He better have something up his sleeve.
7 CBs and only one CM is proven quality.
Cnut!
7 CBs and only one CM is proven quality.
Cnut!
Ed Woodward 2019 - Until all Arctic ice melts edition
- Thread starter fallengt
- Start date
My question would be, if Dybala was just grasping at opportunity and if we have never been in for Bruno Fernandes, then what are we currently working on or should we have been working on?
I cannot look at that midfield and think the manager is satisfied with that. We’ve lost two of our best three midfielders from last season and not replaced them. Longstaff looks like he could be as much paper talk as Bruno Fernandes, and has not even played a dozen top flight matches regardless. We can’t be this blind can we?
I cannot look at that midfield and think the manager is satisfied with that. We’ve lost two of our best three midfielders from last season and not replaced them. Longstaff looks like he could be as much paper talk as Bruno Fernandes, and has not even played a dozen top flight matches regardless. We can’t be this blind can we?
Woodward summed up in one weekend: bid for one player, get somewhat nowhere near the same quality, age or what we need. and spend five weeks haggling over Maguire's price only to pay exactly what was first asked but 10 minutes before the season start (followed, no doubt, by the Fernandes talks falling apart). He has to go. until he does, we are fecked
The guy is an absolute fekkin idiot. How on earth do you get to a stage where you negotiate with a club for a player without even asking the question of the agent in these supposed meetings in London does he want to play for the club or if we offer X would he sign. It looks absolute amateur hour once again from this guy.
For a change, I’m inclined to agree with the general criticism.
Less than a week to go and we’ve improved right back and centre half. That’s great, but we haven’t replaced Herrera (who was a very good option) and we haven’t bought a dynamic attacker that will help ease the goalscoring burden on Rashford and Martial.
We needed a forward and at least one midfielder this summer and it doesn’t look like we’re going to sign one. We’re still only an injury away from Ashley Young at full back, something that has been fecking me off for about three years now.
There’s more to Ed Woodward’s job than signings players. People tend not to realise that. But we needed a good summer and, as it stands, we’ve improved the defence but completely failed to bring in quality further up the pitch.
I also have this nagging feeling that Pogba gets flogged before September. If that happens then I’ll want this fella on a spike.
Less than a week to go and we’ve improved right back and centre half. That’s great, but we haven’t replaced Herrera (who was a very good option) and we haven’t bought a dynamic attacker that will help ease the goalscoring burden on Rashford and Martial.
We needed a forward and at least one midfielder this summer and it doesn’t look like we’re going to sign one. We’re still only an injury away from Ashley Young at full back, something that has been fecking me off for about three years now.
There’s more to Ed Woodward’s job than signings players. People tend not to realise that. But we needed a good summer and, as it stands, we’ve improved the defence but completely failed to bring in quality further up the pitch.
I also have this nagging feeling that Pogba gets flogged before September. If that happens then I’ll want this fella on a spike.
Woody is laughing all the way to the Glazers back pocket, apparently Ole has suggested he can sell Laukaku and buy no one as there are academy players available.
Seriously, apart from what look like burner accounts of the Glazers who.praise no matter what, this shows just how poor Woody and Judge are in transfer negotiations. As I said before, I listen to Talking Sport occasionally as its broadcast live here in Sydney after Midnight our time. Players and broadcasters are scornful of Woodward and the way he has let the club decline with poor decisions and hopeless transfer forays.
At least as they show EPL on some random streaming service rather than broadcast on PayTV or similar here, we can at least be spared the feeling of despair watching games live. Thanks Glazers and Woody , you,have taken a fair bit of pleasure out of the sporting interest of so many.
Seriously, apart from what look like burner accounts of the Glazers who.praise no matter what, this shows just how poor Woody and Judge are in transfer negotiations. As I said before, I listen to Talking Sport occasionally as its broadcast live here in Sydney after Midnight our time. Players and broadcasters are scornful of Woodward and the way he has let the club decline with poor decisions and hopeless transfer forays.
At least as they show EPL on some random streaming service rather than broadcast on PayTV or similar here, we can at least be spared the feeling of despair watching games live. Thanks Glazers and Woody , you,have taken a fair bit of pleasure out of the sporting interest of so many.
Posted earlier in the thread that this is a standard summer for us. Two or three signing and a couple of muppet fantasies, fuelled by agents/other clubs that never get across the line. We’ve seen it umpteen times before, including seasons long before Woodward took over.
Having said that, it’s kind of remarkable that the one and only successful player sale he negotiated (Fellaini) is an area of the pitch where we lost someone else on a free (Hererra) and the best of the rest wants to leave (and has a proven track record of downing tools when he’s in a mood).
The fact we’re potentially starting the season with such an obvious deficiency in midfield after spunking 85m to sign our SIXTH first team centre-back is kind of astonishing.
Having said that, it’s kind of remarkable that the one and only successful player sale he negotiated (Fellaini) is an area of the pitch where we lost someone else on a free (Hererra) and the best of the rest wants to leave (and has a proven track record of downing tools when he’s in a mood).
The fact we’re potentially starting the season with such an obvious deficiency in midfield after spunking 85m to sign our SIXTH first team centre-back is kind of astonishing.
Zero sales and signings have been very few and far between. Buying positions that should have been bought here 2 years ago and claiming a moral victory on the Dybala case is pathetic. He is such an incapable CEO.
Seven. Maguire, Lindelof, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Jones, Bailly and Rojo.
Fair enough if you didn't include Tuanzebe, but given the game time he's been getting during the pre season and the fact that we haven't loaned him out yet, are probably indicative of him being a first team center back.
This hahaha
It looks like me managing a squad in a sport I've never heard of (cricket/baseball)
It's a case study to bring in some university in a sport management course, it should be on the books
CB was a area where we needed to strengthen. We conceded 54 goals last year.
He reminds me of David Davis. A stupid smile to mask sheer incompetence.
He should be fired and used as a training ball for shooting practice if he allows us to enter the season with the midfield we have without replacing Ander with Bruno Fernandes.
It's well known to build any successful side you must start from the back. Ferguson had this mantra. Theres no point having a great midfield and forward line if your back like is shipping goals for fun.
So hopefully Ole has got that now. You are not going to fix all problems in one window and you cant have a shed load of new players. On the main it does not work.
However we do need something in the middle a player to protect the back four of a high level along the lines of Kante. It may not be this window.
Woodward also always pulls off a "out of no where signing "when player not even linked or expected eg Martial or Falcao. I am sure he will have one of those too. Neymar or Bale knowing him.
So hopefully Ole has got that now. You are not going to fix all problems in one window and you cant have a shed load of new players. On the main it does not work.
However we do need something in the middle a player to protect the back four of a high level along the lines of Kante. It may not be this window.
Woodward also always pulls off a "out of no where signing "when player not even linked or expected eg Martial or Falcao. I am sure he will have one of those too. Neymar or Bale knowing him.
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Agree on the weirdness of that we doesnt seem to have focused so much on the midfield issue.
That said: not so worried about us having to many CBs around at this particular moment.
Even if the early closage of the PL-window is a bad thing in general, there is the positive side that you can wait until 8th of August and then decide what fringe players need/can go. The Bailly-injury probably means that we will keep another CB around for example.
I am presuming that we are not selling a key player like Pogba now or even worse after the 8th, so our core squad will be set by then.
So there is no need to be worked up about that now, the squad-size will be trimmed after the 8th depending on/if any players we get in. Its not bad transfer management at all IMO now when things look as they do with the different windows.
It's up to the manager to highlight the targets for Matt Judge to then discuss signing.
Longstaff is the only other CM we've been linked with other than Bruno who Ole never wanted.
Hi bud.We dont really know what's gone on in relation to Maguire..Its reported.But realistically there has been 3 bids.Maybe a couple of meetings.Always these sort of transfers go this way.Leicester are said to have want 90million.So who do you believe.
What we do know is Manchester United have never bid for Bruno Fernandes.
Their 2 completely different players, but OK.
Your also ignoring the most obviously facet.
It was Ole's decisions, he was never wanted by Ole.
But yeah... #Edsfault.
Reality is, we were never going to address all key areas in a single summer.
There's lots of positive work being done around the club, but I'll only be shouted down and have abuse hurled at me for daring to try be positive.
Midfield is the concern of course but again, folks don't generally want to apply logic and look at the market and admit its extremely difficult to do business.
Most PL teams are in a position now where they don't have to sell to buy, they are all fairly cash rich and there are stupid fees being quoted from all clubs, like this morning... Leicester want Ake to replace Harry, being quoted at 70m!
Reality is we've arguably had the best transfer window of any premier league club but you've still got folks having temper tantrums.
If folks just chilled the feck out and applied some context to proceedings like this they realize we've actually had a pretty damn good window.
But because we didn't get Bruno who I'm absolutely certain 99% of our supporters have never seen they are having an absolute wobbler!!
There's lots of positive work being done around the club, but I'll only be shouted down and have abuse hurled at me for daring to try be positive.
- CB & RB have been addressed. Our defence looks far more solid than it did last summer.
- Up front we've added James who gives us pace and more importantly work rate. Something seriously, seriously lacking under Jose.
- To bring even more work rate and pace to the front line we've quite a few youth options to slowly integrate as well in Chong, Gomes and Greenwood.
- We've improved our playing style with a high press and its paying off already it seems.
- Improved fitness as well which was badly needed due to all our recent injuries at the back end of the season.
- Former coaches who worked directly with Fergie for years have been rehired.
- There is a clear plan in place and we are not allowing the club to be bullied by players in or outside of the club when it comes to transfers
Midfield is the concern of course but again, folks don't generally want to apply logic and look at the market and admit its extremely difficult to do business.
Most PL teams are in a position now where they don't have to sell to buy, they are all fairly cash rich and there are stupid fees being quoted from all clubs, like this morning... Leicester want Ake to replace Harry, being quoted at 70m!
Reality is we've arguably had the best transfer window of any premier league club but you've still got folks having temper tantrums.
- Man City - Desperate to sign a CB. Pep admitted yesterday they wanted Maguire but couldn't spend to get him. BTW something not commonly known is City are £300m in debt with deferred payments, which are due for payment next summer, might explain why they aren't spending wildly. They've only added Rodri.
- Liverpool - Added 1 kid, for approx £1m. They've had a single season where they spent more than usual, last year and normal service has resumed. No funds to be had for Klopp.
- Chelsea - Lost the manager, but more importantly their best player in Hazard and can't recruit and gone the exact same route as us hiring a former player who is focusing on youth!
- Arsenal - in one word are fecked! They are going into the season with relying on Holding, Mustafi and Sokratis. Added 1 player, Pepe.
- Spurs - Poch is seriously pissed it seems and went all Jose during the week due to lack of investment. They've also lost players and are due to lose Toby & Eriksen within a year and neither have committed nor been replaced really. Again just the single signing.
If folks just chilled the feck out and applied some context to proceedings like this they realize we've actually had a pretty damn good window.
But because we didn't get Bruno who I'm absolutely certain 99% of our supporters have never seen they are having an absolute wobbler!!
We could have done without the extension of certain players, it would have given a moral boost to the fans at least.
So about that statue guys...
Bruno Fernandes has categorically said he wants to play in England. Spurs signed Ddombele and maybe Lo Celso. It's as hard as you make it.
Liverpool and City already have top European teams. Chelsea have a transfer ban. Considering how dismal we were last season we have the most ground to make up and have effectively lost 3 midfielders as Matic is done. This is negligence
What's done is done and my own personal stance on certain players getting extension is, that its as much on Jose as it is the board.
If Jose demands Fellaini gets a new deal, what's the board to do?
A) Refuse it
B) Deliver it.
If your answering option A, Then your going to spin the "Jose was over ruled" rubbish. Blame the board
If your answering option B, then is it not on Jose? But the go to blame is always Ed's fault cause he signs the deal, but remember...he has to be seen to be supporting his manager.
When we think about Smalling, Jones & Young. Jose preferred all 3 over his own investments quite often. Smalling got his new deal here with Jose as manager. Jones and Young followed shortly after he left, which suggests to me talks had been on going for quite sometime already and arguably too far gone for the club to do a u-turn at that point.
Flip side as well is the auld chestnut that we lose out when selling players far too often. We sell too cheaply. By renewing deals it means we can demand a bigger fee.
It's not as easy as the football know it all's in here and across social media like to make out.
I don't doubt he said that, but if he's as good as everyone thinks and so easily to sign up as you and many other suggest... Why haven't any other English sides signed him up?
At best there was some minor rumors of Liverpool being interested and about a single day of Spurs considering it. Perhaps there is a lot more to doing this deal than we know? More importantly for me, Bruno doesn't address key issues in our team. We need a holding MF, not an attacking CM. We have Pogba for that and it wouldn't work most likely.
So, would it not be more negligible of the club to spend big again on a player that would unbalance the team?
Finally, you basically prove my point. All the other clubs have had terrible windows!
I'm not arguing the fact that Liverpool and City are better than us, that isn't the point. I'm highlighting the fact that the market is extremely volatile currently and very difficult to do business in.
Spurs have had a terrible window, Poch lost the plot this week in a rant eerily familiar to Jose's last summer.
Klopp has been given nothing. That's a huge mistake by Liverpool not building on what they have already. Almost all Liverpool supporters I know are extremely unhappy with this decision.
Honestly I don't give a shit about other clubs. Why are you using them to somehow reassure yourself we are ok ? I'm only concerned about United and so far it's been underwhelming in regards to the changes needed and most importanly, in regards to what was promised
The Fernandes thing was always weird. We are stacked with offensive midfielders and its far from certain how Fernandes would do here to begin with.
Why we dont seem to more in for a much more defensive-oriented midfielder this summer is beyond me. At least as a stop-gap. A Matuidi or Javi Martinez that are being phased out at their clubs but still would do well here and take the load/minutes of Matic who will (even if he shouldnt and that issue should have been addressed by Mourinho) will play a lot this year again.
How that is on Woodward I dont see though. Its such a weird conclusion to draw. If we are not getting a DM in this summer its because OGS and his team has not wanted one or that the one or two targets that we might have had were unavailable.
I am leaning towards the latter if we are speculating. If we can deduce anything from this window so far its that the club has gone for proven PL-players in Wan-Bissaka and Maguire that will slot right into the team and improve us. And we have paid over the odds for them. Money is obviously not the issue.
Its a completely different approach than we have taken before in the transfer market under Woodward which for me proves that the club is still trying to accomplish what the manager wants. Whoever that is at the moment.
Everything football-related that Woodward has touched in the last 6 years has turned to shite.
There's a lesson in there somewhere for the Glazers, if they cared to see it...
There's a lesson in there somewhere for the Glazers, if they cared to see it...
It's called context mate.
We operate in the same football world as all other clubs. We have to deal with the same *hit show transfer windows they do and all told, we've just had a damn good window if were honest and...its not quite over yet. There could well be a final signing before Thursday, who knows.
If we add context and compare ourselves to our rivals we have had a better window then any of them.
The Glazer / Ed hating kind can't apply rational thought though.
PS I don't need to create things to reassure myself. I trust Ole and Mike and the board are clearly supporting their ideals.
As another poster asked on here recently I do wonder what folks will piss, moan and sulk about now that Ole has been backed in terms of his ideals, money clearly spent and a plan in place.
Disagree. We have seen Real and Barca sign players comfortably. It is hard for City to make improvements. Liverpool with their 97pts and CL are only requiring squad players. If it ain't broke and all.
Pogba being our only creative outlet is negligence. Literally man mark him or he gets injured and we play like West Ham. Bruno would be workable.
Sorry who are these offensive midfielders?
We will see how it all unfolds, on paper we have made progress with the squad but there are no guarantees it will translate well on the pitch. O
rivals haven't needed to improve as much as us so of course in order to reduce, we had to have had a better transfer window on paper. It is not like we beat them for certain players. Our needs and theirs are different. Their managers are much more established while ours is still a noob at this level.
Ed should have the balls to hold his hands up and say I am not competent to run the football side of this club. It took this moron almost 2 months to negotiate the Maguire deal and we paid what they were asking for from the outset.
No midfielders delivered. No deadwood shifted.
F8ck off Ed you are killing our club
No midfielders delivered. No deadwood shifted.
F8ck off Ed you are killing our club
Ed Woodward is absolutely crap when it comes to football. I just do not understand how you can have a commercial man incharge of football related activities at the biggest club.
Makes 0 sense.
This is shown by the decisions made. Signing a CB a year later does not cover the cracks.
Makes 0 sense.
This is shown by the decisions made. Signing a CB a year later does not cover the cracks.
Exactly. Look how other clubs shift deadwood.
Man City just shifter Danilo plus 30m Euros for Cancelo.
We have been looking to sell Darmian for years now.
I said it before in a different thread, I think probably would be the last of our business, and no Herrera/Afro man replacement, not upgrade on Matic, no right wing..
If we sell Lukaku, and not get a replacement, the backlash would be crazy! Look at our official Instagram account, all the comments are negative about the club/signings.
In a way, maybe us not making any further signings is a blessing in disguise, and the backlash would force Ed to tire a dof but that’s just wishful thinking.
It’s crazy how a massive club like us being operated this way..
If we sell Lukaku, and not get a replacement, the backlash would be crazy! Look at our official Instagram account, all the comments are negative about the club/signings.
In a way, maybe us not making any further signings is a blessing in disguise, and the backlash would force Ed to tire a dof but that’s just wishful thinking.
It’s crazy how a massive club like us being operated this way..
That's absolute rubbish about Real
We've largely out spent real in 3 of the last 5 windows mate. Also I'm absolutely certain Real chased Hazard for at least 2 seasons before finally landing him this summer, but the narrative spun is that they got him within a day. Pretty sure Barca are having a bit of a drama over Greizmann as well. They got him but it was far from easy. Point remains, City want and need a replacement for Kompany. They haven't been able to replace this summer.
So again, its only instant gratification sorts that live in some kind of fantasy football / fifa world where they thought all our problems were magically going to vanish this summer.
Not a defender of Woodward at all but some of you need to get your expectations in check if you thought we were going to buy a whole new team this summer. For once we've bought well, so far. One more midfielder and you really can't ask for more in one window.
All of our midfielders except Matic are No8s or No10s. That includes McTominay and Fred. Plus Mata and Lingard. Plus a player like Gomes if he will make the squad or not. Our midfield squad is severely unbalanced towards the offensive side. We have lost the two players in Fellaini and Herrera that could play more of DM-role. The lack of a real DM-signing is my major problem with this window so far. It will mean Matic playing the entire season again.
Woody is showing that him and the glazers have to go if we want the glory days back. We seem to go into almost every season lacking the transfers we needed. It's so shambolic from such a big club.
I've never liked Ed Woodward. But he's got it right since January and spent wisely in the transfer window.
Does that make up for years of mismanagement. No. Would I like to see him replaced with someone more competent. Yes.
Regardless, we're finally on the right path.
Does that make up for years of mismanagement. No. Would I like to see him replaced with someone more competent. Yes.
Regardless, we're finally on the right path.
I think for a club our size we can. We've lost Fellaini, Herrera and soon Lukaku. With Matic past it we'd probably need 2 more midfielders.