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OohAahMartial

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We all know Perisic was our last transfer target and the latest seems to be that he will sign a new contract as we haven't wanted to pay the asking price. This report linked to above would provide a clear explanation for that, namely it would break our budget and require selling before buying. Seems quite plausible to me even if the source is as usual unreliable.

We may have wanted to sell Smalling but to do so while Rojo is out for so long and Lindelof likely to take time to adjust would be foolish. Shaw is injured and so can't be sold leaving us with just Blind and Darmian at LB for a while, ruling Darmian out from being sold too. Selling Martial would be very unpopular and I don't think Jose has given up on him yet, he's just pushing him to be more consistent and put in more effort--tough love coaching style. And while many might want to sell Fellaini it would still leave us short for cover in the CM and lose a tactical option. In short, too soon to sell anyone.

January, after we get most players back from their long-term injuries is another matter. We've already seen Jose sell players last January so it wouldn't be a shock to see maybe a CB (Smalling or Jones) leave then or a LB (Blind or Darmian), with replacements coming in. We have a big squad right now especially with Shaw, Young and Rojo to return. New injuries are always a risk but will take a few months to accumulate to crisis proportions, so we are probably in good shape for the first half of the season. We can use that time to further evaluate our wide players like Shaw, Martial, Mhki and Mata and re-evaluate what we really need to strengthen as young players improve and form returns or not. Then in January we could dip into the market then with a better idea of what is needed and in time for the business end of the season.

So, if this really is true (a big IF I know) that we have completed our first team squad summer signings, are you content with that? Was our budget too low? Are we jeopardising our season? Or is it the wisest course of action on balance?

NB. Thought it best to discuss this in a new thread and not in the tweets thread.
 
Hack journalists covering themselves. If we don't sign anyone they can say they were right, if we do they can say a target became available last minute for the right price.

If we don't im happy. We've addressed the two most glaring deficiencies in our team in quite some style. We stole the hottest striker in the window from under the noses of the champions, and then took their key midfielder for good measure.
 
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I still wouldn't rule anything out just yet, especially anything based on what Jose is saying to the press. He could just as easy be trying to turn the screw on some team right now playing hardball over a transfer fee as he is telling the truth.
 
I'm cool with this. Let's see what the kids do.
 
Because we are going in for Griezmann in January right?
 
Everyone is fine with this because we beat West Ham 4-0, at 3pm on Sunday everyone on here were saying we needed more, and yet one performance is enough to convince everyone we're fine now? Madness.
 
I think it's the right thing to do. If the right players aren't available then we shouldn't panic buy just to say we signed someone. It's clear that we are a couple of players short from being a complete team but it's best to wait for the right time.
 
We'll find out from Mourinho in his next presser, if there's any truth to what Ogden is saying.
 
We need another top forward but I'd sooner hang off and buy somebody genuinely brilliant (think Bale/Sanchez/Griezmann) as oppose to buying a shoddy alternative that is no better than what we may already have.

I've stressed all summer that this is the first window in a long time in which we have some power and control over what we're spending. We have a very good squad that is capable of a hell of a lot more than we seen last season. It's up to Mourinho to get the side scoring goals, then the rest will work itself out.

Save money for a top player and continue to be shrewd.
 
Judas said:
Everyone is fine with this because we beat West Ham 4-0, at 3pm on Sunday everyone on here were saying we needed more, and yet one performance is enough to convince everyone we're fine now? Madness.
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I said this to my mate who I watched it with (United fan).

Worst thing for you would be to be free scoring through August long enough to not realise you'll lack goals.

If this side remains free scoring all year then Lukaku has had an outrageous season.
 
Kag said:
We need another top forward but I'd sooner hang off and buy somebody genuinely brilliant (think Bale/Sanchez/Griezmann) as oppose to buying a shoddy alternative that is no better than what we may already have.

I've stressed all summer that this is the first window in a long time in which we have some power and control over what we're spending. We have a very good squad that is capable of a hell of a lot more than we seen last season. It's up to Mourinho to get the side scoring goals, then the rest will work itself out.

Save money for a top player and continue to be shrewd.
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I think it sends the right message to teams like Inter in the future too. If you're not willing to give up these good but unspectacular players for fair prices, we'll just straight up leave it. Things are a little different from 2-3 years ago-type of vibes to selling clubs.
 
Bit disappointing if true, is Mark Ogden still reliable these days? We are ready to compete with the squad we have but if we get injuries which I think we will down the line, I hope the lack of signings this summer doesn't bite us in the arse.
 
We are definitely still bringing someone in, providing our transfer target is available. If we don't sign anyone it won't be because of our finances. We're not poor for feck sake :lol:
 
It's not enough. People will think it is because we beat West Ham, but later in the season we'll see that not improving at full back and on the wings will be a problem.
 
Judas said:
Everyone is fine with this because we beat West Ham 4-0, at 3pm on Sunday everyone on here were saying we needed more, and yet one performance is enough to convince everyone we're fine now? Madness.
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You are absolutley right.

Our summer with the purchases we did is just weak. We haven't addressed the wings at all which was our biggest problem.

If you would have said at the end of last season, United will sign Lindelof, Lukaku and Matic and that is it than people would have been very disappointed as it is simply not enough by any means not after the trainwreck of a season we played (in the league). People were saying it couple of weeks ago aswell.

But oh United wins 4-0 versus WHU so all problems are solved. Martial scored so he is going to be one of the best in the league again and all our problems for lack of scoring goals are immediatley solved.

This squad is:
-very light on the wings both defensively and offensively
-lacks a real game changer in attack
-has no set-piece specialist (especially for taking corners)

We have a ton of work left to make this side into a great team again.
 
DWelbz19 said:
I think it sends the right message to teams like Inter in the future too. If you're not willing to give up these good but unspectacular players for fair prices, we'll just straight up leave it. Things are a little different from 2-3 years ago-type of vibes to selling clubs.
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Definitely agree. We really, really don't need to panic buy.
 
We're an injury to Valencia away from having no decent bull backs. It's not really good enough.
 
We can win the EPL and can challenge for the UCL this season. We can beat Bayern and Barca from what I've seen of both clubs. Real Madrid are the best right now, but we almost took them to Extra time had Rashford not missed the fantastic chance he had. Considering we had a back 3 that hadn't played together before and the same goes for our midfield 3.

A fullback and a winger would enable us to challenge in the UCL and I hope we don't sell our selves short and sacrifice this season because we couldn't get Mourinho's 4th target.
 
We don't all know Perisic was our last target, if anything it looks like our name was used for a bigger contract. We'll sign one more i'm sure.
 
Manchester Dan said:
I said this to my mate who I watched it with (United fan).

Worst thing for you would be to be free scoring through August long enough to not realise you'll lack goals.

If this side remains free scoring all year then Lukaku has had an outrageous season.
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Or players like Mkhitaryan, Martial and Rashford have stepped up their game to levels that they should easily be capable of and add many more goals and assists to the team.

It's a far too simplistic viewpoint that because we have the same players we should get the exact same results, football is about so much more! Lukaku has opened up a whole new dynamic of playing which is spinning in behind offering a much greater threat on the counter, this in turn should open up spaces that weren't there last season for the players I mentioned to run into. The Utd team is packed full of quality players that can produce much more and I think this season will produce much more. Would I like an extra superstar on top like a bale or Griezmann? Yes, however I firmly believe the squad as it stands can win the league and those cherry on top players may yet be added in January or next summer.
 
Im happy with our signings. Just look at our squad now.

Lukaku/Ibra*
Martial/Rashford - - - Pereira/Mkhi - - - Lingard/Mata
Pogba/Fellaini - - - Matic/Herrera
Blind/Shaw-Lindelöf/Smalling-Bailly/Jones-Valencia/Darmian
De Gea/Romero
​
Apart from this, we have Young, Carrick, Tuanzebe and Rojo. If we make another signing, it should be someone world class. We have enough decent players already.
​
 
Schmiznurf said:
We don't all know Perisic was our last target, if anything it looks like our name was used for a bigger contract. We'll sign one more i'm sure.
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This is now said for every player we don't sign and signs a new contract.
 
abhayselvan said:
Im happy with our signings. Just look at our squad now.

Lukaku/Ibra*
Martial/Rashford - - - Pereira/Mkhi - - - Lingard/Mata
Pogba/Fellaini - - - Matic/Herrera
Blind/Shaw-Lindelöf/Smalling-Bailly/Jones-Valencia/Darmian
De Gea/Romero
​
Apart from this, we have Young, Carrick, Tuanzebe and Rojo. If we make another signing, it should be someone world class. We have enough decent players already.
​
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Very poor wings both offensively and defensively
 
We have enough players in attack. I don't see the need for a winger either (would only steal minutes from Rash and Martial), I would much rather our full backs provide the width. Hopefully Shaw steps up, and if he does, we're set.
 
This comes a day after a report Valencia's knee is crocked and needs constant ice. Also a week after TFM goes out on loan.

Be surprised if we didn't sign a FB.
 
Judas said:
Everyone is fine with this because we beat West Ham 4-0, at 3pm on Sunday everyone on here were saying we needed more, and yet one performance is enough to convince everyone we're fine now? Madness.
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Well not exactly. There were glimpses of good form towards the end of last season and pre season from Rashford and Martial.
Shaw was quite unlucky imo. He went through a spell of heavy open criticism and managed to get appearances after it. I think Mourinho values him and he'll be given chance.
However, entire right wing seems a bit slim to me. Mikhi, Mata and Lingard are all either more comfortable through the middle either not good enough on the right and Valencia is the only quality option at RB. I suppose if Perisic did come this summer Rashford could've moved to lesson No. 2 - RW. Since that didn't happen, I think we should be looking to bring someone playing on the right - either wide forward or RB cover.

Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Zlatan in January right?

No chance we'll be making a big money signing mid season.
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If the right player is available, why not? Zlatan would be a good addition on the 1st of Jan, but if Griezman is available and a deal is doable, why not bring him in? I know these are big ifs as Atleti will most probably go through the group's of CL, but you never know.
 
Good decision I think, we have a big squad and could sell a few. Would ideally have bought a right winger but not clear who we could get assuming we can't beat Barca for Dembele. We don't need Perisic IMO.
 
I'm very confident we are bringing in one more. Will be either a winger or a fullback anyway.
 
Judas said:
Everyone is fine with this because we beat West Ham 4-0, at 3pm on Sunday everyone on here were saying we needed more, and yet one performance is enough to convince everyone we're fine now? Madness.
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It'll be the complete opposite after the first draw/loss.
 
After watching the Real Madrid and West Ham games, I have reached the conclusion that we'll be fine even if we don't buy any other player till January. My argument about last season has not changed: we were average mainly because many of our players were out of form for whatever reasons not because of poor tactics or poor quality of players. I never believed the squad was as bad as the table standings showed. I always believed that if we could get Martial, Rashford, Miki, Mata, Pogba, Lingard and Herrera firing on all cylinders, we would be fine. I think Jose is managing to do that now.

If we make one last signing before August closes, fine. If we don't, I believe we will still challenge for the title.
 
Judas said:
Everyone is fine with this because we beat West Ham 4-0, at 3pm on Sunday everyone on here were saying we needed more, and yet one performance is enough to convince everyone we're fine now? Madness.
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It's hilarious. A couple bad performances in September and the majority of the forum will be criticising Jose and Woody for not doing more during the transfer window to prepare us for the season...
 
Agree with most here. Beating a poor West Ham 4-0 may have convinced people we are OK and we are going to walk the league but we will get found out on the flanks going forward against bigger teams. I'm not confident for our season with the squad as it is.
 
GM K said:
After watching the Real Madrid and West Ham games, I have reached the conclusion that we'll be fine even if we don't buy any other player till January. My argument about last season has not changed: we were average mainly because many of our players were out of form for whatever reasons not because of poor tactics or poor quality of players. I never believed the squad was as bad as the table standings showed. I always believed that if we could get Martial, Rashford, Miki, Mata, Pogba, Lingard and Herrera firing on all cylinders, we would be fine. I think Jose is managing to do that now.

If we make one last signing before August closes, fine. If we don't, I believe we will still challenge for the title.
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If the right player comes available I'm sure we'd have interest, but at this current stage it seem what we could use as far as more strength at FB and potentially an RW is available so we go with what we have. I would have liked to get a natural wide player in as we seemed to be targeting with Perisic, but it's reasonable to expect that Martial returns to form, Rashford is more productive and that Mkhi adjusts better to the league in his 2nd season. I'm okay with being patient in the transfer window and adding players the manager wants rather than trying to fix everything desperately.
 
Bullshit have we stopped buying. Even if the club/Mourinho openly said that to the media, it would be a posturing move. Mourinho wants a winger, believe me he'll be pissed as hell if he hasn't got one come the end of the window.....he hasn't suddenly accepted that we won't get one
 
Manchester Dan said:
I said this to my mate who I watched it with (United fan).

Worst thing for you would be to be free scoring through August long enough to not realise you'll lack goals.

If this side remains free scoring all year then Lukaku has had an outrageous season.
Click to expand...
I disagree.

Our problems aren't due to a lack of signings.

But the signings we have made not chipping in enough, especially in attack.

Our season will be won or lost by how many Micky,Rashford, Martial and Mata can chip in with.

I'd love a LB too, but we can live without that for now


Whether we sign anyone or not, City and Spurs are still ahead of us imo.
 
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