10 Feb 2024 23:15:22
I think Toney is exactly the type of player we need. Experienced strong can bring others into play and doesn't miss many chances. Would be a big help to Hoijlund.
11 Feb 2024 02:34:39
Ideally like city or Madrid you want 2 very good players for each position.
The problem we have is that we probably have when all are fully fit only 5 or 6 top class players (potentially) to fill the 1st 11.
2 of them are teenagers and one is 21. Which is why I say potentially top class.
We then have a few that are playing 1st 11 that imo ideally would be 2nd choice. The rest imo are vulnerable to sale.
If we are going to play with 1 dedicated striker we need 2 top class options in a 60 game season so it's likely both will start enough games each and will play weekly from bench when not starting more often than not.
Toney has good attributes for sure but I'm not sure he is mobile enough and imo lacks a lot technically. So if you play him or rasmus then the whole team has to play differently. I think they will look for a more like for like type player.
Behind the 2 chosen strikers you need a youth and possibly someone in the wide areas that can step in if required in emergency. Like rashford has done.
Imo in the summer we need a new starting keeper.
A new starting rb
A new starting cb
Anew starting no6
A new starting cf
Hard to see all that happening.
I've no idea who the club are interested in but I do know for a fact that they hold a strong interest in Ferguson from Brighton and I think he would be the ideal foil for rasmus. With enough football for both of them even assuming they are both fit every week. If you look at the stats not too many cf start more than 30 games a season. So no issue having 2 top options in that position in fact it's a must.
Gk may have to wait given the investment made last season but onana needs to do a whole lot better.
If awb goes then we need to buy a starter to compete with dalot.
If martinez can stay fit we need to buy a starter to play beside him.
We need a dedicated no6 imo. As a priority. I think cas will be sold mctom is a good candidate to be sold too assuming vdb and hannibal leave it would leave only Bruno mount and mainoo as recognised midfielders in the squad. So how they are going to sort that mess out on a limited budget is going to be interesting.
Getting cl football would make things a little easier.
I'm really looking forward to the summer. There are so many changes afoot that none of us have a clue what's going to happen.
Will we have a new coach?
Who will leave from the playing squad?
Will we see a couple of players leave that we didn't expect or want to leave? Bruno? Rashford? Shaw?
Will eth stay and sign fdj?
Who will be our dof?
Should be great craic?.
11 Feb 2024 04:54:16
Good post.
11 Feb 2024 11:04:18
Might be better to avoid any European football for a season; easier with a smaller squad and easier to move on players wanting European football.
11 Feb 2024 23:22:02
We cannot afford to miss out on europe. don't think people understand how bad our finances are after so much wasteful spending in the past 5 years or so. Huge fees with no sell on potential, crazy wages for players who are not good enough. When we do move a player on we have to give them away because no other team will meet their wage demands. We need UCL. Missing out on Europa would be terrible.