These are celebratory times indeed. Not only has Manchester United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward closed a deal, some 12 days before the summer transfer window shuts, but in a position where the Reds are desperately short. United’s calamitous showing against Swansea City last weekend served only to highlight just how desperately the club requires new blood in defensive positions. So to the rescue comes Marcos Rojo, Argentina’s World Cup left-back, who will play on the left side of United’s back three this season after Woodward secured a £16 million transfer from Sporting.
Rojo’s signature takes Nani in the other direction, where United will pay the errant Portuguese winger around £5 million to play for the Lisbon-based side this season. Good deal all round, those of a more cynical bent might add. Meanwhile, the Argentinian will compete with Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Tyler Blackett for a place in Louis van Gaal’s side, while offering a useful option at left wing back.
Not that Rojo was anywhere near van Gaal’s first choice this summer, with United mooting deals for Thomas Vermaelen, Mats Hummels and Mehdi Benatia. The former transferred to Barcelona after Woodward spent an entire summer dallying on the deal with Arsenal, while the latter is still mulling over offers from around Europe. Hummels – always van Gaal’s first choice – is unlikely to leave Borussia Dortmund in the current window.
Strange, though, how the club has once again left execution of transfer planning to the very last moment, more than six months after former captain Nemanja Vidić announced his departure for Internazionale. In truth the club has known at least as long that Rio Ferdinand would not secure a new deal at Old Trafford. In aggregate, Rojo serves to highlight another omnishambles of a transfer strategy played out by Woodward and company this summer.
In between Vidić’s January announcement and the Premier League kick off last weekend David Moyes was sacked and van Gaal appointed, with seemingly little continuity in club strategy. True, the Dutchman signed off on more than £55 million worth of acquisitions in Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, although those deals, instigated by Moyes, remained the sum total of United’s market activity this summer until Rojo’s arrival was announced by United and Sporting on Tuesday.
Not that United’s acquisition of Herrera and Shaw should pass without scrutiny either, the club having paid a significant premium for each. Or, to paraphrase former United right-back Gary Neville, Chelsea secured seasoned internationals Cesc Fabregas and Luis Fillipe for around £18 million less than the United pair.
Elsewhere, the outlook is less positive for Woodward, who is said to be acutely aware of the growing reputation he has gained for being outmanoeuvred in the transfer market. Not least because the former JP Morgan executive has talked such a good game, asking fans to “watch this space” while United “moves in the market” far more aggressively than in previous seasons. Supporters have watched, and waited, with less reward than the club requires.
van Gaal certainly remains an experienced defender short. After all, Rojo has played just three seasons in Europe and must quickly adapt to the rough and tumble of the Premier League. Moreover, the former Estudiantes defender is yet to complete more than 33 games in all competitions during any one campaign. It is likely to be a challenging first few months in England and a very steep learning curve.
Play he must though. After having lost four defenders in the summer – Ferdinand, Vidić, Alexander Büttner, and Patrice Evra – van Gaal has little choice but to risk his new man. Rant suspects few in United’s hierarchy will take responsibility for the abject failure in planning.
Meanwhile, in midfield the ease with which Swansea negotiated United’s triumvirate of Darren Fletcher, Juan Mata and Herrera last Saturday is a significant cause for concern. Mata was largely anonymous, first as United’s creative fulcrum in van Gaal’s 3-4-1-2 system, and then in a more conventional role behind Rooney in a Moyes-esque 4-4-1-1. Herrera was neat, but lacked real influence, while Fletcher, who excelled during the summer tour of the USA, was as rusty as one might expect a man to be after returning from two years out of the game.
United is seemingly no closer to sealing a deal for either Angel di Maria or Arturo Vidal. The former is available, although United’s is not the only game in town, with Paris Saint Germain attempting to construct a deal that circumvents Financial Fair Play regulations. The latter has long been considered by United’s hierarchy despite repeated denials behind the scenes.
The prevailing intelligence is that Woodward must land at least one superstar to bring United’s squad up to top four quality. On the evidence of Saturday’s performance the Reds are further short of Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the chase for Champions League places than feared. Failure to qualify for next season’s premier European competition is an option, but one that will cost United tens of millions in lost broadcast, matchday and sponsorship revenues.
More pertinent, however, is quite how the club finds itself in this position once again. After all, this was the summer of supposedly strong investment, with the club having deleveraged over the past four years, and more cash available to the new manager than at any time in recent history. This was the summer when all those regional sponsorship deals, Chevrolet’s millions, and broadcast rights combined to proffer United overwhelming financial muscle.
The £750 million kit manufacturing deal with adidas, announced in July, should have further embolden Woodward’s team. Not so it seems. In fact, not only has the scenario of hyper hyperinvestment failed to materialise, but the club enters the last days of a transfer window desperately chasing players in the most embarrassingly scattergun fashion. Whatever planning went into United’s summer strategy – for want of a better word – it has proven to be wholly inadequate.
The rub comes in May and not August, of course, although it takes not any foresight to predict some of the travails that van Gaal’s side faces in the coming months, no matter the Dutchman’s genius. His squad is light in central defence, central midfield and in wide areas, both of the attacking and defensive variety.
Meanwhile, the Glazer family announced last month it plans to sell another 12 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange, raising almost $200 million in revenue for Malcom Glazer’s six children. Nor will the sale precipitate a change in strategy, with the family retaining more than 80 per cent of the voting power having devised a dual class stock structure on IPO some two years ago.
Neither are the Glazers minded to remove Woodward from the equation – the man who has successfully executed on the Americans’ commercial vision. Woodward, to his core, remains a company man; a Glazer favourite.
It leaves United supporters little confidence that the new manager will hold a full complement of tools come 2 September. Boasting an unbalanced squad, short of world-class talent, and with his stars’ confidence seemingly absent, van Gaal faces one his greatest managerial challenges. Woodward the scorn of many.
an unfortunately, painfully accurate verdict. A long season ahead.
United need Vidal/Khedira more than they need a wide man. If Woody can manage that, then a trophy this season (maybe even THE trophy) is still possible.
“in midfield the ease with which Swansea negotiated United’s triumvirate of Darren Fletcher, Juan Mata and Herrera last Saturday is a significant cause for concern.”
I’m not sure I’m as optimistic as you are about “a trophy this season”, even with a significant upgrade to the defensive midfield. Khedira would be a fine addition – and, probably, only about half the cost of Vidal who seems to be an identikit midfielder but has had some nasty knee injuries recently (but so, too, has Khedira).
I think that first in the EPL is a dream-too-far unless TheLads do a complete 180-degree up-grade in their performances in these easy, early games. That was three points lost to Swansea – at home !
If this is going to be a year of serious reconstruction then my preference would be to add NastyNigel De Jong as a stop-gap because there’s an obvious gap that needs to be stopped-up, NOW. Pairing him with MC16 should provide some desperately-needed grit that DarrenFletcherinho can no longer provide. Sadly. He was my favourite player before his bout with ulcerative colitis essentially ruined his career. What he’s accomplished with such a serious, depleting illness is little-short of a miracle. But, unfortunately, what we see now is a pale shadow of his “football genius” and I have no expectation that we will see him improve much.
Pairing MC16/DeJong should also give LvG time to unearth “the next Keane-o” or “the next Vidal” rather than paying waaaaay over-the-odds for a guy coming off serious knee surgery. Are the rumours correct that this will be Strootman, sooner rather than later ? – if so, that also a cause for worry because he’s another guy coming off serious knee surgery.
I understand your concerns regarding Khedira and Vidal, but I don’t understand why you think a trophy is a bridge too far this season. With the significantly reduced workload as a result of no CL football (not just the # of games, but also the amount of travelling that’s avoided), United have an opportunity to play their strongest XI in every single PL game. And if we get a Vidal or a Khedira, even if that player only fires for one season like Hargreaves, I think that will give us enough to boast as good a starting XI as any team, even if the rest of the squad lags behind.
In Rooney and RvP we have a forward line capable of scoring against any opposition. Welbeck and Januzaj give us width in a 433, while Mata offers penetration.
If we can keep Rafael and Shaw fit for 30 odd games, the 343 can still work. But none of it works in the absence of a shield to protect the defense in midfield.
hate to be a pedant, but re capitalisation apparently it’s Louis van Gaal and Mr Van Gaal, if that make sense.
so lame..
I agree wud be great to get di maria but vidal and khedira defo won’t come seems like our interest in vidal has dropped rapidly we shud sign guarin he’s cheap and a box to box player he’s nt vidals calibre but he’s defo a player who is a plan b for us and I styl think we need another centre back so is like to see 1 midfielder and anoda centre back and if we can sign do maria great but defence and midfield styl needs strengthening
PLEASE tell me that English is a second language for you?!
Hahaha… thats funny motherfakaaaa…
Keyboard grammer warrior.
‘grammar’
@Abhay – THE trophy? What do you mean, we aren’t in the Champs League.
We need another CB, a DM, and a Wide Player. If it is a choice out of any, we desperately need the CM – it was laughable how easy Fletcher and Herrera were bypassed by an average Swansea midfield. No idea what City and Chelsea would do to us right now.
Still don’t believe in the 3-4-1-2 system personally, but got to give it some time now we’ve worked on it. We certainly need a more energetic CM if we are going to play that system, and I see absolutely no point signing Di Maria if we are to play with wing backs.
agreed – shudder to think what Chelski would do to us right now and the Special One would relish it no end.
I think we have to bite the bullet on how much we spend b/c there is no way we can get fair value right now.
Another centre back and one or two centre mid fielders are crucial.
Herrera and Carrick when he is back will come good. I would take one or two up and coming Dutch lads who would at least give 110% for LVG.
Then if we finish top 4 we can get better players for less money.
ha! I meant the league. Of the trophies available, that’s the biggest one, innit.
Agreed that the CM is the most important signing, especially for the 3412 to work. That, and keeping Shaw and Rafael fit.
Let us not beat up Woodward excessively. Van Gaal vetoed some of the deals as he said he wanted to give the current players a chance before he buys. And the has said there is plenty time left in the window. The manager of Chile said van Gaal was holding up the vidal deal as well. Van Gaal is his own man and I’m sure the club will bend over to get the players he wants and no one will come unless king Louis decrees it
Sorry mate, but this is incredibly naive. By all accounts (well-placed journos, well-placed fanzines), van Gaal is livid with Wooward, particularly as he was assured he’d have reinforcements before the first game of the season. Vermaelen, for one, was said to be a sure thing, but because of a startling lack of decisiveness from United’s hierarchy Barca were able to swoop in. Let’s not forget, van Gaal handed Woodward a list of targets nigh on 3 months ago, and he’s only just delivering (and as Ed rightly points out, Rojo was a distant 3rd or even 4th choice).
Going off a couple of reports (Miguel Delaney, Danny Taylor) United have not even got some bids for players off the ground, despite having been set very clear deadlines/prices. Delaney reports that a bid for 1 player didn’t even get started because United were quibbling over £2million – £2million! We’re meant to be able to pay world record fees and we’re dithering over what amounts to, in the context we’re meant to be operating, loose change.
All these reports are why people are concerned, because no matter how hard van Gaal pushes, if the hierarchy are messing about here and there over a couple of million, or they’re failing to meet deadlines (souring their relationship with selling clubs) then the prospect of them completing deals in the time we have left is remote at best. Van Gaal’s “it only takes 24 hours to sign a player” quote can surely be read as an insinuation that these deals SHOULD only take United a few hours, but because of the dallying and messing about, they’ve taken a lot longer. Buying players like Vidal, Di Maria etc. , as Ed and Paul said in the podcast, you have to bite the bullet and pay the asking price. You’re dealing with a massive clubs who won’t be bullied into accepting offers below their valuation, something which the Glazers and Woodward appear not to have understood.
We’ve spent +£40m on Left backs this summer
Shocking facked and wat do we have to show for it all these players we being rummerd with make me laugh . Do ppl really think manutd will pay £180 mil on players in two weeks of van gezzIey in charge big no no maybe blind and strootman in jan
We need a ball winner for CM. A player who can protect the back and also pitch in up top. Vidal or lars Bender are my top choices. Di Maria and co can wait.
think he’s another panic buy. Won’t make a difference to an already average team. Woodward needs to go
I think purchasing di Maria will inhibit januzaj’s development?
@RichardCann76 couldn’t agree more. Accurate description of the farce that shows no genuine signs of stopping
It’s either a case of gross incompetence on many levels or an organized campaign of lies aimed at camouflaging the owners’s unwillingness to seriously invest in the club. I am not a football expert and I will have to assume (as I did last year) that they know what they are doing on that level. However, I can assess the past year from a business point of you and what I see is one of the biggest cases of corporate mismanagement in recent years. I can just see the case study title in future business books. ” How to destroy a global brand and market leader in 365 days”.
Indeed – and the book will have a prelude by SAF and taught by the great man himself at Harvard.
what was that crap about ‘the club could not be in better shape’ or whatever when SAF did his victory lap?
how deluded can you get!?
agreed. 2 mmore needed and De Vrij or Blind would have been better options
imo we need another 4 (a CB, 2 CMs and someone pacey up top) if we can get the right players to leave then maybe one more. in reality with Ed we will be lucky to get one more in.
we were on the phone with Sporting surely he could of sorted out a deal for Carvalho and give them Ando to grease the wheels.
as you say its been another summer of waiting and will probably end in disappointment hoping to get someone like Song on loan as the window shuts.
balace de formation…….jones…blackett…rojo…………….. Rafael, fletcher, herrera, mata. Shaw r. Rooney. v.persie
You made it sound as if Vermaelen rejected us. He only chose Barca because United pulled out because of Arsenal’s insistence on a swap deal. In any case, i will prefer Rojo over him all day long. According to Fifa, Rojo is the best in his position as of today. Welcome to Machester son
According to Fifa Messi was the best player of the tournament and Qatar is fit to hold a world cup…
Well, Sunderland have put in a 12 million bid for Wellbeck and last week Hull put in 14 million for Wellbeck. Wellbeck today seems eager to go also, so with Hernandez and Wellbeck possibly on their way out could be the reason why a did has been placed for Marco Reus! As for defence, we are got to desperate because they have also put in a bid for 32 year old center defender Philippe Mexes. The bid is only 4 million so I guess Woodward will buy him because he comes cheap. Other than that, there is no other movement today in the transfer window.
A telling indictment of United’s slide from grace is that hardly any of our players have attracted any interest, serious or otherwise, from other clubs. The players who have left have either been past their best and have chosen to leave or were just fringe players.
None of our experienced, but not that old, first teamers e.g. Raphael, Cleverley, Jones, Smalling, Young, Valencia, Nani, Anderson plus Carrick and Fletcher .have attracted any interest.. Only Welbeck (from Hull) and Chicharito (various) have beed enquired about. Or so it appears. Maybe Fellaini has the odd suitor.
The rest of that list are about as sought after by other clubs as is United’s previous manager. Surely an example of deadwood is stuff (players) which no one else is interested in. In which case United has a pile of the stuff.
I think Ed Woodward is just an easy target for Ed and some of us. LVG must also share in the blame by rejecting most of the deals that were on the table when he came. It’s no secrete that had Moyes remained at United Toni Kroos, calvaliho, and even fabrigas will be United players by now. He knew United were short of CBs and admitted the inbalance in the team yet he did nothing. Just because he was winning the pre season games he felt he could gamble on the players. Now the chicken has come home to roost. Like i said before, i hope he wouldn’t allow over confidence to ruin the season for him and for us all.
I think the bigger problem is how a club/corporation/brand the size of Utd has been allowed to decline so precipitously as a result of the departure of its long serving CEO (ie. SAF). To have no business plan that endures and supersedes such a predictable and much anticipated event is frankly hard to fathom. There was blind faith in SAF despite the fact that the maintenance and development of the club’s footballing assets had – for all to see – been neglected for the last couple of seasons. With that background, what followed, particularly given Gill’s simultaneous departure, is sadly not terribly surprising.
While I actually agree with just about everything the author wrote, there were a few things he omitted.
Firstly, Woodward’s big mouth and boastfulness must have given LVG nightmares, particularly when the American mouthed off about the club being happy to break the world record to bring talent in – wonder how much that’s helped in negotiations ever since!
Secondly, why is the team supposedly chasing Di Maria with such a record-breaking bid, when to all intents and purposes he doesn’t fit LVG’s proposed 3-5-2 system? Di Maria is an out and out winger who rarely contributes effectively in defense, so he hardly fits the mold at all of the wing-back LVG apparently craves for his system. While any decent addition is to be applauded, what the team desperately need above all else is a world class midfielder, so one can only hope-beg-prey that if the club is going to outlay that kind of cash, spend it where it’s really needed, not on some knee-jerk purchase to keep the hounds at bay. Di Maria does not make sense.
Thirdly, the worst mistake LVG has made so far, and one which will doom the club for the rest of the season, is the appointment of Rooney as team captain. This moves essentially underscores the fact that the Dutchman views Rooney as an integral member of the first team. That is a nightmare scenario to contemplate, especially once RVP comes back from injury. The Dutchman is an infinity more skilled striker than his English team mate, and excelled in his first year at the club at a time when Fergie had finally come to terms with Rooney’s severe limitations and the negative impact his presence has on the team as a whole. Great players make those around them better. Rooney sucks the marrow from all those around him – one of the fundamental reasons why his strike partners invariably end up looking anonymous. Under Fergie RVP was absolutely brilliant. Last season, when Moyes slipped back into the cataclysmic notion of trying to pair Rooney with RVP (or anyone!) the Dutchman’s form suffered enormously.
Fourth. United need to come to terms with the fact that Jones is never going to make it as a central defender. The young man has many fine qualities, but what he can’t overcome is his lack of inches, and that can prove to be a real headache in the modern game, particularly in an era when the game’s best central defenders are typically well over – 6’3″ – 6’4″. Some of Jones’ best games for United have been as a defensive midfielder, and I think he has the potential to be a real class act in the position of he puts his mind to it.
A final point. Rojo will hopefully prove to be a decent acquisition, but we really do need one more quality defender at least, someone of real character to martial the defense and stamp some authority on it.
Lol, here come the lets all blame Rooney comments, he’s the only decent choice of captain as RVP will invariably get injured, plus Rooney leaves everything on the field, he’s going to break Uniteds all time scoring record and he’ll play anywhere and do anything to help the team. You are talking absolute nonsense.
By the way, you know all those goals RVP got in season 1? In what was a poor season for Rooney, check how many of RVP’s goals he was involved in.
Blame SAF for leaving a shite squad and for finally getting his vindictive way and his own back on Rooney for prior slights, and also for toeing the party line and leaving us with owners who know think its fine to underinvest if you can get a top manager who can do a job with an inferior squad to its main rivals.
” The young man has many fine qualities, but what he can’t overcome is his lack of inches”
This is a non-starter of an argument – the best central defender in the last decade (Fabio Cannavaro) was not quite a six-footer. Moreover, not many goals are scored nowadays by slinging-it-wide-to-a-touchline-hugging-winger who then sends-a-laser-to-the-bonce-of-the-big-fellow.
On the other hand, I think that MrJones would work well as the right-sided wing-back in LvG’s 3-5-2. It’s a position that requires speed and endurance which are qualities that MrJones possesses. It’s not clear that he has the requisite discipline/positional-sense to be a central defender in that system – or, indeed, in a two-man central defence of the Rio/Vidic kind or even as the central “shielding” midfielder.
It’s not important that the three centrebacks are 6′ 3″ or thereabouts. It’s about having a player or players who are good in the air. It’s not just about height but also skill, athleticism and timing (and bravery).
One of the best headers of a ball, albeit as an attacker, was Denis Law and he was 5′ 9″. Denis could outjump and therefore outhead, any 6′ 3″ centre-half because he was better at it.
Man Utd signings which cannot even guarantee a top 4 finish
Ander Herrera (£29m)
Luke Shaw (£27m)
Juan Mata (£37m)-panic buy
Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m)-panic buy
Wilfried Zaha (£15m)
Rojo (£15m)-panic buy
Total: £150.5m
If the club had better & wiser negotiators we could have made the below signings
Kevin Strootman (£20m)-before he went to roma
Toni Kroos (£25m)-this summer
Cesc Fabregas (£30m)-this summer
Filipe Luis (£20m)-this summer
Di maria £40m)-this summer
Total: £135m
The above signings can spearhead the challenge for the league & champions league all-together. we should have kept vidic to play with jones at centre back.
But being Man united we we have a reputation for dithering in transfers . Even in sir alex era it was the the same but the man was a genius bcoz i don’t think there’s any manager that can win the EPL with valancia & ashley young as your wingers & michael carrick as your MAIN central midfielder . Am knocking down our players but this is a fact.
Another fact is from our current squad apart from RVP, no other player from man united can make it to the first team of Madrid,Barcelona,Bayern,Juventus, Roma, Chelsea,City, Arsenal, BVB & Atletico. To make it embarrassing man united has been the biggest club in the world for almost decades together with madrid
I correct myself . De gea can make into the xi of Roma, Arsenal & arguably man city as well.
Rooney can start at arsenal,juventus & roma, only
Excellent post. Sums it up!
I wouldn’t say Rojo is a panic buy. Agree about Strootman and you could add Thiago Alcantara to that list. I don’t think we could have got Kroos or Fabrigas this summer with no CL. By all accounts Di Maria would prefer PSG.
On a wider not people seem to think we need 5 world class players to reach the top 4. That means beating Liverpool, Spurs and Everton. I don’t see them having 5 world class players. There is no reason why the current squad cannot reach the top 4. We used to do it with players like Ronnie Johnsen, Silvestre, Alan Smith etc.
Moyes was sacked for F*cking up for eight months, Woodward has totally f*cked the club over for two summer shambles, he has to go and let the club revert to the manager organising the playing staff.
We will do well to maintain 7th place at this rate then it will be the long decline for years to come !!
Either Woodward is a low balling bid cheapskate by nature or he is following orders from above. I think the latter. The Glazers are cheap cheap cheap. See what they do at the Bucs, same thing. They simply do not grasp. Thanks to years of underinvestment the whole infrastructure of the club is now rotten. Patches over rotten wood wont work. United are miles behind Chelsea and City and the gap is growing. Now, Liverpool and Arsenal are pushing further ahead.
According to Guardian today, Glazers want to stay for at least another 5 years. Protests outside the ground are useless, boycott OT, merchandise and all sponsors the only long term chance to remove those parasites. Short term pain for long term gain. Otherwise, the club will sink further and further into the mire.
Great read Ed. Your namesake isn’t exactly endearing himself to the masses. I still have hope we could get in a couple more. 🙁
simply, I doubt if there’s any money to spend.
You mean any MORE money. Utd has already spent about 70M which is more than any previous window.
rojo might not be top of the list, but if he good enough for the World Cup best XI then he is good enough for our current side
I agree with this and he does seem to be genuinely happy to have joined.
this signing papers over absolutely nothing
Whats concerning now is that there are only 12 says left in the transfer window and no other formal deals have been made for any other players. Just a lot of rumours about Phillipe Mexes, Douglas Costa, Di Maria, Cuadrado and today we see Ron Vlaar and Fredy Guarin added to the list. I don’t know why we are going to let Chelsea snatch up Benatia. I thought Benatia was a done deal. Rojo could be our final signing for the summer.
“today we see Ron Vlaar and Fredy Guarin added to the list.”
Glad to see ConcreteRon being mentioned – he’s on “my list” along with NastyNigelDeJong.
No serious opinion about Guarin – he wasn’t exactly impressive at the WC and, apart from that, I’ve never seen the guy play. I suppose that a swap-deal Chicharito = Guarin would make some sense although it would deeply sadden me to see TheMexicutioner leave.
The Mexicutioner is your greatest nickname ever. Hats off!
That should be 12 days left in the transfer window. I do believe that if by some miracle we do get di Maria, van Gaal will play his 4-4-2 or 4-4-3 system. It depends on what or if we get any other players. As I see it now, this team is good away from home. Our away record will be better than our home record, as proven when we won six games away in the USA. We played terrible at home to Valencia and worst at home to Swansea. These young players are nervous playing at home in front of their own fans. More comfortable playing away. We will beat Sunderland and Burnley away.
I hope we play 4-4-3, we might have a chance of winning a game.
De Gea at centre back?
What gets me pissed, there are so many centre-backs that we can buy. We need more quality scouts. Today Swansea signed Argentian World Cup centre-back 25 year old Federico Fernandez for just 8 million. Why did we not go in for this player? Argentina are ranked no.2 in the world. I am sure Fernandez would have jumped for joy if this offer was coming from Man Utd. Now it looks like Guarin or Lucas Silva from Brazil. These are two attacking midfielders, Silva is 21 and plays in the Brazilian league. We are in a battle with Man City for this player as they are looking for an alternative to Vidal.
@geoff – Well said.
I’ll add that I think that United’s transfer dealings have been disappointing for years. Of the players on the books in recent times who were bought in, only the following have been top class and worth whatever their transfer fees were:
Ferdinand,
Vidic,
Evra,
De Gea,
Rooney
Van Persie
Because of Fergie’s insistence that there was no value in the market he shopped around and got us the following;
Young
Valencia
Carrick
Hargreaves
Smalling
Jones
Berbatov
Nani
Anderson
Bebe
Buttner
Hernandez
None of that second group are remotely resembling top class, except probably Berbatov on his day. A case could also be made for a fit Hargreaves.
Too many average players for the biggest club in the World.
Forgot Van der Dar – in the first group.
Fergie always had a policy of buying young cheap unknown players when he could. They are all expected to improve. Think Schmeichel, Sharpe, Kanchelskis, Irwin, Solskjaer, Ronaldo, Rafael, Chicharito. At the time Anderson and Nani looked like good buys following this model. Many fans raved about these transfers. Anderson in particular was supposed to be a budding Ronaldinho. Hargreaves was unfortunate. He would have been great if he’d had knees. Jones, Smalling, Zaha, Nick Powell, Henriquez all fit this model as well. Some develop some don’t. The problem these days is that Utd is competing with Chelsea and City who always spend big.
Personally I hate this City/Chelsea spending style on ready made players but it looks we have to now. People keep saying Woodward should get the cheque book out and buy Vidal for 50M. Do they realise that just 3 years ago when he was 24, Juventus bought him for €10M. Utd needs to get back to buying clever not buying big.
I agree.
There are quality players out there who have not reached the peak of their transfer value and won’t cost a fortune, as of now.
However, we do need smart people to identify this talent and be savvy enough as negotiators to get them to United.
Then we can leave City and Chelski to fight over and pay top wack for readymade players. At present United are paying over the odds for average to decent players.
Do we need a director of football type of person who works with the manager to identify and then negotiate to bring in the class of player needed? I think so.
Man united have never had the power of attracting & signing the top players in the world like ac milan,barc elona,Juventus,real madrid. United were known for getting the best british players plus with a few foreign additions .This protests from fans to sign top players like kroos, Fabregas, Di Maria,Vidal, hummels etc are fruitless.
The harsh truth is that many players from spain,brazil,portugal,argentina & italy have always harboured dreams of playing for Madrid,barcelona , Juventus & ac Milan.The above mentioned clubs had a international appeal from these players perspective while man united usually looks more like a British club than an international club to these players.
Those who grew up in the late 80’s 90’s & 00’s saw players like gullit,van basten,ronaldo,platini,maldini,laudrop, maradona,rivaldo,zidade,nedved, baggio,totti,etc who made many of kids outside Britain to fall in love with barcelona,Madrid,acmilan,juventus etc.
Its a tough verdict & i will get lots of stick from my comment but i may be right in what i am saying.
I knew it would be impossible for united to compete with the likes of Madrid & barcelonafor top talent but seeing the likes of chelsea,PSG & Man city beat us to signing players hurts the most
I get what you are saying but the neighbours attract whoever they like. Money talks and bullshit walks in this game and United seem to have been putting the latter out at a steady rate of knots for some time.
#disillusioned
It’s hard to take – being linked with players like Vlaar, Rojo etc. We should have a team… no – SQUAD full of the greatest players around. Sadly we have fallen a long way below the top tier of football. I haven’t really known what to think about the Glazers as I am A. ignorant of the facts and B. trying to be optimistic no matter what, but unless some real investment is made NOW, before the transfer window shuts, I will only left believing that it’s all over – for the next 5 years at least.
We need proper scouts. I agree we can find world-class players all over the world. Don’t have to chase the ones that we saw play in the world cup. Someone found this young player, Lucas Silva who plays in the Brazilian league and for 12 million, all the top European clubs are battling for this player. It just shows there are world-class players out there at reasonable prices. But our situation is critical because just 10 days left. Today, di Maria and Khedira put in transfer notice. What is Woodward going to do now?