I doubt we will be that limited in budget to be honest. If we sell a few we will be fine with ffp and our revenue usually allows us to spend between 100-150m. You’d imagine Ratcliffes injection of funds will be made to work too. 6 or 7 incomings needed, definitely 2 in midfield.
We need 2 new CMs. Who do we sign?
- Thread starter luke511
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Ok enlighten me, I really do see the striking department as our most critical, Liverpool on Sunday got over the line but look how blunt they are without Jota, Nunez and Salah they have 6 striking options for 3 places and Diaz was their most dangerous player and Gatkpo is probably 5th in their pecking order and Harvey Elliot 6th.
Look at the stats ;
Mo Salah. P28 GS 19 GA9 GI - 28
Diego Jota . P28 GS. 14 GA3 GI - 17
Darwin Nunez P37 GS. 13 GA11 GI - 24
Luis Diaz. P35 GS. 11.GA 3 GI - 14
Cody Gatkpo. P36 GS 11.GA 4. GI -15
Harvey Wilson P35.GS. 2. GA 2. GI - 5
That’s suggests a formidable unit of strikers sone experienced, some young but 3 will always start and 3 will always be on the bench providing they are fit, they’ve collectively, key word contributed 70 Goals in all competitions this season.
United 6 options; Rashford, Garnaucho, Antony, Hojlund, Martial, Pelistri/Amad /Sancho have contributed 28 goals all season, this is by far the clubs biggest priority, we need two immediately and a third in the winter to replace Rashford if he doesn’t improve?
You could be right, could be a media briefing because they want to operate differently this summer, we’ll see ?
Probably some dutch guy for 85m he probably played for Ajax or Utrecht at one point.
It’s probably easier to raise the floor of the squad talent wise.
You look at Eriksen and Amrabat and replace them 2 with younger more physical players.
No need to break the bank just give the manager more able bodies that are not going to break down every 2 games.
You look at Eriksen and Amrabat and replace them 2 with younger more physical players.
No need to break the bank just give the manager more able bodies that are not going to break down every 2 games.
I understand your point, but I think improving the spine to have a base to build off of is easier to accomplish compared to finding attackers that will boost our goalscoring while still having a shaky platform. Especially if we are to have a new manager in the summer implementing a new (at least somewhat) style, it’s easier to first make the team more controlling/tougher to score on as opposed to making us far better in front of goal considering we currently are poor at both overall. Allowing us to comfortably defend higher up the pitch/ win duels/ press in an efficient manner will probably lead to more control and scoring opportunities anyways.
In a vacuum yes no doubt I agree we need to score far more goals, I just personally would prioritize the foundation of the team first and foremost (I still think we need a versatile forward this summer, just wouldn’t be what I break the bank for out of everything)
Yeah, let’s see. Would be smart, and the complete opposite to Woodwards word-vomit.
Ok We could keep Casemiro and Bruno for one more season, Sell Mctominay, Eriksen, DVB, release Amrabat and get clever by signing Rabiot and Barkley both on free transfer deals then have the following options of ;
Rabiot, Casemiro, K Mainoo, R Barkley, Bruno, M Mount and then go get Oscar Zambrano whose 19/20 for £10m that’s 7 midfield players with a variety of styles, more physicality and height, more players who can keep the ball and it’s cost you - nothing and you’ve made £50m after selling Mctominay(30m) and Eriksen(10m), DVB(10m) and Hanibal(15m) ok Rabiot Wages will be £200k per week, Zambrano £25k and Barkley £75k that’s 300k per week and we are currently paying DVB(120k), C Eriksen(160k), S Mctominay(60k), Hanibal(25k) and Amrabat (80k), so you save £150k per week on the wages then go buy Michael Olise(55m) or P Neto(68m) and Benjamin Sesco (42m) to improve our attack.
If United had Garnaucho, Hojlund, Neto/Olise as first choice and Rashford, Sesco and Amad/Forson as back up we’ll be a goal threat again and Rashford might turn up and push Garnaucho to the bench which is where his development belongs right now.
If it came down to keeping Casemiro or Bruno I’d keep Casemiro. Casemiro was wrecked most of the season but even he came back we started winning games again. Bring me cover for Casemiro who will soon replace him.
Mount is Bruno’s replacement.
Mount is Bruno’s replacement.
I think Case needs to be replaced this summer if we are honest, unless we change shape back to a double pivot and relieve some of that pressure on him. I'm also a noted BrunoOut guy at this point and don't think he should be part of any future midfield. But I don't mind your plan and can understand your thought process, that would certainly upgrade our attack without a doubt and I really like Sesko as a developmental striker. Would also prefer Neto over Olise for injury concern reasons. If we went with your plan I'd say a lineup of something like
Onana
Dalot Todibo Martinez Shaw
Mainoo Rabiot Mount
Garnacho Hojlund Neto
That would be a very fun team to watch. Young, energetic, athletic, technical. We wouldn't be challenging for the league but there's a real future with that lineup and a very strong bench of young talent.
We gotta lower our wage structure and you guys wanna sign the boy whose mom would want to make him the highest earning player?
A hard no to RabiotBeyond its technical limitations our midfield is physically quite weak, unathletic, and slow.
- Casemiro, still imposing physically/aerially but appears to have diminished stamina, speed, and lost any agility
- Kobbie, agile feet but is slow (the metrics are supporting this). Too young to judge long term physical presence but decent potential despite his height based on aerial ability shown so far
- Bruno, high stamina but is not agile, physical, or aerially imposing at all
- Eriksen, slow, low stamina, not physical
- Mount, agile in possession and is fast but not physical or good aerially
My point here is that as we look for a #6 to play alongside Kobbie and in front of Martinez (aerially weak CB), that player must be a physical specimen and freak athlete on top of all the technical competencies. Their ability to cover ground will also be key to allow Kobbie to push further forward.
I think #6 needs to be our biggest expenditure this summer to ensure we have someone who checks all the boxes required - we need so much from this player.
- Casemiro, still imposing physically/aerially but appears to have diminished stamina, speed, and lost any agility
- Kobbie, agile feet but is slow (the metrics are supporting this). Too young to judge long term physical presence but decent potential despite his height based on aerial ability shown so far
- Bruno, high stamina but is not agile, physical, or aerially imposing at all
- Eriksen, slow, low stamina, not physical
- Mount, agile in possession and is fast but not physical or good aerially
My point here is that as we look for a #6 to play alongside Kobbie and in front of Martinez (aerially weak CB), that player must be a physical specimen and freak athlete on top of all the technical competencies. Their ability to cover ground will also be key to allow Kobbie to push further forward.
I think #6 needs to be our biggest expenditure this summer to ensure we have someone who checks all the boxes required - we need so much from this player.
We already have Mount for whatever you see Barkley doing, and I wouldn't be in for Barkley even if we didn't. We should not be signing 30 year-olds even on frees, unless the plan is for them to be 2nd or 3rd choice and don't mind sitting on the bench.
We gotta lower our wage structure and you guys wanna sign the boy whose mom would want to make him the highest earning player?
I want to sign him yes. Would I give him huge wages? No. It’s hypothetical anyways, if he’s a no then I’d probably want to move some of the budget towards Onana or another midfielder.
Ben Jacobs knows f all man, fraudster.
I was just saying because iirc his wage demabda were insane
It's a true old adage "games are won or lost in Midfield" and ours is almost non-existent...
We must surely part ways with Amrabat, Eriksen & Casemiro over the Summer, which would leave us with a pool of Bruno, Mount, Mainoo & McT...
So personally, I think we desperately need at least two top class MFs this Summer.
We need a lot of new player AND getting rid of the same dross that keep starting because our first team get injured. It’s crazy that we can play the same back four in Solskjaer’s first season in 2019, that shouldn’t be possible with how bad our defence has been.
Lindelof, Maguire, McTominay, AWB, Sancho, Antony all need to be sold. Arguably Varane and Shaw because of their injury record. This is before you consider just how bad Casemiro, Bruno and Rashford have been this season.
We need a reserve RB, two starting CBs and LB, two starting CM, starting RW and reserve striker. The rest of the squad should be filled out with youth players.
That level of change isn’t going to happen but that’s what we need.
Lindelof, Maguire, McTominay, AWB, Sancho, Antony all need to be sold. Arguably Varane and Shaw because of their injury record. This is before you consider just how bad Casemiro, Bruno and Rashford have been this season.
We need a reserve RB, two starting CBs and LB, two starting CM, starting RW and reserve striker. The rest of the squad should be filled out with youth players.
That level of change isn’t going to happen but that’s what we need.
This for me. Find a big holding midfielder talent and maybe a more senior one who's more stable than Amrabat.
It's a shame Palhinha is contracted til '28, as Fulham will probably demand too much. But someone like him for the senior role and then a big talent who first will come to his prime in 2-3 years and can slowly be eased in. I'd like someone physical in midfield to scare opponents like Joelinton and Guimaraes at Newcastle. They're idiots, but not if they play for your own club. We need someone with fire in their belly. Too many of our leaders (Martinez and to an extend Shaw) is too often out, so we need that type of player.
Also we might be stuck with Casemiro if no big arab club goes for him, so to get the best out of him, we need someone who can cover for him - he's still a great outlet attacking wise imo.
(Radical opinion)
Manager - Graham Potter
Xi-
Onana
Dalot - TODIBO - BRANTHWAITE - Martinez(c)
Mainoo - ONANA - THURAM
Garnacho - Hojlund - NETO
Consider offers for players over the age of 21 to change current climate, generate funds and to enable a reset of current wage structure.
Use suitable reserve & youth team graduates to develop 25 man first team squad.
Understand it as a 2/3 year project to establish a new playing philosophy & team culture then be ready to compete for titles.
Manager - Graham Potter
Xi-
Onana
Dalot - TODIBO - BRANTHWAITE - Martinez(c)
Mainoo - ONANA - THURAM
Garnacho - Hojlund - NETO
Consider offers for players over the age of 21 to change current climate, generate funds and to enable a reset of current wage structure.
Use suitable reserve & youth team graduates to develop 25 man first team squad.
Understand it as a 2/3 year project to establish a new playing philosophy & team culture then be ready to compete for titles.
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I feel threads like this are a waste of time not because we dont need better players but its more important to get a new coach. No player can out manoeuvre bad coaching.
He’s on a free, has a good injury record plays much deeper than Mount and he’s known for being one of the fittest players around, did you not witness they way controlled the midfield against us, Liverpool and Arsenal this year when he played at home, this is simply we sell Eriksen whose 2 years older but biologically probably 5 years for £10m whose earning 160k per week, upgrade to Barkley whose Free and on off the wages per week?
What’s wrong with Rabiot and Barkley and they cost us nothing ? Huge upgrade for free my point is I agree we need two/maybe 3 but we need to find better value, unless we are buying Barella for £60-70m, I have very little interest in expensive midfield players, Chelsea dropped nearly £300m on Lavia, Caciedo and Enzo and not one of them will get double stats in Gosls and assists, their passing range and ability was hugely overrated and had they spent half of that money on Kane or Osimhen, they would be in a top 4 race and already have one trophy at Stamford bridge this season!
hindsight is a beautiful thing and I’m not suggesting these would/should be first team regulars
but i do find it somewhat baffling though when these players are available and there appears to be a lack of foresight to build a squad with these types of players.
We signed Mount at 55. When Maddison was available for 40
opposite sides of pitch but we spaff 80 on Anthony when Mitoma is going for 2.6. Even Kudus at 38M (half the price) looks twice the player
trippier was gettable…from Burnley!!!…for 3.5M. And again from Tottenham for 20M and again from Atletico for 12M….all the while we’re spending 50 on AWB
Estupinan cost only slightly more than Malacia
we’ve spent silly money on loans (sabitzer and Amrabat) when Douglas Luiz and JWP would have been better options
Bowen 22M
Ollie Watkins 34M
Im sure there’s an awful lot more.
our ability (or lack of) to build a reasonable squad is actually frighteningly bad. Yet here we are…having spent more than everyone
this is what Ineos need to change.
but i do find it somewhat baffling though when these players are available and there appears to be a lack of foresight to build a squad with these types of players.
We signed Mount at 55. When Maddison was available for 40
opposite sides of pitch but we spaff 80 on Anthony when Mitoma is going for 2.6. Even Kudus at 38M (half the price) looks twice the player
trippier was gettable…from Burnley!!!…for 3.5M. And again from Tottenham for 20M and again from Atletico for 12M….all the while we’re spending 50 on AWB
Estupinan cost only slightly more than Malacia
we’ve spent silly money on loans (sabitzer and Amrabat) when Douglas Luiz and JWP would have been better options
Bowen 22M
Ollie Watkins 34M
Im sure there’s an awful lot more.
our ability (or lack of) to build a reasonable squad is actually frighteningly bad. Yet here we are…having spent more than everyone
this is what Ineos need to change.
Agree with that, but I'd add Bruno to the "get rid" list as well. If a decent offer came in for McT I wouldn't be against selling him either.
Leaving us with Mainoo and Mount. I think Gore will get some minutes next season, but I'd say we need at least 3 ideally 4 midfield signings if the people who should leave do actually leave.
Thuram and Merino make so much sense given contracts are out in 2025, good ages but different stages of career and Thuram being at Nice.
I have to think Neves would be a good compliment to any two of Thiuram, Merino and Mainoo, but I’m sure some more educated folks may have better suggestions to compliment them (and much cheaper too, I’m sure).
Keep Mount and ship out Eriksen, McT and Bruno and our midfield is rebuilt.
I have to think Neves would be a good compliment to any two of Thiuram, Merino and Mainoo, but I’m sure some more educated folks may have better suggestions to compliment them (and much cheaper too, I’m sure).
Keep Mount and ship out Eriksen, McT and Bruno and our midfield is rebuilt.
My answer is still no, Ross. Sorry. I'm sure you'll find another team.
Yeah Barella would be the CM that I would love INEOS to go all in for. I then feel that a Thuram/Onana should be the other signing. Wouldn't be against Rabiot/Barkley on a free provided that their wage demands aren't ridiculous due to no transfer fee.
I'm not against Rabiot as a player. I just don't want us to sign someone with a greedy mom/agent. For free or not. We're moving away from high wage players under the new owners. As for Barkley, I just think he's having a purple patch. For free, wouldn't be against him, but aren't there better options?
We need 8 or 9 players, we simply can’t spend more than £300m max, Swedish rumble just did FFP and said United could spend £290m with CL qualification before a players sold so say £200m because we won’t qualify for CL. We will need to sell 100m of players, with 12 or 13 needed to be moved on.
That in its own entirety will be miracle to sell and get sizeable transfer fees. We must buy a left back, we must buy two younger centre backs, we might need to buy a right back. We must buy another CFW and if as expected Antony, Greenwood and Pellistri go we need another right winger.
I think Sancho will return and ETH sacked simply because no one will pay his wages.
Lets say sensibly we sign ;
J Braithwaite(60m), J Todibo(45m),
M Kerkez(25m), B Sesco(42m), M Olise(55m) thats £225-230m leaving about £50-75m to get 2 or 3 midfield players, if United go after FDJ, Nicola Barella or A Onana they are all going to blow the remaining budget, we must look at the free transfer Market to get us into the first stage of club who makes CL effortless every season.
Ask yourself this question would Adrien Rabiot and Ross Barkley one 29 and one 30 gives us more legs, experience in a stuttering midfield than Christian Erikssen and Sofran Amrabat, would they contribute more goals and assists. Are they proven to be mobile enough to get round a football pitch and control a game better than Eriksen and Amrabat.
If the answer is yes, then financially is this going to cost me a huge outlay.
C Eriksen is on 170k per week, one year left on contract so we could sell him to Brentford for £10m. Amrabat is not fit for purpose so sending him back and saving his £80k per wages. Therefore we receive £10m which will add £200k per week back to the budget as Eriksen has 1 year left. Therefore the club pays Rabiot 200k per week for 2 years plus 1 and R Barkley 60k per week plus makes total sense, Barkley is currently being paid £30k per week by Luton?
Barkley rumour to be looking for £100k per week, he’s currently on 30k basic and expected £43k per week, United can easily do this deal and say we’ll give you £60k basic and the. Assist, performance and goal bonus. This is a no brainer I seriously hope we sell Eriksen whose legs have gone and bring in Ross Barkley, he will play even better with better players, he’s such an underrated player.
If he was younger, Pascal Gross.
Much as we definitely need to sign two CB's and those two are quality,would be concerned about not investing anything at all in CM. We are getting overwhelmed in midfield most of the season
K. Thuram's having a poor season compared to last year but remains a really exciting player. His ability to carry the ball up the pitch was phenomenal last year but injuries this year have restricted him a bit, plus he's struggling to fit into Farioli's system. Onana makes a lot of sense from a profile perspective but I'm just not completely sure about him and can't articulate why. For me, we need a Carrick type. Tallish, good passer, dictates play. Zubimendi seems the best fit from what I can tell but allegedly he doesn't want to leave Sociedad. I feel Mainoo, Zubimendi and Fernandes would make a decent CM three. I really like the look of Hugo Larsson at Frankfurt but it's probably a bit early for him. Man Utd Kone's interesting but I'm not sure how he's been doing this season.
I think we need two midfielders at a minimum.
1. Id like to see a Koné or Thuram type of player in our midfielder. Someone who is excellent at ball carrying, is physical and can contribute at both ends. I think this would compliment Mainoo well.
2. Secondly we need a deep playmaker, someone that is tidy and can help us build from the back and retain the ball to an excellent level. Currently Mainoo is the only midfielder we have with this skillset so it is paramount we find another that can offer this. Zubimendi or Andre would be good shouts, although I can’t see Zubimendi coming here if he becomes available.
Selling Casemiro for a decent fee, getting Eriksen off the books and not signing Amrabat (obviously) should allow this. Leaving us with:
Mainoo
Mount
Fernandes
McT
New CM1
New CM2
you better hope then that CM1 and CM2 are both top starter level quality players because mount cant stay healthy, mctominay isnt a midfielder, and bruno is just gonna be spraying random crap all over the field while losing possession constantly.
We have a good crop of youth players coming through, so I’m of the belief that we should trust these players to step in when needed. We also have players like Amad who can fill in at 10, if we sign someone like Zirkzee they fill in there too.
I think it is important to have a lean squad with multi functional players. Eg. Midfielders that can play as a 6 or 8. CBs that can play as a FB. Wingers that can play on either side.
This way you have a leaner squad of higher quality players, where everyone can get the game time they want across more than one role, whilst giving ourselves more tactical flexibility too. This is what Man City do extremely well.
who besides mainoo could even possibly be near ready for CM next year? Gore doesnt seem like he will be ready. Havent heard of anyone else.
Not expecting a youth player to be relied on regularly, ideally not at all. I don’t follow our youth team too religiously, so this is coming from what I have heard of others, but one example is Jack Fletcher (one of Fletchers sons) who has been training with the 1st team.
What are our other options? Apart from keeping Eriksen for another season until his contract expires, I don’t see many if we want to make a big stride in changing our midfield.