06 Aug 2019 15:11:36
As we enter the final two days of the transfer window I think we're about to discover the real ambition and competence of our intrepid owners.

Our team finished outside the top 4 and was in need of significant surgery and investment despite views on the credentials or suitability of our current manager.

Up to this point I think the window can be considered a success. We've witnessed a encouraging pre-season where several promising youngsters have been integrated into the squad and the team have played a more aggressive style of football, pressing enthusiastically from the front, working harder and playing on the front foot. The defence has been significantly strengthened with two very solid additions and at this point I think the Club should be applauded for getting those deals over the line. Both were very expensive additions but in my opinion the right ones and seemingly the managers first choice.

Daniel James will inject some pace up front and I've been very impressed with his work rate and commitment to press the opposition and work hard. Whilst he remains raw and I have concerns about his quality in the final third his pace will always make him a threat and his work rate and his willingness to close the opposition down and put them under pressure will make him a useful member of the squad. He's by no means the finished article but he has the potential to be something special if he continues to improve and work on his game.

Whilst a CM and RW would have been ideal that surely would have pushed our spending north of £250m and I'm not sure that was ever likely in this window. I was never convinced we'd seen the churn of players we've witnessed in previous windows and I think this was always going to be more of a methodical and measured building process rather than a complete transformation.

Despite my optimism for the forthcoming season I remain deeply suspicious and cynical of our board. With only two days of the window remaining the Lukaku and Pogba situations have not been addressed and left to fester. I feel we could just about get away with letting Lukaku leave without replacing him but it's a risk and doesn't represent good planning. I believe Rashford and Martial deserve their chance at star billing, Sanchez can play CF if needed and the emergence of Greenwood means we still have decent options up front.

Pogba however is a completely different kettle of fish. We are already dangerously short of numbers in midfield and despite your views on Pogba we are much better with him in the team. If he is not replaced by Thursday and I'm not sure he can be replaced like for like, we'd probably need a CM and a No10 he must not be sold. The Club have know of his desire to leave for over 12 months and a line in the sand must be drawn. The vultures are circling but the Club must remain resolute and strong. I expect Madrid to push hard after the window closes, they will look to exploit the situation, unsettle the player in the hope of driving the price down. This is a problem entirely of our own making and how we handle it may just define our season.

My fear is the Club will relent Pogba and Lukaku will both be sold after the window closes where they cannot be replaced and the Club will pocket the money and my suspicion is maybe this was the plan all along. Of course there is no real foundation of my paranoia just a deep seated prejudice and mistrust of our ability and perhaps more importantly intent to return us to the top. Of course we still have two days to rectify this. Tick tock, tick tock!

1.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 15:40:07
The 'intrepid' owners spent £80m on Ole's favoured central defender. Tight arses.

{Ed047's Note - I thought Koulibaly from Napoli was first choice

2.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 16:06:42
No Ed47, obviously the one we are able to get in is the first choice and the best. Koulibaly, dias are all worse of now.

{Ed047's Note - ah my bad UA 😂

3.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 17:16:59
DLIB, good post. I wonder how are we suppose to play with only one creative player in the pitch. Once he gets injured we look mediocre and struggle to keep hold of the ball or create anything with it.

Rashford works really hard but its not fair to put all the responsibilities on his shoulder, Martial is inconsistent and James will be playing his first season and will take time to settle.

Our board should have been more ambitious and tried to sign at least one creative player upfront to create and score goals alongside Pogba.

4.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 21:52:27
GDS2 - Just a polite reminder that our intrepid owners purchased our beloved Club using a leveraged buy out without investing a dime of their own money. They burdened the Club with crippling debt meaning millions is taken out each year just to service this debt which they used to finance their takeover.

We are one of the richest Clubs in the world; money predominately generated from match going and loyal fans, merchandise, sponsorship and Tv revenue. This is money generated by the Club meaning our owners have no need to invest or risk any of their own money. They pay themselves handsome dividends and take out loans using the Club as surety.

As a season ticket holder of over 25 years, MUTV subscriber and regular purchaser of merchandise including annual kits for my kids amongst other items I expect a large percentage of that revenue to be invested back into the Club.

We are an world famous institution, a Club proudly and lovingly re-built from the ashes of Munich to concur Europe we deserve for our own self generated money to be re-invested back into the squad rather than the line the pockets of rich businessmen that reside thousands of miles away on the other side of the Atlantic. They care little about the history or heritage of our Club and are only interested in making as much money as possible. When the Glazers finally sell up they will have made millions by exploiting our brand and trading on our history and enormous international fan base. Do I expect them to invest money back into our playing squad, absolutely, in fact I demand it as should every fan of our great Club.

If they sell Pogba and Lukaku after our window closes without adequately replacing them, despite knowing of their desire to leave and the need to improve the squad after not adequately backing the manager last summer I will be furious as should we all.