I really don't get your Woodward point Frank. In every way you could look at it, Woodward has been spent far more than Gill spent before him. All clubs will base valuations on a number of factors, from ability to age, resale value etc but you've spent far more than before and probably anybody else over the past 3 summers.
Transfer fees have gone up considerably (because of the huge TV deals etc) so its not surprising Woodward has spent more.
Its also a well reported point that Fergie didn't spend much at all in the last few years he was at the club. Which is why by the time Moyes arrived majority of the squad wasn't good enough or was too old for the EPL (which is shown in how many LvG has already shipped out for little to no money coming in - in comparison)
You have to be completely crazy if you think that Utd couldn't attract a better centre half than Blind (and probably even Smalling), and it wouldn't even be a case of waiting on the bench - they would step into the first team straight away.
Even this morning there were reports that Utd were not interested in Laporte because he was too expensive at @£35m (which isn't exactly a huge fee for someone highly thought of as Laporte is meant to be, and is still pretty young)
If we really wasted Barca's time talking about Neymar (who is never likely to leave, and has multiple years left on his contract) instead of going for Pedro (who would have helped us considerably, probably even getting another 2 points vs Newcastle and probably 1 today if not 3 - while weakening a direct competitor) - our targets are a complete joke.
Someone like Neymar is never likely to come to Utd with the rest of the squad (excluding a very few) so terrible. You have to build the squad up and get it balanced in all areas of the pitch and then get a marque signing (otherwise the marquee is never likely to get the ball anyway so its pointless anyway)
Depay (in the EPL) is good in flashes but all summer Ive been saying he should be a substitute until he gets more used to the EPL, Mata is adequate but nothing more on the other flank and kills any pace we might have on the break. May get more space in general in Europe, will have to wait and see but at the moment he is too invisible in the league to keep giving him starts.
Romero (very weak) , Darmian /Smalling /Shaw - fantastic so far but we desperately need another proper centre half - which was blatantly obvious last season. Midfield is ok - but attacking options are non - existant.
Most of this was blatantly obvious last season - and apart from midfield (and Darmian) , nothing has changed in the window at all.
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