What do we still need? Post Summer 2015 edition.

[Oneunited26]

Well the priority? make sure VG is gone, then we can look forward to what we need, because with VG in charge we could have barca's front 3, and VG would find a way of ruining those 3 is well

 

[bucky]

I agree in that Koulibaly and Jorginho would certainly improve us. But i'm very skeptical when it comes to signing players from Serie A, Alot of them don't tend to adapt very well to the English game and with the amount of money we will have to spend in Summer, we cannot afford to gamble if that makes sense.

Now if you were to ask me who I would be targeting that is the million pound question really. Because of our situation it will be very hard to attract the likes of Griezmann and Koke etc. Players who would improve us ten-fold pretty much right away. The only way we could possibly attract these 'top tier' types is by having a Mourinho type as manager and throwing a feck load of cash at them. If we have learned one thing from the recent China upsurge it is that most players are mercenaries and would move if the money was right.

I agree that signing players from there could be bigger gamble than from Spain or Germany, but how has that worked out for us? Di Maria was one of the most obvious signings we could make, we thought he'd improve us massively and whilst he was impressive for Madrid, it just didn't work out. Ander Herrera after impressing for several seasons at Bilbao isn't looking the same player for us. Schweinsteiger is nowhere near his level he was playing at in his final season for Munich. Schneiderlin, a proven midfielder in the EPL, isn't as good as he was for Southampton. A lot of that is obviously down to van Gaal, but the players have to take blame as well. I'm certain they'll improve under someone else, but we've had quite a few players who weren't as good as they were at their previous clubs. Mata, Berbatov and Veron are other examples. The point I'm trying to make is that every signing is a gamble and you have to look at each player individually.

For example I am confident that Koulibaly will have no problem adjusting to the EPL, since he's physically strong, comfortable under pressure, quick and he is a more than decent passer. Jorginho I could definitely see struggling though. However he isn't my first choice at replacing Carrick's passing ability, just a suggestion.

Another point I was trying to make with the post you quoted, which you address as well, was that we need to be cautious how we spend our money, since we still need to invest heavily and we might not get the players we want due to no CL football. That's the reason I've mostly looked at the other European leagues, because it will simply be cheaper. There are plents of posts on here, where people talk about signing players like Griezmann, Gündogan, Lukaku, Stones, Laporte, Aubameyang and so on. Even for us it won't be possible to sign for 4 or 5 players of that calibre and we most certainly need 5 players in terms of quality and quantity for our squad. We might sign one of them, maybe even two, but we have to do more and look for value in some positions probably. At the same time quite a few posters complain why we don't make a signing like Kante. The players I've listed could be signing like him for Leicester.

Ideally IMO we sign someone like Griezmann or Gündogan or both and continue with signings like Martial. Sane or Embolo won't be cheap either, however they would be what United is about.

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

james rodriguez

 

[Fer]

james rodriguez

If Madrid signs Hazard, Pogba and/or Lewandowski, I think one quality player could be sold. So signing James Rodriguez it's not an impossible signing. However, I prefer Griezmann as a top signing.

 

[diarm]

I'd like to see 3 players for every position next year. We've all seen how injuries can pile up and we should have at least two decent options and one young option in every place.

Fortunately, the emergence of lads like Varela, Bo-Jack, Riley, Martial, Pereira, Rashford etc will help out here but we'll still need to get some real quality in in a few key areas.

I think we could raise 50-60 million by shipping out Johnstone, Valdes, Valencia, Blackett, Young, Fellaini, Powell, Lingard and Rooney. Then give the new boss a 200mil war chest to go out and sign a CB, CM, AM, RW and CF all of true quality.

GK - De Gea, Romero, Pereira
RB - Darmian, Varela, Love
CB - Smalling, Jones, McNair
CB - NEW, Rojo, Tuanzebe (Stones, Laporte, Alderweireld)
LB - Shaw, Bo-Jack, Riley
DM - Blind, Carrick, Poole
CM - Schneiderlin, NEW, Schweinsteiger (Gundogan, Sanchez)
AM - NEW, Herrera, Gribbin (Griezmann, Alli, Payet)
RW - NEW, Mata, Januzaj (Mahrez, Silva, Benardeschi)
LW - Martial, Memphis, Pereira
ST - NEW, Wilson, Rashford (Aubameyang, Lukaku, Kane)

 

[Fer]

I'd like to see 3 players for every position next year. We've all seen how injuries can pile up and we should have at least two decent options and one young option in every place.

Fortunately, the emergence of lads like Varela, Bo-Jack, Riley, Martial, Pereira, Rashford etc will help out here but we'll still need to get some real quality in in a few key areas.

I think we could raise 50-60 million by shipping out Johnstone, Valdes, Valencia, Blackett, Young, Fellaini, Powell, Lingard and Rooney. Then give the new boss a 200mil war chest to go out and sign a CB, CM, AM, RW and CF all of true quality.

GK - De Gea, Romero, Pereira
RB - Darmian, Varela, Love
CB - Smalling, Jones, McNair
CB - NEW, Rojo, Tuanzebe (Stones, Laporte, Alderweireld)
LB - Shaw, Bo-Jack, Riley
DM - Blind, Carrick, Poole
CM - Schneiderlin, NEW, Schweinsteiger (Gundogan, Sanchez)
AM - NEW, Herrera, Gribbin (Griezmann, Alli, Payet)
RW - NEW, Mata, Januzaj (Mahrez, Silva, Benardeschi)
LW - Martial, Memphis, Pereira
ST - NEW, Wilson, Rashford (Aubameyang, Lukaku, Kane)

I think some of our players are versatile enough to cover more than one position. In case they get injured, players like Love, Tuanzebe, Poole, Gribbin, etc could cover those positions.

So we could have a squad like this:

GK - De Gea, Romero, Johnstone
RB - Aurier, Darmian, Varela
CB - Smalling, Jones, McNair
CB - Laporte, Blind, Rojo
LB - Shaw, Rojo, CBJ
DM - Schneiderlin, Carrick, Blind
CM - Gundogan, Herrera, Schweinsteiger
AM - Mata, Herrera, Pereira
RW - Mahrez, Januzaj, Lingard
LW - Martial, Memphis, Pereira
ST - Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Martial

 

[diarm]

I think some of our players are versatile enough to cover more than one position. In case they get injured, players like Love, Tuanzebe, Poole, Gribbin, etc could cover those positions.

So we could have a squad like this:

GK - De Gea, Romero, Johnstone
RB - Aurier, Darmian, Varela
CB - Smalling, Jones, McNair
CB - Laporte, Blind, Rojo
LB - Shaw, Rojo, CBJ
DM - Schneiderlin, Carrick, Blind
CM - Gundogan, Herrera, Schweinsteiger
AM - Mata, Herrera, Pereira
RW - Mahrez, Januzaj, Lingard
LW - Martial, Memphis, Pereira
ST - Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Martial

I don't know if I love the idea of bringing in personalities like Aurier and Ibrahimovic? Would much prefer to see someone like Aubameyang or Lukaku up front, especially if it is Mourinho coming in. I also think Varela could be the real deal and Darmian will be an excellent player for us. I wouldn't like to bring someone in who is going to cut down on their playing time.

 

[Amadaeus]

We need to certainly sell Rooney and try and get a top class striker. Moreover a right winger and a Centerback because of the reaccurence of injuries.

Butland(if De Gea leaves)
Darmien/Valencia - Smalling/Jones - Koulibaly/Rojo - Shaw/CBJ
Schneiderlin/Blind - Herrera/Schweinstiger
Mata(Lewis Cook)/Perera
Greizman(Mahrez)/Lingard - Dybala(Aubameyang)/Wilson - Martial/Depay
​

Might also bring in Lewis Cook from Leeds.

 

[Spock]

Assuming we can't send Rooney to China and we're stuck with him starting whenever he feels like it, a right winger in the mold of Mahrez. He's proven enough to me this season he'd be a perfect fit it United.

Thus, Mahrez up front. Laporte on the back line. And maybe a defensive midfielder to succeed Carrick. Many of the obvious names are out of reach, so I'm thinking Luiz Gustavo. But of course there's also Wanyama, who worked well with Schneiderlin.

De Gea
Varela Smalling Laporte Shaw
Wanyama Schneiderlin
Mahrez Rooney Memphis
Martial

...with all the depth that we have would be pretty interesting. The obvious problem is still Rooney but unless somehow has a great idea on how to send him to China he's going to be a regular starter no matter who succeeds LVG.

 

[diarm]

We need to certainly sell Rooney and try and get a top class striker. Moreover a right winger and a Centerback because of the reaccurence of injuries.

Butland(if De Gea leaves)
Darmien/Valencia - Smalling/Jones - Koulibaly/Rojo - Shaw/CBJ
Schneiderlin/Blind - Herrera/Schweinstiger
Mata/Perera
Greizman(Mahrez)/Lingard - Dybala(Aubameyang)/Wilson - Martial/Depay​

I've not seen much of Dybala. You'd rate him higher than Aubameyang? Must check him out.

 

[CM]

I've not seen much of Dybala. You'd rate him higher than Aubameyang? Must check him out.

He's the dogs bollocks. I'd probably have him as top priority if he were in any way available this summer. He won't be, though.

 

[moxdevil]

- Manager (Mourinho)
- Starting Centre Back to partner Smalling (not fussed if he's left footed)
- Box-to-Box Central Midfielder and move away from two holding midfielders
- Pacey Right-sided Hybrid Forward to have option of three up front
- Centre Forward with physical presence

 

[itso 7]

Assuming we can't send Rooney to China and we're stuck with him starting whenever he feels like it, a right winger in the mold of Mahrez. He's proven enough to me this season he'd be a perfect fit it United.

Thus, Mahrez up front. Laporte on the back line. And maybe a defensive midfielder to succeed Carrick. Many of the obvious names are out of reach, so I'm thinking Luiz Gustavo. But of course there's also Wanyama, who worked well with Schneiderlin.

De Gea
Varela Smalling Laporte Shaw
Wanyama Schneiderlin
Mahrez Rooney Memphis
Martial

...with all the depth that we have would be pretty interesting. The obvious problem is still Rooney but unless somehow has a great idea on how to send him to China he's going to be a regular starter no matter who succeeds LVG.

Nah mate that midfield is too workmen like and all the creativity issues with continue to dog us especially with Rooney in the hole. If we are to move forward we need to replace the playmaking abilities that Carrick brings/brought to the table. A central midfield playmaker is a must, maybe we will get a like for like replacement or we will go for a Modric type of no.8 with Schneiderlin continuing as the DM. Then if Rooney starts the season playing like he is always hungover I would like to see Pereira being given a genuine chance in the hole, see where is at development wise, for a season, before splashing on an AM.

 

[Spock]

Nah mate that midfield is too workmen like and all the creativity issues with continue to dog us especially with Rooney in the hole. If we are to move forward we need to replace the playmaking abilities that Carrick brings/brought to the table. A central midfield playmaker is a must, maybe we will get a like for like replacement or we will go for a Modric type of no.8 with Schneiderlin continuing as the DM. Then if Rooney starts the season playing like he is always hungover I would like to see Pereira being given a genuine chance in the hole, see where is at development wise, for a season, before splashing on an AM.

I just don't know how we solve our creativity issues without ditching Rooney.

We could go to an old-fashioned 442 with Rooney as the second striker behind Martial but I don't know any manager who believes in a 442 any longer and I don't know if we could cobble the right personnel together to make that happen.

We could go 433 but Rooney would be our useless ball-and-chain just the same as in a 4231.

But if somehow we find a new home for Rooney then all kinds of possibilities are open to us. He'd be off the books to begin with and money is no object in finding his successor, who for me is Greizmann.

 

[Amadaeus]

I've not seen much of Dybala. You'd rate him higher than Aubameyang? Must check him out.

At the moment, you can say that because Dybala has shown consistency in his performance that spans more than one season. Dybala posses a lot of qualities similiar to Aguero and what first comes to mind when you watch him play is his ability with the ball at his feet, in particular his speed and clinical finishing which makes him deadly as a no.9 or a 9 and1/2.

 

[NoPace]

- Manager (Mourinho)
- Starting Centre Back to partner Smalling (not fussed if he's left footed)
- Box-to-Box Central Midfielder and move away from two holding midfielders
- Pacey Right-sided Hybrid Forward to have option of three up front
- Centre Forward with physical presence

Basically this seems right, although I'd add selling Fellaini and signing a very young, promising box to box CM as cover, sort of like what Madrid with Kovacic I guess. Bring back Carrick and let Rooney, Fellaini, Valencia and Young out and sign those 5 players:

-----------Martial----------- (9, Wilson)
Memphis-------------RW--- (Martial, Lingard, Januzaj, Pereira)
-----Herrera---CM---------- (Mata, CM2, Schweinsteiger)
-------Schneiderlin---------- (Blind, Carrick)
Shaw--------------Darmian (Blind, CBJ, Rojo, Varela)
-------CB---Smalling------- (Blind, Jones, Rojo, McNair)
-----------De Gea----------- (Romero)

 

[Gerald G]

CB, CM, RW + ST - for sure. Possible AM + fullback

 

[Devil may care]

- Manager (Mourinho)
- Starting Centre Back to partner Smalling (not fussed if he's left footed)
- Box-to-Box Central Midfielder and move away from two holding midfielders
- Pacey Right-sided Hybrid Forward to have option of three up front
- Centre Forward with physical presence

These are the 4 spots we need to address without a doubt. Not sure who we'd get in truth but the spine needs quality added and the RW spot is a really big weakness.

Basically this seems right, although I'd add selling Fellaini and signing a very young, promising box to box CM as cover, sort of like what Madrid with Kovacic I guess. Bring back Carrick and let Rooney, Fellaini, Valencia and Young out and sign those 5 players:

If we get Sanches that's what he'd be as he's not ready to be the answer to our midfield questions.

 

[itso 7]

I just don't know how we solve our creativity issues without ditching Rooney.

We could go to an old-fashioned 442 with Rooney as the second striker behind Martial but I don't know any manager who believes in a 442 any longer and I don't know if we could cobble the right personnel together to make that happen.

We could go 433 but Rooney would be our useless ball-and-chain just the same as in a 4231.

But if somehow we find a new home for Rooney then all kinds of possibilities are open to us. He'd be off the books to begin with and money is no object in finding his successor, who for me is Greizmann.

I know this might sound strange but the bench is a good home for a start and I'm certain the rest will resolve itself. When he loses his 'privileges' taking a pay cut to go back to whence he came from will not be so unthinkable.

 

[Spock]

I know this might sound strange but the bench is a good home for a start and I'm certain the rest will resolve itself. When he loses his 'privileges' taking a pay cut to go back to whence he came from will not be so unthinkable.

For us caftards, benching Rooney -- aka treating him like everyone else on the squad -- is the obvious answer but when a player is on 300k/week it can't be easy to treat him like everyone else. The pressure on the manager to play him has to be immense.

 

[Fer]

CB, CM, RW + ST - for sure. Possible AM + fullback

Definitely those 4 positions are our priorities in the summer. The positive is that there are a lot of young and talented defenders and midfielders. I'm not sure what kind of striker we are going to buy if Rooney continues, maybe a experienced striker because we have a lot of young strikers.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

I think a good long term option to compete at CB like laporte or stones and a good exciting attacking player addition. In an ideal world we'd sign a striker too but we'll see

 

[itso 7]

I think a good long term option to compete at CB like laporte or stones and a good exciting attacking player addition. In an ideal world we'd sign a striker too but we'll see

This would be key because we are this type of player away from having a defense good enough to fight for the title. That and a top class attacker that comes in from the right.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Depending how Rashford kicks on we need a RW, and a CB, and we need to lose Rooney, Fellaini, and maybe Jones.

If Rooney goes one of the incomings has to be a stellar signing to appease the sponsors.

 

[reddevilz007]

Depending how Rashford kicks on we need a RW, and a CB, and we need to lose Rooney, Fellaini, and maybe Jones.

If Rooney goes one of the incomings has to be a stellar signing to appease the sponsors.

Ibrahimovic. Play one or two seasons for us, and then pave way for Martial and Rashford.

 

[Kraftwerker]

It's funny how bipolar good/bad performances can make you.

Swinging from OMG WE NEED 17 PLAYERS to worrying about signing players in case it blocks youth development.

Reckon we need about three.

Carrick replacement.
Rooney replacement.
Centre-half.

Increasingly confident we can cope with our current full-back options.

 

[Fer]

It's funny how bipolar good/bad performances can make you.

Swinging from OMG WE NEED 17 PLAYERS to worrying about signing players in case it blocks youth development.

Reckon we need about three.

Carrick replacement.
Rooney replacement.
Centre-half.

Increasingly confident we can cope with our current full-back options.

Agree with you, but I have the feeling that Rooney is going to continue next season.
We definitely need a new defender, a CM to replace Carrick if he goes and an attacking player.

What about a right winger? Or who would you play there next season?

 

[Kraftwerker]

Agree with you, but I have the feeling that Rooney is going to continue next season.
We definitely need a new defender, a CM to replace Carrick if he goes and an attacking player.

What about a right winger? Or who would you play there next season?

The Rooney replacement can be a wide froward. Someone like Griezmann. Doesn't need to be like for like.

But I have a hunch the club will go after a classic number 9 and spunk a shit load on someone like Cavani.

 

[settembrini]

I'll be happy with Mahrez and Sanches.

 

[Red_Beans]

We need a left footed right winger and a CB as priorities. A CM who can dictate the pace of play would also be nice

 

[Fer]

The Rooney replacement can be a wide froward. Someone like Griezmann. Doesn't need to be like for like.

But I have a hunch the club will go after a classic number 9 and spunk a shit load on someone like Cavani.

Okay, when you mentioned Carrick and Rooney replacements I thought you were talking about positions.

Griezmann would be my favorite player to replace Rooney. And Gundogan to replace Carrick... But let's see what happen in the summer.

I hope we can sign 3 or 4 quality players that strength our squad.

 

[Fer]

We normally talk about buying new players, but we also need to sell some players.

Besides Fellaini, who would you sell?

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

We normally talk about buying new playera, but we also need to sell some players.

Besides Fellaini, who would you sell?

Rooney for one.

 

[Red_Beans]

We normally talk about buying new playera, but we also need to sell some players.

Besides Fellaini, who would you sell?

Our squad is so thin as is, we don't really need to sell any players. The obvious exception is Rooney of course

 

[Anduin]

My ideal incomings for the summer would be:

Manager: Mourinho
Centre-Back: Laporte (€50m)
Striker: Ibrahimovic (£0)
Wide forward: Griezmann (£63m)
Central Midfield: Gündogan (£15m, only contract until June '17)

Outgoings: Rooney, Carrick

De Gea; Varela/Darmian, Smalling, Laporte, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Gündogan, Herrera; Griezmann, Ibrahimovic, Martial.

I think signing Ibrahimovic, a proven winner over more than a decade, would lift the squad immensely. He's a no-brainer on a free and considering his close ties to Mourinho.

 

[Fer]

Talking about defenders, here are some interesting questions that I read in a previous thread (at that time, Otamend, Godin and Hummels where our favorites):

• What CB options do we have in the summer?
• Can we afford some of these players considering we are looking to strengthen in several other areas?
• How many players who are good enough for United would be available/willing?
• How many of these players will be snatched up by Barca/City/Chelsea/Bayern/etc?

 

[Devil may care]

I think the good week we had has distorted things a bit, nothing has changed regarding what the team needs. For instance next season Rashford should give us the kind of option Iheanacho gives City, rather than be expected to carry the load at 18.

CB - Still need an addition here, Stones, Laporte, Koulibaly, all good options.

CM - We must replace Carrick with someone that has a great passing game, Gundogan is head and shoulders the best option. After that is a step down but still good options like Goretzka and Xhaka.

RWF - Arguably our weakest position in regards to the fact we don't have a player who would call this their best position. Mahrez and Sane are the best 2 options right now I'd say.

Forward - Whether it's as a #9 or a SS/#10 we need another attacking option, players like Griezmann and Barkley are ideal to play off Martial if he becomes our main #9 next season.

 

[Litch]

I'd like to see 3 players for every position next year. We've all seen how injuries can pile up and we should have at least two decent options and one young option in every place.

Fortunately, the emergence of lads like Varela, Bo-Jack, Riley, Martial, Pereira, Rashford etc will help out here but we'll still need to get some real quality in in a few key areas.

I think we could raise 50-60 million by shipping out Johnstone, Valdes, Valencia, Blackett, Young, Fellaini, Powell, Lingard and Rooney. Then give the new boss a 200mil war chest to go out and sign a CB, CM, AM, RW and CF all of true quality.

GK - De Gea, Romero, Pereira
RB - Darmian, Varela, Love
CB - Smalling, Jones, McNair
CB - NEW, Rojo, Tuanzebe (Stones, Laporte, Alderweireld)
LB - Shaw, Bo-Jack, Riley
DM - Blind, Carrick, Poole
CM - Schneiderlin, NEW, Schweinsteiger (Gundogan, Sanchez)
AM - NEW, Herrera, Gribbin (Griezmann, Alli, Payet)
RW - NEW, Mata, Januzaj (Mahrez, Silva, Benardeschi)
LW - Martial, Memphis, Pereira
ST - NEW, Wilson, Rashford (Aubameyang, Lukaku, Kane)

I think that's pretty spot on....

 

[Fer]

Which players did we try to sign in January?

I read about Koulibaly, Renato Sanches and Felipe Anderson. But not sure if there were just rumours.

 

[Devil may care]

After another mess of a season resulting in no CL I think it's highly unlikely that players will leave teams like Atleti, Juve and Dortmund to come here, and despite all logical thought it seems inevitable that Rooney will still be here and worse still, starting most games.

With that in mind;

CB's - Still plenty of good options here, Laporte, Stones and Koulibaly being the best.
CM's - Like CB there are good options like Goretzka, Kante, Xhaka and Neves.
RW - Mahrez is the best option of the proven choices, if we go for young potential then Sane and Dembele seem strong options.
#10/AM - Can't see anything happening here with Rooney dug in like an Alabama tick.
Striker - Ibra and Lukaku or the only 2 realistic options in my view.