Not sure. Was there any other season where we went into the start of the campaign knowing our squad was weaker than it had been the previous season? Normally we can at least kid ourselves that it has improved.
Have we signed anyone yet? | Yes, with stupid tax
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There should be a documentary incoming on how badly run a multi billion organisation can truly be run despite having all the time and resources to make good decisions. One might think Manchester United was run by Scousers looking at those signings.
Just saw Pato trending on twitter and thought has to be us. Wasn't but right now I'd take him
The people running our recruitment are absolutely clowns, but I wouldn't absolve ETH of all blame for this transfer window to be honest.
It's been reported that we've basically scrapped the clubs targets and for all intents and purposes ETH is picking the players, which is backed up by the attempts to sign De Jong/Eriksen/Timber/Martinez/Anthony. We really needed a more balanced approach, you can't be signing players that the manager is strongly against but at the same time you can't give a new manager a free reign to pick whoever he likes.
- He's prioritised left back over right back for some reason. Replacing Dalot/AWB with a competent full back should have been one of the priorities.
- We've only targeted De Jong to improve midfield and seem to have no interest in signing a partner for him. The first thing you'd do as a new manager surely is sign 2 CM's so you don't have to start Fred or Mctominay. I can live with the drawn out De Jong saga but he shouldn't be the only midfielder signed, it should be De Jong + 1.
- We've targeted players who for whatever reason are very difficult to obtain and not moved on to secondary targets. Ajax asked for ridiculous fee for Anthony because they didn't want to sell, and De Jong still hasn't made up his mind on whether he'll actually join. You can't blame the club for factors outside of their control.
- Our targets seem to consist primarily of Ten Hag's ex-players and Eredivisie players which surely can't be the correct way for a elite club to operate.
- I'm not convinced Martinez will be a long term first choice centre back for us which to be fair remains to be seen.
It's been reported that we've basically scrapped the clubs targets and for all intents and purposes ETH is picking the players, which is backed up by the attempts to sign De Jong/Eriksen/Timber/Martinez/Anthony. We really needed a more balanced approach, you can't be signing players that the manager is strongly against but at the same time you can't give a new manager a free reign to pick whoever he likes.
- He's prioritised left back over right back for some reason. Replacing Dalot/AWB with a competent full back should have been one of the priorities.
- We've only targeted De Jong to improve midfield and seem to have no interest in signing a partner for him. The first thing you'd do as a new manager surely is sign 2 CM's so you don't have to start Fred or Mctominay. I can live with the drawn out De Jong saga but he shouldn't be the only midfielder signed, it should be De Jong + 1.
- We've targeted players who for whatever reason are very difficult to obtain and not moved on to secondary targets. Ajax asked for ridiculous fee for Anthony because they didn't want to sell, and De Jong still hasn't made up his mind on whether he'll actually join. You can't blame the club for factors outside of their control.
- Our targets seem to consist primarily of Ten Hag's ex-players and Eredivisie players which surely can't be the correct way for a elite club to operate.
- I'm not convinced Martinez will be a long term first choice centre back for us which to be fair remains to be seen.
Most infuriating thing about this transfer window for me is how predictable it was
Even by late May, you could tell nothing was happening and it would be underwhelming. They had plenty of time to get it right but they didn't and it was obvious that they wouldn't
Even by late May, you could tell nothing was happening and it would be underwhelming. They had plenty of time to get it right but they didn't and it was obvious that they wouldn't
Seems obvious now that EtH has been told we can only go for budget signings to fill the squad.
It has been a bit of a mess. Once again no real game plan
Serious questions need to be asked if these bids are true, because it means they were happy with the squad and now they are panicking, did these turds not watch us last season? Klopp finished 2nd with Joe Allen ffs it doesn't mean shit particularly in the context that it happened.
Peak Joe Allen would improve us.
Doesn't say a lot does it, Fellaini would improve that midfield he still isn't a good player.
Edit: At least panic with Aubameyang or something, fecking Arnautovic!? We are done boys the rot has completely set in.
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Called this transfer window a shitshow in June, don't know how to describe it now.
I got an official warning for that sort of "negativity" (prior to that I didn't even now such a thing existed on football forums...)
I got told in early June to relax and come back in August...
It's August and it's exactly where I expected United to be. Short, struggling and panic buying.
Early birds always get the worm. Just look at the teams better than us in the league, their key business was done a long time ago
I have boarded the panic train now.
I think the Moyes one was a worse window, but we had a far stronger squad back then.
Walk up to first class and shout at Murtough for us.
If we ever get our club back from these parasites, one of the first rules brought in by the new owners should be a self imposed hard transfer deadline of the day before the squad leaves on preseason tour.
I think this is the worst. We’ve lost several players who were part of the first team squad, even if not ones I was particularly unhappy to see go, and only Eriksen has really come in to replace any of them. Our only other signings so far have been in positions which I wouldn’t have regarded as a priority. The fact we are now trying to panic-buy a CF, when it was obvious we needed one anyway, just shows that there’s no real understanding of the level of signings needed.
I wonder if this was clear to him before he chose to spend £50m on a CB.
Boggles the mind doesn't it?
Why didn't Malacia start yesterday? EtH has truly fecked us over in this transfer window.
Including not even sitting down to have a chat with RR. Clearly they all thought they could get something out of this squad, talk about depressing.
Rabbiot and arnautovic
Hardly inspiring signings them, neither have ever been good and still aren't now. Just another 2 wasters to add to a squad already bloated with wasters.
Hardly inspiring signings them, neither have ever been good and still aren't now. Just another 2 wasters to add to a squad already bloated with wasters.
If a club our size can't spend more than 100m a year in transfers, I think it's about time we trigger some of our own levers. 
Jesus H. When you read that. Frightening. Like the worst episodes of Friends, ever.
It's the normal shit show at UTD. I'm just grateful we got Eriksen, the only class proven player we signed. Malacia and Martinez will have to adapt to the pace of the prem. Still think that even with this lot got a good chance of top 4
I want to know exactly what Messrs Arnold and Murtough do every day. Lots of people here talk about players being overplayed - well the comedy duo should be on minimum feckin wage for their showing so far. Done exactly feck all to help ETH
Don't get me wrong, I think Eriksen was a smart signing and I'm intrigued by the prospect of both Martinez and Malacia.
But in a window where we've had loads of first team squad members and starters leave, we've only bought 2 players who no one was particularly aware of before the start of the window.
We need some top quality players in their prime years, and these have always been the targets we've struggled with since Fergie left.
Sound like a broken record, but I actually am terrified where we could end up falling to if we stick with the current board set up/running of the club. We are run like a club you would expect to be finishing midtable at best.
But in a window where we've had loads of first team squad members and starters leave, we've only bought 2 players who no one was particularly aware of before the start of the window.
We need some top quality players in their prime years, and these have always been the targets we've struggled with since Fergie left.
Sound like a broken record, but I actually am terrified where we could end up falling to if we stick with the current board set up/running of the club. We are run like a club you would expect to be finishing midtable at best.
at the moment, I'm quietly confident of top 10...
I envy your confidence
Stop being impatient complainers. Change takes time & there is no magic switch to revert the steady decline we've faced over a decade. Progress hasn't been perfect, but we are changing & it's important to give it time.
Otherwise YOU are putting too much pressure on the manager & team to succeed (media already is paid to slander us, you are just helping them). Imagine if Liverpool fans had run Klopp away or we had fired SAF because of the slow start?
Let's look at the core issues:
- Lacking DOF to provide managers with an environment they can succeed in
- Managers don't fit club philosophy or qualifications
- Bloated squad with overpaid players without good culture. Not top 4 level anymore.
- Terrible club reputation & behaviors in transfers leading to overpaid fees & wages, difficulty unloading players.
Now let's look at what has been done:
- Hired the best coach available. GREAT MOVE.
- Terrible CEO left, new one setup DOF structure. Unable to target a top DOF, so let Murtough prove himself or "hang himself". POOR MOVE. SPEND MONEY FOR QUALIFIED INTERIM & GET EDWARDS OR MITCHELL LONG TERM.
- Squad culture changing. Some deadwood eliminated. More ruthless changes required but we also need to win top 4. So we are bringing experienced technical, physically players in the short term to get us to top 4 level. GOOD MOVE. CLEAR OUT IS CRITICAL. SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS QUICKER, ETH WAS TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CURRENT PLAYERS, DOF TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ACQUIRING TOP TALENT.
- We are unwilling to pay excessive fees & doing savvy business so far. Return to normalcy. GOOD START, CAN WE MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE WHEN WE ARE LOSING & FACING SHORTSIGHTED FAN PRESSURE?
Otherwise YOU are putting too much pressure on the manager & team to succeed (media already is paid to slander us, you are just helping them). Imagine if Liverpool fans had run Klopp away or we had fired SAF because of the slow start?
Let's look at the core issues:
- Lacking DOF to provide managers with an environment they can succeed in
- Managers don't fit club philosophy or qualifications
- Bloated squad with overpaid players without good culture. Not top 4 level anymore.
- Terrible club reputation & behaviors in transfers leading to overpaid fees & wages, difficulty unloading players.
Now let's look at what has been done:
- Hired the best coach available. GREAT MOVE.
- Terrible CEO left, new one setup DOF structure. Unable to target a top DOF, so let Murtough prove himself or "hang himself". POOR MOVE. SPEND MONEY FOR QUALIFIED INTERIM & GET EDWARDS OR MITCHELL LONG TERM.
- Squad culture changing. Some deadwood eliminated. More ruthless changes required but we also need to win top 4. So we are bringing experienced technical, physically players in the short term to get us to top 4 level. GOOD MOVE. CLEAR OUT IS CRITICAL. SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS QUICKER, ETH WAS TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CURRENT PLAYERS, DOF TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ACQUIRING TOP TALENT.
- We are unwilling to pay excessive fees & doing savvy business so far. Return to normalcy. GOOD START, CAN WE MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE WHEN WE ARE LOSING & FACING SHORTSIGHTED FAN PRESSURE?
Where's the have patience crew today?
if they can't cope with what people say in the caf, how the hell do they cope when playing City or liverpool (or watford, for that matter)?
There were posters actively being scornful of others for being concerned about the activity of the club at a time when all our rivals were scrambling for signatures and bedding them in. Indeed, Spurs have signed, what? *6* players this summer, an amount some posters on here poured scorn upon saying it's not feasible to sign so many players in a window. Spurs are also apparently seeking more players this same window - Conte is being backed to the hilt, unfathomably.
The frustrating bit isn't even the scorn and short-sightedness, it's that unless quoted, you won't hear a peep out of said posters now whilst the window looks like it's crumbling around us. There was always very real cause for concern and nothing to side with the club over given the track record of the last however many years you want to go back.
We're now left scrambling, practically as usual, having the tail chase the dog because we've fecked up a transfer window we should have been more prepared for than any other club in the country. Removing the chaos of the de Jong saga, we've still pulled up so mightily short that even the most sage heads are asking wtf is this club doing? It's a window that adjectives can't do justice to, so bad is it. Really grating when this comes after our worst PL of literally ever. Flabbergastingly bad.
The frustrating bit isn't even the scorn and short-sightedness, it's that unless quoted, you won't hear a peep out of said posters now whilst the window looks like it's crumbling around us. There was always very real cause for concern and nothing to side with the club over given the track record of the last however many years you want to go back.
We're now left scrambling, practically as usual, having the tail chase the dog because we've fecked up a transfer window we should have been more prepared for than any other club in the country. Removing the chaos of the de Jong saga, we've still pulled up so mightily short that even the most sage heads are asking wtf is this club doing? It's a window that adjectives can't do justice to, so bad is it. Really grating when this comes after our worst PL of literally ever. Flabbergastingly bad.
Not sure It's ever gonna happen with us constantly just keeping head above water which will do just fine for them
At this rate we will sign about 10 of them until the window close. All bang average and with a bit of attitude problems, so we will have to shift them in 2 years time, but you can't have it all.
Surely there is targets out there without baggage
We've obviously finally got the hint and given up the futile chase of dithering Frenkie. We'll finish off our transfer business now by signing a few cheap mediocre players to boost numbers. The only silver lining is the end of McFred, but this transfer window should have been so much better
Just gotta hope he don't come to this league because that will be a killer
And this, ladies and gentlemen is why you should get all your transfer business done before the start of the season... because on the back of a bad result everyone starts to shit their pants and we make bad decisions.
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