17 Jun 2019 15:08:11
Hello guys. With relatively few new signings to discuss I'd like to ask your opinion on the apparent club strategy on buying young British players.
It seems restrictive in a way but when you look at the great teams of the past decades, Barcelona had a nearly all Spanish team, Bayern same with German, United with British players and so on.

Fact is that these teams were able to pick the absolute best players of the young generation in their home country. Personally I would have been opposed to this a mere 3 years ago but with England currently having one of the best up and coming generation of young players in the world now might be a valuable time to look in the British market.

The players might be expensive but this is because the league is rich, and we are capable. Aaron Wan bissaka would be a great signing, whilst Sancho would be possible in the coming seasons. Maddison is also very promising, whilst James and Maybe Longstaff (lol) show we are increasing our willingness to take risks ( though should be seen as squad players for now) .

Sprinkle in some world class players in there and we got ourselves a good team. Would be also good for the national team imo.

1.) 17 Jun 2019
17 Jun 2019 15:19:03
As an English Manchester United fan I welcome us signing English prospects. We could potentially build a team which other clubs in the Prem will be jealous of.

As long as we don't shy away from the top talents in the other leagues then I am happy for it.

It's worrying to see the lack of English / British signings in recent years from what it supposed to be the biggest club in England.

2.) 17 Jun 2019
17 Jun 2019 15:51:08
I wouldn't personally get too hung up where a player is from or what league we get them from .
United had great success with a team of young English lads but there's also plenty of signings of promising English players that hasn't went so well Jones, smalling, young, maybe Shaw . City have been pretty dominant and of what I'd say was there first eleven last season probably 9 were from foreign leagues although they had some squad players also . I don't think nationality or what league there from is the greatest guarantee of success or failure .
If we believe a young English player is the best option available that's fine and of course we should pursue it but because they are the best option available and not just because they are English or play in the English league .
Only if there's a quota issue would I give it any relevance . Ability to settle and overcome obstacles need researching as best as possible but all things being equal ability should trump nationality .

3.) 17 Jun 2019
17 Jun 2019 19:08:31
I think a core of Young British players is the way to go. We need a group of players who want to be at the club and don't want to be chasing moves to Spain after 2-3 years at the club.

I don't think nationality makes a huge difference to the quality of a player, but British players will certainly find it easier to settle in the Manchester area and be happy to stay there long term.

I would love it if we could bring in players such as Maddison, Sancho, Rice, AWB and Tierney over the next couple of windows. Add them to Shaw, Smalling, Lingard, McTominay, James and Rashford in the first team along with Henderson, Tuanzebe, Garner, Gomes and Greenwood coming through. That would give us potentially 16 British players in the first team squad.

Add great European talent such as Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Dias, Milenkovic, Diop etc and we will have a great side.

4.) 18 Jun 2019
18 Jun 2019 00:52:20
It’s possible that this strategy stems from OGS comments about workrate. He has consistently said that Man Utd players should always outwork the opposition.
This is traditionally a trait of British players. I’m not saying the stereotype is 100% true but it is probably easier for British players born into the ‘workrate’ system to succeed in a team playing that way. That would make it sensible to look for players who fit this need. Add to that the quota and this issue of players aspiring to play for Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Another consideration is that in doing so we take these young British talents from our opposition.
I think it’s a good aim, as long as we keep an eye out for those outstanding foreign players as we have traditionally done.

The ‘Galactico’ signings strategy has not worked for United unless it involves buying the best PL talent from opposition teams. This is becoming harder with PL teams getting richer, as we have seen.