20 Jul 2021 12:00:56
Looks like Varane could be done this week. If we sign him and with Sancho already confirmed, that's two positions in the starting 11 improved. I would assume we'll target a right back and then depending on outgoings, maybe midfielder.

How far can this team go with those additions?

Should we be challenging for the title?

1.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 12:38:30
A top CM would finish the team off. A Declan Rice type of player. I must admit he impressed in the Euros, as did Philips.

2.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 12:58:58
Should be challenging for a title. Wouldn't be favourites even with those additions imo, however, it shouldn't be something that's done in March we should be pushing right to the end of the season with a chance.

Yes we'd still not be ideally placed in terms of our squad if it was only Varane and Sancho, however, City haven't had a decent out and out left back for the last 3 seasons effectively. Liverpool were short of a creative midfielder and some squad depth in certain areas. Still they both won the league and did so at a canter.

There's no excuses now, the club have to challenge for major trophies.

3.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 13:02:10
It's certainly a step forward, not just on the pitch but in ambition to improve the starting 11 while finishing in the top 4.

The problem with answering the question of whether we should win the title with those two signings has so many variables.

Will they both replicate the top class form we have seen from them in other leagues in the EPL for United?

Will key players in out starting 11 remain mostly injury free for the majority of the season?

Will young players in our squad continue to grow and develop? We saw last season that Greenwood struggled for the first 6 months of the season and didn't have as big an impact as he had the previous season. Which shows progress and development are not linear.

Then there are our rivals, the club does not exist in a bubble and how our rivals perform will impact our season. Will Liverpool struggle again or bounce back? Will Chelsea continue to progress like we saw in the second half of last season? What if City sign one of Grealish or Kane or both?

Looking at our potential team of:

DDG/ Henderson, AWB, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Sancho, Bruno, Rashford, Cavani.

On paper looks decent. Yet the keeper issue could undermine our defence, we need strong and clear leadership about who is the No.1 and just go with it. Maguire will still have his lapses, but hopefully Varane can cover for them more often than not. The midfield still looks horrible, they fail to track runners which can leave the defence exposed and they are unable to move the ball quickly and efficiently enough to make the most out of our attack. Speaking of which looks very good. The slight concerns are how Sancho settles and adapts. If Cavani can stay fit. Along with how long with Rashford be out for at the start of the season, as well as how long will it take him to get up to speed. With Cavani's injury record and Rashford likely having surgery its quite possible that Greenwood and Martial play significant roles for the first 2-3 months of the season or maybe longer.

So while its a step in the right direction, and it certainly shows more ambition than previously shown by the club, how that pans out on the pitch is just something we will have to wait and see. My gut says that we have a very good defence and a very good attack, but our midfield are nowhere near good enough to win a title. Until it is I just think there are 2-3 teams too strong for us to really challenge with as we are.

4.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 13:08:05
We need a central midfielder of quality. Fred and McTominay are simply not good enough.

5.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 13:23:36
we need to resolve the Pogba conundrum, Personally i'd like him to go and we bring in a top quality replacement.

Ultimately we need to see if the new players settle, and if the youngsters have matured. There is massive potential in this squad, it just needs realising,

{Ed004's Note - I would love it if Pogba wanted to stay and we signed a very solid defensive minded player to work with him. But if he is set on going I'd hope he is sold this window and his replacement brought in with the funds generated from his sale}

6.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 13:54:48
Yes mumbles we should be challenging we were top at Xmas last season without those new players.

7.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 14:22:50
The real question would be how far will Ole be able to take this team with those additions. Does anyone have any belief in Ole to take us forward?

8.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 14:39:18
We'll find out soon enough, LPU. If he wins nothing this year, or goes backwards in the league, I suspect he'll be gone.

9.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 15:09:39
Let'splayunited I do.

10.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 15:52:02
I have belief in Ole and this squad. Lots of questions though.

If Pogba stays can he play in a 2 against lesser teams? Can Donny play in midfield as a passer? (I have my doubts, I think he is more a 10 and can't get in ahead of fernandes) . I still think this team goes far with McFred and all the attacking options upfront.

11.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 16:06:43
I believe that the signs are ominous as far as Pogba is concerned. If he doesn't sign a contract within a time specified by the club, he should be sold immediately. It has always been a case of will he stay, will he go, is he happy, is he unhappy? He would certainly be an asset if he chose to stay, but the fear is that his agent will just encourage him to run down the clock.

{Ed002's Note - Sold "immediately" to who?}

12.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 16:26:27
I believe in the squad but not the manager.

13.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 17:35:53
Provided we get Varane and Sancho looking already done, we have the best squad since Sir Alex left. Unfortunately we have created a mess with respects to the GK and midfield areas which needs sorting.

We still need a few tweaks to the squad and probably 3 transfer windows to have a complete squad with quality options off the bench as well. Hopefully we are on the right path.

14.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 19:06:20
Kasper Schmeichel would sort out the goalkeeping position.

15.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 19:07:00
Ndidi.

16.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 19:56:35
Schmeichel I don't rate as any better than what we have.

Ndidi would not be my first choice but would be far superior than any of our current options.

17.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 20:28:12
I'm with supa love ndidi.

18.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 22:09:56
I agree that Ndidi looks a great player, what I'm less convinced is whether he is an ideal fit for a great side. While the defensive side of his game is excellent, and he is a hard worker. His on the ball attributes aren't that much better than Fred's. A better first touch, but his passing is just as if not maybe more limited.

He'd obviously be an improvement on what we have. Yet against the best sides in the biggest games teams can afford to let him have the ball and block off his passing options and there is little he can do.

If you look at the absolute best teams they don't tend to play with one such defensive but limited on the ball player. They tend to play with playmakers sitting deep, players who can control the tempo of the game.

If your team is going to have 60%+ possession then a player like Ndidi is a passenger for at least 60% of the game as he offers nothing in terms of build up or creative play. Ndidi thrives and does his best work when his team doesn't have the ball and he can win it back. With it he offers little to nothing.

19.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 22:34:22
Anything better than Fred’s on the ball skills is a plus to us. And for what it’s worth, I’d love to be able to have faith in ole but I don’t. If the additions of Sancho and potentially Varane happen, and we don’t challenge for the title. Oles position is untenable. The squad itself has the ability to challenge, I fear our coaching staff will hinder that. That being said, a top quality DM brought in and pogba sold would go a long way to helping us push for the title too. But the fact remains the same, Ole has got to kick on and show his worth otherwise, even the passive fans will turn on him. And as a club icon, I don’t wish that on him at all.

20.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 23:19:02
I thought supa was just agreeing with everyone in the thread 🤣

Ken, so you don't have trust in Ole? 🤣.

21.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 23:26:57
we still need a proper cdm and a world class striker before we can think about challenging for the title

cavani isn't going to play every game and we have no one else who is ready are even close to being the main man.


in a dreams land if we were to get say a halland or a kane you would expect to challenge for the title.

22.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 23:55:08
daanyc, hope your belief in him is justified.

I am not sure what we are going to get from Ole though. He hasn't been brave and decisive enough for me to trust that he is going to take us to the next level.

23.) 20 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021 23:33:11
Everyone gives a short clear succinct answer with the one usual exception. Yes we should be launching a serious challenge for the title.