29 Apr 2023 12:17:26
I've read quite a few articles suggested Manchester United would move for Neymar, if a sale went through.
I assume it's just lazy journalism, figuring that we'd splash the cash once we'd hit the jackpot.
I don't want to flame the player, but I've always felt disappointed when I've watched him (granted I don't watch PSG often) . For a player so often pipped in the so-called top 3 behind Messi and Ronaldo, I can't think of many times if any that I've felt that accolade is even remotely justified. I just see a player rolling around an awful lot if I'm honest.
But Neymar aside, if we *were* to hit the jackpot and a little thing called FFP didn't exist, what would be your ideal transfer window?
An exciting upcoming GK, Timber (now supposedly wanting to leave), Lavia/ de Jong, Kane for me.

1.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 13:20:20
I wouldn't touch Neymar with a 10ft barge poll.

Talented player no doubt, but so I consistent and a total flake. Disappears with an "injury" every year at the same time, asks to be subbed off if things aren't going his way and hides on the pitch when the going gets tough. His decision to go to PSG from Barcelona while supposedly in his peak just highlights a lack of real ambition.

While his attitude and his cost both in terms of transfer fees and wages would just make it a horrible signing.

2.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 13:30:11
I'm with Shappy on this.

3.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 13:33:10
Yeah I get the vibe from most Utd fans they wouldn't want Neymar. I wonder if there were any truth in actual interest that the Rabiot and Arnautovic effects would come into play and kill it off. I'm sure we'd have both of those instead of Weighorst and Sabitzer if things had been allowed to run as intended.

4.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 14:06:08
100% with shappy on this. He’s one of the most overrated footballers of this generation.

5.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 14:56:57
Money no object
Gk Costa
Rb Frimpong Dumfries
Ch Min-Jae Kim Gvardiol Timber
Midfield Bellingham Caicedo De jong
Forwards Kane or Oshimen and Hojlund
Winger-Forward Mbappe

So easy team sorted for next 5 years
If only.

6.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 15:44:38
I wouldn't buy him with stolen money. That young lacey looks like a good young player coming through. Be one for a few years time.

7.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 16:25:37
My ideal transfer window includes no Neymar.

I actually wouldn't want any "big" names. I would want young hungry players that we can use as the foundation of years of success. No Galaticos. I would prefer money splashed on scouts and training facilities.

I'm Canadian so I will put in a small request for Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.

8.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 18:51:07
PG3, I tend to agree. We've certainly had far more success in the transfer market when we've bought potential and developed it rather than buying the finished article.

I think our side is 2-3 years away from being ready to seriously challenge for the major honours. So no point signing 30 year olds this summer who'll need replacing before we can seriously challenge.

9.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 19:16:42
Last summer was linked to every Ajax player, if the Sheikh wins out and is the new owner i fully expect every PSG player to be linked to us.

I would take Hakimi in a heartbeat though or Mendes on the left.

Mbappe has the Shrek thing though as the natural heir to Rooney.

10.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 19:24:52
I do agree that we are a few years away from challenging.
But don't agree that there's no place for the experienced older players, as we still need to compete at the top to guarantee top 4 etc and improve across the board in the meantime.
Let's say Utd avoid signing any higher end players, for example Kane, Osimhen, de Jong, Gvardiol, et al, and concentrate on developmental players alone - let's say Ferguson, Lavia, Frimpong, maybe a few of our own superkids. I don't think we'll do as well next season by bypassing any major signings, just my opinion of course.

11.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 21:21:11
Spenno, for me it's a balancing act. Look at Arsenal this season, youngest squad in the league and probably one of the most exciting. Could have won the league but lacked experienced winners in the dressing room to guide the younger players over the line.

At our club we have players like Casemiro, Varane, DDG and Eriksen who have experience of seeing a side over the line. Even younger players like Martinez and Antony have won multiple titles with EtH at Ajax.

We also have a manager who has won things and knows how to manage a title run in. Something Arteta lacks.

It's a balance, and the issue with our first 11 is the 5th oldest in the EPL.

We need to bring the average age down not increase it. Otherwise in 2-3 years time we will have the oldest first 11 in the league and have a team of over the hill players.

Adding Kane (30) to a spine of DDG (32), Varane (30), Martinez (25), Casemiro (31), Eriksen (31) and Bruno (28) just makes our team too old.

In two years time DDG will be 34, Varane 32, Martinez 27, Casemiro 33, Eriksen 33, Bruno 30 and Kane 32. That's not a spine ready to challenge anything but the retirement league.

12.) 29 Apr 2023
29 Apr 2023 21:27:13
Blackpool red. mbappe in the right team can be better than haaland in my opinion. He can roam in a front 3, create goals if there's a kane/ Haaland striker in his side.

But he can do the lone striker too if he has a strong mf behind him.

As we r at the moment, a top out n out cf is what our mf needs. but imagine a full season with kane (for example) . after 1 seaon adding mbappe would be our very own kdb with haaland.

13.) 30 Apr 2023
30 Apr 2023 11:14:36
It is a balancing act for sure Shappy, I was just addressing your suggestion that there was no point in signing 30-year olds (I assume Harry Kane) before we can seriously challenge. Without a few players of this ilk we won't be in a position to challenge at all.

14.) 30 Apr 2023
30 Apr 2023 17:21:17
Spenno, we need the next Harry Kane, not the current one, as we won't be in a position to seriously challenge until Kane is in decline.

15.) 01 May 2023
30 Apr 2023 23:52:58
And yet in over a decade Utd's scouting department haven't found too many gems in the grand scheme of things. They must just churn out the obvious suggestions that anyone on this site can make. We'd need to kidnap the Brighton scouting department to be finding the next anyone, we're never the club that digs up a Mitoma or an Enciso. Maybe you should email them some ideas Shappy!