5 positions and the realistic 5 players to fill them ?

It's quite simple: if we don't have a very successful summer recruitment strategy we cannot possibly go int next summer and say we are a safe bet for the top 4 position that our entire business model is built on.

I expect that the board and owners are very aware of this.
 
Insanity said:
A central defender
A holding midfielder
A midfield passer
Griezmann
A right winger - Bale, preferably
A striker

These six are a must, imo.
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If we play 4231, I think we just need 1 CM.

IMO we are going to sign just 4 players (CB, CM, RW and ST). Also, I expect/hope that some of our players improve under a new manager.

How would you play with the new players assuming Rooney is going to be a starter?
 
Fer said:
If we play 4231, I think we just need 1 CM.

IMO we are going to sign just 4 players (CB, CM, RW and ST). Also, I expect/hope that some of our players improve under a new manager.

How would you play with the new players assuming Rooney is going to be a starter?
Click to expand...

I would expect the same number of signings. We may decide to buy LW and RW rather than RW and ST, dependent upon who becomes available and whether we opt to use Martial and Rooney as strikers.
 
IMO we will address 4 positions. Maybe 5 if De Gea goes to Madrid.

Manager: Mourinho
Formation: 4231

De Gea
Darmian - Smalling - Defender - Shaw
Midfielder - Schneiderlin
Winger --- Rooney --- Martial
Striker
​
Who would you sign in those positions?
 
Fer said:
IMO we will address 4 positions. Maybe 5 if De Gea goes to Madrid.

Manager: Mourinho
Formation: 4231

De Gea
Darmian - Smalling - Defender - Shaw
Midfielder - Schneiderlin
Winger --- Rooney --- Martial
Striker
​
Who would you sign in those positions?
Click to expand...

Would rather have Valencia or TFM at right back perhaps even Young or Jones as Darmain has been so poor.

Hummels
Pogba
Mane
Kane
 
Lawman said:
Would rather have Valencia or TFM at right back perhaps even Young or Jones as Darmain has been so poor.

Hummels
Pogba
Mane
Kane
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You don't seriously think those players are realistic? Hummels is already off to Bayern and to get Kane, Levy would probably make us pay for Spurs' new stadium. Mane is the only reasonable option on that list.
 
Insanity said:
A central defender
A holding midfielder
A midfield passer
Griezmann
A right winger - Bale, preferably
A striker

These six are a must, imo.
Click to expand...

We will not buy six quality players in one window. Even if your analysis is correct.

First the manager needs to decide where to play TFM. Will RoShaun Williams be included in next seasons squad? Carrick? Who will we sell? Rooney's future? Will we play 433 or 4231 or both? (I prefer 433 because it gives us more stability)

Let's agree that a powerful and tall CM alongside Smalling is a must. We also need a playmaker to replace Carrick.


This is my prediction up front.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sadio Mané
 
Why the hell are so many people keen on Mane, hes garbage! if thats the quality of player we are after then lets just accept 5th place.
 
We need a CB, after blind and smalling we have no one I trust
A ball playing midfielder, someone with a wide passing range and who can set the tempo
A RW. This should be our first priority.
After that, if Griezman is available he's a no brainer
 
Mané wouldn't be my first choice but if we fail to attract better targets for the position behind the striker, he wouldn't be the worst option. I don't think he is a legitimate option for the right wing though.
 
7even said:
We will not buy six quality players in one window. Even if your analysis is correct.

First the manager needs to decide where to play TFM.
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Mourinho will play TFM at CM in the reserve team

We will likely sign a lot of players because mourinho will need more experienced and defensive players. They might nt be expensive, they might be stop gaps for a season, but he would do a very big job on the squad and get the young inexperienced and undisciplined players into the reserves and experienced hard runners into the 11, as he has done everywhere
 
TrustInJanuzai said:
Why the hell are so many people keen on Mane, hes garbage! if thats the quality of player we are after then lets just accept 5th place.
Click to expand...

It baffles me as well, he has 1 good game for 5 where he does nothing and also has a terrible attitude, he's a mercenary and not what we need.
 
TrustInJanuzai said:
That's the sort of quality summer we need to win the league
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I think that is sort of quality we need just to make top 4. The absolute bare minimum we need for that goal, IMO.

In fact, we still need another two attackers to add to that list. If Griezmann gets injured or Zlatan is rested/injured/tired/past-it, we are back to lining up with one of the worst attacks in the league.
 
Ounas AND Sané
Krychowiak
Koulibaly/Mustafi
Janssen/Embolo/Griezmann(doubt it)/Ibra
Dahoud(heard he's been playing well?)
João Cancelo(some think we need a right back)

I am confident we could attain all of them bar Griezmann. Also think we should be trying Pereira and TFM in midfield a lot more. They're all fairly young, they're all fairly good. I am probably wrong with half of these, but Mourinho is a manager who buys very well and will therefore most likely attain the right players for the team.
 
Stringer said:
You don't seriously think those players are realistic? Hummels is already off to Bayern and to get Kane, Levy would probably make us pay for Spurs' new stadium. Mane is the only reasonable option on that list.
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Lol ok then
Stones
Zlatan
Mahrez
Mane

No midfielder needed
Zlatan
Martial Mane Mahrez
Bastion Morgan
Shaw Stones Smalling Valencia
Ddg

Rooney
Rashford
Herrera
Carrick
Jones
TFM
Young
Blind
Lingard
CBJ
Romero

Should have a squad of 25

Try Sell Rojo Darmain Memphis Adnan Mata Fellaini (Rooney) and buy replacements if we can sell them.
 
-------- De Gea/Navas---------
Valencia-Smalling-Varane-Shaw
-----Gündogan-Schneiderlin--
--Mané--Griezmann--Martial--
------------Zlatan------------

Zlatan, Gündogan and Mané are doable if we get Mou.

Varane and Griezmann will be much more difficult, obviously.

Gündogan would provide the creativity from midfield, but he is very injury prone.

Mané is more realistic than Mahrez and we would need his pace and direct running. We would have lots of pace on the wings.
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
-------- De Gea/Navas---------
Valencia-Smalling-Varane-Shaw
-----Gündogan-Schneiderlin--
--Mané--Griezmann--Martial--
------------Zlatan------------

Zlatan, Gündogan and Mané are doable if we get Mou.

Varane and Griezmann will be much more difficult, obviously.

Gündogan would provide the creativity from midfield, but he is very injury prone.

Mané is more realistic than Mahrez and we would need his pace and direct running. We would have lots of pace on the wings.
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Right now he's injured (knee), out for at least 3-5 months. At this point in time he won't pass any medical check.
 
TitusCrumble said:
Ounas AND Sané
Krychowiak
Koulibaly/Mustafi
Janssen/Embolo/Griezmann(doubt it)/Ibra
Dahoud(heard he's been playing well?)
João Cancelo(some think we need a right back)

I am confident we could attain all of them bar Griezmann. Also think we should be trying Pereira and TFM in midfield a lot more. They're all fairly young, they're all fairly good. I am probably wrong with half of these, but Mourinho is a manager who buys very well and will therefore most likely attain the right players for the team.
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Unattainable. Gladbach won't sell Xhaka (off to Arsenal) and Dahoud in one window. They don't have financial needs and are ambitious.
 
Crossie said:
Unattainable. Gladbach won't sell Xhaka (off to Arsenal) and Dahoud in one window. They don't have financial needs and are ambitious.
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Ahh my bad. How's he been this season anyway? I've heard he has played well but I am not sure how well. Also, given that you're a Dortmund fan do you think it's unlikely that you'll sell Weigl?
 
Fer said:
If we play 4231, I think we just need 1 CM.

IMO we are going to sign just 4 players (CB, CM, RW and ST). Also, I expect/hope that some of our players improve under a new manager.

How would you play with the new players assuming Rooney is going to be a starter?
Click to expand...

I am firmly of the opinion that Rooney should be sold this summer. He isn't good enough to be a striker/support striker anymore and I am not too fond of him in central midfield. I would get Griezmann as a replacement.

For the midfield, I would let both Carrick and Schweinsteiger leave. That would leave us with only Herrera and Schneiderlin as our midfield options. With our involvement in four competitions, two starters and two back-ups are a must for the midfield. I actually wouldn't mind if instead of buying someone, we use Pereira as a creative central midfield option. If we don't deem Pereira to be ready yet, I would get Banega for free.

The rest: a CB, a RW, & a Striker are a must, imo.

7even said:
We will not buy six quality players in one window. Even if your analysis is correct.

First the manager needs to decide where to play TFM. Will RoShaun Williams be included in next seasons squad? Carrick? Who will we sell? Rooney's future? Will we play 433 or 4231 or both? (I prefer 433 because it gives us more stability)

Let's agree that a powerful and tall CM alongside Smalling is a must. We also need a playmaker to replace Carrick.


This is my prediction up front.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sadio Mané
Click to expand...

I understand that it would be tough to get 6 players, and too quality additions, in a single window. Though, we need to get 5 or 6 quality players in the next 2-3 windows to be able to reestablish ourselves at the top and to regularly compete with the likes of Bayern or Barca.

I see the two youth players you mention as option for our central defense. Given that our options right now are Smalling, Jones, Rojo and Blind (who no manager besides VG will use at CB), even after getting a top CB, it will leave plenty of room for those two. I don't know see a future for Rojo here and I wouldn't bet on Jones staying fit for a considerable length of time (I mean 3 games at a time).

Keeping Rooney only creates problems; and if we are getting Zlatan, then those two old hags can't be in the same eleven.
Carrick only works if we play 433 and have two mobile & defensively aware midfielders on either side of him.

I actually wouldn't mind if we went 433. The squad currently is more suited for that formation.
 
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If Mourinho comes i expect him to play 4-2-3-1. I think he will look to sign a centre back, central midfielder, right winger, number 10 and striker. The players I think he will target are Varane, Kante, Sane, Mane and Ibrahimovic. These are the most realistic signings I can think of although Kante might not want to swap Champions League football for the Europa League. Varane and Ibrahimovic are players that Mourinho knows well and he has a good relationship with them. Kante is a typical Mourinho central midfielder with loads of pace and power but if he doesn't come I can't think of an alternative. Sane has a lot of pace and skill and can play on either wing.

I think Rooney will start at 10 but then Mourinho will quickly realise that he's a liability and look to sign a replacement. Sadio Mane would be a great signing for this position. He has plenty of pace and scores goals too. He is inconsistent out wide and it would be a waste of his talents to play there. I think Mourinho would improve the performances of Darmian and Schneiderlin considerably.

TNJXMf.jpg
 
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I don't see where the midfield playmaker will come from, unless we take a punt on a player like Tielemans.

We should give Carrick a new contract and rotate with Schweini and Blind.
 
waza7111 said:
If Mourinho comes i expect him to play 4-2-3-1. I think he will look to sign a centre back, central midfielder, right winger, number 10 and striker. The players I think he will target are Varane, Kante, Sane, Mane and Ibrahimovic. These are the most realistic signings I can think of although Kante might not want to swap Champions League football for the Europa League. Varane and Ibrahimovic are players that Mourinho knows well and he has a good relationship with them. Kante is a typical Mourinho central midfielder with loads of pace and power but if he doesn't come I can't think of an alternative. Sane has a lot of pace and skill and can play on either wing.

I think Rooney will start at 10 but then Mourinho will quickly realise that he's a liability and look to sign a replacement. Sadio Mane would be a great signing for this position. He has plenty of pace and scores goals too. He is inconsistent out wide and it would be a waste of his talents to play there. I think Mourinho would improve the performances of Darmian and Schneiderlin considerably.

TNJXMf.jpg
Click to expand...

Besides Varane, I think the team is realistic. However, Schneiderlin and Kante are a bit similar. Morgan could be Mourinho's type of midfielder and he could improve next season. Maybe a deep-lying playmaker would be a better choice (but I wouldn't say no to Kante who has been the best midfielder of the season).

The combination Martial-Mane-Sane would give us the pace we need. My only concern is that I'm not sure that Rooney will be on the bench. Do you prefer Mane instead of James as #10?
 
YouOnlyLiveTwice said:
I don't see where the midfield playmaker will come from, unless we take a punt on a player like Tielemans.

We should give Carrick a new contract and rotate with Schweini and Blind.
Click to expand...
Tielemans has been inconsistent this season. Some good passes, but not as good as he can be. However, he has lots of potential. A team like Atlético or Dortmund could be good for his development.

We need an athletic player if Rooney is going to be part of the midfield of 3. That's why Renato Sanches or Saul could have been good options. Someone like Kante would be good of Schneider in doesn't improve. But I would prefer someone more creative.
 
I just love how some people write "realistic" and it's still pogbas, hummels and griezmanns here. Especially love the Hummels mention after 10 may, when it was confirmed the guy is off to Munich and it was known from like april.

I don't exactly have 5 positions. I am not sure who we should get in attack but i think we need to target a right back. Since Darmian has not convinced me at all. And with Real having Danilo and Carvajal i think it's possible to get one of them. Fabinho from Moncao is my fall-back option. Then we need center defender. If we can't get Varane, he will have to compete with Pepe and maybe he would want a guaranteed place in first 11. Then there is Marquinhos. If both this option fail, we can go for Mustafi maybe, actually there are quite a few decent CBs. Dragovic (D Kiev, Austria) is pretty good option. There are questions about his league experience but i believe he can adapt to PL quickly enough.
As for creative player on the right, a right midfielder i would go for Bellarabi with Mane a fall-back. Sane is a good player with lots of potential, but with him, Martial and Depay plus Rashford and the rest i think we would be too young. I would like us get the player with more experience ready to perform right now.
If we manage to offload some players and we would need a more central creative player in midfield i would go for Pjanic, he would also sort out our set piece situation.
 
My list would be: Umtiti, Kovacic, Sané, Ibrahimovic.
 
JPRouve said:
My list would be: Umtiti, Kovacic, Sané, Ibrahimovic.
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Glad I'm not the only one, who wants Umtiti to sign for us. Are you convinced by Kovacic? It seems very difficult to judge how good he can actually be.
 
So frustrating seeing the same hollywood names mentioned on here, why would Bale join us now? Same of Griezmann? If I were a top players agent I would be saying wait till they're back in the CL and you will still get paid a bomb if you want to go next season.

Looking at Mourinho teams I would think we would line up with a variation of:

De Gea
Darmian - Smalling - Van Dijk - Shaw
Kante - Schneiderlin
Willian --- Herrera --- Martial
Ibra

I feel the players in bold are not unrealistic.

Van Dijk is massive, scores goals and is very good with ball at his feet. Solid defender. We can also definitely tempt him from Soton.

Kante - an obvious one, especially given how Mourihno usually sets up his teams

Willian - I rate him massively, he is a big fan of Mou and given Chelsea's awful season we might be able to tempt with big $$$$

Ibra - kind of name we want to see (even if a bit old) and seems be be in great shape still. You can't build a team around him but he will attract other big names and should be good for a couple of season.

Van Dijk - £25mil (Soton will hold firm)
Kante - £15mil
Willian - £30mil
Ibra - free
 
bucky said:
Glad I'm not the only one, who wants Umtiti to sign for us. Are you convinced by Kovacic? It seems very difficult to judge how good he can actually be.
Click to expand...

I think that Kovacic is a good player with a lot of potential and I hope that Real Madrid would sell him for 30m€ since they don't use him at all. As for Umtiti he is a good player and strangely underrated.
 
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