We need a top class midfielder and a top class striker, then we’re not too bad. He was never going to totally rebuild this squad in one season.
Are we sleepwalking into a disaster?
- Thread starter Frank Grimes
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What seriously bothers me though is that we're strengthening positions we've got covered and neglecting positions that should've been a priority.
We have already signed Malacia, Eriksen and Martinez. The minimum we still need is FDJ and another attacker. We are good to go.
Next season we need a new RB, DM and another attacker.
Next season we need a new RB, DM and another attacker.
Even all the rumours of incoming players seem to have dried out. We have the most promising manager we’ve had in recent years and yet, we don’t have the will/competence to strengthen the side. I don’t want to sound too pessimistic, but with the current squad, “top-four” will be extremely difficult to achieve.
Window isnt over. I always thought we needed 8 but would sign 5 or 6. Time for this to still happen but not overly optimistic.
What has been so poor so far though for me:
1) Lack of Sales - We have so far managed to sell only one player and not even got £9m, try and buy a single player not about to be out of contract in the permiership for that fee and it would be very difficult. That for me IS a disaster. There are a good four or five players without a doubt should be sold regardless of the new manager and his plans. I still feel double that amount but can see why some would be kept.
2) Purchases to address what we need - Again not knocking the signings so far but when you look at areas we have been poor in or lost players over the last two years. Is signing a left back and essentially another number 10 in my opinion who is now past his peak addressing the mos timportant issues?
Personally I had never heard of Martinez until recently so cant judge him individually as a player, but a centre back to push all that we have currently was definately needed, I see this as the only first eleven improvement in terms of priorities. I dont mind Eriksen either as competition for Fernandes with hi sconsistencies was for me a good addition even before is pitiful last season with his wastefulness.
As things stand we are currently going into a new season believing in potential regular first eleven starters with Dalot, McFred, Rashford and Martial. Believing in ETH his coaching and management is admirable and possibly well placed, I dont know. But having faith in that group of players is maybe a little naive considering the last few years.
ETH is obviously a huge part of this equation for progression. But taking him out of the equation, looking back to how bad we were the end of last season, the hopes in a transfer window of players moved on and what was needed to come in, then add the potential exit of ROnaldo to come.
I dont see how we cant be concerned about our transfer market activity, especially when you see the activity of the other four major clubs in comparison. Whether or not certain players are rated, there could be a jealous eye looking at signings they have made, I cant see so much of that looking at the players we have signed from there fans.
And the most damning fact with the window so far. The net spends of the big four....only Arsenal have spent more than us so far! That is really damning, again our lack of actual sales is a disgrace.
It should've been flipped around. We'd have been a better team.
RB, DM, F = This season
CB, AMF, LW = Next season
Plug the biggest holes first
If we don't sign anyone else, our ceiling is 6th. To have a good chance of a successful top 4 challenge we need at the very least 2 central/defensive midfielders and a right winger. Mctominay and Fred cannot be regulars in any serious side. They need to be pushed as far down the pecking order as possible and it seems like the only way to do that is to bring in players who are better.
In my honest opinion I think we need 5-7 signings this summer. We have 3, so we are halfway there.
First and foremost, this will be a transitional campaign. My expectations are for us to implement a style. Now, if that comes sooner than expected and the players buy into the new philosophy and get a great grasp of what Hag wants, super. I don't expect that to be the case though. These things will take time. If we get top 4, nice. If not, no worries. Continue with the re-build.
I give it 10 games before people lose their minds, though,.
'We're Manchester United, we expect better. Why don't other clubs have these issues.blah,blah,blah' etc.
I give it 10 games before people lose their minds, though,.
'We're Manchester United, we expect better. Why don't other clubs have these issues.blah,blah,blah' etc.
We've had a good pre-season so far based on pretty much the same players we had last season. And will be improved further by the pending additions of Martinez and Eriksen, both of whom ETH has said he expects to adapt to the side quickly.
Obviously we need more signings, but there's no reason that side as it will then be can't win against the likes of Brighton and Brentford in our opening two PL games. We were better than them even while in awful shape last season, let alone this season.
Beyond that we will need more signings. But there's still plenty of time and all the noises have been that we will definitely make more signings. Especially when we know we already have a fee agreed for FDJ, so if that situation resolves itself then it should move quickly from there.
As for player sales, the Ronaldo situation is obviously complicated to resolve given his apparent struggles in finding a club and I'm sure several other sales were pending ETH's assessment of the team or their own assessment of their prospects under him. I'd expect the outgoings we want closer to the end of the window.
Be patient, basically.
Obviously we need more signings, but there's no reason that side as it will then be can't win against the likes of Brighton and Brentford in our opening two PL games. We were better than them even while in awful shape last season, let alone this season.
Beyond that we will need more signings. But there's still plenty of time and all the noises have been that we will definitely make more signings. Especially when we know we already have a fee agreed for FDJ, so if that situation resolves itself then it should move quickly from there.
As for player sales, the Ronaldo situation is obviously complicated to resolve given his apparent struggles in finding a club and I'm sure several other sales were pending ETH's assessment of the team or their own assessment of their prospects under him. I'd expect the outgoings we want closer to the end of the window.
Be patient, basically.
What he says
Much like Klopp with Liverpool, I don't care where we finish next year as long as we see a direction and a style of play. Whether ETH is successful here will depend on his ability to get the most out of existing players rather than whether he can go and drop another few hundred million on randoms. If he can't do the first then the second will fail the way it has for all our managers.
The new signings can come later. This season is about getting the club moving in the right direction.
The new signings can come later. This season is about getting the club moving in the right direction.
10 games? We’ve had the entire summer of people saying the manager needs time, if we finish top 4 it’ll be a miracle, I just want to see us play good football again…after a brilliant pre-season of top goals, clear patterns and aggressive high pressing we have 1 bad 20 minute spell when 2-0 up against a top 10 PL side in pre-season on the worst pitch I’ve seen us play on in decades and people lost their fecking minds. He won’t be getting 10 games.
Relax, we still have Maguire, Rashford and Martial ….what could possibly go wrong
No, because there will be natural improvement from last years' debacle purely for having a coach who has some tactical nous. Our players are nowhere near as bad as they were made to look by a succession of poorly-implemented attempts to make us a more modern, progressive side.
This thread is a fecking disaster!
This man speaks the truth!
Two or three more signings would help of course (FDJ and Antony links ongoing, plus a CF if need to replace Ronaldo) but the main thing is coaching. Things take time, some deals are complex. FDJ and Antony know ETH so I wouldn't worry about them adapting if they arrive late, and equally expect Martinez and Eriksen to hit the ground running.
Depth needn't be a huge issue either. Club should focus on the league, play the kiddies in the cups including Europa so the core group of players are fresher throughout the season.
We still haven’t addressed the biggest glaring hole that is the cdm position. Our main man, Ronaldo (like it or not), wants away. We’ve let more players go than we’ve brought in. I’m excited about the new manager but I’ve felt that before and in seasons where we’ve invested in the squad a lot more - and I’ve been disappointed.
I don’t get how people are acting like we’ve progressed. Are people really getting sold on pre season performances?
I think OP has a point.
I don’t get how people are acting like we’ve progressed. Are people really getting sold on pre season performances?
I think OP has a point.
The only way it will last that long is if we win the first 9 games. First draw or defeat, whenever that is and whatever the circumstances, will be followed by a meltdown. We used to laugh at RAWK but we are more spineless than they ever were.
This is the first time in awhile we have positive direction. Our coach is implementing a style of play that will have us playing on the front foot. He’s bringing back respect and discipline into the team which has been lacking for years.
We’re targeting the right players that will fit the system rather than just signing players for the sake of it. There seems to be logic behind our signings based on who we have signed and who we are pushing for.
He’s already making certain players who fans had written off look like they’ll be able to contribute, and all of this, plus more has happened in a very short amount of time.
Sleepwalking to disaster is the opposite to what we’re actually doing in the eyes of fans that can take off their FM glasses.
We’re targeting the right players that will fit the system rather than just signing players for the sake of it. There seems to be logic behind our signings based on who we have signed and who we are pushing for.
He’s already making certain players who fans had written off look like they’ll be able to contribute, and all of this, plus more has happened in a very short amount of time.
Sleepwalking to disaster is the opposite to what we’re actually doing in the eyes of fans that can take off their FM glasses.
I think we will be OK. I don't believe everything is going to go according to plan with ETH. The important moment is how they recover when they lose a match. That'll show the difference. Yeah we still don't have a cdm and a rw after everyone knew those 2 positions are basically blank and we've bought lt 3 players for neither of those positions. It's crazy. And if Ronaldo leave and we don't buy a replacement, we are screwed If either Martial and Rashford get injured after that. But I'm hopeful this is the right step forward for the team. Everyone looks sharpish enough to perform. I'm nervous as Feck for the start of the season.
Seriously? I’m all for adjusting standards but top half is our goal?
Fixed.
You forget we have the messiah at the helm, and that He has mastered the hidden art of coaching.
one draw in pre season and it si panic mode? Eriksen and martinez havent even played yet !!
Oh yeah, the United fans online are generally reactionary and, as you say, spineless but they're also toxic.
For sure still have Maguire, Lindelof as first choice CB's, with an injury prone Varane and that 5-foot fella.
People will say that it's jumping to conclusions after one bad game (or half) but I would suggest it's the other way around.
A few decent preseason games does not make Martial a starting striker for a top team. It does not mean that McFred are a good midfield unit and it does not mean that we'll be thumping Liverpool 4-0 in any real game anytime soon!
We have a painfully thin squad and a lot of players who have proven, time after time, that they are not good enough for the club, including players from the starting 11.
Looking at other clubs, some have bought 6, 7, even as many as 11 new signings in. We have essentially stood still at best, letting a bunch of players go and buying a trio of replacements who will probably be fine I guess. It's nowhere near enough though, and we've spent all summer so far chasing a target who, at best, seems disinterested, and we will continue chasing him with no other targets in mind according to our manager, for the rest of the summer.
Meanwhile everything else is pretty much quiet. Antony is going nowhere, no new signings look likely outside of what we already have. It really will not be enough and it's a shame because the manager will bear the weight of this and we might end up messing up what could have been a genuine resurgence, mostly because we're so badly run that we have no scouts...or clue.
A few decent preseason games does not make Martial a starting striker for a top team. It does not mean that McFred are a good midfield unit and it does not mean that we'll be thumping Liverpool 4-0 in any real game anytime soon!
We have a painfully thin squad and a lot of players who have proven, time after time, that they are not good enough for the club, including players from the starting 11.
Looking at other clubs, some have bought 6, 7, even as many as 11 new signings in. We have essentially stood still at best, letting a bunch of players go and buying a trio of replacements who will probably be fine I guess. It's nowhere near enough though, and we've spent all summer so far chasing a target who, at best, seems disinterested, and we will continue chasing him with no other targets in mind according to our manager, for the rest of the summer.
Meanwhile everything else is pretty much quiet. Antony is going nowhere, no new signings look likely outside of what we already have. It really will not be enough and it's a shame because the manager will bear the weight of this and we might end up messing up what could have been a genuine resurgence, mostly because we're so badly run that we have no scouts...or clue.
Undoubtedly toxic. This is the first time in a while that we have very little to complain about. Pre-season has only solidified the feeling that Ten Hag is real quality. If you are still being a drama queen now, then you might want to look at yourself and wonder if you just enjoy complaining.
If we get Antony and a top DM in before deadline, then I would be happy with team for this year.
We must search for a striker (CF) that will get us 25 goals a season and a strong RB next season.
We must search for a striker (CF) that will get us 25 goals a season and a strong RB next season.
We're ok until literally any player in attack or midfield gets injured.
Hopefully Eriksen will death of us having a choice of either playing both Fred and Mctominay or just not having a midfield, but even then we need at least 1 more reliable player in that area. Preferably someone much better than Fred and Mctominay.
In attack its just obvious we need more options. Even the starting three are patchy. Rashford and Martial obviously have talent but performance wise would have been offloaded in the summer if we already had other options, and Sancho had an unconvincing first season.
At least we have a manager who has identified these things as issues and seems to have an actual plan. Ole would have just signed Lingard back and kept putting Matic in the first team despite him not even being at the club anymore
Hopefully Eriksen will death of us having a choice of either playing both Fred and Mctominay or just not having a midfield, but even then we need at least 1 more reliable player in that area. Preferably someone much better than Fred and Mctominay.
In attack its just obvious we need more options. Even the starting three are patchy. Rashford and Martial obviously have talent but performance wise would have been offloaded in the summer if we already had other options, and Sancho had an unconvincing first season.
At least we have a manager who has identified these things as issues and seems to have an actual plan. Ole would have just signed Lingard back and kept putting Matic in the first team despite him not even being at the club anymore
We were sleepwalking into disaster this time last year because we were convinced things were all good. Right now everyone knows we’re fecked so it can’t be considered sleepwalking
i think we will see some more movement transfer wise this week as ETH will have made a decision about who should be let go or sent on loan. I am excited for the start of the season as it looks like we are heading in the right direction play wise and in attitude. Have tickets to the first game of the season and am actually looking forward to it which is more than can be said about previous recent trips to OT
We’ll play better than last year but probably not move too much in terms of the table. Important thing is to stick with the style of play and add the right players every summer. Picking a cup this year would be ace.
I’m looking forward to it, it’s 2-3 year build and not something that’s going to be fixed overnight.
I’m looking forward to it, it’s 2-3 year build and not something that’s going to be fixed overnight.
We will have ups an downs until the penny drops with some of the players that it a 90 min game, but this will fade out as the seaon progresses. I think we will get at least 2 and maybe 3 other players before the transfer window shuts and TH will promote a couple of the youngsters to the first team squad. We really need to start selling or moving on the players TH doesnt want to keep asap as well.
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