What do we still need? Post Summer 2015 edition.

Goalkeepers
David De Gea
Sergio Romero
Sam Johnstone

Centre Backs
Chris Smalling
Phil Jones
Marcos Rojo
Paddy McNair
***New Signing

Right Backs
Matteo Darmian
***New Signing

Left Backs
Luke Shaw
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

Defensive Midfielders
Morgan Schneiderlin
Daley Blind

Central Midfielders
Bastian Schweinsteiger
***New Signing

Attack Midfielders/#10's
Ander Herrera
Adnan Januzaj
Andreas Pereira

Left Wing
Memphis Depay
Ashley Young
***New Signing

Right Wing
Jesse Lingard
***New Signing

Strikers
Anthony Martial
James Wilson
***New Signing

Integrate youngsters when ready.

Out
Victor Valdes
Antonio Valencia
Michael Carrick
Marouane Fellaini
Nick Powell
Juan Mata
Wayne Rooney
 
An important step to assess our midfield is to decide whether Herrera is a #10 or a #8

I feel he can deliver as a #8, but he's only good as a #10 for a team that players on the counter so that he can play his through balls behind the fullback.

Ideally, we need a new #10, RW, CF, CM, CB, LB
 
Long term, taking into account that we can't sign 11 new players or spend 500M, I think this is the first XI if we want to get back up to being a top 8 team in the world, like a Juve, PSG or Atleticol:

-----------Martial----------
Memphis---------------RW
-----Herrera----CM--------
--------Schneiderlin-------
Shaw-LCB---Smalling-Darmian
----------De Gea-----------

And then I've italicized the players the players who might need to be upgraded if we're to get to Bayern/Barca's level.

So, basically, the main core of the team is Shaw, Smalling and De Gea in the back 5 and Martial in the front. Then you have Memphis, Herrera and Schneiderlin, Darmian as likely to be solid players for the next 3-4 seasons or so. Memphis and Darmian haven't shown it for us in year one, but there are reasons they are core young starters for the Dutch and Italians.

3 signings is the minimum this summer. We would then need things to go right with everyone, but that's the minimum. I'd rather see us spend it all on that. We should be aiming to do what Citeh did last summer in signing the best players not at teams that render them off limits to us.
 
NoPace said:
Long term, taking into account that we can't sign 11 new players or spend 500M, I think this is the first XI if we want to get back up to being a top 8 team in the world, like a Juve, PSG or Atleticol:

-----------Martial----------
Memphis---------------RW
-----Herrera----CM--------
--------Schneiderlin-------
Shaw-LCB---Smalling-Darmian
----------De Gea-----------

And then I've italicized the players the players who might need to be upgraded if we're to get to Bayern/Barca's level.

So, basically, the main core of the team is Shaw, Smalling and De Gea in the back 5 and Martial in the front. Then you have Memphis, Herrera and Schneiderlin, Darmian as likely to be solid players for the next 3-4 seasons or so. Memphis and Darmian haven't shown it for us in year one, but there are reasons they are core young starters for the Dutch and Italians.

3 signings is the minimum this summer. We would then need things to go right with everyone, but that's the minimum. I'd rather see us spend it all on that. We should be aiming to do what Citeh did last summer in signing the best players not at teams that render them off limits to us.
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I agree.

RW= griezmann
Cm = gundogan
CB = laporte or stones.

Our targets are attainable but whether Woodward/LVG can identify and pull them off is another matter entirely.
 
If how we lined up tonight is considered our go to formation I'd say this is where we need to buy.



That's a lot to pull off in one window admittedly, but if we want to progress this squad.......
 
We used to be one of the best teams in the world. If we want to compete with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, etc; we need to sign top class players like Griezmann, Dybala instead of Mane, Anderson among others.

Even a front of 3 of Griezmann-Martial-Dybala wouldn't be better than Neymar-Suarez-Messi, but it would be far better than playing Lingard/Mata as right wingers and other experiments that Van Gaal do.

In addition, if we sign a CB like Laporte plus a new CM instead of Fellaini our team will return where it belongs.

I think with a new manager Memphis, Schneiderlin, Darmian would improve. Also, Varela, CBJ, Pereira and Januzaj should play more in the first team.

So I hope we can finish in the top 4 and appoint a would class manager that attracts top players.
 
Truelly can not believe the window is almost over and United didn't sign a single a player. Given the position we are in, you'd think going on the market to find some reinforcements would be obvious. We lack players that can score a goal, our only player that can make something happen in attack is Martial, all our first choice fullbacks are out injurred for sometime, we have no decent cover for Smalling should he get injurred and if we want to reach top 4 which should be the bare minimum for a club like United we have one heck of a catch up still to do.

Yet sign no one, not a cover for the fullbacks position, not a centreback to partner or cover for Smalling, no reinforcements for our attack, nothing...
 
Yeah, I'm surprised that we've only signed some 16 year old Italian kid and not someone who can help us now.
 
bucky said:
Who would you prefer?

Stones or Varane
Pjanic or Gundogan
Barkley or Pogba
Mahrez or Lucas Moura
Griezmann or Bale
Lukaku or Kane

Either of Lukaku or Kane would do nicely, but Lukaku will simply be less expensive and is probably more willing to move on.
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Interesting choices. If we are able to sign 3 of those players in the summer we would improve a lot.

In my opinion, Laporte could be an easier choice if we pay his release clause. As CM, Gundogan ends contract in 2017, so he wouldn't be too expensive.

Also, we should sign a winger like Sane/Mahrez and a big signing like Griezmann/Dybala/Reus.
 
Aymeric Laporte
Ilkay Gundogan
Ross Barkley
Leroy Sane
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Only if LvG leaves the club)

Can't find a realistic top winger, Mahrez could be a option but he has only had one good season so it would be a gamble.
Rather buy a talent like Sane and have Zlatan as the experienced leader in attack.
 
YouOnlyLiveTwice said:
Aymeric Laporte
Ilkay Gundogan
Ross Barkley
Leroy Sane
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Only if LvG leaves the club)

Can't find a realistic top winger, Mahrez could be a option but he has only had one good season so it would be a gamble.
Rather buy a talent like Sane and have Zlatan as the experienced leader in attack.
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Zlatan has continue being a goalscorer in the last years and he will be free this summer. I think he could be a good option, it also depends If he brings a good attitude to the team instead of the opposite.
I would like a player like Griezmann/Dybala. But the players you mentioned would give a good balance to the squad.

De Gea
Darmian - Smalling - Laporte - Shaw
Gundogan - Schneiderlin
Sane - Barkley - Martial
Ibrahimovic
​
The players we sign also depends on the players we sell. If we continue with the same squad, I believe we will just add one attacking player and a CB.
 
The red panther said:
Truelly can not believe the window is almost over and United didn't sign a single a player. Given the position we are in, you'd think going on the market to find some reinforcements would be obvious. We lack players that can score a goal, our only player that can make something happen in attack is Martial, all our first choice fullbacks are out injurred for sometime, we have no decent cover for Smalling should he get injurred and if we want to reach top 4 which should be the bare minimum for a club like United we have one heck of a catch up still to do.

Yet sign no one, not a cover for the fullbacks position, not a centreback to partner or cover for Smalling, no reinforcements for our attack, nothing...
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I'm surprised that some are surprised, i.e. because you wrote the crucial part in your post (which I bolded; key word is find). It was very unlikely from the start you'd sign somebody, later LvG said there'd be no signings, and it looks as if he is/United are true to his words. How is that surprising?
 
Is there a good LW available?
Transfermarkt lists all of Sane, Dybala, Embolo best as SS/RW.
 
Sb_16 said:
Is there a good LW available?
Transfermarkt lists all of Sane, Dybala, Embolo best as SS/RW.
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What about Reus? Also Griezmann can play there.
If they are not available, there are other options like Guedes or Anderson but I think Martial is better than the last 2.
 
Fer said:
What about Reus? Also Griezmann can play there.
If they are not available, there are other options like Guedes or Anderson but I think Martial is better than the last 2.
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Then our most realistic hope is for Memphis to live up to his hype.
 
Crossie said:
I'm surprised that some are surprised, i.e. because you wrote the crucial part in your post (which I bolded; key word is find). It was very unlikely from the start you'd sign somebody, later LvG said there'd be no signings, and it looks as if he is/United are true to his words. How is that surprising?
Click to expand...

I know he said it, that doesn't justify not doing it. United are true to their eternal stupidity so in that respect perhaps you are right and it shouldn't surpise me. How stupid was I to hope for the fact we'd have the brains to salvage our season and fix the mistakes we made in the summer. You are right United only start fixing mistakes when shit hit the fan not before, even when it is clear that it is going to happen.
 
The red panther said:
I know he said it, that doesn't justify not doing it. United are true to their eternal stupidity so in that respect perhaps you are right and it shouldn't surpise me. How stupid was I to hope for the fact we'd have the brains to salvage our season and fix the mistakes we made in the summer. You are right United only start fixing mistakes when shit hit the fan not before, even when it is clear that it is going to happen.
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I meant it differently.
Do LvG and Woody think the squad as is doesn't need additions? Most likely the answer is no.
Have they identified which quality players would help United? Most likely the answer is yes.
Are these players this window available? The answer to this one is a clear no, otherwise United would bring them in.

Identifing players is relatively easy, getting them difficult. It always is, but in particular this window: Upcoming Euro in France, uncertainty over who's managing United next season and whether MUFC play CL or EL, even bigger TV money in the summer, fewer clubs with financial needs, ...
 
Crossie said:
I meant it differently.
Do LvG and Woody think the squad as is doesn't need additions? Most likely the answer is no.
Have they identified which quality players would help United? Most likely the answer is yes.
Are these players this window available? The answer to this one is a clear no, otherwise United would bring them in.

Identifing players is relatively easy, getting them difficult. It always is, but in particular this window: Upcoming Euro in France, uncertainty over who's managing United next season and whether MUFC play CL or EL, even bigger TV money in the summer, fewer clubs with financial needs, ...
Click to expand...

If they think this squad doesn't need additions than they are stupid.
Alot of players are available but United just doesn't get them because if it ain't Bale or Neymar than how can they add something to the squad.... this is just fecked up stupid.

The uncertainity is self created, if they wanted to could have already replaced LVG, if they want to stick with LVG than stick with him but keeping him till the end of the season to fire him then if fecking stupid.

Also uncertainity if United would be in the CL, well that is the reason why they should be brining in new players to try and secure CL football, if we miss out on that again because we are lazy fecks in the transfermarket well than that is fecking stupid...
 
It's kind of depressing reading and agreeing with all those lineups that have us needing 4-6 new players for the first XI but that's the reality of it. The money is there to do it as well, but the main worry is going to be EdWood not being able to remove his head from his ass and wasting the summer on chasing various megastars from Barca/Real/Bayern. If we put the money on the table, both in terms of transfer fees and wages, we should be able to get Griezmann/Laporte/Gündogan type players, even without CL on offer.
 
Devil may care said:
Martial or Memphis will be playing from the left for us most of the time I imagine.
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Yep. I don't really want a LW signing. We'll almost certainly spend big on a striker, so Martial should see plenty of time on the left + it's too early to give up on Memphis. RW/Striker are far bigger needs than LW. Possibly CAM too, depending on who our manager is and what system we'll be playing.
 
A starting centre back, striker, right winger and (if possible) a central midfielder (all improvements on what we have now (i.e. Blind, Rooney, Mata, Schweinsteiger)).

A manager, an Academy Director and a Director of Football first preferably.
 
(Age at the start of next sesaon)
(Red indicating one of the best)

Goalkeepers
David De Gea, 25 (Great)
Victor Valdes, 34 (Good, as a backup)
Sergio Romero, 29 (OK)
Sam Johnstone, 23 (Potential)

Centre Backs
Chris Smalling, 26 (Good/Great)
Daley Blind, 26 (OK/Good)
Marcos Rojo, 26 (OK)
Phil Jones, 24 (OK)
Paddy McNair, 21 (Poor/OK)

Right Backs
Matteo Darmian, 26 (Poor/OK)
Antonio Valencia, 31(Poor/OK)
Ashley Young, 31 (OK)
Guillermo Varela, 23 (Need more sample)

Left Backs
Luke Shaw, 21 (Good/Potentially Great)
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 19 (Need more sample)

Central Midfielders
Morgan Schneiderlin, 26 (Poor/OK)
Michael Carrick, 35 (OK)
Bastian Schweinsteiger, 32 (OK)
Ander Herrera, 27 (Poor/OK)
Marouane Fellaini, 28 (Poor)
Andreas Pereira, 20 (Potential)

Forwards
Juan Mata, 28 (Poor/OK)
Memphis Depay, 22 (Poor/Ok)
Jesse Lingard, 23 (Poor/OK)
Adnan Januzaj, 21 (Need more sample/Potential)
Nick Powell, 22 (End of the line)

Strikers
Anthony Martial, 20 (Good/Potentially Great)
Wayne Rooney, 30 (Poor/OK/Good)
James Wilson, 20 (Potential)

GK = Good balance of age and quality
CB = Lacks an all rounder, space to breed youngsters
FB = Good balance of age, RB lacking quality
CM = Lacking pace and dribbling/technique, space for 1-2 youth addition
FW = Needs pace and experience
ST= Needs experience

Current XI
De Gea
Darmian---Smalling---Blind---Shaw
Schneiderlin---Carrick/Schweinsteiger
Mata/Lingard---Rooney/Herrera---Martial/Memphis
Rooney/Martial
or
De Gea
Darmian---Smalling---Blind---Shaw
Schneiderlin---Herrera---Carrick/Schweinsteiger
Mata/Lingard---Rooney/Martial---Martial/Memphis​

Major additions
  • An all rounder partner for Smalling
  • A technical, creative, pacey CM must, number depending on Schneiderlin's form
  • RW and AM need better/great additions
Minor additions
  • Addition at RB depending on Darmian's return to form
  • ST addition depending on Martial's position and Rooney's future
If:
Martial top - Rooney/ an experienced goalscorer as back-up
Martial left - 1st choice short-term experienced striker
 
Something is seriously wrong. LvG has had two summer transfer windows in which he's signed about ten players in total and we are still talking (rightly so) about the desperate need of 4 or 5 more. He's done a shit job.
 
Kevin said:
Something is seriously wrong. LvG has had two summer transfer windows in which he's signed about ten players in total and we are still talking (rightly so) about the desperate need of 4 or 5 more. He's done a shit job.
Click to expand...

Signed 10, let go of 18. All but 1 or 2 of that 18 have absolutely no argument for keeping.
 
Sb_16 said:
(Age at the start of next sesaon)
(Red indicating one of the best)

Goalkeepers
David De Gea, 25 (Great)
Victor Valdes, 34 (Good, as a backup)
Sergio Romero, 29 (OK)
Sam Johnstone, 23 (Potential)

Centre Backs
Chris Smalling, 26 (Good/Great)
Daley Blind, 26 (OK/Good)
Marcos Rojo, 26 (OK)
Phil Jones, 24 (OK)
Paddy McNair, 21 (Poor/OK)

Right Backs
Matteo Darmian, 26 (Poor/OK)
Antonio Valencia, 31(Poor/OK)
Ashley Young, 31 (OK)
Guillermo Varela, 23 (Need more sample)

Left Backs
Luke Shaw, 21 (Good/Potentially Great)
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, 19 (Need more sample)

Central Midfielders
Morgan Schneiderlin, 26 (Poor/OK)
Michael Carrick, 35 (OK)
Bastian Schweinsteiger, 32 (OK)
Ander Herrera, 27 (Poor/OK)
Marouane Fellaini, 28 (Poor)
Andreas Pereira, 20 (Potential)

Forwards
Juan Mata, 28 (Poor/OK)
Memphis Depay, 22 (Poor/Ok)
Jesse Lingard, 23 (Poor/OK)
Adnan Januzaj, 21 (Need more sample/Potential)
Nick Powell, 22 (End of the line)

Strikers
Anthony Martial, 20 (Good/Potentially Great)
Wayne Rooney, 30 (Poor/OK/Good)
James Wilson, 20 (Potential)

GK = Good balance of age and quality
CB = Lacks an all rounder, space to breed youngsters
FB = Good balance of age, RB lacking quality
CM = Lacking pace and dribbling/technique, space for 1-2 youth addition
FW = Needs pace and experience
ST= Needs experience

Current XI
De Gea
Darmian---Smalling---Blind---Shaw
Schneiderlin---Carrick/Schweinsteiger
Mata/Lingard---Rooney/Herrera---Martial/Memphis
Rooney/Martial
or
De Gea
Darmian---Smalling---Blind---Shaw
Schneiderlin---Herrera---Carrick/Schweinsteiger
Mata/Lingard---Rooney/Martial---Martial/Memphis​

Major additions
  • An all rounder partner for Smalling
  • A technical, creative, pacey CM must, number depending on Schneiderlin's form
  • RW and AM need better/great additions
Minor additions
  • Addition at RB depending on Darmian's return to form
  • ST addition depending on Martial's position and Rooney's future
If:
Martial top - Rooney/ an experienced goalscorer as back-up
Martial left - 1st choice short-term experienced striker
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Agree with a lot here but I think it's far too early to call Darmian, Schneiderlin and Memphis poor. They have to be given time to settle in and expect them to be better next season. Also Herrera should be at least Ok.
 
Dong Fangzhuo said:
Yep. I don't really want a LW signing. We'll almost certainly spend big on a striker, so Martial should see plenty of time on the left + it's too early to give up on Memphis. RW/Striker are far bigger needs than LW. Possibly CAM too, depending on who our manager is and what system we'll be playing.
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I agree, Rooney is a huge stumbling block for us but we must upgrade him in the summer and get in someone that plays from the right, Martial will start most weeks on the left and Memphis will hopefully improve next season. We basically need a Martial for the RW.
 
Devil may care said:
I agree, Rooney is a huge stumbling block for us but we must upgrade him in the summer and get in someone that plays from the right, Martial will start most weeks on the left and Memphis will hopefully improve next season. We basically need a Martial for the RW.
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:cool:

el-atletico-tiene-en-cartera-a-embolo-del-basilea.jpg
 
What about Bernardo Silva for RW or CAM? Don't know much about him admittedly, but he looked brilliant the few times I saw him for Monaco. Juve are supposedly sniffing around and they seem to do pretty well in the market in recent years.
 
Dong Fangzhuo said:
What about Bernardo Silva for RW or CAM? Don't know much about him admittedly, but he looked brilliant the few times I saw him for Monaco. Juve are supposedly sniffing around and they seem to do pretty well in the market in recent years.
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Thomas Lemar is the more interesting player this season.
 
Last night we played more of a 4-3-3 with Mata free to roam but dropping in to try and help the midfield, while Martial and Lingard played closer to Rooney as inside forwards rather than wingers, CBJ and Darmian provided the width. Just like last season the system produced our best football.

I don't think scoring a few goals changes things regarding Rooney, but knowing the way things are he'll still be starting week in and week out regardless of form, so no top striker will come in to sit on the bench, and Rooney can only operate in that front 3 system with speed close to him, he's not got the legs or skill to be a #10 anymore and needs to concentrate on getting into the box as he's still a good finisher.

Now if the AM/#10 role in 4-3-3 is going to be shared by Mata, Herrera and Pereira, I think we need the RWF to also be capable of as a striker, and we could bring in a couple of CM's. Whether we buy a CB I think will depend on if we change manager, I'm not sure anyone but LvG and Pep would use Blind as a CB.

So;

RWF- Embolo
CM - Gundogan
CM - Neves
 
Devil may care said:
Last night we played more of a 4-3-3 with Mata free to roam but dropping in to try and help the midfield, while Martial and Lingard played closer to Rooney as inside forwards rather than wingers, CBJ and Darmian provided the width. Just like last season the system produced our best football.

I don't think scoring a few goals changes things regarding Rooney, but knowing the way things are he'll still be starting week in and week out regardless of form, so no top striker will come in to sit on the bench, and Rooney can only operate in that front 3 system with speed close to him, he's not got the legs or skill to be a #10 anymore and needs to concentrate on getting into the box as he's still a good finisher.

Now if the AM/#10 role in 4-3-3 is going to be shared by Mata, Herrera and Pereira, I think we need the RWF to also be capable of as a striker, and we could bring in a couple of CM's. Whether we buy a CB I think will depend on if we change manager, I'm not sure anyone but LvG and Pep would use Blind as a CB.

So;

RWF- Embolo
CM - Gundogan
CM - Neves
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Sensible transfer targets...I don't think Embolo should move yet, but if we don't make a move for him in the summer, someone else will.
 
Might need to revise some of the shouts in here if we miss out on the CL, which is very likely now IMO.

Time to think of some options for the 4 key positions we need filling that will be less sought after I reckon.
 
Devil may care said:
Might need to revise some of the shouts in here if we miss out on the CL, which is very likely now IMO.

Time to think of some options for the 4 key positions we need filling that will be less sought after I reckon.
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It's not that bigger issue unless it effects our budget.

If we show ourselves to be making big moves players will join. Just have to put the money up.
 
Past caring. Whoever we get under this cock will be underwhelming. He could turn Messi to crap.
 
KingMinger22 said:
It's not that bigger issue unless it effects our budget.

If we show ourselves to be making big moves players will join. Just have to put the money up.
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The best players will be wanted by multiple big clubs and if they have CL then it's likely to count against us, like it did with Sanchez.
 
Only De Gea, Smalling, Shaw and Martial are first X1 standard. Lets hope few of the youngsters have Mahrez like transformation over the summer.

Devil may care said:
The best players will be wanted by multiple big clubs and if they have CL then it's likely to count against us, like it did with Sanchez.
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Coincidentally, our best bet this time around is another Sanches, and the likes of Sane, Embolo, Laporte. I'd be happy with that though.
 
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