We need 2 new CMs. Who do we sign?

Not crazy at all mate, I’ve been advocating this move for the longest. He loves the club, homegrown and talented. As was mentioned does probably need a physical midfield partner somewhere next to him and Mainoo.
You are not alone. Saw him the last 15 or so against Villa the other night and he looks so comfortable in tight spaces. He reminds me of Kobbie. Not as strong but even quicker to turn and get himself out of pressure. His vision and passing is also quality. Would be nice to have more players that can keep their composure under pressure.
 
Call me crazy but Angel Gomes has one year left on his contract and could be the ideal replacement for Eriksen and backup for Mainoo/Bruno.

Not crazy at all and I’m in full agreement, I’ve been saying we should bring him back for a long time and how annoying it is that we often move youth players on for next to nothing then bring in supposed big name players who then do nothing.
 
And losing Fred, Sabitzer and Weghorst all ran for the team, you need these players who are mobile and get around the pitch, United currently don’t have any.

We really need to be looking at players like Alex Scott, Archie Gray as a young British mobile BTB player as well as potential good young deals like Jao Gomes or A onana from Everton, even C Gallagher nastiness could be useful, the club is so woefully short in this area of the teams?

Archie Gray is very young but exactly what we need as a long term Mainoo partner. If Leeds don’t go up he would be a very shrewd purchase, if they do we may need to wait a year. Either way he should be close to top of our list as a long-term target as a 6/8 player.
 
Our physical attributes are on the floor in midfield with every single current midfielder either slow or weak or both. We saw it in the opening game vs wolves and it’s been apparent throughout season. Onana, Thuram and Gomes would certainly change that

Obviously never happening but In a fantasy world I’d drop the No.10, play a dedicated dm and 2x 8s that can go both ways…and get rid of

Bruno. Weak. Far too wasteful.
Donny. Pointless
Eriksen. Slow and weak
Amrabat. Slow. Just not good enough
Casemiro. Slow and games pass him by
McT - arguably stay to be used as impact with a view to selling later

and bring in…

Onana as the dedicated Dm
Kheophren Thuram & Joao Gomes both as the 8s…but can play dm if need be
Barkley as a free transfer squad rotation option.

throw Mainoo and Mount into the mix and it’s a decent group of 6 midfielders with varying combinations available
 
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A young CDM/Cm like Onanna/ Joao Gomes for example. With Casimero probably leaving signing Guido Rodriquez on a free would be ideal. Then potentially a young midfielder as a Bruno Replacement would be a dream window. Chances of getting Neves are slim without champions league. Try and find the guy Benfica, Porto, Ajax, Brighton , Palace would sign. Instead of paying them £100 million in the next season. Confident Ashworth is going to be the man to do this. The last regime were clueless about transfers.
 
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Call me crazy but Angel Gomes has one year left on his contract and could be the ideal replacement for Eriksen and backup for Mainoo/Bruno.
He’s the type of player ETH would crave for… all the top teams that want to play good football need technical players and he fits that profile.
 
ETH is so poor at identifying players I don't know what we can realistically expect.

If he wants to press high up the pitch, why has he bought so many midfielders who are too slow? Eriksen, Casemiro, Amrabat, neither of whom can cover ground.

He also got rid of Fred, who despite his limitations, actually fits into his system better because he is quick and energetic. It's nonsensical that he got rid of him without finding a proper replacement.

His vision just doesn't match up with his actions in recuiting players, but here's hoping we sign players in midfield who can press higher up the pitch and track back. We lack so much energy and control when we are out of possession in games.
This is where the new structure will come into place… they’ll identify players that can play the way they want the club and managers to play. I knew ETH was abandoning is original plan the minute we signed Casemiro as an alternative to FDJ who are both completely different in playing styles. That shows he didn’t have a clue. Think we was just desperate for a DM since we was the only top club without one… and you could see when Casemiro first joined how much a DM improves the whole team. Unfortunately it’s gone down hill as he’s getting older and losing legs.
 
Call me crazy but Angel Gomes has one year left on his contract and could be the ideal replacement for Eriksen and backup for Mainoo/Bruno.
Isnt he a midget? Pep said if Rico Lewis was taller he would be one of the best players in the prem. Same goes for Angel and he's even shorter than Lewis. He's shorter than Bernado Sila. A midfield of Mainoo, Gomez and Bruno would be nuts. Just dont think Angel would ever be suited to the prem even though he's a good player.
 
This is where the new structure will come into place… they’ll identify players that can play the way they want the club and managers to play. I knew ETH was abandoning is original plan the minute we signed Casemiro as an alternative to FDJ who are both completely different in playing styles. That shows he didn’t have a clue. Think we was just desperate for a DM since we was the only top club without one… and you could see when Casemiro first joined how much a DM improves the whole team. Unfortunately it’s gone down hill as he’s getting older and losing legs.

FDJ was an embarrassing chase but Case could still be a useful player for us if ETH just tried to get the best out of him instead of sacrificing everything to his single pivot system. It is hard to imagine SAF playing Scholes without Carrick mopping up but here we are with Erik isolating players who don't have legs. Got to feel sorry for Case in this system.

It's hard to think of what his worst brain fade was. Probably Mount as a marquee signing and assuming that he could function in the same team as Bruno, when they are more or less the same player.

Hopefully this summer we'll see a more focussed approach after the madness of previous transfer windows.
 
Isnt he a midget? Pep said if Rico Lewis was taller he would be one of the best players in the prem. Same goes for Angel and he's even shorter than Lewis. He's shorter than Bernado Sila. A midfield of Mainoo, Gomez and Bruno would be nuts. Just dont think Angel would ever be suited to the prem even though he's a good player.
Hence I wrote as a Eriksen-replacement as well as backup to Mainoo and Bruno (with Mount being the more versatile player who can help out on the wings, too). Mainoo needs rest sometimes and what happens if he gets injured? We could need exactly a Angel Gomes type of player if that happens. We would need two different types of CM/DM alongside him of course.
 
And losing Fred, Sabitzer and Weghorst all ran for the team, you need these players who are mobile and get around the pitch, United currently don’t have any.

We really need to be looking at players like Alex Scott, Archie Gray as a young British mobile BTB player as well as potential good young deals like Jao Gomes or A onana from Everton, even C Gallagher nastiness could be useful, the club is so woefully short in this area of the teams?
Archie Gray hasn't been on my radar but he is exactly the type of midfielder we should sign! Also could just keep Casemiro for one more year if we don't get a good offer or sign Guido Rodrigez on a free, to have a more experienced alternative.
 
A young CDM/Cm like Onanna/ Joao Gomes for example. With Casimero probably leaving signing Guido Rodriquez on a free would be ideal. Then potentially a young midfielder as a Bruno Replacement would be a dream window. Chances of getting Neves are slim without champions league. Try and find the guy Benfica, Porto, Ajax, Brighton , Palace would sign. Instead of paying them £100 million in the next season. Confident Ashworth is going to be the man to do this. The last regime were clueless about transfers.
The most infuriating thing is that we had guys in the room who identified Caicedo and Enzo, for example but were never supported. Now that we are in INEOS group, a their flagship sports venture, I hope we utilize clubs like Nice and Loussane (sp) to mutual benefit for both clubs.

We could spend £50m on a bunch of youngsters, get them to spend a year or two in Brazil, take them to Switzerland for a season or two then to Nice to guage where they are so that by the third or fourth year we know if they are viable first team options. I am sure both teams would benefit immensely if we gave them free loans for players like Kambwala, Mejbri or Amad whilst our kids get consistent exposure to competitive football at a good level.

As for midfield I agree that Barkley would be a great signing for the back up 6/8 role, we also need a specialist 6 with good physical and technical attributes as a squad signing not necessarily a starter and then a starter who, like Rice, can play the 6/8 effectively and this why I am more and more in support of getting Neves in.

Why? Because of Mainoo, he is the type of player that will become a 6 after a few seasons with growth and experience but right now he is good as an 8. So we get a squaddie to play DM in tougher games but start games against non top 6 opponents with Neves and Mainoo/Barkley with Bruno/Mount in the 10 but go 4-3-3 in tougher games by dropping the 10 or moving him wide to accommodate the DM. Mainoo then transitions to DM as he matures physically and tactically.
 
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Onana Everton would add some presence to our midfield and compliment Mainoo well. Proven to be decent in prem too and still only 22.

jaoa neves is one too watch Also
 
The most infuriating thing is that we had guys in the room who identified Caicedo and Enzo, for example but were never supported. Now that we are in INEOS group, a their flagship sports venture, I hope we utilize clubs like Nice and Loussane (sp) to mutual benefit for both clubs.

We could spend £50m on a bunch of youngsters, get them to spend a year or two in Brazil, take them to Switzerland for a season or two then to Nice to guage where they are so that by the third or fourth year we know if they are viable first team options. I am sure both teams would benefit immensely if we gave them free loans for players like Kambwala, Mejbri or Amad whilst our kids get consistent exposure to competitive football at a good level.

As for midfield I agree that Barkley would be a great signing for the back up 6/8 role, we also need a specialist 6 with good physical and technical attributes as a squad signing not necessarily a starter and then a starter who, like Rice, can play the 6/8 effectively and this why I am more and more in support of getting Neves in.

Why? Because of Mainoo, he is the type of player that will become a 6 after a few seasons with growth and experience but right now he is good as an 8. So we get a squaddie to play DM in tougher games but start games against non top 6 opponents with Neves and Mainoo/Barkley with Bruno/Mount in the 10 but go 4-3-3 in tougher games by dropping the 10 or moving him wide to accommodate the DM. Mainoo then transitions to DM as he matures physically and tactically.


Remember Ole wanted Caicedo, Akanji, Bellingham and Grealish the two English players being obvious names but shows he was trying to build something. He was limited tactically but would of made a good DOF/Scout. Amad, Bruno, Cavani all being good buys. Shame he overpaid on Maguire and AWB. I don’t want Barkley even on a free. Think he is a suited at a mid table prem team where he can play with freedom.
 
We have Mainoo so do we go the technical route or surround him with physical beasts?

Tough call.

I think football is trending back to technical players myself.

Either way we do need 3 CMs with quality. Sick of getting outplayed by relegation fodder even at home.
 
Our physical attributes are on the floor in midfield with every single current midfielder either slow or weak or both. We saw it in the opening game vs wolves and it’s been apparent throughout season. Onana, Thuram and Gomes would certainly change that

Obviously never happening but In a fantasy world I’d drop the No.10, play a dedicated dm and 2x 8s that can go both ways…and get rid of

Bruno. Weak. Far too wasteful.
Donny. Pointless
Eriksen. Slow and weak
Amrabat. Slow. Just not good enough
Casemiro. Slow and games pass him by
McT - arguably stay to be used as impact with a view to selling later

and bring in…

Onana as the dedicated Dm
Kheophren Thuram & Joao Gomes both as the 8s…but can play dm if need be
Barkley as a free transfer squad rotation option.

throw Mainoo and Mount into the mix and it’s a decent group of 6 midfielders with varying combinations available

Pretty similar to my own plan if you also add in buying two monster CB's.

The first and easiest thing to fix in the current team is the athleticism and physical levels of the spine of our team. We can't run for shit with anyone and lose duels constantly in space both in midfield and at the back. Performances would instantly improve by rectifying those issues and it wouldn't even require some rocket science tactical plan from a new manager.
 
Angel Gomes uses his technical ability, patience, and brain to not let others tackle him. If you put him in a bad situation, he can find a way out because him being small + technical ability allows him to turn his marker away from him. He would be a good option to have to play next to Mainoo (doing away with a #10), or give Mainoo rest. He can play 3 roles in the midfield during a match, much like Mainoo. He can bring the ball up, distribute possession, dribble in open space, and find the killer pass in advanced areas.

This is assuming that you're also looking to bring in an athletic midfielder, and a defensive midfielder to complete the midfield rotation. So you'll still have a variety of ways to choose the ideal midfield 3 depending on the opponent.
 
Angel Gomes uses his technical ability, patience, and brain to not let others tackle him. If you put him in a bad situation, he can find a way out because him being small + technical ability allows him to turn his marker away from him. He would be a good option to have to play next to Mainoo (doing away with a #10), or give Mainoo rest. He can play 3 roles in the midfield during a match, much like Mainoo. He can bring the ball up, distribute possession, dribble in open space, and find the killer pass in advanced areas.

This is assuming that you're also looking to bring in an athletic midfielder, and a defensive midfielder to complete the midfield rotation. So you'll still have a variety of ways to choose the ideal midfield 3 depending on the opponent.
Would really be the ideal player to rotate and give Mainoo some rest or to use him alongside Mainoo to play a different system without Bruno. Also wouldnt cost too much and has strong United connection
 
Joao Neves and Exequiel Palacios added into our midfield would do wonders, they’re my two picks for the big money midfield signings, along with a free transfer or low value scout signing as the third. Both very impressive players statistically, with Palacios becoming our Rodri/Carrick behind a pairing out of the 3 of Neves, Mainoo or Bruno.

Neves Mainoo
Palacios

Bruno
Mainoo/Neves Palacios

Bruno
Mainoo Neves​
 
United desperately need an overhaul of their spine, Two CB, Three maybe Four Midfield players and a Centre forward.

I think you almost need to look at these areas of the team in separate items on the squad budgeting. This is very much how I think Dan Ashworth, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada will look at the obvious deficiencies in our squad.

For example if we sell the following in the midfield; DVB(5m/120k), Hannibal
(12m/30k) Casemiro(25m/350k)
C Eriksen(8m/170k) S Amrabat(R/80k).
Scott McTominay? (35m/60k)

I’m also assuming the club has £150m transfer budget, that’s why £120m of the credit card was paid off and the clubs accountants have probably assigned £50m to Defence, £50m to Midfield and £50m to Attack plus any additions we sell in transfer fees and save in wages.

This would mean the club would have £100m to spend on midfield area and wages of £750k per week or £35m per year
The club will look for younger players coming to the last 1/2 years of their contract and look to sign on 5 year amortised, or cheap value for money Free transfers but will still need signing on fees. The simple solution here is divide the £100m by 4 as an average contract term, that means United have £60m per year for the midfield in amortised transfer fees and player wages if they clear the decks.

Free Transfers;

Adrien Rabiot
- DM/CM, Age(29),
Height 6’2, Left Footed, Non HG
Wages £200k, 3+1 contract
Cost £10m Yearly
Ross Barkley - CM/8/10, Age(30),
Height 6’1, Two Footed, HG status,
Wages current £30k, Offer £75k,
2+1Contract Cost £3.9m Yearly
Pl Proven
Josh Brownhill -CM/8, Age (28)
Height 5’11, Right Footed, HG Status
Wages currently £40k, Offer £75k, 2+1 contract £3.9m yearly PL proven
Wilfred N’Didi - DM, Age (27)
Height 6’1 , Right Footed, non HG
Wages currently £75k , offer 4+1
contract £5.2m yearly , PL proven

Young Potential (18-21) ;

Archie Gray - CM/DM, Age 18
Height 6’2, Right Footed , HG
Wages currently £5k per week or £260k per year. Transfer Value £25-30m
Offer £30m and £25k per week on a 5+1 contract combined cost £7.3m per year

Alex Scott - CM/10, Age 20
Height 6’0, Right footed, HG,
Wages currently £25k per week or £1.3m annually, Transfer Value £40m, offer £35m on a 5+1 and 50k per week wages that’s contract combined cost £9.5m per year.

Oscar Zambrano - DM/CM, Age 18
Height 5’9, Right footed , could qualify for HG, wages 2k per week or £100k yearly,
Transfer £10m offer £7.5m on a 5+1 and 15k per week that’s combined £2.5m per year
Tomas Parmo - AM/10, Age 16 Height 5’8, Both footed, Could qualify for HG, Wages 2k per week or £100k per year. Transfer £6m offer £5m plus 15k per week wages, combined £1.8m per year.

Established PL Proven 22-25 Age

Jao Gomes
- DM/CM, Age 23, Height 5’10
Wages current £30k per week, Transfer Value £40m, HG No, Offer £35m 5+1 contract on £75k per week. Total cost of transfer £11m on yearly books.
Amado Onana - DM/CM, Age 22, Height 6’4 right footed athletic physically strong
Wages current £120k per week Transfer Fee £50-65m, HG no. Offer £150k per week on 5+1 and £55m transfer fee, Total cost £18.5m on yearly books.
Morgan Gibbs-White - CM/8/AM/10, Age 24, Height 5’7 - HG Status , both footed
Current deal £80k per week, Transfer value £50-60m, Offer £55m plus £125k per week on 5+1 contract which is £17m per year on books
Emile Smith-Rowe -
CM/AM/10 Age 23, height 6’1 - HG not being used by Arsenal, both footed strong, creative, HG status
Current weekly salary £40k, Transfer Value £20-30m, Offer 5+1 contract £25m and £75k per week total cost yearly £9m per year

Unproven European potential Signings

Joshua Kimmich - CM/RB/DM, Age 29
Height 5’9 existing salary £270k per week would want a 4+1 contract at £300k plus a transfer fee of £50-60m. Athletic, once world class on the decline, sound familiar
Total cost £27-30m per year or half your budget.

Matts Wiefer - DM/CM/8 Age 24, Height 6’3 Athletic, good on ball can get and assist goals PL unproven Non HG
Current salary £8k week or £400k per year
Transfer Value £25m so offer £40k per week on 5+1 plus £20m total cost yearly £6m on the books.

Dani Olmo - 8/10/AM Age 25 height 5’10 non HG , creative , energetic, however he’s on 160k per week already and his transfer fee would be £55m, so an offer of £55m plus £250k per to get him would cost £23/24m per year on the books.

Joao Neves - DM/CM Age 19, Height 5’10
Probably the best young player in World football for DM/CM role, Salary is currently 8k per week, Non HG, both footed, Transfer Value £85-100m, If the club offered £90m on a 5+1 contract at £80k per week the total cost would be £23m on our books.

This is the main reason United are so desperate to get Dan and Jason in asap because they acknowledge the work must be done starting in May. Let’s assume that their first choices under Murtough was Rabiot and Kimmich because we’ve chased them so many times before and Ashworth probably wants Bruno Guimeres but that’s off limits for obvious reasons.

It’s not unreasonable to think there is a complete 180 change in ideas from previous Leadership and they may think that we can do two free transfers relatively cheaply and then sign a young marquee player and then an obvious Physical midfield beast who is PL proven.

Let’s say we sign J Neves or D Almo as the marquee that’s £23m of the £60m yearly budget then we sign Wilfred N’didi and Ross Barkley on free transfers costing £9m together and then the club has enough left to buy A Onana, you have finally got a midfield squad of ; A Onana(DM/CM),
W N’Didi (DM/CM), K Mainoo(CM/8), R Barkley(CM/ 8/10), D Olmo(10/AM), Bruno (8,AM/10), M Mount(AM/8/10) - 3 HG


The Club could keep Scott or sell him and if we sell him go get Archie Gray or a young South American to develop.

Bruno is under pressure, Mount and Olmo can play as wide strikers too, we have legs, energy and physicality in midfield, N’Didi at 27 and on a free is a no brainer to improve our squad depth if we can’t get Onana, we go for J Gomes, if we can’t get D olmo we go get Morgan Gibbs white or E Smithe Rowe, Bruno is given notice that unless he playing out of his skin, another player will be the creative fulcrum of the team.

In summary, We need Dan Ashworth in the hot seat asap, if we don’t get any European football we will only sign 1/2 midfielders and a lot of the deadwood will stay if we do get Europa League which is the best we can hope for right now we will probably sign 3 and maybe 4 midfield players depending on what’s available.

The reality is the current midfield options are unbalanced, only really Amrabat and Casemiro are Defensively minded and both of them on current form would struggle to get in Burnley, Sheffield United or Luton midfield, the offensively minded players are either injury prone, careless with the ball or their legs have gone too, with the one exception Kobbie Maino!
We should never have sold Fred without a like for like replacement, that’s one of many mistakes which has cost ETH his job?
 
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Why was the Frimpong thread closed?

Evidently not so under the radar anymore but he was linked to us last summer and has only gone on and had a stormer of a campaign with Bayer
 
Why was the Frimpong thread closed?

Evidently not so under the radar anymore but he was linked to us last summer and has only gone on and had a stormer of a campaign with Bayer
Chances he leaves Leverkusen next summer are low despite his release clause. Bayer seems to wanna keep him and he doesn't seem that desprate to leave them. Especially for us.
 
Just 2 midfielders are needed.
Can assume Mainoo, Bruno and Mount are there. Saw Dewsbury Hall links, and he'd be a good addition to the squad as a press resistant and dynamic deep midfielder who can rotate with Mainoo, and then just need the physical ball winning DM who can cover good ground to partner Mainoo or Dewsbury Hall. Onana is probably the likeliest guy, given he also has good aerial prowess as well which is needed here.
 
Presumably Casemiro would be out and possibly McTominay too. No issues there. However they are two of our best headers of the ball. We need to factor that into the skill set of incoming players too
 
Just 2 midfielders are needed.
Can assume Mainoo, Bruno and Mount are there. Saw Dewsbury Hall links, and he'd be a good addition to the squad as a press resistant and dynamic deep midfielder who can rotate with Mainoo, and then just need the physical ball winning DM who can cover good ground to partner Mainoo or Dewsbury Hall. Onana is probably the likeliest guy, given he also has good aerial prowess as well which is needed here.
Why should we go for Dewsbury Hall who'd cost 30m if we can better CMs for less? or spend the money wiser if we add 5-10m on it?
 
There are few number 8s you will get for less of his quality.
The question is whether he is real quality or his amount of goals and assists come from a combination of purple patch and low league level. Would he be able to pull that off at a bigger league and club? I am sceptical but I've heard worse names.
 
The question is whether he is real quality or his amount of goals and assists come from a combination of purple patch and low league level. Would he be able to pull that off at a bigger league and club? I am sceptical but I've heard worse names.
You aren't getting him or other deep midfielders for their goals or assists, it's for their ability on and off the ball, press resistance in deep areas, build up, etc. I don't care about goals and assists that much from deep mids. I care about controlling the game.
 
Why should we go for Dewsbury Hall who'd cost 30m if we can better CMs for less? or spend the money wiser if we add 5-10m on it?
We need a squad player for Mainoo at low cost, he makes sense. We need to spend more money on the starting DM.
 
You aren't getting him or other deep midfielders for their goals or assists, it's for their ability on and off the ball, press resistance in deep areas, build up, etc. I don't care about goals and assists that much from deep mids. I care about controlling the game.
I understand. I'm just asking because 30m is p much money and whether he'd be worth that. You could probably find similar players from Germany or France for way less with good scouting. Or would he be able to challenge Mainoo for the starting position? Then I'd spend that 30m.
 
A brilliant player who can immediately make an impact, a young player who has potential but not too costly and a cheap backup midfielder

Sell Casemiro, Release Eriksen and Amrabat.
 
The question is whether he is real quality or his amount of goals and assists come from a combination of purple patch and low league level. Would he be able to pull that off at a bigger league and club? I am sceptical but I've heard worse names.
Well Its not like he didn't perform in the EPL for Leiceister. Infact I'd say he was second behind Maddison in performance the year they went down. Its fair to be sceptical. But honestly his the type of imvestment as good as what Newcastle get from Gordon and Barnes. Especially how he became the heart beat of Maresca's system of play.
 
Just 2 midfielders are needed.
Can assume Mainoo, Bruno and Mount are there. Saw Dewsbury Hall links, and he'd be a good addition to the squad as a press resistant and dynamic deep midfielder who can rotate with Mainoo, and then just need the physical ball winning DM who can cover good ground to partner Mainoo or Dewsbury Hall. Onana is probably the likeliest guy, given he also has good aerial prowess as well which is needed here.
Money allowing finish a summer with midfield like Onana, Thuram (6) , Mainoo, Dewsbury-Hall (8), Bruno, Mount( 10) would be excellent business in my view.
 
Well Its not like he didn't perform in the EPL for Leiceister. Infact I'd say he was second behind Maddison in performance the year they went down. Its fair to be sceptical. But honestly his the type of imvestment as good as what Newcastle get from Gordon and Barnes. Especially how he became the heart beat of Maresca's system of play.
Fair point. As I said, I like the links to him more than some other names, especially to British players (like Toney or Branthwaite). One thing that I like is that he is left-footed.

Money allowing finish a summer with midfield like Onana, Thuram (6) , Mainoo, Dewsbury-Hall (8), Bruno, Mount( 10) would be excellent business in my view.

Not a fan of Onana though. I'd personally go for Guido Rodriguez on a free (to have one experienced DM) and try to get Archie Gray