I was thinking earlier about Pep's transfer record and always found it to be suspect, as in he wastes money. I personally find he is better at developing younger players bringing through youth and not one to make astute signings. I looked some of his signings made at Barcelona, Bayern and City so far just to see what he has bought and if its been value for money.
For the record this isn't an article about SAF and Jose signing duds as they both have spent loads, more to discuss what I feel is Pep's ineptitude in spending.
Mixture of Euros / Pounds below -
Alexis Sanchez - 36M Euros
Mario Goetze - 37M Euros
Arturo Vidal - 37M Euros
David Villa - 40M Euros
Ibrahimovic - 46M Euros + Etoo
Dmytro Chygrynskiy - 20M Euros
Gundogan - £20M
Nolito - £14M
Leroy Sane - £37M
John Stones - £48M
Claudio Bravo - £17M
He also signed Lewandowski on a free and Alonso for 7.5M Euros but these were established players.
I guess the question is - how much has he improved this lot? Sane and Gundogan maybe hard to judge as Gundogan was a punt and Sane's young, but the rest seems like they left worse than he signed? Perhaps Villa and Alves could argue were good but the rest I am sceptical.
Discuss.
Pep's Spending
posted on 17/1/17
January is a poor time to sign players. The best one's don't move. I can see possibly a utility player/defender coming in though. See we are linked with Betrand today, that'd be an improvement on what we have, but can't see us signing 3 or 4 players this window.
Let's not forget, after 10-11 games with the same squad, everyone was raving about the team and the way Pep had made players like Otamendi and Kolorov play up a level. Sadly, Kolorov in particular has regressed, along with Clichy and Zaba.
posted on 17/1/17
"After spending c. £150million in the summer, and not improving the team one iota"
Bit harsh, our front 6 is as good as any in the league now, and has much more depth than it has over previous years (including ones where we have won the league)... The back five on the other hand is barely top 6 material though.
posted on 17/1/17
comment by gratedbean (U4885)
posted 38 minutes ago
"After spending c. £150million in the summer, and not improving the team one iota"
Bit harsh, our front 6 is as good as any in the league now, and has much more depth than it has over previous years (including ones where we have won the league)... The back five on the other hand is barely top 6 material though.
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Who did you sign in the summer that improved the team?
posted on 17/1/17
Gundogan (until he got injured). Despite perception, Stones did too.
I'd say it's a bit hard to judge Jesus yet too...
posted on 17/1/17
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 35 minutes ago
Gundogan (until he got injured). Despite perception, Stones did too.
I'd say it's a bit hard to judge Jesus yet too...
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Or Sane and Nolito.
posted on 17/1/17
If you look across the city, United paid £89m for Pogba.
We paid £70m for Gundogan, Sane and Nolito.
Pogba has 4 goals, 3 assists, 150 dabs, a Twitter account, a new emoji and a clothing range.
Our 3 players for less money, have 8 goals, 4 assists and are on the same combined salary per week as Pogba.
I know who got the best deal.
posted on 17/1/17
My question was who improved the team?
I can't see anyone who did. Couldn't in the Summer, can't now.
posted on 17/1/17
Improved the team as in the starting 11 or the whole team?
posted on 17/1/17
So Gundogan prior to his injury, wasn't better than Fernando?
Nolito and Sane haven't been an improvement on what we were getting out of Navas, attacking wise?
Stones hasn't proved to be better than DeMechelis?
Add to that Gabriel Jesus who we've yet to see.
Do you wish me to go on, or would you like to just point out Claudio Bravo?
Remember also, within our £165m spend according to the press, we still had Rulli with a buy back, Moreno out on loan as well. So that's 3 players we've yet to see, 2 players who have been injured - Sane and Gundogan.
I'd still take our signings over United's world record breaking transfer and massive wage bill on Zlatan and the Dab, over what we have still to come in the next few months.
posted on 17/1/17
Forgot to add Zinchenko on loan as well.