Summer transfers

[Steveo]

We need another number 9 going g into the new season, there's no way I'd trust Isak to stay fit and with Ekitike being Injured there's no way we can endure watching Gakpo as out number 9

I am not sure I trust Isak to be good enough even if he remains fit, Looks like this club is too big for the lanky Swede. I have a mate - in sweden who warned me about this. I was cock a hoop when we signed him - as I was with Wirtz. Both look to be good players at middling clubs - without the balls or the belief for the top flight.


Let’s hope this season was mask… and they all end up proving our initial joy to be well founded

[Ravo19]

I am not sure I trust Isak to be good enough even if he remains fit, Looks like this club is too big for the lanky Swede. I have a mate - in sweden who warned me about this. I was cock a hoop when we signed him - as I was with Wirtz. Both look to be good players at middling clubs - without the balls or the belief for the top flight.


Let’s hope this season was mask… and they all end up proving our initial joy to be well founded

Get nunez back

[RedMagic]

There are rumours going around that Alisson will still be at the club next season. If he is staying, let's hope it's because he knows that Slot is going to be handed his P45 before the start of next season.

[justme]

I just can't see how you would give a manager huge funds and hes only got 9/10 months left. Its Tent peg all over again at Man-united
Either hes on his way out of the club and we have a new manager in sight, Or Slot is getting peanuts in the transfer market

[Insidious]

Yes, Diaz being sold was one thing but the issue was exasperated by not replacing him. Again, if the transfer team said use rio, but slot thought he was too young (which seems correct) then it's set up to fail.

Indeed, it was a really poor call not to do more follow-up, especially as we are rightly being careful with Rio so as not to run him into the ground at a young age. We can't have our back-up player be a youngster we're deliberately providing with limited minutes.

Also, I would argue with you regarding if gakpo can play up front and wide left. Based on this season, he can't play either position. I liked gakpo as a back up player. He came in, got some goals and assists. Last season himself and Diaz rotted well. But as the main man, he isn't anywhere near consistent enough. He is now on huge wages and we will never get rid. Sounds like United post fergie. Huge wages for average players.

I would expect Rio gets a lot more game time next season on the left. If not, he will be gone.

No need to argue regarding Gakpo as I am in pretty close alignment with you. When I say he can play up top and on the left I mean as cover, rotation and from the bench - he doesn't make my starting XI in "big" games if we have an appropriate amount of lads fit.

When possible, I really like rotation. In an ideal World in a League campaign you start your preferred players in key positions 25-30 times and some of your bench lads get 8-13 starts, with the rest of their minutes coming in the League Cup, FA Cup, certain European group games etc.

Gakpo for me should by-and-large be coming on in the 65th-70th minute to assist with protecting someone on the left or up top from burnout. That's what I would have him in the squad for. Unfortunately he has ended up on the wages of a first-teamer and that will likely cause some issues going forward.

If we didn't have the money to replace Diaz (or simply thought we didn't need to, which would be a poor call) I'd likely have kept Darwin for the same sort of role - some minutes up top, some from the left, some starts where you feel you want to activate the press, stretch play etc and the two of them could have kept each other motivated for those minutes and provided cover for Ekitike and Isak.

But here we are. Now I want two tricky, hard-working and pacey wide players aged 21-26 (aren't terribly easy to get) and a DM to try and begin to sort our balance out. Had Tottenham gone down I think I'd have tried for Porro too, though no idea what our budget will be.

[miller0863]

I the midfield I’d like Wharton plus a proper 6. MacAllister can go, it appears he wants to, let’s hope his agent already has a club lined up.
Only way Jones stays is if Slot goes over the next week or so.

[Ravo19]

I the midfield I’d like Wharton plus a proper 6. MacAllister can go, it appears he wants to, let’s hope his agent already has a club lined up.
Only way Jones stays is if Slot goes over the next week or so.

Not sure if i see both macallister and jones going but there are reasons for both to go,jones has had enough of slot and macallister maybe formation but has dropped badly.

[Ravo19]

Would love midfield of-
Gravenberch-wharton-Szoboszlai but we all know slot doesnt go 4 3 3.

[teesred]

Would love midfield of-
Gravenberch-wharton-Szoboszlai but we all know slot doesnt go 4 3 3.

That would be good. I think we need two new midfielders. Obviously a DM and possibly another who like Grav could play both attacking and defensive if needed. Not likely though.
I like Wharton but I'd also like to see a DM who's really solid and more of a destroyer type.
There's a few very good midfielders kicking about who'd really improve us. Fernandes from West Ham , Anderson at Forest but theyll be high on plenty of clubs lists.
I actually think players like Joelinton/Guimares/Tonali would be great, they would give us a lot more physicality which we lack big time.

[jozza800]

Would love midfield of-
Gravenberch-wharton-Szoboszlai but we all know slot doesnt go 4 3 3.

Worked well last season with Szoboszlai as the 10. Difference this season is the two 'holding' midfielders charging forward at every opportunity.