04 Jun 2013 16:09:47
Apparently in the past 15 months the glazers have spent $275 million on the Tampa Bay Bucaneers which apparently is huge news in the American Football world. I'm pretty sure there are no transfer fees involved in that sport so that money goes directly to the players in wages I think. Tampa fans had been p*ssed off for 5 years as the Glazers continually cut costs and failed to improve the squad sufficiently to make them contenders, that was until 15 months ago.

Now you can look at it in 2 ways. The sceptic in me says they have maybe used money from our great club to help fund this apparent spending spree. But, I would like to think it shows the Glazers are willing to put their money where there mouth is if it is needed and maybe we will see a marquee signing that people are crying out for along with the other players needed to improve the 1st eleven.

Time will tell but I would love Ronaldo back as unlikely as it is. We are a huge club and since Rooney signed all those years ago the only signing I got genuinely excited about was RVP last year. We have seen City, Chelsea, Real, Barca and Bayern make huge signings in the recent past and it gives the club and fans a huge boost. I think this is needed in the wake of SAF retiring. It might make the City's and Chelsea's a bit less confident going into next season.


We can dream eh?


Brendan81 {Ed004's Note - I have a question for everyone on here. It is widely agreed on this site I think, that everyone knows our wingers are awful and that's putting it kindly. Our full backs have more assists and goals. If signing Ronaldo meant we could only get one winger would people take him back? I would but only if we kept Rooney tbh or had Rooney replaced. I feel signing Ronaldo may limit us slightly as we will still have either Zaha, Welbeck, Young or Valencia and none of them would get in any of Europes elite whereas if we kept Rooney and got him fit or got a replacement we could play Kagawa on a wing or behind 3 strikers of Rooney, Ronaldo and RVP basically RVP replacing Tevez from a few years back}

1.) 04 Jun 2013
A question to you ed 004.
When u or any1 say rooney to be replaced? Who can replace rooney realistically? Considering the fact that lewy is almost bayern bound and we don't spent more than 25m on a single player mostly.

Please can yoy name any1?

Rodio17 {Ed004's Note - The players I think could would be Bale, Ronaldo, Gotze, Ozil, Lewandowski. Now if we did sign Ronaldo then I don't think a big player like that would be needed, we could easily then go for someone like Di Maria, Lamela, Sanchez, Isco, Jovetic etc as Ronaldo more than replaces Rooney. It means we would be play a 4-3-3 which can easily change to a 4231 imo. So a midfield of Carrick, Strootman, Kagawa and a front 3 of one of the name mentioned above, RVP and Ronaldo. Though I do not think this is likely at all}

2.) 04 Jun 2013
Ed I would personally carry him back from Madrid and I am hoping Rooney moves on with a replacement striker coming in. I personally would take Jovetic even though a lot on here wouldn't be happy with that. I'd be happy with Ronaldo Kagawa Valencia/Zaha in that order behind RVP who would interchange with Jovetic up top depending on the game.

We would then have Welbeck, Young and Hernandez as back up to the above 6 players. This I believe would be a very strong forward line. We would then need Strootman for CM alongside Carrick and I would love Thiago to interchange them all and he could play number 10 in place of Kagawa too at times.

The only other change would be to bring in Shaw at left back to interchange with Evra for a year before selling Evra next summer.

Selling Rooney, Nani, Anderson would raise £55m, buying Ronaldo, Jovetic, Strootman, Thiago and Shaw would cost about £120m so a £65m outlay in total which is very doable and I would be hugely happy going into next season even without the great SAF.

Brendan81 {Ed004's Note - If we signed Jovetic I think a front 3 of Jovetic, Ronaldo and RVP would work perfectly as all three can play anywhere up top but RVP would mainly stay wide but he does drift to the wings, Jovetic has played wide left before and cutting in as had Ronaldo}

3.) 04 Jun 2013
Ed004 -

Personally I'd consider us dropping 'wingers' from our play all together and setting up a little like Chelsea with a line of three attacking mids lined up behind a striker. They'd obviously push wide when needed - but would be able to interchange fluidly. Something like -
----------RVP-----------
-Kagawa-Rooney-Ronaldo
----Carrick-Strootman---
would terrify other teams and make us a very tough team to defend against. Having Carrick and Strootman in front of the back four should also protect them little more - although I'd worry about us being vulnerable down the wings (especially Evra).

We'd still have Valencia, Young, Zaha, Welbeck, Ronaldo and (to an extent) Kagawa and so could switch between a system with conventional wingers and the one I suggested from time to time depending on who we were up against.

If we signed Ronaldo, Strootman and Baines (as a short term solution) I would be thrilled - but I don't see Ronaldo coming home any time soon unfortunately.

redseven {Ed004's Note - That's the formation I was thinking we could use but when I said if we sold Rooney we would need a replacement basically Kagawa would be playing were Rooney is and we would sign someone for Kagawa's position. I would be thrilled to have that as our attack next year. And then the following season start replacing Vidic/Rio, Carrick and Rooney gradually. That would be my ideal scenario this window as long as Rooney gets into good shape and to a standard were he can play at a high pace all game long. There was a video put up of Strootman vs Feyenord today and it shows how Strootman likes to get the ball forward quickly so he will hopefully speed up our attack}

4.) 04 Jun 2013
To be honest ed004, I think a perfect summer for us would be Strootman, Ronaldo and a quality left back. I'm also in the keep Rooney camp too. I can see Strootman and Carrick being a strong midfield two, and I'm also of the opinion that Kagawa could be played in a midfield 3 as the most advanced.

Rafael will bomb up and down that right wing all season, guaranteeing us a few assists at least, if we could get a similar player for the left we could actually have a very versatile squad with 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 all viable options. Ronaldo can play on either wing, Kagawa can play as a CAM or LAM, Rooney can play up front or in a slightly deeper role. I also think we'll see a lot more of Zaha this season than people may think. I honestly think he's much better than most of the wingers in the bottom 12/13 teams in the EPL, so people saying he isn't ready is wrong IMO. I think he'll adapt incredibly well. {Ed004's Note - I would like to point out I'm currently in the getting Rooney 'out' camp unless Moyes can get him fully fit over pre season and that means a stone or two lighter, being able to play a high tempo game like Dortmund and hopefully regaining some speed and form. However, if he does that a front four of Ronaldo (Right), Rooney (Behind RVP, in the hole), Kagawa (Left) and RVP up top and we would have the best attack in the league. In the Norwich game we saw how well Kagawa and Rooney linked up as well as RVP but those 3 along with a capable right winger and there are none better than Ronaldo (possibly Messi but he plays as a striker) we would be a force to reckon with}

5.) 04 Jun 2013
I think what Ronaldo would bring to the team would more than cover what Valencia, Nani, Young, and Cleverley have contributed this year. Ronaldo scores 30 a season guaranteed and his assists are up there too. He may well limit us as you say ED, but I think the aforementioned players limited us more. Give the ball to them and it was end of move. If it wasn't for RVP getting us out of sticky patches time and time again we would have struggled. So Ronaldo coming to us, may be like Neymar going to Barca. Gives opposition more than one focal point to defend against

6.) 04 Jun 2013
Ed

I'd go with that. Kagawa behind Ronaldo, RVP and a fully firing Rooney would be potent stuff.

Add carrick and Strootman in midfield with a pacy new left back who can overlap and get a cross in as well as defend and I think we're in business.

Andrew B {Ed004's Note - I reckon we would be competing with the best in Europe again I reckon the front four would be better than Bayern's but Bayern's midfield is the best in the world! and there isn't much in the defences though Bayern's full backs are phenomenal, I reckon they have the two best full backs in the world!}

7.) 04 Jun 2013
Ed004 I don't think we'll be signing 2 wingers (on top of Zaha) any way so it's a no-brainer for me - yes!

Another point on this is if we change to a narrower 4231 under Moyes (which I think we will) then Kagawa is more than capable of playing wide left in this formation, cutting inside.

However bad Valencia & Young have been we have relied on players of their calibre in recent seasons so adding Ronaldo to the bunch would be an instant and major improvement. I could cope with seeing Valencia/Young on the right for one more season then hopefully Zaha would be ready to take over.

It wouldn't make sense to buy 2 winger's right now IMO because of the numbers we have and Zaha's progression (hopefully). {Ed004's Note - Or we could sell Young and keep Welbeck and Valencia to cover two wingers though I would be happy seeing Ronaldo right and Kagawa left as long as we have a good player in the hole or a fit Rooney in the hole behind RVP}

8.) 04 Jun 2013
I'd be delighted with that personally Ed004 and that's the best we can hope for IMO. Don't think we will get Ronaldo though.

9.) 04 Jun 2013
Ed004

Agreed, but Rafeal is quality as well and is getting better. Given our centre back choices, a seriously good left back could complete a really top quality back 5.

Total cost perhaps £70 mill for Ronaldo, say £15 mill for a LB, strootman £17 mill = £102 mill. I'm sure we could generate £40 mill from Sales (Nani, Anderson, Young, Bebe, Macheda and some youngsters who aren't up to scratch). Net outlay is about £60 mill - totally do able.

All we need now is a certain Portugese to be missing those cold, dark, rainy winters in Manchester. ha ha, not likely!

Andrew B {Ed004's Note - I reckon if we sign a left back we will have one of the strongest defenses in the world. I reckon eventually Smalling will be the perfect partner beside Vidic and Rafael along with Baines (probably one of the best left backs in the world up there in my top 3 atm) and we would be up there with the best and only Bayern's would be better except I reckon Vidic would walk into their backline}

10.) 04 Jun 2013
04 Jun 2013 21:46:15
http://www.eplindex.com/31232/fluidity-key-european-success-manchester-united-analysis.html

might encourage a few thoughts talks about the fluid style with Ronnie roo and tevez
kyhyghes87 {Ed004's Note - Brilliant read I'm just thinking of how many signings it could take to get to that style of football again and that level tbh}

11.) 04 Jun 2013
Kyhyghes87 & Ed004, that is a good article.

I think we could play the system he shows in the final diagram - which looks like a 4231 with an interchanging front 4 - with Kagawa, Rooney and say Di Maria/Sanchez behind RvP. All 4 of those would be happy interchanging and Kagawa & Di Maria could provide the runs in beyond Robin when he drops off.

If we're assuming Nani is off - Zaha, Welbeck and Young are all suited to either wide role in this system but particularly Zaha, given time. Valencia is not suited but there may be games where we choose a more rigid approach? Otherwise he'd be of little use in this system IMO.

Rooney may not be as agile/quick as he used to be but is still easily capable of running into spaces and changing positions swiftly in behind the main man. 2 runners either side of him will hopefully help.

With Carrick & Strootman in behind our fluid front 4 I think it could work. Both are probably classed as 'passers' more than 'runners' but from the little I've seen of Strootman he does seem to have the ability to bring the ball out at his feet, even if with comparatively little skill/technique. This should allow him to pop up into spaces left by the interchanging forwards where he has the ability to pick out a man or shoot. Carrick would remain the DLP, the job Scholes did for us back in 2008.

In other words I honestly can see us achieving this 'fluidity' without too many incoming/outgoing transfers, just a select few - CM and fluid winger especially. I guess it's down to Moyes as to whether he likes it 'rigid' or 'fluid' ooh err! {Ed004's Note - I reckon if rumours are true and I don't believe them for a second with the signings of Strootman, Alcantara and possibly Ronaldo and thats a massive 'possibly' those 3 along with Carrick Kagawa and RVP and we could play an incredibly flexible attack I'm not even sure what formation we would play during the game but I guess it would be a 4231 at the start with Carrick Strootman, then Ronaldo, Kagawa, Alcantara and then RVP up top. Ronaldo and Alcantara and Kagawa are all quick so can provide a direct attack and all our brilliant on the ball. Alcantara has over 92% pass completion}

12.) 04 Jun 2013
Ed we'd be amazing with Carrick and Strootman, then Ronaldo, Kagawa, Alcantara and RVP up top. I'd be so happy.

Brendan81

13.) 05 Jun 2013
Hmmm as much as i'd like Ronaldo to return I just can't see it. And personally I think for the money he would cost in wages and transfer fee that it would make more sense to go for Bale. He'd cost 10-25m less and would only cost around half the wages. But Bale imo is just as unlikely as Ronaldo.

I think we will play a 4231, with Carrick and Strootman in midfield, with RvP up top then Thiago and Kagawa behind him.
The LAM slot is the one that has a question mark over it. Young isn't good enough to make that spot his own.

Cleverley could play well there, he is more suited to playing higher up the pitch. But he may lack the cutting edge to create enough goals.

Zaha would certainly provide that cutting edge with his pace and trickery, but he would leave the left back exposed when we lose the ball.

Welbeck may be the best option there. He has pace and strength, plus the ability to cut inside should encourage him to shoot more. But he is also defensively aweare so our left back wouldn't be as exposed.

The outside bet could be Anderson, this was the position he played at Porto which encouraged us to part with so much money for him. Plus taking him out of the battlefield in the middle of the park means he would have to cover less ground so he won't tire as quickly and he won't be roughed up as much so he may find it easier to avoid injuries. One things for sure, if he's still here by the close of the window, Moyes tough training plans will have him a few pounds lighter and much fitter.

With so many options all deserving of a chance to prove themselves in this role I doubt we'll see anyone else join to play this role.

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing us take a gamble on Bernard of Atletico Mineiro, he looks a hell of a talent from the few games i've seen of him. Maybe send Anderson the other way.

But if we played a 4231 with Carrick, Strootman, Thiago, Kagawa, Welbeck and RvP then it would be very fluid, it could easily become a 4312 with Thiago dropping slightly deeper and Strootman moving to the left and Welbeck pushing up along side RvP with Kagawa playing between the forwards and the midfield in a free role.

14.) 05 Jun 2013
05 Jun 2013 01:11:51
@Ed004

I don't think he will come back. Monaco or PSG I think.

If he does come though, I think we will switch to a 4 3 3. Wont eriksen be a cheap and shrewd option to play with rvp and cr7? Kagawa, Carrick, Strootman, Thiago, Jones, Cleverley. 3 from those 6 in midfield. Could be interesting.

I still think Valencia will regain form though.

REDFAITH {Ed004's Note - Or Alcantara for the same price if not less}