27 Aug 2024 08:54:23
Ugarte done.
Think this has to go down as one of our most successful transfer windows in quite some time. I expect much of the focus will be on outgoing from here on out (Erickson, Sancho, Lindelof seem the most likely to move on), but am hoping there may be one or two more surprises in terms of incomings.
I wouldn't be too surprised to see us sign a GK, a LB, a CB, a ST, or even another midfielder (to be clear here, I mean one of these positions, not all of them) . Heck, if Sancho and Antony end up leaving, we'll probably need another wide player as well. No matter what we do over the coming days, I can see next summer being just as busy as this one.
27 Aug 2024 10:08:42
100% agree on it being one of the best transfer windows we've ever had. Obviously, it's all on paper just now and previous windows where we've got players like Mkhitaryan, Sancho, Ronaldo, Sanchez, Pogba and the many others who haven't hit the heights we'd hoped, looked very promising too.
Nevertheless, it looks like for the first time in a long time, we have moved on players we should be. We've made decisions that in previous years we likely wouldn't have. Trying to move Sancho, letting players like Varane, Martial, Van De Beek all leave for nothing or at a huge loss. Selling McTominay is another as very few fans would start him. We're even moving on younger players who may not break into the first team but seem to be structuring sell ones and buy back clauses into deals for them.
As for the signings, in my opinion they all make the squad stronger in areas we needed improvement and they're all 25 and under. If there are any others after Ugarte then brilliant, if not, I'll still be very happy despite the fact we do still have weaknesses in the squad. We can't expect everything to be fixed in one summer.
Will it work? No idea. However, it's good to see us moving away from what we've done in the transfer market across the last decade as we know that definitely hasn't worked.
27 Aug 2024 10:23:09
I actually can't remember a better transfer window for us.
We've managed to shift a load of players who either weren't contributing, weren't good enough, or had no long term future here.
We've also managed to bring in 5 players who either massively improve us right away, or have the potential to be huge improvements.
We have shaped the squad with more technical and intelligent players. We are starting to see an identity take shape with this squad.
Finally we have somehow managed to to all of this while also balancing the books, reducing the wage bill, raising funds through sales and not over paying for players.
If this window is anything to go on then I'm supremely confident that the new people in charge will be able to turn around our fortunes over the next few summer windows. Continuing to remove those who don't fit what we need, and being in players who suit the club's vision.
I'm not foolish enough to believe every signing will be a success, but I'm confident that we will get more right than wrong moving forward. While without overpaying for players both in fees and wages, when those few players do fail to meet expectations we should be more able to move them on fairly quickly and not be stuck with them for 4-5 years, or sell at a massive loss.
27 Aug 2024 11:00:11
Agreed great window imo although personally sad to see mc go.
There were many here who did not want Ineos and were skeptics but believe best thing that has happened to the club in a long time and glad Qatar did not get their hands on us. The layers of top people added and probably still more to come, the way they have walked the talk and working to a long term vision and ambition is commendable.
There are no trophies on offer in August, let us see where we are come April/ May before reacting to everything that does not go our way. Work in progress and we are building a great nucleus of a team. Keep the faith and trust the people running things even though its hard to do given everyone has scars from the woodward glazers years and many falls dawns.
27 Aug 2024 16:52:42
Great window. Best in many a year in terms of getting players out.
Look forward to the manager playing the new guys.
Still too many players on the books that played under ole.
I don't think the mentality will change till the rest are gone.
Dalot maguire lindelof Bruno Shaw and rash. I think only 1 of them and I hope none of them will be here when window shuts next summer.
27 Aug 2024 16:55:02
Ahmad, I did not want ineos. Not because I did not want what they are now delivering, but because I want the glazers out of our club. They have bought our club for nothing. Taken dividends, underdeveloped the infrastructure, run it more as a business instead if a football club, and saddled us with massive financial problems.
Ineos seem to be sorting out the playing squad, but it will be slow and steady. I agree that the focus on younger talent to develop and not galacticos is very promising, and I'm sure that it will get us back to a proper club eventually.
The problem is the glazers are still there. They are still sucking blood. How do we get them out? I would like to see that pathway.
We are talking about a new stadium now. More debt. Suppose it will be the snapdragon stadium or some such abomination.
27 Aug 2024 19:10:15
Dodgy, I don't know about you, but I could live with a new stadium being called Ineos Old Trafford for an extra £50 million a year to fund success on the pitch.