Manchester United’s activity in the transfer market is over for the summer, with the club having spent more than £40 million, rising with potential bonuses, on a quintet of new players – Robin van Persie, Shinji Kagawa, Alexander Büttner, Ángelo Henríquez and Nick Powell.
At least that’s the claim made by Sir Alex Ferguson at the weekend, who told reporters that United “definitely won’t be buying anyone else, that is for sure. There is no movement I can tell you about, to be honest with you. There is only a few days left now until the deadline and that will pass quite quickly I would imagine.”
Indeed, with United having spent the £40 million budget ‘guided’ during the summer investor roadshow, few expect additional acquisitions unless there are significant movements out of Old Trafford before the transfer window closes on Friday. Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda and possibly even Nani can be expected to leave the club permanently or on loan.
Ferguson has strengthened United’s attacking resources considerably, with Kagawa and van Persie having already impressed, and brought in cover for Patrice Evra with Büttner. However, some fans have expressed disappointment that no new central midfielder has joined the club this summer – an area long-held as the weakest in Ferguson’s squad.
The question is should United spend more to bring in additional players before the window closes.
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can’t help but think it wouldn’t hurt to get either a central midfield player or some more cover for rb/lb
LET’S GET FELLAINI IN.
IF NOT, RONALDO.
SAF has gone for signings to give the team more cutting edge, but money situation means united will miss out on Dembele, Moutinho etc Fellaini and Witsel will both be big money. How about Herrera from Bilbao ?
I see Fulham have just accepted an offer from Spurs for Dembele… I wonder if we’ll pick him up in a couple of years for twice the price when Scholes and Giggs finally hang up their boots?
Too late Spurs signed Dembele – would have been an upgrade over all our current central midfielders and at 15 mill is a good price.
5 new signings is more than we’ve had for in the last 3 summers so shouldn’t grumble too much. We will have to buy a central midfielder next season though due to retirements.
Put a cheeky bid in for De Jong….
We need a nasty bastard in our squad then we are pretty much complete.
We won’t be signing a midfielder whilst Fergie is still at United. I won’t be holding my breath anyway.
We had such a big chance to get it sorted this summer. Even if we were to make a foray into the transfer market next year, we would get screwed over when it comes to negotiating a fee with a prospective club – when our need for reinforcement will become even more apparent what with players retiring, etc.
United should have gone for dembele, but I think it’s too late.
No point now. Nothing we need is available at a price we can afford.
He probably thinks that decent midfielders become available every summer – he might be right but if he tries to sign someone in a years time he might get 10 million added on the price from what he expects.
Faith in Anderson and Fletcher is definitely misplaced, Cleverley the jury is out and Carrick is the wrong side of 30, Scholes in his last year. Dembele is approaching his prime. Not something that can be said of the names just mentioned. And he is a definitely better too.
Anderson is not that good and gets injured every season. Cleverly looks like he’ll be quite good, but so far he looks like he gets injured every season too. Carrick is good but SAF has admitted himself that he’d rather not play him early in the season since it always takes him a while to get into the swing of things. Scholes and Giggs are old as fuck. Oh yeah, Fletcher. Why are we even pretending Fletcher is ever again going to play regularly at as high a level as he did a few seasons ago?
It’s fucking terrifying that we need to play at least two of the above players every match for a whole season.
If Chelsea weren’t involved (title rival premium plus the standard United premium, ugh), I’d take a chance on Essien. I figure four crocks and two OAPs ought to be just about enough bodies to ensure that Carrick is always partnered with an actual midfielder throughout this season.
Dembele moving for 15m
Absolute steal
Would like to see Dembele at United to fix the lack of depth in the centre of midfield. However I don’t think he would offer us anything a fully-fit Anderson couldn’t except little bit more physical presence. In fact the only area Anderson would need to improve to match Dembele in my opinion, is to drive forwards with the ball more often as this will give a greater presence in midfield, and to stay fit as much as possible (out of his control to some extent. But that’s why you would take Dembele incase Anderson or whoever else in that department get’s injured.
Sneijder?
Never happening with SAF. He didn’t even go after a deep Lying mid this summer at all
You lot are never satisfied. Buy Buy Buy. More more more. Stop being so greedy and be gratefulfor what Utd have. Otherwise go and take up fantasy football.
Duncan – who is “you lot”?
Be grateful for what United give us? You are seriously intellectually challenged.
Everyone has been talking about the midfield but am I to believe that I’ve got to put up with this same defence that let in 6 goals against Man. City and 4 goals against Everton last season, both games at home. Something is wrong with the thinking of SAF. Where is the replacement for Ferdinand? This player is injury prone. Vidic is not fully recovered from injury. Okay Smalling has the quality but don’t tell me that Jones or Evans are quality central defenders. You can’t put Jones and Smalling together in that central defence. Nothing but more nightmares. Therefore, SAF should have bought in an experienced, quality central defender as backup for Ferdinand who is now out for another two weeks. Jones looks more promising playing a defence midfield role, similar to Fletcher. Who is the backup right back for Rafael? Should of kept Fabio as backup for Rafeal or bought a right fullback also. Where are the tactical football minds at Man. United? All the teams know that to beat United, just keep playing balls straight down the middle. Put two strikers straight down the middle and the goals will come. Southampton will give us a go although I’m sure the firepower will give us the victory, but it could be a high scoring game from both ends. Every pundit and expert opinion are giving us a 3rd place finish this season. Do you know why? DEFENCE! Its the same defence as last season with more injury problems.
Herbie – but I thought you were bestest mates ever with Fergie? Have a word Herbie
Why do you bother? Seriously mate, didn’t we have one of the BEST defensive records last season? (goes to check… 2nd best).
Have you ever considered not talking shit mate?
Smalling and Jones are entirely comfortable at right back, and Valencia is solid if needed there too.
Evans proved last season that he has got what it takes; he definitely finished the season strongly.
With the twins, Jones, Smalling, and Evans, we have a really bright future defensively. Evra and Vidic are still class, Rio is far from shit either. This new Buttner is meant to be good too.
We’re just a midfield enforcer away from having a great team. You whinge about last season Herbie, but we lost on goal difference with one of the highest points tallies ever.
Again: Think, then type.
Got that mate?!
Never happening with SAF. He didn’t even go after a deep Lying mid this summer at all.
OFB..buy dembele
Don’t nothing yet.,at the center of the pack. I see Witsel as the perfect player United need at the moment to allowed more freedom in our final third,and get a good cover for our shaky backline. I don’t see it happening as for now.
At £15m, Dembele proves theres still no value in the market.
& its not like its a position we need to fill anyway is it……..
Its madness we are not in for Dembele at a measly £15m. THis is one transfer battle we would actually win, its only Spurs ffs. We paid £19m odd for Anderson lest we forget.
That’s right Herbie, you fuckin numpty… the same defence as last year… the same one that had the second best goals against record in the league… second only to the champions… the same one that did that, without our Captain, Vidic.
Fuckin hell man… we’ve got a bit of a defensive problem right now, due to injuries… but we don’t need the panic buying you’re suggesting.
And by the way… I’ve no problem at all with Smalling taking over for Rio, when he’s done.
When everyone is fit, I’ll match our defence up against any team in England.
STOP TALKING SHIT!
When everyone at utd is fit we’ll have the second best defense after city but their midfield is on a different level to ours.
It’s stupid to say anything else.
Just curious. Who does everyone think Fergie was talking about when he said there would be another signing if the right person became available. Presumably not Büttner.
Or was it just a general response?
dembele aint much cop, another fat ando
bman and bills favourites modric and martinez are the two misses
and rodwell
its pure negligence that we’ve not signed a midfielder
maybe wilshere will be th next arsenal defector in a couple of years, and then we sign his league one equivalent
I don’t Dembele’s top class, but he’s decent. Modric and Martinez are class. Journos have been saying for a while that Bayern are going to pay a huge wad of cash for Martinez. The real miss is the Chilean Vidal, who went to Juve last summer for something like 10-15M euro, and he’s been a beast for them. He’s a proper well-rounded all action midfielder.
Let’s face it- there are any number of midfielders out there that would walk straight into our team and its a mystery why fergie hasnt gone for someone. Does he really believe Anderson and Cleverley are the real answer? Cleverley looks very talented but has s terrible
Sorry obviously pressed wrong button! Cleverley has a terrible injury record but looks the part when he’s fit, Anderson has a terrible injury record and rarely looks the part so why does fergie still have faith in him?
You seem to be forgetting that we started last season with Ando and Cleverly forming a class partnership. Blighted by injury.
I’m still undecided on Anderson. If he plays well consistently then he does seem to have the raw ability. He just needs to maintain it.
Cleverly is class. Just needs keeping fit.
I think a lot rests on Fletcher – I really think he’s become a very good player. Will he come back from illness fully? Is he so scrawny he’s just gonna get knocked off the ball?
I haven’t forgotten at all as I was at OT for both the spurs 3-0 and the arsenal 8-2 but their partnership didn’t even last 6/7 games, yes it looked good but if you’re suggesting we can base our future on that then I think you’re being a bit naive
Oh I’m not mate. Well actually, I think Cleverly is definitely part of Utd’s future. Genuine talent there. Ando… if he doesn’t do something amazing this season he’s defo gone.
If Fletcher does come back well though, I think Cleverly and Fletch in the middle is a pretty good fit.
I still think we need a proven, solid CMF tho but I’m not alone in that :o)
When we’ve got everyone fit, including a proper Rooney… we’ll play a totally different type of football to City… whether it works or not, we’ll have to wait and see.
But it is quite possible that we’ll play something very special… we won’t be able to go toe to toe with Citys midfield… but we might just run rings around them.
I still would have liked a midfielder capable of standing up to Toure though, just because, whatever formation we play, whatever style of football… if a situation absolutely calls for a midfield titan… we don’t have one.
Cause he paid a small fortune for the fat little twat, and he has to either try to find the player in him, that we paid for… or prove that he’s at least worth more than a fiver and try and flog him.
What he’s still trying after 5 years? He’s given up on plenty before then.
They both played well but neither did any defending, hence we were conceding so many shots. Need Carrick in there for his defensive ability and his experience.
As for wanting an enforcer/ball-winner, do people want to replace Carrick at CM or play two defensive players? Surely it’s better to have one of the CMs able to join the attack, considering we should be dominating possession against most teams. Replacing Carrick would be very difficult as there are not many who combine his ball winning/using ability – Busquets and De Rossi are two , but I can’t think of many more at that level.
Cleverley and Anderson could be awesome but neither has given us any reason to believe that they can be relied upon with form/fitness. It just seems immensely stupid for a team chasing titles to go into the season with only one CM you can rely on. How long were Arsenal fans saying that if their whole team was fit they would win titles? Some players are just injury prone and it’s madness to build your team around them.
Alfonso Bedoya @ 3:02: “When we’ve got everyone fit, including a proper Rooney… we’ll play a totally different type of football to City… whether it works or not, we’ll have to wait and see.”
You’re right – we will have to wait and see until about mid-October BUT it’s a very long season and what matters most is that TheLads don’t lose touch with the leaders before Xmas and then they can kick it into high gear in the new year.
marion @ 5:03: “Replacing Carrick would be very difficult as there are not many who combine his ball winning/using ability – Busquets and De Rossi are two , but I can’t think of many more at that level.”
Xabi Alonso and Schweini as well as Great Big Huge YaYa; Alex Song looked like he was getting better last year (he provided some really terrific passes to RVP and has always been on the clumsy side of nasty). Someone else mentioned Arturo Vidal and the Turkish kid at Dortmund – Godogan (?) – is both young and very promising. BUT, overall, you’re right; Carrick’s kind of player is hard to find and Carrick himself has been essential to UTD’s success since his arrival in 2005 – he has the trophies/medals to prove it, too.
More than anything, United need a central midfielder of a different type to that which we already have, which is 1 x Runaboutynotsurewhatyoudo (Ando), 2 x Sadly Crocked (Fletch, Cleverley), 1 x Midfield Organiser (Carrick), 2 x Old Lads (Giggs, Scholes).
I would have seriously gone for Dembele or Fellaini. Both offer a flexible, energetic and physical game without too much compromise on their comfort on the ball. It baffles me why we’ve let Dembele wander across London for a paltry fee. It truly is bonkers.
Bayern apparently have paid very big money for Martinez. They’ve got a hell of a midfield now. Imagine choosing between Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Kroos, Robben, Ribery, and Shaqiri. Even if Robben is a bit overrated IMHO, by any measure that’s a star-studded midfield, and they’ve got a really nice mix of playing styles.
bman: “Robben is a bit overrated IMHO”
He’s their version of Nani – “frustrating” but anyone who was a Bayern fan-boy would have cum in their pants when he hit that rocket @ OT to knock TheLads out of the CL final three years ago.
Didn’t Carrick play more of an attacking role at Spurs when Davids was next to him. Still think we need a proper no nonsense mf with bollocks.
Tiote or a player in the similar mold
Not to be worried to be honest. We seem to be playing a possession based game at the moment which with the midfielders we do have, don’t seem to have much problems keeping the ball. With the addition of Kagawa we seem to have some bite and cutting edge in terms of penetrating in the attacking third, something we lacked last couple seasons, he can definitely pick a pass and his vision seems to be excellent as well as being quick on his feet and in his thinking. We’re stocked for strikers as well (good ones at that). Main concern really is our defensive lapses which hopefully should be remedied once players become fit. Good to see Evans back. DeGea is a shot stopper isn’t he! just wish he could hold on to the ball more and be a bit more assertive on aerial threats. Just needs a stable back four in front of him to settle things down.
Just my view.
Go United!!