Man united are still 6th they just like to cry, but they're still man united and still a big draw and still a club spending hundreds of millions a season.
Yeah I think money can take you so far, but a lot of players still have career ambitions, particularly with regard to the CL. Just the way it is. The south american players like Nunez particularly view the CL as vital. Can't knock players for wanting to test themselves against the best. With both Nunez and Diaz we tried to steal an early march, which was admirable. But agents will always use that interest to get better offers - at least in the short term.
Seem to remember City having the same issue when they first came into money. They ended up with a number of players towards the end of their careers who were looking for a big pay day at the end of their careers. I think we actually did very well with our Jan recruitment. All the players we got look as though they care about their performances and the results.
Nah devil is always in the detail for me and simply thinking 160 games and 40 goals for a young lad is daft. When you get players in their early 20's they won't always hit the levels they will later. A prime example is England's current first choice striker Harry Kane. DCL has bagged 29 in 69 (36 in 80 in all comps) in the two previous seasons. He's clearly come of age in terms of performance, hence international honours etc. The lad has always had pedigree too as a key member of the U17 world cup winning side (scored the winning goal in the final). If we look at Kane, up until the age of 22, he'd had loan spells across League One, The Championship and PL and only amassed 19 goals in 91 games. But he learnt alot and by his mid twenties he had a better than 1 in 2 record which he has sustained. Whereas DCL's trajectory might not match that, its clear he's a much better player at 23-25 than he was earlier than that. Rashford is a good example of someone who is the opposite and hasn't developed like DCL. He has lost his way and actually his record is deteriorating whereas DCL's was improving. Its still a risk in case this injury has long term ramifications, but there has never been any suggestion that's the case so far. He's come back into a struggling side and just hasn't picked up where he left off - which was as one of the best strikers in the league in terms of output. I think if you took the top 6 scorers out of the equation (a lot easier in those teams), DCL would have been bang there in 2020/21 along with Bamford as the next best options. Indeed I'd imagine the year previous only the likes of Ings, Vardy, Jiminez would have done better. Not bad going for someone his age.
There's three outcomes for me; there's the bare minimum, there's expected and there's exceeding expectations. Bare minimum for me is a striker, CB, DM and signing Targett. I'll be honest - even with years of Mike Ashley, I'd still be kinda pleased and do trust that Eddie will do a good job. However, that's below expectations - as has been mentioned, I expect at least another wide player/AM and a second striker. But I think there's a possibility that we will just keep buying. I have a feeling that, whilst we won't be held to ransom, if we put a value on a player and that player wants to come, they'll get signed. Even if that means 6, 7, 8 arrivals. I'm intrigued as to why @Warmir Pouchov thinks Eddie's setting up the squad for massive change, I thought he'd been dampening expectatio?
A mass overhaul isn't the way fwd.. They've got good foundations to build on.. Just adding the right players in the right areas that have a bit more quality is the way fwd. Slow and steady...
Going to get loads of bullshit rumours like this. When it's a small club linked with bigger clubs, we're going to be constantly mentioned. He's a 6'5 target man, miles away from where we're going.
Absolutely and I will never stop enjoy the links because it's a world I never thought I'd be in. He's also a very good cm...
I have the feeling that Man City’s impact will actually help us get the better recruitments and we will bypass their early transfer windows. This is not saying though that we will suddenly become top 6 but I do think the quality we will get will be superior to their initial signings
Eurgh. I’m really not ****ing interested in the slightest. Man U cast offs have a shocking record, particularly at Newcastle.
There are plenty out there coming up on a free who will be looking for a last pay day. The question is do we want to be gunning for those who are good enough but willing to pass up European Football to come for big bucks or go for young, up and coming players who won't be ready for consistent European football for a few seasons. Players like Lingaard, Lacazette, Eriksen could all be possible signings on a free but equally they could all go elsewhere for less money but better standing (at present). Personally I'd be looking at Hannibal, Nkhetia type youngsters who need regular mins and develop them properly. I'm convinced if Howe can get a tune out players like Miggy, Fraser, Shelvey and bloody Emil Krafth we should be looking at youngsters to develop rather than big boys looking for a pay day. Basically Id rather not overspend on top end talent at present who's attitudes would be questionable, rather get youngsters in who we can develop and improve along with us.
