27 Aug 2024 08:58:29
Ugarte is all done apparently. He's travelling over for his medical today.

€50m initial fee with €10m in add ons.


1.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 09:39:20
Good to have that all done now let's see what else we can do before the window closes another CM? Lb? Branthwaite?

Eds said we have interest and will push on ederson?

Also says he expects another offer for Branthwaite?

What options are there for left back?

Think if we can get a cm and a lb we could have a decent team, but can the manager set them up right.


2.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 09:49:34
Good, glad it's sorted as it was becoming a bit of a saga.

Overall I'm really pleased with the summer transfer business even if personally there were alternative players I'd have preferred. Ultimately though there is probably a reason why I'm a geography teacher and not in football player acquisitions?

Two CB's, one with great experience and the other a potentially generational talent.

A top quality fullback who is capable of playing both RB and LB.

Those three signings have significantly upgraded our defence, particularly on the right hand side. I think we are still a couple of defenders short in terms of quality and suitability for how we look to play, with us needing another LCB and a first choice quality LB. Yet those are players that I expect we'll get next summer.

We've now seemingly got a top quality CDM in, someone who adds energy, bite, and ball winning capacity to our midfield.

Personally I still feel we could do with at least one maybe two more in midfield long term. We could do with a technical ball player, a passing metronome in the middle who can dictate play. Although they are difficult to find.

We have also signed a creative and hard working centre forward to add depth and a different option up front.

We will seemingly have to rely on young Garnacho and Amad making good on their potential this season in the wide areas, or a Lazarus style return to form for Rashford. Again this is an area I'd expect to see us look to sign someone for next summer.

These five signings along with a whole raft of departures (with still more to come before Fridays deadline) means the squad looks more streamlined and is starting to take shape with a lot of high potential young players who we can build around. The squad looks to have more fight, energy, technical ability and tactical intelligence, although it has clearly lost some top level experience.

I think a smaller squad is needed to create a tight knit group and for genuine competition for places. When you have 33 players in your first team squad and you can only name 20 to the match day squad that means over a third of your squad won't be selected for each game. Eventually that is bound to lead to those players consistently not selected to lose motivation. Ultimately it will be very hard to keep up squad morale with such a bloated squad.

Currently we have 31 in the first team squad 32 once Ugarte joins. Yet we will see anywhere between 3 and 5 leave before the window closes (Lindelof, Eriksen, McTominay, Hannibal and Sancho all being possible/ likely departures) .

That would bring us down to 27 or 28, which also includes the likes of Amass, Collyer, Gore and Wheatley. Four youngsters who will play a lot of under 23's football when they aren't in the first team squad. Which will still keep them sharp and motivated.

Which really leaves us with 3 or 4 senior players on average who will miss out each week. Although with injuries and suspensions that'll be closer to 1 or 2 at most. Which is where you want the squad to be.

Next summer I'd expect to see us sign a LB, LCB, CM and a winger at least, maybe two midfielders or two wingers depending on how players develop/ perform this season.

I'd also expect it to be more of a one in, one out policy next summer, with Maguire likely leaving to make space for a LCB, one of Shaw or Malacia leaving for a LB, Casemiro leaving for CM and Antony leaving for a winger.

If others leave then we might see additional players signed to replace them or players from the academy added to the squad to try and step up (Onana, Heaton, Bayindir at least one of the keeper will likely leave, with an academy option maybe stepping in for Heaton, but if one of the other two leave then I'd expect to see a signing made) .


3.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 09:52:14
Can’t see Branthwaite happening unless some significant sales also happen. Could barely afford Ugarte deal.

I would imagine any other deals coming in would only be a loan.

My guess is that Ugarte is the last incoming player this window, any other deals will be players leaving.


4.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 10:14:40
The team still needs a pulse in the middle pulling the strings, making things happen as it's all felt a bit one dimensional for a while. I expect Bruno is seen as this player but he's not one of the greats, IMO. Maybe next summer.


5.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 10:41:44
If Scott and Hannibal go for the figures mentioned we have a net spend of circa £90 million which is a great window for the 5 we brought in, Ugarte medical dependent ?

If we manage to move on Sancho and Eriksen I personally think we will see another addition to the squad.


6.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 10:53:29
Think that’s fair. I think we may see late deals for Eriksen and Lindelof to balance the books further, and if we can move Sancho on then there may be a late deal for another forward/ winger.


7.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 10:57:16
This amount of activity demonstrates the serious restrucuring of the squad that is needed.

There are still a couple more that will be surplus and we continue to look light up front, but we can't do everything in one window. I don't see any more business unless we lose someone like Cas, which I am not sure is going to happen.

ETH may prove to be the right or wrong man, but this amount of change will need carful managing, those calling for his head to give their heads a wobble, the place has been a mess and this feels like the first step in trying to change that.


8.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 11:08:21
phillip

our net spend is lower than that, looks like a 75/ 80 if no one else is sold assuming, Hanibal and mc go. Swedish rumble had an interesting piece and reckons next summer we can spend up to 250/ 300 if we wanted to given how we have managed our transfers this year. Even this jan window we can buy and have a lot of leg room.

Personally would love to see a surprise signing of Davies over any other single player:) we can all dream lol.


9.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 12:07:24
Spenno, I suspect that the club see Manioo as that player. The one that can drop back, take the ball off the defenders, and move it forward. I’m hoping that with Ugarte holding, Manioo will have a bit more freedom to get forward.


10.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 12:32:45
Danny if they see mainoo as a ball player we're in trouble.

Mainoo is spectacular at dribbling holding the ball special awareness and link up. However he doesn't play passes from deep control the tempo and play the ball in behind.

We need someone able to play the ball make passes and generally dictate play. Atm it's all very focused on Bruno making all the passes to the forwards so when he's not on form (first 2 games he's not been at his best) then we aren't it also means we're easy to stop as you just stop Bruno.


11.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 13:05:57
He’s young Dbrooks. I think he has the talent to learn to play that role. He has a good range of passing, excellent at receiving the ball in tight space, and has the stamina to get up and down the pitch.

If you look at how players like Scholes and Keane developed, they started playing further up the pitch, then learned how to control the flow of the game. I’m hoping that with Ugarte sitting deep it will allow Bruno and Manioo to play a double pivot in playmaking when in possession.


12.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 13:36:34
Mainoo will play further up the pouch not further back. Bellingham like. Put him there he will destroy brunos stats for goals and assists in 2 years time.


13.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 14:10:38
Nevermind when Bruno isn't available, even when he's available, he just isn't that kind of player.

Bruno is a very good player, but he isn't a playmaker. His creativity is pretty good for someone who isn't a playmaker, but compared to real playmakers at the same level, the difference is stark.

It will be interesting to see how Mainoo develops. I agree with Danny that he could develop into more of a playmaker, and he seems to have the basic attributes needed to develop in that direction, but whether or not he develops that way in the future is impossible to say for now.


14.) 27 Aug 2024
27 Aug 2024 16:43:09
If Bruno isn't a playmaker and a top level one I give up, Jesus Christ he's created the most big chances in the prem since he joined him and de bruyne have been a different level.