until someone like Ugarte comes in we are still light in CM, Casimero is past his best, McT is limited, Mount I have doubts about but he will get a chance and Mainoo is still very young and will have up's and downs
Not sure if the finance is there to upgrade the midfield enough atm, time will tell though
Cannot see you signing another forward. No good value forward's available anyway. Even we are struggling to find one. Think PSG will cave in with Ugarte and you will sign him.
You missed Garnacho.
I see we’re being linked with Ferguson now, a signing I’d love to make, though I’d prefer Toney for the immigrate term it seems that’s now the way INEOS want us to go.
A CM must be a priority too? Cant do it all in one window I guess.
Quite pleased with how the squad is being shaped, but we really need another CM. If we can get a CM through the door that would look like a pretty good window to me. Really we need two.
Our attacking options are all a bit too youthful and we'd benefit from someone a little more ready-made, but that's a pipe dream due to the finances.
Other than midfield, I'd be a little concerned still about the FB positions. Dalot is the only FB that has shown he can stay fit on a consistent basis, and Harry Amass is very young and although his talent was on display in preseason, I thought it was quite clear that he's not ready yet. If there were any credibility to the links to Hermoso on a free transfer, that might be quite savvy business (well, savvy if we get him, big missed opportunity if we don't, never seen play etc).
comment by Insufferable-Piffle (U4388)
posted 3 minutes ago
until someone like Ugarte comes in we are still light in CM, Casimero is past his best, McT is limited, Mount I have doubts about but he will get a chance and Mainoo is still very young and will have up's and downs
Not sure if the finance is there to upgrade the midfield enough atm, time will tell though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitely need a Ugarte and/or Berge in this team.
The addition of De Ligt and Mazraoui vastly improves, on paper, our defensive capabilities.
With the departure of AWB imminent, this could start a domino effect with more departures likely. Can't see Lindelof or Maguire being at Utd for too long. More likely Maguire will park his slab until next summer with Lindelof the most likely casualty this window. Once Yoro is back and running fit we'll have an enviable defensive line.
I still feel we're light up front though
Really think Bayinder should be released and Vitek should be made number 2 or 3.
Also, whilst we have depth on the wings, there’s a real lack of quality.
I’ve a feeling Garnacho will step up this season, Amad too. But will ETH have the s to drop Rashford, I have my doubts.
We still lack that stand out goalscorer like a Palmer, Salah, Haaland, Saka, Son that all of the best sides have at their disposal. That means we really need decent numbers throughout the attack.
I don't think the squad is in too bad a shape now. As has been mentioned above we still need a MF or two though. If we did get even one though it'd be a pretty solid first window under Ineos.
I'm not sold on Toney though to be honest plus I find him a bit unlikeable too (I know that doesn't really matter but still). I think we're OK with giving Hojlund, Zirkzee and Rashford a crack at it this season and perhaps tell Toney to wait a year. Bit of a gamble for him but...
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 3 minutes ago
You missed Garnacho.
I see we’re being linked with Ferguson now, a signing I’d love to make, though I’d prefer Toney for the immigrate term it seems that’s now the way INEOS want us to go.
A CM must be a priority too? Cant do it all in one window I guess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Rosso know something we don't about Nacho?! 😢
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 33 seconds ago
Also, whilst we have depth on the wings, there’s a real lack of quality.
I’ve a feeling Garnacho will step up this season, Amad too. But will ETH have the s to drop Rashford, I have my doubts.
We still lack that stand out goalscorer like a Palmer, Salah, Haaland, Saka, Son that all of the best sides have at their disposal. That means we really need decent numbers throughout the attack.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ETH dropped Rashford plenty of times last season (and Antony). For all the fair criticisms that could be levelled at ETH, I don't think that fear of dropping a player is one of them...
https://x.com/FCBayern/status/1822899324805607480 - no hard feelings from Bayern.
I'm not sold on Toney though to be honest plus I find him a bit unlikeable too
————-
Having only watched De Ligt at Ajax, I thought he was a bit of a knobb, a real big time Charlie, dunno if he’s changed since his moves to Juve/Bayern
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
https://x.com/FCBayern/status/1822899324805607480 - no hard feelings from Bayern.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One of our RDDs asked this
"Why are you wishing our players a Happy birthday?"
Why can't Bayern wish a former player happy birthday?! They simply can!
Re surplus wingers, I'm not at all sold on the idea that Sancho is back in the fold. I think he'll be gone this window, along with Pelestri. I can see Antony going out on loan, if only to get some confidence back.
Still unsure on the keeper. He gets this season obviously but I'm not overly confident he's the long term answer.
Defence, with the expected arrivals of De Ligt and Mazraoui, I think we are actually looking okay now. Obviously need more luck with injuries.
Midfield - Not confident at all in any of our midfielders except Mainoo and Bruno. This is a huge worry.
Wingers - Rashford, Garnacho, Amad, Antony will be our main 4 I feel once the window shuts as I expect Sancho to leave. Unless Rashford rediscovers his confidence I just don't see enough goals from that quartet.
Forwards - Hojlund, Zirkzee, Wheatley. Again like the wingers I worry about where the goals are coming from.
Lack of goals is why I don't see us finishing any higher than 6th as things stand.
comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 2 minutes ago
I'm not sold on Toney though to be honest plus I find him a bit unlikeable too
————-
Having only watched De Ligt at Ajax, I thought he was a bit of a knobb, a real big time Charlie, dunno if he’s changed since his moves to Juve/Bayern
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, he did seem confident there I suppose too. I know it's probably irrational on my part anyway.
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 3 minutes ago
You missed Garnacho.
I see we’re being linked with Ferguson now, a signing I’d love to make, though I’d prefer Toney for the immigrate term it seems that’s now the way INEOS want us to go.
A CM must be a priority too? Cant do it all in one window I guess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Rosso know something we don't about Nacho?! 😢
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He’s on the squad list in the OP, ffs
Still missing goals, a decent midfield and pace in defence
Other than that, not bad 😅
I think we'll do much better this season than what some on here expect. A midfielder, or two, is needed still of course but I reckon we'll get at least one. We may get a hint at any potential Sander Berge move as Burnley play tonight.
So who do we think will definitely leave this window, and what sort of cumulative sum do we think we'd get?
You'd think Sancho, Hannibal, Pellistri, Lindelof & maybe McTominay would be pretty safe bets for the "to shift" list.
£80-90m for the lot of them? Any acquisitions will ultimately rest on this.
As I said on another thread, the more I move into the Old Fart phase of life, the less I fixate on the immediate competitiveness of the squad, and the more I'm engaged with the process of team building. As such, I'm really happy with the kinds of buys we've made, which seem on average younger than we've bought in the past, and with more of an eye on the precise profiles of players. I'm not too worried if we can't fill all of the gaps in the squad in one window, which would be challenging even without the legacy of budgetary restraints / players we struggle to shift bequeathed by the old regime.
I think the incoming players are a step in the right direction that won't solve all our issues. However, we can make substantial progress this season if ETH does a better job tactically and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
————
That horse bolted in pre season
Ok with the CB signings - think we've definitely upgraded there and if Martinez can stay fit that will also be a massive improvement on last year.
Signing yet another injury prone full back in Mazraoui is bizarre to me, but we'll see how it goes I guess. If he spends half the season injured though - that's completely on whoever made the decision to sign him.
Zirkzee - exactly the profile of CF I felt we needed, we'll see if he actually has the quality to match I guess.
comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
————
That horse bolted in pre season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Two injuries in pre-season doesn't mean we're going to have the same number of injuries all year, unless you're drawing on superstitious intuitions.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
————
That horse bolted in pre season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Two injuries in pre-season doesn't mean we're going to have the same number of injuries all year, unless you're drawing on superstitious intuitions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re right it doesn’t, but it couldn’t be much of a worse start, fingers crossed when the season starts it doesn’t get any worse
Sign in if you want to comment
Could be a big day today
Page 1 of 5
posted on 12/8/24
until someone like Ugarte comes in we are still light in CM, Casimero is past his best, McT is limited, Mount I have doubts about but he will get a chance and Mainoo is still very young and will have up's and downs
Not sure if the finance is there to upgrade the midfield enough atm, time will tell though
posted on 12/8/24
Cannot see you signing another forward. No good value forward's available anyway. Even we are struggling to find one. Think PSG will cave in with Ugarte and you will sign him.
posted on 12/8/24
You missed Garnacho.
I see we’re being linked with Ferguson now, a signing I’d love to make, though I’d prefer Toney for the immigrate term it seems that’s now the way INEOS want us to go.
A CM must be a priority too? Cant do it all in one window I guess.
posted on 12/8/24
Quite pleased with how the squad is being shaped, but we really need another CM. If we can get a CM through the door that would look like a pretty good window to me. Really we need two.
Our attacking options are all a bit too youthful and we'd benefit from someone a little more ready-made, but that's a pipe dream due to the finances.
Other than midfield, I'd be a little concerned still about the FB positions. Dalot is the only FB that has shown he can stay fit on a consistent basis, and Harry Amass is very young and although his talent was on display in preseason, I thought it was quite clear that he's not ready yet. If there were any credibility to the links to Hermoso on a free transfer, that might be quite savvy business (well, savvy if we get him, big missed opportunity if we don't, never seen play etc).
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Insufferable-Piffle (U4388)
posted 3 minutes ago
until someone like Ugarte comes in we are still light in CM, Casimero is past his best, McT is limited, Mount I have doubts about but he will get a chance and Mainoo is still very young and will have up's and downs
Not sure if the finance is there to upgrade the midfield enough atm, time will tell though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitely need a Ugarte and/or Berge in this team.
The addition of De Ligt and Mazraoui vastly improves, on paper, our defensive capabilities.
With the departure of AWB imminent, this could start a domino effect with more departures likely. Can't see Lindelof or Maguire being at Utd for too long. More likely Maguire will park his slab until next summer with Lindelof the most likely casualty this window. Once Yoro is back and running fit we'll have an enviable defensive line.
I still feel we're light up front though
posted on 12/8/24
Really think Bayinder should be released and Vitek should be made number 2 or 3.
posted on 12/8/24
Also, whilst we have depth on the wings, there’s a real lack of quality.
I’ve a feeling Garnacho will step up this season, Amad too. But will ETH have the s to drop Rashford, I have my doubts.
We still lack that stand out goalscorer like a Palmer, Salah, Haaland, Saka, Son that all of the best sides have at their disposal. That means we really need decent numbers throughout the attack.
posted on 12/8/24
I don't think the squad is in too bad a shape now. As has been mentioned above we still need a MF or two though. If we did get even one though it'd be a pretty solid first window under Ineos.
I'm not sold on Toney though to be honest plus I find him a bit unlikeable too (I know that doesn't really matter but still). I think we're OK with giving Hojlund, Zirkzee and Rashford a crack at it this season and perhaps tell Toney to wait a year. Bit of a gamble for him but...
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 3 minutes ago
You missed Garnacho.
I see we’re being linked with Ferguson now, a signing I’d love to make, though I’d prefer Toney for the immigrate term it seems that’s now the way INEOS want us to go.
A CM must be a priority too? Cant do it all in one window I guess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Rosso know something we don't about Nacho?! 😢
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 33 seconds ago
Also, whilst we have depth on the wings, there’s a real lack of quality.
I’ve a feeling Garnacho will step up this season, Amad too. But will ETH have the s to drop Rashford, I have my doubts.
We still lack that stand out goalscorer like a Palmer, Salah, Haaland, Saka, Son that all of the best sides have at their disposal. That means we really need decent numbers throughout the attack.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ETH dropped Rashford plenty of times last season (and Antony). For all the fair criticisms that could be levelled at ETH, I don't think that fear of dropping a player is one of them...
posted on 12/8/24
https://x.com/FCBayern/status/1822899324805607480 - no hard feelings from Bayern.
posted on 12/8/24
I'm not sold on Toney though to be honest plus I find him a bit unlikeable too
————-
Having only watched De Ligt at Ajax, I thought he was a bit of a knobb, a real big time Charlie, dunno if he’s changed since his moves to Juve/Bayern
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
https://x.com/FCBayern/status/1822899324805607480 - no hard feelings from Bayern.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
One of our RDDs asked this
"Why are you wishing our players a Happy birthday?"
Why can't Bayern wish a former player happy birthday?! They simply can!
posted on 12/8/24
Re surplus wingers, I'm not at all sold on the idea that Sancho is back in the fold. I think he'll be gone this window, along with Pelestri. I can see Antony going out on loan, if only to get some confidence back.
posted on 12/8/24
Still unsure on the keeper. He gets this season obviously but I'm not overly confident he's the long term answer.
Defence, with the expected arrivals of De Ligt and Mazraoui, I think we are actually looking okay now. Obviously need more luck with injuries.
Midfield - Not confident at all in any of our midfielders except Mainoo and Bruno. This is a huge worry.
Wingers - Rashford, Garnacho, Amad, Antony will be our main 4 I feel once the window shuts as I expect Sancho to leave. Unless Rashford rediscovers his confidence I just don't see enough goals from that quartet.
Forwards - Hojlund, Zirkzee, Wheatley. Again like the wingers I worry about where the goals are coming from.
Lack of goals is why I don't see us finishing any higher than 6th as things stand.
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 2 minutes ago
I'm not sold on Toney though to be honest plus I find him a bit unlikeable too
————-
Having only watched De Ligt at Ajax, I thought he was a bit of a knobb, a real big time Charlie, dunno if he’s changed since his moves to Juve/Bayern
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, he did seem confident there I suppose too. I know it's probably irrational on my part anyway.
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Vengeance (U23079)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 3 minutes ago
You missed Garnacho.
I see we’re being linked with Ferguson now, a signing I’d love to make, though I’d prefer Toney for the immigrate term it seems that’s now the way INEOS want us to go.
A CM must be a priority too? Cant do it all in one window I guess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Rosso know something we don't about Nacho?! 😢
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He’s on the squad list in the OP, ffs
posted on 12/8/24
Still missing goals, a decent midfield and pace in defence
Other than that, not bad 😅
posted on 12/8/24
I think we'll do much better this season than what some on here expect. A midfielder, or two, is needed still of course but I reckon we'll get at least one. We may get a hint at any potential Sander Berge move as Burnley play tonight.
posted on 12/8/24
So who do we think will definitely leave this window, and what sort of cumulative sum do we think we'd get?
You'd think Sancho, Hannibal, Pellistri, Lindelof & maybe McTominay would be pretty safe bets for the "to shift" list.
£80-90m for the lot of them? Any acquisitions will ultimately rest on this.
posted on 12/8/24
As I said on another thread, the more I move into the Old Fart phase of life, the less I fixate on the immediate competitiveness of the squad, and the more I'm engaged with the process of team building. As such, I'm really happy with the kinds of buys we've made, which seem on average younger than we've bought in the past, and with more of an eye on the precise profiles of players. I'm not too worried if we can't fill all of the gaps in the squad in one window, which would be challenging even without the legacy of budgetary restraints / players we struggle to shift bequeathed by the old regime.
I think the incoming players are a step in the right direction that won't solve all our issues. However, we can make substantial progress this season if ETH does a better job tactically and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
posted on 12/8/24
and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
————
That horse bolted in pre season
posted on 12/8/24
Ok with the CB signings - think we've definitely upgraded there and if Martinez can stay fit that will also be a massive improvement on last year.
Signing yet another injury prone full back in Mazraoui is bizarre to me, but we'll see how it goes I guess. If he spends half the season injured though - that's completely on whoever made the decision to sign him.
Zirkzee - exactly the profile of CF I felt we needed, we'll see if he actually has the quality to match I guess.
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
————
That horse bolted in pre season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Two injuries in pre-season doesn't mean we're going to have the same number of injuries all year, unless you're drawing on superstitious intuitions.
posted on 12/8/24
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 1 minute ago
and we don't have such a catastrophic experience with injuries.
————
That horse bolted in pre season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Two injuries in pre-season doesn't mean we're going to have the same number of injuries all year, unless you're drawing on superstitious intuitions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re right it doesn’t, but it couldn’t be much of a worse start, fingers crossed when the season starts it doesn’t get any worse
Page 1 of 5