Let's finish this Jigsaw!

Baby Faced Assassin

Pastor of Muppets
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We have done well so far this summer.

Finally have a really really good midfield, best since 2007/08 (on paper).

Sorted out the RB problem (again in theory).

All we need now to finish this jigsaw puzzle is a top striker & centre-back.

I agree in the current market the two toughest positions to fill would be ST & CB.

But we are so close to having a finished team/squad that it is really tempting that we just go ahead and finish the whole puzzle altogether once and for all.

Obviously this would also entail that we retain De Gea (even if it is just for a year).
 
You say it like we have a major influence on proceedings.
 
apologize if I sound impolite, I can't help but "So?"

think we have enough thread over potential targets for the two positions.
 
If we really want to wrap things up than we need 2 CBs, a striker and a GK (unless DDG signs a new contract up).
 
Lacazette can be had for the right amount. But my biggest concern is, who would be willing to come in as back up to Rooney? With the Euros coming up next year, players are not going to risk sitting on the bench.
 
I might be in minority, but I will be OK if we don't buy a striker, particularly if we are going to play 4-3-3. Rooney and one more expensive big name striker, when only one can play in a match, will be unnecessary. As a backup, we can retain Chicharito for one more season. This also depends on how much confidence LvG has in Wilson, as in, does he see him good enough to lead line upfront alone in absence of Rooney for cup games and occasional league games. If LvG sees Fellaini as a plan B striker, then that's another option. As I see it, with current options upfront, there are goals in the team outside Rooney too. di Maria, Memphis, Mata, Herrera, Fellaini are all capable of chipping in with goals. Rooney will need to be in 2009-10 type of mode though for us to be in league contention. Chelsea did OK with just Costa practically upfront when his backups were Remy and almost retired Drogba. They had Hazard to score loads though, so we need someone like di Maria to do it if we don't buy a striker.
If we have to get someone, Cavani can play wide as well so if di Maria leaves, having Cavani and playing him wide with Rooney and then sometimes rotating him and Rooney up front can be an alternative. Will also mean we will have two good established strikers. Have never been a big fan of Cavani though and if we are asked ridiculous money for him, not sure it will be worth it.

On the other hand, a CB is a must and my preference is Otamendi while retaining De Gea this season rather than De Gea-Ramos swap.
 
devilish said:
If we really want to wrap things up than we need 2 CBs, a striker and a GK (unless DDG signs a new contract up).
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Spot on Dev. 2 CB's & a Striker - maybe 2 (one established & ready to go & another with potential) & we're set mate.

The bonus would be keeping Dave for atleast another season & hopin that he breaks up with his prima donna wench in the process!
 
ghagua said:
Lacazette can be had for the right amount. But my biggest concern is, who would be willing to come in as back up to Rooney? With the Euros coming up next year, players are not going to risk sitting on the bench.
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It's not like Lacazette wouldn't be behind Benzema in the pecking order there anyway.
 
Red Hand Devil said:
Spot on Dev. 2 CB's & a Striker - maybe 2 (one established & ready to go & another with potential) & we're set mate.

The bonus would be keeping Dave for atleast another season & hopin that he breaks up with his prima donna wench in the process!
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I don't really think we need 2 strikers. What we need is someone young but talented who wouldn't mind the bench too much but with the potential to replace Rooney one day. I'd go for one between Lacazette and Berardi.

I'd also keep Hernandez for another year. We will lose him next season but it will give us the opportunity to loan Wilson for a year
 
ghagua said:
Lacazette can be had for the right amount. But my biggest concern is, who would be willing to come in as back up to Rooney? With the Euros coming up next year, players are not going to risk sitting on the bench.
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Its pretty evident that the goal posts has shifted and United aren't aiming for a comfortable 4th EPL place anymore. We will be competing on all fronts and that means that Rooney will be rested and there will be games were a different approach will be needed to him.

During the treble season SAF was able to keep 4 quality strikers who were competing for 2 spots happy. Assuming we're going for a one striker formation can LVG keep 2 quality forwards happy for 1 spot? Id say, it depends. If we're going for a renowned world class striker at the wrong end of his 20s than the answer is probably no. However if we go for a younger striker who knows that Rooney wont last forever than Id say its duable
 
I don't think we need a CB, we have 5 cuurently, make it 6 if Carrick is deployed in there.
 
devilish said:
I don't really think we need 2 strikers. What we need is someone young but talented who wouldn't mind the bench too much but with the potential to replace Rooney one day. I'd go for one between Lacazette and Berardi.

I'd also keep Hernandez for another year. We will lose him next season but it will give us the opportunity to loan Wilson for a year
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I dont rate Hernandez anymore & my guess is he'll be gone, so i'm excluding him from the equation.

I dig what you're saying man, but a club our size needs to be top heavy in the Striker department Dev. We've always had around 4 man, and now we have 2 - Rooney & Wilson, who is still learning his trade.

So if we want to compete on all fronts we're gonna need to get more than one Striker in, as we cant play Rooney in every game next season or we risk him gettin knackered or God forbid - injured.

Inner muppet in me would love us to get Cavani & Lacazette - that would be wicked..
 
Red Hand Devil said:
I dont rate Hernandez anymore & my guess is he'll be gone, so i'm excluding him from the equation.

I dig what you're saying man, but a club our size needs to be top heavy in the Striker department Dev. We've always had around 4 man, and now we have 2 - Rooney & Wilson, who is still learning his trade.

So if we want to compete on all fronts we're gonna need to get more than one Striker in, as we cant play Rooney in every game next season or we risk him gettin knackered or God forbid - injured.

Inner muppet in me would love us to get Cavani & Lacazette - that would be wicked..
Click to expand...

Even for me, considering all factors, Lacazette/Kane seems like the best choice.

Only worry is that domestically he has just had 1 and a half good seasons in FRANCE and has been fairly average in Europe, he would still be somewhat of a risk for the PL, Kane on the other hand seems like a less risky buy but lacks pace and will command the English premium.
 
The Man Himself said:
I might be in minority, but I will be OK if we don't buy a striker, particularly if we are going to play 4-3-3. Rooney and one more expensive big name striker, when only one can play in a match, will be unnecessary. As a backup, we can retain Chicharito for one more season. This also depends on how much confidence LvG has in Wilson, as in, does he see him good enough to lead line upfront alone in absence of Rooney for cup games and occasional league games. If LvG sees Fellaini as a plan B striker, then that's another option. As I see it, with current options upfront, there are goals in the team outside Rooney too. di Maria, Memphis, Mata, Herrera, Fellaini are all capable of chipping in with goals. Rooney will need to be in 2009-10 type of mode though for us to be in league contention. Chelsea did OK with just Costa practically upfront when his backups were Remy and almost retired Drogba. They had Hazard to score loads though, so we need someone like di Maria to do it if we don't buy a striker.
If we have to get someone, Cavani can play wide as well so if di Maria leaves, having Cavani and playing him wide with Rooney and then sometimes rotating him and Rooney up front can be an alternative. Will also mean we will have two good established strikers. Have never been a big fan of Cavani though and if we are asked ridiculous money for him, not sure it will be worth it.

On the other hand, a CB is a must and my preference is Otamendi while retaining De Gea this season rather than De Gea-Ramos swap.
Click to expand...

You're bankin on Rooney - almost 30 years old, to carry us the whole season in every comp & havin our only option, Wilson, as back up?

We won the Treble havin 4 Strikers - we aint gettin anywhere near that with just havin Rooney & Wilson mate!
 
Red Hand Devil said:
I dont rate Hernandez anymore & my guess is he'll be gone, so i'm excluding him from the equation.

I dig what you're saying man, but a club our size needs to be top heavy in the Striker department Dev. We've always had around 4 man, and now we have 2 - Rooney & Wilson, who is still learning his trade.

So if we want to compete on all fronts we're gonna need to get more than one Striker in, as we cant play Rooney in every game next season or we risk him gettin knackered or God forbid - injured.

Inner muppet in me would love us to get Cavani & Lacazette - that would be wicked..
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Well I disagree. I believe that LVG is moving to a system were you've got 3-4 top quality players whose very comfortable in interchanging roles. Think about it. Depay is a winger but he's pacey, technically gifted and with a great eye to goal. Mata is a no 10 but can play on the right flank and has a great eye for goals. Rooney is most comfortable upfront but he can also drop deep and can even switch on the flanks if needed and Di Maria can play upfront or on the flanks (I wont be surprised if we sell him and buy Felipe Anderson whose similar to Di Maria but is more of a finisher). I believe his idea is having 3 or 4 incredible gifted forwards whose constantly switching roles making it almost impossible to rival defenses to man mark anyone. Under such circumstances the need for a top quality striker will give way to someone who may not be a great finisher but can slot in a fluid system ex Felipe Anderson, Memphis Depay or Saido Berahino
 
Red Hand Devil said:
You're bankin on Rooney - almost 30 years old, to carry us the whole season in every comp & havin our only option, Wilson, as back up?

We won the Treble havin 4 Strikers - we aint gettin anywhere near that with just havin Rooney & Wilson mate!
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Ya but we used to play with 2 strikers then and in Solskjaer and Teddy we had two guys who were OK with role of ready when being called upon. Ole was a great team man. Teddy was 33 then. I don't have a problem as such with buying 1 more forward, it will be great to have another proven option to Rooney. Just that it shouldn't lead to a discontent player on big salary and coming with big fee, sat on bench if Rooney retains his place for most of the season. If we can get someone who can play as striker as well as wide occasionally, that will be great.
 
Baby Faced Assassin said:
Even for me, considering all factors, Lacazette/Kane seems like the best choice.

Only worry is that domestically he has just had 1 and a half good seasons in FRANCE and has been fairly average in Europe, he would still be somewhat of a risk for the PL, Kane on the other hand seems like a less risky buy but lacks pace and will command the English premium.
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With Kane & Lacazette - we dont know what we'll get though man. With Cavani - we know exactly what we'll get. He's the safe option, but i'd love one of those other two to come also, but not havin all our eggs in that unknown quantity basket either.
 
devilish said:
Well I disagree. I believe that LVG is moving to a system were you've got 3-4 top quality players whose very comfortable in interchanging roles. Think about it. Depay is a winger but he's pacey, technically gifted and with a great eye to goal. Mata is a no 10 but can play on the right flank and has a great eye for goals. Rooney is most comfortable upfront but he can also drop deep and can even switch on the flanks if needed and Di Maria can play upfront or on the flanks (I wont be surprised if we sell him and buy Felipe Anderson whose similar to Di Maria but is more of a finisher). I believe his idea is having 3 or 4 incredible gifted forwards whose constantly switching roles making it almost impossible to rival defenses to man mark anyone. Under such circumstances the need for a top quality striker will give way to someone who may not be a great finisher but can slot in a fluid system ex Felipe Anderson, Memphis Depay or Saido Berahino
Click to expand...

That's all very well & good, but if you look at Barca with them having Messi, Suarez & Neymar - they're all Strikers 1st & foremost, but are all-round forwards too, but their eye for goal is in the DNA. You cant compare what they have to what we have.

You're takin a punt on Memphis to hit the ground running too & continue his goal-scoring spree from last season. Mata isnt prolific in scoring goals & neither has Rooney been since 2009/10.

It would be suicide if we didnt bolster our Strike force - after we've just sorted out our midfield..
 
The Man Himself said:
Ya but we used to play with 2 strikers then and in Solskjaer and Teddy we had two guys who were OK with role of ready when being called upon. Ole was a great team man. Teddy was 33 then. I don't have a problem as such with buying 1 more forward, it will be great to have another proven option to Rooney. Just that it shouldn't lead to a discontent player on big salary and coming with big fee, sat on bench if Rooney retains his place for most of the season. If we can get someone who can play as striker as well as wide occasionally, that will be great.
Click to expand...

All good points man..
 
Red Hand Devil said:
You're bankin on Rooney - almost 30 years old, to carry us the whole season in every comp & havin our only option, Wilson, as back up?

We won the Treble havin 4 Strikers - we aint gettin anywhere near that with just havin Rooney & Wilson mate!
Click to expand...
You can't compare our situation now to the treble season, we aren't going to win the treble next season anyway, but we had 4 strikers for 2 spots which actually is the same as 2 for 1.
 
When Rooney is injured, I'd play:

-------Fellaini

Depay--------Wilson

*****midfield*****

****defence*****

*****keeper****

Fellaini holding the ball up and occupying the opposition central defenders whilst Depay and Wilson make runs into the box via the channels. Neither of the latter two are ready to play as lone strikers so using their pace from out wide would be the best way of getting them into goalscoring positions. It'd be like having two 2010-era Pedros.

That's assuming we don't buy anyone else. Ideally, someone like Reus could come in.
 
It would be nice to get the CB and a ST but all these new faces my concern is will they all gel in or as LVG says "it takes time to adapt" especially a new country and league.

I'm not saying we don't need to bring in all the players we have and the above postitions which I do feel we need, I'm just concerned about them all gelling together in time for a serious title charge!
 
I'm not too concerned with CB's if I'm honest, I thought Smalling and Jones progressed very well last year. Had some injury problems granted but that still leaves Rojo (who I like) and Evans who has lost his way a bit. I think a striker is a pressing need though, just because I don't think we can rely on Rooney and Wilson for the whole season.
 
Guys, we also need to sell/loan out some players. Our first team squad is huge right now. Lets say we get a new ST, a new CB and the team below is out starting line up;

De Gea

Darmian
New CB
Smalling
Shaw

Carrick/Bastian
Morgan S
Herrera

Di Maria
Rooney
Depay

These are the players that can be on the subs bench.


Jones
Evans
Rojo
Blind
Bastian/Carrick
Mata
Fellaini
New ST
Adnan
Perreira
Young
McNair
Blackett
Valdez
Valencia
Wilson
Hernandez

17 players, for 7 positions!
 
The Man Himself said:
I might be in minority, but I will be OK if we don't buy a striker, particularly if we are going to play 4-3-3. Rooney and one more expensive big name striker, when only one can play in a match, will be unnecessary. As a backup, we can retain Chicharito for one more season. This also depends on how much confidence LvG has in Wilson, as in, does he see him good enough to lead line upfront alone in absence of Rooney for cup games and occasional league games. If LvG sees Fellaini as a plan B striker, then that's another option. As I see it, with current options upfront, there are goals in the team outside Rooney too. di Maria, Memphis, Mata, Herrera, Fellaini are all capable of chipping in with goals. Rooney will need to be in 2009-10 type of mode though for us to be in league contention. Chelsea did OK with just Costa practically upfront when his backups were Remy and almost retired Drogba. They had Hazard to score loads though, so we need someone like di Maria to do it if we don't buy a striker.
If we have to get someone, Cavani can play wide as well so if di Maria leaves, having Cavani and playing him wide with Rooney and then sometimes rotating him and Rooney up front can be an alternative. Will also mean we will have two good established strikers. Have never been a big fan of Cavani though and if we are asked ridiculous money for him, not sure it will be worth it.

On the other hand, a CB is a must and my preference is Otamendi while retaining De Gea this season rather than De Gea-Ramos swap.
Click to expand...

I'm also in that minority then. A true striker is usually a very limited footballer, and having two of that kind is not something I'm sure is very effective in todays football. I'm thinking about guys like Inzaghi who would only sit and wait for a ball to be delivered but offered nothing more than a backward pass if the situation didn't suit him. These guys like Mata, Di Maria, Young, Januzaj etc are all able to get themselves and other team members in good situations to score goals - while a player like (for example) Falcao/Kane would not be able to play that game.
 
I'm ok with the CBs, outside of injuries, i've got confidence in Smalling and Jones to do the job well. If they could replicate their form over that final 3rd of last season then it's all good.

Striker is a tricky one. If there were only another Remy available.
 
We need a striker. Rooney isn't good enough to score enough goals anymore.

We need a world class centre back. Personally I'd buy two because I don't think we have anything other than decent centre backs.

We need to keep Angel Di Maria.

And I'd keep De Gea unless we get 40m. Why should we pay way over the odds for Ramos and they get De Gea on the cheap? feck them.
 
I haven't posted for some time my reason being that firstly I was fed up waiting for some transfer news, then I went full muppet mode over the weekend and couldn't keep up with the pace of it all, now with some reflection its time to take a deep breath and seriously consider what, or rather who is next, I am totally baffled why we have sold RVP, despite his relatively poor season I really can't think who can replace him, (and I think most agree he does need replacing), of those mentioned, Kane/Cavani/Laccazette/Benteke etc the argument seems to be that none of them are prepared to play second fiddle to Rooney ! well if any of them are worthy of the shirt, and good enough to be starting regardless of whether its with, or instead of Rooney then get them signed, my preference would be to take a punt on Laccazette. As for a CB, you could argue that LVG will have spent enough time with Smalling and co to know whether we need one or not, he has stated that he will only buy if its an improvement on what we have, that narrows the field more than people imagine, Otamendi had a great season but was it a 'one off' ? I would like to think that we are still trying for Ramos, but if it means losing DDG then I would look elsewhere, maybe Howedes ? To summarise I agree with most that we could do with another Striker and an experienced CB, but also like most people I'm not sure who, lets trust LVG on this one.
 
how many threads do we need to discuss the fact we need another CB and striker and possibly GK?
 
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