I don’t understand why Jose didn’t move at least one centre back out, surely that would have given him a bit more clout in trying to bring in someone like Maguire. What this does do though is give 6 months to a couple of our centre backs to stake a proper claim once and for all. If none of them can step up and nail a place in this situation then we do need a serious re-evaluation in January or, more likely, next summer. They’ve all been given a reprieve of sorts with no incoming so it’s now or never.
Man Utd set to appoint Director of Football (when hell freezes over)
- Thread starter RedMachine03
- Start date
- Status
He tried moving out Rojo, but wouldn't risk going into the season without a replacement.
We already have a decent set of center backs, why risk it?
The market is so overpriced, so the idea of doing nothing can’t be considered all wrong.
It’s only going to get worse next summer.
Ed should get sacked for what he “accomplished” this window. He failed.
It can when the other clubs are gearing up irrespective of the inflation which touches all, not just some clubs.
Agreed. Well summarised.
Woody will come back with a vengeance, you can quote me on that.
Why should he be sacked? The Glazers will be happy so long as we make Top 4 and the sponsorships keep rolling in.
Ed does seem to fancy himself a football genius though. "I would have signed Varane", "Shaw has potential" -- the briefing seems so childish and almost defiant.
Jones Smalling Valencia Young... you named it still staying here because replacing them would cost a fortunate in this market. Also they are the type who play for the managers so the managers don't just push them out of the door first.
Clearly Mourinho wanted more players last summer and after compromising with Matic, Woodward closed the book. Fred was not short of suitors, when the proven alternative for his position would cost much more.
He has on his hole. Bale, Ronaldo, Fabregas, Thiago, Kroos, Sandro and Varane. These are all “Big transfers” he apparently tried to secure and didn’t get any of them across the line. The only time he’s been able to actually secure big players has been by bending over and spreading his cheeks for Raiola and/or pissing off Pogba by throwing our salary structure out the window to sign Sanchez. That all turned out great for the club, didn’t it?
Last edited:
It's gonna be a long 12 months mate
Heh. Ed giving Jose a taste of his own medicine this morning basically telling him his transfer list is crap.
While I agree with Ed on this occasion, I'm not entirely sure these two having a media based dispute is good for the club. Maybe they could have thrash it out over coffee at Carrington instead?
While I agree with Ed on this occasion, I'm not entirely sure these two having a media based dispute is good for the club. Maybe they could have thrash it out over coffee at Carrington instead?
It will be carnage, starting with tonight if we don't win. I for one can't wait for the game.
Back in fecking June!
If we dont win and play shit football, the wolves will be back immediately and the fans will turn as well
Thats all good but I think Jose knows about football a bit more than Ed.
Fully behind Ed and the board on this. We signed Fred and Dalot whom are both relatively young players in the positions that we needed. Ed has every right to questions Jose for wanting another CB. He has already signed 2 so why cant he play them. We are over stocked on CB's. What I want to see now is for this team to be properly coached and set up to play a more exciting brand of football. That's all I care about is not to be bored absolutely shitless with his negative set up every game
Well done Ed. I think this is the first step to getting my Manchester United back. Let’s stop buying overpriced mediocrity and get back to playing decent football with the world class players we have.
I fear more of Jose himself if we don't win. We all know how he can react, and it can have only one loser.
But come on, I'm positive, he just needs to field Martial-Rashford-Alexis as the front 3 and we got this.
Perfect manager for the board is Pochettino.
He'll be a yes man! He'll keep quiet, go about his job and secure top 4 every year, whilst not saying anything about transfers or money, as he lands the "top 4" cup
The No Value era will have returned!
You either back the manager or you don't! There is no in between!
He'll be a yes man! He'll keep quiet, go about his job and secure top 4 every year, whilst not saying anything about transfers or money, as he lands the "top 4" cup
The No Value era will have returned!
You either back the manager or you don't! There is no in between!
A devious leak to the press, designed to cover one person’s arse while undermining the manager who’s in charge of our team the next day? Your definition of “my Manchester United” clearly differs from mine. Even if you’re ok with an accountant calling the shots on who the manager should and shouldn’t sign the fact that a) this wasn’t made clear the moment Mourinho handed over that list of five players and b) the discussions weren’t kept in-house is an absolute disgrace.
Our board of directors includes Sir Alex and Sir Bobby. Ed's just the middle man.
Because we need more, and better than Smalling and Jones and Rojo. Lindelof and Bailly are futures and Toby would have been present. Willian and perisic was understandable but looking at it at once we should have completed one more signing to give Jose proper chance to compete in the league and Europe.
We might go at Toby again in Jan when levys hand is forced but we could jeopardise the title by then by having bad results with poor football because Jose is sure to park the bus as he does not think our Cbs are good and experienced enough
Some of that is pure speculation. How do you know that list of 5 players didnt contain Fred or Dalot? I do agree that the club has become something of a soap opera, however to lay that blame on Ed is not correct in my opinion. Jose is known for being a sh*t stirrer and moaning and whining. The transfer window (incomings) has closed. Time for everyone to pull together and concentrate on the most important thing which is the game tonight
In what world are we having the Old Man utd back ?
Not trying to simply buy our way out of trouble, not spending millions on players who don’t really want to be here and not just thinking throwing money at new lads is going to make us better.
On here a few days ago people were talking about the worst ever transfer window and they named 2009! A year we actually won the league! People get too invested in the transfer system, about time someone said no.
I've always been wary of Woodward myself. His first season he seemingly escaped without any blame for a transfer window where Fellaini was our only big signing. Moyes said himself the last thing he wanted was Fellaini to be his marquee signing. Everyone seems to blame only Moyes but Woodward didnt deliver there either.
Granted he got better in the next windows but Moyes was already gone by then. I dont believe for one second that Mourinho can have any complaints up until this point. He got the money and backing in the previous few windows that Moyes and LVG could only dream of. But he hasnt come close to getting the best out of the squad he has. He hasnt even come close to getting the best out of the players we signed with him as manager.
Granted he got better in the next windows but Moyes was already gone by then. I dont believe for one second that Mourinho can have any complaints up until this point. He got the money and backing in the previous few windows that Moyes and LVG could only dream of. But he hasnt come close to getting the best out of the squad he has. He hasnt even come close to getting the best out of the players we signed with him as manager.
My Manchester United is all about developing long term players who want to be at the club and a focus on the long term sustainability. I would rather Jones/Smalling start than any of the defenders we were linked with. About time we stopped throwing money away on nonsense and started making the most of what we have. 18 teams in the league (minimum) would kill for our attacking players such as Lukaku/Sanchez and Pogba. Let’s get them going
That's what is called being misguided idealist.
I doubt they have a say in things.
Not really - think they're rated at the level they are. Huge investment in squad and good players in all positions. Currently best team in the PL by some margin.
Pep found his first season a struggle - splashed the cash on a new backline (in answer to your question, I would consider that defense as good as any in the PL - no point getting in to the WC debate) primarily because of the strength of the full backs. Also splashed the cash on another keeper after Bravo hadn't worked out. So you have a brand spanking new defensive unit, pre made midfield three, best Striker in the PL and then some signings like Jesus, Sane, Silva, Gundgan for depth and the add competition.
None of this takes away from Pep being a good manager but he's hardly done a Leicester and got good players suddenly playing at such a high level. They were the strongest squad on paper under Pelligrini, they still are the strongest squad on paper now.
That was a horrific window.
Only people in the club know why we botched that window.
We sold Cristiano Ronaldo and didn't do anything. Buying just Valencia(who tbf has been a great servant), Owen and Obertan was nonsense.
We didn't use Real's major interest in Ronaldo to get any of their cast-offs(like Robben who's only improved since then or Sneijder who had a fantastic season at Inter).
Keep in mind, this was when we were at the top of Europe. 2 straight CL finals. Only bettered by a brilliant Barcelona team in 2009.
That window was the start of our decline in Europe(yes I know we reached the UCL final again in 2011, but it was with a weaker team).
Pretty much. This briefing should have never ever happened. Incredibly amateurish and shows just how badly run we really are.
Even if it did why not tell the manager that 2 or 3 of the other names on the list were non-starters and he should immediately name different targets?
Also, why would Mourinho seem confident of another signing just a week or two back only for the club brief the press that we were never really close to signing anyone else, but that was by choice. It’s blatant arse-covering.
Finally, you say it’s time to concentrate on the game tonight. I agree. Do you think Woodward’s briefings help or hinder the manager in this regard?
Last edited:
It feels like the only time United are willing to spend big is if we have a disastrous non-CL season.
Think it has something to do with the short term buys that they've mentioned mate. There aren't any takers for Jones either way and in terms of marketable I mean that if we buy Sandro now he'll have little to no resale value come 4 or 5 years when his contract with us ends.
Happened with Lvg as well. Woodward is the common denominator.
Mendy-Stones-Otamendi-Walker is a defense that's nothing special. Nothing compared to the great Prem defenses.
Sterling, Stones, Otamendi, and even Delph were constantly mocked on here prior to the past season. And a few of those just had terrible world cup performances.
They didn't have a pre-made midfield 3. Pellegrini never used(as far as I recall) Silva-KDB-Fernandinho as a midfield trio. Pep came in and started that.
We're back to saying Aguero is the best striker in the Prem again?
Pep hasn't done a Leicester, but this City team are clearly inferior to his Bayern and Barelona teams. He coached his butt off last season.
They have a good team, but it's made better than it is because of Pep.
It is of course not uncommon. I imagine that's scant relief for Mourinho this morning, though.
I think that some sort of DOF, a person with actual knowledge of the game, to act as a buffer between the manager and the board, would be useful going forward.
Again, because he works with a DoF Like Tixxi Begrristan who knows which players pep likes and brings them even before pep joins.
You give a team full or workhorses and quality to mourinho he will coach his way to success.
It's back them or sack them, going middle way won't deliver success.
- Status