Manchester United Summer Transfer Window 2015: What do we still need?

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All depends who wants to stay of course.

In my opinion, in order of importance....

Need -
CB
CM
RB
Winger - don't mind keeping Nani as rotation with Young. Be happy to see Valencia leave if we do sign a quality RB. So there would be space for a top quality winger.

Optional -
Another CB
Quality youngish striker - we'll likely need one the summer after either way. Depends who is available this summer.
 
CB - Hummels
RB - Clyne
CDM - Carvalho
Winger - Depay (+ Nani back from loan)

---------------------------DDG--------------------------
Clyne--------Smalling--------Hummels--------Shaw
----------------------Carvalho------------------------
-----------Herrera-----------------Di Maria--------------
----Nani-------------Rooney----------------Depay----


DDG
Valdes

Clyne
Valencia
Shaw

Hummels
Rojo
Smalling
Jones
McNair
Blackett

Carvalho
Blind
Carrick

Herrera
Mata
Fellaini
Di Maria

Depay
Young
Nani
Januzaj

Rooney
RVP
Wilson
 
I think you should go for a centre back, a right back, a midfielder and a striker. You need more than that, but those are the four areas that need fixing immediately and I don't think you should have another summer with a tonne of changes.
 
We need a threat from wide this summer as much as anything, not sure why we continue to want to play with 2 forwards when its obvious we can just play with Rooney leading the line, just need to have him flanked by some pacy players who run at the opposition instead of recycling the ball endlessly infront of teams stacking their half.
 
3 defenders - Coleman, Garay, Marquinhos.
2 central midfielders - Scheiderlin and Pogba or Gundogan.
1 attacker - Depay.
 
Barney said:
I think you should go for a centre back, a right back, a midfielder and a striker. You need more than that, but those are the four areas that need fixing immediately and I don't think you should have another summer with a tonne of changes.
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That's overkill unless you are talking about assembling a CL winning squad. We certainly don't need a striker if we are going to stick to the 4-3-3, with Rooney, RVP & Wilson (bringing Nani back as an option for the wide positions would help us in the wide department). If we were going to go back to a 2 up front then we may as well just give Hernandez game time, he's no worse than any other teams third choice. I find it weird how when it comes to United everyone seems to think we need 6-7 great player's, when in reality our squad man for man is maybe 3 signings behind Chelsea.

With 2 quality signings in a 4-3-3 we have 22 good options for 11 positions:

Goalkeepers - De Gea, Valdes Sorted
Full backs - Valencia, Shaw, Rafael, Rojo Replace Valencia/Rafael = sorted
Centre backs - Evans, Rojo, Smalling, Jones Replace Evans = sorted
Number 6 - Blind, Carrick Sorted
Number 8 - Herrera, Fellaini Sorted
Number 10 - Mata Sorted
Wingers - Young, Januzaj, Nani, Di Maria Sorted (although I'd loan Januzaj out which leaves us short)
Striker - Rooney, RVP, Wilson Sorted

This is before you take into consideration the versatility of our squad (Rooney, Blind, Herrera, Mata, Di Maria, Januzaj, Young etc can all play multiple positions).

If United need "more than" 4 signings then what do City, Liverpool or Arsenal need? I imagine Liverpool for instance would need 2 strikers, 2 full backs, a central midfielder, a central defender and a goalkeeper. Obviously this isn't the case though, in reality you'd do just fine with maybe 3 quality signings.

If we signed a top quality centre back, right back, midfielder & striker over the next 18 months I'd be ecstatic, let alone the next 6.
 
There's no way we will only bring in 2 players, not a chance. It's very likely LvG doesn't rate Nani or Hernandez and his boy Memphis looks a good bet to come in. RvP's legs have gone and Wilson is still green as grass, so another forward who can play across the front 3 will be in the list as well as we can't risk being stuck with RvP up top if Rooney is out for any length of time.

Then there's midfield, LvG has openly said another CM is his priority in the summer, I'm pretty sure he's aiming higher than Fellaini long term.

I don't think anything needs to be said about CB, can't rely on any of them.
 
For me this window is already taking its shape in the same way we knew Shaw would sign for us. There's already a lot of talk going on about Otamendi and Firmino. Then there's Memphis although not reported, would be a good guess if we make Champions League football. I just hope that the other eventuality of losing De Gea doesn't come true, it's looking very likely right now. Both parties, us and he player have had numerous occasions to take a stand or reassure the fans but there has been no such statement so far. :(

I just hope that we can get a good replacement for De Gea if we do lose him and a great CM to complement what we have.
 
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Fantasy signings.

In:

Garay and Hummels/Laporte
Scheiderlin and Pogba/Gundogan
Depay/Bale/Reus
Coleman/Clyne


Out:

Nani - £15m
Mata - £25m
Falcao - £0m
Evans - £5m


That's £40m and we're well able to spend another £150m without messing up FFP. Of course I can't see us spending £190m in one window but hey, its not my money.
 
Trizy said:
Fantasy signings.

In:

Garay and Hummels/Laporte
Scheiderlin and Pogba/Gundogan
Depay/Bale/Reus
Coleman/Clyne


Out:

Nani - £15m
Mata - £25m
Falcao - £0m
Evans - £5m


That's £40m and we're well able to spend another £150m without messing up FFP. Of course I can't see us spending £190m in one window but hey, its not my money.
Click to expand...
After seeing Hummels last night, he's another one I wouldn't touch with a ten foot bargepole. If he is slow in Germany and CL, how will he cope with the speed of the PL?
 
From what i've heard Hummels is slow and is not having a good season at all.
 
Devil may care said:
There's no way we will only bring in 2 players, not a chance. It's very likely LvG doesn't rate Nani or Hernandez and his boy Memphis looks a good bet to come in. RvP's legs have gone and Wilson is still green as grass, so another forward who can play across the front 3 will be in the list as well as we can't risk being stuck with RvP up top if Rooney is out for any length of time.

Then there's midfield, LvG has openly said another CM is his priority in the summer, I'm pretty sure he's aiming higher than Fellaini long term.

I don't think anything needs to be said about CB, can't rely on any of them.
Click to expand...

I'd be more than happy with a great centre back and right back this Summer. A central midfielder would be a big bonus. An attacking wide player would be overkill unless Nani/Hernandez are both sold and/or Januzaj is loaned out.

I've seen a lot of comments on here but find it bizarre that people are saying we should let the likes of Hernandez/Nani/Mata leave, and then go out and sign Depay/Fermino/Dybala (as well as 2 central defenders and a right back).

Do people really think we need 6 of our starting XI replaced? That's nonsense and would lead to yet another transition season.
 
I'm not interest in Hummels at all.

If they were to get Bale, a top class strong CM and sign de Gea, I'd be ecstatic. A bonus would be a CB better than the ones they have at the moment that doesn't have a history of being injured frequently.
 
darko said:
I'm not interest in Hummels at all.

If they were to get Bale, a top class strong CM and sign de Gea, I'd be ecstatic. A bonus would be a CB better than the ones they have at the moment that doesn't have a history of being injured frequently.
Click to expand...


We can get Bale, a CM and re-sign De Gea but if we dont sign an experienced CB this summer I would be shocked.
 
ravi2 said:
We can get Bale, a CM and re-sign De Gea but if we dont sign an experienced CB this summer I would be shocked.
Click to expand...

I'm not say he won't be looking for one. I'm sure he will be. I hope he finds one, as well.

But those who think Carrick is the man to be the CM they need have to realize he is getting on in years and will be 34 this summer.
 
Andy Mitten writes regularly for the official scandinavian supporter club and says that we've got ~£150 million to spend. He also says that the club is far in the process of deciding which players to buy. The targets are a right back, a striker and a dominant midfielder. He mentions Gareth Bale, Mats Hummels (the club has been chasing him for a long time), Nathaniel Clyne, Memphis Depay and Kevin Strootman but the club has been put off by his injuries so they'll probably not pursue him. (Original Article, I translated it so it's not 100% grammatically correct).

Sport Witness (a very reliable web page with a lot of information) have analysed Spanish media who claims that we might buy Nicolas Otamendi. Read the article here. Quick summary: It's not unlikely that we'll play the buy-out clause of €50 million for him.
 
I'll play a bit of FM:

In:
RCB - Hummels (circa 30m)
LCB - Laporte (circa 30m)
RB/LB - Clyne (circa 15m)
CM - Gundogan (circa 20m)
Winger - Depay (circa 25m)
Striker - Dybala (circa 25m)

Out:
Evans - 10m
Jones - 15m
Valencia - 5m
Young - 5m
Hernandez - 10m
Nani - 10m
RVP - 0m

Total net: 90m pounds

First team:
De Gea

Rafael Hummels Laporte Shaw

Blind Gundogan

Di Maria Mata Depay

Rooney​

Second team:

Valdez

Clyne Smalling McNair Rojo

Carrick Herrera

Januzaj Fellaini Dybala

Wilson​

Yes, I am in a class and professor is boring.
 
Pentame said:
Andy Mitten writes regularly for the official scandinavian supporter club and says that we've got ~£150 million to spend. He also says that the club is far in the process of deciding which players to buy. The targets are a right back, a striker and a dominant midfielder. He mentions Gareth Bale, Mats Hummels (the club has been chasing him for a long time), Nathaniel Clyne, Memphis Depay and Kevin Strootman but the club has been put off by his injuries so they'll probably not pursue him. (Original Article, I translated it so it's not 100% grammatically correct).

Sport Witness (a very reliable web page with a lot of information) have analysed Spanish media who claims that we might buy Nicolas Otamendi. Read the article here. Quick summary: It's not unlikely that we'll play the buy-out clause of €50 million for him.
Click to expand...

I think we will spend that kind of money fairly easily, I expect us to sign Depay and Clyne but I don’t see how we can afford Bale given the players we need in other positions unless the deal involves De Gea leaving.

I would hope the club will have learnt their lessons from Falcao and have enough sense to steer clear of Strootman. In his 2 years at Roma he has spent most of the time injured but no doubt his transfer fee and wages will have doubled if we are interested.

Finding a top centre half is going to be a real problem, they are few and far between and even players who aren’t really big improvements on what we have will cost a fortune.
 
darko said:
I'm not say he won't be looking for one. I'm sure he will be. I hope he finds one, as well.

But those who think Carrick is the man to be the CM they need have to realize he is getting on in years and will be 34 this summer.
Click to expand...

Carrick could still have a further 2 good seasons after this one if he's lucky with injuries. His game is tailored made to playing on gracefully!
 
Roboc7 said:
Finding a top centre half is going to be a real problem, they are few and far between and even players who aren’t really big improvements on what we have will cost a fortune.
Click to expand...


It used be much easier to play CB when chopping and hacking was a reasonable plan. Nowadays and tactic like that spells trouble.
 
Depay Rooney De Bruyne

Pogba Carrick Herrera

Shaw Smalling Varane Clyne

--------------DDG
 
finneh said:
I'd be more than happy with a great centre back and right back this Summer. A central midfielder would be a big bonus. An attacking wide player would be overkill unless Nani/Hernandez are both sold and/or Januzaj is loaned out.

I've seen a lot of comments on here but find it bizarre that people are saying we should let the likes of Hernandez/Nani/Mata leave, and then go out and sign Depay/Fermino/Dybala (as well as 2 central defenders and a right back).

Do people really think we need 6 of our starting XI replaced? That's nonsense and would lead to yet another transition season.
Click to expand...

No, I think 4 of our starting 11 need replacing and that we need a better bench striker option than a soon to be 33 year old striker whose legs have gone. No team aiming to win the PL rather than scramble for 4th starts with Fellaini and Young. They have had decent seasons but they are squad players, and none of our CB's look remotely reliable.

We need 2 CB's who don't panic when pressed and who can actually pass the ball effectively like LvG wants. We need a powerful, athletic, energetic box to box CM to balance out Carrick and Herrera and allow the latter to be the actual attacking CM rather than the #8, and last but not least we need a fast, dribbling young forward who can play wide in a front 3 and grab 15+ goals.

Hernandez, Nani and Mata will all likely be sold IMO.

Pentame said:
Andy Mitten writes regularly for the official scandinavian supporter club and says that we've got ~£150 million to spend. He also says that the club is far in the process of deciding which players to buy. The targets are a right back, a striker and a dominant midfielder. He mentions Gareth Bale, Mats Hummels (the club has been chasing him for a long time), Nathaniel Clyne, Memphis Depay and Kevin Strootman but the club has been put off by his injuries so they'll probably not pursue him. (Original Article, I translated it so it's not 100% grammatically correct).

Sport Witness (a very reliable web page with a lot of information) have analysed Spanish media who claims that we might buy Nicolas Otamendi. Read the article here. Quick summary: It's not unlikely that we'll play the buy-out clause of €50 million for him.
Click to expand...

So Mitten reckons we want a striker and then doesn't list one in the actual article, instead mentioning two wingers while not saying we want a winger.

Paying that kind of fee for Otamendi would be absolutely ludicrous, he's barmy just like Rojo, we need a calm head back there, not another nutter.
 
A few times I've watched Hummels he is not the same player he was just 18 months back.
 
Devil may care said:
So Mitten reckons we want a striker and then doesn't list one in the actual article, instead mentioning two wingers while not saying we want a winger.
Click to expand...
He says that a striker, midfielder and right back are the most important positions to improve, but obviously there are targets in other positions like Bale and Depay. They are probably not as important as improving in the other three positions. The names he mentioned are names he got from agents, not the same source as the one who mentioned those three positions.


Devil may care said:
Paying that kind of fee for Otamendi would be absolutely ludicrous, he's barmy just like Rojo, we need a calm head back there, not another nutter.
Click to expand...
I agree. There's no way he is worth anywhere near €50 million.
 
Pentame said:
He says that a striker, midfielder and right back are the most important positions to improve, but obviously there are targets in other positions like Bale and Depay. They are probably not as important as improving in the other three positions. The names he mentioned are names he got from agents, not the same source as the one who mentioned those three positions.
Click to expand...

It seems odd to me that a striker, and I mean an actual #9, would be a higher priority than wide forward with goals in his boots, as in 4-3-3 we have Rooney for the #9 but our wide options are not exactly prolific goal getters.

I agree. There's no way he is worth anywhere near €50 million.
Click to expand...

It would be a really difficult to justify choice by LvG and the club, the money is over the top for his level and he's in the exact same mold as Rojo and Jones.
 
Sultan said:
A few times I've watched Hummels he is not the same player he was just 18 months back.
Click to expand...
Judging BVB players on this season is like judging United players based on last season. Their entire team is underperforming.
 
Devil may care said:
No, I think 4 of our starting 11 need replacing and that we need a better bench striker option than a soon to be 33 year old striker whose legs have gone. No team aiming to win the PL rather than scramble for 4th starts with Fellaini and Young. They have had decent seasons but they are squad players, and none of our CB's look remotely reliable.

We need 2 CB's who don't panic when pressed and who can actually pass the ball effectively like LvG wants. We need a powerful, athletic, energetic box to box CM to balance out Carrick and Herrera and allow the latter to be the actual attacking CM rather than the #8, and last but not least we need a fast, dribbling young forward who can play wide in a front 3 and grab 15+ goals.

Hernandez, Nani and Mata will all likely be sold IMO.
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Again this turnover of player's would just cause another 12 months of transition. I think it'd be ridiculous to replace half of our outfield player's again, 12 months after already replacing half of them. Van Persie will be 32 going into next season and is still a good player, particularly if he isn't guaranteed a starting spot. Rooney is still a quality striker and if we really wanted to play 2 strikers consistently (which I highly doubt) Hernandez would be one of the best 3rd choice strikers in the League.

On paper we shouldn't be starting with Fellaini and Young at the moment, it's only because they've played themselves into the team with good performances, this is a positive not the negative you imply. We could easily play one of:

Herrera Carrick Blind_______Carrick Blind
___Mata Di Maria_______Mata Herrera Di Maria
_____Rooney________________Rooney

Not to mention that Smalling and Rojo have both been pretty damn solid this season, as evidenced by us conceding less than 16 teams in the League. Condemning them to the bench to accommodate 2 foreign player's who've never played together or in the Premier League is risky at best, idiotic at worse. See Mangala, a £42m top rated centre back who can't displace Demichelis at City.

We should be looking at a top class right back and one top class centre back to replace Evans and either Rafael or Valencia. We should bring Nani back and give him a chance, as he's been performing better than every wide forward (bar Bale) we've been linked with. I'd be seriously disappointed if we sold Nani and bought Depay; sold Hernandez and bought Dybala; sold Smalling and bought Otamendi; dropped Blind and bought a crocked Strootman. If we're going to buy a central midfielder or winger then it should only be if a World Class player becomes available. By that I mean the standard of Pogba or Bale.
 
GK: de Gea/Valdes

RB: Rafael/NEW
CB: Smalling/Jones/Rojo/NEW
LB: Shaw/Blind/Rojo

CM: Carrick/Herrera/Blind/Fellaini/NEW
LM: Di Maria/Young/Januzaj
CAM: Mata/Fellaini/Rooney/Januzaj
RM: Nani/NEW

ST: Rooney/Wilson/NEW

Sell: Evans, Valencia, Cleverley, RvP, Falcao
___________________________________________

The above is my opinion, and not what I think LvG will do. I'm under the impression that he would not sell RvP or Valencia, but will sell Rafael, Nani, Cleverley and not purchase Falcao.

I'd like us to get rid of the deadwood and get some solid competition for each position.

GK: No problem.
RB: I don't like Valencia playing RB, not even as a stop gap, I personally don't see a position for him in my favoured 2015/16 squad. New signing/Rafael to battle for spot.
CB: No place for Evans. He is the weakest of our 4 first team CB's. Need to buy an experienced CB who will walk into our first team.
LB: No problem.
CM: Potentially will play 3 in the middle, so will need at least 5 solid choices. 1 spot open for an experienced box to box midfielder.
LM: No problem.
CAM: No problem
RM: Nani should be given a squad space IMO. New signing with bags of potential to fight for first team spot.
ST: Rooney should be first choice, Wilson third. Spot for a solid all round ST as second choice.
 
We don't need a lot of new players. I'll be happy with a right footed winger and a right back.
 
finneh said:
Again this turnover of player's would just cause another 12 months of transition. I think it'd be ridiculous to replace half of our outfield player's again, 12 months after already replacing half of them. Van Persie will be 32 going into next season and is still a good player, particularly if he isn't guaranteed a starting spot. Rooney is still a quality striker and if we really wanted to play 2 strikers consistently (which I highly doubt) Hernandez would be one of the best 3rd choice strikers in the League.

On paper we shouldn't be starting with Fellaini and Young at the moment, it's only because they've played themselves into the team with good performances, this is a positive not the negative you imply. We could easily play one of:

Herrera Carrick Blind_______Carrick Blind
___Mata Di Maria_______Mata Herrera Di Maria
_____Rooney________________Rooney

Not to mention that Smalling and Rojo have both been pretty damn solid this season, as evidenced by us conceding less than 16 teams in the League. Condemning them to the bench to accommodate 2 foreign player's who've never played together or in the Premier League is risky at best, idiotic at worse. See Mangala, a £42m top rated centre back who can't displace Demichelis at City.

We should be looking at a top class right back and one top class centre back to replace Evans and either Rafael or Valencia. We should bring Nani back and give him a chance, as he's been performing better than every wide forward (bar Bale) we've been linked with. I'd be seriously disappointed if we sold Nani and bought Depay; sold Hernandez and bought Dybala; sold Smalling and bought Otamendi; dropped Blind and bought a crocked Strootman. If we're going to buy a central midfielder or winger then it should only be if a World Class player becomes available. By that I mean the standard of Pogba or Bale.
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We are going to sign 4-6 players in the summer no doubt about that, taking into consideration the obvious flaws in the team, players who are likely to depart, fact LVG clearly doesn’t rate certain players and his comments about how he wants certain type CM etc I see no other realistic alternative.

What’s important is we get the right players in and don’t go for crocks like Vidal or Strootman or over priced players who don’t improve us like Otamendi. Club won’t move forward by relying on a couple of signings and bringing back players from loan, we also have to accept that Carrick and RVP are unlikely to be able to play most games and age is/will catch up with them.

It’s time to complete the rebuild we started last year, if that means another season of transition then so be it but it will benefit us longer term, a new rb, cb, cm, a winger, a striker and possibly a goalkeeper could all be signed.
 
Roboc7 said:
We are going to sign 4-6 players in the summer no doubt about that, taking into consideration the obvious flaws in the team, players who are likely to depart, fact LVG clearly doesn’t rate certain players and his comments about how he wants certain type CM etc I see no other realistic alternative.

What’s important is we get the right players in and don’t go for crocks like Vidal or Strootman or over priced players who don’t improve us like Otamendi. Club won’t move forward by relying on a couple of signings and bringing back players from loan, we also have to accept that Carrick and RVP are unlikely to be able to play most games and age is/will catch up with them.

It’s time to complete the rebuild we started last year, if that means another season of transition then so be it but it will benefit us longer term, a new rb, cb, cm, a winger, a striker and possibly a goalkeeper could all be signed.
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My focus is on getting the right player's, rather than quantity. We've gone down the road in the past of signing 5-6 player's most of whom strengthen the squad, but none of whom particularly strengthen the first team and it hasn't proven particularly successful.

If Pogba & Bale came available I agree we must push the boat out to sign them. Likewise if a young striker who Van Gaal thinks will turn into a world beater (Lacazette possibly?) I would agree with the signing. I also think we definitely need a first choice right back and first choice centre back. The problem is if all the player's that I mentioned came available we'd be looking at around £225m (£65m+£65m+£35m+£35m+£25m) investment for 5 player's., which is completely unrealistic.

Therefore the people who are suggesting buying 5-6 player's for say £150m are basically saying we need a couple of first choice player's and 3-4 squad players, which I hugely disagree with. We already have a strong squad and are basically a couple of top, top player's away from a very strong first XI.

I'd prefer 2 World Class player's this Summer (e.g. Godin, Bale someone like Danilo), followed by 2 next Summer to replace Carrick/RVP (e.g. Pogba, Lacazette), rather than 5-6 player's the majority of which will just end up replacing player's like Blind, Fellaini & Young that we already have.

TL;DR It seems people are either in dream world and think we'll spend £225m on Pogba, Clyne, Bale, Lacazette & Hummels OR they think we'll spend £150m on 5-6 squad player's who aren't any better than the likes of Young, Nani, Hernandez, Fellaini, Rojo and Blind. My opinion is 2 great player's is better than 5 squad player's and 5 great player's won't be available, certainly not within around £150m.
 
finneh said:
Again this turnover of player's would just cause another 12 months of transition. I think it'd be ridiculous to replace half of our outfield player's again, 12 months after already replacing half of them. Van Persie will be 32 going into next season and is still a good player, particularly if he isn't guaranteed a starting spot. Rooney is still a quality striker and if we really wanted to play 2 strikers consistently (which I highly doubt) Hernandez would be one of the best 3rd choice strikers in the League.

On paper we shouldn't be starting with Fellaini and Young at the moment, it's only because they've played themselves into the team with good performances, this is a positive not the negative you imply. We could easily play one of:

Herrera Carrick Blind_______Carrick Blind
___Mata Di Maria_______Mata Herrera Di Maria
_____Rooney________________Rooney

Not to mention that Smalling and Rojo have both been pretty damn solid this season, as evidenced by us conceding less than 16 teams in the League. Condemning them to the bench to accommodate 2 foreign player's who've never played together or in the Premier League is risky at best, idiotic at worse. See Mangala, a £42m top rated centre back who can't displace Demichelis at City.

We should be looking at a top class right back and one top class centre back to replace Evans and either Rafael or Valencia. We should bring Nani back and give him a chance, as he's been performing better than every wide forward (bar Bale) we've been linked with. I'd be seriously disappointed if we sold Nani and bought Depay; sold Hernandez and bought Dybala; sold Smalling and bought Otamendi; dropped Blind and bought a crocked Strootman. If we're going to buy a central midfielder or winger then it should only be if a World Class player becomes available. By that I mean the standard of Pogba or Bale.
Click to expand...

Those 2 line-ups you have posted would get us slaughtered, there's no pace or power in midfield or the forward line and they both feature Mata, a player who doesn't do nearly enough work tracking back and has zero speed. As far as Smalling and Rojo goes, the latter has done ok but Smalling is like Jones, one step forward two brainfarts back, and our record of goals conceded is down to De Gea, our CB's cough up lots of chances but he makes world class save after world class save.

Carrick or Blind in midfield, with Herrera as the AM and a new box to box CM is going to happen regardless of how much we debate as LvG already said he was prioritizing a CM this summer. As far as your 3 comparisons go, Otamendi would be a bad choice I agree, replacing Smalling with Hummels/Marquinhos/Laporte/Dragovic would be good although persoanlly I'd keep Smalling and sell Jones. Nani has had his shot here and Hernandez lacks the technique and link-up play to be a striker for LvG, if you have seen Dybala play a few full games you'd never even compare the two, he is way more talented than Hernandez and could easily play wide in a front as well as in the #9 role.
 
Devil may care said:
Those 2 line-ups you have posted would get us slaughtered, there's no pace or power in midfield or the forward line and they both feature Mata, a player who doesn't do nearly enough work tracking back and has zero speed. As far as Smalling and Rojo goes, the latter has done ok but Smalling is like Jones, one step forward two brainfarts back, and our record of goals conceded is down to De Gea, our CB's cough up lots of chances but he makes world class save after world class save.

Carrick or Blind in midfield, with Herrera as the AM and a new box to box CM is going to happen regardless of how much we debate as LvG already said he was prioritizing a CM this summer. As far as your 3 comparisons go, Otamendi would be a bad choice I agree, replacing Smalling with Hummels/Marquinhos/Laporte/Dragovic would be good although persoanlly I'd keep Smalling and sell Jones. Nani has had his shot here and Hernandez lacks the technique and link-up play to be a striker for LvG, if you have seen Dybala play a few full games you'd never even compare the two, he is way more talented than Hernandez and could easily play wide in a front as well as in the #9 role.
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Bizarre that the likes of Barcelona don't get battered every week with their lack of lace and power in midfield (not comparing, just highlighted the flaw to your argument), likewise Atletico Madrid. Both my examples have Di Maria in midfield who has lots of pace, so I don't see that as a problem and Mata is a quality player who in all likelihood would be better than the players we've been linked with. Bring Nani back and you have extra pace also.

I also don't agree with your assessment of Smalling, apart from the City mistake he's looked pretty solid throughout, as has Rojo. Also De Gea has been great this season, but lets not act like he's saved 15 goals that someone like Valdes wouldn't have saved, a few definitely but not a goal every other game. Even taking this into account our defence is no worse than Arsenal. Jones is still a working progress, but I'd probably keep him as a squad option since he's only just turned 23 (where was Vidic at that age?)

Again a central midfielder would be great, if the right one came available. Likewise replacing Evans with a top defender like Godin I'd agree with. Nani has had his shot here and for 2 seasons he was a great player, this season he looks back to his best so it seems ludicrous to go out and spend £25m on an unproven foreign import, when if Nani were not a United player already half the forum would be salivating over his performances (ask our resident Sporting fans).

I'm not comparing Dybala with Hernandez, my point was that people are advocating buying a potentially quality player to essentially sit on the bench. If Rooney is up front, a new winger is on one wing and Di Maria is on the other where is this space for yet another squad player? If we wanted a wide player or forward to sit on the bench why not utilise the forwards we already have? Selling Mata, Nani, Hernandez & Jones and buying Laporte, Dybala, Depay and Firmino would be stupid.

Overall I'd prefer: Bale, Danilo, Pogba, Lacazette & Godin over the next 2 seasons, rather than 5 player's this Summer (e.g. Clyne, Depay, Firmino, Dybala & Laporte) and another 3-4 next Summer, causing us to be in constant transition.

I dread to think if this forum were Liverpool fans. They'd be asking for everyone apart from Henderson, Sterling and Sturridge to be replaced.
 
There seems to be a consensus forming that we should be pursuing a right back, centre half, central midfielder, winger and striker this summer. I agree with that, too. Hopefully our manager sees it that way.

Summer should be fun again. Even more so if we bag Champions League football.
 
Kag said:
There seems to be a consensus forming that we should be pursuing a right back, centre half, central midfielder, winger and striker this summer. I agree with that, too. Hopefully our manager sees it that way.

Summer should be fun again. Even more so if we bag Champions League football.
Click to expand...

I would guess that RB, CB, CM and CF are bigger priorities than a winger though.
 
finneh, part of our problems this season have been going forward, creating chances -- not just defensively. You seem to think we're completely fine attacking wise which is kinda strange if you've been watching most of our games. We have no real pace going forward at all, and a definite lack of quality out wide.

Di Maria, Nani, Young and Januzaj is in no way 'sorted' as wing options if we're trying to build a team worthy of winning the leage and CL.

And Herrera, Fellaini, Blind and Carrick is in no way sorted as a midfield. Its good enough for a top 4, just, but it pales in comparison to other team's midfields. We should not be resting on our laurels.
 
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