20 Apr 2013 13:00:21
if rooney does go I think there is only one replacement. He will need replacing as hernandez is better off the bench, welbeck is more of a forward than a striker, macheda isn't good enough, keane and henriquez are too young. That only leaves us with van persie and if his form dips or he gets tired or injured we could be in trouble. I don't see us going for over priced players like falcao or cavani who could struggle to adapt to england. We also need a midfielder or two and another winger so spanking the budget on one player makes no sense. But there is a striker who should settle and represents value for money and that's lewandowski. MrE {Ed004's Note - Imo Gotze would be the perfect replacement}

1.) 20 Apr 2013
Lewandowski on current form would be good replacement. Reus would also fit the bill as Kagawa can play in the hole and we need goals from winger/forwards which our current crop are incapable off.

Shahram {Ed004's Note - Personally if Rooney goes along with Nani I would sign two players who can play out wide (Kagawa and RVP can play in the hole) and also centrally to replace him and I would only sign Lewandowski if Hernandez or Welbeck leaves. I'd love Gotze and then a left footer which would hopefully be Rodriguez or Lamela. Not sure which of those I'd prefer tbh}

2.) 20 Apr 2013
20 Apr 2013 13:30:27
Ed I was talking purely in terms of replacing rooney as a striker as we would need someone to take the pressure off van persie. If we were looking to replace rooney in terms of an attacking midfielder then gotze would be the perfect replacement. However I don't see dortmund selling two big names in the same transfer window much less selling two to us in one window. Also I expect gotze to stay with dortmund one more season for his development and move after the world cup. Which is more or less what his agent has said this week. I do think if anyone else bids for him then we'll jump in unless it becomes a lucas moura situation and we get outbid. But with gotze likely to stay one more year it doesn't help us and we'd need another signing. Which is what I think is the plan anyway. Lewandowski this year and gotze next year. I think we might even spend this season seeing how zaha and welbeck do as inside forwards and see what happens with young and valencia. Not my ideal plan but i'm not sure who else we'd go for. Lamela is too complicated, we're not after isco according to your colleague, and I think rodriguez is too costly. Not sure who else we'd go for. I do agree with you on gotze just think the timing isn't right. And if rooney goes a striker replacement would be more needed. Interesting summer ahead anyway. MrE {Ed004's Note - I disagree as I reckon Hernandez would get more game time and he always scores, welbeck is improving and RVP is just unbelievable. I think we need supply to the forwards more and IMO Gotze is a must this summer as he is a future Ballon D'or. I don't want it being a case were we acted too late to sign him}

3.) 20 Apr 2013
Have to agree with the ed. Gotze would be ideal and maybe the reason why Fergie hasn't bought a midfielder yet! {Ed004's Note - Hopefully! Midfield of Carrick, Strootman, Kagawa with two wide players who can come in such as Gotze and one other and we would be extremely hard to beat}

4.) 20 Apr 2013
20 Apr 2013 13:59:35
Hernandez struggles though when he starts games. Especially domestic ones. He's better as an impact player. Maybe welbeck with a good run upfront and kagawa and van persie supplying him could become more prolific. But I think we'd need someone else. What if van persie had a serious injury? We'd be left with just hernandez and welbeck. As I said I agree gotze is a must have, I just don't see him moving this summer. but next summer I can see us spending a big wedge on him. Next summer we could go for gotze a left back and maybe a centreback. This summer though lewandowski, strootman and either another centre mid for options or another wing/ forward option. I can see us going for a left field option like andre ayew who wouldn't cost the earth and fits into the budget. Then next summer gotze. MrE

5.) 20 Apr 2013
20 Apr 2013 14:07:47
Ed, if Goetze plays on the left next to KAgawa, we would need to sign a left footed player to play on the right and balance things out. Rodriguez, and Lamela are the most capable pones but I real. on here that we're looking to sign Gaitan again? I hope not.

But unfortunatly I don't see Fergy moving away from the more typical wingers, which is why we bought Zaha to play on the right, he does like someone who can cross.

On the other hand a left footed player is a must, and in the youth system we have Januzaj who's not more than a season away from the first team, and Barmby who would take more time if he manages to make it. Do you rate either of them to be able to come in and improve the team in a coiple of years' time?

Mick {Ed004's Note - I haven't seen enough of either to be able to judge if they are good enough and I think mainly due to René Meulensteen we will be moving to a more fluid style of play and i think that was the main reason we signed Kagawa and RVP and also tried for Hazard and Moura. A front 4 of Gotze, Kagawa, Rodriguez/Lamela and RVP would be the best in the league IMO as long as they had a strong midfield and then you have Young, Zaha and Valencia to provide width when it is needed}

6.) 21 Apr 2013
Mick

Although I only saw him briefly Dimitri Mitchell fits the left footed winger category and looked to have serious potential but is probably 3 years away.

Red Man

7.) 21 Apr 2013
21 Apr 2013 14:22:12
Cheers red man, I'll keep an eye on him

Mick