We've played poorly for the most part, once the new manager bounce ended, with Kane and without him. Mourinho's picked unbalanced teams with unsuitable midfield pairings. Giving Aurier a free role has torn things all to **** and we continued doing it, game after game. He wasn't helped by injuries to Ndombele and Lo Celso but some players are returning now and he's got a few more options. Time to get a proper set up to cover our deficiencies and make the most of our pace up top. However much we think that a journeyman striker would help us, we do have good players, we need Mourinho to set them up right, play to their strengths not his desires and fight like mad for some points
I expect Mourinho to behave a little differently after the window. I suspect there may have been politics in some of his selections plus of course players like Dier did not live up to what he had expected from them when he tried to sign them for United. We don't have Eriksen now so we HAVE to move on,
While there may be 150+, the thing is we can start ticking them off for various reasons * Being a poor fit for the team * A history of being a twat * Insane wage demands * Recently signed and/or signed new contract That maybe gets the number down to maybe thirty, tops - and that's before the issue of the fee and wages reflecting they're basically playing second fiddle to Harry Kane once next season starts
I said that we weren't signing a striker at the beginning of the window. It really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that we didn't. We offered loan deal to clubs that were only willing to sell and pursued players available on loan, only when the window was half way closed and it was too late. It's typical behaviour from us and very predictable when Levy doesn't want to do something. When two young players, like Fernandes and Bergwijn became available, we sprang into action...because they're players that fit the club's profile for signings and development...just like Troy Parrott, who Levy wants to be our next striker. Levy went out on a limb to buy Llorente and Vinnie for Poch. He never played them. Going 'all-in' for Giroud, in the final day two days, as our one hope of bringing someone in? Chelsea weren't selling him to us, without signing anyone...and probably not even then. Why should they? They certainly don't need our money and we wouldn't sell to them.
Once again, Manchester United throw their weight and sign the players that they need to improve. I still won't judge the window yet though. Mourinho, and Levy too, has to be confident that either we're wining the CL () or getting into the top four with this squad. If we don't have champions league next season, new striker, DM, and RB or not, it will been seen as a failure of a season even by, especially by, Levy.
Whilst there is a mixed feeling over the transfer window for us, I think the best way I can describe it is I'm happy with what we done but disappointed what we didn't do, spare a thought for Chelsea, who battled the courts to get their transfer ban lifted only to sign zero ****ing players
Although they never seem to significantly improve. I'm sceptical as to what Ighalo will add in the time that Rashford's out but we shall see... The one player who moved this window and who I thought might have significantly improved us, was Sander Berge. However, maybe Mourinho sees Gedson Fernandes in that role next season? The problem with him is the agreed purchase fee, after the loan ends but Mourinho probably won't be here to care... When we get Ndombele fit, there's no space for him, Lo Celso, Gedson and Bruno Fernandes in a sensible line-up and we're not spending £45m+ on a squad player, when it appears that we're strapped fpr cash. The best thing for Levy to do with his time, would be to sort out the naming rights, to try and make up for the missing CL income next season, not piss about trying to get Giroud from Chelsea or 'fail to land' a semi-retired Ighalo, on a ridiculous wage.
I won't laugh at them yet. It's still highly likely that they'll be playing in the champions league next season, probably at the expense of us.
Spurs knew Kane had a long term injury from the 9th Jan (longer than Utd knew of Rashford’s injury) Utd got a striker and Spurs didn’t.
I think that’s what Brian was implying. In that we wouldn’t have a high buy price for Gedson if he was just gonna be a squad player. So with him, Tanguy and Gio likely to play in a midfield three when all are fit and fully acclimatised, it’s why Bruno wasn’t targeted this window.
I was saying that we were never interested in him because we don't have a first team space for him...and doing it badly...
It depends how we do now. Chelsea really haven’t been that good, we’ve just been far worse so far. If we can go on a run top four is well within reach. Pre-Jose there was about 12 points from us to fourth, there’s now only 6, it’s not completely unrealistic to get there but we really need to go on a run. Hopefully Bergwijn and Gedson can have a positive impact along with Gio, Tanguy and Sess getting better to help us get over the line.
Yep, I agree. That's a lot of hope though. A top three of Bergwijn, Son and Lucas could be a good watch. Or even Dele behind Son and Bergwijn might be interesting. Let's see how good Mourinho really is as a manager, I guess. He at least seems happy for the challenge. He has some large rabbits to pull out of small hats.
With the two new signings, Japhet Tanganga, Sessegnon, Lo Celso and hopefully, a fit Ndombele, we can put out a dynamic, young team with a lot of quality and no little pace. I can get behind such a team. Just no more leaving huge holes on the pitch, please?
In the absence of Kane and Sissoko I hink this would be a good solid 433 Lloris Tanganga, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies Ndombele, Fernandes, Lo Celso Son, Dele, Bergwijn Back up is more problematical but this isn’t too bad. Gazzaniga Aurier, Foyth, Dier, Vertonghen, Sessegnon Winks, Skipp Lamela, Parrott, Lucas
Can Jose play with a squad with no main striker though? Klopp and Pep (to a lesser extent) can pull it off but Jose has always had a main man up top to lead the line rather than a fluid interchangeable front line
Regardless of Kane being injured or not...we need a 2nd striker. it’s normal practice Levy expecting us to pin our hopes on a 17 year old is once again a clear indication that he is no footballing man as according to popular myth...oh yeah he watched us from the Terraces but still..that doesn’t make you a footballing man Anyway when it all goes tits up...we can blame Jose
