New midfielder?
What do we still need? Aka The never ending story
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
McT is on 60K P/W, he is one of the lowest paid of our first team squad,
Sell Casemiro, Varane, Sancho, Maguire, Martial
Buy RB, CB, DMC, RW, FC
Buy RB, CB, DMC, RW, FC
Both are out of contract soon
We need impact on goals, we need Ivan Toney imo. He would make it harder for teams to defend against us. I would go with him and Hojland up front considering we have no great width on the right , underneath them can be Bruno, i think the goal today will do wonders for him. Garnacho on the left, Amrabat on holding and Mainoo to the right (or flip those two). I just don’t see Antony doing anything on the right wing. Pellistri i have more faith in but the way teams bully us in midfield I’d rather the extra body there. Dalot is useless, so yeah attacking RB would help us with width, Shaw when he’s back or Reguilon creating the width to feed Hojland and Toney, and Bruno contributing with the through ball and pushing the ball further up the pitch.
so, this is what we need in January. We have no width since Rashford cuts in, Garnacho gives it on the left but our right side the newfullback should over lap mainoo or Bruno if he drifts there. Toney will score here
Ok then, McTominay may be shiftable but we'll probably overvalue him like we did last summer.
We desperately need goals from somewhere. One thing Ferguson did that not so many top managers seem to really do (at our club particularly) is he bought players that scored goals in whatever division they were in. van Nistelrooy scored TONS of goals in the Eredivisie, Sheringham, Cantona and Cole all scored goals in the Premier League, and so on and so forth. There was really nothing to suggest Hojlund could score 20+ goals in the Premier League.
We are so focussed on metrics like distance covered, pass percentage etc that we are forgetting the fundamentals at the minute. Jarrod Bowen is scoring right now and he's the right age for a move. I don't like him partivularly myself and think he'd be too expensive for what he provides but Ivan Toney scored a LOT of goals for Brentford. Players like those would arguably move us up the table. Jack Clarke is scoring and playing extremely well at Sunderland and linked up well with Amad Diallo when he was there. Vangelis Pavlidis has scored fairly consistently in the Eredivisie.
I don't think any of those players would cost a fortune and they'd all be worth a gamble. It would be hard for them to be any worse than our front three have been this season.
We are so focussed on metrics like distance covered, pass percentage etc that we are forgetting the fundamentals at the minute. Jarrod Bowen is scoring right now and he's the right age for a move. I don't like him partivularly myself and think he'd be too expensive for what he provides but Ivan Toney scored a LOT of goals for Brentford. Players like those would arguably move us up the table. Jack Clarke is scoring and playing extremely well at Sunderland and linked up well with Amad Diallo when he was there. Vangelis Pavlidis has scored fairly consistently in the Eredivisie.
I don't think any of those players would cost a fortune and they'd all be worth a gamble. It would be hard for them to be any worse than our front three have been this season.
I miss the time I was still optimistic bringing Frenkie in was feasible..
Go in for João Palhinha in January. Give Fulham McTominay as a part-ex.
Every hear of FFP
City dont follow it and it gets brushed under the carpet! Lets just do the same
. Sick of this squad we need to clear the deadwood or get left further behind.Or realityEvery hear of FFP
Its a fantasy wish list. I obviously don’t expect the club to do it. But those signings would be a step in the right direction
Miracle. That´s what we need.
It's 2021 again. We still need a DM, CB, RW, RB and CM.
Move on Casemiro, Varane, Antony, Sancho, Lindelof, Amrabat, Dalot as soon as we can.
Move on Casemiro, Varane, Antony, Sancho, Lindelof, Amrabat, Dalot as soon as we can.
Not to mention a left back, left winger and an experienced striker. Rashford and Shaw are long term write offs, along with Bruno, they’ve been through multiple managers and failed to deliver other than some purple patches. Any manager who continues to rely on them is bound to fail .
Watching Spurs midfield of Bissouma & Sarr yesterday, we have absolutely no-one in our midfield who can compete physically with them.
True but we're stuck with them on new contracts for now.
Is only a loan
Sell/Send: Bruno, Anthony, Martial, Varane, Casemiro, Sancho, Lindelof, Amrabat
Buy/Loan/Promote/Starter: Lukeba, Scalvini, Cherki, Gift/Boniface, Zubimendi/Caqueret, Mainoo, Gore, Amad
Buy/Loan/Promote/Starter: Lukeba, Scalvini, Cherki, Gift/Boniface, Zubimendi/Caqueret, Mainoo, Gore, Amad
We basically need a whole new team.
Again.
Again.
Makes me wish we had someone like Ugarte in midfield for us. We seriously lack in physicality and aggression in midfield to dominate teams.
So which midfielder are we going for in Jan then? No way we're putting all the eggs in the Casemiro bucket.
Sign two physically fit midfielders who can be good playmakers, and two experienced strikers to help Hojlund - sell Martial, and probably Sancho to fund it. It's roughly a 50-60% chance of a well thought out signing working out anyway, so might as well not gamble on "the one" signing working out.
My god, I stop reading after sell Bruno, but had a second eye on Cherki and Caqueret. Horrible players from the last team of Ligue 1, but for sure will improve us...;
IF, we can sell him, I would go for Palhinha replacing him, even if he will cost a lot.
IF we can sell Varane, my choice wouldn't be on Todibo, so I don't know who can complement Licha and be a leader to our team.
Don't know much about Todibo what's your issue with him not good enough long term or doesn't quite fit the team right now .
Onana
New RB New CB Martinez Shaw
New CM New CM
New RW Bruno Rashford/Garnacho
New CF/Hojlund
So ideally we need:
Right back
Centre back
Two complementary CMs
Right winger
Centre forward
Six players
New RB New CB Martinez Shaw
New CM New CM
New RW Bruno Rashford/Garnacho
New CF/Hojlund
So ideally we need:
Right back
Centre back
Two complementary CMs
Right winger
Centre forward
Six players
I think you realistically could argue we need replacements for Martinez & Shaw as well.
Shaw's fitness is too unreliable, and Martinez has missed probably missed as many games for us as he's played.
Sign Todibo , Nicolas Gonzalez and Taremi in Jan.
Sign new Left Back, Branthwaite , Two midfielders in the summer. Sell Mctom, Varane, Casemiro, Lindelof, Malacia or Shaw,Martial, Sancho and Antony get a director of football.
Sign new Left Back, Branthwaite , Two midfielders in the summer. Sell Mctom, Varane, Casemiro, Lindelof, Malacia or Shaw,Martial, Sancho and Antony get a director of football.
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Barring loans I doubt we will be signing anyone in January. There’s too much upheaval at the club and until that gets resolved murtough won’t know how much budget or indeed if he has a job by then not to mention do they still aim for ten Haag profiles
Because Todibo is good with the ball and read the game well, but I am not sure this is the type of player we need to complement Licha.
I mean, we may need a ball player, of course, but somebody also in the fight, which is not that much Todibo
Yeah I was trying to be somewhat realistic though
We need someone who can actually make good signings for one whether that is tha manager, scouts, DOF. We have made so many poor signings with nearly every maanger. I do read reports about them being blocked on targets, stuff about not sanctioning small fee for Haaland etc etc.
Some of the good games watched this season have made me sick as watching so many youngish and young players doing well in games that thought we shold sign over the last few seasons before moving to there clubs.....
Vicario £17.2m
Livaramento £40m
Romero £55m
Bissouma £25m
Enzo Fernandez £107m
Bentancaur £19m
Cole Palmer £40M
£300m odd, looks a lot of money...then look at what we have spent
Onana £47.2m
Dalot £19m
Varane £34M
Casemeiro £60m
Amrabat if permanent £30m
Mount £55m
Antony £82m
Cost more and Ten Hag signed most of them too and thats even including a premiership record fee by a long way for Enzo Fernandez. This is just players other clubs in our league have signed I wanted us to at points, there ar emany others and that isnt even inculding players gone to other places in Europe or not even moved.
No guarantee the first group of players wold succeed here, but especially considering the ages, no doubt in my mind which group I would rather have. It isnt just our failure to move on players, or the glazers, or the structure....we have bought really badly. We spent twice what we needed to on a gk, Spent nigh on £100m on two 30year olds, spent £80m on a player with one years experience in Europe who wasnt setting the world on fire to warrant it, made a weird signing in Mont.....terrrible business.
That is why we are in just the same position as we have been nearly every season the last decade. For me there isnt even a five a side team number of players that should be nailed on first eleven players and there are well into doble figrures worth of players I dont think should be here be that are over paid and over rated star players who are jst good players and arent even consitently playing good, players that dont fit what we need, players with the wrong attitde and worst of all....several players who are simply not good enogh for the shirt and quite a few have been here several seasons.
What we need is literally about 15-18out and yet again about 8-9 players in....that is how far away we are, and its how far away we have been most seasons in the last decade now. Talk of a 3year period, and it takes stages.....that never happens if you dont get the first stage right season after season
Some of the good games watched this season have made me sick as watching so many youngish and young players doing well in games that thought we shold sign over the last few seasons before moving to there clubs.....
Vicario £17.2m
Livaramento £40m
Romero £55m
Bissouma £25m
Enzo Fernandez £107m
Bentancaur £19m
Cole Palmer £40M
£300m odd, looks a lot of money...then look at what we have spent
Onana £47.2m
Dalot £19m
Varane £34M
Casemeiro £60m
Amrabat if permanent £30m
Mount £55m
Antony £82m
Cost more and Ten Hag signed most of them too and thats even including a premiership record fee by a long way for Enzo Fernandez. This is just players other clubs in our league have signed I wanted us to at points, there ar emany others and that isnt even inculding players gone to other places in Europe or not even moved.
No guarantee the first group of players wold succeed here, but especially considering the ages, no doubt in my mind which group I would rather have. It isnt just our failure to move on players, or the glazers, or the structure....we have bought really badly. We spent twice what we needed to on a gk, Spent nigh on £100m on two 30year olds, spent £80m on a player with one years experience in Europe who wasnt setting the world on fire to warrant it, made a weird signing in Mont.....terrrible business.
That is why we are in just the same position as we have been nearly every season the last decade. For me there isnt even a five a side team number of players that should be nailed on first eleven players and there are well into doble figrures worth of players I dont think should be here be that are over paid and over rated star players who are jst good players and arent even consitently playing good, players that dont fit what we need, players with the wrong attitde and worst of all....several players who are simply not good enogh for the shirt and quite a few have been here several seasons.
What we need is literally about 15-18out and yet again about 8-9 players in....that is how far away we are, and its how far away we have been most seasons in the last decade now. Talk of a 3year period, and it takes stages.....that never happens if you dont get the first stage right season after season
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Apparently open heart surgery is needed but was ignored, brushed under the carpet and we just hired incompetent surgeons instead (Arnold & Murtough).
We need a footballing structure before looking at more footballers.
Footballing structure > Identity/culture > Players that fit the identity/culture > Manager for said identity/culture
We need a footballing structure before looking at more footballers.
Footballing structure > Identity/culture > Players that fit the identity/culture > Manager for said identity/culture
We need restart. Wipe-out current passengers and start all over with players who actually give a shit. And who fit some coherent system, hopefully.
Currently, I would only keep Hojlund, Garnacho, Licha, AWB, maybe Onana. I would give a chance to Amad and Mainoo. And recruit all new squad of cheaper players who can grow into good players.
Not sure about Bruno. He is our best player right now, but manager should decide if he is the player to build the new team around.
P.S. none of this will happen, unless Ratcliffe has same attitude and somehow Ten Hag agrees
Currently, I would only keep Hojlund, Garnacho, Licha, AWB, maybe Onana. I would give a chance to Amad and Mainoo. And recruit all new squad of cheaper players who can grow into good players.
Not sure about Bruno. He is our best player right now, but manager should decide if he is the player to build the new team around.
P.S. none of this will happen, unless Ratcliffe has same attitude and somehow Ten Hag agrees
A restart is what we need. Miss Europe for a year, do a proper cleanse of the squad and rebuild. We’ve been “rebuilding” for years but have take the completely wrong approach with short term signing after short term signing.
Bruno is a difficult one, but I can’t help but feel we’d be a better team without him. Not in the short term, but long term yes.
So...Todibo in January I'm guessing?
I hope that eventually we get Branthwaite or Inácio as well...but that's next summer or later presumably.
Very obvious that we need aggressive work done, especially on the outgoings department. Already seen plenty of rumors on who, but for me, when Ratcliffe comes in and sets his people, I'd really hope we look to get rid of all these guys (in whatever way). We need to balance the squad both in wages relative to roles & quality, and drop our age down to a level where we build over the next few years as we aren't going to be ready for a challenge until guys like Hojlund make the jump... Which is in a few years. So over the January and summer window, gotta get rid of these as priority:
Outgoings:
Goalkeeper is fine, starter and backup.
CB Martinez and 1 backup is fine, but we need a new starter asap (January, Todibo?) and another backup in the summer
RB as I said above, can be delayed til 2025.
LB is fine, starter and backups.
Midfield we should have Bruno, Mount, Mainoo, possibly Casemiro, and get a new guy in (u23, casemiro replacement, Andre?).
RW is a mess. Amad seems injury prone to me, and not suited to the prem and what we need (talented, should stay, but long term more central role). Antony and Sancho obviously not much needs saying. 1 top, classic winger type here is needed. Ready to start from day 1 and provide a big impact with big potential too.
LW is fine. Garnacho big potential and is a proper winger type. Rashford is a very good player in the right system, and is versatile and a goalscorer. Maybe won't be a starter and key forever, but there is plenty of time until this should be addressed.
CF - Hojlund is class, but needs an experienced rotation in there (not full starter ahead of him). Low cost experienced guy who can provide similar qualities like Taremi is a good shout.
So incomings would be something like:
Outgoings:
- Varane
- Maguire or Lindelof (Evans is short term deal and is an emergency option with a view to being a coach, so whatever). The other can stay as backup... Probably Lindelof due to wages.
- Reguilon - Shaw and Malacia and Alvaro will be back
- Amrabat - has shown he's not suited to prem IMO, and too old for a full signing
- McTominay OR Casemiro. Depends on what we can get in and how we can replace them. If we can get good money for Case and can sign a starter level younger DM, then great. If we can only get someone who needs a bedding in period before taking over from Case, then Casemiro should stay and McTominay should leave.
- Van de Beek
- Eriksen - he's good, but not getting younger, and has limited time left and we need to address that role which means his time will reduce further
- Antony
- Sancho
- Martial
- Greenwood
Goalkeeper is fine, starter and backup.
CB Martinez and 1 backup is fine, but we need a new starter asap (January, Todibo?) and another backup in the summer
RB as I said above, can be delayed til 2025.
LB is fine, starter and backups.
Midfield we should have Bruno, Mount, Mainoo, possibly Casemiro, and get a new guy in (u23, casemiro replacement, Andre?).
RW is a mess. Amad seems injury prone to me, and not suited to the prem and what we need (talented, should stay, but long term more central role). Antony and Sancho obviously not much needs saying. 1 top, classic winger type here is needed. Ready to start from day 1 and provide a big impact with big potential too.
LW is fine. Garnacho big potential and is a proper winger type. Rashford is a very good player in the right system, and is versatile and a goalscorer. Maybe won't be a starter and key forever, but there is plenty of time until this should be addressed.
CF - Hojlund is class, but needs an experienced rotation in there (not full starter ahead of him). Low cost experienced guy who can provide similar qualities like Taremi is a good shout.
So incomings would be something like:
- Todibo (January)
- Backup CB (summer, low cost)
- Andre (summer, u23 DM for reasonable cost)
- RW - summer, not sure who. I like Neto, but injuries are bad. Bardghi looked class, but a kid. Hard to say who.
- Taremi - summer to replace Martial
Just from this game alone:
Dalot - Not good enough and enough mistakes have been made this season without him killing every attack.
Lindelof - Such a weak player mentally, physically and technically.
Eriksen - Done at this level, no strength or pace left in those legs.
McT - Just a nothing player, Fellani was more useful than this smash and grab merchant.
RW - Diallo could be the answer but I'd rather we went for a permanent upgrade, Antony & Rashford are useless on the right.
ST - Højlund is too young to have the weight of leading the line at 20, cover or a more experienced player is needed.
Suggestions:
RB - Frimpong, pace and ability to bomb up and down the wing while supplying some actual attacking vision in the final 3rd
CB - Tobido, a younger, fitter, ball playing CB that would likely walk into this 11 with ease
CM x2 - João Neves & Palinha would give us the right cover and balance between young and old
RW - Roony Bardghji or Javi Simon's, if we are sticking with Antony I'd rather have real talent to challenge his position
ST - Taremi, being the only viable option for the striker market for budgets is bleak at best.
Dalot - Not good enough and enough mistakes have been made this season without him killing every attack.
Lindelof - Such a weak player mentally, physically and technically.
Eriksen - Done at this level, no strength or pace left in those legs.
McT - Just a nothing player, Fellani was more useful than this smash and grab merchant.
RW - Diallo could be the answer but I'd rather we went for a permanent upgrade, Antony & Rashford are useless on the right.
ST - Højlund is too young to have the weight of leading the line at 20, cover or a more experienced player is needed.
Suggestions:
RB - Frimpong, pace and ability to bomb up and down the wing while supplying some actual attacking vision in the final 3rd
CB - Tobido, a younger, fitter, ball playing CB that would likely walk into this 11 with ease
CM x2 - João Neves & Palinha would give us the right cover and balance between young and old
RW - Roony Bardghji or Javi Simon's, if we are sticking with Antony I'd rather have real talent to challenge his position
ST - Taremi, being the only viable option for the striker market for budgets is bleak at best.
RB - Sacha Boey
CB - Jean-Clair Todibo, Giorgio Scalvini, Antonio Silva, Jarrad Branthwaite
DM - Federico Redondo, Martin Zubimendi
CM - Khephren Thuram
RW - Takefusa Kubo, Nico Williams or Yeremy Pino
ST - On older cheap experienced striker to replace Martial and step in for Hojlund when needed, someone like Taremi?
Sell
GK - Onana, Bayindir, Heaton
RB - New RB, Wan Bissaka - (Sell Dalot)
CB - New CB, Martinez, Lindelof, Maguire? - (Sell Varane, release Evans)
LB - Shaw, Fernandez - (Sell Malacia)
RW - New RW, Antony, Amad? - (I'd rather Antony leave but I highly doubt we sell him, Pellistri)
DM - New DM, one of the CM's can step in like Thuram or Mainoo - (Sell Casemiro)
CM - New CM, Bruno, Mount, Mainoo - (Sell McTominay, Eriksen, DVB)
LW - Rashford, Garnacho
ST - New ST, Hojlund - (Sell Martial)
Something like this I think..
CB - Jean-Clair Todibo, Giorgio Scalvini, Antonio Silva, Jarrad Branthwaite
DM - Federico Redondo, Martin Zubimendi
CM - Khephren Thuram
RW - Takefusa Kubo, Nico Williams or Yeremy Pino
ST - On older cheap experienced striker to replace Martial and step in for Hojlund when needed, someone like Taremi?
Sell
GK - Onana, Bayindir, Heaton
RB - New RB, Wan Bissaka - (Sell Dalot)
CB - New CB, Martinez, Lindelof, Maguire? - (Sell Varane, release Evans)
LB - Shaw, Fernandez - (Sell Malacia)
RW - New RW, Antony, Amad? - (I'd rather Antony leave but I highly doubt we sell him, Pellistri)
DM - New DM, one of the CM's can step in like Thuram or Mainoo - (Sell Casemiro)
CM - New CM, Bruno, Mount, Mainoo - (Sell McTominay, Eriksen, DVB)
LW - Rashford, Garnacho
ST - New ST, Hojlund - (Sell Martial)
Something like this I think..