I hope Henry, Ayre and the committee think things more pragmatically and coolly than us fan-atics re summer targets. A ruthless businessman would build a case like this: 1. Offensively we were the best in the league and if it ain't broken don't fix it. Let's just get youthful bench reinforcements with potential. 2. Defensively we were dreadful. From the goalkeeper to the CBs and FBs. Let's find a new first-team quality goalkeeper, CB and FB.
We dont do spending sprees and nor do we really need one. Only smith thinks we need to spunk £300million. Less that £100million over the next 2 windows will be far more than enough.
If as reported Utd are going to pay 30m for Shaw and give him 100k a week at 18yrs of age you're as bad as City and Chelsea, and Rooney's ransom is the noose that will strangle Utd when they approach "superstars" to join the club, they'll want parity with his wages. #unitedthenewcity
That's unfair on City. They don't sack their managers as quickly as Moyes has gone. #Unitednowjustanotherclub
I told you that you were not really equipped to talk finances and you've just proved it. I said between £150 and £200 million and you refernece an even higher figure! Now before you rush off spending that kind of money, where is the commitment from your owners that to spend anything? Your board hasn't got the right to spend without their approval. Even if they do get that then who is going to do the choosing (Giggs? The Dutchman won't be available until after the World Cup) and who is going to do the negotiating the same 'team' that did it last Summer? Excuse me for half an hour whilst I choke laughing! You truly believe that your present squad does not need a major overhaul? Then you truly are deluded. Without major work even 7th spot is probably beyond your grasp as all those teams near you strengthen their squads.
haha, I was being a tad flippant and maybe also somewhat simplistic there..........(expecting a bite tbh ) However, my point was really that 1 window did change your fortunes, that Jan was the turning point for Rodgers and your side, without doubt. Henderson was widely viewed as gash, Flanagan was just an academy kid, same goes for Sterling. Yes he had Suarez, who despite being a whopper is a World Class forward, he added another to the mix in Sturridge and a bit of creativity in Coutinho. United still have a handful of top notch players in the likes of Rooney, RvP, Mata and De Gea, so a good manager could take what they've already got, bring in 4 or 5 and get them back up there imo. If they miss out on EL that will also benefit their league form next season and 1 window may well be enough to see them back challenging for the top 4 at least.
You've sort of contradicted yourself there. Because apparently last summers transfers have been peripheral what you're saying is 2 players (Cout & Sturridge) have turned a team from being pants in 7th into possible title winners? Not the fact that Rodger's tactics and coaching has turned the team around and got players like Henderson, Flanagan, Skrtel, Sterling all playing the best football of their careers and Gerrard for the last 4?
We are never going to agree on Liverpool players and their strengths so I'll leave it there. As for United, it is going to be very interesting to see who out of Rooney, RvP, Mata and De Gea, still there come the start of the new season. Wellbeck is already making noises - but then I think he's only a show pony!. Then you have the old and knackered followed swiftly by the majority who have proved themselves not to be good enough. If they do appoint Van Gaal then the time to import new players is going to very very limited and would you trust Giggs with a major budget?. If I was a betting man then I would look to put a few bob on then finishing no higher than this year.
You can't say that Toure, Cissokho, Aspas, Moses and Sakho have been instrumental in your success this season can you? Ok the last one has done OK at times, but hasn't been a first pick for the majority of the season. The rest have been largely mince. So it was the previous window when he brought in the 2 players I mentioned that was the key moment in his Liverpool career. Up until that point he was starting to get a tiny bit of stick and many were doubting his tiki taka 'philosophy'. So that one window was pivotal, that's all I was saying.
Welbeck is gash imo, as are some of their peripheral squad members, but there's enough there for a good coach to make a side out of, even without massive change. They've seen little of the real Fellaini or Mata yet and both used correctly are excellent players. The Yanks won't give Giggs the budget, so they'll have to bring in a 'name', Van Gaal seems the most likely and with his knowledge he'll be able to bring a few new faces in without too much trouble imo. I think they'll likely be markedly better than this year, as their home record was the worst since the 70's I think I heard somewhere, that won't happen again imo. As much as I'd like to see their mediocrity continue, I reckon they'll recover quickly. However, if they make another duff apt, then maybe not. It'll be interesting to watch unfold whatever happens.
I agree. They haven't been instrumental. Sakho & Mig have made the biggest contribution and even that's not huge. However, I don't agree with that you've said which is 1 transfer window has changed us from being a 7th placed team to potential champions. What has done that is Rodgers. The way he's adapted, the training methods etc. The fact our best players (apart from Sturridge) are players he already had at the club and he's greatly improved. Like I said, Sterling, Flanno, Skrtel, Henderson, Gerrard, heck even Saurez is a better player now than he was 2 years ago and he was already pretty damn good. No where in your post have you credited the manager with turning the team around, it's all down to the players which clearly isn't the point. This is where United may struggle. They can throw £100m or £150m around, but unless you have a manager with a set idea and can improve players then it will only get you so far.
A good friend of mine, runs the BucPower website, fan site for the Tampa Bay Bucs, the NFL team the Double Glazers own. He knows one of the brothers reasonably well and as links to others "in the know" He told me that the 150m plus transfer kitty is pie in the Sky. They are renowned tight wads, their NFL team is always Millions under the salary cap ("soccer" equivalent of not spending much in the transfer windows.." They wouldn't give Ferguson that much money in a transfer window, the (their) most successful manager in British football, what makes people think they'll sanction that sort of money on any other manager? If they are to spend that sort of money, they'll need to sell first. He thinks at most they'll give the new man around 60-70m and the rest to be made up of sales. The quality of players they are looking at, that's only gonna get them 2/3 quality players and they need more than that, esp. if they sell the likes of Welbeck, RVP. I have no doubt that they will come back but I don't think it will be quite as immediate as some United fans think.. Don't shoot the messenger!
This 100%. **** the oil clubs as they don't count for **** with regards to foundations and history. Liverpool and Utd are by far the two most successful clubs in England and should be battling it out at the top - It's a proper rivalry, unlike City and Utd (for example). Although I'm enjoying Utd's sudden decline this season, it would be nice to see us maintain our quality and Utd improve over the next few years. As long as they don't improve too much
The home form has been the issue. The away form was fine. Sort the home form and united are sorted really. I cant imagine it will be anywhere near as bad. As for dave saying the players are not good enough he is right. Under David moyes they simply were not. He was the wrong manager. Dave better hope we get the wrong man next time. Maybe we will. Personally reading about van gaal, the most likely appointment, we are getting exactly what we need just now. Look at his Barcelona and bayerb sides and its there to see. Yes both ended in sackings but what was his legacy? 2 of the best sides ever. Thats without mentioning his Ajax side. Maybe it wont be van gaal though. Daves got his fingers crossed. Elite clubs dont fail. They just dont. Obviously the liverpool argument will be made but elite, tge last few decades? Great yes but the elite clubs became great clubs and global business giants. This is the difference and those clubs have rarely spent more than a season or two away from the top. Nothings for certain but I am a damn sight more excited about next season now. A cloud has been lifted from the club.
That would be someone like van gaal who is a man witg a footballing philosophy and the guy who brought through great players and managers. Your boy rodgers seems to employ a similar style. Sit deep to draw the opponent in, create the space and us it. Passing not just for the sake of it but to get to goal quickly and with minimal resistance.
