Manchester United Thread 2024/25 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

I'm saying less insistence on shiny signings like di Maria, Sancho and Anthony and hopefully signings like Pellestri, Malacia, Wan Bissaka etc

We've spent a leagues worth of money in the last decade and none of it seemed to be on properly targeted players. I'd love the club to spend the next couple of transfer windows fine tuning their targets. We won't get the next Ronaldo. But we won't get the next Sancho either.

True, James sold at a profit. And Smalling. And Hernandez. And and and...it's a short list.

And United, historically, were not aiming to sell at a profit. We didn't want to sell players who were more valuable, we wanted them to win things with us. The majority of players we have sold are because we no longer wanted them or they were rubbish

The argument on chekri isn't that we could sell at a profit, it's that his fee us so low that if it didnt work out we could sell him with out it being a financial disaster. We wouldn't want to be selling him if he hit double figure goals and assists and was now valued at 100m

And I just genuinely find it hard to accept a line of thinking that united are just historically married to making bad signings so we should avoid similar style signings in future.

How about we concentrate on buying the right players and not avoid any just because they remind you of a previous failure.

Mateta is a no for me for the fact I think palace would want way too much for him. I'd imagine 60/70ish.

How about we concentrate on buying the right players

This is precisely what I'm actually talking about. The rest of your post is making my point for me....

The majority of players we have sold are because we no longer wanted them or they were rubbish

Then maybe stop buying rubbish

united are just historically married to making bad signings so we should avoid similar style signings in future.

You're saying we should just keep repeating past mistakes then?

It remains to be seen if the transfers under Ineos will be successful. I absolutely hope so. A lot of young talent with some experienced players added as well. While I love the romance of assembling the best young talent around to build a squad for the long term, I think in the short term, a pragmatic approach to get us on an even keel might be more beneficial.

Ironically, when I was younger I loved when we were linked with high profile players. Mentions of Zidane, Ronaldihno and the like were pinch me moments. It rarely came off though and we might've been better for it. We built teams with a spine of experience, hard work, fortitude and no little talent. Occasional signings like Cantona, Van dar Sar, Cole gave us an edge along with youthful injections from the academy. Gambles were taken but the failure of a player here and there didn't derail the project, because overall the squad was strong and cohesive enough to absorb it. Not so much now though. Back then the squads seemed to be built with the idea of not only immediate impact but also long-term investment and continuity. Currently nearly every signing seems to come with a hint of panic or sticking plaster. I don't see an evolving squad. Perhaps Amorim and Ineos will invoke a longer term strategy. Time will tell.

There's probably more than that too. I bet his record on his first 25 signings was a lot better. Those last players were coming into a functioning successful squad. Little gambles here and there weren't going to upset the quality of the first team too much.

Same can't be said now though.

Semenyo is a quality player. Absolute top quality on his day but I do find him a bit streaky. We can't afford 70m on one player unless it is an absolute difference maker like a top striker.

The AFCON situation is a worry with Maz and Amad (and Onana :D) missing already

He shooting volume and effecientcy is garnacho Level. And that's not a compliment!

His defensive work is superb though.

I think he'd be an excellent wing back in how we want them to play, but I don't think he's a target for that role, especially at that price. At that price I general he's not a target imo.

Do you sign him while also trying to sign say Cunha or would you see him as a cheaper option to buy rather than a Cunha. Then allowing you to strengthen another position too.

Valverde is considered an excellent manager.

I wouldn't like to see Amad moved full time. Think he's better as a RW/10 but not sure Cherki joins someone like United unless he's first choice.

I think Cunha is a no brainer as a signing. Would love to see him and Amad as our first choice 10s and both players are versatile enough to start somewhere else to rotate players in while still starting.

On the starting XI for tomorrow I think Hojlund starts again with Chido playing against Bournemouth and Brentford.

I know injuries can happen anytime but with Hojlund our only fit striker for Europe I think he rests him for the games either side of the first leg.

What 5 players so going by your metrics should we be looking at

Nope, not for the first two goals anyway. Antony came on central. Amad was rwb til we were in the lead. Look at his first two goals, 100% playing in the rwb position.

The second goal is a great example of what Amorim would want - the wing back attacking his man, coming inside creating confusion in the marking, and making that run in behind for the midfielder to find.

To be fair to Dalot, I think he has shown a lot more attacking intent in the last few games - I just think his general positioning is a bit too deep, he is a bit too hesitant to push forward and tends to retreat to a more natural full back position. Though that could be down to tactical instruction rather than a retisence on his part - i'm always quick to defender Bruno (for eg) in saying a think a lot of what people criticise him for is doing what he has been told tactically, so i'll give Dalot that benefit of the doubt too.

Watchng the highlights again there and I remember being so gutted for Antony. He had come on and shown some real intent and determination - was providing an edge to the attack. And you could see him just crumble following that miss.

He's done very well in Spain - will be interesting to see what happens. I don't belive Betis will be able to pay enough for us to sell him. But talk of other sides becoming interested based on what he has been doing. So there could be enough interest to actually get him sold

Eughhh, just to add insult to injury, I just realised that Liverpool could wrap up the league tomorrow. It would take an almighty upset from Ipswich but you never know. Arsenal's league form has been patchy as hell and they could have a CL hangover.

Not to mention the fact that Wolves could actually leapfrog us tomorrow if they thump us by 4…