02 May 2013 20:47:03
Over the last few weeks i've noticed many people saying were going to buy 3/4 big names this summer. i. e. Baines, Strootman, Ronaldo/Bale and Lewondowski. Even Ed004 thinks strootman, ronaldo and Lew are possible but I honestly can't see us doing that. For me buying Kagawa and Rvp was a big summer. The biggest in my opinion was when we got Tevez on loan and spent 55mil euros on Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani.
But do people think fergie would spend 110/120 million in 1 window? I can't see it happening. I think strooman is likely, rodriguez depending on the price and Lew if were lucky and Bayern fail.

Sulei

1.) 02 May 2013
I agree Sulei, we rarely buy 3/4 top line players. Nani and Anderson had potential when we bought them and to be honest, neither has progressed to whe we expected them to. I'd lve to be proved wrong but I can't see how United will suddenly start splashing money around and sign 4 1st team players. My guess is 2 more to go with Zaha, hopefully at least. 1 will be the midfielder we are desperate for

2.) 02 May 2013
I agree with two "significant" signings, as SAF has mentioned, last year we got Kagawa and RVP. Kagawa will work out to be significant I'm sure. So I'm thinking something similar this summer.

The interesting thing Fargie said is if someone became available he would have to go for them, I read that as Bale, hopefully there's money for that if it comes up

3.) 02 May 2013
02 May 2013 22:36:32
I completely agree, i've been saying for awhile that we rarely bring in more than 3/4 players for the first team.

With Zaha coming then I would expect at most three other players for the first team. If Strootman and Lewandowski are likely then that only leaves at most one more first team player, and if i'm honest I feel if we were to sign another first team player it would be someone who will be more of a first team squad player with potential. {Ed004's Note - But remember last year Ferguson pushed for 3 world class players in Kagawa, RVP and one of Moura or Hazard. Not sure if there was a bid for Rodriguez}

4.) 03 May 2013
03 May 2013 00:47:25
But last time we had just lost the league, this time we have won the league and by some distance. So the need is less. It may well be that we sign three other top class players, but I expect it'll be similar to previous summers.

2012- Kagawa, RvP, Buttner and Powell

2011- De Gea, Young and Jones

2010- Smalling, Hernandez, Bebe

2009- Valencia, Obertan, Owen, Diouf, Tosic

2008- Berbatov, Fabio, Rafael, Petrucci, Manucho

2007- Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson, Tevez (loan), Larsson (Loan, jan)

So in 2007 Hargreaves and Tevez were signed for the first team with Nani and Anderson as ones for the future at 20 and 18yo.

In 2008 only Berbatov was signed for the first team with Rafael, Fabio and Petrucci signed as ones for the future.

In 2009 Valencia and Owen were signed for the first team with Obertan Tosic and Diouf as ones for the future.

In 2010 Smalling Hernandez and Bebe were all signed but they were squad players with potential for the future in mind.

In 2011 De Gea and Young were bought for the first team with Jones very much being one for the future and only signed as other clubs made a move for him.

Last tear we had RvP and Kagawa for the first team, with Buttner as a squad addition and Powell as one for the future.

So you can see that there is an obvious pattern of 1 or 2 players joining for the first team with another 1 or 2 either squad players or players with potential.

So if Zaha is one with potential then we will sign 1 or 2 first teamers with maybe one more squad addition or youngster with potential. So Strootman and Lewandowski seem to be those players, so we may one other squad/potential type signing imo.

5.) 03 May 2013
03 May 2013 01:32:33
Chaps the red, I read the maybe one other if he becomes available as Ronaldo not Bale. Bale will not be available to us, but Ronaldo might have a predisposition to join us putting us in a strong position to sign him. i'm sure the club would be willing to put a package together for him if he was available. But with two years left on his contract Madrid may decide he is worth more to them on the pitch next season than the extra money they could get from selling him now. Or they may decide to try and recover as much of their money invested in him this summer, in which case he would then become available. So for me Ronaldo is the maybe, although I expect him to stay in spain for another year.

6.) 03 May 2013
Shaps - good analysis and I would expect something along those lines too.

HBadger