He's living upto expectations but it doesn't seem like he will leave Milan, which is a club he grew up supporting.
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
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Wouldn't mind fabian ruiz from napoli for our dm position, I don't know how he has gone under the radar with big clubs interested in him.
Shaw could really take to Erik, however certainly need to upgrade in the other positions
How much truth is there in this free agent story ran today, got my doubts until Whitwell & Ducker start saying it
How do people rate Cucurella? Looked really good against us. Seemed to have a far better engine and tenacity than Shaw.
Not sure to be honest don’t watch him much but can’t go of anyone looking good against us as we make everyone look good to be fair.
Have we had any remotely positive links to a defensive midfielder yet? I'm seeing defenders and strikers a plenty, but not the position we're in desperate desperate need for.
We aint going to get everyone we need in. This will be a 2 summer rebuild i think. Players will be identified on their quality and how cheap/:free transfers they are. I think we will probanly sign 4 at a cost and a couple of free transfers this summer, and again next summer. Thats where your 10 or 12 new players will come from. For all this revolution, I will be very surprised if we pay big money for more than 2.
This isn't Football Manager.
He could be a squad option but always misses half of the season.
He is also not very good.
Well, if we pay big money for more than two we have probably spent out budget. I am not even sure we spend big on one and with most of the big spends such as Nunez etc I hope that isnt the case anyway
I have on previous summers been slated for saying 9-10 should leave and we need to sign 6 with the FM line.Ironically this summer, it really should be football manager. Obviously not to the extent in m yopnion the poster you have responded to has done.....why even sell 22 players to sign 4?
However, I cant see how anybody would be dissapointed if 10 players leave this summer. We already know of six and there are at least another four dont seem happy, let alone a few should be sold.
And personally, anything less than five signing I am really not happy personally. You could sign almost any four players in the world and we are still woefully short in certain areas again.Lets face it, go back 12 months, Sancho, Varane, ROnaldo...short term couldnt ask for too much better than that....yet a diabolical midfield that wasnt improved was always going to be an achilles heel this summer, talk of challenging was always mad, nobody I think could have seen us beign so poor but still. Failure to sign a cb, rb, 2xcm and attacking player and we are in trouble
Why don't we look at Fabian Ruiz?
Seems to be available, isn't on mega money currently. Reliable user of the ball, very consistent in the build up. Not the best defensively but I think he should be an option if De Jong can't be signed yet you never really see anyone linked to him. I find that baffling, seems like one of those players that'll be very obvious once someone signs him.
Seems to be available, isn't on mega money currently. Reliable user of the ball, very consistent in the build up. Not the best defensively but I think he should be an option if De Jong can't be signed yet you never really see anyone linked to him. I find that baffling, seems like one of those players that'll be very obvious once someone signs him.
I’d rather have Ruiz and Laimer for FDJ fee.
Both have their contracts ending in 2023. Ruiz as your metronome, Laimer as your ball winner. Get Kamara on the free as safety net.
VDB as your link up play.
Get Eriksen on the free as he can play as AM or a creative RW like he has done at Spurs.
I’d sell Bruno (too bad he just signed a new contract) and McTominay.
Bruno cant unlock low blocks, cant carry the ball, cant beat a player 1-vs-1, can’t link up plays and has a low football IQ. Opponents have figured him out; press him and he has no time to ping the ball and hope. Make slight contacts on him, he falls, cries like a baby and his emotions blind him for the rest of his game.
McTominay just doesn’t possess technical abilities or any football IQ.
4 new players to build your spine, that would cost about 65-70 mil. Sales of Bruno, Pereira and McTominay might be enough to offset it.
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Not even to try to sign Boubacar Kamara for "free" would make no sense.
Mukiele if we are looking for a new RB, he has 1 year left on his contract and Leipzig wants around 10m for him. I would prefer Spence though.
If De Jong is for sale we sould offer Barcelona Telles + 50m.
Darwin is another player we should go all in for, i have been watching him and Haaland last months and if it was up to me i would rather sign Darwin to be honest. He will probably be expensive, probably 60m, but if we want to get back to fighting for the PL/CL we need to invest heavy next 2-3 years and give Ten Hag both money and time to build a new team when we have around this many players leaving or arent just not good enough.
I want to believe that we have a budget around 150m + players we sell (we wont get much but we will save a lot on wagers from Pogba, Lingaard, Matic, Mata).
Add Aurélien Tchouaméni and a CB (Timber, De Ligt, Torres) to this and the team would look amazing, at least on paper. People talking about "Football manager" every year around Silly Season, but this summer it looks like we will get a FM summer if we believe Ralf that we need 8-10 new players and it has started pretty good with us cleaning out "the Woodwards".
If Greenwood situation is not solved and he is not coming back, we should be looking for a RW (again...) and Antony is the obvious choise for me.
This is my FM/silly season/Ten Hag/United team:
DDG
Spence - De Ligt - Varane - Shaw
Kamara - Tchouaméni - De Jong
Anthony - Darwin - Sancho
Spence 15m
De Ligt 40m
Kamara 0m
Tchouaméni 60m
De Jong 50m
Antony 35m
Darwin 60m
= 270m
Sell Andreas (10m), Jones (5m), Maguire (25m), Bruno (40m), McTominey (15m), Henderson (15m), Telles (10m), Dalot (15m) = 135m and invest another 135m and we have a team that is filled with quality and youth.
This is not what i think will happen, only what i wish and believe we need to do.
Mukiele if we are looking for a new RB, he has 1 year left on his contract and Leipzig wants around 10m for him. I would prefer Spence though.
If De Jong is for sale we sould offer Barcelona Telles + 50m.
Darwin is another player we should go all in for, i have been watching him and Haaland last months and if it was up to me i would rather sign Darwin to be honest. He will probably be expensive, probably 60m, but if we want to get back to fighting for the PL/CL we need to invest heavy next 2-3 years and give Ten Hag both money and time to build a new team when we have around this many players leaving or arent just not good enough.
I want to believe that we have a budget around 150m + players we sell (we wont get much but we will save a lot on wagers from Pogba, Lingaard, Matic, Mata).
Add Aurélien Tchouaméni and a CB (Timber, De Ligt, Torres) to this and the team would look amazing, at least on paper. People talking about "Football manager" every year around Silly Season, but this summer it looks like we will get a FM summer if we believe Ralf that we need 8-10 new players and it has started pretty good with us cleaning out "the Woodwards".
If Greenwood situation is not solved and he is not coming back, we should be looking for a RW (again...) and Antony is the obvious choise for me.
This is my FM/silly season/Ten Hag/United team:
DDG
Spence - De Ligt - Varane - Shaw
Kamara - Tchouaméni - De Jong
Anthony - Darwin - Sancho
Spence 15m
De Ligt 40m
Kamara 0m
Tchouaméni 60m
De Jong 50m
Antony 35m
Darwin 60m
= 270m
Sell Andreas (10m), Jones (5m), Maguire (25m), Bruno (40m), McTominey (15m), Henderson (15m), Telles (10m), Dalot (15m) = 135m and invest another 135m and we have a team that is filled with quality and youth.
This is not what i think will happen, only what i wish and believe we need to do.
OK so watched some highlights of Ruiz. Seems to have a great left foot curl on his, majority of his goals look identical, bending it top bins from the right side of the box. That's good.
Dribbling looks like he will get eaten alive in the premier League and lose the ball - A LOT. Gets half tackled and luckily keeps the ball, now the video was only highlights buy you'd expect good stuff to be in there. Lot of the dribbles go nowhere and when faced up by a defender, is very lucky to keep the ball. The pace of the games in Italy is much slower so in the UK I imagine he'll take a year to get used to the pace and speed of the league.
Laimer looks OK, physical, stamina, presses a lot but on the ball a little less effective than what I'd like to see, perhaps another Fred which isn't a bad thing but when we have the ball you'll be playing with less ball playing midfielders to break down low block teams.
Kamara firstly, as a free agent, my word just buy him, looks strong, fast, tracks runners, can tackle, harries, looks like a solid player. On the ball, keeps it simple, not necessarily expansive but looks like he could be a really good 6.
Bennacer hmmmmm not sure on the highlights but he looks like a tenacious player, goes to ground for tackles a lot, comfortable on the ball it seems, not sure if Milan let him go but an option. Doesn't leap of the screen as a difference maker though.
New full backs needed for sure.
Using this:
De Jong (1st midfielder) - 65m
Laimer (2nd midfielder) - 20m
Timber (Center back) - 35m
Dybala (Versatile forward) - free
Ronaldo
Sancho Bruno Dybala
DeJong Laimer
Shaw Lindelof Varane Timber
DDG
Sancho Bruno Dybala
DeJong Laimer
Shaw Lindelof Varane Timber
DDG
We would probably not want Ruiz to be dribbling often. I would see him as someone that can adapt his role slightly to be the passer in midfield, there wouldn't be any need for that weakness to be exploited. If you look at how instrumental he can be to Napoli's play he is always someone to take the ball and is very reliable. That's borne out in the stats as well which very few mids on the market can match.
You do need some solidity around him though so I don't know what the exact composition would be. I just see him as someone that can give a big influx of technical ability to our midfield that seems way more attainable than De Jong. A good plan B for my money at the least.
What I think we need to do:
De Gea
Timber - Varane - Maguire - Shaw
Tchouameni - De Jong - Pogba
Sancho - Ronaldo - Bruno
In attack, this transforms to something like this:
De Gea
Timber - Varane - Maguire
Tchouameni - De Jong
Sancho - Bruno - Pogba - Shaw
Ronaldo
Backup:
Johnstone (free transfer)
Laird - Lindelöf - Mengi - Telles
Donny - McTominay - Fred
Elanga - Martial - Rashford
The rest: feck off
If we can afford 1 more signing, I think Evan Ndicka would be a fine signing. Left footed, Bailly-like physicality, very comfortable with the ball, and often pushes up high in the Frankfurt 3-back line.
- Buy a new midfield. Tchouameni and De Jong should be our priority if there is any chance of signing either of them. And if we do, it would be great to see Pogba alongside them. If not, Eriksen would be a nice replacement for Pogba.
- Utilize Bruno as a winger, where he can produce goals and assists without loosing the ball in dangerous positions.
- Bring in Timber at RB, as he is very intelligent in the build-up play and solid defensively. He can tuck in as a third CB when Shaw and De Jong push up high.
De Gea
Timber - Varane - Maguire - Shaw
Tchouameni - De Jong - Pogba
Sancho - Ronaldo - Bruno
In attack, this transforms to something like this:
De Gea
Timber - Varane - Maguire
Tchouameni - De Jong
Sancho - Bruno - Pogba - Shaw
Ronaldo
Backup:
Johnstone (free transfer)
Laird - Lindelöf - Mengi - Telles
Donny - McTominay - Fred
Elanga - Martial - Rashford
The rest: feck off
If we can afford 1 more signing, I think Evan Ndicka would be a fine signing. Left footed, Bailly-like physicality, very comfortable with the ball, and often pushes up high in the Frankfurt 3-back line.
- Timber - 40m
- De Jong - 70m
- Darwin - 60m
- Kamara - free
Darwin
Ronaldo Bruno Sancho
De Jong Kamara/Fred
Shaw Varane Maguire Timber
De Gea
Rashford
Hannibal VdB Elanga
Garner/Fred McTominay
Telles Lindelof Timber* Dalot
Heaton
My guess. Don't need that much depth next year being in EL or conference League. Ideally we'd sell Telles and replace with one of the younger left backs we've heard linked, but who knows.Ronaldo Bruno Sancho
De Jong Kamara/Fred
Shaw Varane Maguire Timber
De Gea
Rashford
Hannibal VdB Elanga
Garner/Fred McTominay
Telles Lindelof Timber* Dalot
Heaton
Keep hearing Villa's name for Kamara
Just seems like a no brainer considering he is on a free and has some potential, is a decent player now, young, we have 0 depth and 0 DM's in the first place, and he can fill in at CB as well. It's such a low risk investment to make and allows us to spend big on De Jong/Timber/Darwin. If he's not more than a squad player than go back in for Rice next year when he's cheaper.
Yeah my thoughts too
Still a bad team, not top 4 material
Just hate the thought of Philips. He hasn’t progressed and the amount it would take.. not worth it
How isn't that top 4 material?
It's a clear 3rd place material IMO when combined with ETH.
Not huge on Phillips and in reality, Ronaldo would be on the left with Darwin central, but yeah. It's a very good lineup.
Impressed with this guys video's / analysis in general. As an Ajax fan I can agree with basically all his analysis (also other video's about Ajax/ETH).
Don't agree with your conclusion though. Shaw for sure can suit Ten Hag's game. AWB seems like a total misfit on the other hand. Does seem like you would need a right back, unless Dalot can fill in that role sufficiently (haven't seen enough of him to judge him).
Yes seen loads of these "next season sides" all over twitter/facebook...with Dalot at right back....really? Def need a new right back and better competition for Shaw than we currently have
Its top four potential material as things stand, but other teams should improve too.
Personally think it smacks of last summers transfers, 4 (as opposed to 3) quality signings that dont solve half of our problems at all we are over spending on.
SO we sign a centre back to play right back, that isnt really a right back, lose probably three central defenders and Lindelof is the only cover for Maguire/Varane....and if Timber moves across we are probably left with Laird/Dalot.....is that seriously improving our defence?
Then we spend £100m on two deep sitting playmakers who are essentially to different levels the same player and still dotn have a proper defensive midfielder that can actually tackle properly.
And to top it off we spend well over £50m on a striker to play left winger, and move our best elft winger over to th eright wing.
Gret use of a £200m budget.....and likely to be over it as well. We still solve little and the gaps in the side are exposed with any poor form/injuries and lack of quality cover in several positions.
Personallylly obly DeJong and Timber would interest me, £120m odd possibly on Nunez and Phillips would be poor business in my opinion
Dalot is barely a pro player tbh
De Ligt for £40m? The genie from Aladdin wouldn't be able to grant that one.
Just no, tbh.
The dream transfer window can be achieved if we tell Erik and Ralf to each get three of their old players:
Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)
Timber (Ajax)
Laimer (RB Leipzig)
De Jong (ex Ajax)
Antony (Ajax)
Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
De Gea
Timber - Gvardiol - Varane - Shaw
Laimer - De Jong
Antony - Nkunku - Sancho
Ronaldo
Bruno Fernandes can rotate with Ronaldo, with Bruno in the hole and Nkunku pushing further forward as a false 9. DVB can come back from his loan to add depth.
These 6 transfer will cost around £250m, but that is a really strong first team. Most of the rest of the current first team squad can be made available for sale to get them off the wage bill and to fund purchases above whatever amount has been agreed for the transfer budget net spend. (Obviously we wouldn't sell most of them, but there are very few who should not be available for sale, maybe Rashford for example.)
If players want to stay AND Ten Hag thinks he can get them to perform, they can stay, otherwise promote from the reserves to add squad depth. For example, players like Garner, Laird, Levitt and Garnacho could thrive from getting regular cameo slots and cup game experience.
Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)
Timber (Ajax)
Laimer (RB Leipzig)
De Jong (ex Ajax)
Antony (Ajax)
Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
De Gea
Timber - Gvardiol - Varane - Shaw
Laimer - De Jong
Antony - Nkunku - Sancho
Ronaldo
Bruno Fernandes can rotate with Ronaldo, with Bruno in the hole and Nkunku pushing further forward as a false 9. DVB can come back from his loan to add depth.
These 6 transfer will cost around £250m, but that is a really strong first team. Most of the rest of the current first team squad can be made available for sale to get them off the wage bill and to fund purchases above whatever amount has been agreed for the transfer budget net spend. (Obviously we wouldn't sell most of them, but there are very few who should not be available for sale, maybe Rashford for example.)
If players want to stay AND Ten Hag thinks he can get them to perform, they can stay, otherwise promote from the reserves to add squad depth. For example, players like Garner, Laird, Levitt and Garnacho could thrive from getting regular cameo slots and cup game experience.
Massive bloke up top!
Statman Dave likes him apparently for us to replicate the Haller role under Ten Hag.
Statman Dave likes him apparently for us to replicate the Haller role under Ten Hag.
John McGinn always impresses me when I watch him. The kind of player that goes to Liverpool and everyone will rave about him.
Might be available for less money than before due to contract perhaps.
Might be available for less money than before due to contract perhaps.
That woul dbe a great window potentially, but I personally think could be lookign north of £300m to buy that lot
Personally not buying into a lot of the recent press links, or maybe not wanting too. Dont see Nunez/Osimhen/Milinkovic-Savic as viable targets at all, too expensive. I jsut dont see DeJong coming here either even if and may be some truth, we are in for him.
Think a lot of the Dutch links are lazy journalism or based on what he was after in charge of Ajax.
Know little of him, but getting a srong feeling he does want Timber and Antony, thats half the £200m budget gone straight away right there.
Personally dont seen other big money signings/names outside of that unless we sign just one central midfielder and are puttign faith in Garner or Hannibal to step uo next year.
I think in the first window, outside of that will be maybe a right back, one or two central midfielders and a striker.
Think in one or two of those positions maybe a surprise or two and maybe Ragnicks knowledge of German football or Ten Hags knowledge of the Dutch league or even of data from Ajax scouts, we may see a surprise or two. Also feel there may be some interest in Kamara and/or Ekitike as ability and value wise both make a lot of sense.
Think a lot of the Dutch links are lazy journalism or based on what he was after in charge of Ajax.
Know little of him, but getting a srong feeling he does want Timber and Antony, thats half the £200m budget gone straight away right there.
Personally dont seen other big money signings/names outside of that unless we sign just one central midfielder and are puttign faith in Garner or Hannibal to step uo next year.
I think in the first window, outside of that will be maybe a right back, one or two central midfielders and a striker.
Think in one or two of those positions maybe a surprise or two and maybe Ragnicks knowledge of German football or Ten Hags knowledge of the Dutch league or even of data from Ajax scouts, we may see a surprise or two. Also feel there may be some interest in Kamara and/or Ekitike as ability and value wise both make a lot of sense.