5 positions and the realistic 5 players to fill them ?

Do we really need 5 signings though or we just 2 very good players short? If we buy a handful of 25-30m players they're just going to displace other players we've just bought and take the youth places on the squad. Plus we will just remain a team in transition as they get used to playing with each other.

I think we should be looking for a couple of world class players that can make a difference in a game. Maybe a right winger and a CB and possible replace Mata at number 10.
 
LuisNaniencia said:
Do we really need 5 signings though or we just 2 very good players short? If we buy a handful of 25-30m players they're just going to displace other players we've just bought and take the youth places on the squad. Plus we will just remain a team in transition as they get used to playing with each other.

I think we should be looking for a couple of world class players that can make a difference in a game. Maybe a right winger and a CB and possible replace Mata at number 10.
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IMO we need 4.
A CB and RW as you mentioned. But also a midfielder because Carrick has not sign a new contract so he could be release and Fellaini who could be sold, plus Schweinsteiger is not getting any younger. So a young mid would be a good option for the squad.

We also need a striker. We could sign someone like Griezmann who can play all attack positions or a striker like Ibra who can score 20+ goals.
 
I'd say we'll be looking for a keeper, as i fully expect Real to be activating that clause in a few months.

So
Butland
Laporte
Sanchez
Isco
Ibra

And we're pretty much a top 2 club in the premiership.
 
When we played versus Liverpool I noticed that we were playing with just 2 English players. If some players like Rooney, Jones, Young, Carrick, Powell, Blackett leave the club, it could be a good option to sign one English player... but who would you choose that can be better than other available players?
 
Fer said:
When we played versus Liverpool I noticed that we were playing with just 2 English players. If some players like Rooney, Jones, Young, Carrick, Powell, Blackett leave the club, it could be a good option to sign one English player... but who would you choose that can be better than other available players?
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Barkley or Kane, don't want Stones.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
Barkley or Kane, don't want Stones.
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I agree, there a better and cheaper defenders than Stones. I slightly prefer Lukaku for Kane, but both are great strikers with a bright future. Barkley has the talent to be even better, I hope he can fulfill his potential.
 
Fer said:
I agree, there a better and cheaper defenders than Stones. I slightly prefer Lukaku for Kane, but both are great strikers with a bright future. Barkley has the talent to be even better, I hope he can fulfill his potential.
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Problem is of course is that Everton are unlikely to sell two of their assets in one transfer window. Knowing us we will ignore both of those two and go for Stones.
 
A right winger, a striker, a center back and a more creative midfielder then what we currently have. Possibly replace Mata with Griezmann in an ideal world but that's unlikely and more for FM. With Mou in charge. Would've been nice if we still had Rafael for right back, but Varela is pretty good, and Valencia when he comes back, under Mou, would probably be our best option for his physicality.
Not sure who will start in the middle. Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin could work under Jose. So could Herrera in there, or Renato Sanches if we do sign him.

Ibra
Martial Mata Mahrez
Midfield Midfield
Shaw Laporte Smalling Valencia
De Gea​
 
DomesticTadpole said:
Problem is of course is that Everton are unlikely to sell two of their assets in one transfer window. Knowing us we will ignore both of those two and go for Stones.
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I read that they want to sign Koulibaly from Napoli as Stones replacement.

It seems that Simeone wants Lukaku and also PSG would try to sign him as Ibra/Cavani replacement. Juventus can be after him if they sell Morata or Mandzukic.

I think Barkley will stay.
 
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bosnian_red said:
A right winger, a striker, a center back and a more creative midfielder then what we currently have. Possibly replace Mata with Griezmann in an ideal world but that's unlikely and more for FM. With Mou in charge. Would've been nice if we still had Rafael for right back, but Varela is pretty good, and Valencia when he comes back, under Mou, would probably be our best option for his physicality.
Not sure who will start in the middle. Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin could work under Jose. So could Herrera in there, or Renato Sanches if we do sign him.

Ibra
Martial Mata Mahrez
Midfield Midfield
Shaw Laporte Smalling Valencia
De Gea​
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Pretty much agree although I'd opt for a proper 3 man midfield as I think Ibra needs that behind him rather than a #10 as slow as Mata who offers very little defensively. Play the inverted triangle midfield behind that front 3 and I think we'd see a big improvement. I'd also opt for Varela at RB as I am sick of having RB's that can't cross.
 
Regarding the scorers, I think you should include in your lists Higuain & Cavani :)
 
Devil may care said:
Pretty much agree although I'd opt for a proper 3 man midfield as I think Ibra needs that behind him rather than a #10 as slow as Mata who offers very little defensively. Play the inverted triangle midfield behind that front 3 and I think we'd see a big improvement. I'd also opt for Varela at RB as I am sick of having RB's that can't cross.
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Gündogan - Schneiderlin

Xhaka/Schweinsteiger
​
Would be nice, but it's probably unlikely.
 
Devil may care said:
Pretty much agree although I'd opt for a proper 3 man midfield as I think Ibra needs that behind him rather than a #10 as slow as Mata who offers very little defensively. Play the inverted triangle midfield behind that front 3 and I think we'd see a big improvement. I'd also opt for Varela at RB as I am sick of having RB's that can't cross.
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Thats why I mentioned Griezmann, would be as perfect of a partner as i can think of behind Ibra, just wouldnt be realistic without CL. And mourinho does a 4-2-3-1 just about everywhere so I doubt we would use a 4-3-3. Though if we did, then someone like Pjanic to go alongside schweinsteiger/Renato and schneiderlin would be ideal I think. For right back, I agree but Valencia I think with a proper target like Ibra in there could even work out well, at least to rotate with Varela.
 
I think we'll need to replace DDG but I'm struggling for ideas on who I'd want to replace him so:

GK: ? Maybe Llloris (albeit CL football might make that impossible)
RB: Carvajal (perhaps not that realistic but as they have an expensive RB they might sell)
CM: Kroos or Pjanic
RW: Mahrez
ST: Aubameyang or Griezmann

I dunno, maybe the fact we'll be playing in the Europa at best next season means we'll struggle for those. Money might talk, though.
 
bosnian_red said:
Thats why I mentioned Griezmann, would be as perfect of a partner as i can think of behind Ibra, just wouldnt be realistic without CL. And mourinho does a 4-2-3-1 just about everywhere so I doubt we would use a 4-3-3. Though if we did, then someone like Pjanic to go alongside schweinsteiger/Renato and schneiderlin would be ideal I think. For right back, I agree but Valencia I think with a proper target like Ibra in there could even work out well, at least to rotate with Varela.
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If he sticks with 4-2-3-1 I think we'll struggle as we just don't have the type of #10 for Ibra to be at his best, and like you say Griezmann is highly unlikely to leave a squad on the up like Atleti. I'd look for Herrera to do well again in a proper midfield 3 and I'd like to see a player like Goretza come in, I don't see the point in Renato Sanches right now, lots of energy but not refined on the ball. We should also be looking for Pereira and Fosu-Mensah to be blooded into the midfield 3 IMO. Personally I think the likes of Valencia and Young need to go, give their bench spots to CBJ and Riley, the time is right to move on I think.
 
if we have LVG next year then I don't think that we can be looking at players like this, but let's imagine Mourinho came instead.....I don't think that, under a top manager, we'd need a drastic overhaul of personnel, 3 or 4 new, quality players should be enough.

De Gea
Darmian Smalling Stones Shaw
Schweinsteiger
Greizmann Sanches Martial
Mata
Lukaku
​
Obviously, we could swap Schweinsteiger/Schneiderlin, we have Memphis who can play too and, I am sure, will come good. We'd have cover everywhere with the players we have now (losing the dead wood) and these new signings.
 
Von Mistelroum said:
if we have LVG next year then I don't think that we can be looking at players like this, but let's imagine Mourinho came instead.....I don't think that, under a top manager, we'd need a drastic overhaul of personnel, 3 or 4 new, quality players should be enough.

De Gea
Darmian Smalling Stones Shaw
Schweinsteiger
Greizmann Sanches Martial
Mata
Lukaku
​
Obviously, we could swap Schweinsteiger/Schneiderlin, we have Memphis who can play too and, I am sure, will come good. We'd have cover everywhere with the players we have now (losing the dead wood) and these new signings.
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I agree about signing just 3 or 4 quality players, instead of an overhaul.

In your formation, I would change Griezmann for Mata and I would sign Mahrez as the right winger. Also, I think Stones has been a bit poor this year even he is talented. It might be a better options in that position.

Also, Lukaku and Renato Sanches would be ideal signings for us.
 
Fer said:
I think 3 or 4 players would be enough, but if we sign 5 players I would fill these positions:

CB: Laporte/Stones
CM: Gundogan/Pjanic
RW: Sane/Mahrez
AM: Griezmann/Dybala
ST: Lukaku/Kane

De Gea
Darmian - Smalling - Laporte - Shaw
Gundogan - Schneiderlin
Sane --- Griezmann --- Martial
Lukaku​
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hard to argue with any of that! would be a sweet summer (particularly if we had a manager who could you know, put all the pieces together)
 
I was thinking about this earlier, it almost seems a given that while Pep is at City they'll be winning the title (even if we do bring in Mourinho to keep us competitive) but who could we buy to give us parity with some of the genuine world class players City have with the likes of Aguero and Silva...
 
charlenefan said:
I was thinking about this earlier, it almost seems a given that while Pep is at City they'll be winning the title (even if we do bring in Mourinho to keep us competitive) but who could we buy to give us parity with some of the genuine world class players City have with the likes of Aguero and Silva...
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  • Gundogan and Gotze finish contract in 2017 and they could be available.
  • Laporte and Griezmann have release clauses.
  • Ibrahimovic is for free.
  • There are young talents like Dembele, Sane, Embolo, Sanches, Tielemans, Neves, Bazoer, etc.
  • Also quality players in inferior teams (compared with us) like Lukaku, Koulibaly, Barkley, Mahrez, Stones, Kante, among others.
  • There's a possibility of top teams like Madrid selling some quality players such as Kroos, Isco, James
  • Even experienced strikers like Higuain, Aubameyang, Cavani that could leave this summer.
For those, I would take Laporte, Gundogan, Griezmann, Mahrez and Ibrahimovic. But if we sign Koulibaly, Sanches, Dembele and Lukaku will be okay for me.
I just hope we don't lose time trying to sign the likes of Varane, Verrati, Pogba, Bale, Dybala, Muller, Neymar, Lewandowski.
 
If you could choose one of the next set of 5 players, which one would you prefer:

A) Stones, Gundogan, Mahrez, Griezmann and Ibrahimovic
B) Laporte, Kante, Dembele, Isco and Lukaku
C) Marquinhos, Kroos, Sane, Gotze and Kane
D) Dragovic, Saul, Mane, Dybala and Cavani
E) Koulibaly, Sanches, Moura, James and Aubameyang
F) Hummels, Pogba, Anderson, Barkley, Higuain

EDIT: Added another option.
 
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RB-Coleman (£30m)
CF-Lukaku (£50-60m) mental money
Attacker-Mane (£25-30m)
Attacker-Moura (£25-30m)
CH-Hummels (£35m)

If we sell either one or more of Mata/Rooney/Rojo or Fellaini I'd be tempted to go all out for Pogba.
Bit of a stretch but with Jose I believe it's all possible.
 
CB
1 Laporte
2 Marquinhos
3 Hummels
4 Stones
5 Koulibaly

CM
1 Soul
2 Gundogan
3 Tielemans
4 Goretzka
5 Xhaka

CM 2
1 Sanches
2 Koke
3 kante
4 Barkley
5 Matuidi

RW
1 Griezmann
2 Sane
3 Dembele
4 Moura
5 Mahrez

ST
1 Zlatan
2 Dybala
3 Aubameyang
4 Lukaku
5 Morata
 
paulscholes18 said:
CB
1 Laporte
2 Marquinhos
3 Hummels
4 Stones
5 Koulibaly

CM
1 Soul
2 Gundogan
3 Tielemans
4 Goretzka
5 Xhaka

CM 2
1 Sanches
2 Koke
3 kante
4 Barkley
5 Matuidi

RW
1 Griezmann
2 Sane
3 Dembele
4 Moura
5 Mahrez

ST
1 Zlatan
2 Dybala
3 Aubameyang
4 Lukaku
5 Morata
Click to expand...
Nice options.
I would just change Kane for Morata. Also, Kroos and Isco could be considered. I don't know where Gotze would fit.
Dybala would be amazing but I cannot see that happening.
 
I thought the key of the thread was 'realistic' options. They will depend on your future manager (not every player will want to play for Mourinho or Giggs), if you can offer European football and if so which one, and, of course, players' personal priorities and alternatives.
 
Butland (If De Gea goes) - Young keeper that I've rated for a while but is having a great season and will only get better.

Bonucci/Mustafi - Think we need experience and physicality to create a dominant pairing with Smalling. I also think buying a young centre back will block the vast talent we have coming through in that position at the club already. Is Bonucci possible? I'd try, stranger things have happened.

Neves/Sanches - Personally would much prefer Neves as he's clearly the more accomplished player right now and looks to have a higher ceiling but I wouldn't mind either one and we'd benefit from their energy and drive in midfield.

Mahrez/Rafa Silva/Dembele - All good players with potential to improve but as my order of preference shows, Mahrez would be my first choice at RW, although that'll be the case for loads of clubs this summer with him.

Griezmann/Ibrahimovic - Don't need to say anything. Would've added Kane but believe it or not I think he's more unrealistic than these two but he'd obviously be a welcome addition too.
 
Defenders - Dragovic, Laporte, Stones

Midfield - Gundogan, Kroos, Xhaka

Attackers - Ibrahimovic, Aubameyang, Bale, Griezmann, Mahrez

Any one of each for each position, 2 for Attackers.
 
CB - Laporte would be ideal. Not sold on Stones. Marquinhos would be great too.

CM - Barkley. Young, talented and English.

CDM - No idea here. We need someone who can sit in front of the defense in the 4-3-3. Carrick is past it.

RW - Dembele. Fast, direct, young and full of potential. Having him, martial, rashford and Memphis (if he comes good) to rotate up front would be an exciting attack.

ST - Ibra for a short term solution or Lukaku or Kane long term. The long term option could wait if he signed Ibra, kept Rooney, and gave Rashford some more chances.

That's my ideal summer.
 
If next season we want to play 442 like Leicester, let's say that we have Dembele/Mahrez/Memphis as wingers and Martial/Kane/Rashford as strikers.
In order to make this formation effective, which midfielder do you think we should have?

Martial - Kane
Dembele - Schneiderlin - Midfielder? - Mahrez
​
Note: Dembele, Mahrez and Kane are examples... they could be Ibra, Sane...
 
Warming to the idea of signing Lukaku. In what world is Dybala a realistic signing though?
 
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