On the evidence of the last few games, there are some players who clearly aren't doing it and others who are clearly not good enough anyway. Last night's result, I suspect, means we'll finish fifth so only winning the CL gets us back in it next season. If the last two games are a decent indicator, i.e. on form, we'll get bent over by Barca so we ain't winning the thing anyway. This affects Ole's targets and sales somewhat. If we don't qualify, he's very likely to have to target young and English. Which is fine of course. Those to go for would be Declan Rice, Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Aaron Wan Bisssaka. We'll probably need another goalie, can't see De Gea sticking around. Also leaving would be Pogba (he'll go anyway) and Herrera if we don't qualify. Would Tony Kroos come the other way to Pogba though? Maybe, but not being in the CL adds doubt. We also need more than one centre half, we should go after Koulibaly , as Jones, Smalling and also Rojo are patently not up to scratch and have to leave. Sharpish. Sanchez also has to be driven out the gates. Massive rebuild on the cards, one that puts us back another year behind City and Liverpool.
Strangely enough I'm not overly concerned about the time it takes. I mean if it takes another season, as long as the bare minimum of top 4 is achieved next season. I can't really suggest players but defence is priority. Maguire I like a lot and can see him being a leader at the back which we really have missed for a long time.
I still don't think we should have given Ole the full time job until end of season. It's had zero galvanising effect, it certainly hasn't made Herrera or De Gea give an indication they'll stay, and the wheels could yet now fall off massively. It was rushed, there was no need. He could still be identifying targets while concentrating on his rehearsal for the full time job. Now, it could all go massively tits up and United won't trust him to spend anyway. I can't help but have a bad feeling about this, the timing of it was completely unnecessary.
My immediate feeling was that it was a mistake. It was a surprise and unnecessary. My gut feeling was the players who were pushing forward with good momentum under Ole would be disrupted by it. And dare I say some might take their foot off the pedal. It was a stupid move.
All Woody had to do was let Ole know on the sly so that he could crack on in private with transfers, pre-season planning and the rest of the medium to long term stuff. The squad didn't have to know and clearly some have taken their eye off the ball. I would love to see the following go - Pogba, Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Darmian and Valencia. I can see Herrera, De Gea and Mata leaving but I would prefer all three stayed put. As for new blood - I would make Real do a take it or leave it swap deal for Varane and Kroos for Pogba, that's two key positions filled at a stroke. Of the others that we need I would have Jadon Sancho and Aaron Wan Bisssaka and Koulibaly. Those three alone wiil cost us around 200m. The one remaining problem is the fat midget and his 400k pay packet. Can't we just take him and his dogs to an animal rescue centre and dump them.
I'd say the same only I'm curious as to whether there will be any second season kick on from him. If anyone else should leave then Matic needs to be the one, I'd see Declan Rice as a long term replacement there.
I have been wondering if the timing is because we are talking to players who wanted confirmation of who manager would be.
That seems to be everyone's guess, yes. That's all it is though, a guess. Fact is, all the players need to know is that it was no longer Mourinho. It shouldn't matter otherwise, they sign for United, not a manager.
But they will be targets for other clubs with CL Whether you're in it or not, I reckon it's more like 2 seasons behind, not 1. Beating citeh would be a major step in getting top 4.
If Utd get big money for Pogba it would give them a big boost in the Summer, however if Herrera goes then straight away they need 2 midfielders. It's going to be interesting to see what happens but I'd be more likely to agree with whoever said 2 seasons.
That would be RHC you pair of scouse gits Although tbf I said similar in my post, I'm not too worried about aiming for the title next season, as long as we're top 4 then the priority is to build a stable squad starting with the defence and in particular I'd prefer a CB who can be captain.
Who wants to go is the first question he needs to deal with, get rid of anyone who doesn't want to be there.
True but I worry about the ones who want to stay but aren't good enough. Or the ones who I'd like to stay like Herrera and Mata who will undoubtedly both be leaving. We're passing up Herrera to PSG and supposedly linked with one of theirs coming the other way... which begs the question why would they want that unless we've already got the better player?
Me But they will be targets for other clubs with CL Whether you're in it or not, I reckon it's more like 2 seasons behind, not 1. Beating citeh would be a major step in getting top 4.
We should be offloading De Gea if he’s asking for £400k a week, the lad has been poor this season, £60m will do given he only has a year left to run on his contract. If we can’t do a straight swap for Oblak, then keep the money and promote Romero to no1. RB - Wan-Bissaka seems a popular choice. CB - Alderweireld should do for a year or two, we shouldn’t be paying £100m for anybody. De Ligt is an even bigger risk at £70m for a 19 year old. RF - Sancho over Hudson-Odoi preferably. Not Lozano. DM - Declan Rice seems to be getting plenty of mentions, if you look at the level we need to be at to win PL/CL I think we need better. McTominay is developing well in the Herrera role anyway. I’d prefer Kroos or Saul. AM - if Pogba leaves... Eriksen, force Spurs’ hand with a big bid. ST - if Lukaku leaves for Inter then bring Icardi the other way. No stupid Bale/Ronaldo rumours clogging up the pipes.