17 Mar 2013 21:31:59
I've been looking at our team and the possible in's and out's over the summer and this is what i've come up with.

Now i'll start in midfield, it's not the normal starting point but taking into account that it is the most vital area for us to upgrade it seems more logical to start here.

So what do we need? well we need a prescence in the middle, too often are we over run by teams in the middle. Then we need to look at who is leaving, Fletcher unforntunately doesn't look like making it back, i'd keep him at the club maybe even with a squad place if we have one spare but in all honesty he won't be a playing part of our team next year. The Scholes will retire, he has hardly played any games since january due to constant injuries as his body is giving up on him, he will bow out this summer. Finally I see Anderson leaving, he hasn't performed as he promised when we signed him, a combination of injuries and poor off field attitude has made him a shadow of the player we signed.

So this leaves us with Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs as regular midfielders of which Giggs can only play a bit part role next season. We have Jones and Powell who can play in some games in midfield for us but I feel that long term their positions will be further back and further forward respectively. So we have a distinct lack of power and running in midfield, plus we are alittle short on numbers. This is why I feel we need TWO midfielders this summer.

The two i'd go for are:

Kevin Strootman, this guy is the complete midfielder. Full of running, with great vision and reading of the game which allows him to control games through a combination of cutting out oppositon attacks with his tackling and interceptions while also orcastrating our attacks with his passing. He would be the long term replacement for Carrick and an excellent partner in the mean time.

Victor Wanyama, this guy looks like he is suited to the prem like a hand to a glove. What he lacks due to rawness he more than makes up for in drive. He has a lot to work on to perfect his game but he has the ability and potential to be an absolute beast in the middle of the park for us.

I think with signing these two we would have a player who would give us the edge in europe and another player who'll give us a boost in the prem. Both are young and we can mould into United players but both still have enough talent to offer us an improvement in our midfield imediately.

Midfield options of Carrick, Cleverley, Strootman, Wanyama and Giggs with Jones and Powell as cover would give us a much stronger and complete midfield.

With two midfield options signed I feel there will be less chances for Jones to play in midfield so he can move back more permanmently as a option in central defence. With Vidic Evans and Smalling along with possibly Rio for one more year I see no need to sign a CB. So if we need to improve in defence it is our full back positions. Now Rafael is our undesputed first choice RB but we need a proper understudy for him, Jones and Smalling aren't full backs and couldn't play a run of games there if Rafael was out injuried. So maybe a back up RB should be sought or maybe promote Vermijl into the first team squad.
LB is also an issue, Evra has been better this season but his legs are going/gone, Fabio I feel as talented as he is isn't suited to the rough nature of the Prem, even at QPR he has had constant niggling injuries. And Buttner looks more of a squad player than first choice LB. There isn't a real LB option in our academy as Blackett is more of a CB, and I can't see us signing a first choice LB so I think we could see someone like Lucas Digne maybe sign in defence with Fabio being sold and Buttner going out on loan to see if he can step up consistantly at Prem level. Leaving Evra with Digne as cover.

Right our forward line needs tweaking, we have signed Zaha who will be in and around the first team next season. He offers a more direct winger, I feel he will be a replacement for Nani in that role. Who else we sign will depend on who else leaves, Rooney Valencia Welbeck and Hernandez have all been touted as possible options for leaving.

Personally I don't see Valencia leaving, he is too good a worker and deserves a chance to prove himself, plus in current form won't raise much money. Welbeck I don't see leaving yet also as he is home grown and is a great squad option to have as he offers plenty of cover. Rooney I only see leaving IF we have a big name player coming in like Ronaldo, Since Ronny left Rooney has taken over as the face of the United brand and we would want to see him go without signing someone who'll have as much pulling power when it comes to marketing deals. This sadly leaves Hernandez, i'd be gutted if he goes as personally I feel that if RVP is injured Hernandez offers us the best finisher of chances in our squad, plus he doesn't seem like the trouble maker type of player.

With Zaha coming in I can see us signing a slightly less direct player but also someone who can have in imediate impact. I'd go with one of Rodriguez, Lamela or Ozil with Rodriguez being most likely imo.
If Hernandez leaves then we will need to sign another ST most likely Lewandowski, but personally i'd rather keep Hernandez.

This is how I see our summer panning out. I doubt we'll sign a keeper unless one leaves, which I also don't see happening. We were linked with Keepers earlier in the season but this was when DDG was struggling according to the media, now he's flying again the reports have seemed to stop.

So i'd say imo i'd like to see us sign:
Lucas Digne
Victor Wanyama
Kevin Strootman
Wilfried Zaha
James Rodriguez {Ed004's Note - Would be very happy with a summer like that but how about keeping Fabio as cover for Rafael? He was very good at rb a few seasons ago vs Barcelona in the final?}

1.) 17 Mar 2013
It's an option but I feel it might be time for him to move on. {Ed004's Note - I don't I think he could still offer a lot to the team}

2.) 17 Mar 2013
I'd go along with that apart from the LB area. I'd like to keep Fabio as cover for both sides then either stick with what we've got or go for a real star in the making like Shaw. I've not seen much of DIgne to cast judgement TBF. The rest I'd be happy with - personally don't see the need to meddle with our CB or striker options so we can concentrate on CM and the wings.

3.) 17 Mar 2013
Shappy, I get to see a lot of french football and Lucas Digne, atm, is not such a good player. He's been having a bad season, and if you watch him closely you notice he rarely tackles, and when he does its scholesesque. He also can't cross.

I would rather have Ben Davies, who, unfortunatly, is even shorter than Rafael and not a good header. He is also very average attackingly or Shaw, who is better than both. He is also quite tall and strong, he just needs to improve his passing.

My favourite left-back option is Alex Sandro. The lad is clearly special, but for Porto to sell us 2 players, I think it's really unlikely. Apart from that I agree with everything you said

4.) 17 Mar 2013
That would be my absolute perfect summer.

Quality post Shappy, agree with everything.

5.) 17 Mar 2013
The way I see it, there is a very distinct possibility that we won't sign another winger if Porto don't play ball. This will mean that we keep Hernandez and sign Lewandowski as a forward option. Zaha is going to have more game time next year than we think. I've encouraged the signing of Digne for a while, and also agree than Fabio is perfect competition at right back with Buttner out on loan. Strootman and Wanyama would be ideal, even if I would like a Modric type. I also tk that Lindgaard is destined for the chop with Begovic on his way in.

Personally I'd be happy with a summer of Begovic, Digne, Strootman, Wanyama, Zaha and Lewandowski. However realistically Digne could wait a year and sign at the same time as Zouma next year (which is very plausible).

Fresh!

6.) 17 Mar 2013
He could but he is stagnating while not getting games on a regular basis. I think it's time for him to move on for his own good.

7.) 18 Mar 2013
Mick, that's interesting. I'lk admit I haven't watch much french football this year but ladt year Digne caught my eye on a few occasions. But you do seem to be more of an expert than me on french football so i'll take your word on Digne.

I'm not so kean on Ben Davis but Luke Shaw looks a talent. I hear he's a Chelsea fan and that they are kean to sign him next summer when Cole moves on. So he might be out of reach.

Alex Sandro has impressed me each time i've seen him, I just expect him to cost more than we would be willing to spend on a LB. Also I would expect he would want to be first choice. I see whoever comes in will have to split playing time with Evra next season. that's why i've said about younger players. It will be interesting. Shame Fryers buggered off, he had talent. He could be first choice now if he stayed, but apparently his attitude was a problem.