11 May 2017 06:58:26
What would you think of a window that goes as follows.
Keep DDG - sign Pickford
Sign Fabinho - cover DM and RB
Sign Lindelof
Sign Godin
Sign Bale
Maybe even sign Iniesta who's offski somewhere.
Let go:
Rooney
Ibra
Shaw
Young - sad but want him to get a big payday
Romero
Jones or Smalling - keep one for backup.
{Ed025's Note - sounds good to me robbie except for godin who im not a fan of at all, also you are right about young deserving a big pay day i dont know how he can manage on those wages, we could go around with buckets before the games and collect cash for him to supplement his income or maybe ask posters on here for a donation?...words fail me mate..
11 May 2017 07:35:55
Sounds good to me as well Robbie, although I wouldn't bother with Pickford, rather promote a backup GK from within, no need to spend big money and gives youth hope.
I'm the opposite to Ed25 on Godin, he would be my first signing. We need a leader at the back badly and he has it all for me.
The outs, I would also add Mata to the list, we would get good money for him and he wouldn't play much in his best position and he is wasted out wide. Throw Januzaj on the fire as well, combined would be enough for another quality winger.
11 May 2017 08:09:52
Beast there are at least 10+ players I'd let leave before letting Juan go. If he doesn't get much matches, he can always leave come January and I expect him to not be here in the longterm, but certainly not this summer.
11 May 2017 08:20:53
I do get what you mean Rohan, but the 'idea' of Mata is often much better than what we actually get from Mata.
He has had his moments, but he doesn't suit a Jose system, vanishes from games too much, and he doesn't have the legs to get about, which hampers our other attackers as we already have a limited number of men committed forward.
Mata would be dynamite for a team like Monaco or PSG - players moving all around him and his brain being used. We rely on his physical attributes rather than his brain, the way we play and physically he is found badly wanting. Seems like a really top bloke, but so am I.
11 May 2017 08:27:44
Fair point re Young Ed but a little facetious methinks given that Young has been a good servant for the club and operates in a completely different economic stratosphere to us mere mortals.
Godin I'm surprised at -I think he embodies everything we could use, a true leader, hard and nails, reads the game well and has pedigree behind him. He would basically be completely at home in centuries past as some warrior or other.
I'd be sad to see Mata go but I do feel he's asked to play out of position in a wider role and in truth there are probably better options. Such a nice guy it's difficult to wish him anything but the best.
11 May 2017 08:36:23
I think window will pan out as follows
Ins
Griezmann
Semedo/ Aurier
Fabinho
Oblak/ Donnaruma (if ddg leaves)
Schmeichel
The torino guy
Lindeloff
Outs
Rooney
Jones/ Smalling (hopefully both)
Carrick
Young
Ibra
Mata
Romero
Blind
Darmian
Can't see us signing bale or godin, also shaw will most likely stay.
11 May 2017 08:37:41
Robbie, before I got through your options I want to say I like your idea of signing 5 or so top quality players rather than say 7 or 8 players of slightly lesser quality. Personally I think that is the best way to go, in the short term it might leave you slightly exposed during an injury crisis but long term it massively improves the overall quality of the squad.
My concerns with the players you picked are.
Would Pickford who has been one of the best keepers in the league this season be happy to come and sit on our bench? I doubt it, especially when he'll have offers from clubs like Everton to be their first choice keeper. Personally I wouldn't want to sign any player who would be happy to sign to sit on our bench. It means they haven't got the right attitude.
I don't think we need to sign two centre backs, just one to partner Bailly. We have good squad options already.
Fabinho I think is a great option, and is a better all round player than Bakayoko.
Bale I think is a great player, but I do worry about his injury record. On average he misses 10 games a season, and this is unlikely to improve. For how much he will cost you need a player who'll be there in nearly every game of the season making a difference.
Then we move on to the areas you have missed out on. You say sell Shaw but have no replacement coming in. Who do you see playing LB for us next season?
I like the idea of not signing an out and out striker and giving Rashford and Martial the chance next season to step up. But it is risky. They are young players and you will be Delhi on both of them to be consistent next season to challenge for top honours.
If DDG stays I wouldn't sign another keeper, even if Romero leaves. We have Johnstone who is highly regarded and Joel Pereira. You don't need to rotate your keeper and DDG has a great injury record.
I'd go with
Lindelof
Mendy
Fabinho
Greizmann
Morata.
11 May 2017 08:45:30
Beast i do see where you are coming from in part ref Mata.
BUT if we were to keep him knowing thast he isn't first choice for that position and he's happy with that then i wouldn't let him go at all.
He is on to keep for me.
11 May 2017 09:12:15
Just a note of caution with some peoples sales and purchases lists including jones smalling rooney shaw young carrick and adnan that's 7 home grown players who are experienced players if you're putting 5 or so of them up for sale we would need to purchase at least a couple 1st team hg players. Just something to bare in mind. maybe eric dier as dm option. It might be why we are linked to hart even though i would prefer to stick with romero to be honest.
11 May 2017 09:19:40
I wouldn't let Mata go, he might not be perfect for Mourinho's idea of footballing style but he is a different option and one who consistently produces the goods.
He is our leading assist maker since Sir Alex left, and I think I'm right in saying no player has made more assists in the EPL than Mata since he entered the league. And he pops up with important goals.
If we improve the quality of the squad then I think Mata would be better with better players playing around him.
I would only let him leave if he wanted to leave. I certainly wouldn't push him out the door. Smalling, Jones, Darmian, Blind, Rooney, Young, Januzaj, Fellaini and Carrick should all be well out the door before we consider letting Juan go.
11 May 2017 09:48:55
Good Ole days, Eric Dier doesn't count as homegrown, he spent most of his youth career in a Portuguese academy and not a British one. His nationality doesn't make him homegrown.
11 May 2017 11:16:23
Shappy - good point forgot about portugal.
11 May 2017 11:19:52
on a plus not Pogba is homegrown. :) and likewise if we were to buy Lukaku he is also homegrown.
11 May 2017 11:45:39
Outs
DDG (if he wants to go and Real pay up)
Romero
Blind
Jones
Darmian
Young
Carrick
Mata
Januzaj
Rooney
IBRA
Ins
Handanovic to replace DDG
Promote our best youth GK to replace Romero
Tierney to compete with Shaw
Semedo to compete with Tony V
Gimenez preferably or Lindelof to partner Bailly
Fabinho as CDM
Alexis Sanchez as RF,
Lacazette as CF
Don't see how we can sign less than 6 unless DDG stays. Still leaves us light in midfield. If any of Shaw, Smalling, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, Martial go as well then we are looking at a crazy number of signings or promoting a lot of youth.
11 May 2017 12:38:26
ins
handamovic (replace DDG)
ruggani
fabinho
matic
Greizman (Not a wish but think it'll happen)
silva
would keep eye on boeteng at bayerns situation and matuidi if we lose afew mids. t
rooney
ibra
young,
fellaini
Mata
januzai
carrick retired/ not extended his contract.
jones
rojo
darmian
Loans
possibly martial, johnstone poss sale
bring perreira back into squad.
Think a lot of ins and outs this summer.
12 May 2017 07:07:47
Problem is if we have that many ins and outs then we will need another 'settling in season' really.
As Shappy mentioned i think get in 4 or 5 top stars who will all make an impact, give leadership and steady the ship. Cut a bit of dead wood and promote a few promising starts like TFM, Tunazabe (spelling) Cameron B-J etc etc to help them grow an fulfil homegrown quota.
The reality is with 4 new seasons pros plus 3 from last window that's 7 who will play most games and subsidised with the next gen.
Personally i have always though Bale was a man utd player in the making and I still think he will end up here one way or another, hopefully- yes he's had injuries this season but look at what he's done prior for Spurs, Wales and RM, how anyone wouldn't want him is beyond me bearing in mind he's done it in the prem, and champions league etc already.
Anyhow to be honest Jose had a great window last time and chances are we are all wrong but he will nail it this time too.
I am not shy to admit I hadn't really heard of Bailly and Miki only in passing.
Remember porto - Europa league then Champions league back to back :)