We will probably need to get Erik to do a bit of a Fergie with the emerging youth players in the squad, combined with big name signings as and when, if United are to push on to really challenge for the PL and CL next season. This will mean obviously, giving them time on the pitch.

Eriksen and Case midfield two isn't elite. Eriksen offers next to nothing defensively and against a proper CL midfield (or even a team like Brighton), we'll lose the midfield battle nine times out of ten.

Antony is also far too unproductive and inefficient to form part of a title-winning front three. He offers single digit goals and no assists...

I'd say a world class striker and CM are the bare minimum we need this summer to have any hope of finishing top 2 in the league and making the quarters of the CL.

"Martinez Varane"

shouldn't bother me, but it does

comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 17 minutes ago
"Martinez Varane"

shouldn't bother me, but it does
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Same!

Kane would be a massive improvement in our ability to kill of matches. But without further investment in the squad, we'll still be unable to progress much toward the kind of dominant football ETH wants. If City don't revert to having a flawless season we could just maybe stay in touch with the title race based on being an effective transitional team, but lack of squad depth would eventually kill us.

It is not going to be a title winning team. I don't even think we can be a genuine title contender with that team which begs the question why the need to sign Kane then as he may only have a couple of good seasons in him.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 17 minutes ago
"Martinez Varane"

shouldn't bother me, but it does
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Same!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed it for you:


DDG
Shaw Martinez Varane AWB
Eriksen Bruno
Casemiro
Rashford Kane Antony

comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 17 minutes ago
"Martinez Varane"

shouldn't bother me, but it does
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Same!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed it for you:


DDG
Shaw Martinez Varane AWB
Eriksen Bruno
Casemiro
Rashford Kane Antony
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GDD

comment by Bobby Dazzler (U1449)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 17 minutes ago
"Martinez Varane"

shouldn't bother me, but it does
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Same!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed it for you:


DDG
Shaw Martinez Varane AWB
Eriksen Bruno
Casemiro
Rashford Kane Antony
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GDD
----------------------------------------------------------------------

RDD

Whilst we need upgrades in a few positions,, and need to shift a lot of players. I feel if we can get a good CF and a CM we will be much stronger.

A CB seems to be necessary too (a young prospect ideally), but I don't see why we can't do all three in one window.

comment by Zacab (U18502)
posted 12 minutes ago
It is not going to be a title winning team. I don't even think we can be a genuine title contender with that team which begs the question why the need to sign Kane then as he may only have a couple of good seasons in him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you have to take into account a few things; it's ETH's first season and we stared slowly, we've been fighting for 4 competitions and had a lot of players at the WC, Ronnie was a big issue for us, we've been a bit unlucky with injuries.

No reason we can't go into next season optimistic with the right signings.

Ultimately, whilst Pep has two potential title winning 11's at his disposal, it's going to be difficult for anybody to win the title.

Kane would no doubt improve us but like this season there would be a significant drop off if any of those players are missing.

You’re also not challenging for a league or CL with Eriksen and Casemiro as a midfield 2. Not pacey enough and both struggle against a press. We need a quick player who can receive the ball under pressure in midfield to play beside Casemiro.

Eriksen can be a really valuable squad player.

Our biggest problem, especially highlighted this season, is that while our first 11 can compete with anyone, our depth is massively lacking. If we only got Kane, I’d expect the season to go similar to this one to be honest.

I don’t think we necessarily need upgrades to the first team, but we do need to add competent players who can just rotate in and out

comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 17 minutes ago
"Martinez Varane"

shouldn't bother me, but it does
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Same!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed it for you:


DDG
Shaw Martinez Varane AWB
Eriksen Bruno
Casemiro
Rashford Kane Antony
----------------------------------------------------------------------

That has badly triggered my OCD. Picture me rocking in the foetal position in the corner of the room.

comment by Jay. (U16498)
posted 48 seconds ago
Our biggest problem, especially highlighted this season, is that while our first 11 can compete with anyone, our depth is massively lacking. If we only got Kane, I’d expect the season to go similar to this one to be honest.

I don’t think we necessarily need upgrades to the first team, but we do need to add competent players who can just rotate in and out
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We most definitely need upgrades to the 1st team.

We need a CF, ball playing CM, GK and possibly a RB.

The players they replace can rotate in and out.

We'd still see a lot of the same problems though. De Gea's inability to play from the back, Varane's fitness not being reliable, AWB offering virtually nothing going forward which means Antony's becomes nohwere near as effective, too many players being overly relied upon to play week in week out which will make injury more likely and everyone a year older.

Obviously Kane (or any top reiable striker) will make a huge difference and improve us but we are still very vulnerable in other areas. It would be great to see some youth blooded in and maybe that is part of EtH's plan but I think we can still probably improve areas without going crazy in the market, especially in goal where I think you could find a far more suitable keeper with a lot of expereince to fit in for a season or 2.

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whilst we need upgrades in a few positions,, and need to shift a lot of players. I feel if we can get a good CF and a CM we will be much stronger.

A CB seems to be necessary too (a young prospect ideally), but I don't see why we can't do all three in one window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Seems as though RB is a priority for the manager, based on the persistent rumours. Maybe it's useful to think of this not just in terms of the quality of the players we have (e.g. Dalot and the recent version of AWB are better than the RCB we play when Varane isn't available) but the structural importance of a certain kind of player to the team. Perhaps Ten Hag thinks that a flying attacking right back has a more significant effect on how we dominate games than certain other changes.

Yeah while there are a lot of areas that could be improved I think the purchase of a ST, GK and RB could all drastcially improve our structure and ability to perform as a team.

I think a CM and CB would be great but we do at least currently have players who do a job there in the way EtH seems to want us to play.

I'm I the only one who doesn't want Kane?

We need young hungry players. Kane is going to come with a Spursy mindset

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yeah while there are a lot of areas that could be improved I think the purchase of a ST, GK and RB could all drastcially improve our structure and ability to perform as a team.

I think a CM and CB would be great but we do at least currently have players who do a job there in the way EtH seems to want us to play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not sure they do exactly what he wants. None of them can do what his primary transfer target last summer can do: I mean, we don't even have a lower quality version of Frenkie. We don't have someone of his profile at all. That tells me he is pragmatically working around that. But whatever happens this summer, I think there will still be some pragmatic working around deficiencies next season.

comment by Maula Jatt (U19849)
posted 1 minute ago
I'm I the only one who doesn't want Kane?

We need young hungry players. Kane is going to come with a Spursy mindset
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m certainly on the fence about him.

He’s a top player but he’s 30 in the summer.

I know more players than ever stay at a top level after 30 now but some still decline rapidly at that age.

There’s also the nonsense argument that because he doesn’t rely on pace or doesn’t matter if he’s getting older.

Berbatov and Mata were 2 players who certainly did not rely on pace and both were finished shortly after 30.

I'd say Eriksen can do it, not to the same level but he can and has been deployed in the same role, he did it against Forest.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 25 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whilst we need upgrades in a few positions,, and need to shift a lot of players. I feel if we can get a good CF and a CM we will be much stronger.

A CB seems to be necessary too (a young prospect ideally), but I don't see why we can't do all three in one window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Seems as though RB is a priority for the manager, based on the persistent rumours. Maybe it's useful to think of this not just in terms of the quality of the players we have (e.g. Dalot and the recent version of AWB are better than the RCB we play when Varane isn't available) but the structural importance of a certain kind of player to the team. Perhaps Ten Hag thinks that a flying attacking right back has a more significant effect on how we dominate games than certain other changes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We certainly see a significant drop off at LB when Shaw isn't playing.

He one of our most capable players on the ball under pressure and really helps us control possession.

A RB who can get past Antony will also improve his effectiveness.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yeah while there are a lot of areas that could be improved I think the purchase of a ST, GK and RB could all drastcially improve our structure and ability to perform as a team.

I think a CM and CB would be great but we do at least currently have players who do a job there in the way EtH seems to want us to play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not sure they do exactly what he wants. None of them can do what his primary transfer target last summer can do: I mean, we don't even have a lower quality version of Frenkie. We don't have someone of his profile at all. That tells me he is pragmatically working around that. But whatever happens this summer, I think there will still be some pragmatic working around deficiencies next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree, and think a CM in the mould that ETH is looking for will transform our transitions from defence to attack.

We haven't had a midfielder capable of controlling the tempo or a good range of passing since Scholes. Pogba is the closest thing we've had.

comment by Maula Jatt (U19849)
posted 35 minutes ago
I'm I the only one who doesn't want Kane?

We need young hungry players. Kane is going to come with a Spursy mindset
----------------------------------------------------------------------

100 Mill and 300k + per week

Nah