I seem to remember a story that although it was a free transfer he had a sign on bonus hitting somewhere near 9-10m at the time. I would have been happy with him and his brother. I feel again as with Maguire that any move would have been subject to moving Martial on. In contrast Thuram is on 115k a week and Martial is on 250k. This is why we can't move them on.
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
GK : Onana, Bayindir, Heaton
RB : Dalot, AWB
CB : Varane, Maguire, Evans
CB : Martinez, Lindelof
LB : Shaw, Malacia, Reguilon
DM : Casemiro, Amrabat, Mainoo
CM : Mount, Eriksen, McTominay
AM : Bruno, Mejbri
RW : Antony, Sancho, Amad, Pellistri
LW : Rashford, Garnacho
CF : Højlund, Martial
- Definitely need a proper RB. One of AWB/Dalot can stay as backup.
- A starting CB alongside Martinez. But Varane can also leave, so do we need couple of CBs? Hopefully not.
- A midfielder to replace the ageing Eriksen.
- A backup CF to replace Martial
- Possibly another forward if Sancho leaves, and Amad/Pellistri dont step up.
So 4-5 signings minimum. Truly is the never ending story for us. Always couple of steps behind where we should be.
RB : Dalot, AWB
CB : Varane, Maguire, Evans
CB : Martinez, Lindelof
LB : Shaw, Malacia, Reguilon
DM : Casemiro, Amrabat, Mainoo
CM : Mount, Eriksen, McTominay
AM : Bruno, Mejbri
RW : Antony, Sancho, Amad, Pellistri
LW : Rashford, Garnacho
CF : Højlund, Martial
- Definitely need a proper RB. One of AWB/Dalot can stay as backup.
- A starting CB alongside Martinez. But Varane can also leave, so do we need couple of CBs? Hopefully not.
- A midfielder to replace the ageing Eriksen.
- A backup CF to replace Martial
- Possibly another forward if Sancho leaves, and Amad/Pellistri dont step up.
So 4-5 signings minimum. Truly is the never ending story for us. Always couple of steps behind where we should be.
That is all fine and well as a plan, but Mainoo, Arambat, Mount and also Hannibal and what they potentially bring to the side.....we are playing three midfielders and there is Casemeiro and Fernandes.....we can only play three of them
In my mind what you have written is exactly the problem of the midfield signings in this window. They all add attributes to our midfeid....but those two signings attributes are offensively or defensively....not all round.
I havet seen a huge amount of Arambat and I have liked him when seen him, but do you consider him a progressive cm? He looks comfortable on the ball from what I have seen but really someone who keeps things ticking over rather than progressing?
Personally still dont think we have made the right profile of central midfield signing, but maybe squad wise that may have been due to having Mainoo and Hannibal.
I am concened in Hannibals case he doesnt get the opportunities, but both for me fit the profile of what we do need, Mainoo slightly more so as I think our midfield really needs a ball carrier, technically sound and positionally aware. Its a lot of pressure, hopefully Mainoo is that man, but that doesnt change for me finding it strange we have paid so much for Mount if he is to play the 8 position.
Onana is obviously gret with his feet and improves that immensely, but I am not sure he is a really good keeper in other areas, so be interesting to see how he does over the next season or so.
I do have a godo feeling about Hoijlund and as things stand, I do see him as the only really good signing this summer. Maybe as you say with the young talent we have in midfield the other midfield signings around that may prove to be shrewd ones.
I do however feel the failure to sign a CB this summeris a huge mistake that could be very costly over the season
We can potentially play four midfielders in our current state and the shape below is a 3241 in a higher defensive line. The fullbacks either go high and wide or tuck inside to form a back 3. And imo, if the team below was available against Spurs or Arsenal, then the games would likely have been different. We haven't seen this team yet and I think there's potential in the team below.
-----------------------Hojlund-------------------
--Rashford------Bruno------Mount---Dalot--
-----------Casemiro-------Amrabat-------------
------Shaw------Martinez------Varane---------
----------------------Onana---------------
I think as far as far as profile is concerned the midfield composition looks balanced with players who are comfortable in the deeper build up phase like Amrabat and other players who are more comfortable in more advanced areas of the pitch like Bruno and Mount. For me a all-round midfielder is someone who provides something in possession but is also someone that has the tenacity and work rate to help thwart the opponent's fast breaks/transitions. So a holding midfielder in a team that places emphasis on build up from the back and a coordinated collective press from the front needs to be able to evade the opponent's pressure and progress the ball whilst also being strong at defending transitions. And a advanced midfielder needs to provide both offensive output in possession and also have the intelligence out of possession to effectively help the team press and counter press when defending from the front. So what we have here is a midfield that consists of specialists who together form a balanced midfield. In the 442 days both midfielders were expected to go up and down the pitch but the game today has become more tactical where pressing and counter pressing has really been embraced by a lot of big clubs, hence the need to take a more balanced approach to constructing a midfield.
From what I've seen of Amrabat he definitely fits the bill as far as being a progressive midfielder operating at the base of the midfield. The statistics also point to him being strong in the deeper build up phase where he was very progressive with his passing which enabled Fiorentina to control games. And out of possession his work rate and intensity is top notch. He does like a crunching tackle from time to time, so I hope he doesn't pick up too many yellows. But I'm optimistic he'll do well for us.
And regarding Mainoo and Hannibal I hope they're given opportunities because they do fit the profile of what we need. EtH has obviously liked what he has seen or otherwise neither player would be a option currently. There's a small section of fans who are obsessed with selling everyone due to what has been happening at the financially doped up clubs in the last 15 to 20 years. But I think we should give talented youngsters a chance.
And regarding signing a CB is concerned, we did need a CB and Todibo was said to be a target. But Maguire didn't leave because he wanted a significant pay off on his wages, which the owners were not going to give him. And these are wages that were handed out by the previous regime and it's going to take a bit of time to remove them. Martial and Sancho are two more players who are on big wages and it's just a waiting game to remove them and then have the funds to replace them.
I’d be keeping an eye on Aaron Hickey & Billy Gilmour.
Both walk into our side at present and improve it. Hickey can play either side too.
Depending how the Sancho/Antony situation all plays out, we’ll likely be in for a RW too.
CB - we could do with someone super athletic, comfortable for 1v1 when Martinez presses on. Noidea who though.
Both walk into our side at present and improve it. Hickey can play either side too.
Depending how the Sancho/Antony situation all plays out, we’ll likely be in for a RW too.
CB - we could do with someone super athletic, comfortable for 1v1 when Martinez presses on. Noidea who though.
that CB would have been Kim
New owners, a top class PI to investigate new signings, a new manager who doesn’t defend or sign scumbags and at least 8 new players. Not too much to achieve over the next 20 years.
I was wondering why we did not push for him either, at least as back up
Don't know how Bella Kotchap ended up at PSV on loan when we probably could get him for a pittance.
With what’s happened with Greenwood, Ronaldo, Antony and Sancho
We need a striker, a right winger
And a new head shrink
We need a striker, a right winger
And a new head shrink
Centre back a Younger verison of Varane be ideal
Box to box midfielder Kone or Onanna potentially
Striker Martial is done.
Right Back Dalot and AWB are solid be we need better
Box to box midfielder Kone or Onanna potentially
Striker Martial is done.
Right Back Dalot and AWB are solid be we need better
In other words, common sense is starting to percolate in their minds again.
that CB would have been Kim
Not sure bringing a Kardashian in is the right answer.
One would hope so because the contracts were handed out by Matt Judge who left the club shortly after Woodward. And the person currently in charge of contracts since June this year was brought to the club from Adidas where he represented professional footballers like Jude Bellingham when it came to negotiating contracts.
Yep along with Moussa Dembele who was also a free agent but not interested either
Can you explain this? If he worked for adidas, why would he be representing Jude Bellingham when negotiating contracts?
I remember seeing him early in his Saints career, maybe even his debut and he looked damn impressive, can't say I seen much of him after that but I did think when he was been linked with a move back to Germany could we look at him
Bellingham is sponsored by Adidas and Adidas also provided him with someone who would negotiate on his behalf when he first moved from Birmingham to Dortmund and signed his contract. His father acts as his agent and likely didn't have the experience in a legal and sporting capacity to oversee his son's contract negotiations. And this is where Matt Hargreaves comes in and his experience both from a legal (law) and sporting capacity when negotiating contracts for Adidas clients is useful.
Interesting. Cheers. Seems like an arrangement like that with a non-independent party would be riven with conflict.
Completely agree, we could even have loaned him for nothing more than Evans, so the Maguire excuse not moving isnt totally feasible.
Initial feeling for this season is our biggest mistake will turn out to be not signing a new centre back and Bella Kotchap was actually in my top five favourites to sign
Ganso would fit the midfield perfectly. Also a new coach, Fernando Diniz, would be great
Ganso? Whats this? 2010?
You really don't watch Brazilian football. Ganso took a big hit due to injury in 2010, over the last 5 years he learned to overcome his biggest weakness: speed. Nowadays he's using even more wisely his technique, passing, and huge IQ.
And if you compare those attributes with Eriksen's technique, passing and IQ, Ganso wins, easily. Although Eriksen is good too
He would be the cheapest good signing for MU.
He should be thinking about retiring at this point of his career.
He’s 33. He’s not going to suddenly rock up in the PL and adapt at that age. It would be way too quick and physical for him.
'kinell. I haven't heard that name in ages, didn't know he still played football.
Theres a video from The Purist Football youtube channel, talking about Fluminense's tactics (I dont have permissions to post media yet).
Watch that. That is the coach for Man United. Fernando Diniz is the polar opposite of Guardiola. I would love to see Man United playing in a completely different model than Guardiola's.
The video also shows how Ganso is still at a very high level.
Watch that. That is the coach for Man United. Fernando Diniz is the polar opposite of Guardiola. I would love to see Man United playing in a completely different model than Guardiola's.
The video also shows how Ganso is still at a very high level.
In all aspects or in just some. Pep is possession and pressing, what is Fernando Diniz approach.
Are we even interested in Olise
This is something I've noticed lately while sobbing into my cornflakes at yet more bad news.
We don't see many players who leave us go on to bigger and better things and leave us thinking 'why weren't they like that for us?'
Is it because we're poor at identifying the quality or are we playing them out of position or is it some other factor?
How much would this team need in £££ to mount a genuine bid for the PL and Champions league? I think it's around £750mm a scary number but I think we do need to buy goals, and just pay the price for that game changer even if it's £150mm to £200mm for Haaland, Vinicius, Mbappe, Osimhen or Ferguson.
Insane I know.
Moaning about high wages but yet under the new regime didn’t they just give Antony £200k per week.
I wonder who much Gakpo is on.
I wonder who much Gakpo is on.
Martial? That's insane if that's for our attaquer insouciant!
Just read his wiki. He’s been sacked loads. That would be a huge gamble by United
Yes and he was reportedly on 20k a week at Ajax. We could have offered 80k and he would have snapped Murtoughs hand off.
All of these threads need to be rolled into one called the incompetence of the hierarchy naming Murtough and Arnold as the key culprits. United have spent 400M under ETH and still it remains an impossible task to judge the direction of this team. The only hope that remains is Ratcliffe / Jassim completely revamping the structure with new DOF and staff so the club can build moving forward avoiding this momentary approach we are accustomed to.
Yet to see whether they are the problem or the owners. But there needs to be accountability somewhere when it comes to how to run this bloody club. Is it an excel formula sheet for wages or do we have actual people looking at industry standard and how much is acceptable against what we can afford?
I don’t mind us paying more because we can afford to but we really should be aware of what is good value against who we are bringing In.
Paying £350k to a kid from Dortmund who didn’t excel in anything is a good idea is nonsense.
We need to find more players who want to play here because we are Utd, like Hojlund, Amrabat, even Mount, rather than so called 'superstars' like Di Maria, Pogba 2nd time, and Sanchez who only came for the money. A team of youth players and bought players who play for the badge, rather than the paycheck might just get us on the right path to eventually start really challenging again. We could then sprinkle it with a superstar or two.
I look at Arsenal under Arteta. Have they got anyone in their ranks just for the money now? Even Rice their record signing wanted to go there this summer and wasnt touting round for the highest paycheck. Suddenly they have become a really good football team.
Out of the present side did Sancho come for the money? Maguire could have left, same as VDB and McTominey, but they would sooner sit on the bench picking up a fortune than play football regular.
I look at Arsenal under Arteta. Have they got anyone in their ranks just for the money now? Even Rice their record signing wanted to go there this summer and wasnt touting round for the highest paycheck. Suddenly they have become a really good football team.
Out of the present side did Sancho come for the money? Maguire could have left, same as VDB and McTominey, but they would sooner sit on the bench picking up a fortune than play football regular.
If you're a Brazilian coach, you haven't made it in football until you've been sacked at least 30 times and had a stint or two in Japan / Kuwait / UAE.