January Transfer Window 2013/2014 Season Rumours/Signings/KonoplyankOFF:(
- Thread starter Cosimo
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As Robbo suggested, its rare that such a big team does such a major re-build , and add to that the new EPL TV deal meaning most clubs will probably spend a lot more Summer 2014 than they traditionally have
Man of Honour
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That's true, but it's also rare for a big team to need such a major re-build. Most big teams bring in one or two big players to supplement the ones they have, or perhaps to replace an outgoing player. Man Utd need at least 3-4 top class signings. This was true before Fergie even left, but his aura and ability (coupled with City's awful form at times last meant) meant he was still able to drag them to the title. If Fergie was still there now, they would still be in as big a need for top class players.
I think Mata will be a great signing for Man Utd personally. I know he's a different player and doesn't in with Man Utd's traditional style, but I don't see why that's a bad thing. Man Utd's game was always built around great wingers, and the simple fact is Man Utd don't have a great winger left. In Nani, Young and Valencia they have players capable of great games, rather than being actual great players. Unless Moyes is going to bring in new wingers to replace them, I think having someone like Mata who can change things up will only be a good thing.
For my point of view as an Evertonian it's a bad signing though, it means they might actually start playing well and winning games and start challenging us for an European spot.
Soldato
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I think they will push Liverpool for 4th but unless Suarez has a big injury or does something stupid which ends up with a lengthy ban then I can't see Liverpool being overtaken.
Spurs will implode in March as usual and Everton don't have the squad.
Caporegime
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The issue we have is too much youth with old players and not enough in between. Mata does help address this. Ideally you'd want a core or 24-28 year olds we seem to have too many below or above this in our team.
Dont disagree with any of that
What I personally wouldnt do is bring those 3 or 4 big players in during one window, Hopefully the Mata signing will be followed by one "big" player and possibly 1 (or 2) decent squad player replacements.
They then have 6 months to show what they can do before we get the same again in the summer (maybe one more big player as its the summer of a WC).
Even if the money is available I would resist making massive changes in the same window (or the risk of doing a Spurs rears its head)
Not suggesting Utd WILL definitely be in the top four, but this is a little naive (after all look at the (Liverpool) AV result at home, with or without considering them as a "bogey" team). Occasionally there are "off" days.
Utd were still only a handful of points behind Liverpool after having RvP out for 2 months or something (and I think he was only back for a couple of games anyway) - admittedly this was before last round of matches, but even so Everton, Liverpool only extended their lead by a point when Utd had the bad match vs Chelsea. IF Utd can keep Mata, Rooney, RvP , Januzaj all fit for the rest of the season its far too close to call at the moment (even if /when Liverpool improve further in Jan with different players)
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I have no faith in Rodgers not playing Stevie as a dm, especially with Lucas's injury. Add into the mix that we have the most shots against us in the league and this is never addressed I thnk we'll be in trouble if/when Luis stops scoring. No reinforcements to push us on either with an already weak squad means we're up **** creak without a paddle.
Agreed. As I have been repeatedly saying though, we've suffered a lot without Rooney and RvP. Rooney is a leader on the pitch too which is important, aside from his obvious ability. Apart from Nani, our wingers have never been great. Valencia was decent at times but he's very one dimensional and defenders figured him out. If he can't out-muscle them he's almost useless. I'd like to see Nani get another chance, just because he's absolutely awesome on his day, and there was a time where his 'day' occurred quite frequently. Was a long time ago though.
If you take the two key players out of most teams, they aren't nearly as good, perhaps Bayern being the exception as they've got such depth and quality in most positions.
If Mata gives the squad a lift and we have RvP and Rooney back, they can definitely carry from the front, even more so with Mata. The defence will likely get a bit better when they know we can actually pose a threat going forward and so on, Evans for example has been very good in the past.
I think we have to look at trying to get a central midfielder in before the window shuts though, it doesn't have to be someone world class, just someone fairly good, for depth more than anything. I think for the summer, one or two 'world class' players and one or two squad/potentially better players will set us up nicely. I can't see us getting 5 or 6 people in before the start of next season, unless we're in for a surprise.
I still can't believe we're likely getting Mata though, whenever we've played Chelsea he's always the player scoring or assisting the goals, was head and shoulders above the rest over the past couple of seasons!
Agreed. As I have been repeatedly saying though, we've suffered a lot without Rooney and RvP. Rooney is a leader on the pitch too which is important, aside from his obvious ability. Apart from Nani, our wingers have never been great. Valencia was decent at times but he's very one dimensional and defenders figured him out. If he can't out-muscle them he's almost useless. I'd like to see Nani get another chance, just because he's absolutely awesome on his day, and there was a time where his 'day' occurred quite frequently. Was a long time ago though.
If you take the two key players out of most teams, they aren't nearly as good, perhaps Bayern being the exception as they've got such depth and quality in most positions.
If Mata gives the squad a lift and we have RvP and Rooney back, they can definitely carry from the front, even more so with Mata. The defence will likely get a bit better when they know we can actually pose a threat going forward and so on, Evans for example has been very good in the past.
I think we have to look at trying to get a central midfielder in before the window shuts though, it doesn't have to be someone world class, just someone fairly good, for depth more than anything. I think for the summer, one or two 'world class' players and one or two squad/potentially better players will set us up nicely. I can't see us getting 5 or 6 people in before the start of next season, unless we're in for a surprise.
I still can't believe we're likely getting Mata though, whenever we've played Chelsea he's always the player scoring or assisting the goals, was head and shoulders above the rest over the past couple of seasons!
Chelseas player of the season for the past two seasons. Could be a turning point.
Hoping that was nothing major, but I suppose you never know
Soldato
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Dont disagree with any of that
Not suggesting Utd WILL definitely be in the top four, but this is a little naive (after all look at the (Liverpool) AV result at home, with or without considering them as a "bogey" team). Occasionally there are "off" days.
Utd were still only a handful of points behind Liverpool after having RvP out for 2 months or something (and I think he was only back for a couple of games anyway) - admittedly this was before last round of matches, but even so Everton, Liverpool only extended their lead by a point when Utd had the bad match vs Chelsea. IF Utd can keep Mata, Rooney, RvP , Januzaj all fit for the rest of the season its far too close to call at the moment (even if /when Liverpool improve further in Jan with different players)
I'm not suggesting that United won't come close to Liverpool and 4th spot, all I'm saying is with Suarez the way he's playing and at times winning games single handedly, I think United will struggle to overtake them. Of course they will have off days, there's 16(?) games left to play so its obvious they're going to drop points from those games and as will United.
Its a big if when suggesting RVP can stay fit with his injury record. We also don't know how or where Mata will play. Moyes could completely ruin him like kagawa. Personally i think he's an incredible buy for united but but is he enough to paper over all the weaknesses that exist in this united team, I'm not so sure unless you add more good players. Januzaj is a real talent but you can't rely on him to carry this united team yet.
As I said, I'm not ruling out united for 4th but personally I think Liverpool will just pip them at the post unless they lose Suarez for a lengthy time.
If we havent been able to wrap the salah deal up in the 3 weeks since the window opened we deserve to have him 'pinched'.
If he also goes there when they have about 500 players in the am role and given it's a it of a graveyard for young players that's his fault - loan next winter window anyone?
"so many weaknesses" that were still only 5 points behind Liverpool after 1/2 the season, and we have strengthened the creativity we were missing in the final 1/3 (even ignoring the goals Mata scores himself) while only being that small distance behind
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