January Transfer Window

Van Piorsing said:
It was actually quite predictable but there's still three whole weeks for transfer moves.

I believe we'll find someone in the last week but it will probably be a younger talent. Two talents would be like Christmas as for January's potential for market.

Clubs won't sell because it's not enough time to find proper replacement in the first place as many other clubs won't be keen to sell too. Even guy like Sir Alex was very quiet and usually 'happy with the squad'. Still it would nice to see a sort of surprise.
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With it being right before the World Cup, the chances of signing players become a lot slimmer.

I don't think we are buying anyone by the way, but if we were trying to, it should be done in the first week in January and not the last week. I agree with Gooooooose, the only thing that can save us at this stage is a couple of proper transfers. I cannot envisage us coming fourth. Liverpool and Everton are better than us at this current time, and maybe even Spurs. If we keep playing the way we are we have no chance. And I can't see us playing any better with those players under that manager.
 
Name Changed said:
I forgot you were an Everton fan. I nearly spat out all my tea.

As a fan of the Irish football team, I can honestly say that McGeady is fecking terrible. He is a body though I suppose. One decent game in five if you're lucky.
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:lol: Yeah, can't be any worse than Naismith surely...
 
bosnian_red said:
Probably why I don't think Pjanic will move this window. Maybe after the world cup, but it being Bosnia's first world cup, the way Roma's season is going, he'd like to stay clear of potential injuries and keep his form good and stay in familiar surroundings, not go to the premier league and get kicked around and risk picking up an injury before the world cup, or lose form.
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I think if he wants the move, he'll force it through. There isn't many midfielders of his quality in Bosnia's national team and he'll start as long as he's fit(I think), and there's no guarantee that he'll perform well at the World Cup and get the big money move he wants.
 
Goooose said:
I genuinely don't understand how the club isn't throwing money around. It's literally the only thing that can save our season.
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The noises from the club are that they won't be too bothered if we finish outside top four. They keep saying missing out on the CL for one or even two years wouldn't be the end of the world. So maybe saving the rest of the season isn't their main priority right now? They might be okay with planning for next season already.

Twisted_Woody said:
I heard Coentrao would be signed and sealed today. What the hell guys.
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If we are going to sign Coentrao I'd imagine Real would need to sign a replacement first. In which case the deal would probably happen near the end of the window.
 
Name Changed said:
With it being right before the World Cup, the chances of signing players become a lot slimmer.

I don't think we are buying anyone by the way, but if we were trying to, it should be done in the first week in January and not the last week. I agree with Gooooooose, the only thing that can save us at this stage is a couple of proper transfers. I cannot envisage us coming fourth. Liverpool and Everton are better than us at this current time, and maybe even Spurs. If we keep playing the way we are we have no chance. And I can't see us playing any better with those players under that manager.
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There is fear and I can't deny it. Rising above it with right decision making is a life or death situation for Moyes.

It's gonna be a biggest test in his life. If he fail and make some bad choices then we're surely going down as a club. Lack of decisions also won't be tolerated but so far like you said there's still time to make things right and finish the season as a serious, competitive team.
 
elmo said:
I think if he wants the move, he'll force it through. There isn't many midfielders of his quality in Bosnia's national team and he'll start as long as he's fit(I think), and there's no guarantee that he'll perform well at the World Cup and get the big money move he wants.
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He'll start for sure in the world cup, he's our best and most important player (imo) so that isn't the problem, he would just want to be in top form heading into the world cup. It's not about players playing for a transfer for them, the world cup is the biggest stage there is for them so they would want to be in top form and top fitness condition to perform and help the country. I don't think he'd force anything in January given the respective position of United and Roma as well. I'm sure he'd love to come to a team like United, but he'd be wary about picking up injuries because as we all know, the premier league is played at a much faster pace and is a lot more physical then Serie A. Not saying he wouldn't work, but more that he would probably need a bit to settle into the league and there would be a bigger risk of injuries and missing out on the World Cup.
 
Name Changed said:
I forgot you were an Everton fan. I nearly spat out all my tea.

As a fan of the Irish football team, I can honestly say that McGeady is fecking terrible. He is a body though I suppose. One decent game in five if you're lucky.
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:lol:

SilentWitness said:
Apparently McGeady is going to sign for us, at least it gives us extra bodies as i have no idea how good he is now. Remember when he burst onto the scene with Celtic he looked like he'd be a quality player in the PL.
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He's very average. One of those like Capel who's progress has massively stalled and now he looks very average.
 
We seem to have learnt some lessons from the summer. There seems to be a lot less 'noise' and briefings regarding our intentions. But I don't know whether that's because we aren't making the same mistakes by being less open, or because we aren't doing anything because we believe 'the players we want aren't available'.
 
LR7 said:
We seem to have learnt some lessons from the summer. There seems to be a lot less 'noise' and briefings regarding our intentions. But I don't know whether that's because we aren't making the same mistakes by being less open, or because we aren't doing anything because we believe 'the players we want aren't available'.
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The later I'd say.
 
Varun_Utd said:
The later I'd say.
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One lesson I hoped we'd learn is to close things out quickly. No point scrambling around at the end of the window when panic causes you to settle for players who aren't good enough for too much money (mentioning no names). Maybe there just isn't anything in the pipeline though.

I struggle to accept the rationale that there aren't good players available in this window who would significantly improve us though. What will the excuse in the summer be? The WC? The board need to support the manager and bring players he needs in, and Moyes needs to be decisive. It isn't a complete overhaul needed just one or two would suffice this window. Would be a boost to players and fans.
 
LR7 said:
One lesson I hoped we'd learn is to close things out quickly. No point scrambling around at the end of the window when panic causes you to settle for players who aren't good enough for too much money (mentioning no names). Maybe there just isn't anything in the pipeline though.

I struggle to accept the rationale that there aren't good players available in this window who would significantly improve us though. What will the excuse in the summer be? The WC? The board need to support the manager and bring players he needs in, and Moyes needs to be decisive. It isn't a complete overhaul needed just one or two would suffice this window. Would be a boost to players and fans.
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I just dont see top players moving in Jan, specially with the WC coming up. And considering I want us to get 2-3 top players in rather than 5-6 squad players, I dont see us doing much business in Jan.

Coentrao is the only one I think can happen in Jan so I hope we're pursuing it.
 
You may consider the Glazers parasites, milking the club, etc. but idiots they are not. Let's take a business perspective. With any major change such as this I've no doubt they've factored in probably 3 years ex CL. That is giving the time to rebuild in the new man's image. They will also have factored in the cost of that rebuilding. They would have planned that over the 3 years we will have climbed back again and, as far as they're concerned therefore, there's no massive rush. Nice if it happens sooner but no panic if it doesn't. Of course the cost of rebuilding could also involve a new manager if that becomes obvious. But these things in a business perspective will have been factored in.

As fans we want to buy anybody and everybody, yesterday, if they're available, but Moyes and the club will only go for the players they want, that they see as part of the plan. What we are seeing now is the first stage of all this - a sifting of the players who will remain or not. Perform or go. I'm quite enjoying it and at the moment have few worries.
 
fjred said:
You may consider the Glazers parasites, milking the club, etc. but idiots they are not. Let's take a business perspective. With any major change such as this I've no doubt they've factored in probably 3 years ex CL. That is giving the time to rebuild in the new man's image. They will also have factored in the cost of that rebuilding. They would have planned that over the 3 years we will have climbed back again and, as far as they're concerned therefore, there's no massive rush. Nice if it happens sooner but no panic if it doesn't. Of course the cost of rebuilding could also involve a new manager if that becomes obvious. But these things in a business perspective will have been factored in.

As fans we want to buy anybody and everybody, yesterday, if they're available, but Moyes and the club will only go for the players they want, that they see as part of the plan. What we are seeing now is the first stage of all this - a sifting of the players who will remain or not. Perform or go. I'm quite enjoying it and at the moment have few worries.
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Thats a very good post.
Apart from the last bit, I am not enjoying it one bit.
 
Media linking Juve with Lamela, just like the semi-regular idea of a Nani swap.

Why does the media keep thinking Juve want wingers?
  • Do they think Juve expect they'll work as strikers?
  • Do they think Juve expect they'll work as wing backs?
  • Do they think Juve will change from a massively successful formation?
  • Are the media full of shit?
 
9 days in and not a peep, not even an indication that we are even thinking or trying to sign anybody. once again, it appears half assed and lacking thought, planning, ambition and eveything else that a club of our status should have.

deadline day bids for Bainesn and some other random player is whats coming ujp.
 
smallred said:
9 days in and not a peep, not even an indication that we are even thinking or trying to sign anybody. once again, it appears half assed and lacking thought, planning, ambition and eveything else that a club of our status should have.

deadline day bids for Bainesn and some other random player is whats coming ujp.
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They cant be doing anything, because they havent told you. Right.
 
smallred said:
9 days in and not a peep, not even an indication that we are even thinking or trying to sign anybody. once again, it appears half assed and lacking thought, planning, ambition and eveything else that a club of our status should have.

deadline day bids for Bainesn and some other random player is whats coming ujp.
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Or we're just not interested this month. Or the players we want to sign aren't available until the summer.
 
Earthquake said:
Media linking Juve with Lamela, just like the semi-regular idea of a Nani swap.

Why does the media keep thinking Juve want wingers?
  • Do they think Juve expect they'll work as strikers?
  • Do they think Juve expect they'll work as wing backs?
  • Do they think Juve will change from a massively successful formation?
  • Are the media full of shit?
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There is decent reason to believe that we might be looking for wingers. Conte used to be a coach who heavily focused on wingers. Before Juve, he used to play a 4-4-2 with wingers playing very high up the field, almost a 4-2-4. We played the same in the very first matches under Conte, but with Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo we had three excellent midfielders that could not be benched, so Conte adjusted to a 4-3-3. We played 3-5-2 a couple of times inbetween to mirror teams with that formation, but only switched to that formation permanently when Simone Pepe got injured. Conte considered him crucial for his type of play. Pepe has been injured for very long, so we never switched back and good wingers are hard to come by, especially in Italy. Conte has sometimes indicated that he might consider to change the formation, but mentioned that he needs wingers to do that.

Some people think that our 3-5-2 matches up poorly against teams that focus heavily on wing-play, because our wing-backs either leave a lot of space for the opponent's wingers when they push up or we lack width when our wing-backs stay back. In the CL against Real Madrid we switched to a 4-3-3 with Tevez and Marchisio wide. So there is a believe that we might look for wingers either for a permanent switch to the 4-3-3 or to have a "plan b". Personally, the lack of a proper left-back and the fact that our three centerbacks compliment each other very well (Bonucci is not good enough in a pair of centerback, but he is comfortably the best player on the ball of the three) together with the fact that we would have to buy at least 2 proper wingers is reason enough for me not to favour a permanent switch. But I wouldn't mind someone like Lamela who could be an option on the wing and as a (support) striker.
 
JuveGER said:
There is decent reason to believe that we might be looking for wingers. Conte used to be a coach who heavily focused on wingers. Before Juve, he used to play a 4-4-2 with wingers playing very high up the field, almost a 4-2-4. We played the same in the very first matches under Conte, but with Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo we had three excellent midfielders that could not be benched, so Conte adjusted to a 4-3-3. We played 3-5-2 a couple of times inbetween to mirror teams with that formation, but only switched to that formation permanently when Simone Pepe got injured. Conte considered him crucial for his type of play. Pepe has been injured for very long, so we never switched back and good wingers are hard to come by, especially in Italy. Conte has sometimes indicated that he might consider to change the formation, but mentioned that he needs wingers to do that.

Some people think that our 3-5-2 matches up poorly against teams that focus heavily on wing-play, because our wing-backs either leave a lot of space for the opponent's wingers when they push up or we lack width when our wing-backs stay back. In the CL against Real Madrid we switched to a 4-3-3 with Tevez and Marchisio wide. So there is a believe that we might look for wingers either for a permanent switch to the 4-3-3 or to have a "plan b". Personally, the lack of a proper left-back and the fact that our three centerbacks compliment each other very well (Bonucci is not good enough in a pair of centerback, but he is comfortably the best player on the ball of the three) together with the fact that we would have to buy at least 2 proper wingers is reason enough for me not to favour a permanent switch. But I wouldn't mind someone like Lamela who could be an option on the wing and as a (support) striker.
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Ah, cheers for the info, I didn't know much of that 4-2-4 formation you used to use. I guess strikers who are comfortable out wide would be the best compromise, for shuffling the deck, as it were. Surprised you're having trouble with wide play, tbh, looked quite comfy with Roma's 4-3-3, but I guess that's quite a different beast to taking on the likes of Madrid.
 
Earthquake said:
Surprised you're having trouble with wide play, tbh, looked quite comfy with Roma's 4-3-3, but I guess that's quite a different beast to taking on the likes of Madrid.
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Well, that's what some people think at least. We had problems against Shakthar last season at home, we were pretty comfortably defeated by Bayern and there was another game like that, but I don't remember which one. That lead to the conclusion that our formation was at fault and there is some good reason for that as mentioned above regarding our wing-backs.

Personally, I don't necessary agree. Barcelona played a back-four and were more heavily crushed by Bayern than we were. Our defeat has more to do with Bayern being extremely good than our formation. We also adapted quite well to Shakthar in the second leg and won the match. In the league this season we defeated Napoli and Roma (the second and third best team in the league) comfortably using the 3-5-2, although both teams like to play it wide. I think the 3-5-2 can be adapted against teams that like to use the wings. There is no need for a big overhaul. Still, I'd welcome the addition of a plan B option. Our current first eleven in the 3-5-2 is basically set and there are few players that would both improve us and be within our budget. So I guess we can start work on using different formations and tactics.
 
fjred said:
You may consider the Glazers parasites, milking the club, etc. but idiots they are not. Let's take a business perspective. With any major change such as this I've no doubt they've factored in probably 3 years ex CL. That is giving the time to rebuild in the new man's image. They will also have factored in the cost of that rebuilding. They would have planned that over the 3 years we will have climbed back again and, as far as they're concerned therefore, there's no massive rush. Nice if it happens sooner but no panic if it doesn't. Of course the cost of rebuilding could also involve a new manager if that becomes obvious. But these things in a business perspective will have been factored in.

As fans we want to buy anybody and everybody, yesterday, if they're available, but Moyes and the club will only go for the players they want, that they see as part of the plan. What we are seeing now is the first stage of all this - a sifting of the players who will remain or not. Perform or go. I'm quite enjoying it and at the moment have few worries.
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Good post.
 
There are many things about transfers I don't understand, but the big one here is that we know we need some bodies in, we've known for a while and we know we have money.

So presumably we'd of been feeling out agents and clubs for the past few months? Maybe even since the summer's debacle? Before seeing Moyes and Woodward in the summer, I'd never believe we'd just wait til the morning of Jan 2nd and go, okay, let's go try to sign someone.

Surely it's all more or less done already?
 
Beachryan said:
There are many things about transfers I don't understand, but the big one here is that we know we need some bodies in, we've known for a while and we know we have money.

So presumably we'd of been feeling out agents and clubs for the past few months? Maybe even since the summer's debacle? Before seeing Moyes and Woodward in the summer, I'd never believe we'd just wait til the morning of Jan 2nd and go, okay, let's go try to sign someone.

Surely it's all more or less done already?
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I reckon so. In fact I reckon whoever we're signing the business is done. They just won't be coming until the summer time.
 
Gambit said:
I reckon so. In fact I reckon whoever we're signing the business is done. They just won't be coming until the summer time.
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I wouldn't say the business it totally done. I'd imagine we've identified our targets and made contact with them to make sure they're interested. We've probably agreed a broad outline of the type of contract they'll get too. Also, we've probably made enquiries with their clubs to get a sense of availability and price.

That still lives quite a bit to do though. We probably still need to reach an agreement with the club as they have no reason to make a deal so early (unless we make an absolutely ridiculous bid). Beyond that, there's always a chance that the player in question will get a better offer between now and the summer, or has already reached tentative agreements with a few clubs and is actually still considering his options, or actually has zero interest in joining us and is just using us as leverage to get a better contract with someone else.
 
Martinez has said quite a few times we can be assured that none of our players will leave this January so that rules out Barkley or Baines leaving. I think that due to that, plus your interest in Coentrao, Baines to United may not happen anymore.
 
SilentWitness said:
Martinez has said quite a few times we can be assured that none of our players will leave this January so that rules out Barkley or Baines leaving. I think that due to that, plus your interest in Coentrao, Baines to United may not happen anymore.
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Personally I think Moyes is going to be Moyes. Leave the LB spot alone and try to get Baines again in the Summer.

I would rather let you keep him now. I'd prefer a younger player.
 
I think Moyes mentioned admitting defeat in trying to get Baines, no idea how much truth is in that statement though.

edit: Moyes said: "No, because we chose to do it the way we did. We wanted to keep the chance with Leighton Baines until the last minute. Only at the last minute did we split the deal. That was the way we decided to do it."
Moyes conceded that any future deal for Baines is now dead. "I would have to say so, yes," said the Scot.
 
Moyes also said he wasn't going to go back to Everton for players when he was first appointed our manager.

Its like he's doing a 'Fergie', but he pretty shit at it.
 
The idea we were trying to get Baines and Fellaini, for a fee around what we eventually just about got Fellaini for was just plain embarrassing.
 
JuveGER said:
Well, that's what some people think at least. We had problems against Shakthar last season at home, we were pretty comfortably defeated by Bayern and there was another game like that, but I don't remember which one. That lead to the conclusion that our formation was at fault and there is some good reason for that as mentioned above regarding our wing-backs.

Personally, I don't necessary agree. Barcelona played a back-four and were more heavily crushed by Bayern than we were. Our defeat has more to do with Bayern being extremely good than our formation. We also adapted quite well to Shakthar in the second leg and won the match. In the league this season we defeated Napoli and Roma (the second and third best team in the league) comfortably using the 3-5-2, although both teams like to play it wide. I think the 3-5-2 can be adapted against teams that like to use the wings. There is no need for a big overhaul. Still, I'd welcome the addition of a plan B option. Our current first eleven in the 3-5-2 is basically set and there are few players that would both improve us and be within our budget. So I guess we can start work on using different formations and tactics.
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Absolutely, hard to knock the game plan when it's Bayern, who can smash most anyone 9 times out of 10. Nor is it a bad idea to have a plan B, I'd say Lamela isn't much interested in being a plan B though, tbh I bet he's not happy with the way things are at Spurs either, though.

I wonder would Coentrao be an option for you guys, can play anywhere down the left, and I'd imagine would be more defensively solid than Asamoah. I said in another thread that I'd be surpried if ya'll aren't interested in Rafael, I believe he'd fit in great, but I'd hope he's far from available. I guess it's a similar problem to United, available x improvement x budget, but to a much lesser extent as United do need a proper overhaul.
 
Beachryan said:
There are many things about transfers I don't understand, but the big one here is that we know we need some bodies in, we've known for a while and we know we have money.

So presumably we'd of been feeling out agents and clubs for the past few months? Maybe even since the summer's debacle? Before seeing Moyes and Woodward in the summer, I'd never believe we'd just wait til the morning of Jan 2nd and go, okay, let's go try to sign someone.

Surely it's all more or less done already?
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Its not just down to us though is it, unless a club is afraid of losing the chance to sell a player for an offered fee then they'll nearly always try to wait til the end of the window so they can ask for more.
 
SilentWitness said:
Martinez has said quite a few times we can be assured that none of our players will leave this January so that rules out Barkley or Baines leaving. I think that due to that, plus your interest in Coentrao, Baines to United may not happen anymore.
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If Coentrao is released by Real Madrid then we will get him instead of Baines, however I fear that Real won't sell him. Wouldn't be surprised to see Moyes going after Baines again if Coetrao isn't going through.
 
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