The need for a second playmaker

[Craig Ward]

Our issue isn't a straight out no.10. We have Mata/Miki who are natural 10's, and are often left on the bench (or out of the squad altogether) and Lingard seems to play his best football from a 10 role. All 3 are used sparingly and often out of position.

The issue for me is our set up, we are too defensive under Jose 9 times out of 10, you can see the focus is on shape and defensive work rather than encouraging players to be creative. Its almost like LVG, where players are being held back to some degree.

So if we signed Griezman, Fekir, Ozil whoever to play as a #10 if we set up to play defensive we'll still have the same issue's. Its not all the players fault.

On times the decision making of Martial, Rashford, Lukaku, Lingard, Pogba and co is absolutely dreadful, which clearly doesn't help. You cant just buy players to fix problems.

For me, its simple. We need to start playing our players in they're natural positions. The only issue I see with this is our RW area. We have deployed Lingard, Rashford, Miki, Mata there, none of these players are right wingers or wide right forwards. Lingard, Mata, Miki = #10, Rashford = Striker. So we urgently need to sign a RW player (Mahrez stands out by a mile)

I would be all for signing better quality for our midfield area, as without Pogba we look a lot worse. I'm not Pogba's biggest fan, but we do need to cope without him and add quality there. Fellaini has never been upto the task and we are over working Matic. Herrera is decent, McTominay young and raw. I was all for keeping Pereira but it didn't work out like that. For signings in this area, Goretzka looks amazing value as a free in the summer. Ideally we need a midfielder who can control a game and pass the ball. Dahoud or Weigl from Dortmund look top class. People slate Barkley, but I could see him doing well here, he knows the league, has good link up with Rom and is creative.

If Jose isn't trusting in Mata/miki as the #10, then we need a busy window

 

[Luke1995]

If Januzaj keeps doing well this season, why shouldn't the board consider bringing him back ? Cheaper than many names mentioned. The kid has big potential, if he matures...

 

[amolbhatia50k]

More quality in the central playmakers and a threat from the right is what we need. Right now we have our #10 and our RW sort of both playing as central playmakers but neither being absolutely top class. We'd be better having a 10 or third CM who could do that job to a really high level, and have a RW who can be a genuine threat.

 

[Sky1981]

This thread last year : we need a playmaker

We get mata, we still need a playmaker
We get pogba, we still need a playmaker
We get mkhi, we still need a playmaker

But hey, we still need a playmaker

 

[amolbhatia50k]

This thread last year : we need a playmaker

We get mata, we still need a playmaker
We get pogba, we still need a playmaker
We get mkhi, we still need a playmaker

But hey, we still need a playmaker

Because Mkhitarian and Mata aren't great playmakers. Althought that is on Jose given one is signed a great one yet. We made the mistake of signing attacking 10s rather than proper creative 10s.

 

[Sky1981]

Because Mkhitarian and Mata aren't great playmakers. Althought that is on Jose given one is signed a great one yet. We made the mistake of signing attacking 10s rather than proper creative 10s.

It's not a playmaker that we need. We need a proper formation, a new identity after saf.

Moyes has none, lvg hasn't got a working one. Mourinho is still in the process of ingraining one.

It's not the personnel, it's the sums of all parts. Put xavi in this team we'd still struggle.

What we need first and foremost is patience. Lay a solid groundwork, and finally put the marquee signing as the crown jewel that makes us click.

It probably sounds cliche, but installing a new formation takes time. Just give jose some time, he has to deliver as well as doing the dirty work. He hasn't got the luxury to scrap everything and install a new one, he has to do it on the fly while maintaining respectable result to keep his job.

 

[Vilev]

Lay a solid groundwork, and finally put the marquee signing as the crown jewel that makes us click.

And Pogba, Lukaku were not marquee signings?

It probably sounds cliche, but installing a new formation takes time

True, but hardly year and half. As for doing this on the run, well every manager does that.

 

[Sky1981]

And Pogba, Lukaku were not marquee signings?
True, but hardly year and half. As for doing this on the run, well every manager does that.

Pogba / matic / baily works. They're the back bone of our team

I give you mkhi, while the jury is still out on lindelof.

Which is why give mourinho time. He's working towards something. No one manager come and suddenly turns us into city. Not even pep.

 

[Adnan]

Mourinho wanted four players in the summer window but only three were signed. To compete with a oil club you must at least deliver the targets that Mourinho wanted.

 

[Vilev]

No one manager come and suddenly turns us into city. Not even pep.

Pep done it in a year. When he came to City they hardly were that good or even better than United. We actually were level on points.

Which is why give mourinho time. He's working towards something.

I think he works toward the same thing he had at Real. I don't see much light ahead if he keeps it up.

Pogba / matic / baily works. They're the back bone of our team

I give you mkhi, while the jury is still out on lindelof.

I am not sure what are you suggesting, but i was saying that United already made marquee signings. And they have not delivered marquee quality yet btw. So i am not sure how that "finally putting the marquee signing as the crown jewel" will work. I mean Pogba and Lukaku for 200m should have been this crown jewels that will make us work. They haven't yet.

 

[Adnan]

Pep inherited a better team than Mourinho when both first arrived.

 

[KingMinger22]

We need 2-3 top quality attackers. For my money, we don’t have a single attacker that I would call proven top quality.

 

[Vilev]

Pep inherited a better team than Mourinho when both first arrived.

Level on points, while United had awful season. So much for the better team. Anyway how that City was better exactly?

 

[DdeGoat]

We need 2-3 top quality attackers. For my money, we don’t have a single attacker that I would call proven top quality.

I agree with this. Another top goal scorer is Griezmann and one of Lemar or Fekir would be my choice.

Mata is only one who is proven quality. Not sure if he'll qualify under top quality.

Fun fact - Mata is our highest goal scorer since Sir Alex's retirement. Which is amazing to me as he is only a decent goal scorer. Shows where we have been lacking these last 4.5 years.

 

[Adnan]

Level on points, while United had awful season. So much for the better team. Anyway how that City was better exactly?

I said Pep inherited a better team than Mourinho. Silva and De Bruyne are two of the best players in the EPL. He also inherited a owner with a bottomless pit who backed him to the hilt in the transfer market.

 

[Vilev]

He also inherited a owner with a bottomless pit who backed him to the hilt in the transfer market.

Same here. It does not matter if money is made from commercial activities or via owner putting them in the club, they are still the same money. And we have backed Jose the same way City backed Pep.

Silva and De Bruyne are two of the best players in the EPL

That is largely because of Pep. Was Silva even half as good in the last Pellegrini's season? No really.

The squad of City has been better than ours back then, but the team was roughly the same, and City's top prospects such as Sterling or even KDB were not exactly shining. It was Guardiola's coaching that made them into the force they are now.

 

[Sky1981]

Pep done it in a year. When he came to City they hardly were that good or even better than United. We actually were level on points.
I think he works toward the same thing he had at Real. I don't see much light ahead if he keeps it up.
I am not sure what are you suggesting, but i was saying that United already made marquee signings. And they have not delivered marquee quality yet btw. So i am not sure how that "finally putting the marquee signing as the crown jewel" will work. I mean Pogba and Lukaku for 200m should have been this crown jewels that will make us work. They haven't yet.

Pep is not our manager. Get over it.

 

[Adnan]

Same here. It does not matter if money is made from commercial activities or via owner putting them in the club, they are still the same money. And we have backed Jose the same way City backed Pep.
That is largely because of Pep. Was Silva even half as good in the last Pellegrini's season? No really.

The squad of City has been better than ours back then, but the team was roughly the same, and City's top prospects such as Sterling or even KDB were not exactly shining. It was Guardiola's coaching that made them into the force they are now.

We didn't back Mourinho like the Arabs backed Pep. Pep splashed around £130m on just fullbacks. A further 30m on Ederson and Bernardo who warms the bench will eventually cost £67m. I won't even mention Sane and Gundogans fees.

David Silva has been a class act for awhile in England now and with Toure not a first team player anymore he has been moved into a central role. De Bruyne hasn't become a good player overnight, he's shown his class in the Bundesliga hence why City splashed the £££ to get him. Until the oil money is at City they will always be in the mix regardless of who the coach is.

 

[Jaybomb]

We didn't back Mourinho like the Arabs backed Pep. Pep splashed around £130m on just fullbacks. A further 30m on Ederson and Bernardo who warms the bench will eventually cost £67m. I won't even mention Sane and Gundogans fees.

David Silva has been a class act for awhile in England now and with Toure not a first team player anymore he has been moved into a central role. De Bruyne hasn't become a good player overnight, he's shown his class in the Bundesliga hence why City splashed the £££ to get him. Until the oil money is at City they will always be in the mix regardless of who the coach is.

If they gave Mourinho the funds Pep received, we could have an entire new back line and then sign the likes of Griezmann up top.

Mourinho has spent money yes but compared to Pep, it’s nothing.

 

[devilish]

In my opinion we need to decide which formation to use and build a team around it. For example Mata is a great no 10 but he's simply too slow to be a winger. Pogba is suited to spearhead a 3 men CM which in turn makes any no 10 in the team redundant. He's nowhere near as good in a 2 men CM. Same can be said about the flanks. If we're choosing a wing based system then we need wingers who are pacey and can score goals (like Salah or Mane) which means that the likes of Mkhitaryan and Mata (as winger) must go. On the other hand if we're going for a wingback system then the likes of Darmian and Blind must go as they offer less support to the team as SAF/Charlton do as match goers.

Its pointless adding new players unless we're 100% sure of what system we're going to use.

 

[Vilev]

We didn't back Mourinho like the Arabs backed Pep. Pep splashed around £130m on just fullbacks. A further 30m on Ederson and Bernardo who warms the bench will eventually cost £67m. I won't even mention Sane and Gundogans fees.

Our net spending over the last two years is similar. So United backed Jose in the same manner.

David Silva has been a class act for awhile in England now and with Toure not a first team player anymore he has been moved into a central role. De Bruyne hasn't become a good player overnight, he's shown his class in the Bundesliga hence why City splashed the £££ to get him. Until the oil money is at City they will always be in the mix regardless of who the coach is.

In the mix - sure. But City are not in the mix, they are head and shoulders above, while actually playing exciting football. That's an obvious upgrade to what they were during Mancini or Pellegrini, while also investing fortunes back then.

 

[goin4glory]

Same here. It does not matter if money is made from commercial activities or via owner putting them in the club, they are still the same money. And we have backed Jose the same way City backed Pep.
That is largely because of Pep. Was Silva even half as good in the last Pellegrini's season? No really.

The squad of City has been better than ours back then, but the team was roughly the same, and City's top prospects such as Sterling or even KDB were not exactly shining. It was Guardiola's coaching that made them into the force they are now.

KDB won bundesliga player of the season and Sterling had been one of the best young attacking players in europe. Pep clearly inherited a much better squad than Mourinho and has outspent him since he arrived. If he gets Sanchez then Woodward needs to pull the finger out.

 

[Devil may care]

In my opinion we need to decide which formation to use and build a team around it. For example Mata is a great no 10 but he's simply too slow to be a winger. Pogba is suited to spearhead a 3 men CM which in turn makes any no 10 in the team redundant. He's nowhere near as good in a 2 men CM. Same can be said about the flanks. If we're choosing a wing based system then we need wingers who are pacey and can score goals (like Salah or Mane) which means that the likes of Mkhitaryan and Mata (as winger) must go. On the other hand if we're going for a wingback system then the likes of Darmian and Blind must go as they offer less support to the team as SAF/Charlton do as match goers.

Its pointless adding new players unless we're 100% sure of what system we're going to use.

I agree, at the moment there is an obsession with Ozil on the Caf, but that will mean Pogba continues in this midfield 2 role and we'll always be open to the counter unless his talent is shackled, plus every time we play a good team Ozil will be moved to the RW in a front 3 as Jose will have to put a 3rd CM in, the problem being that the CM is likely going to be a Fellaini or Herrera level player and thus you downgrade the teams quality for every big match, as no top #8 is gonna sit on the bench for the bulk of games like they do.

 

[Adnan]

Our net spending over the last two years is similar. So United backed Jose in the same manner.
In the mix - sure. But City are not in the mix, they are head and shoulders above, while actually playing exciting football. That's an obvious upgrade to what they were during Mancini or Pellegrini, while also investing fortunes back then.

You really are clutching at straws. It's quite obvious Pep inherited a better team than Jose. City had a much better midfield and Aguero up front was on a different planet compared to what we had.

Sheikh Mansour is the reason City are where they're right now and the reason they actually have won a couple of titles in recent times. If Guardiola had gone to Spurs and produced something similar then I'd agree with you.

If United had backed Mourinho in the same way, then where is Perisic?

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Why does the 'Mata is a great number 10' persist with our fans? How many times must Mata be utterly useless in the role for us( eg vs huddersfield)and utterly excellent in his false 7 role yet again (e.g last night) for people to disabuse themselves of this myth!

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

We need 2-3 top quality attackers. For my money, we don’t have a single attacker that I would call proven top quality.

For ANYONES money. We are the only European giant without a single world class player in attack. The only other, Liverpool, compensate for it by having proven goal getting speed and dribble merchants in attack. We in comparison have the inexperience of Lukaku, Lingard, Rashford and Martial, the inconsistency of Mata and Mhkhi and the old head but no legs of Zlatan to call upon. A big reason why we are this far behind City

 

[Vilev]

If United had backed Mourinho in the same way, then where is Perisic?

Same place Virgil van Dijk is. You know, the player City could not buy. Or Sachnez. No team in the world can buy absolutely everyone they want. Not even Barca or Real.
Though it's a relief for me. I don't really want another 28-29 flops like Micki.

It's quite obvious Pep inherited a better team than Jose. City had a much better midfield and Aguero up front was on a different planet compared to what we had.

As i've said, better squad (not a team) - yes, he probably did. But the fact is, that better squad was level on points in PL with us two years ago (and that was a bad year for us as well). Okay, maybe they did not turn up the game, knowing they will not lose 4-th position, but still that gives you +3 max. With all their quality, City were not better than United in 2014-2015.

Sheikh Mansour is the reason City are where they're right now and the reason they actually have won a couple of titles in recent times. If Guardiola had gone to Spurs and produced something similar then I'd agree with you.

Mansour elevated City in general. Of course his financial support helped Guardiola as well. But the fact is, that City spent big before. And never a City team looked so good. That is down to Guardiola.

You really are clutching at straws.

Am i? Since Fergie went, United beat PL transfer record twice, we spent more than a 0.5 bn in pounds, and that's net. Overspending even City. Sure City are not poor anymore. They've invested heavily themselves. But current City dominance is not down to money.
I think if we look at financial resources, such as wages, money available on transfers, Jose and Pep had similar backing. Okay, sure, maybe City's was a bit better, given their squad and that they did spent somewhat higher this year. But that is difference of around 10-15% or so. While the actual difference on the field is way bigger.

 

[Adnan]

Same place Virgil van Dijk is. You know, the player City could not buy. Or Sachnez. No team in the world can buy absolutely everyone they want. Not even Barca or Real.
Though it's a relief for me. I don't really want another 28-29 flops like Micki.
As i've said, better squad (not a team) - yes, he probably did. But the fact is, that better squad was level on points in PL with us two years ago (and that was a bad year for us as well). Okay, maybe they did not turn up the game, knowing they will not lose 4-th position, but still that gives you +3 max. With all their quality, City were not better than United in 2014-2015.
Mansour elevated City in general. Of course his financial support helped Guardiola as well. But the fact is, that City spent big before. And never a City team looked so good. That is down to Guardiola.
Am i? Since Fergie went, United beat PL transfer record twice, we spent more than a 0.5 bn in pounds, and that's net. Overspending even City. Sure City are not poor anymore. They've invested heavily themselves. But current City dominance is not down to money.
I think if we look at financial resources, such as wages, money available on transfers, Jose and Pep had similar backing. Okay, sure, maybe City's was a bit better, given their squad and that they did spent somewhat higher this year. But that is difference of around 10-15% or so. While the actual difference on the field is way bigger.

Van Dijk preferred a move to Liverpool and he had his heart set on a move there. He wanted Liverpool not City. Please do abit of research before you make claims to the contrary. As for Sanchez, City were willing to pay what Arsenal wanted and the player wanted the move. Arsenal couldn't get the Lemar deal over the line hence Sanchez stayed at the Emirates come the end of the transfer window. The Arabs backed Guardiola in the pursuit for both players which is the point I'm making which you seem to be missing.

Since SAF retired the transfer market was very different to what it is now. You're very naive to make a comparison now to when SAF was in charge. Teenagers are going for close to €200m in the present time. Sponsorships are higher and we have Qatar and Abu Dhabi with the biggest financial clout in the history of the game.

City had a much better midfield and attack than us with Silva, De Bruyne and Aguero to just name three. We had a better keeper but they had a CB in Kompany who was head and shoulders above any thing we had. The fact of the matter is, we haven't finished above them since SAF retired. They have out scored us comfortably in that period too and won a title. Pellegrini and Mancini were good coaches but nothing special and didn't take advantage of the biggest war chest in the history of the game like maybe a World class coach would've done. If Mourinho was in charge of City with a bottomless pit of cash I'm pretty confident he would be doing just as great as Guardiola.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

I marvel at people trying to act as if Pep and Guardiola started in a level playing field. Pep took over at a Club that had been steadily assembling a top scored from the season before SAF retired till now. Mourinho in comparison took over a club that was set down behind a decade by Moyes transfer business, then had to overhaul LVGs long term project two years in due to stalling results after a decent start. Mourinho took over a club comfortably 4-5 transfer windows behind a City. Its a testament to Mourinho's ability as a managet and transfer market nouse that we might do it by next summer.

 

[Ish]

I marvel at people trying to act as if Pep and Guardiola started in a level playing field. Pep took over at a Club that had been steadily assembling a top scored from the season before SAF retired till now. Mourinho in comparison took over a club that was set down behind a decade by Moyes transfer business, then had to overhaul LVGs long term project two years in due to stalling results after a decent start. Mourinho took over a club comfortably 4-5 transfer windows behind a City. Its a testament to Mourinho's ability as a managet and transfer market nouse that we might do it by next summer.

Yeah I’d even go as far as saying LvG’s transfer dealings set us even further back than Moyes’. Moyes dithered, chased unattainable targets and in the end, failed or missed out on realistic targets but basically everyone LvG signed, bar Martial and to an extent Rojo & Romero, needs to be replaced again.

 

[rampo]

Same place Virgil van Dijk is. You know, the player City could not buy. Or Sachnez. No team in the world can buy absolutely everyone they want. Not even Barca or Real.
Though it's a relief for me. I don't really want another 28-29 flops like Micki.
As i've said, better squad (not a team) - yes, he probably did. But the fact is, that better squad was level on points in PL with us two years ago (and that was a bad year for us as well). Okay, maybe they did not turn up the game, knowing they will not lose 4-th position, but still that gives you +3 max. With all their quality, City were not better than United in 2014-2015.
Mansour elevated City in general. Of course his financial support helped Guardiola as well. But the fact is, that City spent big before. And never a City team looked so good. That is down to Guardiola.
Am i? Since Fergie went, United beat PL transfer record twice, we spent more than a 0.5 bn in pounds, and that's net. Overspending even City. Sure City are not poor anymore. They've invested heavily themselves. But current City dominance is not down to money.
I think if we look at financial resources, such as wages, money available on transfers, Jose and Pep had similar backing. Okay, sure, maybe City's was a bit better, given their squad and that they did spent somewhat higher this year. But that is difference of around 10-15% or so. While the actual difference on the field is way bigger.

Genuinely interested in understanding why you are so pessimistic about United?

You keep on saying United and City ended up with same points 2 years back and that was a bad year for us. But, if we ended same on points isn't it a bad year for City as well? Also, in the 3 years between SAF and Mourinho, City won PL once, came 2nd and 4th (4th was after City announced season midway that Pep would take over the coming season. That will obviously have an effect on players just like we crashed after SAF's retirement announcement in 2002). During that period, we were 7th, 4th and 5th. How can you claim that Pep and Mou started at same level?

Nobody is saying Mou has brought outstanding changes to the squad, but I think many people do realize the reasons for gulf in class between City and United - 1) higher starting base for City 2) higher spend by City.

And like someone else already said, we need to get over the fact that Pep is not United's manager and Mou is. Else, how can you enjoy United matches? It's not like we are setting the world on fire, but we are definitely playing better than we have been for last few years

 

[Red Devil Rising]

My ideal choice would be Eriksen - he's made for United.

Only 25, Levy would be a bitch to deal with but would they realistically turn down £80-£90 million for him? Especially if they don't make top 4.

 

[a_devil_inside]

My ideal choice would be Eriksen - he's made for United.

Only 25, Levy would be a bitch to deal with but would they realistically turn down £80-£90 million for him? Especially if they don't make top 4.

I thought he was a lot older, I wouldn't mind him either.

 

[James Peril]

My ideal choice would be Eriksen - he's made for United.

Only 25, Levy would be a bitch to deal with but would they realistically turn down £80-£90 million for him? Especially if they don't make top 4.

I like Eriksen, but does he have the guile to play for Manchester United? Tottenham is a small club compared to United, no matter how they are currently doing in the league or in Europe. Tottenham play without pressure, none of their fans have seen any trophies - they are just happy "playing well" and not being Aston Villa or some other club they have historically competed with in the last 20 years. Playing for United, with so much pressure, media attention and negative attention - it's another beast entirely.

Eriksen is really good, but at Spurs he is a certain starter in their team and plays every game. If he does badly, nobody cares, the media doesn't care, their few fans don't really care... Furthermore, I do believe 80-90M would be too little. Coutinho is priced much higher than that and that's where Levy will put down the marker. In other words, we are not going to get him.

 

[The red panther]

It's not a playmaker that we need. We need a proper formation, a new identity after saf.

Moyes has none, lvg hasn't got a working one. Mourinho is still in the process of ingraining one.

It's not the personnel, it's the sums of all parts. Put xavi in this team we'd still struggle.

What we need first and foremost is patience. Lay a solid groundwork, and finally put the marquee signing as the crown jewel that makes us click.

It probably sounds cliche, but installing a new formation takes time. Just give jose some time, he has to deliver as well as doing the dirty work. He hasn't got the luxury to scrap everything and install a new one, he has to do it on the fly while maintaining respectable result to keep his job.

Biggest bullshit excuse

Why does it only every take a long time at Manchester United ? I don't see other teams struggling with it ? Conte took over Chelsea last year and his system started kicking in after a few months, Guardiola needed a season to get things going but now his train is unstoppable. But at United, oh no it takes longer, it takes atleast 3 seasons and maybay another 3 after that.

Sorry but at the highest level you need to get results faster and you don't have a long time and there is no patience.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Biggest bullshit excuse

Why does it only every take a long time at Manchester United ? I don't see other teams struggling with it ? Conte took over Chelsea last year and his system started kicking in after a few months, Guardiola needed a season to get things going but now his train is unstoppable. But at United, oh no it takes longer, it takes atleast 3 seasons and maybay another 3 after that.

Sorry but at the highest level you need to get results faster and you don't have a long time and there is no patience.

Agreed. The fact is Jose doesn't have a way of playing. He sets the defence up well and then lets the players go at it. Clearly our attackers don't know how to play that well without a bit of structure, we need an attacking coach to drill some triangles, overlaps, quick 1-2 passing etc. When teams park the bus we have no idea how to break them down apart from sling it wide and cross, and we are poor at that also

 

[RedStarUnited]

Mata has never been a great number 10 for us. He is a pussy who never tries any pass that looks remotely difficult.

Mikhi has the passing attributes but doesnt have any strength or body positioning smartness to keep the ball under pressure.

Thats why Pogba is out only realt creative guy.

 

[Sky1981]

Biggest bullshit excuse

Why does it only every take a long time at Manchester United ? I don't see other teams struggling with it ? Conte took over Chelsea last year and his system started kicking in after a few months, Guardiola needed a season to get things going but now his train is unstoppable. But at United, oh no it takes longer, it takes atleast 3 seasons and maybay another 3 after that.

Sorry but at the highest level you need to get results faster and you don't have a long time and there is no patience.

Sample speaks for themselves. This is jose mourinho we're talking about, not david moyes.

He went to chelsea round 1. Immidieately broke saf domination (albeit with cash)
Inter. Treble
Madrid. League title
Chelsea. League title

Give him time. We should stop being a petulant fans and wants it now or sack the manager.

The only realistic option better than him this year is pep. And you know what team he manages

 

[2ndTouch]

Sample speaks for themselves. This is jose mourinho we're talking about, not david moyes.

He went to chelsea round 1. Immidieately broke saf domination (albeit with cash)
Inter. Treble
Madrid. League title
Chelsea. League title

You know what the difference between those teams and the current Utd is? They were all stacked with brilliant individuals.

 

[ClosetDevil]

You know what the difference between those teams and the current Utd is? They were all stacked with brilliant individuals.

I don't really think that's a reasonable excuse anymore. We've spent in excess of 300 million quid over the last few transfer windows. If other teams are able to identify, recruit, and develop prospects better than us, them it's obvious where the problem lies. It's clear that is simply throwing money at other clubs for their players isn't necessarily the solution.

The definition of insanity is trying the same thing multiple times and expecting to achieve a different outcome.