What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

I’m worried about CB; Varane can’t play every game and whilst Lindelof is ok as a backup, it looks like we’re one hamstring pull or, god forbid, another period on the sidelines for Martinez to being in trouble. I don’t want to rely on Maguire in any capacity.
 
G-manc said:
I’m worried about CB; Varane can’t play every game and whilst Lindelof is ok as a backup, it looks like we’re one hamstring pull or, god forbid, another period on the sidelines for Martinez to being in trouble. I don’t want to rely on Maguire in any capacity.
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I think any move for a CB is our failure to move Maguire, McTominay and Fred. We need money in to target Amarbat and any additional back up in defensive.
 
Cathy Ferguson said:
Agreed. Short term Amrabat and an experienced backup striker should be signed in August. If Greenwood returns in eg January we might shift focus to a CB. We are a few players short to challenge for the title.
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We won't sign a backup ST
 
Xaviboy said:
We sell:
Fred
Maguire
DVB
Henderson
Mctominey

Bring in:
Amarabat
Pavard - can be our RB starter and can also play CB.
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Feels like we will wait it out for a natural CB seeing as lost out on top target Kim. I like Pavard's ability to play both positions and want us to sign him anyway but won't happen
 
Like everyone else : CM this year ideally; next year a pure DM, a CB, CF and possibly DB... Possibly a return or academy players can fill some of those needs ? I would have gone for the holding midfielder first but can see how adding a deep lying playmaker makes sense. More tactical width in exchange for a shallower bench.

So probably at least another busy & expensive summer in 2024. Hopefully ten Hag is in a good position to oversee what should be the full changing of the guard. The core team should be good to go for 3-5 years.

I think some sales will be done for certain next season that might not occur this year (Maguire).

I don't know if that will be enough for a title challenge but with the right pieces United should rank for the UCL every season.
 
Plastic Evra said:
Like everyone else : CM this year ideally; next year a pure DM, a CB, CF and possibly DB... Possibly a return or academy players can fill some of those needs ? I would have gone for the holding midfielder first but can see how adding a deep lying playmaker makes sense. More tactical width in exchange for a shallower bench.

So probably at least another busy & expensive summer in 2024. Hopefully ten Hag is in a good position to oversee what should be the full changing of the guard. The core team should be good to go for 3-5 years.

I think some sales will be done for certain next season that might not occur this year (Maguire).

I don't know if that will be enough for a title challenge but with the right pieces United should rank for the UCL every season.
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What's DB
 
RB and RW look so far behind the rest of the XI at the moment. Hopefully Antony or Amad can kick on.
 
jesperjaap said:
Must admit never heard of him, but if he is very expensive....I dont see us spending a big fee now on a CB with what we have already spent, especially if we do move for Amrabat. Actually dont even see us signing a CB this window now, which would be a mistake.

Bella-Kotchap has a very good long pass and though not a ball playing cb (in terms of short passing), I dont think he is weak on the ball, he is just as good as some of our cb considered good on the ball (not that I agree they are) and he is just 21. £25m I believe is his release clause, in the current market I think that is a bargain and as I said we arent spenging £40/50m on a cb now this market if that is the kind of cost the player you mention woul dbe
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Ah yeah, to be fair the Diomandé suggestion would be for next summer as the long term Varane replacement at RCB. Absolutely fantastic athlete and about as press-resistant as you can get. He can pass or dribble out from the back with equal comfort and has great recovery pace. Another expensive option would be Antonio SIlva from Benfica.

I think Bella Kotchap would be a liability though. Aside from his progressive passing and carrying being rubbish, he's not even making simple passes out with any security. He's in the bottom 20% for that. Having just gotten rid of De Gea and relegating Maguire, I think it would be a retrograde move to sign a defender who is showing no aptitude to passing out from the back.
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
Ah yeah, to be fair the Diomandé suggestion would be for next summer as the long term Varane replacement at RCB. Absolutely fantastic athlete and about as press-resistant as you can get. He can pass or dribble out from the back with equal comfort and has great recovery pace. Another expensive option would be Antonio SIlva from Benfica.

I think Bella Kotchap would be a liability though. Aside from his progressive passing and carrying being rubbish, he's not even making simple passes out with any security. He's in the bottom 20% for that. Having just gotten rid of De Gea and relegating Maguire, I think it would be a retrograde move to sign a defender who is showing no aptitude to passing out from the back.
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Well maybe as there doesnt appear to be a rush from teams to sign him in th premiership. Personally I rate him really highly and lets not forget he is just 21, there is plenty of room for development.

Dont think you need two great ball playing centre backs in the partnership anyway and I think his passing is simple ways is more than adequate. I think he is reall good defensively, reads the game well, has good pace, strong aerially and he has a touch of Stam about him in the way he gets his body between the attacker and ball and musvcles them off of it.

Again £25m is a bargain, we either make that type of signing or none at all. The shame this summer is a lot of the good young centre backs and well priced ones do seem to be left sided....and we dont need to replace Maguire there, he already has been replaced, its cover for Varane worries me, never rated Lindelof at all.

I just sincerely hope this Evans deal isnt the only addition to our defence, really dont get that at all
 
jesperjaap said:
Well maybe as there doesnt appear to be a rush from teams to sign him in th premiership. Personally I rate him really highly and lets not forget he is just 21, there is plenty of room for development.

Dont think you need two great ball playing centre backs in the partnership anyway and I think his passing is simple ways is more than adequate. I think he is reall good defensively, reads the game well, has good pace, strong aerially and he has a touch of Stam about him in the way he gets his body between the attacker and ball and musvcles them off of it.

Again £25m is a bargain, we either make that type of signing or none at all. The shame this summer is a lot of the good young centre backs and well priced ones do seem to be left sided....and we dont need to replace Maguire there, he already has been replaced, its cover for Varane worries me, never rated Lindelof at all.

I just sincerely hope this Evans deal isnt the only addition to our defence, really dont get that at all
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I am convinced losing out on Min-Jae has changed our plans at CB this summer. Maybe we do still go for a Todibo or a Pavard but wouldn't be surprised to see us wait
 
Do people think we need to sign separate CB & RB over the next couple of windows or someone like Pavard capable of playing both
 
Not sure we've strengthened enough to put in a real title challenge.I'd like to find an experienced goal scorer coming to the end of their career who could come on for 30-35 and get a goal or two to tun a loss into a draw and a draw into a win. If Vardy hadn't been so poor last season, he would fit the bill... I'd take an Cavani figure back in a flash on a one-year deal.

I'm also worried about the full backs: when Shaw and, in particular, AWB play well they are good, but when they aren't they are still liabilites: I'd lik to have seen us go back in for TImber who is also versatile about where he can play at the back.

I can also see why ETH seems to be looking at another defensive midfielder.

Yes, we have more depth in the squad now but City have, and I think will continue to add players in this window and clearly Arsenal and Chelsea have moved to improve. We are still way behind at least City and Arsenal
 
For me it's

RB - Definitely a position we can upgrade on imo despite AWB resurgence and Dalot 'potential' (which I don't really see).
CB - Varane is injury prone and will likely miss 20ish games again this season. So Lindelof can cover that side, but ideally you want a long term Varane replacement. Martinez also needs a left-sided back-up.
CM - Press resistant, physical and good passer needed.
RW - Could do with someone to challenge Antony regularly for that spot.
ST - Seasoned striker to take some pressure and responsibility off Hojlund. Preferably not one in his 30s again.
 
Solius said:
For me it's

RB - Definitely a position we can upgrade on imo despite AWB resurgence and Dalot 'potential' (which I don't really see).
CB - Varane is injury prone and will likely miss 20ish games again this season. So Lindelof can cover that side, but ideally you want a long term Varane replacement. Martinez also needs a left-sided back-up.
CM - Press resistant, physical and good passer needed.
RW - Could do with someone to challenge Antony regularly for that spot.
ST - Seasoned striker to take some pressure and responsibility off Hojlund. Preferably not one in his 30s again.
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RB - I agree, definitely the quality of Dalot/AWB compared to Shaw is stark, both AWB and Dlot have qualities and a capable but just not top drawer
CB - Agree Lindelof is not good enough really, although has improved since coming our of Maguires downwards spiral
CM - Am happy enough that we have eased some of the pressure by signing Mount, and am looking forward to seeing what Mainoo can do
RW - Antony is I think one of the most difficult players to assess, he gives 100% effort, occupies opposition players and can be a game changer, but needs more variety and consistency in end product, think Hojlund, Amad, Pelistri, and maybe Sancho can be sued to provide that challenge.
ST - here I kind of disagree, ideally we would ditch Martial and sign a Henrik Larsson type striker 30+ able to bolster the attack without needing a permanent birth, I think until we see what Hojlund can do for us the idea of another striker just adds congestion, I mean look at the other day V Lens, who do you drop to play Hojlund or another striker? because cannot see dropping Rashford or Garnacho, so we are back to Antony, the alternative is to change formation, and again who do you drop?? maybe AWB/Dalot and go to a back 3 would be the only realistic option???

Last year what tanked us around xmas when we really could have held on to the octa tails of Arsenal and City was Garnacho's injury, Martinez injury, Varanne injury and Casemiro's bans... so have we addressed these? Garnacho injury, bringing in Hojlund and Mount means that we have more options, once Garncho went our bench had nothing to offer, we should have at least 1 decent player to bring on now! Mount helps with the Casemiro issue, I know he is not a DM but he is a much better option than any of our other mids and hopefully we sign Amrabat, so for me the biggest issue is CB, if we lose Varane or Martinez for any length of time I think we can kiss any hope of making a title challenge goodbye (think we are still not there)
 
Solius said:
For me it's

RB - Definitely a position we can upgrade on imo despite AWB resurgence and Dalot 'potential' (which I don't really see).
CB - Varane is injury prone and will likely miss 20ish games again this season. So Lindelof can cover that side, but ideally you want a long term Varane replacement. Martinez also needs a left-sided back-up.
CM - Press resistant, physical and good passer needed.
RW - Could do with someone to challenge Antony regularly for that spot.
ST - Seasoned striker to take some pressure and responsibility off Hojlund. Preferably not one in his 30s again.
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What seasoned ST you got in mind
 
croadyman said:
What seasoned ST you got in mind
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Iheanacho has 1 year on his contract, experience in PL, happy to sit on bench and averages around 0.8 G+A per 90 which isn't bad all things considered

No Taremi, Morata etc

As an aside David, Osimhen, Watkins, Toney & Ramos contracts all end in 2025 (Which means next summer if they don't sign - All will have a year left)
 
croadyman said:
What seasoned ST you got in mind
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Let me tell you about a man called Cristiano Rona..

Nah I have no idea. It's just what I think we need. Not sure of the actual solution. Kane on a free next summer would be ideal.
 
AngeloHenriquez said:
Iheanacho has 1 year on his contract, experience in PL, happy to sit on bench and averages around 0.8 G+A per 90 which isn't bad all things considered

No Taremi, Morata etc

As an aside David, Osimhen, Watkins, Toney & Ramos contracts all end in 2025 (Which means next summer if they don't sign - All will have a year left)
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Would prefer we just take a punt on Gift Orban. Think he could be a massive star.
 
Solius said:
Let me tell you about a man called Cristiano Rona..

Nah I have no idea. It's just what I think we need. Not sure of the actual solution. Kane on a free next summer would be ideal.
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Yeah it would be but that boat is about to sail to Germany (very Auf Wiedershen Pet reference)
 
AngeloHenriquez said:
Iheanacho has 1 year on his contract, experience in PL, happy to sit on bench and averages around 0.8 G+A per 90 which isn't bad all things considered

No Taremi, Morata etc

As an aside David, Osimhen, Watkins, Toney & Ramos contracts all end in 2025 (Which means next summer if they don't sign - All will have a year left)
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Would love to sign Toney but will Utd feel that's showing a lack of faith in Hojlund
 
AngeloHenriquez said:
Don't think so at all, was it undermining Haaland to sign Alvarez? It's a squad game and there's 60 or so games a season..
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Yeah I know we don't think so but the club might see it differently,also remember Alvarez is not putting up the numbers of a starter like Toney so can't really compare.

Personally think a better comparison to him would be someone like this Leonardo or that Gift Orban who has been mentioned on here
 
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Outs:

Maguire £30m
McTominay £35m
Fred £15m
Donny £15m
Henderson £20m
Bailly £5m

Ins:

CB - Sutalo £20m
DM - Lavia £50m
ST - Orban/Leonardo £20m (or Kane??)
 
Shaping up to be a good window for the club. The remaining weaknesses will be addressed next year I think, with a new (back up?) striker, a centre back and a right back added for a proper title challenge.
 
Irwin99 said:
Shaping up to be a good window for the club. The remaining weaknesses will be addressed next year I think, with a new (back up?) striker, a centre back and a right back added for a proper title challenge.
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I do think it will hinge on whether we get that other midfielder profile be it Amrabat or Lavia or AN Other. I'm not convinced the Casemiro, Mount, Bruno heroball triumvirate will work against better teams. Very worried about how exposed Casemiro has looked deep in midfield when we're being countered. I think we need more balance and control.
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
I do think it will hinge on whether we get that other midfielder profile be it Amrabat or Lavia or AN Other. I'm not convinced the Casemiro, Mount, Bruno heroball triumvirate will work against better teams. Very worried about how exposed Casemiro has looked deep in midfield when we're being countered. I think we need more balance and control.
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Yeah definitely need Amrabat profile in CM
 
A lot of people very keen for us to sign an experienced striker to help ease Hoijlund in and take pressure off in his first season and many not expecting too much from him in his first season.

Personally, I feel the opposite on both counts.

Over the last decade we have signmed mainly experienced strikers RVP and Ibrahimovich the only huge successes and Cavani as very good too though a lot of injuries. These are all world class centre forwards even passed there prime in the case of the latter two. Where is the experienced striker anywhere near the quality of those available this summer? As I can only think of Neymar who isnt a proper striker anyway and he costs buckets loads of cash anyway in wages. I dont think an average experienced one adds much more than an Ighalo or Weighorst....just numbers, we have an abundance of wide players and two of them I feel add more up front.

Also from hearing Hoijlund, reading up on him, seeing videos of him (appreciate not the same as a full game), I have this feeling he is going to hit the ground running and have a big first season. Why are peopl enot expectin gmuch (past goals record?) and are happy if he breaks double figures....I wouldnt be....is a first season of 10goals and decent performances not a lot mor ethan the wquivalent of ANtonys that he has been roundly criticised for? I see the huge self belief and confidence from Hoijlund, its huge pressure being the striker for this club....I think he is going to thrive on it and ver quickly.

So I dont want an experienced striker, I wanted two strikers signed all summer...now, not sure that is the case personally. There is Greenwood possibly, there is Martial, there is the emergence of Garnacho allowing Rashford to play up front if needed, there is Sancho as a false number 9....all for very different reasons, none of these options are ideal.....but this isnt Fergie and his 4striker days, there arent two forward positions, only one for five options for that spot is good.

If Greenwood isnt involved, then maybe a young gamble is the option. Hoijlund seems very much an all round striker....he also seems very strong and able to lead the line int hat way, which is something we have often looked for in experienced strikers, so do we need that? Someone like Marcus Leonardo, a big talent, gamble, low fee....with opportunities to make opportunitis from the bench and in some cup games, that seems the better optiosn for me....if we are to sign another striker.
 
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