I'm as frustrated about the lack of quality additions as much as the next man, but this post is a little off the mark I think.
"lost 5 players". Evra - Upgraded through Shaw. Ferdinand - hardly played last year and wouldn't have the pace to play in this system this year. Vidic - Big loss but still time to replace him. Buttner - Rubbish. Rather play Reece James. The others? Bebe, Macheda, etc? Hardly a loss. In fact hopefully the likes of Fellaini, Anderson and possibly Hernandez can be moved on too.
"Only brought in 2" - There's no Europe this year, so we'll have 10-15 games less than usual. Squad doesn't need to be as huge. The two we have brought in both improve our first XI immediately. We have never been lacking squad numbers. So quality over quantity is important. Also worth remembering that we brought Mata in, in January without moving anyone else on.
Moyes has gone and Van Gaal has come in. This is the biggest single strengthening factor of any team in the league. Our squad isn't great but nearly all our players underperformed woefully last season. If Van Gaal gets a 10-20% improvement out of everyone, the difference come May will be huge. We still have several players who are either top class, serial league winners or full of potential.
A lot of our young players are being criminally under rated on here. Two years ago Smalling and Jones was being touted as the future of not only our defence but the England defence too. Neither has had a consistent run of games together. Expect that to change this season. Both have enormous potential and both have already shown in patches that they are top quality defenders. On form Evans is one of the best defenders in the league. Another who is criminally under rated. If it wasn't for injury concerns, I would be very happy to have Jones, Smalling and Evans as our first choice three. All are good on the ball, relatively quick and natural defenders.
Cleverly is one young player who has not developed as I hoped. But Welbeck is a player I have so much time for. His close control, teamwork and pace are top drawer. I think we look a much better team with him in the side. His pace alone changes the dimension of our attack. He's never had a run in his favoured position. For me, this season would see him cement himself as first choice striker partnered with either Rooney or RVP. Wilson as the 4th choice striker.
It's a cliché to say it but I have to say it anyway. Fletcher's return to form is like a new signing. He's not the top tier level we need but he looks so much better with a full pre-season under his belt and has an awful lot to offer. He's just going to get stronger and stronger over the coming months I feel. And one thing we should all know about Darren Fletcher is to never underestimate his fortitude or ability to triumph under pressure. He took more abuse as a young player at United than I have seen before, it was shameful. He went from absolute zero, to cult hero in about 3 seasons.
With the change in formation, we are not going to be reliant on productivity from wide areas to create the bulk of our goals. Which is just as well because our wingers are shite. It's amazing Moyes put so much emphasis and pressure on the weakest area of our squad. So again, we have improved hugely here, potentially anyway, by playing to our strengths.
We are going to be so much more competitive this year than we were last. I see our rivals being very worried about us. Arsenal have done well to sign Sanchez, but running and creativity from deep was never a problem for them. They still haven't addressed their two biggest weaknesses, in CDM and CF. Chelsea have upgraded very well and I see them as clear favourites. Liverpool have CL distractions with a squad that isn't CL experienced. The loss of Suarez only makes them less dangerous. Their other additions could be good, could be bad. They spread the money quite thinly and in some cases speculatively. And Man City have brought in Fernando, who won't start and is only a slightly better version of Garcia and Mangala who was absurdly overpriced and can't get in the France team ahead of Sahko.
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