Transfer Strategy - How good is good enough?

[Zlatattack]

I think most people have thoughts about who we need and what they'd like the squad to look like in the next couple of years. I'd like to know your thoughts on the calibre of players we should be targeting in the summer or the next few transfer windows.

For example, most people think we need a CDM, should we target someone I'd consider amongst the very best in the role (Verrati) or someone who is a very very good player in the role (Fabinho), or someone who is adequete for the role (like Dier for example.... i know i know...). Now please don't go off on one about whether my examples are as good as I think they are, that's not what i want to talk about. I'd like to know if people are happy to get the right man for the job, or want the best man for the job.

As a club we've tried both approaches. I think when we bought Pogba we bought one of the very best in the world as a central midfielder. When we bought Mhkitaryan we signed someone who was a very good attacking midfielder, but arguably not in the top 5 or10 of the world in his position. We signed Schniederlin and we signed someone who we thought would be the right man for the job, an acomplished player as a CDM. We've had mixed success with each calibre of signing.

I personally think we desperately need a CDM, a central defender and an attacking midfielder. I think we need to be secure at the back, we need to be able to dictate play in the middle and we need to unlock defenses and score goals. We struggle with all these things, the spine of our team is weak. In my opinion i'd like to target the very best players we possibly can in these positions.

I also think the team lacks width and quality in the depth of our squad, but i'd be happy to see that addressed in later transfer windows, or dealt with players who are not the elite, or are simply acomplished players. For example, I think we need to replace Fellaini or at least push him down the order of midfield options (unless he proves in training he deserves his spot), but I don't think we need to sign Toni Kroos to do that, I think we could improve our options with another Herrera type signing.

• What do you think is the right approach?
  
• Does it vary on the position you think we need filling?

 

[dannyrhinos89]

We definitely need top class in every position we sign that's for sure. No squad players anymore.

LVG seemed to go quantity over quality when it should be the other way around for a team like united.

 

[ADJUDICATOR]

The right man for the job is the best man for the job:
1. Winger,
2. Striker,
3. Midfield Anchor,
4. Left-Back

 

[Zlatattack]

We definitely need top class in every position we sign that's for sure. No squad players anymore.

LVG seemed to go quantity over quality when it should be the other way around for a team like united.

I defintely agree there, you can't play two "nearly good enough" players to replace 1 good one. I do wonder though if you think the players we do sign need to be the absolute best? I think Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo etc aren't about to sign for us, but should we get throwing £100 million for Bale of Griezmann or should we see if we can get the same results with a £50 million Silva?

 

[Zlatattack]

The right man for the job is the best man for the job:
1. Winger,
2. Striker,
3. Midfield Anchor,
4. Left-Back

Last summer I heard about us going for Kante as well as Pogba. At that point I felt that we needed a midfielder who'd help us transition from defence to attack, I felt Kante would do that just as well as Pogba. I appreciate they've had different seasons and are at their best in different roles too, but would you be happy to settle for someone like Kante instead of Pogba?

 

[ADJUDICATOR]

Last summer I heard about us going for Kante as well as Pogba. At that point I felt that we needed a midfielder who'd help us transition from defence to attack, I felt Kante would do that just as well as Pogba. I appreciate they've had different seasons and are at their best in different roles too, but would you be happy to settle for someone like Kante instead of Pogba?

No, because at the time we had Herrera and Schneiderlin as box-to-box players. We needed the creativity and cutting edge from midfield that Pogba could provide, not the defensive shift of Kante.

 

[dannyrhinos89]

I defintely agree there, you can't play two "nearly good enough" players to replace 1 good one. I do wonder though if you think the players we do sign need to be the absolute best? I think Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo etc aren't about to sign for us, but should we get throwing £100 million for Bale of Griezmann or should we see if we can get the same results with a £50 million Silva?

You have to pay top dollar for a good striker, you cant really compare Griezmann and silva as they are different positions and give you different results, silva may have assists and more creativity but will never get as many goals as Griezmann, consistent goal scoring strikers like Griezmann, lukaku, Kane etc all will be topping £70+ million in today's market and it's worth paying top dollar for them.

The other positions you don't need to spend a fortune.

 

[Mohammed Javed]

When we brought Pogba we were not buying one of the best CM in the world. We brought the potential of a world class player

 

[Lawman]

When we brought Pogba we were not buying one of the best CM in the world. We brought the potential of a world class player

And a high profile player who makes money off field for United. It was a great deal in my opinion.

 

[Gopher Brown]

We may need 2 midfielders because I'm not sure of the blend of having Herrera in there - he's not reallly attacking enough or defensive enough. I think Pogba with a ball winner and another no.8 would be a good blend. Quite who these players are is another thing though.

We also need another CB to partner Bailly, especially if one of Jones and Smalling are sold.

We also need a LB, because Shaw isn't going to be it.

And we also need at least 2 attackers who are quick and can play out wide.

6 players is too many to bring in in one window, especially at the prices.

I dare say it will be a DM, a LB and one attacker. Not sure who though.

 

[Mohammed Javed]

who would of thought that dabbing could make you a fortune

 

[LuisNaniencia]

I'd probably say left back has been our biggest problem this season which sounds a bit odd to say. If we had an equal threat to Valencia on the left this season things could have been very different.

We should be bringing in 3 or 4 really quality players, much like last transfer window.

 

[Cliche Guevara]

United are one of the richest clubs in the world. A lot of people invest a lot of money. In my view they have a right to see the best products in the world for that investment, otherwise what's the point in it?
A lot of people have a romantic notion of what United should be. As far as I'm concerned I'd be very happy to see the best players in the world in every position. I want to see United win every game.
I don't want us to hold back and I think we should spend bigger than everyone else. There also seems to be a bit of a myth building, that we've gone through a period of galactico-signings which hasn't paid off. I've read that a bit on here. As far as I recall there's only really been Di Maria and Pogba, so I'm not really sure where it's coming from.
In conclusion I think we need as close to the best as we can get right now. Build a powerhouse team for the next decade, then look to fill in with bargains or develop younger players over time, when the opportunity arises.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

I'm not entirely convinced there is a strategy to be honest. We seem to throw money at players without thinking about how they'll fit into the overall system, or what the system even is. At least that's how it was under Moyes and LVG, perhaps not as much under Mourinho.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Marquee or not, we need quality in at least 4 positions

We've spent loads in recent years but still have very little quality. I'd make DDG stay, sign a top class CB to partner Bailly, Dier in DM because he's brilliant there, Griezmann and a 30 goal striker.

 

[manutddjw]

For positions where we need a significant upgrade we should always go for the best players we can. Some players are just unattainable no matter how much money we offer, so then we just move down to other options until those options are no longer better than what we have.

For positions where we have good enough options, I prefer going for youth to provide the cover. Like when we had Vidic and Rio, we bought Jones and Smalling not Chiellini.

 

[Roboc7]

No value towards end of SAF, fear and incompetence under Moyes and scattergun LVG are where everything went wrong, our policy now under mourinho will probably be fine but the reality is there is too much to do and turning things round will take time.

Despite all the money spent recently we don't have a first choice left back, an established CB partnership and have only two midfielders who are fit for purpose, we also shipped out too many attackers and have bought and sold players like picking names out of a hat.

We need to probably add 4-5 players this summer and 3-4 next summer, a left back, a centre half, a cm and a forwardvare all essential this summer and if we do not buy in those positions we will struggle again. We need to build around players like bailly and pogba so players who come in need to compliment them, we need to concentrate on getting the right players whether or not they are marquee signings.

 

[Phil]

I switch on this quite a lot. I do think it has to be a mix of established top quality with some buys of younger, lesser known players that ideally grow into United players.

Or as our famous thread once said, we need to sign the next Messi.

 

[Miscemayl]

Think we need quality rather than quantity.

We have a big enough squad but not enough quality in the first XI.

 

[Raees]

Pogba and Bailly says it all. You have to try and aim for the best or thereabouts.. i.e. World class talent - if you try cutting corners aka Zlatan, (aged 35 with zero long term value) you'll get some reward but it isn't a perfect fit and leaves more questions than answers.

 

[No Love]

Time to accentuate the positives that we do have. Realistically, it should be a case of acknowledging the likes of Pogba, Bailly, Herrera & Rashford as the core of a very good team and acting accordingly. Our heads should not be turned by what other teams are doing, nor should we become embroiled in transfer sagas over players who satisfy the craving of a big name signing. Each signing should be made with a very clear picture of what they offer to the team, how to get the best out of them and crucially, how they can help the talented players we already have at the club.

Thankfully, for the first time since SAF left, I think we have the right man to mould and shape the squad. Moyes, as we all know, is a doughnut and his actions in the transfer market show this. As for Louis - scattergun, at best. These past misdemeanours have afforded us no luxuries moving forward; There can be no compromise in terms of talent and looking for budget/squad options. The absolute best players available to us, irrespective of nationality, are a must.

 

[Blind]

Have Chelsea or Spurs signed 'top quality' players in the last few windows? Costa and Fabregas are the only two you can point to as really established names who were expected to deliver from the off. There's plenty of potential in our squad already that's either being misused or underutilised. Shaw doesn't get a look in, Pereira could be given a chance, Martial and Mkhitaryan were two of the best attacking talents in Europe last season. Of course we need signings but our squad definitely doesn't need a complete overhaul to challenge again.

 

[Mike09]

Figure out first what formation (s), system and playing style that we are going to use next season. No point buying talent players and top class players if they aren't suitable for the system.

We need attacker to support Rashford and also replacement for Zlatan and Rooney.
We need to sort out our left back.
We might need another midfielder for depth squad option since 3 (Herrera, Fellaini and Pogba) might not be enough.
We might need a new top class keeper to replace De Gea (likely to join Real, hopefully not)

What type of attacker, left back, and midfielder that we need are depending on what kind of formation (s), system and playing style we are going to play next season.

 

[Zii]

We end up signing Falcao and James late into their careers or on a downward spiral then over getting Bernado Silva / Dybala early

 

[Zii]

Have Chelsea or Spurs signed 'top quality' players in the last few windows? Costa and Fabregas are the only two you can point to as really established names who were expected to deliver from the off.

Kante? Luiz?

 

[SirMattBugsby]

I think most people have thoughts about who we need and what they'd like the squad to look like in the next couple of years. I'd like to know your thoughts on the calibre of players we should be targeting in the summer or the next few transfer windows.

For example, most people think we need a CDM, should we target someone I'd consider amongst the very best in the role (Verrati) or someone who is a very very good player in the role (Fabinho), or someone who is adequete for the role (like Dier for example.... i know i know...). Now please don't go off on one about whether my examples are as good as I think they are, that's not what i want to talk about. I'd like to know if people are happy to get the right man for the job, or want the best man for the job.

Your question is very valid and something quite a few posters overlook in transfer threads. Buying best of the best in every position is, at the moment, neither realistic nor necessary for us. In fact it mostly isn't, except for Real Madrid.

Two areas where we do need absolute top quality are striker and centre-back. There should be no compromise, whatever the expenditure. We showed this last season with the Pogba deal and I hope we do the same for these two positions.

For other positions, there's room for other factors like potential, tactical requirements, manager's preference, getting a good deal etc. For example, at LB we might look for a defensive-minded player in his late 20s. Such a player will allow Pogba and Martial to attack more, brings something different to the table from Blind and Shaw, offers competition to the latter yet would not hinder his development.

Similarly at CDM, RB and wings we don't have a pressing need for absolute top quality. Just the right player to address tactical issues that Mourinho currently has in our set-up, to offer cover or maybe one for the future.

That is how we should, and probably will, conduct business this summer.

 

[Georgan]

Honestly rather than who or where we're buying I think we must make up our minds on why and what we want to buy. I'm praying to God that Jose has a plan or a strategy as to how he wants United team to play, he manages to get rid of whoever he thinks won't make the cut and gets exactly what he needs for the position. I don't mind not buying a Left back if what he wants to do regarding the LB position is that he stays behind to support CBs while Right back pushes the wing, we already have Darmian for that role and he can do it very well.

Our need is to define how we want to play, an identity, I don't care if we don't buy Superstars, if we're going to get the most out of Riyad Mahrez in a functional system and go for him instead of Alexis Sanchez then so be it.

 

[Ali Dia]

Where are these gallactico signings actually going to come from? Barca? Not happening... PSG? Reals unwanted players? For the most part we want players on an upward curve, not signing disgruntled players who've already got their dream move or club and are forced to move on due to it not working out. Signing players like Ronaldo, Martial etc is where I think we should be focusing our energy and resources. The upside is huge if it works out and not as big if it doesn't. There's a pretty small pool of established star players who would or could come in for huge fees and improve us. Developing the best young players, or building a really good team system of play is the name of the game. It's been shown by plenty of teams that a good system with a sprinkling of quality can still do great things. I fear the mismanagement over the last few years is going to ensure we just keep throwing money around looking for as quick of a fix as possible but no one player, no matter how expensive, is going to come in and magically win the league for us.

 

[NoPace]

Anyone over about 24 or 25 years old we sign should be a clear upgrade for our first XI. If there's a Pogba level young star we can get, sign him. If not, someone like Martial, Bailly or Shaw (yes this one hasn't come off but the principle was right) who has played very well at a young age for a top half side and is rated by our scouts is the other still pretty expensive way to do it.

I think anything other than is sort of unreliable. We don't have someone like Monchi who's proven finding deals in the transfer market.

If you look at our team, the players you would bet on to play at least 2500 minutes (basically a first choice or pushing for it level if you don't miss more than a month of games) and play at the level needed for a title-contending, CL semi-final level team are probably De Gea, Pogba, Bailly, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Valencia and Herrera. Then maybe one of Martial, Rashford or Shaw based on their age and talent being promising factors. If you look at the guys on that list, De Gea and Pogba were stars at incredibly young ages at major European clubs, Mata had 30 Spain midfield caps, Bailly was a 22 year old star who had excelled for Villareal and cost 30M, Mkhitaryan was one of the best Bundesliga players in his final season, Herrera cost a fair bit too and had been a key starter for a top 10 team, bought at 24 or so after starting at Bilbao after earning a decent sized move from Zaragoza, Valencia had a similar story to Herrera in age and prestige.

So, yeah, we should probably do what Madrid did and what has worked for us and sign a couple 22-24 year olds that have been among the better players at top 7 or 8 clubs in the top 2-3 leagues, even if it costs 40M each for the LB and DM and 70M for the attacker.

 

[M4nu4Life]

Out:
Fellani, Rooney, Carrick.
One of Jones or Smalling.

In: High Quality Centre back
Barkley - Would be a good partner for Pogba, is up for a fight when needed and can score a goal.
A top quality player who can play as Striker or Right winger.
A young centre midfielder or two - we are lacking depth already, and more than likely Carrick and Fellani will go.
A young right back.

Question Mark - Will Shaw improve next year, or does he need replacing?

This is 3 players into the 1st eleven, plus 3 young players to add to the depth.

 

[AgentP]

The way to go about signing players should be like this in my opinion

• Decide the formation that we are going to play in the majority of the games based on the players that we already have. A slight tweak for certain games is alright but preferably stick to the same formation all games. For example, we can play 4231 against weaker teams but switch to 433 for some away games.
• Based on the formation, decide which positions need strengthening. We'll probably need to sign a LB, CM, CB, striker and a RW.
• For each position, create a list of players and then arrange them by preference.
• Throw money at the players on the top of the list and get them. If that doesn't work, quickly move to the next name on the list.

In my opinion, we should play 433 since it gets the best out of Pogba and will also not require us to change formations for tough games. The players which we have that are suited to this formation are

Martial - - - ST - - - RW
Pogba - - - - CM
Herrera
LB - - CB - - Bailly - - Valencia
De Gea​

ST: Aubameyang, Lukaku, Belotti, Mandzukic

RW: Bale, Sanchez, Costa, Willian

CM: Isco, Naby Keita, Bakayoko, Kessie

LB: Mendy, Rose, Bertrand

CB: Van Dijk, Lindelof, Manolas, Gimenez, Varane

If we decide to play 433, players like Griezmann, James, etc shouldn't be considered since they will have to play out of position. Jose seems to prefer 4231 based on the players we are being linked to. In that case, a No.10 instead of RW would do.

 

[Red_toad]

We end up signing Falcao and James late into their careers or on a downward spiral then over getting Bernado Silva / Dybala early

James is 25, I don't believe many players peak before they're 25?
Falcao was 28 and should have been in his prime, but was most likely still recovering from injury, great to see him back to his best at 31, after 2 poor seasons.
No idea why you seem depressed over what might have been? We can only live with what is, what has been and what is to come. Cheer up...

 

[Red_toad]

Out:
Fellani, Rooney, Carrick.
One of Jones or Smalling.

In: High Quality Centre back
Barkley - Would be a good partner for Pogba, is up for a fight when needed and can score a goal.
A top quality player who can play as Striker or Right winger.
A young centre midfielder or two - we are lacking depth already, and more than likely Carrick and Fellani will go.
A young right back.

Question Mark - Will Shaw improve next year, or does he need replacing?

This is 3 players into the 1st eleven, plus 3 young players to add to the depth.

Barkley wouldn't be a bad shout at a decent fee. Would provide competition to Pogba and Herrera, Premier League experienced. Could be our token thick scouser in the squad.... Him plus Pereira and we're well covered for 2 positions in the team. Just need to find a holding midfielder, with Carrick to understudy them.

I can also see Young heading off to China once the season is over. Not that I want him to leave as he's so versatile and usually puts in a decent shift where ever he's played.

 

[RAVred]

Dont understand people that want bale, especially on the right wing. Wasnt his best and preferred position on the left? Thats why he initially struggled at madrid.

Anyway he was meant to be ronaldo's replacement and an actual galactico, doubt they sell him and dont want someone thats aging so quick and so injury prone. His goal return for RM has been pathetic in actuality if you consider his fee and position, Greizmann's return is better in a much more defensive side. Someone like James is being sold because he wasnt really a galacticos, he was 'only' 50-60 million.


Its actually ridiculous how people fail to realise how poor both our fecking fullbacks are at going forward! If they were any good going forward our wingers would play much better. The best match of Memphis I saw was when Shaw also played amazing vs Brugge going forward. In the modern game theres not traditional wingers, you dont need a big man up top! Get over it!

our wingers have shown their class. Martial last season, Rashford this season (even tho he's better as a cf, but he needs to learn still), Mkhitaryan as a POTY in Bundesliga and arguably our MOTT for Europa. Yes mkhitaryan cuts in from the middle.. so? So does silva a lot of the time.

The fullbacks are our glaring weakness, both are good defensively, Valencia's been excellent defensively! But at the end of the day their fullbacks that cant cross for shit and are absolutely horrid going forward.

Maybe the balance can be upset if we get a super good left back thats amazing going forward, but I find that unlikely, also the fact that Mkhi is the right wing, so if the LB is crossing the ball and hes one of the targets its not the best option. Martial on the other hand is better aerially, even though still not great, and much more physical.

valencia's getting old and really isnt a great right back for the modern game, hes a good one. Thats why I find it ludicrous to give captaincy to him... a player that wont even be a starter next season, if not the one after. Our captain should be Ander Herrera, if not, Bailly or DDG if we somehow retain him. ( I expect most of the veteran squad players to be shifted out of the starting 11. Only pogba, Bailly, DDG,Mkhi, Martial/Rashford and possibly herrera will be starters for us next season)

 

[Red_toad]

The fullbacks are our glaring weakness, both are good defensively, Valencia's been excellent defensively! But at the end of the day their fullbacks that cant cross for shit and are absolutely horrid going forward.

Maybe the balance can be upset if we get a super good left back thats amazing going forward, but I find that unlikely, also the fact that Mkhi is the right wing, so if the LB is crossing the ball and hes one of the targets its not the best option. Martial on the other hand is better aerially, even though still not great, and much more physical.

valencia's getting old and really isnt a great right back for the modern game, hes a good one. Thats why I find it ludicrous to give captaincy to him... a player that wont even be a starter next season, if not the one after. Our captain should be Ander Herrera, if not, Bailly or DDG if we somehow retain him. ( I expect most of the veteran squad players to be shifted out of the starting 11. Only pogba, Bailly, DDG,Mkhi, Martial/Rashford and possibly herrera will be starters for us next season)

Name a right back in the Premier League who's been better than Valencia? Completely disagree with your point of view. Unless we're signing a prime Cafu, right back isn't a priority.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Worth remembering we just got played off the park by a side with Wanyawa, Trippier, Davies and Heung-Min starting. Oh and Victor Moses was is an important member of a title winning side.

 

[Red_toad]

Worth remembering we just got played off the park by a side with Wanyawa, Trippier, Davies and Heung-Min starting. Oh and Victor Moses was is an important member of a title winning side.

They've got managers who are getting the best out of them. Jose hasn't got the right mix of players yet and is having issues trusting them and/or getting his tactics across to the players.

 

[Fracture90]

Priorities should be CB, DMF/HMF, RW and CF.

Optionally if DDG get's sold to Madrid, but those 4 spots are top priority.

We can't buy 10 players at once, I'm expecting 5 players to be bought max.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

I would rather the players fit a central theme or philosophy rather than be excellent players. I amen't really comfortable with signing James who is a galactico and plays in a position that we are already pretty good in, having mhikitarian and having success without playing a #10, in a team that needs high work rate and pressing. It doesn't matter that he's top 15 players in the world in that position.

 

[SirMattBugsby]

I would rather the players fit a central theme or philosophy rather than be excellent players. I amen't really comfortable with signing James who is a galactico and plays in a position that we are already pretty good in, having mhikitarian and having success without playing a #10, in a team that needs high work rate and pressing. It doesn't matter that he's top 15 players in the world in that position.

That's my concern as well. Players arriving from Real are a bit high-headed as it is. From the Bernabeu to a Mourinho team is quite a big mental leap for a creative player.