If we signed a 5th player...

flash F.C. said:
I think we missed a good player in Pierre-Emile Kordt Højbjerg... i think its a great buy for Southampton..
Click to expand...

Agree, lot to like about the player - surprised it never quite clicked for him under Pep but was a tough time for him personally too I guess. Seemed to express some regrets about things that were said, etc.

I think he has massive potential and seems to be a bright lad, expect big things
 
our 5th and 6th player would probably be Fabinho and Fonte with Darmian and Jones leaving
 
Scholesy said:
I would like a talented, young, quick attacker who mainly plays on the right
Click to expand...

I think Mkhitaryan will end up playing there as Pogba seems best suited to a 4-3-3 with one holding midfielder and another box to box player next to him. We likely won't use a proper #10.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
I think Mkhitaryan will end up playing there as Pogba seems best suited to a 4-3-3 with one holding midfielder and another box to box player next to him. We likely won't use a proper #10.
Click to expand...

That is possible. There is no fixed formation/team for every game. In away games, I think we will play DM+Pogba+Herrera/Fellaini.

In home games, I think we will sacrifice a midfielder for a number 10 or second striker.
 
With the way Valencia is currently playing, and on the off chance that Darmian will improve, there's no way we need a new right back.
 
Pentame said:
With the way Valencia is currently playing, and on the off chance that Darmian will improve, there's no way we need a new right back.
Click to expand...
We're definitely not signing one. Next season, maybe.
 
The way I see it - we still have 2 weaknesses in the team that started against Southampton

DM - Fellaini did really well - but I still feel that with a roaming Pogba and Rooney - we need someone really quick and disciplined to cover behind them - and I don't think Fellaini is that type when we are up against really good players.

Pace - yes we have Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Memphis and Rashford who all have a LOT of pace - but the fact remains, at the moment they aren't in the team. And that means we lack pace up front.
 
Only position for me is another CB. Not because of cover as currently 3 into 2 doesn't go so there's your cover. It's experience and leadership that's lacking in the back four. Everywhere else has cover, not to mention the young players that we would all like to see in the squad.
 
Wilson Litchmore said:
Only position for me is another CB. Not because of cover as currently 3 into 2 doesn't go so there's your cover. It's experience and leadership that's lacking in the back four. Everywhere else has cover, not to mention the young players that we would all like to see in the squad.
Click to expand...

Completely agree.

I also expect a couple of defenders (perhaps two from Jones, Rojo and Darmian) to go before the close of the window.

If we sign Fonte (I think we will) and sell two, it creates a space for Fosu-Mensah (and Tuanzebe behind him) to step up, without leaving us short of cover.
 
lysglimt said:
The way I see it - we still have 2 weaknesses in the team that started against Southampton

DM - Fellaini did really well - but I still feel that with a roaming Pogba and Rooney - we need someone really quick and disciplined to cover behind them - and I don't think Fellaini is that type when we are up against really good players.

Pace - yes we have Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Memphis and Rashford who all have a LOT of pace - but the fact remains, at the moment they aren't in the team. And that means we lack pace up front.
Click to expand...

Mik will come on soon though, so you'd have him and Martial. With 2 fast fullbacks, and a very mobile Pogba.

Probably as much pace as any other team, before you bring in Rashford at times
 
devilish said:
our 5th and 6th player would probably be Fabinho and Fonte with Darmian and Jones leaving
Click to expand...
Is Fabinho rapid? If so we should be in for him. Would give us the pace in a DM we need and also be able to play RB. Fonte would also allow Blind to play as DM but he is slower.
 
If we were to sign a fifth player it has be another CB. If at any point during the season 2/3 players between Bailly, Blind and Smelling are out we are screwed. Jose might be able to get something out of Jones but he'll probably be injured too.
 
peridigm said:
Is Fabinho rapid? If so we should be in for him. Would give us the pace in a DM we need and also be able to play RB. Fonte would also allow Blind to play as DM but he is slower.
Click to expand...

I believe we will be playing Fabinho as RB as cover/competitor for Valencia. Fonte and him will replace Jones and Darmian
 
Sandikan said:
Squad looks pretty good as it is. 4 signings and not many out is a lot more sensible a strategy than the last few years.
Click to expand...

Mourinho has said all along he wanted 4. we have 4. And signing a couple of players who wouldn't significantly improve the starting 11 seems stupid considering how full our squad always is. Good players are being left out as it is.
 
I wouldn't mind Faninho in if he really can play effectively as a DM but, if no one else is in for him, it's a signing that could surely wait another year. Tony V seems to be getting better and better as a RB, and I'd like the Schneid to be given a chance with this new coaching staff.
 
Sandikan said:
Squad looks pretty good as it is. 4 signings and not many out is a lot more sensible a strategy than the last few years.
Click to expand...

Agree with this. I think if one more does come in, it'll only be because a couple of the senior squad, who aren't playing, go out.
 
Last edited:
LouisDanGaal said:
Mourinho has said all along he wanted 4. we have 4. And signing a couple of players who wouldn't significantly improve the starting 11 seems stupid considering how full our squad always is. Good players are being left out as it is.
Click to expand...
This. We have very good players on the bench covering most positions and giving less chance for the young players to make the bench and even the starting 11, so I actually hope we don't sign more players. I also think the starting 11 is so strong so unless we buy another world class player I think it will just mean competition for the bench.
 
I'd guess Morgan, Darmian, Bastian & Jones will leave, I'd expect another 2 in to replace them & allow a youngster more game time.
 
Im not sure we will get a 5th payer - but if we did then right back (despite Valencia starting the season well) would be the obvious position to improve
Probably not too many options though
Fabinho (depends on monaco qualifying for the CL or not and no guarantee hw will adapt to the PL)
Coleman (would cost a fortune)
Danillio is not playing regularly at Madrid - but would again probably cost a fortune
So I expect we wont sign anybody
 
At this point, I doubt we'll be making any more signings, unless someone bowls us over with a good offer for Darmian, Schneiderlin, Jones, Rojo, or even Young. This even excludes any movement for Bastian, who is not under consideration by Jose. Figure Darmian & Schneiderlin are the most likely, as Italy & maybe Everton (i.e. Koeman) could put in a bid. We're kind of stuck with the other 3, unless some lower level PL teams start panicking or need defensive reinforcements due to injuries.

If Darmian or Schneiderlin is sold, then Fabinho is probably the best fit, but if somehow one of the other 3 are sold, then Fonte makes the most sense.
 
Red_toad said:
I'd guess Morgan, Darmian, Bastian & Jones will leave, I'd expect another 2 in to replace them & allow a youngster more game time.
Click to expand...

Only Bastian really needs shipping out immediately though. He's simply on such monumental wages, and it's a bit of a crime to have him not playing for someone.
The others can fulfil squad roles when the games ramp up.
 
Even though I know a CB and/or CDM should be a priority. I would like to see a skillful winger as the 5th player.

We have been linked with Fonte and Fabinho lately. However, I would sign a player like Draxler. Where do you think Draxler is going to end up playing? And which available winger could be better than him?
 
We don't need anyone at the moment. Let's go with what we've got and reassess in January on whether we need to strengthen or not.
 
Fer said:
Even though I know a CB and/or CDM should be a priority. I would like to see a skillful winger as the 5th player.

We have been linked with Fonte and Fabinho lately. However, I would sign a player like Draxler. Where do you think Draxler is going to end up playing? And which available winger could be better than him?
Click to expand...

God damn why do people keep saying we need a skillful winger after we just got mkhi...
 
Thought after Pogba all business was done incoming. Look to be right
 
Really happy with our squad, my only slight worry is that we are one injury to Smalling \ Blind plus Bailly at AFCON away from fielding a makeshift CB pair, and that would be in one of the more hectic periods of the season as well.
 
Take the team that finished the game at Hull, add in a top-class RB and DM in place of Valencia and Fellaini, bring in Fonte as back-up and that's a monster of a team and a formidable squad/bench.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.