Prob mentioned already, matuidi is out of contract in the summer. We should jump at that chance.
January Transfer Window
- Thread starter Alock1
- Start date
Yup. Loan deals could/would be effective and largely embarrassment-free.
After the Summer you'd imagine we have a comprehensive list of 4-5 midfield players that we are after and prices that we are prepared to pay.
I can't imagine that the CE and Moyes haven't been far more clinical in the lead up to this window. I'd be amazed if we brought in Baines at near £20+m or an average midfielder at £30m out of desperation, it would be another mark against both of them.
I can't imagine that the CE and Moyes haven't been far more clinical in the lead up to this window. I'd be amazed if we brought in Baines at near £20+m or an average midfielder at £30m out of desperation, it would be another mark against both of them.
a chance to sort out or midfield holes......
"Darren Fletcher's return to fitness is like a new signing..." [runs away]
We need a left back more than we need a midfielder right now. Evra's been appalling
Serious. Carrick will be back soon enough and combined with Cleverley, Jones, Giggs and Fletcher we can last another 6 months without a CM. Evra's making about 2 or 3 mistakes per game and his back up it Buttner. If we can get Coentrao on loan that would be good business I reckon
Coentrao has signed a new contract lads, I don't see the logic in him going on loan.
perhaps to get a good price? buy out clause?
Well, define 'lasted'. I mean, we were always going to physically get through half a season, even if a lot of the players are not very good. As you can see though, we haven't gotten through it very well.
Anyway, I'm not advocating panic buys myself. I'm still furious about us signing Fellaini.
Aye, been. Champoning him and Rakitic as our CM solution. We can use the money we save on Matuidi to bring in a better winger.
Fact. Like we said offsite. It would greatly improve us, in short and longterm
Indeed. Both will be relatively cheap too considering both are close to end of their contracts and want to leave. I will be very pissed if we waste more time chasing the unattainable. Like proper pissed!
We need to start looking for Evra's replacement either way. He'll be out of contract next season, and at 33, I don't want him playing 50 games a season. Fabio and Buttner have not shown anything to warrant a starting berth.
I know this forum is very much in the Rakitic camp, but if we are going to go after a Croatian midfielder, it has to be Kovacic for me. I'd be happy for the club to spend £30m on him easily, which is what it would probably take given his contract with Inter.
In terms of ability and age, he fits the profile perfectly. He could be a Barcelona midfielder in future the kid, and as good as any in his age range. He has everything to be an absolute World Class central midfielder for many years. Not heard him linke much so I doubt we're in there, but I'd love it.
In terms of ability and age, he fits the profile perfectly. He could be a Barcelona midfielder in future the kid, and as good as any in his age range. He has everything to be an absolute World Class central midfielder for many years. Not heard him linke much so I doubt we're in there, but I'd love it.
No idea about Rakitic but I bloody well hope we don't spend 30m on Kovacic. We need proven midfielders not potential and at this stage that's all he is
I agree, but there is a certain calibre of potential that you can't really ignore. Even if it means getting a more experienced option in too. The potential player that Kovacic can/will become is a player we have shown we generally can't compete for these days, so if we wan't a player of THAT level, we would need to acquire in it's infancy.
I'd have rather spent £30m on his potential than £30m on Fellaini's realised rubbishness/averageness any day.
I know th midfield is a bit dire, but I don't think we should lose sight of going for prospects as we have always done, so long as it is the right level of prospect. Kovacic, Barkley, Pogba - all still 'potential', but it is different gravy to waiting for say Cleverley to fulfil his 'potential'. I'm not advocating £1m punts, I'm talking £30m prospects who are already good and will likely lead their peers in future, as opposed to become 'good options' for us. Better than mature averageness.
Well if we can Kovacic AND another proven midfielder then by all means. It's not my money!
Agree with your last point but that's not a valid reason for overspending again is it?
Except we didn't last half a season, unless you are happy with our current place in the league ? For me the first half of the season has been a complete and utter disaster. Serious catch up is required to secure a place in the top 4, and to do that we have to inject some quality on the midfield and preferably also on the left back (other positions can wait until the summer). If we don't seriously step up our game we'll end outside the top 4 (Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton they currently all look more likely to end above us). If we don't have CL to offer for next season forget any hope of signing a big player in the summer and be prepared to see some big players (Rooney, RVP) trying to force their way out. If we don't end in top 4 it will be a long and frustrating summer again and it will impact next season, no doubt about that.
I hope that we go to January with this mentality
a) our CM is shit. Such statement had been proven time and time again and it will simply not go away by bringing players out of retirement/hospital or any other crap
b) there are other positions that needs strengthening but first we need to strengthen CM. Its pointless getting a left back if CM remains shit
c) we don't need a player playing in the hole (we've got 4 players capable of covering that role) and no its not really a good idea to bring a player like that only to drop him in a deeper role. Fellaini and Ando can vouch for that
d) One may understand that we won't be able to get the CM we need now. However with a WC on our way its very wise to get pre agreement deals
e) Lets stop being cocky and lets start being realistic. There's a friggin enormous gap between Fabregas and Fellaini and any player stuck between those two standards would improve us.
f) Lets stop insulting people's intelligence. You will NEVER get a player like Fabregas for 30m. Not even football manager would allow that
In my opinion we need to bring in 2 deep lying quality playmakers and play with a lone striker role. That will give us a better balance in CM and improve our creativity spark. We all know that United don't lack killer instinct. What we need is creativity.
Kagawa should be kept (unless he's involved in a deal for Gundogan) to give Powell a full year first team experience elsewhere. Jones, Fellaini and Fletch will have till the end of the season to prove that they can cover Carrick adequately. Fabio should be played more, all effort must be spent to have Rooney sign a new contract, Welbeck should be loaned and Ando sold.
a) our CM is shit. Such statement had been proven time and time again and it will simply not go away by bringing players out of retirement/hospital or any other crap
b) there are other positions that needs strengthening but first we need to strengthen CM. Its pointless getting a left back if CM remains shit
c) we don't need a player playing in the hole (we've got 4 players capable of covering that role) and no its not really a good idea to bring a player like that only to drop him in a deeper role. Fellaini and Ando can vouch for that
d) One may understand that we won't be able to get the CM we need now. However with a WC on our way its very wise to get pre agreement deals
e) Lets stop being cocky and lets start being realistic. There's a friggin enormous gap between Fabregas and Fellaini and any player stuck between those two standards would improve us.
f) Lets stop insulting people's intelligence. You will NEVER get a player like Fabregas for 30m. Not even football manager would allow that
In my opinion we need to bring in 2 deep lying quality playmakers and play with a lone striker role. That will give us a better balance in CM and improve our creativity spark. We all know that United don't lack killer instinct. What we need is creativity.
Kagawa should be kept (unless he's involved in a deal for Gundogan) to give Powell a full year first team experience elsewhere. Jones, Fellaini and Fletch will have till the end of the season to prove that they can cover Carrick adequately. Fabio should be played more, all effort must be spent to have Rooney sign a new contract, Welbeck should be loaned and Ando sold.
Why should Welbeck be loaned out?
Can't really argue with any of that, except perhaps Welbeck being loaned. Although it probably wouldn't be the worst thing for him, but we have injuries in attack so now wouldn't work.
I think one of Hernandez and Welbeck does need to be loaned or sold. The way it's going neither is going to develop as well as we'd like them to do as proper all round quality strikers. A game here and there isn't helping them progress the way they can, especially in welbeck's case given he barely plays uptop.
Hernandez is the better striker of the two and probably will look to move unless we give him better circumstances. If we convince him to stay, he's not going to develop much sharing games with Welbeck upfront as backup. On the other hand, welbeck is even worse affected as he keeps playing wide and his lack of composure in the box doesnt get a chance to change.
Welbeck, for example, should be doing what someone like Lukaku is doing and really developing properly and producing performances week in week out if hes going to ever be first choice at United.
Yes please
Didn't Kovacic recently sign for them?
In January. Cost about £10m, would take much more to get him out of his deal now. But the fact is, Inter are no longer in the group of teams that cannot be persuaded to sell their players. And he isn't cup-tied for Europe either.
Would you say Kovacic is at the level he can say he's too big for Inter yet? I wouldn't..
Would you say we would have a chance at signing him when he is?
Touché 
Carrick wasnt that good this year before his injury and has only really had one really good season with us, last year. Cleverley, Jones, Giggs and Fletcher are not good enough CM's to compete with the best. You did forget Fellaini who I still havent written off yet.
Rakitic is probably the most realistic of the top players we're after and I reckon he'd be a cracking signing.
Are we really looking at him? He'd be a dream....
How do people in here rate Freddy Guarin, the Colombian? It seems he is EPL bound...
very good player, but not top bracket, and IMO he's not a CM, he's an AMC...
@Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...nd-liverpool-target-ivan-rakitic-9017558.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...nd-liverpool-target-ivan-rakitic-9017558.html
Actually he is like Kroos. He has the defensive game to survive in center midfield.
I was going to follow on to say but I've only seen a few of his since we were linked... but I didn't really see any defensive side, but perhaps it just wasn't a great game or two for him, who would you say he's similar to? As I'd also class Kroos as attacking MINDED midfielder, not an AM as in plays behind the striker, but plays his position attackingly foremost
He kinda reminds me of Kroos or a more extravagant version Herrara (in terms of natural skill on the ball). For I've seen him do his fair shift of defensive work in the past when it has been required by his team, which is rare amongst AM types.
You're joking right? Wind-up??
Look at we've won since he joined us - its no accident dude!
We cant rely on playin Jones in MF, nor Giggs being capable of top perfomances when he plays. Cleverley had a good game the other day, but only a fool would think thats a turning point for him. Fletch comin back is excellent of course & if he can get back to his previous form - then we're in business, but i'd be dleighted if we signed a shitload of players in January - especially CM's...