Even without the injuries we needed at least 1 midfielder. The injuries to the CBs may force Sir Alex to sign a defender, although I'd prefer us to spend money improving our midfield.
No transfers in January
- Thread starter devilish
- Start date
If there's no Jan signings I just don't see we have enough.
Last season was different with no consitent side in the league. I'm not sure we'll see that again.
Last season was different with no consitent side in the league. I'm not sure we'll see that again.
we don't want to block Pogba's progress
It's fair to say we need Cleverley back ASAP rather than buying for the sake of it in Jan.
I guess we should've bought Sneijder or a world class CM in the summer but that is another subject..
I guess we should've bought Sneijder or a world class CM in the summer but that is another subject..
Fair comment but he's not exactly getting games even in a depleted team is he? Long term it might block him but if he is good enough he will force his way into the team. I'd rather have plently of options than none.
Had this argument in the Cahill thread. Atm we have lost jones and Carrick from midfield due to injuries in defence, that is obviously having a negative impact on both areas.
Ideally we would all like a midfielder, but if we cannot get a midfielder, then we surely have to buy a CB so we can play the likes of Carrick in midfield. He has been exceptional there this season and through no fault of his own, he is now being denied the opportunity to continue his great form.
That can not be beneficial for either him or the team imo. So at present i would rather sign a Cahill than no-one at all. Rio cannot be relied upon any more than the Glas Silvas to remain injury free, so cover in that area would still allow us to keep Carrick playing, where he is of most benefit to the team.
nothing to do with panic buying but it evident we need bodies in mdifield and at the back, all this injuries is just killing us, we cannot continue to take gamble on playing players out of position. Carrick and Valencia at the back, Park and Rafael in CM, Welbeck on the wing wtf is that?
I can't see Fergie buying to be honest. The only thing he might do is bring in a loan player like he did with Larson....and I just don't think there are any Cantona's hiding anywhere!
Yep. I still need to be lifted mate. Sure we can blame it all on injuries but to be fair even that team that was sent out today should finish off Blackburn. But it was not the team on the pitch that was worrying- it was the lack of quality on the bench.
Think we get the message now Fergie.But just in case some refuse to believe:
No January plans for Ferguson - Manchester United News, Transfer Talk & Gossip | TEAMtalk
No January plans for Ferguson - Manchester United News, Transfer Talk & Gossip | TEAMtalk
With Jones' emergence as a CM rather than a CB, is the situation really as bad as we make out?
Carrick, Jones, Anderson, Cleverley...
Carrick, Jones, Anderson, Cleverley...
Yes
Only problem with listing Jones as a midfielder is that it leaves us short at the back. With Vidic out for a long time and certainly the rest of this season, we have Rio, Smalling, Evans, Evra and the twins as our options. Whilst Evra is a consistently fit player, and generally so are Smalling and Evans, the twins and Rio aren't. Rio can't play every game and the twins just don't stay fit enough. So eventually we'll have to call Jones back in to the defence at some point.
In midfield with Fletcher out, we now only have Carrick who can be relied upon to be fit for most games. Ando and Cleverley are injury prone players and Giggs can't play every game.
That's the problem for me. Going in to the season I didn't have any real issues with the squad, but now with both Fletcher and Vidic out for long periods I think we're short as we're left with too many injury prone players in the defence and midfield.
I dunno who but I really think we need to bring in someone who can play centre back or midfield.
In midfield with Fletcher out, we now only have Carrick who can be relied upon to be fit for most games. Ando and Cleverley are injury prone players and Giggs can't play every game.
That's the problem for me. Going in to the season I didn't have any real issues with the squad, but now with both Fletcher and Vidic out for long periods I think we're short as we're left with too many injury prone players in the defence and midfield.
I dunno who but I really think we need to bring in someone who can play centre back or midfield.
Agree with this, but would also add do we really believe we can win the league with Evans as our main centre half? For me we are far weaker than the last few seasons thats for sure. We have lost VDS and as a result are not suprisingly weaker in the goalkeeping department, Rio is older and unable to play every game and Vidic our best defender is out leaving us weaker with Evans, Jones and smalling. Our right back position has been up for grabs for a while now and no one has claimed it, we have lost the ginger prince our only play maker and Fletcher our most consistent centre mid and Anderson has not convinced Gibson has more or less been discarded TC been injured. I think it would be madness not to think we don't need to buy we clearly do we have players playing out of position virtually every game, if its this window the players are available im positive SAF will buy them. If it doesn't happen in the summer i will be astounded and will then believe we don't have the funds.
Well the defence was always going to be a bit weaker given the loss of experience but tbh going in to the season I was happy, though I think we should have kept O'shea in light of Fletchers condition. I don't really have an issue with Evans, he might make a few mistakes here and there but as a back up defender I can't think of many better in the league.
I don't think we need to do any big spending or anything. Simply if we can bring in a midfielder or a defender, preferably with experience, either as a buy or loan, I think it could be a big bonus with the rest of the season.
personally think we may go for someone like Rodwell who can play more than one position
Sir Alex Ferguson has no plans to make a 'sticking plaster' signing in January's transfer window and has faith in his Manchester United squad.
The Red Devils missed the chance to go top of the Premier League on Saturday when they suffered a shock 3-2 Old Trafford defeat at the hands of struggling Blackburn.
And with United having already been dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage, there were suggestions that Ferguson would look to bring in new faces this month.
A lack of creativity in midfield was highlighted in the recent defeats by FC Basel and Rovers, while captain Nemanja Vidic's season-ending knee ligament injury has caused concerns at the back.
With fellow centre-backs Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans also on the treatment table, Ferguson admits he does have defensive headaches, but will not be looking to strengthen.
The veteran tactician believes that players of a leading calibre are rarely available in January and insists he is happy with the strength in depth he has in all other areas of his side.
He said: "Why should you put a sticking plaster on something? We're quite happy with what we've got at the moment.
"Who is going to sell their best player in January? I don't see it happening.
"I would like to get one or two out on loan, particularly the young strikers, but at the moment we don't need to do anything.
"The form of Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick has been outstanding.
"I'm lucky I've got versatile players like Ji-sung Park, Antonio Valencia and Giggs who can play in a variety of positions and give me options.
"The crucial thing, though, is to get our centre-backs back. That's the only caution I have about my team. Forward-wise and in midfield, we're OK."
The Red Devils missed the chance to go top of the Premier League on Saturday when they suffered a shock 3-2 Old Trafford defeat at the hands of struggling Blackburn.
And with United having already been dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage, there were suggestions that Ferguson would look to bring in new faces this month.
A lack of creativity in midfield was highlighted in the recent defeats by FC Basel and Rovers, while captain Nemanja Vidic's season-ending knee ligament injury has caused concerns at the back.
With fellow centre-backs Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans also on the treatment table, Ferguson admits he does have defensive headaches, but will not be looking to strengthen.
The veteran tactician believes that players of a leading calibre are rarely available in January and insists he is happy with the strength in depth he has in all other areas of his side.
He said: "Why should you put a sticking plaster on something? We're quite happy with what we've got at the moment.
"Who is going to sell their best player in January? I don't see it happening.
"I would like to get one or two out on loan, particularly the young strikers, but at the moment we don't need to do anything.
"The form of Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick has been outstanding.
"I'm lucky I've got versatile players like Ji-sung Park, Antonio Valencia and Giggs who can play in a variety of positions and give me options.
"The crucial thing, though, is to get our centre-backs back. That's the only caution I have about my team. Forward-wise and in midfield, we're OK."
We'll soon see SAF mentioning Phelan, Gaz and Scholes as possible temporary fixes to this injury crisis.
He forgot the versatility of Rafael, who can play CM aswell
I'm starting to think we will play Lindergaard as a winger before signing anyone.
Comedian.
Why not just try signing some quality CM's in the summer then for once? Well I guess there are just 3-4 players in the world who would improve us so it's not easy.
No transfers in jan you say?
This makes perfect sense.
Lets continue to play Carrick as a centreback, Park and Rafael in the middle of the park and hope the teams around us keep losing games when we drop points to a teams that are battling relegation.
This makes perfect sense.
Lets continue to play Carrick as a centreback, Park and Rafael in the middle of the park and hope the teams around us keep losing games when we drop points to a teams that are battling relegation.
Or just wait until we get Anderson, Cleverley, Smalling, Evans and Rio back?
Nah. Too sensible a thing to do that.
Rodwell, Sneijder and Cahill look all available, they would improve our squad/starting 11 for sure right now no doubt imho.
Tim Cahill? He looks on the slide now, unfortunately...
don't forget giggs, beckham and rodwell.
I can understand SAF's decision of shifting the CM problem to summer, although one is bound to ask why we didn't solved it last summer...anyway.
What we need at the moment is to add strength in depth to the side. Fletch's and Vidic's long term injuries has left us exposed and Rio/Da Silva's injury record won't help. Players like Clyne (he can play both as right and left back) and Rodwell would help
What we need at the moment is to add strength in depth to the side. Fletch's and Vidic's long term injuries has left us exposed and Rio/Da Silva's injury record won't help. Players like Clyne (he can play both as right and left back) and Rodwell would help
It's not like he didn't try. It's pretty clear he tried to sign first Nasri and then Sneijder.
With Scholes gone and Fletch suffering a long term injury I wonder whether 'trying to sign' is enough to be honest.
i said that before - a case of trying to sing a cm last summer was a case of doing too little too late. we knew for the last 2/3 years that a) we were short of quality options in that department b) Scholes would be retiring c) Giggs was getting older d) there were no quality youngsters ready to step in e) Fltecher's condtion was known last summer as well.
So he should have gone for someone else for the sake of doing so?
It's quite clear he wanted Nasri but Nasri only had eyes on the money being offered at City. Fergie's second choice seemed to be Sneijder who wanted absurd wages.
With regards to Fletcher, it's obvious that the club (and the man himself) didn't think it would come to this. he's been suffering with this illness for a number of years and has always managed to control it up until last season. It's hardly surprising the club and Darren himself thought he'd get back on track this season.
Rubbish.
It's only been such a massive issue this season because Fletch has broken down and Cleverley and Anderson both ended up with long term injuries.
How can losing 3 of your first team midfielders be forseen? Ridiculous. Name me any other side in the league that has happened too.
The money was obviously available to Fergie this Summer and he chose not to bring anyone in after he failed to land either Nasri or Sneijder. What does that tell you?
1. Anderson
2. Cleverley
3. Carrick
4. Gibson
5. Giggs
6. Fletcher
Many posters, in the bright sunshine of hindsight, have now shifted their argument from lack of quality earlier in the summer, to lack of quantity now. And pretend like they've always been saying so.
Yup. You can add Jones to that list now too.
With his emergence (sp?) I no longer want a midfielder. We need a defender.
We should had tried to get the best quality we could get and work it from that. CM is really weak and there are a substantial number of players who could improve it.
I disagree. It's only weak at the minute because of injuries.