Luckhurst: United prepared to move for a holding midfielder in January

[Ikon]

We can offer them JLingz plus cash, hopefully they still remember his purple patch from last season.

That ship has sailed, we needed to cash in on Lingard whilst the iron was hot.
Lingard will either stay here on a new bumper contract or he will leave on a freebie.
Either way, the opportunity to use Lingard as PX in a deal for Rice looks to have passed.

 

[Green Arrow]

That ship has sailed, we needed to cash in on Lingard whilst the iron was hot.
Lingard will either stay here on a new bumper contract or he will leave on a freebie.
Either way, the opportunity to use Lingard as PX in a deal for Rice looks to have passed.

All true that option is no more now, my money is him getting a contract extension now I don't think the board will allow him to leave on a free with looking like Pogba will do.

 

[SeanyC]

Why do I fear Lingard will sign a new contract…my gut says he will!

 

[Ikon]

Does anyone else see a situation next Summer where....Pogba leaves on a Freebie, Donny leaves, Matic & Mata retire, and we are left with McFred as the only MF options?
Just wondering how many MFs we'd actually go into the market for, especially if we plan on spending big bucks for Rice & Haaland...

 

[Bestietom]

Could go for Bissouma in January.

 

[GueRed]

If Ole is still in charge he'll go for Rice...

Going on reports he likes him a lot.

Rice and Halaand next summer would be a good window tbf...

 

[Lentwood]

I've got some news for you, with a better manager we would.

If you're so happy to write this season off given these signings and this squad it can only mean you don't rate Ole. Consciously or not.

Genuine question for you. Let's say Tuchel took over Utd after Jose.

What do you think the BEST we could have likely achieved is, in that time?

I absolutely, 100% guarantee, that if Tuchel had taken over THAT Utd squad, you and the rest of this forum would be absolutely over the moon at a 3rd-placed finish and a 2nd-placed finish.

The ONLY reason people criticise Ole is because it's a popular opinion amongst the know-nothings in the MSM who are paid to generate clicks and headlines by whipping fans into a hysteria over nothing

 

[Lentwood]

You don't have a monopoly on financial literacy so turn down the condescending tone. How much deadweight is United carrying in terms of wages? Our recent €50m signing is crying out for game time, why not sell him and reinvest in a DM? We have four goalkeepers in the squad. West Ham offered us around £15m for Jesse who we stand to lose for free.

All those are examples of basic housekeeping not being done at United which is bleeding the club millions. Leeds wanted James for over two seasons, we knew we had a ready buyer but blocked his move until Ronaldo came in even when it was clear we weren't going to use him much or we could do without him and simply give his minutes to Elanga.

So all in all we could have got around £60m - £70m James, Lingard and DVB. A figure enough to pick up a DM, in France plus pay for Ronaldo - whose hype and performances will pay for him.

When you sign a 36 year old Ronaldo 72 hours before transfer deadline day there is no more calm and considered. A player of his stature, in addition to Varane, Pogba, Bruno and De Gea, is one you bring to win and win now. After signing Ronaldo there is no more calm and considered you have to push for titles and I believe that despite the good work we have done we really sold ourselves short by not bringing in a midfield upgrade.

Liverpool not buying anyone of note is of no consequence to us because in spite of that they still have a good side plus it is City and Chelsea that we have to worry about. Chelsea, in particular, have a steeliness about them and in Lukaku they have a proven goalscorer. I believe that if we had brought in Tchouameni or some upcoming DM from Ligue 1 we would have got that balance right that brought us that solidity that can win titles. This is where I blame Ole in that he isn't flexible with his targets and I don't believe that whoever he is waiting for to become available is worth sacrificing a whole season over.

If you think me stating that I can subtract one number from an other is 'condescending' then I think that tells us everything we need to know about the state of this forum right now.

You talk about buying and selling players like they are football stickers. What if Lingard didn't want to go to West Ham? What if no club made a serious enquiry about DvdB? We sold James for £25m, what complaints can you possibly have about that? You talk about 're-investing' that money, whilst conveniently forgetting that we have spent £130m this window.

I think it sums it all up really when you suggest buying Tchouameni. Now, I've never heard of him, he might be the 2nd-coming of Zinedine Zidane and Gennaro Gattuso, however, if I had £1 for every absolute no-hoper fans on this forum had berated the Board for not signing, I would be on a superyacht in the Caribbean right now.

Surely a far better plan is to give it our best crack this season with what we have, and then go all out for a real world-class DM/CM next Summer? Despite what the media will have you believe, it's not a 'crisis', or a 'disaster' or a 'disgrace' if a team doesn't win the league. Only one team CAN win the league, and this league happens to be a) very competitive and b) home to two clubs who are pumped full of oil money

 

[Desert Eagle]

Genuine question for you. Let's say Tuchel took over Utd after Jose.

What do you think the BEST we could have likely achieved is, in that time?

I absolutely, 100% guarantee, that if Tuchel had taken over THAT Utd squad, you and the rest of this forum would be absolutely over the moon at a 3rd-placed finish and a 2nd-placed finish.

The ONLY reason people criticise Ole is because it's a popular opinion amongst the know-nothings in the MSM who are paid to generate clicks and headlines by whipping fans into a hysteria over nothing

You gotta stop saying 100% guarantee when you know sweet feck all.

If Tuchel took over after Mourinho and has had the time and money Ole has had and the same results he should already be sacked or this should be his final season to win a big trophy or else get sacked.

No other manager at a top club gets a 4/5 year project with no pressure to win the league or champions league.

The fact that you think the only reason people criticise Ole is because of the MSM is beyond laughable. People criticise Ole because he has admitted he doesn't coach the team and just "manages" , compared to his competitors who have a footballing philosophy and have coached their team to major honors. At the top level of sports every advantage counts and people feel that Ole's advantages ( good vibes, good pr, keeping the players happy) are less vital to our success than advantages other coaches might provide ( tactical flexibility, pressing, passing patterns) especially since we already have one of the best squads in the world.

 

[Hal9000]

Why do I fear Lingard will sign a new contract…my gut says he will!

Thing is, he'll sign a new contract on higher wages (because why not, balls in his court) and then he'll be even more difficult to shift.

 

[mu4c_20le]

You gotta stop saying 100% guarantee when you know sweet feck all.

If Tuchel took over after Mourinho and has had the time and money Ole has had and the same results he should already be sacked or this should be his final season to win a big trophy or else get sacked.

No other manager at a top club gets a 4/5 year project with no pressure to win the league or champions league.

So why did Klopp get 4-5 years?

 

[Desert Eagle]

So why did Klopp get 4-5 years?

Liverpool were not a top club when Klopp took over. He has made them what they are now. 2 champions league finals with one victory, 2 90 plus point league seasons with one title in his 4/5 years. It's not comparable to Ole.

 

[londonredmaniac]

If a top striker and CM come in next summer I'd say we are in top shape. I'd take a RB if the opportunity presented.

 

[Redcy]

Liverpool were not a top club when Klopp took over.

I have news for you...

 

[deleon]

It won't hurt to start bidding in January. Protracted sagas are how we do things.

 

[nainaisson]

Liverpool were not a top club when Klopp took over. He has made them what they are now. 2 champions league finals with one victory, 2 90 plus point league seasons with one title in his 4/5 years. It's not comparable to Ole.

Liverpool stopped being a top club as soon as Karius left, in my opinion.

 

[Devil may care]

I just hope the reason is financial and not because we we are waiting for Rice, I think if he goes to Chelsea Tuchel will use him in the back 3.

 

[Lentwood]

You gotta stop saying 100% guarantee when you know sweet feck all.

If Tuchel took over after Mourinho and has had the time and money Ole has had and the same results he should already be sacked or this should be his final season to win a big trophy or else get sacked.

No other manager at a top club gets a 4/5 year project with no pressure to win the league or champions league.

The fact that you think the only reason people criticise Ole is because of the MSM is beyond laughable. People criticise Ole because he has admitted he doesn't coach the team and just "manages" , compared to his competitors who have a footballing philosophy and have coached their team to major honors. At the top level of sports every advantage counts and people feel that Ole's advantages ( good vibes, good pr, keeping the players happy) are less vital to our success than advantages other coaches might provide ( tactical flexibility, pressing, passing patterns) especially since we already have one of the best squads in the world.

Well that's the beauty of a public forum isn't it. If I am wrong, you can come back and show me in May. I won't be though.

So, just to clarify, ANY manager who doesn't win the league in his first two full seasons should be sacked? Just checking that is exactly what you are saying, because if so you would have sacked Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp, amongst others.

On your point about Ole not coaching the team...you know that it's 100% normal for a manager NOT to coach the team, right? Watch the 'Overlap' interview with Roy Keane and Gary Neville. Keane says that the first question they ask when you take your Pro License is "do you want to be a coach or a manager?". Clearly, Ole is a manager. Sir Alex Ferguson was a manager. There's nothing wrong with this approach at all, it's not some kind of problem, as you insinuate.

The fact is, and many people don't appreciate this, the job of the manager at a top club like United is to do exactly that - manage. It's not to watch video analysis of players or opponents. It's not to stand on the training pitch, taking technical coaching sessions. It's not to sit on the phone with other managers/chairmen, haggling over transfer fees. It's not to sit with players negotiating their goal bonus or image rights or whatever. It's to MANAGE the TEAM of people responsible for doing those things.

The improvement across every department at Manchester United has been immeasurable since Ole took over. I can't fathom the attitude of someone who wants him sacked because he hasn't taken an average (and very young) squad from 6th to 1st in two season!

 

[Desert Eagle]

Well that's the beauty of a public forum isn't it. If I am wrong, you can come back and show me in May. I won't be though.

So, just to clarify, ANY manager who doesn't win the league in his first two full seasons should be sacked? Just checking that is exactly what you are saying, because if so you would have sacked Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp, amongst others.

On your point about Ole not coaching the team...you know that it's 100% normal for a manager NOT to coach the team, right? Watch the 'Overlap' interview with Roy Keane and Gary Neville. Keane says that the first question they ask when you take your Pro License is "do you want to be a coach or a manager?". Clearly, Ole is a manager. Sir Alex Ferguson was a manager. There's nothing wrong with this approach at all, it's not some kind of problem, as you insinuate.

The fact is, and many people don't appreciate this, the job of the manager at a top club like United is to do exactly that - manage. It's not to watch video analysis of players or opponents. It's not to stand on the training pitch, taking technical coaching sessions. It's not to sit on the phone with other managers/chairmen, haggling over transfer fees. It's not to sit with players negotiating their goal bonus or image rights or whatever. It's to MANAGE the TEAM of people responsible for doing those things.

The improvement across every department at Manchester United has been immeasurable since Ole took over. I can't fathom the attitude of someone who wants him sacked because he hasn't taken an average (and very young) squad from 6th to 1st in two season!

If you're wrong about a hypothetical someone can come back and show you? That's not how hypotheticals work mate.

Any manager at a top club who doesn't win anything in his first three full seasons should be sacked. After two years depending on certain factors they can also be sacked.

Stop comparing Ole and Fergie. Fergie was also a great coach and only became a manager later in his career. He also had great coaches around him not complete noobs like Carrick and Mckenna. I want a manager who's able to do all those things you listed AND manage the group of people responsible for the micro day to day stuff.

So if Ole finishes 4th this year , you will say what? I can't believe someone wants a manager sacked who has taken an average squad from 6th to 4th in three years?!

All this reeks of setting expectations low to absolve Ole. So if he doesn't win anything again you can say of course, I 100% guarantee predicted it and any reasonable fan would know we couldn't have won this year.

 

[Banat]

I really hope by "Next year" he meant january transfer window.
Anyway, I think we will be forced to shop and overpay in january as our central midfield options are mid table at best.
Hell, I get the feeling we are even less balanced now, although our signings are class on paper.

 

[mitchmouse]

Judging from the reports that United wants a pure holding midfielder, I think we're gonna try to get Declan Rice next summer.
He fits the player profile that Ole likes to bring to the squad: pure DM with room for improvement in his passing range, English and still quite young. He didn't want to extend and if he sticks to his gun, next summer he only have 2 years left on his contract, West Ham may want to negotiate by that time

I quite like Rice but do get the feeling he wants to do a Lampard and go and be a "chelsea legend"

 

[mitchmouse]

Genuine question for you. Let's say Tuchel took over Utd after Jose.

What do you think the BEST we could have likely achieved is, in that time?

I absolutely, 100% guarantee, that if Tuchel had taken over THAT Utd squad, you and the rest of this forum would be absolutely over the moon at a 3rd-placed finish and a 2nd-placed finish.

The ONLY reason people criticise Ole is because it's a popular opinion amongst the know-nothings in the MSM who are paid to generate clicks and headlines by whipping fans into a hysteria over nothing

well, I think we'd have won the Europa for starters!

 

[Red_toad]

[2020] Anyone out of Partey or Zakaria [/2020]

It's funny how all these 'guaranteed' future stars turn out to be duds only a few months later.

Thankfully, Ole is judging them by something more substantial than FIFA. The last thing we need is another squad level player on massive wages.

He’s free to talk to other clubs in January out of contract in June 22. I’d imagine he’d have no trouble getting a new club.

 

[HackeyC]

Am I the only one would prefer Ndidi to Rice?

 

[Lentwood]

If you're wrong about a hypothetical someone can come back and show you? That's not how hypotheticals work mate.

Any manager at a top club who doesn't win anything in his first three full seasons should be sacked. After two years depending on certain factors they can also be sacked.

Stop comparing Ole and Fergie. Fergie was also a great coach and only became a manager later in his career. He also had great coaches around him not complete noobs like Carrick and Mckenna. I want a manager who's able to do all those things you listed AND manage the group of people responsible for the micro day to day stuff.

So if Ole finishes 4th this year , you will say what? I can't believe someone wants a manager sacked who has taken an average squad from 6th to 4th in three years?!

All this reeks of setting expectations low to absolve Ole. So if he doesn't win anything again you can say of course, I 100% guarantee predicted it and any reasonable fan would know we couldn't have won this year.

So, out of interest, if we win the league this year, should Tuchel, Pep and Klopp be sacked?

 

[Desert Eagle]

So, out of interest, if we win the league this year, should Tuchel, Pep and Klopp be sacked?

Do you really not understand the concept of credit in the bank. Tuchel just won the champions league but a couple of trophyless years and he will very likely get the sack. Klopp is never getting sacked at Liverpool barring something absolutely unforseen. He broke their 30 year title drought and won a champions league. As for Pep who is considered the best active manager in the world, I doubt city would sack him either but he's already said he's leaving in a couple years. He also just won the league last year!

 

[passing-wind]

Rice is not the answer to our midfield problems.

We need an Elite ball player in there. We don't need a defensive midfielder, we need a Deep lying playmaker.

We cannot find line breaking passes at the moment which is making it difficult to progress the ball. We need someone of the quality of De Jong, Veratti, Fabinho

I think we need both especially in the event Pogba is leaving. Rice for me would be class under Solskjaer's management and perhaps a switch to 4-3-3 or he can play in a pivot. Rice has league proven experience won't likely need any 'bedding' in process.

 

[Bebestation]

I think we need both especially in the event Pogba is leaving. Rice for me would be class under Solskjaer's management and perhaps a switch to 4-3-3 or he can play in a pivot. Rice has league proven experience won't likely need any 'bedding' in process.

This. Rice replaces Matic.

We need a ball playing midfielder to replace Carrick or possibly even Pogba if he leaves.

It's not one or the other.

 

[Drainy]

Am I the only one would prefer Ndidi to Rice?

Obviously not. He'd cost even more than Rice and hasn't ever really had strong links so people are realistic.

 

[golden_blunder]

I didn't refer to him as the crab. I said others did.

If that's all you took from what I said then I don't know, read better? Your response is odd, given what I actually posted. I clearly referenced other people using that term in a manner of defending Carrick.

"Fred is actually now at the point of being really under rated. Our fan base tend to do this, Carrick used to get absolutely pelted. Our fans called him the crab."

You've ignored the entire post, seem to have gotten what I was saying completely wrong and then what? Alluded that I'm some other poster you've banned?

Disagree with me if you like, that's fine but this just seemed way off the mark and if I'm honest, pretty childish.

You realise I wasn't saying I agreed with that or actually referring to him that way, right?

Well since you said “read better” perhaps you should too, since I said that you’re the only other “poster” who has said it on these boards. Am I drawing an incorrect conclusion from that? Perhaps, but that’s my ‘job’. You’d be surprised how many banned posters make a return and get caught out by posting the same way. So less of the attitude please

 

[dabeast]

Our team was good enough to win the PL title in 2007 but we lost to Kaka and Milan in the CL semi-final. Had we had a decent DM we would have handled them and beaten Liverpool in the final. We then bought Owen Hargreaves who played for 1 season and won us the CL. He then got injured and, though we reached 2 finals in the next 3 years, we never won the CL again.

We have had the greatest transfer window ever but not buying a DM in this window is going to turn out to be a similar mistake. United under SAF had a blind spot when it comes to DMs and it cost us trophies. Under Ole we still do and, like in the past, it will cost us trophies.

 

[Lentwood]

Do you really not understand the concept of credit in the bank. Tuchel just won the champions league but a couple of trophyless years and he will very likely get the sack. Klopp is never getting sacked at Liverpool barring something absolutely unforseen. He broke their 30 year title drought and won a champions league. As for Pep who is considered the best active manager in the world, I doubt city would sack him either but he's already said he's leaving in a couple years. He also just won the league last year!

I do understand the concept of credit in the bank, hence my question.

Ole should have plenty of credit in the bank, but instead all he gets is criticism.

Anyway, that's enough with this argument. If you want to be miserable and angry all of the time then fine, I'm happy with Ole, happy with how the squad is shaping up and believe we're progressing in the right direction.

Back on the subject of this thread, and as I have said before, let's wait until next season and offer £50m plus Lingard for Rice

 

[RedStarUnited]

Rice is not the answer to our midfield problems.

We need an Elite ball player in there. We don't need a defensive midfielder, we need a Deep lying playmaker.

We cannot find line breaking passes at the moment which is making it difficult to progress the ball. We need someone of the quality of De Jong, Veratti, Fabinho

Finally someone sees it too. Ive been saying this all along.

 

[Highfather_24]

Our team was good enough to win the PL title in 2007 but we lost to Kaka and Milan in the CL semi-final. Had we had a decent DM we would have handled them and beaten Liverpool in the final. We then bought Owen Hargreaves who played for 1 season and won us the CL. He then got injured and, though we reached 2 finals in the next 3 years, we never won the CL again.

Hargreaves played on the right for us in the final. Cool story though.

 

[Beans]

Back on the subject of this thread, and as I have said before, let's wait until next season and offer £50m plus Lingard for Rice

Lingard is out of contact next summer, so that's not gonna happen. I can't understand how we haven't sold him.

 

[Desert Eagle]

I do understand the concept of credit in the bank, hence my question.

Ole should have plenty of credit in the bank, but instead all he gets is criticism.

Anyway, that's enough with this argument. If you want to be miserable and angry all of the time then fine, I'm happy with Ole, happy with how the squad is shaping up and believe we're progressing in the right direction.

Back on the subject of this thread, and as I have said before, let's wait until next season and offer £50m plus Lingard for Rice

Ole's credit in the bank meant after getting knocked out in the cl group stages and losing the europa final in embarrassing circumstances he got a new 3 year contract.

Don't project your fantasies on to me. I'm not miserable and angry all the time if i happen to think Ole is not good enough to have us win big trophies.

I'm certainly not writing off this season. It is the season that will prove one side right or wrong on Ole imo.

 

[romufc]

I think we need both especially in the event Pogba is leaving. Rice for me would be class under Solskjaer's management and perhaps a switch to 4-3-3 or he can play in a pivot. Rice has league proven experience won't likely need any 'bedding' in process.

Rice can play in the pivot but we still need the elite ball player. If you look around in teams that win big trophies, they have someone who is very good at passing.

Real - Casemeiro holds, Kroos passes
Liverpool / City - They are lucky to have both in 1 player Fabinho and Rodri
Chelsea - Kante is the ball winner and Jorginho the passer.

 

[Fox outside the box]

Well since you said “read better” perhaps you should too, since I said that you’re the only other “poster” who has said it on these boards. Am I drawing an incorrect conclusion from that? Perhaps, but that’s my ‘job’. You’d be surprised how many banned posters make a return and get caught out by posting the same way. So less of the attitude please

I know you said other poster, I take that as you saying me and also one other person, as though me and that person are saying the same thing and my point still stands.

You said "You’re only the 2nd poster to refer to carrick as the crab"

No I'm not. I didn't call him that at all, I simply pointed out other people said it at the time and I feel its pretty clear that I was using that as an example of people being unfair, not having a go at anyone.

Now, if you're saying that only one person EVER actually called him that and I'm the only other person to reference that term then that's just wrong. I know because I caught. A lot of flack for defending him about it at the time. If you Google Michael carrick crab you'll get loads of results.

I've literally done nothing wrong, you misquoted me and said I had said something I hadn't and when I pointed it out you've had a go at my attitude and had a little dig about me having multiple accounts with zero basis. I've no doubt that happens but it's a bit shit to just level it at me when you're the one who has misunderstood what I was saying.

Maybe I was a bit defensive but I've been a member on this site for a while, I don't spam, troll or really post all that much, I've weighed in and defended a player only to then have an admin on the site to say I'm doing the opposite and have a pop at me.

I never actually said what I've quoted you telling me I said. I know it's a long reply but I feel like I've been taken really wrong on this one and I'm just trying to be clear.

 

[Jeppers7]

Well since you said “read better” perhaps you should too, since I said that you’re the only other “poster” who has said it on these boards. Am I drawing an incorrect conclusion from that? Perhaps, but that’s my ‘job’. You’d be surprised how many banned posters make a return and get caught out by posting the same way. So less of the attitude please

Jesus the absolute state of this post. You’re practically threatening the poster for absolutely nothing.

 

[Jeppers7]

I know you said other poster, I take that as you saying me and also one other person, as though me and that person are saying the same thing and my point still stands.

You said "You’re only the 2nd poster to refer to carrick as the crab"

No I'm not. I didn't call him that at all, I simply pointed out other people said it at the time and I feel its pretty clear that I was using that as an example of people being unfair, not having a go at anyone.

Now, if you're saying that only one person EVER actually called him that and I'm the only other person to reference that term then that's just wrong. I know because I caught. A lot of flack for defending him about it at the time. If you Google Michael carrick crab you'll get loads of results.

I've literally done nothing wrong, you misquoted me and said I had said something I hadn't and when I pointed it out you've had a go at my attitude and had a little dig about me having multiple accounts with zero basis. I've no doubt that happens but it's a bit shit to just level it at me when you're the one who has misunderstood what I was saying.

Maybe I was a bit defensive but I've been a member on this site for a while, I don't spam, troll or really post all that much, I've weighed in and defended a player only to then have an admin on the site to say I'm doing the opposite and have a pop at me.

I never actually said what I've quoted you telling me I said. I know it's a long reply but I feel like I've been taken really wrong on this one and I'm just trying to be clear.

Keyboard warrior mate. Full of his own self importance. I’d just ignore them.