Without being too negative, I'm worried. The signings are decent but not spectacular and the ones that appeared like they were going to be last seasons 'spectacular' weren't, and look like none of them will be here this season. There are unanswered questions carried over from last season and now there appears to be more added to this one. We are light up front and as said, who's going to score if Rooney is injured or when he goes missing for games which he does most season? Defensively, there are massive questions over Jones and Smalling. I'm not even getting into the goalkeeping situation. I hope Lvg has some answers because the signings so far are what you would expect when your adding to a strong squad not taking it onto the next level.....
Are we in better shape for this season?
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Its impossible to say - last year we brought in big names and they disappointed. This year we may not bring in any big names on attack but may be surprised by the quality we already have.
If DDG stays I'm not worried about defending. I have faith in Smalling and our new midfield is solid and we are OK of Carrick goes down.
We lack speed and skill up front. Nani would have been useful but that's a boring argument now.
We lack speed and skill up front. Nani would have been useful but that's a boring argument now.
Our work in the window so far is satisfying, and our personnel doesn't worry me. How Van Gaal decides to use them does, however.
On the whole I believe in Van Gaal, and it's easy to sound hysterical three games into pre-season. But we're still not playing players in their best positions, while two of our best players last season (Smalling and Herrera) seem to be out of the favoured side in spite of them offering the team two traits that we don't have elsewhere, aerial ability and movement in the midfield.
If Daley Blind is partnering Jones at centre half at the start of the season then that isn't right.
On the whole I believe in Van Gaal, and it's easy to sound hysterical three games into pre-season. But we're still not playing players in their best positions, while two of our best players last season (Smalling and Herrera) seem to be out of the favoured side in spite of them offering the team two traits that we don't have elsewhere, aerial ability and movement in the midfield.
If Daley Blind is partnering Jones at centre half at the start of the season then that isn't right.
The signings so far have been brilliant - players that fill the biggest holes in our squad.
Signings are always difficult to predict but the quality aren't going to be any more evident than what we've already seen. If you compare the team with the top teams in Europe, we are somewhere behind. That's my barometer. I'm sorry but neither Jones or Smalling would be in the top teams in the PL, not to mention Europe. I look at the spine of the team and the goalkeepers, CB's and forwards still a massive question mark on. There's also hopefully the added games in Europe. We are 4 signings short at present.....
I would completely agree with this. Don't think we're there yet but do think we're in a better position than a year ago. I also hope that we have players in attacking areas ready to make that step up.
Is our squad in a better position that last year? Undoubtedly.
Disagree. The biggest problem are now GK, CB's and now a forward. That's mostly the spine of the team.
The signings haven't been spectacular, but we didn't need them to be. Schweinsteiger is verging on spectacular, but we really needed Schneiderlin, or a player just like him. Defensive midfielders aren't usually marquee names, but we definitely needed one. And also a proper right back, which we have addressed. Very good, sensible signings.
We made two big, blockbuster signings last summer, and they both bombed, and will be remembered as two of United's worst ever signings. I'm very much in favour of our sensible signings this summer. Otamendi and Pedro would also be very unspectacular, but they would be very smart buys in positions we need to bolster.
We made two big, blockbuster signings last summer, and they both bombed, and will be remembered as two of United's worst ever signings. I'm very much in favour of our sensible signings this summer. Otamendi and Pedro would also be very unspectacular, but they would be very smart buys in positions we need to bolster.
If we got Ramos (despite losing DDG) I'd feel pretty confident having a spine of him, Schweinsteiger/Carrick and Rooney that we'll do alright this season. That's a lot of experience with plenty of youth and pace around them. I think we'll definitely have more than 13 points after 10 games anyway and I think we'll still be in the mix for the title by Christmas.
Well the signings have filled the biggest holes in the squad. The club needed a RB, they signed a RB, united needed 2 CM players they signed 2, we needed a new attacking winger we signed one. Its not the clubs fault that DDG has screwed united over, and the CB position will be signed in time, upfront is not a huge problem, and he will be on the bench anyway. So signing a forward is not going to solve the problems when he is a bench player. Adding the fact there are more players in midfield that have the ability to score goals anyway, signing a big name forward will cause problems than solving them, when mata, herrera, fellaini will be looking to fill the void of the number 10 position. At most a CB is needed, and DDG I think will stay this summer, unless Madrid do something drastic
Just wondering, who would you sign for the positions you speak of and who would you rather have than Memphis, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger and Darmian?
Those are the biggest problems now because we've bought two central midfielders and a right back. At the start of the summer, the biggest problems were central midfield and right back.
You can't keep shifting the goalposts. If we now signed DDG on a new contract, bought Ramos and Messi, would it still be a shit window because we haven't solved our right wing conundrum?
I'm not suggesting we need a Bale or CR7, like I said the signings are good but like I said, I don't feel take us to the next level, but solidify where we are. The game is still about scoring goals and stopping people scoring and we look like we losing our goal keeper and the current CB's aren't good enough.
You can't really compare signings with those of other clubs as a barometer of how comfortable you are about next year. You have to look at our signings so far and those we may buy soon as components that enable what LvG wants to do. As we saw last year, buying flashy names is no indicator of future success. Its how all the players coalesce as a team that counts, which simply can't be predicted at this point.
We're definitely in better shape, without a shadow of a doubt. And the signings so far have been very good, and exactly what we've needed. For the first time in years we have a proper quality midfield, and a proper reliable right back.
We are, however, still lacking upfront. Pedro would help that, but I still think we'll lack the firepower to overturn City/Arsenal/Chelsea (who all have better attacks then us). And of course, we still need to sort out the centre back, and keeper issue.
So in short, better shape then last year? Yes. In good enough shape to win the league? No, not yet.
We are, however, still lacking upfront. Pedro would help that, but I still think we'll lack the firepower to overturn City/Arsenal/Chelsea (who all have better attacks then us). And of course, we still need to sort out the centre back, and keeper issue.
So in short, better shape then last year? Yes. In good enough shape to win the league? No, not yet.
No, we definitely aren't. We made progress in terms of our league position last season but as a team we are starting over again.
If we look at last season signings:
We have made intelligent signings so far this season and looked to have filled holes in the squad that needed repair. However, with di Maria and possibly De Gea leaving, we could have a squad weaker in a couple of important positions. So, to the answer the OP: questions still need to answered before the window is over. We need a top attacker and a new top GK, if De Gea leaves, before we can say that we have a better squad going into the season than last.
As for the expectations for the season, I think the top 3 are better than us and obviously more established. We'll need to give time for so many players to integrate into a solid outfit. I do not expect miracles. Hopefully, the football on show will be better, even though I don't expect us to win anything.
2 years on, we are still trying to find our feet.
If we look at last season signings:
- Falcao - failure.
- di Maria - failure
- Rojo - Hasn't established himself as a first choice CB. Everyone wants to sign a left sided CB.
- Blind - Again has failed to provide an answer for any particular position. Is being tried as left sided CB now.
- Shaw - Was injured for most of last season.
- Herrera - Established himself but some reason finds himself down the pecking order.
We have made intelligent signings so far this season and looked to have filled holes in the squad that needed repair. However, with di Maria and possibly De Gea leaving, we could have a squad weaker in a couple of important positions. So, to the answer the OP: questions still need to answered before the window is over. We need a top attacker and a new top GK, if De Gea leaves, before we can say that we have a better squad going into the season than last.
As for the expectations for the season, I think the top 3 are better than us and obviously more established. We'll need to give time for so many players to integrate into a solid outfit. I do not expect miracles. Hopefully, the football on show will be better, even though I don't expect us to win anything.
2 years on, we are still trying to find our feet.
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Let's wait until the window "slams shut" to see what our squad is, before making any predictions.
to see what our squad is, before making any predictions.I'm not shifting the problem, it's always been CB. That's no revaluation is it? Are we stronger in those positions, No. I'm not convinced DDG is going to be here at the start of the season either. We didn't score enough goals last season, are we are weaker in that position at the start of this season. Despite how it ended, we started with Rooney, RVP and Falcao last season. This is massive.
Really happy with the direction in which we are going, I don't see us achieving much this season but I am really excited about the future. After a long time we are finally putting together a proper team and I will be surprised if don't have a great second half of 15-16.
I'm pretty sure most people would've said CM and RB were are problem areas, with CB being important but not quite as urgent. That's what I'd have said anyway. We've filled the three most important ones of those four very well, so I don't think you can say we haven't done well.
our cb's are as good as any in the prem really no team has a great pair of CB's. the forward is depay , midf is sorted and so is rb. now is it a team , i don't know.
We've solved the biggest issue of the last decade in fixing our midfield and that alone puts us in a much better position than last year.
We've brought in what looks to be an excellent right back, fixing another issue with the squad and we have bought a young, strong and really exciting young attacker to add some directness up top.
Then we have had one more season and a full pre-season with most of our team under our coach and his playing philosophy. It's quite clear that we started last season with several players either not sure how about, or not capable of, playing in his system. Many of those players have moved, or are moving on and those that have stayed look much more comfortable with our style of play.
I honestly don't think there is a single area in which we are weaker, or less prepared than we were this time 12 months ago. So long as De Gea stays, I would say we are significantly stronger and will challenge this season.
We've brought in what looks to be an excellent right back, fixing another issue with the squad and we have bought a young, strong and really exciting young attacker to add some directness up top.
Then we have had one more season and a full pre-season with most of our team under our coach and his playing philosophy. It's quite clear that we started last season with several players either not sure how about, or not capable of, playing in his system. Many of those players have moved, or are moving on and those that have stayed look much more comfortable with our style of play.
I honestly don't think there is a single area in which we are weaker, or less prepared than we were this time 12 months ago. So long as De Gea stays, I would say we are significantly stronger and will challenge this season.
No, we definitely aren't. We made progress in terms of our league position last season but as a team we are starting over again.
If we look at last season signings:
Even the signings before them, Fellaini & Mata, cannot be said to have established themselves as definite starters for any position.
- Falcao - failure.
- di Maria - failure
- Rojo - Hasn't established himself as a first choice CB. Everyone wants to sign a left sided CB.
- Blind - Again has failed to provide an answer for any particular position. Is being tried as left sided CB now.
- Shaw - Was injured for most of last season.
- Herrera - Established himself but some reason finds himself down the pecking order.
We have made intelligent signings so far this season and looked to have filled holes in the squad that needed repair. However, with di Maria and possibly De Gea leaving, we could have a squad weaker in a couple of important positions. So, to the answer the OP: questions still need to answered before the window is over. We need a top attacker and a new top GK, if De Gea leaves, before we can say that we have a better squad going into the season than last.
As for the expectations for the season, I think the top 3 are better than us and obviously more established. We'll need to give time for so many players to integrate into a solid outfit. I do not expect miracles. Hopefully, the football on show will be better, even though I don't expect us to win anything.
2 years on, we are still trying to find our feet.
Falcao wasn't a signing, and spare Di Maria, the rest of them are still here and preparing for next year. If Falcao and AdM had turned out as we expected, we would've probably won the league.
Not saying we haven't done well but come on, the CB situation isn't just this season. Smalling, Jones and Rojo aside from question marks about so many aspects of their games, they are often more injured than playing regularly. Evans games completely gone and needs a new start.
Didn't see any problems with CM in the big games last season aside from no cover for Carrick. That aside, if Rooney gets injured, who's gonna score the goals. The bit I don't understand is it's not like LVG hasn't had enough time to resolve it. The seasons round the corner, with one recognised striker. I'm not convinced Rooneys a true forward anyway.
We signed him on loan with an option to buy, he was a signing.
We wouldn't have won the league in any case. our defense and midfield were no where good enough.
They are still here, but besides Shaw none of them are answers for any position, and that is why we have already signed or looking to sign players for their positions. It's clear as day that VG is looking to build a new starting XI with new players.
We are in far better shape than last year. There is much more balance in our team and we will be hard to beat. We tried to shoe horn Falcao, RVP, Rooney, Di Maria and Mata in the same side. There was no balance and we were exposed at the start of the season. We have a solid midfield now and nobody can argue with that. We won't be experimenting with formations for ages, Lvg knows what the league is about now, he knows the players now and there capabilities. He knows the challenge of beating the small teams and whats involved in breaking them down. There won't be games like Leicester city away, that naivety will be gone. We bolstered the midfield, Darmian looks quality too. We need a center back and someone to fill Di Maria's position when he leaves, maybe a quality striker to help Rooney. I'm optimistic that we will bring in the right players. The business we have done so far is fantastic. Getting rid of players with a sense of entitlement like Di Maria and Falcao will help the dressing room, no uncertainty or disruption. The players have to be up for the fight and train hard to earn there place. We will be fine, people need to stay optimistic. We know that LVG is bringing in more players, time for patience and to kill these negative threads off.
No he wasn't. He was a loan with an OPTION to buy, not an outright purchase. Had he been an outright purchase we would've SOLD him, when in fact he simply returned to his actual club, who in turn re-loaned him out to Chelsea.
As for winning the league - we have been without a proper midfield for years and still been competitive, so there's nothing to say 25 goals from Falcao and 10-15 from AdM couldn't have pushed us over the top.
Blind hasn't been a failure in any sense, just cause he is being tried out at CB is hardly a negative, he can play in multiple positions. He's a utility player and an excellent one at that.
Did I say we bought him? He was signed on loan and turned out to be a failure. You are being pedantic just for the sake of it.
Falcao SIGNING - a failure.
Hypothetical, but I don't think so. Why didn't we simply try to replace those two then? What was the need for surgery that is ongoing?
By the way, di Maria hasn't score 10-15 league goals in his life; his highest tally has been 7.
Yeah, he is a utility player, not an answer to any position. We need those, but I wouldn't say he would feature in our best XI.
You implied it by considering him a signing. He was a loan, that's all.
I said that the signings so far have been great because they fill the biggest holes in our squad, and you disagreed.
Anyway, I'm pretty certain we'll sign a CB since we've been linked with several all summer so far, but it definitely wasn't as big a deal as CM or RB imo. Those three you mention are good enough for now, and we have several players who can cover there. That's a little thin really, so hopefully we do sign someone, but it's not the end of the world if we don't manage it and end up having to keep Evans as a backup.
CM was a clear weak spot last season imo, and when Carrick was absent we had massive problems. He's now a year older, and we can't keep relying on him. Thanks to the two signings there, we no longer have to. Same goes for RB. Memphis could also give us some of the attacking swagger that we've sorely needed at times. We now have enough quality throughout the team to compete, so while we could do with a couple more players to cover certain positions, it's not the end of the world if we don't sign anyone (assuming nobody leaves).
It's not a good idea to replace too many players in one window, and at this rate we'll be playing almost an entire new team. We probably need a new CB, and apparently we might need a new GK, RW, and ST. If that happens, we'll risk being incredibly disjointed because the players will all be new:
GK
RB CB CB LB
CM CM CM
RW ST LW
RB CB CB LB
CM CM CM
RW ST LW
I'm generally optimistic, but that would make me really uneasy.
The window isn't over, i feel de gea is staying and we'll get a cb.
Losing di maria is a step backwards that the caf refuses to acknowledge. Apart from that we're fine, we defo need that CB and a replacement for di maria though.
Losing di maria is a step backwards that the caf refuses to acknowledge. Apart from that we're fine, we defo need that CB and a replacement for di maria though.
United's balance looks better than last season. And it's a shame Di Maria didn't work out. He is a classy player when he's up for it.
We're not finished in the transfer market yet. Still think there'll be at least one big arrival to come.
We're not finished in the transfer market yet. Still think there'll be at least one big arrival to come.
I said that the signings so far have been great because they fill the biggest holes in our squad, and you disagreed.
Anyway, I'm pretty certain we'll sign a CB since we've been linked with several all summer so far, but it definitely wasn't as big a deal as CM or RB imo. Those three you mention are good enough for now, and we have several players who can cover there. That's a little thin really, so hopefully we do sign someone, but it's not the end of the world if we don't manage it and end up having to keep Evans as a backup.
CM was a clear weak spot last season imo, and when Carrick was absent we had massive problems. He's now a year older, and we can't keep relying on him. Thanks to the two signings there, we no longer have to. Same goes for RB. Memphis could also give us some of the attacking swagger that we've sorely needed at times. We now have enough quality throughout the team to compete, so while we could do with a couple more players to cover certain positions, it's not the end of the world if we don't sign anyone (assuming nobody leaves).
It's not a good idea to replace too many players in one window, and at this rate we'll be playing almost an entire new team. We probably need a new CB, and apparently we might need a new GK, RW, and ST. If that happens, we'll risk being incredibly disjointed because the players will all be new:
GK
RB CB CB LB
CM CM CM
RW ST LW
I'm generally optimistic, but that would make me really uneasy.
Generally agree. We filled the most important parts in midfield, RB, attack, put Rooney back as striker. The only two things that need addressign is De Gea and a CB imo, especially as there's a good chance one or two youngsters will step up to contribute more this year.
The squad is better and if we go into the season without any significant injuries, we stand a chance.
Di Maria/Rojo/Falcao all came after we had played about 3 games Or more, I think. RVP needed that extended break, the team as whole were not comfortable with LVGs methods. This time around, we got the important signings in for pre season, the squad will know what the manager wants and expects from them.if we get Pedro he would have already been training so shouldnt need anytime to get fit.
We are in a much better starting position than last year.
Di Maria/Rojo/Falcao all came after we had played about 3 games Or more, I think. RVP needed that extended break, the team as whole were not comfortable with LVGs methods. This time around, we got the important signings in for pre season, the squad will know what the manager wants and expects from them.if we get Pedro he would have already been training so shouldnt need anytime to get fit.
We are in a much better starting position than last year.
Yes we are simply because the players have had a year under LVG and hopefully fully understand what he wants from them. Hopefully we will have enough cover for injuries due to increased depth. I personally see us in the top 3 come end of season.