10 May 2022 20:44:06
I think this transfer window will see us fall further behind. City have already started with Haarland and will def be ahead of us in signing a defensive midfielder. Liverpool will refresh their squad. Spurs need to buy and will to keep Conte. Arsenal will add players. Chelsea will spend a huge amount to catch up City. All of the above will be playing Champions League or Europa League. We won't be as an attractive option.
We should be going into the market now before the others and espec Chelsea start. Overall we are going to have to be realistic and realise the very best players won't be coming to us any time soon. The only advantage for ETH is that it may force his hand to sign players who will really want to wear the shirt and play with passion.
10 May 2022 22:01:06
How do you know all of them teams will be doing that? There is still a decent chance we will be in the Europa League as well. Will be an interesting summer.
10 May 2022 22:10:12
We are all well aware of the fact that we are no longer a top destination. We haven't been for quite some time despite the puffery of some of the United faithful. Everyone and his monkey knows the footballing side has been run by amateurs. In 2019 Jose claimed that finishing runners up with United was the highest achievement of his career - because people had no idea what was going on behind the scenes. In this he was right.
We will not get the top players because the top players want to play in the top clubs in the most important tournaments for the top coaches. So our future depends on us having a manager and staff who can help the club acquire players who will work hard, and become part of a team where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. If things start going in the right direction then better players will want to be associated with us again. It's unlikely it will happen quickly, although if we can fix defensive midfield and defense generally, and if the likes of Rashford, Sancho and Bruno start to play up to the levels they have exhibited in the past, then I don't see why we should not push for top 4 next season.
10 May 2022 22:16:08
I think fans need to be careful with this PASHUN thing.
Its how we ended up getting AWB, Maguire and Dan James for £150m.
In hindsight we would have been better off signing no one.
The players need to have footballing ability as well.
10 May 2022 22:25:40
United haven't the budget, will be some £25m players and hopefully use their heads for once, and snap up some good frees. United can't spent everything on one player when about 5 areas need badly addressing. started with min 2 in midfield. This if it actually succeeds will take years to reach city or pools level, if United ever reach those heights again with the glazers.
10 May 2022 22:35:26
Klopp had Liverpool rocking within 3 years they were in equally a bad a mess.
10 May 2022 22:53:06
Agreed Ken, it can all quickly turn around with a couple of quality signings.
I'd imagine 2/ 3 windows could see us back up there.
11 May 2022 06:39:52
I have a feeling we will get Goncalo Inacio, Nunez and Timber.
Young talented prospects for the rebuild.
More than the players, we should be targeting top quality coaches to assist Ten Hag.
The amount of players whose progress has stagnated is huge.
11 May 2022 09:56:56
The level of performance of most of Utds players this season is at odds with their to me undoubted abilities. Passion alone is not good. Passion plus skill plus good coaching is what we need.
Bearing in mind it's a world Cup year soon and the limited time ETH will have pre season to impress his ideas on the players minds I think it's totally realistic to expect only slow limited progress this season. I cannot imagine Utd will be able to make a real push for top four. The other contenders with settled squads and managers who have all been in charge for a while and already with European competition guaranteed will for sure be working on and attracting top players. We are some way behind the curve. We haven't even signed ETHs assistant yet!
11 May 2022 10:04:46
It'll all be ok, Erik's already got them coming in 2 weeks early! :D
In all seriousness, looking forward to the next few months and bet despite coming off the back of a (hopefully) successful season at Ajax, ten Hag will be raring to forego those responsibilities and sink his teeth into our club.
I think for all the hundred names that are being banded about it's probably futile trying to predict who's going to come in. There will be surprises and curveballs in there for sure.
11 May 2022 12:18:02
I think we will but 5 possibly 6 players immediately who Ten Hag has already scouted with a view to his needs at Ajax. Appreciate they may be different from United but like all good managers he will have a longlist of players for every position, for next season and for future potential purchases too. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s no household names brought in, nor does there need to be. We need technically strong players who can fit into Ten Hag’s style and philosophy. If Pochettino had got the job I think Harry Kane at No.9 would’ve been a certainty. But blowing majority of the budget in the process. Same if we went for Rice or Bellingham. Great players and they will make City, Liverpool etc or whoever they join much stronger. But given the number of players we need and the likely budget available I’d be genuinely surprised if we pay over £40m for any one player. It’s not the names and reputations they have now that matter. It’s whether whomever we sign they can be a great player for us.
11 May 2022 12:32:14
I agree with your points Halesini, but if you don't believe we'll be spending north of £40m on any one player there are going to be a lot of disappointed forum members. No Antony, Nunuz, Neves for starters.
I feel the attacking options will be where most of the funds are spent.
Realistically, who is there that Utd have interest in that will fall into this bracket of costing below £50m?
11 May 2022 13:28:39
There’s players here already we have to hope ETH can improve and get the best from. 3 or 4 good signings and additions to the squad and you just never know a youth player or two stepping up. We could easily gain a few more points than this season’s total.
If we are honest next season we won’t win the title and heck we may not even make top 4 but it’s about progression. It’s about getting the foundation correct and then building on it. Give ten hag the tools he needs to succeed, then he can properly prove his ability.
12 May 2022 08:48:13
Like many fans, I ve been totally bewildered by the club over the last few seasons moreso, but strangley optimistic this coming season- (even though ewe aren't finished this one yet)
The first couple of names through the door will give an idea of eth vision going forward and if it is DE jong and say ignacio then that to me is gold!
Add nunez and a cb we are winning the negatives over i reckon. Always said the club needs to get rid of the tumbleweed, pogbamartial, lingard, jones, matic, mata, cavani and others in order to move forward: it looks like those mentioned wil go or be gone as out of contract, not getting minutes or no longer required.
Finally, with regards to the other clubs, they add players every window and no team goes out to buy lesser talent so nothing has changed. The big hoorah is haarland to city but hey they have to leave a good player out to play hinm and there's no guaratee he will do what he did in german league so let's be more aware and hopeful of our own teams antics.
12 May 2022 11:20:31
For a side having to play without a natural no.9 for the last two seasons City are doing pretty well, I'd say it's debatable whether Haaland will improve them as they'll have to play differently with him. But what a capture for the PL, can't wait to see him in action. But much more interested in what we do. The de Jong links come and go and I assume it's just a lazy Dutch link. But what a prospect if true.