United Sign new striker.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/06/alex-ferguson-manchester-united-summer
Dont see it happening somehow!!!
Its more of a case of saving rather than spending!!!
If they are fit, the defence is very strong..probably strongest in the Prem. VDS is world class, but probably won't be around for too much longer, so a new keeper would probably be needed after next season, not this season.
Midfield wise, we have good wingers..but seem to lack in the middle. Carrick and fletcher are both decent enough on their day, but we need someone strong, with a lot of drive. So a new CM would deffo be a good addition.
As much as I like Berba, he doesnt really inspire, and you can't imagine him doing something special to change a game. A new striker definitely needed. No idea who this new guy is..hoping he's decent, but REALLY would have preferred Benzema or Villa, someone who has already played at the top.
Midfield wise, we have good wingers..but seem to lack in the middle. Carrick and fletcher are both decent enough on their day, but we need someone strong, with a lot of drive. So a new CM would deffo be a good addition.
As much as I like Berba, he doesnt really inspire, and you can't imagine him doing something special to change a game. A new striker definitely needed. No idea who this new guy is..hoping he's decent, but REALLY would have preferred Benzema or Villa, someone who has already played at the top.
Of course Fletcher who played in Munich and against Chelsea showed a lot of fight didnt he (NOT) - but lets all brush over that and carry on blaming Carrick
FFS Maybe he isnt showing his best currently (his first two seasons where pretty darn great though imo) but there are much more important areas to fill
first (and Im not convinced by Gibson either, he is improving but still quite inconsistant, no where near ready for constant 1st team outings yet )
GK
top quality LB (not OShea who is and always will be a utility player) for Rafael to learn from and play in tandem with
possibly a centre half (Im not convinced Vidic will sign another contract, so to make the most profit we have to sell this summer, or let him go for virtually nothing next summer) -Smalling is too green and while I rate JEvans highly, Rio's injurys are far too frequent to risk not having someone to step in frequently)
Box to box midfielder ie another (fully fit) Hargreaves
Left winger
Top rated striker
All necessary before we try to replace Carrick imo
FFS Maybe he isnt showing his best currently (his first two seasons where pretty darn great though imo) but there are much more important areas to fill
first (and Im not convinced by Gibson either, he is improving but still quite inconsistant, no where near ready for constant 1st team outings yet )
GK
top quality LB (not OShea who is and always will be a utility player) for Rafael to learn from and play in tandem with
possibly a centre half (Im not convinced Vidic will sign another contract, so to make the most profit we have to sell this summer, or let him go for virtually nothing next summer) -Smalling is too green and while I rate JEvans highly, Rio's injurys are far too frequent to risk not having someone to step in frequently)
Box to box midfielder ie another (fully fit) Hargreaves
Left winger
Top rated striker
All necessary before we try to replace Carrick imo
Personally I dont think whole sale changes need to be made
We didn't go out to Bayern because they were the better team and out played us we went out to them due to the circumstances that unfolded on that night
We could have dealt with the lapse in concentration which allowed them to score right on half time, we could have dealt with one of Rafael going off & Rooney getting injured but alas too much on the night went against us
The Chelsea game is another matter but it could be argued that Rooney not playing had a big factor in that
I think the only thing we really need is another striker as without Rooney we just dont look to have a threat up front which is staggering after how Berbatov played at Spurs. Problem is the striker who we bring in needs to accept that they'll be playing second fiddle to Rooney for most of the big games and any top striker isn't going to be happy with that
My team for next season would for the big games would still be....
GK: VDS
RB: Rafael
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
CM: Fletcher
CM: Carrick
CM: Giggs/Anderson/Hargreaves
RW: Valencia
CF: Rooney
LW: Nani
We didn't go out to Bayern because they were the better team and out played us we went out to them due to the circumstances that unfolded on that night
We could have dealt with the lapse in concentration which allowed them to score right on half time, we could have dealt with one of Rafael going off & Rooney getting injured but alas too much on the night went against us
The Chelsea game is another matter but it could be argued that Rooney not playing had a big factor in that
I think the only thing we really need is another striker as without Rooney we just dont look to have a threat up front which is staggering after how Berbatov played at Spurs. Problem is the striker who we bring in needs to accept that they'll be playing second fiddle to Rooney for most of the big games and any top striker isn't going to be happy with that
My team for next season would for the big games would still be....
GK: VDS
RB: Rafael
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
CM: Fletcher
CM: Carrick
CM: Giggs/Anderson/Hargreaves
RW: Valencia
CF: Rooney
LW: Nani
I could go along with the above apart from two items
1stly VDS - yes he is a great keeper but come on surely this HAS to be his final year right at the top , and we desperately need a replacement already within the club before he goes (and the two present choices just dont cut it)
2ndly - while he has some great games - Nani just isnt reliable / consistant enough imo, and Im sorry I just dont think he ever will be. On his day he can be brilliant, no question - but there are too many off days for my liking (even on the right wing which is his favoured position - AC Milan away for instance)
(of course OH's full recovery still needs to be proven, if that doesnt happen then there is a CM spot up for grabs (and not by Gibson or Scholes but will probably be one or both)
1stly VDS - yes he is a great keeper but come on surely this HAS to be his final year right at the top , and we desperately need a replacement already within the club before he goes (and the two present choices just dont cut it)
2ndly - while he has some great games - Nani just isnt reliable / consistant enough imo, and Im sorry I just dont think he ever will be. On his day he can be brilliant, no question - but there are too many off days for my liking (even on the right wing which is his favoured position - AC Milan away for instance)
(of course OH's full recovery still needs to be proven, if that doesnt happen then there is a CM spot up for grabs (and not by Gibson or Scholes but will probably be one or both)
VDS will be our number one next year and will do a decent job at it. Of course, in an ideal world we would have his replacement already. But given not many top keepers would want to sit on the bench for a year and given the more immediate problems with other areas, I expect us to wait until the following summer to bring someone in.
We have stuck with nani for 3 or so years now. I see no reason on Earth to be looking to replace him when he's finally improved. He was very very good versus Bayern and I am more than happy with him being our first choice left winger next year. He may well prefer the right but he's finally proven he can make the left his own.
I don't see left back as an issue. With Evra as our number one, a young a talented kid knocking on the door (De Silva) and backup from Delaet (who I rate quite highly), O'Shea, the other twin and at a push - Evans, that position is fine.
However, we could do with another right back. Neville is clearly sub-par now and I've never really rated Brown (whose lost what little pace and form he's ever had it seems). So that leaves De Silva (who was excellent for 45 minutes versus Munich) and O'shea (maybe smalling) as cover. That's probably not enough.
We have stuck with nani for 3 or so years now. I see no reason on Earth to be looking to replace him when he's finally improved. He was very very good versus Bayern and I am more than happy with him being our first choice left winger next year. He may well prefer the right but he's finally proven he can make the left his own.
I don't see left back as an issue. With Evra as our number one, a young a talented kid knocking on the door (De Silva) and backup from Delaet (who I rate quite highly), O'Shea, the other twin and at a push - Evans, that position is fine.
However, we could do with another right back. Neville is clearly sub-par now and I've never really rated Brown (whose lost what little pace and form he's ever had it seems). So that leaves De Silva (who was excellent for 45 minutes versus Munich) and O'shea (maybe smalling) as cover. That's probably not enough.
I think we'll get maybe one or two players in the window - but doubt we'll have big name signings.
If VDS is staying on for another season, we wont sign a replacement until he hangs up his boots. I just don't see somebody who would normally be a first choice keeper at a top club want to be second string for an entire season.
Would love it if we gambled on a prospect like Hugo Lloris or Igor Akinfeev though! Both still very young for top keepers and have surely got their best years ahead of them.
I still think we need an additional striker - Owen if he had the games could be a good stop gap, but the lad will never get a good run of games going because of Rooney/Berba's form or injury issues.
And our right back area like you said johny is looking really thin these days. We've got Rafael of course, but he is still hit and miss and can be a liability at times because he gets forward too often.
I don't know whether Smalling will cut it, he's been a mixed bag for Fulham this season... he'll more than likely go out on loan next year.
If VDS is staying on for another season, we wont sign a replacement until he hangs up his boots. I just don't see somebody who would normally be a first choice keeper at a top club want to be second string for an entire season.
Would love it if we gambled on a prospect like Hugo Lloris or Igor Akinfeev though! Both still very young for top keepers and have surely got their best years ahead of them.
I still think we need an additional striker - Owen if he had the games could be a good stop gap, but the lad will never get a good run of games going because of Rooney/Berba's form or injury issues.
And our right back area like you said johny is looking really thin these days. We've got Rafael of course, but he is still hit and miss and can be a liability at times because he gets forward too often.
I don't know whether Smalling will cut it, he's been a mixed bag for Fulham this season... he'll more than likely go out on loan next year.
These are the players I believe we should be after for the top gk position when VDS leaves / hangs up his boots - and it woudlnt be one person in another out, it would be gradual phase over a season, so it wouldnt be like the new guy sitting out the season ( admittedly this was a bad season for VDS with injuries and personal situations - but look over the last few seasons, he has probably missed 20 or more games anyway whether cup or league games per season). Also dont believe either would be much of a gamble even if EPL is a huge step up from either of their leagues
Nani HASNT improved - his high's may be better, but his lows are just as bad (individual games) as they always were, and his consistancy is just as bad. Being cynical it could be signing him for 4 years to get some of original transfer cost back - rather than virtually nothing without a new contract
Anyway even with a new contract - no reason why he cant be a sub for Valencia on the right or new 1st class left winger like Di Maria or Silva (both of which still spoken about as potential targets)
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Yes he has.
Where do you think we're going to get the money to buy this entire new team that you seem to think we need? Left back?? One of the left backs we have now barely plays why on earth would we need another one??
Totally agree with Shami - We're not going to be bringing players like Lloris/Akinfeev/Silva in in the summer... Fergie has said we're not going to be spending shed loads this year, and Silva wont come for probably less than £30m possibly more. I don't see CSKA selling Akinfeev cheap and Lyon only bought Lloris last season.
Evra is world class and Fabio is showing a lot of potential. Rafael is prodiminately a RB or a RWB, he has played on the left yes... but generally he looks more comfortable (and plays more often) as a RB.
Nani is more than adequate cover on the wings, he just needs to build his consistency levels. It'd be interesting to see how he copes next year as he's more than likely going to be our first choice LW. I hope we see Tosic get a few games next season, he's a bright prospect IMO.
I would love a big name signing in the summer, but I just don't see it... we're buying prospects - almost as if Alex is building a squad that he can pass on to somebody else, that will grow and develop when he retires.
I'm sure this Cheech-and-Chong-A-Rito bloke will do okay for us. Though we do seem to be signing a lot of (no-name) players and then just selling them on... Manucho anybody? We were linked with Adem Ljajić a couple of seasons ago (when we got Zoran Tosic) and he never played a game for us... though I think that deal actually just fell through.
Evra is world class and Fabio is showing a lot of potential. Rafael is prodiminately a RB or a RWB, he has played on the left yes... but generally he looks more comfortable (and plays more often) as a RB.
Nani is more than adequate cover on the wings, he just needs to build his consistency levels. It'd be interesting to see how he copes next year as he's more than likely going to be our first choice LW. I hope we see Tosic get a few games next season, he's a bright prospect IMO.
I would love a big name signing in the summer, but I just don't see it... we're buying prospects - almost as if Alex is building a squad that he can pass on to somebody else, that will grow and develop when he retires.
I'm sure this Cheech-and-Chong-A-Rito bloke will do okay for us. Though we do seem to be signing a lot of (no-name) players and then just selling them on... Manucho anybody? We were linked with Adem Ljajić a couple of seasons ago (when we got Zoran Tosic) and he never played a game for us... though I think that deal actually just fell through.
He was pretty much signed.
We pulled out last minute, and said it was down to 'work permit' suddenly, which pretty much no one believes and Adem & the club have said wasn't true.
It was seemingly to do with funds - it was the same time that the glazers took a 10million pound loan out, as Adems price was 10M.
It's actually what kicked off a lot of the Glazer hate.
He's now playing for Fiorentina.
Ok so tell me what the difference (in individual game terms) between the Nani that destroyed Arsenal practically single handedly in the cup game 2 seasons ago, and the one that played really well against BM.......who also disappeared in a number of games completely (like AC Milan) on his preferred side also
Individual games (maybe a handful a season) he can be brilliant - but over a season he isnt anywhere near consistant enough, and doesnt show like its going to change
I never said we needed a whole new team - 3 or 4 players would make a world of difference, 2 of which could be generated from player sales (while I would hate to lose him Vidic has to go this summer to generate the £20+ he is worth, as he has never indicated he wants to sign another contract - and Im sure its been offered in the past, I wouldnt be surprised to see Berba go plus at least one of Foster or Pig, and maybe even Carrick )
I also read somewhere that there was some money in the bond issue for player purchase although Im not sure thats true, there is the new main Aon sponsorship this summer - some of which should be available for players as well as these smaller media contracts.......not to mention the £80m from Ronaldo ( yes maybe some has been used to pay off debts, but I do also believe some of the prices last summer where extreme....not that it will be any different this summer with WC of course)
You said it, he should be COVER not the first team player!!! I dont see why anyone expects this season / summer to be any different to the last 3 or so, there is no logical reason at all why Nani will suddenly become consistant (and improve his decision making)
Tosic is as good as gone imo - Obertan (who has been scoring for the reserves recently) is more likely imo
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Caporegime
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so why do we need a new left back exactly?
I cant believe you didnt consider that as a typo - considering I mentioned OShea and Rafael
Obviously RB is what I meant
LB is brilliantly covered by Fabio and Evra (I really hope Fabio has a great season in 10/11 as Evra has looked jaded recently, unsurprising really considering how many games he has played - every league game and every CL game , 53 in total including Internations!!)
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I cant believe you didnt consider that as a typo - considering I mentioned OShea and Rafael
Obviously RB is what I meant
LB is brilliantly covered by Fabio and Evra (I really hope Fabio has a great season in 10/11 as Evra has looked jaded recently, unsurprising really considering how many games he has played)
I thought the typo was writing Rafael instead of Fabio tbh
RB is more needed but I'd rather we signed a centre back and had Brown, O'Shea and Rafael there.In some ways I think the most important think to happen to the club will be Giggs, Scholes and Neville hanging up their boots as it will force us into changes. We can't keep relying on them season after season.
I thought the typo was writing Rafael instead of Fabio tbh
noooo (although I get your point
) If its a choice, then yes I totally agree a centre half is definitely required ( I also dont think we can rely on Rio to play anywhere near a full season of 30+ games anymore either)
do you agree with my reading of the Vidic situation - or is one season more of having him worth £10 - £15m off his transfer fee next year ....or will he sign another contract?
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Obviously I'd love to see him stay until the end of his career...but if he's just going to see out his contract and we get the option of around 30m then it would be better for the club if we go for that.
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