Agree
I don't get the whole 'adding steel' thing. He concedes too many fouls and isn't good enough on the ball. Yet people are willing to overlook everything else because he'll 'add a bit of stee'l ffs.
What represents a good summer now?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
I don't get the whole 'adding steel' thing. He concedes too many fouls and isn't good enough on the ball. Yet people are willing to overlook everything else because he'll 'add a bit of stee'l ffs.
Another thing, when was the last time Fellaini played in a midfield two? He simply does not play in midfield anymore, Moyes played him behind the striker where he could launch up to him for flick ons and holding the ball up. That's not us.
Moyes said he played him there because he had no options but sees his long term future as a DM
There's a quote somewhere, by don't let the facts stop you
There's a quote somewhere, by don't let the facts stop you
He's not good enough to play as a DM at the top level regardless
To me a good summer would be:
Ins:
A midfielder, hopefully two: I think Fellaini would be a pretty good signing. He's better than people give him credit for and would provide much needed relief for Carrick. Basically I'm getting to the point now where any midfield signing would be a relief. Which is a bit sad and desperate, I know, but in my opinion we only have 3 first-team midfielders (I am not counting Kagawa, Giggs or Jones as midfielders, Powell is not 1st team at the moment and will consider Fletcher's return to fitness a bonus if it happens). I'd also happily take James McCarthy, Kondogbia, Gustavo and the other players mentioned on here as potentially available - we just really need a bit of strengthening there.
Outs:
Rooney: I want him to go but not to Chelsea. But it seems his most likely destination, so it must only be after we have signed at least one quality midfielder.
Nani: It looks like Nani might stay and sign a new contract, which is good news. I still rate him as our best winger.
Buttner: I like him just don't think he is good enough. Even a loan for him would help as maybe playing regular competitive football will help him. I'd rather play Giggs at left back over him in a pinch. I would be absolutely fine playing him as a winger but the emergence of Januzaj and Lingard means they deserve a shot there too.
Other fringe players who won't make it here - Macheda, Bebe etc - should also be moved on, for their own benefit as well as our other young players coming through.
Ins:
A midfielder, hopefully two: I think Fellaini would be a pretty good signing. He's better than people give him credit for and would provide much needed relief for Carrick. Basically I'm getting to the point now where any midfield signing would be a relief. Which is a bit sad and desperate, I know, but in my opinion we only have 3 first-team midfielders (I am not counting Kagawa, Giggs or Jones as midfielders, Powell is not 1st team at the moment and will consider Fletcher's return to fitness a bonus if it happens). I'd also happily take James McCarthy, Kondogbia, Gustavo and the other players mentioned on here as potentially available - we just really need a bit of strengthening there.
Outs:
Rooney: I want him to go but not to Chelsea. But it seems his most likely destination, so it must only be after we have signed at least one quality midfielder.
Nani: It looks like Nani might stay and sign a new contract, which is good news. I still rate him as our best winger.
Buttner: I like him just don't think he is good enough. Even a loan for him would help as maybe playing regular competitive football will help him. I'd rather play Giggs at left back over him in a pinch. I would be absolutely fine playing him as a winger but the emergence of Januzaj and Lingard means they deserve a shot there too.
Other fringe players who won't make it here - Macheda, Bebe etc - should also be moved on, for their own benefit as well as our other young players coming through.
Given that we're so close to the season's start, I now reckon status quo will represent a good season - i.e. stay as we are and do not strengthen Chelsea with Rooney. We'll have to wait until next summer to get the elusive midfielder.
What would have been a good summer was finding a quick resolution to the Rooney story and signing the players needed early enough for them to have a proper preseason.
We've been saying that for 4 years.
I actually try not to think about it to much, because when I do, I genuinely get angry. Its a dire situation.
We've been saying that for 4 years.
I actually try not to think about it to much, because when I do, I genuinely get angry. Its a dire situation.
I think there's been a shift in thinking at the club though. Fergie was a lot more stubborn, whereas Moyes has stated it's an area we need to look at. That's a positive.
First off, get Nani and Adnan on new contracts.
Honestly, Nani should have been given one ages ago.
Honestly, Nani should have been given one ages ago.
Rooney stays and is motivated.
We sign Fellaini
Nani gets new contract
Januzaj get's integrated into the first team.
I would be delighted with this and would have been even before the Thiago and Fabregas nonsense.
We sign Fellaini
Nani gets new contract
Januzaj get's integrated into the first team.
I would be delighted with this and would have been even before the Thiago and Fabregas nonsense.
I'm guessing you mean Fellaini and Januzaj...
If it's Fellaini or no midfielder at all this summer what would you prefer? Save the money to next year and gamble with the current midfield or get Fellainki for £23M or so.
I'm undecided... :P
In all seriousness, I believe we should dig in on Rooney - with two years on his deal, he has no choice but to apply himself if we steadfastly refuse to sell. If he leaves on a free at the end, so be it. He'll be 30, and not a fit 30.
I think we may well end up with Fellaini. I don't like it, but I'm so desperate for us to sign someone that I have now reached the point where I'll take him.
Nani getting a new deal should happen - a lot will depend on his first half of the season.
I have little faith in our handling of youngsters' contracts at the moment, so I'm sceptical on Januzaj. I'm concerned to read that he only has one year left. He looks a real talent and it'd be a sickener to see him go the same way as Pogba.
My overall feeling is that Fellaini is just not suitable for us, and I have been saying as much for as long as the rumours have been around and even before that.
But, I happen to think we're desperate in CM - I just don't accept that we should be having to get by with the likes of Jones and Giggs.
Scholes came out of retirement once before...
Fellaini, definitely. I don't particularly rate him but we are genuinely desperate at this stage. He'll cover some of the cracks until we add genuine quality and that's worth 23m, even if Fellaini himself isn't.
Go with the current midfield. I'd rather Jones in it.
We were supposed to have money so what would be the point of saving it for next seasons if we're not willing to pay the real value of players.
We've been saying that for 4 years.
I actually try not to think about it to much, because when I do, I genuinely get angry. Its a dire situation.
Always think of it this way: better to be us, constantly saying 'next year, we'll get a midfielder next year' than the scourers, constantly saying 'next year, we'll challenge for trophies again next year.' We win stuff, and that's what matters.
A failure to strengthen the midfield would cost us the season. Of course I want us to sign top quality, but if we can get good - not great - players with the right attributes it would still be a step up. We've got such a terrific team and such great players in just about every position but the heart of the team is suffering and so does the rest of it. If not a great midfield, at least make it functional, physically tough, just give good screening for the defence and a platform for the attacking players to do their stuff.
I'd definitely want us to buy Fellaini, we really shouldn't go in to next season banking on Carrick playing every single game again. If Carrick picks up an injury we will be in big trouble and I don't think Jones is capable of taking over for him.
I think if we can get in a cover player for Carrick, whether it's someone established or a younger player, just someone who knows the role, than that, with sorting out the Rooney issue and getting Nani signed would be a decent summer. I think we can with the league still with carrick and a clev/ando/giggs in the middle, some games will be tougher than they should be and we'll likely struggle in europe but I think the squad would be good enough for the league. Then next season we can try for the creative player again. But if we just signed a creative player, as needed as that is I think that's more a step to take us forward as a team in terms of overall quality and would compliment what we have, but not having an alternative to Carrick could have a much bigger impact if he doesn't get so lucky with injuries, especially as he may play more England games.
That's spot on, mate! Unfortunately, the sugar daddy clubs aren't just ruining football, they are ruining people and their perceptions of real life also. When Chelsea and City started their paths towards *cough* glory, too many United supporters started screaming for big name signings. Look what happened at Chelsea and what seems to happen at City, then look at what Ferguson did and where United are now. Maybe we should just admit that we are indeed very small fish in our own fish bowl that knows about f**** all when it comes to these matters.
Buy, buy, buy isn't the United way, and if some of the fans think that we should splash all that money on big name signings perhaps they are indeed supporting the wrong team?
Let's imagine that United bought Fabregas, Baines, Bale and some other plonker. All those players would demand first team action, which means that four of our current crop would have to give way. Would we want that much change in a winning team? I think there's a saying about it somewhere
Some people struggle to switch from the big business/franchise so keen to get more sponsors on board to pay for the mountain of debt they are in to support their football club whose 'sitting on high moral ground' in terms of transfers (and nothing else). If you're a transfer muppet you'll never support United in the first place. However one does expect that the 'biggest club in the world' is capable of bringing in some quality in CM especially when we're constantly reminded how competitive we are on the transfer market. Oh well, we can always play Aeroflot in CM with Cassilero del diablo acting as Carrick's cover.
A good summer would be the new coaching staff having a clear view of who our strongest team is and putting a plan together to continue what this squad has been doing.
I don't think we know our strongest team because we haven't yet done our business, particularly because the midfield issue has been highlighted. From what I hear, this was quite common at Everton too and a reason for a lot of slow starting seasons despite the fact Everton were more reliant on sales to fund new players.
I don't think we know our strongest team because we haven't yet done our business, particularly because the midfield issue has been highlighted. From what I hear, this was quite common at Everton too and a reason for a lot of slow starting seasons despite the fact Everton were more reliant on sales to fund new players.
Tbf I don't think bringing in a midfielder would make that much difference to what Moyes would consider his strongest team, it would likely be a straight swap of the new guy for Clev/Ando. I think the management have been more impacted by all the injuries to the senior attacking players which have meant they've had little time to get them sharp and drill in any changes they want to make to how the team operates. I think that will lead to a slower start than the lack of signings.
I'd be happy with signing a midfielder as it stands. We could be in danger of loosing Rooney and not signing anyone. This will make for a bad start to Moyes United career. Not really looking forward to this season at the moment.
Pretty much. Value is relative. To a team with a strong midfield Fellaini isn't worth 23m. For us, having failed in approaches for other targets, Fellaini would probably be worth paying 23m for. My last hope is that the club surprises us by getting a better player.
I would be very happy with Fellaini.
Carrick/Gustavo would tick all the boxes for us, when one of them is injured or needs rest we can just play the remaining one as a "DM" with 2 more central midfielders around him.
As Carrick is getting old he will need some thoughtful rest in the less valuable games as well which would allow the one of Clev/Ando who we want to keep.
As Carrick is getting old he will need some thoughtful rest in the less valuable games as well which would allow the one of Clev/Ando who we want to keep.
Ideal Summer--Keeping Roobey/ nani- signing Bale and Fellaini.selling Macheda, bebe, Wootton, buttner
Real summer--However I now think we'll end up selling Rooney for 30 mill to chelsea and panic buying late before window closes wasting money on injury prone cabaye or someone like Michu and buying Baines for 18 mill
Not great for Moyes really- need to get some movement in the next few days.
Real summer--However I now think we'll end up selling Rooney for 30 mill to chelsea and panic buying late before window closes wasting money on injury prone cabaye or someone like Michu and buying Baines for 18 mill
Not great for Moyes really- need to get some movement in the next few days.
Yeah, if he/we sell Rooney for 30m to Chelsea then we really dont deserve to win feck all next season. It would be one of the stupidest decisions in recent years.
Why would we sell Rooney to Chelsea for 30m? That'd be absolutely moronic.
A good summer is the same as it was at the start. Sign one or two CMs. List has thinned a bit but still some good quality on attainable targets:
Modric
Gustavo
McCarthy
Fellaini
Veratti
Seen all of those with ,Veratti being the least, and think they'd add to the squad.
Modric
Gustavo
McCarthy
Fellaini
Veratti
Seen all of those with ,Veratti being the least, and think they'd add to the squad.
Verratti cannot be signed, Carlo couldn't make PSG flinch and we're talking about Real Madrid.
It's a bit myopic to suggest the summer can be reduced to buying a particular player or not. If we win the league, we can look back and say it was a good summer because we got Moyes, he settled quickly and gave the squad a sense of continuity that allowed them march on in the post Fergie era. That, in future retrospect, could truly define this as a successful summer.
think people saying we need to get this or that player, think we will not win the title again without squad improvement. Now Moyes may prove them wrong of course.
The probability we will not retain the title, without improving the squad...and in fact letting a top player go, increases.
The probability we will not retain the title, without improving the squad...and in fact letting a top player go, increases.
Fellaini and Modric would be great. Fellaini would be nice. Any other decent midfield player is also nice Just want to get the season started now.
Just want to get the season started now.