You know you can get deals agreed in principle before the window opens, you don’t have to literally wait until it’s open before starting work on transfers.
Have we signed anyone yet? | Yes, with stupid tax
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So why do alot of clubs do the business late in the window?
Secondly, you do realise Ten Hag only came in at the end of May, he had to sort his backroom staff and now given targets.
Its not as simple as I want x and you get the player in a few days.
While I think its slightly jumping the gun to be negative so early in the transferwindow, it is understandable that people dont buy the whole "massive changes" statement from the club.
Our transfer dealings have been absolute shambles ever since Glazers took over, and the signing and handling of this season with Rangnick has left some questionmarks over Murtoughs head.
Combining that with the fact that we desperately need at least 4 - 5 signings, its understandable that fans are getting frustrated.
That having been said, personally I dont really feel like there is any reason to pass judgment on this seasons transferdealings before the beginning of pre season.
If Ten Hag has to start pre season training without his targets in place it will be a huge issue and if that is the case it is fair to criticise.
Our transfer dealings have been absolute shambles ever since Glazers took over, and the signing and handling of this season with Rangnick has left some questionmarks over Murtoughs head.
Combining that with the fact that we desperately need at least 4 - 5 signings, its understandable that fans are getting frustrated.
That having been said, personally I dont really feel like there is any reason to pass judgment on this seasons transferdealings before the beginning of pre season.
If Ten Hag has to start pre season training without his targets in place it will be a huge issue and if that is the case it is fair to criticise.
Frustrations will grow simply because this club has a track record of dithering and being indecisive as well as generally being incompetent at recruitment. Until its shown that things have changed there will continue to be apprehension and doubt that we'll make the signings we need within a reasonable time frame.
There's still a few weeks before pre season kicks off and we could have a couple new players by then, but I don't blame anyone for thinking that won't happen
There's still a few weeks before pre season kicks off and we could have a couple new players by then, but I don't blame anyone for thinking that won't happen
It’s absolutely understandable that this summer’s window will be ‘clunky’. It’s takes time to embed new structures, procedures and ETH has only just walked through the door. He’s had no time to truly evaluate his current playing squad, and we’ve missed out on CL football, adding an extra challenging layer.
I think the kind of ‘smooth’ window some are expecting is more realistic next June. I agree it’s hugely frustrating, especially with our two biggest rivals already strengthening, but remember folks they are well ahead of us in all departments right now. I’m happy for ETH to get in two or three players he feels will improve us now, work with the squad on the training pitch, and evaluate again leading up to January.
We have to be patient: if it’s looking like the same old problems then of course call them out. But not yet. We will catch up, but it won’t happen overnight. Which is why it will feel even better when it does.
I think the kind of ‘smooth’ window some are expecting is more realistic next June. I agree it’s hugely frustrating, especially with our two biggest rivals already strengthening, but remember folks they are well ahead of us in all departments right now. I’m happy for ETH to get in two or three players he feels will improve us now, work with the squad on the training pitch, and evaluate again leading up to January.
We have to be patient: if it’s looking like the same old problems then of course call them out. But not yet. We will catch up, but it won’t happen overnight. Which is why it will feel even better when it does.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ma...s/manchester-united-erik-ten-hag-24216985.amp
Fan sentiment is already pretty bad for the hierarchy though this poll doesn't depict a majority. Hopefully John really does prove himself by the start of the season.
First and foremost, if you're a settled club, brinkmanship and late conclusions are much more desirable as it can literally save a club millions of pounds and if you already have a strong base, can even walk away from deals. From a position of weakness, not only is this a risky practice, but can backfire tremendously if you're then left scrambling for secondary targets as their prices then goes up as they exploit the increasing desperation of a club in obvious need.
ten Hag's targets have had ample time to be worked on; we're a powerful, rich club (still), time is not the question so much as competence. Not a shred of business concluded by now is odd under the circumstances.
Your last paragraph is precisely what the club is supposed to have being working hard to prevent; whatever we're seeking should have been in motion since May.
Really? Whats ample time? Manutd have had ample time to work on De jong?
He is the key target this summer, if we get him, other transfers fall into place, if we cannot, we need to do things differently.
1. We have to negotiate with Barca, who have issues with money, so it makes sense to try and get a good deal.
2. He needed convincing to join Manutd.
Ample time since May... It only came out end of May, less than 3 weeks ago that Barca need to sell.
I thought we now had a Football Director (Murtough) / recruitment team model - shouldn’t this transcend whoever the incumbent manager happens to be?
So you want us to sign players that the manager might not like?
Also, I guess you think thinks happen on the click of a finger?
Since March, we have had different changes in the structure, including Murtough, scouts etc, you think all of a sudden things change?
Change takes time btw.
Sure, but we can argue that those "well oiled" machines had easier targets.
Everyone knew that Haaland is going, it was just a matter of persuasion, and to be fair, City did have the upper hand.
Nunez was always going for that price......it's a no brainer.
Who else? Real got Tchouameni?
So, Haaland who we knew for a year was going, and two players for 100 mil? Not excatly great business from a price point of view.
If we could haggle Barca for De Jong that would be good business.
Less then a month is still a really long time.
We all want things to go smooth and slick, but when you're haggling it's not always smooth.
Bottom point is - we obviously have De Jong in the bag, it's just a matter of pricing him correctly.
The rest of the targets are probably bagged as well, just a matter of order in which we do business.
Probably De Jong, Antony, Timber.
And then maybe, and that's a big maybe - one more transfer for the right price.
Nothing points to us having any sort of agreement with any club for any player. This is the hardest and longest part of the whole process. So, through experience, I naturally struggle to believe we can pull off such business in 3.5 weeks. Definitely not the 2 weeks before we start training and working on our game plan for the season.
The daft thing is, it takes a 5 minute conversation to establish what Barcelona's expectations are re FdJ. We have them in a perfect position to strong arm them into selling, but only if we threaten to walk away and the risk losing out on 80m + saving millions in wages. Yet we haven't done that. What's it been, 3 weeks? And we've not agreed a fee. With all the other business that needs doing, this just baffles me. Move the feck on and start the process for the next player. We will sign somebody else or Barca will come crawling back.
We're going to learn the true importance of a thorough scouting department this summer, if we don't already know it. By all accounts ETH's targets are players that he has an experience of working with before. We've yet to be credibly linked with any outside the box signings.
We kind of have to get De Jong at this point (with Neves the back up being valued at 100m). It's anyone's guess who the other two signings will be, cannot see more than 3 happening with the abject pace we are moving at currently.
We kind of have to get De Jong at this point (with Neves the back up being valued at 100m). It's anyone's guess who the other two signings will be, cannot see more than 3 happening with the abject pace we are moving at currently.
Yes, this is the same ole same ole story. Every season our transfer dealings are the most monotonous sagas of all time and it usually ends in disappointment. And then you get those that say oooh we are only a few days into the opening of the transfer window, no need to panic. But this is what we have done for years. Clubs advance plan! We do not seem to. Villa already have three players in the door. We have known the likes of Pogba, Lingard and Matic were leaving for some time from an already weak midfield. Well at least the first two. And we have done nothing except dilly dally over one midfielder De Jong, who even if we got him is just not enough.
Everything has changed? Not a jot. We didn't advance plan, because we had an interim manager since November. So now we have a massive hole in our squad, and are talking of having Pellistri, and Garner and blimmin Pereira in the squad just to get bums on seats. If we get anyone through the door it will be either we have paid through the nose to get it done, or we have just panic bought. There is no structure to our transfer dealings, never has been and nothing has changed as it stands. Liverpool get linked with Darwin Nunez, and beforer you know it the deal is pretty much done. Bissouma looks like he is available for £25m...I mean where is the strategy on and off the pitch at Old Trafford that doesn't have us banging on Brighton's door on this when it is an area of the pitch where we are screaming for reinforcements.
I remember a good few seasons ago now, probably ten years ago, Mousa Dembele (not the striker) was with Fulham when we were talking of dumping Berbatov there. And it didn't dawn on anyone that we could get one of the best box-to-box midfielders at that time as part of the deal. Spurs ended up getting Dembele after they triggered a £15m release clause in his contract with Fulham. And we were screaming out for quality in midfield even then.
We remain a laughing stock. And our reputation is mud.
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Do you think clubs work on the same timelines and knowledge as fans and media? Do you genuinely believe that we don't have the inside track on anything breaking at Barca well before it becomes public knowledge, and vice-versa for that matter?
And the conjecture of other things falling into place, by which I'm assuming you mean other signings falling into place like dominoes, is extremely precarious when you are approaching the market from a position of weakness.
Your posts wouldn't raise an eyebrow if we were able to call shots or had any leverage whatsoever, but we don't, and our business needs concluding in accordance with that lest we're left with our proverbials in hand scrambling in a manner we had all of the time in the world to circumvent.
Even if you take us out the equation entirely, the way others are conducting their business, those who are already far ahead of us, is insightful enough.
I think the problem is that we are believing what the media says but in reality, we have no idea what is the club's plan. You have to know that the media always tries to make up news to pander to us the fans, simply because we want to hear some updates regarding us buying some players. The fact that we buy into those stories, is what is causing the frustration.
The key question we have to ask is not why we are not buying players immediately, rather we have to ask what is the manager's assessment of the squad and whether he is looking at buying players. The only one we know so far is De Jong which kind of makes sense as we are severely unbalanced in midfield (only 1 recognized CM and no DM at all). There is a strong possibility that the manager wants to work with the current squad and academy talents based on what he has been briefed and observed so far (ETH has already been analyzing this club way before his appointment), so let's be patient and trust in the manager's plan. We should not be making decisions on the squad and think that we need a lot of signings as we have no idea whatsoever what caused the meltdown last season, considering that we were 2nd the previous season.
Let me ask a hypothetical question here: what's worth more to us, in our predicament: a settled player ready, in every manner, for the start of the season, or saving €5m-€10m on the price?
On the face of it, you might well say the money, but what if the unsettled player is the difference between CL qualification and not?
We, of all clubs, need our house in order as soon as possible - we're total unknown entity as opposed to everyone else who will fire out the traps with a squad that knows what they are doing and a manager who is familiar with his players. If there was ever a window not to dither and dawdle, it's this one. Perhaps everything runs seamlessly once we get going with purchases, but how many are backing a club with our track record to make that happen?
There is something to be said watching our supposed rivals preparing to battle each other espousing the principle of getting key components ready for August, and not September.
Most are still blind to it.
Next season will be a wash out, the board threw the previous season and has effectively thrown away next season aswell and they expect us to believe they've turned things around.
Its more of the same with new faces.
Tic toc. And round and round we go. A ferris wheel of incompetence since the Glazers took over. I'm not expecting much. Loads of new hires and people learning on the job in key positions (not a good situation at all). This window will not be any fun. We have already been told the current squad has underperformed last season, so the board clearly think not a lot of investment is required. An ageing striker and whats behind him is not a pretty thought when you think about it. We will absolutely struggle for top 4 next season. I predict 5th or 6th. Hope to be proved wrong.
Absolutely agree with you.
I honestly have zero idea how things work at such a high level so it's easy for me to say, "yeah, just splash that extra 10 million".
Thing is, if you do that with 4 transfers which is the number of players we need and want, that equals to 40 million euros.
And that's another player.
Our house is currently on holiday, which is perfectly fine by me.
The players all need to step back, take a long hard look on where they were and where they want to be.
And i want them to be refreshed and ready to go to work - and Erik will give them something to work for.
Our first pre season game is in a month. In Thailand.
So, realistically, we still have a good 2 weeks to do everything, transfer wise.
That's why i don't get the overall panic. There is plenty of time.
Can't believe some are remaining optimistic, it's almost admirable. We will struggle to do any better than last season.
I mean - even De Jong, who is a very good player who I’d like - was he even part of our plans a month or two ago?
well, growing up I was always told if I have nothing to say, don't speak. Maybe you could take a leaf out of that book. But, hey, if you think the club's transfer policy has worked recently and is working now, maybe think about getting some help
anyone want to offer odds on City finalising a deal for Kalvin Phillips before our suits bother getting out of bed...?
Are John and Mark "Missed Out On" on the bench?Our new XI next season is shaping up nicely
I understand they’re working on getting that one done pretty quickly, along with Cucurella, the Brighton full back. Spurs and City busy filling the positions we should be
I suggest that those who demand to know why we are not signing players, to communicate with the club via email and ask them when are we going to sign players. Do send them your recommendations as all of you have assessed the squad far better than the manager.
In the end, actions speak louder than words. And you only have to see how other clubs are working to bring players in, and we have a greater need to be off the mark early. Forward planning clearly has not happened.
If the manager has done that (and I'm guessing he has), why the hell are the wonderful new highly paid executives not doing anything about it? Other clubs have got deals done, we, as has become usual, have done feck all
How sure are you on what the manager might have recommended? For all you know, he may have only asked to look at the midfield area as higher priority and the club could be doing this without generating too much of public interest. It is also possible that the manager may have told the club to await the outcome of his 1 to 1 meetings with the squad before looking at other positions. Which is why we should not jump into conclusions without knowing what is the actual situation.
The question is, why have you all decided that the club has failed to buy players when none of you know what the manager and the club has been working on? It is fine to be frustrated if we publicly knew that the manager has set his targets but we have absolutely no information whatsoever. We also cannot rule out that the existing squad might be improved under the manager. ETH has been looking at this club for a long while and he has an idea on how to work with the squad. Let's be patient.
It’s also about the same as the cost of the glazers dividends…
Our new XI next season is shaping up nicely
Time to refresh the words maybe?
“Closer and closer”
“Getting near”
“Almost done”
“Definite arrival”
“Closer than ever”
“Player convinced”
Lets see will this change this year
Shambles. Can’t believe anyone would defend this either.
Surely it's well past panic time now and we are now at the "we are doomed it's all hopeless I hate living" stage
FDJ is about to go on holiday anyway as he was involved in Nations League.
The aim is always going to do the bare minimum which is why everything is done so slowly and one at a time. The reason we have a Football Director who has worked behind the scenes in a failed regime is because he knows the score. He’ll work within those parameters without much significant power and stand there and pedal whatever he has to. We’ve seen with RR what happens if you have someone there who actually wants to run a football club. Plenty who have been lauding Murtough will turn on him once realise he can’t solve the big problems.
Maybe some of the structural changes will help but there hasn’t been a complete turnaround in strategy behind the scenes and that’s what is needed.
Maybe some of the structural changes will help but there hasn’t been a complete turnaround in strategy behind the scenes and that’s what is needed.
We are not doomed but this is the new reality. THe utter shambles of a club from top to bottom has been clearly exposed for the whole world to see. We are a long way for challenging for the league, even top 4 will be a challenge. Noone with options will choose United over the top 4 clubs this summer, we are very much now on the outside looking in. Some restraint on fees and wages is also overdue, but in short term at least will reinforce the perception that we are no longer top tier. While some clearly useless types have left the club, the new team have yet to prove themselves any better.
Since the valuation of United looks bleak. Don't get your hopes up
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