Ah yeah. Can't beat a bit of fantasy. We won't get all our main targets but will get some huge names. But when you factor in possible sales such as DDG £50m, Martial £30m, Darmian £7.5m, Smalling £15m then Jose may really splash the cash this summer
Name four players you think we'll buy in the summer
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Rojo's been a poor left-back this season. He's just a poor left-back.
He has looked very good at centre-back though.
I'm just mystified why anyone would want him at full-back.
I completely agree but if Keane and Bailly are potentially our first choice center backs next season then you have to get creative and try and figure out how you might squeeze him in as he seems too important to have on the bench. Valencia was a bit dodgy initially at right back before growing into the role eventually
Valencia was at least a natural wide player. Rojo isn't.
I'd be happy with him as the rotation option. There's no guarantee that Keane or any new centre back would hit the ground running, and with Bailly's penchant for red cards we'll likely need a third "first" choice, so if we can rotate Keane/Bailly/Rojo that would be fine.
If we're sacking off Shaw, I'd rather we look to strengthen at left-back before going for a central defender anyway.
I'd be happy with:
Griezmann
Rodriguez
Willian
...and a decent LB
Not bothered about the goalkeeper situation as Romero would be an ideal replacement (cue the haters).
Griezmann
Rodriguez
Willian
...and a decent LB
Not bothered about the goalkeeper situation as Romero would be an ideal replacement (cue the haters).
If we sign Perisic for 30 fecking million or whatever I will suffer a rage stroke.
Silva,Griezmann,Lindeloff and Naiby Keita.
Keane
Fabinho
Dier
Griezmann
Fabinho
Dier
Griezmann
I think your bigger issue is that you don't seem to feel we need a new holding midfielder?
1. Keane
2. Romeu
3. Lindelof
4. Griezmann
2. Romeu
3. Lindelof
4. Griezmann
You really think we're going to get three defensive players when we struggle to put the ball in the back of the net?
We don't! Can't be arsed with these en vogue terms for players. Midfielders should be able to do the job asked of them by their manager, whether it be helping the defence or pushing up in attack.
2.5 defensive players. And to answer your question, yes I do. I think there will be more signings than just these four but the attacking players are a bit harder to predict.
Defence is the area that was most impacted by injuries and defence is the area where a shortfall might lead to us losing next week. Given the unreliability of Jones+Smalling and the regularity with which teams have been able to waltz through our team spine this season (including notably Southampton in the final) it is inconceivable that Jose will not do something to shore up the defensive areas of the team.
I'm guessing that there will be additional purchases but as these are more likely to be the glamour signings who have more options and where the outcome of the final next week is more likely to be a decisive factor I decided to list the most likely purchases plus Greizmann whose reasons for coming are slightly different.
I'm guessing that we will also be looking at the following.
1. A MF to replace Herrera (in the 1st-team). Someone capable of running games, driving into advanced positions and scoring goals.
There are many possible options here and we have been linked to so many in this position that I have no idea at all about who the front-runners are.
2. A goal-scoring winger (or possibly an additional ST).
Preferably someone like Sanchez (and I'm sure the club would consider him) but would Wenger sell to us? Again I have no idea and if Jose gets Griezmann he might decide to stick with what we have.
It would be a mistake but it is a distinct possibility given the high price to get quality in and given the number of recently purchased/promoted flank players plus Lingard's contract extension.
3. GK possibly if DDG leaves.
Will he or won't he leave? Will we need another 'keeper? Again, there are too many (wildly differing) variables.
4. An attacking Left-Back.
Jose seems to like Darmian and we also have Blind and I think BJ will coming back as well. We need a LB to balance out the flanks but this might not be a priority in this window.
Michael Keane
Bernardo Silva
Andrea Belotti
Benjamin Mendy
Eric Dier
Bernardo Silva
Andrea Belotti
Benjamin Mendy
Eric Dier
This minus mendy is my guess.
Target man, creative/attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, right back, goal keeper. These will the our signings this summer.
That quartet wouldn't get us top 4 next year imo. We need much more than that.
Good god. Besides Mendy, that would be a shocking window. We would be destined for midtable with that lot.
Lukaku, Griezmann, Mendy and Miranda would be much much better. All realistic targets as well.
I didn't say those are the players I want us to sign but those are our realistic targets I reckon. The likes of Griezmann and Mbappe - won't happen in my opinion.
What I would love us to do next year is switch to a formation where our best players play in their preferred position (Pogba for instance worked best in this system at Juve)
4th player would be an extra add-on for being able to play other formations too. So Dier.
De Gea
Valencia-Bailly-Rojo
Semedo - - - -- - - - - Mendy
Mkhi - Herrera - Pogba
Rashford - Griezmann
Knowing that Mkhi / Mata likes to drift in a lot, this seems like a good way of utilizing them + This would make Rashford play in his best position too allowing both him and Griezmann to make a lot of runs, where Mkhi / Pogba could play some nice passes. Mendy / Semedo would both be very attacking, since there's 3 left in defence. Valencia-Bailly-Rojo
Semedo - - - -- - - - - Mendy
Mkhi - Herrera - Pogba
Rashford - Griezmann
4th player would be an extra add-on for being able to play other formations too. So Dier.
Oh yeah I know that pal, was just commenting in general. I think you picked a very realistic four, just think I'd be disappointed if that's all we did buy.
Wouldn't even buy Mbappe tbh.
There's no telling what his future holds and he might be another El Shaarawy or Gotze.
For the price they would want for him, it's not worth the risk in my opinion. We have Martial and Rashford anyway.
Valencia as a CB?
We would need better CBs for that formation. Rojo suits it but Smalling and Jones most certainly do not. The jury is out on Bailly.
Someone like David Luiz, Bonucci, Cheillini, Godin, etc suit these 3atb formations. Most English players don't. They don't have the technical ability or tactical awareness and most of them are trained to be "hard men" rather than ball playing pacey CBs.
My projections seem to change by the week but I'll go with:
Greizmann
Belotti
Keane
Fabinho
Romero
Valencia Keane Bailly Rojo
Fabinho Pogba
Mkhitaryan Greizmann martial
Belotti
Greizmann
Belotti
Keane
Fabinho
Romero
Valencia Keane Bailly Rojo
Fabinho Pogba
Mkhitaryan Greizmann martial
Belotti
Don't get the constant links with Monaco players. They have been wonderful this season but Mourinho has never set his team up in that style. The only players he might go after are Fabinho and Mendy.
My fab four (based on Mourinho's preference):
1) Mandzukic
2) Willian
3) Pepe
4) Oriol Romeu
Experienced centre-back, stronger spine, proper winger and a target-man, all of them with the work ethic José desires. And yes, I'm not sure about Griezmann coming when we have Martial, Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Mata. Playing three of them will easily provide the characteristics and level of Griezmann.
My fab four (based on Mourinho's preference):
1) Mandzukic
2) Willian
3) Pepe
4) Oriol Romeu
Experienced centre-back, stronger spine, proper winger and a target-man, all of them with the work ethic José desires. And yes, I'm not sure about Griezmann coming when we have Martial, Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Mata. Playing three of them will easily provide the characteristics and level of Griezmann.
I look at that and find it strange if it happened that we could have a window signing Griezmann and I would still consider it a truly awful window
That's because @pghcc over-commited in defensive areas. If we get 2 CBs, we won't be investing in defensive midfield. Either that or we'll sign more than four players.
Also feel Griezmann isn't the answer to our attacking problems. I'd rather we invested in a target-man and a proper winger. Mandzukic and Willian will do nicely.
Eh, I'd still be optimistic even though it's a bit unimpressive. If you assume a Mourinho CB bump for one of Keane or Lindelof, then maybe Pereira might be able to make up for not signing a CM and in attack, Griezmann could play as the 9, 10 or RW and be very very good, so as long as any 2 of Rashford, Martial and Mkhitaryan join Mata in being consistently effective, we'd have a solid team, apart from LB, which would need Shaw to stay healthy, but he'll be 22 and he's obviously got the talent.
What a depressing window that would be.
Agree with all these except left back, not right back. I bet Mourinho trusts Valencia more than Shaw and he seems fine with Darmian or Young on either side and Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah are around too. I don't think he'll be as concerned with someone to push/cover Valencia as someone who can play 45 games if he doesn't want to work with Shaw.
Christ, it certainly would. I felt limp in the nether regions just reading that.
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I still think regardless of the millions spent we are still at least 4/5 top quality players short of a team to win the title let alone compete in the champions league. I really think all our signings need to be top quality this summer, I dont mean name wise but quality wise. Not really seen Lindelof but I dont see any of the others as an upgrade, perhaps the opposite even
With the manager we have, I feel confident about being more accurate than most posters on here. At least regarding the profile of player if not the specific name (experienced CB, ball-winning DM, winger with quality delivery and workrate and a target-man who'll be okay with a bench role once Zlatan returns).I do feel though that Mandzukic and Willian together would be better for us than Griezmann alone. Will probably cost less too.
1. Antoine Greizmann.
2. James Rodriguez.
3. Ruben Neves.
4. Benjamin Mendy.
2. James Rodriguez.
3. Ruben Neves.
4. Benjamin Mendy.
I don't disagree with the player profiles as such. Those four particular players though... would just be a terribly underwhelming window and nowhere near the quality we need.
I do feel though that Mandzukic and Willian together would be better for us than Griezmann alone. Will probably cost less too.
Would not count on Rojo coming back to 100% after his surgery but he will be given a chance I guess. I'd prefer we keep anyone over Smalling.
Our first 11 next season:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Terry Shaw
Pogba Veratti
Rashford Mbappe Martial
Aumbyang
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Terry Shaw
Pogba Veratti
Rashford Mbappe Martial
Aumbyang
Not saying that I want them, just who I feel we will sign. Bernardo and Keane look like happening already.
--------------DeGea-------------
Semedo---Bailly---Rojo---Mendy
-------------------Pereira--------
-------Herrera/Nainggolan------
-------------------Pogba----------
----Silva----------------Martial----
----------------Ibra----------------
Reserves: Romero, Valencia, Shaw, Jones, Tuanzabe, Miki, Mata, Rashford
I still have a concern about that left wing....... Think it's a shame we didn't get Draxler. We also need another quality striker but I don't see one in the market, and a bother CB to replace Smalling.
Semedo---Bailly---Rojo---Mendy
-------------------Pereira--------
-------Herrera/Nainggolan------
-------------------Pogba----------
----Silva----------------Martial----
----------------Ibra----------------
Reserves: Romero, Valencia, Shaw, Jones, Tuanzabe, Miki, Mata, Rashford
I still have a concern about that left wing....... Think it's a shame we didn't get Draxler. We also need another quality striker but I don't see one in the market, and a bother CB to replace Smalling.
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