielemans as a pair is particularly ideal and we'll pay the price for that kind of imbalance eventually.

We need another midfielder. Not signing one is just negligence. Same goes for relying on Shaw at left-back.

We all agree that we need to be sure we have enough bodies to manage through an injury crisis. But in your estimation what kind of 6th midfielder (Bruno, Kobbie, Andrey, Yourt and Mason make it 5) should we be looking for?

A massive name like Tchouameni who walks right into the starting XI and probably cost 80-100m?
A solid squad man such like a Berge who would cost us probably 30m?

 

[croadyman]

We all agree that we need to be sure we have enough bodies to manage through an injury crisis. But in your estimation what kind of 6th midfielder (Bruno, Kobbie, Andrey, Yourt and Mason make it 5) should we be looking for?

A massive name like Tchouameni who walks right into the starting XI and probably cost 80-100m?
A solid squad man such like a Berge who would cost us probably 30m?

Whoever fits best with midfield Carrick is building even if it's not the glamour name which CAF often crave

 

[sp_cgb]

We all agree that we need to be sure we have enough bodies to manage through an injury crisis. But in your estimation what kind of 6th midfielder (Bruno, Kobbie, Andrey, Yourt and Mason make it 5) should we be looking for?

A massive name like Tchouameni who walks right into the starting XI and probably cost 80-100m?
A solid squad man such like a Berge who would cost us probably 30m?

First up, I wouldn't count Bruno and Mount among our midfield options at all. We saw from January onwards what Bruno is capable of, when he plays in his natural position. Playing him deeper out of some injury necessity, will ultimately deprive us of our most productive attacking asset and that makes it not even worth considering in my mind. Mount is whatever; three full 90min in three years speaks for itself. Having him as a backup from the bench at times is a bonus, but nothing more.

In terms of who to buy, you go for the best you can get of course. For that deep midfield role it's Tchouameni, or perhaps Camavinga. If it's just physicality, ground coverage and speed you're looking for, you go for Baleba, or Scott. If all of these are priced prohibitively, then you consider Berge, or Kone. Garner should be an option too, or perhaps even someone like Scalvini, especially with the ability to potentially cover three positions.

But the only correct answer here is: I don't know. Because I'm not a scout and I don't have all the information necessary to make a call. I don't know the exact fees required, the wage demands, availability, or how far United's budget stretches with or without the credit facility. We're supposed to have the best-in-class people in charge of our transfer business and it's their job to make sure we don't leave ourselves short and risk falling out of the Champions League spots again. They were lucky last season that Carrick came in and did so well. You'd think, considering how important consistent CL qualification is for the club, they would do everything in their power to absolutely make sure and make it watertight that we can make it year in, year out from now on. Because that's the only way out of this malaise and back into the upper echelons of European football. Where this club belongs.

 

[quadrant]

We all agree that we need to be sure we have enough bodies to manage through an injury crisis. But in your estimation what kind of 6th midfielder (Bruno, Kobbie, Andrey, Yourt and Mason make it 5) should we be looking for?

A massive name like Tchouameni who walks right into the starting XI and probably cost 80-100m?
A solid squad man such like a Berge who would cost us probably 30m?

I like where we're going with making passing the central feature of our midfield game, I wouldn't want a player like Tchouameni, who would be guaranteed to start and therefore would dictate our entire game. Don't know enough about Berge to say whether he's good enough but in terms of player profile at least, that would be ideal.

 

[croadyman]

I like where we're going with making passing the central feature of our midfield game, I wouldn't want a player like Tchouameni, who would be guaranteed to start and therefore would dictate our entire game. Don't know enough about Berge to say whether he's good enough but in terms of player profile at least, that would be ideal.

Yeah he does at least have the right profile

 

[Dominos]

A solid squad man such like a Berge who would cost us probably 30m?

PL clubs aren't selling their best players late in the window at a reasonable price just to do United a favour.

 

[Fahad Jawaid]

It starting to piss me off that every time we qualify for champions league the following summer we start penny pinching. Every target seems to be out of our reach or deal is looking difficult. Whereas you have clubs like Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, City (all teams we are competing with) all paying what is required to get the quality player in.

It reminds me of Arsenal from prior days where they were building their stadium and were happy with top 4 and their signings reflected that. It feels like we are also doing the same content on our current position. Plus we are trying to be moral winners this window. It was fine by walking away with few players whose prices were exaggerated. However, you can not keep sitting idle and not sign anyone with only two pre-season games remaining. Ideally you should have new players signed already integrated into the side. They are lucky Carrick is very forgiving, imagine working with Mourinho, Di Zerbi or Conte etc they would have put all the management and recruitment team under the bus by now.

Currently, we are a Santos injury away from having no defensive midfielder. Similarly knowing Shaw, the first time we play him twice in a week, he will go down and we would be left with wondering how we are in this situation using Dorgu/Maz as a LB, but then it will impact our LW cover (assuming Rashy is moved on).

We need a DM and LB and the top brass will have plenty of difficult questions to answer if we do not manage to bring these two signings. We probably need a cover for Sesko as well with Zhirkze moving.

 

[the_cliff]

PL clubs aren't selling their best players late in the window at a reasonable price just to do United a favour.

Yeah I don't get this.

For example Lewis Hall, if we were really in for him surely we'd be negotiating before they decided to sell 4 of their best players and got rid of their manager.

I don't buy the whole 'waiting for the right opportunity' the longer the window goes on the less opportunities there are. The only link we've had that I can actually think might make sense waiting on is if Rodri joins Madrid and Tchouameni becomes available.

Other than that potential signing I don't think we're getting anyone else tbh.

 

[Dominos]

Yeah I don't get this.

For example Lewis Hall, if we were really in for him surely we'd be negotiating before they decided to sell 4 of their best players and got rid of their manager.

I don't buy the whole 'waiting for the right opportunity' the longer the window goes on the less opportunities there are. The only link we've had that I can actually think might make sense waiting on is if Rodri joins Madrid and Tchouameni becomes available.

Other than that potential signing I don't think we're getting anyone else tbh.

Yes the only time waiting till the end of the window is beneficial for us is when the club are actively trying to sell a player but are being difficult on price. Maybe the Ugarte deal was an example of this that took all summer.

I have a feeling we're waiting on one of Tchouameni or Camavinga and have to wait on Rodri situation to resolve first, that's really the only rationale for why we're so painfully slow, it will soon be a month since the Tielemans deal and we've achieved nothing in that time.

But certainly the likes of Balaba, Berge, Adams, Scott - their price is only going up from this point as you're asking clubs to ruin their summer by unexpectedly selling a player late that they were expecting to keep.

 

[the_cliff]

Yes the only time waiting till the end of the window is beneficial for us is when the club are actively trying to sell a player but are being difficult on price. Maybe the Ugarte deal was an example of this that took all summer.

I have a feeling we're waiting on one of Tchouameni or Camavinga and have to wait on Rodri situation to resolve first, that's really the only rationale for why we're so painfully slow, it will soon be a month since the Tielemans deal and we've achieved nothing in that time.

But certainly the likes of Balaba, Berge, Adams, Scott - their price is only going up from this point as you're asking clubs to ruin their summer by unexpectedly selling a player late that they were expecting to keep.

I understand wanting to wait for Tchouameni in this instance as those alternatives don't look like they're worth it anyway. The annoying thing for me is the left back situation, we've got a net spend this season so far of like 30 max, maybe less than that ? Why not get a left back over the line as we know its needed.

 

[Nytram Shakes]

It seems like our season depends on Tielman, a player that missed 23 games, just last season. If he isn't fit, our midfield would have two kids with limited PL experience, to play 3 times a week for 90+ minutes every game.

Disagree, I think Tielman is back up for Mainoo, as him as those two togther would basically mean there was no real cover for the back 4. I think our season depends on whether Santos can step up and be a every week premier league DM.

 

[croadyman]

Disagree, I think Tielman is back up for Mainoo, as him as those two togther would basically mean there was no real cover for the back 4. I think our season depends on whether Santos can step up and be a every week premier league DM.

We still need that enforcer athletic DM too

 

[AgentP]

It’s become a pattern where we spend big when we finish out of top 4 and then become conservative in the market when we do. It shows a lack of ambition from the club. I was hoping this would change with INEOS but currently doesn’t look like it.

 

[croadyman]

It’s become a pattern where we spend big when we finish out of top 4 and then become conservative in the market when we do. It shows a lack of ambition from the club. I was hoping this would change with INEOS but currently doesn’t look like it.

Don't think they have a choice due to damage done

 

[DRJosh]

i think we might do a deadline day signing at the very best but my hunch is we’re consolidating what we have and trying to set a marker in terms of what we are willing to pay.

I think we’ll just about get by with the midfield options we have but that LB role needs sorting. We’re a couple of injuries away from playing academy graduates and hoping it all sticks.

I’m almost certain that this club (under this ownership and at this very moment in time) is happy with simply being in the Champion’s league but not necessarily competing for the main prize. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[SuperiorXI]

It’s become a pattern where we spend big when we finish out of top 4 and then become conservative in the market when we do. It shows a lack of ambition from the club. I was hoping this would change with INEOS but currently doesn’t look like it.

Can't blame them with some of the deals flying around. Market is insane. Some of the fees being paid ought to be criminally investigated.

 

[Dominos]

It’s become a pattern where we spend big when we finish out of top 4 and then become conservative in the market when we do. It shows a lack of ambition from the club. I was hoping this would change with INEOS but currently doesn’t look like it.

The most frustrating thing about this even if it's true, that they're happy with top 4 and not bothered about winning the league - it's their failure to realise you still have to spend to keep your top 4 place safe.

If they're desperate enough to spend to get us into the top 4 because they want the CL revenue, they should be desperate enough to spend to make sure we stay there.

 

[KStandBarmyArmy1993]

It’s become a pattern where we spend big when we finish out of top 4 and then become conservative in the market when we do. It shows a lack of ambition from the club. I was hoping this would change with INEOS but currently doesn’t look like it.

Outside the Covid summer in 2020, there's only been one summer where we've been "conservative in the market" following qualifying for the Champions League. That was 2018.

We spent £150 million+ in 2023 (granted, the players we signed weren't particularly great but...)
In 2021, we signed Ronaldo, Varane and Sancho.
In 2017, Lukaku and Matic came in for significant transfer fees and then we signed Sanchez a few months later.
In 2015, we signed Depay, Martial, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin alongside cheaper/free signings in Romero and Darmian.

We've spent big in the past and for the most part, it's been a failure.

I'm also still yet to be fully convinced by anyone else's moves this summer. Only really Arsenal look like they're settled and that they can properly compete at the highest level.

 

[croadyman]

i think we might do a deadline day signing at the very best but my hunch is we’re consolidating what we have and trying to set a marker in terms of what we are willing to pay.

I think we’ll just about get by with the midfield options we have but that LB role needs sorting. We’re a couple of injuries away from playing academy graduates and hoping it all sticks.

I’m almost certain that this club (under this ownership and at this very moment in time) is happy with simply being in the Champion’s league but not necessarily competing for the main prize. I hope I’m wrong.

We haven't got the financial muscle for compete for the two biggest trophies and that's the brutal truth

 

[Pickle85]

We haven't got the financial muscle for compete for the two biggest trophies and that's the brutal truth

You are so fecking depressing. Please please please change the record. Or at least start a thread called 'We don't have the financial muscle to compete and Ineos are useless' so you can post the same thing over and over again in there instead of every other thread open.

 

[croadyman]

You are so fecking depressing. Please please please change the record. Or at least start a thread called 'We don't have the financial muscle to compete and Ineos are useless' so you can post the same thing over and over again in there instead of every other thread open.

That's actually not a bad idea, cheers

 

[maximus419]

It’s become a pattern where we spend big when we finish out of top 4 and then become conservative in the market when we do. It shows a lack of ambition from the club. I was hoping this would change with INEOS but currently doesn’t look like it.

Its the mindset of business owners in general. Invest to improve but once you see the investment paying off, (in the form of getting CL), I guess in their minds that's when you stop investment or at best do enough to stand still. Its a flawed logic, especially when you say the intention is to win the league, but that's what happens when you have money and revenue dictating everything. Very few clubs operate any different in truth, it just seems worse at Utd due to the debt and poor transfer dealings of the past.

 

[Shakesy]

It starting to piss me off that every time we qualify for champions league the following summer we start penny pinching. Every target seems to be out of our reach or deal is looking difficult. Whereas you have clubs like Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, City (all teams we are competing with) all paying what is required to get the quality player in.

It reminds me of Arsenal from prior days where they were building their stadium and were happy with top 4 and their signings reflected that. It feels like we are also doing the same content on our current position. Plus we are trying to be moral winners this window. It was fine by walking away with few players whose prices were exaggerated. However, you can not keep sitting idle and not sign anyone with only two pre-season games remaining. Ideally you should have new players signed already integrated into the side. They are lucky Carrick is very forgiving, imagine working with Mourinho, Di Zerbi or Conte etc they would have put all the management and recruitment team under the bus by now.

Currently, we are a Santos injury away from having no defensive midfielder. Similarly knowing Shaw, the first time we play him twice in a week, he will go down and we would be left with wondering how we are in this situation using Dorgu/Maz as a LB, but then it will impact our LW cover (assuming Rashy is moved on).

We need a DM and LB and the top brass will have plenty of difficult questions to answer if we do not manage to bring these two signings. We probably need a cover for Sesko as well with Zhirkze moving.

I've recently seen this pop up frequently. Is it indeed a fact?

 

[Shakesy]

Outside the Covid summer in 2020, there's only been one summer where we've been "conservative in the market" following qualifying for the Champions League. That was 2018.

We spent £150 million+ in 2023 (granted, the players we signed weren't particularly great but...)
In 2021, we signed Ronaldo, Varane and Sancho.
In 2017, Lukaku and Matic came in for significant transfer fees and then we signed Sanchez a few months later.
In 2015, we signed Depay, Martial, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin alongside cheaper/free signings in Romero and Darmian.

We've spent big in the past and for the most part, it's been a failure.

I'm also still yet to be fully convinced by anyone else's moves this summer. Only really Arsenal look like they're settled and that they can properly compete at the highest level.

Ah, that answers it then. It's just a fallacy being propagated.

 

[Steve 007]

I do think the midfield will hold for this season, Santos is essentially replacing Casemiro, and Tielemans is a quality addition for extra competitions. We'll have more Mainoo, and possibly a little more Mount. We spent very little and managed a tricky situation quite well.

But we needed strengthening in other areas too, and while we may just scrape by into CL next season, unless we don't make quality moves now, we're in trouble for the next window.

We'll quickly need a new starting LB; more CBS to replace the injury-prone and aging trio of Maguire, De Ligt, and Martinez; a Bruno replacement; a direct, beats-his-man left winger; and a capable second striker. All of this just to stay in the CL the next season, not compete for top honors.

The good news is - despite what it may seem like - our rivals are not improving as much as well. Arsenal are only getting Guimares (hopefully no Vini). Liverpool have a new manager but haven't replaced Salah, and are a top heavy side with a crisis in defense. City have lost their magic with Pep gone and are replacing Rodri/Silva with Anderson alone (they already preplanned their business with Cherki and Semenyo). Villa have just replaced Rogers and Tielemans with Manzambi and Homes.

The only sides to have actually moved forward a lot are Spurs and Chelsea. Both of whom have new untested managers and were starting with poorer squads than ours. That being said, they've really moved forward.

Chelsea look good for a CL run - Quenda, Rogers, Lacroix, Pelestra, Barco in and only Santos, Cucurella out, plus Alonso is a much much better coach than Rosenior.

Spurs - the story of the summer - have a fantastic manager in De Zerbi, and may have just bought themselves a CL place with good players returning from injury and additions in Fernandes, Tonali, Van Hecke, Senesi, and possibly Gakpo. Incredible window, and the cost of it will soon be forgotten for the returns it generates.

As things stand - two of us, Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea, and Spurs are going to lose out on CL next year, and it's gets more difficult the summer after. Let's hope Carrick can keep delivering his magic.

I think what you have said holds a lot of truth.

Liverpool are a shambles, it doesn’t matter who the manager is their defence is going to concede a bucket load. They have too much to do in one window and spent all the money last year.

Spurs are not top four. The rebuild in midfield and defence is good but Gapko isn’t enough in attack, top 8 maybe.

Villa are significantly weakened. Gernacho replacing Rodger’s is a shocking piece of business.

Rodger’s to Chelsea is good business, the reality is though that most of Chelsea’s business is just spending money to spend money, they already have a good squad, they are just replacing like tor like. Is Welbeck better than Jackson. I think not.

Arsenal are nailed on favourites. They are improving.

City are second favs but I’ll say it again, no Pep factor. It could be Utd mark two, unlikely with the squad.

We should be attacking the market and trying to get that advantage, if for any reason Arsenal have a dip/ fall then any other team could win the league. Unless we sign some players City/ Chelsea could be beneficiaries. I really do hope the club are working on stuff and we will all eat humble pie.

 

[croadyman]

Its the mindset of business owners in general. Invest to improve but once you see the investment paying off, (in the form of getting CL), I guess in their minds that's when you stop investment or at best do enough to stand still. Its a flawed logic, especially when you say the intention is to win the league, but that's what happens when you have money and revenue dictating everything. Very few clubs operate any different in truth, it just seems worse at Utd due to the debt and poor transfer dealings of the past.

Yeah the debt and poor dealings are hurting us now right when we needed to be in position to take advantage

 

[CG1010]

I do think the midfield will hold for this season, Santos is essentially replacing Casemiro, and Tielemans is a quality addition for extra competitions. We'll have more Mainoo, and possibly a little more Mount. We spent very little and managed a tricky situation quite well.

But we needed strengthening in other areas too, and while we may just scrape by into CL next season, unless we don't make quality moves now, we're in trouble for the next window.

We'll quickly need a new starting LB; more CBS to replace the injury-prone and aging trio of Maguire, De Ligt, and Martinez; a Bruno replacement; a direct, beats-his-man left winger; and a capable second striker. All of this just to stay in the CL the next season, not compete for top honors.

The good news is - despite what it may seem like - our rivals are not improving as much as well. Arsenal are only getting Guimares (hopefully no Vini). Liverpool have a new manager but haven't replaced Salah, and are a top heavy side with a crisis in defense. City have lost their magic with Pep gone and are replacing Rodri/Silva with Anderson alone (they already preplanned their business with Cherki and Semenyo). Villa have just replaced Rogers and Tielemans with Manzambi and Homes.

The only sides to have actually moved forward a lot are Spurs and Chelsea. Both of whom have new untested managers and were starting with poorer squads than ours. That being said, they've really moved forward.

Chelsea look good for a CL run - Quenda, Rogers, Lacroix, Pelestra, Barco in and only Santos, Cucurella out, plus Alonso is a much much better coach than Rosenior.

Spurs - the story of the summer - have a fantastic manager in De Zerbi, and may have just bought themselves a CL place with good players returning from injury and additions in Fernandes, Tonali, Van Hecke, Senesi, and possibly Gakpo. Incredible window, and the cost of it will soon be forgotten for the returns it generates.

As things stand - two of us, Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea, and Spurs are going to lose out on CL next year, and it's gets more difficult the summer after. Let's hope Carrick can keep delivering his magic.

I won't be as sanguine in the midfield as you. We lack defensive capabilities and depth, which means we too much reliance on likes of Santos who may not be ready for this role.

In the past we have kept making this mistake of not addressing a problem area fully, leaving gaps to be filled later. It creates two problems: (i) we leave a lot of players needed every window; (ii) the new players we get (in this case Santos and Tielemans) would be part of imbalanced, and start getting dragged down themselves. I thought we learnt the right lesson by "no half measures" strategy in attack last year. So I hope we dont revert back and lose the opportunity to complete a fantastic midfield rebuild. I do think we have got two excellent players that complement with Mainoo so we just need to get that final piece of midfield jigsaw.

LB / CF / LW can be second priority if we have funds and available targets, and if not then it can be pushed to next window. This season could be where our attack and midfield matures.

 

[swooshboy]

You are so fecking depressing. Please please please change the record. Or at least start a thread called 'We don't have the financial muscle to compete and Ineos are useless' so you can post the same thing over and over again in there instead of every other thread open.

Agreed - one of the very few posters I have out on ignore since I’ve been here as every single post has the same depressing “what’s the point” tone to it.

Have no idea why people like that even watch football or follow a team as it seems to bring absolutely no pleasure to them!

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Agreed - one of the very few posters I have out on ignore since I’ve been here as every single post has the same depressing “what’s the point” tone to it.

Have no idea why people like that even watch football or follow a team as it seems to bring absolutely no pleasure to them!

Not sure about the watching football part because i don’t see posts from them when the transfer season is done.

 

[RedRover]

Yeah I don't get this.

For example Lewis Hall, if we were really in for him surely we'd be negotiating before they decided to sell 4 of their best players and got rid of their manager.

I don't buy the whole 'waiting for the right opportunity' the longer the window goes on the less opportunities there are. The only link we've had that I can actually think might make sense waiting on is if Rodri joins Madrid and Tchouameni becomes available.

Other than that potential signing I don't think we're getting anyone else tbh.

It's obvious we don't have the money to spend on these players.

Newcastle were always going to ask for big money for Hall, whoever left and United wont spend £70 million on a left back. Fans patting the club on the back for not getting involved in a bidding war and "overpaying". That's fine if you get alternatives who are at the right level but every club is trying to do that. Top players cost top money and generally, teh teams with the top players finish higher.

Santos is a risk, and it might pay off but it's far from a certainty. Tielemans is shrewd business but he's only an option because of the fee given his age profile, it's not a genius transfer decision.

The squad isn't better than it was last season and Carrick will carry the can when league form drops off because of the obvious lack of quality depth.

United want to perform like a top 4 club spending top 10 money based on this summer, so far at least. The longer it goes on the more you pay for players and the more you slide down your list of targets until you're buying players who are most likely to be players you're sending out on loan or trying to move on in 18 months.