I wonder if Gill & Fergie are tempted to make a couple of choice phone calls...
United in this Summer transfer window
- Thread starter LawCharltonBest
- Start date
I know he's made a mockery of the club from the moment he became CEO.
"Manchester United is a team of George Clooneys"
"I'm flying back to Manchester to complete transfer business"
Complete and utter imbecile who is out of his depth. Unless you're someone who believes signing the Official Noodle Partner of Manchester United in Eastern Asia TM is something to be proud of, Woodward has done absolute feck all to talk about.
His idiocy has done nothing but make us look incompetent at an incredibly important time for this club.
It was someone else who made the Clooney comment.
I know he's made a mockery of the club from the moment he became CEO.
"Manchester United is a team of George Clooneys"
"I'm flying back to Manchester to complete transfer business"
Complete and utter imbecile who is out of his depth. Unless you're someone who believes signing the Official Noodle Partner of Manchester United in Eastern Asia TM is something to be proud of, Woodward has done absolute feck all to talk about.
His idiocy has done nothing but make us look incompetent at an incredibly important time for this club.
Yikes.. Time to step away from the keyboard.
Weird comparison as they are 2 very different players who'd have different roles for us. Fellaini would provide a solid middle core alongside Carrick to allow the front 4 to focus on the attack. Overkill for most of our league games but that's besides the point. Fellaini would finally provide us adequate cover for Carrick though and that's something our squad desperately needs as we're fecked if he gets injured. Specially in Europe, a middle 2 of Carrick and Fellaini would give us much needed steel.
Cleverley on the other hand, I dont need to explain as am sure you can see how different he is to Fellaini.
Exactly. Just because we cant get both Fabregas and Schweinsteiger to partner Carrick thus making our midfield one of the best in the world instantly doesnt mean it shouldnt be improved at all. We've waited far too long for the perfect midfielder. If Fellaini's the best we can get this summer, we should get him and target the big ones again next year. But we have to strengthen our CM options. Backup for Carrick is a must. As I've said in the Gustavo thread, he's someone who I'd want us to be interested in.
I'd imagine Fellaini would improve the squad considerably, although as has been stated, the £23m fee would be about 7m too much.
He's not nearly good enough to be cover for Carrick and what are we going to do with Cleverley in the 90% of games where don't need two CM's who sit deep? It's only worth minimizing Cleverley for a real class player, otherwise we might as well just start most games with Carrick and Clev/Ando and when we need an extra clogger in there every once in a while we can use Jones.
Fellaini isnt good enough to be cover for Carrick? Wow.
With the number of games we play, no one will be minimized if we add Fellaini to what we have. We arent just short on quality, but numbers too. Fellaini's much more than a clogger too, a lot of you will be surprised if he does actually come here. Not a top class CM by any means but he's criminally underrated here by quite a few.
In a God-forbid scenario where Carrick gets long-term injured or just goes completely off the boil Jones isn't nearly good enough as a replacement at the moment. You may not rate Fellaini very highly but he is a defensive midfielder by trade, used to the role and competent enough to have played it for an upper table PL team. He isn't a "clogger". That's far too harsh.
Fellaini would presumably have no illusions about being brought in as an instant starter and star player: He would provide competition for Cleverley and Ando. If they step up and leave him behind in the dust, fine - no, excellent, and he'd get games as cover/rest for Carrick regardless.
I'm not saying Fellini is the only player in the world who could fill such a role, so if Moyes can find someone else, better and/or cheaper, that's fine by me. But Fellaini would improve our options and he looks like a getable target. How much he'd improve our starting XI as a partner for Carrick may be discussed, but I wouldn't say Cleverley is at a level presently where he would be a dead-on starter if we brought in the likes of Fellaini.
By cover I'm talking about if Carrick is out for 6 months, not filling in on a Saturday against West Ham before a CL Tuesday.
If we spunk £23M on him how are Clev and Anderson not going to be minimized? Carrick and Fellaini would start the bulk of games and he's simply not worth the fee or the hindrance to Cleverley. If we can't get real class then we should just use Carrick, Clev, Ando, Jones and Fletcher when he returns in January, there's always next summer instead of lumbering ourselves with an expensive and average CM just to have another body, if that's all we are after then McCarthy would be a hell of a lot cheaper and is about the same level..
If Fellaini were to come in at the fee of £23M he'll be expecting to start, we don't buy subs at that price. He'll go straight in and Clev will be left picking up minutes here and there and hoping Fellaini fecks up so he can get in.
If all we are looking for is a mid level CM who can cover Carrick and add an extra body to the options then McCarthy is far less expensive, is younger, has a higher ceiling and would be satisfied with squad rotation.
Well, you cant plan for a player to be out for 6 months. We cant have 2 top players for every position just because one might get injured long term.
Ando's injured half the season, in any case, he hasnt done enough to warrant not signing a player because of him. Fletch's time as a player for United is over, as much as I hate it. He's been out for too long. Jones is a CB and I hate to see him play in CM. Isnt good enough.
That leaves us with Carrick, Clev and a perenially injured Ando. With the number of games we play, that's too few. We need another player in there. If we get Fellaini, him and Clev can rotate with Carrick according to the opposition. It'l also allow us to rest Carrick, something we simply cannot do atm.
I havent seen enough of Mccarthy to comment on him but i dont know how someone can argue that we have enough numbers in CM tbh. We cant just wait another year as you're suggesting as there's no guarantee that we'l get the top player we want. If we could get 2 players to sign pre contracts, great, I'd wait. But it doesnt work that way as we've seen this summer.
Fine, let's buy McCarthy then - I don't mind that at all. We will probably have to pay a decent amount for him too, though - that's the business these days, not least when you're buying domestically.
If Moyes has learned anything from Fergie, he'll rotate a fair bit. I wouldn't worry about Cleverley - he'll get his chances, and if he has what it takes, he'll grab these chances and establish himself as a first choice midfielder. That would be grand - but it isn't a certainty from where I'm sitting.
That sentence is an oxymoron.
That means a player worth 16m would better our midfield? midfield needs work but it isn't that bad!
Fellaini is easily worth 23m. Although I hate to draw comparisons to other players and their transfer fees as it's unfair, didn't ando cost us just shy of 20m? Didn't Milner go for 27m?
I know, I know, different scenarios etc. But 23m for a proven Premier league midfielder who can pay as dm, cm or am and had two extremely good seasons is not over paying. I'm genuinely surprised other teams have not been in for him at that price, particularly spurs Chelsea and arsenal
I'm saying we have enough numbers if we are looking at Carrick, Clev, Ando, Jones, Giggs and we can't add true quality to ease that burden. To me spending £23M on such an average player whose best football has came playing up front is just a complete waste, it's desperation buying.
So we don't buy this summer but keep money and space for next summer, we might not win the league but we'll still get top 4, long term I think that is the way to look at it because with Fellaini we aren't talking about a cheap stop gap buy, we are talking about an investment of substantial money on a player who simply isn't worth it and wont solve our issues.
We wont get him cheap of course but I doubt he'd cost more than £12M, Wigan are now in the championship so that should make it easier to acquire him.
I'm not worried about Cleverley, if we could get true quality I'd be fine with him fighting for a place because that is the nature of being at this club, however having to scrap for a place with a player no better than you who will only get the starts ahead of you due to the money he costs just seems pointless to me.
Some people her are massively underrating Fellaini.
A couple of months ago I was against his signing but he has grown on me. I don't think is signing him would represent a major victory in the transfer window or a "successful" summer - at this point he feels very much like a last resort option. However he would actually be a very good fit for us.
Very few potential signings would offer us the versatility that Fellaini does, he could partner Carrick OR cover for him, something that very few other midfielders would offer. He can play defensively but as we saw last season he can also push up and is a major aerial threat and capable of scoring goals, something we have lacked from midfield. He could even fill in as an emergency #10 if required (for example as cover for Kagawa/RVP if Rooney leaves).
Finally he would add some physicality and steel to our midfield which again is something currently lacking.
With Fellaini we would have some very good potential midfield setups. He and Carrick would for a strong defensive partnership for the CL. If we really wanted all-out-attack however, a Fellaini/Cleverley combination would be very strong at supporting the front four, as Cleverley is essentially box to box and we have seen that Fellaini can push forward as well.
Again his signing feels very much like a last resort having failed on all our primary targets and that does not reflect well on Moyes etc, I think if he had just signed Fellaini on day 1 and then gone on search of more, it would LOOK better for the club, whereas now we have had very public failures with Thiago and Fabregas, if we then sign Fellaini it looks a bit silly.
The other thing though, is Fellaini won't cost as much as those mentioned above, both in the fee and in wages. We should still be able to make further dealings in the market in addition to Fellaini rather than him being our sole acquisition - especially if Rooney leaves and we signed Fellaini, you would think we would then be in a strong position to really try to splash out on an attacker like a Bale of Ronaldo
A couple of months ago I was against his signing but he has grown on me. I don't think is signing him would represent a major victory in the transfer window or a "successful" summer - at this point he feels very much like a last resort option. However he would actually be a very good fit for us.
Very few potential signings would offer us the versatility that Fellaini does, he could partner Carrick OR cover for him, something that very few other midfielders would offer. He can play defensively but as we saw last season he can also push up and is a major aerial threat and capable of scoring goals, something we have lacked from midfield. He could even fill in as an emergency #10 if required (for example as cover for Kagawa/RVP if Rooney leaves).
Finally he would add some physicality and steel to our midfield which again is something currently lacking.
With Fellaini we would have some very good potential midfield setups. He and Carrick would for a strong defensive partnership for the CL. If we really wanted all-out-attack however, a Fellaini/Cleverley combination would be very strong at supporting the front four, as Cleverley is essentially box to box and we have seen that Fellaini can push forward as well.
Again his signing feels very much like a last resort having failed on all our primary targets and that does not reflect well on Moyes etc, I think if he had just signed Fellaini on day 1 and then gone on search of more, it would LOOK better for the club, whereas now we have had very public failures with Thiago and Fabregas, if we then sign Fellaini it looks a bit silly.
The other thing though, is Fellaini won't cost as much as those mentioned above, both in the fee and in wages. We should still be able to make further dealings in the market in addition to Fellaini rather than him being our sole acquisition - especially if Rooney leaves and we signed Fellaini, you would think we would then be in a strong position to really try to splash out on an attacker like a Bale of Ronaldo
Jones and Giggs arent options in CM. One is a fantastic prospect at CB, the other past it. Unless we reach a desperate situation, neither should play in CM. That leaves us with 3 players for 2 positions, 2 of which cannot even play the holding role. 1 of them is a perma crock too. How is that enough options?
Fellaini isnt a desperation purchase but our CM situation is close to desperation anyways.
Lastly, our target must always be the league title and we must have the resources needed for it. We cannot think that the squad we have is good enough for top 4 so let it be. Moreover, you're underrating Fellaini. Not top drawer but he'l solve quite a few of our problems. Cover for Carrick and a porous CM being 2 of them.
He wouldn't go for 23m if the likes of Spurs or Arsenal were interested. We'd be getting the inflated big club fee at that price.
Jones may not be a world beater or a week in and week out option at CM but he has proven he can do a job when called on, as for Giggs, I am thinking we kept him on as player because he is expected to play and therefore fill in at CM for us from time to time.
I don't think I am underestimating Fellaini, I've seen him play plenty of times, he is very average and wont make us any more likely to win the League and certainly wont help us progress any further in the CL. He's a barrel scraping buy just to have the numbers in my view, like I said if bodies are all we are after then McCarthy is a better option.
Indeed which is why If we got him for that I'd consider it a 'good' deal. This is where I think we are lucky that Chelsea and is owner are obsessed with the barca philosophy of small agile spanish/brazillian guys to go for someone with grit. Part of me thinks same for spurs, but then again they went for dembele who isn't as skilful as fellaini imo.
In this league you need that grit. Mancini knew that with toure, look at the effect he had, scared the shit out of me whenever he was on the ball, he was happy to absorb the high continental pressing style and give his teammates time to help.
Arsenal seem to be obsessed with suarez at mo, they have certainly been interested.
Don't get me wrong, I'd be disappointed if we only get him for midfield. I was hoping for a fab/modric and fellaini. But he's still a great buy if we get him.
Wigan are quoting suitors that the starting price is 20m and that they won't be taking any less than that. This of course is a starting point for negotiations, but to think that simply because he's in the championship that he can be easily picked up is a fallacy.
Sorry, I'm quoting that. I'm certain you will be regretting that in year or so ;-)
We know that Luiz Gustavo is surplus to Pep's requirements, so perhaps we can go for him instead of the reported Fellaini interest. Bild reports he prefers "EPL" over Wolfsburg and Inter. He's just a damn good player and perfect for partnering Carrick - not as back-up. Solid two in CM, proven in Champions League, and then Moyes can do whatever he wants up front given the talent we have there.
I don't think buying Fellaini is barrel-scraping but why not try for better alternatives?
I don't think buying Fellaini is barrel-scraping but why not try for better alternatives?
'Fraid you're right there - yes. Plus, when have we ever gotten away cheaply when dealing with English sides (Smalling wasn't too bad, maybe) - they'll be looking to fleece us, and I guess we can't blame them either.
Is Felliani the poor man's Yaya Toure?
They used him as a sheer DM, mainly - ain't that so? That's where he played when I saw him last season, anyway. Regardless - that means he'll be able to do what Fellaini can: Partner Carrick in a solid two behind the attackers OR cover for Carrick.
Sign him up, Moysey.
Pro Fellaini, I'd add - as Varun suggested too - that he comes with an added bonus of sorts: In the right sort of match we could use his attacking skills with good effect. The man is capable of scoring, both inside and outside the box, and his aerial potential is something we could definitely use in those "injury-time free kick/corner for the winner" situations.
Sign 'em both up, Moysey - and forget about Leighton, unless we can really get that unlikely sounding bargain package the Guardian mentioned.
That's half-empty thinking, man! I prefer to look at him as the rich man's Osman - with far better hair.
Chesterlestreet: I'd be disappointed if we do no show interest in Gustavo. Sure, we have gone for two superb midfielders from Barca, neither of which happened. But Gustavo is a fine player, ticks what we need, has Champions League experience, plays for Brazil, and a fee is unlikely to be extortionate.
feck, am I missing something???
Heh, not unless he simply isn't keen on coming to Manchester. But we should be interested, I agree - get on the blower to Karl-Heinz, sound it out.
Is it me or is it a bit strange there doesnt seem to be any more 'Great' midfielders for us to buy that would help us significantly in ECL and possibly available??
There was Fab...possibly Modric but cant see that happening this year. Thats it??
There was Fab...possibly Modric but cant see that happening this year. Thats it??
Gündogan and Vidal are in that class, I guess - but neither seem possible targets. Other than that I can't think of anyone who could be classified as an immediately great signing.
Oh, and I'd add De Rossi myself - I think he would improve us significantly, even though he's obviously older than the others mentioned. But, again, doesn't seem possible.
Shame.
And it just shows how difficult it is for Moyes/Woodward.
I'm confused as to why we weren't happy to put the same amount of money for Modric as Madrid were. Perhaps Spurs wouldn't sell to us.
The irony is that this year would/should be our best chance to buy a top class midfielder. For the first time in god knows how long the likes of Barca, Madrid and Bayern are so full with Midfielders that we wouldnt have their competition.
I dont think Jones has proven anything at CM. It has a lot to do with how he was used there too as we used him in a much more advanced role than he ideally should have been. Do you think he has the positional sense or the nous to play the holding role for us if Carrick got injured? Let that be, would you even be comfortable with a Jones-Clev CM pairing if we want to rest Carrick? I certainly wouldnt be and judging by the number of games Carrick played for us last season, the management seems to share the view.
Fellaini would add much needed steel in our CM, he'd make us defensively stronger and would add an extra dimension to our set pieces. He's also good at harrying the opposition and winning the ball back, tackling etc. We could do with that at CM.
If memory serves Levy wasn't keen on selling him to either us or Chelsea - and the price was probably too high as well. We were in for him, though.
Yes, it does seem like an ideal time to snatch up a quality midfielder, but we're new to this whole "buy an established, bloody good midfielder" lark: It wasn't really Fergie's game! We'll see, though. I have every hope Moyes will get in someone who will improve our options. And next summer...well, the likes of Gündogan might prove easier to land. If he is for sale, we should be in with a chance - there aren't that many places he could realistically go.
Hi, I'm Real Madrid, I'll buy everything.
He, yeah - there's them. Chelsea might be keen too, I suppose. And, who knows - City? Well, well - we can always go for that pizza boy again. And Thiago could be sick of Bratwurst and bench warming. The possibilities are endless.
Don't forget that Bayern now has Pep in charge... therefore they'll need 10 midfielders on the pitch. Equally theres a lot of talk that Gundogan will go to Barca as Thiago's replacement.
for 20mil that's been branded about? No chance. Whoever gets him will have to cough up 40mil or so and I dont see barca doing so.
I think we should sign him up. Obviously we still need a player in the mould of Fabregas, but adding Fellaini to our squad is a good thing to do we do sign a fabregas style player.
He's decent defensively, but could do with some better discipline. He won't play the most exciting football, but he plays a pressing game too, and at least our midfield won't be overrun.
Sign him up, and still look for a creative CM, who ever it may be.
He's decent defensively, but could do with some better discipline. He won't play the most exciting football, but he plays a pressing game too, and at least our midfield won't be overrun.
Sign him up, and still look for a creative CM, who ever it may be.
Good point. We should call Pep and propose a straight switch: Rooney for Gustavo. Rooney is a midfielder of sorts. Pep could use him as a centre half, surely? Fairly good on the ball, after all.