Below is a list of the current players, we know (& hope) that there will be major transfers coming up over the next year or two. Which of the players would you keep (& in what role) for the medium term; say 2 years time (the 2015-16 season). These will obviously be supplemented by the new signings. Below is my view, you can copy and just edit your own version. Goalkeepers De Gea - 1st team Lindegaard - gone Amos - backup Defenders Vidic - gone Rio - gone Jones - 1st team (central defender position) Evans - squad player Smalling - squad player Evra - gone Buttner - gone Rafael - 1st team/squad player Varela - backup Midfielders Carrick - backup Fletcher - gone Fellaini - squad player Cleverley - gone Giggs - gone (coach only) Mata - 1st team Januzaj - 1st team Kagawa - squad player Nani - gone Young - gone Valencia - gone Anderson - gone Powell - backup Zaha - backup Forwards Rooney - 1st team RVP - squad Welbeck - backup Hernnandez - backup Positions that require 1st team signings (not squad players) in the next 18 months: (speaking in general terms not specific players) 1 Central Defender (ideally good in the air to complement Jones) 1 Left Back 1 Right Back (to challenge Rafael) 2 central midfielders (one more defensive and one more box to box) 1 winger 1 striker
Not sure RVP will accept being a back up. If we're honest you've still got some class players and some very good calibre squad players. You need to buy quite a few, but honestly, a decent manager gets the squad players playing to a higher level and the problems seem a lot more manageable. Look at us, a good manager makes all the difference.
I agree, you're spot on. That was the point I'm trying to make, we have a decent number of squad players but not enough great players that would walk into the 1st XI of the other top teams in the PL. That is where the transfer strategy will be aimed at. Regarding RVP, in 18 months time I see him either having left the club (if we bought a big name striker and he was relegated to the bench for most matches), or being used as a rotational squad player where he can influence matches but may not last the 90 minutes in most games. He does not rely on pace so his injury record will be the deciding factor in how long he will be able to perform at the top level, and to what extent (a 90 min player, or 60 or 30 mins?)
I think it would be worth keeping him for another year to see how he works under a different manager. Main problem is him, Mata and Rooney don't look like they can work together - or at least Moyles can't figure it out. I'd rather play Rooney if I was in your position - he gives all and has quality. New manager, make him captain and let him run the line.
I'm only going to look at next season, not beyond just yet... Goalkeepers De Gea - 1st team Lindegaard - backup Amos - backup Defenders Vidic - gone Rio - gone Jones - 1st team CB Evans - 1st team CB / rotate Smalling - 1st team CB /rotate Evra - squad Buttner - gone Rafael - 1st team Varela - backup Midfielders Carrick - squad player Fletcher - gone Fellaini - squad player Cleverley - squad player Giggs - gone Mata - 1st team Januzaj - 1st team/rotate Kagawa - 1st team/rotate Nani - 1st team/rotate Young - gone and good riddance Valencia - gone and good riddance Anderson - gone Powell - loaned out Zaha - 1st team/rotate Forwards Rooney - 1st team RVP - 1st team/rotate Welbeck - squad Hernnandez - squad Positions that require 1st team signings in the summer: (speaking in general terms not specific players) I doubt we'll buy more than 3 players and it should be 3 QUALITY players: 1 Left Back 2 central midfielders (one playmaker and one more defensive) If there's any chance of a 4th buy (don't think there will) then a RB also
We have a lot more youngsters i would like to see get a chance while we are re-building before we spend millions on big names who may not make it/fit in. Mentioned the fact some are under 21 because they don`t affect the squad size.
If we have Rooney, Mata, Kagawa and even Januzaj who's best position should be playing AM and clearly that's not possible, I really don't see the point of putting Powell in the squad? He'll be out on loan again, I'm sure of it.
