Summer Transfer Window Thread 15/16

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:18 pm

First topic message reminder :

Haha I dont worry, if hes any good he'll be gone in a season and if hes not he'll throw a strop when you're 16th and Steve has lost the plot.

by GSC Mon Aug 03, 2015 8:59 pm

PSG are light years ahead of United in terms of Champions League potential for all those sticking their noses up at Ligue 1

by Fernando Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:05 pm

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Last season was a failure, coming fourth isn't good enough, if I was an Arsenal fan i'd be delighted with that.

Out of interest would 2nd place be a success to you Whistle

by kingraf Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:02 pm

Did I read right? Not that big a difference between UTD and PSG? PSG isn't RealMa/Bayern/Barça, but there's plenty daylight between the two clubs.

by Hammersmith harrier Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:05 pm

Real Madrid are no longer at the level of Bayern Munich or Barcelona, takes a bit more than one league title and one European cup in the past 7 years to be bracketed in with them.

by kingraf Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:08 pm

Think Five years of Semi finals on the bounce does it. That's one (maybe two?) less than Utd managed in 27 years under Fergie.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:10 pm

Real are definitely in the top three.

Man United fans; when the going gets tough, just shout about winning stuff cos then only your own opinion matters.

Personally think Di Maria goes down as a failure of LVG's management. And that United's defence is still as it is as a Champions League side and a team with aspirations of winning the league is an utter shambles.

by Hammersmith harrier Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:11 pm

Do you get prizes for being slightly better losers than other teams nowadays, if you're not winning having a famous name doesn't put you anywhere near the level of Europes' two most dominant teams.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:27 pm

The irony of that being how Di Maria is being slated for going to PSG, whilst there are call backs to something the team was, that it isn't any more.

by Hammersmith harrier Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:43 pm

How is that in any way ironic, Di Maria has decided to take an easy career path because he couldn't hack it in the premier league whereas those slating United are quick to put Real Madrid on a pedestal because of their past, their present isn't that impressive.

by kingraf Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:59 pm

To be honest, I'm not bothered. Semi finals of the Champs League is as honest as you can hope for. Need a bit of luck to squeeze past that. To be one of the top four teams in Europe for the last six years has nothing to do with "having a famous name". It's on the pitch. In the last seven years, Utd have what, three or four league titles and a CL. That stands up well with Bayern. Three guesses for why they aren't regarded the same? For me, if three teams consistently make it to the business end of a competition, year in, year out. Then they are the three best teams.

I've said it before, but I'm not hung up on winning. It's great of course. But to be consistently up there, fighting four top honours is what I'd like RealMa to be doing. One La Liga over the last seven years is admittedly a poor return, but the reality is from 2008-2012 we have to accept that we were up against possibly the greatest side ever. Long as we play well, challenge, and anybody but Barça win - that's alright.

Anyway, the Ramos matter is really dragging. Worries a bit. At this stage, I'm becoming inclined to sell him. The guy's dragging near 30. He partners a guy who's long dragged past 30. Plus he wants €200k a week. Love the guy, but there's no justification, on the pitch or merchandise wise for that. Only thing is he's got Perez by the curlies because he knows RealMa without at least the one Spanish starter is career suicide for El Présidente. Swop him for de Gea. Start Illara for Modric (who should also be sold, sad as it is). We still have Carvajal, who's a regular. I'd say bench Bale for Isco, so we can play a flat 4-4-2, but that won't happen.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:32 am

Madrid's isn't past. It's pretty much their constant placing as a favourite and constantly fighting for all top honours.

Di Maria hasn't gone for an easy ride. His boss couldn't get it out of him after a blistering, natural start. LVG failed to manage a world class talent

by Hammersmith harrier Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:36 am

Two good games is a blistering start is it.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue Aug 04, 2015 2:34 am

The revisionist history. He still ended up with a decent goals haul and assists. And he was the only decent player for a spell in which you were awful, and the only standout players aside from keeper were Fellaini being effective as a battering ram and Young performing well for his standards.

It's just hilarious to see Twitter full of "he's got no bottle."

by GSC Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:29 am

Especially considering a decent part of it being his house being broken into midseason

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:48 am

First two months of the season he was the best player in the league tbf

Shame to see such a talent leave our shores

by President Trump Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:08 am

Chelsea have told Spurs to name their price for Danny Rose apparently and have offered 15m Shocked

by MIG Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:48 am

Chelsea should have just kept hold of Bertrand.

by Fernando Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:25 am

Rafael joins Lyon for 2m

by MIG Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:29 am

I know Rafael is near his contract end and he's injury prone but why does every United player always leave for such small fees?

by GSC Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:30 am

Wonder if Schweinsteiger might see his minutes limited this season. Wonder if he'll hold up in the PL otherwise

by MIG Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:33 am

GSC wrote:Wonder if Schweinsteiger might see his minutes limited this season. Wonder if he'll hold up in the PL otherwise

Midfield three consisting of Schneiderlin, Herrera and then rotate Carrick and Schweinsteiger?

by Fernando Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:36 am

Needs more Fellaini Wink

by GSC Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:39 am

Probably smarter I think. Hes probably not going to start every week and stay healthy/effective these days.

by Fernando Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:40 am

Dominic Solanke to join Vitesse on loan.
Chuba Akpom joins Hull on loan.

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:27 am

I can't see Schweinsteiger being much of difference maker for United, predicting the higher tempo will showcase his decline right from the get-go.

Chelsea are not signing or even contemplating making a move for Rose, they're already in the process of bringing in Baba Rahman

by jbeadlesbigrighthand Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:42 am

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Di Maria has decided to take an easy career path because he couldn't hack it in the premier league.

Are you his psychologist? If not, then you don't have any idea as to his motivations.
- Perhaps he felt the premier league was too tough.
- Perhaps PSG offered him more money.
- Perhaps he thought PSG offered him a better change of winning the Champions League.
- Perhaps his family haven't settled in Manchester.

There's evidence to support any of the last three of those options, none to support the first. Yet you go with the first. Why? Because, like all football fans, you're bitter about a good player leaving you for another major team. There's no objectivity in your post, just blind tribal bias.

by GSC Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:50 am

His family haven't settled in Manchester, his house got broken into so they have been living in an apartment since

by lfc91 Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:54 am

Stop being ridiculous with your objective views you two!! Clearly he wasn't good enough to cut it at United, end of story....

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:09 pm

Personally, I think it's ridiculous to state that a player of Angel Di Maria's proven quality, that he couldn't hack it in the Premier League. Do you honestly believe that? Jon Walters can score hat-tricks in this league & tear defences to shreds quite often, he can hack it & he's bang average, so to suggest Di Maria couldn't, is ridiculous, seeing as we have evidence of how good he was in the opening stages of last season.

In my opinion, his failure was a mixture of factors, including injury setbacks, the burglary, being poorly managed by LVG & played out of position. Still not sure how LVG escapes the wrath of United fans, when in reality, he's been distinctly average in his performance, ranging from the tactical side of the game last season, to now being one week away from the PL season opener & still having a squad, that looks woefully short of numbers in key positions, when he's had ample opportunity & time.

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:18 pm

Agree, he easily had the quality to succeed, this wasn't about bailing or not being able to cut it, this was about moving away from where a traumatic experience occurred & being happy off the pitch. He clearly didn't work well with LVG & was unhappy on the field, so this decision is hardly surprising, given those reasons.

As for LVG, do think he deserves criticism, but United fans will always give him the benefit of the doubt. I wonder if they will continue to do so, with another trophy-less season, I somewhat doubt it. Even if they bring in Pedro, it still doesn't fix any of the real problems or requirements of a natural goalscorer, a strong centre back & possibly a keeper.

by Scott is Back Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:20 pm

John wrote:Personally, I think it's ridiculous to state that a player of Angel Di Maria's proven quality, that he couldn't hack it in the Premier League. Do you honestly believe that? Jon Walters can score hat-tricks in this league & tear defences to shreds quite often, he can hack it & he's bang average, so to suggest Di Maria couldn't, is ridiculous, seeing as we have evidence of how good he was in the opening stages of last season.

In my opinion, his failure was a mixture of factors, including injury setbacks, the burglary, being poorly managed by LVG & played out of position. Still not sure how LVG escapes the wrath of United fans, when in reality, he's been distinctly average in his performance, ranging from the tactical side of the game last season, to now being one week away from the PL season opener & still having a squad, that looks woefully short of numbers in key positions, when he's had ample opportunity & time.

As a Utd fan, I couldn't agree with this more!

Schneiderlin & Depay are great signings, but don't particularly strengthen the squad based on last year. Midfield wasn't a problem last year.

How we are only days away from the 1st game, with only 1 decent striker, and a woeful defence is frustrating. LVG transfer policy is baffling at best!

by spencerclarke Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:31 pm

Agree with the comments above.

Still don't know why as a club you would appoint someone that was involved in a world cup. But even so he has now had plenty of time, how can we still have such a disjointed squad? I hope I'm proved wrong but I can see a lot of players playing out of position again to fill in.

All the best to Di Maria. It didn't work out but I would have loved for him to have had a second season. I think most of the negative comments coming to him are more to do with him going AWOL rather than his actual leaving.

by MIG Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:32 pm

At least United have 4 centre backs, albeit none of them are top notch. Everton are about to go into the season with just 2!

by lfc91 Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:35 pm

Decent enough question overall then, is: With only a few days left before the first round of games, how many fans are happy with there first team/squad as it stands?

From a Liverpool perspective I think our squad is almost where BR wants it to be for this season.(Apart from being rid of Ballo/Borini). Personally I would have like to have seen Toure let go and Lovren shipped out (would happily cut our loses there) and a new CB brought in. However judging by pre season it looks like Lovren will be first choice this year.(At least for a few games anyway).

by Scott is Back Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:40 pm

My issue with ADM is the cloud he has left under. Going AWOL is not acceptable, and fining him £360,000 is a drop in the ocean!

Im happy for him to go, as it looks like his position is untenable, and I genuinely blame LVG for a lot of the issues.

by MIG Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:40 pm

I'm not happy at all so far. We've brough in Tom Cleverley who does nothing to strengthen the first team imo as we already have a number of capable CM's. We've also brought in Deulefeu who looked kind of promising a couple of years back but he could easily turn out to be another one of those players who is quick and skilful but has no end product.
So thats all we've added after a pretty dissapointing campaign last time round. We are kind of relying on Lukaku and Barkley to get there fingers out and hit some form this season and also hoping that the likes of Stones and Mirallas don't leave.
After Distin and Alcaraz being let go we only have Jagielka and a very sought after Stones as recognisable CB's. And Lukaku's only back up/competition is Kone.
To sum up, I am not exactly hopeful for the season ahead. In Martinez I do not trust!

by Scott is Back Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:44 pm

Im happy with Utd's signings on the whole, just not happy with where the money has been spent.

I would have been more happy with a CB over Schweinsteiger, and we obviously we still need a CB & Striker.

Still a while to go yet, Pedro will go a long way to replacing ADM, but its just slotting in to an over crowded midfield.

Im sure a lot will change before 31st Aug, but im disappointed its not sorted ready for saturday

by lfc91 Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:54 pm

Suppose it could all depend on your teams early run of fixtures aswell. Those with an easier opening may not need there squad completely finalised as early as others. With us starting at Stoke away (ah the memories....) and if i recall correctly having Arsenal/United in our first 5 games, we would need our team to be ready to hit the ground running from the very start...

by Scott is Back Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:56 pm

Well considering we are likely to lose De Gea, have no decent CB & only Rooney as a recognised Striker, I cant see our start to the season going well!

by lfc91 Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:01 pm

I can only hope your season starts as poorly as you think it will Scott!!

by jbeadlesbigrighthand Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:06 pm

MIG wrote:We are kind of relying on Lukaku and Barkley to get there fingers out and hit some form this season and also hoping that the likes of Stones and Mirallas don't leave.

I'd think Stones is pretty likely to leave. I have to say that I agree with Rio Ferdinand, though, that he should go to Man United. I think it would be better for his progression, and I think United are more in need of him. I also think it could be better for Everton. They might be able to get someone like Evans or Smalling as part of the deal, and then could improve their depth with another CB on top.

Unfortunately, I don't think Everton have the financial power to be anything other than a feeder club at the moment. I'd imagine Stones will definitely go this season, and Barkley and Lukaku will follow in the next couple.

by westisbest Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:20 pm

I haven't heard of the majority of players we have signed.

But at least we have spent after losing Benteke and Delph.

Heard good things about Veretout, so looking forward to seeing how he does.

Amavi has done well in pre season.
Time will tell if Gestede can step up.

Looking forward to the season.

Still waiting to see if Adebayor signs.

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 2:23 pm

United transfer window

pros

Darmian has looked good in pre season so hopefully that will go on from there, Schneiderlin is a cracking signing and I think Depay, although quite raw at the minute, could hopefully take to the league like a duck to water

cons

cloud remains over De Gea's future
we are days away from the new season needing a centre back and striker
we've let some players go (well RVP) who we should have replaced before even considering getting rid of
Di Maria in general
Still think Woodward is out of his depth, yeah he's landed players, but making statements like 'we can do things in the transfer market that nobody else can' but then constantly failing doesn't do him in any favours (his tweo big pieces of business, Schweinsteiger and Di Maria, their clubs were quite willing to part with each) We're such an arrogant club it actually winds me up, because income aside, we don't actually have a great deal to be arrogant about anymore.

by Azzy Tue Aug 04, 2015 3:45 pm

MIG wrote:At least United have 4 centre backs, albeit none of them are top notch. Everton are about to go into the season with just 2!

I'd rather have two CBs than the shower of sh1te Albion have at the back. I'd sell Everton James Chester for £4m, take a £4m loss to get rid. Pathetic.

by kingraf Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:05 pm

Toni Kroos to Liverpool for £35 million?

Say it with me
LMFAO

by **hampo17** Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:08 pm

Where have you seen that raf?

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 4:09 pm

http://www.empireofthekop.com/2015/08/04/explaining-how-the-express-the-metro-invented-the-toni-kroos-to-liverpool-transfer-lie/

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:01 pm

Dzeko to Roma (£14m)

by Guest Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:55 pm

Dzeko deal suits both parties & at 29, is the right time for City to offload. Can hold his head high, in regards to his time at City, banged double figures in three straight years, given limited time behind Aguero. Serie A will suit him, given his lack of pace.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:08 pm

£14m is a steal.

West Ham's window? Started well, slowed down and its now at a point where if we stay in Europe (which looks unlikely as Bilic finds it a chore and is sending a weakened team Thursday) then we'll struggle in the league, and if not I still think we lack depth of quality. We go into the season with one fit striker, Joey O'Brien remains our right back cover, one creative player and either Nolan or 16 year old (yet fantastically talented) Reece Oxford possibly starting.

The rumour mill is probably to blame for the disappointment. It felt like Song, Halilovic, Hernandez would all be done. Now I only think one of those will happen, and Song will be injured for a month or so at least after he's signed anyway.

The striker we have all but signed is Raul Jimenez from Atletico, but we're struggling to get a work permit and his lack of impact in Spain is a worry.

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