Whilst I agree re Lingard, he's just been given a big new contract, so Jose clearly doesn't agree. Both Rashford and Martial have great potential and need to be given enough opportunity to develop without being relied on too much, which is a difficult balancing act. We desperately need more creativity in attack - Mata is also starting to fade and even Mkhitaryan, who looks our best option, is inconsistent.
Jose's Wish List...
- Thread starter Inigo Montoya
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perhaps an half season loan to a WBA or Stoke for example. See if playing at a slightly lower level as the striker would help him improve in front of goal. If he does would be a good addition for the 2nd half of the season. If not we could loan him out again. Lukaku improved no end at the baggies on loan.
Wouldn't disagree with that cause no guarantees that bringing in a striker, especially from another league equals goals anyway. For me the frustration is there remains too many question marks over so many potential first team players. Can we go into the season wondering if Shaw will finally put a run of games together and show his potential, same Martial and Mikki (to a less reason degree). Then there's Smalling, Jones and Rojo....will the real ones please standup as we've seen good one season (when fit) and then really really bad the other.
TBH we have too many great squad players and maybe 5/6 short based on last season that aren't good enough or consistent enough to be starting for us.
I really don't see this potential with Rashford that everyone else seems to see.
He's fast and he has good workrate but his technical ability isn't great; he gives the ball away an absurd amount and he has little end product. He shouldn't be first choice if we have serious ambitions.
He's 19!
Agreed. But if Zlatan doesn't return, he'd be leading the line next season. It's a fair concern.
I think it will be interesting to see how we fix our biggest weakness. Scoring goals.
We know the team was decent defensively, could create chances, but couldn't convert them for some reason.
To compound our problem, Zlatan was our top goalscorer and he will be out until Jan, assuming we keep him.
So not only do we need to find a way to get more goals out of our other existing forwards, we also need to replace the 28 goals from Zlatan.
I really am curious how Mourinho will fix this. LvG tried and failed.
Could be something as simple as getting another centerback which inspires more confidence in the team and allows a more offensive tactic with more overloading in advanced positions to be played. Or maybe it could be another 3 -4 players to make that change.
Amazing things can happen when you tweak the balance of a team. Who would have thought the game-changing that one signing of Carrick would bring about in 06/07?
Interesting times and as always, we must welcome the challenge and bring it on. I hope Mourinho and Woodward do bring it as well.
We know the team was decent defensively, could create chances, but couldn't convert them for some reason.
To compound our problem, Zlatan was our top goalscorer and he will be out until Jan, assuming we keep him.
So not only do we need to find a way to get more goals out of our other existing forwards, we also need to replace the 28 goals from Zlatan.
I really am curious how Mourinho will fix this. LvG tried and failed.
Could be something as simple as getting another centerback which inspires more confidence in the team and allows a more offensive tactic with more overloading in advanced positions to be played. Or maybe it could be another 3 -4 players to make that change.
Amazing things can happen when you tweak the balance of a team. Who would have thought the game-changing that one signing of Carrick would bring about in 06/07?
Interesting times and as always, we must welcome the challenge and bring it on. I hope Mourinho and Woodward do bring it as well.
I partly agree. He shouldnt be starting, but I wouldnt write him off completely. As I said a loan might be a good option for him.
Jose will have his wish list and I expect he'll want a top class striker, a creative mid and two other additions, he can't buy a whole new team in one close season. But it's his job, and a job he's done before , to make the team greater than the sum of it's parts...... Zlatan won't be here next year, sad that he got injured of course, but no point keeping a 'short term' player if he can't kick a ball until Christmas.
I have confidence that Mourinho will do decent business for us this summer.
I have confidence that Mourinho will do decent business for us this summer.
Yes, this is what I'm saying. I know it's unrealistic to add too many players at once. But we are talking a "wish list" might not get them all. But Im saying if I had my wish I'd replace a lot of the current squad. I'm not saying we need 11 World Class players either but they've all got to be Manchester United class at least. Right now there is a good few who are not.
I'd rather be in the position where we have a strong squad and transfer windows mean we just make essential additions as required, but we're not in this position that's why my wish list is so extensive.
I'm sick of this transfer window already. Wish they never opened it.
If he was destined to be the world class player that some of our fanbase think he will be then he would be showing a lot more than he is now.
You're entitled to your opinion but the lad is 19! He's going to be a very good player.
Anyone else concerned by these quotes from Jose today...
"This was the toughest season of my career. On the last day I got fed up with football, tired of it." "I've given up on negotiating players. I gave my list to the CEO in April. He's until August 31st to give me what I want, or not."
"This was the toughest season of my career. On the last day I got fed up with football, tired of it." "I've given up on negotiating players. I gave my list to the CEO in April. He's until August 31st to give me what I want, or not."
A bit old, but yeah.
I don't think he'll ever be good enough to be first choice for a club with our ambitions. Hopefully I'm wrong and all that.
Not concerned by those quotes. The season ending was a relief. Glad of no football for a while. Not surprising Jose feels the same.
He will be in contact you neednt worry
Such weird comments.If it's any consolation, transfer window opens on July 1.
I completely understand Jose comments, a week before my holidays I usually have a pain in my bollox with work too.
well to be honest he needs 6 players if we keep DDG, 7 if we lose him.
5 if we keep DDG
2 CB's
1 DM
1 CM
1 winger
1 striker
Reality he won't get 6 to 7, most likely 4, but what is needed? 1 CB, 1 DM, 1 winger and 1 striker, if he does not his all his targets its going to be a tough season ahead. Because no question we need an effective attacking unite, pace out wide and a ruthless striker with movement, with a CM unit that can boss games would be a huge help. I would expect come season 3, he would have a team jigsaw complete. Because if our engine room is effective, and we can stretch the game we going to hurt allot of teams, without this, its another 4th to 6th place finish.
5 if we keep DDG
2 CB's
1 DM
1 CM
1 winger
1 striker
Reality he won't get 6 to 7, most likely 4, but what is needed? 1 CB, 1 DM, 1 winger and 1 striker, if he does not his all his targets its going to be a tough season ahead. Because no question we need an effective attacking unite, pace out wide and a ruthless striker with movement, with a CM unit that can boss games would be a huge help. I would expect come season 3, he would have a team jigsaw complete. Because if our engine room is effective, and we can stretch the game we going to hurt allot of teams, without this, its another 4th to 6th place finish.
I'm undecided on Rashford and whether he'll become the player that early predictions suggested. I hope he doesn't reach Welbecks level and no further. I am hopeful.
A question if we did get
Lindelof
Morata
Fabinho
And Perisic
Would people in here be happy?
I think this is possible, and would strengthen us enormously .
We already have alot of talent in the squad underperforming like arguably
Martial
Mhiki
Mata
Shaw Etc.
If they start performing and we add the players I mentioned, that could be a pretty decent squad with a bit of depth.
Lindelof
Morata
Fabinho
And Perisic
Would people in here be happy?
I think this is possible, and would strengthen us enormously .
We already have alot of talent in the squad underperforming like arguably
Martial
Mhiki
Mata
Shaw Etc.
If they start performing and we add the players I mentioned, that could be a pretty decent squad with a bit of depth.
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Putting pressure on Ed. He's going to pay 2x the price to get Mourinho's targets .
I've said this before and I think others too, he's the most exciting teenager we've had getting games that wasn't named Rooney or Ronaldo. If you don't feel that way I can without a doubt attribute it to the melancholy brought by Moyes and LVG. If Fergie were playing Rashford and rating him the way Jose has been you'd be purring.
You're conveniently forgetting his role in taking us to the Europa League final in Zlatan's absence - winner in the QF, goal and assist in the semi...
Almost all the points you're criticizing are hallmarks of youth! They'll disappear soon enough if he's managed well. Perhaps not a starter yet, but def integral squad role.
Not for United, but for Chelsea he did buy a lot of them, namely wingers.
It's only a fair concern if we keep playing 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 with him leading the line upfront by himself.
Seems we are not even being linked with anyone interesting right now, whats happening? Any sure targets?
If Griezmann was on that list in April and was a top target then Jose might need to reconsider his plan and his priorities quite a bit. Zlatan's recovery might also play a role. It is a big difference if he's back in October or in February, obviously.
We're not reconsidering Griezmann at all, the player rejected the move because of Atlético's transfer ban. Concerning Zlatan's injury, we would get him either way.
Yeah, it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence when the manager is nonplussed about who he's signing for a crucial season. It doesn't send a great message to players either, in the last window we got our business done early with Jose being involved heavily in getting the players he wanted and it was our most successful window in years. It's only June, but there's nothing to suggest there's a clear strategy or progress with key targets.
I feel Mourinho personally contacted all the target players' in his list before or after passing the ball to Woodward. It might be true Griezmann called him back now to say he's going to stay in Atlético. After a very tiresome season for him, I don't criticize him for wanting a month's rest. If Woodward doesn't get the job done by the end of June, Mourinho will be back in the picture by then.
But my point was that he was probably on the list in April but rejected a move in June, which will change Jose's plans a lot.
He always makes the point of letting everyone know he has a list of attainable targets and alternatives for each position. But I do think Griezmann is special, in the sense that he might've allowed us to change our attacking formation.
Jose should check his sent folder to double check Woodward has received it - so slow out of the fecking blocks
Odd quotes from Jose.
If a manager isn't involved in negotiations at all, I think it's a weak point.
If a manager isn't involved in negotiations at all, I think it's a weak point.
In fairness he really does need a break. He still lives in London and has had to live in a hotel for long periods of time in Manchester. He looked properly worn out by the end of the season.
It is June 5th.
Most of those proposed signings look a bit Spursy/Liverpool like. Unfortunately there aren't a great deal of obvious signings for us to make. Griezman was one and was a sure thing, but the transfer ban screwed that up. Main thing is of course to get someone who can score goals which is why the Morata signing looks a bit underwhelming.