Manchester United Seasonal Blog 2018/19 - Ole Ole Ole Ole

[Zimmerman]

Its open season for the press (and agents)... but mostly the press. With no World Cup/euros to fill their pages.... it’s going to be a whirlwind of transfer #%^*+*^.

[Darbyand]

Gary Neville sometimes has his own agendas but I wouldn't disagree with a word of this:

https://www.football365.com/news/gary-n ... d-shambles

[blahblah]

Gary Neville sometimes has his own agendas but I wouldn't disagree with a word of this:

https://www.football365.com/news/gary-n ... d-shambles

I agree and think it was taken from: https://youtu.be/dEjdfNwYiEM

Is Carragher always that stupid?

[Magic]

https://www.skysports.com/app/transfer/ ... italian-fa

No move for Pogba

[Darbyand]

Difficult to imagine how they could enforce that ban. He could have a front man doing anything needed in public and get up to his nefarious dealings in private.

[Zimmerman]

Yep, I thought that.

ONLY stumbling block is how they handle the cash. Is there a way round who it gets paid to ie if I’m his front... my bank and tax man is going to want questions to be answered. Companies have to be registered in someone else’s name etc.

Regardless, can’t be that hard to handle for someone who’s career is avoiding money being detected/paid.

[Darbyand]

Luke Shaw was players and fans' player of the season tonight. He's done ok...7/10 season for him....so that's probably fair.

[Darbyand]

Heavily linked with Daniel James at Swansea. Anyone seen much of him?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... James.html

I like the idea of getting back to this kind of signing - it used to be a United trademark picking off the best young players - Robson, Pallister, Keane etc but for whatever reason they changed tack (Nani, Anderson, Bebe!) and the likes of Bale, Ramsey and Walcott started going elsewhere. If they'd signed those British three in the same era they'd have had a club legend, a goalscoring midfield option for the last decade and Theo Walcott.

[thebillfella]

Mike Phelan has been confirmed as Manchester United's assistant manager on a three-year deal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48226047

[Zimmerman]

Heavily linked with Daniel James at Swansea. Anyone seen much of him?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... James.html

I like the idea of getting back to this kind of signing - it used to be a United trademark picking off the best young players - Robson, Pallister, Keane etc but for whatever reason they changed tack (Nani, Anderson, Bebe!) and the likes of Bale, Ramsey and Walcott started going elsewhere. If they'd signed those British three in the same era they'd have had a club legend, a goalscoring midfield option for the last decade and Theo Walcott.

Robson and Pallister were 24/25 versus Anderson and Nani 20/21... is that what you meant?

Buying established players?

In terms of buying British... it’s all about the landscape at the time (and hindsight can blur the lines).

United were in their pomp at the time of Walcott moving to Arsenal. He was an expense/gamble they didn’t need. Ditto Ramsey and Bale. Bale was almost on his way out of Spurs (think they tried to scupper our deal for Downing by offering Bale instead) such was the esteem Bale was held in after a few years at spurs. United hadn’t needed that sort of player.

When you were in your pomp you could get away with supplementing the already successful squad.

I’m guessing the additons Anderson and Nani were attempts to emulate the Ronaldo success. Young and massive prospects (was Quiroz around, I assume so).

United have always recruited a mix of big name, big money, best prospects, ready made.

Whether that’s players like Smalling,
Jones, Zaha or Carrick, Berbatov and Ferdinand. The

It’s a slightly romantic view to think all players were unheard or moulded players.

[Darbyand]

It was definitely a young (ish) British players comment. Back in the day 24/25 was still considered young and players were supposed to hit a peak 27-30. There's still a legacy there in the YPOTY categories.

As with Keane, Pallister, Robson, Ferdinand they were all record transfer fees but they were young (ish) hungry players wanting to make the step up. You knew they had the talent and buying British takes away a lot of other doubts..all about whether they had the temperament.

[hancockjr]

You can tell Roy Keane he’s British.

[blahblah]

You can tell Roy Keane he’s British.

[forestfan]

They bought him from Forest, anyway... it was Cloughie who took him from Cobh Ramblers for a bag of footballs and a crate of Guinness

[murf]

Geographically British (Islesian)

(Although you can tell Keane and any other Irishman for me)

[Darbyand]

West British.

Herrera is first out of the door:
https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/11271 ... 38848?s=19

[Zimmerman]

Herrera is first out of the door:
https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/11271 ... 38848?s=19

From Titter:

Just to put this into context, we’re letting 29 year old Ander Herrera (who actually deserved a new contract) leave on a free in the same season we offered 33 year old Ashley Young a new contract at £110,000 a week and Phil Jones at £120,000 a week. Words fail me with this club.

[Darbyand]

No excuses for the Jones/Young debacle but on Herrera it seems like PSG are offering 3 or 4 years at £250,000+ a week which is ridiculous. Can't blame United for not matching that. They should, of course, have tied him up on something more reasonable ages ago.

[Zimmerman]

Yep, once it drops in to free transfer territory... and they realise what they could get, its a losing battle.

As you say, all the more reason for doing it well in advance.
Its catch 22 for clubs, they almost have to renew contracts every 2 years to avoid some sort of debacle.

[forestfan]

Yeah, it’s Arsenal-style contract management... similarly Chelsea could get stung on Hazard as he can go for nothing next summer, but if they cash in this year and can’t replace him they’re surely mid-table bound.

Herrera isn’t in the indispensible category but still not someone you would want to get nothing back for, and if they’re giving new deals to players higher up in the deadwood category then it is rather strange.

[thebillfella]

They offered him a deal as with the deadwood; it's just that PSG (or anyone else for that matter) weren't interested in offering any more for the others only Herrera. Have already mentioned the ineptitude of Woodward for allowing contracts to run down this far, but of course this is only one of many inept skills in Woodward's armoury.

Fortunately we have lots of cash because we're going to need it. In a strange sort of way, not making the champions league may actually force us to return to targeting young potential in the market rather than the established galactico approach which has failed miserably.

Pacey Swansea winger Daniel James sounds like he could be the first of this reinvigorated approach if rumours are true. Can't say I've seen or know too much about him tbh.

[Zimmerman]

Who are these galacticos that are indicative of a flawed transfer approach? Even if we are just talking about big money / older / complete players... I'm not sure it applies either.

Sanchez, Pogba and Di Maria our of your last 26 signings over 6 seasons (since Ed has been in charge)? Darby alluded to it above too.
There’s a narrative about how united operate/recruit that doesn’t seem to fit the reality. But its the same profile United have always operated within (in my opinion).

Just because Rooney (19), Ferdinand (24), Vidic (25), Carrick (25), Berbatov (27) or van der Sar (35) worked out... doesn't mean that the more recent failed signings are not meeting the United template (aside from falling below the United standard).


18/19
Dalot £2m (19)
Fred £47m (25)
Grant £1.5m (35)

17/18
Lindeloff £31m (23)
Lukaku £75m (24)
Matic £40m (28)
Sanchez free (29)

16/17
Bailly £30m (23)
Ibrahimovic free (35)
Mkhitaryan £30m (28)
Pogba £89m (23)

15/16
Depay £25m (22)
Darmian £12.7m (26)
Schneiderlain £24m (26)
Schweinsteiger free (31)
Romero free (29)
Martial £53m (20)

14/15
Herrera £29m (25)
Shaw £27m (19)
Rojo £16m (24)
di Maria £60m (26)
Blind £14m (24)

13/14
Varela £2.4m (20)
Fellaini £27.5m (25)
Mata £37m (25)
Janko £0.7m (17)

[hancockjr]

Often hear Sanchez stated as a free transfer, but he was actually a swap for Mkhitarayan

[Darbyand]

Remember that in addition to the signings above, Woodward has been on a wild goose chase for Ramos, Bale (several times) Ronaldo (annual) plus others I've probably forgotten (Fabregas 2013?).

It's obviously far from an exact science but generally I'd like to see younger, hungry players looking to make a step up. Buying off the peg i.e. Sanchez and Matic in recent times often means you've got an ageing player with little left in the tank a couple of seasons later....a couple of weeks later with Sanchez.

[Zimmerman]

How much of that is paper talk though?

10/26 are 24 or younger.
8/26 are 23 or younger.

The previous 20 odd years has shown plenty of signings between the 25-28 bracket. There isn’t really a shift away from anything.

Sanchez has been a disaster.

But you could argue that Matic was necessary to get some much needed experience in to your team (you never win anything with kids).

Bailey, Lindelof, Shaw, Rashford, Martial, Blind, Pogba, Lingard, Lukaku... that’d be a pretty young team. Matic was a decent player and experienced; seemed like a good complement to the rest of the squad. Bearing in mind Herrera wasn’t actually that good... it’s only in the last season that his status has become elevated (mainly cos he actually looks like he’s trying).

[Zimmerman]

126 transfers over the 30 years prior to Ed

Pre Ed on the left

Code: Select all

11%	30+	12%
14%	27-29	15%
15%	25/26	27%
22%	23/24	23%
18%	20-22	12%
20%	<20	12%

This doesn't factor in the pressures of the modern game and the cut throat need for instant success, nor the fact United have needed rebuilding since Fergie went - so there is less chance/time to take risks on sub 22 starlets (although they have tried, Martial, Shaw, Depay)


Fergies first 6 years (31 signings) versus Eds 6 years (26 signings). Arguably he needed to rebuild?

Code: Select all

Fergie 6	Ed
14%	30+	12%
18%	27-29	15%
21%	25/26	27%
18%	23/24	23%
14%	20-22	12%
14%	<20	12%

[Zimmerman]

those first six years of Fergie:

Code: Select all

Les Sealey	35
Les Sealey	32
Viv Anderson	30
Mal Donaghy	30
Jim Leighton	29
Ralph Milne	27
Jesper Olsen	27
Paul Parker	27
Schmeichel	27
Steve Bruce	26
Mike Phelan	26
Eric Cantona	26
Mark Hughes	25
Neil Webb	25
Danny Wallace	25
Gary Pallister	24
Denis Irwin	24
Brian McClair	23
Graeme Hogg	23
Dion Dublin	23
Andy Rammell	22
Kanchelskis	22
Paul Ince	21
Brian Carey	21
Neil Whitworth	18
Pat McGibbon	18
Lee Sharpe	17
Mark Bosnich	17

[forestfan]

So, 32 points off the title, 32 points off relegation. I guess the two are equally likely next season then...

But Liverpool didn’t win the title, so United fans can break out the champagne.

[Bob Newhart]

Liverpool didn’t win the title, so United fans can break out the champagne

That is certainly satisfying

[forestfan]

Liverpool didn’t win the title, so United fans can break out the champagne

That is certainly satisfying

It’s come to something when City winning the domestic treble is “satisfying” for United fans. Still, you’ll be looking over your shoulders at Salford City before long