18 Jul 2024 21:58:37
Personal terms agreed for Ugarte. What is happening to this club!

1.) 18 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024 22:11:03
It's like Glazers are not running the club anymore :D.

2.) 18 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024 22:15:55
Club now being run by competent people who form a dynamic, agile and proactive structure.

imagine where the club will be in a few years time if this professional approach is maintained - and reflect upon the previous incompetence and wasted years previously. We're now finally acting like other well-run clubs such as Liverpool and Man City.

still SO much to do to rectify the mess the club has become but a really good start to the window.

3.) 18 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024 22:20:33
If we pull this one off too, that would be 3/ 3 so far for me in terms of acumen and identification.

4.) 19 Jul 2024
19 Jul 2024 08:51:54
We certainly seem more ruthless and clinical don't we. Would just temper the expectations of Zirkzee Yoro and (potentially) Ugarte. I haven't seen evidence they are necessarily starting quality for us. Not trying to be negative about them, as I'm pleased to have them at the club; but I'm not getting carried away.

5.) 19 Jul 2024
19 Jul 2024 11:04:04
Absolutely love to see it. I don't expect every signing to work out perfectly, no club gets it right every time no matter how well run they are.

Yet the difference between this summer and the past decade is absolutely night and day.

They have assessed what the team needs most, scouted, shortlisted suitable targets and have just gone about getting them done quickly and efficiently.

We will still over pay on a few targets (everybody does), and we will still pay more than most other clubs (impossible not to when you are one of the biggest clubs in the world) .

Most signings will work out, but some will not. That is always going to be the case when dealing with individuals. You can scout talent, you can select players with skill sets you need, you can even background check players to see what kind of person they are.

Yet how they fit in with the other players in the squad, how they adapt to that new environment (possibly a new country), how their loved ones who move with them adapt, and how they blend with the current players are all things you cannot predict. Those are the reasons players should be failing. Not because they don't have the right skill set or are not at the required level.

That is something that excites me most about our signings so far. They all seem to have the right skill set for what we need and have either shown themselves to be at the required level or have the potential to get to that level.

Zirkzee has shown himself to be a great player in Serie A, won the young player of the year award and been a key player for an exciting Bologna side. He has a complimentary skill set to Højlund, offering something different. His style of play should work well in creating space and chances for a forward line that has shown itself capable of scoring goals, but lacking in creating chances.

Leny Yoro is a phenomenal talent, someone whose skills seem very well suited to playing alongside Martinez. He's a mobile, athletic, sweeper who can clean up behind the more aggressive, front footed Martinez. He is also comfortable with the ball at his feet and can build up from the back. He's a good replacement for Varane who made a great partnership with Martinez when both were fit and playing. Obviously with a young player there are concerns over his ability to adapt to a more physically demanding league. He might take time to adapt and he will make mistakes as he learns. But the talent is there, it's now down to the player and the club to develop him into the player his talent suggests he can be.

Manuel Ugarte looks like he'll be the next through the door. Terms reportedly agreed, the player opens to the move, and PSG open to a sale. He looks every inch the kind of combative, ground covering, ball winning midfielder we need to pair alongside Mainoo to give him licence to focus on progressing the ball. His passing isn't expansive, but his safe controlled passing is what we probably need alongside a young player who will be looking to progress the ball forward and Bruno whose preset pass is an aggressive, high risk forward pass. He could be an excellent deal, especially if it's a loan with an option/ obligation to buy in a years time. Off-setting expenditure this summer when funds seem tight.

All three signings seem well suited to improve the team and add skills we need to become a better side. Hopefully all three settle quickly and adapt to the club, country, and the league.

While being decisive in making sensible signings the club have also been quick to move players out.

With Greenwood finally leaving and drawing a line under a very unfavorable period at the club, making it 10 departures already (Greenwood, Varane, Martial, Donny, Alvaro Fernandez, Kambwala, Shoretire, Forson, Williams and Amrabat) .

While they continue to discuss possible departures of players like Sancho, Casemiro, McTominay, AWB, Lindelof, Eriksen, Hannibal and Pellistri. These players are the ones who are likely to bring in fees to bolster the transfer budget and enable more signings.

I expect to see us continue our pursuit of Branthwaite, who would provide cover for Martinez and looks a good potential fit alongside Yoro in the long term. We will over pay for him, but that is always the case when signing homegrown players.

We are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Adrien Rabiot, who on a short term (3 year) deal could offer us some quality and experience for a minimal cost. He isn't a perfect signing, but he would represent good business I think. Whether a deal happens or not remains to be seen.

While signing a player like Rabiot on a free might free up funds to make the signings of Branthwaite and possibly a new fullback if AWB departs to West Ham or somewhere else. Although I've heard that we have spoken with Bayern about Sascha Boey on a loan with an obligation/ option to buy. We have reportedly looked at a few options like that, both in terms of players we could sign and players we are struggling to sell (Sancho) .

It's so refreshing to see our club actually being well run, with a plan, and with experts pulling the strings. While we won't be back challenging for major honours this season, if this approach continues and even improves further then it will only be a matter of time before we get back to the top.

6.) 19 Jul 2024
19 Jul 2024 18:19:00
Agree with all the points.
Only caveat is no one signed is EPL proven.
It could take a season to come together.

7.) 20 Jul 2024
19 Jul 2024 23:44:42
ThaT os The THing THough, these signing s aren't for mext year. They are picking players they think will developing players who will be part of a title challenge in 3 to 5 years and going forward.

I expect us to to develop each year, and these. Players to improve.

Now I do think each is am upgrade, Zirkzee better than any of our options to spell Hojlund. Yoro better than what happened last year to us at CB, Ugarte is not a significant upgrade in fairness. But I also understand their will be growing pains, they will make mistakes they are developing and learning. I can live with that as long as we are developing as a whole.

I am not excited next season because I think we will challenge or these lads are the finished article, I am excited because I think these lads could be one day and will grow into the players we need with some luck.

I think there are youth players coming through that will make it too, Amass I eel very confident about. So much so I would ignore left back and focus elsewhere, he is very young but is good enough that I think we have to avoid blocking his pathway with a new signing. Lacey too I think will make it, but unlike LB we don't really have anyone currently playing at a high enough level. Garnacho could develop into that player on the right, Diallo I am less sure of.

8.) 20 Jul 2024
20 Jul 2024 10:40:42
Oakbark, I think we are on the same page. I'm excited to see the shoots of growth this season, not because I think we will genuinely challenge for major titles. That said I think we should focus on the Europa League as I think we have a good chance of winning it. EtH has shown he is good at winning in the cups, with three finals in two years. While there is no UCL drop down into the Europa league this season, meaning who is in it to start with is the only competition we will have. I think we are one of the stronger teams in the competition, with a winning manager and a history and pedigree of winning.

Personally I'd focus more on that competition as winning it means UCL qualification, while it would also improve our UEFA coefficient meaning we would be less likely to draw a tougher UCL group then following season.

I'd play the kids and squad players in the domestic cups. With our main focus being the league and the Europa League.

Yoro and Zirkzee in theory improve us, although until they play in the EPL you never know how they will adapt. Yet the real benefit of them is as you say the potential they have, and the players they could become.

I actually think Ugarte would be a big improvement, finally having a tenacious, aggressive, high energy, ball winner in midfield who'll pair nicely with Mainoo. Giving Mainoo more licence to progress the ball forward, which is his best quality.

I'm hopeful that Amad can get more game time, he looked promising every time he played last season. He probably should have got more minutes.

While if Mount can stay fit he'll be like a new signing.

I agree with Amass, he looks like he could become a top level player. Defensively he still has a lot to learn, but a real threat going forward. If we do sign Branthwaite, then I could see either Branthwaite or Martinez covering LB with them either staying deep or dropping into midfield rather than bombing down the wing. That would give us more options on the left, along with Shaw and Malacia hopefully staying fit.

I'd certainly be more inclined to sign a RB to compete with Dalot and allow AWB to move on. As our options on the right are far more limited. Maybe Yoro could play there in a pinch, which might be good for him as he adapts to the EPL. Other than that the options seem very limited, with no one in the academy who looks ready to push for the first team squad. Unless there is a change of position for one of the midfielders like McAllister for example. That sometimes happens with academy players, moving into a different position when stepping into the first team. Although we can't count on that.

9.) 20 Jul 2024
20 Jul 2024 15:32:34
Utd Road, while I personally prefer to see us sign players from within the EPL as they tend to be successful more often and adapt quicker, the reality is that there are many players who have moved to the EPL and hit the ground running.

If they are well scouted, and well suited to fulfill a specific role in the team they are moving too then they tend to work out fairly quickly.

We'll see with Zirkzee and Yoro. Personally I think Zirkzee will adapt quickly, being Dutch he shouldn't have any issues understanding what the coaching staff want him to do, and he seems fairly well suited to both the EPL, and to be the link man in the forward line who makes space and creates chances for those around him.

I expect he'll quickly become first choice, with Højlund being an option off the bench, or possibly playing some games from the right hand side.

Yoro I think might take a little longer to settle and will make a few more mistakes. If he learns quickly from them then he'll be fine.

10.) 21 Jul 2024
21 Jul 2024 08:15:44
We need another right back ??.

11.) 21 Jul 2024
21 Jul 2024 10:42:09
Fireman, it's an awkward situation as with Shaw's and Malacia's continued injury issues there is a fair arguement that we need a consistent and regularly available LB.

However, assuming everyone is fit we have Shaw, Malacia, Martinez, Dalot and Amass who can play at LB.

Whereas, we only really have Dalot and AWB who can play at RB.

If the club looks to sign a second CB, if they get a left footed player who can play LCB and possibly LB then I think that should be fine. Then we can look at a RB as a higher priority.

Ideally it would be best if we can delay trying to bring in another LB for a season or two. That would give us time to see how Malacia fairs and give time for Amass to develop. If they don't step up or are enough then we could look at bringing in a top young LB.

I do worry though what we would do next season if Dalot misses a big chunk of the season.