Show of hands....

alastair said:
Well I'd expect Wenger to know about him yes. I knew the name in passing, couldn't really give him a fair rating, like most people.
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He was also a transfer muppet popular name like the likes of Hamsik. People who followed european football certainly knew about Evra. Less so Vidic.

And I wasnt saying Wenger would have known about him, I was saying Wenger would laugh at the idea that he wasnt very well known. I'm sure Wenger knows all kinds of obscure French players ive never heard of, nothing similar to Evra who helped Monaco reach the first knockout stage of the champions league playing 9 times that season and being linked with multiple clubs in the media.

Personally I knew his name thanks to the speculation and people mentioning him, but hadnt been watching Monaco in the champions league
 
One or two more signings possibly, I definitely expect one more.

It will be someone like Baines and a young talent, maybe even Rodriguez. A CM should obviously be priority but I have a feeling that won't happen.
 
It would be madness to go into the new season having signed just Kagawa and Powell specially if we sold anyone , definitely a possibility though.
 
I don't think we're done looking. The Euro's meant there's been little spending so far so getting Kagawa by now is quite nice. Whether we manage to get whatever deals done is the question..
 
I agree we'll see a left-back, which will probably be Baines (good player but as I've said before I think the wrong way for us to go) and there might be a slim chance of another attacker in the form of a winger or striker.

I don't think we'll move on central-midfield despite that being the so fecking painfully, annoyingly, infuriatingly obvious position we need to strengthen.

No superstars obviously; nobody "bigger" than Baines in muppet-terms. If there is a fourth signing (the two we've already got, and the left-back being the first three) then I'm thinking lower profile will be more likely due to wages - unless the Glazers raise the wage-ratio or lower wage demands from other areas of the club.

There will of course be outgoings, but we know the candidates there.
 
Still reckon we'll sign a centre midfielder who'll be first eleven material.

To be honest if we don't, I see another similar season to last, trophyless.
 
Nah. I think we'll get atleast one more. Most likely a "one for the future" type player like a James Rodriquez or Angelo Henrique.

I can however see us not signing an established central midfielder. I wouldn't count Rodriquez or Kagawa as central midfielders and Powell isn't "established".
 
Circumstances change. Even if we aren't planning on signing say more than 1 player, if a good player becomes available due to circumstances changing, we'll be in for them if they are quality.
 
No, I don't think our spending is over. I have over the years been surprised at our reluctance to sign a central midfielder (not an 18 year old who is barely going to get games) but with every passing year our need to fill the vacancy rises and I can't see Fergie leaving us so bare.

Also, we actually have one left back and he's IMO not good enough to be first choice right now. And our second choice left back is completely untested at the highest level and doesn't seem to want to sign a new contract.

I actually wouldn't mind some short term solutions such loan deals as long as we fulfill both these vacancies (in case we don't find the ideal left back for example).
 
Red Dreams said:
Clyne and Baines I think.

...and another midfielder.
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What is up with this Clyne rumour? Isn't he just a kid? We already have Rafael and Jones who have quality but still have to improve. Surely, if we are to sign another he should be closer to the finished article?
 
I would have thought had we wanted Clyne the deal would be done by now, it's not as if he has been away at the Euros or anything. If we got Kagagwa done we could have gotten the cheapy LB done as well surely.
 
We'll be linked to several top players, and sign none of them due to either being outbid or 'lack of value in the market
 
Central midfield is the obvious area, but we don't know how the club are planning this for next season.

How much will Scholes be able to play? Will Cleverly be fit and viewed as a starter? Will Pogba stay? What is Fletchers condition?

These are questions that we can't answer, but the club can. Its impossible for us to predict whether they are looking for a new player there, but if they are then a player will have to leave.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we don't sign anyone else, and to be honest with another year under their belts I expect the likes of Smalling, Jones, Cleverly & Welbeck to all improve from last season.
 
We're not even linked with central midfielders any more (now that Modric looks set to go to Madrid) so I definitely don't expect anything on that front, with Scholes extending his contract.

A left-back (Baines) might arrive but apart from that I don't expect more signings. Well, maybe Powell-type signings will happen.
 
Bilbo said:
Central midfield is the obvious area, but we don't know how the club are planning this for next season.

How much will Scholes be able to play? Will Cleverly be fit and viewed as a starter? Will Pogba stay? What is Fletchers condition?

These are questions that we can't answer, but the club can. Its impossible for us to predict whether they are looking for a new player there, but if they are then a player will have to leave.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we don't sign anyone else, and to be honest with another year under their belts I expect the likes of Smalling, Jones, Cleverly & Welbeck to all improve from last season.
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Even if Scholes stays it'll be very short term - neither him nor Giggs should be here for 2013/14 realistically speaking. You cannot predict how good Fletcher's form will be after he returns to fitness and Cleverley seems to be injury prone. Pogba will go almost certainly. We basically have one reliable midfielder in Carrick, and Anderson who can go from very good to awful in a space of two weeks. If we don't at least try to sign a midfielder it'll be travesty. I think we will though.
 
Siorac said:
We're not even linked with central midfielders any more (now that Modric looks set to go to Madrid) so I definitely don't expect anything on that front, with Scholes extending his contract.

A left-back (Baines) might arrive but apart from that I don't expect more signings. Well, maybe Powell-type signings will happen.
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I refuse to believe that we'll be ignoring the CM issue again.
 
devilish said:
I refuse to believe that we'll be ignoring the CM issue again.
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I don't think Fergie believes there's any issue. Not if the last two summer transfer windows are anything to go by.

He's got Scholes back, he's happy. He was happy enough to not sign anyone even after Scholes retired and now he's here for another year.
 
Sarni said:
Even if Scholes stays it'll be very short term - neither him nor Giggs should be here for 2013/14 realistically speaking. You cannot predict how good Fletcher's form will be after he returns to fitness and Cleverley seems to be injury prone. Pogba will go almost certainly. We basically have one reliable midfielder in Carrick, and Anderson who can go from very good to awful in a space of two weeks. If we don't at least try to sign a midfielder it'll be travesty. I think we will though.
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Too many ifs and predictions to be sure though isn't it? Lets say we start the season with Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Cleverly & Pogba. Thats certainly enough players for two midfield spots - assuming that Kagawa will become the default third midfielder in the matches that we play that way.

If someone comes in, someone has to leave. I think the club will be happy to wait another season until Scholes retires, unless they can get the right deal for one of the players that they will doubtless be looking at/bidding for. However if we are not in a position of desperation, which we aren't, then they will think twice before overpaying for anyone, and rightly so.
 
Siorac said:
We're not even linked with central midfielders any more (now that Modric looks set to go to Madrid) so I definitely don't expect anything on that front, with Scholes extending his contract.

A left-back (Baines) might arrive but apart from that I don't expect more signings. Well, maybe Powell-type signings will happen.
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I'd be very happy if one or two more Powell-like signings come in. The best transfer strategy nowadays is to secure the best young players before anyone else gets to them.
 
Bilbo said:
Too many ifs and predictions to be sure though isn't it?
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Yes but not the way you mean it. I can't believe it has to be repeated again but there you go...

IF Fletcher recovers. IF Anderson and Cleverley manage to stay fit for reasonable periods of time. IF Scholes can replicate the form of his last few months, as opposed to the form of his last two full seasons. IF Pogba stays and actually turns out to be any good.

Well yes in that case we would have enough players for midfield (enough in numbers, not in quality, but that's another story). By this logic we definitely shouldn't have overpaid for Ashley Young; after all, Valencia, Nani, Park and Giggs can all play wide if needed. Yet we did.

We heard this "happy to wait until Scholes retires". You know what the club did when he actually DID retire? We called him back after half a season and extended his contract. If that isn't a "position of desperation" I don't know what is.
 
Vibhas said:
Circumstances change. Even if we aren't planning on signing say more than 1 player, if a good player becomes available due to circumstances changing, we'll be in for them if they are quality.
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Someone like Sahin you mean? Well let's hope so, he is exactly what we need imo. Also as a player who didn't set the world on fire in his first season at Madrid, they will uickly forget why they bought him, and move their attention to the likes of Modric or Silva, clearing the way for Sahin to leave for probably as little as between £15-20m.

An absolute steal for a player of his age, experience and all round quality. He would give us so many different options with his wide range of attributes. We may even be able to play, wait for it, yes, another formation other than 4-4-2, and still be effective going forward! :eek:
 
apotheosis said:
What? Cina's spot on, when was the last time SAF signed a midfielder who turned out to be top quality? Carrick is very debatable, put in that specific context. I think we might have to go all the way back to Keano! :p

Does that put it into better perspective for you? :p
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Ince, Keane, Carrick. These three are Fergie's only unquestionably successful central midfield signings.

Compare this with his record with CBs or strikers... it's not unreasonable to say that he might have a bit of a blind spot with CMs.
 
Siorac said:
Ince, Keane, Carrick. These three are Fergie's only unquestionably successful central midfield signings.

Compare this with his record with CBs or strikers... it's not unreasonable to say that he might have a bit of a blind spot with CMs.
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So that's only Carrick in 20 years! While he may have been a successful signing for us overall, but is he really top quality? Debatable in my view, considering his up and down form during his time here. A couple of very good seasons, and a couple of very forgettable ones too.
 
apotheosis said:
Someone like Sahin you mean? Well let's hope so, he is exactly what we need imo. Also as a player who didn't set the world on fire in his first season at Madrid, they will uickly forget why they bought him, and move their attention to the likes of Modric or Silva, clearing the way for Sahin to leave for probably as little as between £15-20m.

An absolute steal for a player of his age, experience and all round quality. He would give us so many different options with his wide range of attributes. We may even be able to play, wait for it, yes, another formation other than 4-4-2, and still be effective going forward! :eek:
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From what Kagawa's said in his interview; he said that SAF said that he'll be playing as a trequartista and that'll mean 4231 :drool:. That'll be a step forward for us given the current formations around the world; 442 is rather ineffective against it.

They bought him for 10 million Euros, and that's a steal. But 8 appearances later, his value has still increased due to his reputation and the fact that he's got 5 years remaining on his contract! Real are in a position to keep paying his wages and see how it pans out, and from what I've seen, he doesn't mind this for at least another season.
 
Vibhas said:
From what Kagawa's said in his interview; he said that SAF said that he'll be playing as a trequartista and that'll mean 4231 :drool:. That'll be a step forward for us given the current formations around the world; 442 is rather ineffective against it.

They bought him for 10 million Euros, and that's a steal. But 8 appearances later, his value has still increased due to his reputation and the fact that he's got 5 years remaining on his contract! Real are in a position to keep paying his wages and see how it pans out, and from what I've seen, he doesn't mind this for at least another season.
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Good point and I agree.
 
apotheosis said:
So that's only Carrick in 20 years! While he may have been a successful signing for us overall, but is he really top quality? Debatable in my view, considering his up and down form during his time here. A couple of very good seasons, and a couple of very forgettable ones too.
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I sort of made that post to support your argument.

Carrick's been a success though, every player had poor seasons, even Scholes and Giggs. He's not in the Keane and Scholes class but still a successful signing.
 
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