I think Ole suffers from PTSD regarding our bench. All those times sat alongside a chomping David May and his orange tangy covered Wotsit fingers has clearly traumatised the Norwegian.
Sancho-less Window - Realistic Linked Targets
- Thread starter Classical Mechanic
- Start date
We need numbers also, so it depends on what we have to spend. Spending it all on Sancho and then having injuries to half our backline would be a sin.
Badiashile
Saul
Chiesa
Saul would play DM but can play anywhere in midfield.
Badiashile is the left footed CB we need and still not 20 years old.
Chiesa if we cannot get Sancho.
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A lot of people want a CB but we had the 3rd best defense this season. If De Gea hadn't been so poor we would if had the 2nd best defence.
Liverpool conceded 33
Manchester City conceded 35
Manchester United conceded 36.
I would rather get Sancho now (if possible)
and a dedicated mobile CDM. (Not Fred/Mctominay can do a job there.)
A quality CDM would take pressure off defence, and in theory reduce goals conceded, while Sancho would increase our goals scored through goals and assists.
This would also improve the bench as Matic and Greenwood could be brought on.
Liverpool conceded 33
Manchester City conceded 35
Manchester United conceded 36.
I would rather get Sancho now (if possible)
and a dedicated mobile CDM. (Not Fred/Mctominay can do a job there.)
A quality CDM would take pressure off defence, and in theory reduce goals conceded, while Sancho would increase our goals scored through goals and assists.
This would also improve the bench as Matic and Greenwood could be brought on.
Disagree. Your just rolling the dice again. Not saying I wouldn't take those 3 - as they look like good players. But I don't think they'd propel us much further and I'd be expecting at least one of Badiashile/Chiesa to flop hard. We'd still be fighting for top 4 at the end of the season and we'd still have the "United need 4 players to challenge" thread.
Sancho would immediately give us the strongest front 3/4 in the league. We need unquestionably world class talent. We'd likely still be fighting for top 4 - but we'd in reality be much closer to launching a title challenge than rolling the dice on maybes.
I put his name in, tongue in cheek, to be honest, but there is press speculation that the new Juventus manager, Pirlo, is prepared to let Ronaldo go to free up his massive wage bill, which could be used towards rebuilding the squad.
Sky Sports report that £54m might be enough to get him, but then you’d have to factor in around the same amount again for his wages over a two year contract.
So you're looking at a total of circa £100m for 2 years, or £150m over 3 years, by which time he might be hanging up his boots and will have no resale value..
Personally I’m sceptical that Pirlo would want to lose their most potent asset at this particular point in time, but if there is any substance to these stories, would Utd fans welcome Ronaldo back?
Pogba for Ronaldo swap?
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If Sancho doesn't happen, then I would hope for Mounir Chouiar from Dijon and Buendia. Chouiar mainly played on the left for Dijon, but he can also play centrally. Could basically cover/compete with Rashford and Bruno. He's 21, definitely has the physicality for the PL and should be relatively cheap, which would mean we could potentially strengthen elsewhere. He's an excellent dribbler and has decent crossing ability. Only Messi, Neymar, Adama Traore and Saint-Maximin completed more successful dribbles per game in the big leagues.
I mentioned Chouiar in another thread, but unfortunately he mainly plays LW. Looks a huge talent though, very similar to Neymar in style.
We need someone to compete with Rashford there and I don't think it should be James, he needs a loan IMO. Which thread by the way?
I made a thread about young players to watch out for, only got 3/4 replies then got buried
I think he needs one my year in Ligue 1 then will probably go to a Lyon tier club and become a stand out at that point.
I made a thread about young players to watch out for, only got 3/4 replies then got buried
I think he needs one my year in Ligue 1 then will probably go to a Lyon tier club and become a stand out at that point.
What were the other players? Always like checking out other talented players.
Could be best for him, yes, but wouldn't surprise me if he's a lot more expensive then. A move to United probably comes a bit too soon, but then again we should get players before their stock skyrocketes once in a while.
Every player in list below has only 1 more year to go on current contract. United have been linked to the players in red. They should cost £10m to £20m each due to their contract situation. Most of them are quality players. Some are getting on a bit.
Note: Ferran Torres cost City ~ £22m because final year of contract.
An alternative to a cheap player is to bring someone in on loan. Bayern showed over last 2 years that's possible. Expect to pay a loan fee from £2m to £10m per year; depending whom you bring in.
Note: Ferran Torres cost City ~ £22m because final year of contract.
| | Age | Foot | Club |
L-FB | Alex Telles | 27 | L | Porto |
L-FB | David Alaba | 28 | L | Bayern Munich |
L-FB | Jamilu Collins | 26 | L | Paderborn. Just relegated |
L-FB | Pervis Estupiñán | 22 | L | Osasuna |
L-FB | Jordan Amavi | 26 | L | Marseille |
L-FB | Faitout Maouassa | 22 | L | Rennes |
L-FB | Nuno Mendes | 18 | L | Sporting CP |
L-FB | Rayan Ait Nouri | 19 | L | Angers |
L-CB | Niklas Moisander | 34 | B | Werder Bremen |
L-CB | Dante | 36 | L | Nice |
L-CB | Tim Ream | 32 | L | Fulham |
L-CB | Malang Sarr | 21 | L | Nice |
RW | Lucaz Vazquez | 29 | R | ReaL Madrid |
RW | Florian Thauvin | 27 | L | Marseille |
RW | Lucas Ocampos | 26 | R | Sevilla |
CF | Hee-Chan Hwang | 24 | R | RB Saltzburg |
AM | James Rodriguez | 29 | L | Real Madrid |
AM | Eberechi Eze | 22 | B | QPR |
LW | Memphis Depay | 26 | R | Lyon |
LW | Ivan Perisic | 31 | B | Inter Milan |
LW | Hakan Calhanoglu | 26 | R | AC Milan |
An alternative to a cheap player is to bring someone in on loan. Bayern showed over last 2 years that's possible. Expect to pay a loan fee from £2m to £10m per year; depending whom you bring in.
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Only trouble with Alaba is sounds like he is demanding seriously big wages, in regards to the others Ole probably wouldn't see them as fitting in his strategy of buying players in their early to mid 20's who are looking to make that step up
Half the players Ole got are experienced: Maguire and Fernandes.
Five players in the list (above) are in their early 20s. Once upon a time United had a transfer strategy - bought players had to be 26 or under. But that never applied to strikers like: Berbatov, Van Persi, Zlatan, Falcao, Sanchez and Ighalo. Only six in the list are over 27. Two are 27. Twenty six on the list makes eighteen of them 26 or under.
This obsession with buying kids means we won't challenge for a PL title for years to come. Ole needs to be more pragmatic. He should bring in 3 or 4 quality experienced players now so United can seriously challenge for medals next year.
So you think the Costa rumor is pure bs? I for one sure hope so!
O. Dembele (loan with option (but more likely it’s an obligation) to buy in 2021)
Alaba €30m
Thiago €30m
Dembele covers both wings and adds another true two foot forward.
Alaba is starter LCB but covers Shaw when he is inevitably injured
Thiago is cover for Matic against weak opponents and covers Pogba and Fernandes.
If this was our window it would be a patch for the more permanent fixes that are needed.
Alaba €30m
Thiago €30m
Dembele covers both wings and adds another true two foot forward.
Alaba is starter LCB but covers Shaw when he is inevitably injured
Thiago is cover for Matic against weak opponents and covers Pogba and Fernandes.
If this was our window it would be a patch for the more permanent fixes that are needed.
That would be brilliant window with the way that things are looking right now
I totally agree that there are times when he needs to look outside of that age bracket if like you say they bring that level of experience which could make the difference at crucial times during the season.
I don't want any fecker that won't make our team better, and it seems we're linked to none.
We have a rebuild going on and a Champions League to play, as soon as some normality is restored our board defaults to "everything is fine, lock the safe".
I don't know where my mind was with the recent optimism, I still maintain that we'll never win the PL again as long as the Glazers own us, they are too happy to be top 4 every season like Arsenal was before they couldn't get even that anymore.
We have a rebuild going on and a Champions League to play, as soon as some normality is restored our board defaults to "everything is fine, lock the safe".
I don't know where my mind was with the recent optimism, I still maintain that we'll never win the PL again as long as the Glazers own us, they are too happy to be top 4 every season like Arsenal was before they couldn't get even that anymore.
I appreciate Grealish probably wouldn't be a starter but surely he would still make our team better
What’s the crack with Callum Hudson Odoi? I don’t think he featured much this season and I’m not sure If that was down to injuries or Lampard not really rating him.
I’m sure I read somewhere he wasn’t happy with his game time at Chelsea and with them buying Ziyech it may be even harder for him to get minutes.
Not sure Chelsea would sell to us and I remember Bayern getting a 35m bid knocked back so he won’t be cheap but he’s only 19 and quite tidy on the right wing.
Possible?
I’m sure I read somewhere he wasn’t happy with his game time at Chelsea and with them buying Ziyech it may be even harder for him to get minutes.
Not sure Chelsea would sell to us and I remember Bayern getting a 35m bid knocked back so he won’t be cheap but he’s only 19 and quite tidy on the right wing.
Possible?
Grealish for reasonable price (35-40 mil max) yes. Brooks and Torres hell no.
Douglas Costa would be nice though. Cheaper solution for few seasons.
Douglas Costa would be nice though. Cheaper solution for few seasons.
First off I would say bar Liverpool the defending in the premiership season has been atrocious overall, so even if we do have the third best defence, does that mean we have a good defence?
I would also say City were second, and they were atrocious defensively most of the season when Laporte wasnt playing, they quite obviously needed cb reinforcements depiste the fortune they have already spent and have already done that. As for us, does conceding the 3nd least goals mean we have the 3rd best defence, its a pretty loose barometer when so many things such as the way the team is set up is it defencesive or attacking, are the midfielders protecting the defence etc etc etc.
you say yourself a quality dm would take some pressure off the defence. Its not attacking your post, I agree with the majority of what your saying, Sancho would hugely improve us, that is quite obviously a given for 99% of the teams in Europe, but a quality cb would also hugely improve us. I see a weak link in Lindelof, I dont see a partnership that looks right with him and Maguire, I dont see anybody in that defence organising those around him, which is strange wince the captain is playing within it.
In our first eleven for me we obviously need a CB and we obviously need a right winger, thats the bare minimum, the squad we also need several positions better covered, that is the concern for me, does Sancho even with several outgoings stop us strengthening any other position?
Douglas Costa has played for Bayern and Juventus for last 5 years, never scored more than 4 league goals.
He makes Willian look like very productive player. Also he earns more than 200K per week, he is not cheaper and for sure won't solve any problems.
Brooks is much better for us, younger, won't be on insane wages and also productive player.
I would bet and certainly hope the Costa links are garbage. No way would he cost near £30m at his age, injury history and lack of consistency.
Looking at all the other names linked for right wing. only two names stand out Dembele at Barcelona but he has been virtually injured ever since he has been there so really just a nostalgic idea as he was great at Dortmund. Chiesa is the other one, like the look of him and its a reasonable price. He is the only other name linked for me that potentially improves our first eleven rather than just our squad if Greenwood is to move inside.
In reality though Id rather spend the money on other areas if we cant get Sancho. We could possibly buy a cb, lb and dm for that fee OR one of thos positions AND Grealish or Romagnoli and one of the other positions. WOuld rather do that than sign Chiesa.
Looking at all the other names linked for right wing. only two names stand out Dembele at Barcelona but he has been virtually injured ever since he has been there so really just a nostalgic idea as he was great at Dortmund. Chiesa is the other one, like the look of him and its a reasonable price. He is the only other name linked for me that potentially improves our first eleven rather than just our squad if Greenwood is to move inside.
In reality though Id rather spend the money on other areas if we cant get Sancho. We could possibly buy a cb, lb and dm for that fee OR one of thos positions AND Grealish or Romagnoli and one of the other positions. WOuld rather do that than sign Chiesa.
Brooks doesn't even look good on youtube compilation. Slightly better version of James who would cost us around 40 mil. I mentioned Costa because his fee would not be high and can close thst rw until we get Sancho.
If we will spend big money then lets go for real deals. Grealish and Zaha. Zaha would cost more then Brooks but i would rather buy pretty good player for 60mil than average for 40mil.
Here comes again our different view about attacking midfielders. I rate skill, you rate hard work
Brooks doesn't even look good on youtube compilation. Slightly better version of James who would cost us around 40 mil. I mentioned Costa because his fee would not be high and can close thst rw until we get Sancho.
If we will spend big money then lets go for real deals. Grealish and Zaha. Zaha would cost more then Brooks but i would rather buy pretty good player for 60mil than average for 40mil.
Here comes again our different view about attacking midfielders. I rate skill, you rate hard work
I don't know how you can rate Costa and think you rate skill.
Don't you rate Perisic and Willian also?
Brooks is nothing like James, he is good player who doesn't rely on pace.
Also Costa might cost less in transfer fee but he is already on Insane wages.
I rated Martial all the time and had multiple arguments supporting Pogba with few 100s of posts. So I won't say i rate hardwork more than Skill.
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Perisic and Willian are both excellent wingers. Would not say no to any of them
So maybe you rate non skillful or non productive wingers rater than productive ones.
Perisic doesn't fit the criteria btw but Costa and Willian fits like a T.
Perisic and Willian are skillful and productive wingers. They are whole package. They are not maybe tier A wingers but not far from thst also. Better than Costa for sure. But i mentioned Costa because these two are not available. Maybe Perisic is but we should act fast. Which is not our thingSo maybe you rate non skillful or non productive wingers rater than productive ones.
Perisic doesn't fit the criteria btw but Costa and Willian fits like a T.
Torres/Upamecano/Badiashile
Grealish/Niguez/Ndidi/KdB
Telles/Reguilon
M.Dembele/Jimenez
Grealish/Niguez/Ndidi/KdB
Telles/Reguilon
M.Dembele/Jimenez
It's absolutely crazy that beyond Sancho there doesn't appear to be any actually solid rumours or even an appearance of us making moves in the market.
And they didn’t sign any players last season. You could just argue that they are just using last seasons budget.
Also they are the only club which has strengthened significantly. Even the champions are haggling over a 30M deal.
How is Willian productive?
He has 37 goals + 39 assists in 234 PL games (7 seasons) averaging 5 goals and 5 assists.
Mata has 33 goals + 30 assists in 180 PL games and everyone agrees that Mata isn't productive player.
James has 9 goals + assists this season and everyone thinks he is poor, his average is close to Willian's and he is just starting his career.
Perisic also average around 12 league goals + assists since 2012-13, that's just 3 more than James.
Oh come on, you can't explain everything with pure stats . They are both involved in play all the time and they create chances. James can't even control the ball properly. He had his purple patch when we played on counters and that is that.
I didn't say James is better, Willian is a workhorse player and Perisic is bit better, none of them are productive players. I'm not saying they are completely useless btw, they are not productive.
No chance he's leaving, signed a new lucrative contract with Chelsea. Will be getting an expanded role next season as the first winger off the bench now that Willian and Pedro have gone and he's not coming off an Achilles tear.
Coming from someone who's watched Willian for the past 7 years, you're spot on - if he's the answer then you're asking the wrong question. He's good at carrying the ball and at tracking back; beyond that he's entirely mediocre and is one of the most frustrating players in the world in the final third due to his hare-brained decision-making.
Yeah, he is good tactical player for managers like Jose but not good enough to play in attacking positions in the modern game where you expect goals and assists from your wide players. Good to have in the squad though, not as first choice.
Exactly. He's not a front-foot player - if you want to play on the break then he can do bits but he's not an asset when it comes to breaking down stubborn teams in the final third.
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I sadly think we might realistically be looking at a Sancho less window now.