Healthy players, that's what we need.
What do we still need? Post Summer 2016 edition
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
Unfortunately we need a lot, Shaw can't be relied on so we need a lb, rojo will miss most of the season and jones and smalling consistently let the team down with injuries so we need 2 centre halves. We are at least one but probably two players short in cm and we need at least one forward. With DDG possibly leaving as well a keeper might be required, you can't recruit that many players in one window but I think 4-5 will have to be brought in.
With Zlatan, Rooney, DDG and few others all possibly going it's probably going to be our biggest and most interesting transfer window ever.
With Zlatan, Rooney, DDG and few others all possibly going it's probably going to be our biggest and most interesting transfer window ever.
Pogba being better than Cesc defensively doesn't mean it's a good idea, and as for people like me, Pogba isn't a kid suddenly finding his feet like the rest you suggested who made their switch at 21 or younger, he's a 24 year old CM who has played at the highest level as the CM that is free to create and take risks and not required to constantly worry about defensive duties as two other players cover him in midfield.
You mention that in your opinion the 3 man midfield is only used to cover for a DLP who is less adept defensively, well Pogba might not be a DLP but he's certainly less adept defensively than a standard CM which is why you put two in with him. You use the term "People like you" in a dismissoive fashion but to reverse I'd say people like you are too keen to piss away the special player Pogba is by trying to shoehorn him into a role that isn't suited to his skillset purely so you can shove in some fancy #10 or SS in a front 4 that is a mess with no proper width to boot, playing with a front 3 would be better for Rashford and Martial as they wouldn't have to start so wide.
CB
LB
CDM
RW
ST
GK (if De Gea leaves)
LB
CDM
RW
ST
GK (if De Gea leaves)
ST
Martial Mkhitaryan RW
CDM Pogba
LB CB Bailly Valencia
De Gea
I'd be happy if we start like that next season and I suspect that's what it would take for Mourinho to be happy too. Last seasons signings besides Zlatan in the team and we now go for 5 new first teamers with a host of overpaid squad players available to be sacrificed. I'm expecting a huge summer regardless of what the club may be saying.Martial Mkhitaryan RW
CDM Pogba
LB CB Bailly Valencia
De Gea
If we look at it this way, I'd say we, ideally, would want the following, then:
9 - New9, Rashford
LW- Martial, Mkhitaryan
RW- Griezmann/Other, Mata
LCM - Pogba, Pereira/Fellaini
RCM - Herrera, New CM
DM - New DM, Carrick
LB - New LB, Shaw
LCB -New LCB, Rojo
RCB - Bailly, New RCB
RB - Valencia, Darmian
GK - De Gea, Romero
but that seems like a ton of change. 5 new starters and 2 reserves.
We could bank on Mourinho being so good with CBs and roll with Blind and Rojo as the 2 LCB options for another year and get it down to 6 new signings. If Pereira and Fellaini are judged to be good (and different enough with Fellaini useful in tougher games and Pereira in easier ones) enough to backup Pogba and Herrera, especially with Mkhitaryan and Mata needing games and being comfortable as options at the 10 and Griezmann preferring to play there, we could get down to 5.
We would probably raise a fair whack of money by selling Lingard, Smalling, Jones to Prem sides, Darmian back to Italy, Rooney to China or the fecking moon, Blind to some sane side that needs someone reliable to step in at LCB, LB, and DM whenever needed.
Maybe it's not so crazy. Lukaku, Griezmann, N'Zonzi, Mendy and Manolas in for about 225M (65, 80, 25, 25, 30) to use some popular names, with the aforementioned players out for about 75M out and we'd have this as a 2 deep, as they say in American football:
9 - Lukaku, Rashford
LW- Martial, Mkhitaryan
RW- Griezmann, Mata
LCM - Pogba, Fellaini
RCM - Herrera, Pereira
DM - N'Zonzi, Carrick
LB - Mendy, Shaw
LCB - Rojo, Blind
RCB - Bailly, Manolas
RB - Valencia, Young
GK - De Gea, Romero
with Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe and maybe a promoted youth player or loanee returning as the extra attacking option available when someone is hurt.
That's a very solid squad.
So let me see if I get your logic right - Cesc is good enough with his defensive weakness but Pogba that is a better all round player would be limited?
. (BTW Cesc is better than Pogba in the final 3rd)FYI, until Cesc played for Chelsea at 27, he had not played in a dual pivot. At Arsenal he was usually the most advanced in a midfield trio while at Barcelona he initially played further upfield as a false #9 under pep (and back to CM later). According to your logic, Mourinho (and Pep) should have kept him in one his previous roles.
Pogba's role is not to take away from his attacking freedom (which his why you pair him with a true DM) but adds more to his responsibilities. Why have 3 players do the job of 2 or are you saying "the special player" is not capable of bearing the responsibility? To you Pogba can only contribute on the offensive end?
Mourinho's teams have almost all played with a true CAM (or what you called a fancy #10) e.g. Oscar, Ozil, Sneijder, Deco etc, but to you those championship teams are "a mess with no proper width to boot". How much different is Rashford's current role from CR when Mourinho coached Madrid? Do you think Messi+Neymar or CR+Bale who are in a front trio are there to provide width when they play on the opposite sides of their dominant foot? Is it you are simply locked in some old school philosophy or video game tactics when you need your attackers to provide width and/or cross the ball?
Anyways, fortunately for the club (but unfortunately for you), Mourinho is the current manager and he seems to disagree with "people like you" (however dismissive it may sound)
So let me see if I get your logic right - Cesc is good enough with his defensive weakness but Pogba that is a better all round player would be limited?
FYI, until Cesc played for Chelsea at 27, he had not played in a dual pivot. At Arsenal he was usually the most advanced in a midfield trio while at Barcelona he initially played further upfield as a false #9 under pep (and back to CM later). According to your logic, Mourinho (and Pep) should have kept him in one his previous roles.
Pogba's role is not to take away from his attacking freedom (which his why you pair him with a true DM) but adds more to his responsibilities. Why have 3 players do the job of 2 or are you saying "the special player" is not capable of bearing the responsibility? To you Pogba can only contribute on the offensive end?
Mourinho's teams have almost all played with a true CAM (or what you called a fancy #10) e.g. Oscar, Ozil, Sneijder, Deco etc, but to you those championship teams are "a mess with no proper width to boot". How much different is Rashford's current role from CR when Mourinho coached Madrid? Do you think Messi+Neymar or CR+Bale who are in a front trio are there to provide width when they play on the opposite sides of their dominant foot? Is it you are simply locked in some old school philosophy or video game tactics when you need your attackers to provide width and/or cross the ball?
Anyways, fortunately for the club (but unfortunately for you), Mourinho is the current manager and he seems to disagree with "people like you" (however dismissive it may sound)
Jose did it with Cesc but it was an awful system that saw their performances dwindle as the season went on because the strain on Matic was ridiculous partnered with a CM that has no clue defensively, and now he's a squad player under Conte who only operates as an AM, Jose tried it and it became unworkable which is why Conte has ditched him as anything but an AM.
So my logic is don't repeat the same stupid shit twice, Pogba is not good defensively, it's not about responsibility it's about playing a player in a role that gets the best out of him instead of forcing him into a role he's not suited to because you can't break away from the 4-2-3-1 formation, you say I'm locked in some oldschool philopsophy yet it's Jose that can't seem to move away from the formation, I grew up on 4-4-2 with wingers but I'm not harking back to that.
No, the Barca and Madrid wide attackers are not there to provide width, that wasn't what I said, I said playing with the 3 in behind a striker requires the 2 wide players in there to provide width, which is stupid in our team since none of the players we have offer width, they all cut in, so with that 4-2-3-1 we'll have a clusterfeck of 4 all moving inwards.
As far as the arrogant garbage at the end, we'll see how fortunate we are if Jose keeps on with this shit with Pogba, but then again don't you want us to sign James?
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The matter of fact is that Pogba needs to be play in a midfield three to exploit his attacking potential. Everyone in the whole wide world understands that 4-3-3 is the way to get the best out of Pogba. Our good games have been when Carrick played the Deep lying Playmaker where Herrera played the box to box midfielder that would break up plays and push the ball forward for Pogba to work his magic in the final third. Just because Peter Crouch is 6'7, you don't stick him in goal... same way just because Pogba is tall and athletic and physical, that doesn't make him a great DM. He's actually pretty bad when it comes to defending especially on set pieces. More than often, the player he marks ends up freeing up space for themselves. He's not very disciplined to work in a midfield 2. That should be the first thing to change. Other than that, we don't need a No. 10. If Pogba plays in a midfield three, he would already be contributing to the goals. The three we play upfront should be an interchanging trio like MSN for Barca. Griezmann would be a good buy if he can get him. Mhiki hasn't been dominating in a lot of the recent games. Rashford could be another part of the trio. I would like us to get another fast winger like a Dembele. A new CB would be good as well and a DM.
My first 11 team
--- Rashford --- Griezmann --- Dembele ----
----------- Pogba ---------Herrera ------------
--------------------- DM ------------------------
--- Shaw ---------------------------Valencia ---
------------ Bailly --------- Lindelof -----------------
------------------ New GK ---------------------
We don't necessarily need a tall striker. If our play is quick, we can break down any team.
Dembele
Griezmann
DM
Lindelof
GK
It's a fact that De Gea is as good as gone since he already put up his mansion for sale.
My first 11 team
--- Rashford --- Griezmann --- Dembele ----
----------- Pogba ---------Herrera ------------
--------------------- DM ------------------------
--- Shaw ---------------------------Valencia ---
------------ Bailly --------- Lindelof -----------------
------------------ New GK ---------------------
We don't necessarily need a tall striker. If our play is quick, we can break down any team.
Dembele
Griezmann
DM
Lindelof
GK
It's a fact that De Gea is as good as gone since he already put up his mansion for sale.
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You really think we're signing Dembele a year into his contract?
I don't think we're signing Dembele but one can only dream. We need someone with pace in that mould. The amount of money being thrown for Bernando Silva and Mbappe should be thrown at Dortmund for Dembele. His goal against Bayern is enough to convince anyone what a talent he is and what he may turn into. With Pogba, Martial and Griezmann, it wouldn't be difficult for him to adjust as well.
Pogba is going to master playing in a midfield two. Its inevitable. I also doubt we will by a holding player to be a starter. They will be for big matches when we will play 3 in midfield....
Yeah let's forget about Mkhitaryan completely, then buy someone from another club who will also struggle here because this happens naturally. Rinse and repeat. I think some people here just want to buy a whole new team. You can't buy a team you build one.
We should splash 50m for Pocchettino, this would probably improve us more then any players could
I wouldn't say there was anything inevitable about it, but if he is going to play in a 2 the holder will be imperative, someone like Fabinho is a must to offer the protection.
I don't understand this obsession of playing Pogba in a midfield two. Everyone in the whole wide world understands that Pogba's main asset is his attacking capabilities. Why would you play him in a more defensive role? We need a holding player. We don't need a 10 if Pogba is actually scoring goals for us. He needs to be groomed to be played like Lampard and not Roy Keane.
Looks good on 'paper' although I think De Gea will be gone and Carrick retired. I think he will bring in about 6 players and 6 out including De Gea and Carrick. I would definitely let Jones Smalling and Rooney go as well. Lingard & Fellaini are 50/50 with me but Mourinho likes them.
It wouldnt surprise me if Martial or Shaw left, even though I would like them to have another season. Does Mourinho really rate them though?
Firstly, Cesc still plays mainly as a CM (not AM)under Conte, partnered with Kante when Matic is absent. Every coach usually has their own ideas and preferences on how their team should be setup. Conte is inclined towards playing 3 at the back which leads to a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2. It has worked for him in the past and one cant fault him for sticking with it. While Cesc is no longer first choice, that speaks to Conte and not Cesc. Conte is very defensive minded (more than Mourinho) and simply prefers two ball winners in the middle. As an example, when Alonso was injured against United, the simple and aggressive fix was to start willian as RWb but instead he moved Azpilicueta from LCB to RWB and brought on Zouma.
If your argument was right, they would have had poor results at the end of the season but they won the league and league cup, winning 16 of their last 18 and losing only once in that stretch (a loss after securing the title by going 16pts clear with 5 games to go). The Chelsea team struggled with depth because they had no clear backup for Matic. Ramires was injured for long spell, Mikel was terrible and Loftus Cheek did not step up. Luck is part of life, but if the 'awful system' wins you titles (as has it has done for Mourinho) I am fine with sticking with it.
When you play 4-2-3-1, the 2 wide player are not meant to provide width but cut in. Under Mourinho at Madrid both CR and Di Maria were cutting into the box. In the modern game, the wide attacker rarely provide width and are usually instructed to drift inwards while the fullback overlap to take up the space. You can look at almost any top team playing 4-2-3-1 (e.g. Bayern, dortmund) or just modern attacking midfielders operating on the flank (e.g. hazard, messi, bale etc). Width in the modern game is primarily provided by the full backs. Imagine RM under Mourinho, with slight modifications to the role of Alonso vs Khedira, and you will get what United is likely to look like next season.
As for Pogba, that role in a dual pivot is what gets the best out of him and the players around him. That is actually why I believe he is worth every penny that United paid. If you play him in a 4-3-3, yes he does have less defensive responsibility but it doesnt really grant him any more freedom than he would have in a dual pivot (and may actually limit it depending on who is the RCM e.g. Kroos + Modric have to share). His offensive role is when we have the ball and the defensive is when we dont. In most games we will dominate possession and, with a solid DM, Pogba would have minimal defensive duties and against stiffer opposition you will see a 3-man midfield. But your base formation is what you will play most games and in most games a 2-man is more than enough.
The main advantage of the 4-3-3, which no one has brought up as far as I know, is fatigue, as Pogba would cover less ground in that system. That is something that is less of a problem when you dominate possession and if the squad is deep enough will afford Pogba opportunity to rest when needed. Doubt Mourinho would push him as much as he did this season once he has a better and deeper squad. But that should be an area of interest.
Its not a case of wanting to sign James per se, but that I feel the attack needs a creative CAM (and Pogba is not the answer). James is just one of those CAMs that seem will be in the market this summer. Ozil and Silva are also options (though I prefer the latter on the flanks). I have watched James regularly since he joined Madrid (less so prior) and I think he will be an upgrade on the current options and a good buy at the right price.
I said the performances dwindled from that Chelsea team and they did, Jose teams always know how to grind out results, but their football was horrible in the second half of the season as they were having to quit being expansive as Cesc was a liability. As for him under Conte, he's came on as practically a #10 several times and even if he played in the 2 with Kante it's not the same as he has a back 3 safety net behind him.
Jose's 4-2-3-1 often utilizes staggered flanks as he never likes both fullbacks to overlap. so one flank needs to offer width, and if you have a Pogba in midfield you need both too in order to open up space, especially if you want a #10 stuffed in there as well.
Lets just say we totally disagree on Pogba, I think he's a liability in a 2 and shouldn't have been bought if Jose always planned on using a double pivot, and the idea of him with James in front as the #10 I think would be a disaster, James doesn't work hard enough, or move enough and is too slow, he'll just be in Pogba's way IMO.
That makes perfect sense.
I personally don't get why people imagine 4-2-3-1 can't be played with a double pivot the has a more attack minded player with a more defensive one. At his best Pogba is a box to box midfielder. He can comfortably do for a team what Fabregas did for Chelsea, their title winning season under Jose, to a better degree because he is better defensively. People should not let his first season back in the EPL with out a real pre season and still re adjusting to the pace of things there fool them. Besides, he is 24. I also dont see how people think at 24 he can't improve the defensive side of his game. ZIts not like he has ever indicated a lack if desire to do so. Lastly, I don't see she he can't operate in the same team as a 10. He just likes the attacking left channel. Him scoring for more for us can't ever negate our need for a ten because Pogba isn't one. He likes to be involved in the heart if midfield even though he can get up to the box late. United thus can't risk isolating the lone striker. That is why signing a griezmann would be crucial rather than a pure 10 to operate there.
I don't understand this obsession of playing Pogba in a midfield two. Everyone in the whole wide world understands that Pogba's main asset is his attacking capabilities. Why would you play him in a more defensive role? We need a holding player. We don't need a 10 if Pogba is actually scoring goals for us. He needs to be groomed to be played like Lampard and not Roy Keane.
Our squad is still a mess
I think we are a fair few expensive / shrewd (so probably expensive) signings from being able to challenge for the title.
Left back - this is a weak area imo. Blind and Darmian are decent squad players but not top class full backs, Shaw isn't rated by Jose and is injured a lot anyway
Right back - Valencia is not getting any younger either, unless Fosu Mensah (who I do rate) can step up and stay fit
CB - I think Bailly is very good but he needs a calming influence alongside him. Rojo has been very good recently but he is not calm and he is now injured quite a bit. Jones and Smalling are too injury prone and not good enough anyway.
DCM - someone like Kante basically who will allow Pogba to be a proper box-to-box mid (I think he'll be a lot better next season if they do this)
Pacey creative attacker - someone like Griezeman who will push the opposition back as they are worried about him (like Mane for Liverpool)
Striker - Ibra is old and injured anyway, Rashford is not ready to lead the line - Mbappe??
So, half a team basically and they may need a keeper if De Gea goes to Madrid.
What a mess.
I think we are a fair few expensive / shrewd (so probably expensive) signings from being able to challenge for the title.
Left back - this is a weak area imo. Blind and Darmian are decent squad players but not top class full backs, Shaw isn't rated by Jose and is injured a lot anyway
Right back - Valencia is not getting any younger either, unless Fosu Mensah (who I do rate) can step up and stay fit
CB - I think Bailly is very good but he needs a calming influence alongside him. Rojo has been very good recently but he is not calm and he is now injured quite a bit. Jones and Smalling are too injury prone and not good enough anyway.
DCM - someone like Kante basically who will allow Pogba to be a proper box-to-box mid (I think he'll be a lot better next season if they do this)
Pacey creative attacker - someone like Griezeman who will push the opposition back as they are worried about him (like Mane for Liverpool)
Striker - Ibra is old and injured anyway, Rashford is not ready to lead the line - Mbappe??
So, half a team basically and they may need a keeper if De Gea goes to Madrid.
What a mess.
Martial has a long way to go. I don't see Mourinho counting on him alone and neither would I. So a new Left Winger is likely on the cards too.
1 - Striker
2 - Two Wingers (do we think Griezman falls somewhere between here and a Striker?)
2 - center mids (one more defensive)
1 - center back (I think we will persist with Rojo, Bailly and Smalling)
1- left back
that's seven new players I wouldn't be surprised to see. Oof.
1 - Striker
2 - Two Wingers (do we think Griezman falls somewhere between here and a Striker?)
2 - center mids (one more defensive)
1 - center back (I think we will persist with Rojo, Bailly and Smalling)
1- left back
that's seven new players I wouldn't be surprised to see. Oof.
I think we should sign Lemar. He'd transform our midfield and add some much needed drive there plus genuine quality. We aren't going to be knocking it about any time soon with our choice of manager and in a set up like ours side midfielders are invaluable. He'd be like a better version of the Giggs we had in the late 00's who was a tactical marvel.
Whoever we buy, we'd better do our homework on them with regards to their natural fitness and injury record. The amount of sick note players we have is ridiculous and has been a big burden on us these past few years.
I don't agree with Mourinho's insistence on a small squad but if that's what he wants, then it's imperative that he has players who wont turn up injured every other week.
I don't agree with Mourinho's insistence on a small squad but if that's what he wants, then it's imperative that he has players who wont turn up injured every other week.
Let's wait till he actually wins a trophy before thinking he might be the messiah?
Its not necessarily a small squad, but he does like a small rotation.
Mourinho usually keeps a core rotation of about 17 player who will play most of the games, but he also keeps about an additional 7 players (usually mix of youth and senior citizen) who can join the core rotation when there is a long term injury. He also likes to leave 1-2 spaces for potential January signings.
cos of his small rotation, he likes versatile players that can play multiple positions and at times plays players out of position to have them get used to it.
We need a left back badly. What options are out there? Is there a positionally aware left back with energy who can fire crosses reasonably accurately?
If we're spending so much on Griezmann and Lukaku potentially, should we go for Kolasinac? I don't know if he's top class but he's free. A reasonably good left back for nothing might be good because so much money could go towards those attackers, as well as other potential signings like Fabinho, Silva, Dier, Semedo, Oblak etc. If £150m goes towards attackers we still need to add a midfielder or two, and a LB so saving funds by adding Kolasinac on a free may be useful.
If we're spending so much on Griezmann and Lukaku potentially, should we go for Kolasinac? I don't know if he's top class but he's free. A reasonably good left back for nothing might be good because so much money could go towards those attackers, as well as other potential signings like Fabinho, Silva, Dier, Semedo, Oblak etc. If £150m goes towards attackers we still need to add a midfielder or two, and a LB so saving funds by adding Kolasinac on a free may be useful.
The ones we've been linked with are Mendy and Tierney I believe. Mendy can put in a good cross from what I've seen of him. Tierney, I've not seen much of him.
Emerson from Roma.
Well... Which of our players do we really think is good enough being being a first/second string for us if we are to compete with teams à la Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern?
For me none of these due to various reasons;
Injuryprone: Shaw, Smalling and Jones. The point of being a backupplayer is to be ready when someone is injured. Kind of misses its point when you are injured all the time....
Slow AND weak, simply not the abilities needed if we want to compete in CL: Blind and Mata(hobbit).
Retiring: Carrick, Zlatan(Can stay if recoveringprognosis is much better than expected).
And Fellaini(has his uses, but: elbows, lack of technique and that red card against city.), Darmian(Would have been a great fullback in the 1960.) and last but most Rooney.
As for tactics; benchmark Real Madrids tactics. Seems to work for them, and is actually very similar to the way Juventus play(only difference is really 2CB and 3CM versus 3CB and 2 CB) Short summary: "On paper" a 4-3-3, but changing to a 4-4-2 in defense where 1 winger plays as striker and 1 as RM/LM. High pressure forcing long balls, a little risky. When on the ball(in attack): Fullbacks plays as wingers touching the sideline and the "offsideline", and the original wingers drifts central with more freedom of movement, thus not having a isolated strikers that often happens when we play with a single striker.
As for who to get (dependent if/when CL -qualification is achieved. Will assume that we get it):
Firstteamers needed:
RB: Aurier big upgrade from Tony V. And "in the cold" in Paris. If price was not an issue Semedo all day, but cant spend 50£ in addition to all other transfers.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk. Costly, but "PL-proven", strong, fast and good on the ball. Varane will not come, Manolas and Rudiger good options.
LB: Worst position to find players that are class. As a Roma "fan" i have seen some matches this season and Emerson ticks of all the right boxes with pace, technical and crossing. Should not be to expensive. Alex Sandro and Mendy will be 50£+. Just don't really trust Shaw to suddenly become injuryfree for a full season, otherwise he have the qualities.
CDM: Fabinho. Didn't start in Turin on Tuesday, indication of moving clubs?
Attacking player: Dybala if it was possible. But Griezmann only a minor downgrade from him and probably "cheaper".
As for backuplayers the easiest way to get good, cheap, "young" and somewhat proven players is to go to France(), Belgium and Holland, as long as it is not the top club.
CB(Second string): Cannot be hard to upgrade Blind. Wouldn't mind Ake, as he can play in a lot of positions, uncertain about the price? But there are many "cheap" options for players that will play backup for a higher wage than they currently have.
CDM/CM(Second string): TFM needs regular playtime, and always injured when playing. Paredes on Roma is the player i have seen that is most "similar" to Carrick. Also a loane from Lille playing for Zulte Waregem with the name of Souahilo Meïté should be available for a decent price. Very similar to Wanyama.
CF(Backup): Don't understand why getting Defoe is such a bad idea. He will most likely be option number 4. Free transfer, one year deal, low risk.... Why not?
Team will look something like this:
GK: DDG(Romeo)
RB: Aurier(Valencia)
CB: Bailly(Someone that is not weak and slow. )
CB:Van Dikj(Rojo)
LB: Emerson(Young)
CDM/destroyer:Fabinho(Meite)
RCM:Herrera(Paredes)
LCM:Pogba(Pereira?)
RW/LW: Griezmann Martial(Mhiki Lingard)
CF:Rashford (Defoe)
As for if this is possible with the current transfer budget and sold players. Most likely.
And since we anyways are going to implement 4 new players at least into the first 11, changing the rest of the players will not cause any more problems.
For me none of these due to various reasons;
Injuryprone: Shaw, Smalling and Jones. The point of being a backupplayer is to be ready when someone is injured. Kind of misses its point when you are injured all the time....
Slow AND weak, simply not the abilities needed if we want to compete in CL: Blind and Mata(hobbit).
Retiring: Carrick, Zlatan(Can stay if recoveringprognosis is much better than expected).
And Fellaini(has his uses, but: elbows, lack of technique and that red card against city.), Darmian(Would have been a great fullback in the 1960.) and last but most Rooney.
As for tactics; benchmark Real Madrids tactics. Seems to work for them, and is actually very similar to the way Juventus play(only difference is really 2CB and 3CM versus 3CB and 2 CB) Short summary: "On paper" a 4-3-3, but changing to a 4-4-2 in defense where 1 winger plays as striker and 1 as RM/LM. High pressure forcing long balls, a little risky. When on the ball(in attack): Fullbacks plays as wingers touching the sideline and the "offsideline", and the original wingers drifts central with more freedom of movement, thus not having a isolated strikers that often happens when we play with a single striker.
As for who to get (dependent if/when CL -qualification is achieved. Will assume that we get it):
Firstteamers needed:
RB: Aurier big upgrade from Tony V. And "in the cold" in Paris. If price was not an issue Semedo all day, but cant spend 50£ in addition to all other transfers.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk. Costly, but "PL-proven", strong, fast and good on the ball. Varane will not come, Manolas and Rudiger good options.
LB: Worst position to find players that are class. As a Roma "fan" i have seen some matches this season and Emerson ticks of all the right boxes with pace, technical and crossing. Should not be to expensive. Alex Sandro and Mendy will be 50£+. Just don't really trust Shaw to suddenly become injuryfree for a full season, otherwise he have the qualities.
CDM: Fabinho. Didn't start in Turin on Tuesday, indication of moving clubs?
Attacking player: Dybala if it was possible. But Griezmann only a minor downgrade from him and probably "cheaper".
As for backuplayers the easiest way to get good, cheap, "young" and somewhat proven players is to go to France(), Belgium and Holland, as long as it is not the top club.
CB(Second string): Cannot be hard to upgrade Blind. Wouldn't mind Ake, as he can play in a lot of positions, uncertain about the price? But there are many "cheap" options for players that will play backup for a higher wage than they currently have.
CDM/CM(Second string): TFM needs regular playtime, and always injured when playing. Paredes on Roma is the player i have seen that is most "similar" to Carrick. Also a loane from Lille playing for Zulte Waregem with the name of Souahilo Meïté should be available for a decent price. Very similar to Wanyama.
CF(Backup): Don't understand why getting Defoe is such a bad idea. He will most likely be option number 4. Free transfer, one year deal, low risk.... Why not?
Team will look something like this:
GK: DDG(Romeo)
RB: Aurier(Valencia)
CB: Bailly(Someone that is not weak and slow. )
CB:Van Dikj(Rojo)
LB: Emerson(Young)
CDM/destroyer:Fabinho(Meite)
RCM:Herrera(Paredes)
LCM:Pogba(Pereira?)
RW/LW: Griezmann Martial(Mhiki Lingard)
CF:Rashford (Defoe)
As for if this is possible with the current transfer budget and sold players. Most likely.
And since we anyways are going to implement 4 new players at least into the first 11, changing the rest of the players will not cause any more problems.
In: Griezmann, Fabinho, Lindelof, Perisic, Pereira back from loan
Out: Rooney, Smalling, Carrick, Januzaj
Out: Rooney, Smalling, Carrick, Januzaj
I think people here underestimate the importance of the full backs.
Look the importance of Dani Alves for Juventus to reach the final of champions league.
Look Marcelo against Bayern.
The best teams have amazing full backs.
When you have a top RB/LB you can create chances even when all the attacking players are marked out of the game.
At least a top attacking LB should be absolute priority.
Look the importance of Dani Alves for Juventus to reach the final of champions league.
Look Marcelo against Bayern.
The best teams have amazing full backs.
When you have a top RB/LB you can create chances even when all the attacking players are marked out of the game.
At least a top attacking LB should be absolute priority.
There's a lot to do, since we lost Ibra we've gotten more defensive as Jose likes to build from the front, get the ball to #9 and have the rest make the runs to or off him, but Rashford can't hold the ball up so we are hitting a lot of channel balls and it's not really working that well, so I see a #9 with the capability to be a target being brought in.
We also need a genuine wide threat on the left, whether that's an attacking LB or a winger, but we have so little width on that flank. We are also likely going to need a new keeper as well, which is far from ideal. Plus we obviouslt need a holding midfielder and another source of goals to play in one of the wider areas.
CB -
LB - Mendy/Bernat
DM - Fabinho/Casemiro
WF/SS - Griezmann/Mbappe/Bernardo
#9 - Morata/Belotti
We also need a genuine wide threat on the left, whether that's an attacking LB or a winger, but we have so little width on that flank. We are also likely going to need a new keeper as well, which is far from ideal. Plus we obviouslt need a holding midfielder and another source of goals to play in one of the wider areas.
CB -
LB - Mendy/Bernat
DM - Fabinho/Casemiro
WF/SS - Griezmann/Mbappe/Bernardo
#9 - Morata/Belotti
Griezmann £95m
Fabio £40m
Lukaku £65m
Romeu £25m
Out
Rooney
Zlatan
Darmain
I reckon we will break £200m these 4 would improve our 11 big time.
Lukaku
Myktarin Griezmann
Pogba Romeu Fabio
Shaw? Bailly Smalling Valencia
DDG
200m and still question marks over 2-3 positions. Jose has got his work cut out and I reckon it will take him more than next seasons window to sort it out properly.
Fabio £40m
Lukaku £65m
Romeu £25m
Out
Rooney
Zlatan
Darmain
I reckon we will break £200m these 4 would improve our 11 big time.
Lukaku
Myktarin Griezmann
Pogba Romeu Fabio
Shaw? Bailly Smalling Valencia
DDG
200m and still question marks over 2-3 positions. Jose has got his work cut out and I reckon it will take him more than next seasons window to sort it out properly.
Mkhytaryan in the starting eleven seriously?
I'm assuming you meant Fabinho?
Yes
Why would you not? Who would you prefer?
Don't give up on Mkhitaryan. Once we actually start attacking more you will see how good he is. Not every player comes in and thrives immediately.
------------------De Gea/New GK---------------------
Valencia---------Bailly----New CB----Shaw/New LB
----------------------New DM--------------------------
------------Herrera--------------Pogba-----------------
New RW----------------------------------------Martial
----------------------New CF--------------------------
A lot depends on what happens with Shaw and De Gea, but I'd sign a new left back if only to give Shaw some cover/competition. However I can see us leaving this area and being content with Darmian/Blind there, seeing as our left backs never go forward now.
New CB is needed I feel, Rojo is good but I don't think he'll ever be top class. Let's bring in a brilliant centre back and have Rojo as a squad player, while shifting Smalling and/or Jones.
New CM is a must, probably need 2 at least if we're honest. A DM for the starting XI and a squad player to rotate with Herrera/Pogba.
New winger is a must also, as is centre forward. Feel these go without saying. If I had to pick a player to fill either then Griezmann wouldn't come to mind, but it looks likely if we get CL. My picks would be Douglas Costa and Belotti, who admittedly I've only started watching since we were linked a couple of months back but he looks like everything we lack.
Valencia---------Bailly----New CB----Shaw/New LB
----------------------New DM--------------------------
------------Herrera--------------Pogba-----------------
New RW----------------------------------------Martial
----------------------New CF--------------------------
A lot depends on what happens with Shaw and De Gea, but I'd sign a new left back if only to give Shaw some cover/competition. However I can see us leaving this area and being content with Darmian/Blind there, seeing as our left backs never go forward now.
New CB is needed I feel, Rojo is good but I don't think he'll ever be top class. Let's bring in a brilliant centre back and have Rojo as a squad player, while shifting Smalling and/or Jones.
New CM is a must, probably need 2 at least if we're honest. A DM for the starting XI and a squad player to rotate with Herrera/Pogba.
New winger is a must also, as is centre forward. Feel these go without saying. If I had to pick a player to fill either then Griezmann wouldn't come to mind, but it looks likely if we get CL. My picks would be Douglas Costa and Belotti, who admittedly I've only started watching since we were linked a couple of months back but he looks like everything we lack.