To do all of that would probably cost £100m net (if Romero is no1) which is more than achievable for us.
Same here. We'll be behind City and Liverpool for another year, but better to do it right than try and rush to the top a la Mourinho, fall short and then fall down again. After all, Klopp is now beaten Rodgers' record as the Liverpool manager who has gone longest without a trophy since joining, and Guardiola admitted that if he'd been at a big club (or at Chelsea) he'd probably have been sacked after his first full season at City. Both clubs stuck with their manager, accepted the need to build and rebuild and are getting the rewards now. I'd much rather we took the same approach with Ole than expecting miracles next season.
That, and it's also changed the media narrative around him. Just look at Jenas mouthing off today. Before the PSG match it was: "Why does he have to beat PSG to get the job? That’s a weird kind of statement to make. Has he not [done enough already]? I feel like there has been a huge turnaround. The players seem to be playing the Manchester United way, there is excitement back in the stadium, they’re scoring goals". Now he's gotten the job it's: "No. I felt it was an emotional decision and in any business it should be a thought-out logical decision for the long term. One of the things they need to get away from is 'the Manchester United way' and 'that's not the way they used to do it'." Giving him the job full time before the end of the season just gives the talking heads ammo to try and get at us. I doubt we'd have beaten Barca regardless, but certainly it hasn't helped us in the league and FA Cup.
Fred has been frustrating, but he does at least have the excuse of being new to the PL. Took Vidic, Herrera, Lindelof etc a bit of time to get caught up so I think Fred deserves the same. Sanchez however has no excuse and can **** right off
I'd say get rid of all three of these, as a decent start point this summer. To give Pogba and De Gea rises would be a massive mistake.
That's just unreal. I don't think I've seen a more stupid bit of 'punditry' since SkySports invented plastic... and this is from a BBC commentator, who with the likes of Murphy are just after sensational reporting and ratings.
I don't believe we should buy players simply because they're available. Instead look at our weakest area and look for players that fit. Buying a LWs and forwards is just a waste of time imo. I would prefer to focus on a creative mf, a box to box mf, at least one centre back and a right back. That's a minimum of 4 players.
I do think we need right wing, we just don't have anyone who can play there. Lingard isn't suitable, neither is Martial and neither is Sanchez. Box to box? Herrera would do me, looks like we've blown that though. I'd like to see us get Kroos as part of us flogging Pogba, keep Herrera and Fred, and get a right back, right wing and two centre halves. Declan Rice to replace Matic would be good too.
We could play three centre halves and have Dalot and Shaw as wing backs I suppose. We'd still need back up, Young is now an accident waiting to happen on both sides of the pitch. Sadly.
All the paper talk this morning about payers having to show some fight, some desire - and yet they are letting Herrera go, it doesn't make sense. Personally I would have made him captain - he's a fighter, he would motivate youngsters,but he's off. I would rather pay him £150k per week and lose Pogba.
The problem is bigger than Herrera going. Far too much dead wood, most of which is Woodward's fan boy attitude, needs to be got rid, along with Woody the ****.
So lets talk the positions people want to fill and who they have in mind. Personally, I think we just need enough to get Top 4 next season. I'd like the club to look at ability rather than big name quick fixes so tried to think of players on that basis. Granted I haven't been watching a lot of footy so my preferences may be missing someone... At least 1 CB Potential targets: Harry Maguire, Alderweireld release clause and if out of favour at Spurs, Nathan Ake anyone? At least 1 RB Potential targets: This is a bit harder but I like Aaron Wan-Bissaka Djibril Sidibe is one of the last decent players at Monaco worth nabbing imo. At least 1 creative MF, ideally with a bit of pace Potential targets: Kroos, Ndombele (complete longshot considering the interest in him) Mateo Kovacic - this is a hit and miss mention. He's young and I think is a proper playmaker the few times I've seen him. James Rodriguez - going to throw into the mix, he may play a little further forward than a CM, but has pace, passing and goal scoring - what United need?
Kroos in part of an exchange for Pogba. Declan Rice to replace Matic. Jadon Sancho, much needed right wing. Harry Maguire and/or Alderweireld at centre half. Promote Dalot to full time right back and bring back Fosu-Mensah to deputise. And aim for top four, like you say.
All good solid buys there that will improve the team. The suggestion we can't attract any of them, even without CL footy next season, is wrong imo.
Genuine rebuild buys. No reason whatsoever why we can't realistically get all of them, whether we get top four or not. Significantly, not a Woodward fan boy shirt seller amongst them.
Interesting reading this. Reminds me of Liverpool outside of the champs league a few years back. Lots of money to spend but the best wouldn't move outside of the champions league and you end up spending loads on second rate players as clubs hold you to ransom. End up taking punts on players. Most aren't good enough and some develop into top players like Couts and Suarez. You guys haven't been out of the competition as long so I don't think it will effect too much as well as the fact United are still one of the biggest clubs in the world and haven't been without success for too long. Will probably take 2-3 years to get the players in and bad eggs out. Massive summer ahead. Will people be patient or expect instant results and OGS gets scapegoated for the squads problems? I can hear the media sharpening their pens ready to write down his demise.
Of the players I've mentioned, maybe only Kroos wouldn't want to 'drop down' a notch, European competition wise? Even then, would he be that arsed after having won the CL a few times recently with Real? The rest, they're taking an enormous step up in coming to United, and that includes Alderweireld. Sancho, Rice, Maguire? They'd all jump at it, surely. We also bring back a couple of our loanees in TFM and Tuanzebe and get rid of the set of dross centre halves we have and just go with it. To do that though, I do think we need to to buy two very good experienced centre halves.
It wasn't ideal but I think giving Ollie the job has benefitted us in the sense that the players have shown their true colours. Rather now than early next season. This gives the chance to assess and shift. I could be wrong but I've been saying our focus should be getting a striker or two. One because we create chances but fail to convert and two because a striker which can hold the ball would change the current scenario of us being defensive again and the opposition defenders getting forward. After that we need a MF with an engine. Someone who can get forward but also get back. The defence for me would be ok as is for next season (too much change not a good thing) as long as they get protection from players in front if them. Now to the contentious points. For me rashford is not the player we need to compete at the highest level. He seems to have a lack of football brain. And Herrera is someone I don't see the fuss about in all honesty. Seems to switch off in most games. And not been a mainstay under any manager. Must be a reason for that?