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cookyman's rumours posts with other poster's replies to cookyman's rumours posts

 

04 Aug 2020 11:55:07
Ed002- its reported that smalling is coming back from Roma after a deal collapsed; just wondering if there is any firm interest in him or any other of our current players from other clubs. thanks.

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - The interest in Smalling is from Roma who made a good offer but the amateurs priced him out of a move.}


1.) 04 Aug 2020 13:51:27
Wow Ian you really hate United don't you hahaha.

{Ed047's Note - who is this Ian you speak of?


2.) 04 Aug 2020 14:15:53
With Jones, Bailly and Tuanzebe perpetually injured maybe there is still a place for Smalling at Old Trafford. If Utd don't intend to sign another CB this summer then keeping Smalling might not be such a bad idea.

Could he make a decent partner for Maguire? He's certainly stronger, quicker and better in the air than Lindelof, watching him play out from the back however, especially under pressure might need to come with a health warning!


3.) 04 Aug 2020 14:55:40
Roma should pay what United feel he is worth in the same way that United have to pay what other clubs value their own players at. Works both ways.


4.) 04 Aug 2020 15:09:40
Fair enough, in that case you keep smalling on the books, seems pretty simple.


5.) 04 Aug 2020 16:06:55
I think this is another stupid decision by the club, just like when we pushed Everton for more money to take Rojo off our hands.

Ultimately we will be left with a player who will hardly play and will cost the club significantly more than the extra 2m we pushed for in wages over the next year.

We have far too many squad players who just aren't good enough and are a huge financial drain on the club.

Smalling (0 minutes), Rojo (122 minutes), Jones (136 minutes), TFM (137 minutes), Bailly (148 minutes), Dalot (66 minutes), Mata (783 minutes), Lingard (932 minutes), Andreas Pereira (1496 minutes) and Sanchez (0 minutes) .

Look at the minutes these players have played for us this season, between them they claimed just under 92m of our 238m wage bill, for an average of 381 minutes each or just over 4 games.

over one third and approaching 50% of our wage bill goes to players who average less than 5 games each a year.

Now when you consider that Mata, Lingard and Andreas Pereira make up 3211 of the total 3811 minutes, with most of those minutes coming before Bruno signed and we are looking at Sancho as well as Greenwood probably playing more minutes next season. Then its safe to assume that those 10 players will likely play significantly less minutes between them next season.

In short they are a waste of money, the club is wasting close to 100m a year paying these players when they have little to no impact on the team.

Sell them, hell give them away and the club will be significantly better off.

Smalling 0, Jones 136, TFM 137, Bailly 148 and Rojo 122 all played just over 6 whole games between them. Sell the lot of them and give 6 games a season to Mengi and the club won't be any worse off.

Dalot played 66 minutes, give them to Laird.

Sign someone like DvdB to play the many of the minutes that Mata, Lingard and Andreas Pereira have played this season and you could probably pay him less than just what Mata earns. Along with Sancho signing and Bruno now being here we would be well covered. If push comes to shove we could play Garner or Mejbri in an advanced midfield position for a game or two.

The club really do not benefit one bit from keeping these players. ship them out, if we could get 20-40m for all of them considering the close to 100m in wages we would save we would be far better off. While the extra minutes academy lads get here and there might mean we see someone come through, seize their chance like Williams or Greenwood and then save the club a fortunate on having to sign another player.


6.) 04 Aug 2020 16:32:04
Personally happy to see Smalling come back. As I’ve said, Rojo, Jones, Bailly and Tuanzebe are never fit for selection. Pointless keeping them.


7.) 04 Aug 2020 16:41:33
Think its a bit harsh to give smalling 0 minutes . He played 37 games last season .


8.) 04 Aug 2020 16:43:55
Ed002 If the roles were reversed and it was Roma who owned smalling and United came in for him after the season he has just had then they would of quoted a far more costly fee to acquire him, so why is it amateurish to demand £18m (the price I’ve read we’re asking) a relatively low price given the very good season he had had?

{Ed002's Note - The club is run by amateurs - I didn't say it was amateurish. You don't seem to get this at all.}


9.) 04 Aug 2020 17:04:25
nellym
We deemed Smalling surplus to requirement and not good enough. Roma are trying to buy a player up for sale not a first team player that the club is desperate to keep. So we can't play hardballtoo much when the player isn't in high demand either.


10.) 04 Aug 2020 17:06:32
Ed002, is it down to the Glazers to appoint the right people, or have they allowed others to make the Decisions? I wonder if their other sports franchises are run with amateurs?

{Ed002's Note - It is nothing to do with the Glazers - the own the club but don't run it on a day-by-day basis.}


11.) 04 Aug 2020 17:47:07
Jred, the club paid a third of Smalling's wages this season. How many appearances for Manchester United did he make for the around 2m that came out of club coffers to pay him?

The 2m extra we want for him, is around what we have paid him this season while he made absolutely no contribution to our season.

Why waste money on these players? Sell them, for whatever we can. The money saved on wages alone would be significant and maybe even free up enough money for an extra signing or two if the club wanted.


12.) 04 Aug 2020 17:51:24
Let him stay if the club feels its right.


13.) 04 Aug 2020 19:53:32
Smalling is a player I wouldn't mind us keeping. Rojo and Jones? Let them go for nothing, but Smalling is a decent player. Not good enough to be first choice at a top-6 club, but decent enough as a backup.


14.) 04 Aug 2020 20:42:59
i think we let smalling go and brough Axel back to fill his space in the squad. That hasn't worked out. I would much rather we keep smalling if we are not going to sign another CB and sell jones and rojo and promote mengi. so rather than have rojo, jones and axel as a back up trio to bailly, mcguire and lindelof, we will have smalling, axel and mengi. i know which one i would prefer.

Also, maybe we feel we can get a better price for smalling elsewhere? unlikely, but not farfetched given the season he has had.

it could also be a ploy to make sure we are not in a position where we sell smalling for a pittance and can't get the CB we want, so have to keep jones in the club for cover.

i can see multiple ways where this would make sense - maybe that's just me searching for the silver lining.


15.) 04 Aug 2020 20:46:02
Deependra-I know smalling is surplus but that doesn’t mean we should sell him for less than he is worth given the season he has just had. Furthermore there is apparently interest in him from other teams in serie a hence the reason of not selling for such a low ball figure.


16.) 04 Aug 2020 21:35:02
As it stands we have 7 cbs in the first team squad. Ideally we want 5max so 2 would have to go without purchasing a new cb which we look like we may and also not bringing through anyone from the youth setup which again we may do with Mengi.

so say Mengi becomes 5th choice, Harry, Lindelof and new CB are 3 of 4 that leaves 1 spot. I would keep Bailly with the hope he can stay fit or sell next year, loan out Tuanzebe for the season and hope he gets a good run of first team games before coming back stronger next season. Which would mean Smalling, Rojo and Jones being sold for what ever we can get for them.


17.) 04 Aug 2020 22:06:41
PogtheDog - i agree with you, but that is only the case when all 5 CBs are experienced and can deliver to the minimum standard and relatively injury proof. For e. g. if one was injured (Bailly) and we needed to play 3 at the back that would mean we have Mengi on the bench as our only recognised CB. If two are injured (Bailly and Axel) than all hell will break loose. I nkow wan bissaka and shaw can cover one of these positions but it is not a good position to be in, especially if you are playing Saturday- Tuesday - Saturday for at least 10 weeks in the season. Moreover this season is bound to be more hectic as it is shortened with the Euros and olympics coming up. I think Smalling will turn out to be a decent squad player and give the likes of Mcguire and lindelof a rest and partner with bailly / Axel as required.


18.) 04 Aug 2020 23:34:37
Ryan,

I don’t remember us playing 3 at the back with 3 centre backs many times this season, Shaw has played on the left of the 3 on the occasions when it worked best.


19.) 05 Aug 2020 05:24:18
nellym
We were desperate to get rid of Smalling last summer. He doesn't have a future under Ole. So we are not in a strong negotiating position. On top of that We as a club are known to give big money contracts to players making them hard for most of the clubs to afford. Also Ed2 has mentioned that Roma made a good enough offer and didn't lowball us. It is better to let fringe players leave for a decent fee instead of moving the goal post whenever someone gets close to the asking price.

And to people saying we get ripped whenever we try to sign players from other teams we should remember we go after first choice player that have a lot of value to their sides. Maybe if we went after the dross and fringe players we wouldn't be ripped off so often.


20.) 05 Aug 2020 07:25:18
Gds we played axel McGuire and Lindelof earlier in the season before axel got injured. If I remember right we played Bailly McGuire and Lindelof in the fa cup as well.


21.) 06 Aug 2020 16:13:17
What are Axel’s injury problems? Why has he missed so much football?

Jones is a lost cause sadly.


22.) 07 Aug 2020 11:17:41
Tempt Napoli into a player plus cash using Smalling and Koulibaly 😈.


 

 

27 Jul 2020 16:41:24
Afternoon all- eds, obviously maddison has been out for a while but is there still interest in him as he was one of our so called top targets a early season (according to the papers etc )?

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - Not an option any longer.}


1.) 28 Jul 2020 04:55:08
Heard, he is about to commit to a new Deal.


 

 

22 Jul 2020 12:02:05
ED002 if you would please- I have seen a few reports, granted not major headlines about our interest in 2 young full backs from sporting and porto mendes and telles- is there any truth to it please.

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - Nuno Mendes (LB) there was interest from Manchester United in Nuno Mendes at the start of the year - but it went nowhere when they were asked for €25M for a 17 or 18 year old. Allex Telles is not a youngster - there is interest from elsewhere but I am not aware of any from MU.}


1.) 22 Jul 2020 14:40:33
cheers ed.


 

 

30 Jan 2020 15:12:06
To Quote Ed002 on the european pages- Manchester United interest in Saul Niguez will have gone if Pogba takes advice and decides to run down his contract next season (because the club are holding him to ransom and have no Champions League) . }
I know its late in this this window but we really need to address this asap for a summer deal if this is correct (no reason to doubt ed002 btw) .
Take what we paid and get rid.

cookyman

1.) 30 Jan 2020 15:26:18
dont we have the option to extend it a further year?

im sure there will be clubs in the summer that want to do a deal.

{Ed002's Note - Up to now Manchester United have done nothing but dealt with the matter poorly. The advice to him if he cannot get the move he wants will be to run down his contract.

MU do indeed have the option to extend by a year - how would that help them.}


2.) 30 Jan 2020 15:45:05
The player has wanted to leave for the last three years. United’s valuation is ridiculous.

We either sell, or have a player that doesn’t want to be here, and disrupts the dressing room, running down his contract to leave for nothing.


3.) 30 Jan 2020 16:00:12
He should definitely be allowed to move but if his advice is to run down his contract and leave for free, why wouldn't we extend it and try and recoup at least some money?


4.) 30 Jan 2020 15:39:54
Ed has the clubs stance on pogba changed at all? It seems like from the outside for both parties i would be better to part company.

{Ed002's Note - Nothing has changed.}


5.) 30 Jan 2020 16:11:10
What if we can't get what we paid for him? There seems to be an assumption that there are several clubs prepared to pay £90m for him but United want £120m+.

Personally I see only a few clubs outside of England that could afford to pay his wages and Raiola his fee. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and PSG.

Barcelona are unlikely to sign him, he doesn't really fit the type of players they tend to sign. Donny van de Beek is far more a Barcelona player than Pogba.

Real Madrid really want Mbappe and will go all out for him. They also need to shift a few players first.

Juventus and PSG look the most likely possible destinations. But I can't see either offering much more than around 70m for a player who isn't in the best form and is desperate to leave.


6.) 30 Jan 2020 16:47:39
Shappy, at this point we’re not going to get what we paid for him.

He’s a player that has publicly stated that he wants to leave on multiple occasions and will not sign a new contract. During the summer Ed002 said that it was possible to sell him, but the club blocked it.

What does it add to the club to keep an underperforming player on massive wages that doesn’t want to be there, and is disruptive in the dressing room?

We’ve had years to solve the Pogba problem, but have just let it fester.


7.) 30 Jan 2020 16:52:35
I guess the question is if you get 70m in the summer surely that's better than nothing plus another year or 2 of wages at reportedly 350k a week without really playing. Its hasn't worked with him so far so its not likely to. Maybe abit of playing trading might get us something in return.


8.) 30 Jan 2020 17:32:30
I think when he comes back he will put the effort in to put himself in the shop window and to show he's in good form for the euros. That will obviously help us as a club to get champions league football and maybe drive his price up a little bit. He can then get the move he wants so we can use the funds to invest in the team.


9.) 30 Jan 2020 18:00:06
Or, he’ll make sure that he doesn’t get injured by half arsing it and protecting himself on the pitch so that he’s fit for the Euros where he can put in performances that put him in the shop window.


10.) 30 Jan 2020 21:28:01
Not sure where the criticism of Utd is fair. The player and his agent negotiated the terms of the contract when he signed, and are now expected to honour that. Get on with it and play football to the best of your ability in what is an incredibly privileged position.


11.) 31 Jan 2020 03:06:59
Agree Eric79. It's really sad and disappointing that he has not lived up to his talent at United. His United career has been very patchy - too many average performances than good ones.

The big excuse for him from those supporting him has been that the players around him are not good enough, but still there is nothing stopping him from leading the line and playing to his full potential. He should had been a inspiration to the team with all that talent, but unfortunately he doesn't seem to have the character and the right attitude to really push on and make a difference.

You see the like's of Messi and Ronaldo on the pitch and there is a belief that they are going to deliver most often than not. With Pogba it's been more of hope than belief.


12.) 31 Jan 2020 06:13:03
It has been a combination of both.
The players around him hasn't been good. However, his work rate and attitude has been questionable more often than not.

When we signed him initially, I was over the moon thinking what an upgrade he is over Cleverly, Anderson etc, .
But now hope we get a good fee for him and invest it on SMS or Saul or Ruben Neves.


13.) 31 Jan 2020 14:48:59
I'm just surprised that people are surprised that he is trying to repeat his previous behaviour and run down his contract if he's not happy. Totally privileged attitude rather than accepting what a privilege it is to have Manchester united wanting to build a team around him.

This is the reason Ole doesn't want him to go. Agreed he hasn't had a great squad to play with but he knew that when he first signed. Truthfully it just seems that he is a fair weather player and doesn't want to lead by example and hard graft. it's a pity we haven't got to see the real quality of Pogba instead of just the Instagram version.


 

 

23 Feb 2019 09:56:36
Question for the eds - I know its early days, ref the summer transfer window, but has there been any enquiries/ interest shown in Sanchez and/ or Lukaku? (personally think there may be more mileage in sanchez potentially leaving) Thanks in advance.

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - No and to move Sanchez on Manchester United will either need to cancel his contract, pay most of his wages to a buying club or find some halfway solution.}


1.) 23 Feb 2019 13:03:07
CHEERS Ed002 - enjoy the weekend.

{Ed002's Note - Thanks. And you.}


2.) 23 Feb 2019 20:00:52
Contract ends in 2022, pretty much in the same situation as we were with rooney in 2013-2017. Its amazing how much damage one bad contract can do to a club.


3.) 24 Feb 2019 10:24:20
Was thinking about yesterday. Personally if I had to move one of them on it would be lukako. Marcus is clearly our main cf and if he is injured then martial lingard sanchez can fill in all of them offering the sort of pace and movement that ole likes and rom doesn't have. I accept that rom has many other qualities and was our leading scorer last year but I simply cannot see where he fits in with ole's vision.
Also we would of course receive a substantial fee for rom which we wouldn't for sanchez.


4.) 24 Feb 2019 07:36:35
With Chelseas ongoing striker problem, could Lukaku go there?

{Ed002's Note - Of course not.}


5.) 24 Feb 2019 14:12:40
Lukaku though offers a plan b for when plan a isn't working or isn't available. Also lukaku can deliver an end product. Can score and is a good crosser. Sanchez couldn't finish his dinner.


6.) 24 Feb 2019 17:51:05
This is where Woody needs to be held accountable. He extended Jose’s contract and then had to pay it up when he sacked him, and we e given Sanchez an abhorrent amount of money which would easily unsettle other players, particularly as he continues his headless chicken routine. I swear he passes to opposition players more than his own teammates.


7.) 24 Feb 2019 20:24:55
No one holds him to account though. Hence why we won't appoint a DoF.


8.) 25 Feb 2019 14:28:50
At least he has been given a 60% pay rise.


 

 

 

cookyman's banter posts with other poster's replies to cookyman's banter posts

 

13 Mar 2020 09:26:31
With it looking more probable than possible, the EPL and european comps face being halted/ suspended and whilst safety and well being to all is number 1, could it trigger an almighty crash for some clubs regarding, lost income/ revenue and possible compensation for season ticket holders and sponsors.?
This virus as well as being deadly could cause havoc on so many (less important than life) levels. Stay safe everyone!

cookyman

1.) 13 Mar 2020 10:48:17
I feel everyone's overreacting a bit, it's one thing to do what it has done in europe but can it cope with the pace and intensity of pl, can covid-19 really hack it on a cold monday night in stoke.


2.) 13 Mar 2020 10:56:14
I think that the real issue with the virus. Although not being the most deadly of illnesses, it spreads quickly and as such it's the speed in which it spreads that holds the most danger.

The fact is that in the UK alone between 50-80% of people will contract Coronavirus by September. The issue is if 20 or 30 percent of our population is hospitalised, while another 30-40% are Ill self-isolating then who will be left to stock the shelves, run the power plants, treat the sick? Plus there just isn't the capacity in our hospitals to have such numbers being treated.

I have a friend in Madrid, the situation there is that they are looking to shut the city off to try and stop the spread. While the hospitals are overloaded. They are currently having to pick and choose who they can treat because they can't treat everyone. They are currently turning 80 year old patients away to treat 30 year old patients because the chances of the 80 year old surviving are minimal even with treatment. These are the types of decisions they are having to make.

In the wake of this cancelling a game of football seems pretty inconsequential.

There will be financial hits taken because of this and as always it is the ones at the bottom who'll suffer the most.

The UK response last night changed from contain to delay. What that really means is an acceptance that they cannot stop the spread of the virus. But now the important thing is to limit its impact both economically and on the health impacts. If many people get it over a short period of time a larger amount of the most vulnerable will die, as we just don't have the resources to treat that number of people. If we can spread that over a 3 month period rather than a few weeks period then the health service will be better placed to cope and less will die. While it will also impact less on our economy.

The Euro's won't happen, while the UCL and the Europa League will also be cancelled. Eventually the League will be as well.

I expect they will first announce a postponement for a set period of time, then later down the road cancel it all together when people are more accustomed to the idea, that way they will suffer less backlash.

How the football community deals with this I don't know. I'd like to see EPL funds/ prize money/ TV money be redirected in to a fund that can be distributed to smaller lower league and non-league club's to stop them going bankrupt because of this. However, sadly I don't see the EPL club's agreeing to this. For me the aim must be now to make sure we don't lose any club's because of this.


3.) 13 Mar 2020 11:43:19
you don't need to be treated for it. only the people with already underlying illnesses are most at risk

stay at home self isolate and it will go itself.


some people will have already had it and got over it but wouldn't know because the symptoms vary and are similar to the cold and flu.


4.) 13 Mar 2020 13:27:16
Bolger, most people won't die from it. But a probability of not dying from it, doesn't mean they won't need some kind of treatment.

This is the first world wide pandemic since the Spanish flu outbreak between 1918-1920.

Notice how that lasted for nearly 2 years.

The issue isn't the death count, its the disruption. We have over 60% of our population over the age of 60. Putting a large proportion at risk. Having issues like Diabetes increases your risk, we currently have 3.5m diagnosed diabetics in this country, with potentially as many again undiagnosed. Putting the real figure at 4-7m people. Around 10k people a week are diagnosed with a new lung disease every week in the UK.

So there are a significant number of our population who are under threat. Many of which could survive if treated properly. To do that we need the resources.

Like I said right now in Madrid they are having to decide who to treat and who not to treat as they can't treat everyone.


5.) 13 Mar 2020 13:35:22
Wasn’t it only a few days ago you were telling us all how everyone was overreacting and we had nothing to worry about, Shappy? I haven’t seen a flip-flop like that since my last trip to the beach!


6.) 13 Mar 2020 14:03:09
Redseven, It's a quickly developing situation. A month ago the idea that sports events would be postponed was madness, yet here we are.

Three months ago hardly anyone knew it even existed.

It's a once in a life time pandemic, the last was over 100 years ago.

A couple of weeks ago it all seemed like doom-mongering, yet the stark reality of what is about to happen in this country means that drastic measures need to be taken.


7.) 13 Mar 2020 14:33:00
When Boris starts combing his hair for press conferences, you know things are serious.


8.) 13 Mar 2020 14:46:27
I can assure you that the majority of the world have been well aware of the risks of this virus since the turn of the year. Perhaps being in The UK lulled you into a false sense of security, but please don’t suggest that ‘most people’ share your ignorance.

You speak as though your comments were made weeks ago, but it’s been little more than two days since you dismissed people’s concerns and used some terrible math to suggest that only 6,000 people were going to die in the UK and that we should all stop worrying and just get on with things.

Here we are two days later and you’re speaking like a seasoned epidemiologist. At least you’re starting to see the severity of the situation, I suppose.

FYI though, if you’re going to pretend to be an expert, you should probably know that there is actually another ongoing pandemic right now that has already claimed 30m+ lives and was another one back in 2009 which infected 10-20% of the world’s population (thankfully the mortality rate was fairly low) . Then there’s the plethora of epidemics we’ve seen over the past few decades which together have claimed millions of lives. Of course, none of these things interrupted the football season so I suppose they were pretty inconsequential, right?


9.) 13 Mar 2020 15:24:16
they haven't got a treatment for it yet, the only way to get a vaccine is hoping the people who are fit and well get it and use the antibodies that have fought the virus to make a vaccine


there not even testing people, i work in a GP surgery and we have had more than one person contact us with all the symptoms and they have been to countries where it is and there telling them to stay at home, 111 are understaffed and are not trained to diagnose.

people should be getting tested.


10.) 13 Mar 2020 17:52:00
All this could've easily been avoided if they closed ports, airports etc weeks ago.

China have are apparently lieing about figures and could be 100x worse than they're saying.

Man made virus from Wuhan lab anyway probably let out on purpose.


11.) 13 Mar 2020 18:48:20
CSM, quality mate, quality 😅.


12.) 13 Mar 2020 22:34:43
‘Probably let out on purpose’ is the stupidest comment I’ve seen in a while.


13.) 13 Mar 2020 23:04:34
CSM class mate 🤣.


14.) 14 Mar 2020 01:36:05
Yes Jim

He should of said they let it out by accident. This was not spoke of in a book 30 years ago and Nostradamus never predicted a pandemic in 2020.


15.) 14 Mar 2020 10:14:32
Wilbot, do some reading about the virus and it's strains. China is propably not disclosing true stats, but what country does or really can? China has one strain of virus, so does italy and another efected countries in Asia and Europe. There are about 5 of them strains which mutated from the original virus. Only one country has all 5 or 6 of them, so that is the most likely country where the virus came from. Do some reading around, not only what msm is feeding you.


16.) 14 Mar 2020 11:17:48
Wilbot

Closed ports and airports weeks ago you say. Putting millions out of work, closing thousands of companies, destroying the economy, preventing food arriving. Poverty, people dying of starvation. No that won’t work, not for any length of time. There is a balance, we have to realise that may slow it for a period, then what? Every time there is an outbreak somewhere, close everything down again? Now is the time to listen to medical experts and have a strategy. We are unlikely to be able to stop it, it will come back again and just closing ports isn’t the answer every time.

There is an element of sense in herd immunity but it’s a difficult path, we just have to let experts guide us and stop panicking, stop calling for everything to shut because it can only have a short impact.

There is an interesting question as to why Northern Italy was so badly affected, I read some explanations of that this morning.


17.) 14 Mar 2020 11:49:39
Left out on purpose is far from a stupid comment.


18.) 14 Mar 2020 20:43:49
Red Man, northern Italy suffered as the weather is colder than the south part. But the reason it spread to so many people is that the Italians generally live a family life in flats and buildings with stairs so they will be holding bannisters as well as living in more compact places where the virus is at its worst. This is the problem that has been identified by the Italian authorities.


19.) 15 Mar 2020 07:46:53
AAA

There were other rumoured reasons that the Italian authorities are very unlikely to openly confirm.


 

 

29 Feb 2020 14:59:25
Question eds and fellow posters: as per normal we are linked with big money signings this summer already by the media, but if we don't sell pogba (for whatever reason) and sanchez comes back, then with wages alone irregardless of sales reveue, how do you think it will effect our summer spending? I can certainly see both players here next season whether they want to be or not.

cookyman

1.) 29 Feb 2020 16:46:40
We are in a bizarre situation where we have a seemingly thin squad, yet we will need to sell a few players to free up space for signings.

The issue is the lack of balance and quality. We have 7 first team CB's on the books (Maguire, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Bailly, Jones, Smalling and Rojo. At least three need to leave and we probably still need to bring one in considering the injury record of some of them. We could sell Jones, Smalling and Rojo. But would you be happy to go into the season with 4 CB's of which both Bailly and Tuanzebe have suffered with injuries.

I mean in DDG, Romero and Henderson we have three keepers good enough to be first choice. While we still have Grant, Joel Pereira and Bishop on the books as well. Do we really need 6 keepers?

There is a similar issue in midfield. Matic, Pogba, McTominay, Fred, Bruno, Andreas Pereira, TFM and Garner. Again gives us 8 players. But the reality is two have pushed/ are pushing to leave (Matic and Pogba) . While Garner looks like he needs a loan, and there are still a few question marks over Fred and Andreas Pereira. While TFM probably isn't going to make it. Which means we could see 3 of the 8 leave permanently, 1 on loan. Leaving us with 4 players, 2 of which (Fred and Andreas Pereira) have not yet proven themselves good enough over a whole season. Again we need another player here at least, maybe even two.

Then when we look at our forwards we have Mata, James, Rashford, Greenwood, Martial, Sanchez and Lingard. 7 players for 3 or 4 positions seems about right. Yet how many of them are good enough? Mata and Sanchez are declining, Greenwood is still very young. Lingard is a squad player, as might be James (although he has time and a great attitude on his side) . That leaves Rashford and Martial. We clearly need a couple of players here. Maybe even 3 long term. As Lingard wants to leave, as does Sanchez. Mata is past his best. So that's three out the door, so we need at least 2 in to replace them, maybe even 3. I haven't included Ingalo as he isn't a permanent player.

Numbers wise we actually have enough players, the problem is that we lack quality in some areas, are over stacked in some and under in others, or we have too many players who want to leave.

Realistically we could sell Smalling, Rojo, Jones, Matic, TFM, Pogba, Mata, Sanchez and Lingard. With none of them being seriously missed based on what they currently give the team. Yet if we sold that many players we would need to bring in 4 or 5 at least.

While there would still be question marks over players such as Bailly, Andreas Pereira, Fred and Martial.

We have a good team on paper, but behind that we have a very poor unbalanced squad. Meaning we are always an injury or 2 away from struggling.


2.) 29 Feb 2020 17:35:19
Good post shappy.
Despite and becuase of the tinkering and various ins and outs the squad still looks unbalanced and to many average Joe's. Plenty want out and some should be down the door. Lots of work to be done.
Recent signings have been good. In truth we have been so short of quality in those positions they had to be an improvement.
4 or 5 signings are required.
If we get 3 or 4 it would be annoyed big step forwards if they do as well as our last 4 .
Cost is irrelevant to me. Bargain basement or top dollar the right character and fit is vital.


3.) 29 Feb 2020 17:46:23
Take all your points on board and agree with a lot of what you say there shappy: my post has a hint of worry that pogba may not go by either, extending (unlikely) no club comes up with a suitable offer (gathering credability) or that he runs his contract down (mentioned as a possibility before) . Sanchez let's face it hasn't set Serie A alight as he failed to shine in epl with us. there's a reported 600-700 in wages pweek and no incoming transfer money which would surely be detined to the pot for buying in players?
We could be left with 2 players on big wages on our books and a vastly reduced budget to bring in new players ie sancho, maddison, koulibaly grealish.
My concern is we end up with players that thebudget allows rather than those who benefit the team.


4.) 29 Feb 2020 17:54:04
Ken, I think we are at a point where its not just character that needs to be brought in. Although we are still in desperate need for players with that winners attitude. I think we are at a point now where we really need to know where this squad is going.

Half of the players who needed to leave have either permanently or on loan. I don't think we can afford to sell 9 or 10 players this summer as it will leave us too short as we won't sign more than 5 maximum. Which means we need to be selective over which ones we shift and who we bring in to give the squad as much balance as possible.

The reality is that we need another two summer windows to move on all the players we need to and bring in the right replacements.

So we need a clear plan for how we are going to develop the squad moving forward. What the team style will be, and who we need in what positions to enable us to do that. Then allow the least useful players for that system to leave this summer. While holding on to the most useful of the ones we still need to shift.

For example if the manager decided that he wanted to play 3 at the back next season, it would be foolish to sell three centre backs. In that instance maybe keeping Smalling or even Rojo might make sense.

We really need a clear vision for this side over the next 3-4 years in order to sell the right players and bring the right ones in this summer. Or we risk further unbalancing the squad making life hard for the manager next season (whoever that is) .


5.) 29 Feb 2020 17:59:25
Cookyman, I would try and not worry about the wages or transfer fees. The club will find the money for the right players, as they have often found it for the wrong ones.

For me the issue isn't about getting players out the door to raise funds and free up wages. It's about creating space as we currently have around 35 players in our first team if you include youngsters like Williams, Garner, Levitt, Gomes, Chong and Greenwood who train with the first team most weeks. We need to shift players out in order to free up space. Sanchez, Smalling and Rojo have only left on loan.

However, both Young and Rojo needed to leave in January before the club could bring in Bruno and Ingalo. We really are at a one out one in situation currently.


6.) 29 Feb 2020 19:31:21
A couple more players and we will be fine ole has us moving in the right direction.


7.) 29 Feb 2020 19:43:27
e02 always says forget the money side it just confuses us.


8.) 01 Mar 2020 09:06:21
Shappy

I agree on the need for a plan, been saying that on here for years, however, have no idea who is qualified at United to put such a plan together. As I have said previously, it needs a direction, then a strategy, then the plan how to put that strategy into place.

City brought in expertise to set their strategy, years before Pep. Pep was the cherry on top, the strategy and plan was already there when he arrived. Who would write it for us? No idea and haven’t seen a significant addition to the club who is known for it either. Our club lacks direction, direction would come from the owners but everything else from within the club. Both City and Liverpool have clear direction and goals from their owners, ours are unclear. It seems we are focussed on media clicks and finance. Perhaps that may be why the club continues to dither on appointing a DOF. No point trying to devise a strategy, let alone a plan if the direction is unclear, so no point in appointing a DOF. Financially we have a leader in Woodward but the rest, what matters, appears an utter mess. Whilst SAF was there he defined a direction but when both he and Gill left no one had considered any of this. The owners showed how naive they were letting both go together, yet in the years since show no sign of rectifying the situation by defining a true direction.

Regardless of the manager, there are higher level issues to be resolved. It needs new owners to drive a direction and to appoint the right people who can devise and document a strategy, a plan, then put a manager in place of a unified club to make it work. We are rudderless all round at the moment on a pretend reboot, learning from the past is important but trying to replicate it is unwise.


9.) 01 Mar 2020 11:40:31
Totally agree Red Man, the need for a clear "footballing" vision is needed. I think the owners have a clear vision for the commercial side and we have seen great success in terms of gaining commercial revenue. I think the owners have focused on what they are good at and have left the day to day running of the club up to the board.

As you say the issue is who is qualified to create that footballing vision and to follow it through. We don't necessarily need to bring someone in to come up with that plan, you can use consultants and trusted advisers from outside of the club. Sometimes that can be more beneficial as they don't have any emotional attachment or fear to try something new that people who have been there for a long time might have. You also avoid the issue of someone new coming in and ruffling the feathers and causing unrest amongst the board as "the new kid" who's changing everything.

It's about formulating that plan and then bringing in the right people to see it through. I like the idea of Ralf Rangnick coming in as a DoF, with Paul Mitchell coming in as head of recruitment/ first team development and then the club maybe looking for a younger up and coming manager who can fit into the ethos of the club which should be to give youth a chance, develop players and play entertaining football. Someone like Marco Rose might be a good option.

However, that's just my opinion. There are loads of other well placed people who have the right skill set to come in and make a positive difference.


 

 

15 Jan 2020 13:11:14
Afternoon all. Ed002 if you have time please could you shed any light on Sanchexz situation. (tried searching but conflicting info, sorry)
So far, sanchez is on loan with man utd reportedly paying a %age of his wages; I read his contract with MU ends summer 2022 so firstly is he on loan past this summer? also was there any option or obligation to buy. Thanks in Advance.

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - His loan expires in the Summer. Inter are cooling a little over keep him and even if they do he needs to agree a significant cut in his financial demands. There is no option or obligation for them to buy him and


1.) 16 Jan 2020 09:54:46
cheers ed 002- sorry for not replying earlier, travelled to ot and no internet access till now:)

{Ed002's Note - No problem.}


 

 

19 Dec 2019 11:55:44
So, last night a victory but 1st half showed us where we are- basically short of playmakers and ideas when teams defend deeply.

Second half was better but incredibly slow in parts, but the highlight for me was the singing of the fans from 1st to last minute in the Se (normal away end) . Magnificent support.

cookyman

1.) 19 Dec 2019 13:23:20
They made it hard. but we won well in the end.
Great to see martial get a scruffy tap in. He needs to score more of them.


2.) 19 Dec 2019 14:09:05
Shhhhh, don't talk so loudly. jred will try and prove that it's all a fallacy and that smaller clubs don't sit deep in a low block against us and we don't struggle against it.

It doesn't matter that the average position of their deepest defender was INSIDE the 18 yard box during the first half, and that not a single one of their players had an average position inside our half.

It definitely wasn't a low block and we definitely didn't struggle to break them down.

It was also entirely coincidental that we scored the first goal on a counter attack, attacking the space they left in behind. Also that the second and third goal was created by players running off the shoulder attacking the space IN BEHIND was again just pure chance.

The game yesterday in no way should be considered a typical game for us this season.


3.) 19 Dec 2019 14:56:33
I think that Pereira did a good job, at least he tried to make a pass forward and get players into one and one situations. Rashford waste 2 or 3 chances in the first half but good for him for keep trying until he get the goal.


4.) 19 Dec 2019 15:08:27
Shaps just because colchester played with " a low block " doesn't mean every team out side the top 6 does.
Just another ridiculous sweeping statement .
By the way in the first half andre split them open twice, good through ball to Greenwood and a great ball through to rash, neither could control it .
So is down to creativity or the strikers having a poor first touch on the occasion?

And don't forget we scored 3 against a team that played deep .


5.) 19 Dec 2019 15:54:45
True Jred we did score three, however the 1st goal was on a counter (sounds familiar) after a rare Colch attack. After that they had no option than to push out a bit.


6.) 19 Dec 2019 16:22:42
Main thing about playing against a team playing deep is how you draw them out .
Scouse are very good at it, great team on the break and even manage to score goals against teams out side the top 6.


7.) 19 Dec 2019 16:40:29
Exactly mbd, They had a rare attack, it might have even been their first of the second half and we caught them on the break with a 60 yard pass from Matic in to space which Rashford tore into and got on the end of.

Once that happened Colchester had to come out a bit more, and we took advantage of that.


 

 

22 Nov 2019 15:03:05
Off at a bit of a tangent - but Eds or anyone who knows: if a player excels on loan and an other club wants to buy him, then obviously the parent club has to agree but can the club the player is loaned to stop the deal? Would have thought it was a difficult deal to pull off and not common but must have arisen before .

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - Of course. You cannot force a player to sign a contract.}


1.) 22 Nov 2019 18:03:15
cheers ed i understand your answer was thinking reprevious info on the transfer process shared by yourself, that should the situation arise then the deal would be a contractual nightmare if the player and the mother club wanted it to go ahead. Have a good weekend .

{Ed002's Note - Players can only sign during transfer windows in any case. Everyone would simply wait until the summer.}


 

 

 

cookyman's rumour replies

 

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24 Aug 2020 08:51:42
Cheers Ed02 can enjoy my morning coffe a bit now.

cookyman

 

 

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24 Aug 2020 08:27:02
Thanks Ed002 as always - quite depressing reading imo- The calibre of players we are possibly looking at is mid table / survival level!
I really thought we had offloaded sanchez not loaned him out and regarding the other potential outs rojo, jones smalling etc we could just give them away and potentially save money.

Wonder if I can exchange my season ticket for one at salford?

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - Yes, sorry the deal for Sanchez is now perpmanent - I had not updated the notes.}


 

 

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12 Aug 2020 12:27:11
TRD again it comes down to opinions -traore isn't an outstanding scorer to be fair -
i think we will get sancho by paying up as this drags on but although he is a talent, imo he is vastly overpriced and success has come in the bundesligue not the EPL which is a much tougher place to shine. we have other positions that could be sorted using the figures quoted for 1 player ; don't think it makes sense to put all our eggs in one basket.

cookyman

 

 

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12 Aug 2020 12:08:28
what do you mean by that ken.

cookyman

 

 

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12 Aug 2020 09:49:23
In addition, just noted ed002s comment on the european pages that Bernadeschi is being offered as available by exchange or sale.

cookyman

 

 

 

cookyman's banter replies

 

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25 Aug 2020 09:16:36
Ken - it happens too regular on this site- ed 002 and others are challenged for giving info but if they don't like it they spit the dummy out-.

cookyman

{Ed002's Note - Why should I put huge amounts of effort in and be accused by vegetable matter like you of "spitting the dummy out" when I get abuse from vile trolls? You are no better than them.}


 

 

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24 Aug 2020 23:40:00
Eric sorry but our lass is a better winger than Chong!
I know he is a kid but he’s as strong as a weatherspoons ale and his butcher is a vegan . He is nowhere near epl standard in fact championship defenders would carve him in two.

cookyman

 

 

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21 Aug 2020 10:37:08
SaF - totally agree especially tackling - so clever he knew what he was doing to break up the play.
Incredible talent and work rate- even more impressive if true was that he suffered from asthma.

cookyman

 

 

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21 Aug 2020 08:53:04
TRD -ed002 stated that upamecano wouldn't be moving soon, but I agree he is a standout candidate, Saul- would love to see him ina utd shirt But Sancho no. Would prefer a seasoned striker for a couple of years allowing 2 of rash, martial and greenwood to play across the frontline predominantly from the wings supplying and cutting in. Greenwood would blossom which will make him imo, our marquee player. Stikers like cavani or dream signing lewandowski. Lb would take reguilon ( decent price) or sandro in a deal that sees pogba go other way ( helps fund the Saul deal) . We can but hope.

cookyman

 

 

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20 Aug 2020 11:42:33
{Ed047's Note - they are in a completely different league to your front 3 though)

Ed if they don't stop illegally tapping up players they could be in a different league. prison league haha.
Seriously though when will clubs learn and this is all clubs as some don't get found out?

cookyman