21 Aug 2013 13:16:03
Guys,
We need to be realistic. We are not signing a big name player this year.
How many current first team players have come out and said they are happy with the current squad, we're good enough to defend the league title etc.

I'm not being pessimistic, but we have to read the writing on the wall. We are not signing anyone that will improve the first 11.

If fergie was still here, I would not be as concerned.

We certainly have a challenge ahead of us this year. But we will rise to this challenge. We always do best when our back is against the wall.

This is a real test for Moyes - i'm hoping we are not looking for blood when he goes through a bad patch (all manager do).

Lets just get behind Moyes and the team - we still have a great squad.

1.) 21 Aug 2013
I'm concerned the club are trying to stretch these deals out until the last minute, in order to get the cheapest price. This seems the case with both Felliani and Baines. Moyes' and the club are probably hoping that they will both push hard for a move, forcing Everton to sell to us at a lower price. Problem is, we could realistically end up signing no-one as a consequence of the negotiating stance United seem to be taking, which is worrying, considering we 'desperately' need a new Centre-Midfielder.

2.) 21 Aug 2013
I couldn't agree more samthered. I think that is the situation also, but let us remember that since we were distroyed in midfield by barcelona in 2009 champions league final - we have been fully aware that we need a central midfielder. we have not bought one. that's a long time to address a very obvious difficiency in our midfield.
I can't see it happening. The best we can hope for is that an upcoming youth player stands up and gets noticed.

3.) 21 Aug 2013
21 Aug 2013 15:15:18
Sorry but I am definitely expecting a couple of class signings (Fellaini is not in this category) why shouldn't we for God's sake?!? We have an ok squad but by no means is it great, too much below standard dross in there. And don't give me the "We won the league easily last year" line because we were flattered last year and had a bit of luck as well.! That will not happen this year.! We need, and I am expecting, 2 or 3 "class" signings this window. If not we will finish third at best, more likely fourth.!

4.) 21 Aug 2013
Cherk,

we had Fletcher and Schole's still about back then. Even last season, Scholes still gave us options in the middle of the park, due to his excellent passing range. Problem is, we have no Scholes to rely on now, and no Fletcher, who we all could rely on to put in a shift. What worries me is the fact that we are basically pinning our hopes on Carrick playing at the highest level - all season long, and not getting any injuries, which is a bit of an ask for any player, let-alone one who is now hitting the end of his peak.

The good thing is, Moyes' does know this. SAF new it too; but his style of play was always dependent on our wingers and the quality of our centre-forwards, so it mitigated the lack of quality we had in CM. Moyes' on the other-hand, does not use out and out wingers, and prefers to use his full-backs to deliver the width. Even when he played his 4411 system at Everton, his wide players would play quite narrow. Last season, it seemed to me that he perfected that system with Everton: Pienaar and Mirallas enabled Everton to be a lot more expansive due to their positioning and movement, which often saw them operating as free-roaming attacking midfielders, as opposed to natural wide-men.

Anyway, I hope we get some good news soon. Some could really do with it by the sounds of it.