I don't always agree with JM but on this occasion he is right to pursue a top expensive striker. He has been accused of not giving young home grown players a chance but either by chance or design, Rashford has had a few opportunities last season. He did well for his age and inexperience but clearly the results were simply not good enough. LVG did let go players who could have done a job for us no doubt about that. Welbeck, RVP, Hernandez are but a few. But we are where we are. I think we need a reliable proven goal scorer. Whoever he is, whether he is morata is uncertain but United have to pull out the stops. That is not say that Rashford or Martial need to be sold. They all have a big part to play. What last season showed was that we have one of the best squads in Europe. Looking back, for United to challenge in all major competitions until the very last weeks and winning 2 out of 4 were involved in was simply remarkable.
The way things are going, it'll probably be James Rodriguez as what you need you need another midfielder...
Seems like the alternative is Andrea Belotti - I know nothing about this lad apart from he is considered the next Vialli.
Rumours are that Fabinho is going to move to PSG.- apparently after publicly stating he wants to play for you he is really disappointed with you going after Matic instead.
These transfer windows have become a complete circus. Rumour after rumour swirling around, none of them with any foundation in fact, just pure speculation by the sports media to satisfy the thirst for 24 hour 'news'. People get sucked into all this tosh and give weight to the most spurious fantasy rolled out every second on Twitter and the digital press. The usual 'credible source near to the club' is wheeled out, the same for 'Sky sources' and a 'team-mate of the player' - all of it completely attributable and uncorroborated. When will people learn - the club will go about it's business privately and quietly, tapping-up and sounding out along the way like all clubs do - but this 24 hour news bo**ocks is just that.
This is nothing new mate - has been the case for years. I remember looking at the rumours on ceefax nearly 20 years ago and waiting with baited breath for the page to cycle and hopefully refresh with breaking news...
Our biggest problem last season was a lack of goals from midfield, so I can't understand why we are signing a guy with 4 goals in 121 games in his 2nd spell at Chelsea. We've got enough big defensive lumps in our squad, so we don't need anymore. If we are going to sign anyone from Chelsea, then it should be Fabregas as we are much more in need of him, and he doesn't suit the way Chelsea play. If it has to be a big strong physical guy, then Radja Naingolan is the midfield player we need to pursue as atleast he gets a few goals. Adding Matic to our midfield is just going to make us even more defensive, and more goal shy. I don't buy all this nonsense about it releasing Pogba, as Pogba was supposedly released plenty of times last season with Carrick and Fellaini playing the role Matic will play. Pogba is just not cut out to play as a CAM, it's not his position as he lacks the vision, creativity and the eye for a goal required to play there. Pogba is more of an all round midfield player. I don't know what it is with Mourinho, but his footballing philosophy, seems to be to sign as many 6 foot + strong guys, so we can bully the opposition off the park.
True, but he'd done it in several leagues consistently, so wasn't really a gamble. His transfer fee wasn't 80 mill either
Some of your points are valid. But I've always viewed Matic as a good player who could fit well in our midfield. He is physical and I am sure being 6ft plus is an advantage in Mourinho s eyes. He is a definite improvement on Fellaini. I am sure that Mourinho's style won't change. He will bring in players that will win matches. Despite the flak he received right through the season from pundits in the media, he ended up with the best season bar Chelsea. If you expect new arrivals to bring in carefree attacking football you'll be disappointed.
Pogba was even more and he had only experience in one league. - Morata has done well in both Series A and La Liga. Either way, £80m is a stupid value but one that you can easily afford - if you want him, you'll get him.
Those who think Mourinho's 'philosophy' is to just defend and win 1-0 are mistaken imo. He builds teams that are solid at the back and fast and powerful at the front. The fact that he can shut down an attacking side at will is testament to his managerial nous. I've no problem with Mourinho shutting down teams like Liverpool if he thinks that's how to get through the big games, I'd much rather that than watch them tear us to shreds at Old Trafford like they did when we had Fergie was here, who refused to accept at times that they were better than us, in terms of current form. We need a big squad capable of challenging for the PL and CL next season, there's no way we'd be in the CL just to take part like Spurs and Liverpool.
We live in an age where the value can only be obtained in very low prices and very high prices. You unearth a Mahrez or Payet at low prices or you buy a Messi or Ronaldo(if they are willing to come) neither will be gambles as they will demolish the opposition. At £30m-£60m all purchases are gambles. If a club assesses that their player is what's needed for the buyers, they'll ask an overinflated price. That's the new reality.
