Even the players from last summer were bought specifically for ETH's profile, so for me, everyone from Dorgu and Leon going forward are the ones that I look at as INEOS/Amorim buys. If Cunha and Mbeumo are the new standard, then they're off to a very good start.
Omar Berrada: Manchester United aiming to win the title by 2028
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Nik (@Rood), Jamie (@Vault Dweller) and Ed (@That'sHernandez) give their end of season awards out! They celebrate the best players, goals and moments of the season (there were some, honestly) and also give out awards for the worst and most disappointing players/moments of the season.
They then discuss all the latest transfer rumours and get into the potential ins and outs this summer at Old Trafford.
Even the players from last summer were bought specifically for ETH's profile, so for me, everyone from Dorgu and Leon going forward are the ones that I look at as INEOS/Amorim buys. If Cunha and Mbeumo are the new standard, then they're off to a very good start.
But Ineos was in charge last summer. So, whatever reasons were why they bought those 5 players (and will those players be hit or flop) is on Ineos. Same why Woodward was guilty for transfers under his reign and Murtough was guilty for his transfers.
I know this is matter of opinion but manager should never be blamed or praised for transfers. It is on DoF (and people who hired him).
They were in charge but the players were largely a part of ETH's profile. Otherwise we wouldn't have wound up with three Dutch or former Dutch league players in one summer. Therefore I don't hold INEOS accountable for players specifically bought for the former manager not necessarily excelling for the new one, especially given the new formation.
But INEOS is responsible for keeping that manager and aligning the transfers 100% with his questionable ideas.
There's no such thing as a good start in June. See how they've got on in May.
Don’t forget Heaven
That's true, but ETH's story was widely already believed to be winding down last year. The timing of INEOS taking over when they did simply wasn't ideal, which is why they didn't to sack him right away. They obviously made a mess of that, but the transfers themselves were pretty good.
I hate to say this to fellow trekkie but your logic is false here.
As you said; they were in charge. So, they had final say about transfers. Their decision to buy players on manager's request is same thing which Arnold/Murtough did.
Zirkzee, Mazraoui, and DeLigt wouldn't be here if not for ETH, just like in the previous two windows Onana, Malacia, Martinez, Antony, and Weghorst wouldn't have. They're all a part of his project and none of them would've been United players unless he specifically recommended them.
I tend to agree and the signings have been quite decent to good as well
It’s quite obvious for most long time members on this board what the club is doing to have a squad capable of challenging for the PL title in 2028/29.
Three years is probably what it takes to clear out those who’re underperforming because of a combination of age/high wages or that don’t don’t have the physical attributes that’s necessary in the modern football game.
Those who first come to my mind is Casemiro, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Højlund, Anthony, Rashford and Sancho. Then you have potential squad material like De Ligt, Maz, Dalot, Dorgu, Mount, Zirkzee and Mainoo. All good enough to play part of the games or in the short term perspective act as decent back ups.
It looks like we prioritize attacking players this summer. Cunha, Mbeumo and hopefully one of Gyok, Osi or Eketeke.
If Casemiro leaves next summer when his contracts ends I assume we buy at least two elite midfielders. A dream scenario would be us getting someone with similar talents and attributes as Wharton, Ederson or my favorite Baleba.
The third step would be to find a central CB between Yoro and Heaven and a world class GK.
Of course injuries plays an important part and then we have those who don’t fulfill set expectations or those who don’t maximize their potential. Players like Cunha/Mbeumo and Wharton are in my opinion safe bets to met expectations. Göykeres and Baleba probably has the potential to become successful but a forward like Osi is probably a safer bet because he’s more rounded and have more elite athleticism.
Can we get it right with hopefully 6 or 7 out of 8 buys then we’re definitely on the right track.
The future looks bright…
Three years is probably what it takes to clear out those who’re underperforming because of a combination of age/high wages or that don’t don’t have the physical attributes that’s necessary in the modern football game.
Those who first come to my mind is Casemiro, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Højlund, Anthony, Rashford and Sancho. Then you have potential squad material like De Ligt, Maz, Dalot, Dorgu, Mount, Zirkzee and Mainoo. All good enough to play part of the games or in the short term perspective act as decent back ups.
It looks like we prioritize attacking players this summer. Cunha, Mbeumo and hopefully one of Gyok, Osi or Eketeke.
If Casemiro leaves next summer when his contracts ends I assume we buy at least two elite midfielders. A dream scenario would be us getting someone with similar talents and attributes as Wharton, Ederson or my favorite Baleba.
The third step would be to find a central CB between Yoro and Heaven and a world class GK.
Of course injuries plays an important part and then we have those who don’t fulfill set expectations or those who don’t maximize their potential. Players like Cunha/Mbeumo and Wharton are in my opinion safe bets to met expectations. Göykeres and Baleba probably has the potential to become successful but a forward like Osi is probably a safer bet because he’s more rounded and have more elite athleticism.
Can we get it right with hopefully 6 or 7 out of 8 buys then we’re definitely on the right track.
The future looks bright…
Which makes it even crazier that we didn't sack ETH last summer. Dumbest decision of all dumb decisions.
https://www.unitedinfocus.com/news/...an-utd-they-share-the-fundamental-principles/
This guy is so far up his own arse. If he and Amorim brought half as much substance to the table as they talk we would’ve won the league last season. Mentioning reading a book about Sir Matt illustrates just how disassociated with this club he is. If we’re gonna be crap could we at least do it without employing City chancers at the executive level ?
Except what he said sounds perfectly reasonable and not at all pretentious? Is reading book or mentioning Sir Matt to illustrate certain points a crime now?
Even under SAF we played with 3 at the backs on occasions as an experiment, and his 4 at the back system evolved over the years and came to be more a 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 since the turn of the millenium rather than the classic 4-4-2. There's nothing wrong with saying that principles are the important thing, not the specificity of how players are lined up on the grass. They may be shit at implementing those principles ( as is the case currently) and ultimately fail ( to be decided), but that doesn't invalidate the sentiment, or the logic behind those comments.
You are welcome to see it as level-headed and reasonable but all I see is more PR spin. He knows this isn’t going the way he expected but is locked in now. Mentioning Cruyff and Sir Matt is tone-deaf at the very least. He and Amorim would do well to emulate the results of the previous manager and CEO as it stands.
It is a PR spin, he's the CEO of the club speaking to a fanzine, of course he would defend/rationalise what the club is doing. It's not mutually exclusive with that spin being reasonable.
Ultimately, what matters is on the pitch. If they arent turning it around next season not just Amorim but even his job is under threat, that's what we are judging them by. For now, getting worked up over a mundane interview seems like a fruitless exercise that brings you nothing but more frustration.
What do you honestly think we will do this summer. What will we do beyond Cunha and Mbeumo (who are both great additions on paper).
We line up against a 2nd place team who have gone out and got a number 6, a number 9, potentially a winger and a back up keeper. How will we compete?
Fair points but odd that you didn’t address the rest of my post.
In short it’s mad that Berrada’s first real footballing exec role at a legitimate club is CEO of Manchester United. It’s clear he doesn’t have a scooby and putting Wilcox in the DoF role is just more evidence of his unfounded arrogance. So yeah it winds me up when he mentions Cruyff or reading a book about Sir Matt just so he can mention Busby’s admiration for a Hungarian side which played 343.
Not for another good year or 2 unfortunately. 007 makes a lot of sense
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If Wilcox brings in Two PL proven players in Cuhna and Mbeumo and gets rid of Rashford, Gernacho, Sancho and Anthony, that’s a fairly decent start.
If we end the window with only Cunha and Leon (in) and didnt FULL sell at least 2 out of Rashanchtony i think its a sackable offence. Means he is not ruthless enough which means we wouldnt win it in 2028. Every transfer window is very important, we cant afford to slack around.
Imagine raging at innocuous quotes like that.
Paying £130m for Cunha and Mbeumo doesn’t require a lot of nous does it. And I don’t think it’s sensible either considering our needs and financial constraints. As for the exiled four all we’ve done is make them more difficult to sell this summer.
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As all of us is painfully aware of it all depends on the sale of Sancho/Garna/Rash/Højand and Anthony.
As long as we can’t get rid we’re financially restricted, that’s the reality.
At the moment we need to stop looking at what Arse and Liverpool is doing. They’re on a different level to us.
Let them have their time but historically most successful teams has a best before date. United 2006-2013, Barcelona with Pep, Bayern, Madrid, Chelsea with Mou. Right now City is struggling with their succession.
Arsenal is on a five season long streak with good results. This summer Partey is gone. Others getting older, injuries and so on.
From the outside it looks like Saka’s body is aging faster than his years. Maybe I’m wrong but all his injuries reminds me of Fernando Torres.
My point is that sooner or later some clubs will make mistakes or being affected by unexpected injuries.
If we can sell at least three players and send Høj on loan maybe we can buy a decent striker but we can’t just buy one to fill the space, we need the right profile with the right mentality. If the market is limited or fee’s too high maybe it’s better to wait. Ollie Watson is on decline so even if I like him he’s not what we need at this moment. Either Osi, Eketeke or Sesko, otherwise we should pass and buy a quality midfielder.
My preferred formation if we can’t find a quality striker is 3412 with Cunha and Mb up top, an elite mf playmaker with Bruno or Zirk behind but……. we all have dreams.
As long as we can’t get rid we’re financially restricted, that’s the reality.
At the moment we need to stop looking at what Arse and Liverpool is doing. They’re on a different level to us.
Let them have their time but historically most successful teams has a best before date. United 2006-2013, Barcelona with Pep, Bayern, Madrid, Chelsea with Mou. Right now City is struggling with their succession.
Arsenal is on a five season long streak with good results. This summer Partey is gone. Others getting older, injuries and so on.
From the outside it looks like Saka’s body is aging faster than his years. Maybe I’m wrong but all his injuries reminds me of Fernando Torres.
My point is that sooner or later some clubs will make mistakes or being affected by unexpected injuries.
If we can sell at least three players and send Høj on loan maybe we can buy a decent striker but we can’t just buy one to fill the space, we need the right profile with the right mentality. If the market is limited or fee’s too high maybe it’s better to wait. Ollie Watson is on decline so even if I like him he’s not what we need at this moment. Either Osi, Eketeke or Sesko, otherwise we should pass and buy a quality midfielder.
My preferred formation if we can’t find a quality striker is 3412 with Cunha and Mb up top, an elite mf playmaker with Bruno or Zirk behind but……. we all have dreams.
Way too simplified a case. You just assumed that Mbeumo and Cunha to United was just a case of paying fees and not turning their heads to our favour and rejecting other major projects.
I disagree that we made them more difficult to sell this summer. They were always going to be difficult to sell, but the latest move of taking them completely out of the squad pushes them to consider wage cuts and new projects because they now know they won't even be integrated.
Allow me to introduce @Big Ron’s Coat - negativity is king.
Damned if they do, damned if they dont
Aye, it's a very weird take to point to Cunha and potentially Mbeumo coming in early doors at 65ish million each, and then suggesting it's not a good move
Give him some credit, he is building on the legacy of Woodward, Murtogh and Arnold. It's no joke.
“Prem proven” costs a major premium and is no guarantee of success. Spending that amount of money on two players who don’t address the spine of the team seems mad. I hope they transform us but it’s hard not to look at our options at GK, CM and CF and not wonder if we could’ve made better use of those funds.Aye, it's a very weird take to point to Cunha and potentially Mbeumo coming in early doors at 65ish million each, and then suggesting it's not a good move
Spare me.
Suddenly I am not sure about the two signings. Last time you were endorsing signings and posting 'Aye, it's a very weird take to point to Cunha and potentially Mbeumo coming in early doors at 65ish million each, and then suggesting it's not a good move
' emojis mocking folks was when you were bigging up ETH's shit signings. Yikes! This is not a good omen.In terms of selling players - our hands are pretty tied if nobody wants to buy them. I don't think that has anything to do with ruthlessness. I'm sure he's desperate to get rid of all.
You don't read a lot of my posts do you? Wum better kid.Suddenly I am not sure about the two signings. Last time you were endorsing signings and posting '
I feel a bit as if both of you are right. They are good players but I also wonder if they will really fix the biggest problems in the squad?Suddenly I am not sure about the two signings. Last time you were endorsing signings and posting '
Why will I wind you up, you are a nobody. I was merely making an observation.
I was probably the biggest Ten Hag fan on this forum before his appointment and was more positive than most throughout his first season. Yet it was clear that we were pissing money down the river by summer 2023 and he had clearly abandoned the tactics that made him successful at Ajax in his second season. Those who moan about posters being negative right now are in denial. There is little positive to point at the moment. Simple as.Suddenly I am not sure about the two signings. Last time you were endorsing signings and posting '
I am a bit confused about our transfer business. The earlier noises coming out were that we are going to go for young players with top potential and won't pay exorbitant prices anymore. We are going to build a squad to last. Now our approach seems to have shifted going for ready made players for significant fees and wages. I really don't know what kind of squad planning we are after.
Realists are always negative until they are proven right.
It's a somewhat pointless argument. But i am not sure he 'abandoned his principles' but whatever the Ajax system was, it didnt work in the PL as standard and physicality far higher and he didnt have the best squad. I have read suggestions the overall approach was not dissimilar but results were far worse given the factors I just mentioned.
Unless*