What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

Every penny available this summer needs to be going on the attack. Not raw talents like Dibling who aren't ready to contribute now but might be in 3 years. Not young players like Ekitike, Sesko, Delap who have decent records but would be reliant on going up another level to make it here. We need at least 2 proven, experienced players there.
 
I don’t think central defenders are a priority as I think Yoro and Heaven will become very good players fingers crossed world class. But do like Milenković and Murillo at Forest. Proper partnership. Both seem to genuinely enjoy defending. Priorities in the summer has to be forwards. New Keeper. Finding younger versions of Casemiro and Eriksen. Right wing back. Crazy how far we have fallen. Remember under Ole and Jose always thinking we only 3 short. Now there is an argument we need 8 players minimum. Hope we move quickly also and are already lining up bids .
 
Surely before we even consider a new recruitment strategy, we should be prepared for potentially another change of Manager by Xmas 2025 and that manager might want to play 4231 or 433.

Just hear me out I’m a huge fan of Ruben however nothing in his work so far in the EPL suggests he gets it.

His current EPL Record ;
Played 19 Won 6 Draw 4 Lost 9
GS25 GC28
Points 22
Average Points Per Game - 1.16
Average Goals Scored - 1.31
Average Goals Against - 1.47
Yes the players are mostly the problem but in 32 years of the EPL only one 343/352/3421 system has ever won the EPL and normally they are drab defensive systems that stutter at mid to lower league positions.

There are no more excuses next season when he has his so called

If he starts next season with the same inept team displays after investing another £150-200m then he’ll be gone maybe after as little as 10-12 PL games if he’s overseeing a team that now has 5/6 new specialists and gave 12 or 13 points and in the bottom 6/7.

That’s why the club must buy players who ideally can ;
1) Fit RA system
2) More importantly flexible enough to play in other systems seamlessly.
3) Players like Kobbie can not be allowed to be sold as he would be perfect as DLP or Playmaking 8 in another managers system.
4) The club make all decisions on players leaving like R Hojlund, J Zirkzee, A Onana
A Garnaucho, Casemiro.

Three of those five players will have to leave along with Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans, Heaton, Sancho, Antony and Rashford. The Club will probably lose between 9 and 10 players and may need to buy/loan 6 or 7 players.

Personally I think Amorim needs to show much more from now to the end of the season to justify a huge rebuild of players that only suit his system.

He has 8 PL games and should be set a 15 point target and hopefully 5 Europa League Games.
IRN-BRUno said:
Every penny available this summer needs to be going on the attack. Not raw talents like Dibling who aren't ready to contribute now but might be in 3 years. Not young players like Ekitike, Sesko, Delap who have decent records but would be reliant on going up another level to make it here. We need at least 2 proven, experienced players there.
Click to expand...
Absolutely spot on, we are in need of absolute Elite Strikers and Creators. Anyone who does not understand this doesn’t really understand PL football.

United this year have scored 37 PL goals in 30 Matches and only the six teams below us have scored less. That’s an average of 1.23 goals per game scored. Under Amorim it’s 25 goals in 19 PL games or an average of 1.31 which means you simply can’t polish a turd.

If Sancho, Anthony, Rashford and at least two of Garnaucho, Hojlund and Zirkzee leave then we need at least 4 proven attacking players in.

Rashford may yet return as I can’t see anyone paying £40/50m and his wages as well. We need to sell four of the other 5 for £150-160m, I’d like to see Rashford go to just don’t think it will happen unless Barcelona win the treble and have some cash free this summer.

We should just focus on one midfield player like Ederson or Hjulmand, maybe pick up Angel Gomes on a free and then focus on the attacking profile of the squad.

Experienced Attackers
Right 10/SS - F Trincao and B Mbeumo
Left 10/Wide - M Cunha or D Olmo
Centre forward/Striker - V Osimhen
Right Wing Back - J Frimpong or
R Fernandes

I think we need to sign Trincao and Brian Mbeumo as Mbeumo and Cunha can both play at number 9 as well as number 10.

Those 5 players probably cost £230-240m so probably an £80-90m net investment but this is the only way the club regains its top 5/6 status next season, not by only recruiting young emerging talents?
 
At this point, if I had to limit myself to three new signings, I'd simply choose three attacking players/strikers. We can keep playing with Dalot, Casemiro, Lindelöf, Onana, and the like; none of that will prevent us as much from success as an attack like the one we have right now.
 
Onana
Yoro --- De Ligt --- Martinez (Shaw)
Dalot ----- Ugarte --------- Bruno ----- Dorgu
Mbuemo --- Cunha
Gyokeres/Sesko
​
Let's have some more reserve signings who could contribute directly in the squad as Cherki. Sell as much as we can.
But the main thing is improve the attack. I feel with this new attack we would be very good. 50 million for Mbuemo, 60 million for Cunha, 60 million for Gyokeres/Sesko.
 
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We have lost Rashford/Sancho/Greenwood and Antony from the squad with none of them replaced, the priority has to be in attack and firstly in the wide areas.

I would understand signing Oshimen if it's some kind of exchange for Garnacho but otherwise I wouldn't sign a striker until the wide areas have been addressed simply because no #9 is going to enter a United team that is creating an historically low amount of chances and replicate their previous form.

The options at left 10 would be: Kevin, Cunha, Eze, Williams or Doue. I think it's very unlikely PSG would let go of Doue but he's one of the most talented wingers in the world and is played out of position all the time for Barcola and Kvat so United should at least explore it.

Right 10 I would play Amad and then look to sign a right wing back but we still need competition for that position so I'd look at Cherki if he really is available for a cut price. Players like Luis Henrique and Fernandes are interesting options because like Amad they're wide players converted to wing backs so if Amad was to get injured they'd both be capable of playing in RWB or R10.

Assuming that Amorim is planning to use Dorgu at left wing back then for right wing back I'd look at Wesley/Vanderson and Tobias.
 
FlawlessVictory88 said:
So I've posted in the Hidden Gems thread that United should be seriously looking at signing Kevin Lopes who plays as a left winger for Shakthar Donesk and over the last number of months my conviction has only gotten stronger. I work in football data/analytics and to me he's by far the most standout option for United at the left 10 given his profile of age/ability/availability and potential. He's already better than any winger United have on the books and that's including Rashford/Sancho/Antony etc

I've spent the last couple of days watching all of his champions league games for Shakthar and made a compilation of his play, unfortunately I couldn't find the game vs Arsenal as this was copyrighted but opponents are: Bayern/PSV/Brest/Young Boys/Atalanta/Dortmund. I've tried to pick clips that highlight every area of his game from pressing opposition defenders, receiving the ball into space/running behind defensive line, receiving the ball into feet and taking on defenders, crossing left foot and right as well as goal scoring.

I know some posters will say anyone can look good in a highlight reel but bear in mind that the entire reel is taken from just 6 games and statistically he's incredibly impressive.

He's the #1 dribbler in the champions league this season with 5.1 per game, for comparison Garnacho averages 1.3 while Rashford is 1.6. Most elite level dribblers complete around 50%+ of dribble attempts (general guideline in analytics) Doku who is the best dribbler in the premier league averages 52%, Kevin is 59%. For comparison Garnacho is 33% and Rashford is 40%

In the Ukrainian league he has averaged 6.4 dribbles per game, Willian averaged 3.5 when he played for Shakhtar and Douglas Costa averaged 4.

He's 99th percentile for: Goals, Successful take ons, Carries into penalty area/progressive carries/non penalty goals

90+ percentile for: Goals+ assists, Through balls, crosses into penalty area, progressive carrying distance, shots on target/fouls drawn.

United rank 19th in the premier league from chances created from take ons. We went from being an average side in this department with Rashford/Sancho etc to a relegation level team. Which is a large part of why we struggle so badly to score goals and why our strikers have such poor returns.

It simply won't be possible to replicate Amorim's Sporting style without at least 1 winger with this type of profile because that team had the #1 and #2 most creative forwards in Portugal playing alongside Gyokeres. With Rashford/Sancho and Antony all gone and none expected to return this position has to be priority #1 for United, and Kevin is an exceptional talent who would be a massive addition to any top team in Europe.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Click to expand...

He's more winger than creative forward. We need someone that lives in the half space.
Cunha would still be my preferred option.
 
Based on Amorim's interview with Melissa Reddy on Sky, we are going to do quite a bit of business in the first half of the transfer window, with the world club cup thing.

The whole interview is very revealing on transfers, he even talks about how Heaven's emergence has changed the priority they placed on bringing in a new centre back.
I think we'll see a striker, a number 10, a wing back and midfielder. At leasr 3 of those will come straight into the starting line up.

here it is : https://www.skysports.com/football/...oss-says-summer-window-is-going-to-be-crucial
 
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FrankWhite said:
He's more winger than creative forward. We need someone that lives in the half space.
Cunha would still be my preferred option.
Click to expand...
Well he's being played on the wing and it wasn't until Wolves moved to a back 3 with Ait Nouri as a wing back that Cunha was in that half space.

What's important is defining the type of skillset a player need to have in order to play as a 10 for Amorim. Based on the profile of players he's signed at Sporting and style of play they need to be very good in a number of areas: Carrying/dribbling, throughballs/key passes/crossing. Fortunately we already have a very good creative forward in Amad for the right 10 who has very good metrics in all the above categories.

Kevin is 99th percentile in carries and take ons so no question about his ability here. Through balls Kevin is 90th percentile (Cole Palmer is 91, Yamal is 97) Amad is 30th and Garnacho is 8th percentile (revoltingly bad) In fairness to Amad he's 30th percentile compared to wingers and almost 90th percentile compared to full backs which is a more accurate comparison as he's played more at wing back than up front. Cunha is 76 percentile here although many would argue (and I would agree) that his numbers would be better if he had better team mates.

Crossing into penalty area Kevin is 96 Cunha is 53, although Cunha is higher with passes into penalty area and this likely reflects him taking up a more central area therefore making less crosses into the box and more passes.

If you're going to make a distinction between a winger and a creative forward then you' have to define what skills that creative forward has that the winger doesn't. Maybe your definition doesn't include through balls/key passes and crossing but if it does then Kevin has very impressive numbers in these categories.

To be clear I made posts a couple of months ago that outlined three players I felt would be excellent left 10s for Amorim and those players where Cunha/Marmoush and Kvaratskhelia, so if United signed Cunha I'd be delighted.

There's a reasonable chance that we won't get Cunha as he's been heavily linked to Arsenal/Chelsea as well as Forrest/Villa. So United simply must be prepared for scenarios where he goes elsewhere and not end up in a Fabregas/De Jong/Antony situation where the club doesn't have a plan B and ends up massively overpaying or panic buying.
 
FlawlessVictory88 said:
Well he's being played on the wing and it wasn't until Wolves moved to a back 3 with Ait Nouri as a wing back that Cunha was in that half space.

What's important is defining the type of skillset a player need to have in order to play as a 10 for Amorim. Based on the profile of players he's signed at Sporting and style of play they need to be very good in a number of areas: Carrying/dribbling, throughballs/key passes/crossing. Fortunately we already have a very good creative forward in Amad for the right 10 who has very good metrics in all the above categories.

Kevin is 99th percentile in carries and take ons so no question about his ability here. Through balls Kevin is 90th percentile (Cole Palmer is 91, Yamal is 97) Amad is 30th and Garnacho is 8th percentile (revoltingly bad) In fairness to Amad he's 30th percentile compared to wingers and almost 90th percentile compared to full backs which is a more accurate comparison as he's played more at wing back than up front. Cunha is 76 percentile here although many would argue (and I would agree) that his numbers would be better if he had better team mates.

Crossing into penalty area Kevin is 96 Cunha is 53, although Cunha is higher with passes into penalty area and this likely reflects him taking up a more central area therefore making less crosses into the box and more passes.

If you're going to make a distinction between a winger and a creative forward then you' have to define what skills that creative forward has that the winger doesn't. Maybe your definition doesn't include through balls/key passes and crossing but if it does then Kevin has very impressive numbers in these categories.

To be clear I made posts a couple of months ago that outlined three players I felt would be excellent left 10s for Amorim and those players where Cunha/Marmoush and Kvaratskhelia, so if United signed Cunha I'd be delighted.

There's a reasonable chance that we won't get Cunha as he's been heavily linked to Arsenal/Chelsea as well as Forrest/Villa. So United simply must be prepared for scenarios where he goes elsewhere and not end up in a Fabregas/De Jong/Antony situation where the club doesn't have a plan B and ends up massively overpaying or panic buying.
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These percentile numbers for Kevin Lopes are worthless. Firstly, the raw stats are being taken from a very small sample size because it's only from CL games and secondly, he's being compared in those percentiles to midfielders, not AMs/wingers.

This is why all his shooting/dribbling percentiles are >90th and all his passing percentiles are <10th. It's completely useless data.
 
Broadly..

I think a forward capable of 20+ goals, combined with Mount staying fit gets us all the way up to 5th-6th next season

Add in a right wing back and a midfielder and I think we get one the CL places

Either is doable if Wilcox, Vivell and co are up to their jobs.

To challenge for the title would take doing what Leicester did when they signed Kante and Mahrez out of nowhere, but doing that with like 4 or 5 players. Quite unrealistic.
 
A striker, two midfielders and two 10s. Get rid of Casemiro, Collyer, Zrikzee and maybe even Garnacho and just get some quality around Bruno in the spine of the team.
 
Roboc7 said:
A striker, two midfielders and two 10s. Get rid of Casemiro, Collyer, Zrikzee and maybe even Garnacho and just get some quality around Bruno in the spine of the team.
Click to expand...
That's extremely harsh. I don't think Collyer's ready to start but I think he's done more than enough to show he can be a handy asset to the side, and I don't think we'd make much money if we sold him this summer...
 
V.O. said:
These percentile numbers for Kevin Lopes are worthless. Firstly, the raw stats are being taken from a very small sample size because it's only from CL games and secondly, he's being compared in those percentiles to midfielders, not AMs/wingers.

This is why all his shooting/dribbling percentiles are >90th and all his passing percentiles are <10th. It's completely useless data.
Click to expand...

You need to adjust your settings, you can view his stats compared to midfielders or wingers. I'll happily take a screenshot if you'd like?

I'm exclusively using champions league games because I doubt many posters would put much weight in his stats whilst playing for Shakhtar outside of europe. I'm happy to give you the stats from his performances there as I'm a member of a few sites but by in large they mirror what you see here.

There's also a branch of analytics which specialises in expected performances which is assessing how a players performances in say Holland would translate to a much tougher league I.E the premiership. Think of it like XG but for measuring player potential and Kevin is one of the highest performers of all players outside Europes top 5 leagues.
 
We're getting in a situation now where in most games our 3 centre backs are playing well, usually regardless of who those players are- e.g., Maguire came and did a good job today, Heaven was excellent before the injury, Yoro and Maz have actually had good individual seasons for the most part, and De Ligt has done pretty well. Dalot seems to be playing better now at Right back too. Despite still conceding the odd stupid goal, the foundations of the defence are not bad. I would argue a LWB is a priority with Dorgu being a squad option for the right and left positions.

LWB, Striker (s), another 10, and possibly a midfielder are the priorities. A new goalkeeper too as I'm not convinced by Onana.
 
We need goals. Lots of them. Several players who can score them. Urgently. We have scored six more goals than Ipswich Town for crying out loud.
 
New attack
New attack
New attack


Catapult Hojlund back to Italy
Sell Gernacho to the highest bidder
Pray Villa buy Rashford
Pray Betis buy Antony
Giveaway Sancho to anyone stupid enough to take him

Buy a whole new set of attacking players. The current lot are fecking bobbins
 
Onana
Yoro-De Ligt-Heavan
Amad Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Cherki Cunha
Osimhen​
 
AdNani said:
Onana
Yoro-De Ligt-Heavan
Amad Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Cherki Cunha
Osimhen​
Click to expand...

Don’t think you need Amad/Cherki/Cunha all in the same side. Ideally someone with a bit more pace to run inbehind the striker.
 
FlawlessVictory88 said:
You need to adjust your settings, you can view his stats compared to midfielders or wingers. I'll happily take a screenshot if you'd like?

I'm exclusively using champions league games because I doubt many posters would put much weight in his stats whilst playing for Shakhtar outside of europe. I'm happy to give you the stats from his performances there as I'm a member of a few sites but by in large they mirror what you see here.

There's also a branch of analytics which specialises in expected performances which is assessing how a players performances in say Holland would translate to a much tougher league I.E the premiership. Think of it like XG but for measuring player potential and Kevin is one of the highest performers of all players outside Europes top 5 leagues.
Click to expand...
But you haven't adjusted anything.

FlawlessVictory88 said:
Well he's being played on the wing and it wasn't until Wolves moved to a back 3 with Ait Nouri as a wing back that Cunha was in that half space.

What's important is defining the type of skillset a player need to have in order to play as a 10 for Amorim. Based on the profile of players he's signed at Sporting and style of play they need to be very good in a number of areas: Carrying/dribbling, throughballs/key passes/crossing. Fortunately we already have a very good creative forward in Amad for the right 10 who has very good metrics in all the above categories.

Kevin is 99th percentile in carries and take ons so no question about his ability here. Through balls Kevin is 90th percentile (Cole Palmer is 91, Yamal is 97) Amad is 30th and Garnacho is 8th percentile (revoltingly bad) In fairness to Amad he's 30th percentile compared to wingers and almost 90th percentile compared to full backs which is a more accurate comparison as he's played more at wing back than up front. Cunha is 76 percentile here although many would argue (and I would agree) that his numbers would be better if he had better team mates.

Crossing into penalty area Kevin is 96 Cunha is 53, although Cunha is higher with passes into penalty area and this likely reflects him taking up a more central area therefore making less crosses into the box and more passes.

If you're going to make a distinction between a winger and a creative forward then you' have to define what skills that creative forward has that the winger doesn't. Maybe your definition doesn't include through balls/key passes and crossing but if it does then Kevin has very impressive numbers in these categories.

To be clear I made posts a couple of months ago that outlined three players I felt would be excellent left 10s for Amorim and those players where Cunha/Marmoush and Kvaratskhelia, so if United signed Cunha I'd be delighted.

There's a reasonable chance that we won't get Cunha as he's been heavily linked to Arsenal/Chelsea as well as Forrest/Villa. So United simply must be prepared for scenarios where he goes elsewhere and not end up in a Fabregas/De Jong/Antony situation where the club doesn't have a plan B and ends up massively overpaying or panic buying.
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Kevin is 90th percentile for through balls while Cunha is 76th percentile, yet the actual per90 figures are 0.39 and 0.45, respectively?

Crossing into penalty area - Kevin is 96th percentile with 0.39 per 90, yet Yamal also provides 0.39 per 90 and is in the 64th percentile?

Previously you talked about him being 99th percentile for goals and him being significantly ahead of Trincao for key passes. All these seem to be inaccurate.

The high percentiles you are giving for Kevin all match his Fbref profile compared to midfielders. The percentiles for everyone else is compared to attacking players. You've just got this a bit wrong I think.
 
Wirtz, Gyokeres, Cherki.

I know signing the first two is a tall order given where we are so this is more wishful thinking. But we can potentially afford 200m of signings if we can sell well (Garnacho, Zirkzee in addition to Rash, Antony and maybe Sancho)

That will fix our attack. Defense is good. Makeshift midfield of Ugarte, Casemiro, Bruno, Collyer and KM probably ok for another season.
 
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I’m still curious to see if Mainoo and Zirkzee can work as 10s. They’ve shown some promise there but haven’t gotten consistent game time to know if we need to sign three attackers or two or if we need a left 10 or right 10
 
I know, it's unrealistic, but this would be my dream summer window:

Buy:
Xavi Simons, 62m (alternative: Dani Olmo)
Victor Osimhen, 62m
Jeremie Frimpong, 35m (alternative: Roger Fernandes)
Raphael Onyedika, 20m
Andy Diouf, 10m
Yusuf Akcicek, 7m
Oumar Camara, free

Sell / out of contract:
Alejandro Garnacho, 50m
Antony, 40m
Marcus Rashford, 40m
Rasmus Hojlund, 35m
Sancho, 25m
Casemiro, 20m
Christian Eriksen, contract expiring
Victor Lidelof, contract expiring

Three instant starters (Xavi, Osimhen, Frimpong), two young talents to replace the aging Casemiro and Eriksen (Onyedika, Diouf) and two talents for the future (Akcicek, Camara).

Onana
Yoro De Ligt Martinez/Heaven
Frimpong Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Amad Xavi
Osimhen​
 
aeh1991 said:
I know, it's unrealistic, but this would be my dream summer window:

Buy:
Xavi Simons, 62m (alternative: Dani Olmo)
Victor Osimhen, 62m
Jeremie Frimpong, 35m (alternative: Roger Fernandes)
Raphael Onyedika, 20m
Andy Diouf, 10m
Yusuf Akcicek, 7m
Oumar Camara, free

Sell / out of contract:
Alejandro Garnacho, 50m
Antony, 40m
Marcus Rashford, 40m
Rasmus Hojlund, 35m
Sancho, 25m
Casemiro, 20m
Christian Eriksen, contract expiring
Victor Lidelof, contract expiring

Three instant starters (Xavi, Osimhen, Frimpong), two young talents to replace the aging Casemiro and Eriksen (Onyedika, Diouf) and two talents for the future (Akcicek, Camara).

Onana
Yoro De Ligt Martinez/Heaven
Frimpong Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Amad Xavi
Osimhen​
Click to expand...
Your dream team includes Onana? Or do you just not see any change between the sticks just yet?
 
aeh1991 said:
I know, it's unrealistic, but this would be my dream summer window:

Buy:
Xavi Simons, 62m (alternative: Dani Olmo)
Victor Osimhen, 62m
Jeremie Frimpong, 35m (alternative: Roger Fernandes)
Raphael Onyedika, 20m
Andy Diouf, 10m
Yusuf Akcicek, 7m
Oumar Camara, free

Sell / out of contract:
Alejandro Garnacho, 50m
Antony, 40m
Marcus Rashford, 40m
Rasmus Hojlund, 35m
Sancho, 25m
Casemiro, 20m
Christian Eriksen, contract expiring
Victor Lidelof, contract expiring

Three instant starters (Xavi, Osimhen, Frimpong), two young talents to replace the aging Casemiro and Eriksen (Onyedika, Diouf) and two talents for the future (Akcicek, Camara).

Onana
Yoro De Ligt Martinez/Heaven
Frimpong Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Amad Xavi
Osimhen​
Click to expand...

Too many midgets in that team.
 
Woziak said:
Surely before we even consider a new recruitment strategy, we should be prepared for potentially another change of Manager by Xmas 2025 and that manager might want to play 4231 or 433.

Just hear me out I’m a huge fan of Ruben however nothing in his work so far in the EPL suggests he gets it.

His current EPL Record ;
Played 19 Won 6 Draw 4 Lost 9
GS25 GC28
Points 22
Average Points Per Game - 1.16
Average Goals Scored - 1.31
Average Goals Against - 1.47
Yes the players are mostly the problem but in 32 years of the EPL only one 343/352/3421 system has ever won the EPL and normally they are drab defensive systems that stutter at mid to lower league positions.

There are no more excuses next season when he has his so called

If he starts next season with the same inept team displays after investing another £150-200m then he’ll be gone maybe after as little as 10-12 PL games if he’s overseeing a team that now has 5/6 new specialists and gave 12 or 13 points and in the bottom 6/7.

That’s why the club must buy players who ideally can ;
1) Fit RA system
2) More importantly flexible enough to play in other systems seamlessly.
3) Players like Kobbie can not be allowed to be sold as he would be perfect as DLP or Playmaking 8 in another managers system.
4) The club make all decisions on players leaving like R Hojlund, J Zirkzee, A Onana
A Garnaucho, Casemiro.

Three of those five players will have to leave along with Eriksen, Lindelof, Evans, Heaton, Sancho, Antony and Rashford. The Club will probably lose between 9 and 10 players and may need to buy/loan 6 or 7 players.

Personally I think Amorim needs to show much more from now to the end of the season to justify a huge rebuild of players that only suit his system.

He has 8 PL games and should be set a 15 point target and hopefully 5 Europa League Games.

Absolutely spot on, we are in need of absolute Elite Strikers and Creators. Anyone who does not understand this doesn’t really understand PL football.

United this year have scored 37 PL goals in 30 Matches and only the six teams below us have scored less. That’s an average of 1.23 goals per game scored. Under Amorim it’s 25 goals in 19 PL games or an average of 1.31 which means you simply can’t polish a turd.

If Sancho, Anthony, Rashford and at least two of Garnaucho, Hojlund and Zirkzee leave then we need at least 4 proven attacking players in.

Rashford may yet return as I can’t see anyone paying £40/50m and his wages as well. We need to sell four of the other 5 for £150-160m, I’d like to see Rashford go to just don’t think it will happen unless Barcelona win the treble and have some cash free this summer.

We should just focus on one midfield player like Ederson or Hjulmand, maybe pick up Angel Gomes on a free and then focus on the attacking profile of the squad.

Experienced Attackers
Right 10/SS - F Trincao and B Mbeumo
Left 10/Wide - M Cunha or D Olmo
Centre forward/Striker - V Osimhen
Right Wing Back - J Frimpong or
R Fernandes

I think we need to sign Trincao and Brian Mbeumo as Mbeumo and Cunha can both play at number 9 as well as number 10.

Those 5 players probably cost £230-240m so probably an £80-90m net investment but this is the only way the club regains its top 5/6 status next season, not by only recruiting young emerging talents?
Click to expand...

Yawn
 
to hell with the big names...other than a striker.....bring in some younger technically gifted players who have a bit of hunger and passion to play, that will work their socks off and feel some pride to play for United
 
Woziak said:
Like watching yesterday derby yes?
Click to expand...

Thinking about the manager losing his job by the end of the calendar year is dumb

Thinking players bought for a 353 system can’t also play a regular 4321 or 433 is also dumb.

So that’s 2 dumb things combined which makes it even dumber
 
GK: Trafford, Vitek, Heaton
RCD: Yoro, Mazraoui
LCD: Martinez, Heaven, Shaw
CD: de Ligt, Maguire, Kukonki
RWB: Roger Fernandes, Dalot
LWB: Dorgu, Leon
CM: Fernandes, Larsson, Ugarte, Mainoo
AMR: Amad, Rigg
AML: Cunha, Mount
ST: Delap, Zirkzee
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
GK: Trafford, Vitek, Heaton
RCD: Yoro, Mazraoui
LCD: Martinez, Heaven, Shaw
CD: de Ligt, Maguire, Kukonki
RWB: Roger Fernandes, Dalot
LWB: Dorgu, Leon
CM: Fernandes, Larsson, Ugarte, Mainoo
AMR: Amad, Rigg
AML: Cunha, Mount
ST: Delap, Zirkzee
Click to expand...
Zirkzee is not a striker in this system.
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
GK: Trafford, Vitek, Heaton
RCD: Yoro, Mazraoui
LCD: Martinez, Heaven, Shaw
CD: de Ligt, Maguire, Kukonki
RWB: Roger Fernandes, Dalot
LWB: Dorgu, Leon
CM: Fernandes, Larsson, Ugarte, Mainoo
AMR: Amad, Rigg
AML: Cunha, Mount
ST: Delap, Zirkzee
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Zirkzee is not a striker. He may have a future as an advanced playmaker, or 10 as they like to describe them as nowadays. Really cannot see Delap as a first choice to be honest, they absolutely MUST get a Gyokeres, Osimhen level striker.

LCB - Heaven looks like he will develop into a cracking player, I would let the lad have the starting job next season but Shaw, Maz & Martinez when eventually fit need to spell him if and when required.

I think the idea of Cunha at United, polarizing as it may be for some, is not going away until it either happens or he signs elsewhere. The guy can play & is PL proven, regardless of the odd loose marble.
 
FrankWhite said:
Zirkzee is not a striker in this system.
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TRUE NUMBER 9 said:
Zirkzee is not a striker. He may have a future as an advanced playmaker, or 10 as they like to describe them as nowadays. Really cannot see Delap as a first choice to be honest, they absolutely MUST get a Gyokeres, Osimhen level striker.

LCB - Heaven looks like he will develop into a cracking player, I would let the lad have the starting job next season but Shaw, Maz & Martinez when eventually fit need to spell him if and when required.

I think the idea of Cunha at United, polarizing as it may be for some, is not going away until it either happens or he signs elsewhere. The guy can play & is PL proven, regardless of the odd loose marble.
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I do agree with you both. I sort of put Zirkzee in as a ST because I would want Hojlund loaned (or being a part exchange for someone else) and Obi's probably a bit too young to be second choice striker. I do think his best position is in that number 10 role.

As far as Delap goes, it's a huge risk. However, lots of top strikers don't really mature until mid 20s. I like his overall play and wonder if he can become a top striker over the next few years. Osimhen is too limited in the build up play for what I see as a striker in Amorim's system. Delap is better in that respect but has nowhere near Osimhen's clinical finishing yet. That's also why I've suggested we sign Cunha in a number 10 role.

Basically all the relatively available strikers on the market have big asterisks by their names, for me. I'm probably most excited by Sesko but he's still super raw and I think he's Arsenal bound.
 
SparkedIntoLife said:
I do agree with you both. I sort of put Zirkzee in as a ST because I would want Hojlund loaned (or being a part exchange for someone else) and Obi's probably a bit too young to be second choice striker. I do think his best position is in that number 10 role.

As far as Delap goes, it's a huge risk. However, lots of top strikers don't really mature until mid 20s. I like his overall play and wonder if he can become a top striker over the next few years. Osimhen is too limited in the build up play for what I see as a striker in Amorim's system. Delap is better in that respect but has nowhere near Osimhen's clinical finishing yet. That's also why I've suggested we sign Cunha in a number 10 role.

Basically all the relatively available strikers on the market have big asterisks by their names, for me. I'm probably most excited by Sesko but he's still super raw and I think he's Arsenal bound.
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Loaning Hojlund basically leaves you with one striker.. and Chido. Hojlund has to stay. He'll get plenty of game time.
 
The first XI most urgently needs a centre forward and central midfielder. Those are the most important two.

After that, given our system I guess we need another ‘10’ and probably a RWB, although we may have hope for Mantato there.

We also need a goalkeeper.
 
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